In the spirit of the old "What Starship Would You Send?" threads on r.a.s.t., I've come up with this series of partially-guided hypothetical discussion. In this, you will assume the role of a Rear-Admiral in the TNG-era Starfleet, given authority over a sector of space with orders to demonstrate and enforce Federation policy as best you can. To do this, you'll be asked to first assemble, and then utilize a fleet according to circumstances.
Wanna play?
Well, let's start with a few assumptions. I've constructed a series of simple maps, each detailing a single sector of space. The first one is "Sector Alpha", and is found here:
http://www.anime-alberta.org/~mark/trek-temp/Admiral-1.jpg
For each map, assume that:
-the sector is essentially flat, and is approximately 20 ly on a side. At Warp nine, a starship will take approximately five days to traverse a side.
-each asterisk represents a main-sequence star with little interesting about it.
-each planet is in a star system, and except where noted is class M. Circle sizes are not relevant.
-the space in the adjoining sectors is essentially devoid of anything interesting or valuable. Borders extend in staight lines beyond that which is noted.
-unless noted, all inhabited planets are occupied by humanoid species with a variety of bumpy heads.
And for the Sector Alpha map, assume that:
-the Really Big Nebula is really big, relatively harmless, but a nifty place to hide stuff.
-The aliens on the other side of the border are known, but have kept out of contact with other races for several decades (assume a parallel with the Romulans in the first season of TNG)
-Tekanan III is recovering from an invasion by the mystery aliens that devastated its population (which used to number in the billions). The aliens left long before the Federation explored this part of space. Tekanan III is the only planet which has petitioned for Federation membership.
-There is a rudimentary trade network between the three planets. All three planets have agreed to allow a Federation presence in the area to improve trade. The Federation sees trade potential in this area and wants to establish relations to that effect.
-The class-L planet has not been explored by any of the planets.
QUESTION ONE (three parts)
A) Given the information above, define what the priorities of a Starfleet presence should be. Keep in mind the unknown military capabilities of the aliens beyond the border, and the political nature of the three planets involved. Also, note any deficiencies in the information provided and what should be done to fill in the gaps.
B) Based on your answer to (A), choose a location to place a space-based Starbase to operate from. Assume that the Starbase will be able to defend itself from most threats, and will carry with it a very visible Federation presence regardless of where it is placed. It can be placed in orbit of a planet, in orbit of a star, or in the middle of space. Think Starbase 375.
C) Assume Starfleet will allocate you no more than TEN Federation starships to accomplish their goals given the priorities you've outlined. Define what clases, or types, of ships should be assigned to your fleet. Assume that:
-There can be no more than ONE Galaxy/Sovereign/Ambassador class ship in your fleet. If you include one, justify its presence.
-Your fleet will include at least TWO non-combat type ships (science, transport, etc.). Justify their presence and/or use.
-Of the remainder, explain their primary and secondary missions.
When enough answers have been recieved, the next question will be asked based on the answers you gave. So don't forget 'em. 
I'll upload other maps as they are created.
Mark
A) Sector Alpha is a reasonably stable sector, with two out of the three planets friendly to the Federation. The emphasis in this sector lies on Kestu IX and the unknown Threat Force.
Kestu has a totalitarian regime and opresses it's people. The planet has limited resources. I could use that to force the Kestu government.
I will patrol the Threat Force border and will perform classified Intel operations near and beyond the border. The Really Big Nebula is a potential safe-haven for the Threat Forces, so I must regularly check the Nebula.
B) My forces:
C) The Starbase. (Another question: What type of Starbase are we talking about? Spacedock-type or SB-375 type?)
Tekanan III orbit seems to be the best choice. Tekanan is the only planet applying for membership, and has relative weak planetary defense systems. Furthermore, it is located centrally in the sector.
Exploring the sector will most likely convenietly bring out the bad guys one way or another. Depending on how they respond: either extremely hostile (fight to the last bumphead) , or something slightly less malevolant, action can be taken from that point. Either defeating them in battle, or bringing them into the fold of sewing up sector relations. Doing this also shows the locals that the Feds are committed to their defence while not being "we'll kick the ass of your enemies if you pay the membership dues".
B) I wouldn't put a starbase around Tekanan III until they were officially a member. Instead, because of immediacy requirements, I'd place a SB-375 style base on the sector border. But closer to Tekanan III than Kestu IX. For ships:
1 Galaxy: One ship explores the unknown sector. Due to the almost certainty that there are going to be a hostile confrontation, then you want a powerful ship which can defend itself. But for PR reasons concerning the three inhabited planets, you don't want a Sovvie or something else as acting as the group leader. The all purpose Galaxy can be seen and touted as an explorer for the peaceful Takannans and a powerful warship for the more hostile Kestus.
1 Nova: To alternatively explore the nebula and assist with the Galaxy's exploring.
1 Nebula: To be stationed at the starbase and act as a standby if Kestu/Takkanan/starbase are attacked. If an admiral were present, he would be based on this ship.
2 Excelsiors: To perform basic Starfleet operations; patrol, defense, independent exploration. The two would patrol the sector indepedently of each other and all other ships and perform any needed function.
2 Deneva: To open trade routes.
3 Akiras: One to be based around the nebula. Other two to perform convoy duty for Denevas. All to provide basic defense for planets as needed.
B. Form a right angle between Tekanan and Lysara, that's where I'll place my SB. It'll be closer to Lysara. It gives me a reason to string out a network of subspace relay stations in the area, which I'll also use as early warning stations and eavesdropping on any transmission leaking out of the nebula.
C. My Taskforce composition:
-2 fast merchant ships: foster trade, runaway really fast when trouble arrives, evacs SB if it comes to that
-4 Excelsior (Ent-B model, Lakota standard): usually running supplies and goods around, but forms a solid strike force
-1 Norway: like what everyone else said, it's going to scout the nebula
-1 Galaxy: it'll assist the Norway by laying a sensor network on our side of the nebula (probes, basically), it's not to venture too deeply into the Nebula itself, it'll also be carrying its max load of runabouts (I'm counting runabouts as auxiliary craft! muahahahahaaa! they'll have the strap on sensor pallet and aid the Norway, they'll act as a screen for the Galaxy incase of combat)
-2 Intrepids: they'll be doing just about everything
I would like to word this thing better, but it's almost 3AM...
"a three hour tour... a three hour tour..."
B) See map.
C) As follows--
As you can see, this is set up as a "ready response" border fleet. I happen to know that there are three (3) large explorer-type vessels nearby: USS Chesapeake (NCC-73628), Galaxy-class; USS �le de France (NCC-69985), Nebula-class; and USS Al Safha (NCC-31033), Ambassdor-class. They are 8 days, 6 days, & 3 days away from the sector respectively, and are on their own missions. While they are not considered part of the standing fleet, they are available for the time being should a major crisis arise. Of course, note the travel times. All short-term crisis and long-term affective action burdens are borne by the standing RRF.
[ September 23, 2001: Message edited by: Shik ]
B. See map. Type is of Starbase 375.
Map of Sector with Starbase and Starship Deployment
C. Ship locations are on the map (ignore registries; I just put them in for fun 
). Ships to use:
Because the area is quite remote in terms of other planets and civilizations, a large ship like a Galaxy Class would be a waste of resources when a Nebula Class can handle the situation. However, a Galaxy Class ship should make routine stops at this sector every month unless the situation here changes.
What do you think?
[Edit: Added the Defiant Class ships after rethinking the situation.]
[ September 27, 2001: Message edited by: Ace ]
-Canonicity: It is prefereable to stick to canon classes such that more people can visualize and understnad what ships you've chosen; however, in the end it is your discretion. The object of this excercise is to satisfy the requirements of the environment presented - a science vessel will be science vessel, a frigate will be a frigate, etc. That's why it is asked to justify WHAT uses your chosen ships will be doing. Remember also that your fleet composition will be tested in the upcoming questions; you're stuck with it for the remainder of this thread.
-Starbase type: Assume a smallish starbase, like SB 375. A big Mushroom starbase would likely take years to build, wheras the smaller ones could be built much swifter or assembled in-place in a matter of months.
-Backup: Since there's little of apparent strategic interest in the surrounding sectors, help of any sort is likely to be over a week away. An Explorer or Cruiser or two *may* be found relatively closeby fulfilling exploration duties, but this cannot be counted on for any regular basis. Assume that your fleet and Starbase will form the "hub" of Federation actvity in the area, with the next closest "hub" being at least two sectors away. Elements of your fleet will also likely be used for exploration and scientific duties in these adjoining sectors, should the need arise.
Remember, it would take over a week to traverse the diagonal of your sector at WARP NINE. At a cruising speed of warp five or so, it would take more than a month. A sector can be a really big place.
Question Two will be in a couple days, after the weekday visitors have had a chance to answer. The answers to th first question so far have been quite enlightening - keep it up, everyone!
Mark
[ September 23, 2001: Message edited by: Mark Nguyen ]
A) Mission priorities would be 1) establishing a a good PR facade of the UFP and luring in the two friendly planets while not alienating the Kestu, 2) protecting the sector against internal and external attacks, 3) aiding the locals in their silly little crises, and 4) performing exciting scientific discoveries. To this end, I'd establish a compact self-sustaining force that can perform limited-scale military strikes, can be easily spread out to protect commerce, and poses no direct or biased threat to any of the locals. Goals 3 and 4 can be met by using the defence ships in their secondary capacity.
B) I'd put the SB in deep space between the Kestu and Tekanan systems, providing a) a buffer between the hostiles and the most-vulnerables, b) a line of defence against the alien threat, not too close to the border but not too far away, to give some reaction time, and c) a nice non-offensive waypoint for a trade circuit that begins in my "home territory" (supposedly roughly "south" of the map, and goes through the Lysarans (who'll provide the freighters and the trading incentive) to the Tekanan system, and then to the SB, possibly also extending to Kestu. I'll regulate the trade at the choke point between Tekanan and Kestu.
I'll use an Akira as an "auxiliary starbase" further "south", and alter the balance of defences by moving my other combatants closer to her.
C) Ten ships for permanent presence, but one Galaxy or Nebula at first to do a promotion tour. Once this ship has visited all the systems and done the diplomatic magic, and the starbase has been towed in, the ship will do one final mission - a joint survey of the class L planet with representatives from all the local races. Then the behemoth can leave. I'll ask Starfleet to send a Picard-equivalent to do the tour for me, to make the best possible impression and to get the representatives back alive.
1 transport of my own, a sufficiently big one. (Of the known Denevas, one was not seen at all but the other only had a two-man crew!) I'd take a Sydney or a Yorkshire, and trust Starfleet to keep running supply ships to and fro in addition. I'd try to get help from the Lysarans in this respect. My ship would of course have the Starfleet extras, like combat-strength shields, struck-down field hospitals and field labs, troop transport capability... Her secondary mission would be to assist in planetary crises of noncombat nature.
1 tanker/tender, to act as an "auxiliary starbase" in case I have to move my operations to one of the planets. No known canonical class, but I'm sure there are some available in Starfleet. Primary duty near Tekanan, giving the mother's milk to my combatants. Can be deployed to the territory of my Akira if I need to shift my balance.
1 Akira, full of planetary-assault auxiliaries and stuff, to act as another "auxiliary SB" element. She'd be deployed near Lysara, performing "space control" duties and standing by to bolster the planetary defences of Lysara. If I can't get an Akira, I'll take an Excelsior and deploy the small craft and defences directly on the planets - but only after I'm reasonably sure the Kestu are either willing to agree to mutual defence, or too frightened by my presence to attack.
4 small combatants, preferably something fast and potent like New Orleans, but going down to Miranda range if that's all I can get. These will primarily secure the spacelanes in solo escort/police missions, but can be grouped together for decisive military action.
2 large combatants, Excelsiors most probably. Securing the spacelanes near Tekanan and the SB, standing by to defend that planet. These need not be as fast as the four smaller ships, but probably they will still outrun my Mirandas...
1 courier and errand-runner, Intrepid or Yeager, with a primary mission of "standing by while running around". Can be used for the odd scientific study or diplomatic envoy mission.
No science ships. If there's something interesting at the class L planet, the Yeager can check it out every now and then and then get the heck out of enemy territory, until a diplomatic contact can be made. The nebula is another target for the Yeager. The Akira and the SB have equal status as command centers, and I try to establish service facilities or at least refueling piers on the two friendly planets under the pretense of furthering trade.
