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Scenarios > Starfire
Battles of the Empires Campaign
procyon:
Shadow of Sunset
(Part 5 in the Sunset Saga)
New Empires Campaign - Month 36
Shadow at Morning /day 7 AM
As the Drakus evacuation progressed, the hunt for the AI ships and WP they had entered the system through continued, but the needs to escort both civilian shipping and the evacuation left limited resources to hunt the AI. The need to protect WP's into Sunset also claimed its fair share of the available assets. While escort duty still drew the new and untrained crews, WP guards were selected from the best and most capable.
Two WP's in Sunset were known to the Wolff Confederation. The first and most heavily defended was the WP to the home system. The second led to a system containing another small red star known as Ember. Ember was home to a substantial Drakus population and was the gateway to the rest of the Wolff Confederation systems. It was the duty of the Princess Kathleen Group and Rear Admiral Davidson to defend the WP and prevent the AI from gaining passage through it. To that end they had been assigned the first of a new Baltian class of ship. The Baltian Escort Carrier Red Oak, holding the first Wolff Confederation Assault Shuttle Squadron, would assist the defense of the WP.
Only weeks after the attack on the Drakus evacuation convoy the WP Explorer Raphael, assigned to Rear Admiral Davidson, detected both an approaching Drakus commerce group and a second contact following them. With the Kathleen Group both shields and drive fields down, they waited. The frieghters passed the WP as a single AI gunboat squadron watched from a quarter of a light minute out. The gunboat then left.
Transmissions were sent of the contact, and a request for reinforcements. As luck would have it a pair of Gherilonn Combat and Exploration Destroyers had arrived on the far side of the WP a few hours before. The Gherilonn were the first race the New Euro had encountered since the WPs had reappeared, and had become both allies and partners. The destroyers were awaiting another group of Drakus FT's that they would escort them through the Sunset system. A decision was made to leave the ships on the far side of the WP to await notice of an attack.
Before any further ships could arrive two AI destroyers (now code named as Jackal Class) and a single light carrier (code name Shadow Class) approached the WP in LOD. Davidson realized the AI sensors would find it difficult to detect the motionless defenders, and waited as the ships approached.
Baltian Forces
Rear Admiral Davidson (LG/ Average)
Light Cruiser Princess Kathleen (Average)
8XOb (EDMa x1/RbM x4) CLb / 51HS
[3] (S1) x6 (A1)x9 Zb H Qa Mg (MNE) (MNE) (Ib) (Ib Ib) Qb (Ib) Rb Rb Rb Dzb Rb Rb Rb Rb Qb Yb ?a (Ib Ib) [4] / gig
(Rb x7/ Dzb x1/ ?a) RbM x116, RbM-AFM x14
Heavy Escorts Alanis (Average) , Elaine (Average)
3 XOb (RbM-AFM x3) CTb / 19HS
[2] S1 S1 S1 A1 A1 A1 Zb H Rb (Ib) Ya Dzb Rb (Ib) Qb (Ib) [6] / gig x1
(Rb x2 / Dzb x1) RbM x20
WP Explorer Raphael (Average)
FG / 22HS
[2] S1 A1 A1(MNE) (MNE) H Xb Qb (Ia) Yca (Ia) (Ia) [4] / gig
Escort Carrier Red Oak (Poor)
CTfb / 19HS
[2] S1 S1 A1 H (Bsb) (Bsb) Db (icb Icb) Qb (Bsb) (Bsb) (Icb) [5] / gig x1, ast x4
Gherilonn Forces
Combat & Exploration Destroyers #17 (Green) , #18 (Poor)
4XOa (RbM x4) DD / 30HS
[2] (S) x3 (A)x2 Za Hs Qa Xa Mgs (Ica) Rb Rb (Ica) Rb Ya (Ica) Qa Gb (Ica) [4] / gig
(Rb x3/ Gb x1) RbM x30, RbM-AFM x9, RbM-LW x6, GbM x10, GbM-LW x2, GbM-AFM x2
AI Forces
DD 02 (Average) , 22 (Average)
5XOa (RcaM x1/ RbM x3) (AM1) DDb / 35HS
[2] (S1) x8 (A1)x8 Za Ht Qa (Ib) (Ib) Rca (Ib) Db Rb (Ib) Yb Rb ?a Qb (Ib) [5] / gig
(Rca x1 / Rb x2 / Db x1/ ?a) RcaM x10, RbM x20
CA - CVL 03 (Average)
8XOa (GBa x1(sYb internal mount) ) CA / 60HS
[2] (S1) x3 (A1)x3 Qb Qb Qv Qv H (Ica Ica) (Ica Ica) (Bga) (Bga) BLa) Rb Rb Db Qb Db Yca (Ica Ica) [3] / gig , GBa x2(ast internal weapon)
(Rb x2 / Db x2) RbM x20, 24CP for XO-GBa in Qv
Setup
Standard deep space battle. WP (open/C) at center of map.
Princess Kathleen starts at 20tH from WP on radian 1.
Heavy Escorts will always use EM at one and stay with the Baltian CL unless their datalink is lost.
Raphael and Red Oak starts within 10 hexes of Princess Kathleen.
All Baltian ships start with DF and shields down, at battle stations.
Gherilonn ships are on the WP hex in Ember at general quarters and will transit to Sunset as soon as a CD crosses the WP.
All AI ships start at 36tH from WP on radian 5.
AI ships begin at general quarters, moving at SPD 1 in LOD directly toward the WP.
No GBa have been launched.
AI Bga hold five load of K and five loads of R, for GB external ordinance reloads.
The external GBa sqn has R for external ordinance.
The AI CVL will stop and hold position at 30 tH from the WP.
The AI DD's will stop at 13tH from WP.
AI ships may not deviate from this course and speed, or roll for activation, until an allied ship performs an action that could be detected by the AI sensors.
Aftermath
The battle was fought for nearly an hour and a half with the allied ships guarding the WP and the AI destroyers and gunboats making one attack run after another. The Red Oak and Raphael transitted to Ember during one of the AI withdrawls to rearm the GB's. Slowly the allied ships were torn apart, but the AI gunboat squadrons suffered also.
