posted
There seems to be an ion storm somewhere along the comm channel... every time I think I'm getting updated orders from Command, they're completely garbled.
-------------------- “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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The precise elements in the colony should really depend on what the treaty considers �well-developed�. I will assume this means that the colony can support the most people at a good standard of living with the fewest transports, the number of transports being defined as importing transports minus exports transports. Additionally, it would be good if the transport travel distances would be small and away from the nebula and other areas of dense pirate concentrations. Furthermore, it would be best to fill outgoing transports with exports, so no transport travel time is wasted.
In the sector, we have several species homeworlds and huge �colonies�, which are presumably well-balanced in terms of imports/exports. However, there are also Repka, an industrial/agricultural colony, and Safko, a source of many useful heavy metals and minerals. Repka is closer to other systems (so would not really need to trade with Safko despite their complementary products), but a trade relationship might be established with the very close Safko. This would also mean that our transports don�t need to spend as much time near the nebula.
Safko needs food and finished goods. We can provide them from Sobchak�s planet after a little development.
First, though, the nearest food source to the new colony is relatively far away. This need should be eliminated first. We can ship in some Federation colonists, who can establish an agricultural base required to support the population. The next step would be the establishment of industries the complement the raw material output of Safko. This would enable us to import the required material, and send finished goods back on the same ship. Of course, finished goods take up less room then materials, so the third priority (probably dealt with simultaneously with the second) would be to ramp up food production, and put the excess on our transports to Safko.
With this plan in mind, the colony should be established where the best-tasting and most nutritious food products can be grown (which will surely have adequate water supplies, a most essential requirement for a colony). Industry can really be put almost anywhere (usually), so its location is not problem.
The colony should not be put very close to the Klingons (we don�t want them walking over and �interacting� with our colonists), but doesn�t need to be on the other side of the planet either. It should be at least a long drive away, which gives us over 99% of the planet to choose from. Food-growing goodness is the priority in choosing the exact spot over that 99+%.
We want enough colonists to make full use of Safko�s raw materials, and to provide them with food and finished products. How many is this? I don�t know� Probably in the 100,000-1,000,000 range. Surely so many people can�t come at once, so we can effectively grow the colony as fast as transports can come in.
Besides colonists, the transports should carry initial needs supply, and then some useful seeds for a variety of food that can grow on the planet (perhaps native foods would be added if they are suitable), as well as a small genetic engineering lab (it�s okay to modify plants, right???) in case some seeds in their normal form don�t grow effectively in the new environment. Later transports would carry more agricultural equipment
Escorts will be needed for the important colonization transports (the colony will also eventually need defenses to ward off pirates). Since we have transporter technology, the bad aspects of homogeneous convoys are eliminated, so transports can travel in groups. Two convoy groups will be created, one for the Safko route, and one for other supplies.
The Safko route only needs slow, low capacity transport ability since the distance is very, very short (thus keeping goods transported in any given time very high). Thus, only one �small� class transport is needed. It will be escorted by the Skua (Kestral-class), a small, low capability ship. If the colony is successful and grows large, another small transport can be added to this route.
The other convoy will need to be larger. It will vary in size, depending on the needs of the colony, and will get two Kestral-class escorts brought in from outside the sector. That way, if necessary, one of these can detach for a short time from the convoy to deal with an emergency, run down a pirate, etc.
Yvel, Ogul, and Espejo are large planets, and all presumably have decent fixed defenses. The other Federation worlds are too small to have this however. They will need to be defended
The slow, big, and mostly useless India (Lancaster-class) will be assigned to keep a careful watch over the new Colony at Sobchak�s Planet. It can provide defense, and respond to distress calls from the convoys if they run into trouble.
The Dazzler (Avenger-class) will remain near Safko, protecting it and serving as a rapid reaction unit for troubles in the area. Its sistership, the Reporter, will be in a mutually supportive position between Repka and the Penxi area, where the pirates come from. This way, it can defend Repka, act to deal with other trouble in the area, and be able to form up with the Dazzler in short time.
