Excerpt from The Burma Air Campaign December 1941-August 1945 by Michael Pearson
Spitfire Mk Vs at last began to appear in an operational role and much was expected of
them. Up to this time the twin-engine Mitsubishi Ki-46 Dinah reconnaissance aircraft
employed by the JAAF had flown with impunity over Allied territory, its service ceiling
and maximum speed too much for Hurricanes and other Allied fighters. However, in
November 1943 Spitfires from 615 Squadron RAF based at Chittagong shot down four
Dinahs from the 81st Hikosentai in quick succession and the news spread rapidly through
the entire Allied command, providing a tremendous boost for morale as it did so.
The unexpected loss of their reconnaissance aircraft was a blow to 5th Hikoshidan but
also gave them some indication of the power and performance of the new Allied fighter.
Despite losses in aircraft and experienced pilots 81st Hikosentai continued missions in the
Calcutta area and reported a large concentration of some sixty merchant vessels in the
harbour – a target too good to miss. Wary of the Spitfires the JAAF attack formations
planned a route well to the south of the Chittagong airfields at which they were based,
while 8th and 34th Hikosentai (20 and 15 light bombers respectively) accompanied by
50th and 33rd Hikosentai (27 and 20 fighters respectively), plus 5 Dinahs of the 81st
Hikosentai, carried out raids in the Chittagong, Silchar and Feni areas to keep the new
fighters busy and off balance.
+Break+
Lockheed/CBM was the corporation that I had used to gain access to the Eagle R6 design. All it took was a bit of money so that wasn't a big deal.
The problem now, was the fact that this representative was here and talking about royalties or something.
I had no idea what the hell he was on about, I bought the rights, quite simply, with money. All of them.
There was literally no room for interpretation there given how fast they were willing to fob them off on me.
it was right in the contract and, best of all, verbally confirmed and recorded.
Actually, you know what.
Fuck 'em.
I could gain a boost to my RP with an economic treaty with L/CBM, but this was just plain arrogance.
It was plain old insulting.
The solution then was simple.
Fuck 'em.
I'll work with someone else.
"I will not be paying royalties or anything of the like. I have a signed contract here, I buy the rights to the Eagle R6 from Lockheed/CBM for a price of 2 Million Kroner. This right includes the ability to reproduce the design contained within and to sell this to any customer of my choosing without consulting Lockheed/CBM. Lockheed/CBM agrees to withdraw all management and exclusivity rights in exchange for the 2 Million Kroner being paid in cash. This is your contract signed by all members of your board. Kindly fuck off." I said, my mouth moving to assert my control over the design and its factory line.
"You need to understand that Lockheed/CBM own the rights to the Eagle regardless of the contract and the board needs to be satisfied if you wish to keep the design within your Utility Corporation." The representative whos name had already left my mind said the lie without a change in his expression.
The absolute gall of these fuckers.
My own mouth and my own desires had managed to insert themselves in there at the end of that, but I wanted to say more when he retorted with further stupidity.
I was gaining control of my own body. Or rather, learning how to move my body in accordance with the System to add in my own opinions and flourishes.
It till ran supreme of course, but I was still, marginally, minorly, in control. Which did wonders for morale honestly.
I walked out of the room, calling for security to escort the moron out.
Outside I met with three individuals that I felt infinitely better about.
In fact, my mouth was already moving.
"Gentleman and ladies, I am Huu Vu, CEO and chief designer of Utility Industries. I am here to offer you a ground floor offer to build a licensed copy of my Jumpships. Included of course is all the design work to ensure that you will have a working factory in a year's time. I will guarantee a completed production line and a ship rolling off your production line within a year."
The representative of Shipil Company which produced 3 Overlords a year, a representative of Bowie Industries that produced dropships and aerospace among their other products, and the CEO himself of TharHes that wasn't… doing anything except missiles and targeting packages right now.
But that would change, for all of them.
Fuck Lockheed/CBM.
Let's spread the Irrawaddy as far and wide as I can why don't I?
+Break+
Michael Wellby, CEO of TharHes recognised that expression.
