Beyond The Frontier

Chapter 1 (Rewrite)

The needs of humanity outgrew what Earth could provide us. So instead of waiting for the inevitable, humanity expanded outwards, beyond the sky and setting it's footprints across new worlds. New technologies were invented that allowed humans to adapt to new planets, and achieve faster than light travel with fleets of starships.

A new era began for the human race.

However, it did not embark on such an expansion as a united race. The countries of old still exist, with the most prominent being the United States of America, China, the European Union, and the Russian Confederation. Tensions grow continuously higher as these major powers contest one another, fighting for resources and claims over planets to settle and colonize.

Humanity is on the brink of war.

However, an anomaly has been detected.

Far out in deep uncharted space, an unknown signal has been detected, traveling faster than light, able to cover the entire galaxy within minutes. With it is an signature beyond anything mankind has discovered, it's output supposedly 100x greater than the quasar at the center of the Milky Way. A new space race has begun as nations plan and build up fleets to investigate and recover the anomaly.

Whoever holds control over the anomaly's power may hold control over the fate of human kind. History is always written by the victors.

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Mission Time/Day 1 00:00

"All vessels be advised, public communications between planets has suddenly been lost, and we're picking up chatter between emergency military channels."

"Set alert levels to Condition Charlie until we can verify the situation."

"Boston Control, should we delay the launch of the Freedom Star?"

"Negative, we're already behind schedule of original launch date. We cannot delay any longer. Continue with launch preparations."

Boston was an occupied planet settled and governed by the United States of America during the early years of the Expanse, an event in which mankind started moving beyond the solar system. Named after the city back on Earth, Boston was a highly developed planet with it's own mega cities and sustainable economy, a major trade route between other planets within US territory.

It was also a vital asset for the United States Aerospace Navy, holding the largest OSF (Orbital Shipyard Facility) they had available. The super structure had taken over 20 years to build, moving materials through space and assembling in orbit, with 20 LDD (Large Dry Docks) that held enough space to construction a carrier ship, or even larger. At present it was holding 4 destroyers that were undergoing refit to meet the latest standards of newer warships.

It was also protected with SDPs (Satellite Defense Platforms), an aerospace wing of 48 fighters, and a fleet of 4 destroyers and 2 cruisers. Other fleets out on patrol were within range to respond should the station or planet come under attack.

Held within one of it's dry docks was a new class and type of ship that had finished it's construction and trails, though behind schedule. Now it was being prepared for it's inevitable departure onto perhaps the most important mission of human history. Reaching the anomaly in deep space.

USS Freedom Star

Specifications
-Class: Freedom super carrier
-Length: 1274 meters
-Width: 424 meters
-Height: 150 meters
-Displacement: 500,000 tons
-Top jet speed: 220,000 km/h
-Delta-v: 20 km/s
-FTL speed: 3 lightyears/hour
-Reactor Output: 100 Gigawatts
-Crew: 6,200 enlisted and officers
-MEU: 2,200 marines and numerous vehicles
Aerospace Wing
-Fighters: 88x F/A-60B Falcons
-Strike craft: 24x B-22 Ravens
-Drones: 14x MQ-90 Wingmen
-Dropships: 8x UV-44 Ospreys
Armament
-4x Mark 50 155mm twin EM coilguns
-16x M71 20mm rotary cannons
-8x RIM-300 launchers
-8x HELIOS III LaWS
-20x VLS missile banks
Sensors and processing systems
-AN/SPY-20 Multi-function radar
-AN/SPY-21 Volume search radar
-AN/SPQ-19 Fire-control radar
-AEGIS combat system
-DRADIS tracking and navigation system
Armor
-Hull thickness: 612mm
-Reactive armor: 88mm (Over Vital Spaces)
Propulsion
-Main propulsion: 18x Solid fuel boosters
-Maneuvering: Numerous RCS thrusters
-Atmospheric flight: 18x VTOL thrusters
-FTL: Mk 4 IWD (Interstellar Warp Drive)
Additional Facilities and Modules
-Command and traffic control bridge
-Combat information center
-8x Catapult bays
-4x Retrieval landing bays
-4x External landing platforms
-Main hangar bay
-2x Reserve hangar bays
-2x Station/Ship docking ports
-1x Internal frigate docking bay
-4x Mining/Utility docking bays
-2x Refinery facilities
-8x Fabrication and assembly lines
-2x Aeroponics farms
-4x Mess bays
-2x Sick bays
-Research laboratory
-Marine barracks and armory
-2x Vehicle bays
-Well deck