>>37202137
Hello

>>37133274
>What did you have in mind? Anything specific?

http://pastebin.com/n0LdLTFc

>>37202137
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION!!

There is no telling how effective this proposal will be but a few of the Houses in the region are taking part already. House Feron and House Ceres have a similar program in place. Two of the larger Houses in your particular dwarf galaxy are almost certainly employing privateers, but because of the amount of territory they hold have likely become the focus of attacks by numerous smaller ones.

At the moment the raider situation has been taking a back seat to the larger issue in the region, stabilising the South Reach League to prevent its complete collapse. A plan has been struck on that would help the SRL and strengthen the Dominion.
A select few Warlords would be welcomed into the Dominion establishing their own Houses. These would receive economic support for the reconstruction of their long neglected industry and infrastructure. If this proves to be successful these new Houses could act as a means to provide similar support to Warlords that agree to an alliance.

Şivan Berwari offered to ally with the Dominion and possibly your House if you could support his attempt to overthrow a Warlord. A Warlord that would otherwise found a new House in the near future.
While you initially supported the idea fears over what other Houses would do should they found out you'd undermined the plan inevitably caused you to backtrack. A suit of Rovinar power armor was provided to Shur Sarkh as payment for her to stop Berwari's coup attempt.

Continuing to waver on this course of action and unwilling to let a good commander die that instead could be helping the Alliance you borrowed Knight Kim's cloaked battlecruiser. Stripped of all markings and identifying features you used it to extract Berwari when his plan ultimately failed but before he could be executed. You were successful in escaping the area with the SRL commander in tow but both sides were continuing to call in reinforcements when you left.

>>37202882
We were really flip-flopping on that issue.

File: Power chart4.gif (17 KB, 966x779)

17 KB GIF

Leaving him at an Alliance base where he'll be safe from the infighting your people make sure he get an anonymous letter.

"I couldn't let a good commander die because my hands were tied by larger circumstance. I saw a chance to get you out alive and I took it. You understand both what will happen if the Neeran win and the value of the Alliance. Don't waste a second chance."

You’re worried that might be too much.

The Marines make sure Şivan Berwari gets your message which is in a sealed envelope written on paper.

If or when he figures out who did this he might end up hating you, or he may throw his life away before that happens. You really hope he just stays out of all this from now on.

When you depart the station all of your pursuers have left the area. By the time you get back to House space it's become clear why. By the looks of things three Warlords will join the Dominion as Houses. Some more bloodlessly than others.

One tenth of Warlord Rayya's forces have deserted or are crippled and are beyond easy recovery.
Several of the other Warlords are also seeing large scale desertion or rebellion.

Enough ships and worlds have defected to the remaining Dro'all Warlord Hase'tos that he is now very clearly the 2nd most powerful member of the SRL.

Warlord Maiviel's force strength remains effectively unchanged with equal numbers of defections both to and from her fleets.

It's not known who convinced Pantaq to join the Dominion.

Seloni has agreed to a loose alliance with the Dominion but still maintains strong ties to the Rovinar Federation. This means the SRL is defectively split into two camps with Kavarian Warlord Valo being the only remaining Neutral.

1 Super heavy has been lost in the fighting and another 11 are unaccounted for but are believed to have defected to other Warlords. Every Faction with cloaked ships in the region are deploying them in search of the missing Supers. There are genuine concerns some may have gone rogue.

Well damn. Did Valo even respond to the proposal that was suggested, or did we not send it?

>>37203628
>Did Valo even respond to the proposal that was suggested, or did we not send it?

Kyriss Valo has refused to directly contact her sister.

Warlord Nyleuq Valo's response was that she was too busy dealing with internal political machinations to risk her position within the SRL. She may be more willing to negotiate once things stabilise.
You may be able to provoke the Warlord via her sister in some way. This could be for good or ill.

With the increased patrols it takes a full week for you to return to Surakeh. Most of that time is spent on repairs to the armor and to make sure the default Warlord paint scheme is cleanly burned off the hull and replaced with Kim's usual markings.

Once back in dock you see to arranging compensation for the lost crewman's family and proper medical care for those who were injured.

Kim is not thrilled you were gone for so long but is glad to hear that his navigator may have learned a thing or two.
"My old one retired to civilian duty a few months ago. This young lady has been in the fleet for awhile but is still picking some things up."

You're called to see Winifred within the day of your return for debriefing. Once the room is shielded against listening devices she put the question to you plainly.

"Were you in any way involved in the disaster that resulted from the attempt on Warlord Rayya?"

>What say?

>>37203885
>>What say?
"You have me at a disadvantage, Sir. I think I haven't caught up with the news in that regard. What disaster?"

"I'm afraid that I know little of what transpired, other than the odd rumor and the chaos."

>>37202137
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION

>>37203885
"You'll have to fill me in I'm afraid sir."

>>37203885
>Warlord Nyleuq Valo
We need to get her to join the Dominion (and ally with our house, but that's more if a pipe dream), to break this stalemate.

>>37204303
The stalemate is between Warlords allied with Dominion vs those who are not. No other Warlords will join the Dominion unless something drastic happens.

>>37203970
>>37204088
>>37204231
"I made sure that ship was available to you and stripped of markings for a reason. Now I want to know if there is a chance it will come back to haunt us in the future. Did you or your crew fire first, or otherwise trigger 3 Warlords to start jumping in fleets to fight over the command ship of Rayya Se'bium?
It's rather important you tell me as all the navigation and sensor data was destroyed before you returned to dock. Kim's crew had specific orders."

>>37204705
>The stalemate is between Warlords allied with Dominion vs those who are

Would they be interested in allying at least temporarily with other factions?
>Baron
"The ship fired a single heavy torpedo to discourage a hostile ship from matching their drive field with us. The weapon didn't manage to hit and exploded harmlessly.

As Warlord RayyaI favoures joining the Dominion as a House, I also initiated steps to render Şivan Berwari's forces less effective by infiltration, as he could not be dissuaded from attempting his coup. I did not know anything about the other two Warlords getting involved."

>>37204705
"Possibly triggered."

"We took fire and a ship attempted to intercept us at FTL. After taking fire at FTL we fired torpedoes to force the other ship back to a safe distance. We then dropped from FTL and forced an overshoot. No hits were scored on the vessel that intercepted."

>this is accurate, iirc

>>37205017
I don't think that's accurate.

>>37204991
Supporting this.

Though I'm not sure if we should mention more precise details of how we nullified the coup attempt; as well as the message we left.

If Winifred asks further questions, she wants to void her plausible deniability I guess.

>Would they be interested in allying at least temporarily with other factions?
As far as they're concerned they shouldn't need to. They have a treaty via the factions Alliance.
Those who are allied with the Dominion or worse have joined it are considered traitors by many former pirates. It will take time for such feelings to settle. Something that will improve as the econoy of those who have allied grows stronger.

"My ship fired a single heavy torpedo to discourage a hostile ship from matching their drive field with us. The weapon didn't manage to hit and exploded harmlessly."

"Was this near the battle site?"
"No sir, it was a few thousand light years away."
"One piece of good news then. You didn't fire on anyone in the main battle site itself?"

"Not directly sir. As Warlord Rayya favours joining the Dominion as a House, I also initiated steps to render Şivan Berwari's forces less effective by infiltration, as he could not be dissuaded from attempting his coup. I did not know anything about the other two Warlords getting involved."

"So effectively unchanged. Good." The Baron breathes a sigh of relief.

"As soon as you're able to I would like you to begin exercises with the training Wings. You've been away too long and we'll need them to be ready if one of those super heavies show up near here."

File: wip103n01.jpg (59 KB, 640x480)

59 KB JPG

You're not back at work long before London contacts you about a potential business offer.

House Kadnil is one of the J-D's allies. Another minor House, they're responsible for much of the rare element processing and manufacture for the 6 Houses making up the tight knit little group. Without you they would be much less powerful than they are today.

Drive cores and plates are always in demand, especially in wartime, but there are limitations to where the raw materials can be found and how much can be pulled out of a planet before it is exhausted.

The rare elements needed for drives are formed by Cosmic ray spallation in the upper crust of planets orbiting certain star types. The Terrans are rumored to have developed the technology to artificially generate drive element but it wasn't precisely clear if they were simply using particle accelerators or other means.

A Lord from House Kadnil believes his people have figured out a way and wants to set up a facility in J-D space orbiting a star lacking a suitable planet for normal mining. This would be expensive and his House cant spare funds for it given their conventional industry.
Lord Risra seems confident the technology will work though it may need to be tweaked.

London also informs you that there are bound to be unexploited worlds suitible for mining in the space belonging to the newly created Houses or the now allied Warlords. While dangerous they would be a more dependable investment over an unproven technology.

FTL drive systems are the one thing your companies lack a means of acquiring cheaply for the shipyards. Some are found at salvage sites cutting your costs but not consistently.

[ ] Fund Lord Risra of House Kadnil / secure system rights from House
[ ] Invest in former Warlords territory
[ ] Other

>>37205884
>[x] Fund Lord Risra of House Kadnil / secure system rights from House
Let's start a Rare Element cartel.

And melt some and use it in our plasma cannons.

>>37205884

How much of an output is predicted from that technology? We could run into a lot of trouble if this makes a lot of businesses obsolete over night.

>>37205884
[ ] Fund Lord Risra of House Kadnil
I like it. No more need for world to produce rare element and the market would be great as there is always need for the stuff. All my yes to this proposal.

I'd also rather save the money that could go into more traditional rare element mining for if this project needs more funding or if it is successful so we can make make more of them.

>>37205884
Which of the former warlords do we/ JD have the best relations with?

This may be a means to bring a newer House into JD's orbit.

Similarity, would House Veritas have systems that fit the bill? We might be able to continue to tie them to not only the Dominion, but our House as well.

Regardless of where, we should 100% invest in this idea, and invest significantly too!

File: putin-medvedev-laughing.jpg (38 KB, 798x500)

38 KB JPG

>>37205938
>cartel.

>>37206001
Odds are that output would be low. They really have no frame of reference. More importantly is that it would take time. Years before it became productive. The lawyers insist that solid contracts be set up as protection should this turn out to be a scam. If they're too stringent it may interfere with development.

>>37206106
>Which of the former warlords do we/ JD have the best relations with?
Relations are neutral to nonexistent with any of the 3 Warlords who have formed Houses.
Maiviel, the Hune, likely has the closest thing to good relations with you.

>This may be a means to bring a newer House into JD's orbit.
Possibly. Such an investment would certainly improve relations.

>would House Veritas have systems that fit the bill?
They have a number of stars that are the right type in their inner territory but information on them is classified and the Navigators lack reliable system data.

>and invest significantly too!
Minimum investment is 100 million. At this time you are certainly capable of it. The number may be reduced by adding station construction assets or ships capable of relocating a good sized asteroid.

>>37206482
>Minimum investment is 100 million. At this time you are certainly capable of it. The number may be reduced by adding station construction assets or ships capable of relocating a good sized asteroid.

What does London think about these offers?

>>37206482
>Maiviel
We should certainly approach her about potentially being the main focus of any of our investments into the newly formed Houses. Is her fleet/House a good % Hune?

>Low output and long term investment when it comes to Kadnil
What sort of % are we looking at for the 100 million investment? Not too make it For House and Shark Tank, but I'd really like more info on what exactly they need more $$$ for, the evaluation, and what they're going to cut investors in at. Will it be a stand-alone company/firm or part of an established one?

>>37206106
>tie Veritas to J-D

Friendly relations or dependent upon us for something? Cool. Exploit away!
Move toward military Alliance? Please no.

>>37205884
[X] Other: Could we potentially get in on that mission to locate systems open to being claimed to support this? RSS has some serious South Reach sensor data between the Rovinar, our missions/scouting, and those Kavarian stations we recovered. Seems like it should be right up our alley.

>>37206482
>Minimum investment is 100 million.
That's a pretty sizable investment. Do they have any more information on it before we cough up that much cash?

File: 660px-Stardust_Dust_Colle(...).jpg (121 KB, 660x599)

121 KB JPG

>>37206664
>What does London think about these offers?
He's uncertain about the new tech.
"This is experimental. We have no way of know it will work as advertised.
Because of the time needed to get usable materials if we try and go with a smaller scale test model it will be ages before we know if it will work and it it does work that years a full sized facility could have been operating.
On the other hand it's also years this Lord could be pulling the wool over our eyes.

