(SP___.0) Don’t Mess With New Texas! Year 171
by Jeff Wile, Minnesota.

In the years before the Romulan Invasion of the Federation, raids on Federation convoys, bases and colonies became more frequent. The Federation had a number of different things that it could do to respond to such provocations, one of which was the National Guard program which included PDU’s, bases and ships.

One of the Star Systems threatened by the Romulan incursions was the New Texas Cluster. For decades, dating back to the first Fed-Rom War New Texas treated the Romulan Threat as serious. In spite of small population, lack of resources and limited support from the UFP, New Texas developed and built a respectable self defense capability under the NG program.

One of the units administered by New Texas was the National Guard 35th Cruiser Squadron, composed of the old cruisers, Sam Houston, San Antonio (affectionately referred to, by its crew as ‘The Alamo’), and San Jacinto. Like many National Guard Units, most of the officers and Crews of the ships were part time reservists whose obligation to the National Guard were 2 weekends a month and 14 days once a year.

New Texas had done one other step, by assembling multiple crews for each ship, under a cadre of full time officers so instead of each ship being active for up to 38 days a year, 3 crews (in rotation) allowed the ships 118 days a year of active duty while still allowing the personnel to maintain their civilian lives. The implications of the program included that 3 ships, by staggering schedules, gives (3x118) = 354 days a year active duty guard ship in system for defense. When one ship was in active status, the other two could perform necessary maintenance, or reserve alert status (with minimum crew status, see rule (G9.4)) several times a year, the 3 ships would operate together as a squadron when one ship was doing a crews 14 day obligation and the other 2 were on week end reserve training.

Such an operation usually included cooperation (scheduled in advance) with regular Star Fleet units engaged in “show the Flag” exercises with colony worlds during their normal patrol activities.

In the Spring of year 171 A Romulan Privateer Raiding Squadron, acting on an intelligence summary that concluded National Guard Units by definition were poor quality crews, and further, that the destruction of the 35th Cruiser Squadron would render New Texas less able to resist occupation when the Romulan Empire occupied it in the coming war.

The single most decisive error committed by the Romulans was the arrogance of the Romulan commander in treating the N.G. with disdain, while at the same time, the ships of the Romulan force, of the new Sparrow Hawk light cruiser class were still “working up” in training programs. All ships in the romulan force are considered “Poor” quality crews due to lack of training.

The resulting battle was not pretty, but it taught the surviving Romulans not to Mess with New Texas!

(SP____.1) Number of Players: 2 (or 2 teams of additional players each commanding his own ship)

(SP____.2) Initial Set Up.

Floating Map.

Federation:
CL+ Sam Houston , Hex 2215 speed,16, Heading A. WS III.
CL+ San Antonio, Hex 2214 speed 16, Heading A. WS III.
CL+ San Jacinto, Hex 2216 Speed 16, Heading A. WSIII.
SC+ Davy Crockett, Hex 2220, Speed 16, Heading A WS III.

The Federation ships were engaged in a “live Fire Training exercise” the intended target was a marked asteroid that is too small to be represented on the map. the commander of the Federation forces, upon being notified of the approach of the Romulan ships, ordered the weapons to be held. If the scenario lasts more than 15 turns, the federation ships will need to “reenergize phasers” see rule (E 2.3)

The Federation has been undergoing extensive training for qualifications...all ships including the SC+ are considered Outstanding Crew Quality for this scenario only. This was possibly the worst possible time for the Romulans to show up in the ‘Cross Hairs”.
Romulan:
SPA - ’A’, Hex 0101, Speed Max, heading C WS II
SPA - ‘B’, Hex 0102, Speed Max, Heading C WS II
SPA - ‘C’ Hex 0103, Speed Max, Heading C WS II
SKA - ‘D’ Hex 0104 Speed Max, Heading C WS II
SKA- ‘E’ Hex 0105 Speed Max, Heading C WS II
SKA- ‘F’ Hex 0106, Speed Max, Heading C WS II

Due to a communications/sensor mix up, the Romulan ships weren’t sure of the Federations exact location. As a result, they were late in going to high alert status.

(SP____.3) LENGTH OF SCENARIO

Scenario continues until all forces belonging to one side have been destroyed, Captured or have disengaged.

(SP____.4) SPECIAL RULES

(SP____.41) Floating Map.
(SP____.42) Shuttles and PF’s.
(SP____.422) There are no fighters assigned to either side for this scenario. if a variant is played, the only fighters available would be the nearest PDU fighter group, of 24 x F-4 fighters. Squadron #322, “The Texas Rangers”

No shuttles have Booster packs.

(SP____.421) No ships have MRS shuttle assigned. If there is an MRS present (due to purchases with Commanders option points), the only ship able to operate an MRS is the Federation SC+ Davy Crockett.

