>>3456358
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION

>>3456358
For House and Dominion! Raiding behind Neeran lines!

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By your 3rd or 4th day in the area you made limited contact with the local rebels and had begin recruiting forces wiling to defect from the Neeran fleet. Shallans Trelta Gun and Viqano Dyer were convinced to defect, each with a ECM focused Medium cruiser. Arrangements have also been made with a Trayan mercenary named Ren, bringing a fast medium and 3 attack cruiser squadrons.

After refusing their request to bombard a civilian population center local Rekesh rebels agreed to a meeting. Despite paranoia about potential enemy attempts to find and destroy them their leader Ni Ahni has agreed to work with you.

The Rekesh have 2 Heavy Cruisers designed to engage at long range with light siege weaponry. They also have nearly 30 battleships and a full Wing's worth of their own attack frigate. Some additional forces are being kept in reserve elsewhere to prevent the loss of their entire fleet.

Faction warships bordering on obsolescence or perhaps just been seen as less desirable have been brought along to be given to any rebels you encounter. These have been given to the Rekesh.

What are in desperate need right now are bases for the various fleet elements to make use of. Ones that can conduct serious repairs on medium cruisers you've crippled and captured. You currently have 5 mobile options; an asteroid FOB builder, a Faction modular station, 2 similar Neeran stations, a Neeran station core from a modular base. Ren is also attempting to find another that can be stolen.

-The asteroid FOB takes the longest to set up and will be the most difficult to relocate.
-The Faction modular can be set up in such a way to allow more rapid repairs of medium cruisers.
-Neeran Modulars are fastest to take down and relocate but have less dock space
-The Neeran station core could be used to provide power to a hastily dug out asteroid base, or could be rebuilt into a more mobile base if you have access to a medium cruiser yard.

Which station did you want to deploy first, and where (or who) will be getting it?

>>3456423
>Neeran Modular

>>3456423

Can we do the Orkish thing and strap engines on to any of these options and make them mobile? Or at least make it so if they need to bug out while attached to a Medium. The Medium can carry them away.

Otherwise I am split between:
>-The Faction modular can be set up in such a way to allow more rapid repairs of medium cruisers.
and
>-Neeran Modulars are fastest to take down and relocate but have less dock space

>>3456423
Is the FOB builder module used up in the construction process or can we use it to create multiple bases over time?

>>3456432
>Can we do the Orkish thing and strap engines on to any of these options and make them mobile?
Yes but you'll need a Medium Cruiser yard to do it.

>bug out while attached to a Medium. The Medium can carry them away.
That could work.You'd end up with a station that was more asymmetrical than most old EVE ships but in theory it could be done. You'd still need repair facilities to do it, but it would take a bit less time.

>>3456445

Then I say lets get one of the Neeran Modulars up and running. Have it stick engines on the Faction Modular. And have them both working in different locations. With us using the Factions Modular and loaning the Neeran Modular to the rebels once we stick engines on it.

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>>3456445
>more asymmetrical than most old EVE ships
Heh

>>3456436
It can be relocated, though you'll have to replace the manufacturing capacity in the base once the builder module is removed.

>>3456487
Thanks.

>>3456423
Let's try to find good locations for the Neeran modular bases first.

Okay starting with one of the neeran modular bases. The Dominion Knights have what they feel is a good spot for a base that is in a quiet and out of the way place. It's not in the dense star region as you would have expected but Knight Zinovev insists it's just as good. Especially if everyone making use of it follows approach criteria.

For now such a base would be used by as few other units as possible to compartmentalize knowledge of its location.

Did you want to make use of the new base to start work on crippled Mediums, or work on converting another base into a more mobile one?

>>3456550
Getting a mobile base up and running seems like something we should get out of the way as soon as possible.

>>3456550
Mobile base then Mediums.

>>3456550

Convert a base to be a mobile one.

>>3456550
Work on crippled Mediums

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>>3456564
>>3456573
>>3456583
Okay that was straight forward.

A base is assigned to Zinovev along with some of your top repair and field mod crews. Ren is nice enough to provide specifications for one of the mobile bases. They'll see what can be done using some of the salvage. Looking at the plans the station core seems the best choice to attempt modification as they'll have to break less things that are currently working.

Even before their arrival the Knights believe they'll probably have to strip one of the enemy reserve bases for parts once they raid them.

"Any progress on that front?"
"Two more bases confirmed. We have possible locations on another 3. If you hadn't blown up that enemy patrol base I suspect we would have found them by now."
"Or they might have found you." you point out.
"True. I plan to take out all that we've found either way about five days from now. If we locate them more quickly we'll move sooner."

Base is marked on map in green as "NM1"

1) Due to the minimal mobile repair capacity of the Rekesh fleet at this time, did you want to loan them a repair ship to help keep the faction vessels in operation?
Y/N?

Or
2) Did you want to give the Rekesh one of the mobile bases once operational?
2A) Yes, they get first dibs
2B) No, Give them the Faction modular
2C) No, Give them the Neeran modular
2D) Give them a mobile base if you capture a spare for Ren

Shit I have to run to the pharmacy before they close!

>>3456614
Cool faces.

1.Y

>>3456614
>1)
Yes, and give them one of the Neeran modular bases to use as they see fit. It can't hurt to have yet another possible emergency fall back location available and if it helps the local rebels in the mean time even better.

>>3456614

>1) Y

Also plan to give them one of the Neeran Modular's. Once we equip it with engines. So that they dont risk losing it quite as much.

>>3456614
>1) Y

>>3456614
This should have read.
>And/Or
>2)

The Rekesh are getting a repair ship in the short term. They'll also be getting a base of some kind eventually. Whether that's the remaining Neeran modular or one with engines attached to it remains up for debate.

That leaves what to do with the remaining Faction desiged bases. While the defectors might deserve bases of their own -eventually- your own fleet does need some storage space as well.

1) Who gets to choose where the remaining 2 go? (SELECT 2)
[ ] Hera Boosalis
[ ] Phas Rah'ne
[ ] Lyas Cinayk
[ ] Baron Xedols

2) Will you let them decide themselves where to position these bases? Or will you select the general deployment area to ensure you have better coverage across the galaxy?
2A) Let the commanders do it
2B) Choose yourself (Indicate on the galaxy map) >>3456614

Didn't we start with multiple Asteroid FOBs and assign one to the Dominion Knights with the sealed orders? Just want to confirm if they deployed that one for their SHTF fallback point.


>>3456614

>1) Yes

>2) No, Give them the Neeran modular
Hopefully we can capture some more modular bases and FTL equipment with the rebels to let them upgrade a second base into a mobile one.

>>3456714
You have 1 modular base and 1 FOB as far as I was aware.
The Knights were given orders to find a location to eventually put a base, but had not been given one yet. They were also to keep an eye on the engineering teams planting nukes to conceal the survival of an enemy base you found. Provided everything went okay it should be available for eventual use once the enemy stops watching it.

>>3456713

1)
[x] Lyas Cinayk - Alliance FOB
[x] Baron Xedols - Faction Modular Base

2) A

I'd personally like to use the Alliance FOB as a compartmentalized (top ranks & J-D wing commanders only) J-D fallback point, deploying it somewhat similar to that nuked base and using some of the looted sensor blocking materials to help conceal the entrance.

While the Faction Modular would likely be the best option for deploying as an active use base for now, moving it periodically?
>>3456720
Looks like I should have been more specific on quantity when last minute equipment came up.

>>3456713
1) [ ] Baron Xedols, [ ] Hera Boosalis

2A)

>>3456713
>[ ] Baron Xedols
>[ ] Hera Boosalis

>2A

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Baron Xedols and Hera Boosalis are each provided with a station to be set up. Compartmentalized unit knowledge as with the others. The Baron requests the modular station as he intends to test a possible base setup that could be used for repairs to one of the Super Heavies. Of course the amount of damage that would require repairs of that level are serious enough that you might consider evacuating the ship from the AO. Hopefully it doesn't come to that.

"Hera, we recovered some sensor absorbing sections from a base that we blew up. Do you think your team could make use of them to further hide the base?"

"It sounds easy enough."

For good measure you provide her with scans of the nuked base. It would take some time to build a base like that with the mining/industrial module. That doesn't mean its out of the question.

"Also if you can loot industrial capacity from targets that would free up the mining module for use on other bases."
"Way ahead of you sir. I already have a few raiding targets in mind."

Both soon depart on their assignments. The Baron places his station deeper inside the dense star region. Having looked over intelligence provided by the Rekesh it looks like it's well off any patrol routes.
Hera intends to place hers a bit closer to the galactic eye, within easier striking range of several systems and facilities.

Before you and the Rekesh fleet go your separate ways they're provided with com relays and an Alliance observer. You'll be able to coordinate raids on targets and share intelligence more easily.
It is the intention of the rebels to liberate their core colonies from the Neeran. That includes the planet that is your primary target. While they do not know what you may find there they are more than happy to share at this point if it aids them in their goals.

Hopefully that doesn't change if the contents are something of great value.

>cont.

When you return to the fleet a number of updates are waiting for you.

Ren is still looking for a good target for their base but so far has come up empty. The Mercenary isn't one for wasting his employers money by sitting on his ass. If he cant find a mobile base of the kind that he wants soon he'll begin regular raids to at least pay for his keep.

Intel from the Rekesh has begun to arrive. They've located a manufacturing center for sensor absorbing and reflective materials. They dont keep much on site and what they do are smaller sections that haven't been assembled. These could prove handy for hiding probes and the like but would be less ideal for larger stations. It's located on a planet with defense platforms and shields.

