Topic: The return of "You're The Admiral!"--Dorza Sector
Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
Member # 343
posted
QUESTION FIVE (four parts)
1: The Gorn heavy fleet has entered the sector from the "upper right" & are gunning for bear. Starfleet sensor probes have noted 20 separate warp signatures & analysts have determined the compostion of the heavy fleet as the following:
two (2) battleships [Negh'Var equivalent]
four (4) battlecruisers [Vor'cha equivalent]
six (6) cruisers [Akira equivalent]
four (4) frigates [Steamrunner equivalent]
four (4) destroyers [Bird-of-Prey equivalent]
Additionally, each battleship of this class is known to embark 15-25 attack scouts [Gemini or Peregrine equivalent]
There is no doubt: they will be reinforcing the expeditionary force in the next 3 days. How will your fleet deploy to handle this numerically superior force? Will they redeploy at all? What (if any) diplomatic measures have/are you taken/taking?
2: All is not entirely lost. Starfleet has monitored the situation & the Quadrant Commander has sent you reinforcements as well in the form of the 29th & 96th Rapid Response Squadrons. Each squadron is 6 vessels, comprised of 2 frigates, 3 destroyers, & a scout. The complement of each is as follows:
In command of both squadrons is Fleet Captain Vehnil Shaala, an Andorian with broad border experience & well-known for a tactical genius. Six years earlier, he was a lieutenant at the outbreak of the Dominion War & was rapidly promoted through the ranks due to his actions in battle. A seasoned verteran of the Battle of Tyra, the Kalandra Sector Offensive, & the Pullock raid, FCPT Shaala has a reputation for being as quick to calm as he is to the gun. He is embarked aboard Basilisk & is in continuous contact with you.
The bad news is that the RRF will not arrive for another 5 days--two days after the Gorn get in. However, FCPT Shaala is aware of the enemy composition & wishes to begin tactical planning en route. Describe your battle plan. Describe actions to be taken & rationales behind them. Finally, although these ships are under FCPT Shaala's command & he is an excellent tactician, he has never fought the Gorn before. Do you go to the front & take command of the entire fleet? Do you command only your standing fleet & coordinate with the RRF? Do you let FCPT Shaala take overall command?
3: You were able to find a mediator to satsify both sides in the Dorzan crisis & for the past week the talks seem to have been going well until a long hard day of where no progress is made. Near the end of the day, the Dorzan governmental delegation storms out of the talks. The next day, it is reported that the rebels have killed a hostage, but their representatives insist it was an accidental death. The crisis flares anew and mere hours after the announcement, your intelligence chief runs into your office & reports that the Dorzans have launched assault ships. To add fuel, his moles report that the government plans to simply lay waste to the area & level the entire colony. What actions to do take (or not)? Will you be able to pull it off & still uphold the Prime Directive?
4: Another blip from the head of sector operations. Good news! The Semman ships (numbering 3) are NOT entering the Trusteeship Zone. Bad news: they DO seem to be headed for the blockade point. Were you born under an unlucky sign or something?
And a slight giftie: The Monsieur of Minutiae has given us a lovely close-up map of the ZTZ including expected attack routes. Please note that the Gorn force is not INSIDE the ZTZ but rather above" it at the border; the 2D planar nature of this map only makes it seem that they have violated. They have not.
And maybe if he's nice & you ask politely, he'll make you one without the route markers for you to make battle plan graphics with if you like.
