For as long as there has been human civilisation, there has been competition, cooperation, rivalry and wars. For all the great heights our ancestors carried us to, they could fall greatly as well. Their legacies, whatever works and scraps their successors manage to gather, will lead to the next great heights, and so the great and eternal cycle shall continue.
From the cradle in Sumeria to the poleis of Ancient Greece, the great empires of the classical period, the feudal mediaeval kingdoms, the competing early modern proto-states, the great imperial powers of the 19th century, and the ideologically charged nation-states of the later eras. Throughout it all, there has been one truth: man can never unify with himself unless the situation would become truly dire.
And so it was; with the coming of interstellar travel would come an era of unity and prosperity. The next two and a half millennia would be a time of great bliss for all of humanity, one where man would come into contact with the alien life that had so greatly captured man's imagination. There would be friendships, there would be wars, and above it all else, there was adventure and advancement. The federation would proudly uphold and exalt its democratic values and would help to share these values with whoever wished to listen.
But all good things must come to an end. And a great malaise would come over this once-great republic. Economic downturns, rampant piracy and a variety of technological setbacks would lead to several successful but costly wars with the alien species, costing man both his neighbours and whatever few friends he had left.
Man was once more alone, something he had better not have been. What followed was half a millennium of coups, secessions, and civil wars. There would be no recovery, not this time. A galactic dark age would descend upon all of humanity, as attempts to recapture something of the past came and went.
By the time you were born, semblances of states had been in place for a while.
The Pan-Solar Empire of Humanity now rules over the largest rump state in the vicinity; it formally claims dominion over all of humanity, though these pretences are often forgotten, even by their own emperors.
You were fortunate enough to be born into a prosperous position among the lower nobility. Your father was, in his time, an able and diligent gentleman who made his career in the civil service, a career he finished with a large estate covering a continent and the title of baron.
He was also a shrewd investor too and kept many connections with the imperial government over the years. Perhaps that is why you were eventually selected for the post on that fateful day.
Your youth was one of idle leisure and gifted study; no matter what happened, as your father's eldest son, you could always fall back upon the idle life of a country gentleman.
>>6219717 (OP)Still, the comfort of rural life was something you figured you could fall back into later on in life; after attending a prestigious boarding school, you:
>Studied economics at a prestigious university and bounced between banking and merchant shipping.>Joined the Imperial army as an officer, seeing much of the galaxy's planets both on the front and in policing actions on the frontier.>Became a naval officer instead, from where on you were assigned to hunt pirates and smugglers.>You studied politics and government, and then you worked for the civil service like your father did.>Always more of a hobby of yours, you studied history and worked a while as a professor.
reinhard
md5: eb65444cc82e19d7463b802e5631a451
🔍
>>6219717 (OP)>Became a naval officer instead, from where on you were assigned to hunt pirates and smugglers.Time to conquer the known universe.
>>6219718>>Studied economics at a prestigious university and bounced between banking and merchant shipping
>>6219717 (OP)>Became a naval officer instead, from where on you were assigned to hunt pirates and smugglers.Nice. Space version. Let's see where this goes Adelhorst.
>>6219718>Joined the Imperial army as an officer, seeing much of the galaxy's planets both on the front and in policing actions on the frontier.
The Imperial Navy is the largest employer of sailors within the nation. With a tradition dating back to the time of Emperor Ulrich the Great, this former admiral-turned-warlord-turned-emperor is considered the founder of the empire, and as such is considered the senior service between it and the army. From its headquarters in the capital on Neuschwanstein, it coordinates, plans and administers the navy. It was here you received your higher education; you learnt much here about logistics, strategic planning and naval combat, as well as more advanced subjects such as marine boarding actions, suppressing piracy and assisting the army in orbital landings.
You made friends here, enemies too, but not all of them would come back later. Right out of the bat, you were first assigned as a staff officer on a corvette, though you were quickly transferred to a frigate assigned to a piracy task force, where you made a name for yourself before being transferred to do staff work at the naval staff and the admiralty, as most unfortunately, by the time you made commodore, there was once more an uneasy peace between the powers.
That's not to say you would spend most of your life waiting for your superiors to either die or retire, as you were still in your mid-twenties; nepotism and patronage can be very useful if you know how to cultivate it, and the armed forces are rife with it.
As of right now, you are serving with the imperial naval navigation agency. Due to the way FTL travel works, it often takes a few days to get from one system to the other. Traversing the empire can take up to two years in a fast ship. This, combined with the fact that navigation computers can't handle great distances, has meant that most human states can't reach beyond what is known as the Eärendil Nebula. Most astrologers agree that it formed in the new dark age and that it has effectively boxed up humanity in a small corner of the galaxy. That was, until now.
