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Old 12-28-2020, 03:27 PM   #541
Prince Charon
 
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Default Re: [Psionics] [Space] Psi Trek - Worldbuilding

OK, vote is closed, and I'm going to work more on the timeline, which I hope to post by or shortly after New Years. If necessary, I might post an incomplete timeline and ask for suggestions.

For the numbered vote, 2 wins, but TGLS's vote is compatible with it and the varying by type vote below, and thus is included. For speed varying by era, YES wins, and I'm taking the suggestion that this should be mainly due to improving relay networks. It may also be interfered with or enhanced by local conditions, but mostly it'll be where the relays are. For speed varying by type, TRUE wins, unless I'm very confused.
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Old 01-02-2021, 03:07 AM   #542
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OK, Happy New Years (and may 2021 be better than 2020, preferably a lot better)!

I have been somewhat ill this week, and was really out of it for most of yesterday, so I haven't gotten as much done as I'd like... and it's possible that my screen may be dying. So, I'm posting the WiP below, in the hope of getting help with it (several entries don't have dates, and many need to be turned into actual sentences):

Timeline of development of Faster Than Light communications (Incomplete):

1966: First known example of interstellar-range telepathy, as the crew of a Vulcanian freighter ambushed by Orion pirates are able to send off an unassisted telepathic shout that is received by a Vulcanian defence vessel three light-years away.

1984: Vulcanians make use of psi-amplifiers to boost telepathic ranges for interstellar communications. This is stressful for both the equipment and the telepaths, resulting in messages being short and rare.

2031: Experiments in psychotronic telepathy on Earth, fidelity falls off at -1 per three cm.

2057: Experiments in psychotronic ESP <Tellarites>

September 8, 2086: Human development of warp drive.

2091: Experiments in psychotronic telepathy <equivalent to Telesend 3>

2097: Experiments in space-warp modulation <short effective ranges (1d-2 light years), low signal fidelity, but at least it works>

<DATE>: Experiments in psychotronic ergokinesis <Orions>

<DATE>: Experiments in psychotronic ESP

<DATE>: Experiments in psychotronic telepathy <equivalent to Telesend 4>

<DATE>: Experiments in psychotronic space-warp detection <effective range nearly doubled>

<DATE>: Experiments in psychotronic telepathy <equivalent to Telesend 5>

<DATE>: Experiments in psychotronic ergokinesis

<DATE>: Experiments in psychotronic telepathy <equivalent to Telesend 6; Space-warp modulation now inferior to telepathic methods, but useful as a secondary channel at short ranges, or on spacecraft, which cannot carry psychotronic transceivers yet>

2155: Interstellar-range psychotronic telepathy systems small enough to be carried on dedicated communications spacecraft are in use.

2189: Interstellar-range psychotronic telepathy systems small enough to be carried on regular starships are in use; space-warp modulation fully relegated to secondary uses.
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Five Earths, All in a Row. Updated 12/17/2022: Apocrypha: Bridges out of Time, Part I has been posted.
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Old 01-12-2021, 08:41 AM   #543
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Sorry this took so long.

FTL Communications question III

Timeline of development of Faster Than Light communications:

1897: Vulcanian development of warp drive.

1907: Andorian development of warp drive.

1924: Pachekki development of warp drive.

1930: Tellarite development of warp drive.

1932: Betazoid development of warp drive.

1933: Orion development of warp drive.

1966: First known example of interstellar-range telepathy, as the crew of a Vulcanian freighter ambushed by Orion pirates are able to send off an unassisted telepathic shout that is received by a Vulcanian defence vessel three light-years away.

1972: Cidi development of warp drive.

1984: Vulcanians make use of psi-amplifiers to boost telepathic ranges for interstellar communications. This is stressful for both the equipment and the telepaths, resulting in messages being short and rare.

2007: Andorians begin performing experiments in using psychotronic ergokinesis for FTL communication.

2031: Experiments in psychotronic telepathy occur on Earth, but the signal fidelity falls off at -1 per three cm.

2063: The Tellarites begin experiments in psychotronic ESP for purposes of FTL communication.

2086: Human development of warp drive.

2091: Experiments in psychotronic telepathy at Utopia Planitia reach the equivalent of Telesend 3.

2095: Sparrial development of warp drive.

2097: Experiments in space-warp signal modulation within and around the Sol system achieve short effective ranges (1d-2 light years, minimum 1) and have low signal fidelity, but at least it works. Relay stations are begun between Sol and nearby star systems.

2103: Tellarite experiments in psychotronic ESP show significant results, due to the development of long-range psychotronic beacons.

2110: Caitian development of warp drive.

2114: Experiments in psychotronic ergokinesis by the Orions are somewhat disappointing, though it does allow them to tap into Andorian communications for a time.

2121: Experiments in psychotronic telepathy reach the equivalent of Telesend 4.