There's also an assembly plant that stockpiles larger sections for use in station construction. This is probably more what you were thinking. Taking out this base wont halt production but could net you a substantial haul. It's part of a larger logistics station.

Either target is well defended enough that 2 groups are recommended. Do you want to hit one or both?
[ ] Manufacturing center
[ ] Assembly plant
[ ] Both

>>3456879

Ideally I say we hit both. To draw their response teams to different parts. And to also maximize our chances. But if that is not possible. Then Assembly plant, they already know we're here. So the longer we can delay their finding us the better.

>[ ] Assembly plant

>>3456879

[x] Assembly plant

We're going to run into the problem that the British did when they broke Enigma. How do we best utilize the information we can gain from the rebel's access without alerting the Neeran that their systems are obviously compromised?

If we strike two sites with a specific product in quick succession, the Neeran will almost certainly have to consider that they have a leak.

I believe that the assembly plant is the best option, for now. It is space-based, meaning no deployment of ground forces or raiding force stuck in a gravity well for response forces.

While the manufacturing center allows the enemy to continue building stealth probes, we may wish to delay attacking it at this time or limit our attack to simply destroying the orbital facilities. Act like we don't know the strategic asset is there, and potentially conduct a planetary raid later to destroy/loot it. Or raid transports out of there over time.

>>3456879
>[ ] Assembly plant

>>3456888
>>3456908
>>3456948
You have Mezan's group, Phas, Lyas and the optional defector unit. While Gun doesn't believe the enemy identifying their individual ships matters much at this stage Viq isn't as certain. He still wants to make use of their remaining codes to observe a few systems and gather information before their codes change.

Who did you want to bring along on the raid? Also, did you want to assign a 3rd unit to performing raids on nearby systems?

>>3456958

Are the Gun/Viq ECM Mediums capable of out-of-system jamming of the target?

>>3456965
Yes.

>>3456879
> [ ] Both

We have the speed advantage, so why don't we hit one to draw attention then quickly hit the other one while they're still reacting?

>>3456958
>>3456970

I'm thinking Phas + Lyas make the attack, and loan them the Exclipse IIs to ensure that defensive stations/sections can be killed quickly with overwhelming fire.

Gun and her force can sit nearby as a reserve and provide long range jamming during the attack.

Ideally, they act in a support role to get at least some credit toward salvage and preserve their status by remaining unobserved. Worst case, they can jump in and blast any smaller quick response forces in the back.

I'm a tad worried that by putting Sonia & Versa into Mezan's ship we may need to be conscious of potentially giving Mezan's mercs too much action & thus salvage.

>>3457005
Last minute objections since there has been no other suggestions?

"Phas and Lyas, you're up. I'm assigning each of you one of the Rioja fleet Eclipses for added firepower.
Gun, Viq, I want both of you providing ECM support from long range. Preferably well outside of their detection capability. Don't engage unless they run into trouble."

"Do you want us to take the heavy cruiser and the rest of your false flag unit along with us?" wonders Gun.
It's a good question. Rob Ecord recommends assigning the Outer Heaven with one of the veterans to keep an eye on them. He still doesn't trust them and so far they haven't really deployed in combat on their own. Usually someone like yourself are nearby with enough firepower to kill them outright if they switched sides again.
While the heavy has a lot of firepower you dont doubt they could try to capture it using their superior knowledge of Neeran tech. The ships current CO probably lacks the plot armor experience necessary to repel them if they turned.

[ ] They can take the false flag group along
[ ] "Tes'us, take command of the Outer Heaven and provide backup."
[ ] Both
[ ] Just Gun and Viq's units

>>3457021

[x] Tes'us
[x] Cloaked ship at range

>>3457021
>[ ] "Tes'us, take command of the Outer Heaven and provide backup."

>>3457023
>>3457021
I'll support this.

>>3457021
>[ ] They can take the false flag group along

While it isn't worth sending the false flag unit along that doesn't mean you shouldn't keep an eye on the two.
"Tes'us, take command of the Outer Heaven and provide backup."

Once the unit's tagalong cloaked ship has finished recon of the target the crew will swing back to help keep an eye on things as well.

While you dont go along on the deployment yourself that doesn't mean you cant look up intel on the target.

The logistics base is similar to other production bases you've attacked though it uses a scaled down version of the base hull. Or two of them in this case. Between the hulls are caro arrays storing equipment and supplies of all kinds. Some of it is ready to be shipped out or used by the station manufacturing to produce other goods.

With that much potential salvage it's a good thing the bases are being deployed. As that part will still take awhile you decide now is a good time to bust out some old tricks.

"Get me the captains of the mining barges. We need to dig some emergency supply caches. Once they've been filled we'll top them off with a sensor dampening layer and cover them with rubble."

"How many are we making this time?" asks Maybourne, getting the orders ready.
"Eighteen. One for each of Rioja's attack wings, but not all at once."

"We have enough mining equipment I think we could do them in sets of 3 without it impacting production."
"Good."

While the attack is taking place another intel report comes in from the Rekesh. They've been monitoring enemy coms and things are not going well at the edge of the cluster. The Ulgean fleet that has attacked the Neeran navigation station and nearby dwarf galaxy has taken heavy losses but despite this has established a beachhead.

A number of commanders are calling for a focused effort to repulse the Ulgean fleet now before they can reinforce. Others are counseling withdrawal to a more defensible position due to the increasingly powerful Alliance presence on their flank.
It's debatable which would be best for you. If the Neeran were to pull back from this area suddenly, the Ulgean might invade this galaxy before the Alliance could get here.

"Do you think we could screw with the local Neeran garrisons to help them make up their mind?" asks Maybourne.
>What say?

>>3457090
Eh, six of one half a dozen of another it seems.

We should maybe be thinking how we can use this new pressure to achieve our mission.

Do we have diplomatic relations with the Ulgeans yet? How does this mix with the news that our target is a core Rekesh world? Could we fan their rebellion enough to seize those worlds and be stable enough to not get gobbled up by the Ulgean?

Best outcomes without knowing that means that a partial withdrawal would be best, seconding that getting the Neeran to stay would be second best.

Maybe somehow false-flag Ulgean attacks further back than should be possible making them concerned they might lose more than this system if they let the beachhead suddenly grow?

>>3457090

Ideally we'd like to see just enough forces from this galaxy head off to fight the Ulgean that the two forces stalemate in the beachhead galaxy.

Ulgean Raiders would be manageable, if not beneficial if we can come to an agreement not to blow each other up.

Encouraging the Neeran one way or another seems hit or miss, really. Short of our forces laying low to encourage them to hold this position, any action could really go either way. And encouraging them to hold this position could mean additional forces retreating here from the beachhead galaxy.

>>3457115
Sometimes I miss Sonias weird and crazy shark era.

Otherwise we could do something fun to mess with them like sending them a message asking them to stay and fight the Ulgeans while we close in on them.

I mean, that's going to give their psy-ops a major headache about our presence and intentions.

Assuming they knew about us already of course. Or we could broadcast from somewhere we aren't nearby.

>>3457140

The problem here is that we have an objective that goes 100% against Sonia's specialty, which is hit and salvage raiding.


I'm torn between missing the weird and crazy shark era and having such good laugh at the modern situation in general.

We could always revive the Warlord of the Maelstrom persona if we wanted to leave the Neeran a recorded message or something?

>>3457106
>Do we have diplomatic relations with the Ulgeans yet?
Not yet. A rumor is now going around that they want the Alliance to recognise their claim as the successor to the Neeran Empire. This remains unsubstantiated.

>How does this mix with the news that our target is a core Rekesh world? Could we fan their rebellion enough to seize those worlds and be stable enough to not get gobbled up by the Ulgean?
Ideally the Alliance is hoping the Ulgean wont press their luck against large enough Alliance controlled pockets. Not while Neeran forces are still present in theater. The problem would be creating such a pocket with your available forces and not being crushed by the Neeran. Especially once you give them a fixed target to attack.

>>3457140
>do something fun to mess with them like sending them a message asking them to stay and fight the Ulgeans while we close in on them.
There's nothing stopping you from doing that. Aside from potentially giving away info about your fleet if they have any intel on your House.

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>>3457162
>The problem here is that we have an objective that goes 100% against Sonia's specialty, which is hit and salvage raiding.

Resuming tomorrow!

>>3457175
> A rumor is now going around that they want the Alliance to recognise their claim as the successor to the Neeran Empire. This remains unsubstantiated.

Well with the Rekesh wanting their homeworlds, what do our advisers think about openly recognizing those claims and what kind of phrasing of it would the Ulgeans appreciate?

Like if we could set a precedent with the Rekesh so that we can investigate the sphere world and make them reliant on the alliance (or better yet the Dominion) against possible Ulgean annexation, but do it in a way that tacitly implies ceding conquered territory to the Ulgeans without actually being an agreement would be best.

I mean. We are just a Viscount fron a Faction, but out here I'm sure we could spin it so that it's us assisting the Rekesh while realpolitik makes it the other wa around.

That could cause the fighting to intensify around here as the Neeran stay to hold the system and make the rebels push to take back their planets while the Ulgean fortify their own positions to have them recognized after the war.

Pretty much handing over our claims on planets conquered here to Rekesh representative but picking those representatives ourselves and creating a faction that could be brought into the Dominion later as things stabilize, making it through the stabilization period as being an important precedent for self-determination of races so that the Ulgeans don't wipe them out.

