February 2204 part 10
//////////////////////////////
Overview part 2
For the economics
Pan Euro
The recession was still in effect for the Euro, so she decided to mothball her survey ships to try and offset the costs. She also sank a fair portion of her income into IU's to try and make up the continuing shortfall. She continued with a trickle of colonization out to the belt, but began to regret it as the turn went on as she was sure they were just going to become targets as time went on. The Euro progressed to just needing one success left for her shield research before she had the system, and the promise from the US to provide a tech copy was going to help that in March.
The big hit for her, although it would take time to be felt, was the loss of the shipyards at Mercury. This would put a crimp on her ability to both refit existing ships while building new ships to replace losses. The Euro's two Mobile Repair ships with the SYM's would actually become a vital piece of her construction assets for the year or so to come. The time it would take to build a new shipyard - and the shipyard that would become unavailable during that time while it worked on the construction, just couldn't be spared under the circumstances. She could have used ground construction, but the cost during her current finacial straights was just untenable.
US
The US economically had an ok sort of month. They piled all the money they could into developing shields, and made their last roll this month easily. They also quietly started working on the breakthru for datalink - but wasn't so lucky with his roll. He also managed to miss his roll for EL2 which miffed him somewhat.
He continued a small investment in IU's, and shut down colonization to Mars. Whether it was a good guess at the next target or just dumb luck, he quit investing in that right before it got hit. The damage to Mars was substantial, and coming right as he was looking for the PU increase due to a jump in EL hurt even worse. Each PU lost was lost growth when he made his roll.
The damage to the SS at Mars did not damage the core, so he retained all three of his SY, which was good. He had a LOT of rebuilding to do after this month. But he was also planning on introducing a new model of Interceptor, so it hurt to lose so many ships but did free up the maintenance for new construction. He grumbled a lot, but was planning just as much.
China
This month saw the complete transformation of China from the whipping boy of the other powers at the beginning of the game to the most powerful of the players bar none. The loss of Ceres hurt, but he had been anticipating it and pouring money into IU at a rate greater than the Euro and US combined. The loss of Ceres hurt, but the IU bought in February offset nearly one third of the loss. He also managed to get the success on S regenerating every hour roll this month, after mildly accelerating the research over the last few months.
Possibly the most game altering event was his rapid and extensive refits over the last two month. China's FG's now packed as many shields as a Nemotion Assault Vessel (Light Cruiser), and the Tung and Shek would pack almost twice that number. The Shek's conversion to a pure long range weapon platform put as many R's on it as an entire US Task Force. His greatest weakness was his limited strategic flexiblity. He had immense power concentrated in just a few ships (a habit he keeps to this day). He has a big hammer to hit with, but can only drag it to one place at a time. He understood that he probably had enough ships to pound Triton to rubble, but would have to leave everything unguarded at home if he did.
He was beginning understand (and discuss with the SM) that he would need the other players to guard his assets while he went of and fought the war. And that they would have to trust each other for that to happen.
South Seas Free Space Consortium (FSC)
The oldest girl pretty much had to sit back and hope for the best this month. Her only ship wasn't fit for the combat going on, and she wasn't in a position to risk it. So she used it to try and garner a little good will from the other players by taking on the missions they didn't have the assets to cover. Even if it was a slight risk. Her mission to Mercury (with US support) managed to rescue 0.9 PTU's for the Euro. Not a lot, but with the Euro already hurting for cash, it was appreciated. With the FSC supplying the FT support, and loaning her mom (the Euro) the cash for CFN H shortfall, all the Euro had to come up with was the emplacement cost to drop the rescued PTU's into her AB colonies.
The oldest girl was able to use this to gain a claim to the AB for emplacement of her own colonies (which she had already started - she just failed to mention that), and emplaced another of her own PTU's to the AB and emplaced a few more IU's on Earth. She also managed to scrape together the funds to begin her last research project on shields. Her growth was slow at this point compared to the other player, but it was the turning point for the FSC. Over the coming year, she would find her niche in this game.
