The Cartel Mod Update

[wdboyd]

In recent histoy, the Terellian Alliance and Marakan Hegemony influence in the peripheral systems, which I refer to as the independent systems, eroded. As the Alliance and Hegemoy leaderships focused on political struggles at home, their active involvement in and on the idependent systems waned.

Initially, lawlessness and anarchy threatened these independent systems. Political organizations, privateers and pirates began to attack these least protected sectors even as cultural inequities ignited into civil wars. The Brotherhood of Iron is a loose organizaton of privateers and pirates with ties to organized crime groups and perhaps shadowy support from outside the independent systems.

Into this mix arose the Cartel to bring a semblance of order. The privateers and pirates were pretty much left alone by the Cartel as long as Cartel assets were not involved. Some privateers have even contracted their sevices to the Cartel in the past.

Most of this changed with the recent advent of open war and the misguided kidnapping episode.

The Cartel actions on and around tiny Haiche, which has always been a political football, will most likely draw attention from outside forces. Will it be the Hegemony or the Alliance?

What will the Cartel do on and with Haiche now?

[wdboyd]

What follows is a page excerpt from my mods Commanders Checklist document.


TO 1SS-MK2-1CL-2


THE STATIC CAMPAIGN

What or who is the CARTEL? The Cartel is a number of prominent and or very wealthy people and organizations. Among these are people and institutions, primarily, in the independent systems of Silessia and Sol. Capitalism is their creed. Money is good. Money is power. Money provides a good life and power to influence.

The Cartel is financially backed by many multi-trillion credit personages and even more numbers of progressive independent financial institutions. The CARTEL also includes, as members, dozens of the most innovative scientist and engineers that are extant. There is reportedly a top secret space station that houses most of the Cartels research and production facilities. Its location is unknown.

In the past, Cartel enterprises conducted business with most political entities in the known Galaxy, but have slightly better relations with the Terellian Alliance. CARTEL industries supplies Terellian and Markan forces with military equipment.

Over the past few decades, Cartel operatives have sought out the brightest and best of the youth in the independent systems of Silessia and Sol. These youth have been provided for in every way. Education, financial and medical benefits have been extended to them and their immediate families. Those that display troublesome attitudes or conduct are notified and soon find themselves and their families separated from such beneficial assets if such attitude or conduct doesn’t improve. Family interest and pressure normally correct such indiscretions. Such chosen ones populate the Cartel, and most, freely and proudly give their allegiance to same. They serve upon conglomerate ships and in its’ production and research facilities.

Recently, due to the current conflict, advanced new ship and equipment orders have been small and overall martial instability has increased everywhere. Additionally, Terellian and Markan leaders refuse, or are un-able, to pay for the Cartel industries newest designs.

The Cartel conglomerate has been discreetly building and deploying a corporate police and martial force. The Cartel is a growing force in the known Galaxy. Those that take it lightly are learning to regret it. The Cartel is a great ally and an equally formidable and intractable enemy.

Agents of the Brotherhood of Iron recently made a BIG mistake. Thus began the Raider Redux Campaign.

[Kuokkanen]

Looks good and descriptions remind me about factions from other games, such as Brotherhood of Nod (Command & Conquer) and Crayven Corporation (Ground Control) + some more from sci-fi movies & books.

Have you had any talk with Milo about having Cartel, Brotherhood and their ships in Starshatter 6 yet? If not, you should! [:D]

[wdboyd]

Thanks. I have no knowledge or experiance with Command & Conquer or Ground Control.

The Cartel is my own brainchild that I attempted to fit into the Starshatter galaxy and my fleet modding efforts. [:D]

No, I haven't presumed to contact Milo. [:'(]

Is there a Starshatter 6 in the works?

[Tophat1815]

 In your Mod can ship point-defence turrets engage incoming missles? Taking time to post in between shoveling a Ton of snow that has decended on us in cleveland. Might even do another training mission,I so hate to land fighters in the fighterbays!

[wdboyd]

Negative. Missiles seem to be invisible to PD weapons. A player in a figher/attack craft could probably destroy a inbound missile if it could be spotted in time and the craft was close enough.
 