2127: Experiments in space-warp signal modulation have nearly doubled the effective range of the system (1d+1 light years), though some paraphysicists are more optimistic about psychotronic telepathy, due to the results the Vulcanians get from their own psychotronically-boosted telepathy.

2136: Experiments in psychotronic telepathy reach the equivalent of Telesend 5.

2149: Experiments in psychotronic telepathy reach the equivalent of Telesend 6, though interstellar ranges still require very heavy and bulky equipment. Space-warp signal modulation is now inferior to telepathic methods, but it is still useful as a secondary channel at short ranges, or on spacecraft, which cannot carry psychotronic transceivers yet.

2155: Interstellar-range psychotronic telepathy systems small enough to be carried on dedicated communications spacecraft are in use.

2189: Interstellar-range psychotronic telepathy systems small enough to be carried on regular starships are in use; space-warp modulation fully relegated to secondary uses.


Does this look good to you, or should it be modified? If the latter, please suggest changes.
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Five Earths, All in a Row. Updated 12/17/2022: Apocrypha: Bridges out of Time, Part I has been posted.
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Old 01-19-2021, 03:32 PM   #544
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SC Interstellar Survey Service question I

The Solar Cooperative Interstellar Survey Service (see also GURPS Space pp26, 204-205) is the institutional successor to NASA, the ESA, and other civilian space exploration programs. While the Service includes a large bureaucracy, a significant Logistics Division (which also runs the Survey Stations that the more well-known branches operate from), spacecraft design engineers, scientists, and so on, there are two branches that most people think of when they hear of the Survey Service: the Exploration Division, and the Astrographic Division.

The Exploration Division covers both the First-in Scouts who would explore new systems and briefly examine new worlds, and the Expeditionary Branch who follow up on their discoveries. Contrary to the fiction of the period, First-in Scouts did not travel in single-person scoutships. Generally, the crew of a First-in Scout vessel would be around three to seven, and sometimes as many as twelve. While First-in Scouts are trained for First Contact situations in an emergency, they do not specialise in them, and if intelligent life is detected, they will retreat and leave it to the Expeditionary Branch. The latter travel in larger vessels, sometimes have crews of nearly a hundred, mostly scientists and lab technicians. In some eras and in some regions, Expeditionary vessels either are the First-in Scouts, or send warp-shuttles in as scouts while the mothership waits at the edge of the system. On some occasions, a task force of several vessels would be sent, though this is normally something that would be done later, to construct a Survey Station and bring in the Office of Colonial Affairs, various subnational or private interests, et cetra. When a location was deemed to be a high risk (e.g. the last vessel or vessels failed to return) one or more SWAT or Interstellar Patrol vessels would be part of the task force, and the mission would be under the command of a senior Space Patrol officer (so that they have the authority to order a retreat, or other useful precautions). Harsh experience has also shown that First Contact situations should be treated as high risk, even if the specific risks are different.

The Astrographic Division are generally considered the more boring of the two, but they serve a vital purpose, keeping both planetological and astronomical data up to date, including a range of spacial anomalies, some of which can be quite dangerous. Astrographic Division vessels tend to be larger than First-in Scouts, but smaller than the largest Expeditionary Branch vessels, rarely having crews of more than fifty.

When the bill which chartered the Survey Service was originally interoduced, there was some debate about giving them their own security division, but it was eventually decided that the Space Patrol could have a bump in budget to provide enough security personnel for the SCISS's needs.


Space crews, like airliners, sea crews, and so on, need a rank structure, even if it's a loose one. While not a serious problem for the tiny crews of First-in Scouts (which are basically like the Space Shuttle in terms of crew numbers), larger vessels and the stations run by the Logistics Division need a workable system of ranks, albeit they don't need more than maybe one rank above 'commanding officer of one vessel or station'), and they mostly don't need as many ranks below that as an Interstellar Patrol cruiser would.

So, the question: What system of ranks should I base the ranks of the SCISS on, and should they use just one system, or do the divisions each have their own?

1. Basically NASA style, with few ranks but a number of positions (e.g. the Space Shuttle list on that page). Due to the larger crew numbers on many Survey Stations and all interstellar-capable Survey vessels other than the First-in Scouts, we'd still have to add a few more ranks, perhaps basing the higher ranks on the grades that the Space Operations Badge comes in.

2. Roughly Merchant Navy style ranks and something like naval rates (the ETO branch would probably be replaced by a Science branch, and the Medical Department might be expanded to form a Life Support Department).

3. Police style, basically the same ranks as the SC Space Patrol, if fewer of them.

4. Army style (e.g. the US Space Force, with fewer ranks).

5. Royal Air Force style, with fewer ranks.

6. Something else (please specify).


Please include the number of your preferred option when you vote. If you want the Logistics Division, Exploration Division, and Astrographic Division to use different ranking systems from each other, please list the numbers with the name of the division.