The Predator class starships, Buccaneer and Spanker, will be assigned to deal with piracy and to protect the Oberth-class Nernst as it explores the nebula. One will stay a short distance from the Nernst. Hopefully, pirates will detect only the Nernst and attack, at which point the Spanker will instantly warp in and deal with it. The Buccaneer will do some reverse-pirating of its own. It will stay at the edge of the nebula, peeking out sometimes to detect returning pirates with its superior sensors, and then taking up an ambush position.
If the survey vessel detects an anomaly, there are three possible courses of action. The first would be to immediately go investigate, with the Spanker following just out of detection range. The second would be to standoff, and immediately send the Spanker first. The third would be to steer clear of it with the weaker Nernst and its escort and let the unencumbered Buccaneer investigate.
If piracy increases, then the current deployment is still suitable (I assumed that there war a fair rate of paracy in the first place). Of course, if the pirates begin to overwhelm the defenses (such as by attacking in many places simultaneously, using ruses, etc) more assets can be brought in to help.
Okay, there are more sector policies to set, such as with the Klingons, but I suppose that wouldn�t technically be part of question one, and my answer is already long enough. Can I get a flagship? I�d like a Valley Forge class. Those look like they have a lot of pluck, and I always base my flagship choice on pluck quotient.
Minutiaeman, can I use your map to illustrate fleet deployments?
-------------------- “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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Here is my fleet deployment, using all my MS Paint Skills.
P.S. I forgot to mention: the India, being a large ship, has a fair amount of resources, so its assignment to Sobchak's Planet should help with colonization efforts, since it will be in orbit of the planet most of the time.
posted
I just realized that I assumed a bit to much about the sensor radii of my ships. About how far away can they detect most things in this scenario? I need to make sure my perimeter zones don't contain massive holes...
posted
I'd give an analogy of something akin to early-19th-century sail... you're pretty much limited to the horizon and whatever smoke signals you might be able to send.
Seriously, remember "Errand of Mercy" when the Enterprise got ambushed? Sensors there never seemed to be able to reach more than a light-year, or maybe two. At least at any useful resolution. So I'd say that unless you've got a couple thousand ships to spare, you're not going to eliminate the holes.
-------------------- “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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posted
Ah, good point. I guess that means that the Reporter moves closer to Repka, and that the Buccaneer is slightly move active in its attempt to ambush some pirates.
Shik
Starship database: completed; History of Starfleet: done; website: probably never
Member # 343
posted
QUESTION TWO (seven parts)
Critique the development plan of another player. Identify problems & strong points, explaining your reasons.
Starfleet has agreed to your colony plans as well as the requested transport needs. However, only half your requested escorts are available. Command has given you the choice to pick, however, as an apology. Choose your fleet & identify how this will affect potential plans. Please not that the transports will be staying within the sector as colony support.
Starfleet has also asked you to fully requisition what you would require to set up a colony of the type you have decided upon. This colony is to sustain 5000 colonists. Identify what items you feel would be necessary for this effort. Give reasons for your choices.
Starfleet Intelligence reports that the Klingon colony fleet has recently left Rosek II & is comprised of 5 D-18 transports carrying 5500 Klingons & the associated colony supplies. They are believed headed to the Obrelk Military base whereupon they will be joined by the escort force: 2 refit D-6 cruisers, 3 of the new B'rel-class "birds of prey," 1 K'teremny-class destroyer, & 1 K't'inga-class battlecruiser. The entire fleet will then continue on to Sobchak's Planet. The colony is believed to be a typical Klingon military & mining operation, & Intelligence believe that the choice of escorts indicate a possible continued military presence.
