Author Notes:
Yahallo, at long last, I can start to get off the rail with OBOM lol
As for what that entails exactly, do read along and find out. If you all manage to spot hidden references and Easter Eggs, do comment for cookies~! I love it when someone unravels what I've kept buried in the verse kek.
As per usual, I hope you all, old and new alike, can head over to my Pa-treon page and Discord server, either to check out the Early Access contents or to interact with the others there. Fingers-crossed we can build one big family in this vast, interconnected universe of ours!
Cheers, and have a great weekend!
https://www.patreo-n.com/Heartbreak117
https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/Heartbreak117
https://discord.gg/cVZxJ29ruh
https://www.webnovel.com/book/reich-marshal-of-the-belkan-reich_23809095505377305
https://www.webnovel.com/book/in-the-grimdark-sector-with-a-system_31596105108346205
https://www.webnovel.com/book/my-soul.-occupied-body---please-the-other-me...!_35377211308783905
https://www.scribblehub.com/series/2271569/reich-marshal-of-the-belkan-reich/
https://photos.app.goo.gl/waZgkRa3UQhqKQBi9
OBOM Visual Guide:
https://postimg.cc/gallery/5fQs4Fv
Thomas-class Fast Combat Support Ship (AOE): https://postimg.cc/VS5gNbfH
Thomas-class Landing Platform Dock (LPD): https://postimg.cc/tsBDyzjM
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"Hey, Iris, what was it about you having a way to build ships faster again?" I ask, setting down my coffee cup.
Iris, who is somehow enjoying a digital version of a milk coffee, perks up before explaining.
"It's not limited to ships, per se; more like we can cheat and build anything naval or amphibious faster if we can do it my way. Judging from what you told me about the Grand Admiral Dreadnought Module, I think we can build anything remotely naval swiftly and cheaply if we have the GAD Module build only the body or hull, with none of the smaller electronics or armament. Basically, I am asking you to try and cheat the System: have it build only the bones and blood vessels, while we work out the flesh in our own time. This way, the consumption of high-grade steel and alloys will be kept to a minimum, as the GAD Module will cover the cost for us, thus simplifying our logistical system. Time and manpower will be saved as well if the GAD Module utilizes the shipyards and factories we have in the Industrial Sector."
[T-That works?] Comes the baffled question from my Other Me.
[Welcome back, Aurea.] I give Aurea a mental wave before voicing my reply to both her and the others.
"That may actually work... There's no law against us commissioning the GAD Module to build a husk of a ship. The only thing we need is a blueprint, and that the ship or vehicle that comes out of that blueprint can accommodate the later equipment installation from the Doll workforce." I then add while listening to Aurea's mental hello. "In fact, I just confirm it with the GAD Module. By stripping the design of the White Pearl, Aurea's and my personal floating home, down to the very base of it, we are literally looking at not even two weeks of construction time."
Iris claps her hands together with a visible smirk on her face.
"I love legal cheating~! And don't worry, I already took your concerns into account before this discussion. I even come up with manuals for the Dolls when the time comes."
I smile as Vi comments from the side. "Really putting your extra processing power to good use, huh?"
"What can I say, perks of being semi-permanently hooked up." Iris shrugs before rubbing her hands together like a savvy businesswoman. "So, what should we cook up first? The biggest to smallest?"
"More like a common logistic hull." I reply. "A modular hull that can accept whatever mission module is required of it."
Vi's attention is grabbed since the ship I am describing has duties that fall squarely under her purview. "Are you talking about a platform that can either be a fast combat supply ship or a replenishment oiler?"
"Among other things, like being a shore-to-shore cargo hauler, a hospital ship, a research vessel, a rescue and salvage boat, or a mobile communication relay between islands... The possibility is there if we can make a hull that can accommodate such mission modules." I add.
"You had my attention; now you have my interest." Vi smiles, clearly looking forward to pitching in on the logistical ship's creation.
Since this is yet another less-than-dangerous design, the inputs primarily come from Iris, Vi, and me. Eventually, a truly massive vessel is drafted up.