After 88 minutes of combat the Heavy Escorts Alanis and Elaine (veterans of the Drakus convoy's defense) had been destroyed as had both Gherilonn destroyers and the ast squadron. Only the Princess Kathleen, its armor deeply scored but unbreached, remained stubbornly defending the WP.
The undamaged AI DD's were left with magazines nearly empty. The AI CVL had barely half of its starting complement of gunboats and was nearly depleated of ordinance for them. With a new contact approaching the WP nearly 12 light minutes out the AI broke off the attack in an attempting to conserve enough ordinance to deter any pursuit.
Rear Admiral Davidson was awarded the Wolff's Cross (the highest decoration of the Wolff Confederacy) for the defense of the WP to Ember, while the Princess Kathleen received the Distinguished Gallantry Unit Citation, the first awards of these made in the 104 year history of the Wolff Confederation..
Shadow at Evening / day 7 PM
The AI ships fled at best speed from the WP, covering several light minutes before dropping again into LOD in an attempt to evade pursuit. Hampered by the low speed required for LOD the AI ships were unable to slip away as sweeps by both the Raphael and the Drakus Sensor Ship Dra slowly closed the noose on the AI Shadow. In the end the AI ships were brought to bay by the Drakus 1st Destroyer Squadron with supporting Cryocian and New Euro ships.
Drakus 1st Destroyer Squadron
Rear Admiral Embressa (LG/ Average)
Destroyers Drannar (Crack) , Drannaeus (Crack) , Drassan (Crack)
5XOa (ReM-AFM x5) DD / 30HS
[3] (S) x3 (A)x3 Zb H Qa Rb Rb (Ia) (Ia) (Ia) Rb Rb Yb Da Qa (Ia) (Ia) [5] / gig
(Rb x4/ Da x1) RbM x40
Drakus Sensor Ship Dra
CT/16HS
[2] H (Ica) Qa Yca (Ica) [4] / gig
Drakus Tug A2
FT1/12HS
[2] H (ica Ica) Ta Qa (ica Ica) [4]
Drakus Missile Collier
FT0/7HS
[2] Mgs Mg Mg Mg Hs Qa (Ica) [4] RbM x204
Cryocian Detachment
Storm Class Corvettes Sandstorm (Green) , Blizzard (Green)
CTb / 19HS
[3] S1 S1 S1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 Hs Qb (jb Jb) (Jb) (Jb) Eca [7] / gig x1
(Eca x1)
New Euro Heavy Escorts - Ruth Detachment
Heavy Escorts Ruth (Elite) , Sorcha (Elite) , Claire (Elite)
3 XOb (ReM-AFM x3) CTb / 19HS
[2] S1 S1 S1 A1 A1 A1 Za Hs Mgs Re (Ib) Yb Re (Ib) Qb (Ib) [6] / gig x1
(Re x2 - 2 salvos/turn) ReM-ECM1 x44, ReM-ECM1/LW x6, ReM-AFM x9
AI Forces
DD 02 (Average) , 22 (Average)
5XOa (RbM x5) (AM1) DDb / 35HS
[2] (S1) x8 (A1)x8 Za Ht Qa (Ib) (Ib) Rca (Ib) Db Rb (Ib) Yb Rb ?a Qb (Ib) [5] / gig
(Rca x1 / Rb x2 / Db x1/ ?a) RcaM x1, RbM x7
CA - CVL 03 (Average)
8XOa (empty) CA / 60HS
[2] (S1) x3 (A1)x3 Qb Qb Qv Qv H (Ica Ica) (Ica Ica) (Bga) (Bga) BLa) Rb Rb Db Qb Db Yca (Ica Ica) [3] / gig ,
GBa x1(ast internal weapon - 14DP remaining) GBa x1 (sYb+Qa internal mount - 30 DP)
(Rb x2 / Db x2) RbM x0
Setup
Standard deep space battle.
All allied ships start within 10tH of Drakus Destroyer Sqn.
All allied ships start at battle stations.
AI ships begin at battle stations with CVL at 60 tH from Drakus Destroyers.
AI DD's start within 3tH of CVL.
No GBa have been launched.
AI CVL holds four loads of K and two loads of R total (not per bay) for GB external ordinance reloads.
AI DD's may ram when out of missiles. GBa may ram after the CVL is destroyed/wrecked. (In fact, they pretty much have to.)
Alternate setup would allow AI forces to have load out of missiles and GB ordinance as left from 1st battle.
Aftermath
This battle was over in minutes. The first DD was destroyed even before it had emptied it magazine. The second was torn apart by the faster Cryocian corvettes as it closed to ram with the Drakus destroyers. The CVL was torn apart moments before it was able to rearm the gunboat squadrons. The squadrons were able to launch but the concentrated fire of the anti-fighter missiles from the allied ships destroyed the squadrons before they could close on their targets. In the end the Blizzard and the Drannaeus suffered some armor damage, but no ship had its hull breached.
(To be honest, it should be more difficult to stop the ramming gunboats, but my wife had some incredible die rolls.)
procyon:
The Edge of Sunset
(Part 6 of the Sunset Saga)
New Empires Campaign - Month 37
With the Drakus evacuation of the asteroid belt nearly complete, it was hoped that soon the assets detailed to protection of the convoys would be available to help locate the entry WP for the AI into Sunset. The economies of the Wolff Confederation were becoming strained by the large mobilization and construction efforts, so the arrival of two separate groups of New Euro ship only weeks apart was a true boon. The first was carried by Woff transit carriers and the other by the recently conpleted New Euro transit carrier
The last Drakus evacuation group was loaded and moving through the belt accompanied by the Drakus 2nd Light Cruiser and 1st Destroyer Sqadrons when they made contact with a group of AI ships. The AI group had been skirting the outside edge of the belt and the convoy was forced to flee deeper into the debris field. The pursuing group was slowly closing and was discovered to contain 8 Jackal Class AI Destroyers. Outnumbered and unable to outrun the menace Rear Admiral Embressa called for assistance. A patrol group hunting the AB was nearby and responded. In addition to the Princess Kathleen Group, it included the recently returned New Euro Escort Carrier Nile, a pair of Gherilonn Destroyers, and the Lady Anne Group - an aging light cruiser and her escorts designed to intercept commerce raiders. Although dated, she was highly trained and still more advanced than any Wolff Confederation ship.