-------------------- "The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"
Registered: Jun 2000
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Q5a & b: Regretting having so many of those Istanbul�s right about now. Well questions one and two kinda go hand in hand. But first I�ll mention the diplomatic efforts being made. The Diplomatic Corps was of course appraised of the situation and encouraged to begin the defusing process. I�ve also asked Intelligence to delve into why the Gorn are interested in the ZTZ now (other than to get me all riled up). Operations wise I would recommend putting pressure along the Gorn/UFP border sectors. I however work under the understanding that the Gorn don�t do a whole lot of things that make a lick�a sense or by any rules that could be construed as civilized. As to whom is in command, FCPT Shaala will control his Task Force while I will use mine to slow the Gorn advance long enough for Shaala to get there. Once we�ve connected he�ll take overall tactical command of both fleets. In order to perform this holding action I must therefore move against the Gorn fleet at the ZTZ border. My first act would be to disable the Gorn ships at the blockade, calling my Istanbuls to take the prisoners to 403 and then putting skeleton crews on the Gorn ships. Packing the Gorn ships with explosives and either manning them for a one way trip or using holograms and remote control I�ll send the Gorn ships back to the Gorn fleet. I�ll make no effort to hide where we are and I�ll use the Gorn ships to transmit a short range distress signal telling the Gorn fleet that they�re running back to the safety of the fleet. Once in the fleets perimeter the captured Gorn ships will open fire and crash into the battleships and battlecruisers. This should thin out the Gorn ships. I would then transmit a message similar to �Neener! Neener! Neeener!� and with luck this will cause the Gorn fleet to change course and pursue. We�ll lead them further from the ZTZ, but not enough to cause Shaala�s Task Force additional travel time. It�ll be a tough balance, but the goal is to present the Gorn�s flank to Shaala right before the Gorn finally catch up with my own task force. As I said earlier, Shaala will take overall tactical command of the fleets. I will offer the Gorn the chance to leave, returning their ships to them, and allowing two ships to transport the Gorn prisoners from 403 back to Gornland. The other option involves Fleet Captain Shaala forcibly removing the Gorn from the sector. Now if you�ll remember, I had asked the Dorzan�s to act as a part of my shadow fleet to confuse the Gorn, I would ask them to escort the Istanbul�s back to 403 and hang around there for a few days; my wishes are to use them in a non-combat role and after the first battle there will be nothing but combat.
Q5c: I would move my ships into the middle, between the outpost and the Dorzan ships. I would demand an immediate stand-down or any chance of entering the Federation will be lost and aggressive action would have to be taken to ensure the Federation personnel/hostages are safe. The Rebels would not be free of my wraith a Starfleet medical team would have to be allowed in to treat the hostages and be observers as to their treatment. Any critical medical cases would have to be evacuated immediately. Four hostages would also have to be released as a sign of good faith (two Dozans and two UFP citizens). This is non-negotiable. Both sides must be at the table the next day.
Q5d: Such good news!! And to make sure it really is good news I�ll send two of my Nova�s to make contact (since all my other ships are in combat by now). The Nova�s will learn of the Semman�s intent � if to help then they will be added to FCPT Shaala�s fleet but if they come to add trouble the Nova�s will warp past them straight for Semma. It�s doubtful the Semman�s will know the Nova�s capabilities so they should follow them back to their home world. By then the rest of the fleet should be able to respond.
Registered: May 2002
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Woah! Is this a border skirmish or a reenactment of the Dominion War? If the Gorn are planning a bluff, this is one hell of a bluff! This changes my strategy, kinda in the same way that a runabout reverses course when it sees a Borg cube coming. (Okay, maybe not that extreme, but you get my drift?)
There's no way that my fleet could possibly hold a blockade against this kind of force, assuming the Gorn want to actually fight it out. Sure, my fleet will have the obvious advantage of smaller size and extreme maneuverability, but I'm quite sure that those battlewagons will be packing plenty of firepower. The best we could possibly do is try to buy time by disabling the colony transport as originally planned, but then immediately retreating back to Starbase 403. There's little point in the Gorn actually invading the ZTZ, since most of the materiel will be on the transport (although I'd bet that the battlewagons probably have the resources to set up some kind of military outpost).
Hmm... on second thought, one could argue that the large size of the Gorn fleet is intended to be a show of force to try to get me to back down. I'll be burning up the comm lines to Starfleet Intelligence to see if there's any other, similar activity along the other sectors of the Gorn frontier. If there is some activity, then the Gorn are obviously planning to take on the Federation. But if not, then it's got to be a bluff. Or at worst, something that the Gorn don't intend to escalate beyond the level of a border skirmish. So potentially, there's the chance that preemptively striking the advance force before the reinforcements arrive will end up calling the whole thing off.
