Archive through April 26, 2005
Star Fleet Universe Discussion Board: Star Fleet Battles: SFB Proposals Board:
New Rules:
Orbital Defense Platforms:
Archive through April 26, 2005
SPP, would you be so kind as to add something to your posts which is important "Global" information, like the G1 presence, etc, so that for some of us (like me) is not trying to read every post between you+JeffW (as example not to pick on him).
Either, Color, Or this color, or even Bold, of just something in the 1st line like "^^^^^^^^^", or "**********" so us readers will now it has important info for all of us.
Thanks.
I think, right now that Banshee FLight (my section) is en route towards Banshee's 3 and 6 position.
Unless I get orders from higher up...
'Merlin to Tank, turn your flight around and head back towards my signal, we will meet up at point Charlie and see if that boat wants to tango.'
Loren ("Old man"), Chris ("Banshee 1") and all:
SPP did not mean this to be as complicated as we've all made it, especially me. Sooo...
I'm leaving for the airport to pick up my wife, and then go to lunch. That'll be about 1 1/2 hours. If, when I come back, I haven't received a clarification to my orders (see above where "Tank" is asking for confirmation), then I will execute the last order given (turn 120, vector A...whatever that is...), and then I'm going to do what I think in the best interests of our defense from there.
Clock's ticking...
Whoops, me and Chris just cross-posted. More to come when I get back.
Can't keep the wife waiting, you know.
Let me be clear to all of you, as I was not clear enough to Richard so the confusion is all mine.
Richard was supposed to be in a situation where he, and he alone, had to make a fight/flight decision. I tried to make that clear to him, and I failed to do so. So Richard "played the game", i.e., rather than as a roleplayer having to decide NOW, NOW, NOW when presented with a decision, Richard was a gamer who thought about it until I had to go home, and then thought about it some more.
In all seriousness, the vision (mine) was for Richard to look at what he had found, and either decide "Well, we are here to find out about the drones, and that means trying to get past that PF, and here we go . . ." (Fight). Or "Oh my gosh, a PF, that was not in my mission orders. Lets get the heck out of here . . . (Flight). To that point, I gave Richard data on how close he had to get to "count the drones", but decided that it was not all that important to actually say the PF is this close.
I told Richard that, if he chose "flight", he was out of the battle. Moving to disengagement speed ment that he would overshoot the planet and be gone and would have to work his way back. This is "game consistent" otherwise ships going to visit planets would simply drop out of Warp one hex from orbit, or fighters would use disengagement speed to reach their carrier and then then drop to landing speed right next too it. The upshot is that when you are going someplace you move at a high warp until you are "in the near vicinity" then drop to a lower warp (like speed 31) to actually approach the planet or actually reach your carrier. So you wind up with situations where a Carrier is suddenly attacked by an enemy while its fighters (or PFs in the case of a PFT) are still two or three turns away returning from a strike.
Richard could clearly disengage if he wanted (do a HET and continue moving at full speed).
If he chose to try to get past the gunboat (and again, it was supposed to be just his decision, there was not supposed to be time to call back for orders, he was supposed to decide, i.e., roleplay, although clearly he would report and tell you what he was doing), I gave him the data to "game it out". Now, this was expecting him to play both sides, and do so fairly (there are some details on this I have to leave out here), and basically send messages from his fighter and the other fighter on what was happening. And if he played fair trying to deal with both sides, there might have been a last message from one or both fighters that "cut off in mid-word".
The expectation in that case would have been that once things settled down you would have sent another pair of fighters escorting a shuttle to look for any POIS systems.
Richard Sherman:
"Banshee 3, listen carefully. The rest of Banshee flight is full throttle on your vector. Turn back to home at full speed. Do not fire, do not launch drones. Maintain maximum counter measures. Do this now."
"Rodger, Haunter House. Executing."
"Now Banshee three, if the Gunboat turns away you are to shaddow him, turning away only if he turns back at you. Bring him to Banshee flight and when you meet up, engage him or chase him off.
Continue constant reports. Keep in mind I need data on the drones but I want you guys alive even more."
No sacrafices... yet.
"Major Wile, I don't want our troops exposed to random bombardment but they need to be ready for action in case a G1G makes another run and drops off troops. Be aware that another possability is that a G1G may try to extract something during the bombardment. If so, hit it with one battery, please. That would be the Ph-4 and two Ph-3. Hold two for drone defense. Advise conditions if this happens."