Rear Admiral Davidson instructed the Drakus group to run directly for the star in the center of the AB. The patrol group would move behind the star where the pursuing AI ships would be unable to identify them until it was to late.
Unfortunately, the slow speed of the Gherilonn ships hampered the move, and when Rear Admiral Davidson arrived he discovered he was not the only group using the star as cover.
Drakus Forces
Rear Admiral Embressa (LG+1/Crack)
Drakus 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron
Light Cruiser Vanirae (Crack)
7XOb (EDMa x1/RbM-AFM x3) CL / 45HS
[3] (S) x4 (A) x4 Zb H Qa (Ia) (Ia Ia) Qa (Ia) Rb Rb Rb Da Rb Rb Rb Rb Da Qa Yb (Ia Ia) [4] / gig
(Rb x7/ Da x2) RbM x35, RbM-ECM1 x35
Destroyers Drall (Average) , Drannall (Average)
5XOa (RbM-AFM x5) DD / 30HS
[3] (S) x3 (A)x3 Zb H Qa Rb Rb (Ia) (Ia) (Ia) Rb Rb Yb Da Qa (Ia) (Ia) [5] / gig
(Rb x4 / Da x1) RbM x20, RbM-ECM1 x20
Drakus 1st Destroyer Squadron
Destroyers Drannar (Crack) , Drannaeus (Crack) , Drassan (Crack)
5XOa (RbM-AFM x5) DD / 30HS
[3] (S) x3 (A)x3 Zb H Qa Rb Rb (Ia) (Ia) (Ia) Rb Rb Yb Da Qa (Ia) (Ia) [5] / gig
(Rb x4/ Da x1) RbM x20, RbM-ECM1 x20
Drakus Support Ships
Missile Collier 2 (Average) , 4 (Average) FT0 / 7HS
[2] Mgs (Mg) x3 Hs Qa (Ica) [4] / RbM x204
Tug A1 (Average) , A2 (Average) FT1 / 12HS
[2] H (ica Ica) Ta Qa (ica Ica) [4]
Sensor Vessel Dra (Average) CT / 16HS
[2] H (Ica) Qa Yca (Ica) [4] / gig
Baltian Forces
Rear Admiral Davidson (LG+1/ Crack-Decisive)
Light Cruiser Princess Kathleen (Crack)
8XOb (EDMa x1/RbM-AFM x4) CLb / 51HS
[3] (S1) x6 (A1)x9 Zb H Qa Mg (MNE) (MNE) (Ib) (Ib Ib) Qb (Ib) Rb Rb Rb Dzb Rb Rb Rb Rb Qb Yb ?a (Ib Ib) [4] / gig
(Rb x7/ Dzb x1/ ?a) RbM x109, RbM-AFM x14, RbM-LW x7
Heavy Escorts Serena (Green) , Bella (Green)
3 XOb (RbM-AFM x3) CTb / 19HS
[2] S1 S1 S1 A1 A1 A1 Zb H Rb (Ib) Ya Dzb Rb (Ib) Qb (Ib) [6] / gig x1
(Rb x2 / Dzb x1) RbM x20
WP Explorer Raphael (Average)
FG / 22HS
[2] S1 A1 A1(MNE) (MNE) H Xb Qb (Ia) Yca (Ia) (Ia) [4] / gig
Missile Collier 01 (Average)
FT0 / 7HS
[2] Mgs (Mg) x3 Hs Qa (Ica) [4] / RbM x204
New Euro Forces
Light Cruiser Lady Anne (Elite)
8XOb (EDMa x1/ReM-ECM1 x4) (AM1) CLbf / 51HS
[2] (S1) x9 (A1)x9 Zb H Qa Rca (ib Ib) (Ib) (M1) (Ib Ib) Qb Mgs Ye Db Re Re Re Dca Qb ?a (Ib Ib) [5] / gig
(Rca x1/ Re x3/ Db x1/ Dca x1/ ?a) RcaM-ECM1 x11, RcaM-AFM x2, Rca-LW/ECM1 x1
ReM-ECM1 x30, ReM-AFM x12, ReM-LW/ECM1 x6
Destroyers Queen Mary (Elite) , Queen Mary II (Elite)
5XOa (ReM-ECM1 x5) (AM1) DDb / 35HS
[2] (S1) x6 (A1)x6 Zb Hs Mgs Qa Rca (Ib) (Ib) (Ib) Re Re Ye Db ?a Qb (Ib) [5] / gig
(Rb x4/ Db x1/ ?a) RcaM-ECM1 x12, Rca-AFM x2, Rca-LW/ECM1 x1
ReM-ECM1 x40, Re-AFM x8, ReM-LW/ECM1 x4
River Class Escort Carrier Nile (Average)
FT4b / 35HS
[2] S1 S1 A1 H (Icb) (Icb) (Icb) (Bga) (Bga) (BLa) Yb Dca Qa (Icb) [4] / gig , GBa x2(La internal weapon)
GBa Sqn 14 (Crack) , GBa Sqn 30 (Crack)
Gherilonn Forces
Combat & Exploration Destroyers #19 (Green) , #20 (Poor)
4XOa (RbM x4) DD / 30HS
[2] (S) x3 (A1)x3 Za Hs Qa Xa Mgs (Ica) Rb Rb (Ica) Rb Ya Da Qa Gb (Ica) [3] / gig
(Rb x3/ Gb x1/ Da x1) RbM x36, RbM-AFM x9, RbM-LW x3, GbM x10, GbM-LW x1, GbM-AFM x2
Evacuation Convoy #7
Heavy Passenger FT
FT3 / 22HS
[2] A (Qv) x4 (Ica) (Qv) x4 (Ica) (Qv) x5 H Qa (Ica) [4] / gig
Passenger FT (x3)
FT2 / 16HS
[2] A (Qv) x4 (Ica) (Qv) x5 H Qa (Ica) [4] / gig
Light Passenger FT (x4)
FT1 / 12HS
[2] (Qv) x7 H Qa (ica Ica) [4]
AI Forces
BB 01 (Average) , 03 (Average)
14 XOa (RcaM x7) (AM1) BB / 100HS
[3] (S1) x14 (A1)x13 Za Qb Qb Qb H (Ia Ia Ia) Mg Db Qb (M1) Rb Rb Rca Rb Rca Rb Rb Db (Ia Ia Ia) Db Rb Rb Rca Rb Rca Rb Rb Yb Db ?a Qb (Ia Ia Ia) [3] / gig
(Rca x4 / Rb x10 / Db x4/ ?a) RcaM x60, RbM x120
DD 09 (Average) , 10 (Average) , 11 (Average) , 12 (Average),
21 (Average) , 27 (Average) , 28 (Average) , 29 (Average)
5XOa (RcaM x1/ RbM x3) (AM1) DDb / 35HS
[2] (S1) x8 (A1)x8 Za Ht Qa (Ib) (Ib) Rca (Ib) Db Rb (Ib) Yb Rb ?a Qb (Ib) [5] / gig
(Rca x1 / Rb x2 / Db x1/ ?a) RcaM x10, RbM x20
CA - CVL 04 (Average)
8XOa (GBa x1(sYb internal mount) ) CA / 60HS
[2] (S1) x3 (A1)x3 Qb Qb Qv Qv H (Ica Ica) (Ica Ica) (Bga) (Bga) BLa) Rb Rb Db Qb Db Yca (Ica Ica) [3] / gig , GBa x2(ast internal weapon)
(Rb x2 / Db x2) RbM x20, 24CP for XO-GBa in Qv
Setup
Sunset (Red Dwarf) at center of map.