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>>3457195
A) That's what you think. We're going to salvage an entire goddamn species just you watch.

B) Regarding the video, we can use a different face. There has to be someone with enough similarity to be mistaken for our forces, but different tactics and fleet composition.

Or we could just do an obviously synthetic representation.

>>3456720
>You have 1 modular base and 1 FOB as far as I was aware.
We brought two in addition to the modular base. From the finances page on the wiki:
>4043 (Starting ~26.7 billion S)
>-500m Modular station
>-140m 2x Alliance (underground) forward operating base

>>3456878
>The Baron requests the modular station as he intends to test a possible base setup that could be used for repairs to one of the Super Heavies.
It might come in handy once the FA fleets start their attack.

>>3457175
>the Alliance is hoping the Ulgean wont press their luck against large enough Alliance controlled pockets
It seems like an unlikely idea for the Ulgean to attack the Alliance or any of the factions unless the other side attacks first. I doubt they could sustain a conflict against both the Empire and even a single faction they managed to piss off. At least at the moment.
Aside from that, the Dominion has already given the aliens who live in the no FTL zone in Sonia's galaxy some deal that allows them to do their stuff while in Dominion territory without joining. We could offer the Rekesh a similar deal. The Dominion recognizes their claim on the Rekesh planets in this galaxy (with a few exceptions) and guarantees their independence. We're already at war with the Neeran, so that changes little. We inform the Ulgean about that and if they still invade they're now at war with the Dominion. Which, depending on how the FA treat is worded, might also automatically put them at war with the FA. Well, good luck with that.

>>3457090
>Others are counseling withdrawal to a more defensible position due to the increasingly powerful Alliance presence on their flank.
What is the Neeran plan for this region? Are they just trying to produce as many supers as they can before the FA arrives and then relocate their infrastructure elsewhere? Or are they actually planning to hold out as long as possible?

>>3457195
I don't think it's really much of a problem to adapt Sonia's strategies to the current situation. She's already good at disrupting logistics, infiltration and striking at targets of opportunity. We just have to use these to prepare for the main force.


Some ideas:
+Start setting up fuel depots and munition stockpiles in remote locations in preparation of the alliance fleets.
+Use our advanced infiltration options to drop Rekesh rebels on occupied worlds.
+Have our units train Rekesh forces between raids.
+Draw up a map of all planets where the local government or population might surrender without a fight once the Alliance is here.
+See if we can salvage damaged Rekesh ships from Neeran scrap yards or salvage depots.
+The Union managed to hide an entire shipyard for super heavy cruisers away despite losing the faction wars. Maybe there are Rekesh shipyards hidding away somewhere?


Also, set up a dedicated unit with the mission to hunt down and preferably capture that Rekesh frigate with the FTL scatter drive.

>>3457505

>prepare for the main force

adding to that list:
+destroy or steal as many Ball-type production yards & storage depots as possible. (deny full corvette compliments to their Supers)
+Convince the FA that this galaxy is a quick conquest vs the current low priority it has been given
+Capture a Pacifier line to bolster Rekesh fleet numbers?
+locate Rare Element worlds to raid - deny the enemy the resource and bolster our own forces

>>3457331
>We brought two in addition to the modular base. From the finances page on the wiki:
Good thinking! This is why I try to write things down.

>>3457223
>what kind of phrasing of it would the Ulgeans appreciate?
Probably that the Rekesh nation become a tributary.

>I mean. We are just a Viscount fron a Faction
You're also an Allliance General.

>make the rebels push to take back their planets
Keep in mind the Rekesh have taken minimal civilian losses as their rebellion has largely been fleet based. They've intentionally avoided fighting or open rebellion on the ground as it would be an invitation for the Neeran to conduct orbital bombardments. In part because of this they're still able to gather intelligence from officials on their worlds.

>>3457331
>The Dominion recognizes their claim on the Rekesh planets in this galaxy (with a few exceptions) and guarantees their independence.
This could be done. It would annoy the Alliance diplomatic corps but they'd have no choice but to build upon that framework in the future.

>We inform the Ulgean about that and if they still invade they're now at war with the Dominion. Which, depending on how the FA treat is worded, might also automatically put them at war with the FA.
They'd be automatically at war with the Alliance. Fortunately.

You can bet Emperor Ber'helum would be extremely displeased if Sonia were to trigger a war between just the Dominion and the Ulgean.
Probably about this mad.
http://www.infinitelooper.com/?v=bjBmT8y9PAU&p=n#/707;716


>What is the Neeran plan for this region?
That is what the Neeran admirals and commanders are currently arguing over.
As Ni Ahni explains, once they make a decision someone will have to convince their Emperor of approving it. Especially if the plan calls for a withdrawal as the Neeran leadership will not want to lose the local production until it's absolutely necessary.

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>>3457746
>>As Ni Ahni explains, once they make a decision someone will have to convince their Emperor of approving it.
Does he think there's any chance of creating this scenario? A low intensity conflict along the middle of the galaxy with neither side willing to commit.

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>>3457505
>Draw up a map of all planets where the local government or population might surrender without a fight once the Alliance is here.
There are only a few worlds where the populace would actively resist an invasion. For most once the Neeran controlled PDF are out of the way occupation should be relatively simple. Worlds with higher resistance are now marked in orange.

>>3457790
>any chance of creating this scenario?
The NW region is better defended, hence why you were unable to take out the sensor arrays there. It's unlikely they'd give that up to the Alliance without a serious fight. There should be a fleet base around there where the admiral in charge of the open regions is stationed.

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>>3457837
Does this have a more realistic chance? Otherwise the most sensible solution would be to start a mission to the facility before the situation escalates in this galaxy.

>>3457857
Potentially, yes. Though again, if you give them a target that cant run away they can always concentrate their heavier warships.

>>3457861
Huh, that's quite a complicated situation.

Phas and Lyas have returned from their raid. The Kilo and the rest of their salvage craft are loaded down with as much as they could carry. While most of the fleet faired well the Archangel medium and a good portion of the mixed wing assigned to Lyas took serious damage. Half the wing is out of action. Crews have been recovered from nearly all of those ships that were lost.

"What happened?"
"Station defenses and a Heavy Cruiser on my side of the station were able to bracket us. I pulled them back fast, but not fast enough."

5th Wing will have to be rotated out for now or reinforced with ships from the reserve.

Ren has located what he believes to be a good target for a mobile base. It's at a slightly more isolated facility within a well defended system. He has submitted an attack plan for an operation to recover it.

His unit will launch a diversionary raid against the better defended bases in the system. A force from your fleet will overwhelm the target facility and secure the station components for transport. Gun will provide long range jamming to prevent a distress signal getting to the main base.

There is a limited window for salvage teams to complete their work. The facility is only 20 light minutes from the larger bases so a distress signal sent by laser com will soon alert them to the other attack.

"How well defended are the other bases in the system?" you ask.
"They would have new torpedo armor and interceptors. You would need siege weaponry to crack their defenses."

[ ] Agree to Ren's plan
[ ] Your Supers need a workout
[ ] Modify plan: (Write in)

>>3457900

Out of curiosity, what would happen to a laser com if we positioned a cloaked ship at range between the two bases and extended the cloaking field for maximum radius?

Or deployed some sort of chaff, or a few nonsense laser coms of our own from between the two bases?

>>3457900
Do our salvage teams think they can do their job in that amount of time?

>>3457861
Bribe the local commanders into joining our side.

>>3457909
That's a pretty interesting idea. Have we managed to capture one of these Neeran large scale cloaking fields?

>>3457900
>[ ] Agree to Ren's plan

>>3457909
The Faction cloaking shields operate on too small an area. You'd need a Neeran cloaking field.
Using chaff would be inefficient.

>nonsense laser coms
Sending conflicting messages that they've already driven off an attack? Or giving the impression that anyone attacking them is a distraction as well? Could buy time, though the larger bases might just micro jump a ship out to confirm at that point.

>Have we managed to capture one of these Neeran large scale cloaking fields?
Not this deployment.

>>3457936
>Not this deployment.
I'd like to see if we can get one for this attack, unless Ren thinks his discovery is time sensitive.

>>3457912
>Do our salvage teams think they can do their job in that amount of time?
As long as the target isn't in too many pieces and securing it for transport doesn't take long. It would be best of the salvage team jumped in along with the attack fleet so they have more time.

>>3457941
>unless Ren thinks his discovery is time sensitive.
It is. If the enemy finish making the station they're working on mobile it wont be here anymore.

>>3457957
Well, let's go with Ren's plan in that case.

Who will be conducting the attack and salvage portion?
[ ] Phas
[ ] Sonia & Mezan
[ ] Lyas
[ ] Mezan without Sonia

>>3457980
>[ ] Sonia & Mezan

>>3457980
>[ ] Sonia & Mezan

And roll 1d100 for communications fuckery.

Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>3458008
Jammin'

Rolled 14 (1d100)

>>3458008

Rolled 21 (1d100)

>>3458008

Save it!

>>3458016
It didn't make anything worse but it didn't really buy much in the way of time either.

Giving Phas and Lyas a rest you and Mezan take on the mission of recovering the mobile base.

The participating fleet units set up for simultaneous micro jumps to your targets. Gun begins jamming first followed a few seconds later by Ren's initial attack run. They'll be micro jumping between different parts of the system keeping the enemy guessing.

