February 2205 part 31
Overview - cont.
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Ok, on to typing up the battles for the month. For those who wanted to see the new Nemotian designs, here they are....
Oh, and I will not be listing every attack by smcft in the month. They were important if you were to play it through and try to track how many missiles a ship has as the month progresses, but it will eat up a bunch of space and time. So I will just skip them and show what the vessels had for ordinance in a given battle.
I will also not post unopposed landings, such as the first one on Victoria. It wasn't so much a battle as a single roll by the population against the bombers followed by a landing. Not a great deal of table top value.
I will post several of the battles that 'never happened', just in case someone would like to see how it turns out...
So without further ado, on to the battles.
Declaration of War / FSC vs China / Hektor Colony
FSC Forces
Admiral: Dutchman (LG+2/Courageous) - on Mary Reed
Hektor Colony at center of map (13.0 PU)
Converted Freighter Mary Reed (BG+1) FT2 / 16HS
[2] S S S S Qv Qv Qv H H Ya Ra Qa (Cp) [4/1] cg x1
RbM x 10
Armed Freighter Krait (BG) FT1 / 12HS
[2] S S H Qv H Ya Ra Qa (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
RbM x 10
Chinese Forces
Missile Frigate Angtung (BG-2) FG / 22HS
[2] S S S S Qa Hs Qa (Cp) Ra Mgs Ra Ra Ya (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
RbM x 54
Setup
Mary Reed and Krait at 2tH from Hektor
Angtung at 20tH from Hektor with S down.
Chinese gig to approach colony to scout area for warships before any engagement.
Chinese ship much spend one round making announcement of war prior to any launch, other than self defense.
Map is AB terrain. Hektor is considered as a moon for terrain purposes.
Special rules.
The Chinese ship will have to roll a single d10 for each shield active in a turn. On a roll of 10, the shield will go down. It may be restored after d10/3 (FRU) turns.
Comments.
This battle never happened, but could have been very close. This is where the Chinese became aware that their shields were compromised - and decided to retire from the field. I could have had the problems with the shields occur earlier in the month on the space station at Venus, but thought this would be a more 'dramatic' moment. (My family hates me at moments like this...)
Assault of Hektor / FSC vs China / Hektor Colony
FSC Forces
Admiral: Dutchman (LG+2/Courageous) - on Mary Reed
Hektor Colony at center of map (13.0 PU)
Converted Freighter Mary Reed (BG+1) FT2 / 16HS
[2] S S S S Qv Qv Qv H H Ya Ra Qa (Cp) [4/1] cg x1
RbM x 10
Armed Freighter Krait (BG) FT1 / 12HS
[2] S S H Qv H Ya Ra Qa (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
RbM x 10
Chinese Forces
Missile Frigates Angtung (BG-2) , Sichuan (BG-2) , Quinha (BG-1) FG / 22HS
[2] S S S S Qa Hs Qa (Cp) Ra Mgs Ra Ra Ya (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
RbM x 54
Setup
Mary Reed and Krait at 2tH from Hektor
Chinese FGs at 20tH from Hektor with S up.
Map is AB terrain. Hektor is considered as a moon for terrain purposes.
Special rules.
The Chinese ships will have to roll a single d10 for each shield active in a turn. On a roll of 10, the shield will go down. It may be restored after d10/3 (FRU) turns.
Comments.
Again, this battle never happened. The oldest girl decided that it was unwinnable. It was. In both this and the preceeding scenarios, the Chinese have a pair of unarmed transports about 1/3rd LM from the colony awaiting clearance for landings.