In recent years, there have been rediscoveries in interstellar travel; for the first time in many centuries, humanity can once more reach out into places it once thought permanently lost. For the empire, the main route towards this new frontier is through a gap in the nebula known as the Gate of Roland, where, on the other side, the Neues Land awaits.
You were just about to leave your office for your afternoon stroll and lunch when a runner approaches you.
''Herr Kommodore''
File first name:
>Franz>Siegfried>Lothar>Maximillian>Reinhard>Johannes>Write-inFile last name:
>von Rauschenbach>von Grünwald>von Schotterfeld>von Katzbach zu Lippstadt>von Fürstenburg>van den Gerstenveld tot den Yssel>Write-in.>>6219719 This is coincidentally the only anime I ever watched from start to finish.
>>6219764>Johannes>van den Gerstenveld tot den YsselPersonally, If we are to become any type of Admiral, it should be BITTENFELD.
>>6219764>>Lothar>von SchotterfeldRename the show to 'Everyone Loves Oberstein'
>>6219764>Siegfried>van den Gerstenveld tot den Yssel
>>6219778Are you insane? Voting for Siegfried is basically suicide.
>>6219764>Maximillian>van den Gerstenveld tot den Yssel
>>6219764>Maximillian>van den Gerstenveld tot den YsselA long name means success
>>6219764>Reinhard>van den Gerstenveld tot den Yssel
>>6219764>Maximillian>van den Gerstenveld tot den YsselGot to love maximalism. We may be in the far future, but that doesn't mean we can't be a futurist.
>>6219764>Reinhard >von Iserlohn>>6219779If only Siegfried were here...
>>6219764>>Write-in>Stiener>von Oberstein
''Herr Kommodore van Gerstenveld tot den Yssel, the director of the navigation agency, wishes to see you in his office immediately.''
A change of plans, it would seem. The director of the agency, Admiral von Lausitz, typically doesn't like waiting. While being led through the halls, you can't help but feel the anachronisms. Here is a navy that drapes itself in things such as anchors, sextants, and other maritime motifs, in spite of the fact that actual naval warfare on the water has largely been relegated to the past. Yet the batons, the bicorns and other remnants of a time when a ship had sails, not engines, remain.
The runner knocks two times on the door before leading you into Admiral von Lausitz's study. The door is closed behind you, as you are left alone with the admiral and an even older fellow.
''Von Grestenfeld, have a seat. (Most people make a mistake when spelling your name.) This gentleman here is from the colonial and settlement commission. And he is here for you.'' the admiral explained
The admiral himself is as he has always been, with a long face, a neutral expression, and hair that is in three different stages of greying.
''Ahem, Herr von Grestenfeld, by decree of his imperial majesty, the emperor Franz the fourth. You have been selected for a very rare honour, as you are well aware; our colonisation efforts on the other side of the nebula are in full swing. However, with the instability of the gates of Roland, we are not certain whether we can maintain an ordinary administration of the area; therefore, we are reviving the old mark system. You are to be invested and anointed by the emperor as a new margrave. The enfeoffment is scheduled at the end of the month. You shall also be promoted to vice admiral, and likewise, you receive three colonelships, as well as their proprietorship.''
Ah yes, the army – more like two armies – the proper imperial army, which includes the guards regiments and most of the heavier and well-equipped regiments. And the private regiments owned by the aristocrats, who are responsible for clothing, feeding and partially paying them. The wording seems to suggest you will get the latter and that you will have to raise them yourself.
''Now, I am sorry, but I am a naval officer. I am unfamiliar with the finer details of terrestrial warfare.'' You offer a mild objection, so as not to offend this fellow.
''Now, now, not to worry, aside from the navy, the army, and the marines, there will also be a selection of scientific and other civilian volunteers to accompany you. Primarily engineers, biologists, archaeologists, and all those other kinds, as well as freshly selected settlers and colonists from among the populace. The finer details will be handled by the admiral; I have other selected candidates to talk to."
>>6220327As soon as he had left, the admiral sat down back behind his desk. ''Bloody bureaucrats.'' He muttered, as he poured the both of you a brownish liqueur that smelt of herbs.
''Isn't it a bit early, sir?'' You asked.
''It's past noon; my brother is a lawyer, and he starts after the morning coffee. Trust me, it's never too early. Now let's get down to brass tacks. This will be a new kind of assignment, of the kind we haven't undertaken in a long time. It's most likely you must rely entirely on yourself; the other powers in the region most likely have their own corridors to escape our little region of the galaxy. To that end, you will be given the new experimental Kyffhausen-class ship, together with an escort. You will also be escorting the civilian section of the expedition. Together with a Krupp-class mobile factory space station, capable of producing missiles, torpedoes, starfighters and bombers and most other small things. You will have to build your own dockyard, so try not to damage or destroy your ships too early.''