Your unit jumps into orbit of a small planet and opens fire on a few defense platforms guarding a refit facility. Smaller gunsats deploy from the platforms and try to put up a screen. Mezan has the heavier ships focus down one platform creating a hole in the defense network. You order the afterburner equipped units to exploit the gap, getting in behind the main station to attack the rest of the defenses. It also forces the smaller satellites to split their fire.

While the platforms certainly put out a lot of fire that on its own is not enough. Mezan brings the Eclipses in close, breaking the remaining station shield and moving to protect the recovery operations. The Kilo is close behind and deploys tugs once it's close enough to extend shields.

The planet below is uninhabitable but not without bases of it own. Starfighters and drones are soon detected launching from surface positions.
"Anyone with mass drivers or other point defense open fire. Don't worry about the planet acting as a backstop, it's got no atmosphere."

Mezan goes a step further and has a few ships target the bases with phase cannon fire to force them to raise shields.
"They can't safely launch fighters if their shields are in the way."

What they can do is return fire with ground based guns, targeting not you but the station. You're forced to block their fire as much as possible so that the salvage teams dont dont get hit.

"Progress?"
"We're on schedule sir. The stations aren't as complete as expected but we're picking up all major components needed to finish them."

With one nearly complete station loaded along with another that has part of its drives finished, the fleet pushes off. It's exactly 20 minutes when the Kilo reaches the edge of the gravity well and begins its jump. The rest of the unit is right behind it.

"Signal gun that we're away."
"Aye sir."

The jamming drops by half and soon you get a response that the others are withdrawing as well. Linking up a few systems away Ren inspects the haul. He was hoping one of them would have been near to fully operational but he's happy enough with what you got. Once they're both operational you could give one to the Rekesh to help out their mobile capability.

The next big question is where to complete their assembly?

[ ] Dominion Knights base
[ ] RH Modular station
[ ] Nuked base when reactivated
[ ] Keep Kilo with main fleet, complete here

>NOTE: If the Kilo is stuck with the main fleet your possible salvage hauls from each raid will be greatly reduced.

>>3458186
>[x] RH Modular station
If it's being set up for large scale projects their station might help speed things up.

>>3458186
>[ ] RH Modular station

Once we've scoured it for tracking gizmos and gadgets. Also for any pockets of Neeran Empire counter boarding teams.

>>3458186

[x] Dominion Knights base

We've already got a station being modified there and our high skill teams, iirc. Depending upon progress, they can use these two as reference to finish the current project, or they can finish these two up before finishing the conversion. Which gains them experience and a basis to do the conversion right.

But be damned sure these things don't have any beacons attached, and provide an ECM ship just in case?

>>3458186
>[ ] Nuked base when reactivated

>>3458186
>[ ] Nuked base when reactivated

>>3458233

I'll change my vote to

[x] RH Modular station

if no one else breaks the tie.

>>3458233
>But be damned sure these things don't have any beacons attached, and provide an ECM ship just in case?
That's SOP for anything before being brought back to the main fleet, let alone the other bases.

>>3458186
>[ ] RH Modular station

>>3458285
>>3458263
>>3458230
>>3458220
Guess we're doing that.

I may need to pause here as I've been increasingly on the verge of throwing up the past couple hours.

>>3458291
Feel better soon!

>>3459018
I've had nothing but tea for 10 hours. Not looking forward to taking my meds.

>>3459176
Oh, maybe have some Gatorade or something to replace your electrolytes and sugars.

>>3459176
That sounds unpleasant, hope you'll get well soon TSTG.

ok, I think I'll be resuming tomorrow between appointments and running paperwork around town. Still not great, but better than I was.

You contact the Baron and let him know that you have something of a delivery. Some mobile bases for them to work on once their station is operational. Some of the tech experts that have been helping Zinovev and his group with their own station are called back so they can have a look at what the finished product is supposed to look like. When they arrive they bring with them a list of equipment they'd like to requisition for their work.

Zinovev himself is requesting FTL components since he's running a bit short on them and he doesn't want to give away his unit's presence with unnecessary raids. As they're still observing enemy movements it's going to be a few more days until the remaining reserve bases are located down.

"They're already been searching and observing for days. How long do they need?"
"They Knights also sent more sensor data back to be analyzed."

Versa is able to narrow down 1 more location from the data on top of those the Knights have determined themselves. The AI recommends deploying probes in 2 additional systems that show promise.

Viq Dyer has a request of his own. He was aware that the Neeran had plans to increase the combat capability of the Cordate class mediums if they were needed to help increase the firepower of a fleet. Weapons were designed to be mounted in place of some secondary ECM emitters that are really only useful as backups.

"Last I heard they had only built small numbers of these guns and were only going to put them on ships with Neeran security teams."
"What kind of guns are they?" you ask.
"They called it a "Phased channel discharge cannon? We have phase cannons so I dont know what would make them different aside from being a bit bigger than your spinal mounted phase cannons."

"Do you know where they're kept?"
"I know where they should be kept? A high security facility near their fleet base to the north west. It's heavily defended but there are supposed to be lots of weapons there."

You ask Gun and Ren if they know anything about the base. Gun is immediately certain it would be a bad idea to attack it.
"You dont want to go there. It's a moon base. They assemble executioner guns at that same facility. Spares in case the main shipyards can't keep up."

"What are the defenses like?"
"You know those big turrets used when they started to upgun the Apex command ships? It's defended with a bunch of those. It's built to resist a big Alliance fleet."

[ ] Best to leave that alone
[ ] What if we infiltrate?

>>3461748
>[ ] Best to leave that alone

>>3461748
>[ ] What if we infiltrate?

>>3461748

[x] Best to leave that alone

That base sounds like something that will end up eating at V-torp or in order to preserve a fleet that pulls distraction duty.

I don't like the idea of sending our current infiltration assets in there at this time, but we should have our scouts keep an eye open for any Cordates that may sport such weapons.

>Phased Channel Discharge Cannon

Why am I picturing a shotgun-like Storm/Lightning cannon?

Can we upgun the cordates we've captured using the secondary emitter locations?


Regardless, we should report to the Alliance that Cordates may be encountered with new weapons and that they will have Neeran security teams. The information could save some lives, and perhaps we can lure some additional Factions infiltration specialists our way to take a go at the facility later.

>>3461825
>Why am I picturing a shotgun-like Storm/Lightning cannon?
Intel suspects it may be a Neeran knockoff of a lightning gun.

>Can we upgun the cordates we've captured using the secondary emitter locations?
Not without a good deal of work. They're meant to mount a particular Neeran weapon or equipment module designed specifically for that ship.

>we should report to the Alliance that Cordates may be encountered with new weapons and that they will have Neeran security teams.
This will be included in the next scheduled message.

Gotta head out for the doctors and paperwork shuffle.

>>3461748
>[x] Best to leave that alone
Request a specialist ship with infiltration teams from the FA? We can at least ask as this seems like a target they might consider worth taking out before their main attack.

>>3461748
>[ ] What if we infiltrate?

Fuck it I'm job searching again starting monday.

If what information Gun has on the base is right it may be best to simply leave that alone. Maybe the Alliance can bombard it with Veckron weaponry when they arrive? For now intel reports and warnings to the fleet will include a suggestion that they watch for possible weapon upgrades on the Cordate class.

With that ruled out you turn your attention back to the need for FTL materials. You could simply ask the raider groups to prioritize salvaging such materials when looting. Alternatively you could have all units go after rare element mining and reprocessing sites all at once. That will certainly make the enemy hurt and might force them to commit more forces to the defense of the remainder.

Then again you're bound to salvage or recover the necessary parts at some point. It's just a matter of time and patience.

[ ] Increased priority
[ ] Dedicated attacks
[ ] Hold off, we'll recover some eventually
[ ] Other?

>>3462749
Is that even legal? Sounds like a scummy move.
>[X] Increased priority
Lemme post ffs

>>3462749

[x] Increased priority

For now, we want the Commander dealing with us to look bad.

But we do not want to have the shipyard commanders release a horde of their ships to help hunt us down. We want to work our way toward defeating this current commander in detail.

>>3462806
>Lemme post ffs
So it wasn't just me. Thought I had allocated too much bandwidth to torrent downloads.

>>3462749

>[ ] Increased priority

Get the goods.

>>3462749
>[ ] Increased priority

>>3461855
>>Can we upgun the cordates we've captured
using the secondary emitter locations?

>Not without a good deal of work. They're meant to mount a particular Neeran weapon or equipment module designed specifically for that ship.

Could we nestle single shot torpedo tubes in their mounts? A shotgun torpedo mod style of thing?

>>3463038
Viq has already shared info on external hard points for heavy torpedoes that he's had fitted to his ship. Gun's vessel is being similarly upgraded.

You could replace the emitters with torpedo racks for smaller warheads. Most of the Heron class ships have seen a similar upgrade.

>>3462749
>[ ] Dedicated attacks

Sending out a message to the various commanders you let them know to make it a priority to recover FTL components. You're not going to launch a focused campaign against their production facilities at this time. That might only serve to piss off the admirals of the big shipyards enough to send reinforcements.

For now normal raids will continue to be launched. Lyas requests that the 5th Mixed Wing be rotated out for the spare attack cruiser wing. At this point there's not much reason to turn downt he request. The replacements will just have to be a bit more careful.

Repair reports indicate that 5th Wing will be back to full strength in a few more days. Most of the ships that were crippled or destroyed can be rebuilt over time, though the attack cruisers will take the longest.
There is some evaluation going on regarding replacement ships being drawn from the reserve. The wing commander wants to make certain they're not throwing money away giving the crews new ships and correcting any mistakes they may have made.

