Gateworld Virtual Fleet 4.0 - Discussion thread

[Gormagon]

Sheesh.... ill get you a fruit basket or an Asgard core or something next gift day.

BTW, nice new rank.

[Gormagon]

Deadly sunglasses
A directed energy weapon in the shape of Tau’ri sunglasses, they were developed after visiting the Tau’ri. These glasses were designed to fit inside Tau’ri society as Houjin have required no sunglasses (In the past theirs were shaped like visors.) outside of certain science experiments or severe environments for centuries.

The lenses incorporate focusing and emitting crystal layers. The sides of the glasses are the energy conduits and focusers. A power cell in the form of an ear bud is connected to the glasses via a “cord” that is actually high conductivity alloy wire insulated with advanced rubber.

Some rely on a physical touch to the side in order to be activated, others respond to electric signal consciously generated and directed by a Houjin.

The powercell comes fully charged, but it can be supplemented with bio-electric and thermal energy.

Upon activation a discharge of energy leaves the centers of the lenses. It is a highly focused pinpoint beam. Not very powerful but it can be deadly if it hits the targets heart or brain.

Any thoughts?

[Crazy Tom]

I wonder what the occasion is...

[StargateWatcher]

I wonder what the occasion is...

You mean why Gorm plans to gift a fruit basket or Asgard Powercore?

BTW, Tom--I recall a while ago you mentioned you enjoyed and had read much of the Honor Harrington space opera novel series. I got into it much after that, and I'm not as enthused as I first was, but enjoyed the ride.

[thekillman]

Well, the only real point of interest is the timeline and the map. but i'm not overly enthusiastic about the content or anything.

[thekillman]

This is roughly what i've developed on the Machai:

The Machai.
Closest Earth Equivalent: Reptile.
Diet: Carnivore

Technology: Late Fusion Era.
Ship Weapons Technology: Fusion Cannons, Nuclear missiles.
Personal Weapons Technology: Plasma
Shields: Mediocre (around early Goa’uld Ha’tak)
Hyperdrive: Slow (comparable to Tollan)
Engines: Fusion-based
Power Systems: Civil: Fusion. Military: Enriched fusion, Solid Naquahdah Reactors.
Capacitor Technology: Very Powerful.

Species: Machai
Races: Machai and Illad
Machai Distinctions:
Horns on the back of their head (2), reptile eyes, scales, come in a variety of colors.
Size: from 1.80 to about 2.20m
Relative Presence: about 80-90%
Illad Distinctions:
Horns on their forehead (2), reptile eyes, thicker scales, greater strength and endurance, come in a variety of colors, claws.
Size: From 1.70 to 2.30m.
Relative Presence: about 10-20%

Reproduction: Ovo-Viviparity. The female is fertilized, and retains the embryo for about a month before actually producing an egg.
Sex determination: ZW (Male: ZZ female: ZW)
Vision: Good (human-like)
Color Perception: Tetrachromat (mild UV receptivity).
Circulation: 4-chambered heart.
Metabolism: Ectotherm (cold blooded) with Gigantothermy (body temperature is higher than environmental temperature)
Respiration: Bird Lungs.
Skin: Scaled


History and culture:
The Machai lived in relatively peaceful coexistence with the Illad for many centuries, similar to Homo Sapiens and Homo Neanderthalis. However the Machai, being more of a “modern human” type eventually eradicated a large amount of Illad, and became the dominant species in a Roman Empire type of age. Known as the “age of foundation” by the Machai, it was the time around which a single dominant power of Machai rose to conquer, while building the foundations of their modern society. Although largely eradicated and nearly extinct on several continents, the Illad still existed and continued to develop, even peacefully interacting with the Machai. Nowadays the Machai’s equivalent of Africa is where most Illad live, in relatively poor circumstances. The distrust and discrimination has largely subsided, but still exists. Because of the racial difference between the Illad (also named Forehorns) and the Machai (also named Backhorns), intra-racial differences have never really been cause for war, unlike Earth’s Nazi regime or discrimination against other-cultured or other-colored.
The Machai male-female distinctions are much less obvious than for humans. This, combined with their reproduction system has ensured that females are on relatively equal level to males. Pregnancy is short-lived, namely about a month long, after which the embryo continues to develop in an egg. It is common for both males and females to care for the egg. The egg itself has a leathery surface.
Though the Machai grow a set of horns, cutting off the horns to stumps is their coming-of-age ritual. A Machai is considered mature when the horns are about 10cm long, which is at an age of about 17. They do not start growing until about the age of 12.
Machai come in many colors. This used to be region-dependent, but nowadays they are spread rather equally. Young Machai have the brightest colors, and the color becomes darker as the Machai gets older, ultimately fading to gray. Most Machai are mono-colored, though Teenagers and adolescents can get secondary skin patterns.