Nemotians
Economically the Nemotians were continuing to grow. Their war effort took a pounding this month at the hands of the players, but they were a long ways from beaten. The survival of Triton not only allowed them to keep the income for another month, but allowed the growth off of it as the Nemotions grow by 2% every 5 turns. To give a little idea of how the Nemotians work, I combined several attributes of both the Ice Life and a Hive Mind with the Colonization random event. They grow fairly quickly and can ship PTU in much less Qv and H. They can only colonize O1 moons as benign - to me the enviromental difference between Triton and Neptune are WAY to vast for anything to consider both environments as benign. They also research slowly, although not as slowly as a true hive mind. I decided that would be unbalanced due to the severely limited PU caps on their worlds set by Ice Life - they get precious few SA and RDS. Slow it more and there would be no point to even trying to research. I also allowed them some individuality (as per the story) and gave the ships grades as opposed to straight average for all of them. If would have been too easy for the player to figure out just what they were facing if I didn't mix things up a little. I wanted them to work for the victrory, as what is gained easily is oft taken for granted. The players don't spend much time discussing the 'gimme's' of the game, but the hard fought battles that were nearly lost seem to inspire discussion years later.
What was hurting the Nemotians was their dwindling saving. With limited PU available, and maxed out IU (I allowed them to place IU on any pop over 60 as they maxed at 180 for the moment), and FT's actually losing you money with the math we used for our systems, the Nemotians earned over 20% of their income (early on it was over 35 to 40%) from interest on Treasury. That treasury was dwindling and with it their sustainable income. They still maintained a treasury of over 11000 MC, but with only 3 SY for building warships and no investment opportunities, it wasn't hard to see that the writing was on the wall for the Nemotians. Unless the players made some big mistakes.
On a side note, Patrol Vessel 17's move to Elite began to change the players tactics in the coming months. They realized that the little ships packed just as much firepower as the DD's at long range (both carried only a single Pt), and that some of those little ships were surviving long enough to get better at using that weapon. They didn't like that idea much.
And now for the ship lists for the battles....
First Battle of Neptune
US Task Force 2
Admiral: Rear Admiral Matthew Thomas / LG +0
Interceptor MkIIa A. Lincoln (BG+1) , T. Roosevelt , S. Grant (BG-1) , J. Davis (BG-1)
Class: CT 16HS
[2] A A A H Mgs Qa Ya Lb Ra (cpCp) [6/1] cg x1
Missile Escort Hawk , Eagle
Class: EX 7HS
[2] A Hs Qa Ra (cp) [4/1]
(by now simply called trash cans with firepower)
Survey Tender 1
Class: FT0 5HS
[2] H (Bsa) H Qa (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
Pan Euro 1st Battle Group
Admiral: Vice Admiral Elizabeth Avery / LG +0
Queen Elizabeth (BG+1)
Class: DD 30HS
[2] A A A A A A A Hs Qa Mgs (Cp) (Cp) Qa Ra Ra Ya Ra Ra (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
Heavy Escort Anastasia (BG+1)
Class: CT 16HS
[2] A A A Hs Mgs Qa Ra Ra Ya (cpCp) [6/1] cg x1
Attack Escorts Cynthia , Suzette (BG-1) , Mary Queen of Scots (BG+1), Rachel Pierce
Class: ES 12HS
[2] A A A A Hs Mgs Ya Ra Qa (Cp) [6/1]
Nemotian Defense Fleet 2
Admiral: LG +0
Assault Vessel 5
Class: CL 45HS
[2] S S S S A A A H Qa Qa (cpCp) (M1) Mg Mg Mg Mg Kb+ Kb+ (Cp) Qa Pta Ya (CpCp) Pta [6/1] cg x1
Combat Vessel 2
Class: DD 30HS
[2] S S S A A H Qa (Bsa) (Cp) Mg Mg Mg (M1) Qa (Cp) Kb+ Ya (Cp) Pta [6/1] cg x3
Patrol Vessels 4 , 5
Class: CT 16HS
[2] S S A A Hs (Bsa) Qa Mg Ya (cpCp) Pta [6/1] cg x3
Defense Base Mk I (x1)
Class: BS1 30HS
- S S S S A A A H Qa Mg Qa Ya Kb Pta Kb
Note: Kb's are turret mounted on a BS1 so 360 degree fire.
Defense Base Mk 0 (x2)
Class: BS0 15HS
New Home 3 Shipyards (BG-1)
Class: SS 82HS
New Home 3 Support Station (BG-2/CFN Terminal)
Class: SS
- (H H Qv) x60 (Bsa) (Bsa) (TCF) H Qa
- gtos x2
(for those who like shooting civilian assets)
Mobile Repair Ships 3 ( 9 , 10 in mothballs in Triton orbit)
[2] H Qa (Cp) (Cp) (Cp) (SYM2) [6/1]
PT x2 on board for detonation
Support Vessels (BG-2) (x2)
Class: FT 2 16HS
[2] A (Bsa) H H H A H H H A H H H H Qa (Cp) [4/1]
PT x2 on board for detonation
Small Support Vessel (BG-2) (x2)
Class: FT1 12HS
[2] A H H H H A H H H H Qa (Cp) [6/1]
PT x2 on board for detonation
Reduce Combat Vessel and Assault Vessel magazines by the 10 PT on the FT's.
