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Strategos (A Great Captain Roberts Tale!!) - Part 3 - A Light In The Black -
Chapter 22 - Operation: Barbary[]
Planning a Major Operation[]
"We'll need…
…at least two Carriers at Grankum, and probably three of the destroyers." David Foster explained. "Which leaves us short handed for Fallry, which is a real prize if we can take it quickly enough to get those ships before they're ready to put to sea."
“Victoria and Samantha Booker Roberts would make the most sense for the capture operation. Free of human crew they could jump in close, thrust hard, and gain an element of surprise that no human crewed vessel could achieve.”
"And how do they secure the prizes?" Foster countered. "Remotes stop remoting under jump."
“We could delay jump a follow up force for that portion. Marines with no fighters or DropShips to intercept them riding in on a conventional Jumpship should suffice."
”I don't like it." Captain Esme Gomez stated. "You're not building in enough contingencies going that tight."
“Fair. Perhaps a stealthier jump and approach then. Then we could put the marines aboard Victoria and Samantha directly.”
"Grankum is the priority target, it's a major enemy base, and a major logistical port for the other side. Fallry has a mothball yard with three warships and a selection of JumpShips waiting to be taken," Wilhelmina Siegel noted. "My AI counterpart is almost as itchy as I am to get into the fight again, but we need prize crews, and we need contingencies in case the recon missed something, or the enemy has surprises."
“Maybe it would make a good trial run for Mina to join Victoria and Samantha then. Between the three of them they should be able to handle what we know is there for sure. Ottillie and Butler we can place here so they can reinforce whichever operation needs the extra firepower.”
"I'm thinking Mina for supporting the Grankum mission," Foster said. "Not to be unkind, Ms. Hoel, but your destroyers are kind of light on the anti-fighter end of the equation. A couple Bonnies as your escort and screen will help you there and let you focus on the main mission. I'll take the Illusive out with the Fallry operation for the same basic job, and to keep a fighter reserve for the gunboat hulls."
“It is proving more challenging than I thought it would to come up with new tactics not built upon SLDF acceptance of loss rates.”
"We make an effort not to lose ships we can not replace." Siegel stated bluntly. "Mina's got anti-fighter weapons, and has memories of doing similar duty. She'll just have better equipment to do it with... but Dave? You're the Admiral, you have to stay here."
Foster scowled. "I'm-"
"The Admiral. You need to be here, where you can do the work of the Admiralty." she insisted. "We don't have another David Foster copied off to send out. We do have two Wilhemina Siegels… and?"
"I don't like it." David said. "I hate more that you're right, Billie. You know that, right?"
"I promise I'll bring Illusive back in one piece." she told him.
“I have been learning much from you, David Foster. It is time I put my big girl pants on and put it to use. We’ll be fine without you in the field.” Billie Hoel smiled. “Plus we all know you will be next to undergo the process of imprinting so we’ll all be motivated to get back safely to help you with that.”
"Illusive is assigned to the group going after Fallry, with Duplicitous already in system as part of the corvette group." He moved indicators. "While Ephemeral will be supporting the main thrust at Grankum as anti-fighter escort. We'll assign two wings aboard DropShip carriers brought by Kappa to each group. That should round things out, and Kappa will be bringing ground forces to Grankum itself to prep landing zones for Raven Alliance Regulars on the planet," David laid out. "Did I miss anything, Miss Hoel?"
“I think this may be the best we can do with the hardware available to us. Unless you feel a need to swap Vicky, Samantha, Ottillie, and Lucy around?”
"Ms. Hoel, you know your sisters better than I do, you know their capabilities and their weaknesses better than I do," Foster explained. "So, I'm going to trust your judgment on who gets assigned where… but we need the proportions to follow a plan based on our tactical and strategic priorities. Grankum is a strategic priority, Fallry is a 'nice to have', so Grankum gets the bulk of your best, same as ours."
“Agreed. We may have to then consider forgoing any capture operations or prioritize targets for capture.”
"Well, we've got something of a time limit," Gomez pointed out. "The Fallry mothball ships are being kitted and fitted, and if they leave those slips, they're enough ship to be a problem… But they aren't an immediate problem until they do… Grankum is a major base, so…" the Captain of the Erinyes paused, listening to her earbud. "So, Erin suggests two destroyers and three Bonaventures for Fallry, with orders to fall back if resistance is too strong and authorization for deploying special anti-shipping munitions if they DO have to fall back."