Maybourne reads off the latest updates.
"We still have 2 squadrons of attack cruisers and 4 squadrons of attack corvettes in reserve. As for long term repairs there are about 1 squadron of attack cruisers, 2 of corvettes and about 16 assault corvettes."

"As soon as Hera gets her base up we'll transfer most of the assault corvettes in long term repair to her facility. How long until they're operational?"
"Three more days until they're dug in properly. Longer until all of the component manufacturing and repair options come online."

So about 5 days just to dig the holes in a manner that wont collapse the asteroid or otherwise give away their position.
Did you want to give the remaining FOB to someone to put in place or hold off on that?

>>3463111

I'd like to give the Baron the remaining FOB, with the same intent.

Let him establish a hidden fallback point for his force in the event SHTF and compartmentalize it.

>>3463111
I'd like to hold off on it for now. It would be really useful if later we need to draw off enemy forces from our target planet by having them look for a base elsewhere.

Like if they come looking for us they'll get drawn towards where the base is instead.

>>3463145
>I'd like to give the Baron the remaining FOB, with the same intent.
He's still working kinks out of the faction modular base setup while also guarding the Trayan mobile base completion. The first one's completion and FTL testing should be done around the same time as Hera's base.

Sonia, Mezan, Phas, Lyas and the 3 defectors do not yet have bases that only they know about. Though Ren shouldn't be counted since he'll be getting one of the Trayan bases and will be constantly on the move.

>>3463171

Right.

I'd rather provide Phas with the second FOB, then.

Get J-D set up with a pair of good fallback points.

Ideally I'd like to task the trio of Shallans with locating and leading attacks to secure their own modular bases, though technically Gun already did with that station core. (Task her with securing salvage to trade for the upgraded station?)

And Lyas already captured that one modular station, so we can eventually modify that either into a mobile base or he can find a hiding spot for it.

>>3463221
>Ideally I'd like to task the trio of Shallans with locating and leading attacks to secure their own modular bases
Mezan is not especially looking forward to working with the other two but she'll keep them in line if it's what you want.
(Of course that quickly circles back to the whole Sonia & Versa being on Mezan's command ship.)

With the various bases already being worked on to make them more mobile, what Gun really wants are some ships. She's been the acting co-commander of the false flag unit. Most of those ships are a mix of yours and Mezan's. If or when Mezan can perform some independent operations she'll want those squadrons back for her use.

Rolled 5 (1d6)

Phas and Lyas did really good on their salvage.

Roll 1d100

Rolled 20 (1d100)

>>3463287

Salvage? Salvage!


>>3463257
Err, I meant as individuals/groups, not as a single group.

I doubt Mezan will ever really team up with the others, but Gun/Viq might be willing to work as a team? unless they have different views on what their Faction destination should be.

Rolled 8 (1d100)

>>3463313

Rolled 64 (1d100)

>>3463287

Rolled 67 (1d100)

>>3463287

File: Compact Heavy.gif (3 KB, 524x294)

3 KB GIF

For now the other FOB will be held in reserve with plans for the Baron to later find another place for it. If that ends up taking too long you'll ask Phas. Speaking of which you get a message that she and Lyas are on their way back with a largely intact piece of salvage you should like.

When the Kilo arrives at the rally point you're somewhat disappointed to see that it's mostly carrying the usual mix of light warships that will need considerable work in the shop before they're of any use. Some cheap attack cruisers are stacked together along with a few battleships, frigates and transport craft.

"I have yet to be impressed."

Then a compact heavy jumps in under escort, broadcasting a friendly IFF. She's in rough shape in places, patches of hull and the primary docking mounts have been removed, but this is clearly the result of work by repair crews. They must have stolen it out of a refit yard. Nearly all of the guns have been removed but the corvette turret mounts that are still present look intact.

"It could use some work but nowhere near as much as our usual hauls would." reports Phas.

You look over the readouts in more detail.
"I dont remember reading reports about any of our units messing up a heavy cruiser. Certainly not one that could be repaired this easily. What happened, did the rebels attack it?"

"We think it came from outside the galaxy and may have tried to intercept an alliance scout ship. The damaged sections that were removed were the right size for lower yield SP weapons."

"How quickly can we have it fixed?" you ask around.

Versa estimates that if it were moved to the modular base and prioritized it could be fully operational in 2-3 days. The primary factor that will get in the way is providing a crew. Faction crews can do the job but you're already going to be using a lot to man the stations and the other compact heavy.

[ ] We need to recruit more rebels (Begin rebel recovery missions)
[ ] Ask the Rekesh to help provide crews
[ ] Lend lease the ship to the Rekesh
[ ] Other ideas?

>>3463471
[ ] We need to recruit more rebels (Begin rebel recovery missions)

>>3463471
>[ ] We need to recruit more rebels (Begin rebel recovery missions)

>>3463471

Out of curiosity, would the Rekesh prefer a ship such as this for their fleet? Or perhaps one of those Scarecrow/OH types so they can better assist (us) in raids and claim salvage to bolster their forces?

Their ships all appear to be long-range focused, which seems like a major handicap for raiding and quickly deploying boarding forces to prevent sabotage/scuttling of targets.


Or it could be the new House Gun (or Viq) flagship.

>>3463702
>Their ships all appear to be long-range focused,
The heavy cruisers especially are like this because they cant afford to bring them in close and risk losing them to Neeran superior firepower. They knew from the start they were never going to out DPS Neeran warships so they went for range instead.

>would the Rekesh prefer a ship such as this for their fleet? Or perhaps one of those Scarecrow/OH types so they can better assist (us) in raids and claim salvage to bolster their forces?
They would prefer some stronger ships that can take part in closer range fighting. Faster Mediums to support their Frigates and battleships would definitely be appreciated. Though they'd certainly devise some appropriate tactics for using a Neeran Heavy too.

>>3463471
>[ ] We need to recruit more rebels (Begin rebel recovery missions)

Lets try recruiting more rebels. Going to need those contacts for when the Alliance gets in and we start bringing "FREEDOM" to this galaxy.

>>3463471
> [ ] We need to recruit more rebels (Begin rebel recovery missions)

>>3463471
>[ ] Ask the Rekesh to help provide crews

You call for a meeting to discuss more long term plans. Your commanders minus Hera are present, Baron Xedols returns from overseeing work at the station, one of the lower ranked Dominion Knights are there along with some of the rebels and the defectors. A rekesh representative who is with the fleet is called in when you're informed a secure connection cant be established with their command ship.

"If we're going to continue to expand the fleets with captured vessels, AND work towards liberating the area we need to begin recruiting more rebels. It would also be a good idea to build up more substantial cells on planets that can take advantage of the situation when fleets arrive to help liberate them. Towards that end I believe we should focus some of our forces on providing support to allow insertion of agents and equipment rebels could use to expand their influence.

We can steal vehicles, material, even infrastructure. That doesn't mean a thing if we cant count on the populace at large to assist us."
You look to the Rekesh rep.
"I know your people have a network of contacts. Would you be able to assist in building up a wider resistance movement we could recruit from?"

They respond in the negative.
"We're restricted to Rekesh worlds where our kind can blend in and make use of local networks already in place."

"Someone had to build those networks." you point out. "Can you help train rebels from other worlds how to do it?"

They promise to talk to their leaders about providing specialists. As pointed out though you'll still need to get hold of people from many different worlds first.
Ren has an idea for that front. Using the false flag units to intercept transports and recruiting from their crews. Some are bound to be sympathetic and they can be given back control of their ships. After screening of course.

Most of the rebels you recruited are from a single world but a few of them know of other planets that put up fierce if short lived resistance. Attacking those worlds outer defenses and taking down planetary shields will help in locating groups that can still be extracted. You wouldn't need to hold the planet, just disrupt enemy forces on the ground long enough to load up ships with volunteers.

They would be dangerous operations but it would provide numbers in the short term. It would also allow some from those worlds to be sent back later to assist recruitment efforts.

"It sounds like we have a few things to try out." says Mezan.

>Any other suggestions for recruitment?

>>3464770
>Ren has an idea for that front. Using the false flag units to intercept transports and recruiting from their crews. Some are bound to be sympathetic and they can be given back control of their ships. After screening of course.

Wait. Can we pretend to be investigating possible rebels, interrogate them, find actual rebels, and then recruit them while telling the rest of the ship "not to ask questions, or else you'll find out personally what happens to them"?

Because that would be useful.

>>3464856
>Can we pretend to be investigating possible rebels, interrogate them, find actual rebels, and then recruit them while telling the rest of the ship "not to ask questions, or else you'll find out personally what happens to them"?
Yes.

>>3464770
>Any other suggestions for recruitment?
Use Versa's abilities to infiltrate planetary data networks and recruit directly from the local populace? There are bound to be more than enough malcontents we can easily reach in that way. smug_droall.futuretif

>>3464870
"This is not easy to do but I believe I can manage it." Versa replies.
"I will need to be relocated to a cloaked ship that can loiter near a planet longer than your command ship usually can. Once I have devised a more efficient method of network infiltration it should be easier to spin off specialized programs to carry out this task on multiple worlds.
Please be aware that there is a risk of being discovered. The Neeran no doubt watch for such attempts by the Kythera. Once they become aware it wont take them long to purge a particular worlds networks of my activity."

