Richard Wells:

The comparison is not entirely consistant. Cassablanca was one of the places where it would be possible for civilians to tavel using commercial transportation (the air port and air transport) to an area not controled by either the Vichy Government or the German Military (hence Gestapo). IIRC there were many people waiting for permission to board the aircraft...while the supply of money they had dropped, and dropped. A very unpleasant circumstance!

While the territory Cassablanca was in was considered a colony at the time of France (IIRC) there was a German presence and influence...while at the time there was an increase in the population of people with NO visible means of support...hence the Usual suspects population was inflated locally as the war progressed.

At Cassandra IV we have a liberated planet that has open borders and I would suspect the federation would have a liberal repatriation policy...IE would not enforce incarceration of peoples who did not wish to stay on Cassandra IV.

Since (as has been previously established) there are no large cities and the population is distributed...it is my suspicion that the most likely place for the Transient population I referred to before would be congregated on planet near the Star Port (such as it is) and very likely using the "local watering holes" frequented by 429th PDB personnel (jeepers, what a coincidence!)

Now...since we have personnel using local facilities for recreation, that means there needs to be some form of shore patrol to protect the interests of the service...and collect the bodies of those 429th PDB who may have partaken too liberally in the adult beverages available in said watering holes...

Now if any of our Shore party personnel that happened to collect the "transient personnel" as a courtesy to the local law enforcement types, where is the harm in "talking" to these people as they sober up...they certainly would not be arrested, just simply assisted in the normal course of duty.

(and if one of these transient types just "happened" to be on Joh Fodes...and if he was in a talkitive mood?)

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 12:59 pm: Edit

Loren Knight:

Comment. An F-16CM with a SENSOR POD (FD6.13) can carry and use a probe drone. So you have the capability. Read the second sentence of the rule which is where a normal fighter is noted as being able to use a probe drone if it has a sensor pod. So you could on a sweep with a flight of four or six fighters have one equipped with a sensor pod and one or two type-IF Probe drones (in addition to two type-VIF or RALADS), or one type-IF probe drone and one type-IF explosive drone. There is no requirement for the probe module to be on a type-III frame for normal use, and so there is no "special rail" restriction.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 01:07 pm: Edit

Jeff Wile:

For want of a nail, a shoe was lost.

For want of a shoe, a horse was lost.

For want of a horse, a rider was lost.

For want of a rider, a message was lost.

For want of a message, a battle was lost.

For want of a battle, a crown was lost.

All for the want of a nail.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 01:31 pm: Edit

Jeff Wile:

I do not know if a Joh Fodes exists. I postulated him as an example of how one could, in a starfleet fictional setting, generate an indicator. There are several other ways.

E.G., The Ribalz family are generally shunned because they were known to have collaborated with the Klingon occupation. There are several other families that did so, some of them are internally divided because some members resisted the occupation, at least passively, and some members tried to work with the occupiers, ostensibly to try to reduce tensions between the occupiers and the population.

In a given week, two of the families suddenly drop virtually everything and book passage off the planet. The Ribalz family suddenly liquidates what assets they have remaining, and move to a remote area.

Now, maybe this is just the different families trying to get away from the bad feelings of their neighbors . . . or maybe it is something else. Maybe somebody told them something?

And maybe Joh Fodes does exist, and maybe he owned more than one ship. And you find that one of his other ships came to the Colony, and effectively emptied Joh Fodes' wharehouse. The building is still there, but all the goods are gone, it is empty, just rats inside.

But obviously Joh Fodes' (if he exists) papers are going to be in order, they would have to be or he would not have been able to conduct his 'business' without getting caught.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 02:08 pm: Edit

SPP-

Thank you for reciting the poem. Puts a different light on the subject of pre-battle preparation, doesn't it?

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 02:24 pm: Edit

OK-What are the Rules of engagement issued to the manuver company? Are there regular patrols that are operating in the six defense zone areas (not forgeting Fargo and Biloxi)?

Second, If I am correct in assuming that a "shore patrol" detatchment would be an appropriate duty of the 429th PDB, would the personnel be from the manuver company, or would the closest ground base use its security personnel?

(Perhaps not germaine to the exercise, but one would think GPD would need the information at some point)

It would be appropriate to set the ROE in place prior to the start of the exercise. That way if any "unidentified" non PDB personnel are encountered in the "outback" Our people will know what is to be expected of them in the event of, oh say, sabatoge, Forward Artillery spotter for the OPFOR, or partisan activity by pro-Klingon forces.

