Memo
To: Col Knight. CO 429th PDU
From: Major Wile S3 Ops, 429th PDU.
Re: Civilian evacuation.

Sir. Early in the planning there was discussions about prioritizing which planet hex sides would have a higher defense Priority than others...IIRC the Capital hex side (anapolis) would be highest priority, then those with 429th PDU ground Bases, and last catagory was the two hex sides without ground bases.

As much as it pains me to have to make this recommendation, I suggest using all trans porter capacity excess to immediate military needs to evacuate the 2 low priority hex sides to the capital hex. there is ample capcity (the bunkers were planned for much more capcity than the local residents represent).

In that way, If you must make a determination to reinforce point defense of a higher priority hex side, we can minimize civilian casualties to the low priority areas.

It may not make any difference, but perhaps a few more civilian lives might be spared.

Major Wile out.

By Frank DeMaris (Kemaris) on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 08:05 pm: Edit

Richard: Don't worry, I'm prepared to assume that four F-16Ms will probably be able to drive a G1 off (temporarily) also. However, they WILL have to expend some drones to do so, and the G1 will only run long enough to kill those drones. The G1 will not (no way, no how, no chance) voluntarily come in to range 2 of the fighters, but will instead try for range 3 oblique passes to get use out of his P2s and ADD.

Here's another ugly thought for the Klingons. How much fun will it be if the G1(s) plink away at the SPs with their P2s from range 15, hoping to do enough damage to trigger them prematurely? They can certainly do that without having to worry about the P-IVs (much).

By Richard Sherman (Rich) on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 08:12 pm: Edit

Tank looked at the sensor readout on the big, bad, bandit on his element's tail. Four klicks. Every minute. Three of those precious minutes had gone by. The fighters, moving at beyond full military thrust, called "V-max," were flying at Warp 3, and still the gunboat closed.

Three and a half minutes to rendevous. Three and a half minutes until the Cavalry arrives. Three and a half minutes until we get to figure out whether some or all of us live or die.

He glanced again at the readouts. 37Kk now. Now a little less.

Three minutes. Things seemed to keep getting slower. Might as well be an eternity.

The itch in his scalp came back.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 08:28 pm: Edit

Frankly I did mean you Richard, sorry.

By Christopher E. Fant (Cfant) on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 08:51 pm: Edit

Richard, the rest of Banshee FLight is en route to meet you, so all six of us will be together shortly.

So, lets see...we have the roster of Banshee Flight.

Banshee 1: Lt. "Merlin" Fant
Banshee 2: Lt.JG "Watson"
Banshee 3: Lt. "Tank" Sherman (badumdum)
Banshee 4: Lt.JG "Joyride"
Banshee 5: Lt. "Tex"
Banshee 6EWF) Lt.JG "Stork"

"Tank hears 2 clicks in response to his transmission."

By Frank DeMaris (Kemaris) on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 09:11 pm: Edit

"Well, sir, what we know is that there is an inbound drone strike and the Klingons have routed the drones to approach from all around the planet. Colonel Knight ordered the CAP to investigate, and they just reported a gunboat preceding one portion of the strike. They did not get close enough to the inbound drones to determine how large that part of the strike package is. All fighters have scrambled, and the remainder of Banshee flight is moving out to rendevous with the CAP. Once they link up they intend to engage the gunboat and attempt to develop some data on the size of the strike. The cruisers themselves are not on an approach course, although two of them reportedly have special sensors active. We're guessing that's for BDA for the strike. We currently have no data on the overall size of the strike package, although it's quite possible we have six seperate drone waves, each escorted by a gunboat and coming in from different directions."

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 09:22 pm: Edit

"Thank You, Master Gunner. Any word yet from Captain Kass or the Early warning ground base?"

Major wile, after asking the question, turns to look at that Btn status board whowing readines (and when needed) battle damage reports.

"And have any other NG officers checked in besides Major Ford?"

By Stewart W Frazier (Frazikar) on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 09:48 pm: Edit

Well, we have an idea with Banshee Flight, so what's going on with Ghost FLight? They should be headed somewhere...

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 09:54 pm: Edit

Frank: I'm informing you out of character because this thread can be a bit difficult to follow. I'm dead center of it and I missed a few things so its forgivable that you think there there is confirmation that there is, in fact, a drone strike incoming.

