Archive through April 28, 2005
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Archive through April 28, 2005
Loren, is your email address in your profile correct? If so, I sent you an email the other day asking you a question about this event.
To: Major Ford
From: GMG (Flipper-6 actual)
1) Enlisted elements of your battallion are forming up at the GMG at this time. NO officers have reported for duty with the troops yet. At this time, Flipper-6 bravo is organizing the enlisted as they arrive via ground car, flier or transporter. All troops are recieving a basic combat load from the GMG armory per SOP.
2) GMG has placed a priority on getting your command team to their posts as soon as they call and request transport. Suggest you activate the Batt "phone tree" ASAP.
3) Request permission to have leg infantry squads from your Batt deployed to the most important control stations ASAP to man them.
4) No contact has been made with tank company at (where ever) at this time.
5) Mech company is ready to deploy from the GMG motor pool as soon as their command cadre arrives. Transporter capability has been reserved for this purpose.
6) Transportation company is ready at minimum capability at (where ever).
7) S-3 is operational at this time as XXXX (Wile), Command is YYYY-6 actual (Knight). Both are on the air.
8) Comm Central (ZZZZ, under Lt Palmer) has not come on the air yet.
Grafton, commanding
I'll be out for the rest of the day, working.
Mike Curtis, I check that e-mail. I got it but forgot to reply.
Haunted House this is Banshee lead:
At point Charlie I intend to have Banshee Flight engage the G1 and see what else is out here.
Advise if intention is otherwise, over...
"As you were, I have the deck," said Major Wile.
Captain Grafton gleefully handed off the Hq duty officer's seat to Major Wile when he arrived. Major Wile had been following the situation from the party since the very beginning via his PAD, but had been concentrating so hard on the situation he had forgotten to call for transport earlier.
"Sir, defense squads at the GWS, Phaser 4 batteries and fighter bases all report situation nominal. The Maneuver company is ready to deploy at this time at 96% strength, but is still recieving a last few stragglers. Home Defense Batt has mostly reported in at this time, but their chain of command appears to not be reporting nor their tank company. Major Ford is on the air and should be in shortly.
The ground combat comm net and repeater system is up and shows green across the board. GMG admin shuttle is enroute to the (whichever) fighter base per my orders. I have not recieved orders at this time to release the DefSats from automatic control. With permission, Sir, I will report to the armory and send you an update on the status of the ground forces. I have had my Gunny running things so far."
At Maj Wiles nod, Mike spun on his heel and exited the GMG quarterdeck (bridge =). As he made his way to the the armory at a trot, he stopped in his quarters and changed from his shiny new garrison boots to his most comfortable and disreputible field boots. Negotiating the hatches securing the armory he cound hear the Company Gunnery "urging" on laggard arrivals. "...motherless, pitiful, sickly, saggy 'butt'ed monkeys are causing me pain. If I have to come over there..."
Grinning, Mike made sure his ID was logged in correctly as he grabbed his Phaser rifle with its under barrel grenade launcher. Armor, ammunition and his personal packs rapidly completed his loadout. The 25 kg of gear a compromise of sorts between barely enough and immobility.
A quick check of his pad assured him that the leg squad manning the control station outside was still reporting OK. The HWS was lurking in their staging area, ready to fire support all throughout the "Annapolis GCL" or to be transported as needed.
Alright, I'll take Ghost flight as well under my other persona.
'Haunted House, this is Ghost lead (Phoenix), orbiting at 80Kk. Flight is weapons hot and scanning. Requesting orders.'
Ghost Flight, orbiting around Cassandra IV:
Phoenix rand his hand over the weapons console again...verifying their status, again. This was the part he hated. Having seen combat from the beginning of the war with the Klingons he still never liked the waiting, even knowing full well that death could be just moments away when the waiting ended.
For a moment he considered calling his buddy Merlin, but long years and training kept him from it. The ancipation was starting now...soon they would be headed in harm's way. Sometimes he thought it sad that he looked forward to it so much.
SPP-
Is the GWS Early warning base AKA David kass command reporting "manned and ready" or is it still showing red on the status board?
Master Gunner DeMarris, if you would please have a word with the NCO manning the armory? Make sure that if Col Knight orders the formation of additional militia boarding parties, the armory is ready.