Sunset is 2tH radius.
AB starts at 32tH from center (to 960 tH)
All ships start at battle stations.
Princess Kathleen starts at 45tH from center on radian 8.
Heavy Escorts will always use EM at one and stay with the Baltian CL unless their datalink is lost.
All Baltian, New Euro, and Gherilonn ships start within 6tH of Princess Kathleen.
All Baltian, New Euro, and Gherilonn ships start facing toward center of map.
CVE carries on R for GB external ordinance.
Evacuation Heavy Passenger FT starts at 32tH from center on radian 2.
All ships of Evac Convoy start within 3tH of Hvy Pass FT.
Drakus 1st Destroyer Squadron at 28tH from center on radian 2.
Drakus 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron at 37tH from center on radian 2.
Drakus support ships may be placed with any of these groups.
All Drakus ships start facing toward center of map.
AI DD's start at 55tH from center on radian 2 facing toward center of map.
AI BB's and CA start at 5tH from center on radian 8, any facing.
All GBa have been launched and start on same hex as CA.
AI Bga hold five load of K and five loads of R, for GB external ordinance reloads.
Without aggressive maneuvers, this tends to play out as two separate battles. My wife thought about pressing both groups toward the center to try and concentrate her firepower and overwhelm the AI ships, but the first salvos from the BB’s changed her mind.
Aftermath
Although Rear Admiral Embressa had tried to summon help, in the end the Drakus convoy escorts were forced to face the AI Jackal's nearly alone. Only the Drannaeus and Drassan (with magazines empty) survived the battle after the Jackals broke off to try and protect the AI CVL from the Euro gunboats. The Drakus warships managed to destroy two of the Jackals in the one sided battle.
A long range duel between the Lady Anne/Princess Kathleen and the AI BB's (which came to be known as the Dragon and the Serpent) quickly went against the light cruisers. The Lady Anne was forced to withdraw with its armor heavily scored but unbreached.
The AI gunboat squadrons were torn apart as they closed with the allied ships, while the Euro gunboats pressed home their attack and left the AI CVL crippled with only its last engine room functioning. Duels between the AI and Euro GB's following the anti-shipping strikes left the AI squadrons virtually destroyed. The New Euro Squadrons suffered heavy losses that forced the reorganization of the two squadrons into one following the battle.
Even with Rear Admiral Embressa's valiant defense three of the light passenger frieghters were destroyed with the loss of over 100,000 lives. Embressa was forced into a life pod with the destruction of the Vanirae but was rescued by a Baltian gig operating in LOD that braved the AB in the aftermath of the battle.
The senior admiral in Sunset, Cryocian Admiral Xyxes was left with the choice of organizing a group to try and finish off the stricken Shadow by weakening the defenses of New Haven, or allowing the AI group to slip away. Political pressure forced the admiral to retain the ships of New Haven and the AI were allowed to break off unmolested. Unknown to the allies, the damage to the Shadow was too great, and the AI were forced to scuttle the ship following unsuccessful attempts to repair the life support systems.
procyon:
Fall of Sunset
'An habitation for dragons'
(Part 7 of the Sunset Saga)
New Empires Campaign - month 38
Following the evacuation of the last Drakus outpost in the asteroid belt, the only populations left in Sunset were the Cryocian holdings at New Haven and Haven's Daughter. The losses suffered in defense of the evacuation convoys and defense of the WP to Ember had left the Wolff Confederation with seriously reduced fleet levels. With the heart of the Cryocian Fleet stationed at New Haven and supported by New Euro ships, it was deemed unnecessary by Admiral Xyxes to strengthen the defense of the Cryocian settlements. Any extra ships were detailed to the search for the elusive WP that the AI were using to enter the system.
Even the appearance of the second AI battleship had not shaken Xyxes belief in the safety of New Haven. From his flagship, the Cryocian Battleship Inferno, and accompanied by her sisters the Firestorm and Hellfire, he felt secure that the Dragon and the Serpent would be unable to survive any approach to the planet and its moon. With five squadrons of New Euro gunboats available, he was sure any attack would be doomed.
That belief was put to the test five weeks after the battle near the system's star. It began as a distant sensor contact moving slowly toward New Haven. A single New Euro gunboat squadron with additional life support and sensor equipment was dispatched to investigate the contact. At just over 30 light minutes from New Haven the Euro gunboat was turned back from the contact by three AI gunboat squadrons. The allied group braced for the long expected attack by the Dragon and Serpent, supported by at least one Shadow. Rear Admiral Davidson's Patrol Group was nearly 50 light minutes away, but was much faster than the approaching contact and was ordered to assist in the defense. His arrival added two light cruiser groups to the defense.
