Archive through July 26, 2011
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Archive through July 26, 2011
So I'm spying on the game that ECF is playing on SFBOL (he doesn't seem to be there currently). It is turn 3, impulse 1. So far, his ships have taken a total of 271 points of damage. Given that it is turn 3, impulse 1, the monster has, at most, attacked 8 times (4 times on turn 1 and 4 times on turn 2). If the monster did maximum damage on each strike (i.e. 18), that is a total of 144 damage possible. Given that average damage on a given strike is 11 damage, 88 damage is average by this point. And the monster will probably not get to shoot all 4 times on T1 (too far away) and probably not get a first shot on T2 (due to taking 50 damage), meaning that about 66 damage by this point is reasonable. Heck, if all the ships are in the same hex all the time, and they all get hit every attack, that is about 200 damage average total.
Gadzooks. What is going on out there?
Maybe he thinks it attacks every impulse that his ship(s) are in the same hex?
Yeah, I'm wondering if there is a fundamental rules misunderstanding going on. Hopefully, he'll see this and figure out that something has gone wrong :-)
Never mind. It turns out that it was just his super clever path to victory--the monster was killed/gone by impulse 1 of T3...
I've done my initial setup and saved the game, I might even play it today. It will be fun, since I don't intend on firing a shot.
Tholian Force Feeding
At the setup of QX-57 I began with a simple calculation:
4 DD's X 6 shields X 27 boxes/shield = 648 points of shield
With random distribution of feedings what could go wrong....
Must now prepare letters to the families of the brave crew unit that fell to radiation on board the DD Barite, which had lost it's last shield #1 box Imp 32 of turn 2.
That last feeding on imp 32 of turn 2, the seventh, resulted in the 1 crew unit killed by radiation and the loss of ten warp power, nine from the feeding and one from heat damage.
At the start of turn 3 I formed a pinwheel to link the shields of the 3 most drained DD's preventing any further heat and radiation damage to Barite. On imp 1 of turn 3 12 phaser 1's that were in arc satiated the beast.
In total 519 points of shield 293/phaser 226 sent the beast to hibernate. 8 lab working at range 0 over 3 turns produced 192 terabites of data on the beast, now named Hip Hop.
I think its safe to say I'm limited to 3 times the 2 damage control rating of the Barite and not the 6 damage control rating of the pinwheel it formed a part of for 6.1 REPAIRS. I will be facing the next mission with Barite having 2 left and 2 right warp damaged, and short 1 crew unit. Had I have used the 2 reserve power in imp 32 to reinforce sh#1 on Barite I would only be down 2 warp power 
.
No freighters were harmed in the mission and had not even reached the planet by the time the beast was full. 200 cargo boxes of refined product will be delivered.
To all other commanders beware multiple feedings from the same shield.
Now to read Baduvai intelengence reports.
Intelligence reports. Uh theres no inteleeegence here
Declassified Communications Intercepts Y174
From: Lithol Rubine, Director of Border Integrity
To: Disodium Inosinate, Minister of Security (Personal)
Subject: BEST and worst
How much of the forces defending the Holdfast is the Assembly willing to put in harms way to complete this reckless adventure. If the conflicts raging around our borders were to engulf us we will need every ship we can muster to preserve our race. I understand that PC's alone would not be able to operate so far from our space, but to place so many DD's outside the borders is madness. I accept that no fleet has had its total strength reduced as the PC hulls sent to refit were replaced with new construction. I'm disappointed that the DD's we were to deploy after the refit will be wandering the galaxy for an unknown time.
Though it loathes me to confess this I am disappointed that Secretary of Isolation, Iron Oxide was unable to prevent this entire operation from proceeding. I still find it insulting to our forces that DoI agents are inserted into our ships crews and DoI Officers monitor all commanders for signs of alien influences. I have pointed out the requirement that we study the motivations of our neighbors as well as there tactics and technology, but their Department is opposed to that kink of cultural exposure.