And if you just happened to find side arms, rifles and my auto mag grenade launcher (which I have taken pains to qualify Expert in its use), I would be greatful..." 
if you could bring them back for you me and the rest of the S-3 staff.
David Slater and William Soder: I understand the versatility of drones...but if you would be so kind as to go back in the archives, you will see that SPP seemed to imply that there are 6 separate drone groups in flight towards Cassandra IV, possibly 50 drones each, or 5 of 55 and 1 of 75.
If we take what SPP posted as accurate, then your options of 360 drones in separate courses (and in different hexes) would seem to be inaccurate.
if having to choose between your guesses and SPP postings, I have to give more weight to what SPP posted until informed otherwise.
That is why I keep harping on ths subject...we lack that information and until a role play situation comes up that allows resolution...we will continue to be ignorant of SPP nefarious plans for the intrepid 429th PDU.
Annother subject:
OOC
Scott Tenhoffs point about another ground base to allow for a hasty mine field deployment in the case of a drone strike would be a important reform to the PDU structure...in prior years when drone speeds (and hence ranges) were less, there would be less need for such a option...in the late war and post war periods it would be more important.
in the same vein, I had once suggested a utility shuttle to compliment the fighter groups...I was told (by many of the same people now participating in the scenario) that between the sensor pod, the posibility of probe drones and various other things that the fighters could do, meant there would be no need for a utility shuttle that could be used for specialist recon missions.
my point before, was that there would be no time for a fighter to complete the recon mission, and still be able participate in the main strike...which is precisely the situation we are in now...
the one recon mission that was dispatched was unable to complete its primary mission, that of scouting the drone group.
now we have a situation where the f-16 squadron is dealing with the G1 that has been detected...but we are utterly ignorant of the threat represented by the drone groups.
Is this a sufficiently important mission that we should lobby for a organic scout capacity in PDU establishment? (a mobile scout, not the capacity represented by the Early warning base.)
Jeff Wile:
At this time, with David Kass being missing, and apparently Garth Getgen and John Kasper are not in the topic either, you can run them yourself if you like. for what it is worth, nothing has "happened" to those stations.
As to the drones, you are free to entertain whatevery paranoid fantasies (GRIN) you think I might be up to, but trying to trick me into giving you better data ahead of time, like say issuing a confirmation or denial on the data in your last few messages about numbers of drones, is not an opportunity I am going to avail myself of.
For the nonce, I will say that Ken Kazinski spoke with me on the phone recently. As he is not an active participant in this topic, I prevailed upon him to act as my "father-confessor" and told him exactly what is going on on the Klingon side in re this current contretemps. I did this because it makes me feel better to have someone else who can say, in essence, "No, Petrick did not cheat or change anything that was going on based on what you guys did so as make sure he would "win"."
And to be honest, I have made one "correction" (which I have advised Ken of), but this was solely based on the discovery of a massive math error, and was done solely to correct that math error.
JeffW, re: "Mobile Scout"
So are you looking for a PFS/Skiff-Scout or something larger like an assigned FFS to a planet?
Skiff-Scout, sounds like a modern day AWACS/JSTAR to me....
Jeff:
Neither David or I have suggested anything beyond 6 groups. You could not get only 6 groups of drones without careful waypoint plotting anyway (if more than approximately 18 drones per group). What we have suggested is that because of the wide range of space in which to setup this bombardment, that there is a very good possibility that every one of the groups will be actively seeking targets by the time the intercept force gets to it.
From a role play stand point, you know only that a drone bombardment is probably coming in. You've only seen 1 G1 and know nothing else at the momment. The Federation both uses and faces Type-IIIXX drones in combat and therefore would know both their capabilities and limitations. It is also more prudant to assume the worst and be happily wrong than to look at a best case scenario and be caught off guard.
By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, April 27, 2005 - 02:02 pm: Edit
in the same vein, I had once suggested a utility shuttle to compliment the fighter groups...I was told (by many of the same people now participating in the scenario) that between the sensor pod, the posibility of probe drones and various other things that the fighters could do, meant there would be no need for a utility shuttle that could be used for specialist recon missions.