As the AI ships approached the planet, ground based sensor arrays resolved that it included not only the AI battleships, but two of the huge carriers - codenamed as the Kraken Class. Only one Kraken had been encountered in Sunset, this during the first contact in the asteroid belt by the Cryocian Cruiser Squadron and a group of Baltian Heavy Escorts. The two heavy carriers accompanied by the Dragon, the Serpent, ten destroyers and ten squadrons of gunboats, shook the defenders convictions.
With two additional light cruiser groups less than 25 light minutes away guarding the WP to Ember, it was tempting to fall back and prevent the spread of destruction the AI group represented from spilling into other systems. But with 12 million civilians living on New Haven and Haven's Daughter, there was no real choice. The battle line drew up and prepared to meet the approaching jugernaught.
Rear Admiral Davidson, long a student of history and literature, could only think of an obscure passage as he watched the seven titanic ships approach each other.
"From generation to generation it shall lie waste, none shall pass through it for ever and ever....
he shall stretch out upon it the line of confusion, and the stones of emptiness....
and it shall be an habitation for dragons.
Cryocian Forces
Admrial Xyxes (LG+2/Elite)
Inferno Battle Group
Flagship Inferno (Crack)
16XOb (PtcaM x4) BB / 100HS
[5] (S) x6 (A) x12 Zb Qb Qb Qb Mg H Mg (Ja Ja Ja) (Ja Ja Ja) (M1) (MNE) (MNE) Qb Dzb Ptca Eb (Ja Ja Ja) Dzb Ptca (Ja Ja Ja) Ptca Ptca Ycb Tda Dzb Qb (Ja Ja Ja) Eb [5] / gig
(Ptca x4/ Eb x2/ Dzb x3) PtcaM x70
Battleship Firestorm (Average) , Hellfire (Crack)
16XOb (PtcaM x4) BB / 100HS
[5] (S) x6 (A) x12 Zb Qb Qb Qb Mg H Mg (Ja Ja Ja) (Ja Ja Ja) (M1) (MNE) (MNE) Qb Dzb Ptca Eb (Ja Ja Ja) Dzb Ptca (Ja Ja Ja) Ptca Ptca Eb Dzb Eb Yb Tda Dzb Qb (Ja Ja Ja) Eb [5] / gig
(Ptca x4/ Eb x4/ Dzb x4) PtcaM x70
Baltian Forces
Rear Admiral Davidson (LG+1/Crack - Decisive)
Light Cruiser Princess Kathleen (Crack)
8XOb (EDMa x1/RbM x4) CLb / 51HS
[3] (S1) x6 (A1)x9 Zb H Qa Mg (MNE) (MNE) (Ib) (Ib Ib) Qb (Ib) Rb Rb Rb Dzb Rb Rb Rb Rb Qb Yb ?a (Ib Ib) [4] / gig
(Rb x7/ Dzb x1/ ?a) RbM x109, RbM-AFM x14, RbM-LW x7
Heavy Escorts Serena (Green) , Bella (Average)
3 XOb (RbM x3) CTb / 19HS
[2] S1 S1 S1 A1 A1 A1 Zb H Rb (Ib) Ya Dzb Rb (Ib) Qb (Ib) [6] / gig x1
(Rb x2 / Dzb x1) RbM x20
WP Explorer Raphael (Average)
FG / 22HS
[2] S1 A1 A1(MNE) (MNE) H Xb Qb (Ia) Yca (Ia) (Ia) [4] / gig
Missile Collier 01 (Average)
FT0 / 7HS
[2] Mgs (Mg) x3 Hs Qa (Ica) [4] / RbM x204
New Euro Forces
Commodore Alice Krimmel (LG+0/Average)
Light Cruiser Lady Anne (Elite)
8XOb (EDMa x1/RcaM-LW/ECM1 x2) (AM1) CLbf / 51HS
[2] (S1) x9 (A1)x9 Zb H Qa Rca (ib Ib) (Ib) (M1) (Ib Ib) Qb Mgs Ye Db Re Re Re Dca Qb ?a (Ib Ib) [5] / gig
(Rca x1/ Re x3/ Db x1/ Dca x1/ ?a) RcaM-ECM1 x13, RcaM-AFM x2, Rca-LW/ECM1 x1
ReM-ECM1 x60, ReM-AFM x12
Destroyers Queen Mary (Elite) , Queen Mary II (Elite)
5XOa (RcaM-LW/ECM1 x2/ReM-AFM x1) (AM1) DDb / 35HS
[2] (S1) x6 (A1)x6 Zb Hs Mgs Qa Rca (Ib) (Ib) (Ib) Re Re Ye Db ?a Qb (Ib) [5] / gig
(Rb x4/ Db x1/ ?a) RcaM-ECM1 x13, Rca-AFM x2, Rca-LW/ECM1 x1
ReM-ECM1 x40, Re-AFM x12
River Class Escort Carrier Nile (Average) , Tigris (Crack) , Shannon (Crack)
FT4b / 35HS
[2] S1 S1 A1 H (Icb) (Icb) (Icb) (Bga) (Bga) (BLa) Yb Dca Qa (Icb) [4] / gig , GBa x2(La internal weapon)
GBa Sqn 14 (Crack) / 27DP
GBa Sqn 38 (Elite) / 27DP, GBa Sqn 40 / 30DP(Crack)
GBa Sqn 41 (Crack) / 30DP, GBa Sqn 42 / 30DP(Crack)
Heavy Escort Ruth (Elite) , Claire (Elite) , Sorcha (Elite)
3 XOb (ReM-AFM x3) CTb / 19HS
[2] S1 S1 S1 A1 A1 A1 Za Hs Mgs Re (Ib) Yb Re (Ib) Qb (Ib) [6] / gig x1
(Re x2) ReM-ECM1 x40, Re-AFM x24
Missile Collier 06 (Average)
FT0 / 7HS
[2] Mgs (Mg) x3 Hs Qa (Ica) [4] /
RcaM/ECM1 x19, RcaM-LW/ECM1 x9, RcaM-AFM x3
ReM/ECM1 x94, ReM-AFM x40, EDMa x2
Gherilonn Forces
Combat & Exploration Destroyers #19 (Green) , #20 (Green)
4XOa (RbM x4) DD / 30HS
[2] (S) x3 (A1)x3 Za Hs Qa Xa Mgs (Ica) Rb Rb (Ica) Rb Ya Da Qa Gb (Ica) [3] / gig
(Rb x3/ Gb x1/ Da x1) RbM x48, GbM x13
AI Forces
DN / CVA 03 (Average) , 06 (Average)
18 XOa (RcaM x5, GBa x1) (AM1) DN / 130HS
[3] (S1) x24 (A1)x24 Za Qa Qb (Ia Ia Ia Ia) Qv Qb Qb Qb Db Db Qb (Ia Ia Ia Ia) Bga Bga Bga Bga BLa H Qv (M1) Rca Rca Rca Qb Rca Rca Yca ?a (Ia Ia Ia Ia) [3] / gig, GBa x4 (ast internal weapon), 40 CP GB crew in Qv (Average)