It was the expression of someone that wanted to put a fist through something.
"What exactly are you offering?" He said as the highest ranked of the guests of this Huu Vu and his Utility corporation. They had come at the recommendation of Duke Brewer of Defiance Industries.
There was something here that they definitely needed to see in his words.
It would be even better if they signed an agreement with the man as soon as possible.
With those two sentences, a great many corporations had sent representatives to meet the enigmatic new industrialist of the Commonwealth.
Only to find out that he wasn't justan industrialist.
In the course of a year and a two months he had gone from nothing at all to 10 factories. 5 of which were producing Battlemechs or Aerospace, the others being easily convertible to military roles.
All of this being done over the course of a year and a bit.
Michael would be completely stupid to treat the man as anything except the second coming of the Star League.
Something the Lockheed/CBM representative had not done given the man's expression as security pulled him out of the room.
"I am offering my assistance to expand your factory lines to new machines. I am also offering new jumpship models to be produced at your factories. Assuming my plans are followed and proper staffing is acquired, each line will be able to produce a jumpship every 10 months. The Irrawaddy and Margaret Class will take 10 months each. The Una will take 13 months." Huu's facial expression remained in a permanent frown, his voice filled with anger, and yet, the way he spoke was as if he was presenting something for sale to them.
The juxtaposition was wild.
"Judging from Utility Mountain, I can say with certainty that we would like your assistance very much with the production of a new line of hardware. I certainly would like assistance given I have been given the imperative to produce Crusader Battlemechs. However, I think some clarification in understanding what these jumpships are would be appreciated." Michael said, the other representatives filtering into the room nodding as he spoke.
The men and women representing industrial concerns from across the Lyran Commonwealth coming to see what the commotion was.
The pre-planned individual meetings had gone the way of the dodo the Lockheed/CBM representative had shat the bed so badly.
"Then follow me, the production lines will naturally be in space, but I can show you what will begin construction next week." The CEO of Utility Corporation was now smiling, as if the previous rage had never existed.
+Break+
So it was that the men and women representing industrial concerns from across the Lyran Commonwealth stood ready to be wowed by this new industrialist in this newest and biggest expansion yet.
Expansion into the realm of jumpships that the Inner Sphere as a whole was slowly losing production of as wear and tear wore them down.
Jessica, Captain in the Lyran Free Trader's Association, glanced to her left and right.
A free captain in the LyFrTr she was, well, not the most qualified for this.
But the fact that so many industrialists were coming here, mainly at the recommendation of Duke Brewer of Defiance meant that she couldn't afford not to come.
Not when she was looking to see if there was anything that might expand the purchasing power of the LyFrTr and allow it to expand into new markets.
That was what they existed for after all, all 300 captains that had joined together for the purpose of expanding their network of trading partners.
Still.
As the group walked past the plinths showing off the various production lines of the Utility Corporation she couldn't help but think that someone from the Association should have arrived sooner to take a gander at the products on offer.
These Utes and 20 Ton Trucks (they really needed a better name), would have sold like, Rastaban Agricultural fresh produce (guaranteed fresh within 3 months of order!).
A fusion engine in something that cost 30,000 Kroner if shipped off-world?
Who wouldn't wish to purchase one, if only to park it somewhere to provide free electricity?
The 20 Ton could do a great deal indeed she thought, but that refurbisher advertisement had Jessica thinking that it would be important indeed to have a look at before she left.
They kept walking past, her eyes drawn to the Commando 1B on display, the Griffin 1S, and the… ah.
That was why the Lockheed/CBM representative had been ejected.
No doubt he had known about the Eagle R6 and panicked.
Lockheed/CBM owned 90% of the market for Aerospace craft after all.
They had likely sold the rights as they usually had, unconcerned that someone would be able to actually build the things in the degraded industrial environment of 2992.
Nobody else had in 300 years.
But, well, someone had managed to build and they were now panicking.
Their greed had bitten them on the ass, that much was clear.
Then he had no doubt gotten aggressive to limit the production of the Eagles, and, well, it hadn't gone well for him.
