The day started bad for Major Ford and the evening was looking worse.

First there was the news that Colonel Baluda and many of the Nourmean HDB’s other officers were still in the hospital. Whatever that freighter crew had brought with them, it was nasty enough to put a healthy person in bed for days. The outbreak started right after the freighter departed a couple of days ago. Colonel Baluda was barely conscious when Ford had spoken to him this morning.

The second cause for joy was the Governor’s party. In better circumstances, Major Ford would have enjoyed the opportunity to wine and dine at someone else’s expense. Today, he could barely keep his mind off the mounting problems on running the HDB with a reduced staff.

Then came word from Star Fleet. Klingon drones.

Swell.

Minutes after hearing the news, Major Ford was on a completely different part of the planet. He struggled out of his evening mess uniform and into battle dress. He concentrated on readying his gear and checking his weapon. The physical effort focused and calmed him.

It was just as well. Seconds later, he was dealing with the barely controlled chaos of getting the Nourmean Home Defense Battalion prepared for whatever was coming. He was already a little hoarse from trying to get the command team together over the communicator.

He hoped that he wasn’t coming down with something.

By Raymond Ford (Raymond) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 01:17 am: Edit

To: Captain Grafton
From: Major Ford

Re: Responses to your communiqué.

1. We will have to rely on the leaders within the enlisted personnel to keep things running for now. The officers will just have to catch up when they finally report in.
2. The Home Defense Battalion command team has been notified.
3. Permission granted. Deploy Home Defense Battalion leg infantry where needed.
4. The tanks are still in the field after providing armor support for the ground search after the G1G flyby. They last reported that they are returning to base after repairing some minor mechanical trouble in the field.
5. Understood.
6. Understood.
7. Understood.
8. Understood.


Major Ford, out.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 01:36 am: Edit

Jeff Wile: I already ordered the GWS to full active scan. That would be full ECCM at this time.

Drone bombardment cannot be made to avoid specific areas on a planet. The only way to narrow the guesses down is to perhaps, after the action, scan various places that would be adequate shelter from drone bombardment (there is now way for a Dagger Team to know where drones will hit or won't hit).

The problem still remains that we will have to get lucky because this narrows the search from one million places to 158,000 places or more. Remember, Noumea is largely continental with small oceans and many lakes in the equatorial regions.

Even if the drones could be aimed at specific areas there is no way WE could tell which areas were not targeted since we plan on destroying the majority if not all drones inbound.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 01:38 am: Edit

To All:

I apologise for my absence but I've got much work on my hands. I'll try to get the starting impulse nailed down tomorrow morning over coffee.

SPP: Oh, so you plan on winning???

By David Crew (Catwholeaps) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 01:40 am: Edit

A short note from the Kzinti Observer...

You really have to assume the worst case scenario (as someone up thread said). That reasonably is a large drone strike (250+ drones) spread in all six directions and each sub-strike escorted by a G1 PF. The G1 keeps your fighters from splitting to deal with the drones at leisure at range, and if you concentrate fighters too much on one direction to overwhelm the PF you leave other directions vulnerable.

The G1's will be quite happy to keep your fighters busy and not tangling with the drones. Any drones you launch at the G1 are drones not shooting down the DB strike. You can't reasonably expect to hurt the G1 unless he lets you (however many fighters you send).

The G1's really screw with the extended fighter defense (guess that is why they are there).

The only thing the G1's fear are the P-IV's on the planet which CAN hurt them. So they probably won't close closer than range 30 (but will add their drones to the strike).

Even sending the fighters out only gives them two turns of shooting before the drones are out of range of their phasers (assuming they are all in the same hex - which is the WORST case). This is something I hadn't realised before when I last advised sending the fighters to engage at range (speed 30 fighters would be better - but we don't have those...)

So arrange the fighters so they can fire on two turns at the DB drones while safe under the guns of the planet (100 hex limit, turn 1 impulse 25 seems to do that).

Think carefully where to put your shatter packs so they don't track your own anti-drones (which hasn't been done yet).

Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

By Paul Stovell (Pauls) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 04:14 am: Edit

Shatter Pack deployment.

IF the starting impulse leads as we would like for the drones to spend most of a turn in the atmosphere then this is probably the best place to use the Shatter Packs as the DB drones will "stack up" in the atmosphere sadly the drones would then be inside the Shatterpacks range.

Is there any way to get around that?
I can't think of a way.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 10:07 am: Edit

Loren Knight:

Sorry, but at this juncture the on-map (100 hexes range) arrival of the first drones (if there are any drones) is Impulse #25 of Turn #1.

The only question now is what you want the map to look like as a snap shot when that impulse turns up.

Where exactly will the remaining six fighters be.

Where exactly will the scatter/shatter packs be if any are deployed.

What, exactly, are the targeting instructions of the scatter/shatter packs.

Any other special instructions.

By Michael C. Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 10:52 am: Edit

SPP: questiom
I was looking a tthe background for this deployment and it states that we were SUPPOSED to be a 2 squadron PDU.

