Archive through November 02, 2020
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Archive through November 02, 2020
Sam
I assume the Kzinti 'declined' the SB approach battle - and the Lyrans fought at the SB - as 122 compot on turn 1 seems tough to get without a SB?
No. As stated, the Kzinti accepted an approach battle at 0902.
122 was the second round. There was also a third round where the Lyrans were similarly outgunned. In the approach, the Kzinti only had 64 or so compot, but also only exposed an EFF.
The assault on BATS 0803 was a complete disaster for the Lyrans, as the bloated plutocrats leading the Foremost Duchy's contribution to this offensive were revealed as incompetent.
Despite having a good number of ships in play, the Lyrans did not have an EW advantage in this battle, and managed to roll a 1, 2, and another 1 (in pursuit), killing two frigate escorts and crippling a Kzinti CC, while getting punished with the loss of their own CC, a CW (captured!), and DW, as well as several crippled small ships. The disgraced Commodore "Mittens IV" of Foremost fled to join Red Claw fleet and Admiral "One-Eye" in 0802 in shame.
Combat is over on C1!
Crippled:
Lyrans: CA 3CL DW 5DD FF
Kzinti: CC CLE 3SIDS
Dead:
Lyrans: CC 2CA CW DW
Kzinti: BC CL 2EFF FF 2BATS
Not counting bases, that's 52 EP of damage to the Lyrans and about 27 (+3.2DBB) to the Kzinti. A good trade, I think.
Needless to say, it was a bloody start to the war, hopefully not an omen of things to come.
Klingon officer Than'ak, present aboard Admiral One-Eye's battlecruiser at the battle of 0902, described the snarling and howling Lyran crewmembers all around him on the bridge, reverting to near-animal state in their lust for blood. The scene, he said, made him almost wish he was back aboard his old E4 "Sawtooth", even that time it was behind Hydran lines in the 4-powers war and facing a mutinous crew.
The Klingon Empire has mobilized her northern fleets and are readying for intervention on behalf of their ally, as they are treaty-bound to do. They are watching carefully the Kzinti's response to this invasion and their next steps...
Kzinti A1 Econ:
Old Treasury: 0
Salvage: 5.375
Income: 93 (base) - 1 (disrupted provinces) = 92
DBB: 3.2
New Treasury: 94.175
Construction:
8 TGA
6 DD
2.5 FF (0902)
5 2FF (sub CL)
4.5 DF
28 4PDU
5 Command Point
Subtotal: 59
Conversions:
5+6FFF BC => CV (1401)
Subtotal: 5
Repairs:
2 CC (0803)
1.5 CLE (0902)
Subtotal: 3.5
Command points: 0+1+1 = 2
Free Fighter Factors: 0+6-6=0
Expenses: 67.5
New Treasury: 26.675
Declaring that discretion is the greater part of valour, the Kzinti have redeployed their forces mostly at the capital.
The various border BATS mostly have frigates aiding them in their defense; the ones closest to the Lyrans do not. The only real surprise here is the valour of Captain Cat-Who-Needs-A-Compass who volunteered to protect the shipping industry of the westernmost province. Since trapped behind enemy lines in 0703, he let the rest of his crew off on a merchant vessel and plans to take on the Lyran fleet by himself!
By the end of Y168, the 5th Lyran-Kzinti war had drawn the attention of most galactic powers due to the engagement of military force (nearly half the total fleets of both powers saw action), and the employment of new military technology and tactics. Kzinti carriers, barely introduced by the end of the 4 powers war, had been enthusiastically developed and employed, countered by Lyran emphasis on Electronic Warfare. Although there was not a great exchange of territory, fighting styles were so different that it was apparent to all on this side of the galaxy that this was to be very different from the last war.
The Klingons had used this information to form their own strategy. Looking ever toward the Federation, the Klingon Empire would have to plan its treaty-bound offensive against the Kzinti carefully. Spies at Earth reported that the Federation had guaranteed mutual defense of the Kzinti if the Marquis provinces were attacked. No such gauranty had been made, they confirmed, for the Duke's territory, or even Kzintai itself.
A visit by Lyran Emperor "Saber-Tooth" to Klinshai in November was a spectacle of Lyran propaganda, full of stories and songs of how the Kzinti cowered at the Lyran advance. But Lyran pride was soon deflated. The Lyran-Klingon coalition was initially tested by the Emperor's anger toward his Lyran counterpart for their unilateral decision to start a war without consulting their ally, particularly in a theatre they had not seriously discussed before. This was a bargaining chip, however, in extracting from the Lyrans a guarantee of "tribute" to the Empire in exchange for their full participation in the war. Additionally, the empire would be permitted to explore unknown regions on the outskirts of Lyran space, and keep discovered territory for their own. In exchange, the Klingons would join fully in this war against the Kzinti, provide fighters for Lyran defensive positions, and lastly, trade the secret of Mauler technology.