(SP____.43) COMMANDERS OPTIONS

The Federation ships may purchase Commanders options up to 20% of its combat BPV.

The Romulan ships may not purchase any commanders options at all. The Romulan commander expended all of his influence getting the ships under way and part of his command. He had nothing else available to acquire additional equipment, and in fact, the Romulan High Command, is under the impression that this unit is engaging in training exercises and not going anywhere near active combat zones.

(SP____.44) all ships have the refits they are entitled to.

(SP____.5) VICTORY CONDITIONS

Use Modified Victory Conditions.

The Romulan Commander receives a bonus of 50 points for each of his ships able to exit the opposite map edge undamaged (excluding shield damage).

(SP____.6) As a variation, substitute Klingon ships for the Romulan Forces, using D5 and F5 types.

Pick your own forces comparing Outstanding forces on one side verses more numerous poor quality crewed vessels are possible, the Out standing bonus is 50% of the ships combat BPV and the poor quality discount is 20% of the ships combat PBV.

(SP____.7) BALANCE

(SP____.71) Change the Romulan sparrow hawk light cruisers to Battle Hawks. or the Sky Hawks into Sea Hawks.

(SP____.72) When available, change the CL+ hulls with the types printed in module R8. either NG Heavy CRUISERS, DESTROYERS, or FRIGATES.

(SP____.73) Replace one of the CL+ hulls with a CLC (command light cruiser) or a CC.

(SP____.8) TACTICS

The Romulans confidence is placed in its plasma Torpedoes. The Texans believe in victory thru superior fire power of overloaded Photons.

(SP____.9) PLAYTESTOR COMMENTS.

(SP____.X) HISTORICAL OUT COME.

The Romulans learned a new connotation for the phrase ‘Texas Toast’.

(SP____.Y) Designers notes.

A comment posted on the ADB Star Fleet Battles Web site, disparaging the concept of National Guard units and otherwise attempting to invalidate the concept of citizen soldiers motivated me. Just because an item of equipment is old does not destroy its usefulness. in the hands of trained and motivated individuals such equipment can still accomplish the mission.

Modern equipment in the hands of those not familiar with its proper use, can not function at the highest possible efficiency.

By Scott Tenhoff (Scottt) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 11:49 am: Edit

You have in the background that the Rom Crews are Poor, but not in the (SP__.2) section.

Why the inclusion of the SC for the Feds, and not a scout for the Roms? Not even a SKF?

By Tony Barnes (Tonyb) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 12:56 pm: Edit

So, in the single moment where all 3 NG ships are active, and there just happens to be a Fed SC+ present "showing the flag", and all the ships are fully loaded, and all the ships are in perfectly trained outstanding crew form, an attacking party shows up with poor crews and not at WS3?

I understand the intent behind the scenario, but that's awfully coincidental.

As a side note, I doubt a ship would be referred to (even unofficially) as the Alamo. Texans take the Alamo very seriously, but I wouldn't put that name on a warship...

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 02:27 pm: Edit

Scott Tenhoff:

You are correct. I should have included a reference to poor crew status in section (SP____.2). Its now too late for me to edit the post...Should be corrected, I think.

The reason for no Romulan scout was the ad hoc nature of the operation. for the Romulan commander to request a scout, he would have had to have some explaination for the use of a scout being necessary. With the status of the ships being poor quality, he couldnt very well claim that the state of training justified advanced EW procedures and he certainly couldn't explain that he wanted it for combat operations.

If you want an SKF I suppose you could include it as a option or a variant...but IMO it wouldn't be "historical".

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 02:39 pm: Edit

Tony Barnes:
The "single instant" where all three NG ships are active actually occurs for 48 hours 3 times a year...or depending on schedules and how many releif crews the New Texas National Guard has for each ship, potentially 48 hours 9 to 12 times a year...(that last is probably a stretch, but since I have no idea what the population of new texas is, or even how many planets there are in the cluster...well, you never know! From experience, I have learned not to bet against a Texan.)

The comments about the Fed Scout are probably close to the mark. Any active duty Fed Starfleet vessel could have been assigned to the mission...its just that in this instance, the Scout happened to be the ship that was there when the Romulans showed up.

You have a very valid point about The Alamo. In hind sight I should not have included a reference to it.

Again, if I had the ability to edit the post, I would go back and remove the reference.

What is the best way to proceed? should I just let it ride for now? or send a request to "the powers that be" to fix my error?

By Scott Tenhoff (Scottt) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 02:52 pm: Edit

Just let it ride, and the next revision has it changed.

By Jeff Wile (Jswile) on Wednesday, March 03, 2004 - 02:55 pm: Edit

OK!