Its like the story of that mad king or Duke who wanted an image of his face carved into his world's moon. If they just blasted or used weapons the rock and waste material would reach escape velocity and cloud the orbital space. Instead his subjects told him they'd placed Von Neumann machines on the surface that would mine and self replicate until there were enough of them to instantly landscape the surface. The process was supposed to take years during which the spare VN's would build up their numbers along the terminator, out of sight until ready.
It was a sham. There never were any Von Neumann machines up there and the Duke died of old age before he could realise it.

My point is it's a risk no matter how we do it. Maybe intel or an information broker can try to find out how the Terran system works."

"Or we could just buy the information off the Terrans."
Or get the Alliance to release it, you think to yourself.

>>37207027
Using a diverted asteroid the project team would mine it for materials and construct capture arrays. Each one would use substitute materials to simulate the atmosphere and crust of the usual sort of planet rare elements would be found on. Each section could be removed for testing and analysis.
A dense artificial lattice similar to those found in phase weapon arrays where the actual capture takes place are designed based on tests conducted on planets with exhausted deposits.
A competitor is supposed to have picked up the rights to test on all House Kadnil worlds.

>>37207417
Would have one of the scientists we already employ have enough knowledge in that field to know if this is a feasible idea?

>>37208424
That sounds like a good idea.

>>37207417
I'm confused. Are they setting up these lattices to try and artificially use the natural processes? shooting the lattices with artificial not-phase weaponry stuff to speed it up or stimulate it?

And does this guy have a history of successful ventures or a company to his name in a related field?

(and who is the competitor. We may want to look into their doings)

>reviewing the equipment of our regular ground forces. (I remember a post from shortly after we recruited Rufaro how the equipment of non-marines is pretty crappy.)
Thanks to wartime production most infantry being rotated to the front lines are equipped with Marine grade body armor and some newer weapons. The PDF of most planets still use older equipment, especially armor, but newer weapons have been filtering down. People like a squad designated marksman can get access to some newer weapons like repulsor rifles.

Ground vehicles are little changed except for additional armor that can be thrown on or improved engine efficiency.

>It would also be prudent to launch an investigation into how non-Dominion Factions handle their defense forces close to hostile territory and/or sectors with high pirate activity. (Steal their good ideas like a baws.)
Terran Rovinar and Hune colonies try to maintain enough evacuation capacity to get most of the civilian population off a world in a few days time. Especially those close to the front or former Warlord territories. Most will have a small defense fleet intended to slow an assault long enough for the evacuation to take place.

Rovinar worlds are more heavily defended than others and can look after themselves generally but tend to lack defensive orbital platforms. Closer to hostile territory more time is set aside for militia to conduct drills.

The Terrans use smaller garrisons usually with a central base for a sector that is heavily defended. Fleet deploy from there to worlds that most need assistance. Strength and structure of PDF and militia is up to each individual world if they even maintain one. Some will instead have a few local marine regiments that transfer out if needed elsewhere.

Republic worlds use a mix of these approaches but rely more on defensive platforms to protect indvidual colonies than the other two. Every world is expected to keep a minimum number of troops and ships at readyness based on population size.

>>37209124
>Republic worlds use a mix of these approaches but rely more on defensive platforms to protect indvidual colonies than the other two.

How did that approach work out for them in their civil war?

I'd expect static defences to be at a ridiculous disadvantage in space combat.

>>37209124
If they don't have enough they're expected to ask for assistance from the central government who will provide them but later conduct an audit. Or that's how they used to run things before the civil war.

Now its a mixed jumble of mercs and colonists looking out for themselves and the new government trying to pretend people listen to them. Colonies outside of the core of Republic space don't have nearly as much oversight as they once did. The Republic does station a pair of extra battle groups in the region ready to respond at a moments notice should they get an opportunity to prove they're actually involved. So far that hasn't happened.

>>37208424
>Would have one of the scientists we already employ have enough knowledge in that field to know if this is a feasible idea?
Deleted response to this.
In theory it should work. The real issue is the efficiency and total output from such an approach based on materials density and other variables.

>>37208985
>Are they setting up these lattices to try and artificially use the natural processes?
Yes. The other House is trying it on (or beneath the surface of) planets they know the natural process worked.
>and who is the competitor. We may want to look into their doings
Lord Adern is or was the Governor of such a world. He now has the in House rights to such projects.

Lord Risra believes it is possible to put collector arrays in orbit to simulate the same effects. While he does have the rights to such a project he lacks funding.

>And does this guy have a history of successful ventures or a company to his name in a related field?
He has a small company who is capable of the work. He previously worked in R&D for House Kadnil on long term sustainability for the drive component industry. He does not have much history working on commercial ventures having been in the R&D field.

>>37209615
I'm tempted to provide funding, but I'm somewhat cautious.

>>37209615
So what is his funding goal for the project, current company evaluation, and % of company to be given away in exchange for goal investment total?

And would the investment be in his existing company or a new start up operation with no assets?

File: Comet_on_19_September_201(...).jpg (135 KB, 660x543)

135 KB JPG

>>37209265
>How did that approach work out for them in their civil war?
Made it easier for some worlds to break away or go neutral initially. Each time government forces diverted ships to stamping out rebellious planets meant there were less on the lines fighting the Rebel fleets.
>I'd expect static defences to be at a ridiculous disadvantage in space combat.
They have their disadvantages but they're cheap since they lack FTL or powerful sublight engines. They can also mount heavier weapons than most smaller Republic warships.

But not all worlds make use of defense platforms, that's more for areas that are under threat.

>It might prove prudent to rescan all planets in House space with modern equipment while we don’t have to worry about shenanigans from other Houses too much. If things like that ancient Terran bunker system on one of the home worlds was forgotten, who knows what other interesting things we might find. (Preferably done by a branch of Reynard industries, so we can grab the most interesting stuff for ourselves.)

The House is conducting patrols as part of the training.

One has detect an illegal mining operation near some comets in one of the uninhabited systems.
Two Y-type transports, 4x Frigates, 2x CCD Attack cruisers, 1 Vengeance Type, 3 Knight Class light cruisers and what may be a Battlecruiser but they couldn't get solid readings on it.

You have access to 6 attack squadrons worth of new pilots and crews.

There are an effectively unlimited number of attack corvettes available for them or 3 squadrons of newer Assault Corvettes.

Kim's Battlecruisers are standing by with a new batch of Marines that need experience.

What do you want to deploy with?

>>37210288
All of the trainees in Attack Corvettes cause they can't handle the Assault Corvettes. Kim comes along but will remain back unless shit goes down in which case he can help save the trainees. All the trainees don't need to attack all at once either or else it would be to crowded. Like half go in and half encircle in case some need help or some try to make a break for it.

>>37210288
>Clarification request
we have:
x6 squadrons of rookies (Attack Corvettes default)
the option to equip up to 3 of them with Assault Corvettes
x3 Personal Battlecruisers (Devourer, Excalibur, Gungir)
+ Kim's Battlecruisers (with Marines)

Are our forces required for defending any locations, or is pulling ALL of them acceptable?

What kind of RoE do we have in this situation, assuming ships are registered to another House? (or other Factions?)

>>37210447
>Attack Corvettes
>Kim's BCs
Did you want Sonia on one of Kim's ships, deploy aboard your Battlecruiser(s) or head out in another corvette?

>>37210505
>Are our forces required for defending any locations, or is pulling ALL of them acceptable?
You can take them all if you want. There should be enough House ships and crews to defend all locations but the more you take the less reserves will be available if anything goes wrong.

>What kind of RoE do we have in this situation, assuming ships are registered to another House? (or other Factions?)
They're in your space mining resources belonging to your House without permission. If it's some sort of emergency and they lacked fuel or other resources to jump out, offer to provide assistance. You can then bill them or make it a charitable donation if you want.
Otherwise arrest them, impound their ships until they pay compensation or hold their equivalent value in starships until they do so.

>>37210505
Supporting.

>>37210265
They're open to negotiation, more specifically over ownership of the facility. Lord Risra is willing to sell ownership of 10% of the company as well at the moment. He wants to save more for other investors.

>>37210918
>Supporting.
You're supporting 3 assault Sq, 3 Attack Sq, BC Sq + Sonia's 3 BC's?
Or do you mean 6 Attack Sq, BC Sq + Sonia's 3 BC's?

>>37210695
if they attempt to escape, we can fire upon them, correct? (even if they don't fire first?)

>>37210288
>Deployment

Devourer, Gungir type + half of Kim's people + 3 Squadrons jump in on the operation.

The rest of our forces jump to the system edge to conduct interception for any that flee, or jump in to assist if they start shooting. Excal should shine due to high FTL speed, Kim's ships will mostly be marine boats, and the corvettes should be able to outpace/outmaneuver anything not packing ABs.

Drop Kim in on a flank, Devourer/Gungir on the 6 of the escorts, and our corvettes dispersed by squadron/half squadron around the heavier ships.

>>37211026
>Or do you mean 6 Attack Sq, BC Sq + Sonia's 3 BC's?
This one, misread a few posts here and there.

>>37211077
>if they attempt to escape, we can fire upon them, correct? (even if they don't fire first?)
If they don't ID themselves and run you have the option to tag them as possible pirate raiders.

6 squadron of attack corvettes head out with Sonia and half of Kim's squadron in tow.

You have enough marines to deal with all of the enemy ships. Unless it turn out they're loaded full of troops in power cell armor or Neeran commandos. Then they're under orders to stage a fighting retreat while your vets take over.

With so many corvettes it will be difficult to get them all into attack positions. Rather than have them bunch up and risk friendly fire or getting in each others way, you have half hang back ready to encircle those who escape.
Three squadrons are selected at random to close in. With a 1-3 numerical advantage the difference in tonnage shouldn't be a factor.

The lead instructor hails the ships once he's reasonably certain they're not in a position to escape.

"This is Knight Ioel Favre to unidentified ships. You are conducting illegal mining operations in House Jerik-Dremine territory. Cease operations and identify yourself or you may be fired upon."

"No response." Reports coms.

Roll 3d20, average of 3

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>37211757
1

Rolled 10, 5, 18 = 33 (3d20)

>>37211757
>average of three

these words worry me

Rolled 20, 11, 2 = 33 (3d20)

>>37211757

>Favre
Oh god I read that 4 times before I realized it wasn't 'Farva'.

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>37211769
2

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>37211885
3

>>37211808
>these words worry me
I'm sure they'll be fine.

"SP Torpedo launches detected!"

The instructors immediately order their pilots to go evasive. A few aren't quite able to use their emergency thrusters at the right moment and take hits. It looks like they're older torpedoes because the armor takes the worst of the damage. Several corvettes break off because of the damage, retreating towards your position and the jump in coordinates.

"The pirates are in retreat. An extra corvette squadron is moving to cut them off. The previously detected Battlecruiser is a converted Moli. Heavily upgraded."

Both y-type transports used the distraction to pack up their ice cracking operation and are making a run for it under the cover of the 10 warships. It looks like both Y-types have been upgraded as well, picking up speed much faster than normal.

"Don't let the jump." You tell the training squadrons.

[ ] Add you long range fire to the mix (Roll 4d20)
[ ] Let the corvettes handle it (Roll 3d20)

Rolled 2, 16, 20, 16 = 54 (4d20)

>>37212205
>[ ] Add you long range fire to the mix (Roll 4d20)

Rolled 13, 3, 16, 2 = 34 (4d20)

>>37212205

[x] Add your long range fire to the mix (4d20)

Focus our efforts on the larger ships first. The Moli and Y-types will likely have the best leads for tracking down any that escape and have ranking people. Our larger ships should be able to batter down the Moli and Knight classes quickly for crippling damage, leaving the corvettes to swarm the others.

>>37212352
>>37212373
And make sure our gunners are watching our corvettes. Wouldn't want to do one of our trainees when they're doing something stupid.

>>37212610
We should be able to easily communicate our fire lane to the rookies, and potentially use the modified TAP program that I think we long ago passed onto the training wings to give them a visual? (or their communications officers could do it?)

Rolled 12, 6, 10, 13 = 41 (4d20)

>>37212205
third set?

"Favre, all your kids trained on utilising TAP?"
"Yes sir?"
"Well then double check they have it turned on."
"Aye sir!"

Once the plasma cannon has had a chance to charge up you fire away, the first shot grazing the shield on the Moli. Heavy phase cannons on the other battlecruisers fire away as well, hitting the same ship and the transports. While somewhat inaccurate because of the range and attempts to use the comet for cover it does produce part of the desired effect.
When a plasma beam hits a Y-type hard enough to knock out its shields in a single blow the crew decide they've had enough and cut their engines. Soon they're signaling their surrender.

With the Corvettes on them the other transport surrenders as well before ships begin to jump.