"Huh, didn't think we would end up with a technically logistical ship that displaces 55000 tons in its AOE form." Iris comments, head tilting with minor amazement before shrugging. "Whatever, 55000 tons is 55000 tons. It's the only way we can fit the requirements we need, with room to spare for future modification."
I chuckle. "Well, we're asking an AOE to push 30 knots at maximum load to support Naval Strike Groups. It's bout to be bigger than the norms. Speaking of that, what's the tonnage for the Eternal Reich's equivalent of this thing we're cooking anyway?"
"45000 tons, give or take." Iris replies quickly. "And that was it being used to supply a supercarrier task force."
"Look at it this way," Vi interjects. "A bigger cargo hold means a longer maritime patrol duration for the rest of the Strike Group this fast combat support ship attaches to."
Reizen nods in agreement from the side, but still warns seriously. "It also means if we are to lose a single AOE, it will be a very serious hole in our logistical chain. I reckon a ship that size is still a heavy investment, even if we can cheat around Umbra's GAD Module."
"The risk is not lost on us. It's why we make provision to give this AOE a place to mount a 76 mm dual-purpose gun alongside four 35 mm Millennium turrets, with room for possible short-range missile integrations." I say, pointing at the projection of the AOE's broadside that showcases spots for weapon turrets. "Huh. We should really come up with a name for this family of logistical ships. Can't really call a hospital vessel AOE, right?"
"Oh, I know!" Iris suddenly speaks up with an excited tone. "Let's name the entire class Thomas!"
I raise an eyebrow, not immediately getting where the name Thomas came from, but Reizen is swift to make the connection.
"You mean Thomas, as in Thomas the Armored Train?" Reizen asks Iris with a look of realization.
"Uhm~!" Iris smiles, humming affirmatively.
"I'm sorry, but did you just say Thomas the Armored Train?" I know a Thomas, but I'm pretty sure that Thomas wasn't supposed to haul big guns and thick armor where I came from.
"Yeah." Iris nods, replying. "There's a lot to be said about the name Thomas, but long story short, back in our Second World War, Thomas the Armored Train was a decorated engine alongside its crew, responsible for a great many pivotal victories and humanitarian aid trips. In case you have forgotten, the ERS Voyager being a space locomotive is partly because of Thomas the Armored Train's eventful history. Trains are viewed quite romantically in the Eternal Reich after World War II, much like how one would cherish a warship with big guns."
"Fair enough." I chuckle. "I really need to check on that part of the Reich's history sooner or later. For now, let's settle on Thomas as the name for our fast combat support ship, and by extension, the wider class of modular support ships."
Nobody contests the decision to adopt Iris' suggestion, leading the Smart AI to continue saying.
"Since we have ourselves something with tonnage to spare, I think I can get quite creative with the Mission Modules for the Thomas-class. Mix and match or go absolute bonker with them. Obviously, it's not gonna be a quick-change design with something this massive. The Thomas is modular, but changing its mission role still requires a period in drydock to do. And I reckon a Thomas-class hospital ship is never gonna be able to be made into an oil tanker."
"In other words, it's a common hull design to save some time and effort, but once it's made into a specialized role, it's hard to make it do something else, but not impossible." Vi translates Iris' words into simpler terms.
"Great. I will take ten of these ships, please." I say jokingly.
Iris plays along. "You need to be more specific than that if you want us to start cooking, ma'am."
I smirk. "I'll have two number 9s, a number 9 large, a number 6 with extra dip, a number 7, two number 45s, one with cheese, and a large soda."
The ensuing silence after my quote is honestly thicker than the black coffee in the cup I'm drinking from. Reizen, quicker on firing up her neurons, sighs while shaking her head. There's a fond, indulgent smile on her face as she says.
"Yes, yes. I know that you are missing your version of a fast food chain. If we can move on from Umbra's bout of spontaneity to more important things-"
I interject with a fake pout. "Hey!"
"-I believe I will have a worthwhile suggestion to consider."
"And that is?" Iris and the other ignore my eye roll, instead focusing on what Reizen has to say next.