Not that I expect it but it could happen and our people need to be prepared.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 07:00 pm: Edit

SPP: I sent you an e-mail. Also a comment from above: I'm using F-16Ms but the example is the same and have in fact purchased items accordingly, as you'll see in the e-mail.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 07:32 pm: Edit

Loren Knight:

I got the E-mail, just no time to respond to it now. Will try to get back to you tomorrow.

Jeff Wile:

I will see if I can get something to you tomorrow on your queries.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 08:52 pm: Edit

No problem. Take your time. Thanks.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, March 27, 2003 - 09:54 pm: Edit

SPP-

Thank you. It is not a time sensitive issue, and more role play related than anything in a tactical sense (GRIN)

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 09:16 am: Edit

OK-What are the Rules of engagement issued to the maneuver company?

RESPONSE: Well, this is war-time. By and large shoot at identified enemies, do not shoot at citizens.

Are there regular patrols that are operating in the six defense zone areas (not forgetting Fargo and Biloxi)?

RESPONSE: In theory elements of the company are available to move anywhere on the planet in at least platoon strength (three boarding parties) in a single lift through the Transporter Repeater system in the DefSats. You would be moved to look for anything suspicious (suspected site where something may have been smuggled down as potentially this is enemy agents as opposed to smuggled good which would be local law enforcement). Drills would be run where you deployed troops to any area of the planet (training). Note that three transporter operations would allow (in one lift) the deployment of one GCV with one boarding party. Deployments could be just normal "search and rescue", i.e., "the Jenson’s twin boys are missing, they were last seen in the Slime Devil’s Draw area." Or maybe some small atmospheric flyer is missing. Naturally you would not do such searches under combat conditions, but doing so when not in combat is good public relations. And of course elements of the Ground Maneuver Company would need to move to different areas of the planet to work with the various General Defense (and local defense) elements on the planet. After all, an Orion raider might put a raiding force down in Area C, and the Maneuver Company might deploy there to support the local and general defense elements in driving off the raiders, or at least limiting how much they can steal.

Second, If I am correct in assuming that a "shore patrol" detachment would be an appropriate duty of the 429th PDB, would the personnel be from the maneuver company, or would the closest ground base use its security personnel?

RESPONSE: I would suspect a little of both.

(Perhaps not germane to the exercise, but one would think GPD would need the information at some point)
It would be appropriate to set the ROE in place prior to the start of the exercise. That way if any "unidentified" non PDB personnel are encountered in the "outback" Our people will know what is to be expected of them in the event of, oh say, sabotage, Forward Artillery spotter for the OPFOR, or partisan activity by pro-Klingon forces.
Not that I expect it but it could happen and our people need to be prepared.

RESPONSE: Hope the above helped. It is always possible that there are some Klingon troops still hiding somewhere on the planet, but they probably lack any ability to influence anything going on.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 10:12 am: Edit

SPP- Thank you.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 11:10 am: Edit

Oh, and one other thing for you all to remember, as it will confuse things to some extent.

Noon in Area A is Midnight in Area D. Probably 4pm in Area B, 8pm in Area C, 4am in Area E, and 8am in Area F.

And do not forget that combat in Area A might be taking place in pleasant weather, while combat in Area B is taking place in a raging thunderstorm. It might be Spring (Summer?) in Area C and Fall (Winter?) in Area F.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 11:44 am: Edit

SPP:

May I suggest terminology?

Area A is by definition the "Zone" (as in 'time Zone')
Area B, "zone plus 4"
Area C, "zone plus 8"
Area D, "zone plus 12"
Area E, "zone plus 16"
Area F, "zone plus 20"

That way the reader would know both times and it will remove potential conflicts in inconsistant verbage.

(the alternative is to develope a "FORM" of reporting such as a "header line" that in some shorthand manner relates the key data in a single phrase. (an example was the Old Traveler Game system for Universal Planet Data line that in a single hexidecimal system related up to twenty characteristics of a planet, star system, population, tech level and other factors, without requiring a paragraph to be written every time...))

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Friday, March 28, 2003 - 09:25 pm: Edit

SPP wrote: "...two boys missing...last seen in slime devils draw area...but doing so when not in combat is good public relations"

COl Knight? have you designated an officer for public relations. media liason? would make a good transition during the coming exercise to introduce information other than in conversation mode (for the article i mean...)

Besides, part of our duty includes giving the tax payers reason to consider the military a valuable component in the developing society of Cassandra IV!

By Richard Wells (Rwwells) on Saturday, March 29, 2003 - 01:22 am: Edit

Let us not forget Col. Balunda's locally raised forced have already established relations with the local community.