(Rca x5/ Db x2/ ?a)
BB 01 (Average) , 03 (Average)
14 XOa (RcaM x7) (AM1) BB / 100HS
[3] (S1) x14 (A1)x13 Za Qb Qb Qb H (Ia Ia Ia) Mg Db Qb (M1) Rb Rb Rca Rb Rca Rb Rb Db (Ia Ia Ia) Db Rb Rb Rca Rb Rca Rb Rb Yb Db ?a Qb (Ia Ia Ia) [3] / gig
(Rca x4 / Rb x10 / Db x4/ ?a) RcaM x60, RbM x120
DD 10 (Average) , 11 (Average) , 12 (Average), 27 (Average) ,
28 (Average) , 29 (Average)
5XOa (RcaM x1/ RbM x3) (AM1) DDb / 35HS
[2] (S1) x8 (A1)x8 Za Ht Qa (Ib) (Ib) Rca (Ib) Db Rb (Ib) Yb Rb ?a Qb (Ib) [5] / gig
(Rca x1 / Rb x2 / Db x1/ ?a) RcaM x10, RbM x20
DDE 02 (Average) , 05 (Average) , 06 (Average) , 11 (Average)
5XOa (RcaM x2/RbM x1) (AM1) DDb / 35HS
[2] (S1) x5 (A1)x5 Za Hs Qa (Ib) (Ib) (Ib) Db Db Db Rca Yb Db Db Db ?a Qb (Ib) (Ib) [5] / gig
(Rca x1 / Db x6/ ?a) RcaM x10
Setup
Standard deep space battle.
Inferno Battle Group at 60tH from AI DN 03.
Lady Anne Group and Princess Kathleen Group start within 10 tH of Inferno, but no closer than 60tH from the AI DN 03.
New Euro Carriers no less than 80tH from AI DN 03 and no more than 30tH of Inferno.
New Euro GBs start with R external ordinance.
New Euro Bga carry eight loads of R and one sYb/Qb for external ordinance.
New Euro GB's, Collier 06, and Gherilonn DD's start within 10tH of carriers.
Carrier are escorting the New Euro Heavy Escorts.
Baltian Heavy Escorts will always use EM at one and stay with the Baltian CL unless their datalink is lost.
Rapael and Collier 01 start within 10 hexes of Princess Dawn.
AI datalinks are BB 01/DN 03, BB 03/DN 06, DD 10/DD 11, DD 12/DD 27, DD 28/DD 29,
DDE 02/DDE 11, DDE 05/DDE 06.
AI BB's are escorting AI DN's
All AI ships start within 5 hexes of DN 03. All GBa have been launched. No AI ship closer than 60tH from Inferno.
AI GBa start with R external ordinance.
AI Bga hold five loads of K and four loads of R, for external ordinance reloads.
As a side note of interest, for this battle my wife had the middle boy play the Cryocian BB's. She doesn't have any ships in her fleet larger than a BC, and usually will only have one or two of those in a Fleet Carrier Task Force. She also likes LRW's, and tends to struggle with SRW ships. The middle boy (Chinese Empire) specializes in the larger ships and also maintains a number of SRW fleets, so she requested his assistance. Their differences in tactics created some friction during this engagement, but did result in far lower losses than I had anticipated for the allied fleet.
Overview and Aftermath
With Admiral Xyxes and the Inferno in the lead, the allied ships moved to engage the AI. The six AI Jackal Class DD's moved to skirt the outer flank as the heavy AI ships turned to hold the distance open. This move drew the Euro GB's and Princess Kathleen away from the Inferno Group to prevent any threat to the Euro carriers. At this point the AI GB's moved to break away from the battle lines. Xyxes, sensing a new threat to the carriers, turned the Inferno and her escorts directly into the AI GB formation.
As the AI GB's tore into the Inferno with wave after wave of missiles, the Cryocian battleships and Lady Anne Group rained death on the small craft. Two of the AI squadrons never returned to their carriers, but the Inferno was left a broken shell, barely able to keep underway. Xyxes was forced to transfer his flag to the Firestorm.
The Jackals began to die one after another, victims of the Euro GB's missiles and lasers. As stragglers broke off the Kathleen and her escorts would finish what the GB's had started. In the end only one of the Jackals reached weapons range of the Euro carriers, leaving the Nile with only light damage.
Settled on the Firestorm, Xyxes used his superior speed to force a long range engagement with the AI heavies. The Hellfire suffered under the barrage of the four AI capital ships, but the Serpent perished as the torpedoes and missiles of the allied ships also tore into her. As soon as the last of the AI gunboats had landed, Xyxes made his move and drove his two remaining battleships into the heart of the AI formation. Supported by long range fire from the Lady Anne Group, the Cryocian ships closed to beam weapon range. The Hellfire perished as the ships drew together, but Xyxes lived long enough to see one of the AI heavy carriers torn apart with nearly all of its squadrons still in their bays.