Your opposite number on the Klingon side, General Plis'Qen, relays a message to you about the activities of the Nernst in the Ul'Chek Nebula. He claims that the ship is in fact an intelligence-gathering ship whose true mission is to spy on the Klingon Empire. Also, after the recent destruction of a lone K-23-class vessel in the nebula, he maintains that the Federation is using the Penxi Optimus as agents against the Klingons. he's pretty ireate about it & although he has not mentioned outright warfare, his tones are fairly well unmistakeable. Solve for x.
Speaking of the Penxi, a small raiding party zooms out & hits Safko I; 228 are dead & many supplies & technology items are taken. The head ofthe Safko government pleads for better defense but nothing too violent; his people are all religious pacifists. (imagine Quakers in space, if that helps) Discuss how you might better defend that area of space with the restrictions applied...or if you do not even feel that there needs to be a better defense. Explain your reasoning.
Create a scenario to be answered by other players in the next question.
-------------------- "The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"
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posted
Hah. Right after the deadline, like the good student I am:
QUESTION ONE
Part A As per the Treaty, the focus of the colonization of Sobchak's Planet will be sustainability, efficiency and self-reliance. Therefore, initially there would be an agricultural settlement, possibly later extended with mining or industrial facilities, depending on the environment. The colony will not be placed anywhere near the Klingons, and preferably at least a continent away. Per Treaty though, the Klingons will probably insist in coming 'on shore leave'. So obviously, with the Klingons and the Penxi nearby, this colony will need self-defense. But on the other hand, I will also make sure Starfleet will get the oppertunity to go on shore leave at the Klingon camp. A Starfleet police force will be detached to the colony, as will a small fleet of shuttlecraft. Which brings me to the next part of the question.
Part B As for bringing in the supplies for setting up the colony, I would rather let the specialists at the Bureau of Colonization and Transport Command deal with the specifics. I can only guess that about 4-5 Giant or equivalent transports would be needed, plus a variety of Independence, Starmaster and other smaller transports. Any regular supplies (or trade) will be handled through Deep Space K-10 via available (medium to small) transports.
The current patrol force is apparently sufficient to secure the existing trade routes coming in and out of K-10. I assume that the nearby Federation members have their local system defense sorted out, so there is no immediate need for active patrolling in their space. For additional support for the colony, I request the USS Resurgent (NCC-1240), a Coventry-class frigate (as per SotSF, Resurgent has an extended shuttlebay and more advanced anti-ship defense than the baseline Coventry). The Resurgent will deliver a force of shuttlecraft (2 Vigilantes, 1 Comanche, 1 Galileo 5 type) to the surface of the planet. After this, Resurgent will be tasked to deploy some orbital spy sattelites (these need not be much bigger than a baseball). Overall, Resurgent primary mission is focused on the protection of the colony and surveying the perimeter of the Ul'Chek Nebula. To beef up the overall strength of the fleet, I would also request USS Lucifer (NCC-521) and USS Molock (NCC-522), two of the new Siva class destroyers*. Both of these modern destroyers will join the current destroyer force.
Part C Should the contact turn out to be a hostile, Resurgent (on deployment near the colony at the moment) should be able to react to any hostile actions. It could return to the colony, or set course towards the Nebula, depending on the nature of the contact.
Part D Increased pirate activity would first of all have an effect on the patrol routes of the fleet. I would redirect the Molock and Lucifer to patrol the trade routes most affected, and escort high-risk transports. In addition, I want a large Class 1 transport (Kepler class), which has enough firepower to act as a detterent to pirates.
* Siva as seen on the Federation Recognition Chart: A 'refit'-style destroyer (launched 2274) with two nacelles above the saucer, and a torpedo pod between those nacelles. Can't find an online picture of the Chart silhouette.
So, in conclusion, the material I require:
USS Resurgent (NCC-1240), Coventry-class frigate
USS Lucifer (NCC-521), Siva-class destroyer
USS Molock (NCC-522), Siva-class destroyer
USS Deslandres (NCC-3820), Kepler-class transport/tug (assuming Part D wasn't hypothetical)
NCC-1240/19 Blue Sky VI, Vigilante-class heavy tactical shuttle
NCC-1240/20 T'Sharaa, Vigilante-class heavy tactical shuttle
posted
Question before I reply, Shik... would is the "half of your requested ships" for combatants only, or would that also include my Sahara and Belleau Wood? They're kinda halfway between the transports and the combatants... they're combat support ships.