To learn that the Department of Transportation is sacrificing six freighter hulls that could be used as web tenders and auxiliaries baffles me. I'm sure Director of Alien Contact Maltodextrin, and Secretary of Transportation Dextrose are reveling in the adulation of the Assembly for finding a fleet of Freighters suddenly free for use in this operation.
With your approval I will select principal officers for this operation whose prime concern will be preservation of their vessels for the defense of the Holdfast and not to sacrifice there ships or crew on this expeditionary adventure. My leading candidate for Squadron Commander is Sanidine currently leading the Home Fleet PC Training Squadron. His roll there has generated respect among dozens of junior officers and hundreds of worker primes that have been under his instruction.
Director Rubine
Turn 1 and 2 played. Emailed GM for verification of something before finishing. Expect I will lose one to two small freighters, rest make it off fine. One SDD so far has taken a hull hit (heat zone) and lost a crew member (radiation) but all good otherwise.
BTW folk are remembering to do dust damage correct on movement? (P13.1). I mention this because my small freighters def had issues with it.
Well, if you never move faster than 8, the Dust Clouds do no damage. But they do add to the monster's 10 natural ECM.
Since the max speed of a small freighter is around 11, you'll take 1 point on a forward (whichever direction you are moving) shield on Impulse 15 of each turn that they are in the cloud. And that is only if you exceed speed 8. They need to spend 2 turns next to the planet; that allows them to repair 2 Shield boxes. I don't see where it would be an issue, unless you let the monster attack them.
Done, will write it up this week. End result was better than I expected.
All freighters made it off, lots of shield damage on the subs, did 155 to the monster. A double hit by the monster on U5 took shield #2 down with the end result of losing a hull to heat and a crew to radiation.
Here's how my mission went (I took a little poetic license) 
Encounter at Mining Colony QX-57
Lyran War Destroyer Leader Kratos
Commander Jungletoy scanned the new orders for his squadron as he proceeded to the ready room. He licked his right paw and deftly painted it over the top of his his black furred head suppressing the primal instinct to purr. He often wondered how he got here, awarded a new destroyer squadron consisting of the DWL Kratos, DW Lelantos and DWS Nyx to command. He often considered a phrase he heard from a Federation diplomat referring to the Lyran Captains has "being fortunate enough to be a starship Captains with 9 lives rather than having to be lucky". Lucky indeed, climbing the ranks from the frigate attrition commands could be considered lucky as Captains without noble bloodlines were relegated to end their careers simply trying to stay alive. The cruisers, battle cruisers and dreadnaughts were reserved for royalty and all the politics that went along with them.
He was here because of luck or perhaps the Fed knew something he didn't. It was a pretentious noble, Capt Short-Fang of one of the many Far Stars task forces had decided that he wanted to draw first blood against a Hydran patrol fleet. Not fully recognizing the danger or having enough combat experience to recognize the danger of his foe and the ship he chose to bully. Suffice it to say, the Hydran Stingers that blossomed from the hull of the Hydran cruiser turned Short-fangs cruiser into a crippled hull with a second Hellbore cruiser maneuvering for a hellbore killshot. Captain Jungletoy immediately recognized the danger and ordered his heavy frigate to intercede directly between the crippled cruiser and the approaching Hydran in time to take overloaded hellbores on his two ESGs. He awoke in a Lyran Starbase Infirmary surrounded by more bureaucrats and nobility than he could stand. The thought of coughing up a blood soaked fur ball had occurred to him but common sense prevailed.
For saving this idiots life he was granted a promotion to Commander of three brand new War Destroyers . His destroyer group would not be part of the General war, and was instead assigned to Special Operations. Special in Lyran tongue meant 'expendable' and clandestine mission roles with no fleet support. It fit him fine, as he had disdain for the Lyran political machine and had watched to many of his brethren die for political ideals of the Lyran Caste system. If the Lyran hierarchy continued to draw his ire he might take his squadron to LDR space, at least he could upgrade his lame medium Klingon phasers for the much vaunted gatlings. The thought of that brought a wry smile to his furred mug. As he glanced at the intel from QX-57 he wondered if it wasn't better to be in the war, at least there you knew your enemy and his capability. In the outer rim you never knew what you might encounter and most likely whatever it was, it probably wanted to eat or kill you.
