Chapter 69

Over the course of the next few Months, construction projects were set up all over the inner and outer colonies. Orbital Defense Stations were being built in numbers in orbit of the outer colonies.

Above Arcadia, a Nova Orbital station/Shipyard was being built and would be a central station for UNSC ships operating within the outer colonies. The planet had been chosen because of its large population.

In addition to the Nova Orbital station, two Nemesis Shipyards were being built next to it so that numerous ships could get repaired as fast as possible and so when they start to replace older UNSC ships they can do so in large numbers.

The new ships would be powered by the recently discovered Vacuum energy used to power all Forerunner technology. It offered a significant increase in power to ships allowing for a wide range of offensive and defensive weapons to be equipped on the ship.

Because of this, new Weapons for the new ships were created to replace old UNSC weaponry with new ones. New Auto Cannons were created to replace the old ones with standard Auto Cannons being on every ship while they Heavy Auto cannons were on bigger ships like battleships, carriers, Heavy cruisers, and heavy destroyers.

(New Standard Auto Cannon)

(New Heavy Auto Cannon)

A new MAC Cannon was also created to replace the old one. This time it was in the form of a Turret getting rid of the need to turn towards the enemy to fire allowing to be fired in any direction.

(New MAC Cannon)

Lastly was the new Ion Cannon which main role was taking down shields on enemy ships and disabling systems. The Ion Cannon was limited with its shots as it would need a few minutes to recharge so it would have to be used strategically during battles to conserve Ion shots.

(New Ion Cannon)

The Missile system of the old UNSC ships was also implemented on a small scale within the new ships designs. The missile silos would be installed on the top of the ship but continue to utilize old missile technology as the focus was mainly on the new Cannons which were more effective than the Missiles. But the Missiles had their uses which is why they were implemented on a small scale.

The first ship, which would be the new frigate class ship, would be the first to be completed because its size was smaller than the other new generation ships. It would take 2 Months to build a frigate, and as of now they only had a few Nemesis shipyards completed.

The Nemesis shipyards takes 1 Month to reach an operational level where they can start construction of a new ship, meaning that the shipyard will not be 100% completed but will be able to handle the construction of a ship while the shipyard itself is still under construction.

Nova Orbital station on the other hand would take 8 Months because of its size compared to the Nemesis Shipyards and its role. The Nova Orbital station wasn't just a shipyard but a station that would extend the UNSCs operations in various regions of space.

These new inventions for the Navy would increase its firepower against Covenant ships allowing UNSC ships to fight toe to toe with a Covenant ship.

Ground combat had not been forgotten either as the next project that was being worked on was the Titan Project. The Titan Project focus was on developing a Mobile suit that could be quickly deployed on the frontlines to perform multiple duties. It would be piloted by a human or MCU and would have an integrated AI to assist the pilot with controlling the large machine.

The Titan would be twenty feet tall and clad in Titanium armor. This behemoth would sport a variety of weapons systems such as rotary cannons, missile pods, and energy-based weapons that were being developed in conjunction with the new ship cannons.

The Titan would be equipped with heavy-duty hydraulics powered by vacuum energy, which granted it impressive agility for its massive size and offered an unlimited operational time. It could traverse uneven terrain with ease and leap across large gaps or onto enemy fortifications, demonstrating an imposing physical presence on the battlefield.

The next step was to implement advanced AI systems within the Titan. The AI was designed to work closely with the pilot to manage system operations such as target acquisition, weapon deployment, navigation, and system diagnostics. The AI would also be able to operate independently if the pilot were incapacitated or unable to perform their duties, ensuring that every effort was made to protect the Titan from falling into enemy hands and get the pilot back safely.

Complementing these developments on ground combat technology were advancements in personal gear and weaponry for infantry. Energy rifles and pistols were already developed and being produced in factories, but they needed to expand into other types of weapons that offered a greater amount of firepower such as an energy powered gatling gun, energy powered Rail guns, etc.

As for training methods, they too were undergoing a revolution, with the advent of virtual reality simulators. They would allow soldiers to experience a vast range of combat scenarios, from space battles to ground incursions, without having to physically be there.

These virtual reality simulators would be capable of recreating any environment in the known universe, right down to the most minute details. The soldiers could wear a full sensory suit that would replicate the exact feel and temperature of the environment and deliver a realistic recoil every time a weapon was fired. It would also replicate the feeling when they are shot, thrown to the ground, launched in the air by an explosion, etc. Everything was mental as they weren't really in these scenarios, but the virtual reality made it seem like they were.

However, this couldn't replace actually being on the frontlines when the chaos started but it would mentally prepare them, so they won't freeze up when shots start flying and things start exploding all around them.

The UNSC fleet and ground forces were changing, growing stronger and more technologically advanced with each passing year. With these advancements, the outer colonies felt an increased sense of safety and security. News of the Nova Orbital station and Nemesis Shipyards being constructed above Arcadia spread fast among its inhabitants. This gave them hope that they would be able to defend themselves against any future Covenant attacks.