Diplomatic overtures will become much more insistent. I will reiterate that if the reinforcements don't turn around and go home, I will be forced to act in self-defense. There will be an ultimatum sent, giving them 48 hours (or rather, until the reinforcements are 24 hours away from arrival) to withdraw. I will also reiterate my offer to recognize the Gorn claim to AJ-946, the habitable world outside the ZTZ, so that the Gorn colonists' trip out this way won't be in vain. Just to show that I'm deadly serious about the timing of my ultimatum, I will have my comm officer continuously broadcast an old tune from an ancient Earth entertainment program called Jeopardy! until they reach a decision.
And finally, I'll be burning the comm lines to San Francisco, wondering why the hell the Federation Council hasn't gotten involved in this situation!
It occurs to me that I should justify my reasons for launching a preemptive strike before the Gorn reinforcements arrive. Certainly part of it is the numbers issue, since I'd have no chance of winning a straight fight if I just waited for the Gorn to come. But also, I want to launch an active defense (i.e. "the best defense is a good offense") in the hopes of convincing the Gorn that the Federation is willing to defend any part of its territory, even one that's "just" a Prime Directive Trusteeship. It's psychology and brinksmanship, based on the knowledge that the Gorn really don't have a hope of winning any long-term conflict with the Federation. (Especially since we'd also get the Klingons involved in any full-scale war.)
== Part Two ==
Finally, some good news. Except, jeez� It seems I'm going to be rescued by Frankenstein's fleet! What kind of hallucinogenics were the starship designers taking when they laid down the specs for those classes? And where can I get some? (No, scratch that� I don't want my sense of perspective and spatial orientation distorted that badly.)
Anyway... this also revises my plan somewhat. Obviously my extant forces won't be able to hold off the entire Gorn fleet, but now I've got a fighting chance. The initial part of the plan will proceed as before � if the Gorn haven't turned around by the time they're 24 hours away, I'm launching a preemptive strike. My five combat ships will pin down and disable the three escorting warships, while the 114th Fighter Squadron performs surgical strikes on the transport, doing as much damage as possible to the engines without endangering the civilians inside. The important part here, is to ensure that the transport and the civilians don't go anywhere, thus ensuring that any further combat isn't complicated by the presence of civilians. I have no reservations about bombarding any military outpost from orbit, but a civilian colony is completely different. But I'm getting a little ahead of myself here.
After the preemptive strike is complete, I will effect a retreat of all my forces back to G5-Q25, approximately 4LY away to the "west." The Starfleet RRF will be able to rendezvous with my forces right there, approximately one day later. Thus, we'll be able to form up into a single, cohesive unit and immediately charge back into the ZTZ to meet the Gorn, hopefully before they get their act together and land on any of the planets. (I'm going to assume that the Gorn want to leave Zemch itself alone... their current forces aren't nearly enough for any kind of planetary invasion, even if it's a pre-warp culture. Plus, that wouldn't be worth their while when there are four other habitable systems they think are worth fighting over. Thus, I probably shouldn't have to worry about any immediate Prime Directive concerns for this immediate engagement.)
At that point, the Gorn will have had about two days to get their act together, from the arrival of their reinforcements at the original confrontation point. (That'd be three days from the time I launched my attack.) If they simply stay put and cluster around their disabled ships, we'll reestablish the blockade. If they enter the ZTZ, the intercept time will be shorter, but their arrival in any of the star systems (most likely to be CD-183, since it's the closest to the confrontation point) will be close enough to the arrival of our forces that they won't be able to entrench themselves anywhere. And at that point, all we have to do is make too much trouble for the Gorn to think it worthwhile to set up an outpost there.
Just to be clear, the main goal of the retreat after my preemptive strike is that I don't want my own fleet anywhere nearby when the Gorn reinforcements arrive. No way can I possibly hold the blockade outnumbered four to one.
TIMETABLE: D+0: Gorn are one day away, Starfleet three days away, from confrontation point (CP). Starfleet is only two days away from G5-Q25, the rendezvous point (RP). I launch my preemptive strike and immediately retreat to RP. D+1: Gorn arrive at CP, I arrive at RP. Starfleet is one day away from RP. D+2: Starfleet joins my fleet at RP, and we head back into the ZTZ. D+3: Starfleet returns to CP to reestablish blockade, or intercepts Gorn force inside ZTZ.
