In Module C3A, a set of rules and SSDs are provided for the Andromedan equivalent of first-generation X-technology, as speculated upon in the battle simulators of the various Alpha Octant empires: Adam Turner's take on the X-Intruder (RC10.23) design can be seen on the front cover of C3A itself.

In principle, one might consider other Andromedan X-ships to be added in some future product. For example, (XEC1.0) provides rules for the X-version of the Dissection Beam; in order to make use of said rules, perhaps X-upgrades to the Incisor (RC10.44) and Extractor (RC10.45) variants of the Intruder and Conquistador respectively might be worth considering someday.

Also, in order to field a larger number of X-satellite ships at once (or to deploy new X-satellite bases more readily), X-versions of the Infestor and Missionary might be of use.

Or, to provide an Andromedan X-squadron with a broader variety of anti-attrition unit options, perhaps X-versions of the Instigator and Ravager could be looked at.

And in the long run, one might even consider whether or not the onset of second-generation advanced technology in the Alpha Octant might lead to a set of Andromedan X2-ships being speculated upon in the battle simulators.

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Now, in terms of what the Andromedans might be doing with such ships (in the simulators, at least), there have been a number of published articles discussing why the Andromedans failed to deploy the equivalent of X-technology when faced with X-ship opponents in the Alpha and Omega Octants.

But consider: over in Japan, there are ongoing projects to expand the current "wheeled" Shinkansen network, notably by extending it further northward onto the island of Hokkaido. Yet at the same time, the Chuo Shinkansen maglev project requires an entirely new line to be constructed, so as to account for the new L0-series trains to be run on it.

Perhaps, for the purpose of drawing up a new simulator campaign, one might suggest that the Andromedans were simply unable to get their X-ships to run along the original Intergalactic Trunk Line leading from M31 to the LMC - and thus, are required to construct a wholly new "Advanced Trunk Line", or "XTL", in order to do so. (If one wanted to raise the bar yet higher, one might even require them to build an entirely new "Advanced Transit Network", or "XTN", in order to deploy X-ships "locally".)

Such a setup might account for the absence of Andromedan X-tech during the historical Andromedan War, while enabling speculation about how a renewed invasion might be facilitated.

Of course, there are plenty of new threats to consider, not least that to be posed by the Xorkaelian Tyranny, without turning "back" to the Andromedans in this manner. But on the off chance someone might wish to add a more dangerous set of Andros to the mix, if only in the simulators, perhaps a speculative "XTL" (and/or "XTN") might be a means of doing so.

By Richard Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Sunday, February 23, 2020 - 10:57 pm: Edit

I think ADB isn't really into doing more simulator stuff at the moment. Perhaps that might change in the future.