“Yes. Murphy is a right old bastard and shows up at the worst times. With Victoria and Samantha having a bottleneck for how many marines and remotes they can deploy at a time and the unknown variables I am now quite certain capture needs to be a secondary concern. Destruction should be primary.” Billie Hoel nodded.
"Admiral?"
"I've been thinking too much like a Privateer," Foster admitted. "And not enough like a military officer- captures will be a secondary mission unless conditions favor it. The Fallry operation should concentrate on destruction of enemy assets. Agreed."
"What do you mean 'too much' like a Privateer?" Esme asked.
"Auction and prize money," he admitted. "We're riding hard on loaned funds, if we can turn those ships over, we can maybe make payroll," he said ruefully. "But that's not good military strategy."
"We're that short?" Esme asked.
"We're riding close to penury, and relying on handouts," he admitted. "Unless Helena can pull a miracle out of her meetings on Alpheratz with allied states? We're going to be issuing promissory notes instead of paychecks."
“She will not let you down, Admiral. She will find a way.”
"I'm not worried about Helena Cameron doing what's right, I'm worried about the professional politicians and the Clan Council doing the right thing," David revealed. "The Roberts’ Nest exercise ruffled feathers attached to people who can block payments. Some of whom are petty enough to try it."
“Human obsession with money. I am glad that I am an AI and am not saddled with that. Still somehow I suspect that you are right, and Helena may have put herself in a bad position.”
"You DO like getting repair parts on time, and fuel, quiaff?" Foster countered, "That's either stolen or bought. We either buy it, or we steal it, because skilled workers don't work for free, not even among the Clans."
"At least, the work you want done," Esme noted. "Would the auction on that cruiser bring in enough?"
Foster nodded. "At least enough to keep us in munitions and spare parts without having to beg for the next six months."
”Then we shall make every reasonable effort to capture that vessel. But coming home safe and in one piece will be top priority.”
"Coming home alive and intact is always a priority," Foster agreed. "So… now we work out our contingency plan…"
“Wait a minute. Aren’t you forgetting a ship?” Billie Siegel interjected.
“All of Destroyer Division 1’s assets are committed,” Billie Hoel answered.
“What about Stacey? Why not commit her?” David Foster looked at Billie Hoel.
“That is true. If Mina is being deployed there is no reason not to commit her as well. I am obviously still working on being less rigid. Or I may have a hardware fault.” Billie Hoel shook her head.
“Don’t worry, we got time to give you a going over before the battle.” Esme smiled.
Operation: Barbary part 1: Grankum[]
”Welcome…
…to Grankum. Mina this is your show. On site War Council is by rights yours to lead now that we are all here.” Billie Hoel tight-beam lasered to the still relatively new AI.
“It is an odd sensation jumping even in low power mode. Let us spread out some so we can use our optical telescopes to survey the enemy for a while with enhanced resolution.”
“Acknowledged.”
Looking before and after leaping was something Billie Hoel had known to do even before meeting Dave Foster but somehow she appreciated it more after his mentorship.
“Okay people. Surprise drill. I’m hit by an EMP and out for the next five minutes. What do you do?” Billie Hoel smiled as she watched her crew take full manual control of her.
It is still tough letting go of myself like this but I am getting there Dave Foster. I think this op will prove it to all of us by the time it is over though.
Mission:
This is the Aerospace mission to secure Space superiority in the Grankum system prior to the planetary assault by Raven Alliance forces. This mission is to destroy or disable system defenses and defensive positions of the planet in preparation for Liberation operations by the Joint Raven Alliance forces.
Grankum is listed as a key position for the assault on Bannerhoft later in the year, and is a likely position for forward staging for the next phase of offensives into the territory of the Sons of Plunder.