Also, as with my command in Sector Beta, I'm perfectly willing to have Captain Shaala take overall command of the tactical side of combat, while I retain full charge of the strategic side of the operation. (This is a decision not without precedent... after all, I'm pretty sure that there had to be an admiral or two somewhere in the 600+ fleet that went to retake Deep Space 9 during the Dominion War, yet the force was commanded by Captain Sisko.)
== Part Three ==
Meh, fanatics on both sides. Are there still Federation citizens on the colony, or were they successfully evacuated? (Shik, an answer will be needed.)
If we were unable to extract the Federation citizens, then I'll send Runnymede back to the Dorzan system, and I'll declare my right to intervene in order to defend Federation citizens. I'll spend an hour or two sending some nastygrams to the Dorzan government, demanding that they halt their assault and threatening just about everything short of actual war. Obviously the Runnymede, being two days distant, won't be able to do anything to intervene if the Dorzans decide to blow me off, but hopefully the Dorzans will be smart. If not, Runnymede will do what it can to rescue any survivors, Federation and rebels both.
If the Federation citizens are already extracted, then I'll keep Runnymede for the Gorn engagement. Although I obviously would like to stop the apparently imminent Dorzan slaughter, I can't justify endangering my officer's lives to violate the Prime Directive when the rest of my fleet is fighting to protect the Prime Directive. (Because even a combustible flying human shield might be able to account for a fighter or two before it spontaneously explodes from one of the Gorn pilots looking at it cross-eyed. ) Therefore, I'll threaten the Dorzan government with a complete severance of trade relations with the Federation, as well as a complete rejection of their Federation membership application (rather than just a postponement), if they initiate any hostile action against the rebels at this time.
== Part Four ==
The Semmans seem rather likely to be intending to contribute to the defense of the ZTZ. Unless they've made some kind of pact with the Gorn that we don't know about (something I find highly unlikely), then they're probably here to help protect one of their neighbors. Considering how little we know of them and their technology, they've probably been monitoring the situation and realized the critical nature. Promising. I'll try to establish contact with them, if possible, if only to determine their intentions. Assuming they're friendly, I'll also keep them appraised of our rough strategy and get them involved in some way, try to coordinate. If not, I'm simply going to leave them out of the equation until they start shooting at me.
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
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Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
Member # 343
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Um...no, the Fed citizens were not extracted & it's not much likely you'd be able to do it, either.
-------------------- "The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"
Registered: Jun 2000
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Well then, why didn't my adjutant say so? When I said I wanted every ship in the sector to rush out to the ZTZ, why the heck didn't he remind me about the status of the of the extraction mission? Why didn't the captain of the Runnymede call to confirm the orders before abandoning the helpless Federation citizens? Jeez, it's like everyone out there is doing exactly what I say and nothing more, as if they're nothing but figments of my imagination!
Some days, I really wish I could institute some Klingon-style discipline in my command structure. But then I realize, my officers would probably assassinate me if I pissed them off too much. Ah, well.
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
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Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
Member # 343
posted
Maybe Yakuza or Triad-style discipline is better.
It's simply that it's been 3 weeks since the capture & if you had spotty intel then, it's air-based now. Unless your security forces LIKE playing live-action Doom....
-------------------- "The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"
Registered: Jun 2000
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-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
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Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
Member # 343
posted
Q6 rolls on Friday. Cet your shit together.
-------------------- "The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"
Registered: Jun 2000
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Well, well. The Gorn have now defied my ultimatum by crossing the sector border, without making any sort of attempt at contacting me, Starfleet or the Federation. And if this is a bluff, they've got the royal flush to bluff with.
Two choices here. I could call their bluff, wait until they arrive, see how they react to the fact that their transport now is one keypress away from being space dust. Or I could assume the worst, eliminate their resident forces, do my best to hurt their reinforcements, and THEN call their bluff.