I won't give overt military support to anybody until I fool the Kestu into joining, perhaps using trade as the prime carrot, perhaps frightening them with stories of the aliens and offering joint protection. A joint Kestu-SB-Tekanan defence line looks good on paper and would allow me to up-gun the Tekanan system while keeping the Kestu happy.
Once I get the mutual-defence racket going, I might change the balance of ships a bit, using heavier and slower ships nearer the SB and leaving the two ally worlds largely to their own devices.
If there's something interesting or threatening in the nebula, my balance is all wrong. Once the baddies take out my Akira, I'm in trouble. But I'm sure Mark won't take advantage of that. He wouldn't.
Timo Saloniemi
oh sorry, no that wouldnt work.
1) to maintain the Prime Directive.
2) to foster peace and understanding among the three inhabited worlds of the sector, and between each of them and the Federation.
3) to attempt to initiate peaceful contact with the mysterious aliens. This will only be done after all defensive measures have been implemented, and then will be done in a totally non-invasive way, i.e. sending an automated message to the edge of their space announcing our presence and intentions.
4) to explore unknown regions of the sector.
B) As the presence of a starbase should foster the above goals, it should not be placed in any inhabited system, lest we discourage contact with one race by appearing to favor another. We should not place the starbase near the border, to avoid any appearance of hostile intent. I propose that the starbase be constructed at a point half-way between Tekanan III and Kestu IX. This allows the starbase to be placed on a potential trade route, in addition to being a central location in the sector.
C) My proposed fleet will have the following primary directives:
1) to defend the starbase against attack.
2) to defend trade routes against piracy
3) to implement a scanning and communication infrastructure
4) To explore the sector
Secondary directives:
1) There will be at least two ships stationed along the border at all times, with the tasks of infrastructure implementation, front-line defense, and possible first-contact duties.
2) There will be at least two vessels patroling inter-system trade routes at all times.
3) There will be at least two vessel at or near the starbase at all times.
4) There will be at least one vessel stationed near the Tekanan and Lysarra systems at all times.
5) All vessels will, when at or conveniently near an appropriate location, offload an unmanned communications relay/sensor post.
Implementation:
The trade route patrols will be handled by three Intrepid-class starships, with two on duty at all times. The third will be either at starbase, or relieving an Excelsior at the border.
The border patrols will be handled by by two Excelsior-class starships in a two-on, one-off rotation pattern. Their relief will be one of the Intrepid-class vessels.
The localized trade patrols will be handled by two Nebula-class starships in a two-on, one off- rotation pattern. Their relief will be the Ambassador-class vessel.
The fleet will thus consist of the following:
Three Intrepid-class vessels.
Two Excelsior-class vessels.
Two Nebula-class starships.
One Ambassador-class starship. This ship will be the sector flagship. In the event that a full diplomatic team is required in any location, they will travel aboard this ship. It will also serve to transport flag officers, or other VIPs. Otherwise, it will remain stationed at or near the starbase, or act as relief for one of the Nebulas in their near-system trade patrols.
One large, multi-function transport ship. This will originally be used for placing sub-space relays/sensor pods in appropriate locations, in conjuction with the rest of the fleet. After that task is complete, it will be used for mass evacuations of planetary colonies, the transport of cargo, etc. It is to carry two Danube-class runabouts, for transportation and, if necessary, defense.
One science vessel (Nova class). This ship will be assigned to explore first the uninhabited system southeast of Kestu IX, then the binary star south of it, and finally the RBN, before returning to base for refit and further orders.
QUESTION TWO (four parts)
A) OBJECTIVELY CRITIQUE one of the other answers to question one. Point out what you believe are the strengths and/or weaknesses in how the answer differs from yours. You may critique another answer which has already been critiqued.
B) Assume the fleet composition from your first answer represents your recommendation to Starfleet for what you need to accomplish the mission in Sector Alpha. Starfleet accepts your recommendation and provides you your (permenant) force - however, at the last minute the TWO LARGEST or BEST EQUIPPED ships in that fleet are suddenly reassigned elsewhere for independent duty. All your other ships arrive as assigned, but Starfleet cannot assign you another ship for the forseeable future. Explain which ships would no longer be in your fleet, and how you would redeploy your remaining assets to best accomplish your goals. Note any possible diplomatic deviations from what you originally planned. Your fleet will remain unchanged from this point forward.
C) What follows are three possible scenarios for events in Sector Alpha. For each scenario, describe what the nearest (or most relevant) starship to that event should be, what that ship should do in response, and how your fleet status could or should change as a result. Describe also any diplomatic efforts your staff should be making. NOTE: Assume that events from one scenario will not directly affect the others.
i) Pirate attacks on shipping increase sharply throughout the sector with the increased commercial traffic. The technology they use has not changed (assume they use relatively small ships like the Maquis), there's just a lot more of them. The Lysarans want to hunt down and end this threat, but do not have the resources to do so.
ii) Half of the warships at Kestu IX are suddenly called away from whatever they were doing, and appear to be massing at the border directly "north" of the planet along with non-combatant support ships. The Kestu government has not issued a statement concerning these maneuvers; they've been known to sortie up to three of their larger ships at a time for maneuvers or patrols, but never five in a single force. This has caused the other planets to become rather nervous. Tekanan III has closed its direct trade route to Kestu until the resolution of this crisis. Lysara has not, but is moving two of its warships to the border to investigate.
iii) An alien probe was detected going into the Really Big Nebula. Before contact was lost, it was determined that the probe's warp signature matched records of the alien warships from across the border that attacked Tekanan III. Possible weapons signatures of this race are also detected from the probe. These findings are confirmed independently by the planets, resulting in increased patrols around the sector by their forces. Tekanan III is actively asking for a repsonse from Starfleet.
D) Create another scenario like the ones presented in part (C). Any reasonable military, political or scientific scenario is acceptable. However, DO NOT ANSWER the scenario yourself. Rather, it will be answered by the others as part of Question Three.
Th-th-th-that's all fer now folks!
Mark
B) OK, looks like I've lost Boxer & Breadalbane. Not surprising. Ashburnipal becomes team leader. Except for slight decreases in equipment capability & availability, there's really no change in missions statement for the task force.
C-I) Assign one of the destroyers, Lagos, to Lysaran escort duty. She does not stay WITH the convoys but far enough away where her more powerful sensor suites can track the attacking ships & then run in to drive them off & track them.
C-II) A frigate, Laxness, is to sortie to the border. She'll stay far enough away to not interfere with the Kestu or to invade their space, but close enough to keep an eye on them. If queried about her presence by the Kestu, she'll report that she's performing midrange stellar survey scans of one or both of those two stars just over the border.
C-III) One of the scouts, Nerrod, is to enter the nebula & find that probe. She doesn't have to encounter it, just find it & track it. No better ship for the job. The other destroyer, Akureyri, is holding just outside the nebula. The two ships are coordinating their efforts, with the destroyer processing the tactical data from the scout. Akureyri stands by on Yellow Alert should she be required to take action.
D) A three-vessel force is detected approaching the border from the opposite side at medium warp, headed for the spot where Kestu forces are amassing. Preliminary scans indicate its composition to be two medium-sized vessels & one small scout-class vessel. The Kestu force is now shown to be three medium-sized vessels and one small scout-class ship. No overt hostile actions or moves have been detected from either side.
[ September 24, 2001: Message edited by: Shik ]
There is not enough information with regards to specific duties and duty shifts for the individual ships. Placing the starbase in an inhabited system would seem to be a mistake, in that it might turn the other systems against you. Otherwise, this is a well-made proposal.
B) My fleet consisted of three Intrepids, two Excelsiors, one Ambassador, one transport, one Nova, and two Nebulas. If the two most powerful ships are removed, I would assume them to be the Ambassador and one of the Excelsiors. I am therefore left with one Excelsior, three Intrepids, one Nova, one transport, and two Nebulas.
My ship deployment will be modified as follows: the remaining Excelsior will become the sector flagship, and assume the diplomatic duties formerly held by the Ambassador. The localized system-area patrols will be canceled, and replaced by increased route patrols. The Nebulas will be reassigned to patrol the border on a three-on/one-off basis. The three Intrepids and the Excelsior will patrol the trade routes on the same rotation, with at least one ship at starbase at all times. Thus, excepting travel times, there will always be one ship at starbase, three patroling the trade routes, and two patroling the border. This will require a master scheduler. One will be requisitioned.
3)
i) The pirates are causing trouble. I would use diplomacy to convince the Kestu that their survival depends on trade, due to their lack of resources, and that it is therefore in their best interest to use their ships to help hunt down and destroy the pirates. This would lead to increased amnisty between the three worlds, as they realize that they are all interdependant, and further, that we are friends to them all. The combined resources of all four powers would surely be enough to defeat the pirates, as well.
ii) In the event of a major military mobilazation on the part of the Kestu, I would contact their government and cordially ask for information on their activities and intentions, as a matter of course. There are two possibilities: this is a legitimate military exercize, or this is preparation for an attack. A military excersize would pose no problem, and we might even offer assistance. There are five possible targets for any attack. The starbase's defensive capabilities would be more than enough to handle any attack by the Kestu, and any attack on Tekanan would have to pass the starbase. I would subtly rearrange patrol schedules so that more ships were within range of Lysarra in the event of an attack. Assuming that an attack is their intent, the final possibility for their target would be on the aliens at the northern border. My only concerns in that event would be to prevent misdirected retaliation, and to ensure that my border patrols were not attacked by the Ketsu. Prevention of an attack on my patrols wouldn't be a problem so long as orders were given to stay out of the attack force's way. In the event of a misdirected retaliation, I would use the border communications emplacements to broadcast sensor records of the Ketsu fleet buildup and attack.
iii) I would divert the Nova-class starship to the nebula from any current activity, along with an Intrepid. They would drop sensor/communications posts in a ring around the nebula, and then proceed to launch unmanned probes into it. No ship would enter the nebula unless absolutely required. In that event, the Nova would be sent, with the Intrepid hanging on the perhiphery, so as to stay in communication with the sensor ring, but still be able to act if the Nova encounters trouble. If the Nova does encounter the probe, it will take all possible sensor readings at maximum range. Any possibly hostile reaction from the probe will be met with retreat, the objective being to gather information, not to outright destroy the probe. If conflict becomes inevitable, the Intrepid will engage.
D) The Kestu have attacked and destroyed a Lyssaran transport. They claim that the captain of the ship who attacked the freighter was acting against policy, and is now acting as a rogue. The Lyssarans, who do not believe this, are threatening to cut off all trade with the Kestu unless the captain, ship, and crew are all turned over to them. The Kestu say that this is not a possibility under any circumstances.
A: This is a general critique: seems like quite a few people didn't read the rules carefully. We have DS9-era ships and more than one Galaxy/Nebula/Sov/Amb flying around per fleet. No mention of the Akira was made anytime during TNG, and I'm sticking to that. Reg number dating is about as accurate as me shooting a rental paintball gun without my contacts. To be honest, I made the same mistake sticking the Intrepids and Norway in there. I'm trading them for two New Orleans and a Niagara.
B. I just lost the Galaxy and Niagara. Before the Galaxy had to turn away, I ordered it to send the 5 runabouts it was ferrying to Tekanan III. They'll be ferried to my SB by my other ships at the earliest oppertunity. With the departure of my Galaxy and Niagara, I have lost a significant portion of my taskforce. I no longer have anything on par with the Ketsuian, which could be interpreted as weakness on my part. I'd cancel most of the patrols by the nebula, relying on probes, a temperary sensor network and close in patrols of the space in front of Lysara and my SB with my New Orleans and Runabouts instead. Because of my lack of resources, I'm suspending all exploration done in or near the nebula. However, I'll still be keeping a close eye in that direction (it's pointless to orient a large amount of my forces towards a threat that may or may not come, I'm counting on the aliens to be just as xenophobic as the Romulans, if I make no threatening move, they shouldn't attack, besides none of my ships are of a clearly threatening apparence or size).
