Spam Sector: Orgins [working title]

[Cpt Toellner]

tldr: I'm making a Spamfic.

So, as Fall comes upon us I am starting to have more free time. This will give me a chance to do some things on the Guild that I have been putting off for a while, one of these is my Spamfic.

With RPG 101's permission, I will be making a prequel to his Spam Sector series. I have spent the past year and a half thinking about this story (I.e.: Spam in space), and quite a bit of the story and characters have already been developed, it's just a matter of putting everything down in writing. This may take months or a full year, but I intend to finish this as a book-sized story. There will be Easter-eggs for oldfags, the occasional bit of humor, and maybe even a few breaks of the 4th wall. But on the whole, this will be a serious story told with an emphasis on drama and a questioning of morality. I will most likely change usernames into something I can use as a serious character name, but you will still be able to tell who is who (I'm looking at you Elly).

All that being said, I need some help from those of you willing to contribute. Before I ask my questions however, please note that I do already have most of the story planned out and many of the characters already have roles in the plot and unique personalities. I'm not going to ask what you want in my spamfic, it's my story and will remain that way until it's done. The questions I ask and the answers I get will simply add to my thought process and possibly be added into the story.

The Questions:
-What would you want your character to be named in a serious story? Something like hashing your username into a serious name, or a name you go by instead of your username (i.e.: TripMyHop (Doivid/David))

-List any names for Starships you would want to use. Again, the more serious ones are preferred, and the more answers I get for this one the better.

-If you were in charge of a ship or a fleet in a space battle, what strategies would you use?

-Do you have any ideas for names of planets? These could either be based off of spam culture, or from your own mind.

I truly appreciate anyone who answers here, and you can expect the prelude to be up in a matter of days.

Thank you.

[Dervish]

This should be pretty rad. Count me in, I'll help any way you need to.

-What would you want your character to be named in a serious story? Tyler Dervington
-List any names for Starships you would want to use.
-The Cossack
-Fenris
-Borealis

-If you were in charge of a ship or a fleet in a space battle, what strategies would you use?

If possible, gather long range reconnaissance with drones or scanners to determine enemy composition. Heavily favour flanking maneuvers and feints. Use smaller ships to act as line guards for ships with more devastating long-range weaponry if forced into open battle, forcing enemy ships into range of the line to keep out of the fire of the heavier ships. Use celestial objects to stage ambushes, break line of sight, and break engagement if necessary. Use fighters to primarily intercept missiles and swarm ships that approach the battle group. Once a wave is broken, the battle group advances in line in pursuit.

-Do you have any ideas for names of planets?

-Orion Pax
-Exodus
-Baunhamern
-Sentinel
-Glitoria

[Hellis]

- Hara Helzig
-List any names for Starships you would want to use.
HMS Exalted
HMS Icarus
HMS Gargantua
HMS Vasa

-If you were in charge of a ship or a fleet in a space battle, what strategies would you use

All about bombardment and flank. Using distance and superior long range batteries to punch hole in formations and enemy capital ships to win advantage early. After the initial pinpoint barrage, use swarm ships and bombers to engage crippled ships while the mainfleet work on trying up survivors for the second salvo. Very mobile front line to distrupt communications and distract while the ships like Gargantua blast heavy targets.

-Do you have any ideas for names of planets? These could either be based off of spam culture, or from your own mind.
Minos
Giffencia
Bavo
Dragonis
.

[Holmishire]

Cpt Toellner said
What would you want your character to be named in a serious story?

Holmishire sounds to me like something that could be used as a surname. Alternatively, I'm happy to go by Holmi or Shire, with Levi as a last resort. If for whatever reason I ever become female, I also like Holly, though I can't imagine that's likely.

Cpt Toellner said
List any names for Starships you would want to use.

The Lolishire, wink wink. But really, Ghosttown, Soulgatherer, the Shepherd, the Ghost, Overghost.

Cpt Toellner said
If you were in charge of a ship or a fleet in a space battle, what strategies would you use?

Evasion, sniping with large projectiles and explosives, manipulating the bi-directional effects of force to both escape enemies and throw stuff at them simultaneously.

EDIT: Basically a chaos of little ships all evading the enemy in a variety of directions while using the cover of celestial objects to switch directions and confuse followers. Every ship manages its own tactics, while shooting any enemies that happen to be tailing an ally.