Technology:
The Machai are in the late fusion era. Naquahdah is scarce in their home system, which is why they still make extensive use of fusion. Naquahdah is mostly used as an additive to increase the power output, but this is mostly used for military applications. Solid naquahdah fission is used for combat power. Their reliance on fusion and the challenges it brings has led to the development of highly advanced capacitors and power storage units, and has ensured that their power systems are always properly protected.
As fusion is their main form of energy production, the Machai have constructed a local refueling network. They have only explored a handful of systems, and each now contains a gas-giant based refueling station, as well as the necessary mining equipment for naquahdah mining.
Their use of fusion in engines and weaponry has given the Machai a unique ability: Thrust can be sacrificed for additional power. This is especially noticeable in Machai fighters, as the effect is lessened with bigger ships.

[Gormagon]

How strong are the Machai compared to a standard human? And reaction times and such?

Their use of fusion in engines and weaponry has given the Machai a unique ability: Thrust can be sacrificed for additional power. This is especially noticeable in Machai fighters, as the effect is lessened with bigger ships.

True, but it would only be a relative power increase.

The Houjin use a combination of thorium fission reactors and fusion reactors for Civil power.

[thekillman]

True, but it would only be a relative power increase.

?

How strong are the Machai compared to a standard human? And reaction times and such?

i'd say a "Modal " Machai would be able to beat a trained, fit human.

In human terms: someone who works out a lot (but not extreme cases like high-end sportsmen) would be beaten by the average civillian Machai.

the same applies to the Illad: the average Illad beats a trained Machai.

that is: purely on strength. a human is probably more...nimble, is that the correct word? anyway, size can always be used against you. when intellect comes into the equation, it's all a matter of who versus who. An average Illad versus an average Machai would be, in terms of tactics AND strength, a very interesting match. Especially since Illad retained their claws while the Machai have something closer to nails than actual claws.

NOTE: Since the Machai are the dominant race, i called the species after them.

The Houjin use a combination of thorium fission reactors and fusion reactors for Civil power.

For the Machai, what Coal power is to us, is fusion to them. They'd still use biomass and solar power, along with hydro dams etc.



EDIT;

the Machai - Illad relationship is kind of how i imagine Homo Sapiens to have reacted to Homo Neanderthalis. Basically, it's a similar scenario, except for the Machai, their version of the Neanderthals never went extinct. Also, the Illad would not be the kind of dumb brawler, they're not as smart as the Machai on average, but that doesn't mean an Illad can't be smarter than a Machai.

EDIT 2 :

the reaction times would be similar to a human. the Machai do not use gene therapy outside of medical applications

[Gormagon]

The Houjin
Closest Earth Equivalent: Human
Diet: 95% herbivore 5% of diet includes fish

Technology: Late Fusion Era.
Ship Weapons Technology: Plasma lances and ballistic weapons
Personal Weapons Technology: Gas and E.M powered projectile rifles
Shields: Comparable to Goa'uld shields in damage absorption capabilities
Hyperdrive: Average
Engines: Innertialess drives or nuclear drives(Fission and fusion.)
Power Systems: Civil: Thorium fission and T/D Fusion. Military: Enriched fusion, L.N and H.L.N Naquahdah Reactors.
Capacitor Technology: Above average

Species: Human
Races: Houjin, Yuushuu and Kaizoku.
Houjin
Racial Distinctions: All Japanese descended. Disciplined, intelligent and reserved. Bio-engineered capabilities.
Size: from 1.5 to 2.0 meters
Relative Presence: 80%
Yuushuu
Racial distinctions: Isolated Utopians. Distrustful on non Yuushuu, want to be left alone. Highly advanced. But at what cost?
Size: Same as Houjin
Relative Presence: about 5%
Kaizoku
Racial distinctions: Many left over genetic pieces from ancestors with mental disorders. Violence, paranoia, sadism.
Size: Same as Houjin
Relative presence: 15%


Reproduction: Mammalian copulation or artificial insemination. Circumstances(Human) can vary depending on the individual.
Sex determination: F/M
Vision: Variable, all well above standard human level.
Color Perception: Variable
Circulation: 4-chambered heart. Basically human, but enhanced.
Metabolism: Endothermy (warm blooded) with the ability to regulate own metabolism and body temperature.
Respiration: Enhanced human lungs
Skin: Human, lightly furred. Enhanced nerves.