This last clause cemented Lyran loyalty to the Empire, perhaps forever. Any offense taken at the outset of their meeting was immediately forgotten. If the Emperor worried about Romulan backlash for disseminating technology they had given at Smarba, he certainly didn't act it.
An agreement reached, the Klingons began their own plans for the Kzinti...
Y169 Spring Economics
Lyran Star Empire
Survey
Prev Total:15
New Roll:12
Total:27 (+1 province)
Income
Maj Planets(9):45
Min Planets(10):30
On-Map Provinces(16):32
Off-Map Provinces(4+1):10
Captured provinces: p
Total:117
Command Points: 5+1=6
Prev Turn:
-9 field repair
8.5 salvage
16.5 treasury
16 remaining (end of CT1)
117.8+16=133.8 new treasury
Production [65.5]
16 DN
8 TGC
20 CWx4
6 DWS sub DW
8 DWx2
7.5 FFx3 (0404, 0408, 0608)
Repairs [9.5]
5.5(0404)
4(0606)
Conversions [18]
6 CL to BC 0408
3 DD to CW 0404
3 FF to DW 0608
3 DD to CW 0411
3 CL to CLS OM
Overbuilds [10]
10 FFx2 0408
Other Production [20]
10 MB
10 FRD
123 total expenses
133 treasury
10EP remaining
Klingon Juggernaut
Survey
Prev Total:0
New Roll:12
Total: 12
Previous treasury:3.5
(No CT1 expenses)
Income
Maj Planets(9):45
Min Planets(15):45
On-Map Provinces(26):52
Off-Map Provinces(0):0
Captured NZ:0
Captured planets:0
Captured Prov:0
Total:142+3.5=145.5
Command Points:6+1=7
Production [121.5]
16 C8
10 D6M sub D7
8 TGA sub D6
45 D5 x9
8 F5L x2
4 FV sub F5 (4FFF)
9 F5 x3
7.5 E4 x3 (1411x2, 1509)
0 E4A (free)
2+6 VP2 pod pair (2FFF)
6 Convoy (1009)
Activate [7]
2 D6 x2 (20 remain)
2 F5 x2 (8 remain)
3 E4 x3 (9 remain)
Conversion [14]
5 D6 to D6M (major) 1411
3 D5 to D5S (minor) 1411
3 D6 to D6D (minor) 1411
3 D6 to D6D (minor) 1509
142.5 total expenses
3EP remaining
Moves underway
Coalition moves are complete!
The Duke's Starbase is under attack, but it's not a credible threat. The rest of the Hegemony is under serious threat, with only 1105, 1205, and the Marquis' area not being attacked. The Count's Starbase especially is under siege. With only 18 hulls guarding it, there are 26 attacking and 12 more which might retreat over it.
A reserve left the Marquis' starbase to protect the capital, leaving only the treaty-mandated detachment defending the base. A second reserve (5 ships) left the capital, ostensibly to defend the Count's SB, but actually to leave Catches-the-Laser's BC in 1102 to bring to justice "folk-hero" Sparrow-Slayer who was seen harassing merchants there.
Notably also the Patriarch dispatched a small detachment from the capital to defend Klindai, site of the royal "Pleasure Palace." Klingon spies have described this curious structure as a gigantic network of carpet-covered columns, cardboard boxes, and an obscene amount of Catnip.
Combat is progressing!
So far, the Coalition has lost FF FV 3E4A, and they've killed an FF and a few bases. The Klingons attacked Kzintai with a line with only 71 compot, managing to get away with only crippling their whole line.
Unfortunately for the Coalition, rolls have been consistently in the Alliance's favour. Minor advantages, most battles, but poor rolls over the capital definitely made a difference. Kzintai and Vronkett only lost 2PDU each before the Klingons retreated.
FFs defending BATS have made a good showing, fighting 6 rounds total without taking any damage. The FF from 1405 retreated over an E4A in 1505 and killed it too.
Remaining battles: 1502, where the Coalition is heavily outgunned (the Kzinti retreated there from the capital rather than pursue into a -2 shift with 6 minus points). Both starbases - the Count's SB will probably go down if the Lyrans force it, but it might not be worth it for them. The Duke's SB may not see combat, as there are only enough ships to pin the 11 ships there.
When hearing what the Klingon media was reporting about the battle at Kzintai, the Patriarch is reported to have said, "Classical Klingon 'bravery', to blame a resounding defeat on an ion storm. We sent out the fleet because the home guard was sufficient to protect the homeworld, but it seems we've overestimated our enemies."