REPLY: First: Such a utility shuttle would at best be speed 8 (versus a speed 13 F-16), speed 16 with warp packs (versus a speed 26 F-16 with warp packs or megapacks). You can figure what that reduced speed means in terms of range of intercept.
my point before, was that there would be no time for a fighter to complete the recon mission, and still be able participate in the main strike...which is precisely the situation we are in now...
REPLY (Continued): Second, such a shuttle would have to be ESCORTED by fighters to try to keep it from being shot down, and the fighters, if they encountered something they could run from, would not be able to run because they would have to protect the shuttle, which could not run. Upshot, you still have two fighters tied down which will not get back in time to be "specially armed" for the mission, but you will have a greater chance that they will be destroyed.
the one recon mission that was dispatched was unable to complete its primary mission, that of scouting the drone group.
REPLY (Continued): That was because no decision was made to try to 'fight through' which is what you sometimes have to do on a reconnaissance mission. Although the U.S. is increasingly going to the idea of non-fighting reconnaissance units in the Army (Cav Squadrons and Troops are increasingly having their "real combat power" reduced), the actual reality is still sometimes you have to fight your way through (or past) the enemy screening force to see what is being screened. The two F-16Ms (one an EWF) could have "split", allowing one to try to draw the G1 away while the other got a look (the G1 could not block them both at once if they split, but it is faster and would have had a high probability of killing one or the other, of course if the G1 was getting too close, the fighter could have just "disengaged" and lived to fight another day). Optionally, they could have simply gone straight for the G1, and possibly forced it back enough to "see", but that would have led to a greater chance that one or both would be damaged (or destroyed). It was Colonel Knight's choice to order the CAP not to press on, it was the CAP's decision to turn away (Richard Sherman should actually have made the choice on his own, not called for orders, but that was my fault for not making that clear to him, and so he asked for and received orders).
now we have a situation where the f-16 squadron is dealing with the G1 that has been detected...but we are utterly ignorant of the threat represented by the drone groups.
REPLY (Continued): See above. But note that if Starfleet had not warned you, you would be trying to go from WS-0 to WS-III while the drones were a LOT CLOSER, and in some respects, you might have been much better off if that had been the case (honestly). But then again, imagine if you had been "surprised".
Jeff, Fighter group that is closing on the G1 and Drone Group Alpha may very well still be able to deal with some of the drones in that strike. But we will be out of it for the point defense.
Now, if it turns out that there are 2 or more G1s in this cloud we are closing on, well...Banshee will be in a lot of trouble.
"Already done, sir. Skinny said he'll have someone swing by with Betsy, and small arms for the rest of us, in about five minutes."
He pauses for a moment, obviously listening to his earpiece.
"Sir, the ground warning stations just checked in. Apparently there was a wiring fault that prevented them from sending on the communications net, but they could still receive. That fault is fixed now, and they report ready for action."
Major Wile nodded affirmative to Master Gunner DeMaris, "thank You, Make sure the safeties are properly set, wouldnt want any unexpected weapons discharges in the OPS ctr!"
"Master Gunner, Could you request GWS to give me a reading on the range to both Banshee and Ghost Flights... I trust the pilots, but I want to see some current flight data updates from GWS on our screens."
Turning to the tactical plot table with its specialist operator, "Corporal smithers, would you please lay in a plot for the G1 that Banshee Flight is intercepting...If Col Knight is correct and the G1 continues on to the planet instead of playing with banshee flight, when will it be in Phaser 4 range...and which battery will have the best firing opportunity? Let me know when you have that information...thank you."
"Jones?!? Keep an open channel to Col Knight, we have to be alert, incase he calls...thank you."
"Master Gunner? some time ago, we requested a 360 degree sweep of the space around Cassandra IV, did the GWS respond, and I missed it, or was that part of the Comm SNAFU?"
Master Gunner Demaris: "Sir, I'll..."
Chris Fant:
Send me an E-Mail address I can reply to.
Jeff Wile:
You might do the same.
Steve Petrick:
email sent.
Sent.
Scott and Steve Petrick.
I submit that PDU's (atleast full battalions or larger) that are not co located with a base (BS, BATS or Star Base) needs more than the establishment fighter squadron(s).
