Federation Commander

[m1a1dat]

If a defense satellite that has not fired and revealed itself, and thus can not be fired upon, is in the area affect of an offensive ESG burst, will it be damaged by the ESG? I would think so, based on SFB and that the ESG doesn't need to know exactly where the defsat is like other weapons do.

[mjwest]

Excellent question.

Yes, the ESG will affect a DefSat that has not yet been discovered.
_________________

Federation Commander Answer Guy

[Kang]

This could open up an entirely new area of tactics and counter-tactics, especially when doing a 'Raid on a Mining Planet' style scenario.
_________________

[mjwest]

BTW, the question and answer lead to another question that should also be answered.

The question is: If a previously undetected DefSat is damaged, but not destroyed, by an offensive ESG burst, can it then be fired upon?

The answer is: Yes. But, the DefSat is not revealed until hit by the burst, so it cannot be fired upon until the next impulse.

One other point: Note that when the ESG burst is declared, this is in the normal process of declaring fire in the Offensive Fire phase. As such, it is completely reasonable for the DefSat to use "me-too" in order to fire its weapons at the Lyran ship (or whatever target is available).
_________________

Federation Commander Answer Guy

[wedge_hammersteel]

Is there some technical reason that you cant fire on a defsat before it fires on you rather than "just because the rules say so?"

[mjwest]

Because they are very small and have a very small energy signature. The only reason you can actually find them is because they have just emitted a massive energy signature (i.e. they just fired on you). If they don't fire on you, then your ship's sensors can't pick them out from the other flotsam and jetsam in orbit around the planet or moon.
_________________

Federation Commander Answer Guy

[wedge_hammersteel]

Then the defsat cannot be the primary target of the ESG offensive burst
or
does the captain of the ship assume there is a defsat within the flotsam and jetsam of a certain hex so the burst essentially sweeps the hex and the defsat just happens to get caught in it
but
you cant perform an offensive fire action without a valid target so my first premise must be correct and that is why m1a1dat mentioned area of effect rather than defsat as the target.

It takes me a little while but I get there.

[Hod K'el]

Don't ya just luv a rule wid a catch 22?

Now you see why I keep saying, Pirates don't play by the rules!
_________________
HoD K'el
IMV Black Dagger
-----------------
Life is not victory;
Death is not defeat!