Cpt Toellner said
Do you have any ideas for names of planets?

Uhh, just randomly, Rennel, Alxita, Trigone, Ilfearya, Sakkenore, Oldo. The Reconstructed Planetary Glomeration.

[Awson]

-What would you want your character to be named in a serious story?
Austin Rutherford

-List any names for Starships you would want to use. Again, the more serious ones are preferred, and the more answers I get for this one the better.

Eternal
Green Spike
Rock-III X-O
Dreamer

-If you were in charge of a ship or a fleet in a space battle, what strategies would you use?

I don't know what to tell you here.

Uhh... Have my smaller ships swarming erratically around my main vessels, taking hits and opening gaps when needed. Then I suppose I could sneak ships away from the formations among other ships' remains. Eventually loop around and ambush them.

-Do you have any ideas for names of planets? These could either be based off of spam culture, or from your own mind.

I'll get back to you on that.

[Elendra]

The Answers:
-What would you want your character to be named in a serious story?
Elendra. I feel that it works as a name already, and all. Last name? I dunno. I feel as if it should be based upon my longest running RP character, named Etoile. So uh. Etoile?

-List any names for Starships you would want to use.
Itzmitl (Obsidian)
Tenitztic (Sharp Edge)
Cuelcitlalin (Quick Star)
Cuelcitlalli (Quick Star (alternate spelling))
Eztenqui (Full of Blood)
Ixtliltic (Dark Surface)
Yecnemilizotli ( Road of a Righteous Life )
Anenqui ( Wanderer )

-If you were in charge of a ship or a fleet in a space battle, what strategies would you use?
Ships and fleets are ineffectual. Larger weapons platforms, more reliable defence, more reliable fuel and such can be gained by planetary and orbital platforms.

Therefore, ships are primarily for stealth, speed, transport, salvage, and research. Minimal to no weapons. Non-aggressive, focus on a defence that cannot be stopped. The biggest guns your capital ships can bring are nothing compared to the guns of the planets and moons, both in size, number, and how easy it is to keep them up and firing. A well maintained long range scanning system in place as well.

If aggression is necessary, then we aim to the stars and fire from home.

-Do you have any ideas for names of planets?
Teocuitlan ( The Golden Land )
Chimalxochitlan ( The Land of the Flowery Shield )
Tzonquizcayotlan ( The Land at the End )
Chontzitlan ( The Beautiful Land )
Xocotzin ( The Beloved Last Daughter )
Ayectlan ( The Evil Land )
Tlanitlan ( The Land Below )
Otlan ( The Land of the Path )

[Foxxie]

-What would you want your character to be named in a serious story?
Vivian Renart

-List any names for Starships you would want to use. Again, the more serious ones are preferred, and the more answers I get for this one the better.
Parzival
Vos
Astucieux
Prospero
Valkyrian

-If you were in charge of a ship or a fleet in a space battle, what strategies would you use?
Believe it or not, I'd never thought about this before.

I'd probably try subterfuge, ambush, whittling down the pack with a few well-hidden sniping vessels while hoping to get the enemy fleet spread fairly thin. I'd try avoiding a direct confrontation until I either had a strike team ready in a vulnerable pocket of theirs or if my tactics were dragging on for too long and putting my men at risk. I'd probably be the type who tried dragging the battle out and relying on my own resources and knowledge of the surrounding star system when in a region I was familiar with, but I'd be a little more reckless and mobile when outside of my comfort zone.

-Do you have any ideas for names of planets? These could either be based off of spam culture, or from your own mind.
Albris
Sisyphe
Niccit
Extempore

[The Nexerus]

-What would you want your character to be named in a serious story?

First name Nex, last name Erus.

-List any names for Starships you would want to use. Again, the more serious ones are preferred, and the more answers I get for this one the better.

The Mullistus. (Mullistus means 'cataclysm')

-If you were in charge of a ship or a fleet in a space battle, what strategies would you use?

Have bigger guns and more guys than the opposing side is always helpful. When that isn't the case, it's generally preferable to avoid the war altogether.

-Do you have any ideas for names of planets? These could either be based off of spam culture, or from your own mind.

Akra.

[aza]

Eh you got this

[Lady Squee]

I'm happy with anything, if you choose to have me in it. Though, I want some sort of romance involved and a heartbreaking conclusion to my character.