2 Knight class, 3 Frigates and the Vengeance type are crippled with the remainder escaping. The Converted Moli took enough damage that they had to jetison a drive module before it exploded. It was rigged with multiple rovinar drive units giving it good speed for a ship its size.

"They had upgraded shields. The Corvettes needed more time to crack them sir."
"Can we track the remainder?"
"They're jamming sensors so we only have a rough heading." Replies Favre. "Besides if they have SP Torps I'd be reluctant to send more trainees after them."
"Figures. Launch boarding parties."

Marines storm the crippled or surrendering ships. The Transports are easy if time consuming. The others are slightly more difficult with their crews resisting.

"Sir we have a problem."
"What is it?"
"One of our LST's has been boarded."

The crew of a Knight class ship has managed to flank your marines and conduct a counter boarding action. Enemy troops are aboard an LST and may be on the verge of taking it.

What are your orders?

>>37213106

I was under the impression that our LSTs lack FTL.

Get a suitable ship blocking that LST from departing/shooting and deploy power cell armor teams. No quarter.

Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>37213180
>I was under the impression that our LSTs lack FTL.
Most of them do.
1 is good, 2 not so good.

>Get a suitable ship blocking that LST from departing/shooting and deploy power cell armor teams. No quarter.

A corvette will move into position and block it while your elites deploy.
What did you want the crew of the boarded LST to do? Abandon ship or try to hold off the boarders?

[ ] Hold them off (Roll 2d20) (Crew / Marine vets)
[ ] Abandon ship (Roll 1d20) (Marine vets)

Rolled 18 (1d20)

>>37213486
>[X] Abandon ship (Roll 1d20) (Marine vets)
No reason to endanger the crew here.

>>37213486
We're having a word with someone about locking out the FTL systems during boarding actions as SOP after this.

[x]Hold them off (2d20)
[x] Sabotage/reboot/disable/misalign FTL or engines

[x] Patch us into the LST's comms.

"Attention hostile forces aboard this LST, this is Knight Captain Reynard. Surrender immediately and you will be granted quarter. Military personnel make poor hostages, and you will not be allowed to escape. If your leader insists upon continued action, you have 60 seconds to disable him and surrender using any emergency frequency you choose.

I have a plasma cannon lock upon the vessel and will not allow you to escape."

If that LST moves, I want the engines gone or the craft rammed into that Knight class until it isn't going anywhere without a salvage team.

Rolled 17, 16 = 33 (2d20)

>>37213716

Tie breaker anyone?

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>37213588
Not risking the crew but send them the message from >>37213716

Rolled 1 (1d20)

>>37214029
I'll withdraw on this one and support >>37213588

for combat.

I'd still like to distract them with the threat to blow it all up and 'if it moves, shoot it' just to distract them.

(lone roll if needed)

"Get the crew out." you order then switch com channels and make sure your next message is piped through to the LST.

"Attention hostile forces aboard this LST, this is Knight Captain Reynard. Surrender immediately and you will be granted quarter. Military personnel make poor hostages, and you will not be allowed to escape. If your leader insists upon continued action, you have 60 seconds to disable him and surrender using any emergency frequency you choose.

I have a plasma cannon lock upon the vessel and will not allow you to escape this system."

You're not sure how many got your message or had time to act on because shortly after your Marines board. Cutting through the hull is followed by a hail of stun grenades and a wave of power cell troopers.

Battle coms from the ship are a mess and remain that way as your people put down the enemy boarders and advance into the cruiser to rescue the other trapped Marines. The sound of anti-tank weapons fire increases.

You lose track of how long the operation goes on but eventually all the team leaders report in that resistance has been eliminated. A half dozen boarders on the LST surrendered as soon as it was boarded but others were harder to put down. Even among your vets there are several seriously injured.
Recovery teams hal back more than a dozen suits of power cell armor and suit of Dominion Medium power armor that has seen extensive modification. It took 6 of your marines to bring down the pirate officer wearing it.

Casualties among the rookie marines are heavy, despite having fought hard. A handful of the LST's crew died in the fighting. Many more would have if they'd stayed.

"If we encounter these guys again I'm going to recommend we throw those Aries support drones into the mix first so they can take most of the fire."
One of the Marine officers suggests.
"And the plasma blasters, very helpful. If we'd tried to use Shallan Fusion guns collateral damage and friendly fire might have been much worse."

>>37214653
>Casualties among the rookie marines are heavy, despite having fought hard.
Are they dead, or do they 'only' require extensive attention?

>>37214653
well holy shit.

Get an APB out to all Houses and Free Ports with the info we have on this group's ships, and to the local bounty hunters. This group is dangerous as hell and should be approached with overwhelming force.

Find out why they were conducting the mining operation. If they were low on supplies, that is an advantage we and other Houses will have in hunting them down. Especially now that we've secured two of their transports.

Shipping in the area likely needs to be on alert as well.

I wonder if the people or Surekah would like to host some trials for pirates. (and the executions that will likely follow every single one of them)

>>37214653
Well shit it seems our investments are helping with our troops. We may need to get more of the plasma blasters and drones. That suit of medium should be good for a man at arms or one of the ranking marines in our unit.

File: Norune Medium rough3.gif (4 KB, 401x371)

4 KB GIF

>>37214765
A bit of both. There were plenty killed but it could have been worse.

>>37214846
>Get an APB out to all Houses and Free Ports with the info we have on this group's ships, and to the local bounty hunters. This group is dangerous as hell and should be approached with overwhelming force.
Done.

>Find out why they were conducting the mining operation.
According to the freighter crews it was so that the fleet could stay in the field longer without resupply. It was hoped that the comet would mask them from detection otherwise they would have risked scooping hydrogen from a gas giant.

>>37215091
>We may need to get more of the plasma blasters and drones.
Both are available in limited numbers. More plasma blasters had been bought and were being shipped in I believe.


Reconstruction and upgrade of your Norune Medium, which is currently unnamed.

4x spinal mount Fusion cannons
4x heavy phase cannon arrays
2x heavy phase cannon turrets
8x phase cannon arrays
6x Heavy Pulse cannon arrays (120 degree forward arc)
2x torpedo batteries
6x Torp launchers (4 forward, 2 aft)
4x aft missile launchers (Aft)
100x starfighters
FTL Upgrade

Name suggestions?
Were there any more suggestions for Heavy Cruiser designs?

See you in the morning.

>>37215433
Outer Heaven

>>37215433
Sephrin
Dorn's Fist
Solomons Shield

>>37215433
Sharktooth
because it looks obvious

>>37215433
Flying Catastrophe
Void fang
Star Hopper
Salty Surprise
Brave fortune
Best Foot Forward

>>37215433
Its going to be a escort, so how about Thunder Child

>>37215433
La Lunga

>>37215433
Refining my choices
>Sharktooth
>Dorn's Fist
>Void Fang

>>37215433
Sharktooth has my seal of approval and I got no idea how to design a Heavy Cruiser. We've not been around em enough to do it.

>>37215433
>Were there any more suggestions for Heavy Cruiser designs?

Who would we designing the ship for, and for what role?

Anyway, would a class designed the principle of FTL-ing around the battlefield be feasible?

Also, what's the longest ranged weapon operating at lightspeed or above that could be put in a turret?

>>37215433
I was thinking a design with heavy torp batteries and some decently heavy spinal weapons. Shape reminiscent of the Liberty or Viscount Mon cal Cruisers, for maximum forward firepower.

IIRC:
RTS escort flagship. Potentially one sent to relieve the more vulnerable Lance class from Neeran front salvage operations.

Not really

And I don't think any weapons are at or faster than the speed of light, barring the odd laser pressed into service or a solar reflector array improvised into one.

>>37219409
Damned phone posting. Was replying to >>37219271

Ignore the bit about RTS escort, though. Mistook the first part for asking about the Norune.

I don't recall any fixed role for Heavy cruiser design submissions, so you should be able to suggest away for whatever role you like

File: Starship_Battles_-_001_Mo(...).jpg (11 KB, 288x398)

11 KB JPG

>Who would we designing the ship for, and for what role?
Just about anyone, any role.
The Terrans may be pushing their as yet incomplete Antares design but the Alliance is looking to acquire prototypes of other new designs for field testing. They may not be funding construction but they'll certainly be willing to buy completed ships provided they pass shakedown trials.

>We've not been around em enough to do it.
You don't have to design an entire ship, just say what kind of features you'd like in a particular design of a Heavy Cruiser / Carrier. You've certainly been around Heavy Carriers.


>class designed the principle of FTL-ing around the battlefield be feasible?
Not for a heavy. That would work better for a smaller more mobile ship.
>Also, what's the longest ranged weapon operating at lightspeed or above that could be put in a turret?
Phase weapons or lasers. Beam diffusion caused by shields reduces the effective range of them. It is theoretically possibly to convert a Fusion plasma weapon into a fusion pumped UV laser. This could work in either turreted, spinal mount or siege cannon versions.

>>37219379
>a design with heavy torp batteries and some decently heavy spinal weapons. Shape reminiscent of the Liberty or Viscount Mon cal Cruisers, for maximum forward firepower.
Could work. Put a ring of Torp batteries around the mid section?

>>37215433
Something something arrowhead.

>>37220863
>Could work. Put a ring of Torp batteries around the mid section?
Yeah, designed as fire support to take out BC and above ships (and republic wall formations), needs to be escorted by smaller ships though.

File: shiptest.png (5 KB, 952x320)

5 KB PNG

>>37215433
>Heavy Cruiser designs?
I updated this a bit but I don't really know where I'm going with it so I think I'm going to stop. Added rough turret placement plus forward and vertical launch tubes for torps.

>>37220863
>Heavy Carrier
A combat,or battle, carrier could be useful against our current enemy.

The design would focus on long range weaponry (in turrets or launchers), fighter capacity, electronic warfare, and mobility.

The carrier would forgo repair and manufacturing capacity, instead focussing on launching as many fighters and munitions in as little time as possible, survive the battle by staying too far back to be worth engaging, and then collecting what's left after the combat is over.

Obviously, this is a design that would mostly be useful to larger fleets.

>Heavy cruiser
Something that's good at effectively engaging lots of ships smaller than medium cruisers at medium and longer range seems like something that's missing in the current Factions' lineup.

Lots of turrets to lay down a withering hail of fire might be one solution. Or the fusion powered UV laser you mentioned could be useful in this capacity as well.

>>37220863
One design to consider would be a frigate with extra shields to work with assault or attack corvettes. If it had the speed, and perhaps some parts commonality, to operate with corvettes at near their highest speeds it could provide support buy blocking with its shields, often describe when our forces 'leapfrogged' through fire in various battles. Plus a little extra punch would never hurt, or at least i assume its weapons would compare favorably to a corvette. Maybe it would forgo some weapons/cargo/hanger space to mount ecm/eccm so a single flight of corvettes with this in it could turn into a more vicious raiding concept. Having said this I just listed alot of things to cram in/do to a frigate so maybe not feasible, or even cost effective without major vulnerabilities.

Alerts have been put out to Houses and worlds in the surrounding areas along with sensor data on the Pirate ships. They may try to run back to their sponsor if they're working for a House as a privateer force. The gaps in the memories of some of the captured crews would tend to indicate that's the case.
Within the week another house has claimed to have captured most of the pirates, or their ships at the very least. You suspect they've either been executed, sold other ships to maintain their cover or told to take extended leave until things cool down.

There are a few raids but the training squadrons are always quick to respond. Most raiders will usually retreat the moment more attack squadrons show up. Its difficult for the crews to get combat experience this way so they've been conducting drills and sims whenever not on their patrol routes. This has cut into off duty time considerably but with the region under potential threat they need to be ready.

As if things were not complicated enough you're called over to the RSS station. An alliance officer is there waiting for you and apparently isn't willing to talk to anyone else. A somewhat young Hune officer is waiting for you when you arrive.

"Lieutenant Thanion Bartlet. It's good to see you sir. Do you happen to have anything capable of jamming listening devices?"

You do, and show him to one of the small but secure conference rooms you keep ready on the station for just these situations.

"What is this about Lieutenant?" You ask once jamming is active.

"Sir, I have reason to believe that the Alliance base I was assigned to in the region has been infiltrated or subverted by enemy agents."

Oh boy here we go.

You notice he's holding a data module somewhat protectively.
"I'm not sure who to trust but the records on you say you're fairly reliable if occasionally somewhat mercenary. You also have a Medium cruiser slipway which we'll need."

>What say?

>>37222201
"Who is this We Lieutenant?"

>>37222201
"Please elaborate on you rather extravagant claims Lieutenant. Especially the part that involves my shipyard."

Might want to have a weapon within reach. All those 'the infiltrator was infront of you the whole time' tropes build a sense of paranoia.

