>>6342580>Recovered: 1 critically damaged knight frame, and 1 enemy knight pilot.>lost "knight interceptor" asset. Gained "interceptor remains"---
Consensus:
>1. Thunderbird Heavy>3. Ersatz capital ship (combined glory ABC+arsenal concepts)>Sacrifice the Thunderbird Heavy.---
Your command staff and engineering teams had come to consensus. The Thunderbird heavy was greenlit, and would become a tarpit for enemy intelligence efforts. You would have to straddle the line and create something that wasn't an actual useful asset, but could be perceived as one. Thankfully your project's strike craft had already done this once and had a reputation.
Time wasn't on you side so every effort for this would have to be efficient. Visible in the right areas. The fleet's own projects would be a useful screen, refit glory As to Cs, strip obsolete ships for parts, create synthesis. It was plausible. Your station wasn't responsible for high tech things like the Glory-B. No, you'd make something out of nothing again.
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In the coming weeks the mothball fleet around your station was gradually mutilated, chopped into sub components that were the most expedient for refit. The enemy intelligence speculation went into overdrive, theorizing some sort of "speed glory" or "jumboization" of the glory-C, possibly a mobile munitions production facility. Whatever it was, you were clearly taking tactically non-viable equipment and preparing it for use.
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The glories were tough old birds, made monolithically and massively armored, and with few points that were logical for cutting. Your crews decided on the fore and aft sections as suitable regions for the project, while the kestrels were comparatively thin skinned, almost resembling a giant corvette or frigate. Given the age of their design, that design philosophy might be accurate. Regardless they were quickly put to the wreckers care, and stripped much easier. With some creative engineering you could keep the waste stream to a minimum. The real challenge was going to be creating a weapon system from scratch for the Thunderbird, something your team had never done before.
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Roll for: 4d20
Thunderbird Heavy primary weapon
Thunderbird heavy prototype
Glory refits and "busy work" to throw off enemy intel.
Developing the capital ship prototype
pick 2:
1. Give the knight and it's pilot to the admiralty (gain access to glory-B technology and production means, possible riots.)
or
2. Keep the knight and continue researching a means to create an approximation of it's technology. (edge closer to unlocking knight frame production, possible duels on station.)
and
3. Support the captured knight frame refurbishment.
or
4. Support next gen interceptor/ heavy fighter development.