>Transfer Versa to a Nocturn or other cloaked ship? Y/N?

>>3464895
I'd love to put Versa on a Nocturn but I'm worried the Terrans will force her to inform them about everything she learns about that ship.

>>3464930
Well the Krath mercs have some Frigates that are more compatible with faction tech.

>>3464895

>Transfer Versa to a Nocturn or other cloaked ship? Y/N?

> N.

I would prefer the Neeran to not know that we have an AI at all.

>>3464936
I'd be okay with a deployment on a krath frigate if versa is okay with it.

Not sending out Versa at this time.


One of the Knights gives you an update on some of their engineering work. They've devised a tug module of sorts that can be attached to Neeran modular stations to make them mobile. There will still be some setup and tear down time but none of the other medium cruisers will be needed. They're building them using structural framing with captured fuel tanks and Neeran corvette engines.

They have no armor to speak of and any battle damage they take cant really be attended to in the field. Despite this the construction time is quite short. All they need now are the previously requested FTL components and they can complete the first one. It wont be as good as the Trayan mobile base but it was never going to be.

Uller is requested for help with screening freighter crews that the false flag unit captures to help cut down on time. With luck and some practice a few of the ships might be sent on their way without even realising an enemy unit was responsible.

A few hours later the Neeran ships are being prepared for deployment when you get a message from Ni Ahni. Their intelligence has found out that the Neeran are on the move. According to reports fleets just launched from the main shipyards against the Ulgean positions.
"Does that leave their shipyards undefended?"
"Less defended perhaps. The fourth admiral has also begun a large sweep in search of your fleets. Ships with long range sensor arrays are working in teams, alternating between deployed and movement phases. They are hoping to catch your fleets while they are heading to or from targets."

Leapfrogging with long range sensor arrays, great.
"How large of a force?"
"Considerable. Two fleets with super heavies are also supporting them."
"Have you faced this type of situation before?" you ask.

"Yes. Our fleets will usually go into hiding until the sweep has passed us by. Several days."

You're not looking forward to several days of doing nothing, but it could give your false flag unit a chance to look around and detain cargo ships.

What is your plan for dealing with the enemy sweep?

>>3464999
We still have faster ships, right?

Have them try to pull the Neerans advance out of order by raiding around them quickly and be more of harassment than anything else. Just delay part of the fleet and bug the crap out of them. Hopefully that will throw off the timing of whatever they're planning on the Ulgean front.

>>3464999
Sit it out. Train rebel crews and finish repairs and modifications during the resulting downtime.
>clover not working for anybody else?

File: He is bait.jpg (170 KB, 1134x824)

170 KB JPG

>>3465022
>We still have faster ships, right?
Your attack ships and the few mediums with afterburners are yes.

>raiding around them quickly
You will have to exit the galaxy or pass through their mobile network in order to get around them.
Unless you mean just in their general area to bait that out. Probably what you meant and I was being too literal again.

>bug the crap out of them.
As long as you're aware that this will trigger a response.

>Hopefully that will throw off the timing of whatever they're planning on the Ulgean front.
The big fleets leaving to deal with the Ulgeans have left this galaxy. They are gone. It's going to take them hours to get there and its doubtful they'd turn back because of a few raiders bothering the 4th admiral.

>>3465042
The captcha? No real problems today.

>>3465064
Yeah, I meant to bait them out.

If we can't draw off the fleet, then maybe we can draw the weaker but not weak forces off from the shipyards.

>>3465064
>The captcha? No real problems today.
Nah, I can post just fine through my browser, even on mobile. Clover just gives me some error that I can post.

>>3465117
Ok, I dont know what clover is, unless it's another name for 4chan's server.

>>3465126
Oh, sorry. It's an android app to make browsing 4chan more comfortable on touchscreen devices.

File: Yang_Rough11 Advance.gif (27 KB, 1004x794)

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1 vote for trying to bait enemy ships, 1 for duck and cover for a few days.

General enemy fleet deployment for their sensor sweep.

File: edit and delete.gif (34 KB, 1004x794)

34 KB GIF

>>3465163
Hrm.

Looks like we don't have any forces in the lower left quadrant.

Could we cut across "west" and time it to come in behind the patrols, then shoot off NNW to make it look like we're headed towards the fleet base, but then use the grav well to redirect to the FOB?

>>3465240
>>3465163
We could meet up with a larger force there to wait and hit the fleet base while their sweeping forces are out, or we could just hide.

File: Yang_Rough11 Advanceb.gif (27 KB, 1004x794)

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>>3465240
I feel like I'm not understanding parts of what you're trying to do here. Why would you need the gravity well to change the course of your fleet? You can just drop out of FTL and change direction as usual.
The gravwell still takes several minutes to power up and longer to power down.

Wait until the sweeping detection force from the south has passed you by and then take the fleet around behind them? From there work to link up with the FOB once the north west enemy fleet has passed it. Is this somewhat similar to what you had in mind?

If you head for the southern sweeping force first it's doubtful you'd get to the FOB before the north west force reaches it

>>3465319
>If you head for the southern sweeping force first it's doubtful you'd get to the FOB before the north west force reaches it

Nah we would want to get there after they passed by it. Can't find us there if we aren't there yet!

And I totally thought a Grav well would be needed to change course. But yeah

> Wait until the sweeping detection force from the south has passed you by and then take the fleet around behind them? From there work to link up with the FOB once the north west enemy fleet has passed it. Is this somewhat similar to what you had in mind?

Pretty much this.

>>3465163
>duck and cover for a few days.

>>3465340
>And I totally thought a Grav well would be needed to change course.

You've dropped out of FTL thousands of times with starships in this quest and changed direction to make another jump. Sometimes to turn right around and jump back to a different part of the same system. Why would you suddenly need a rare and expensive gravity well generator to do this?

I dont have a suitable reaction image.

A warning is sent out to Hera and Zinovev telling them about the oncoming enemy sensor sweeps. Everyone is to take steps to avoid unnecessary jumps while the enemy search is ongoing. Damaged ships and equipment are quickly hauled out to a few of the different bases so the engineers will have something to do if they find themselves stuck for longer than expected.

Versa gets to work on enemy coms intercepts and attmepts to forge ID's for the false flag ships that should hold up to cursory inspection. Most of the defectors will be able to operate with the same unit, though Ren will not.

While convinced that he could bluff his way past an enemy patrol with the new codes he'd rather not take the risk. Especially when his command ship was used to conduct those raids the other day.
"I could claim I was hired by another Neeran officer to do the attack and then cast blame on them as a possible sympathizer. Too risky though. No reward for it right now. Save it for a better opportunity."

The Quattro is touched up a bit to better pass inspection as an enemy ship. The same could be done for the Outer Heaven. Ren's crews could make it look a bit more like a Neeran built customization similar to his for a reasonable price.
The techs have also been looking at holograms. You have spares for a number of uses, with a few carried aboard your escorts.

Did you want to assign the Outer Heaven to the false flag team as backup?

[ ] Cosmetic modification (-5m)
[ ] Holographic appearance change
[ ] No.

I am apparently going to the movies tonight so making one more post for now.

Is anyone up for relocating the main fleet over to the FOB once the enemy has completed their sweep?

>>3465566
>[ ] Cosmetic modification (-5m)
Sure, we have the money. As long as it doesn't impact performance.

>>3465566
>[ ] No.

>>3465566

[x] No.

iirc, the Outer Heaven is full of incredibly important support facilities for our various Power Armor forces and power cell armor forces, especially the infiltration forces.

I'd rather deploy say the captured not-SR-71 medium or something not full of irreplaceable equipment.


Also, this may be partly inspired by spoilers but do the rebels by chance happen to have any intel on what happens to various captured Factions personnel?

Hitting a PoW camp (if the Neeran even have them in this region or at all) could provide us with additional crews as well. [spoilers]Save the Flag Snatchers!

>>3465646
>>3465566
This convinced me to go with No.

>>3465646

And another random question that I think I once asked, but can't for the life of me recall or find the answer for.

If we're killing any Neeran during our actions, or having some surrender...

Does the Alliance have a policy of disarming Neeran of their bio-reactors due to the various powers that the things allow them?

Or can we harvest said reactors from KIA Neeran and upgrade Uller or the others?

>>3465646
>Save the Flag Snatchers!
Actually the surviving members are out. One of the survivors started up a new mercenary company in the Run. They were available to provide ground and boarding forces during the J-D uprising.

Some POWs were rescued from facilities in Shallan space. Others of higher value were shipped to places deep inside Neeran territory.

>>3465646
It's just spoiler, and the end tag is just /spoiler

>>3465720
Well, glad at least some of them made it out.

>others of higher value

Yes, I was thinking more about those folks, or more recent POWs from the Faction Alliance offensives being filtered through this galaxy to deeper Empire regions.

I'd ask about rebel/political prisoner camps, but I doubt they exist.

>>3466250
Too much use of the word spoilers lately and pluralized

>>3465566
>[ ] Cosmetic modification (-5m)

>>3465712
>Does the Alliance have a policy of disarming Neeran of their bio-reactors due to the various powers that the things allow them?
It should be possible to disable or suppress them surgically I think? A neuroisolator collar might work too if set up correctly.

That wont make them completely safe by any means but would help.

>Or can we harvest said reactors from KIA Neeran and upgrade Uller or the others?
You can but they wont want them.

>>3467605

I continue to be disappointed by Light Neeran as far as this war goes.