>>37222201
>I'm not sure who to trust but the records on you say you're fairly reliable if occasionally somewhat mercenary.

We should definitely read the file the FA has on us, or rank should be high enough to access it.

>What say?

"Why come to me? Wouldn't FA high command make more sense? Or perhaps counter intelligence?"

Also, I'm pretty sure Winifred is laughing her ass off right now. It's probably rather weird because she doesn't really know why.

>>37222201
>Within the week another house has claimed to have captured most of the pirates, or their ships at the very least.

That power armour we managed to capture should be pretty distinctive with those modifications you mentioned, especially amongst pirates.

Maybe we should try to ask somebody in the SRL if they know the person who used to own the armour? It could give us an idea which pirate group we're dealing with.

Which, in turn, could lead us to their employer.

>>37222568
>somebody in the SRL
That's a pretty good idea.

We've also got our info broker friend.

File: Advanced Medium.gif (12 KB, 710x594)

12 KB GIF

Don't mind me, writers block.
>>37222243
>>37222415
“I was assigned to signals intelligence and communications at the base I was posted at. While there I intercepted communiques between the base commander and a special R&D team working on an experimental starship. A Medium cruiser that, if it is to be believed, is armed with two republic heavy plasma cannons. I haven’t seen the ship but I know they were working on one.

During the confusion within South Reach lately it launched without permission and has not returned. The Base commander did not order a pursuit but instead sent communications to a suspected pirate stronghold.
Some of the other messages from the commander I intercepted over the past month had bank account information and requested a figure of 32 million. Then the last one he got included time and location data.”

“32 million isn’t all that much in the grand scheme of things.” You point out.

“Most Alliance base commanders are not billionaires.
All of the R&D personnel are still on the station. If it was simply relocating the ship to another base wouldn’t the R&D teams have been transferred somewhere else or have been reassigned by now?”

"Why come to me? Wouldn't FA high command make more sense? Or perhaps counter intelligence?"

“I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get a secure signal out to them or who on the station I could trust. I'm sure the head of security is on the commander's payroll.
The time listed in the last transmission must be a meet up of some kind. I figure you can swoop in and capture whoever is involved, and if the Medium Cruiser is there it can be brought back to your shipyard where it will be safe and any damage can be repaired."

He lowers his voice. "And I suppose you could even take a few scans while waiting for the Alliance to pick it up. Just saying. I doubt you'd be able to duplicate it with your tech level yet."

[ ] Too good to pass up
[ ] Too good to be true, call it in
[ ] Other

>>37223093
I think we should cover our bases. State that we have no intention to steal alliance technology. We will have to take proper precautions when securing it if that turns out to be necessary (which would include a full search and scan for any intruders or bioweapons) Thank the man, and promise we'll look into it. in the meantime, we'll send a courier off with a formal report to alliance high command, as well as our plan of action (we have cloaked ships they can survey the situation and call in a fleet if need be.) Try to time it such that High command can't really call anyone else to deal with it, but that it looks like we are still doing our job.

>>37223317
Supporting this.

We should take copies of the data that the Lieutenant has.

Alternatively we could make call upon house forces to secure the Medium, take our scans then.

>>37223093
>“Most Alliance base commanders are not billionaires.
It's a wonder more people don't defect to the Dominion with Knighthood and $$$ being big parts of it.

>>37223093
This all feels just a bit too convenient, to be honest.

>>37223401
Yeah, thinking it over it does seem a little but suspicious. If he gives us the possible location could we check it out with a cloaked ship?

>>37223093
Who is the highest ranking FA officer we know we can trust?

>>37223598
>Who is the highest ranking FA officer we know we can trust?
The former Lt Commander Thebe is now a high ranking liason officer between the Alliance and the Republic.
I believe he is a Rear Admiral.

Baron Te'ria Vulra, currently an Alliance Admiral. (One of the FA sleepers you recovered.)

Most of the other Alliance Wing commanders you once worked and trained with. They're generally similar in rank to yourself within the Alliance.
Kalah Farhaz
Knight Captain Rya Stemi
Jed Enright

>>37223855
So they're all around our rank... any of them nearby?

>>37223855
>Baron Te'ria Vulra, currently an Alliance Admiral.
I liked this guy, we should try contacting him.

>>37223093
>[ ] Too good to be true, call it in

The guy who reported it to us doesn't need to know that, though. If somebody is trying to catch or kill Sonia, it might be prudent to let them think their plan is actually working.

>>37224189
> If somebody is trying to catch or kill Sonia, it might be prudent to let them think their plan is actually working.
>"Traps ain't orky. So wez gots tah pretend to fall fer da trap...By runnin' roight into it!"

>>37224037
>any of them nearby?
Baron Vulra is at a facility at one of the relays a week away. Apparently is working on a classified project you cant get any data on.
Thebe is in Republic space 2 weeks away.
Enright is at the newport yards 2 weeks away.
Knight Captain Stemi is in the homeworlds 3 weeks away

You start by asking for a copy of the data and stating you have no intention of stealing Alliance Technology. RSS makes enough money off salvage rights when you’re up at the front and by selling ships to them.
You then thank him and promise to look into it right away.

Kim agrees to loan you his ship if needed, or you can send your cloaked transport to scout out the site.

>Send a courier off with a formal report to alliance high command, as well as our plan of action
>Try to time it such that High command can't really call anyone else to deal with it, but that it looks like we are still doing our job.
So the courier will be sent to deliver everything to Baron Vulra who can then use a secure line to Alliance high command. Or would you just like to contact him now on a secure channel?

Isn't that Kavarian warlord Karssk both a powerhouse of the SRL and a FA commander? He'd probably be up for both self policing SRL folks stealing FA stuff and a chance to improve his FA standings by helping with this. Or see if the Rovinar bounty hunter in his employ is up for more crazy shit.

Call in some Rovinar and FA backup and we should be set.

>>37224351
>Or would you just like to contact him now on a secure channel?
I would. Not sure about other voters though.

>>37224351
>Baron Vulra
Send the courier.

It gives us some time to act independently and find things out, while giving us a cover of doing the 'right thing'.

Also, can we ask this FA officer if the Baron is on this project. No sense in telling him if the classified project he is working on is this one...I'm tempted to say that we should send our report to Thebe instead, given that he is not involved in any classified shit.

>>37224351
>Or would you just like to contact him now on a secure channel?

I really don't think Sonia's forces will be enough to handle this, and losing this prototype to whoever pays these pirates could be unpleasant.

Let's do this by the book. If having the prototype stolen really costs only 32 million in bribes, I'm sure we can just buy the blueprints if want to.

>4chan lemme post ffs

Hey posting is back up.

1 for contact, 1 for courier

>Also, can we ask this FA officer if the Baron is on this project.
No, he doesn't even know who that Baron is.

>>37224189
> If somebody is trying to catch or kill Sonia, it might be prudent to let them think their plan is actually working.
>"Traps ain't orky. So wez gots tah pretend to fall fer da trap...By runnin' roight into it!"

>>37224366
>Isn't that Kavarian warlord Karssk both a powerhouse of the SRL and a FA commander?
Do you guys / Sonia trust him? Because that's what was asked for.

>He'd probably be up for both self policing SRL folks stealing FA stuff and a chance to improve his FA standings by helping with this.
Possibly.
>Or see if the Rovinar bounty hunter in his employ is up for more crazy shit.
No.
She survived the battle but plenty of her people were killed in the fighting, especially when other Warlords started lobbing fire back and forth. She's going to be doing her own work for awhile.

>Call in some Rovinar and FA backup and we should be set.
For the FA backup, did you want call locations in the sector or stick with contacting Baron Vulra?

What did you want to tell the Rovinar?

>>37224637
>Do you guys / Sonia trust him?
I think we don't know him well enough, and like we've seen during our last mission, SRL politics put even Dominion backstabbing to shame.

Who knows what his agenda would be when it comes to this.

>She survived the battle but plenty of her people were killed in the fighting

Would Sonia paying for part of the medical bills of her survivors improve her general mood at least a bit?

>For the FA backup, did you want call locations in the sector or stick with contacting Baron Vulra?

I think we should stick with the Baron. Who knows where that station commander has contacts who could warn him.

2 votes for contact
1 for courier (You'll be sending your Excalibur so that it gets there quickly barring objections)

Anyone else?

>>37224906
I think contacting the Baron would be a good idea given the circumstances and the fact that we might have a situation on our hands.

Eventually you manage to get hold of Baron Vulra.
“Commander Reynard, I’ve done what I can to make this is a secure channel but it could be tapped on my end to prevent leaks from my own base.”

“Understood.” You give the Baron a brief rundown of what the junior officer told you.

“I see. Don’t send me any of the data, keep it secure. I’m going to send someone to get it. If they cant repeat what I first said when your people pulled me out of stasis you’re to shoot them.”

“What about the location data?”
“I’ll have to make some calls. If you don’t hear back from me in time either move on the site yourself or recruit the help of the Rovinar.
Also keep an eye on that Lieutenant.”

As it could take time to get hold of the needed ships, what do you want to tell the people at the Rovinar embassy?

>>37225752
"Greetings my Rovinar friends, I was wondering if you'd be able to assist me with some small matters? I have reason to believe there may be a stolen experimental Medium under the command of unscrupulous characters, and I need a contingent of ships to assist in subduing it."

Ooh, we could get one of their cloaked scanning probes they used on the watcher ship to scan the Medium without the alliance knowing, too!

>>37225752
>If they cant repeat what I first said when your people pulled me out of stasis you’re to shoot them.
Just for reference so everyone's on the same page.

>When you inform her of the Neeran Invasion the Dro'all female curses.
>"Our crew had made bets with some of the other ships that were to be put under. We had bet that the Watchers would do something long before the renegades."

So the code word is either that sentence or a curse.

>>37225997
Didn't we tell her that the bet was still going due to a technicality?

>>37225892
Sometimes I wonder if Sonia has no diplomacy stat but something that's just named confusticate.
Probably one of her highest skills at this point.

>>37225752
>As it could take time to get hold of the needed ships, what do you want to tell the people at the Rovinar embassy?

The truth with some omissions? We might need some help recovering FA property and possibly dealing with an internal FA leak. We're not entirely sure about the integrity of our source and can't reveal too much because we don't know how much of the local FA structure is compromised.

>>37226149
>The truth with some omissions? We might need some help recovering FA property and possibly dealing with an internal FA leak. We're not entirely sure about the integrity of our source and can't reveal too much because we don't know how much of the local FA structure is compromised.
Sounds about right.

>>37225752
I return from work! What fun things have yo- Oh... We're doing this now are we? Is it wrong of me for wanting to steal that ship? I know it's probably not a good idea but it looks so nice! I wonder if we could replace the Heavy Plasma cannons on it with a pair of Medium Plasma cannons on each side.

>>37225892
>>37226149
Supporting. I hope we can get the scans from this ship and design our own Medium from it!

>>37225752
"I've been made aware of a situation involving members of the SRL that may be in possession of a stolen prototype Factions Alliance vessel. I feel that together we can both apprehend the members of the Factions Alliance involved and those in possession of the vessel. Or determine if the situation is an attempt to destabilize the Factions Alliance."

>>37226296
>members of the SRL
We have no idea if they're actually SRL.

You ask to see the ambassador about a matter of some urgency, one requiring discretion. They’re not pleased to hear this, least of all from you given your history. A staff member sets up a meeting in a secure room were you won’t be recorded.

“What can we help you with today? Or do you intend to assist us with an issue we’re previously unaware of?”

"I might need some help recovering Factions Alliance property and possibly dealing with an internal FA leak. We're not entirely sure about the integrity of our source and can't reveal too much because we don't know how much of the local FA structure is compromised.”

“What can you reveal? It will be difficult to know how to assist otherwise.”

“I have reason to believe a number of unscrupulous characters may be in possession of a stolen prototype Factions Alliance vessel. It is a medium cruiser scale vessel and I need a contingent of ships to assist in subduing it."

“Oh. I would ask how you found out about such a thing but it sounds beyond my clearance level. I will see if our Admirals can spare a small number of ships.”

They can get you 4 Light Cruisers rigged for FTL pursuit and 2 older Silent Hunters.

Kim should be able to provide 2 Fast Battleships.

>Ooh, we could get one of their cloaked scanning probes they used on the watcher ship to scan the Medium without the alliance knowing, too!
They have recon drones of several sizes but you would need to prove a camo system for it. I believe you have a couple of small ones. They cant carry active camo but they can stay out of sight easily.

>Sometimes I wonder if Sonia has no diplomacy stat but something that's just named confusticate.
>Probably one of her highest skills at this point.
I would tend to agree.