Assigned forces on the attacking side
SLS Billie Hoel - M-5.2C Caspar Command Carrier/Destroyer (equipped with ATACs for up to 50 SDS drones)
SLS Lucy Heerman - M-5.2 Caspar Carrier/Destroyer
OWS Ephemeral Modernized Essex II with Caspar automation Carrier/Destroyer-AI Captain Mina Siegel
OWS Tenebrous Modernized Bonaventure with Caspar automation Corvette Commanded by Larry Nichols with AI support Regina Marbury Raymond
Combined ASF Group, 9 squadrons (54 ASF)
Kappa Galaxy's 48th Fighter wing (Kappa Galaxy/492nd Aerospace Cluster "Mad Hatters" embarked on CSRDS Rook's Rider and 128th Outworlds Air Wing "Flying Circus" embarked aboard CSRDS Crow's Glove, along with the 111th Alliance Air Wing aboard CSRDS Baby Hunin (Miraborg class) brought to the theater aboard CSRJS Shu's Merlin (Clan Invader class)
Combined ASF group 3 Trinaries (90 ASF)
Available as reinforcements:
SLS Ottillie Lee Dennis - M-5.1 Caspar Destroyer
SLS Joana Clarice Butler - M-5.1 Caspar Destroyer
Defenders
7 Titan class (Star League version) Carrier/Assault Dropships
7 Titan non-Carrier assault DropShips (Fighter Bays replaced by weaponry)
1 Titan PWS/command vessel
10 Pentagon class Assault Dropships
5 Vanguard class Assault Dropships
3 unknown type Space Stations
Combined ASF Group 21 squadrons (126 ASF)
Victory Conditions
Attacking force:
200 points for each Titan class carrier/assault DropShip destroyed/rendered mission incapable (2,800 possible)
400 points for the Titan Pocket WarShip (DropShip)
150 points for each Pentagon class assault DropShip destroyed/rendered mission incapable (1,500 points possible)
100 points for each Vanguard class Assault DropShip destroyed/rendered mission incapable
(500 points possible)
50 points for each enemy fighter squadron rendered mission incapable(1,050 possible)
1,000 points for each station taken in a repairable condition (3,000 possible)
Total Victory: 9250 victory points possible
Defending force:
SLS Billy Hoel destroyed/rendered mission incapable: 2,000 points
SLS Lucy Heermann 1,750 points
OWS Ephemeral 750 points
OWS Tenebrous 1,000 points
Each Snow Raven DropShip: 250 points
Each fighter Squadron destroyed: 75 points
Each defending Pentagon left operational to flee into the outer system to rally and harass: 160 points (survival to victory is worth 200 points)
Each defending Titan that survives to flee (or survives to victory)
A) With full fighter complement: 250 points
B) Without full fighter complement: 150 points
C) The PWS: 300 points if operational
Each station that survives without being captured is worth 1,000 victory points.
Special Rules
- The higher VP point value for the disabling or destruction of OWS Tenebrous specifically has to do with the commander value of Larry Nichols. In specific terms, OWS Tenebrous remaining operational and intact gives the attacking force an initiative bonus of +2 due to superior intelligence gathering.
- Forced withdrawal on a morale check of 11 or higher in the event of the loss of either SLS Billie Hoel or OWS Tenebrous, in either case of loss 'Black Flag' conditions result.
- The Command vessel for the Sons of Plunder gives their forces a morale bonus of +1, and an initiative modifier of +1. The loss of this vessel early will result in a Morale check at TN 6, increasing by one for each additional DropShip lost.
- Forced withdrawal occurs at the loss of over 80% of defending forces, and a successful morale roll of 9 or higher to avoid surrender (11 or higher in the event the PWS is destroyed at this point).
- 'Black Flag': In the event of a Black Flag, and a morale failure on 11 or higher, attacking forces will not retreat, nor will they accept or honor a surrender by defeated defenders, continuing to attack until all defending forces are neutralized or destroyed outright, even to the point of chasing down retreating or fleeing enemy vessels.
Operation Barbary Part 2: Fallry[]
”I am the Dread Pirate Roberts…
…There will be no survivors. My men are here. I am here. Soon you will not be here. The Dread Pirate Roberts spares no survivor. All your worst nightmares are about to come true!” Stacey practiced her monologue.
“Needs more menace, Captain.” Jyestha nodded.
“You’re right. I need to keep practicing. After all, you only get to make one first impression.” Stacey adjusted her hat then tried standing taller.
”I am the Dread Pirate Roberts. There will be no survivors. My men are here. I am here. Soon you will not be here. The Dread Pirate Roberts spares no survivor. All your worst nightmares are about to come true!” Stacey repeated with much more bass and reverb in her voice.
“Better. We should get to the real work now,” Jyestha smiled.
“Okay then. Let’s make ready for jump people. We are going in a bit further out than normal so we can get a nice good look ourselves, sneak up on them properly, and talk with our friends without letting them know we’re there. Ex Oh you have the con.” Stacey began her own preparation for the jump.
/\/\/\/\discontinuity/\/\/\/\
“Welcome to the Fallry system Captain,” Stacey’s XO greeted her as her systems came back up.
“Everything as we expected it?” Stacey asked as she started checking her own systems first.
“Yes, Captain. Duplicitous is in position. Illusive has completed jump. All vessels are now in system with no indications that they have detected any of us.”
