Question about the level of technology in the first Tajaran revolution/uprising

[MoondancerPony]

Was aircraft, and by extension anti-aircraft technology, developed/used by then? I saw mention of automobiles, but not of aircraft (save for spacefaring craft mentioned much later). Additionally, what were they made of, if they existed? Were they wooden planes, such as the Polikarpov Po-2, or stronger yet heavier metal planes? Considering that Tajaran culture and the climate on Adhomai seem to be based off Russia, it wouldn't be too far-fetched for them to have (presumably wooden) planes. Though they might have been expensive to produce (even though they'd be cheaper than metal aircraft), the rebels had support from NanoTrasen and/or converted them from civilian aircraft (such as crop-dusters, if they were used), and I imagine that the loyalists would, at least at first, have the money and resources to reverse-engineer them, or at least develop moderately effective countermeasures (or even just use the artillery they already have), until they were eventually defeated.

Additionally, would something like the Nachthexen (or at least female pilots) be a possibility on Adhomai during the first revolution?

Thanks in advance.

[NebulaFlare]

Hmm...I really never considered that.

I would say it's highly unlikely, but not impossible. They had trains and automobiles, but any flying contraptions would be kept strictly to the nobility, and (maybe) used by their loyal M'Sai warriors during the revolution.

However, looking at their technological growth, most of their industrialization was catered toward noble leisure. Planes would probably be used strictly as a form of entertainment, or maybe equipped with cartography equipment for exploration. If that's the case, some could be refitted for warfare. However, I'd assume they'd be extremely rare if they existed at all, and probably not worthy of combat, seeing that rebels had fancy modern weapons.

Addition: On a separate note, there seems to be no differentiation made between male and female roles. Tajara have a very stable equality among gender, and the true dividing line was their caste system of serf to noble. Anyone capable of picking up a weapon and fighting, could do it. If planes did exist, there certainly would be female pilots available.

[Guest Marlon Phoenix]

You both hit it right. I chatted with Hive about this and we'll make it a project to create more details for the revolution.

The level of disparity was insane when you look at the nobility class and the peasant class. During the first revolution the nobility and their M'sai enforcers had access to primitive (by 2458 standards) laser weaponry, huge ass artillery placements the size of small mountains to show how big their kitty weenies were. Aircraft tended to be made of wood and had skiis; most vehicles or mechanisms had to be created in a way that let them operate in freezing environments.

 

 

They also weren't developed bombers, so early Tajara pilots had to physically hold bombs then just drop them out the side.

 

 

Belt-fed weapons weren't available so Tajara rebels relied on hand-cranked weapons for their heavy weapons, as well as old-timey artillery.

 

 

WWI is a good analogy because WWI was the 1800's era of warfare being introduced to the modern slaughterhouse that is industrial warfare. While the noble class had extremely exotic technology and weapons like lasers, aircraft, and radios, the rebels had bolt action rifles. So you'd have a situation where there's a giant armored star fortress surrounded by trenches with laser turrets and waiting artillery cannons, and there you are, rebel General McPurrpaws, with your 15,000 cats who all have bolt action rifles and stylish jackets.

 

If the rebels were a conventional force they would have been easily stamped out. The revolution only succeeded because it spread like wildfire across Adhomai, completely overwhelming the nobility and the M'sai enforcers, and in the chaos the rebels were able to reverse-engineer and use the weapons of the nobility against them.

So you have this being the pinnacle of the rebel arsenal....

 

Whereas the nobility have...

 

 

The only saving grace was the rebels managing to create a massive military industrial complex. So remember, dear comrrrrade,