Do you want Bartlet on one of your ships or secure him somewhere on or near Surakeh?

>>37227758
>secure him somewhere on or near Surakeh?
Definitely secure him somewhere away from our ships.

Unless he knows something about the Medium's construction then there's no reason to have him on-board.

>>37227758
He's not a combat personnel, so I don't really see a reason to bring him along.

>ure him somewhere
Make sure people keep an eye on him, he might be in for trouble if we screw this up somehow.

There's also the chance of Krath shenanigans, so have everybody be super careful.

>>37227842
>>37227938

protective custody/stasis? With our recent list of wounded, we could probably hide him among those with a bit of help from local House Intel.

>>37227758
It'll be easier to watch him if he's always within eyesight, bring him with us.

Bring our loyal contingent of marines and followers as well, I think there will be some dangerous boarding actions in our future.

>>37228022
That could work, yeah. And if our Lieutenant is a double agent he's quite thoroughly fucked in stasis, even if he's Krath.

The Rovinar ships arrive while you’re still waiting for word back from the Baron. So far nothing.

You talk to some of the intel people about securing Bartlet, preferably in stasis among the wounded. Someone will have to move him around occasionally but it should work.

Before the date listed in the officer’s intercepted communiques you get a message then later a visitor.
The message is from the base Bartlet was assigned to wondering if you or your people would investigate to see if he’d been aboard the station since he’s been officially listed as being AWOL. Against such a minor charge in this situation it might be best to just cover for him until you know for sure what’s going on. Until then you’ve told them you’ll look into the matter.

Do you want the station admin to give them the cold shoulder too if he’s contacted?

Next an officer from Alliance intel arrives looking for information Baron Vulra says you’d come into possession of. It hasn’t been long enough for someone to arrive from her posting. The best possible would be 4 days and it’s been less than 48 hours.

“What’s the password?” you ask.
“What year is it?”

[ ] Stun him
[ ] Plasma pistol
[ ] Other

>>37228668
>[ ] Stun him

>>37228668
>[X] Stun him
Please tell me we have guards nearby in case this is a Krath or somebody with holographic camo and proper armour.

>>37228668
>Do you want the station admin to give them the cold shoulder too if he’s contacted?

Unfortunately, all data regarding the comings and goings of personnel have to be cleared by the highest ranking officer before being sent off if it's not an emergency. It's really annoying, but these Dominion nobles tend to be incredibly paranoid, so there's nothing the admin can do about it.

>>37228668
Oh boy, here we go.

[ ] Stun him

>Do you want the station admin to give them the cold shoulder too if he’s contacted?
Yes, something is very wrong here and we best try to keep it contained as best we can for now.

>>37228957
>Yes, something is very wrong here and we best try to keep it contained as best we can for now.

I agree. We might also want to spend the next few days or weeks mostly in our armour with a holographic disguise up.

>>37228668

[x] Stun Him (Repeatedly.)
[x] Sensor Pulse for cloaked hostiles
[x] Scramble Marines to secure this guy's vessel and all crew from it under jamming

That ship needs to vanish after we secure it, and we need to file an Alliance report that we've turned over the Hune to this Alliance officer for going AWOL.

>>37228889
>>37228957
Yes then.

>>37228802
>Please tell me we have guards nearby in case this is a Krath or somebody with holographic camo and proper armour.
Yes.

You casually pull out your backup pistol and stun the very surprised looking officer.
Activating your arm sensor you sweep the office, momentarily startling yourself when you reveal Rufaro standing near the door keeping the downed body covered should he wake up.

"Right. Security, tell me this guy was working alone or that he wasn't transmitting elsewhere? The last thing I want is for a Krath or other operative in Recon armor to pop out at me."

"Looks clear sir."
"What ship did he arrive aboard? I want it swept."
"Backtracking... The Pearlemian Star, its a fast passenger transport that has a scheduled route around most of the Reach.
Do you want us to lock down the ship or just find out when and where he came aboard?"

>>37229164
>[x] Just find out when and where he came aboard?

Shit got realest.

>>37228668
>[X] Stun him

Ha! It's a trick question: First thing that was said to us was about gambling and how they thought the watchers would have made a move first. (Technically the Watchers did....they took in the Union)

>>37229164
>find out when and where he came aboard

Was the guy even an FA officer?

>>37229234
Also, the Neeran renegades didn't do anything bad, they're on our side after all.

>>37229164
>Do you want us to lock down the ship or just find out when and where he came aboard?"
Assign a low capability ship to conduct a search of the ship on the pretext of anti-smuggling and anti-piracy actions.

Get the marine detail to conduct a thorough but subtle search of the ship and it's records.

Maybe we should elevate the level of security preparedness within our station by a level, and have security check over the route this guy took to is, in case he stashed something (like a bomb or transmitter)

>>37229164
Get a medic to verify this guy's species and all that fun stuff.

Find out where this guy came aboard and have security keep track of all passengers from the ship. Especially for anyone that came aboard from the location this guy did.

Do have a ship or two positioned to stop the vessel if it tries to undock early...

>>37229534
oh, and have Valeri or someone subtle collect any of this guy's belongings from the ship or anywhere in the station he was going to stay. (I half suspect he was going to pop in, get the info, kill us and then depart on the same vessel)

“How long until they’re scheduled to depart?”
“Five or six hours.”
“Just find out when and where he came aboard. Do some discreet sweeps of the ship before it leaves port. We don’t need to cause a larger disturbance.”
“Yes sir.”

Getting him to an interrogation room doesn't take long and buys enough time to check his background. It turns out he is a Factions Alliance officer with intel by the name of Agni G Abrams but he’s listed as being on leave.

The only weapons on him are a standard issue pulse pistol and a ring equipped with a paralytic injector. It’s not excessively harmful but would have disabled most humans for 6 hours or Dro’all for 3.

>>37229534
>Get a medic to verify this guy's species and all that fun stuff.
Human. A few minor medical complications in his history but nothing terribly out of the ordinary.

Records show that he came aboard at one of the stops elsewhere in South Reach near to the edge of Warlord territory. No missing passengers of note besides the usual few people late to board at any particular port. As this happens with more than 100 individuals per week they’re quite certain things are normal enough.

When he wakes up you realise there isn't much time left before you need to depart.

What did you want to ask him?

>>37230137
"What's the next step of your master plan?"

>>37230137
>When he wakes up you realise there isn't much time left before you need to depart.

Has anybody actually sent by the Baron arrived by now?

>What did you want to ask him?
"Mind telling me who was willing to sacrifice you for a shot in the dark with that password?"

>>37230137
"Why and how, start talking.

>>37230137
>inb4 this is all a test to see if the FA can trust us before they send us on a spec ops mission.

>>37230137
How attached is he to his various body parts?

I'm all for ensuring that he is disarmed. (but I'm the asshole that wants to blow up everything from orbit)

>>37230270
>Has anybody actually sent by the Baron arrived by now?
They won't be able to before the time listed in the information.

"Mind telling me who was willing to sacrifice you for a shot in the dark with that password?"

"What's the next step of your master plan?"
You ask the officer as he takes stock of the situation.

"Wha- you, you shot me!"
"Don't worry, it was on stun."
"I'm an Alliance officer, you can't just shoot me like that."
"Unless I've been ordered to by a superior officer. You weren't listening in on that conversation very well. Also you're listed as being on leave."
"Oh."

"Mind telling me who was willing to sacrifice you for a shot in the dark with that password?"
"I was told the password was a phrase commonly said by Factions Alliance officers when they were woken up from the sleeper ships. Most of them responded by asking what year it was. It seems like most were even told to ask that."

"Names."
"I was just told that you may have data on an asset people are looking for and to get hold of it any way I could. They even authorised me to try and buy the data off you or the other guy if I found him."

"Who are they?"
"I don't know, they know my name not the other way around. All I know is that several groups are looking for data on an asset. Times, dates, design specs, anything. Everything."

"How attached are you to your various body parts?"
This causes him to shut up. Not quite the effect you were hoping for.

Anything else? Will you leave him with House security while you head to the rendezvous point?
Or will you stay at base and wait for the Baron's contact while others investigate?

>>37231409
Leave him under heavy guard until he can stand trial. At worst he is a traitor to the Factions alliance and a collaborator with pirates. At best he is a spy.

We move onward, no time to sit around waiting while someone could be taking the prototype out of the South Reach.

>>37231409
>Anything else?
I think we've scared him enough.
"Do you think they'll try to get rid of you, or can I leave you with House security?"

Well, if the Baron's contact won't make it in time, it's probably best to investigate ourselves.

Maybe have a ship ready to get him to us once he arrives.

>>37231409
Why did he do it?

Were they paying him?

>>37231409

"You'll be held on charges of conspiracy, espionage, and whatever charges the Factions Alliance has equivalent to treason. Before I shoot you again and make you vanish into a stasis pod for the duration of this event and pending trial, do you have any more evidence that may prove to your benefit when that trial occurs?"

>Why did he do it?
>Were they paying him?
"I want to speak to my legal counsel!"
Probably yes.

"Do you think they'll try to get rid of you, or can I leave you with House security?"
At the mention of this he begins to hyperventilate. So again probably unless he just has an overactive imagination.

>>37231755
He snaps out of it when you ask him this, and seems to think things over then replies once again: "Want to speak to my legal counsel."

Great. Just great.

>>37231527
>We move onward, no time to sit around waiting while someone could be taking the prototype out of the South Reach.
>>37231597
>Well, if the Baron's contact won't make it in time, it's probably best to investigate ourselves.

Heading over to Kim's Command ship you order the fleet to move out. The Rovinar ships moving to flank your larger craft. Should the group come under file while cloaked they recommend that your Battlecruisers try to maneuver as little as possible. They can detect your ships at close range but the reverse is not necessarily true.
"We will avoid collisions with your ships, simply try to change course as little as possible."

"What did they ask?" Wonders the weapons officer.
"They said our cloak sucks." Reiterates coms.

>>37232058
>our cloak sucks
not for long, hue hue hue.

The approach to the corrdinates is by the book. Lowest speed FTL approach possible. Dropping out in the relative cover of an oort cloud object nearby. The distance between objects out here will make the approach slower but it’s still the best way to go about it.

Passive sensors do what they can to get a solid lock on the coordinates. Eventually one of the other ships sends you visual data on the object. The basic frame for a medium cruiser slipway along with what seem to be a few attached modules are here. It’s occupied and as you draw closer a shape similar to the data you have begins to become clear.

You think so at least, it’s difficult to tell because of the angle you’re coming in from.

Despite the slow and careful approach you manage to get within weapons range before the timer runs out.

“All ships stand by.” You broadcast on tight beam laser pulse.

The clock ticks past the rendezvous time with no other arrivals in the area.
Any minute now someone will jump in but after ten minutes there is no activity besides a few of the repair arms on the slipway working on a patch of armor near the Medium’s drives.

"It looks like no one else is coming sir."

[ ] Jump the slipway and the medium now, it cant raise shields while in dock.
[ ] Wait and track it if it departs.

>>37233050
>[X] Wait and track it if it departs.
Lock SP torps on its drive section but wait. This is really suspicious.

>>37233050
[ ] Jump the slipway and the medium now, it cant raise shields while in dock.

Better we claim it now then risk it escaping from this place, and leaving us without a scan of it. Get marines in that Medium ASAP. If it manage to fire up get combat ready we are so screwed.

[X] Wait and track it if it departs.

>>37233050
>[x] Wait and track it if it departs.

>>37233050
[X] Wait and track it if it departs.

I wouldn't mind putting some torps into a cargo bay and prepped for a non-SP version of that bounty hunter's little 'fuck you'.

Could be useful if everything goes to hell.

After an hour of waiting the Medium cruiser launches from the slipway, turns in place then re-enters it bow first. Worker arms grapple points on the outer hull and ECM on the station goes active.

With your now much closer vantage point your allies believe you might not be the only ships out here.

A few shuttles launch from the station and board the cruiser, then with the slipway in tow the vessel accelerates and jumps out.

“Navigators take us after it.”

“That cruiser it putting out too large a drive flare for a ship its size. It’s scattering over too wide an area sir.”

“Can you track it?” That’s what you’re mainly worried about.
“Yes sir.”

Your fleet follows at low FTL. The ships maintains its jump, conducting series of nerve wracking mid-flight course changes, some of which force your people to drop out to realign. Eventually the fleet is able to catch up on a longer straightaway.

This time the ship and attached slipway drop out of FTL closer to the system and set up shop. Teams board the station again and get to work. Repair arms open up a number of hull sections, some of which had been previously repaired while you were waiting.