C.i. I'd put two New Orleans and two Excelsiors on the trade routs. This might be cheating, but is there any reason I couldn't base Pereguines from my SB? I don't really consider them "ships", they're suppose to be "fighters". If I can have those, I'd use them to patrol the length of trade route closest to Lysara. If not, I'd pull two runabouts off patrolling the nebula front, equipe them with torpedoes, and have them do that. I'll also work closely with the Lysaraian spaceforce, practicing joint manuvers.
ii. I find it strange that the Ketsuians would be moving their forces towards an area strange described to us as deserted and of little value. In anycase, I would convince the Lysaraians and Tekananians not to worry, since moving the force "north" is not an open threat to them. However, I would try hard to open a line of communication with the Ketsuians and find out just want is going on. I would consider sending one of my Excelsiors to do a long range scan north of Ketsu, assuming the pirate situation improves and the Ketsu don't open object. In the mean time, I would ask for permission from the Lysaraians and Tekananians to study their historical archives, in the hopes of finding out more information about the mysterious aliens which raided this sector. I'd also send a report to Starfleet Command, informing them of the situation change and asking for a re-evaluation of the level of force currently commited to this sector. Privately, I'm beginning to consider calling in a few favors. See if any Admirals or Captains in the nearby sectors owes me any favors, if I can "borrow" a few ships from them.
iii. I'd put all my ships at constant yellow alert, and reorient my forces towards the nebula as discreetly as I can. All ships are to run daily battle drills, and partial war-footing in terms of supplies and ship configuration. I'd also send Starfleet an update and express my concern over the increased instability and potential threat to the Federation in the sector, plus Tekanan's request for assistance. I'd use any historical evidence I gathered regarding previous incursions by hostile aliens into this sector to support my request for additional forces. Thanks to my forethought, the subspace relay network I laid down should cut a few days off the time it takes my messages to reach Starfleet Command (local) and their response. At this point, I'm calling in my IOUs and seeing if I could get any additional ships through unofficial channels. Maybe I'll file a report that I'm short on regulation-issued left handed tricorders, and the nearest ship with some happens to be a Nebula or something. I'd also ask the Lysaraians to see if I can get additional parts or entire sensor probes off them, because I want to increase the density of the sensor network monitoring the nebula by at least 5% (I sure hope these guys don't have cloaks, cause I don't have the numbers for a remotely credible tachyon network).
D. The redistribution of naval forces in the sector has left the trade routes all but unprotected. Despite the increased tension, races like the Lysaraian still maintain a good deal of trade to support their economy. That trade is now being threatened like never before. The Lysaraian Monarch is faced with the tough choice of either guarding the nebula-facing region, or the trade routes. He chooses the nebula. As a result, the powerful trade guilds of Lysara began actively challanging the Monarch. Civil unrest ensues, and there is much division inside the Monarch's court. All in all, the government of Lysara effectly grinds to a halt. Fearful of negative opinion from the Federation and the reprecussion from the trade guilds of using force to quell the unrest, the Monarch has asked for your help.
Regarding DS9 v. TNG-era ships, what of ships which we see in the "DS9" era (that is, the five years DS9 aired when TNG didn't) that existed prior to the five years? Yes, I'm speaking of the "Akira" here. The "Defiant" also existed in the TNG era ... it was built after Wolf 359, just not seen until DS9 because Starfleet left in a shed somewhere. And considering that Voyager departed on her "mission" shortly after the TNG-era "ended", it's reasonable to assume that the Intrepid-Class entered service priot to the end of the TNG-era.
Also, one final nail in your arguement ... Mark specificly mentions the "Sovereign" as a ship which can be used. If "Sovereign" is a TNG-era ship, why isn't the Akira, Defiant, Intrepid, or even Prometheus?
Sorry for getting off track, I just wanted to respond that. I do think, David, that when Mark says "TNG-era", he means the 24th Century (as seen in The Next Generation and the show's two spin-offs: Deep Space Nine and Voyager) ... so if people started using a Wells-Class timeship, or an unrefited Constitution-Class ship, there would be trouble. However, there is no conflict in using anything from a Miranda to a Sovereign-Class starship.
Mark, did I get that right? I guess we're waiting on you to make the final ruling.
Omega,
This might just be me, but I would rate your two Nebulas as being your most advanced starships, instead of the Ambassador- and Excelsior- as you state. Probably the greatest reason I have in this conclusion is that the Nebula-Class is a far newer and more modern design than those two. Please explain why the Ambassador- and Excelsior- outrate the Nebula?
[ September 24, 2001: Message edited by: Malnurtured Snay ]
When the ship was built doesn't particularly matter to me. If the ship is still in service, I'm going to assume it's fully upgraded.
1) About the TNG-era thing: Snay's right. Listen to Snay.
2) I only considered that Sector Alpha was far enough away from anything such that it won't make a difference how close any of the known powers are - in fact, the proposed "Advanced" series of "You're the Admiral!" threads would have you presiding over three sectors *and* dealing with some major power politics. However, for the purposes of this sector assume you're somewhere on the outer rim, with the core to the "South" of the map. The alien territory extends rimward for an unknown distance.
3) Depending on how you interpret it, the Excelsior and/or Ambassador may be more powerful, or more versatile, than the Nebulas given the Nebbies' widely-assumed modular nature (not to mention the scientific thing). However, as it has been stated before it's not as important as the reasons WHY you'd remove ship X from the line.
4) Yes, you can suppose that you've got runabouts and fighters. However, assume that in general they're no serious threat to the larger ships short of some technobabble excuse, which we're generally avoiding here. Also, assume that your fighters wouldn't be used much except for times of war - after all, we've only seen the fighters during wartime.
Mark
As for the Nebula thing, the Nebula is barely half a step down from a Galaxy. The two shares much of the same systems, and the Nebula has the equivilant forward firepower of a GCS. The Nebulas should have been the first to go. As well, I think Mark missed the Nebula when he said only one of the following ship, yadda yadda. The Nebula can almost certainly beat an Ambassador or Excelsior class ships.
And for the curious - the "You're the Admiral!" series comprises three threads with three maps. I've finished Sectors Beta and Gamma, but they may be tweaked before we start on them. When all three threads are finished, we'll do a review of everything and see how we can incorporate them into the "Advanced" series later on.
The Sector Alpha thread will have two more questions after this, BTW. Also, I'm looking into having.. er.. "Guest speakers" from the fan community ask some future questions, too.
Mark
[ September 24, 2001: Message edited by: Mark Nguyen ]
Trying to goad a response from the aliens seems unwise at this early point. By the rules of the game, it seems the mere ten (now eight) ships have to pretty much stand guard alone. So I'd do a spineless impression of a Regulan bloodworm and stay out of the trouble until I've fortified my positions better. If I don't have the full support of the locals first, I can't stand up to what the aliens might send against me, be it a war fleet or a diplomatic proposal.
Using a small number of strong ships for trade protection seems unwise compared with using a larger number of small units. With a whole sector to cover, you have to be unpredictable and flexible in your response. You can't escort each and every ship, and you can't force everybody to convoy up to just three big formations at a time (or just one, since a convoy escorted by a single vessel cannot send off ships to pursue the attackers).
The whole fleet is a bit on the heavy side to begin with, but then again, we could guess Mark would cull a few in the early stages... It's still a bit much to assume Starfleet would cough up so many big ships.
Oh, yeah, and Denevas (the real ones) are puny. Use a Yorkshire or something.
B) So I lose my Akira and one of the Excelsiors. Now I can't have a strong "south pole" to my operations, so I guess I'll concentrate more on Tekanan now. The remaining Excelsior stays there, and the tender also goes there to bolster local response. One of the Mirandas now gets more permanent duty near Lysara, and the Yeager also gets a more permanent assignment to the "south". I still run the Mirandas unpredictably along the spacelanes, and try to speak the Lysarans and Tekanans into bolstering their defences on their own while I suggest to the Kestu that it would be a good idea to let Starfleet upgun everybody's local defences. I can't stay completely neutral now that I have no strong presence in the "south".
C-I) Pirates may move unpredictably, but their motivations are pretty predictable. I set a trap. Starfleet troops will man Lysaran freighters, the Yeager will stand in wait under silent-running conditions, and the Miranda flight patterns will be subtly altered to allow them to spring a trap. I strike heavily once or twice, trying to destroy as many pirates as I can. They will either go in hiding or target me (perhaps indirectly, through attacking my allies). If they hide, I rejoice. If they attack, I'll be waiting. The time to hunt down the very last one will come later.
C-II) I divert a few Mirandas to help my Excelsior in the region, since trade is down anyway, but my first response is to send the Yeager over to have a look. The Miranda-and-Excelsior fleet will just breathe heavily on the necks of the Kestu and kindly ask them to behave themselves. I also ask for both Lysaran and Kestu cooperation in sending a fleet to survey the border, hinting at something my sensors have found. Both sides will be asked to send ships and observers and more or less forced to cooperate within the framework of my superior-firepower fleet. If the Kestu have a legitimate concern, my fleet can help. If they are just plotting, I'll call their bluff and challenge their fleet with mine, thus holding a big part of their military hostage. They can choose - even if this was all a ploy, they can join my forces and jointly hunt for the wild geese for a while, thereby both saving face and paving way for future cooperation.
C-III This is a job for the Yeager alone. I won't alter the rest of the fleet deployment pattern.
D Let's say the Klingons want to open trade with the Kestu, too, and have exactly what they want to buy: cheap weaponry of 24th century standard. The Klingons are cheapskates, though, and trade through the existing spacelanes, using Lysaran assets. Lysarans know their citizens do their share of gunrunning, but insist it's an internal matter. When you inspect a few ships, the Lysaran privateers start to sail outside the 'lanes. It also seems they are using cloaking devices now. The Tekanans insist that the smuggling be stopped, and the Kestu escalation ended. If the Feds won't do it, they'll ask somebody else - say, the Romulans might like to have their share of the Tekanan resources AND foil the Klingon plans.
Who do you hit and how, to stop the crisis from escalating? How can you stop cloaked smugglers?
Timo Saloniemi
A. Omega's plan seems pretty good. I like how all the parts of the fleet have an auxillary to deal with unseen changes such as losing two ships .
B. When I first wrote this post, I explained in detail about the revisions. Now, I'll simply write that I lost the Nebula and one Akira. The remaining Akira will become task force leader and do what the Nebula was supposed to do. The Excelsior will be diverted to take care of the lower half of the sector just as the two Akiras were supposed to do. The Defiant at the starbase will now escort the Nova scanning the Class L planet.
I would really push for at least one introductory visit from the Galaxy Class (or the Nebula I lost) to help set the tone of the Federation in this sector. I'll assume because of Starfleet's new orders, that the Galaxy Class vessel won't be able to make monthly visits.
Map of Revised Fleet Deployment
Ci. Reassign the Excelsior to help the Mirandas. Use sensors and probes dropped off at key parts of the trade route to monitor shipping activity and track down the pirates and thier base of operations.
Cii. Ask the Kestu for an explanation. Send a Nova and a Defiant with the Akira to stay nearby the fleet until a valid explanation is given.
Ciii. Simply have the Nova in the nebula with her Defiant escort take a look at the probe. Studies should be taken on level of technology and various other cultural developments.
D. The Kestu government is facing a revolution. With the Kestu people witnessing the prosperity of the Federation and the other two worlds, many on Kestu want change. A civil war is likely to break out and the Kestu officials are blaming the recent Federation activity in the area. It is threatening to break off trade if the Federation continues to keep so many ships in the sector on patrol, which the Kestu government is comparing to imperialism. What do you do?
[ September 27, 2001: Message edited by: Ace ]
Why, thank you.
Timo's plan sucks bullocks. 
(just kidding, in case I needed to say it)
B.OK, I lose my Galaxy of course. Also lose the Nebula. I agree w/ Mike that Nebs are more or less on equal footing w/ Galaxies, just that Galaxies are good on everything all at once where Nebs are mission specific.
i) Excelsiors and Akiras run around and defend the shipping lanes as needed. I'm assuming that Lysara and Takkanna are both protectorates right now, and that I'm legally required to defend them. If not, being the Federation, I'm morally required to defend ships from unprovoked attacks. Meanwhile, the Nova tries to track down the staging area for the pirates. My two trade ships (Yorkshire, Deneva, whatever) stopgap breakdowns in the shipping line wherever my other ships are unsuccessful.
ii) My group commander (in an Excelsior now) goes to the gathering group of ships and asks them what the hell they're doing. Also tell them that I'm here to provide any support they need and pray that they tell me whats going on. I invite representatives from Lysara and Tekanna onboard to partake in the investigating as well.
iii) Nova checks out the RBN and runs if the fecal matter hits the occilator. The command Excelsior and an Akira stay stationed at the SB while the other Excelsior and two Akiras standby at the center of the sector ready to fight if need be.