"With the available space on the base hull, is it possible for us to turn the Thomas into an amphibious warfare ship?" Reizen presents her question.
"An amphibious warfare ship? It's not like it's made with that in mind in the first place, right?" I reply with an unsure question of my own.
My finger taps the edge of the table repeatedly as I ponder the holographic projections of the proposed types of Thomas-class. "Iris, your thoughts on this?" When in doubt, ask our resident Smart AI.
Iris turns to Reizen as she says.
"If you're thinking about recreating a version of the Bayern-class battlecarrier in the Reich's service back then, then I regret to inform you that it will be impossible with this hull. There isn't enough leeway for the Thomas hull to accommodate things like a flight deck, a well deck, a VLS, and the assorted aviation and amphibious vehicle facilities. Those things ain't exactly modular when placed together on one hull. An entire new powerplant and propulsion drive will have to be designed to accommodate the added weight. This is not to mention that the center of gravity will go haywire if we somehow force things through."
Reizen lets out an "Oh" before nodding. "I rescind my suggestion, then."
"Now hold your horse, young lady." Iris raises her hand. "A BBV may be out of reach for Thomas, but who decides it can't be an LPD?"
"LPD, you mean an amphibious transport dock?" Reizen tilts her head.
"Uh-huh." Iris nods before showing us her initial blueprint sketches of what she is referring to. "This is only the basic profile; I will finalize it later. Tearing a few pages from how the Reich designed its Berlin-class LPD in the 1930s, we can make Thomas into what is essentially a supersized landing platform, dock."
"We can have a well deck that can accommodate four medium-sized hovercraft, each of which will be designed to be more than capable of carrying our MBT-1 design plus additional cargo. If required, it can even host two redesigned White Pearls for special operations. Next, we have ample space for more than 60 large armored fighting vehicles alongside comfortable berthing for four 250-Doll Marine Companies, more if we sacrifice vehicle capacity." Iris adds after describing some general characteristics. "Lastly, an aviation hangar large enough to house either four MH-2 Queen Stallions or eight MH-1 Knighthawks, regardless of which version they are. Of course, we can carry a mixed loadout of two Stallions plus four Knighthawks for operational versatility."
Iris thinks for a bit before letting out an "Oh" and continuing. "Due to the more combative nature of the Thomas LPD, and the fact that it's large enough to be classified as a command ship, room is made for more self-defense armament beyond the initial 35 mm and 76 mm guns. But honestly speaking? While it sure fits onto the initial hull of the Thomas-class, it's practically a whole different ship altogether. You literally can't convert the Thomas LPD into anything else but an LPD. Though it will still have logistical overlap with the other ships of the Thomas-class, it's a big plus at the end of the day."
Reizen suddenly chuckles, earning looks from the rest of us. Smiling, the Chief of Military Affairs, title still pending, explains.
"I can't help but find it amusing that a suggestion grows into what's basically a recreation of Thomas the Armored Train in a naval form. A primarily logistical means suddenly evolves into a fully fleshed-out combatant, just like how the original Thomas the Armored Train received more and more weapons as it rolled down its service life."
"... You may not be wrong about that, actually." Iris hums, pondering. "Practically speaking, with the Thomas LPD being so massive, it's practically a guarantee capital ship. If we put larger cannons on it, it can even be made into a naval gunfire support platform to support Marine landings. We are indeed following in the footsteps of our predecessors, albeit with some creative liberties taken to fit with the planet Arcadia."
"So did we accidentally make a peak design?" I pose the question of the day.
"As a matter of fact, I believe so." Iris replies with a giggle before picking up her digital coffee cup once more.
Similarly, we all pick up our own beverage cups and take a sip from them in the same heartbeat.
Iris, after drinking from her non-physical coffee, sighs in relief before saying.
"Now that we have gotten the major logistical vessel out of the way, and an accidental capital ship, let's seriously redesign Umbra's and Aurea's White Pearl. I know for a fact it can be made into a little logistical boat, other than just its usual military portfolio, or a mobile home."