Unless you've already planned something awesome.
In that case. :3

[Svenn]

Oh my space? Sweet.

Although Svenn is a serious name

As a fellow Wisconsinite it'd be respectful to include us. :p

[Alex]

-What would you want your character to be named in a serious story? Something like hashing your username into a serious name, or a name you go by instead of your username (i.e.: TripMyHop (Doivid/David))
whatevs you want. Alex if you want to take an easy route.

-List any names for Starships you would want to use. Again, the more serious ones are preferred, and the more answers I get for this one the better.
The Yondaime, of course.

-If you were in charge of a ship or a fleet in a space battle, what strategies would you use?
The Glitterbomb.
-Do you have any ideas for names of planets? These could either be based off of spam culture, or from your own mind.
http://www.roleplayerguild.com/topics/38669/posts/ooc
Others:
Diomira
Isidora
Dorothea
Zaira
Anastasia
Tamara
Zora
Despina
Zirma
Isaura
Maurilia
Fedora
Zoe
Zenobia
Euphemia
Zobeide
Hypatia
Armilla
Chloe
Valdrada

i guess these work for any proper-nounish things too :)

[genghismike]

What would you want your character to be named in a serious story?
Mik'hael Temujin

List any names for Starships you would want to use

( Numbers are for my usage >.> )

1: Revenant (Dreadnought)

2: Omen (Cruiser)
5: Maelstrom (Frigate)
6: Tempest (Frigate)
7: Cyclone (Frigate)

3: Forerunner (Cruiser)
8: Abyss (Frigate)
9: Oblivion (Frigate)
10: Acheron (Frigate)

4: Herald (Cruiser)
11: Harbinger IV (Frigate)
12: Havoc (Frigate)
13: Harrow (Frigate)

If you were in charge of a ship or a fleet in a space battle, what strategies would you use?
Just to throw this out there, preparation for, and the initiation of, battle begins long before the battle ever begins.

Information First:
Know your enemy. Keep tabs on movements and political situations. Watch all allies as well as enemies. Know troop/fleet numbers, strengths and weaknesses. Plant moles where possible both for gathering information and wreaking havoc when the time comes for battle. Have friends in high places in all forces where applicable, spending funds and gathering information where needed. Know what makes enemy captains and admirals tick, who their families are, locations of any weak points which can be used as leverage. Key Admiral on opposing fleet which is a family man? Be prepared to take his family hostage.

Know yourself. Have a rigorous training system in place to ensure that all Admirals are well aware their crews and full potential. Regular patrol missions will ensure that Fleet equipment is tried and tested and limitations and capabilities are discovered. Patrols will also keep one aware of the situation in their own area's, location of all celestial bodies, potential ambush points, etc. Keep close tabs on all personel, and ensure that they remain loyal so they don't defect at key points. As with enemies, know what makes them tick, and ensure leverage is maintained to keep all key personel pliable. Rewards and Punishments should be well established for both Military and Domestic fronts. Maintain Propaganda to ensure that the people know clearly what they fight for and to ensure loyalty through war times.

Equipment:
Research and Development. Ensure that all Fleet ships are maintained at optimal level, and any advances in research and development which results in better equipment to enhance the Fleet are utilized to efficiency. Education on engineering and gathering advanced technicians who know their crafts will help in this endeavor. Keep tabs on ally and enemy advances in technology and implement this as well.

Test the Equipment. Regular patrol missions and helping allies with any skirmishes or wars which they face will allow the Fleet to test their equipment and ensure that all equipment functions appropriately. Having a corps of well trained Mechanics to keep equipment maintained both in peace time and war.

Tactics:
Homefront. Maintain bases on strategic points with long range cannons and sensors to be able to ensure that enemy movements in controlled territories can be tracked and halted. Long range communication among bases to ensure that information is steadily available. Keep a rigorous system in place as far as communication among Installations goes to ensure that in the event that one doesn't report in, the nearest Installation or Patrol can mobilize and investigate. Regular Patrols in the controlled systems will ensure that in the event of an invasion, once the main fleet is mobilized, we can bring in nearby patrols to flank enemy movements for surprise attacks, effectively drawing enemy lines and fire and limiting their offensive capabilities. Utilize Moons, Planets, Asteroid Fields, etc. as points of ambush during battles. Have a clear plan of action for any spies, sabateurs, and defectors during the heat of battle to be able to maximize enemy confusion and sabotage of their systems and equipment. Utilize psychological flaws of opposing Admirals and Captains to either enrage them into attacking recklessly or draw them into ambush points (talking shit goes a long way). Breaking ranks will allow to divide and conquer.

