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Chapter 90 - A Long Journey[]
8 November 2787
Mackolla (Federated Suns)
Mackolla Mining and Metals finally had all 32 CNC machines installed and fine-tuned by several of Trimble Precision technicians. The first banks had been inserted and after an hour of milling they had produced 32 tons of Gauss ammunition. It only took ten minutes to extract the completed rounds and insert new blanks. Each CNC machine could mill eight Gauss rounds at a time. During testing, they had sent several of the completed rounds to be test fired but also certified that they were exactly to SLDF specifications in all respects. The only difference is they were packed into wooden crates instead of the specially designed containers the SLDF used, but Buhallin Military Products was working on duplicating those.
As long as nothing went wrong, within 24 hours they will have manufactured 256 tons of Gauss ammunition valued at just over five million. By the end of the month the ammunition produced would be worth just under 118 million when it would be offered to the AFFS.
Across the way, Newhart Industries rolled out the very first completed TRN-3Tb2 Trident which would sell for 2.5 million per copy. Fitted with an XL engine, coated in 4.5 tons of Ferro Aluminum armor, 10 Double Heat Sinks, mounting a Medium Pulse Laser in the nose and a standard medium laser in each wing. While it still only carried 4 tons of fuel, it was meant as a fast interceptor and point defense fighter. Low armor had always been a complaint, and this new design doubled the amount of armor carried.
Trimble Precision Machinery had finally completed the production equipment for Blow/Hookson Technologies, and it was currently being installed in their new factory complex. While not all the equipment desired, it put three production lines for the Zero ZRO-116b back into production. While their factory had been destroyed, Blow/Hookson had been smart enough to keep complete design specifications for both the ZRO-114 and ZRO-116b in a separate location. Once operational they expected to be able to manufacture a dozen per month in total which was valued at 3.5 million per fighter. These were destined for their own forces and after the first production run, they would switch to the ZRO-114 to sell to the AFFS valued at 1.6 million per fighter.
Trimble Precision Machinery was starting work on Froy Industries equipment to boost ammunition production of standard LRM, Artemis LRM, standard SRM, Artemis SRM, LBX/10 standard and LBX/10 Custer rounds. Gerald Mitchell had ordered everything else put on hold until Trimble Precision had built ten complete manufacturing lines for each type and the work was not slated to be completed until June 2788 at the earliest. As the main supplier for Froy Industries, they had all their equipment specifications on hand, and it was fairly easy to begin the work. One of Trimble's manufacturing lines had been dedicated to reproducing their own equipment to expand their operation with additional lines.
Imbrial III (Federated Suns)
Dropships carrying the 322nd Armored Division made their landings at the large space port outside planets capitol city. Once the all clear was sounded, the doors were opened and the 322nd Armor Division began the task of unloading all their equipment. General Samuel Mitchell wasted no time in locating the commander of the Planetary Guard.
"General Samuel Mitchell, 322nd Armor Division. You are?"
"Colonel James Buchannan. I was told to expect you and that you would be in overall command. I have an Armor Regiment and three Infantry Regiment at your disposal."
"No regular AFFS forces?"
"No, sir. The news we have been hearing is not good at all either. The DCMS seems to be kicking the crap out of anything standing in its path too."
"Its what I have heard too. Well, all we can do is try and kick them in the teeth good and hard. Hopefully the AFFS will wake up and deploy some regulars to help us out. No Aerospace forces?"
"No, sir, not a single fighter."
"The hits just keep on coming. Well, I am not going to risk losing my Dropships or Jumpships here. Once we are unloaded, I will be sending them away to somewhere I hope is safe. I can always call them back if I need to. But right now, I want to get a good lay of the land and figure out how to deploy my forces."
"We can use a shuttle for some fly overs sir. There is some good defensive ground but it might leave us exposed. You will just have to see it for yourself."