The turn is over, the Coalition proceed to destroy a few Hydran pickets. They also assaulted 0617, devasting Hyreark and the two undevastated majors. This also required destroying a MB and a few PDU.

They also destroyed 4 of the 15 PDU over Hydrax (which the Hydrans did not replace on the following turn). A few Hydran ships got directed as well as a few Coalition ships. A dozen or so Coalition ships got crippled as well.

At turn end, the Coalition have really put the screws on the Hydran economy.

The Lyrans send the Klingons 20 EP, so the Klingons do end with a bit over 10 EPs despite all the drone bombardment they did.

Coalition reserves:
*Lyran:
*1st: (0212) CC 2D7 3FF
*2nd: (1407) DN 2CW DW TGC(VP) CWE 2DWE
*3rd: (1202) BC 3DD F5 5FF E4

*Klingon:
*1st: (1808): C8 6D5 F5 D7V AD5 F5E D6D
*2nd: (1808): 2D7C 4D7 CVT AD5 F5E D6D
*3rd: (1013) STT 2E4 TGA 2TGP
*4th: (1813): F5L 4F5 E4A

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Friday, March 01, 2019 - 03:52 pm: Edit

The Hydrans have an income of just 18 (not counting their off-map income), which they put to good use building a PAL. Expecting that the capital will fall on C7, they repair two KNs and use the remainder to upgrade DG->LB (which, in retrospect, might have been better saved for field repair).

The Kzinti begin construction of their new capital, leaving only enough to repair 2CV and 2MEC.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Friday, March 01, 2019 - 06:31 pm: Edit

Sam sure does like his early Alliance DNs, having built one for the Kzinti on turn four and one for the Hydrans on both turns four and six.

***

The Hydrans hav probably finished operational movement.

They send fleets to various Coalition pickets west of Hydrax and send a fleet to go destroy BATs 0413, which they can certainly do even if both reserves in range go there.

They still have a couple TGs in 0617 left to move (one with an FCP pod), but those won't be creating any new battle hexes.

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Friday, March 01, 2019 - 10:18 pm: Edit

Operational movement is just about over for A6. I'm pretty pleased with myself, having retrieved 7 EPs from the Marquis' zone for next turn's repairs.

There are two fights (maybe 3) in Kzinti space against frigates, and 18 Kzinti ships against 22 Klingons over the capital (the Kzinti were just looking to burn some fighters, but they have 33 to the Klingon's 30, so not much is likely to happen there). There's a reserve with a BC and a bunch of frigates that will probably move to one of the smaller fights.

In Hydran space, the Hydrans are attacking 0413, a DW at 0416, and about 18 ships in 3 stacks right outside the Old Colonies. The Lyrans have a reserve with 6 ships that might make a difference in one of the fights, and the Klingons have a reserve that is unlikely to actually do anything - it's a mauler, 2 E4s, and 3 tugs.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Saturday, March 02, 2019 - 04:12 pm: Edit

Fighting is done in the Hydran theatre.

The Hydrans destroy BATS 0413 (and a ZFF) for fighters, capturing the ship and kill FFs and E4s over by the old colonies.

Coalition reserves go to 0416 and fight a round at low intensity vs the Hydrans and retreat after one round, both side crippling a few ships.

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Saturday, March 02, 2019 - 06:38 pm: Edit

A6 is over!

Kzinti trade a few ships with the coalition, losing 3 for the coalition's 2. Not the best. They put another dozen ships over the Marquis' SB, and set two strong reserves in the offmap.
#1 (Offmap): LBC 3CV 2MEC CLE 3EFF BC SF
#2 (Offmap): DN 3CV 3MEC 3EFF BC SF

They also send the Lyran CC they captured in the fall of Kzintai to the Federation, as a gift to try to get them to do something.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Saturday, March 02, 2019 - 06:40 pm: Edit

Technically, it's sent to a neutral empire, but it'll still end up Fed when they go to war with the Lyrans.

Notably, the Hydrans caoture a Kzinti FF that had been previously captured by the Lyrans (and converted to Lyran technology).

Any ideas what it looks like after the conversion?

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Saturday, March 02, 2019 - 07:13 pm: Edit

That's why I'm referring to it as a LZFF. I'm considering repairing it, if only to see if the Klingons can capture it and make it a HLZFF. :P

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Saturday, March 02, 2019 - 09:34 pm: Edit

*Lyran C7 Eco.