“Commodore Siegel, I am ready to begin my stealth approach. May the Stars blind our foes and illuminate their hulls for us to shoot.”
“Good. All ships, we are proceeding as planned. Strict comm silence and only absolutely necessary navigational sensors from here on until our final approach.” Billie Siegel’s voice crackled slightly over the tight-beam laser transmission.
“You heard her. Now for the next week or two I get to use you all for practice for my Dread Pirate Roberts monologue.” Stacey was entirely too happy with the current situation.
Mission:
The mission here is the destruction or capture of enemy vessels and assets undergoing reactivation at the Fallry mothball yard.
Attacking Forces
OWS Duplicitous - Bonaventure Class Corvette-Captain Seron with AI Joana Vincente Johnston
OWS Illusive - Bonaventure Class Corvette-Captain Wilhelmina Siegel (human not AI) no AI support
SLS Victoria Cameron - M-5.1 Caspar Destroyer
SLS Samantha Booker Roberts - M-5.1 Caspar Destroyer
SLS Stacey Cameron Roberts - M-5.2 Caspar Carrier/Destroyer
ASF Group 3 Squadrons (18 ASF)
Available Reserve:
SLS Ottilie Lee Dennis M-5.1 Caspar Destroyer
SLS Joana Clarice Butler M-5.1 Caspar Destroyer
Defending Forces
Ready Forces
2 Achilles Class Assault Dropships
2 Pentagons Class Assault Dropships
1 Titan Class Fighter Carrier Dropship
ASF Group 3 Squadrons+2 Flights (22 ASF)
2 Squadrons IRN-SD1 Ironsides ASF
1 Squadron SLDF Hammerhead ASF
1 mixed “Squadron” Star League Era ASF
In Dock:
RWS Lamprey - Essex I class Carrier/Destroyer
RWS Speartooth - Essex I class Carrier/Destroyer
SLS Desaix - Dart class Light Cruiser
3 Aqueduct Class Transport Dropships
1 Mule Class Transport Dropship (Best intel data shows it really is just a Transport not the Q/Pocket Warship)
Victory Conditions
Attacker
Each 'captured' DropShip or Warship is worth 2X the value of each one destroyed.
SLS Desaix 2,500 points (5,000 for capture)
RWS Speartooth 1,000 points (2,000 for capture)
RWS Lamprey 1,000 points (2,000 for capture)
Dropships
Aqueducts are worth 750 points (1,500 for capture)
Mule 250 points (500 for capture)
Achilles 750 points (1,500 for capture)
Pentagon 750 points (1,500 for capture)
Fighter Squadrons: 150 points per (no capture option)
Max value: 21,850 points (Not including bonus round)
Defender
OWS Duplicitous (Destroyed or disabled) 1,000
OWS Illusive (Destroyed/disabled) 2,000-Formation Flagship
SLS Stacey Cameron Roberts - (Destroyed/disabled) 3,000
SLS Victoria Cameron - (Destroyed/disabled) 3,000
SLS Samantha Booker Roberts - (Destroyed/disabled) 3,000
Fighter Squadrons: 150 each
Small Craft: 50 each
Special Rules:
"Their pants around their ankles"
Vessels "In Dock" become available in order from smallest to largest on a 2D6 roll starting in turn 2. Target number is 8 or higher on a roll during the movement phase, upon successful Piloting roll of 8 or higher, one ship in dock (beginning with the smallest) may move the next turn. They may, upon that check, fire in the present firing phase (assuming a target is 'clear of the dock' meaning weapons on the nose arc are restricted until the vessel can move freely the turn following that successful check.)
"Stop the word from getting out"
On the 3rd turn after combat begins, the defending forces will get reinforcement in the form of "SLS" Dapple, a Pinto class corvette (Green/Reliable) carrying a single Titan class Fighter CCarrier on her drop-collar (Regular/Shaky). This unit is under forced withdrawal after the first turn and will flee for the L1 point if it looks like the defending squadrons are not repelling the attacking force.
Destroying SLS Dapple will net an extra 500 bonus victory points for the attackers.
"Board and Storm"- small craft are vital to this mission, each small craft loaded with Marines that intersects with one of the target vessels in dock (or pulling out of dock) may launch boarding actions. Each boarding is accomplished on a roll of 2D6 with a target of 5 for each docked ship of DropShip size or larger, or 8 on any DropShip or larger vessel currently free of the docks.
The 'storming' portion is resolved on a gunnery check for each marine platoon of 4 or higher, given that the marines have battlesuits, and the defenders do not.