EDIT: By two votes, NASA style wins.
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"The more corrupt a government, the more it legislates."
-- Tacitus

Five Earths, All in a Row. Updated 12/17/2022: Apocrypha: Bridges out of Time, Part I has been posted.

Last edited by Prince Charon; 12-25-2022 at 06:14 PM.
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Old 01-20-2021, 05:01 AM   #545
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1. Basically NASA style, with few ranks but a number of positions (e.g. the Space Shuttle list on that page). Due to the larger crew numbers on many Survey Stations and all interstellar-capable Survey vessels other than the First-in Scouts, we'd still have to add a few more ranks, perhaps basing the higher ranks on the grades that the Space Operations Badge comes in.
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Old 01-22-2021, 04:18 PM   #546
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One vote does not a consensus make, but if no-one disagrees, I can work with this. Vote remains open for a few days.
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Old 01-22-2021, 04:44 PM   #547
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Alright then:

6) There are no "ranks" that are preserved from assignment to assignment. There are classifications (i.e. Geology, Piloting, Personnel Administration, etc.) and levels, but this indicates experience and performance, not authority. There are hierarchies, but these exist only for the duration of the assignment.
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Old 01-22-2021, 05:13 PM   #548
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Default Re: [Psionics] [Space] Psi Trek - Worldbuilding

Quote:
Originally Posted by Prince Charon View Post
SC Interstellar Survey Service question I
1. Basically NASA style ranks.
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Old 01-25-2021, 11:12 AM   #549
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SC Interstellar Survey Service question II

Does this seem like a good arrangement of ranks et al for the Survey Service? If changes need to be made (including changes or expansion of details in the 'Notes' section), what do you suggest?

Rank 5 [25]

Command Starpilot (starpilot badge with wreathed star)

Rank 4 [20]

Senior Starpilot (starpilot badge with star)
Station Master (spacecrew badge with wreathed star and upper chevron)

Rank 3 [15]

Starpilot (starpilot badge)
Master Spacecrew (spacecrew badge with wreathed star)

Rank 2 [10]

Assistant Starpilot (starpilot badge with lower chevron)
Senior Spacecrew (spacecrew badge with star)

Rank 1 [5]

Spacecrew (spacecrew badge)

Rank 0 [0]

Assistant Spacecrew (spacecrew badge with lower chevron)
Space Cadet (no insignia)


Notes

The spacecrew and starpilot badges are visually similar to the current American Space Operations Badge, with the exception that where the Space Operations Badges has a circular globe, the starpilot badge has a heater shield (with an arrowhead device similar to that on the Space Operations Badge), and the spacecrew badge has a circular Sol system (with a device representing the crewmember's primary area of expertise). The 'lower chevron' on the Assistant badges is a point-down chevron below the central circle or shield. The 'upper chevron' on the Station Master's badge is just the opposite, being a point-up chevron above the wreathed star.

Both starpilots and spacecrew go through the Space Survey Academy, learning a variety of needed skills. The distinction is that a starpilot is fully certified in piloting interstellar spacecraft (rather than only sub-light, or FTL but only within a star system), in Astrogation, and in command. (While all of these are required classes for all cadets, certification is far more rigorous than merely passing the basic class.) The small crew of a First-in Scout is likely to consist entirely of fully-qualified starpilots, in case of emergency, while a Survey Station might have no starpilots assigned (though the latter is unusual). It is not unusual to graduate from the Academy as spacecrew, and continue one's education until one passes the certifications exams for starpilot - indeed, this is where the Service gets most of its starpilots, as while graduating directly to Assistant Starpilot is possible, it is rare.

An important distinction between Master Spacecrew and the other spacecrew ranks is that one must pass the Command Exam to qualify for the rank. That does not mean that passing the Command Exam immediately allows promotion to Master Spacecrew - one must also be a Senior Spacecrew who is up for promotion.

Station Master is an unusual rank, but due to legislation, an official one. The commanding officer of a Survey Station (with the positional title of 'station commander') might be either spacecrew or a starpilot, but when a Master Spacecrew is assigned to command an unusually large station with significant crew, or that otherwise includes a level of command responsibility that requires a higher rank, they may be promoted to this rank.

The qualification devices on spacecrew badges come in a wide variety: a staff with one snake wrapped around it for medical, a coiled lightning bolt for engineering, a stylised eye for the sciences, a wrench for damage control, a dish antenna for communications, a leaf for life support, and so on.
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"The more corrupt a government, the more it legislates."
-- Tacitus

Five Earths, All in a Row. Updated 12/17/2022: Apocrypha: Bridges out of Time, Part I has been posted.

Last edited by Prince Charon; 01-25-2021 at 01:35 PM.
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Old 01-25-2021, 12:57 PM   #550
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no objection
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