Nemotians may automatically "ram" (see below) to defend populations.
Nepture will fill the hex it is in.
Proteus is an O1m at 2tH from Neptune.
Triton is an O1m at 5tH from Neptune with 180PU, 90 IU, RDS x1.
Triton has planetary fallout shelters for 36PU (you can't nuke 'em).
(Players didn't know about fallout shelters yet)
We had long discussions on ramming in this game, and settled it thus.
In the absence of drive field, not possible for ships of ANY sort to ram one another.
(Players definitely scared of kamakazie attacks. At the speeds used, if you could ram another ship with yours, direct hits with a missile should be easy. A direct hit with an X megaton missile would destroy any ship.) Ramming of planets/pops possible.
Use of large explosion rules allowed, with increased damage for warhead in force for the detonation but FRN. Ie, 2 PT's would have 2 pts x2 for Lg Exp. damage normally, x3 for our no field mod for 12 damage. A successful ram roll would inflict all 12 points, a miss would inflict 1/10th (FRN not FRU) for 1 pt
Dumb bombs were ruled to do 1 pt on planet strikes due to precision, not as a ship to ship damage level. They could do 1 pt base damage - not tripled - on a successful ram. You'd need a bunch if you missed.
You could load more PT's on the suicide ships if you wanted. The Assault and Combat Vessels carry a BUNCH.
The players still wanted to be able to load ships with missiles from the PDC's and "ram" to defend Earth, but that was about the extent of it.
The aftermath was the loss of all US and Euro ships other than the Rachel Pierce and Mary QoS.
Both advanced with the R. Pierce to BG+1 and the Mary QoS to BG+2.
Triton lost all mobile assets except the mothballed ships, and none of the orbital defenses were touched. No damage to the moon.
(I will confess to having lost the original ship lists, but know which ships were there by that month's deployment orders. I am fairly sure of all the ship grades from the fleet rosters that month, but that wasn't recorded on the turn notes. Sorry.)
The Second Battle of Mercury
Pan Euro Ship List
Mercury Space Station
Class: SS 162HS
Mercury Station Military Modules 1-6 (BG-1)
Class: SS 12HS
Mercury Transfer Station (BG-2/CFN Holding)
Class: SS
- (H H Qv) x22 (Bsa) (TCF) H Qa
- gtos x1
Nemotian Combat Group 3 Detachment
Nemotian Patrol Vessels 12 , 13 , 17 (BG+1)
Class: CT 16HS
[2] S S A A Hs (Bsa) Qa Mg Ya (cpCp) Pta [6/1] cg x3
cg carry bombs x2 each
Mercury has 22.3PTU.
The complete destruction of all population on Mercury is a tactical defeat for the Nemotians as this was an attempt to draw defenses from Ceres. (They wouldn't know these folks don't really like each other. A race fighting itself, that is just plum silly.....)
The Destruction of Ceres
Chinese Ship List
Admiral: Vice Admiral Zhu Rongji / LG+1
Cruiser Mao Tse Tung
Class: CL 45HS
[2] S S S S S S S A A A H Qa Qa Mgs Ya Ga Ga Ga (cpCp) (Cp) Ra Ra Qa Ra Ra (CpCp) [6/1] cg x1
Missile Frigates Anhui , Hubei (BG+1) , Shangxi , Henan
Class: FG 22HS
[2] S S S S Qa Hs Qa (Cp) Ra Mgs Ra Ra Ya (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
Ceres Transfer Station (BG-2/CFN Holding)
Class: SS
- (H H Qv) x40 (Bsa) (Bsa) (TCF) H Qa
- gtos x2
Chinese Light Cargo Freighter (BG-2/CFN Holding)
Class: FT1 12HS
[2] A H H H H A H H H H Qa (Cp) [6/1]
Mobile Construction Ship Zhuang
Class: FT4 30HS
[2] H A H Qa (Cp) (SYM1) [6/1] cg x1
Ceres has 41.5PU, and 6Qv of troops with 3H.