He was distracted from his thoughts by the view of his squadron as he passed through the observation deck. He could see the Lelantos and Nyx, their sleek hulls painted a dull midnight black with three blood red streaks across the center hull. He stood and admired their sleek efficient design. He knew enemies would underestimate them because of there small design but they had maneuver capabilities that would make a klingon envious and ample fire power when grouped to cause a battlecruiser to pause. These ships would bring great glory to his crews and himself if they could stay alive long enough to reap the rewards of their efforts. Commander Jungletoy hand picked the command staffs for the other two ships from crew he had served with on frigate duty over the years. He had shared blood with all of them and they trusted him implicitly. The squadrons bond and camaraderie were born out the crucible of combat and survival rather than fear of of patriarchal repression and politics. He sniffed the air and emitted a guttural growl and proceeded through the ready room door.
Before the five crew seated in the ready room could stand, Jungletoy waved them off and emoted a feral smile that would have caused a terran to soil himself. At the table were Captains Figmund and Elsbeth of the Lelantos and Nyx, their respective executive officers and his Chief Science Officer Fritz. Captain FIgmund was large by Lyran standards he had pulled Jungletoy out the wrecked bridge of the heavy frigate and shared the one remaining life pod for a week keeping him alive until they were rescued. Captain Elsbeth was a typical female Lyran build. Quiet in conscience with smokey jade eyes. She far outclassed Fritz in all things science but had better command chops and was perfectly suited for life on a scout. She had standing orders on her ship that anyone who could take her in hand to hand combat would get a 2 week leave of abscence on Lyra. To this day no shore leave had ever been granted.
Fritz was Fritz they had grown up together and through hook or crook managed to always end up together. Fritz stood up as the lights dimmed and the holograph of the space around QX-57 flickered to life. Fritz started into his presentation. "Mining colony QX-57 is situated in an unusual radioactive dust cloud. The colony operates large remote units that collect the dust and drop it to the colony (situated on the small planet). Their outer skins of the remote units have been hardened against the radiation and dust, but even so they must be repaired on a regular basis as cloud damage accumulates. The dust itself, when refined, has several scientific applications and, given its rarity, is very valuable.Our mission is to escort a convoy delivering standard supplies to the colony and picking up some refined materials for delivery to an as of yet undisclosed planet." Commander Jungletoy knew the look that perplexed his science officers face. The nervous twitch of his tail belied concern over the next part of the report. "Not as routine as it appears sir."
Fritz paused as if to consider how to explain the next bit of information. "Previous freighters had been missing for a couple of weeks now. There are strong energy fluctuation and log buoy analysis recovered by the miners seem to indicate a hostile attack." A quiet enveloped the group, " If this is an Orion operation I'll strap their bodies to hulls of my ships and deliver them to the responsible cartel special delivery" . Fritz continued nonplussed. He had heard JT bellow before and knew if it was Orions, they had better be evacuating this particular area of operation. He had once witnessed JT proclamations in action. At starbase 24 on Diplomatic escort duty, a Romulan that had besmirched JT's lineage was disemboweled and three of the Romulans collegues had their necks snapped for good measure.
"The energy source appears to jump in unpredictable directions but predictable distance. It also benefits from naturally occurring ECM and a tremendous amount of self generated ECM. My analysis would indicate it is feeding on the material in the cloud. I suspect that warp signatures combined with the unique nature of the cloud surrounding QX-57 and the disappearance of warp capable craft indicate a creature of some sort." Jungletoy threw a subtle glance towards Elsbeth who subtly nodded in agreement. He then raised a paw to halt Fritz while running his other over his maw in deep consideration. "What are the assets of of the mining planet, anything we can leverage?" Fritz turned and began going through his notes. "The have a BSC with 2 sensor channels that have limited range due to the radiation. That's about it." Jungletoy stood up and walked to credenza on the side of of the briefing room and pulled from a drawer a gold gilded box.