That was, of course, when they walked into the next hall and their mouths dropped open.
There wasn't an actual Jumpship in here, but there were 3 very realistic looking scaled models.
Her eyes scanned over the closest one quickly, her jaw dropping slightly as she did.
It, it really did have 20 weapons on each arc of fire. AC/2s, Large Lasers and PPCs.
Her eyes darted to the sides.
Those around her had their jaws dropped as well, their subconscious control of their facial muscles relaxing as their minds tried to process what was in front of them.
"We have 3 combat production models, a triad if you will, and one cargo jumpship model that is about to enter production." Huu said as he turned to face them.
His mouth had been chattering away prior to this, all about what they were seeing and how much work had gone into each.
That light hearted tone had vanished and in its place was the proclamatory voice of a prophet.
"The Irrawaddy, the Margaret, and the Una."
"From Burma?" A voice from the side interrupted and Huu grinned widely instead of remonstrating the one that had interrupted him.
"Yes. From Burma. The Irrawaddy, the Margaret, the Una, and the DC3 will form the base of any self sustaining expeditionary fleet. Designed on the same principles of the Burma campaign from the wars on Terra, these vessels will carry the fight to the enemy and ensure the Commonwealth can support a fight anywhere, anywhen." The room oohed appreciatively, if cynically. They had heard these speeches before. The difference this time being that this was being said by someone who was putting his money where his mouth was.
"The Irrawaddy will be the supply mainstay of any combat force that needs it. 100,000 tons, armed enough to fight off anything short of a carrier force, mounting 100 tons of capital grade armour and a safe thrust of 2Gs, 8 Aerospace bays for self defence and 4 small craft bays for transport, 20 light years of jump capability, the Irrawaddy has a cargo capacity of 8200 tons. It will cost $4 Billion Kroner at retail and take 15 months to build. The blueprints for the Irrawaddy and the factory line to produce her are available."
The first of the vessels was pointed at before his hands waved to the next one. Granted, they all looked identical, the only difference being their innards apparently.
"This is the Margaret. Unlike the Irrawaddy she only has 1300 tons of cargo capacity. This is because unlike the Irrawaddy, the Margaret has switched that cargo capacity for space to carry 54 Aerospace craft in a carrier role. Everything else remains, including her weaponry and thrust. Again, the blueprints and factory line are available."
The third of the jumpships was indicated.
"The final of the triad is the Una. The Una has a safe thrust of 3 gravities and a maximum thrust of 5. Mounting an additional 20 tons of armour at 120 tons of capital grade armour, with the same amount of firepower as her kin, the Una is designed to get in close with enemy vessels and destroy them with overwhelming firepower. Again, the blueprints and factory line are available."
His eyes turned away from the crowd captivated by his words.
"Each will have enough space for 100 marines to capture and seize enemy vessels. They are designed to fight a war in close with the enemies of the Lyran Commonwealth, or to protect our traders as they venture forth into the stars and face the threats unknown to all. For today and today alone, so long as an economic resource sharing agreement is signed, I will make the designs of all three available to you as well as to assist with the design of their drydocks."
Jessica felt her eyes widen.
From anyone else that would be unnecessary. From the man who had created Utility Mountain in a year and two months… that was a truly generous offer indeed.
"A Star Lord only costs 1 and a half billion at retail however, why would we need something with a fraction of its jump capacity?" A voice came from the side of the room.
"Because you can build these now and in number." The voice silenced the room.
That was true.
The number of jumpships was barely stable because of a few crippled lines.
If they managed to build new jumpships, even as crippled as these were… it would be an enormous difference.
"There is also the fact that the fourth of the ships, the one that the Triad will be protecting is also on sale. This is the transport ship to the other fighting ships. The DC3 Jumpship. 20 Light Years of jump range. A safe thrust of 2. 4 AC/2s per arc for self-defence against fighter craft. 20, 715 tons of cargo. 1 Docking Hardpoint. All in at 200,000 tons. A cost of 7 Billion C-bills. But most importantly of all, a construction time of 4.5 months, subject to change depending on modifications as specified."
She needed one.