"ECM is down." Report sensors followed by coms.
"Sir I believe they may be they may be transmitting but I'm unable to intercept the signal."

>Do you want to move on the station, wait to see if anyone else arrives or do something else?

>>37234042
... They're repairing the same damned spots they repaired before?

This is a fucking set up.

>>37234042
"What do we need to do to be able to intercept it?"

There's some 2spooky shit going on right now.

>>37234042
Wow, this is one elaborate... trap? I really don't know what I'm seeing.

>>37234332
"What do we need to do to be able to intercept it?"
"Calculating for positions of nearby com relays and Alliance bases. Its a fairly tight beam transmission but we only need to move a few more degrees to catch enough of it."

[ ] "Bring us into position."
[ ] "Get us out of here."

Roll for stealthy maneuvers 1d100

Rolled 46 (1d100)

>>37234494
[X] "Bring us into position."

If this was a setup we're punching someone in the face with our power armor on.

Rolled 98 (1d100)

>>37234494
>[X] "Get us out of here."
Can we ask one of the Rovinar ships to keep tracking this installation? While we wait for the Baron's guy to arrive?

[X] "Bring us into position

>>37234641
Unless they doubled back to the exact same system but different coordinates within it, no one is going to find us due to being in a different system at a different time.

Rolled 79 (1d100)

>>37234494
>1d100

ROLLIN BONES

Maneuvering slowly the coms array aboard your ship starts to pick up more of the transmission. It’s using Alliance encryption codes.
"Forward them all to my station."

Your access codes are up to date enough to finish the decryption and get you're soon looking at information similar to what Bartlet intercepted. The time and location data are different having been changed to this location but the transmission otherwise looks the same. It's being sent to a different base.

Once the message is complete the local jamming and ECM resumes, this time with the station conducting powerful sensor sweeps grid by grid.

Do you plan to do anything about the station or are you leaving?

>>37235318
Would the new time and date allow us to come back with ships from the Baron? Do the Rovinar have any cloaked sensors they could attach to the hull of the station?

Anyway, I think we should get out of here.

>>37235318
I'm for leaving. Can we have the superior cloaked silent hunters tail it for a few days?

Rolled 19, 8, 4 = 31 (3d100)

>>37235379
>Would the new time and date allow us to come back with ships from the Baron?
Yes. You'd have about a day.
>Do the Rovinar have any cloaked sensors they could attach to the hull of the station?
They have a couple of cloaked probes though with the current level of activity they would have to pass near the station to safely deploy one.

>>37235496
>Can we have the superior cloaked silent hunters tail it for a few days?
The Rovinar are willing to have one remain on station with another waiting in a nearby system to help monitor.

Deploy probe then leave system (Roll 2d100)
Leave system (Roll 1d100)

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>37235637
> those rolls, oooou
Leave system


Offtopic but what's our research division at RSS up to right now?

Rolled 18, 22 = 40 (2d100)

>>37235637
>Deploy probe then leave system (Roll 2d100)

Rolled 87, 78 = 165 (2d100)

>>37235637
>Deploy probe then leave system (Roll 2d100)

>>37235318
its a damned sting operation.

Before we jump out, have one of our battlecruisers drop a buoy for us to ask who the fuck is in command here, via tight beam to the buoy.

>>37235786
Does anyone else support this?

>>37235786
Yeah, this might be a decent idea.

>>37235786
And tip them off that someone is on to them... noooo

>>37235836
Mixed feelings about all this and don't think its a good idea. We might want to wait till we can come back with the Baron.

You ask one of the silent hunters to attach a stealth probe to the station if possible. Two ships will remain behind. 1 in system, another in a nearby system waiting to relay any distress signal or track movement.

With expert percision the crew pulls off the covert probe drop then pulls back out of sensor range. The rest of you jump out of the system. For a few lightyears your drive flare seems to be showing up wrong, distorting, then it normalises for the rest of the flight.

You get back to base and inform Baron Winifred that you need to discuss your recent deployment and would like to borrow additional ships. Her initial response is something you do not expect.

"Bartlet is dead and so are several of the wounded marines that were being kept in stasis nearby. Someone tried to kill Abrams as well but failed to get past the guards."

"What? How?!"
"A doctor is conducting an autopsy now but strangulation seems to be the cause. There were also signs Bartlet's nervous system had been overloaded.
I've moved Abrams aboard my ship for protection, doubled the guard and set up high output scanners. I hope what you found was worth it."

>What say?
See you in the morning!

>>37236628
"How much do you know about Baron Vulra and his classified project?"

>>37236628
>Bartlet is dead and so are several of the wounded marines that were being kept in stasis nearby

We had nobody guarding the stasis pods? Fuck. I expected somebody keep an eye on him.

This rally annoys me right now...

>For a few lightyears your drive flare seems to be showing up wrong, distorting, then it normalises for the rest of the flight.

We might want to have some experts look into this at some point.

This is some kind of sting/trap/honeypot, and it seems to be aimed at alliance officers.

Just making some deductions here. Bartlet was probably in on it. He was the one who hinted that we could get some secret tech out of it if we charged in and said some other suspicious things in light of what we have seen of the ship. When he got whacked they also took the extra step of frying his brain, which suggests that he knew something but hadn't been memory wiped.

According to Bartlet the ship went AWOL and the commander did nothing, seemingly accepting a bribe from pirates to let it go. But despite this the whole research team didn't make a fuss and are twiddling their thumbs not working on the ship anymore (or dead). So we go out to the meeting place a find a ship "repairing itself". And then, seemingly deciding that no one took the bait, packs up and moves to a new location and broadcasts the same bait again using alliance codes.

Odds are the pirates have nothing to do with this and were probably only mentioned because pirate boogeymen are second only to neeran bogeymen in regards to getting alliance officers to take action. So this is either some kind of stupidly elaborate Alliance sting or a traitor faction within the Alliance trying to lure officers like us in to do... something.

Now where does Abrams fit into this? We contacted the Baron about this and conveniently he shows up trying to get the info. Someone set him up or he is playing dumb. The latter being slightly more likely seeing as someone tried to off him at the same time as Bartlet.

We should also get that drive flare checked out.

>>37236628
>We should also get that drive flare checked out.

I'm glad we didn't drop that beacon after all. We are going to need to go full shadowrun on this.

>>37238329
What does that have to do with the current situation?

>>37236628
>>What say?
"To be honest, Sir, after what I found out I expected the whole thing to be a FA test to find out about the loyalty of their officers.

Weird doesn't even begin to describe it."

We also need Kavos back, we've been fucking up things we would have definitely hadn't if he had informed us of our oversights.

Also, can the Krath government do something about one of their guys running around and killing FA officers?

>>37239558
Well Baron Vulra did mention that the conversation might be tapped on his end. By isolating who is involved in his project and facility we might be able to narrow down the suspects. After all it is a classified project and only specific parties would be observing the comms.

There is also the unlikely chance that this incident might be related to the project. But its better to play it safe.

Is anyone else suddenly considering that the Factions Alliance may be shit and not worth our lives? Because this is looking more and more like a twisted FA Intel op that just sent assassins after people.

The only reason I can fathom going back is to kill everyone involved while having hackers shoot this info to everyone on every FA base in the region and beyond in an attempt to force everyone involved to be burned and relegated to renegade/traitor status.

Or maybe my paranoia is too high. Adrenaline shots for everyone!

>>37241926
>>37241926
>Adrenaline shots for everyone!
These don't even seem to work unless a Krath is wounded. The non-Krath we picked up in watcher space didn't show any reaction after having adrenaline injected.

>New captcha is still shit btw

>>37239164
>We had nobody guarding the stasis pods?
You did, someone got past them some how.

>We might want to have some experts look into this at some point.
>We should also get that drive flare checked out.
There are no signs of tampering with the FTL systems. One of the older techs remembers reading some of your reports from the Lat'tham coup about Krath ships having the ability to scatter their drive emissions.

>>37238329
>>37239779
Did you want to say this in person or over House channels?

>>37242059
>Did you want to say this in person or over House channels?
How long would it take us to get to her?

>You did, someone got past them some how.
Time to sleep in power armour.

>Bartlet is dead and so are several of the wounded marines that were being kept in stasis nearby
Wow, that's rude as fuck. I can understand going Bartlet if he was the assassin's target but killing the marines is just bad form.

>Someone tried to kill Abrams as well but failed to get past the guards
What exactly happened?

>>37242188
>How long would it take us to get to her?
A few minutes.

>What exactly happened?
Someone hacked the door controls while the Marines were standing right in front of it. One of your people had rigged a phase rifle on stun inside the doorway to go off if a secure signal wasn't broadcast first.
Whoever it was got hit with multiple stun shots, knocked down the guards then ran for it.
The only images that could be captured of it were an indistinct blur. Shortly after all security sensors and marines lost contact with it.

The Krath government has denied involvement but has offered their assistance if the Baron will allow it. So far she has not.

>>37242349
>A few minutes.
I guess it's better to talk face to face in a secure location in that case.

After docking you storm off the ship and proceed to the Baron's Medium Cruiser. The added security checks are a pain but you realise very necessary.

"To be honest, Sir, after what I found out I expected the whole thing to be a FA test to find out about the loyalty of their officers.

Weird doesn't even begin to describe it."

Winifred frowns. "That seems excessive. I doubt it would be the only reason to set up such an operation."

"How much do you know about Baron Vulra and his classified project?" You ask.

"Nothing. It's restricted to the highest levels. I doubt anyone in the Baron's own House even knows."
"What's the classification level?" You might be able to find out if or when your full promotion goes through.
"I lack the level necessary to even find out. Regardless I don't believe its related to what you're searching for."

>We also need Kavos back, we've been fucking up things we would have definitely hadn't if he had informed us of our oversights.
You need an advisor. One will be kept an eye out for.

>can the Krath government do something about one of their guys running around and killing FA officers?
"They've insisted they're not responsible and have no reason to kill FA or House personnel. At this time."

London contacts you. "A suspicious character just bought a ship from RSS. A bow section for a Ballista class carrier. Normally we sell them back to the Republic or mercenaries needing carriers. This was a private sale and they bribed one of our people to keep quiet about it. Or so they thought."

[ ] Lock down the ship until its checked
[ ] Put one of your people aboard
[ ] Ignore it, there are other ships a spy could escape on

>>37202137
I am catching up to your quest in the archive.
It is excellent so far.
I am near the end of the wing commander arc

>>37242861
>[x] Put one of your people aboard

HOW DEEP DOES THE CONSPIRACY RUN?

>>37242861
>[ ] Lock down the ship until its checked
>[ ] Put one of your people aboard
>[ ] Ignore it, there are other ships a spy could escape on

Ask Winifred what to do.

Something I'd suggest regardless is:
"Mr. London, I want you and everybody who knows about this and came into contact with that person to lock down your workstations, and wait to get escorted to a secure location by House forces."

>Winifred
"We once me among a sea of dunes, when I was still a relatively new pilot. What did you give me there?" Did the diamond thing happen, or not? I think there was some discussion about it back then.
Then we can explain what happened .

[X] put one of your people aboard

Rufario? And then have the ship searched when it is prepped to depart. Preferably by multiple stun grenades on the bridge and a marine assault. Should hopefully catch anyone suspicious on the vessel by doing this before it flags another faction/house iff after departure, and the station can uncouple and isolate it to inhibit escape.

"Bloody hell Reynard. I gave you a diamond. If people hadn't just been killed I would accuse you of paranoia."

Next you contact London and have the ship quietly put in lockdown until one of your people can get aboard. Those who looked after the deal are moved off the station to an RTS ship and the offices are locked down.

Not putting up the full post now apparently.
>>37243544
Did you guys want to put a tracking beacon and spy aboard.
Have Rufaro stay aboard the ship while in flight to keep an eye on things.
Get Rufaro to covertly disable the ship then storm it before launch?
Power cell trooper stow away?
Other options?

>>37243627
>Did you guys want to put a tracking beacon and spy aboard.

Yes to the tracking beacon, definitely no to the spy. Going up against what's either top of the line covert ops or Krath is probably going to be very unhealthy.

>Other options?
What about these spy drones? Have them hide in ventilation shaft and other spaces Faction species wouldn't be able to hide in. They record stuff, and we then collect them at a later point. Or outfit them with a beacon, set them to simply leave via airlock next time the ship's in real space, and then collect them.

>>37243627
"Yeah well, since you've already givin me a diamond, all thats left is to get me a ring."
Even with all this going on, it wouldn't be Sonia without messing with the Commander a bit

>>37243777
It's definitely a great reply but I think we shouldn't make it after what's just happened.

We can still mess with her once this is over. Hold on to that sentence.