C. I don't feel like retyping it, and it wasn't all the clever anyway.
Timo Saloniemi
: )A)Critique, on everyone including myself:
It seems unlikely that Starfleet would give any one of us their newest ships like Intrepids and Sovereigns. OTOH, the new ships are the most well-known, so we have very little other choice.
B)I seem to have lost my Nebula and one of my Intrepids. Command and exploration is now mainly based on one of the Excelsiors (now referred to as Command-Excelsior), and as such it will be mostly be situated around Tekanan and Lysara. The Intrepids role of fast courier will be replaced by the other Intrepid and the Akira.
The Nova is 'boldly going' and is on exploration missions to the nebula and the Lysaran binary stars, with the Springfield close to the border as a long range patrol vessel.
Should the Nova detect Threat Forces in the Nebula, the other Excelsior, stationed in the South, is ready to respond.
Likewise, the Akira and the Intrepid are stationed north of Tekanan, ready to respond.
Ci) The ships nearby are the Nova and the two Excelsiors, and I have called for the Intrepid stationed north, she will arrive in two days.
I will render assistance to Lysarian authorities, possibly stationing Starfleet personell on Lysarian ships. I will help them lure the pirates and trace them back to their bases of operation with one of the Excelsiors. The Intrepid that has arrived will join it and together they will attack the pirates base. While not all pirates have been eliminated, their morale is low and they will not strike anytime soon.
Cii) The Sprinfield patrolling the northern border is at a reasonably safe distance to not be detected by the 23rd century style sensors of the Kestans. The Springfield monitors their movement secretly, while the Intrepid escorts a Federation diplomat to Kestu, trying to find out what's going on. The Akira is ordered to stand-by and keep a close eye on the border.
The Nova makes a slight alteration to it's course and places itself between Kestu and Lysara, tracking any possible Kestu ships en route to Lysara.
Ciii) Tekanans request is answered, and the Command-Excelsior is ordered to go to Starbase, with the Akira patrolling to border directly North of Tekanan.
The Nova closely watches the Nebula, and is assisted by the Excelsior patrolling the South. A general warning to Starfleet Command is made. I advice the Lysarian authorities to be prepared and have their warships be ready. The Intrepid is ordered to take up a central place between the three planets, ready to take necessary actions. The Springfield will continue monitoring the border.
D)
Kestan resistance groups, controlling a few countries on the planet, have united and now call themselves the Freedom Alliance and demand recognition and humanitarian aide by the Federation. The totalitarian regime warns the Federation that they will not tolerate any interference in what they call 'internal affairs' and threaten to attack Tekanan if necessary. Still, the rebels seem to have strong support networks around the Kestran globe.
[ September 27, 2001: Message edited by: Harry ]
[ September 27, 2001: Message edited by: Harry ]
QUESTION THREE (three parts)
1) Given the answers in Part (4) of the previous question, answer any TWO of the situations presented.
2) In rapid succession, two events occur: first is the collapse of the monarchy on Lysara, with the Monarch being assassinated without a clear heir. Economic and social unrest erupt planetwide. Then, one week later, the Kestu Fleet mentioned previously take up positions in orbit of the planet and commence beaming troops and personel to one country on Lysara, which has announced that it has sought their help to guard their borders from the other countries. As this happens, two other countries on that planet ask for the smae thing, and two more ask for Federation assistance.
a) Detail what your fleet movement would have been when you first heard of the assassination, and how that deployment may change once the Kestu fleet showed up.
b) What would your recomendations be to Starfleet in the report you will send to them? What investigations, if any, would you perform first? If you feel the need to ask for help, what form of help would you request?
c) If the events in this question were reversed - that is, the Kestu fleet arrived in orbit first, and then the Lysaran monarch was assassinated, how would your answer in part (a) change?
3) With the events on the other two planets, the Tekanans are even more nervous and have stepped up their program to rapidly build warp-capable warships of their own. They have asked for Starfleet assistance - assume that they can build anything up to, say, something equivalent to an Excelsior-class ship, and will have five ships of any kind ready within the next year. What would you recommend the Tekanans do with their fleet, and how would you redeploy your fleet to match, avoid, or complement this new force?
Mark
[ October 03, 2001: Message edited by: Mark Nguyen ]
1. Harry's: I'd attempt to negotiate with the Ketsu government for access for humanitarian aid to this "Freedom Alliance", but recognition is out of the question. Federation has been placed in situations like this in the past. We must never allow ourselves to get involved in the legitimation of contesting planetary governments. We'll attempt to mediate the two sides, but will not actively involve ourselves through anything other than humanitarian and diplomatic aid.
Timo's: I'll go straight to the Klingon High Council for this. This period of time marks a great friendship between the two Empires, so that should not be too difficult. I'll warn them that they risk alienating the Tekanans towards the Romulans, and that they should crack down on whatever families that are doing the smuggling, or at least place restrictions regarding Tekanan space. Frankly, I doubt that the Tekanans would be able to detect cloaked ships violating their space anyways. Even if the shipments are stopped, Tekanan wouldn't be none the wiser.
2. Frankly I don't know how the Ketsu Fleet would have been able to enter Lysaran space, much less orbit around their homeplanet, without my forces intredicting them. My previous force deployment would have put my two of my Task Forces plus my Starbase smack between the most direct routes from Ketsu to Lysara, plus a third TF close enough to Lysara to intercept anything before it enters the Lysaran system.
a. I would move TF2, composed of 1 New Orlean and 2 Runabouts, closer to my Starbase. This is to checker any attempt by the Ketsus to use Lysara as a jumping board to Tekanan. Other forces would remain at their stations, since I don't have the resources to support any of the nations on the ground. I'll pass their request onto the Federation, but I highly doubt the Federation Council will approve, much less send, Federation ground troops. All I can do in the mean time is try to mediate a peaceful settlement. (I can't stop the Ketsus without Lysaran permission, and they're divided right now)
b. I request an urgent re-evaluation of the current level of Starfleet involvement in this sector. It is clear that given the current resources I have, I cannot grantee the stability of the sector, the safety of Tekanan III, or any additional Federation interests in the sector. Therefore, I request an advance elements of the 4th Fleet (let's say they're the nearest), composed of at least 5 Miranda class or better ships, to be sent to this sector immediately, followed by possibly additional units. Hopefully I can goad the 4th Fleet into assuming something close to a standby status, with ships being placed on possible recall alert and support units (tenders, mobile docks) reoriented towards this sector. As well, I also request additional cargo ships, carrying supplies and humanitarian aid, to be sent. Their escorts would not be counted as part of the force I requested.
I have already started investigations, as it said in my last post, into the history of the mysterious invading areas. I shall try to convince that this race poses a threat to all the races in this sector, plus nearby Federation sectors.
c. I would begin an investigation in possible direct Ketsu involvement in the assassination, that's about all.
3. (When you say Excelsior class equivilant, what era do you mean?) I would be walking the Tekanans through this very carefully. I would try to train with them as much as possible, to try to help them catch up in terms of experience. I would recommand that they keep their Fleet close to home, both to safe guard it and avoid confrontation with the Ketsus.
1a) I'll address Omega's and David's scenarios. Shipping issues are easy, since as long as one stays away from the planets, PD is much less of a concern.
Omega gives us a possible rogue or a possible privateer, and everybody's hoping it's the former. Okay, I promise the Lysarans to hunt down this guy, but it means pulling off my shipping-protection forces. So they have to get organized themselves. They want to do that anyway, but at least I get my foot into the door crack - I give them "anti-piracy courses" and help them equip their ships and so on, but at the same time I invite the Kestu to patrol the spacelanes, at least in their end. I detach my Mirandas to hunt down the rogue/privateer, but put my heavier ships in readiness around my Kestu "deputies". Their bluff is called: if there's further piracy, they are guilty of it no matter what (either by attacking, or failing to defend), and will have to openly answer for it.
1b) David poses a problem that could be solved similarly - invite the Kestu to defend the spacelanes, which means they will spread their forces so thinly as to no longer be a threat, and will have to stop using covert piracy. I'll naturally also send my Constellation to scout out the nebula. If there's nothing there, I tell the Monarch to back off or I'll make him look silly using the evidence. If there's something there, I call everybody and his cousin to help, and make the Monarch look good. I get a good puppet that way.
2a) The shipping protection fleet of Mirandas gathers up more closely around my tender, and prepares to set shop at Lysara. The Constellation is called to get intelligence on what the Kestu are up to. As the Kestu begin to move, my Mirandas can receive them and be the first to offer assistance - especially to those nations who asked for Kestu help.
2b) I am bound by the PD, as usual, but I intend to counter every Kestu "offer of help" by barging in and providing that help first. But if the nations ask for weapons, I'll provide police forces instead. I'll be everywhere at once, offering to mediate, especially when I'm not asked to. I ask for UFP approval for extended police action. I also search the PD book for ways of legally stopping weapons shipments from Kestu.
2c) I'd not have the Mirandas in place as the Kestu fleet arrives in this case, of course. But I'd send them in anyway. When the assassination takes place a week later, they will be there already. I'll know if the Kestu ships had any part in it, since I can monitor their transporters etc. I'll be quick to reaffirm the Lysarans of Kestu innocence if I can provide such proof, and I'll offer to conduct an investigation in any case.
3) I'd like the Tekanans to defend both themselves and possibly the sector against external threats. So I won't ask for shipping escorts. I want four Excelsiors for defence and another Constellation for rapid troubleshooting.
The ships will of course need to be manned, so I'll start a training program. The Tekanans will probably fall for this, and I get them to sign a cooperation treaty. As soon as the ships are available, I'll move at least one Tekanan Excelsior far away from Tekanan, move in my own Excelsior instead, and invite Tekanans aboard my Mirandas so that I can in turn crew their ships. If the Tekanans attempt to build an independent fleet, I'll just give them a bigger carrot with technological aid etc. I'll also build an orbital defence system for them - a Starfleet one. Let's see if they want to break off after that!
Timo Saloniemi
Overnight shift sucks.
David: the Excelsiors would be 24th-century equivalent. The Tekanans have probably been getting technology exchanges or grants from the Feds as part of their application process.
Mark
Mark
2
i: Marky Mark, I have to say that my response would depend almost entirely on what they asked me to do. If Lysara doesn't ask for help, then I don't do anything.
ii: I'd ask HQ for a Galaxy or the local Nebbie to come by and lend a hand if it was neccessary and I'd continue to defend all ships against pirates and looking for that elusive pirate base.
iii: If the situation was reversed, I'd offer assistance in the investigation (since you didn't clearly state that the Kestu were responsible for the assasination) if the Lysaran's requested such assistance.
3) I'd tell them to build whatever the hell they wanted to build. Build a flying lolipop for all I care.
Well, it was never said that I can't review my own scenario, so...
i)
The Kestu have attacked and destroyed a Lyssaran transport. They claim that the captain of the ship who attacked the freighter was acting against policy, and is now acting as a rogue. The Lyssarans, who do not believe this, are threatening to cut off all trade with the Kestu unless the captain, ship, and crew are all turned over to them. The Kestu say that this is not a possibility under any circumstances.
The Excelsior and one of the Intrepids will have their patrol schedules adjusted so that they will search the trade lanes for the location of the raider. Leave for the other Intrepids and the Nebulas will be canceled until such time as the situation is resolved. I have full confidence that either the Intrepid or the Excelsior could easily outrun or outgun a single Kestu ship. Their orders will be to disable and capture the vessel, and return it to the starbase, where its officers will be held for trial. The crew will be allowed to return home if they chose.
