Log Entry 1 - Date: Cycle 782.4, Sub-Sector Gamma-9
"It’s been too long since I’ve felt the hum of real work under my fingers, instead of just the soft thrum of the Phoenix’s jump drives. The hydroponics bay feels like a lifetime ago. I've been pushing trading runs too hard, chasing the next credit, the next lucrative cargo. It's time for a break. The Phoenix is a beauty, a fighter through and through, but my cargo and fuel ships are lagging. They've got to keep pace, or I might as well be using a space barge. Hydra and Tanker are going under the knife today. New hull modules, reinforced plating… we’re going for speed, not just hauling capacity. Ironic, considering what they usually carry. Time to get out of the trade hub and into the fabrication bay. No more haggling for a few weeks. Just the sound of welders and synth-steel."
Log Entry 2 - Date: Cycle 782.7, Sub-Sector Gamma-9
"Started stripping the old hull plating from Hydra this morning. Found some corrosion points I'd have to have taken care of. The automated repair drones are good, but they're not as good as a human eye. I'm replacing the standard plating with a new composite alloy. It's lighter and stronger, and the modular panels will make future repairs much easier. I'm also adding a series of micro-thruster placements along the hull, to augment the main drives, I got the blueprints a while back. These will give her a considerable boost in acceleration and maneuverability. Tanker is coming along slower, with all that fuel storage to get around the new placements. Took half the day to work that out. It might not be pretty, but it’ll be effective. I was up all night last night, re-writing the core autopilot routines to handle the new thruster configurations. It's still not perfect, I'll have to tweak it a bit more. "
Log Entry 3 - Date: Cycle 783.2, Sub-Sector Gamma-9
"The bulk of the hull work is done on Hydra. It looks…leaner. Meaner, even. Almost like she's itching for a race. The new plating is sleek, with those micro-thrusters almost invisible until they fire. I’ve started installing the reinforcement struts along its spine. Tanker is a more difficult beast. All that fuel space, it's hard to add structural changes. But I've managed to reinforce the forward hull and add a set of the micro-thrusters near its engines. It'll never be as nimble as Hydra, but the new configuration will significantly improve its acceleration. The auto-turrets are also being upgraded. New sensor arrays, faster targeting algorithms, and the lasers are being replaced with Kinetic Flak Cannons. The Laser although precise, their damage was low, and they are generally overwhelmed with too many missiles or fighters. These new cannons will do the trick."
Log Entry 4 - Date: Cycle 784.1, Sub-Sector Gamma-9
"The internal systems on Hydra are a headache. Every time I try to improve one thing, I have to reroute another. Spent the whole day running new conduits for the thruster controls and the point-defense grid. The new targeting system for the turrets is a beautiful piece of work. It can track multiple fast targets at once, predict their trajectories, and prioritize them based on threat level.
Log Entry 5 - Date: Cycle 785.0, Sub-Sector Gamma-9
"Hydra is almost ready. All systems are go, barring a few minor tweaks to the autopilot. I ran a series of simulated dogfights this morning. She handles like a completely different ship. Quick, agile, and packing a serious punch with those new cannons. Tanker is lagging behind. It just takes longer to work on a ship of this size. I’m adding a few extra self-sealing mechanisms in the fuel tanks. A bit of extra security in case those defensive systems aren't enough. It's not something I'm happy about needing to include, but better safe than space debris. The Phoenix, she’s been getting jealous. This work is keeping me away from her. I'll probably take her out for a spin tomorrow to make it up to her."
Log Entry 6 - Date: Cycle 785.4, Sub-Sector Gamma-9
"Did a dry run with both of them today, just around the edge of the system. Hydra was impressive, hitting top speed in seconds. Tanker is not as fast, but it’s a noticeable improvement, and the handling was remarkably better. The point defence on both vessels was spot on, I will need to get out to a practice range to more realistically test them. The autopilot adjustments are still needing some tweaking, but I think with another day's work, I should have them running smoothly. It's amazing how much difference these upgrades make. It’s not just the speed, it’s the feel of the ships, they react as I want, like an extension of me. It's been an exhausting few weeks, but it feels good. Better than any trade run."
Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.