She was sure, that they could adjust the firepower, but the ability to prosecute her cargo deliveries would completely change the market structures of the Inner Sphere. Who would dare try and pirate her cargo when she had the firepower of an Una or Margaret? Or the sheer mass of the DC3?
"For those worried about the cost, please be aware that we are looking at primitive jumpship cores which are not properly calibrated to work with the modern costing systems. The actual cost will be lower due to the lower amount of Germanium needed for the core. Actual costs will be much lower."
Jessica felt herself needing to put in the orders immediately.
Or.
Better yet, get the designs and start building them herself.
The Association would reward her handsomely, true, but more importantly, the sheer freedom it offered was unmatched. She couldn't imagine the freedom that such craft would bring.
She wanted one, she wanted one immediately.
Any of them, even the fighting ships.
+Break+
Excerpt from Defeat Into Victory by Field Marshal William Slim
In our difficulties we turned our eyes hopefully to water transport. We
now held a stretch of the Chindwin and hoped soon to be on the
Irrawaddy. Apart from the perils of navigation, especially on the
Chindwin, there was one serious obstacle to the use of these rivers as
our line of communication—we had no boats. Most of the shipping on
the Chindwin we had sunk ourselves during the Retreat and since by air
attack; the remainder, the Japanese had destroyed or removed
downstream to the Irrawaddy. One hot day at the beginning of the
advance, I took Bill Hasted, my quiet-spoken Chief Engineer, a little
upstream of Kalewa and said, 'Billy, there's the river and there are the
trees,' pointing to the great forests within half a mile of the bank. 'In
two months I want five hundred tons of supplies a day down that river.'
He looked thoughtfully at the river and the trees, and then at me. 'The
difficult we will do at once; the impossible will take a little longer,' he
quoted from a saying in frequent use in the Fourteenth Army, and
added with a grin, 'For miracles we like a month's notice!' 'You're
lucky,' I answered, 'You've got two!'
But it was I who was lucky, lucky to have such a Chief Engineer. A few
weeks later when I revisited the site, along the river bank, humming
with activity, there was a mass production boat-building yard. Hasted's
engineers, reinforced by I.W.T. construction companies flown in from
India and by local Burmese labour, were turning out boats by the dozen
from teak logs dragged in from the forest by 'Elephant Bill's' Fourteenth
Army elephant companies. The boats were not graceful craft; they
looked like Noah's Arks without the houses, but they floated and carried
ten tons each. Three of these, lashed together and decked, made a very
serviceable raft that would carry anything up to a Sherman tank.
Building these dumb barges was no mean achievement—we launched
several hundred of them—but the real problem was to provide power
craft to tow them. A.L.F.S.E.A. came to our rescue by flying in outboard
engines, marine petrol engines and even small motor tugs in parts
which were put together on the river bank. Tank transporters, borrowed
from our armoured units, went back and brought motor launches from
railhead at Dimapur—a nightmare drive, described by an indignant
tank commander as 'the prostitution of transportation'. Kalewa, its
quays rebuilt, was restored to its former position as a considerable river
port.
+Break+
Total RP Turn 10 2991 + 1 Year 2 Months
36 RP 12×3 Ute Factory - 3x1.5 Regiments per Factory per Turn (108 vehicles)
24 RP 12×2 20 Ton Utility Truck Factory - 2x1.5 Regiments per Factory per Turn (108 vehicles)
32 RP 16×2 Commando 1B Factory - 2x7.5 Battlemechs per turn
24 RP 12×2 Griffin 1S Factory - Newly Built - 2×5 Battlemechs per turn
~12 RP 12×1 Eagle R6 Factory - Being Built~
~12 RP 12×1 Irrawaddy Factory - Being Built~
~12 RP 12×1 Margaret Factory - Being Built~
~12 RP 12×1 Una Factory - Being Built~
~24 RP 12×2 DC3 Factory - Being Built~
RP Bonus Calculation = 0.8 (Indytech 3) + 0.3 (Lyran Bonus) + 0.1 (Economic Treaty) = 1.2
Total RP = 116×1.2 = 139.2