SPP: I was just reviewing my SSDs and noticed I had forgotten the phasers on the GMG. Nice to have a Ph-1 in the mix.
I count my total phaser allotment on bases to be
3 Ph-4
18 Ph-3
1 Ph-1.
I have 5 Admin shuttles and 3 GAS.
Currently the two FGB-S Admins are loaded with 12 T6's each. That leave the shuttles from the GMG, and the two GWS's. That leaves 6 shuttles (3 Admin, 3 GAS) in flight as Ph-3 platforms.
Officers advise: Should I bring in the other three Admins and load them as shatter packs?
SPP,
looks like Richard created a third option:
Avoidance at Tactical Speed
Don't you just hate when Role Players create an option that you hadn't thought of.... ;)
Jeff: I'm envisioning my character (yes, a Marine Master Gunner is a Warrant Officer) as, basically, the manager of all enlisted personel in your operations shop. I assumed that you had returned to the "office" (for lack of a better word) and were considering available data and making recommendations to Col. Knight. IIRC, your analysis of the Klingon's capabilities (G1G making another run vs. G1s escorting the drone wave) was done as a "memo", which I interpreted to mean you had access to a suitable terminal (though a communicator could probably do it). If you're trying to do all this by comunicator while awaiting transport, then it's possible my I was monitoring that particular recommendation and popped in on a private channel. Or I might have waited until you got back. I obviously don't want, no matter how many decades in service I have, enlisted and warrant, to openly (privately is another matter) tell my superior officer I think he's lining up to screw the pooch on something.
That cleared up (hopefully):
"Major, I happened to be here at the headquarters block when the alert started. I'm down at the "office" (CIC, help me out here?) right now trying to get the staff in and starting to analyze the attack. We should be just about up to speed by the time you get here, sir. The staff is starting to trickle in now."
OOC: We need to give some consideration to our SP targetting parameters. We don't want to trigger our own SPs with drone launches from the defsats, or from other SPs. We also need to think about how far out from the planet the SPs should be blossoming. We certainly don't want them to be so far away a gunboat can kill one without having to fear the P-IVs.
After reading SPP post I want to be clear, Banshee is NOT to disengage (although I realize this is ultimately up to him). The G1 should have been spotted at least 30 hexes away so if Banshee retreats at speed 26 the G1 can close at 5 hexes per turn. With max ecm on the fighters the G1 is going to have a very poor solution until it get pretty close. I guess that Banshee has five turns of running which is 130 hexes approximately. The rest of Banshee flight is also closing at 26 during this time and so should close by 130 hexes as well. That leaves 90 hexes between them.
Hopefully the G1 was spotted at a greater distance but if not this is a good point for B3 and B6 to turn and fight. An HET, folowed by a maximum drone launch and then a point blank Ph-G attack should put the hurt on the G1 pretty good.
We'll see.
Several Things,
1. Col Knight, I am (I beleive, until/unless corrected by SPP) a staff support officer (who as third in command steps into your shoes, should anything unfortuante happen to you, while leaving me alive, some how...) as such, I command only my 3 (excuse me 4 persons Staff now that Master Gunner DeMaris has joined our happy little band) S3 unit.
AS SUCH, I have no legal authority to command firing orders of the the phasers in my own capacity.
In this instance, I will pass along the orders to which ever battery happens to have a clear firing solution (arc)... but it should be understood that if another firing opportunity were to occur, I would again have to defer to you for permission to shoot.
2. SPP I am not the Battalion Intel Officer. I am "sharing" observations from the S3 POV, but I lack Justin H's resources. Where is the Intel officer?!? In the latest example, I was pointing out the disparity of forces... and from a "gamer Perspective" the "enemy" seem to have overwhelming forces... what I was trying to suggest was that it was unlikely to have all of the possible enemy units show up for direct combat at the same time...
I could see the drone wave being directed at another targe...or turn out to be much weaker than expected...a full 6 PF squadron show up to seize control of the high orbital positions above Calendonia...and the klingons able to deploy a battalion landing force (raiding force?!?) on planet for some mission. (as yet undetermined).
the presence of a single G1 (part of a larger squadron or a G1G or even some other variant) does neither confirm or deny the possibility of a landing... but we should be prepared for what ever the OPFOR presents.