Assault: Advance at a steady rate, send out scouts to recon enemy territory and discover the locations of any potential ambush. Utilize information previously gathered and activate any spies, sabateurs, and defectors. Better to take installations, ships, etc. with minimal to no fighting. When subterfuge cannot be attained, divide and conquer. Flanking maneuvers, hit and run, maintain distanced attacks. Do everything possible to keep casualties and destruction of fleet and personel to a minimum while maintaining a steady assault against enemy forces. After any victory, have crews take surviving enemies as hostages to be released after the battles. Any who refuse to surrender should be put to the death. Any enemy equipment should be repaired and utilized, and any which cannot be repaired to functionality should be stripped for parts. ( Do not allow anything which can be used to go to waste, especially foods, medical supplies, and munitions. ) Spread the spoils of what is captured among the officers to be further distributed among their men ( Ensures loyalty and happiness ). Enemy planets should be given an option to surrender. Planets which refuse to surrender will be bombarded relentlessly to ensure there are no uprisings. Allow some to survive and escape to spread word of the catastrophe and horror which they witness, thus demoralizing any other planets and shaking their will to resist. Treat those who surrender with respect that would be given to own people, and integrate them into own societies and give them jobs, keeping tabs on them to ensure they don't become a problem. Leave occupying force when applicable to defend newly acquired territory and supply line. Confiscate or destroy any defensive capabilities on the planet if fleet ships cannot be spared to hold the planet.

Do you have any ideas for names of planets?
Artaerius:
Niflheim: "Mist World"
Helheim: "Hidden, Concealed"

<.< I feel the need to add much more to the strategies section, both before, during, and after. I barely touched on the matter, and to properly cover everything would probably take up more than a single post limit. Also, the thing about tactics, they can be utilized on numerous different levels, both on small scale and individual to large scale forces.

[Goldmarble]

Name: Ira Goldson

Ship Names: Aurum Caementum - Rogue Asteroid converted to space station.

Strategies? Massive defensive turrets, extensive sensor array to detect incoming ships and projectiles. Small squadrons of light ships for harassment. Primarily defense based.

Planet names? Ehn. No idea.

[Cpt Toellner]

This is very helpful so far guys, thanks for the input and keep it coming.

Azarthes said
Eh you got this

You already have a name for my story, and you will not be leading any ships (directly at least).

Elendra said

All of those names were immensely helpful.

genghismike said

An amateur studies tactics, a master studies logistics

[genghismike]

Cpt Toellner said
An amateur studies tactics, a master studies logistics

"My logisticians are a humorless lot ... they know if my campaign fails, they are the first ones I will slay."
- Alexander

[Jorick]

-What would you want your character to be named in a serious story?

<rankname> Jorick. No need to fuck with a first and last name, imo.

-List any names for Starships you would want to use.

The Littlefinger
The Wall (of text)
The Magnificent Bastard

Okay those are all kind of lame but that's all I could come up with that is somewhat fitting for me.

-If you were in charge of a ship or a fleet in a space battle, what strategies would you use?

I'd be all about information gathering and adaptability. Learn as much as possible about the enemy before the fight, keep eyes on any potential enemies to learn their own tactics, even keep files on staunch allies just in case. Information wins fights just as often as big guns, and it can even prevent fights that don't need to happen, so that would be my primary weapon.

Strong intelligence gathering would then be backed up by having a large and varied fleet that can adapt to various enemy tactics. Think jack of all trades, master of none. There's something of everything there, so there's less chance of getting hosed by something I wasn't expecting or prepared for. Counter long range bombardment by sending stealth guys in to wreck their artillery, counter zerg rushers by using defensive maneuvers, counter defensive turtlers by smashing them with long range artillery, etc. Sticking to one battle tactic is the best way to get your shit handed to you, since all it'll take for you to get wrecked is going up against someone whose sole tactic is a good counter to yours or someone who knows how to adapt and take advantage of you.