Still faced with five AI GB squadrons along with the Dragon and a Kraken Class, and with the magazines of the Lady Anne and Princess Kathleen nearly empty, Rear Admiral Davidson faced the hard truth that the battle could not be won. With four AI destroyers bristling with point defense escorting the last AI capital ships, and screened by the five AI GB squadrons, the Euro GB's would suffer horrible losses if they were to attempt to attack the AI ships. With a heavy heart, he gave the order to break off and move toward the WP to Ember.
Less than an hour after the battle had been joined the last settlement in Sunset lay in ruins. Three quarters of a million Cryocians huddled in underground shelters on Haven's Daughter praying for a rescue that might never come.
The AI lost six destroyers, a BB, a DN, and five GBa while the allied ships lost only the 3 Cryocian BB’s. The Princess Kathleen and Lady Anne each had suffered some damage to their armor, and the Nile had suffered damage to her forward engine room. Overall, the allied ships had inflicted heavy losses on the AI. Unfortunately, the AI could rebuild their losses far faster than the allies could replace theirs.
procyon:
A Wolff at the door
(Part 1 of The Tale of the Wolff)
New Empires Campaign - month 40
Only two weeks after the destruction of the Inferno Battle Group and most of the inhabitants of New Haven/Haven's Daughter, a rescue mission lead by Rear Admiral Davidson and assisted by the New Euro Lady Anne successfully rescued the last survivors in Sunset and moved them to colonies in Ember. With no more civilians left in the system, priorities could now be shifted to the defense of the WP's out of Sunset. Rear Admiral Janus' forces at the WP to Ember swelled as ships were released by the Baltian and Cryocian governments.
The arrival of the New Euro's recently operational heavy transit carrier brought new hope to the defenders of Ember. It had not only brought the New Euro Light Carrier Destruction and its two Flower Class Escort Destroyers the Carnation and Tulip, but it bought the New Euro Vice Admiral Hermione Shepherd. A veteran of the early Tauran Campaign, her leadership skills were legendary within allied space. With five squadrons of the most advanced interceptors, the two carriers in the Invincible Class represented the cutting edge of New Euro technology. With four Baltian Light Cruiser Groups, four Baltain Escort Carriers, three Pan Euro Escort Carriers, and now the Destruction with her escorts, and several other combat ships, the WP to Ember was considered as secure as it could ever be.
That was tested two weeks after the Destruction's arrival. A freighter transiting from Inferno on a return trip from the Wolff Confederation system of Ruby brought dire news. The Honaw, once foes and then allies of Earth, had appeared in orbit of the only inhabited planet in Ruby and announced that they were claiming it for the Regulan Clan of the Honaw. They had also appeared in the Wolff Confederation nebula known as Four Winds at the WP to the New Euro system of Poseidon. They had announced that with no other presence in the system they were claiming the nebula as their own.
But Four Winds was the only connection between the New Euro and Sunset.
Complicating matters was the trade and military treaties that already existed between the Euro and this Clan of the Honaw.
Hermione was faced with a horrible decision. She could honor the treaties between the Honaw and Euro, withdraw from Wolff space and allow this dispute between two of the Euro's allies to resolve itself. She would be able to avoid another war that the Euro could scarce afford to fight in this way. But she would also certainly doom the millions of inhabitants in Ember, and the billions in the Wolff home system to death. And the human settlers in Ruby would doubtless find themselves slaves of the Honaw Clans. Men, women and children who also called Earth their long lost home.
In the end their was only one decision she could make. Far from home and now cut off from resupply, she ordered now Rear Admiral Alice Krimmel to take the Nile and both of the Gherilonn destroyers, and support the Wolff Confederation ships in their attempt to clear the Honaw from Four Winds and Ruby. Detaching the Baltian Light Cruiser Group Igraine commanded by Rear Admiral Davidson, plus four Cryocian Strom Class Corvettes from her task force, she hoped what remained would be able to stop the spread of one war as she started another.
Twenty two days later the group of warships exited from Inferno into Four Winds Nebula and released from their transit carriers. The ships then proceeded toward the WP's to Ruby and Poseidon. Six days after that the first group reached the WP to Poseidon and confronted the Honaw forces their. Rear Admiral Krimmel announced her intention to transit the WP. The only Honaw response was to engage their drives and targeting sensor arrays.
Cryocian Detachment
Storm Class Corvettes Blizzard (Crack), Gale (Crack), Deluge (Crack), Tornado (Average)
CTb / 19HS
[3] S1 S1 S1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 A1 Hs Qb (jb Jb) (Jb) (Jb) Eca [7] / gig x1
(Eca x1)
New Euro Detachment
Rear Admiral Alice Krimmel (LG+0/ Average)
River Class Escort Carrier Nile (Crack)
FT4b / 35HS
[2] S1 S1 A1 H (Icb) (Icb) (Icb) (Bga) (Bga) (BLa) Yb Dca Qa (Icb) [4] / gig , GBa x1(La internal weapon)
GBa Sqn 14 (Crack) / 30DP
Gherilonn Forces
Combat & Exploration Destroyers #19 (Average) , #20 (Average)
4XOa (RbM x4) DD / 30HS
[2] (S) x3 (A1)x3 Za Hs Qa Xa Mgs (Ica) Rb Rb (Ica) Rb Ya Da Qa Gb (Ica) [3] / gig
(Rb x3/ Gb x1/ Da x1) RbM x48, GbM x12
Honaw Forces
3rd Armed Survey Lance
Ys oa1 (Average) , oa2 (Average) , oa3 (Average)
3XO (ReM x3) (AM1) FG / 22 HS
[2] S1 S1 A1 Za (Ib) Mgs Yb Re (Ia) Hs Xa Db (Ia) Le Qb (Ia) [6] / gig
(Re x1/ Le x1/ Db x1) ReM x20
Bouy 2 with Apew-La x2 / x18
Setup
Occurs in reflective nebula.
WP to Poseidon in center of map
Honaw ships will not transit WP.
Any allied ship may transit WP in one pulse.
All allied ships start within 10tH of Escort Carrier Nile, GBa may be launched.
CVE Nile starts at 60tH from WP on any radian.
Honaw ships start at 20 tH from WP on the same radian as the Nile.
All ships start at battle stations.
Honaw buoys are positioned at one hex from the WP in six groups of three.
Bouy2 will fire on any large unit within 4 hexes.