3. Master Gunner, I am beaming back to GMG Anapolis, please have the yeoman have a change of uniform (combat fatigues, boots, side arm and back pack) ready... I dont know yet what we are dealing with...while we have time to do so, I think making preparations is a good idea. Thank you.
Col Knight:
1. Recommend all Admin shuttles be loaded as shatter packs. it wont be enough if the drone strike turns out to be real...but if the drone strike is a feint, and we have a squadron of PF's making a stealth approach...5 x 12 T6 drones WILL have an impact on 6 PF's (possibly 5 if the F-16M squadron kills one).
2. Recommend sending a security detail to the Space warning base...we have not yet heard a status report, we are not getting the sensor/scanner information that we should be... if the base had been taken by infiltration / klingon commandos or destroyed with out a warning to the battalion...we need to know NOW.
3. be aware of the drone group estimated position. after the F-16M's complete the action against the G1 gunboat... there may not be enough time to return to base and rearm the strike. it may be better for the fighters to engage a single drone strike with phaser gatlings... than be caught in the hangers with the drones entering atmosphere.
Thank you,
Major Wile, S3 OPs
SPP
In order to pass along Col Knights firing orders, which battery will have the first firing opportunity?
or would it be better to pass the order down the chain of command? (since I am filling a "dotted line" billet, it seems to me some what irregular to be passing along firing orders...)
thank you.
OOC: Hmmm...well, looks like that issue was cleaned up nicely!
On to the color commentary:
"Stork, execute maximum energy turn, reversing course, on my mark...MARK!!!"
The two tiny craft's engines flared and, inertial dampeners straining, threw themselves into violent maneuver. Banshee 3 headed straight up and over, while Banshee 6 dove down into a tight outside loop. Both fighters then quickly rolled back to straight and level flight, and rocketed forward under maximum thrust.
"Tank, that sensor pod's dragging us a little. We can't stay with you at full throttle. You want us to drop?"
"Negative, Stork. Wouldn't want to take one of one of Fuzzy's toys away. We'll stay together."
It'll be tight, but Merlin will get to us before the Bandit will, Tank thought. Then we're going to show that G1 the business end of a Gat. That thought brought a smile to the young pilot's face.
Tank switched frequencies. "Merlin, Tank. We are V-Max to designated Point Charlie. ETA 6 minutes to within 20kk. We have company, Klink closing astern at tactical 3.14, range 49kk. No joy on the swarm."
A thought occurred to Tank. Those drones should be moving just a tad faster then that gunboat. Could we maybe get lucky? He switched back to FIGHTCOM.
"Fuzzy, switch one of your EW packages to half-and-half. It'll cost us a little blur, but maybe the added scanner gain will be enough to maybe spot the leading edge of the swarm. Acknowledge."
"Roger. Switching levels now. Let's see what our big bully does..."
OOC: At the appropriate and eligible point in the SOP, the fighters switch EW levels from 10/2 to 8/4, in an effort to counteract the STM for the drones. You never know...
If the G1 makes range 15 before our rendevous, we'll switch it back.
'Course, this all assumes the G1 is chasing...
The F-16M is carrying EW pods on the pod rails, they have no effect on its movement. While I questioned that the EWF would just happen to be one of the two CAP fighters, I did not (as I noted) require Loren Knight to change it. So there is no "sensor pod" to drop. It is safe and sound back at base. And no pod was reported as loaded on the other fighter, so there are no pods impeding the movement of the fighters at all.
Sadly, your EW levels (being fighters) are limited to a maximum of six ECCM. Right now you can be running either 6/2, or 2/6, or anything between those two. The EWF only has two pods (the ones on the pod rails of the megapack). Which means both fighters have their built-in 2/2, and the pods have four points that can be spent anyway you like and both fighters will benefit (as long as they are within three hexes of each other). But fighters cannot ever have more than six ECCM (barring aces, but I am not going to check that rule just now).
Yes, the drones are overhauling the Gunboat (and you), but if you do not push the Gunboat back, you are not going to get a reading. At least not until you are a lot closer to home and inside the Gunboat's engagement window.
But no fear, once the rest of your section arrives, you should be able to accomplish both, and even engage the drones (if they are there).
SPP: The other possibility is that he's (for some reason) under EM, in which case he's forgotten to apply the EM effects to his own ECCM level. It could be 10/-2, and adjusting one of the EW pods to ECCM could make it 8/0, but that also gives the gunboat another hex of closure each turn.
Jeff: "Aye, aye sir."
