Free Cal-Tex RE: [FH] IF, PAU, FSE and ESU

The fluff I use is based a bit further into the future than the 
formation...  And made some assumptions due to the group around here's
love 
of the SDN.

Quick run down of (admittedly my) FCT ships:
Break-away:  NAC ships, FCT crews.  Some minor varients.

First years:  In order to build their economy very quickly, mining, 
specifically asteroid, was adopted, and large amounts of autonomy and 
benefits (tax breaks, gov't funds, etc) were given to businesses. 
Larger 
vessels (Cruisers and higher) were purchased from NAC and NSL shipyards
as 
is.  Smaller ships, when possible, were built locally, or contracted out
to 
NAC and NSL shipbuilding yards, but with FCT specifications.  Merchant 
vessels were built locally, but in order to save costs, were armed so
that 
they wouldn't need large escorts.  This had the side effect of several 
merchant "wars" and pirating.  Many varients are seen here on ships of
all 
sizes, as refitting is easier and requires less resources than building.

Later years:  Ships built at FCT yards whenever possible, contracted out
to 
NAC and NSL yards but with FCT specs when necessary.  Merchant fleets
and 
piracy reigned in by military intervention whenever possible; However, 
Claim jumping, piracy, and the occasional merchant fight still occurs 
frequently.

I'll also note that my designs tend to mount P-torps where you would
find 
Class 3's on NAC and NSL ships, this being a first major refit of many
of 
those ships.  (I was looking for flavor, where ESU=big beams, NSL=slow 
tanks, FSU=Salvo's, and NAC=fast and beams, thus FCT=P-torps and medium
to 
fast speeds (5 is fleet average))

Rand.

At 04:51 PM 5/31/02 -0700, you wrote:

>--- Beth.Fulton@csiro.au wrote:
> > G'day,
>
> > FCT - Though lacking the experience, expertise and
> > sheer volume of resources
> > of the much larger powers, such as the NAC or ESU,
> > the FCT has carved out a
> > reputation as quite the protection force. Many of
> > its freighters and
> > research vessels are actually controlled by their
> > military and thus carry
> > rudimentary armament and go well escorted.
>
>Beth,
>      I would suggest that the FCT starts at the
>same level of experience and ability the NAC
>has when it is formed.   By necessity the newly
>formed FCT starts with NAC ships manned primarily
>by FCT loyal crews and then proceeds from that point.
>I completely agree with the freighters being a
>paramilitary force.
>
>Bye for now.
>John L.
>
>
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