EDIT: Also, given their tiny size and my plans for them, would the Asmodeii corvettes each count as half a ship (as in a pair of them consume the resources of a single full-size starship)? (Not that I'm trying to cheat, just... exploring the limits.) (Nevermind. That wouldn't affect my numbers 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
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I'll critique Harry's response, simply because it's the most recent one.
First, I'm a bit concerned that you don't request any smaller ships than a couple of destroyers... mainly because, despite the big cold war going on with the Klingons, I'm much more worried about the Penxi and their 300+ raiders. The reason I requested my small fleet of corvettes is because numbers are needed to cover all the angles with the various trade routes near Penxi space. I realized after I posted my requests that it would be quite easy for any pirates to launch a diversionary feint on one transport, lure in the local patrolling destroyer, and then launch the real raid in the completely opposite direction. (This was one of the primary reasons for the development of the Kestrel-class light cruiser several decades ago.) I'm also a bit puzzled as to why you think a refitted Ptolemy would be a suitable deterrent to pirate attacks.
I will compliment you on your thinking of shuttles. I made such a big stink about the fighters for colony defense, when a handful of armed shuttles would probably work just as well for basic needs, and wouldn't've raised Shik's ire.
== Part B ==
Ain't it always the way? Command loves to put up big fancy defenses and tons of starships in the really populated border regions, but for anything that's even partially out of the way and is just starting out, they wait until there's an actual crisis to actually send sufficient ships. Anyway...
USS India (NCC-1479), Lancaster class USS Skua (NCC-1396), Kestrel class USS Dazzler (NCC-D120), Avenger class USS Reporter (NCC-D159), Avenger class USS Buccaneer (NCC-D218), Predator class USS Spanker (NCC-D279), Predator class
New Arrivals:
USS Saratoga (NCC-1867), Miranda class
USS Orion (NCC-1981), Polaris class
USS Scorpio (NCC-1984), Polaris class
USS Shaitan (NCC-D423), Asmodeus class
USS Michtlantecuhtli (NCC-D414), Asmodeus class
USS Bali Raj (NCC-D452), Asmodeus class
USS Brandywine (NCC-1559), Belleau Wood class
USS Gobi (NCC-DT23), Sahara class
Pending Shik's decision, the Gobi may have been cut as well.
As a result, I'll have to spread out my anti-piracy patrols, and concentrate them more towards Penxi space. They're the main concern right now... we'll have plenty of warning if there's any major Klingon issues, but the Penxi-supported raiders have the ability to strike at a moment's notice and have already demonstrated the ability to penetrate through Federation territory with impunity. Instead of operating in pairs, they'll have to act as more of a wolf pack... they'll patrol within a couple light-years of each other, with the other two ready to rush in to their sister ship's aid at a moment's notice. And considering their torpedo armament, they're probably capable enough on their own against most raiding parties.
== Part C ==
Why the hell does Starfleet want me to plan the damn colony? Don't they pay the analysts loads of credits (and lots of fancy lunches on corporate accounts) to figure out these things? I'm a soldier/diplomat and administrator, not a paper-pusher!
I suppose the colony would need to have some regular food shipments for the early months before the crop yields start coming in. A handful of shuttlecraft with easy attachment points for *ahem* colony-defense weaponry. (I'm sure there are a bunch of colonists who'll be coming from North America's Old South, and will be bringing their own phaser rifles to mount on the back of their personal vehicles to defend against them-thar gul-derned Clingans! 'Course, those same vehicles are probably rusted over and up on blocks, so that may not be an asset... <g>) Considering it's the frontier, a combination militia/police force would be the best way to provide organization. A subspace transmitter/receiver facility would be necessary for communications, preferably with Starfleet-grade military capacity available in times of crisis.
