@Commander Mclane, thanks for the links, had a nose at those before I got tucked into my work. The mention of Thargoids was a joke from the realms of Plan 9 From Outer Space, you know, Insect masters growing us to enslave us and all that
@Simon B, thanks for your interest, re-evaluated it this morning, so;
a) The basics of what I was making up fits into the structure of the time line, it would actually make sense for the first trade/pirate vessels to be made from older land based armors/weaponry, but pre-cursoring the ships ingame. It is only really valuable as added detail to the games history rather than a reason for the core ships to be designed geometrically, the link is now quite loose.
b) Nice idea but the Anti laser armour is an entirely different notion to Chobham as the ceramic is designed specifically to smash and dissipate physical forces, not heat, and at the point in the time line my ideas are relevant it seems lasers are generally not available to the public/s.
Firstly galaxy 1 alone contains over a hundred different intelligent species who have not spread from their home worlds and colonised like we have, meaning that we are indeed the main purveyors of technology rather than just being the most aggressive/corporate minded.
This doesn't mean however that other species were not developing technology, including advanced weaponry/vehicles, maybe even crude lasers (lasers would not be easily available nor declassified, or even probably that effective).
Okay, in 2545 the wormholes are discovered and in 2573 colonisation of the habitable worlds that are unpopulated begins.
That's a 28 year gap in which we keep the spare worlds for our yet-to-become colonies, meaning we are not fully technology sharing at this point, although probably dishing out some tasters to the more co-operative species as sweeteners.
It is also highly likely that the inevitable-high-risk-taker would begin some level of trade whilst the government was still risk assessing wether any species have dangerouse temprements.
This would at first be conducted in home-built/scavenged(ex-government) craft, the government condoning this unsanctioned trade but considerng the massive costs of the project at hand cannot afford to find the resources to police space, so it frowns dissaprovingly from a distance.
Some exceedingly profitable trade routes are established with other species, some of whome have enough technology to cobble together ships of their own.
The traders become more organised/better equipped, black market military equipment/armour raises its ugly head, some skirmishes begin as the profits rise. The first officially recognised armed battle occurs leaving one gypsy trading gang dead, the government outlaws unsolicited trade all together, forcing it further underground. Again they become more organised to the point where they begin to develope into distinct 'companies'/mafia's, structured and smart enough to have secret established bases on asteroids and planets. Their armour and weapons are being made rather than scavenged, vehicles are starting to resemble the core ships, it has been 28 years.
There is a breif flurry of activity by the gypsy mafias to make the most of trade before the colonies are established and the law takes an unhealthy interest, these could be the end of the golden days, however, it arises that instead new routes turn even more profit for the already organised 'companies'.
Incidents of intergang battles reach a shaky peace agreement and a monopoly is established by dividing the galaxy amongst the five 'families'.
Peace and profits ensue, attempts by others to create new trade companies are quickly crushed, but by this point the first generations born into these organisations are coming of age, violent ways settle down into steady jobs.
In 2696 government frowns harder, but is secretly pleased with the supply.
Colony demand out grows the families and public demand requires an easily supplied trade vessel, the Python is born (2700) showing distinct relations in refinement and build to the vessels of the gypsy families, in respect that these were established over 150 years of hard grown experience, or more rather the tenious links to these families if the surfac e is scratched..
Fifteen years later full government backing follows, including the establishment of an organised taxation system and the irritant Heath and Safety Division. No longer able to ignor the huge unofficial profits GalCop ratifies the trade system that is already established, the official records of which show this to be the beginning instead.
As the family monopolies crumble,they dissolve into legal established employement or wander off into the void in small groups, noticeable piracy crawling out of hiding again, this is how it has remained ever since.
So it is the refinement process of Pratt and Whitney (and therefore their influence on others that follow) that holds links to the original trade/gypsy vessels and their development of their own armour technology initially gleaned off land based vessels, not necessarily the qualities of the armour.
Hope you liked that, maybe a good setting for a short story?
Any way that was far too time consuming for a reply in a conversation, must dash