What we have is a warning from Star Fleet that movements of several Klingon cruisers are consistant with a drone strike. We know that at least one unit is using Scout Channels and that Star Fleet believes that three of the Klingon units are cruiser class.

I sent the fighter cap out to determin facts. One to confirm that there is indeed a drones strike actually there (as a player I am fairly certain there is but there is not as yet proof of that). The other was to determin various facts about the drone wave if there is one.

We do KNOW there is one G1 since it's been spotted. I think it plausable that this might be part of a casual flotilla but could be one of six. It is possible that one G1 could be flying center of three waves as an escort and a second G1 is escorting the three waves on the other side of us. Or there could be one G1 escort for each wave. An of course there could be two casual wings of two (I had to say that to be complete).

So at this point we KNOW very little.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 09:57 pm: Edit

"CAP Banshee 3, this is Haunted House. Regarding Klingon G1, what was it's approach vector? Directly ahead or from an off side? Out."

By Mike Curtis (Nashvillen) on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 10:55 pm: Edit

Loren, I sent you an email at your address in your profile. Did you get it?

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 11:24 pm: Edit

Major Wile, after studying the tactical read out, turns to Master Gunner DeMaris.

"What is your assessment of the tactical situation, Master Gunner? are we seeing a legitimate set piece assault? or could this be a deception? with the actual forces and mission goal not yet revealed to us?"

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Tuesday, April 26, 2005 - 11:38 pm: Edit

Standing at the control terminal for the OPS center tactical display, Major wile keys in personal command over ride, and requests a automated SITREP on Captain Kass' command, the Early warning station.

looking for any odd readings, like security alert, peremeter breaches, no life signs in areas were officers and marines should be manning stations, Klingon Biosigns in side the ground base, power failures, or any other readings that might indicate why Captain Kass has not "checked in" or reported his readiness status, or even an acknowledgement to the Red Alert.

By Richard Sherman (Rich) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 12:52 am: Edit

"Haunted House. Bandit is still on intercept course, directly astern of my position at 35kk, and closing 4kk per minute. I make his course now 179 mark 8. Rendevous with Banshee Flight in two-zeeroh-zeeroh seconds.[click]"

"Fuzzy, when Merlin is within 50kk, switch real-time targeting data feed to him. And watch for lots of drones."

"Roger. First bounces from Banshee flight show green. EW suite set for squadron ops. Let's push it, and then spank this bastard."

[click-click]

By Christopher E. Fant (Cfant) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 02:21 am: Edit

As none of the other flight officers have reported in, shall I take on multiple hats here and take care of the fighter group?

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:10 am: Edit

My recommendation, (for what its worth) is to go ahead and manage your group, using "call signs".

That way if people volunteer later on, we can insert the names.

No muss, no fuss.

By Christopher E. Fant (Cfant) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:17 am: Edit

Yeah, used the callsigns for my flight, just checking if anyone was running Ghose and where the Squadron commander is.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:20 am: Edit

Something SPP said earlier about the drone groups bothered me.

instead of 60 drones each group, he suggested 55 per group and 75 in the final.

odd numbers.

if we assume that there were 3 DB ships, (D6D or D5D or whatever) and say that they had the ability to launch 6 drones each per turn sustained (using B racks, C racks or what eve, and reloading the drone racks in relays...) the average "throw" of drones would be 18 per turn... and 3 turns would be 54 drones...

and that got me to thinking about how he managed to orgistrate 6 Time on target barrages from 6 cardinal directions of planet Cassandra IV.

If he "built" each drone group similtaneously by having a initial way point diametrically opposite of the course to target...then all the drone groups would be at the same starting point...

if he built each group individually (or split 2 groups so that they could be individually targeted for the off side hex target points... then each "group" would have to depart on an indipendent course...and the group attacking from Cassandra IV "6" )the hex farthest from the launch point) would have the farthest to travel since it wouldnt "over run" the target hex to get to the entry hex then perform a HET.

that means ONE of the drone groups should be vulnerable to an early strike since it has to "skirt" the planet on its way to the 101 hex point and get there at the same time all the other drone groups aarrive at their 101 hex point.

sorry I didnt think of that earlier.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:21 am: Edit

I thought Col knight "PICKED" his choice... "RIGHT!"

(see archives above for details...