Ouch - only 71 compot against a capital?
What did the Coalition get into 1401 (a D7C, D6M, 3 x D6, 3 x D5, 2 x F5 line would be 72)?
That E4A must have been pretty unlucky as I would bet it was a Fighting Retrea - unless the timing of the battle hexes went wrong for the Coalition.
What forces were in 1401/1502 (as the Kzinti can retreat back from 1502 into 1401* to repair ships if they need to - once the planet is safe).
The 1502 battle should though be a Fighting Retreat (Approach Battle) for the Kzinti which might hurt them a bit though.
* - Noting 1401 will not count as a Supply hex in the battle chain, but 1401 is equal range 1 to a supply source 
In 1401, the Klingon's line at Kzintai was
D7C(flg, frm), D6M, D6S(frs), 6D5, 2F5
They had a bunch more stuff (with a second mauler) for Vronkett, but it only was 62 compot.
It wasn't a fighting retreat for the E4A - the supply grid had been cut in half, so that was the only place the FF could go in supply from the main grid.
I had about 30 ships in 1401 and another dozen in 1502. I didn't do a fighting retreat, so I think we might need to revisit it. I didn't consider that I could retreat offmap, so I wasn't thinking that it had to be a fighting retreat... They'll probably stay in 1401 and the 1502 fleet will fight at the planet.
Sam
Note sure how the Kzinti grid could be cut unlss the Dukes SB had been destroyed - as Supply goes 1401/1304 (or 1401/1504) - and so both 1404 and 1505 would be in fully supply?
I don't know what the map was like though so it's possible, but would be unusual.
On the 1401 retreats - yes, the Barony area is equal to range 0 for supply and so the only time the Kzinti can retreat to 1502 with Coalition force in it, is via a Fighting Retreat.
It's one of the two disadvantage of having your Capital next to the Off Map area (but the benefits far outweigh that disadvantage!!)
(the other being if the Kzinti don't own 1502 and have to retreat from 1401* - they have to retreat to the Barony) - which may help the Coalition as the Kzinti can't retrograde back onto the map).
* - Unless a MB/Supply Tug has been set up in an adjacent Hex....I am writing a Tactic Note on this at the moment.
1401 was a bit strange; I had been thinking the home fleet was stretched a bit thin, and that was before 12 ships reacted out to defend 1502. So I took the opportunity to scrape together a few maulers and strip PDUs from the capital for *relatively* cheap. I'm hoping to avoid a meat-grinder style capital assault down the road when Kzintai is allowed to bulk up. I don't expect to have the opportunity again soon.
We are redoing 1502 then, as the home fleet should have gone off-map as Paul pointed out. Once the home fleet steamrolled in, the Klingons just ran away so it is an easy one to reset. We had a lot of battles to work through, and while the retreat seemed odd, I didn't have my rulebook on me until later.
Kzinti grid was cut because Zimdars (1202) had fallen and there were Coalition ships in 1303, 1403, 1504, 1505, and 1605. The Count's SB was not cut off, but 1004 was Coalition and supply couldn't go through 1103 or 1003 because no Kzinti ships were available.
OK on 1401 and 1505
1502 - yep, redo sounds best.
Well, the Count's Starbase has held! Over 5 rounds (+pursuit), the damage was:
Lyrans crippled: DN TGC+BP CA 4CW 2DW 2CL 2DD
Lyrans killed: TGC+SP BC CW DD
Kzinti crippled: CC BC 2CVL 3CLE EFF FF DF SF
Kzinti killed: BC 2EFF
5 SIDS (7 total)
The Kzinti killed the scout tug in the free scout slot the first round, ensuring and easy -1 shift most rounds and a -2 shift when I wanted it.
The Lyrans crippled all of their ships except a DN and a DWS. Unfortunately for them, they didn't take the shot to do the last SIDS and cripple the SB when they had the chance, so half of the Kzinti cripples will be repaired next turn, and the rest should be able to escape to the Barony.
Pursuit went poorly for the Kzinti, which means that they "only" killed a bc and lost an EFF in return.
Final killed/crippled count for the turn:
Lyrans crippled: DN TGC+BP CA 6CW 2DW 4CL 4DD 2FF
Lyrans killed: TGC+SP BC 3CW DD 3FF
Klingons crippled: 2D7C 2D6M 6D5 2F5L 7F5 E4A E4
Klingons killed: D7C D6M FV 3E4A
EP damage equivalent: 144.5
Salvage: 14.375
Kzinti crippled: CC BC 2CVL 3CLE EFF FF DF SF
Kzinti killed: DN BC 3EFF FF 4BATS 6PDU
EP damage equivalent: 69.5 (not counting bases/PDUs except at Kzintai)
Salvage: 7.875
The Kzinti lost the DN when they put a battle tug and a DN on the line against a mauler over the Duke's SB...