>>37243749
Only 1 response?

Rufaro sneaks aboard to plant the tracking beacon and makes sure that a few small drones are placed in out of the way areas. They can record things going on aboard the ship and if necessary transmit to the beacon.

>>37243777
You tell Winifred that you have a joke to tell her later when things are not quite so serious.

>>37243627
>Did you guys want to put a tracking beacon and spy aboard.
Yes

>Power cell trooper stow away?
This one too.

>>37244041
Fucking captcha keeps endlessly spinning it's wheels on me. I'm guessing everyone else is having trouble too.

>>37241950
Are you sure? I don't think we ever injected the notKrath. We injected a number of suspects but the only Krath we actually caught was the Union agent we kneecapped with our mass driver while he was fighting the rovinar recon.

>>37242349
>Someone hacked the door controls while the Marines were standing right in front of it. One of your people had rigged a phase rifle on stun inside the doorway to go off if a secure signal wasn't broadcast first.
You know, I proposed that silly string grenade idea as a joke but we may want to look into it. We're obviously dealing with high tier recons like us and we know from experience that th5e high tech security measures can sometimes be the easiest to bypass. What you can't counter with high tech is the really simply stuff like a phase rifle set on a tripwire.

Can't be too hard to make some kind of beer can sized device that can generate 27 cubic metres of sticky foam spaghetti. That would be enough to instantly fill most starship corridors with a ball shaped spiderweb that tangles up and sticks to anything that tries to get through it. Basically harmless, unless you're invisible and trying to stay that way.

>>37244058
1 for no spies vs 1 for a spy+ power cell trooper aboard.

If a tie breaker is not posted within 5 minutes of this I'm going with the earlier one.

>>37244086
>Can't be too hard to make some kind of beer can sized device that can generate 27 cubic metres of sticky foam spaghetti. That would be enough to instantly fill most starship corridors with a ball shaped spiderweb that tangles up and sticks to anything that tries to get through it. Basically harmless, unless you're invisible and trying to stay that way.
It will take some time to look into that. Adhesive grenades might not be able to fill that much internal space.

>>37244177
I'm the anon who voted not to put a spy on the ship, just to prevent this from being counted as a second vote.

To explain why I'm against a spy:

I really think any person we put on that ship will have to be able to either deal with a squad of spec ops or at least one Krath who will likely conduct a thorough search, and keep their eyes very open.

Even in recon armour I'd not fancy the chances a trained operative would have to handle this situation on their own.

We just don't have the right people for the job, and even our guys in recon armor would be pretty fucked if they were to run into multiple Krath on that ship.

>>37244271
Pretty sound logic, as the poster of >>37244058
I'll retract my votes there.

A few more crew come aboard after a transport from Tourta docks then the recently purchased ship heads out to parts unknown.

You're running out of time to head back out to the new rendezvous point. Winifred is reluctant to provide many more ships and there are not cloaks large enough for them to use available. It might be possible for the Fast Battleships to carry 4 corvettes each on their outer hulls.

Then Baron Vulra's contact arrives and does give the correct counter sign. You let him look over the data you have and the sensor readings on the shipyard. A Terran, probably from Khovd colony, he does not give his name.

"Baron Vulra does not know the specifics of the R&D program for this ship. I was sent because I do. I also have a neural implant that will fry my brain and kill me in the space of a few nanoseconds if someone tries to forcibly remove the information from me."

"I hope you have a good life insurance policy with that job." you deadpan.

"You have two choices as I see it, I can tell you what's going on but you'll have to be sworn to secrecy and spend a few weeks off the grid, or you can take your ships out again like you were planning and find out yourself."

"What about the third option of leaving me in the dark and I just not head out to investigate?"
"You involved the Rovinar. That's no longer an option."

>What say?

>>37244460
>>What say?
"Will either option allow me to get my hands on whoever killed my Marines?"
"Will taking the first option result in anything done to my memories or thought processes, or the installation of any kind of implant?"
"Is investigating the situation with my ships likely to result in casualties?"
"What kind of deal makes somebody agree with an implant like that?

>>37244655
I'll support this, since it neatly sums up a lot of the questions I have as well.

Another thing we could ask him is if Bartlet had an implant like that too. And if he did what he might have known that would merit having one. I'm guessing they don't just give them to every SIGINT spook.

>>37244655
"Will either option allow me to get my hands on whoever killed my Marines?"
"Possibly, though I can not guarantee it."

"Will taking the first option result in anything done to my memories or thought processes, or the installation of any kind of implant?"
"Not unless you want it done."

"Is investigating the situation with my ships likely to result in casualties?"
"That is outside of my control and is likely dependent upon you."

"What kind of deal makes somebody agree with an implant like that?"
"It's on a voluntary basis only."

"Did Bartlet have an implant like that too?"
"No, or you would have found it."

>>37244808
"I see no point in risking my ships and crews further then. Please, enlighten me."

>>37244808
"What about the Rovinar if I were to choose the first option?"

>>37244939
seconded

>>37244939
I third this option.

>>37244945
"We'll be talking to their individual captains and government."

"I see no point in risking my ships and crews further then. Please, enlighten me."
"First let me hear your opinion on what's going on."

"It's a sting operation right? Some kind of stupidly elaborate Alliance sting or a traitor faction within the Alliance trying to lure officers like us in to do... something."

"You're partially correct. We know there are a few bases in the region with crews who have turned traitor for one reason or another. We've placed several of them in positions where they'll come across intelligence useful to the enemy.
We're hoping it will be enough to draw out their handlers or additional infiltration groups that might have done damage to actual operations.

Bartlet was under suspicion but we don't know for sure if he'd fully gone over. He may have hoped you might pay him for bringing the ship to you, or he could have genuinely believed everyone was out to get him. His psych evaluation was questionable."

"So you didn't kill him or my men? It wasn't a Krath agent either?"
"No, this was certainly the work of a Neeran agent. We're still trying to figure out how they fool internal sensors and trick unaugmented individuals into simply ignoring them. They've been known to tap and overload the nervous systems of victims. They may be able to get information this way."

"It was bad enough when I only needed to worry about Krath stealing memories. What about the other one?"

"Mister Abrams is certainly an enemy agent but they'll know he's compromised now and won't be of much use.
The good news is that if they went to the trouble of going after Bartlet then they've fallen for it and may believe what he did."

"Bartlet's site was a bust. The ship moved already." You point out.

"There are other sites. We'll be using your cloaked ships to stake out some of them. We also have boarding teams so your Marines lives will not have to be risked."

>>37245610
"Man, that would have looked bad had I uncloaked and demanded the ship be surrendered."

>>37245610
"Well, good thing I decided against decloaking and torpedoing the ship's engines and the station's hanger...
That would have been awkward."

>>37245610
>They've been known to tap and overload the nervous systems of victims.
Has the alliance tried tinfoil helmets yet? Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.

File: Rovinar Cruisers.gif (29 KB, 1356x798)

29 KB GIF

"You're still risking my ships. For how long?"
"As I said, you'll be spending a few weeks off the grid."

"Any chance I can get the design specs to that Medium once we're finished? It looks like it can pack a punch in a fight."

"Looks can be decieving. It's a nearly empty shell packed full of engines, fuel stores and depleted uranium rods where we need sensors to show valuable equipment. There are crew and operations sections but they're pulled from salvaged ships. Ones your company is not associated with."

In addition to the Rovinar ships and the Fast Battleships did you want to bring along anything else?
Up to 8 extra corvettes, additional Marines and your bodyguards with their recon armor are available, unless you want things left behind to help House forces.

>>37245957
Let's bring two more corvettes, and three extra bodyguards with us.

>>37245957
>Forces
4 corvettes (the best ones with proper pilots), and our bodyguards.

I'd prefer to leave the marines behind to keep the station safe along our men-at-arms in medium power armour.

Also, write a recommendation for whoever had the idea for setting up that rifle on automatic fire.

>Rovinar Cruisers.gif
Why do Rovinar like these E-Beams so much? They performed not that well when we had a ship equipped with them, if I remember correctly.

>>37246106
>They performed not that well when we had a ship equipped with them, if I remember correctly.
Which ship was that? I forget if you picked up a heavy one for the Aries fast BS you salvaged.

They often use less power than phase weaponry. While they do slightly less damage they're capable of a higher rate of fire. If striking shields at the same time as phase cannon fire they'll often get a damage bonus.

>recommendation
Do you mean commendation?

Both your bodyguards in their recon armor. 2 assault corvettes with experienced crews unless there are additional votes.

>>37246394
>Ship

It was destroyed at some point. Don't remember mor than that.

>Do you mean...
Yes, got auto corrected by my phone because it doesn't know that word. Well done HTC.

>>37245610
>unaugmented individuals

What kind of augments are known to pick them up? Sensor pulses? HUD eyes? brain implants? Are neural interfaces vulnerable?

>>37246768
We could secure important stuff, especially rooms, with elaborate trip wire traps.

>>37246394
>Both your bodyguards in their recon armor.
We could probably bring that new type of medium armour we purchased recently.

You inform Winifred that you've been called away and won't be available for a few weeks as a result of your investigation.

The first posting your group is assigned to is a different from the one you'd discovered by following the ship. Both of the silent hunters from the previous site they were keeping watch on are called away. You inform your intel relations officer about the stealth probe and it is removed. You won't be getting it back, but then again it didn't belong to you.

It's days before you're informed to go on alert and stand by for the next 24 hours.

A Pico class medium jumps in along with a Marauder similar to Berwari's command ship and a pair of light cruisers. They hail the station and indicate they're here to make an exchange.

A modified HLV deploys from a docking bay on the Pico and heads for the Medium to transfer over a skeleton crew and drop off payment.

"There is bound to be a Neeran agent of some sort aboard that Pico. It'll likely be up to them to guide their ships to a secure drop off point. Our specialists should be able to get the info from them.
Waiting to see if we can follow wherever they take the ship might be too risky."

Following would give away your force strength unless... "My ships picked up odd FTL readings when we were following the Medium before."
"We have a few Krath ships shadowing it."

They could move your unit with a much lower chance of detection.

[ ] Strike now (Roll 3d20)
[ ] Shadow them, see where they take it. (Roll 2d100)
[ ] Other

Rolled 5 (1d20)

>>37247385
>[x] Strike now (Roll 3d20)
I think we don't have the force required to deal with a force larger than this one.

1

Rolled 12 (1d20)

>>37247486
2

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>37247511
3

Rolled 10, 19, 1 = 30 (3d20)

>>37247385
Strike while the Iron is hot!

Rolled 42, 53 = 95 (2d100)

>>37247385
>[ ] Shadow them, see where they take it. (Roll 2d100)

Rolled 8, 10, 3 = 21 (3d20)

Precision SP strike on the Pico and Marauder in the opening?

If no SP torps, cargo bay cold launch to overwhelm their shield?

Either way, the ship is a decoy and we can't risk them figuring it out

Your ships decloak and open fire, a few SP Torpedoes streaking out from the assault corvettes to hit the engines of the Marauder and the Pico. It's not enough to completely cripple them bit it will make running away much more difficult.

Missile and torpedo batteries pop up out of the hull on the Pirate Medium, a missile barrage attempting to blind your sensors. SP Torpedoes slam into the armor of your ship's bow, doing little in the way of serious damage thanks to the upgrades but it won't take long at this rate for them to find something vital.

Heavy Torpedoes from your BC's hammer the shields of the medium as phase cannon and E-beam fire tries to punch through the weakened defenses. The Rovinar soon cripple the Marauder and are wearing down the shields of the other light cruisers.

"Keep firing, they double up their shields the assault corvettes can swing around and hit their exposed side."

When the Pirate do divert all shield power to hold off your attack a pair of Krath Battlecruisers decloak and fire into the gap, disabling all weapon on that side in a single volley and then cutting into the engines until they explode. Shields fail and your heavy weapons tear into the remaining batteries.

One of the Krath ships transmits a ceasefire order at which point shuttles launch from the station and begin a boarding assault on the disabled ships.

[ ] Join the boarding action. (Test new power armor or stick with Recon?)
[ ] Let them take care of it, save your strength.

>>37248197
>[X] Join the boarding action. (Test new power armor or stick with Recon?)
Our bodyguards need the combat experience, and I doubt they'll agree to go without us.
Behold! The Reynardian school of logic at work!

Would one of them like to try medium armour for a change? If I remember correctly, this one can easily be used by different users.

It will also be interesting to see Krath fight.

>>37245610
>"No, this was certainly the work of a Neeran agent
NEERAN COMMANDO! FULL PARANOIA ENGAGED!