Unless they can use harvested bio reactors to upgrade some of our sphere or artifact gear. I'd be slightly less disappointed if Sonia could add Neeran reactors to her gear to act as a self-charging capacitor or outright generator to lessen the strain on herself.

"No dont bother changing its look, it wont be joining the false flag unit. We can better focus the engineers efforts elsewhere. Anywhere else really. Once the sweeps are done I want as many of the mobile bases up as possible. Make it a priority over the heavy cruiser since we're low on crew to man it."

While everyone else battens down the hatches some of your people are still going to be heading out with the false flag unit. There are some last minute additions at the insistence of the defectors. A Neeran corvette carrier is hastily repaired and pressed into service while volunteers man the spherical vessels.
"If we want a patrol unit with a heavy cruiser to look believable we need more corvettes. That means at least one carrier." Gun stresses.

Once they have everything needed the group moves out and begins their search for rebels to "detain."

Roll 5d20

Rolled 12, 3, 14, 9, 1 = 39 (5d20)

>>3468811

Talent hunting behind enemy lines? Interesting.

Rolled 4, 1, 3, 6, 2 = 16 (5d10)

>>3468811

Rolled 1, 13, 11, 8, 10 = 43 (5d20)

>>3468811
>>3468848
wrong dice

Rolled 17, 13, 8, 10, 11 = 59 (5d20)

>>3468811
>Roll 5d20
Dice!

>>3467605
I probably asked this years ago, but did they ever make any progress with the Sonic weapons? There are sonic weapons today used to paralyse muscles, and I think I asked if you could use them to mess with Neeran reactors too?

>>3468960
Only effective if you can get the device inside the body.

>>3468970
How small can it be made? Fire-able from a rifle?

File: Yang_Rough11c.gif (27 KB, 1004x794)

27 KB GIF

Over the next two days you wait out the enemy while the false flag unit does their job. Most of the cloaked ships return to the fleet but any Krath mercenaries with drive scattering systems remain out. By the time the sweep of the more open regions has concluded Hera's base should be operational. Both of the Trayan mobile bases are ready, performing practice runs of setting up and folding it's station arms for jump. For now they're holding off on jump tests.

The false flag unit has not returned to the fleet but they are able to send a progress report. They were able to pull off the searches without incident. In the process they located 65 rebels or rebel sympathizers spread across 19 ships. Some have been taken when them, others left in place to help with establishing cells on the next planet they visit.

While now would seem like the perfect time to resume regular operations the enemy has other ideas. They're setting up a sensor perimeter along the edge of the "escarpment" as the Rekesh call it. While that's happening 5 Neeran patrol groups are trawling the denser star zones looking for movement. They're led by Heavy cruisers fitted with powerful sensor arrays. You've seen this type of setup before with pursuit units but never coordinated in such a large force.

3 groups are patrolling in one direction, and 2 the other. After reaching the opposite side they turn back for another sweep. They've only had time to turn back once so far. The area where the groups cross paths is close to where you met with the Rekesh. It's hard to tell if they're searching more for you or them. Probably both.

Ni Ahni is able to get a message to you when the search groups are farthest away. The enemy has pulled a great deal of forces from other areas to take part in this search. Hera and Zinovev are behind their new perimeter and could begin strikes on less well defended positions.

Did you want them to focus on maximizing potential salvage while there are few patrol fleets to chase them down, cause as much damage as possible as a distraction for the forces establishing the perimeter, or did you have another plan in mind for them?

[ ] Max salvage
[ ] Cause distraction
[ ] Other?

>>3469145
>[ ] Max salvage

>>3469145
>[ ] Other?
Have defences around any of the yards or the fleet base been reduced enough to make a surprise veckron strike at the infrastructure in these systems likely to succeed?

>>3469195
The main yards and the fleet base are still well defended but everything else in the open regions have suffered a draw down.

>>3469207
Well, so much for that idea. Would raids on the outer sensor perimeter force the enemy fleets to weaken the one they're establishing within the galaxy?

>>3469145
>[ ] Max salvage

Them going for salvage also acts as a distraction in a way. So yeah grab that salvage.

>>3469145
> [ ] Max salvage

We're gonna need it in the area long-term if we plan on supporting a rebellion.

Hera and Zinovev go wild, hunting down what salvage they can. On the second day the Knights also use the opportunity to equip their second base with captured FTL parts and relocate it. You'll be provided the coordinates to it at a later time but they'll say that it's a bit closer to the enemy fleet base than their current spot.

Enemy reconnaissance units did give the nuked base another look while the sweep was going past it. They only took orbital scans before moving on. No attempt was made to send craft closer to the surface to confirm its status. Lingering surface radiation probably helped convince them of that. Because of this the Knights have decided to reactivate it and start setting up shop.

Hera captured another heavy tanker and two damaged Trireme mediums that had come in from fighting against the Ulgean fleet. At this point the tanker is being used as a salvage craft rather than to store fuel. After dumping the mediums they used it to help recover damaged or surrendered transport craft from a convoy they hit.

On the third day there are signs that some forces are being pulled away from the sensor perimeter to help counter their raids. By this point it's beginning to look like most of the sensors that will be remaining in place are in position. Intel and Versa both believe your main fleet is within range of the facilities that will be left behind when the enemy fleets redeploy.

"So we're stuck here until Hera or Zinovev hit those sensor arrays from the other side. Is that what you're saying?"
"Unless you're planning to give away the main fleet's position for whatever reason." answers Versa.

It would certainly get the enemy's attention and might be one way to lure them into a trap. Right now that's only going to bleed your munition supplies.

"What are our allies doing? I know that the false flag group are still keeping busy but what about the Rekesh? Do they intend to wait this out for days? Weeks?"

"Supposedly they're working on using their intelligence assets to get us out of here." replies Maybourne.

Do you intend to wait for the Rekesh to get their act together or risk moving your forces? The main fleet is closer to the sensor arrays, but Faction modular base is farther in. The units there could potentially move while avoiding detection, or be used as bait.

[ ] Keep waiting
[ ] Move main fleet / use as bait
[ ] Move FM base forces, keep them out of range
[ ] Move FM base forces / use as bait

>>3469692
>[X] Keep waiting
If we're going to rely on the Rekesh during the upcoming invasion, we'll have to see what they can actually do.

>>3469692

>[X] Keep waiting

Basically >>3469707, let's let them help us where they are more experienced.

>>3469692
> [ ] Keep waiting

Until we see the whites of their eyes, men.

>>3469692

>[ ] Keep waiting

I don't want to wait any longer then we have to. But if the Rekesh are planning on doing something soon. Maybe we can plan something with them? Give this an opportunity for our forces to work with theirs in getting us out of this mess?

>>3469692
>[ ] Move FM base forces, keep them out of range

>>3469692
>[ ] Move main fleet / use as bait

Roll 1d6 for your allies.

Rolled 2 (1d6)

>>3469804

For Salvage!

Rolled 5 (1d6)

>>3469804
For allies!

>>3469813
That isn't the salvage roll. This is the salvage roll.

>>3469804
And 5d100 for your people finding manufacturing portable enough to steal.

Rolled 6, 44, 19, 82, 47 = 198 (5d100)

>>3469827

>Not Salvage

Crap

Rolled 4 (1d6)

>>3469804
Here I go

Rolled 88, 21, 39, 16, 18 = 182 (5d100)

>>3469827
BONES

File: 29a4ae0384f7d4b44353457ed(...).gif (11 KB, 468x60)

11 KB GIF

Rolled 8, 86, 75, 22, 49 = 240 (5d100)

>>3469827
For valuables!

A warning is sent to Hera via the flase fleet letting them know to watch out for increasing numbers of enemy units. For the time being you'll just have to wait it out and see what your allies intend to do about this.

Your pilots are going stir crazy but it's giving them plenty of time to help the first batch of rebel trainees. Two more days after sending your lest message to Hera the trainees are finally finished. They're green, all of them, but there are enough to form up a wing using captured ships. With this and the medical data collected over the course of the program it's now possible to perform memory imprinting halfing training time of future rebel cohorts.

With the Trayan bases and the second compact heavy fixed up the engineers have turned their attention to fabricating parts based on neeran tech you captured in one of the previous galaxies. These will help make some of the captured corvettes jump capable, though it will mean adding a navigator or relying on another vessel with one to provide the necessary data.

Ren has resigned himself to training the first rebel mixed wing and teaching them how to operate with a variety of craft. You know his pain.

"If we're working together I dont want them shooting my people by mistake. Your Faction crews are highly trained, almost too highly, it will be impossible to replace them. I dont worry about them mistaking my people for enemies."

Coms intercepts an enemy signal indicating that units farther up the line are engaging Faction warships. No so far along that they could be Zinovev, it has to be the vessels you provided to the Rekesh. It sounds like a force is trying to break through the sensor net.

"Any signal from the Rekesh?"
"Not so far sir."

Just in case you order the fleet put on alert. Two hours later you recieve an encoded message. The Rekesh fleet has broken out and their Faction built ships are causing as much of a distraction possible. Five hours later you're sent time and date stamps indicating when certain long range sensors should be down or otherwise rendered inoperative.
At those times the scanning patrol fleets should also be out of position.

It wont do anything about the smaller ships still posted along the sensor perimiter, but it should let your main fleet get out of range and circle around. Or alternatively, let your attack wings get within com jamming range of the sensor arrays before the enemy can do anything about it. Especially if Gun and Viq assist with the jamming.

File: Yang_Rough11d.gif (27 KB, 1004x794)

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How are you getting out of here?

