Thank you for your kind words, and be sure I will turn for help and advice often - this job is rather big for one person to carry.
As you can see, I have finished my inspection of IMG's Corronado activities /sadly nothing new and exiting to report from there/ and have arrived in Tau 39. Here my first job was to inspect the progress of the Himalayan project. So far I have been able to observe several test flights of the fighter and bomber craft in the asteroid field around Timor, and had some very productive conversations with the engeneers in charge of that project.
Here is what can be said so far:
IMGF-14B-Proto "Manaslu" Light fighter prototype - the ship is indeed proving to be a very capable craft. It may not have the sleek look of most light fighters, but it compensates rather well with very good armor design and unmached powercore, while still keeping up with the light fighter class in agility. It is also inexpensive enough to be manufactured in sufficient numbers. There are no big design problems and no obstacles so far to the mass production of this one.
IMGF-18C-Proto "Lhotse" superfighter prototype - nothing new here. The fighter is sufficiently well armored, the power output is good, there are no significant problems in development and preparation for mass production. Performance in test flights so far is average to good - main setback is the not so good agility, but the design we have does not allow for much improvement. I suppose that when fielded in good numbers, the ship will do its assigned job well enough.
IMGF-15A-Proto "Nanda Devi" bomber prototype - here we have some problems. Bomber craft with such abilities is a new thing for the IMG shipbuilders, and the fine tuning of the design is taking longer than anticipated. Maneuverability is as expected less than that of the Pythos and Rocs we now employ in our fleet, although it is well compensated by an armor design unmatched in civilian craft - so far as we know. The powercore is also one of the most capable in civilian use - and here we encounter some minor obstacles, as you mentioned. The distribution channels to the employed freighter shield and to the general use guns work adequately, but the ones supplying the heavy torpedo slots are prone to overheating and shorting out. The engeneers are assuring me that's nothing to be afraid of, and that they'll be able to meet the projected schedule. They will be more happy though if they could purchase a new batch of superconductors from Liberty with specific performance numbers.
In overal, the Nanda Devi reminds me of what I have read in general military science journals about heavy Rheinland and Bretonia navy bombers. It might not be agile enough to defend itself from fighters, but when finished it will pack a punch heavy enough to put a thought or two in the mind of any capital ship captain.
This concurs my inspection report. I will soon be on my way to Singapore for a meeting with the other design teams.
Message ends
"Come on, people. We have a job to do, so let's be about it" - Lady Dame Steadholder Admiral Honor Alexander-Harrington, RMN A weapon is a device for making your enemy change his mind. The mind is the only battlefield that matters. Everything else is just ... fuss.
Lieutenant Lord Miles Naismith Vorkosigan / Admiral Miles Naismith/ "Always aim for the stars, boy. Even if you miss, you'll at least not end up shooting your leg"
Ascribed to General Count Piotr Pier Vorkosigan
<span style="color:#FFFF33">"I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain."</span>
Bene Gesserit Litany Against Fear.
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