Nemotian Assault on Hektor / China vs Nemotians / Hektor Colony
FSC Forces
Hektor Colony at center of map (12.8 PU)
Chinese Forces
Missile Frigate Angtung (BG-2) FG / 22HS
[2] S S S S Qa Hs Qa (Cp) Ra Mgs Ra Ra Ya (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
RbM x 54
Qv x 12 on Hektor
Nemotian Forces
Patrol Vessel 13 (BG+2) CT / 16HS
[2] S S S S Hs Qa Da Ya (cpCp) Pta [6/1] / cg x1 (with 2 bombs)
PtaM x 10
Armed Colony Vessel 3 (BG-1) FT4 / 30HS
[2] S S S A H H Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Da Kb+ (Cp) Qa (Cp) [4/1] cg x1 (with 2 bombs)
Qv x 8 on board
Attack Vessel 3 (BG) ES / 12HS
[2] S S H Ya Qa (Cp) Pta [6/1]
PtaM x 10
Light Support Vessel 14 (BG) FT1/12HS
[2] A H H H H A H H H H Qa (Cp) [6/1]
H x 4 for troops, bombs x16 in hold with maint, cg x 2 in holds
Setup
Chinese FGs at 2tH from Hektor with S down.
Nemotian ships at 30tH from Hektor, S down.
Map is AB terrain. Hektor is considered as a moon for terrain purposes.
Nemotians must attempt bombing of Hektor prior to any attack.
Special rules.
The Chinese ship will have to roll a single d10 for each shield active in a turn. On a roll of 10, the shield will go down. It may be restored after d10/3 (FRU) turns.
Comments.
This was the first battle to happen, sort of. The middle boy first wanted to shoot down the bombers, then decided that it was unwinnable when he met the rest of the group. It was less a battle and more an attempt to disengage successfully. The slower speed of the Armed Transport, and my prior SOP for this that the landing and protection of the transport was more important than engaging enemy vessels allowed him to get his FG away.
This battle was also a nail biter for me, leading up to it at least. My SOP had the landing as the highest priority if possible, and stated new systems (Da and EM) were not to be used - otherwise the landing was to be aborted. I wasn't interested in taking out the defense, just in giving the appearance of raiders and drawing in more ships. After China's landing, the middle boy decided the priority was guarding the construction at Venus and moved two of his FGs back there. If the middle boy had left all three of his FGs at Hektor, I would likely have had to abort the landing. Possibly indefinitely. This month could have went much differently if the players only had a single colony in danger....
Battle for Saturn's Orbitals / US & Euro vs Nemotians / Saturn
Chinese Forces
Titan Colony (9.7 PU)
Mobile Construction Vessel Zhuang (BG) FT4 / 30HS
[2] H A H Qa (Cp) (SYM1 o o o) [2/1] cg x1
(hidden of surface facing near PDC)
Titan Ground Defense (BG-2) PDC/6+ HS
RbM x 10
US Forces
Task Force 2
Admiral: R Adm J Ryan (LG+2/Navigator) on Yari
Interceptor MkIII Yari (BG+2) , Sai (BG+2) , Kama (BG+1) CT / 16HS
[2] S S S Hs Mgs Qa Ya (Cp) Ra Ra (Cp) [7/1] cg x1
RbM x 44
Pan Euro Forces
Admiral: Commodore S Vasilikos (LG+0)
Armed Science Vessel Red October (BG+1) FG / 22HS
[2] S S S S A A H Qa Mgs Xp (cp Cp) Ra Ra Ya Qa (Cp) [7/1] cg x1
RbM x 44
Nemotian Forces
Patrol Vessel 24 (BG) CT / 16HS
[2] S S S S Hs Qa Da Ya (cpCp) Pta [6/1] / cg x1
PtaM x 10
Armed Colony Vessel 8 (BG-1) FT4 / 30HS
[2] S S S A H H Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Da Kb+ (Cp) Qa (Cp) [4/1] cg x1
Light Support Vessel 14 (BG) FT1/12HS
[2] A H H H H A H H H H Qa (Cp) [6/1]
bombs x16 in hold with maint , cg x2 in holds
Setup
Saturn in center of map - fills hex.
Rings extend to 3tH.
Tethis at 4tH
Dione at 6tH
Rhea at 7tH
Titan at !7tH for Saturn, radian 7.
Rings are treated as AB terrain.
Nem FT1 in rings of Saturn at 2 tH, radian 3, speed 0.
Other Nemotian ships at 2tH from Titan, speed 2.
US and Euro ships at 30tH from Saturn, radian 1, speed 7.