But aside from the comms facilities, I'll stipulate that there be nothing more than standard defensive armaments be stationed on the colony surface. For now, at least, we don't want to establish the appearance of a new forward base... despite the very strategic location of the planet for attacking just about every Klingon planet in the sector.
== Part D ==
What a surprise this is! [/sarcasm] It's exactly why I chose to keep the Brandywine instead of the Gobi (assuming the latter gets axed by Shik), because I had a feeling that the Klingons would be trying to plant their flag with a military rather than civilian presence. I'd want to know from my intelligence officer what other assets the Klingons are known to have in this sector, so I can reassign my own squadrons accordingly. If it's newly-assigned additional forces, then I may need to shift additional ships of my own (probably a destroyer or two) to operate out of Sobchak's. But if they're focusing more of their forces at Sobchak's and Obrelk by siphoning from other sector forces, then I'll let 'em sit for now.
== Part E ==
While denying our intent for spying, I'll also question the General's own admission that he had his own ship in the nebula. I'd ask just what it was doing there, if not for "spying" of its own. I'd also point out that if I were intent on spying, then I sure as hell wouldn't be doing it in the nebula, where sensor range is incredibly short, and it's not immediately near any major locations (such as Obrelk).
As for open warfare, I certainly won't scoff in the face of Klingon threats (because that'll just make him happy prove me wrong), but one lone general isn't much of a threat for an actual declaration of war. I just need to prepare to defend against possible retaliatory raids and incursions.
(BTW, is General Plis'Qen a son of the house of Sna'ke? )
== Part F ==
Well, preventing this tragedy would've been easier if I had been given the ships that I asked for. I had planned to place one of my corvette squadrons near Safko, which is relatively near to the route between Sobchak's Planet and Yvel. As it is, beefier point-defense installations for planetary locations is the best bet, because my mobile assets are already tied up defending the trade routes. Considering the population, I'll think about shifting one of my destroyers over that way... but I don't know if that will be effective.
I will also start drawing up plans for retaliatory raids into Penxi-influenced territory. It will be strictly tit-for-tat, no escalation, and I'll specifically focus my energies on the raiders' strongholds rather than any Penxi colony worlds. But if I can make it clear that launching attacks against the Federation will only cause them more hurt in kind, hopefully they'll come to their senses.
Oh, and I'll also forward a copy of the records of the raid (carefully redacted in case of security concerns, should the Safkans have any) to General Plis'Qen, as proof of the threat the Penxi hold for both of us.
== Part G ==
Your intelligence officer presents you with a rare opportunity: detailed readouts and information of a mid-size raider stronghold and some of its associated craft, located in the unclaimed/uninhabited system near Safko. He's confident that the intel accurately describes the base's defenses and the approximate numbers (and sizes) of the ships in the system. There's an estimated 5 frigate types (Paris-class equivalent) and probably ten small raiders (runabout equivalent). The base itself has defenses equivalent to a basic Federation outpost (think the second-hand reports about Caleb IV). Given your fleet's assets, you have a chance to take this outlier bunch on and send them packing. As a bonus, this base was the probable jump-off point for the recent raid on Safko.
However, there's some political ambiguity to consider. Although the system is officially unclaimed, it's close enough to Penxi-held space that they may consider it part of their territory. And considering the close ties between the raiders and the Penxi (whether it's actual state-sponsored piracy or the Penxi just looking the other way), an assault on the base may have greater political repercussions. So... to attack, or not to attack? Justify.
-------------------- “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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-------------------- “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
Thank you, good sir. I was appaled to find such pitiful images on the web for the Klingon ships.
As to your question, let me repeat: Starfleet has agreed to your colony plans as well as the requested transport needs. However, only half your requested escorts are available.
I believe that to be self-explanatory.
-------------------- "The French have a saying: 'mise en place'—keep everything in its fucking place!"
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