He turned to his staff and began issueing orders. " Figmund, contact the freighter captains and tell them they are to stay on station at the edge of the QX-57 sector 0101. No warp, shields up and no comms. We'll send for them once we deal with the situation." he glanced a Elsbeth. " You coordinate EW coverage with the BSC. I don't want to be naked with this thing breathing down our backs. Your resources are one third of our EW posture let's use the BSC to our advantage." Elsbeth whiskers twitched with anticipation as she nodded in acknowledgment. He withdrew a silk bag from the gilded box and ran it under his nose then placed the pouch in his breast pocket and passed the gilded box to the Nyx XO to his left. " This is what we do, time to get busy living or get busy dying." The group as well synchronized unit stood in unison and raised a paw while growling "Lyra forever!"
"I want ship status and intel analysis in two hours, I'll be beaming over for troop inspection in three." " Aye, aye sir" Figmund, Elsbeth and Fritz mewled in unison. Jungletoy stood, stern on surface but beaming with pride inside, as his staff exited the room, the feint smell of smuggled Federation catnip following the group as they exited.
Shuttle Bay #2 War Destroyer Lelantos
Commander Jungletoy jumped to the top of the impromptu cargo pod podium with the preternatural gracefulness enjoyed exclusively by felines. The assembled crew immediately began a cacophony of mewls and growls. The Commander raised a paw and the bay was as silent as the depths of space. "Anybody want to go home?" In one loud conglomeration of voices came the utterance of "No sir!" Jungletoy let loose a growl that would have sent the largest species of lion on the terran planet Earth fleeing in panic. He looked over the crew. His gaze crossed cooks, engineer, admins resting finally on the commandos bedecked in black beret and standing resolutely at attention, " If we live to see another day after this mission we'll all go hunting the Kzin !" The crew broke loose in a deafening blood lust cheer.
Jungletoy raised a paw again. "Get your transmissions to your loved ones out, some of us may not be returning from this one. Those of us that do will celebrate the sacrifice of those who don't!" The crowd cheered in unison. With that he nodded to the Executives of the Lelantos staff to follow him to the transporters. He whispered to the executive staff. " Anybody with any doubts needs to exit now." The entourage proceeded by the commander one at time, briefly brushing against him and then resuming there various duties. He knew his query was a waste of time as every member of his squadron would follow his orders till their death and that they in turn knew he would die to save them.
Shuttle Bay #1 DWS Nyx
The same unsettling feeling crept into Jungletoy's continence as he beamed aboard the DWS Nyx. These were the knowledge workers of the Lyran Empire. Scientists and other big-brained types that made him feel slightly uncomfortable. He was greeted in the transporter room of the Nyx by Captain Elsbeth. " Commander, I once again sense your trepidation. We have the same loyalty as the the rest of the squadron. My crew trust me and I trust you unquestionably. We all share the same primal instincts and I might remind you that many intellectuals fill the ranks of your elite commando squads." Jungletoy stopped and grasped both arms of Elsbeth. " We're going to get wet on this one. It will require sacrifice on all levels for us to succeed, I fear." Elsbeth slightly squeezed his forearms and and said. " I was at the helm of the of the imbecile's Fang-tooths cruiser. You saved hundreds of of lives, mine included. It will never be forgotten.
I am indebted to you for the many years of curious fascination you have facilitated. My crew, to a crew member has been branded with your standard as a rite of passage to join my crew." Jungletoy knew this is in his heart of hearts but military doctrine required acknowledgment, He reached into the pocket of his combat armor and withdrew a data disc. " Some proper motivation for for your crew." He held her forearm for a moment longer then turned towards the transporters. She watched as his atoms dematerialized, then glanced at the disc. She read the label and smiled "21st Century Terran Music Catalog: Rush. She smiled, shook her head and proceeded with her preparations.