As I announce my choice of option two, my staff raises three cheers and begins to sing a rather indecent little lizard-themed song that became popular during the Dominion war.
My three cruisers fire in unison to reduce the Gorn battle cruiser to inert metal, then activate the first of the limpet mines to immobilize their transport. They then hail the two frigates, inform them that they are in violation of the ZTZ terms (as recently defined by me), and proceed to deprive them of propulsive power as well, assisted by the arrival of my own frigate and tender/assaulter. The latter begins interning survivors from the Gorn vessels, as well as launching a boarding action against the transport.
In the big scheme of things, the little skirmish is tactically meaningless. But in that scheme, the Gorn can hardly expect to win a war against the UFP. The action should at least get them talking, even if it is just heated protests or venomous threats. And that is the prerequisite for doing any diplomacy with them.
===Q5b===
My resident force has no hope of engaging the Gorn head-on in decisive battle. On the other hand, the reinforcements don't have any ships capable of staring down Gorn battleships, either. Not only do I have to delay the Gorn somehow, I also have to divide their forces.
As our side is already split and scattered about space and time, I choose to merely coordinate with the RRF. Making sure sufficient encryption is in use, I tell FCPT Shaala that the Katana will escort the Gorn transport from the ZTZ to SB 403, steering well clear of the ZTZ and thus exposing the little convoy to action by fast Gorn units that might wish to split from their main force. If such splitting does take place, my cruiser force will move to cut them off from the main force - that is, moving between the fast and slow units. If that doesn't prompt the Gorn to try pincers on me, diverting the main forces from the ZTZ for a crucial day or two, then nothing will...
If I get the Gorn moving with those actions, I keep them moving, avoiding direct confrontation as long as possible. In the classic Cowardly Retreat Maneuver Delta, I make use of further limpet mines in order to score the odd hit on my pursuers.
In the meantime, I advise Shaala to make best possible speed through the ZTZ and engage the main Gorn forces from their rear. Shaala's greater tactical freedom of movement should help him knock out the big battlewagons when they are still engaged in the pincers maneuver.
Naturally, I expect the Gorn to see reason at some point, as I constantly remind them that their transport is now under my control and will only be returned intact if the Gorn fleet ceases and desists.
In any case, the plan will leave my starbase (where I still comfortably sit behind my desk, exuding confidence) rather exposed. It will also offer little defense for the Dorzans if the Gorn decide to proceed in that direction - so I advise the government of the approaching threat and suggest a ceasefire on the rebellion front, as well as a mobilization of a defensive front based around the Runnymede. The Balmoran, still rather foolishly deployed in the Dorza system, will head back to the starbase to provide it with active defenses.
===Q5c===
Belay those recall orders!
There is little I can do to force the hand of the Dorzan government. If they are unwilling to postpone their attack on the rebels even in face of the grave external threat, no carrot will be of help. As for sticks, I order Capt. Henschel to proceed with the UFP hostage extraction mission, while informing the Dorzan government that in order to secure that mission, my forces will for the time being stop the government assault, by force of my two starships if necessary. As soon as my raid proceeds past its critical point, I will inform the rebels of my temporary protection of their planet.
As soon as the UFP hostages are aboard the Runnymede, I repeat the offer for further negotiations, while finally dispatching the Balmoran to the starbase, where I will transfer my flag aboard her.
===Q5d===
No matter what the Semman intentions, they will provide further distraction for the Gorn...
If my holographic mission to the homeworld still produces no intelligence of worth, I prepare to withdraw the Humason and send her to initiate First Contact with the Zemch. Now is as good a time as any. If, on the other hand, an opening finally presents itself for talks, I want to make sure what the Semman force is up to, in terms of intentions and capabilities. The latter are of no use for me if I don't know the former.
If my luck finally turns and the ships are of tactical worth and willing to help, the addition of a third attack formation to hit the Gorn rear could prove decisive. The Semmans would in fact be the first such formation to get a shot at it. I plead them to take that shot, and join in a unified defensive front for the sector.