He places a small holoprojector on the desk, which shows you some of the documents relevant to your new assignment.
''You will meet the liaisons from the other parties before the end of the week. On the small chance you encounter alien life of the sentient form, don't try to kill them; the science boys probably want to study both it and whatever society it lives in, and the government doesn't want you to wage a private war behind their back. Now if you would please turn that thing to the other section, you can see the world that has been assigned as your headquarters.''
As you pushed a button on the holoprojector, the world you would call home was revealed, and it is:
>A boreal mountain world, craggy and lakelike, with great mountains and green valleys.>A windy and wet oceanic world, the seas are grey and harsh, with only some rocky islands, which are rich in minerals.>Great steppes and pairies, only underbroken by deserts, forests and jungles on a pangea-like planet.>Write-in, just make it interesting.>You may also ask question to the admiral, if you have any.
>>6220332A boreal mountain world, craggy and lakelike, with great mountains and green valleys.
How long is the assignment
And
Why. To what end.
>>6220332>>A boreal mountain world, craggy and lakelike, with great mountains and green valleys.Ask for any detailed information regarding the system our world is in, neighbors, any particularly useful resources known to be in the area, things like that.
Any reason to suspect alien presence?
I'm trying to think of an interesting planet. A mountain world seems so...lame? I dunno, anons, don't you have any ideas?
>>6220332>A windy and wet oceanic world, the seas are grey and harsh, with only some rocky islands, which are rich in minerals.Minerals=Money.
>>6220332>Great steppes and pairies, only underbroken by deserts, forests and jungles on a pangea-like planet.Fuck it, Siberiaworld I guess.
>>6220332>A windy and wet oceanic world, the seas are grey and harsh, with only some rocky islands, which are rich in minerals.
>>6220332>A windy and wet oceanic world, the seas are grey and harsh, with only some rocky islands, which are rich in minerals.I'm this anon
>>6219987 and I think nautical struggles would be cool
>>6220332>A windy and wet oceanic world, the seas are grey and harsh, with only some rocky islands, which are rich in minerals.reject starship, return to bote
>>6220332>A boreal mountain world, craggy and lakelike, with great mountains and green valleys.
>>6220534Since no one is voting for steppeworld, I suppose i'll change to
>A windy and wet oceanic world, the seas are grey and harsh, with only some rocky islands, which are rich in minerals.Better than mountains, at least.
>>6220332>A windy and wet oceanic world, the seas are grey and harsh, with only some rocky islands, which are rich in minerals.Revive the High-Seas Fleet
>>6220332>A boreal mountain world, craggy and lakelike, with great mountains and green valleys.I want my mountain kingdom.
>>6220338>>6220503Supporting these questions.
>>6220332>>A boreal mountain world, craggy and lakelike, with great mountains and green valleys.
Because it is a close thing, and to make it more interesting, I will combine the mountain world and the ocean world with each other.
What appeared before you was not the most pleasant planet you had ever seen, though it at least wasn't as bad as the snow world you were once assigned to. The seas are grey and cover far more of the world than usual; there are about four or five big islands.
"This isn't the most hospitable world, but its position is good, and the underground is rich in minerals. I have been told that aside from the big islands, the population lives in towers on small craggy islets. The mountains and fjords on the bigger islands tend to protect those further inland from the harsher elements, though it still rains very often. There are giant fish and giant birds, some of which have been domesticated. Now, do you have any questions?''
''How long is the assignment supposed to be?'' You most certainly wouldn't want to spend your entire life on the frontier.
''As you know, the margrave title is for life; you can't quit that. As for the governorship that comes with it, for as long as it takes for us to stabilise a permanent route through the Gates of Roland.''
''And why? Why must we take it?''
''Why, you ask? Come now, Gerstfelden, we're not supposed to question our orders, but between you and me, it's because the Empire wants to expand, to gain an advantage over our rivals, and to deny them such opportunities; the court is afraid of a colonial scramble, and it wants boots on the ground. It is also believed that there might be lost technology, both from our predecessors and aliens, which might give us the upper hand." He explained.
''Anything else about the star system, its neighbouring systems, or anything about resources?''
''Probes have revealed about four gas giants, two asteroid belts, and five normal worlds; your world also has a moon. As for neighbours, your authority extends to most uninhabited neighbouring systems. Our central hub in the area is the trading world of Rolandstor; it is our most advanced colony and will remain outside your jurisdiction. If you encounter any of our other neighbours from this side of the colony, you are authorised to dispose of them if you think they aren't able to report back. I am afraid I can't help you with any resources, as that wasn't an objective of our scouting missions.''
''Any real reason to suspect an alien presence?''
Lausitz's face turns sour.