Nemotian Combat Group 3
Assault Vessels 4 , 6
Class: CL 45HS
[2] S S S S A A A H Qa Qa (cpCp) (M1) Mg Mg Mg Mg Kb+ Kb+ (Cp) Qa Pta Ya (CpCp) Pta [6/1] cg x1
Combat Vessels 4 , 6
Class: DD 30HS
[2] S S S A A H Qa (Bsa) (Cp) Mg Mg Mg (M1) Qa (Cp) Kb+ Ya (Cp) Pta [6/1] cg x3
Patrol Vessels 19 (BG-1) , 20 (BG-1) , 21 (BG-1)
Class: CT 16HS
[2] S S A A Hs (Bsa) Qa Mg Ya (cpCp) Pta [6/1] cg x3
Hive Vessel 1 (BG-1) , 2(BG-1) - not actually present at battle, hiding in belt 240 tH away.
Class: ESf 12HS
[2] (Bsa) x9 H Qa (Cp) [6/1] cg x18 - these did go to Ceres.
All cg carry bombs x2 each
AB rules for reduced sensors in force.
Notes. Historically speaking, this battle never happened. The Chinese simply left the colony to its fate. But it could have if you want to give it a shot. You could put bombs in the FT's if you make your roll for the CFN to help (the GaM's would do nicely). The gtos's speed of one would make it an easy target for big ships but a bomb or two in it wouldn't hurt. At least it could draw fire.
Trying to save the colony from the swarm of 51 gigs is pretty much hopeless though.
And China wanted some help facing down this group. What they did is trail the Nemotian Group to keep track of it so they couldn't just show up at Earth or Venus unannounced.
The Zhuang was sent off toward Venus.
The Clash of Arms / Defense of the Inner System
Chinese Ship List
Admiral: Vice Admiral Zhu Rongji / LG+1
Cruiser Mao Tse Tung
Class: CL 45HS
[2] S S S S S S S A A A H Qa Qa Mgs Ya Ga Ga Ga (cpCp) (Cp) Ra Ra Qa Ra Ra (CpCp) [6/1] cg x1
Missile Frigates Anhui , Hubei (BG+1) , Shangxi , Henan
Class: FG 22HS
[2] S S S S Qa Hs Qa (Cp) Ra Mgs Ra Ra Ya (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
US Task Force 3
Admiral: Rear Admiral Joshua Campbell / LG-1
Interceptor MkIIa J. Hancock (BG+1) , J. Adams , T. Jefferson (BG+1) , G. Washington
Class: CT 16HS
[2] A A A H Mgs Qa Ya Lb Ra (cpCp) [6/1] cg x1
Missile Escort Vulture (BG+1) , Condor
Class: EX 7HS
[2] A Hs Qa Ra (cp) [4/1]
(by now simply called trash cans with firepower)
Nemotian Combat Group 3
Assault Vessels 4 , 6
Class: CL 45HS
[2] S S S S A A A H Qa Qa (cpCp) (M1) Mg Mg Mg Mg Kb+ Kb+ (Cp) Qa Pta Ya (CpCp) Pta [6/1] cg x1
Combat Vessels 4 , 6
Class: DD 30HS
[2] S S S A A H Qa (Bsa) (Cp) Mg Mg Mg (M1) Qa (Cp) Kb+ Ya (Cp) Pta [6/1] cg x3
Patrol Vessels 12 , 13 , 17 (BG+1) ,19 (BG-1) , 20 (BG-1) , 21 (BG-1)
Class: CT 16HS
[2] S S A A Hs (Bsa) Qa Mg Ya (cpCp) Pta [6/1] cg x3
Hive Vessel 1 (BG-1) , 2(BG-1)
Class: ESf 12HS
[2] (Bsa) x9 H Qa (Cp) [6/1] cg x18
This happens in deep space, no terrain.
The Hive Vessels 1 and 2, plus Patrol Vessels 12 and 13 start 16 hexes behind the lead group.
No gigs had been launched. None were used to attempt "ramming" with bombs on board as that wasn't Nemotian SOP/Tactical Doctrine. They were to be held for planetary bambardments. The Nemotians actually have about 5 gigs less, as they were destroyed by the PU/Qv on Ceres. Exact number and which ships were short are unavailable.
Notes. This battle was fought to a draw, with both sides withdrawing to preserve their remaining ships. The US Task Force and Tung were destroyed. Every FG made its advancement roll. They retreated to Venus to protect the shipyards there and to allow better rolls on the emergency repair of the S's since they would not regenerate at this time.
The Nemotians used this opportunity to lose the constant surveilance of their group so they could attempt a more favorable attack on Mars. This was the first engagement that the players really noticed PV 17. Due more to lucky rolls, PV destroyed 2 ships outright, assisted in the destruction of the Tung, and finished or a crippled Interceptor. After the battle all of the surviving PV's succeeded on their advancement rolls (you need one week of downtime as I read it, so they just hung out in the AB). The surviving destroyer didn't go up and stayed average.