Depending on the course of events, I will then sail either to supervise First Contact at Zemch, to open formal diplomatic relations with the Semmans, or to personally command the last dregs of my battered fleet in valiant but futile defense against the Gorn.
posted
Wow, the above responses are very aggressive. They might work in some situations, but this is the FEDERATION, people. A pre-emptive strike on a force in neutral space is still an act of war, and there is no guarantee that the Gorn will actually attack. The Federation would not approve of such a thing (especially its citizens), and all of you admirals would be court-marshaled!
Still, the situation is very serious. The Gorn need to know that by violating Federation territory, they WILL get a full-blown war. Of course, that is for the higher-ups to determine, but this admiral recommends full war preparation, with mothball fleets mobilized and shipyards beginning to increase production, as well as a concentration of forces on the Gorn border. The Klingons should also be alerted to prepare their fleet for war, which should occur if Federation territory is violated by the Gorn.
The rapid reaction force is a significant addition to the sector�s fleet, but it is not nearly enough to stop the Gorn from doing what they want, where they want. However, it should be enough to slow them down considerably in case of war. The war plan would consist of an immediate strike on the transport by fast ships if the Zemch reservation is violated, followed by instant withdrawal. This should divide the Gorn fleet, as they would leave ships to protect their transport. They might also split further to pursue the Federation fleet and to head toward their objective, whatever that might be.
Meanwhile, continued attempts to coordinate with the Semmans would be made. Their actions and strengths could completely change the plan�
The slow ships need to clear the area. The Superb will go to the Zemch homeworld to help prepare a defense (more on this later).
The Runnymede needs to go to the Dorzan system to deal with the situation there. It will be demanded of the rebels that a full team of Federation investigators be allowed to investigate the death, or else the Federation will deal much more aggressively with extracting the Federation citizens. To the Dorzan government, it would be demanded that they do not bombard the planet. It would not be a violation of the prime directive to intervene directly to stop them if they were slaughtering Federation citizens, and if this occurred, the intervention would take place, regardless of available firepower. Also, it would permanently destroy their chances for Federation membership or even friendly trade and other relations. Besides, what the hell are they doing messing with a measly colony when there�s a full INTERSTELLAR WAR brewing? Don�t they want to protect their sector? Our diplomats could let slip that it would be a good idea to continue posturing against the rebels as an excuse for full mobilization, and then to let their citizens know that they don�t care about the stupid rebels, and the posturing was just their secret plan to mobilize fully without the Gorn realizing�
Finally, the defense plans. I intend to make use of hit and run stikes with fast ships, preferably on small Gorn detachments. Also, a main aspect of the defense will be mobile cloaked mines. These mines would be cloaked and have thrusters for operations near important planets. They would have no sensors, but basic reception devices (to save a lot of space). However these mines would be relayed targeting information from the sensor grind in various parts of the Zemch reservation. These sensors can be hidden, and more can be added to make it very time consuming for the Gorn to take out. If they spread out in say, an asteroid field to hunt for the sensors, that would be a perfect time for my fleet to strike.
The basic organization for the fleet would be extremely flexible, so as to take advantage of opportunities to strike and delay the Gorn. Fleet Captain Vehnil Shaala and I would constantly be making plans and conducting missions, carefully coordinating a series of bold strikes. Depending on our respective strengths, abilities, and locations, each of us could command anywhere between one ship and the whole fleet at any given time. If the Gorn head straight for the starbase, it would need to be evacuated, and hopefully defended somehow, depending on the force the Gorn send. At any rate, it would not be allowed to fall into Gorn hands intact if the personnel can be evacuated in time (non-essential personnel in the entire area should be removed � as with all sectors bordering the Gorn).
P.S. A frigate is smaller then a destroyer, though both are small, fast combat ships with similar roles.
P.P.S. I think that�s everything. Sorry if this seems a bit jumbled. I must sleep�
5a) Well, they�re definitely serious about making a show of force� But is it anything more than that? I still don�t think the Gorn would risk a full scale conflict with the Federation. I�d reiterate my demands to the commander of the Gorn advance party for the calling off of the main Gorn force, with a deadline. Let�s say twelve hours before they rendezvous with the advance force. I would state again the Federation�s willingness to negotiate a compromise over systems which were not under Federation protection, particularly AJ-946.