History

http://gwvf.wikia.com/wiki/Arata_Houjin'oukoku

[thekillman]

Shields: Comparable to Goa'uld shields in damage absorption capabilities

what kind?

Sex determination: F/M

The correct one is X/Y. Or: Sperm determines sex.

ZW determination is that the egg cell determines sex.

[Gormagon]

the correct one is X/Y. Or: Sperm determines sex.

Oops duh lol.

Not really sure how to gauge the shields really. They can handle non Anubis Goa'uld weaponry easily. Nuclear bombardment. Plasma lances. Physical impact. Anubis weapons drained their shields quickly, and as the percents dropped a percentage of the plasma shots started getting through.

[thekillman]

They can handle non Anubis Goa'uld weaponry easily.

Well it seems like Goa'uld shields got stronger as time went by. The ship facing Sokar's mothership in "enemies" would be destroyed in 6 shots with shields at full power. later on it seemed like the Ha'tak got stronger, until Anubis came along and set a new bar.

Machai shields are comparable to early Ha'tak shields. They can hold their integrity pretty long, probably better than the equivalent Goa'uld shields.

As to weapons, well i'll touch on that in the next chapter, might even post that part as a teaser for chapter 8.

[Gormagon]

Does any agree that the first season of SG-1 is one of the best? Its got some really cool episodes.

7-10 are more "fluffy" then 1-6. 1-6 are hard core scifi, 7-10 are more fantasy. Well, I would say 7 is the intermediate where the fluff starts degrading and 8 is were the real fluffy starts.

[thekillman]

I consider Moebius to be the last "real" episode. s9 and s10 have little rewatch value for me. S7 is kind of the "final battle" season, 8 is more the "aftermath".

Anyway, yea kind of a teaser for Chapter 8 of Shadow of the Light:

Spoiler:

****
A Machai commander named Chiar stood on the bridge of the carrier. It was rather small, without windows. Five large screens displayed large amounts of information, while acting as windows. They displayed a planet, and the space around it. One of the screens suddenly changed to a face: Vano.
“The Jaffa fleet is incoming. Prepare for battle.”
Chiar turned to the screen, his hands on his back and in a relaxed stance.
“Copy that, as your kind puts it. Any word from the Destiny?” he asked.
Vano sighed. “No, nothing yet.”
Vano checked the clock. “They'll be here any second now.”
The Machai commander turned to face another screen. It bleeped, and a blue circle appeared. The screen zoomed in on the blue circle, showing a hyperspace window. Several Al'kesh had already dropped out, and Ha'tak began to drop out in quick succession.
One of the screens flickered, then displayed a Jaffa face.
“This is the 6th Attack Squadron. You are outnumbered and outmatched. Surrender now and your lives will be spared.”
The transmission was cut off, and the Chiar looked at the screen, once again displaying a part of space.
“Target the ship where that came from. Power the main weapon,” he commanded.
The screens switched to display the Jaffa fleet, and a blue targeting circle appeared.
“The plasma beam cannon is powered and ready, commander,” a Machai officer announced.
“Fire,” the commander replied. One of the screens switched to a gun-camera feed, and a brilliant beam of plasma was fired from somewhere under it. After a few seconds, it struck a far-away target, apparently setting it ablaze.
“Results?” the commander asked.
“Results coming in now. Weapon was... not effective. I am not detecting any fluctuations,” the same Machai officer replied.
“Fire again,” commander Chiar said.
Again the weapon fired, and a brilliant beam shot out. The entire Ha'tak disappeared in a halo of plasma, but seconds later it re-appeared and seemed unharmed.
“Weapon is still ineffective. No damage to target.”
The Machai Commander looked at the screens, baffled. His mouth was half-open, and he didn't seem to understand.
“That is the most current weapon technology we have. How can it NOT be effective?”
“I do not know commander. Our sensors show no indication that it had an effect, sir,” the officer replied.
Suddenly, the craft shook heavily, and the screens showed the Jaffa fleet firing at the Machai Carrier.
****

[Gormagon]

Well bye bye Machai carrier.

Anubis upgraded shields?