>>37248197
>[ ] Join the boarding action. (Test new power armor or stick with Recon?)
Why not both? Couldn't we wear the Jump Jet armor over our Recon armor? Besides there will be more action this way and we may even get to fight with Krath forces!

[X] Join the boarding action with the new suit.

>>37248197
>[x] Join the boarding action. (Test new power armor or stick with Recon?)
Recon of course.

Tinfoil plating on the helmet, to stop the Neerans from reading our brain.

>>37248465
Svidur told us a tinfoil hat would actually make things worse. Trying to find the post on the archive right now.

Regardless of what we do, I want J-D ships to move clear once boarding teams are away and to get back under cloak if possible.

I don't trust that more ships aren't inbound

>>37248428
>Couldn't we wear the Jump Jet armor over our Recon armor?
Ideally yes, that's what it was designed for, but your camo will be ineffective.

>>37248568
>I want J-D ships to move clear once boarding teams are away and to get back under cloak if possible.
You notice that the Krath ships have done this already.

Heading to the docking point for the LST you get aboard and suit up on the flight over. The Recon suit takes a few minutes, but the newer armor is just a case of stepping into it and waiting for the armor to fold closed and lock into place. The jumps jets themselves begin pre-start checks that can be carried out on the move if necessary.

You people board near the bow, away from where the main target could be waiting.

Did you want to bring weapons capable of stunning enemy combatants? Intel probably wants to debrief the higher ranking officers and crew.


Shotgun with stun rounds
Phase Rifle
Pulse pistol
Stun pulse Grenades

What other weapons did you want to bring aboard?

HF-blade (Equipped)
Plasma Pistol (Equipped)

4 barrel Box Missile launcher
Anti-tank plasma gun
Heavy MG
Shallan Fusion Gun

Plasma blaster
X-Ray laser+GL
Reynard Repulsor Rifle (Short or long barrel)
SRL Repulsor Rifle

Misc. Grenades

>>37248895
HF-blade (Equipped)
Plasma Pistol (Equipped)
Reynard Repulsor Rifle (Short)
Phase Rifle
Stun Pulse Grenade
Halfmoon

>but your camo will be ineffective.
Don't suppose we can customize it further to take into account the new Medium armor surrounding us now?

>>37248895
>Did you want to bring weapons capable of stunning enemy combatants?
Yes

>Stun pulse Grenades
By the dozen.

>Pulse pistol
Just so we don't have to throw grenades at people who surrender.

>Reynard Repulsor Rifle
How could we not, I think we haven't used it once.. Short barrel is probably the better choice for a Faction built ship. It should still offer enough power to penetrate even power armour at the ranges we'll engage at.

>Halfmoon
These tend to come in handy a lot.

Also, not something I want to bring but
>SRL Repulsor Rifle
they didn't steal our stuff again, right?

File: Frost giant sneaking.jpg (22 KB, 978x82)

22 KB JPG

Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>37249010
>Don't suppose we can customize it further to take into account the new Medium armor surrounding us now?
Well you can but...

>>37249042
>they didn't steal our stuff again, right?
Sorry re-branding, Repulsor mass driver rifle. The one that was originally produced by the Warlords and they still sell and market.

Looks like a good mix of grenades as usual, pistols, repulsor rifle and a phase rifle for extra stunning.

Roll 2d20 for clearing the bow sections.

Rolled 13 (1d20)

>>37249291
>Roll 2d20 for clearing the bow sections.
1

Rolled 16 (1d20)

>>37249361
2

Rolled 3, 11 = 14 (2d20)

>>37249291
You have confused me.

Rolled 17, 10 = 27 (2d20)

>>37249291
Let's catch us some Neerans

>>37249493
>You have confused me.
You're very stompy. If you get the camo to work to cover the new armor as well you'll be invisible, but still very stompy.

The Marines are ready for anything after the hard time they had with the pirates the other day. A few extra Marines are carrying boarding shields to ward off incoming fire should the units become separated from the Power cell troopers. Nearly every available plasma blaster that had been shipped in before you left was picked up by your people.

It takes some urging on your part to remind them that you need prisoners. Few have phase rifles or pistols equipped. In the first few areas most just choose to shoot limbs off of those not knocked out by stun grenades. They're mowing through enemy troops and crew members a little too well in some places and you have to get the Officers and Sergeants to rein them in.

The lightning offensive through the bow sections slow to a more manageable pace soon enough once the message becomes clear to take the capture orders seriously.

Using jump jets aboard a starship to hurtle down a corridor at enemies or places they're entrenched takes some getting used to. Your movements are a little different compared to your Recon armor. Not slower really but the feeling of being bulkier is certainly there throwing you off a bit. Using your HF-blade seems more difficult and you're temped to pick up a shield.
You can see why Ecord usually had a Fusion Gun.

"Jackpot."
"What did you find?"
"Torpedo magazines."

A team is assigned to checking the warheads to be sure they're not sabotaged then getting the SP's back to the ship. The Marines recover 45 SP Torps but leave the conventional ones for the time being.

The other teams intel sent aboard also report success. One of them had more wounded than the others, but two teams secured what they're calling high value targets. You don't know if that just means the captain or actual Neeran. You're not considered to be in the need to know crowd.

>>37249042
>How could we not, I think we haven't used it once
We used it on that specops mission with Eldal and blasted apart a bunch of Neeran pretty well

>>37249291
Should be possible to sync the camo system over the matroska armour and add sound dampeners to the boots. It wouldn't be nearly as stealthy as an actual recon but it would allow us to get the first hit in most situations and not CLOMP CLOMP CLOMP everywhere. It's not very subtle though, especially once we open fire or use the jets.

For the silly string grenade the hard part isn't the delivery mechanism, it's the string material. We really don't have any expertise for this sort of thing on staff so we would need to hire a chemist. Ideally you would want an expanding foam substance that stretches and is also sticky. So if you sprayed it out of a nozzle it would comes out a liquid but rapidly harden into a sticky string or cloud of "foam" depending on the nozzle shape. We have substances that will do that sort of thing in real life, just not all at once or as fast. Real silly string wouldn't be strong enough for this.

>>37250914
I'm thinking of The Incredibles sticky launchers used to subdue intruders, or the foam use in HULK(2003) to try and slow down the man in green. The latter didn't work so good but is hardly surprising.


Once the last teams are finished securing the ships they're towed to one of the nearby comets. A Krath ship then uses E-beams to dig a trench large enough to stow the vessels and cover them over using tractor beams on the material that had been blasted free.

"Much less in the way of heat signatures compared to using phase cannons." comments sensors. "We should try that for hiding bases."

It's one of the reasons professional salvage teams like yours use them to cut ships into manageable sizes for transport.

You don't know what happened to all of the captured crew. You assume one of the Krth ships left to drop them off somewhere.

No one else shows up to this site and the next is a complete bust. You later find out a spy was arrested trying to tip off the Neeran that the particular one was a trap but they caught him in time. Still the fact that he never reported likely told the enemy just as much.

More than a week after that another site turns up a group wanting to get hold of the ship. A Dominion Carrier along with two newer Vengeance types and Jenning corvettes as escort jump in a couple million kilometers out. All of them lacking markings of any kind save for a matte black paint scheme.

The engineers are a little worried about the state of repairs. The hull damage has been patched but it isn't nearly as durable.

Because of their distance it will take time to get into position.
Do you intend to let this group board the medium before striking or will you shadow them and see where they take it?

>>37251324
>[x] shadow them

>>37251324
Let's try to shadow them but keep our torpedoes ready, in case they notice the Medium Cruiser is just a decoy.

>>37251425
>>37251495

I'm expecting 3 more votes to do the other thing once I post this.

Roll 2d100 for shadowing the group.

Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>37251765
>Roll 2d100 for shadowing the group.
1

>>37251324
Mr Intel's thoughts on this one?

One of the Rovinar vessels should probably move into position to turn any fighter launch by that Carrier into a slaughter when they drop the shield for launch.

[x] Shadow them, but be prepared to jump in if the Krath make their move

Rolled 58, 100 = 158 (2d100)

>>37251324
We may as well shadow them and hope for the best. What could POSSIBLY go wrong! Also did we not take any prisoners ourselves or did we let the Krath eat all of them?

Rolled 49 (1d100)

>>37251780
2

>I'm expecting 3 more votes to do the other thing once I post this.
Nah, it would be two so we end up with the classic H&D undecided vote.

Rolled 67, 32 = 99 (2d100)

>>37251765
Shadow them.

Rolled 4, 100 = 104 (2d100)

>>37251765
Rolli-

>>37251784
>Sonia's face when 100
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBHoCGFXX8E

>>37251784
>100
uhhuhuhuhuh

I want to mount the unfortunate Neeran's head on the wall of our lodge.

>>37251908
uhuhuhuhuhhuhuh

>>37251784
>>37251908
Okay, two 100. I am afraid. What strange powers did we bring into this game?

Once they've conducted the trade a number of shuttles are sent over and board the medium, pulling it out of slipway. It and the other ships perform a minimum power jump out of the system. This should give you time to catch up, and the Krath battlecruisers move into position and pick up the rest of your ships.

Apparently there were more Krath in the area because it takes at least four of their Battlecruisers to move all of your ships and 2 extra standing by should the Fast Battleships prove too troublesome. You're leaning towards yes, these things are too massive for another ship to jump them. Eventually the engineers work out a plan to use more drive power from your ship to assist the one towing you.

The buyers do what they can to lose any potential pursuers and it is difficult. If the Rovinar hadn't gotten a head start your heavier ships might not have caught up. And if none of you had been around the Krath might have actually had an easier time overall. Still they do prefer to have other faction ships around to soak up damage.

A few hours are spent in deep space, where the Faction ships conduct scans of the vessel and apparently unsatisfied conduct a few inspections. Provided they don't dig too deep, it should appear as though all of the extra space is being used up by equipment. "Security lockouts" are supposed to be preventing the plasma cannons from firing. In reality there are a few boarding teams the alliance placed aboard ready to bust out once the ship reaches its destination.

The crew are apparently satisfied that they can't do much with the ship themselves and resume course. Some time is spent on more evasive maneuvering that would have thrown off many pursuers before arriving at a private shipyard.

Private but not unmarked.

House Fle'rov is not a supporter of the war effort and pulled their ships after losses. They were always a minor House but their standing among the Dominion has plummeted since the start of the war due to poor leadership.

>>37252803
...I sense an opportunity to expand our territory

>>37252803
What
an
opportunity.

Even the propaganda opportunities alone from this are staggering. 'Don't support the war effort? Then you must be a Neeran sympathiser!'

"Are these guys working for the Neeran?" you ask.

"They might be planning to produce or sell the design to one of the Major Houses."

You do a threat estimate. An average modular station but with few modules and little int eh way of dock space save for the medium slipway. The ship dock itself is undergoing some hasty modification to make room for the rather wide cruiser.
A few phase cannon and missile batteries dot the station but it lacks a ring of torpedo batteries which is good for you.

1x Carrier
4x Vengeance type (C2)
12x Jenning assault corvette
24x Type-6 attack bombers currently on patrol circuit

While few in number most of these ships look quite new. This may be a personal investment by a rich Lord or Baron. Or whoever is in charge of this base is really well connected within their House. If that's the case they may have SP Torpedoes.

The station and the carrier could have several hundred starfighters between them.

Your forces:
6x Krath battlecruisers
2x Fast battleship (Bow damage) (Point defense/Mass driver PD)
2x Mk 4 assault corvette (Ace) (Point defense)
4x Rovinar Light Cruiser
2x Silent Hunters


>What is your plan?

>>37252981
I was thinking of having them shoot at us (in our dominion persona, since we technically aren't working for the Factions Alliance right now). At which point a house much weaker than us has broken the emperors truce, and we can beat the shit out of them locally until the emperor hauls us off them.

>>37253076
>>What is your plan?
Well, probably have a few minutes to formulate a plan.

What... what if we simply decloak one of our ships, state who we are, that evidence of their crime has already been transmitted to the FA, and offer them the chance to surrender in turn for leniency?

>>37253077
Haha, oh yes, that is a rather delightful plan.

>>37253076
Have the Krath maneuver into position such that they can immediately open fire onto the launch ports of the station and carrier, aiming to disable their launch capacity.

Split the main fleet into two groups, the fast battleships and the assualt corvettes together, and the Rovian Cruisers and Silent Hunters together.

I'm assuming we're all cloaked with this plan, essentially, the Krath and the first group uncloak, with the battleships and corvettes drawing the torpedo fire out and flattening it down with their point defense.

Meanwhile, once we've distracted the group with the other forces, the Rovinar decloak directly to the rear and volley them with SP torpedos (or whatever armaments they have)