Note: If I recall my real world military experience correctly, the Public Affairs Officer in smaller units was often either the Adjutant or reported to the Adjutant. Thus, in the example set up, the public face of the 429th PDB would likely be Captain Cummins. Each detached base would need their own Public Affairs liason as well. Though I doubt the units of the 429th are likely to be as open to public visits as the units I really was stationed at.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Monday, March 31, 2003 - 01:31 pm: Edit

If there is going to be bit more delay on this project, may I suggest a "training session"?

It has occurred to me that there are people that have been named on the staff list that have not recently responded or actively participated in the thread.

Could we set a "trial" exercise set for 7PM Central Time Tuesday evening(or other time more popular for the participants)? Instead of asking SPP to go to the trouble (and possible confusion over the dreaded OPFOR that has been promised...)(GRIN) we could run the exercise to give members of the 429th PDB the opportunity to interact with "programed" opponent (say a monster like the planet eater...)let it run for one or maybe 2 hours?

set all values of the Monster as 4 times normal, (hits to kill, damage potential etc...)

We could assume that damage against the planet is offensive boarding parties to give the ground troops the option of participation...

That way, if there are parties on the staff list that do not participate in the exercise trial, we could nominate other replacements for key positions before having to "do it for real" against the OPFOR.

It would also allow participants the chance to practice "talking in persona".

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 03:56 pm: Edit

Until such time as I can come back to this, the various individuals who want to take some active part might want to use this as a sort of "bar topic". This allows you to have some interactions with each other, build a little back ground. You can also develop some "non-player subordinates", people you mention as doing things, and perhaps to whom various things will happen when the Klingons come. The young phaser-3 gunner who is horribly scarred when his phaser control panel explodes in his face due to Klingon fire. The Grizzled old veteran NCO just a week or two shy of retirement who has to make the choice to try to duck out of this last fight, or stay with his "boys". The Perky Deck Crewman who finds herself holding a phaser rifle as the Klingon ground troops assault the position, and so on. But use the time to develop them in your own minds.

In the back of my mind, if I have time, I intend to write a few comments about the battalion, some which you guys may not like, but they sort of fit my own views of your unit from what you have said so far.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Thursday, June 12, 2003 - 10:19 pm: Edit

From:Major Wile, 429th PDB
To:Staff.
Reperations Meeting.

Col Knight will be unavoidably detained and will not be able to participate. Any additions to the agenda or general questions, please direct them to the Sgt Major.

Please bring the evaluations reports of the last exercise for discussion. Thank you.

By Richard Wells (Rwwells) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 01:19 am: Edit

Or we could continue this in an Out-of-Character context so that anyone, including those not included in the roster, could list their own suggestions and experiences related to similar defensive activities.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 08:31 am: Edit

That works too!

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 10:01 pm: Edit

Supply note: I may wish to change my drone alotement to include a few ground attack drones as they take up one rail while cluster bombs take up two.

By Loren Knight (Loren) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 10:05 pm: Edit

Question for SPP upon returning to this topic.

How do you propose to handle die rolls?

I suppose you would make them. I trust you. (Hmmm, would be much point to this if I didn't. )

Or do you suppose that all die rolls be average, or most anyway. That way tactics would be paramount.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Friday, June 13, 2003 - 11:23 pm: Edit

Loren Knight:

If all die rolls were average, then there would be no tactics as you would know precisely how much damage you are going to do, no need to over-allocate for the possibility of a bad roll. The fact that you may need to weight an attack that needs to succeed because it would fail if the die roll (or multiple die rolls) failed to go your way is part of the tactics of the situation.

In simple terms, either of us could make required die rolls. There is little point in cheating.

By Steve Petrick (Petrick) on Thursday, July 03, 2003 - 12:09 pm: Edit

I have no problem with this if no one else does:

FROM LOREN KNIGHT:
Do you think it is too late to change the name of the Cassandra System? I found this while reading some Pacific War History.
===============
During the Pacific War, Noumea was a major South Pacific Allied base, located in New Caledonia. Particularly during the Guadalcanal campaign, Enterprise CV-6 and other U.S. Navy ships frequented Noumea, both for resupply and repair.
===============
I would like to relegate the name "Cassandra" to a code name and rename the system to Caledonia and the planet we are on Noumea (AKA Caledonia IV). Eventually the system would be developed into a base for resupply and repair. The facts of Cassandra III (actually Caledonia III) would remain the same; an emerging industrial society not yet contacted by either race. Noumea would also still have been a mostly retiree and artisan world who survived a Klingon occupation and about to discover they will have to deal with a Federation occupation as well (not to their taste but better than the Klingons!).

I will be ready, I think, to make headway on this come the middle of July. Business is rockin' but it is all scheduled to be finished in July (at least by the end.)

Loren Knight

PS: I hope Origins was great fun!