Why are we stuck with 2 small fighter ground bases at capacity, rather than 2 MEDIUM FGB at 1/2 capacity?

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 11:04 am: Edit

Michael C. Grafton:

Because the original battalion had four small fighter ground bases each holding a half squadron, and lost two of them (and the fighters) when the Orions attacked the convoy. The Battalion was orginally set up as a one fighter squadron battalion in the discussion, and your friendly evil host decided as a bit of background color to have a second squadron that was lost en route. [Just the bases and the fighters, and the admin shuttles for those two bases, plus the attendant supplies, i.e., pods, warp packs, drones, etc., but not the personnel. The only personnel lost were freighter crews, and it is possible that even they survived (there are plenty of places to beam to in a convoy when you suffer catastrophic destruction, but at the time they were noted as "lost"). There being no fighters or bases for them, Starfleet simply had the personnel for the second squadron remain on the troop freighter to be redeployed elsewhere, and promised to provide a new squadron (and attendant bases) at a later date. Theoretically, all else has happened in about a month of "game time" despite the topic being several years old. About three weeks after the PDU was deployed a G1 did a fly by. A week after that, this drone incident happened.]

By Michael C. Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 11:10 am: Edit

To: Ops
From: GMG-6

1) Planetary Def Batt is now formed and deploying under Major Ford. Batt Command Staff is severely impacted by the Venutian Crud (tm) and will be understaffed until further notice.
2) Home Defense Batt has attached their leg infantry comany to Ground Defense Coy and they are being deployed, UNORDIR, to base defense positions per Anphib-1.
3) All control stations at Annapolis are manned at this time. Rest of Ground Defense Coy are ready to deploy.
Grafton, commanding

Captain Grafton

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 11:21 am: Edit

I am in a major rush this morning. I think I can get back in a couple hours.

Sorry guys.


SPP, I didn't realize time was up on the starting impulse thing. I guess I should have whith that last e-mail.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 11:24 am: Edit

SPP: Before I can figure on the planetary area I need the results of the actions with Banshee flight, the G1 and the incoming drones. Where is Banshee flight in the turns prior to turn 1.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 11:35 am: Edit

Loren Knight:

I will say again: The six fighters that comprised Banshee Flight are not, I say again, not available.

I have asked Chris Fant and Richard Sherman to deal with their little problem.

But the things are moving ahead, and while it is possible that Banshee Flight might deal with some, or all, of the drones (if there are any drones) that were coming from that direction, they are NOT going to come back in time to help deal with any drones that may be coming from other directions . . . at least not any first wave of drones. (And if there are more waves of drones, might that not mean that there are more waves of drones coming up on Banshee flight?)

So your choices are:

Assume that Banshee flight will somehow deal with whatever problem it has encountered in the direction you sent it, and that therefore there will not be any drones, or other unpleasant surprises, coming from that direction and concentrate your remaining assets on the other five possible directions . . .

or

Assume that Banshee flight will attrit, but not completely block whatever as coming from that direction, and that some assets will need to be allocated to "clean up" whatever is left.

or

Assume that Banshee flight could not deal with what was coming from that direction at all, and that you will still need to fully committ something of your remaining resources to stopping that, but if that is true, and similar forces are coming from the other five directions, then the planet is pretty much dead anyway . . . right?

IF there is an actual drone bombardment going on, and IF it is coming in multiple waves, then Banshee might get back to help with some of the later waves, but it is NOT going to be there to help with the initial waves (if there are in fact initial waves, if these waves do in fact come from multiple directions, if in fact there are any drones at all).

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 11:39 am: Edit

General comment:

The Starting point of impulse 25 turn 1 range 100 hexes puts us in a bit of a fix.

7 impulses to the end of the turn leaves the drones at range93.

end of turn 2 range would be 61 hexes.

end of turn 3 range would be 29 hexes.

atmosphere contact at impulse 30?!?

that means the End of turn 3 firing opportunity will be sub optimum for the phaser VI's and phaser 1.

Not looking good "for the Home Team"

SPP, could we now have a D17 intel "read oud" on what is coming our way?

with the 100 hex range, we should be getting some kind of information now.

thank you.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 11:58 am: Edit

Jeff Wile;

There are two reasons why that is not happening.

First is that I want to give Loren Knight the opportunity to set his defense.

Second is that I would really like to have the encounter between banshee and what it encountered posted.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 02:22 pm: Edit

SPP-

OK.

Col. Knight. I suggest 3 options,

1. Ghost flight stay to gether for max effective ness and safety. suggest range from planet 52 hexes in direction A. will not be available for drone attrition in directions C D or E but if only drones are encountered will be able to respond to drone groups in directions F A and B (as needed). 52 hex range is within 2 turns of both the 100 hex range mark and Cassandra IV. that would give you maximum versatility if directing the fighters to the point of action best suited to what is revealed at the point where the action begins.
2. put 1 fighter on each of the cardinal directions from Cassandra IV at range 82 hexes. If drones only show up, the individal fighters can inflict max attrition on the drone strikes using gatlings T1 and T6 drones. William Soders comments not withstanding, the fighters are (as is the rest of the 429th PDU) expendible if there is a chance at preventing wide spread drone strikes from hitting Cassandra IV.
3. deploy Ghost flight in 2 fighter sections in directions B D and F. Range 52 hexes. As with #1 above, the fightes will be able to reach any point of the 100 hex defense perimeter within 2 turns... and could rally as a full half squadron of 6 fighters back at cassandra IV if needed.