Special rules.
The Chinese PDC is still under construction from the Zhuang. The Ra uses the partially completed construction rules. We had ruled it was not usuable at this time as it would not be finished until the end of the month.
Comments.
This was the battle I had hoped to avoid - ships I could not evade. But I hadn't anticipated the players reactions and this battle happened. Technically you could say that with no admiral the ships shouldn't have violated SOP. But SOP stated to avoid engagements and that was not going to be possible. With the SOP out, I decided that it was time to let the cat out of the bag. The players would get a warning of what the Nemotians were now fielding.
This battle hurt everyone. I lost one of the Armed FTs and support ships, burned up a lot of PtaM I had hoped to use later, and gave away my new capabilities. The US lost one ship outright, and the other to the failure of its Qa to come back online. That was a big hit. The Euro didn't lose a ship, but the R. Oct was left with only a few missiles. Her teeth had been pulled for some time to come.
Ambush in the Belt / China vs Nemotians / AB
Chinese Forces
Chinese Troop Transports 2 , 3 FT2 / 16HS
[2] H H Qv Qv H H Qv Qv H H Qv Qv (Bsa) H Qa (Cp) [4/1] cg x1, gtos x1
Qv x 6 & H x 6 on each transport
Nemotian Forces
Patrol Vessel 13 (BG+2) , 2 (BG+1) CT / 16HS
[2] S S S S Hs Qa Da Ya (cpCp) Pta [6/1] / cg x1
PtaM x 10
Armed Colony Vessel 2 (BG) , 3 (BG-1) FT4 / 30HS
[2] S S S A H H Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Da Kb+ (Cp) Qa (Cp) [4/1] cg x1
Qv x 8 on board ACV 2
Attack Vessel 3 (BG) ES / 12HS
[2] S S H Ya Qa (Cp) Pta [6/1]
PtaM x 10
Light Support Vessel 14 (BG), 15 (BG) FT1/12HS
[2] A H H H H A H H H H Qa (Cp) [6/1]
bombs x18 in hold with maint , cg x 1 in hold
H x 7 on LSV 15
Setup
Nemotian PV 24 at center of map.
Other Nem ships within 2 tH of PV 24.
All Nem ships S down with drives off.
Chinese FTs at 20tH on radian 7, heading toward center of map, speed 1.
Special rules.
Chinese FTs may not change course or speed until they detect inbound weapons or the alien ships.
Comments.
This isn't about winning. It is about hoping the Nemotians get bad rolls and you can get a message off. In the game, they didn't survive the first launch and the middle boy only was told that he had lost communication with them. If they had managed to discover the alien group, who knows what would have happened. In that this group couldn't be the one attacking Victoria, they would likely have suspected at least two groups this size (which was true) and reacted to the threat.
Second Nemotian Landing on Hektor / FSC vs Nemotians / Hektor
FSC Forces
Admiral: Dutchman (LG+2/Courageous) - on Mary Reed
Hektor Colony at center of map (12.8 PU)
Converted Freighter Mary Reed (BG+1) FT2 / 16HS
[2] S S S S Qv Qv Qv H H Ya Ra Qa (Cp) [4/1] cg x1
RbM x 10
Armed Freighter Krait (BG) FT1 / 12HS
[2] S S H Qv H Ya Ra Qa (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
RbM x 10
Chinese Forces
Qv x 6 on surface of Hektor
Nemotian Forces
Armed Colony Vessel 2 (BG) , 3 (BG-1) FT4 / 30HS
[2] S S S A H H Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Da Kb+ (Cp) Qa (Cp) [4/1]
Qv x 8 on board ACV 2
Attack Vessel 3 (BG) ES / 12HS
[2] S S H Ya Qa (Cp) Pta [6/1]
PtaM x 10
cg x 4 (with bomb x2)
Setup.
FSC ships at 2tH from Hektor, speed 2.
Nemotian ships at 30tH from Hektor, radian 4, speed 0, shields down.
Nemotian gigs will make attack run before Nem ships may attack.
Comments.