Aftermath
The Cryocian Corvettes lead the attack, while Krimmel held the Nile's gunboats in reserve trying to avoid direct involvement in the fight and possibly avert starting a war between the Honaw and the New Euro. Long range fire from the Honaw ships tore into the Cryocian corvettes, and their lack of active sensors left them unable to see the Honaw mines until it was too late. The Gherilonn destroyers had been moving to support the attack, but their slow speed prevented them from saving the Cryocian ships. The Nile launched her gunboat squadron, but they were to distant to immediately intervene, and the Gherilonn ships also suffered against the more advanced systems of the Honaw. In the end the continued attacks wore down the Honaw ships, and then the gunboats finished what the other ships had paid so dearly to start. In the end the only Cryocian ship to survive was the Blizzard, and it was forced to scuttle when the crew was unable to restore engine or life support power. Combat and Exploration #20 was also destroyed and #19 was left with her weapons intact but her hull breached in several areas. The Euro gunboats were able to clear the mines from the WP opening the route to Poseidon, but the price had been dear. Ships that the Wolff Confederation had been counting on to assist in the relief of Ruby would not be there.
My wife probably had the most horrible rolls she has ever experienced. The CT's missed nearly a dozen shot, then blundered into the mines. They had outrun the DD's and by the time the Gherilonn ships had closed the FG's tore into them also. By the time the gunboats got there the last DD had nearly finished off the FG's, and the smcft made short work of what was left. But my wife had sent them in piecemeal, over confident in the E beam armed CT's and paid the price.
procyon:
A Wolff at the Gates
(Part 2 of The Tale of the Wolff)
New Empires Campaign - month 40
A week had passed since the WP to Poseidon had been cleared. Rear Admiral Krimmel had tried repeatedly to order the bulk of the mobile WP defenses in Posiedon to assist in the clearing of the Baltian WP to Ruby, but the Captain of the Light Cruiser Princess Sophia had refused to move the group from its station. His orders had come directly from Admiral Jude Chuites and he refused to abandon his post without confirmation from Central Command.
With great misgiving, Rear Admiral Krimmel took the CVE Nile (recently resupplied and with the 55th Anti-Shipping Squadron added to her complement) and the Gherilonn Destroyer C & E #19 (with only hasty repairs in place) to the rendevous with Rear Admiral Davidson and the Princess Igraine Group.
Hidden by the sensor disruption caused by the nebula, and with engines on low emission profiles, the five ships of the allied group approached the WP known to the Wolff Confederation as the Emerald Gate, and whatever ships might guard it.
Baltian Forces
Rear Admiral Davidson (LG+1/Crack - Decisive)
Light Cruiser Princess Igraine (Average)
8XOb (EDMa x1/ RbM/ECM1 x4) CLb / 51HS
[3] (S1) x6 (A1)x9 Zb H Qa Mg (MNE) (MNE) (Ib) (Ib Ib) Qb (Ib) Rb Rb Rb Dzb Rb Rb Rb Rb Qb Yb ?a (Ib Ib) [4] / gig
(Rb x7/ Dzb x1/ ?a) RbM x81, RbM/ECM1 x35 , RbM-AFM x14
Heavy Escorts Luna (Average) , Angelina (Average)
3 XOb (RbM/ECM1 x3) CTb / 19HS
[2] S1 S1 S1 A1 A1 A1 Zb Hs Mgs Rb (Ib) Ya Dzb Rb (Ib) Qb (Ib) [6] / gig x1
(Rb x2 / Dzb x1) RbM x30 , RbM/ECM1 x10 , RbM-AFM x4
New Euro Detachment
Rear Admiral Alice Krimmel (LG+1/ Crack)
River Class Escort Carrier Nile (Crack)
FT4b / 35HS
[2] S1 S1 A1 H (Icb) (Icb) (Icb) (Bga) (Bga) (BLa) Yb Dca Qa (Icb) [4] / gig , GBa x2(La internal weapon)
GBa Sqn 14 (Elite) / 30DP GBa Sqn 55 (Crack) / 30DP
Gherilonn Forces
Combat & Exploration Destroyer #19 (Crack)
4XOa (RbM x4) DD / 30HS
[2] (S) x3 x x x x Hs x Qa x (Ica) Rb Rb (Ica) Rb Ya Da Qa Gb (Ica) [3] / gig
(Rb x3/ Gb x1/ Da x1) RbM x24, GbM x4
Honaw Forces
4th Armed Survey Lance
Ys oa4 (Average) , oa5 (Average) , oa6 (Average)
3XO (ReM x3) (AM1) FG / 22 HS
[2] S1 S1 A1 Za (Ib) Mgs Yb Re (Ia) Hs Xa Db (Ia) Le Qb (Ia) [6] / gig
(Re x1/ Le x1/ Db x1) ReM x20
Setup
Occurs in reflective nebula.
WP to Ruby in center of map
Any ships may transit WP.
Any ship may transit WP in one pulse. No simultaneous transits allowed.
All allied ships start within 10tH of Escort Carrier Nile, GBa may be launched and up to 30tH from Nile.
No GB may start within 20tH of any Honaw ship.
CVE Nile starts at 50tH from WP on any radian.
Honaw ships start at 20 tH from WP on the same radian as the Nile.
All allied ships start at battle stations.
Ys oa4 starts at GQ, all others at standard readiness.
All ships have surge data for the WP.
WP transit exits to a standard deep space map without nebula.
Honaw ships may only move at SPD 3 the first turn, with +1 to that SPD each additional turn until SPD 6 is reached.
Alternate set up would involve using damage/ advancement rolls/ emergency repairs rolls from the previous battle played out instead of ours.
Aftermath
The Honaw ships had little warning of the approaching forces, and the GB's were on them before they could even all come to battle stations. Slow to come about and run for the WP, they did manage to send a flurry of courier drones away to warn of the attack.
With their datalink down and engine rooms damaged, the Euro GB's picked apart the Honaw ships apart before they could even transit back into Ruby.
This battle is actually less about killing the Honaw ships, which really are goners, but in conserving as many missiles as possible without getting the sqns damaged to badly before the next battle, which is the REAL challenge for Davidson.
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