*Survey roll: 12. New total = 57 + 12 = 69 (3 provinces explored).
*Starting treasury: 20.6 - 20 (To Klingons C6) = 0.6.
*Income: 115 (base) + 6 (explored) + 1.6 (8NZ) + 3 (provs 0701, 0803, 0114) + 2 cap min(1001 Zamyan,1202 Zimdars) = 1.6.
*New Treasury: 128.2 EP.
*Used two CP on C6.

*Production (0408):
10 BC
8 TGC
16 2CW CWE
14 DW 2DWE
7.5 3FF (0411 608 408)
14 VP
0 Command Points (1 new, 4 total)
-------------------
69.5

*Overbuilds:

*Repairs:
1 (0404) DD
3 (1411) 2CW
12 (1013) 3CC D7C 2F5 2F5S
1.5 (0212) CW
5 (1402) 2AD5 2F5E
------------------
22.5

Conversions:
6 0408 CL->BC
-------------------
6


Homeless ships paid for:
Klingon 9 (on C4):

*Total spent: 98
*Treasury: 30.2 EP.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Sunday, March 03, 2019 - 03:16 pm: Edit

*Lyrans spend 0.8 for an expeditionary fleet (DN 2BC FRD over near the Feds).

*Klingon C7 Eco.
*Survey roll: 5. New total = 31 + 5 = 36.
*Starting treasury: 21.8 (DBB adjustment below).
*Income: 142, 6FFF +2 (exploration) + 15 EP (8 Kzinti 7 Hydran cap provs) +8 (min 1202 Zimdars 1105 Zelkrat 1506 Zursk 1504 Lumien, maj 1502 Klindai 0718 Hydraxaport)+ 5.8 (29NZ hexes) = 172.8.
*DBB C6-A6: -9.6
*New Treasury: 182 EP.

*Production (0408):
5 B10 (9 + new roll 6 = 15).
9 D7C
8 TGA (sub D7)
10 D6M(sub)
46 8D5 AD5
31 3F5L F5E 5F5 (one in 1716, one in 1509).
2.5 E4
5 CP (+3, -2C6 now have 5 CP).
2 Activate 2D6.
0 Activate IWR #1 D7C 2D7 D6D F5S +1 CmdPt
8 2BP
-------------------
125.5 EP

Repairs:
6 (1407) 3D7C
2 (1107) 2F5S
2 (1307) D7C
2 (1507) D7C
2 (1509) D7
2 (1809) D6
2 (1411) D6
12 (1013) D6 6CW F5
6 (0815) 3F5E 3F5S
2 (1214) D7C
2 (1417) 2F5
2 (1419) 2E4
1.5 (1807) DW
--------------------
43.5

Conversions:
2,6FFF (1509) D7->D7V
1 (1509) F5->F5S
1 (1716) F5->F5S
-------------------
4


Total spent: 175.8.


Treasury: 8.2 EP.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Thursday, March 07, 2019 - 10:54 pm: Edit

Operational movement has begun.

In the Hydran theatre, the Coalition send a strong force to 0617, pinning all the Hydrans there.

The Coalition (mostly Lyrans) have a stack of strong ships at 1704 (SB) pinning the Kzinti there (and then some).

The Federation has been invaded, their 4th Fleet reserve pinned. No Starbases have yet been attacked, but several BATs will face Klingon forces and many Coalition units are yet to move (more than 100 are in reach of the Feds).

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Thursday, March 07, 2019 - 11:47 pm: Edit

Operational movement continues, more BATs are attacked, as well as two minor planets near the neutral zone. Also, the 7th Fleet Starbase has been attacked and Klingon forces are headed in the direction of Cygnus and the 4th Fleet Starbase.

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Friday, March 08, 2019 - 11:36 pm: Edit

Movement is complete!

There's just one fight in the Hydran territory outside of the capital - a small fight where I'll lose an HN. In the capital, there are 130 Coalition ships to just 60 Hydran ships, but there's only one mauler and 11 PDUs. If Richard decides to try and take it, he'll take a lot of damage but can probably manage it.

There are significant fleets on both the 4th Fleet SB (33 SE to my 16 SE) and the Marquis SB (38 SE to my 27 SE), but neither are likely to fall this turn.

8 Fed BATS and 1902 are going down this turn, being undefended. The Klingons are also hitting and are going to win at 3 small planets.

One Kzinti reserve went to 1704, the other to 2004 to release 4 ships to go to the 4th Fleet SB. Fed reserves went to 2204, 2012, and 2615. Given that the Coalition probably won't fight where the reserves went, I figured that it was more effective to just go where his carriers were so they can't soak damage with them.