By Frank DeMaris (Kemaris) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:27 am: Edit

Loren: OOC, I may have been reading too much out-of-character. Much, much earlier (in the archives when the thread picked back up) SPP said there was absolutely, definitely, a drone strike inbound. If we have no in-character confirmation of this, then I was mistaken in my in-character comments. BTW, I thought the Fleet had said all five were cruisers. If only three of the five are, that changes things a little.

"Correction, sir. Fleet does not have confirmation of the drones, merelyan indication the Klingon squadron maneuvered in a maneuver consistent with launching a drone bombardment strike."

He consults another readout. "Captain Kass and the ground warning station have not checked in yet. In fact we've heard very little from that vicinity at all. A few other NG officers have reported themselves on the way to their posts, but none have arrived yet."

Steps over to where Major Wile is consulting the ops control terminal. Whispering, "By the way, sir, with the posibility of a Dagger Team on planet I've 'suggested' to the Armory they ought to be prepared for a universal distribution of small arms. I take it you're concerned about a Dagger Team hitting the ground warning station?"

OOC, can someone remind me which ground warning station Captain Kass is responsible for?

By David Slatter (Davidas) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:29 am: Edit

Jeff. (from one of your sub-sub aides).

With waypoints, I don't see any problem. While it would be very complex as each turns' worth of drones would have different waypoints, I can see the drone ships easily engineering any strike pattern they want, without even having to move while launching.

At the moment, the drones are probably scattered all over the place, and won't become coherent strikes until they reach ~300 hexes from the planet.

One other thing - If I was designing this drone wave, and wanted all the drones to hit the planet on the same impulse (because I'm gambling on no Fed t-bombs), the strike would be in the form of a contracting circle - i.e. the drones would be coming in from the full 360 area. That way, if you send out a fighter or two and my PFs don't find them, you are only going to get a few drones with the gats as the drones will still be very spread out (? 1 every other hex) when 200 hexes from the planet).

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:40 am: Edit

But the ships did most and is such a way as to indicate a DB mission to Star Fleet sensors.

And since it is possible to create such a patern from a single place then it is possible to a squadron to move in such a way as to appear to be on a drone bombardment mission.

If the Klingons know Star Fleet would seen them then not maneuvering like a DB mission would be best. The DB mission is a surprise and much more effective.

But the did maneuver and tip the hat to Star Fleet, and we were warned. All things the Klingons are aware of.

Hee, hee. Could be anything out there! But it's probably drones.

The thing is, you know what you KNOW when you know you KNOW it.

By Paul Stovell (Pauls) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:41 am: Edit

OOC-

Loren,

If you want Ghost flight to intercept drones beyond the 100 hex mark. Recommended IMHO to ensure getting all their drones launched. It should be moving now/soon to be consistant.

The fact that Ghost flight might have PFs to play with might alter this but thought I'd mention it.

By William Curtis Soder (Ghyuka) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 10:46 am: Edit

I agree David. Or should I say that you agree with me. I've been trying to relay that but it wasn't getting through. Although it would be paperwork intensive, it could be done. Actually, I've witnessed it in a previous game.
With 3200 hexes of movement ability to play with and a good bit of accounting, you can achieve whatever patern you wanted from whatever direction you wanted. Keep in mind that that doesn't mean the drones are launched from 3200 hexes away.....just means they are launched out of detection range. That also doesn't mean that a group couldn't be vulnerable, just that they won't necessarily be vulnerable.

By David Slatter (Davidas) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 11:06 am: Edit

Major Wile

Another issue. Right now, it's possible that up to two other G1s are converging on an intercept course for the two Banshees on CAP. Such G1s are unlikely to catch up with the Banshees if the whole flight retreats in good order back to the planet once they join up. However, if our Banshees delay to fight the G1 and the assumed drone wave behind, they may suddenly find two more G1s between them and the planet.

They'll probably lose 1 or 2 fighters, and be rendered combat ineffective for the rest of the fight, either disengaging or scattering.

But these G1s will be a big problem anyway. However we engage them, it will difficult to stop them doing their mission, which is almost certainly to guide the drone wave intact to ~30 hexes from the planet. We either
1) aim to use all the fighters close to the planet at a range where the Phas-4s drive off the G1s, in which case the fighter will have little time to use drones or Gats. or
2) use the fighters away from phas-4 protection, in which case they might do more damage to the drone wave, but equally might get trounced by G1s, maybe do a similar amaount of damage to drones as (1), taking losses as well.