Bridge of the DWL Kratos Close Proximity to QX-57
"What in the Far Stars is the status! " Jungletoy slapped the comm console. "Shield 5 down to 64% Nyx out." Jungletoy shouted to his helm. "Fire all weapons! We have an alpha opportunity." Fritz replied " Disruptors ineffective!" Jungltoy responded "Redirect all remaining power to shield reinforcement ." Fritz, not looking up from his science station reported. "Monster is definitely attracted to warp signatures." But given the dynamics of certain constants concerning mass variables…" Jungletoy growled. "Fritz! " Fritz spun around in the Science Officers chair. "It's basically getting full Sir."Jungletoy smashed the comm button again. "Comms! " "Yes sir !" "All stop, get Nyx and Lelantos to close quarters, phasers only! Keep the the beast in the forward arcs! Time to sit and spin!" Jungletoy turned to Fritz "I want your estimations of the beasts status after each firing solution. Send the data the Nyx and Lelantos." Fritz returned his gaze to the science station. "Yes sir!"
Bridge DWS Nyx
Elsbeth hit the com button of her command chair "Weapons control, fire medium and heavy phasers as point defense we need to rotate through our sensor channel to keep the Kratos bathed in ECCM. Their phaser arrays do more damage, hopefully it will draw the beast off us" The comm speaker replied "Yes Captain, weapons out." Just then the beast hit them again. The helmsman shouted Shield # 2 at 14%. If it comes back we'll be taking internals,"Elsbeth looked briefly at her tactical display. "Navigation TAC right give it our #1 fire all Phasers! Reserve power to reinforcement"
Bridge DW Lelantos
Smoke filled the bridge as Figmund touched the comm panel at the weapons station. His helmsman lay on the floor at his feet unconscious. "JT, we've got issues! We pissed this thing off and can't maneuver our downed shield away. Light internals and medical reports crew casualties from radiation." He turned to the navigator. " Reserve power, give me 120 degrees to port!" his paws danced across the weapons tactical display. Let's see how the that son of a Kzin likes this firing solution. Arcs of various colored light played across the amorphous being. "Nice shooting Lelantos! Creature at 84%" came the distinct voice of Fritz on the comm link.
Bridge of the DWL Kratos
Elsbeth voice came across the comm channel "Commander, 30 crew dead from radiation, Warp power at 78%, affecting CDR, engineers securing shields, sensor #1 disabled" Jungtoy growled through clenched teeth. "Come get some, you god forsaken beast!" as it lurched at the the Lelantos downed number 1 shield again. " JT this is Figmund, light internals, no phasers hit yet, 20 crew dead from radiation exposure ." Jungtoy slapped the comms console again. "Elsbeth! were almost there just a few more minutes ." Elsbeth responded. "Affirmative Commander…… Evacuating left hull… " the comm channel crackled with static Jungletoy watched in horror as the beast hit the Nyx and Lelantos downed shields with impunity. "Status!!" the comm channel lit up up. "Elsbeth here. Were losing crew to radiation, Wepons at 72% shield 2 down shields 1,2 and 5 at 23%. Please advise!" The comm channel crackled again. "Figmund here, we've lost 75% of our disruptor and all point defense phasers. Shields 2,3,4, 6 at 100%, shield 1 gone. Heavy crew casualties from radiation. Figmund out!"
"•••• it!" he looked up from the display. Jungletoy knew Figmund had held his facing for optimal phaser alphas, Elsbeth had done all she could to keep a fresh shield facing the beast. Here shields were almost gone but her engineers had managed to keep the downed ones at 2%. The ECCM loaning was taking a heavy toll on the Nyx and the atmosphere leaking from her ship was not a good sign . "Elsbeth hold what you got we need one more firing solution from each ship" A combined 14 phasers arced from the three small ships striking the beast. Fritz looked up from the science station. "According to my calculations it should be full!?" They sat in silence as staring intently at the tactical display. "Status helm" "Shields at 92 %, phasers cycling!" The beast flickered on the display then vanished. " Elsbeth, are you tracking the beast?" the reply came back immediately " Yes sir, displaced away from us on same distance vector. Hang on it has displaced again. Moving further away. We'll lose scanners with the next displace… Its gone sir. No energy fluctuations detected in this sector." " Confirm with BSC. JT out." Jungletoy punched the internal comm on his chair. "All hands, begin transporting wounded off the Lelantos and Nyx, Shuttle crews assist them with CDR/EDR."