This was a gamble. The players may have guessed that I had more ships than I was letting on, but I needed to up the stakes to keep the players pushing to hold their colonies. The oldest girl left the colony and lets its sensors tell her what was coming. When she found out, she decided to wait for help. The players all had a lot riding on the ground battles at this point, so she was sure someone would come. She was also hoping that the Nem ships would leave shortly after the landing.
Evacuation of Hektor / US, Euro, & FSC vs Nemotians / Hektor
FSC Forces
Admiral: Dutchman (LG+2/Courageous) - on ground as General
Hektor Colony at center of map (0.3 PU)
Qv x 3 on Hektor surface
Converted Freighter Mary Reed (BG+1) FT2 / 16HS
[2] S S S S Qv Qv Qv H H Ya Ra Qa (Cp) [4/1] cg x1
RbM x 8
Armed Freighter Krait (BG) FT1 / 12HS
[2] S S H Qv H Ya Ra Qa (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
RbM x 8
Chinese Forces
Qv x 6 on surface of Hektor
US Forces
US Q Ship Steadfast (BG+1/BG-2 for repairs), Vigilance (BG+1), Defiant (BG-1), Resolute (BG-1) FT2 / 16HS
[2] S S Qv Qv Qv Ya Ra H H H (Bsa) Qa (Cp) [4/1] cg x1
RbM x 10
GTOS x2
Pan Euro Forces
Admiral: Commodore S Vasilikos (LG+0)
Armed Science Vessel Red October (BG+1) FG / 22HS
[2] S S S S A A H Qa Mgs Xp (cp Cp) Ra Ra Ya Qa (Cp) [7/1] cg x1
RbM x 8
Nemotian Forces
Qv x16 on Hektor
Patrol Vessel 13 (BG+2) , 2 (BG+1) CT / 16HS
[2] S S S S Hs Qa Da Ya (cpCp) Pta [6/1]
PtaM x 10
Armed Colony Vessel 2 (BG) , 3 (BG-1) FT4 / 30HS
[2] S S S A H H Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Da Kb+ (Cp) Qa (Cp) [4/1]
Attack Vessel 3 (BG) ES / 12HS
[2] S S H Ya Qa (Cp) Pta [6/1]
PtaM x 8
Light Support Vessel 14 (BG), 15 (BG) FT1/12HS
[2] A H H H H A H H H H Qa (Cp) [6/1]
bombs x12 in hold with maint
Setup.
Hektor at center of map.
Defiant, Resolute, and Mary Reed are landed on Hektor.
Krait at 2tH from Hektor, speed 2.
Steadfast, Vigilance, and Red October at 20tH from Hektor on radian 5, speed 1.
GTOS at 54tH from Hektor on radian 5, speed 1.
Nemotian PV at 20tH from Hektor on radian 1, speed 2.
Nemotian ships at 15tH from Hektor on radian 1, speed 4.
Special rules.
US GTOS and Q ships have colonists on board. Max speed of 1 with no accel or decel only - unless vent cargo.
Comments.
This one tipped the hand that this wasn't going to be a bit of raiding and pestering with ground combat. The players struggled mostly to keep me from getting in sensor range of the colonists on the Steadfast and Vigilance. The players lost quite a few ships. The Attack Vessel had its shields dropped, that was it.
Sack of Victoria / Euro vs Nemotians / Victoria Colony
Pan Euro Forces
Victoria Colony (15.6PU)
Qv x 10 on Victoria Colony
Heavy Escort Tatianna (BG+2) CT / 16HS
[2] S S S H Mgs Qa Ra Ra Ya (cpCp) [6/1] cg x1
RbM x 34
Attack Escort Scarlett (BG+1) , Kathleen (BG) , Elise (BG+2) , K Sereg (BG) ES / 12HS
[2] S S S A Hs Mgs Ya Ra Qa (Cp) [6/1]
RbM x 18
US Forces
Qv x 4 on Victoria Colony
Nemotian Forces
Qv x 8 on Victoria
Patrol Vessel 17 (BG+3) , 7 (BG+1) CT / 16HS
[2] S S S S Hs Qa Da Ya (cpCp) Pta [6/1]
PtaM x 10
Armed Colony Vessel 7 (BG) , 4 (BG-1) FT4 / 30HS
[2] S S S A H H Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Qv Da Kb+ (Cp) Qa (Cp) [4/1]
Qv x 8 on ACV 7
Light Support Vessel 19 (BG), 20 (BG) FT1/12HS
[2] A H H H H A H H H H Qa (Cp) [6/1]
bombs x12 in hold with maint
Setup.