''A few years ago, a cousin of the emperor found a world full of primitive turtle-like xenos, currently in the Iron Age. The planet was declared a nature reserve, but the end result was a revival of interest in xenostudies. Now everyone and their grandma wants to see aliens; it's a load of bunkum, but if you do encounter them, make a photo or video and send it back here; it would make the more scientifically inclined member of the nobility happy.''
''Well, I suppose I should let you go now; after all, you have a lot to do, presumably. I'll have my secretary make certain your car is made ready.''
>>6221012You take the short way through the corridors and leave via a side door before descending the steps, saluting about three other officers along the way before coming to the black state car. Upon getting in, your chauffeur asks where you wish to go.
>To my father's townhouse, he is the political leader of our house, and as it is the season, he should be there.>To the officer's club, time for some drink and socialisation.>Follow the original plan and drive to the park.>Go to my apartment, I want to be alone fore now.
>>6221013>To the officer's club, time for some drink and socialisation.To meet our subordinates!
>>6221013>To the officer's club, time for some drink and socialisation.Some drinks before we're off to shithole zone.
>>6221013>To my father's townhouse, he is the political leader of our house, and as it is the season, he should be there
>>6221013>To my father's townhouse, he is the political leader of our house, and as it is the season, he should be there.
>>6221013>To my father's townhouse, he is the political leader of our house, and as it is the season, he should be there.
>>6221013>>To my father's townhouse, he is the political leader of our house, and as it is the season, he should be there.I'm sure he would be happy to see our advancement.
>>6221013>To my father's townhouse, he is the political leader of our house, and as it is the season, he should be there.
The chauffeur kicks down the pedal, causing the car to speed up as you ride through the streets. Through the long rows and parks that constitute the imperial capital. On the way there, you pass two statues, an imperial monument, the old triumphal arch and the supreme imperial court.
In truth, these buildings were built in such a way that they might have been built in the ancient cities of Vienna, Munich, Prague or Berlin. For while the earth itself has been lost to time, its legacy endures; by state decree, most architecture follows a set of strict guidelines regarding appearance. No glass skyscrapers, neon signs, or modern art installations are allowed within the city limits. The result is a seamless blend of old and new, where history and tradition coexist harmoniously with modern amenities and technology. There are exceptions, of course; the industrial section is a great mass of grey steel buildings. And there are a few landmark skyscrapers built in the traditional manner.
Gerstvelden house is one such house, a seven-storey terraced house upon a corner. Overlooking the Prinz Waldemarplatz, a medium-sized square centred around the equestrian statue of said prince.
You walk up to the front door and knock.
It is the valet who opens.
"Welcome back, young master. May I take your coat?'' The short and plump man asks.
You hand him your overcoat, your hat, and your sabre. Before moving up the stairs towards your father's favourite spot in the house, the library.
Much to your surprise, you find the room nearly dark; the curtains are closed, and only the fireplace is lit.
"I had a cataract removed this morning; the physician said I should not be exposed to too much light. At any rate, I should welcome you back.'' You find your father in a chair in the corner, smoking his pipe; he is coincidentally also wearing his favourite dark red smoking jacket.
"So, Father, I am here to tell you about my promotion, as well as my new assignment. It will be quite some time before I may see you again.''
''Yes, so I have been made to understand; if all goes to plan, you will outrank me in noble rank, but that is of little matter until now. Your mother didn't want to go, so she's still on the estate."
He takes the time to stuff some new tobacco into his pipe.
''Good stuff, this, genetically edited, no more health risks. But anyway, the thing is, I am fully aware of what is going on. In my time, I have made some enemies at court, and this new assignment was started as a way to kick you upstairs and away from the centre of power. So I have come out of retirement for this one last time. I can't enjoy the fruits of my labour if it is all undone before my time. So I pulled a few strings. The original assignment was just a governorship over one planet and command over three ships. Obviously, this couldn't do.'' He narrowed his eyes.
>The court?
>Oh, so no assassinations for now?
>How are my siblings?
>Write-in.
>>6221527>How are my siblings?
>>6221527>How are my siblings?
>>6221527>Write in: what are your enemies trying to do, and how do I fit into this? Any dangers I should be aware of?
I know it isn't necessary to backlink,
>>6220634 but I feel the need nonetheless.
>>6221527>How are my siblings?Family supercedes all, but...
>>6221665+1, political concerns can't be ignored.
''How are my siblings?'' You are the eldest of a family of four, three brothers, and a sister. In terms of seniority, it's you, your sister Karoline, your younger brother August and then your youngest brother Klemens.
''Oh, well, your sister is still seeing that Winneburg boy. I met him myself; he has recently been appointed to a higher court and told me he wanted to become either a minister of justice or a supreme court judge. As for your sister, she still works part-time at the teaching noble youths the piano.''