With both the Kestu and the Lyssarians asking for the rogue, I would propose a compromise: three legal experts from each of Lysara, Kestu, and Tekanan will be chosen at random to form a jury, with a Starfleet judge presiding over the trial. The trial will be held on the starbase, that being neutral territory. All the worlds must agree to abide by the decision of the jury, or the prisoners will be removed from the sector and tried by a Federation court elsewhere. This will be their only chance to take part in the judgement, and I believe that they will take it. If successful, it will help form a closer judicial tie between the three worlds, as well as bringing a just conclusion to the incident.
ii) The Kestu government is facing a revolution. With the Kestu people witnessing the prosperity of the Federation and the other two worlds, many on Kestu want change. A civil war is likely to break out and the Kestu officials are blaming the recent Federation activity in the area. It is threatening to break off trade if the Federation continues to keep so many ships in the sector on patrol, which the Kestu government is comparing to imperialism. What do you do?
Diplomacy is the only option. I will offer my assistance in mediating negotiations between the factions, and I will not allow the conflict to spread to other systems or to interrupt trade. If it becomes necessary, I will cut off all trade with Kestu until the war is settled. Kestu will see that their only hope of survival is through trade, and that their only hope of trade is through peace. They will start negotaitions, which may lead to a more diplomatic government for the Ketsu.
2) In rapid succession, two events occur: first is the collapse of the monarchy on Lysara, with the Monarch being assassinated without a clear heir. Economic and social unrest erupt planetwide. Then, one week later, the Kestu Fleet mentioned previously take up positions in orbit of the planet and commence beaming troops and personel to one country on Lysara, which has announced that it has sought their help to guard their borders from the other countries. As this happens, two other countries on that planet ask for the smae thing, and two more ask for Federation assistance.
a) Detail what your fleet movement would have been when you first heard of the assassination, and how that deployment may change once the Kestu fleet showed up.
I would deploy the my Excelsior flagship to Lysara. All leave for the Intrepids and Nebulas would be canceled. Patrols would be shifted nearer to Lysara.
If the Kestu fleet showed up, they would NOT be allowed to land troops on the planet under any circumstances. Interference is unacceptable. One Nebula would be divirted to trade patrol duty, and two Intrepids would be divirted to back up the flagship.
b) What would your recomendations be to Starfleet in the report you will send to them? What investigations, if any, would you perform first? If you feel the need to ask for help, what form of help would you request?
My recommendation would be that no interference in the fracturing of Lyssaran society be allowed under any circumstances. I would request the return of my Ambassador and second Excelsior to suppliment my fleet.
c) If the events in this question were reversed - that is, the Kestu fleet arrived in orbit first, and then the Lysaran monarch was assassinated, how would your answer in part (a) change?
Difficult. How would the Lysaran fleet respond to an uninvited Kestan fleet's presence?
3) With the events on the other two planets, the Tekanans are even more nervous and have stepped up their program to rapidly build warp-capable warships of their own. They have asked for Starfleet assistance - assume that they can build anything up to, say, something equivalent to an Excelsior-class ship, and will have five ships of any kind ready within the next year. What would you recommend the Tekanans do with their fleet, and how would you redeploy your fleet to match, avoid, or complement this new force?
I would suggest that they build an Excelsior-equivalint, three Intrepid-equivalents, and a Nova-equivalent. I would propose that they use an Intrepid to help patrol the border in conjunction with my Nebulas. I would further suggest that they use their Excelsior to perform local patrols of their system and the surrounding area in conjunction with one of my Intrepids. The remaining Intrepids would escort convoys and doing general route patrols. The remaining Nova could be sent to rendezvous with mine, to assist with scientific surveys and provide training for possible assimilation into Starfleet upon approval of their entry petitoin.
Assuming that none of the other situations are occuring at the same time as this one, I would remove one of my Nebulas from border patrol and assign it to patrol the area around Lysara. I would assign one of the Intrepids to patrol the area around Kestu. One of the remaining Intrepids would be sent to assist and train the Tekanan Excelsior in its local patrols. As usual, at least one ship stationed at starbase at all times, and with regular leave rotation.
The extra ships provided by the friendly Tekanan fleet would relieve the strain caused by the removal of my Ambassador and Excelsior in Scenario 2, and allow me to return to my original fleet dispersal plans. It would also help prepare for the possible assimilation of the Tekanan fleet, and lead to stronger ties between us.
1a) (From Timo) Let's say the Klingons want to open trade with the Kestu, too, and have exactly what they want to buy: cheap weaponry of 24th century standard. The Klingons are cheapskates, though, and trade through the existing spacelanes, using Lysaran assets. Lysarans know their citizens do their share of gunrunning, but insist it's an internal matter. When you inspect a few ships, the Lysaran privateers start to sail outside the 'lanes. It also seems they are using cloaking devices now. The Tekanans insist that the smuggling be stopped, and the Kestu escalation ended. If the Feds won't do it, they'll ask somebody else - say, the Romulans might like to have their share of the Tekanan resources AND foil the Klingon plans. Who do you hit and how, to stop the crisis from escalating? How can you stop cloaked smugglers?
1b) (From David Templar) The redistribution of naval forces in the sector has left the trade routes all but unprotected. Despite the increased tension, races like the Lysaraian still maintain a good deal of trade to support their economy. That trade is now being threatened like never before. The Lysaraian Monarch is faced with the tough choice of either guarding the nebula-facing region, or the trade routes. He chooses the nebula. As a result, the powerful trade guilds of Lysara began actively challanging the Monarch. Civil unrest ensues, and there is much division inside the Monarch's court. All in all, the government of Lysara effectly grinds to a halt. Fearful of negative opinion from the Federation and the reprecussion from the trade guilds of using force to quell the unrest, the Monarch has asked for your help.
2) In rapid succession, two events occur: first is the collapse of the monarchy on Lysara, with the Monarch being assassinated without a clear heir. Economic and social unrest erupt planetwide. Then, one week later, the Kestu Fleet mentioned previously take up positions in orbit of the planet and commence beaming troops and personel to one country on Lysara, which has announced that it has sought their help to guard their borders from the other countries. As this happens, two other countries on that planet ask for the smae thing, and two more ask for Federation assistance.
All of this seems to be linked together.
(A) Recall Laxness from the border to a point just outside Lysaran space where she'll run scan ops with Lagos, who's been recalled from convoy duty (since there's no more convoys) & whose captain is familiar with the Lysaran trade guilds & politics. The remaning scout, Schwegel, will conduct intel gathering, feeding the info through Lagos. Until we can determine exactly what's going on, who killed what, who's behind what, we can't take more than this posture.
(B) Ashburnipal to the Kestu spacelanes to investigate claims of smuggling. Given the Kestu involvement in Lysaran politics now & the Klingon claims, there's something hinky here. Why would they want to undermine the region, though? It's not like a Federation presence would bother them, esepcially given post-Dominion War relations. Is it really the Empire or just a couple of houses? As for stopping cloaked smugglers, I'd like to see if there's any way to get at some of the captured Jem'Hadar anticloak technology or anything reverse-engineered from that. As regards investigation & help, I'd request a special envoy from our friends over in the Ferengi Alliance to be dispatched to examine the poltico-economic situation at hand; they might be able to see something we can't, a nuance we'd never pick up on.
C) Blockade of Kestu. Simple as that.
3) I'd prefer to have the Tekanan fleet complement mine, but they seem to be of the antsy nature. I'd guide them, but not give them access to current tech levels; nothing past 2320s-era technologies. In guiding them, I'd also like to see if I can steer them away from the warship road & more towards the explorer path. This would not only allow them to defend themselves, but be able to take a place in exploiting the resources & information of the region & perhaps over the border as well.
Hmm, howabout a preview of the latter. Here:
http://www.anime-alberta.org/~mark/trek-temp/Admiral-2.jpg
I'll give you the specifics later.
Mark
I hope you allow us a bigger fleet this time, 'cause eight Excelsiors ain't gonna cut it against 15 Defiants...
Anyway, I recommend you read over all your previous answers to this series before talking this, the final question. Thanks!***
QUESTION FOUR (three parts)
1) The diplomatic situation crumbles on Lysara, resulting in a declaration of war on the planet between a group of countries unaligned since the assassination, on the alliance of countries that are backed by the Kestu. This war is being fought mostly on the ground, but is spilling into local space in the binary system, through the use of mostly sublight ships. Starfleet has ordered you to offer aid to the countries that have asked for it, not to the countries that are fighting, and to stay out of the conflict. However, they have assigned a combat starship and two more transports to your fleet (you decide what classes). The following situations arise; what would your response be?
a) What kinds of ships would your additional three be, and how would they be deployed?
b) In the opening salvoes of the war, the Lysaran fleet (controlled by the unaligned countries) and the orbiting Kestu fleet mutually annihilate each other in a huge battle. Unfortunately, it also happens to take out one of your patrol ships in the area (you decide which one) and the Tekanan transport it was escorting. Immediately following, the Kestu accuse you of helping the Lysarans and their inferior fleet.
c) The war on Lysara is causing a refugee crisis on the planet, as people flee the fighting – not only to the countries the Federation is helping, but transports full of refugees head towards the Tekanan system. However, the already-stretched Tekanans don’t want to give the Kestu an excuse to blow up their shiny new fleet, and refuse. As such, the refugee ships start making cycles to the Class-L world across the border. No response from those aliens is observed, though it is a clear violation of their territory.
d) The conflict climaxes with the detonation of several antimatter devices on Kestu IX, wiping out the three largest cities on the planet – and the totalitarian regime with it. Investigations reveal that the weapons used had Federation signatures. The new Kestu government, democratic, thanks the Federation for their help and ceases its involvement in the Lysaran war, effectively ending the conflict on both planets. However, both planets are effectively in ruins, and none of the fighting sides on Lysara are happy with the Federation.
2) Assume that the alien probe incursion mentioned in part two actually occurred. Your fleet got ahold of it, but it was mostly forgotten during the war. Now, it has been recovered and analyzed at your Starbase. It’s not a military probe – rather, it was a distress buoy. The aliens, called the Saalit, were a resources-heavy empire that was beset upon by a biological plague during their occupation of Tekanan III. After they withdrew from the sector decades ago as a result of the plague, their empire collapsed into anarchy. Years later, a democratic regime appeared but lacked the technology to send more than automated probes asking for help before they all died. The probe was recovered long after the Saalit were supposed to have perished.
a) Describe who should be told of this information, and in what order.
b) Assume that the Saalit territory encompasses at least 20 sectors. Given your remaining resources, what kind of exploration program would you recommend to Starfleet?
3) The final action occurs as Tekanan III is accepted into the Federation as a full member. Per usual policy, the Tekanan military will be absorbed into Starfleet, and their infrastructure will be upgraded to Federeation par. Also, a ground-based Starbase facility (assimilating the orbital shipyards and facilities) will be constructed. This will be matched by an influx of trade into the sector beyond what you had husbanded, not to mention several powers besides the Federation which would use your sector as a base for their operations.
a) A consortium of Federation-friendly countries on Lysara has offered to buy your space-based Starbase and tow it to a neutral area of space (if it’s not already in one), and have already purchased the Tekanan fleet you recommended in the previous question. They would like to use the base as a commercial hub and a base for exploration, much like you did. Would you advise Starfleet to sell the base, and why?
b) It’s time to move on. Starfleet has decided to send you on to Sector Beta, and to replace you with a fresh Admiral to continue your work. As your last duty in this sector, you are to brief the new guy about what you’ve done. Read over your responses to all the previous questions. Define what Starfleet’s priorities should be in this sector, and your recommendations to your replacement as to what he should concentrate on. Also recommend a reasonable set of additional ships to complement your remaining fleet to that end.
c) Choose one of the starships in your fleet. It will be used to take you to Sector Beta, and will be incorporated into your fleet there.
And so ends the series on Sector Alpha. Sector Beta is up next!
Mark
1.a. I would request a Nebula, a hospital ship, and a freighter full of supplies for my ships.
b. I lose a New Orleans. I'd point out that my ship was escorting a Tekanan transport and that if the Ketsu really want to force the issue we can discuss the murder of the crew of the New Orleans, the Tekanan transport, all while I'm blockading their goddamn starsystem (since they have no fleet no more ). Enough carroting around with the Ketsu, time for some rods.
c. I'd bring those transports to my starbase, which is located between the three races (closer to Lysara and Tekanan) where I can provide protection and aid if necessary. Then I'd point out to the Tekanan how their shiney new fleet wouldn't be around if Federation hadn't helped them, and that a requirement for Federation membership is willingness to aid those in need. Then I'd point out that the Ketsu fleet is no more, which makes their fear rather unsubstantiated. Makes me think that someone "up there" is making continuity errors. But then Starfleet officers are all devote atheists.
d. Besides providing aid, I'm going to dig a little deeper into those anti-matter weapons (though anyone can make anti-matter weapons, poor choice of plot device). Something tells me some secret part of the Federation was messing with MY sector.