Victorian Colony in center of map.
Pan Euro ships at 2tH from colony, speed 1.
Nemotian ships at 20tH from colony, radian 4, speed 4.
Comments.
This was a hard fought battle. My wife understood this was about getting one colony fairly intact, and destroying ships now. She knew that she had to give keeping the colony a try, but couldn't afford to lose her ships doing it. She got two ships away and finally cost my PV 17.
It cost her the Tatianna thought. We both lost dear ships on this one.
Sack of Titan / China & Euro vs Nemotians / Saturn
Chinese Forces
Titan Colony (4.7PU)
Mobile Construction Vessel Zhuang (BG) FT4 / 30HS
[2] H A H Qa (Cp) (SYM1 o o o) [2/1] cg x1
(hidden of surface facing near PDC)
Titan Ground Defense (BG-2) PDC/6+ HS
RbM x 10
Chinese Forces
Missile Frigates Angtung (BG-2) , Sichuan (BG-2) , Quinha (BG-1) FG / 22HS
[2] S S S S Qa Hs Qa (Cp) Ra Mgs Ra Ra Ya (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
RbM x 48
Pan Euro Forces
Rear Admiral R McNeely (BG)
Queen Jane Grey (BG-1) DD / 30HS
[2] S S S S A A A Hs Qa Mgs (Cp) (Cp) Qa Ra Ra Ya Ra Ra (Cp) [6/1] cg x1
RbM x 64
Attack Escorts Isabelle (BG+2) , Catherine (BG+1) ES / 12HS
[2] S S S A Hs Mgs Ya Ra Qa (Cp) {6/1]
RbM x 34
Nemotian Forces
Commander of Fleets (LG+1)
Qv x2 on surface of Titan
Assault Vessel 3 (BG) CL / 45HS
[2] S S S S S S A Mgs Hs Qa Qa (cp Cp) Da Mg Da Pta Pta (Cp) Qa Pta Ya (Cp Cp) Pta [6/1] cg x1
PtaM x49
Combat Vessels 6 (BG-2) , 7 (BG-2) DD / 30HS
[2] S S S S S A A H Qa (Cp) Mg Da Qa (Cp) Pta Ya (Cp) Pta [6/1] cg x1
PtaM x29
US Forces
Qv x 9 on surface of Titan
Setup
Saturn and moons as Battle of Titan's Orbitals above
Chinese FGs at 2tH from Titan, speed1.
Zhuang landed on moon beyond battle but available afterward for repairs if Nemotians disengage.
Nemotians start at 60tH from Saturn on radian 5, speed 6.
Pan Euro starts at 196tH from Saturn on radian 8, speed 0.
Special rules.
Pan Euro units may not move until 3rd turn on battle.
Comments.
This battle didn't turn out like anyone had expected. The Nemotian destroyers were in much worse shape than I had anticipated (partly due to the players skillful handling of the terrain, partly due to me underestimating how much impact the Poor crew grade would have on the Da), while the Chinese lost all their ships and most of their population. The Euro managed to only lose one escort and the damage to the Jane Grey was light and all ended up being successfully repaired by emergency repairs.
It is easier to track the Pan Euro ships by simply finding out how many turns it will take them to get on the map and then just waiting until that point. In reality, the middle boy did not know that he would get any assistance until shortly before the 3rd BG arrived. She got the civilian broadcasts from Titan, but sent none until she was nearly close enough to be picked up on sensors.
That wraps up February 2205.
Now for the real chore. If Feb turned out this long, March is going to take a loooonnnggg time to get through.