(Muffled "Yeoman!" before transmission ends.)
SPP and Frank:
Well...you're both wrong!
Actually, I am, because I'm counting the STM in the numbers I listed, which at this moment gives my element an extra 4 ECM. I am not, repeat, NOT under EM (no way, no how, uh uh).
So I guess how I should have posted that is:
Switching from 6/2 (+4 natural ECM) to 4/4 (+4 natural ECM).
Sorry, my bad.
Wonder if the G1 will stick it out against 4 of us. Or does the rest of my section mean there are 4 more INBOUND (for a total of six)?
Loren and Chris:
If my rough calculations are right, the following is true:
1. Assuming the drone swarms are more or less evenly divided (a BIG assumption), and being escorted by a PF (another BIG assumption, but at least with some evidence):
a. 3 fighters in each of four directions can destroy about half the drones in that direction.
b. 4 fighters in each of three directions can destroy about 2/3 to 3/4 of the drones in that direction.
c. 6 fighters in two directions can completely (for mission purposes) destroy all inbound drones in that direction.
2. 1 or 2 fighters will not discourage a PF from fighting the fighters to prevent damage to the swarm.
3. 3 or 4 fighters could go either way. Considering that they are packed F16's, 4 might be enough.
4. 6 will almost definitely cause of PF to bug out, unless the PF skipper is: a) under orders to engage fighters regardless of odds, or b) "crazy-mad with the battle-lust."
5. Given the anticipated distances that drone swarm is behind (if it's there at all, and this isn't a ruse to draw out fighters piece-meal, or some other purpose), all 12 fighters can be in planetary "waters" before the drones arrive.
6. There is no mathematical advantage I can see between 12 fighters engaging close to home against all inbound drones versus smaller groups of fighters engaging at a distance. There IS a defensive advantage in that a PF might not want to come too close to a P4 battery...
7. If the PFs DO follow the drone swarm all the way in to planetfall, our lives just got a lot more complicated, and alot worse. They can add drones to the attack, snipe at our defense satellites, and generally draw our fire away from shooting drones. P4's WILL junk them, but the Klingons might be willing to trade a couple or 3 PFs (and their crews) in exchange for:
a. tieing down fleet units in the sector, as SPP stated, and
b. turning the planetary surface to glass and dust.
Note that, given the distance the drones are still at, any of the above deployments are still possible...
Just trying to help out a little.
SPP
How long does it take for the Home Defense Battalion to mobilize?
Is there enough time for the HDB to move the civilian population to shelter before the drones arrive?
Frank: Be careful in your assumption that the four inbound fighters will cause the G1 to bug out. The G1 is faster than you and armed with Ph-2. This means he can choose the range which is best suited for ph-2's while Ph-3's do little or nothing.
Unfortunately you may have to launch drones at him but try not to until the other fighters can join you. You do have a better turn mode so try to out maneuver him but until you have to keep haulin' ass back to your fighter group.
And keep talking!
OOC
In addition to cheerfully overworking me for the past several days, my real life boss has announced that I will be leaving on a business trip next week. I'll be gone all week with either no or very limited net access.
Raymond Ford: There is already a local authority handling the people to shelters. The GAS shuttle are also helping and on standby to imediately join the battle when called.
At this point there isn't much need for troops to just stand there and guide people. There just isn't enough of us anyway to make a difference. The local police, fire and other emergency services are adiquate.
It is better we remain ready for our primary duty.
Use of the trucks and such are also not of much help as there is only minutes involved here and they just aren't fast enough in this case.
Loren:
Ah, I must have missed that. I was getting caught up after getting home and spotted a remark by SPP about the HDB partipating in the evacuation.
Stepping into the S-3 Ops center, Maj Wile starts shucking his dress tunic as the yeoman hands him the combat fatigues.
the Majors first words were "Master Gunner, Status Report If you please!"
On the outside, the Majors demenor was calm and unconcerned.
Inside was a turmoil of emotions. What did the Klingons want? mass extermination of the planets population? reoccupation of the planet Caledonia?
harrassment raid to "pop" the 429th PDU on a quick smash and grab raid?
The evidence was infront of us on the screens, in the data scans and the sensor reports. time to figure out what it all meant and use that information to defeat the enemy.
Master Gunner Demaris started in with his report"
"Well, Sir, what we know is..."
Uh, Loren? I think you meant me, not Frank.