My essential dispositions would not be changed by this information. However, I would (discreetly) collect targeting information on the Gorn ships and assign targeting priorities; the to Sabre equivalents would be engaged by my Sabres (surprise, surprise), while Palmerston and Thermistocles engage the battlecruiser and Arran slips in to target the colony ship. However, my vessels will aim to disable only, with emphasis on propulsion and weapons systems. In a rapid, high speed attack, the fleet should be able to inflict sufficient damage to the Gorn vessels without being exposed to serious risk themselves. This will convince the Gorn of the seriousness of the Federation�s intent to defend its territory and maybe even persuade them to call off the main fleet.
5b) Following the neutralisation of the Gorn advance force, my in sector fleet would retreat to an RV point to meet the 95th and 96th RRSqns.
Given the gap between the arrival of Starfleet forces and the Gorn main fleet, the exact response will depend upon the actions of the Gorn. My pre-emptive strike, disabling the ships in the advanced fleet should mean they stay in the vicinity of these ships, at least initially. I will warn the Gorn commander that any advance from this spot will be considered an act of war. Exact responses will depend on what the Gorn do.
I�ll give Captain Shaala full tactical command. He knows his ships and commanders better than I do and has trained with them. Even if he�s never been involved with the Gorn before, he can read briefing documents and I�m sure in this sector, at least some of his staff or senior officers does have first hand knowledge.
Given the size and power of the Gorn fleet, even with reinforcements I can't hope to defeat them outright. If my initial bluff doesn't work, then I'll have to settle for a series of fast, limited strikes, if at all possible against isolated units. This will continue until larger Federation ships can arrive.
5c) Point out to the Dorzans that, while this is an internal matter in which the Federation wouldn't normally intervene, there are Federation citizens placed in direct risk by their actions, which makes it a Federation problem. So they'd damn well better come back to the negotiating table because our patience regarding their application for membership is not infinite. Either that or get them to ask for Federation assistance in extracting the hostages.
5d) Send one of my Novas to ask (politely) what their intentions are. I doubt they're hostile (hopefully). We haven't done anything since the original incident to piss them off. If they are friendly I'd ask for their help in a co-ordinated defence of the sector against the Gorn.
-------------------- "I am an almost extinct breed, an old-fashioned gentleman, which means I can be a cast-iron son-of-a-bitch when it suits me." --Jubal Harshaw
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Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
Member # 343
posted
QUESTION SIX (five parts)
Critique the plans of another player. Identify the strengths & the weaknesses.
The Gorn heavy fleet has arrived. Your opposite number, Marshal S'sgrrng, is not a lizard known for overt usage of his thoughty thingy. Upon arrival, He surveys the situation for about a good 3 minutes & then makes a decision for all concerned. For your people, it's of the "OW, that hurts, oh god make the pain STOP!" kind. In the resultant skirmish, your largest ship attending the dance is heavily disabled & two (2) medium-sized vessels are destroyed. The trusteeship zone has been broached & the Gorn are running inward. React accordingly.
"Well, look at this! Appears we got here just in the nick of time. What does that make us?" "Big damn heroes, sir." "Ain't we just."
Fleet Captain Shaala comes blazing out of the...um, lack of sun & manages to rendezvous with your pursing ships at a point about equidistant from the "upper three" stars within the ZTZ as show on the local map, coming in on the Gorn flank. Detail any possible tactical revisions.
During the Big Damn Battle, the Semman vessels arrive & stand off outside the borders of the combat zone. They engage no ships on any side nor communicate to neither you, the Gorn, or themselves.
In the heat of combat, several sensors on many ships detect an unidentified warp signature approximately 4 LY away. A crude cursory scan reveals that the signature is in fact a prototype Zemch warpship, still within the system. What to do if they show up in the middle of your Big Damn Battle?
Only one more to go, folks!