Log Entry 7 - Date: Cycle 785.8, Sub-Sector Gamma-9
"The work is done. Both Hydra and Tanker are ready for service. The autopilot is refined. The defensive systems are tested. The thrusters scream when engaged, and they look slicker than ever before. It was worth every second in the fabrication bay. I'm calling in a few days off. Just me and the Phoenix, heading to some uncharted sector to kick back. No trading, no cargo, no fuel delivery. Just the cold vacuum of space and the hum of the Phoenix’s drives. But… the real test will be the next big run. Hydra and Tanker might look faster and more heavily armed, but they'll need to prove themselves in the black."
"I've decided to leave below the blueprints of the weapons systems for Hydra and Tanker, for my decision making."
1. Kinetic Scatter Cannons ("Flak" Systems):
* Concept: High-velocity, rapid-fire cannons launching a cloud of tungsten or other dense metal fragments. These are not trying for a direct hit but rather creating a zone of deadly debris.
* How it Works:
* Relatively small barrels, likely multiple arrays for broad coverage.
* A burst of small, sub-caliber projectiles.
* Can be radar or lidar guided.
* Aimed ahead of incoming threats to "shred" them in mid-flight.
* Advantages:
* Low power requirements compared to directed energy.
* Good against missiles, drones, and small fighters.
* Less reliant on pinpoint accuracy.
* Can be effective against multiple targets at once.
* Disadvantages:
* Limited range compared to more powerful weapons.
* Not as effective against heavily armored targets.
* Ammunition dependent.
* Why it works for cargo: Compact, can be scaled, and doesn't need large energy storage.
2. Guided Kinetic Interceptors (Agile Missiles):
* Concept: Small, very fast, agile missiles with kinetic warheads focused on ramming threats.
* How it works:
* Relatively small missile tubes.
* Rapid deployment with a short burn, focusing on speed and maneuverability.
* Guided by onboard sensors or ship's targeting system.
* Uses kinetic force at impact rather than explosives.
* Advantages:
* Better against single fast-moving targets than scatter cannons.
* Can be effective at longer ranges for point-defense (still relatively short compared to long-range missiles).
* High maneuverability makes them harder to intercept.
* Disadvantages:
* More complex than cannons, needs tracking and guidance.
* More expensive than simple projectiles.
* Limited magazine capacity.
* Why it works for cargo: Can engage targets in a wide sphere with relatively little space used. Can be used in swarms.
3. Multi-Stage Kinetic Slug Throwers (Mass Drivers):
* Concept: A series of electromagnets that accelerate projectiles using a linear motor, potentially in a multi-stage setup.
* How it Works:
* A long, narrow barrel or rail.
* Multiple stages of acceleration to get projectiles to very high speeds.
* Projects dense slugs with sheer kinetic force.
* Can use a variety of projectiles depending on the threat (from solid slugs to buckshot-like patterns).
* Advantages:
* High velocity, meaning excellent range and impact energy.
* Can be precise and devastating to smaller targets.
* Can vary projectile size/type for different threats.
* Disadvantages:
* Can be lengthier than other systems.
* More sensitive to malfunction than a simple cannon.
* Requires good power management for the electromagnets.
* Why it works for cargo: Can potentially have high-powered variants if the infrastructure is already built into ships.
4. "Tungsten Net" Projectors
* Concept: Similar to a harpoon system, which launches a net of tungsten or other dense material.
* How it works:
* Multiple launchers that launch a dense net.
* The net is then propelled by a series of rockets.
* Designed to tangle targets and act as a kinetic drag to lower the speed of targets.
* Advantages:
* Can completely disable smaller targets.
* Can work against multiple targets at once.
* Works against missiles, drones, and small fighters.
* Disadvantages:
* Relatively slow compared to other systems.
* Not as effective against heavily armored targets.
* Ammunition dependent.
* Why It Works For Cargo: Can be installed on most ships and uses relatively little power.
Focus on Specifics for Cargo Ships & Fuel Tankers:
* Cargo Ships:
* Their weapons would be installed in easily accessible sections of the ship, not as integrated weaponry.
* Would rely on smaller radar and lidar systems and targetting algorithms.
* Most likely to use a combination of scatter cannons for swarm defense and some agile missile interceptors.
* Fuel Tankers:
* Must have extremely careful placement of weapons, to avoid igniting the cargo.
* Emphasis on interceptors to disable incoming threats before they can come close enough to damage the tanks.
* Might incorporate a more dispersed system of point defense and passive protection, like heat-reflective shielding or decoy launchers.