I didn't *quite* have the damage points to take the last SIDS step to cripple the SB in the last round. Killing the crippled BC that was on the line was a consolation prize.
Klingons mostly achieved their objectives, but rolled poorly in most battles so ended up with more cripples than I was hoping for. Only 1 on-map BATS and 2 planets left outside of the SBs.
Worth noting that I was shooting into a negative EW shift allthebaall the larger battles, so the Kzintis certainly were not at a major disadvantage in that respect.
Also,that Count's SB was perhaps the most evenly-matched battle I have ever fought. Seemed more like a game of chicken - who will blink first?
A2 not much happened except for a rescue mission to the Count's SB. Two battle hexes, the Coalition lost CW D5 F5L and the Kzinti lost CL EFF. There was a chance that the Lyrans would get the second Kzinti DN, but there was only a 1/12 chance they'd get it in pursuit and they didn't roll well. The Kzinti chose to field repair that DN in anticipation of a large assault on the capital this turn.
There is a small reserve (7 ships) sitting offmap in case the Coalition send too few ships to take the Count's SB and I feel like keeping it up another round.
--
The Count's battle really did come down to the wire, didn't it?
Solemnly, and with great ceremony, captain Sparrowslayer is laid to rest at the "4-powers war" (or rather, "war of Kzinti-Hydran Aggression") graveyard, at the site of the former Lyran-Kzinti neutral zone, now firmly in Lyran hands.
The Emperor said a few words on the slain hero, and the mass of Lyran citizens brought into the event cried a collective howl, turned deftly by the Emperor's words into a cry for vengeance.
Sparrowslayer's widow, and 5 mewling cubs were offered a space in the house of the Duke of Red Claw, "One-Eye."
The emperor gifted the Dreadnought "Nova-Howl" to One-Eye, as a thanks to his service. The fearless daughter of the Emperor, the "Black Lioness", who had piloted her own dreadnought (and perhaps driven One-Eye further along in the battle than he would have cared for), was recalled to the royal palace, where she will be given command of a new flagship.
The Crown Prince remained captain of his own fleet, now in Klingon territory, and remains ready to serve his people once again. The Prince reiterates to the Klingon Emperor his undying fealty, and pledge for the economic assistance his father has promised.
The Klingon high council has carefully analyzed the military movements of the last few months, with Emperor Khutughtu demanding a review of his staff. Mostly veterans of the 4-powers war, the admirals who led the invasion of the Hegemony in many ways proved their mettle. Commodore Kulug demanded special recompense: a promising young officer in the 4-powers war, Kulug had been disgraced by his failed attack on the new Kzinti fighter-equipped planetary defense units, nearly losing his fleet over Zimdars. But, sparing his life he worked his way up from E4J captain to being given a rare Klingon "2nd chance," with the orders to attack Kzintai itself. The fact that he returned, fleet battered, but intact, is deserving of his promotion back to admiral of his own fleet in the Kzinti theater.
Yesun, admiral of the Northern Reserve, was celebrated for his deft "carrot-and-stick dance" outside of the Duke's Starbase, claiming the Duke's own Dreadnought for his trophy wall.
But Oghul, captain of the North Fleet, suffered most of all. His advances claimed Kzinti border stations and Lumien, subjugated without difficulty. But outside of Klindai, his ordered target, his dreams became clouded. Plagued by nightmares before he was to formally order the attack, Oghul dreamt the entirety of the Kzinti Home fleet bearing down upon him at the moment he reached the Patriarch's "pleasure palace." Reality the next day was eerily similar; except that the fleet sent to defend the planet focused their attack almost entirely on Oghul's command cruiser. Oghul decided to remain on-board the ship and suffer a warrior's fate than return with his fleet in an escape pod.
Despite these initial successes on the Kzinti front, the Emperor himself has become distracted by movement on the Hydran border. Subjugation of the Kingdom has been a dream the Emperor has very much wanted to make a reality, and to this end he has been meeting separately with the Duke of Enemy's Blood Duchy, Grey-Ears. Although old and his Duchy relatively weak, Grey-Ears was glad to have the attention of the Klingon Emperor. His standing in the court of his home empire had dimished somewhat of late. Revived by secret plans with their allies, Grey Ears hopes to bring glory back to his Duchy once more.
Combat is in progress. All remaining targets in Kzinti space have been attacked; Duke's SB and Klindai(1502) have been saved by reserves. Count's SB finally went down. 1401 is just starting; all systems are under attack so it will be a long one.