He allowed himself to relax and considered the battle. His thoughts circled back to his luck. Of the 16 or so attacks by the beast, the Kratos was hit twice for minimal damage. He punched the comm channel. "Get the freighters on the horn. Instruct them to rendezvous at QX-57 with all possible speed. Contact the BSC and have them scanning the sector while the Nyx affects repair. Get me priority transmission to Starbase 46. Have them dispatch parts and supplies for repair and refit. JT out." The communications officer replied "Aye, aye Captain! "Helm tractor the Nyx, we'll tow her to QX-57. Captain Elsbeth will need all the power she can muster for repairs." "Aye, aye Captain!". The Captain stood up from his chair and crept quietly behind Fritz. Fritz's left ear twitched in the direction of the Captain to late for him to avoid the choke hold applied by Jungletoy. The Captain rubbed his head vigorously with his knuckled paw and whispered "Your the best good luck charm in the universe." They both laughed. Fritz finally spoke while trying restore each hair on his head to its proper place. "Not luck JT, nine lives." he winked at the Captain and resumed his analysis.
"Luck indeed…" He pondered. "Comms! Pinpoint subspace communication to Orion sector frequency 657. Protocol 134.28. The Communications Officer cracked a slight smile. The Commander would have a celebration for his squadron at his personal expense, once they returned to base. He always took care of his crew and they would always take care of him.
Very good Troy, Loved it m8.
That is Captain's Log ready material Troy. Well done on the story.
Shame about the damage to your squad, good luck on your next contact.
Nice job Troy!
"With random distribution of feedings what could go wrong...."
Yeah, Chris I thought the same thing. But the bell curve only establishes itself over a 100 feedings. The DW and DWS seemed to be the early targets. The DW could reduce at least the first attack but most of the time got hit 2 or 3 times a turn. The DWS power drain was the lending and I need its paltry P-3 contribution to keep the mean average of damage to the beast so we only had to deathmarch for 5 turns. The DWL ended up getting hit 3 times on 3 separate turns. I wonder if there is way to take no damage? If the monster is tractored can it only feed one the tractoring ship? It was a fun scenario none the less.
Troy:
Quote:It can be tractored... but will break the tractor link the next time it moves...
So if your ships are all in the same hex and there are no other ships attracting it should be content to sit there and feed. But under tractor it should be able to feed only on the tractoring ship correct?
PELADINE SQUADRON
Dale,
Looks like we're up. When do Flipper and the Garbage Can Gang want to fly?
Quote:So if your ships are all in the same hex and there are no other ships attracting it should be content to sit there and feed. But under tractor it should be able to feed only on the tractoring ship correct?
Except that it breaks the tractor even if it doesn't move, so there is never a tractoring ship at feeding time.
Troy:
I don't read it that way. The attack is an "area" effect, i.e. it attacks everything in the hex tractored or not.
Yes, the tractor link is broken by the displacement of the monster. And all ships in a hex are hit if a ship in the hex is the target of the monster.
Troy great story.
Have just finished the Monster scenario it took me 7 turns. A quick summary for those who have not done this one yet: Know what you want to do before you energy allocate or place your ships and then do it according to what you are trying to achieve, ( I wanted to kill the monster and make it go away so I played it to that. I spread out my ships ( 1 hex apart) and shielded the freighters till they got to the planet safe and sound. Took shield damage on all my warships to that point but nothing major and it was spread out. I then launched all shuttles and had them adjacent to cloud hex. centre lined 2 of my warships at range one adjacent to the cloud hex( same hex as the shuttles), Shoved one of my warships out 1 hex into the cloud to draw monster in and when it attacked I pounded it at +3 and +2 shifts. Did this for 2 Turns and then changed the ship that was dog bait and did the same again. Once the Monster goes the rest in irrelavent. I'm Fed so have good phasers but it can be done with any race it would take a little longer. No internals on any ship, although 1 ships ended with 1 shield box on #5.
That's pretty much my plan when I run it tonight. The ability to "hide" from the monster in the clear hexes around the planet is key.