Our decoy flairs can draw missiles away from our craft. Perhaps creating a defensive weapon system that shoots out something like them, far enough away from a ship, could cause the missiles to miss. Um... just though of that. I wonder! [;)]

[Master_QG]

....been thinking of that myself. Sort of like a submarines defenses.

[wdboyd]

[:D] Great minds think alike.

[wdboyd]

The new Lance missile model.

This is a new and advanced cruise missile that can be uses versus ships and ground targets. There won't be as many of them but they pack a bit more punch.

[Kuokkanen]

ORIGINAL: wdboyd

Is there a Starshatter 6 in the works?

Milo better answer to that one.

What comes to missiles, try create new defense weapon which can target all kinds of targets, set it to DEF mode and see what happens. I might try that myself. If it's no go, then modify existing missiles to torpedoes. That should do trick.

[wdboyd]

"What comes to missiles, try create new defense weapon which can target all kinds of targets, set it to DEF mode and see what happens. I might try that myself. If it's no go, then modify existing missiles to torpedoes. That should do trick."
 
Been there, done that. Missiles are NOT a selectable target in the simulation, for AI anyway. Drones/Torpedoes are. Torpedoes, in the simulation, leave a lot to be desired versus anything other than a seriously damaged ships.

I doubt even attempting to develope such a defensive weapon. I don't really want to negate my Lance and CLance Cruise missiles do I?

Actually, I think it would be a good idea to have such a weapon if it isn't completly effective. A limited defense to such weapons would be acceptable.

[wdboyd]

Progress report. Almost all meshes have been updated for 5.0.1

Deffing of the new assault drop shop is 95% completed. Looks like the Cartel may be going on the offensive. Against whom? Much the topic here in my research facilities. I'm more concerned about that chili I ate for lunch. Oh well.

As indicted... there will be fewer Lance missiles in our ships inventories but the new version is a bit more capable.

The CLance is being updated also. Their availability will be affected a bit.

Just beteen you and me... I've been experimenting with a missile defense system for capital ships. Most challenging. he he... I'm trying to defeat my own creations.

After the new Pulsar is completed, work will begin upon missions to close out the first episode of the Raider Redux static campaign. The 5.0.1 version of the mod will then be released.

The main Cartel mod and a separate .dat for the campaign will be supplied. This way, one can obtain the campaign updates without having to re-download the entire mod. The main Cartel mod is currently a 26mb size bouncing baby boy. I digress.

Stay tuned for more updates. Professor Thadeaus Tween signing off.

[wdboyd]

Ground Based Assault Troop Headquarters. HQ building.

[Zanthras]

ORIGINAL: wdboyd

Just beteen you and me... I've been experimenting with a missile defense system for capital ships. Most challenging. he he... I'm trying to defeat my own creations.

In creating an effective poison one must always create the antidote as well, just in case somebody tries to use it against you.

[Tophat1815]

Just beteen you and me... I've been experimenting with a missile defense system for capital ships. Most challenging. he he... I'm trying to defeat my own creations.

Hope you have success here as the missle invincibility factor is my one major gripe. Though a defence against them should certainly not be 100% foolproof! [;)] I don't want too much do I?

[Tophat1815]

I like the HQ,but it could use abit of color? Redtrim door? Some words on it? Even a restricted area sign? Just "something",to give it that polished look. Sorry if i seem to be a nitpicker here!

[wdboyd]

Granted... the HQ is rather bland. But you know those assault troop types, bland is beautiful. [:'(]

Ingame, there are two large antenna on the rear post and two vanguard turrets on top.

It's an above ground armored bunker. It's not supposed to be pretty. [:D]

[wdboyd]

Ship construction update. Upcoming Cartel Kuhn class BATTLESHIP.

This monster is huge. There's a new sheriff in town.

[wdboyd]

CBS Kuhn

[wdboyd]

CBS Kuhn - Cartel Battle Ship Kuhn class



Some have asked, "Where does this thing dock?"

Hell, anywhere it wants. [:D]