2. Then why was there weapon fire from/at the probe during a previous question?
a. I would tell everyone at the sametime, assuming that I don't view the common fear for this mysterious race as a factor in stablizing the sector. If I do, I would hold back the information for the time being, on the grounds that I need to study the probe more carefully.
b. Limited exploration by well-equiped survey floatillas. Since there is a plague involved, I do not want to send one tiny ship to explore the area. Only one ship in the floatilla would actually send anyone down, if deemed necessarily, while the other ships remain in full isolation from any potential source of infection. The primary mission is to determine if this plague is a threat to any known species, and a cure if it is. The larger than usual number of ships are also because I'm worried about automated Saalit defenses that might still be active. Once all threats are known and dealt with, a more comprehensive and bigger exploration effort will start. Once the Saalit homeworld is explored, a Federation wide day of mourning will be held for this bygone race. Even if they were once conquerors, death is still the great equalizer.
3.a. "And the name of the place is... Babylon 5." I don't think I want to sell the station, it could very well be used as a base of operation for Lysaran aggression towards the weakened Ketsu. Rather, I'd keep it for as my intended base of exploration for Saalit space.
b. "Keep between the Ketsu and Lysara, they're like kids who don't get along, but don't over do it. Let them solve their differences themselves once in a while, as long as it's done peacefully. Make sure you raise them into responsible adults. The Saalit apparently span a vast area of space, and exploration of that is a top priority. Just to the plan I already have laid out. I leave you with 3 Excelsiors, 1 New Orlean, 4 Runabouts, and my best wishes. You probably should request some larger vessels. Besides their exploration and combat abilities, medical facilities such as those onboard Galaxy class ships are in dire need on Ketsu. Anyhoo, it's your show now."
c. On the good ship Ayanami Rei (Excelsior II class), I bid this godforsaken sector goodbye.
Dave: You forget that the Kestu still have roughly half their fleet still around. They only lost the ships they sent to Lysara. As for the probe, there was only mention that their *could* have been possible weapons signatures there.
Mark
1) The diplomatic situation crumbles on Lysara, resulting in a declaration of war on the planet between a group of countries unaligned since the assassination, on the alliance of countries that are backed by the Kestu. This war is being fought mostly on the ground, but is spilling into local space in the binary system, through the use of mostly sublight ships. Starfleet has ordered you to offer aid to the countries that have asked for it, not to the countries that are fighting, and to stay out of the conflict. However, they have assigned a combat starship and two more transports to your fleet (you decide what classes). The following situations arise; what would your response be?
a) What kinds of ships would your additional three be, and how would they be deployed?
Well, transports are transports. No classes have ever been described. For the combat vessel, I'd want something pretty frelling impressive. Defiant, I'd have to say, fully equipped with ablative armor. It'd be designated to help back up the flagship Excelsior. The transports would be part of that group, standing by to evacuate any survivors or transport food and medical supplies to Lysara.
b) In the opening salvoes of the war, the Lysaran fleet (controlled by the unaligned countries) and the orbiting Kestu fleet mutually annihilate each other in a huge battle. Unfortunately, it also happens to take out one of your patrol ships in the area (you decide which one) and the Tekanan transport it was escorting. Immediately following, the Kestu accuse you of helping the Lysarans and their inferior fleet.
Hmm... well, there goes one of my Intrepids. The Defiant should be able to take up that slack. My immediate response to the Kestu is that my ship defended an unarmed, uninvolved transport. I will further say that I don't frelling care about sides any more. My people and uninvolved bystanders have been killed, and this war will stop. NOW. Otherwise, I will come down on both sides with the full force of the Federation behind me. Next, I will pray that he doesn't call my bluff.
c) The war on Lysara is causing a refugee crisis on the planet, as people flee the fighting, not only to the countries the Federation is helping, but transports full of refugees head towards the Tekanan system. However, the already-stretched Tekanans don't want to give the Kestu an excuse to blow up their shiny new fleet, and refuse. As such, the refugee ships start making cycles to the Class-L world across the border. No response from those aliens is observed, though it is a clear violation of their territory.
I'd assign both of my Nebulas to escort the transports, patroling their path. I'd the Nova to orbit the class-L world, in the event that the aliens showed up.
So I now have the Nova in orbit of the L-class world; the Excelsior, two Intrepids, three transports, and a Defiant at Lysara; and both Nebulas patroling the route taken by the evac ships.
d) The conflict climaxes with the detonation of several antimatter devices on Kestu IX, wiping out the three largest cities on the planet ? and the totalitarian regime with it. Investigations reveal that the weapons used had Federation signatures. The new Kestu government, democratic, thanks the Federation for their help and ceases its involvement in the Lysaran war, effectively ending the conflict on both planets. However, both planets are effectively in ruins, and none of the fighting sides on Lysara are happy with the Federation.
WHO THE FRELL GAVE EITHER SIDE FEDERATION WEAPONRY!?
OK, now that that's been said...
First off, I'd officially recommend that we recognize the new Kestu government. I would also ask if there are any missing federation weapons that could have wound up on the black market, 'cause these things sure didn't come from my arsenal.
I'd then do whatever I could to assist in both worlds' stabilization. One transport would be diverted to Kestu, with one Intrepid and the Defiant escorting it. The other two would remain at Lysara, under the protection of the Excelsior and the other Intrepid, because Lysara would have taken far more damage in the fighting. I would request Tekanan assistance in the relief efforts.
2) Assume that the alien probe incursion mentioned in part two actually occurred. Your fleet got ahold of it, but it was mostly forgotten during the war. Now, it has been recovered and analyzed at your Starbase. It?s not a military probe ? rather, it was a distress buoy. The aliens, called the Saalit, were a resources-heavy empire that was beset upon by a biological plague during their occupation of Tekanan III. After they withdrew from the sector decades ago as a result of the plague, their empire collapsed into anarchy. Years later, a democratic regime appeared but lacked the technology to send more than automated probes asking for help before they all died. The probe was recovered long after the Saalit were supposed to have perished.
a) Describe who should be told of this information, and in what order.
Starfleet first, certainly. I will, of course, follow orders in whatever follows, but my recommendation would be to invite scientists from all three races in the sector to analyze the probe at my base. They will be told of my findings simultaneously.
b) Assume that the Saalit territory encompasses at least 20 sectors. Given your remaining resources, what kind of exploration program would you recommend to Starfleet?
MY remaining resources? Surely you're not suggesting that I use my paltry fleet to explore 20 friggin' sectors, AND maintain order in this one?
Well, assuming that its study programs were completed, I could certainly spare my Nova, and maybe an Nebula and an Intrepid. The remaining five ships should be enough to handle the quieter sector. However, to explore 20 sectors, at least one Galaxy-class would be necessary, probably in addition to two more Novas and at least one more Nebula and Intrepid.
3) The final action occurs as Tekanan III is accepted into the Federation as a full member. Per usual policy, the Tekanan military will be absorbed into Starfleet, and their infrastructure will be upgraded to Federeation par. Also, a ground-based Starbase facility (assimilating the orbital shipyards and facilities) will be constructed. This will be matched by an influx of trade into the sector beyond what you had husbanded, not to mention several powers besides the Federation which would use your sector as a base for their operations.
a) A consortium of Federation-friendly countries on Lysara has offered to buy your space-based Starbase and tow it to a neutral area of space (if it's not already in one), and have already purchased the Tekanan fleet you recommended in the previous question. They would like to use the base as a commercial hub and a base for exploration, much like you did. Would you advise Starfleet to sell the base, and why?
I would not recommend selling the base. I would instead place it under joint administration, among the Federation, Kestu, and Lysaran representatives. It would still serve the purposes of commerce and exploration, but be seen as a unifying force in the sector. (Think Babylon 5, here. )
b) It's time to move on. Starfleet has decided to send you on to Sector Beta, and to replace you with a fresh Admiral to continue your work. As your last duty in this sector, you are to brief the new guy about what you've done. Read over your responses to all the previous questions. Define what Starfleet's priorities should be in this sector, and your recommendations to your replacement as to what he should concentrate on. Also recommend a reasonable set of additional ships to complement your remaining fleet to that end.
Well, it's gotten pretty quiet now. Tekana is now officially part of the Federation, so no worries there. Kestu is democratic now, and the government is reasonably happy with us. All I see you needing to do is maintain order. Defend the shipping lanes from piracy. This will become slightly more complicated, due to the presence of what is effectively a Lysaran colony on the L-class world, but I'm sure you can handle it. Aside from that, all you really need to do is help with the rebuilding of Kestu and the stabilization of Lysara. They're both potential alies now. The station, if placed under joint control, could also be a unifying force in the area. I recommend that you maintain your flag there, instead of on the Tekanan base. If any question arises about the status of the Lysarans on the class-L world (which they really should name...), I would suggest joint colonization efforts, if possible, and placing that colony under the protection of the joint base forces. Emphasize the unity of the sector.
Oh, yes, and if you have the free time, find out who exactly it was that got their hands on multiple Starfleet antimatter warheads and used them to blow up those Kestu cities. I'd love to know how that was pulled off, as would many others, I'm sure. Especially if they have more.
c) Choose one of the starships in your fleet. It will be used to take you to Sector Beta, and will be incorporated into your fleet there.
Well, I don't want to screw over my successor...
Oh, wait. Yes I do.
I'm taking the Defiant. Excelsiors are a dime a dozen, but that Defiant is something special. I may need the firepower in Beta, and it doesn't look all that useful here.
Been fun, y'all.
*salute*
[ November 05, 2001: Message edited by: Omega ]
1 a) I'll get a big command ship now that I can. After all, Starfleet promised me one once. An Ambassador... No, make that an early Niagara, just for fun. (I still play the early 24th century game) And two transports with all those medical facilities and other goodies my already available unit has. All my transports are now shipping goods from Tekanan to Lysara, in help of the factions in need. My Mirandas hover over the region, too, while by biggest ships now gravitate towards the Kestu space. The Constellation provides early warning between Lysara and Kestu.
b) The Kestu were already once suspected of piracy (did that happen?). I use all my political leverage on that to shut these people up and make them look bad. My Niagara and Excelsiors now openly move to Kestu space to "investigate" the incident where my ship (a Miranda) was lost. The Constellation, the tender and two Mirandas go there, too, while one Miranda plus the transports try to help Lysara.
c) I ask the Tekanans to lend their ships for use against the Kestu - that'll keep them from using them to provoke the aliens. While I talk the Tekanans into providing direct refuge to the people, I also help the Lysarans to move to that class L planet. My free Miranda goes there to make sure I get the dibs for any contact with the aliens.
d) With the implication of Starfleet involvement, the Kestu crisis becomes a personal business. I assign two of the Excelsiors to long-term duty above Kestu and use their resources to find out how the bombs got there. I also start distributing Tekanan resources to help the Kestu. Their other alternative is to directly receive both Lysaran and Kestu refugees. My Mirandas go back to shipping protection, and my Constellation to the alien border.
2 a) If I promised to share the data with the Lysarans who helped me get it, I'll do so. Otherwise, it will go through Starfleet channels. Once it returns from its little Earth circuit, I'll be long gone.
b) I recommend an initial recce mission by two large independently operating starships, with a second wave prepared using the Sector Alpha starbase as the staging post. This second wave will include smaller, more "dependent" vessels and the construction of a supply infrastructure. I promote Tekanan involvement in the project, as well as the permission to start settling the class L planet at once for local needs.
3 a) I would let the Lysarans buy the base, but I would set initial conditions for the base to act in support of the Starfleet push to Saalit space. That would give SF some control over how the station is run early on. I also want Starfleet to set monitoring outposts close to the (former) Saalit border - these will compensate for the loss of the starbase.
b) For now, rebuilding is the priority, and PD concerns should no longer arise. I recommend continuing the use of Mirandas for shipping protection and the applying of Starfleet transports for humanitarian help. I further recommend that the Excelsiors be kept above Kestu and the story of the SF bombs be investigated. Finally, a proper starport should now be built on Kestu as well, to provide a balance of trade - the new government there should be brought closer to the UFP by this project.