-------------------- "The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"
Registered: Jun 2000
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I'll critique Neutrino's critique, especially because it includes a critique of its own. While my response may seem overly aggressive compared to TNG-era diplomacy, remember that the Federation just recently emerged from a major interstellar war, which pretty much directly arose from TNG-era diplomacy. (And by "diplomacy" I mean "we'll just go wherever we want and we'll ignore any possible threats until they're about to kill us.") The advance of the Gorn heavy reinforcements make quite clear their intentions, to either intimidate us into standing down, or to completely blow us away and take what they want. The potential for a major Gorn-Federation war is quite low, given that there's little indication of general mobilization of the Gorn fleet as a whole. Also, I pointed out in my own responses that the goal of facing down the Gorn is to make it clear to them that the Federation will defend any encroachment of their territory, trusteeship or not.
On the flip side, I question Neutrino's recommendation for general mobilization of Federation assets. And you call MY response aggressive? I'm planning on fighting, if necessary, a major border skirmish between a few local squadrons, not an all-out invasion. Just why would the Federation as a whole need to go to war over this?
Going on to actual strategy, I do agree with the plan for hit-and-run strikes against the Gorn. If their ships are anything like the Gorn themselves, they'll be big, powerful, but slow and impossible to maneuver. However, I also question the usefulness of mines. The only times that mines have ever been useful in space combat has been in low-maneuverability areas like planetary orbit, or else in restricted corridors like the Bajoran wormhole or the Hekaras Corridor. Mines in interstellar space are just a waster of resources.
== Part Two ==
Well, seeing how my own strategy at the moment is of the "Sir Dan bravely running away" variety, I don't think there's really a big deal here. I assume that my initial plan -- the disabling of the Gorn transport and its escorts (three Gorn versus my five ships) -- worked just fine. That means that Marshal S'sgrrng is charging into the ZTZ, but all my forces are otherwise generally intact.
== Part Three ==
Well, since my plan was to bravely run away after taking out the initial Gorn fleet and rendezvous at G5-Q25, I assume that's gone according to plan. It seems that the Gorn are heading towards H2-N1, rather than CD-183 as expected. No matter. Our attack plan is to function in three squadrons (each group as its own unit), make a single approach for the first run and focus as much firepower on the battleships to try to knock them out, then split into squadrons and break off in three different directions. If the Gorn stay together in one formation and pursue only one squadron, then the other two will harry their rear while the first draws the fire. If the Gorn split up, then the odds are more even and in our favor. We'll continue the deadly dance as long as possible; I expect we'll be able to outlast the Gorn in that regard.
== Part Four ==
Meh. Leave 'em alone. I've got no time to send more greeting cards that never get an answer.
== Part Five ==
Ho-boy. I'd like to say that this changes things with regard to the ZTZ, but it really doesn't. Since the Gorn are already keen on taking it from the Federation, it really doesn't matter as far as they're concerned if the Zemch are ready to use it or not. Fine.
At any rate, I'll detach Runnymede to go make contact. If it looks like the Gorn want to pursue, I'll detail Proteus to escort, assuming that the Gorn might decide to make the old Miranda an easy target. (Assuming it hasn't already been converted into a ball of plasma from a freak subspace raspberry or something.) But I'm confident that my forces, though probably not dishing out lots of damage, are giving the Gorn plenty to worry about anyway.
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
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Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
Member # 343
posted
I was almost certain you were going to jump at the chance for RUNNYMEDE GO BOOM!!
-------------------- "The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"
Registered: Jun 2000
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posted
C'mon, I already told you I was expressing hyperbole before. Besides, since Runnymede is pretty useless in the fight anyway, sending it to say hi to the Zemch means I don't have to pull one of my Novas off the combat line. Even a Nova still trumps an old Miranda.
EDIT: ...But if it would make you feel better, I'll tack on the following line: "However, if the Runnymede has been converted into an expanding ball of plasma and shrapnel after getting hit by a stray BB gun pellet fired from one of the Gorn scouts, then I'll dispatch one of my Novas instead."
Happy?
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
Registered: Nov 2000
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![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
) Therefore, I'll threaten the Dorzan government with a complete severance of trade relations with the Federation, as well as a complete rejection of their Federation membership application (rather than just a postponement), if they initiate any hostile action against the rebels at this time.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
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