''August has been made a junior auditor at the central bank, and Klemens has been appointed as an assistant to the undersecretary of the Ministry of Colonial Affairs.''
Well, that at least satisfies your curiosity.
''Assistant to the undersecretary and a junior auditor?''
''Well, you started as a midshipman; you have to start somewhere. I started out as a senior clerk at the Ministry of the Interior before eventually becoming the vice-chancellor of the imperial chancellery.''
''What are your enemies trying to do, and how do I fit into this? Are there any dangers I should be aware of?'' Political plots aren't unheard of, and there have been a few instances of attempted assassinations in the past.
''What they are trying to do is to derail your career, as well as those of your siblings. So I struck back; my own network is now countering theirs. As soon as you are on the other side, they can't really reach you, and as the patents grant you privileges and obligations that are pretty watertight. It is supposed to be reassignment to a backwater, and with the original fleet assigned to you, it might as well have been. So I pulled some strings, and I talked with his majesty."
''You went to the Kaiser?''
"I had to go here for that cataract, so I might as well make myself useful. His majesty owes me a small favour or two, so I rearranged the orders somewhat, but be careful; as soon as they are privy to our plans, they will attempt to short-change you on supplies and whatnot. Though considering where you are going, that won't have much effect. I will do my best to foil and discover their plots, and I will try to inform you as soon as possible.''
The conversation went on for a while before you briefly excused yourself for a short restroom break. While you were cleaning your hands, you gazed into the mirror, and you saw:
>>6221722 I am going to try to experiment a little, creativity is encouraged, but I will retain creative to override if necessary in case it is too out of tone with the setting.
>post a picture of what you imagine Maximilian van Gerstenveld tot den Yssel is supposed to look like, general rules: germanic male, hairstyles that are allowed a from the 1830s to the early 1950s, nothing too long, facial hair is allowed, but must also be considered stylish within the first mentioned time period, you can also state eye and hair colour. Or you can choose to look like a younger version of your dad.
IMG_4282
md5: 4a628fca0180a334acb4037d15665982
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>>6221727This is the closest I could translate my image of Max into the slop machine.
>>6221727Hmm... I'll take a crack at doodling /ourguy/ if this hasn't been finalized by the time I get back home.
>>6221722Also
>"...So I pulled some strings, and I talked with his majesty."Damn, our connections are stacked. If we play our cards right we might manage to start a pocket empire and enrich the esteemed van Gerstenveld tot den Yssel line.
>>6221727I vote Mittermeyer.
>>6221754Waiting for this anon
>>6221831If we were to copy anyone it should be the Chad of Chads, Mecklinger
>>6221754I've finished a tentative doodle. I should digress, I have zero artistic skill.
>>6221727>Maximilian van Gerstenveld tot den Yssel is, in a word, broad. Broad-shouldered, broad-faced, and broad-smiling, just a tad more than polite custom dictates appropriate. He's larger than his father, not by height, but by weight and bulk, a throwback to an earlier generation. Like most noblemen of the Empire, he's blonde, blue eyed, and no stranger to sport or sparring, though his work leaves him sitting in a command chair, which grates on him from time to time.>His coarse features and distinctive scar have led some of his rivals to consider him thuggish or crass. He's leaned into it a time or two, and enjoys telling anyone who asks a different story of how he was wounded. The truth is that it happened during a fluke ceiling fan accident that the family didn't let get out, but Maximilian is more than happy to let people think it's a mensur scar, beast's talon, or worse. Usually, he's strict on grooming standards but given the late hustle of activity, has let himself go a little.
>>6222071I forgot about that. This one shouldn't be flipped.
>>6222073Yeeeeah, this doesn't really feel like a 'space german noble' to me, sorry.
I'm gonna have to go with
>>6221831
>>6221831looks good to me
Welp, basing the character on Mittenmeyer then, I am locking the vote so I can draw.
Not to worry, as consolation, the losing portraits will be used for subordinates and colleagues.
Also ironic that the one fleet admiral who is a commoner will be used as the reference for a nobleman.
You take a short look at yourself, readjust some hairs, and you go back outside to your father.
You decide to stay for dinner before moving back towards your own apartment a few blocks over. While you could stay in your own room, you do not want to overstay your welcome here. And you have much to do come the morrow.
To start with, instead of going to the navigation agency, you must directly report to the imperial admiralty. Upon arrival, you quickly report to the reception, and you sit down in the spot reserved for you. Eventually, you are summoned into a boardroom with the chiefs of staff, as well as some other representatives from the outside.
''Gerstfelden, as you know, you are to go on an expeditionary and colonising mission on the other side of the Gates of Roland. To that end, you have been assigned a variety of subordinates.'' One of them begins
''For your fighters and other carrier-deployable craft, Colonel von Blitzherz has volunteered; for the marines, it is Colonel Froschlaich. And here is a list of the various captains, the civilian contractors and everybody else that we haven't mentioned before."