I will admit that a speed 8 shuttle is next to useless during the late GW and post war period... but a speed 8 shuttle during a time period when only speed 8 drones are available atleast has speed pairity...and in that context would be of use to contact a speed 8 drone wave and keep it under observation...same with a speed 20 drone wave (assuming a speed 20 craft were used)...that would happen after year 180 and the invention of dash pods...if a speed 10 fighter shuttle were used. during speed 32 drone time periods a speed 32 craft would be needed (say a F-104 with dash pods and ECM pods...maybe the one sensor pod allowed for the regular squadron?!?)
perhaps a casual F-104 model something late that (with pods ) can manuver at speed 32.
It wouldnt even need SWAC's functions or be a squadron support craft for direct combat...just something to "check out" readings and have the speed to avoid contact (if needed)... and be "cheap enough" that a PDU could buy it with CO points.
With PDU's effective GWS range is 75 hexes...a mobile unit could travel much closer than the immobile GWS could...and even if it doesnt have the special sensors that the base has...it would be much closer to the target.
A PFS or a skiff would be more expensive than a F-104 would be...but they would have the speed to meet the role.
Memo, Col Knight, we now have effective control of the GWS.
Request energy allocation to the GWS for the special sensor. we need 7 points of power to full power it. fire control will need to be covered, as well.
at this time, I recommend using ECCM function in an attempt to uncover any G1's that may be attempting a stealth approach.
this would be in addition to the need to power EW to full power (also at ECCM).
this would be possible at a time when we are not being shot at... when the time comes for direct combat with the 429th PDU, we can adjust the energy allocations...but unless we can detect the enemy...it will be quite difficult to target them properly.
Chris, as of right now, there is only one G1...if it is the G1-G that we saw a "week ago"... I would expect you to be able to deal with it...If it is part of a casual squadron or a regular PF ssquadron...you might end up holding a tiger by the tail...
lets not "borrow trouble" until we know more about what we ar facing.
To be honest, I am a little concerned about Ghost... if a G-1 (or 5 of them) can make a stealth approach...they might "get the drop" on the 6 F-16Ms of Ghost flight...and that would be ...unfortunate.
"Major Wile?" spoke up Yeoman Jones.
Turning to the speaker, Major Wile said "Yes Yeoman?"
"We received an Intel summary from S2, sir, its in text format, Sir."
"Go Ahead" requested the Major.
clearing her throat, (this was her first participation in a "real action" but she carried on like a "GRUNT" should) "Intel summary, operation snipe hunt:
There have been several inquiries concerning the detection of the supposed Dagger Team deployed on Cassandra IV 7 days ago.
It is apparently possible to "narrow down" the possible locations a said Dagger Team could be located in by concentrating on those areas not affected by the Drone bombardment.
It is the considered opinion of S2 operations staff (NCO yepson in charge)to point out that:
A: A planet is a pretty big thing and a Dagger Team could be in any number of areas where it would be shielded from the blast effects even though otherwise fairly close to a detonation.
B: Picking out areas that were not hit for fear of hitting a Dagger Team would be easier (even considering A above) if you did not shoot any of the drones down, but if you knock down any of them . . . that results in more areas that are not 'hit' and thereby expands the search area you are defining exponentially.
So while A pretty well says that even if you try to coordinate this, you will be unlikely to accomplish anything, even A will only really be possible if you just let the drones land.
in summation, it is our considered opinion that letting the drones hit the planet is "contraindicated" as a desirable option.
message end" said the yoeman.
Major Wile turns to Master Gunner DeMaris and said "I think they are trying to get the point across that the drone bombardment is not going to reveal the location of a Dagger Team, or any other team, on the planet . . . IF there is a Dagger team at all."
Master Gunner DeMarris replied "yes sir"
then steeping closer to the Master Gunner and lowering his voice for a private exchange, "Get young Yepson on the line...and please convey my 'suggestion' that in future, real time combat OPs plans are not to be routed through civilian bands or commercial comm units...and find out why the "dog watch" 3rd shift NCO is preparing a high priority Intell summary related to a high priority combat OPS plan...get the story, and get it fast."
The officer and the senior warrant officer exchanged a knowing glance, and turned bact to their related duties.
Jeff: One can't add every possible unit to handle every contingency. The planetary defense forces described here are less than ideal for handling a drone strike. Despite that, the defending forces can still expect to kill in excess of 300 drones. I could generate a force that could kill more drones for the same BPV but it would prove less effective against other potential opponents.