Other than that, I'd fight dirty as fuck. No mercy, kill civilians to demoralize the enemy, agree to discuss peace terms with an enemy and murderize the enemy leaders despite meeting under a peace banner, etc. So long as the enemy dies and I live, no tactic is too dirty for me.

-Do you have any ideas for names of planets?

Nope. My ship names were bad enough, won't even try here.

[Halo]

What would you want your character to be named in a serious story?
My most common alias is Amis Thysia, and my real name is Henry. "Halo" could work as a nickname or some such. Mix and match these as you like. Also, I'm male, in case anyone's forgotten again (seems to happen a lot.)

List any names for Starships you would want to use.
If not used as part of my character's name, Halo works well here.

Other Ideas

Archangel
Féroce (French for "fierce")
Veritas (Latin for "truth")
Insidious
Extasis (Latin for "ecstasy; rapture; terror")

Borrowing from mythology is a good option (e.g. Zeus; Thor; Hecate; Elly's Aztec stuff.) Or just translating shit into Latin works pretty well too, for an imperial feel; you get some great-sounding words popping out.

If you were in charge of a ship or a fleet in a space battle, what strategies would you use?
To be honest, I'm not much of a grand-strategy guy. I doubt you'd make me an admiral or anything anyway, but I would see myself doing significantly better being given a task and working solely on that, focusing purely on doing that aspect exceptionally - something related to subterfuge or military intelligence. This is reflective of me as a person.
Given control of a larger fleet, however, I'd probably be most effective running a guerrilla warfare campaign behind enemy lines - cutting supply lines by intercepting supply convoys, which is particularly key in many space-battle settings as a "scorched earth" policy is very difficult to implement, and leading hit-and-run attacks with light, fast, stealthy ships. This would also place me in an excellent position to continue gathering information via the capture of ships and personnel - if I want to know troop numbers, military capacity, morale, whatever, who better to ever-so-politely ask than the enemy logisticians and quartermasters?
Forced into a head-on confrontation, well, the tactics used would be entirely dependent on my strength and theirs, and on other conditions (such as our respective distances from reinforcements, from our homefronts, and so on.) But I'll outline the way I'd think about it:

Thought Process

The primary consideration is, of course, my goal. Is this a fleet I need to utterly destroy? Simply cripple? Am I just acting as a diversion while someone else does X? Is it imperative that I hold the line, or can I cut my losses and flee if necessary? The answers to these questions, what my objective is, determines two things: my caution and my speed. The risks I am willing to take, and the speed with which I act, would be dependent on my objective as well as our relative strengths/positionings/etc. Some examples:
If I am acting as a diversion, for example, I would want to draw the battle out for as long as possible, and would therefore be as slow and cautious as possible - engaging the enemy in battle, but not going for the kill even if I thought there was a chance (for destroying the fleet is not my objective, and therefore the risk of attacking even a weakness in their defence is not worth it, for it is not required). Or, say I am outnumbered and know that I absolutely have to do as much damage as possible - I'd realise that the longer the battle continues, the closer I will come to getting overwhelmed, and so I'd go for a more risky, but speedy and hopefully surprising attack for the flagship(s), either landing small crews of specialist soldiers to attempt to board and take them from the inside, or, were that not possible, concentrating my fire as much as possible as quickly as possible. The objective would be to do as much damage as possible, so that's what I'd have to focus on. Alternately, if I am outnumbered and know that I have to hold out for reinforcements, I'd take a very slow, cautious, defensive position, potentially feigning to be even weaker by not attacking any gaps in their defence, thus drawing the enemy out and letting them get more and more overconfident until my reinforcements arrive and find them spread out, with little consideration for defense, and wreck them.
The consideration is always my overall objective; that cannot be lost sight of, even if a golden opportunity presents itself. My actions and the risks I take have to be based on what I want to achieve.

Do you have any ideas for names of planets? These could either be based off of spam culture, or from your own mind.
I'm terrible at this stuff, so I will give the same advice as in the Ships section: just translate stuff into Latin, brah. All your problems are solved.

[Cpt Toellner]

Jorick said
The Littlefinger

That would be the most unfortunate ship name ever.

[aza]

Cpt Toellner said
This is very helpful so far guys, thanks for the input and keep it coming. You already have a name for my story, and you will not be leading any ships (directly at least).All of those names were immensely helpful.

Dope