''There is one small thing to do before we set you off to the shipyards to see your new ship. There is one last major opening, that of your second-in-command, not of your ship, but of the entire fleet. We decided that it might be good for you if you chose someone you could cooperate with yourself.''
That is something you should consider; you already have a good second in mind for yourself, a capable friend of yours who joined the fleet around the same time.
>Arthur von Heidenreich, gallant and diligent, honest and loyal. Unimaginative, but capable of completing complex orders perfectly.
>Gebhard Kalkbrenner, a fierce, golden-eyed young man with a natural instinct for aggression and the sensing of opportunity. Though perhaps a bit too much for his own good.
>Hildebrant von Schellscheidt, a strategic thinker with a knack for problem-solving and quick decision-making. He may lack the charisma of others, who consider him frigid, but his intelligence makes up for it.
>>6222229That's fair, kek. I tried to subvert the usual look without contorting it. Rural Bavaria was what I had in mind.
>>6222423Now THIS is a proper prussian space admiral.
>Hildebrant von Schellscheidt, a strategic thinker with a knack for problem-solving and quick decision-making. He may lack the charisma of others, who consider him frigid, but his intelligence makes up for it.If we're on the frontier, we'll need to solve problems and win battles with as few losses as possible. An intelligent second is ideal, we can handle the oratory and big picture. Arthur and Gebhard are both suitable as well, if anons disagree, I'm more than willing to vote for another.
>>6222426Meant to type Prussian, on mobile.
>>6222423>Hildebrant von Schellscheidt, a strategic thinker with a knack for problem-solving and quick decision-making. He may lack the charisma of others, who consider him frigid, but his intelligence makes up for it.
>>6222423>Hildebrant von Schellscheidt, a strategic thinker with a knack for problem-solving and quick decision-making. He may lack the charisma of others, who consider him frigid, but his intelligence makes up for it.
>>6222423>Gebhard KalkbrennerHe seems like he'll bring the most interesting stuff.
>>6222423>Gebhard Kalkbrenner, a fierce, golden-eyed young man with a natural instinct for aggression and the sensing of opportunity. Though perhaps a bit too much for his own good.
>>6222423>Gebhard Kalkbrenner, a fierce, golden-eyed young man with a natural instinct for aggression and the sensing of opportunity. Though perhaps a bit too much for his own good.We can handle the intelligent decisions, but an aggressive second is always useful.
>>6222423I was already on the fence. I'll switch my vote from
>>6222426 to support
>Gebhard Kalkbrenner, a fierce, golden-eyed young man with a natural instinct for aggression and the sensing of opportunity. Though perhaps a bit too much for his own good.My only concerns are that he could launch a coup if we were isolated or overreach his abilities and suffer a serious defeat. If he's a potential second in command, the admiralty must have trusted him, so we should too.
>>6222584He's already a friend of ours. Maybe I'm overthinking things.
>>6222423>>Hildebrant von Schellscheidt, a strategic thinker with a knack for problem-solving and quick decision-making. He may lack the charisma of others, who consider him frigid, but his intelligence makes up for it.Capable second in command who can't easily usurp our authority.
>>6222423>Hildebrant von Schellscheidt, a strategic thinker with a knack for problem-solving and quick decision-making. He may lack the charisma of others, who consider him frigid, but his intelligence makes up for it.A fan of your fantasy quest, glad you're branching out
>>6222902Counterpoint: Mittermeyer needs his Reuenthal
>>6222423>>Hildebrant von Schellscheidt, a strategic thinker with a knack for problem-solving and quick decision-making. He may lack the charisma of others, who consider him frigid, but his intelligence makes up for it.
>>6222942Isn't Hildebrant more a Reunthal type anyway? Description of Gebhard makes me think of Bittenfeld.
>>6223136The part about having too much ambition feels more fitting for Reuenthal. Bittenfield didn't have a single bone of ambition in him, he was just a based retard.
Captain Hildebrand von Schellscheidt is in many ways an enigma. At the academy, he scored higher than you, but he didn't have many or any friends. He is an excellent academic and office worker, with a keen mind and the uncanny ability to come up with creative solutions. Unfortunately, he also has the charisma of a wet blanket, though a brick might be more accurate.
It is quite the irony too, as he isn't ugly or underdeveloped, but at social gatherings he usually stands quietly in the corners of the room, women and men he scares away with his blunt manner, but that doesn't mean he isn't reluctant to speak or shy in any form.
He is quite unpopular with your brother officers, mostly in the form of the colleague nobody truly likes, rather than a properly despised coworker. Strangely enough, the two of you are on good terms. You are pretty much the only person around outside his own family who he seems to actually like, though it might also have to do with an incident that happened during an academy exercise.
