(NOT YET IMPLEMENTED! All related tech is already approved. Must be run ICly by the Empress.)
A concept developed by Kage Yaichiro to develop colonies in the Yamatai Star Empire, the Colonization Project of YE 30 is an attempt to use Yamatai's extensive industrial capacity and skill in advanced ship and structure-building to begin developing the many colonies which the Empire has gained. The United Outer Colonies are also being given the Type 30 City Block technology, though not the KFY-only Anri-Class Deep-Space Repair Vessel and Ayame Layer-class Logistics Ship. This plan is only for the YSE, as the UOC will have to develop their own infrastructure to support this project should they use it.
As the War with the Mishhuvurthyar had died down to skirmishes, the recovery of POWs, and the Yamatai Star Army releasing many of its personnel in the subsequent downsizing; Yaichiro decided that it was time to finally develop the colonies which Yamatai had managed to attain, but ignored in the interests of fighting the war. Electing to use Yamatai's wartime industrial capacity to this end, he designed a largely standardized city block concept built using technologies and construction practices used in assembling the space-borne structures that had since been greatly advanced.
The first Ayame Layer was constructed from an existing Ayame-class Cruiser and the remains of two others, out of Yaichiro's own funds as a proof of concept. Upon its successful completion, it the Colonization Project was proposed to the Yamatai Star Empire, and the City Block being given to the United Outer Colonies at the same time, but not the vessels needed to utilize their construction and placement.
The first step would be the construction of the city blocks on the Anri. the Anri can construct up to 4 city blocks (2 city blocks with skyscrapers) at a time, typically taking between several days to a week depending on the complexity beyond the standard city block components. The use of spacecraft construction tools allows for swift and rugged construction, the systems simple compared to the vessels usually built in these vessels.
The city blocks, empty of furniture or living things, would be transferred from the Anri they were built on to the Ayame Layer by way of the Ayame Layer's graviton beam projectors. The top of the building would be situated toward the front of the ship, and held in place with more gravitational control systems as the Ayame Layer entered the new planet's atmosphere.
Upon nearing the surface of the planet, the Ayame Layer would rotate in mid air until the rear of the ship was pointed directly at the ground. This resulted in the ship hovering perpendicular to the ground. The Ayame Layer would then use its Ground Cutter laser system to cut into the ground and rock below, and use its very fine control graviton beam projectors to pull soil and rock from the worksite, while also preventing more soil from falling in. The excess soil is carried to a nearby alternate site, a temperary soil quarry point, for later reuse. Often this is so close, that the ship need not even move from its position the entire time.
After the work site is cleared; the Ayame Layer would rotate the building around its vertical axis while still inside the ship until it was properly aligned, and use its gravity control systems to lower it into the hole. Once complete, the city block would be stabilized by being buried in the used soil up to the third sublevel, and more city blocks would be laid.
Once the city blocks of a city were in place and the water table was verified as being in expected parameters, they were activated and the connections between them on the second sublevel would be made. At that point, the city's sublevels are buried the rest of the way and packed down into stable ground. After a final check; the city is then ready for furniture to be put inside, plant life to be grown, and inhabitants to be brought in.
This project, though initially intended to fill a small number of goals regarding housing for surplus population and the colonization of worlds, eventually filled a number of needs. These ranged from job creation and the preservation of the industrial capacity created by the war to rumored military agendas…
For many years, Yamatai has had little interest in developing its holdings, due to its wartime status. This system is intended to make the Empire re-think this strategy and hopefully develop those worlds to use them more effectively in the future.
With the reduction in conflict, former military personnel and civilians whose jobs hinged on the war are now in need of new homes. With these homes being built to the highest of standards, they are meant to attract people to live on these worlds and to slowly help them develop.
By standardizing these structures, it makes them not only easy to build; but also easier to repair and maintain. Parts are interchangeable, and a technician from one city block can easily assist in working in another, even if he's never been there.
The city is constructed of Yamataium save for the very top, which allows every building and home to have several basement levels with Yamataium shielding from the surface. With transportation, power, air, and water source under the surface, these city blocks are intended to double as survival bunkers should one be assaulted.
The obsolescence of the Ayame Cruiser would normally commit them to decommissioning, sale through the Fleet Depot, disassembly for parts, or even leaving them to orbit Nataria indefinitely. This project allows those Ayame to be remodeled and reused in a productive way.
The development of logistics vessels in the Empire is one aspect which has been more or less neglected in one way or another over the years. When the Ayame Layer isn't laying city blocks, it is capable of transporting not only massive amounts of cargo, but also tow up to 18 ships at one time. This makes it quite viable as a logistics vessel with minimal R&D or cost, since it is made from decommissioned Ayame.
Due to the plight of the displaced in the downsizing, this project allows stable work for not only technicians, but medical personnel and other positions for which the Star Army's training will have easily qualified the personnel. It also allows old Ayame personnel an avenue to work, in spite of the ship's obsolescence.
With the war reducing to skirmishes, and the recent downsizing, the impact to Yamatai's industrial sectors is potentially notable. To preserve this critical resource, the city blocks are designed to use the same practices, skills, materials, and tools as military-grade starships. In this way, Yamatai can maintain its production capacity with these city blocks, and switch back over to wartime production of vessels promptly and smoothly should it be deemed necessary in the future.
By removing utilities and roads from the surface, space can be used more efficiently above ground, and the systems can be laid out to optimal efficiency below. It also means that these critical systems are protected in an attack. Though the increased efficiency and protection alone is worth the effort, it also results in another benefit – a city which looks far less cluttered and is more pleasing to the eye with mere walkways above ground.
Given that colonizing a planet is an uncertainty and that the local life and biological processes can occassionally be harmful to those who breathe the air, it was decided to provide an environmental isolation system from the atmosphere around the colony in the case of an emergency. When under quarantine, the citizens remain in the buildings or below them, and breathable air processed from the disassembly of water molecules. Power, Transportation, and Water services continue uninhibited. This system doubles in allowing the community to function even in the depths of space, should the worst happen to the planet, and leave the city blocks intact…somehow.
Officers can be assigned to manage these colonies as an exercise in day-to-day management or logistics training without actually taking part in combat. This can be used to ease the Officer's transition into a command role, and is an option for a Juni. It can also give existing officers training for the application of their day-to-day skills when combat is not what is desired.
NOTE: Not defined specifically by Yaichiro to any party, and not IC knowledge. These are secondary as well and here solely for OOC elaboration.
A full city sublevel of every city block is allocated for whatever the government wishes. The notes for this sublevel, restricting it to military and “key civic” personnel, hint at one of the intended uses of this sublevel as military in nature. A colony may have, at any time, a massive amount of space dedicated to whatever the government or military wishes.
Given that being too quick to militarize or expand are possible causes of new war, a secret focus of the project is to provide an alternative which not only allows the industry of Yamatai to be preserved without a steady need of warships, but also a more efficient, and productive, use of existing colonies to prevent needing to claim more as quickly. The idea is to decrease the drive to push outward against other factions and borders by increasing efficiency of existing resources.
Creating the Type 30 City Block and allowing the UOC to have the city block and not the ships may require the UOC, KHI, and/or Lorath to develop ships of their own to build and lay these units if they wish. This will hopefully stimulate further independent peacetime R&D, as well as ship production.