Discussion:

IF Banshee Flight encounters ONLY 1 G1 and still manages to attrit the (supposed) drone strike... we will still have 5 other perceived threats (labled for simplicity B thru F.) if Capital hex side (annapolis) drones are minimized (killed completely?!?!) we can deploy the rest of our assets to the threats B-F.

If it is only drones that we face... the rest of the 429th Assets, given the current tactical situation may not be able to kill 100% of all drones.

If the threat to Annapolis is removed or minimal due to Banshees efforts, recommend concentrating efforts against those threats that appear to be targeted on hex sides where 429th PDU ground bases are located (other than annapolis).

depending on drone numbers (and types) we should be able to give a good account of ourselves and keep most of the 429th combat effective.

finnally, recommend holding the 5 shatter packs in reserve for now... if no drones are encountered (as in they threat was a feint) we may have orders for the deck crews to change the Ad min shuttles missions...

if the drones are indeed present in 360 number level (depending on what Banshee encounters and does) the shatter packs may help but wont be enough to defeat the drone strike by them selves.

They could, if handled well, be enough to save 1 (possibly 2) hex side(s) from being hit by drones... or if distributed evenly to all 5 (presumed) threatened hex sides, drop the critical number of drones below the level needed to qualify for devastation.

thank you.
Major Wile, 429th S3 OPS.

By William Curtis Soder (Ghyuka) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 04:35 pm: Edit

Jeff:
Since you requested me by name, I'll give ya my 2 cents.

The plan for dealing with the drones looks good. You've accounted for the fighter versatility as well as brought up plenty of options (especially the shatterpack issue). I really hope this can work out but I have a feeling the deck is stacked against your forces.

The only thing I can think of is be careful how you guys use the shatterpacks. You could end up with a situation where 1 shatterpacks drones could end up being targeted on some of the same targets as another.

Good luck and good hunting

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 04:59 pm: Edit

BARTON PYLE:

For whatever reason, when I tried to reply to your E-Mail it either jammed my whole E-mail system (first time), or came back as undeliverable (second time). So I am posting what I said here:

==================================================

The big thing I am trying for is a "bar topic" at this juncture. A place for players to interact in character based on the idea of being members of a Federation Planetary Defense Battalion or the Local Defense Forces. This is on a planet that was formerly occupied by the Klingons, but has since been liberated.

There are two ways to join right now.

Walk in and announce yourself as someone, but there are not many officer slots open just now, so you would have to be an NCO or a crewman.

Or you can ask Loren Knight if he has a job in his battalion that you could take.

But feel free to join.

Steven P.


Hi Steve

I was wondering if anyone can join in the roleplaying in the Orbital Defence Platforms topic? If so how do you get introduced into the story and so on?

Thanks

Barton Pyle

By Christopher E. Fant (Cfant) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 08:38 pm: Edit

Alright, Banshe flight is commited and dealing, so I will move onto dealing with Ghost Flight.

Ghost flight is currently at speed 26 orbitins Cassandra at 80Kkm.

I recommend we head them all in direction B to a range of about 50 hexes. Remember, Ghost has 6 F-16Ms, no EWF fighter there, so they will be lacking in the EW department.

By Barton Pyle (Bart) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 09:17 pm: Edit

SPP, Thats wierd because I got your email 3 times and thank you.

Loren Knight, If you have a job for me so I can join in I would appriciate it. Whatever will fit in is fine by me. Thanks

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 10:01 pm: Edit

I'm back for a minute folks. I just had a total nightmare day trying to get back through traffic that is BAD even for LA area.

I will say this, avoiding stupid ass accidents is not only a service to yourself but to society in general. Each day you DON'T crash be proud that you are doing your part to help the general flow of traffic. And for all you people who have such empty lives that you must study every dang aspect of the accident you are passing so you can have some pathetic little story to tell your pathetic little friends... I have deeper advice for you that I'll refrain from posting here.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 10:03 pm: Edit

SPP: OK but please let me get this totally clear, Banshee flight is NOT responding to my orders to report?

I'll will work on the Turn one setup.

Jeff, I come back shortly and read your post. I've got to get settled (gee, can you tell?).

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 10:53 pm: Edit

Loren, take your time...we all understand real life takes precedence!

(congratas, by the way is surviving the driving commute...some times it is more than just a challenge!)

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, April 28, 2005 - 11:20 pm: Edit

William, thanks, It remains to be seen just how "stacked" this deck actually is!

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Friday, April 29, 2005 - 12:54 am: Edit

Barton, I suggest going over the list above in the archives (in my deployment plan) and seeing what you'd like to do. Then pick a few and let me know.

By all means join the FUN!