The chief is willing to give you him, and he is currently working as a staff officer on the Helbrig space fortress and naval station. He will be summoned this afternoon, and if he accepts the transfer, he will be promoted as well to formally serve as your second.
''With that out of the way, Gerstenfeld, you are to make your way to the Kaiserliche Raum Werften to take a tour of your new flagship. A Kyffhausen-class, though it falls outside our classification system due to its size and the fact we aren't planning on mass-producing them. As of right now, it is nearly finished; they are currently loading in the last of the equipment and finishing the decorative touches. The official hull number is KF-03, the third and last of the class that has been built."
An aide hands you the file.
''There are three ships of this kind; the first is the Kaiser's personal command vessel, though the head of the navy may also use it. The other one is destined for Grand Admiral von Brünn's fleet. The last one, it was decided, would serve as a mobile headquarters and command ship for your expedition. Thus, it has a lighter armament compared to the other two, but has a place for laboratories and additional research facilities to support your mission objectives. The ship is equipped with state-of-the-art communication systems and navigation equipment to ensure seamless coordination during your expedition.''
You peer over the file; even if it is a lighter armed vessel, the number of laser guns, torpedo launchers and other weapons means that it could still go toe to toe with a proper fortress. The stated shields, armour and deflectors are nothing to laugh at either, and the length and height verge on the ludicrous. Still, eager as you were to look at the specifications, you forgot to read the name of the vessel.
>The Lohengrin
>The Giselher
>The Heidelberg
>The Livland
>The Fafnir
>Write-in
>>6223444He seems like a mix of Reuenthal and Oberstein.
>Write In - The Grenwulf
>>6223448 He is supposed to look a bit like them, but also like Grand Moff Tarkin from Star Wars, and that one colourblind kid from one of the gaiden prequels
>>6223451True, he does look like him too. Anyways, I like it.
>>6223444Both Grenwulf and Fafnir resonate with me. Either is good. I'll levy a vote for
>GrenwulfAs it's less aggressive. We're on a mission to research and colonize, not eradicate our enemies. Although we'll be doing plenty of that.
>>6223444>The FafnirI like dragons.
The Grenwulf is a massive ship; the metal colossus is currently berthed along with its two sister ships. The Kaiser Ulrich and the Dönerschlag, those two are heavier in armaments, have two more hangars and, in general, are superior in terms of armour and shielding. Your ship is to be lighter than those two, as the lighter armament means that the central power plant can support things other than the energy weapons, meaning it can support better propulsion, sensors, and a superior central navigation computer.
They were originally laid down in the space dockyards of Neubremen before being moved here for the finishing touches; it will most likely be the last time these three ships are to be seen together. Aside from a naval review scheduled after your investment.
After getting here by train, you now look up to the bulking vessels with awe. The standard battleship is roughly about 2,200 metres in lengths, this thing is at least double of that.
After boarding it with a shuttle, you land in one of the four, not six, hangars. As the other two have been converted in other facilities. The slick, black ceramic tiles that have been placed here for the launching of the craft are still perfectly polished, with not a speck of dust, burns or other blemishes.
A man in a grey boiler suit, denoting him as a technician, approaches you.
''Sir, I am here to show you around. Aside from the bridge and your personal quarters, I have time to show you one more specific thing. As this is a massive ship, we will be spending some time getting there and back again.'' The technician explains to you.
What would you like to see?
>The Engine room
>The central power plant
>The war room
>Crew quarters
>The laboratories
>The wardroom
>The central mess
>>6224397>The central messThe beating heart where all the crew passes through.
Did you just create a star destroyer without the stupid jutting out bridge? I like it. Although I feel it should be a bit more 'round' since in space aerodynamics are less important, but let's be honest it's still cool as fuck and that's all that counts.
>>6224400It is based upon an Imperial star destroyer, the Brunhild and the Perceval
>>6224397>The central power plant
>>6224397>The central power plantWell, it's definitely a good ship. This'll be great to bully small aliens and minor powers with.
>>6224397>The central mess
>>6224397>The central mess
>>6224397>The central power plant
Rolled 1 (1d2)
A tie, time to roll
1: Power plant
2: Mess hall
''The power plant, if you would, please.''
The two of you then left the hangar. Into the central corridor.
''This there is the central corridor, in the middle of the ship. We'll start with the bridge.''
The middle of said corridor had two rails laid in the middle and a little station close to where you were. A small tram rolled over the rails to pick the two of you up. About twenty seats for passengers. Though, the small design made it a bit cramped.
''Can't this thing go any faster?'' Was your first question when it started to move.
''Regulations, I am afraid these things can't go over 30 km/h."
You went on for a bit; along the way, you saw some other workers installing the last decorative ornaments before you came to the central elevator.
