Quote:robkelkrichardsonAgreed on NORC. That's the obvious 'hub' base. But, the idea of the militia is to spread out the Navy's influence, to get people used to 'Danelaw forces HELPING instead of hindering. So, there are secondaries. Ceres, Vesta, Phobos, Ganymede... two prototype space carriers built out of shipping containers and leftover platforms...
Say, as a tangentally related subject, what would the chances of the Stingray's commander pulling legal-fu to pull some of the 300 F-18s in mothballs at the boneyard (minus engines, avionics, and weapons), and then waiving them, mounting railguns and fen-built speed drives and avionics, and hiring retired naval and airforce pilots to form a Navy-Comissioned and regulated militia? The fighters would remain Navy property, 'on-loan' until a proper space navy branch could be established to protect American citizens and economic interests.
All technically legal according to the constitution and the bill of rights, after all...
And we have established that the US Navy has a base on asteroid 1625 The NORC. They could be based there...
Say, 12 birds to a Squadron, with an AWACS converted 'wavied airliner using Fen (a mix of Trekkie and Warsie sensors) sensors to massively extend the range. 3 wings of 4 aircraft per squadron, each rotating onto 'active' duty for the week, escorting miners and freighters, and being directed onto leftover raiders by their AWACS bird. The pilots would all be retired military, with no distinctions on branch. Even helicopter pilots might get roped in for their unique experience in 3d manuvering. A mix of Vietnam, OIF/OEF, Gulf War Vets, even a WW2 pilot or two who responded favorably when offered a biomod to get back up into the air, and who rejuvinated. Others who didn't act as instructors for training Belter pilots of all stripes on evasion and counterattack tactics, training them to survive longer.
Perhaps have the first squadron come online in December of 2013, as the Stingray stops by the Boneyard to pick them up with grappling hooks, and orders signed by another sympathetic admiral (who recognizes that capital ships are fine in Fenspace, but that you need fighters to pin them down so that engagements can occur). After that, the Stingray comissions a company (say, Thunderbolt Aeronautics?) to install new fen avionics (single-piece cockpit that ejects, new fen concept based radar and detection systems & controls), acceleration Ion Drives replacing the old engines (which would have been removed), manuvering speed drives woven into the wing structure to give them aerial performance, and twin coil and/or railguns with 300-1000 rounds each for their main weapons (since they can't be armed with weapons/missiles requiring a security clearance to operate).
That way, they can be operated out of minimal 'airstrips', allowing for them to be deployed where the Stingray can't hang out 24/7. As said, like Ceres, Phobos, Ganymede... And, because it offers the Stingray more ammunition when the inevitable congressional inquery occurs. Which could end up becoming the day the Danes Stood Up.
Say, set it a little bit after 2016 (or just before it, during the election), when someone finally realizes that the Stingray has been hiring old pilots on semi-minimum wage for part time jobs... flying retired navy airframes that have been waved. Which turns into an utter clusterfuck for congress when the Stingray's commander and the contractors helping out on the project slam congress with the 2nd amendment and other relevant passages from the constitution, citing the TSAB's utter inability to do ANYTHING that has forced them to take drastic measures to fulfill their orders to 'Maintain Peace and Security for all American Citizens Beyond Earth Orbit'. Use the republican sticking points against them, have them hammer in the points of how Fenspace is leaving America (and the rest of the world) behind, economically and militarily. After all, they have honest to god FLEETS of cruisers, and all the US has is a SINGLE waved sub, and whatever that sub's crew has managed to scrounge up.
Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of US citizens are flying around without protection, cutting their ties to the US due to its hostility towards them. A ten minute speech that goes down as one of the most legendary ever, challenging congress to get off their ass and get america properly into space. To stop fearing handwavium, and USE IT. After all, if they claim to be god-fearing americans, why are they shunning something that might as well be from god? Nothing else has explained the outright miracle of handwavium. A parable is used, about how the british empire once said the sun could never set upon it. And yet, it did, because the empire refused to move to say in the sun. Remind Congress that with humanity spreading out, even to the stars. And they're leaving america behind. The sun is SETTING on the USA. And it needs to move.
At the end of the speech, an aide comes in, babbling in the House Speaker's ear. An AI hacked the feeds, and every channel EVERYWHERE heard the speech.
Quote: ECSNorwayAnyone have any events to extend the timeline out? I'd like to get the next administration's view on things, and I've been busy this week with other projects.