As for the arsenal, I recommend that small local-defence ships be added in great numbers for shipping control. Also, I'd like the Tekanans to build more ships (Excelsiors, mainly) for local use if the bastards really sold their initial batch to the Lysarans...
c) Again, I'd prefer to start with a lone explorer doing the initial recce and then setting shop. So I sail off in my new Niagara.
Timo Saloniemi
Suggest you go ahead and post Beta. This thread'll still be here.
Mark
[ November 16, 2001: Message edited by: Mark Nguyen ]
Monday. Honest. Just...wait.
1a) Two more Sonoma-class transports, USS Tien Shan (NCC-5318) & USS Berkshire (NCC-4908), & one Niagara-class cruiser, USS Great Wall (NCC-35019).
1b) So much for Lagos.
1c) The war on Lysara is causing a refugee crisis on the planet, as people flee the fighting – not only to the countries the Federation is helping, but transports full of refugees head towards the Tekanan system. However, the already-stretched Tekanans don’t want to give the Kestu an excuse to blow up their shiny new fleet, and refuse. As such, the refugee ships start making cycles to the Class-L world across the border. No response from those aliens is observed, though it is a clear violation of their territory.
Um...OK. Good to know. This is a statement, not a situation. If it WERE, I'd keep an ye on them & send a Peashooter sniffing around the border so I wasn't caught with my britches down.
1d) The conflict climaxes with the detonation of several antimatter devices on Kestu IX, wiping out the three largest cities on the planet – and the totalitarian regime with it. Investigations reveal that the weapons used had Federation signatures. The new Kestu government, democratic, thanks the Federation for their help and ceases its involvement in the Lysaran war, effectively ending the conflict on both planets. However, both planets are effectively in ruins, and none of the fighting sides on Lysara are happy with the Federation.
And so is this. Again, let them alone & see my remarks to New Guy.
2a) In order:
Starfleet Operations
Starfleet Intelligence
Office of Exploration
(eventually) "New Guy"
2b) Discreet exploration & lurking by no less than 3 vessels, of the "light explorer" type, probably nothing greater than an Intrepid.
3) The final action occurs as Tekanan III is accepted into the Federation as a full member. Per usual policy, the Tekanan military will be absorbed into Starfleet, and their infrastructure will be upgraded to Federeation par. Also, a ground-based Starbase facility (assimilating the orbital shipyards and facilities) will be constructed. This will be matched by an influx of trade into the sector beyond what you had husbanded, not to mention several powers besides the Federation which would use your sector as a base for their operations.
3a) Yes, with provisos. Having a non-military site could prove beneficial, especially when those "less than ethical" measures are requried. I would also recommend help from the Ferengi Alliance in attracting viable merchants.
3b) "The Kestu were an especially tricky people. I've no doubt they'll try to rise again. But the Lysarans will want revenge as well; treat them both as you would fighting siblings. The Tekanni...well, they may be new entries, but I'm still hinky about them. If anything smells of the faintest whiff of weird, investigate; it'll do you good. As forthe Saalit exploration, keep a good eye on that as weell. No telling what we'll find around there, & about whom."
Recommended vessel updates: lots of patrol vessels, mainly frigates (New Orleans & Bastilles), scouts (Freedoms) & destroyers (Junos & Minervas)
3c) Akureyri.
1A – Priorities (in no particular order)
(i) Send an investigation team to check out the big nebula in grid 5,1 (my own system having split the map into one-day grids). This would be to ensure that there is nothing evil hidden there which could attack any ships or planet.
(ii) Explore the Class-L planet without initiating hostile retaliation from the reclusive alien race.
(iii) Provide aid to Tekanan III and prepare them for entry into the Federation
(iv) Possibly assist with the trade that is currently present in the sector by providing additional ships that could act as defenders as well as transporters.
(v) Patrol the boarder to ensure no attack comes from the reclusive aliens and if it does, intercept it as best my forces can.
(vi) Engage in diplomatic missions to both Lysara and Kestu IX to ensure their continued support to Starfleet’s presence in the sector as well as improve relations with the long-term goal of getting them to become members. An extension of this would be to ensure that all three planets behave themselves and improve relations with each other as the trade between them has already started to.
(vii) Attempt to contact the reclusive race in a peaceful manner – but after all defences are in place. I definitely don’t want them to double-cross me when my pants are wrapped around my ankles – no thank you very much!
1B – Starbase location
Tekanan III is not yet a member world so placing the starbase in orbit of that planet would be premature. Lysara appears to be in favour of the Federation and so placing the starbase in orbit of Tekanan III might miff them off a bit. Kestu IX is neutral, but that doesn’t mean that they might one day align themselves with the Federation. Therefore I’d place the starbase in a position at an equal distance between the three planets in my 3,3 grid.
1C – Starship deployment
Non-combatants: I’d probably go for two Intrepid-class vessels as they are capable of exploration and can also serve a military role if needed. One would check out the nebula while the other would check the Class-L planet. Once the nebula has been checked that Intrepid will assist the one at the planet. Upon completion of the planetary survey, I’d move the Intrepids to boarder patrol duty.
Knowing from Sector Beta that my command ship is an Excelsior-II-class vessel, this will obviously be my command ship. I’ll locate it in grid 2,3 above the starbase and closer to Kestu IX as it has the largest military fleet and I’d like to be close to a trouble spot so that I can see any situation quickly and first-hand.
I’ll assume that there are three trade routes – two from each planet. Therefore I’ll want to ensure that they are all protected. For this I think that I shall use three Akira-class vessels – one for each route. These ships carry heavy weaponry and can also accommodate utility craft that could be used to assist in the recovery efforts of Tekanan III. This capacity could also be used for carrying three squadrons (36 craft in all) of attack fighters which would be used to defend any convoy that is attacked. Their primary goal therefore is convoy defence and their secondary is to provide support to any of the inhabited planets should they need it. That support could take any form.
The remaining four ships I’d like to be multi-role capable. This would mean that they would either be Nebula-, Niagara-, Excelsior-, New Orleans-, Miranda- or Constellation-class. Niagaras have been classed as fast cruisers – ideal for defence and intercepting incursions; Nebulas are smaller versions of Galaxys and therefore are suited for almost anything such as cargo transportation, defence or personnel transport; Excelsiors can likewise be used in a similar fashion as the Nebulas. New Orleans would make excellent interceptors and would be ideal for making the inhabitants of Kestu IX think twice before attacking anyone; Mirandas would be good as patrol or cargo ships; Constellations would be useful for defence and boarder patrols.
Given the choice I’d probably go for a mixture – two Nebulas and two Excelsiors. If there are no Nebulas available I’d make it four Excelsiors. I’d use them for patrols, cargo runs and diplomatic missions.
I chose to criticise all answers.
Everybody’s answer appears to be OK. The only problem I have is the merchant fleet issue. How can every convoy be defended at once? A fine balance needs to be made but with the boarder being patrolled as well I don’t think it can be covered very well. However if the Akira’s in my plan were to come with some runabout and the starbase was equipped with some that might help a bit. So too would the attack fighters – they could extend the patrol range of the Akiras. Mmm, some more thought is needed me thinks.
2B – Loose two largest/best equipped ships from fleet.
This is a toughie. Largest (determined by length) would be Excelsiors. Best equipped – I’d say Nebula. Or it could be Akiras with their fighters/runabouts. Which ones do I loose? I’ll go for two Nebulas. As a result of this loss I’d assign the two Excelsiors on primary diplomatic duty with secondary duties of defence.
2C – Possible scenarios
(i) Pirate Attacks
Well since I still have my Akira’s this should be no problem. Having each ship fitted with three squadrons of attack fighters they’d make pretty good “hunt and destroy” groups. I could always pull some runabouts from the starbase to assist in the interception/hunting missions as well as pull the two extra Excelsiors from their diplomatic duties (leaving the teams on the planets). I could also use my command ship as well.
(ii) The nearest ships would be my command ship – the USS Courageous, NCC-62579 and one or both of the Intrepids that would now be on boarder patrol. If the planetary survey is not finished then the other ship would be the Excelsior on diplomatic duties at Kestu IX. I’d move my command ship to investigate with the other Excelsior also as support. I’d also put all ships within the sector on yellow alert and have the nearest Akiras move closer to the boarder (the ones on the Kestu IX/Tekanan trade route and the Kestu/Lysar route).
(iii) I would take my command ship to Tekanan III and respond personally that a ship has been sent to investigate. This ship would be one of the Akiras – whichever is closest (probably the one on the Kestu/Lysara route). I’d move a second Akira (Tekanan/Lysara route) and the Excelsior on diplomatic duty at Lysara into a support position which does not hinder convoy defence. Should the convoys look threatened at this time I’d pull one of the two Intrepids over to investigate while pulling the other back onto my side of the boarder to ensure it is not considered to be trespassing.
2D – My own scenario!
A distress signal is received from a Kestu taskforce. Upon arriving at the scene you discover that of the ships engaged in the fleet manoeuvres (5 warships and 10 fighters) only two warships remain in one piece – both being heavily damaged and requiring immediate evacuation – and only one fighter left but crippled and with the pilot dead. This event has severely weakened the Kestu’s position and strength in the sector, but (excluding Starfleet) it is still the most powerful and well defended. The other two planets don’t want you to assist the Kestu forces – if you do then Tekanan will withdraw its application to join the Federation. While Lysara has made no demands, its trade to Kestu has been reduced by fifteen percent and its warships have moved closer to Kestu. The cause of this incident appears to be a catastrophic “accident” with the training packages that caused the ships to fire using full-powered weapons rather than simulated. With no shields, the ships were exposed and easily vulnerable. Sabotage is suspected. You should also consider that the Kestu, should you not assist them, will declare all non-Kestu enemies and declare war on everyone in the sector as they suspect everyone in playing a part in this sabotage. What do you do? Do you help the Kestu forces rescue their injured crews and investigate who is responsible for the sabotage? Would you be willing to risk losing the Tekanan membership? Or would you stay out of it and face a war?
David Templar’s scenario
Civil unrest – an internal affair I’m afraid. However I can still play a part in it. I’d move both of my Intrepids to the nebula to serve as reassurance that there are no hostile forces there. I’d also pull my command ship over to protect the convoys. If there are hostiles in the nebula then the addition of three ships should help reduce the Lysarans fears. If there are no hostiles then I’d present the evidence to the monarch as Timo also suggests so that he can re-deploy his forces without looking a fool and while making it look as though the trade guilds have managed to persuade the monarch to change. The monarch will owe me a favour, which I might cash in sometime soon.
Omega’s scenario
I’d pull the Excelsior on diplomatic duty at Kestu to help hunt for the rogue ship with an Akira and my command ship. I’d want to capture the ship and its crew so that they could be interrogated and sentenced. If that were the case then I’d ask for the trial to take place on Tekanan III – neutral to the conflict. Both parties could voice their story and (with Starfleet’s assistance) the Tekanan’s would pass sentence. If the rogue ship gives my forces no choice but to destroy it – fine. It removes a rogue ship and makes the Lysaran’s happy and also removes a warship from the Kestu fleet – making them that bit weaker.
3B – Assassination and military manoeuvres
(i) I’m assuming that the trade from Lysara would stop and therefore free two of my Akira’s. I’d move one of them to support my other Akira to help defend the last remaining convoy, which would undoubtedly come under greater pirate attack. The Excelsior would remain in orbit of Lysara to attempt to maintain some order and stand-by should any evacuation be required. My command ship would move “south” of the starbase to grid 4,3 ready to offer additional help. One of the Akiras would join the Excelsior as support.
Upon the arrival of the Kestu ships I’d have my command ship move in too and pull another Akira in also. I’d recall my Intrepids from their mission to be closer to my starbase and any other possible Kestu forces that are lurking.
(ii) First off I’d investigate the assassination to see if there is any external involvement or whether it is simply a revolution. I am however bound by the prime directive. I’d try and prevent or at least slow the Kestu involvement by offering assistance. As I have superior technology and resources, they’d be inclined to take it. I’d do my best to bend the rules in order to prevent weapons being transferred down. If that can’t be done then I’d supply weapons to areas that don’t to “restore the balance”. (Kirk did that once didn’t he?) I’d request additional starship support for the area – Nebulas, New Orleans’, more Akiras and Excelsiors as I’d like to keep Tekanan III safe while still being able to protect the remaining convoy. I’d also ask for one or two medical ships to help any wounded on the planet as well as ask for some troops.