You got out and boarded the elevator to the bridge. The elevator ascended quickly; you came to the central bridge, where you stopped.
''This is the command deck; the captain's cabin, wardroom and your own quarters are beneath here.''
The two of you walked along; you saw the coordination centres for the fire control systems and the spacecraft, the central navigation computer and sensory detection systems.
The actual bridge was located in a large room. A half-circle, half-rectangle sort of room. With all the necessary computers, screens, and control panels lining the walls. Upon a raised platform stood a swivel chair of dark brown leather.
''Calfskin'', you said upon touching it.
Furthermore, as you looked down, you saw something that was so anachronistic that you couldn't help but ask.
''Does that thing really work?'' While you pointed at a wooden ship's wheel standing close to the stairs leading up to the command platform.
The technician chuckled and replied, "It's just for show, but it does add a nice touch to the room."
>and how deep exactly is this place embedded in the ship?
>Who will be the captain of this ship?
>So how many men are to work here?
>Oh, you really outdid yourself, is those granite pilars, and black marble flooring?
>write-in
>>6224911>Who will be the captain of this ship?
>>6224911>Oh, you really outdid yourself, is those granite pillars, and black marble flooring?
>>6224911>Who will be the captain of this ship?Seems important to ask
>>6224911>>and how deep exactly is this place embedded in the ship?
''That would be Alfred Drossel, sir.''
Drossel, you had heard the name before, but it was unfamiliar to you; as soon as you were back, you would read up on his file.
''Did he come here before me?''
''That he did, mostly to familiarise himself with the positions of the bridge.''
''What sort of man is he?''
''A brusque and curt sort of fellow. Very direct in his manner and speech. He doesn't waste time with pleasantries, at least when I spoke with him. I think you'll find him to be quite straightforward in his interactions." The technician explained to you.
''I see. Let's move on, shall we?''
The two of you went down a deck. There, with you finding your own cabin, right next to the one meant for the captain. You found it to be a very large room, bigger than your own apartment. With a private office, a lounge, a bath chamber and a very luxurious bed chamber. It is also the first time you get a view from a window. Three sets of them, very large, and divided by three great baroque pilasters. In space, this place would offer you a panoramic view of space and all the things in it.
''Isn't this dangerous? I mean, those panels are probably armoured, but…'' you asked of the technician.
''Well, we figured that during combat situations, you wouldn't be in your cabin, besides that. You should see the emperor's chamber on the Kaiser Ulrich; it is like someone bolted a palace onto the ship. Hell, it even has an orangerie and swimming pool.''
Lovely and completely redundant. His Majesty should understand that a yacht and a warship are two different things.
''Let's go to the power plant; my time is nearly up.'' And you and the technician quickly left.
What you found there was a truly massive sort of nuclear fusion reactor. Shaped like a giant doughnut, it emitted a low humming. White-and-yellow-clad engineers surrounded it, checking the statistics and monitoring the panels. You looked down from it from the top, but it was the size of an apartment block.
''This is the primary reactor, a type IX Teller, designed for use in larger spaceships. It could provide electricity to about two million households were it a regular power plant. Over there you can see the batteries, and if you look back further you can see the backup reactors.''
''And how deep in the ship are we now?''
''Very deep, close to the engines for obvious reasons, this room is one of the places we installed extra internal armour. For what should be obvious reasons as well, you know how it is; it's like those power rooms in the old wooden ships-of-the-line. It is both the most vital and most dangerous place in the ship, outside of the bridge, of course.''
>>6225334You descended to the floor, talked with some of the engineers, and shook some hands. This place was remarkably austere, utilitarian and minimalist compared to the other rooms. The control room was, of course, packed with a variety of meters, panels and screens. By the time you had left, you had gained a lot of knowledge about the inner workings of said ship.
Yet there was more to do; you needed to read up on Drossel's file, cancel the rental of your apartment, choose what furniture you would take with you to the ship, and decide what you would dump in your father's attic. Yes, there would be a lot to do before the formal ceremonies.
It is as you are walking down the street that you are given a letter by a man in servant's garb. As soon as you get home, you open the letter, an invitation.
Requesting your presence tomorrow evening for Duke Ottenburg's birthday celebration at his estate. A banquet followed by a garden party. Such showings are usually considered to be places where the hoi polloi come together to discuss matters outside the usual channels. Though for what reason the Duke has seen fit to invite is to be seen. Though the wording seems to hint that the emperor will come as well.
Would you like to go?
>No I dislike such gatherings, and I have better things to do.>I should consult with my father first, before doing anything.>Of course I'll come; it'll be fun.
>>6225336>>I should consult with my father first, before doing anything.It's going to be an opportunity to meet allies and enemies alike, we should get a heads up on whos who before we go.