Although if the Nemotians had won this engagement, the next battle would have looked very different. In the interlude PV 17 and 12 returned to Mercury to finish its destruction. They were the only ships present, so I see no point in typing it out as a battle.
The Battle for Mars
Pan Euro Ship List
Admiral: None. Senior Captain Robert McNeely of the Red October
Armed Science Vessel Red October (BG+1)
Class: FG 22HS
[2] A A A A A A H Qa Mgs Xp (cpCp) Ra Ra Ya Qa (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
Attack Escorts Mary Queen of Scots (BG+2), Rachel Pierce (BG+1)
Class: ES 12HS
[2] A A A A Hs Mgs Ya Ra Qa (Cp) [6/1]
Mobile Shipyard
Class: FT4 30HS
[2] H H H Qa (Cp) (SYM1) [6/1] cg x1
US Ship List
Admiral: Rear Admiral Jack Ryan / LG+2 - Navigator
Interceptor MkIIa JFK , B. Franklin , H. Truman , D. Eisenhower (BG-1)
Class: CT 16HS
[2] A A A H Mgs Qa Ya Lb Ra (cpCp) [6/1] cg x1
Survey Tender 1
Class: FT0 5HS
[2] H (Bsa) H Qa (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
Mars Space Station (BG-1)
Class: SS 82HS
Mars Station Military Modules 1-6 (BG-1)
Class: SS 12HS
Mars Transfer Station (BG-2/CFN Holding)
Class: SS
- (H H Qv) x60 (Bsa) (Bsa) (TCF) H Qa
- gtos x2
Mars has 139.0PU.
Nemotian Combat Group 3
Combat Vessels 4
Class: DD 30HS
[2] S S S A A H Qa (Bsa) (Cp) Mg Mg Mg (M1) Qa (Cp) Kb+ Ya (Cp) Pta [6/1] cg x3
Patrol Vessels 12 (BG+1), 13 (BG+1), 17 (BG+2)
Class: CT 16HS
[2] S S A A Hs (Bsa) Qa Mg Ya (cpCp) Pta [6/1] cg x3
Hive Vessel 1 (BG-1) , 2(BG-1)
Class: ESf 12HS
[2] (Bsa) x9 H Qa (Cp) [6/1] cg x18
cg carry bombs x2 each
Notes. The story says 48 gigs, it was really 47. Oh well. This is a nasty fight that both sides claimed to have won afterward. The Nemotians lost the DD and most of their gigs (only one survived). The US lost two Interceptors and 43PU, plus one destroyed Military Module. The Red October was hit twice and hid behind Mars - where she shot at the gigs as they attacked.
Neither side was decisively defeated, as the Nemotians withdrew as soon as the gigs started bombing.
After the battle the JFK finally made it to BG+1. The rest either didn't or couldn't (already rolled for the month) advance.
This battle singled out PV17. The DD took out the Mil Mod on the SS, and hit the R. October. I think PV 12 hit an Interceptor. PV17 put the other hit on the October, finished off the Interceptor, and took out the other MkIIa by itself. Several were on rolls that 'shouldn't' have hit.
And so began the story of the 'alien ace' that the players claimed was BG+3 or better to start the game. Little did they know that they helped create it by targeting the big ships.
For some what if scenarios, you could always take the Euro/US group from the last battle (without the SS's) and have them try to crack the defenses of Triton in the battle that got called off. (Would have left the Mars SS alone against the surviving parts of Combat Group 3.)
Another that almost happened was the FSC Mary Reed and US Missile Escorts Falcon and Owl. They could have fought PV 12 and 17 at Mercury. Both the US ships are BG+1 and the design is covered above. The PV12 and 17 would be the same as the last battle. The Mary Reed would be...
Converted Frieghter Mary Reed
Class: FT2 16HS
[2] A Qv Qv Qv H H La Ra Qa (Cp) [4/1] cg x1
Reallistically, if I were the human player, I would hide on the backside of Mercury and try to force them to close to point blank range for the engagement. At least the lack of sensors wouldn't make any difference. It would be better to hope the alien ships would just go away after they kill the PU.
In that this post if fairly immense to stick in the middle of a story, if folks post a fair amount in the comments that they would rather see this stuff moved to the Starfire Scenarios section, I would be willing to do that (so as to not clutter the story to much). Otherwise I would rather post it where anyone can get to it without having to log in if they choose not to (or aren't registered yet).
Thanks again for reading...
March won't be near so big....(sigh)....