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Saturday, March 09, 2019 - 08:13 am: Edit

Well. I didn't realize the Kzinti couldn't enter the Federation, and I moved an unreleased reserve. Oops! :/

That means that 4th Fleet SB might go down, as it's now 33 SE vs 12 SE. I sent both Kzinti reserves to the Marquis' SB, so I'm not sure that the coalition will even try to take it down this turn.

By Thomas Mathews (Turtle) on Sunday, March 10, 2019 - 08:57 am: Edit

If the Klingons have entered Fed space, creating a state of war between the Federation and Klingons, the Kzintis, if already at war with the Klingons, may enter Fed Space.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Sunday, March 10, 2019 - 11:13 am: Edit

The scenario rules for turn 7-9 specifically state otherwise.

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Sunday, March 10, 2019 - 10:04 pm: Edit

Either way, it's okay with me, as the Lyrans also can't enter.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Sunday, March 10, 2019 - 11:34 pm: Edit

Yeah, one can pay for expeditionary ships to avoid this.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 - 04:19 pm: Edit

Combat on C7 continues to rage. SB 4 and 7 have fallen, with some dead Klingons and a lot of crippled Klingons and also a fair number of dead Fed ships (and some cripples) along with the Starbases. Arcturus and Western Worlds have been captured and most of the border BATs on the Klingon and Kzinti - Fed borders have been destroyed.

The Kzinti lost their last on map planet (Dimitris) and their last battle station, it remains to be seen if the Coalition will try to destroy the Marquise SB as well. Some Kzinti ships fought to defend a BATs and though they damage the fleet attacking, they took the lion's share of casualties (having retreated after a few rounds only to get overrun in the subsequent battle hex from the same fleet they had been fighting at the BATs.

It didn't all go the Coalition's way though, the battle at 4th Starbase was bloodier than necessary when the Coalition diverted 5 ships to hit an interior BATs when really they should have gone and helped at the 4th Starbase.

The formentioned battle at the Kzinti BATs would have gone even better for the Klingons if they remembered to send light escorts for their carriers there, and the Klingons wrongly counted their strength at the major planet Cygnus and ended up out gunned. The intention had been to draw the only unpinned Fed reserve there, but instead the Feds saved BATS 2010.

Combat has not started in Hydran space yet, but there's additional potential for carnage there.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 - 04:20 pm: Edit

The Klingons also started setting up a MB at 3013.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Wednesday, March 13, 2019 - 08:57 pm: Edit

Me: The Coalition offer an approach battle at 0617.

Sam: The Kzintis decline.

Me: That's cool, but what about the Hydrans?

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Thursday, March 14, 2019 - 10:04 pm: Edit

Combat continues. The Klingons kill another Fed BATs and capture minor planet 1910 (Sherman's Planet).

The Feds have lost all the border BATS west of Earth except for two in the mid Klingon border area.

The Hydran theatre sees action, the Coalition capture minor planets 0416 and 0519 and kill a picket. They assault Hydrax, fighting only one round. Compot is 154 which is just enough to cripple the base at BIR 5 (potentially) and daringly pick BIR 4 against the Hydran compot of 303 or so, I forget exactly.

The Hydrans however, being cagey go BIR 1 and the Coalition does not score enough to cripple the SB. They do, however destroy 4 PDU (losing the STT to directed damage) and seeing 17 minus points, decide to retreat (losing a D7C and CC to pursuit of 3PAL 2BT LB).

WE'LL BE BACK! YOU'LL SEE!

By Sam Benner (Nucaranlaeg) on Thursday, March 14, 2019 - 11:20 pm: Edit

I was really hoping for a low BIR so I could get the mauler without losing as many PSUs...

The Hydrans are confident that if they put up enough good showings, eventually the Klingons and Lyrans will get tired of losing good hulls to fusion beams and decide to sue for peace.

If the Marquis' SB doesn't go down this turn (or even if it does), the Kzinti probably won't have much uncrippled to do anything with next turn.

By Richard B. Eitzen (Rbeitzen) on Friday, March 15, 2019 - 01:46 pm: Edit

The Kzinti fight with gusto at the Marquise SB.

After 5 rounds of combat, the base has six SIDs on it (self inflicted), the only kill is an F5S (autokill) but quite a few ships have been crippled:
Coalition: 2CC 6D7C 2D7 6CW 5D5 SC
Kzintis: 2CC 4CVS 5MEC CLE 4FFE.

By William Jockusch (Verybadcat2) on Friday, March 15, 2019 - 10:07 pm: Edit

Yikes, seems like over the SB, the Coalition are doing almost as much damage as the Kzinti?