(iii) With only an Excelsior present, I’d be hard-pressed to defend myself. I’d call in the two closest Akiras as well as my command ship. I’d also call in my Excelsior at Kestu IX and my two Intrepids to defend my starbase and Tekanan with them in a position to reinforce my ships at Lysara quickly if need be.
3C – Tekanan fleet upgrade
This upgrade will take a year – no immediate threat. I’d recommend that the Tekanans should use their ships to primarily defend their world and patrol their local area. I’d have my fleet re-deployed to render aid to the Lysara’s should it be needed and to ensure that the Kestu forces don’t become world occupiers (all work done within the Prime Directive where possible). I’d pull my other ships to create a curved defensive line to protect my starbase and Tekanan III from any hostile forces from Kestu IX and Lysara with the additional Tekanan ships providing support to mine.
(i) Combat ship would be at least a Nebula, with an eye towards an Ambassador or Galaxy. The other ships would be an Olympic and an old Miranda or Constellation fitted out for cargo or personnel transportation.
(ii) Oh dear, I’ve managed to lose an Excelsior 
. I’d point out to the Kestu that my Excelsior was defending an unarmed transport and that over 750 of my people have been lost. I’d also point out that I’m pissed off and that more Federation ships are on the way. If they want a war on two fronts that’s fine with me!
(iii) I’d get the Tekanans to aid the refugees by jointly setting up a camp on the Class-L world. Knowing that this violates the alien territory I’d get the Tekanans to defend it with their ships on the pretence that they’d get control of the planet in the future. That way I don’t risk my ships and I can still deal with the Lysara incident.
(iv) Obviously I’d render humanitarian aid to both planets while investigating the explosions in order to determine where the devices came from. I’d move my Intrepids, Akira’s and command ship to the boarder in case of alien retaliation. The new combatant ship will also move towards Kestu IX in case the new government tries anything while the two support ships that came with it will split their time between the two planets.
4B – New information
(i) I’d tell everyone at the same time. With their large industry, the Tekanans would be in the better position to expand their territory as well as assist in its exploration. The other two worlds would be busy licking their wounds.
(ii) I’d obviously send the two Intrepids out to explore while also getting the Tekanans to assist with their Excelsior equivalents. I’d consider using the Excelsiors and the Nebula for exploration while keeping the Akiras and support ships in the sector to maintain order and continue offering aid. Any exploration should be done with caution as their could still be traces of the plague that wiped out the Saalit race.
4C – Acceptance
(i) I would not sell the starbase. I’d have it crewed by members of all three races, but the administrators would be from Starfleet – DS9/Babylon 5 style. If the Lysaran have the Tekanan fleet – that buggers my exploration plan – to hell with it. If they do have that fleet I definitely don’t want to give them any more firepower to cause trouble with.
(ii) Watch the Kestu IX and Lysara. Also keep an eye on the Lysara/Tekanan colony on the Class-L planet – may be potential for further conflict. Rendering aid to Kestu IX and Lysara is still a priority, so is exploration and expansion. For this I’d have the Tekanans build more ships – Excelsiors – for they’d be good for exploration and defence since the dopey bastards gave their first batch away.
Starfleet should also provide adequate protection for the expanding colonies – Mirandas would be a good choice, with a few Norways, New Orleans and perhaps a couple of Excelsiors and Nebulas. I’d go for lots of Excelsiors – they were produced by the shipyard-full and are ideal for exploration, cargo transportation and patrol duties.
I’d also have the new admiral keep looking in on the anti-matter explosives. I’d like to know where they came from and whether there are any more that might throw a hydrospanner in the works.
(iii) Already chosen for me – Excelsior-II-class Starship, USS Courageous!
Don’t forget to have a go at my scenario in 2D! (If you want that is). I’d be interested in the responses.
My Mirandas would be escorting Tekanani/Lysaran merchant convoys at the time. I'd point out that this service is something I do on goodwill, not because it's on the Starfleet Charter. And the Tekanans should be able to read between the lines that the convoy escort ops are an anti-Kestu measure, and thus proof enough that I *don't* unfairly support the enemies of the Tekanans.
I'd naturally move my starship tender to the Kestu disaster zone to assist. She ought to be of help there. Plus, I get a chance to examine Kestu ships close up, for future reference. The accusations of sabotage I'd promise to help investigate, but I'd also be very "diplomatic" about it, so my failure to go aggressively into it would look like "courtesy" and "unwillingness to meddle unduly" to the Kestu.
Timo Saloniemi
quote:More to come in a little while!
From: Rear Admiral Dan Carlson, Sector Alpha
To: Fleet Admiral Mark Nguyen, Sector 001
Re: Fleet Assets in Sector Alpha
After reviewing the current political and historical background of Sector Alpha, and considering the current environment of the region, I hereby request that the following ships be assigned to my command:
1 Galaxy-class explorer
1 Nebula-class heavy cruiser
1 Excelsior-class cruiser
3 New Orleans-class frigates
1 Cheyenne-class fast frigate
2 Springfield-class scouts
I believe that these vessels are necessary in order to patrol the space lanes between the three planets of the sector, to provide for the defense of Federation allies, and to explore the various scientific phenomena in the region. I would also remind the Admiral of the currently unknown alien race (classified as Threat Alpha 9-5) which in the recent past caused vast devastation on Tekanan III, and has been known to operate in the sector adjacent to Sector Alpha.
The Galaxy-class explorer would be used both as a diplomatic embassy to promote peaceful relations in the sector, and to explore the region adjacent to Sector Alpha to the galactic north. Should hostilities break out, the ship will also serve as the primary defense flagship.
The Nebula-class heavy cruiser will serve as the primary patrol ship in the sector, alternatively monitoring the Tekanan-Kestu trade route and the northern border of the sector.
The Excelsior-class cruiser will serve as an auxiliary patrol cruiser, monitoring the Tekanan-Lysara and Lysara-Kestu trade routes, as well as the region south of Lysara.
The three New Orleans-class frigates will patrol the space lanes and protect trade vessels from any pirates in the region, as well as be on hand to provide assistance as necessary. Should hostilities break out, these three ships will for the primary tactical wing (along with the Nebula heavy cruiser).
The Cheyenne-class fast frigate will serve as a quick-response vessel to any emergency situations which develop.
One Springfield-class scout will monitor the northern border with the Threat Force, while the other will be detailed to scientific analysis of the Really Big Nebula along the southern frontier.
Proposed Deployment Chart
Signed,
Rear Admiral Dan Carlson
quote:I lost a Galaxy and a Nebula. These were going to be my two heavy-hitters, and I'm left with only one cruiser-type starship now. After this little cost-saving reduction, my total fleet tonnage is reduced by about half! This is a major cutback, here. (Thanks, Mark!)
Starships assigned to Sector Alpha:
USS Fredrickson, Excelsior-class, NCC-42111
USS Agincourt, New Orleans-class, NCC-65183
USS Thomas Paine, New Orleans-class, NCC-65530
USS Champion, New Orleans-class, NCC-57476
USS Delaware, Cheyenne-class, NCC-71019
USS T'sao Chan, Springfield-class, NCC-57284
USS Asimov, Springfield-class, NCC-57311
Current Fleet Deployment, Version 1
quote:1) Given the answers in Part (4) of the previous question, answer any TWO of the situations presented.
Starships assigned to Sector Alpha:
USS Fredrickson, Excelsior-class, NCC-42111
USS Agincourt, New Orleans-class, NCC-65183
USS Thomas Paine, New Orleans-class, NCC-65530
USS Champion, New Orleans-class, NCC-57476
USS Delaware, Cheyenne-class, NCC-71019
USS T'sao Chan, Springfield-class, NCC-57284
USS Asimov, Springfield-class, NCC-57311
Current Fleet Deployment, Version 1
quote:Simple. I tell the Lysarans that there's no cause for a full-fleet alert, and tell them to send their ships back on to commerce patrol duty. Just to keep them happy, though, I send the Delaware and the Thomas Paine out to keep an eye on the nebula for a week or two.
Originally posted by David Templar:
The redistribution of naval forces in the sector has left the trade routes all but unprotected. Despite the increased tension, races like the Lysaraian still maintain a good deal of trade to support their economy. That trade is now being threatened like never before. The Lysaraian Monarch is faced with the tough choice of either guarding the nebula-facing region, or the trade routes. He chooses the nebula. As a result, the powerful trade guilds of Lysara began actively challanging the Monarch. Civil unrest ensues, and there is much division inside the Monarch's court. All in all, the government of Lysara effectly grinds to a halt. Fearful of negative opinion from the Federation and the reprecussion from the trade guilds of using force to quell the unrest, the Monarch has asked for your help.
quote:Hmm, this is a difficult decision. However, the Prime Directive must remain paramount -- this qualifies as a planetary civil war, and is by definition an internal affair. I won't get involved directly... but I WILL put some diplomatic pressure on the Kestu government to initiate some reforms, and acknowledge the democratic movements.
Originally posted by Harry:
Kestan resistance groups, controlling a few countries on the planet, have united and now call themselves the Freedom Alliance and demand recognition and humanitarian aide by the Federation. The totalitarian regime warns the Federation that they will not tolerate any interference in what they call 'internal affairs' and threaten to attack Tekanan if necessary. Still, the rebels seem to have strong support networks around the Kestran globe.
quote:1) The diplomatic situation crumbles on Lysara, resulting in a declaration of war on the planet between a group of countries unaligned since the assassination, on the alliance of countries that are backed by the Kestu. This war is being fought mostly on the ground, but is spilling into local space in the binary system, through the use of mostly sublight ships. Starfleet has ordered you to offer aid to the countries that have asked for it, not to the countries that are fighting, and to stay out of the conflict. However, they have assigned a combat starship and two more transports to your fleet (you decide what classes). The following situations arise; what would your response be?
Starships assigned to Sector Alpha:
USS Fredrickson, Excelsior-class, NCC-42111
USS Agincourt, New Orleans-class, NCC-65183
USS Thomas Paine, New Orleans-class, NCC-65530
USS Champion, New Orleans-class, NCC-57476
USS Delaware, Cheyenne-class, NCC-71019
USS T'sao Chan, Springfield-class, NCC-57284
USS Asimov, Springfield-class, NCC-57311
Current Fleet Deployment, Version 3
quote:b) In the opening salvoes of the war, the Lysaran fleet (controlled by the unaligned countries) and the orbiting Kestu fleet mutually annihilate each other in a huge battle. Unfortunately, it also happens to take out one of your patrol ships in the area (you decide which one) and the Tekanan transport it was escorting. Immediately following, the Kestu accuse you of helping the Lysarans and their inferior fleet.
New Additions to Task Force 114:
USS Truxton, Akira-class, NCC-64901
USS Banff, Istanbul-class, NCC-38562
USS Glacier, Istanbul-class, NCC-38715
quote:Well, I specifically said that part of the mission was going to be to explore the Uncharted Territories beyond the northern border. Given that there were potentially hostile forces operating in the region, I wouldn't have sent any lesser ship in to look around. Also, I've always thought that Nebulas are a bit "cheaper" than the Galaxies in terms of resources, and therefore are a bit more numerous even though they're almost comparable in terms of size.
Question One - A Galaxy, -and- a Nebula? That's some heavy metal for a frontier sector.
quote:No, it was my intention that the Kestu were stopping ALL of the ships coming into the system, but the Tekanans were raising more of a fuss about it. Should've made that more clear.
Hm. Is this -only- vs. Tekanan ships?
quote:Well, I specifically said that part of the mission was going to be to explore the Uncharted Territories beyond the northern border. Given that there were potentially hostile forces operating in the region, I wouldn't have sent any lesser ship in to look around. Also, I've always thought that Nebulas are a bit "cheaper" than the Galaxies in terms of resources, and therefore are a bit more numerous even though they're almost comparable in terms of size.
Question One - A Galaxy, -and- a Nebula? That's some heavy metal for a frontier sector.
quote:No it's not
Well, let's start with a few assumptions. I've constructed a series of simple maps, each detailing a single sector of space. The first one is "Sector Alpha", and is found here:
http://www.anime-alberta.org/~mark/trek-temp/Admiral-1.jpg