1A) Circle around, avoid engagement
1B) Punch through and attack sensor arrays

2) Did you want to bring the main fleet into the open regions as well, or have them hide deeper in the dense regions?
2A) Into the open where the fleet can move
2B) We need to go deeper

>>3470191

>1B) Punch through and attack sensor arrays
Time to put the green horns into the fire of combat.

>2A) Into the open where the fleet can move
Lets put
If we're getting out of the sensor coverage. We should get our main fleet out and start moving. While also looking for a new place to park it.

>>3470191
>1B) Punch through and attack sensor arrays

>2A) Into the open where the fleet can move

>>3470191
1A) Circle around, avoid engagement
2B) We need to go deeper

>>3470191

>1B) Punch through and attack sensor arrays

Gets us closer to linking up with friendlies. Using the new recruits in conjunction with those they'll be deployed with is a good plan.

>2A) Into the open where the fleet can move

Speed is our best friend here, like >>3470217 said we can use the mobility to lock down a better location.

>>3470179
> They're green, all of them, but there are enough to form up a wing using captured ships. With this and the medical data collected over the course of the program it's now possible to perform memory imprinting halfing training time of future rebel cohorts.

This also seems like valuable data for selling. Can we get a licensing agreement for this? We could hire Rekesh and train them in the Sonia Style Management Solutions.

>>3470191

>1B) Punch through and attack sensor arrays

>2A) Into the open where the fleet can move

If possible/practical, I'd like to stagger our Supers slightly during the breakout, to make it look like we only have a single Super prior to breaking out of the sensor net. Hopefully we can get the Neeran to under-estimate our main fleet's force.


As far as breaking out, we're basically forced to at this point. If we move deeper, they just push us toward the fleet bases until their sensor noose has strangled our force.


We should attempt to hit their sensor network from behind at least a few times before it can re-orientate to cover the galaxy's open region, and hopefully open several paths for our fleet to re-enter the dense region through gaps.

>>3470301
>Hopefully we can get the Neeran to under-estimate our main fleet's force.
I wonder if it's possible for Forbearance/Sovereign to get their signatures as close as possible together?

>>3470310

I was wondering if that was possible, or say positioning them so that Forbearance's drive flare blinds the primary sensors so that the Sovereign's is blocked or looks like a ghost or ECM echo.

Pure curiousity, but what is Versa's opinion on the Kythera and their attempt to subvert the Dominion?

"Pack up the modular base and get the fleet ready to move. Coordinate with Gun to make sure they help with jamming. Hopefully we can hide any evidence the Rekesh were tampering with their systems or coms or whatever they've done."

After nearly a week on standby this is what everyone has been waiting for. A chance to get back into the fight. The fleets are set up to have a staggered approach pattern. Forbearance will go through with the first wave and will hopefully be the only super detected before clearing out anyone or any thing that might sight them.
As an added precaution you ask about making both Supers FTL signature more similar. Even with her many refits Forbearance is based on an old design. There are limits to what can be done safely.

Eight hours later all units report ready for the approaching shit storm, even the rookies. The Krath have been very helpfully attacking a number of sensor arrays towards the middle of the perimeter at the direction of the Kythera. More enemy response units have been grouping there as a result.

You watch the timer count down to when the sensors are supposedly going to go down and Gun begins jamming. Once it reaches zero you give the order.

"Gun had better be in position." mutters Mezan.
"She will be." you reply. The reason behind it could be for any number of things but the defector has thrown in her lot with all of you now. There's no going back now.

The approach isn't quick. So many stars so close together means that there are constant course changes. Forbearance burns hard for each adjustment and jump, trying to shave off as much time as possible. Meanwhile the attack wings move ahead, closing on the enemy lines much more quickly.

Most sensor positions are attacked by an assault corvette wing each while the mediums either hang back or support the mixed wings. When a location where a heavy cruiser is detected you bring in Mezan's group. Using the firepower of the Eclipses plus their escort to overwhelm the vessel keeps it a short fight. One where they have less chance to inflict losses.

Salvage ships are right behind you, quickly collecting any of your own ships that have been crippled or blown apart.

Versa alerts you to incoming data, bringing up an analysis of heavies the fleet has engaged.
"Some of the newer compact heavies are employing fast tracking turrets to more effectively engage assault corvettes."
"Right, as soon as we can send an update to enemy IFF data, stick a warning to double the engagement range with those. I hope the pilots actually pay attention to it."
Versa adds a priority proximity warning that will popup the first time a ship encounters such a vessel.

>cont

File: Yang_Rough12.gif (26 KB, 1004x794)

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Forbearance catches up with the forward units, passing through and jumping into open territory. The Sovereign and modular base group is only two minutes behind them.

"We're as good as through at this point. Phas, Lyas, gather your units and do as much damage as possible to the sensor networks from behind. We dont want to leave them much to work with if they try to do another sweep again."
"Got it."
"We're on it."

Mezan directs her unit against another enemy unit nearby then turns to you.
"Where are the fleets meeting up after this?"

"Somewhere outside the Rekesh territories."
You get the impression the focus of the sweep was directed at them, though it it picked up your fleet at the same time all the better.

Gun splits from the false flag unit, backing up Phas with her long range ECM while the rest try to sow confusion on the other flank. The Baron and his units make it through in short order, following Forbearance and getting the hell out of the area. After another 15 minutes you call for a complete withdrawal before any of the enemy Supers from the center group reach the area.

Once the fleets reach their initial rally point Baron Xedols immediately takes the modular base and heads off to deploy it somewhere. Ren is of the opinion that he should take his now ready (and promised) Trayan mobile base and do the same. He'll head south and commence raids in that area as soon as possible to take advantage of the current lack of enemies.

You haven't resumed contact with the Rekesh fleet yet but are confident their most important assets have escaped. Were they going to be given the second Trayan mobile base? Or just one of the more mobile ones the Knights have been working on refitting?

>>3470508

>At the direction of the Kythera
Terrifying typo is terrifying

>fast-tracking turrets
Ouch, but clearly something to attempt to steal later on.

>>3470519

>Second Trayan mobile base to Rekesh fleet?

Lend-Lease it, imo.

>>3470519

>Trayan Mobile base

They bought us a window to get out. I don't see why not.

>>3470554
>Terrifying typo is terrifying
Woops.
Yes, that was supposed to be Rekesh.

>>3470554
>Lend-Lease
Right.

When you make contact with the Rekesh once again they explain that their decoy unit has fled back into the denser regions and are leading pursuers on a lengthy chase. Eventually they'll flee out the other side of the galaxy and try to re-enter elsewhere. That could take some time but if it keeps a pursuit unit on them then so be it.

A unit is sent out to deliver the other mobile base to them which they gladly accept. Now more than ever they'll need to keep on the move.
>Marked on map as +TMB2

When the escort returns they bring with them new recruits for the crew training program. Gun and Hera also have rebels in need of training, some as crews, others for infiltration missions.

When Zinovev reports in he reports that while you were busy breaking through the lines he sent his units to destroy any reserve bases they knew the locations of. Or most of them at least. Some were cut off by the placement of new sensor arrays. Or became the location of new sensor arrays.

In addition to causing trouble and salvaging ships your people managed to recover and operational shipyard slipways. 2 are of battleship grade, 1 for attack cruisers, 1 for Frigates and then there were some industrial manufacturing for metals, that sort of thing.
1 of the battleship yards has already been hidden in the nuked base along with 2 captured mediums that need repairs. That base has room for 2 more mediums and with enough personnel could get them repaired in fairly short order with enough supplies.

As the Triremes have been partially tore open by engineers they cant be moved at the moment, so you cant trade them to make room for others. You're stuck with the 2 slots.

1) Which mediums did you want to prioritize for repairs? (Select 2)
[ ] Cordate
[ ] Archangel
[ ] Scarecrow/ OH Type 1
[ ] Scarecrow/ OH Type 2

2) Did you want to relocate any of the Faction or Neeran Modular bases or deploy the remaining FOB?

File: Yang_Rough13.gif (27 KB, 1004x794)

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>>3470773
There was supposed to be an updated picture with that.

>>3470773

>1 Either of the Scarecrow types

>2 Not really

>>3470773
>[ ] Cordate
ECM good
>[ ] Archangel
Can afford to arm it with all the Corvettes.

>2
See if we can get the FOB set up in the west of the Galaxy? Hopefully that way any incoming friendly forces have a stop-off or rendezvous point.

>>3470773
>Repairs
[x] Scarecrow/OH Type 1
[x] Cordate

OH types are designed to support raiding groups, iirc.

And raiders can always make use of additional ECM craft.

I'd like to lend-lease the other Scarecrow/OH to the Rekesh so that they have a ship better equipped for quickly brawling raiding targets and running off with secured salvage.

>deploy/move bases?

Do the tail sections of the galaxy act as any sort of cover vs long range sensors? Or are they more like negative cover?

I'd like to get at least a base or two back into the dense region eventually, but it is likely too hot for that right now.

I'm a bit concerned about NM1's placement, especially if those sensor arrays get turned around. Possibly move it 'NW' into that dense star tail region that the Neeran sensor sweeps had at their back?


>>3470838
>FOB in the west side of the galaxy?

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.

>>3470773
> [ ] Cordate

> [ ] Scarecrow/ OH Type 1

Hey, for large engagements, could Versa co-ordinate Time on Target barrages against supers and such for disparate groups? Or is that beyond even AI, to track when ships would be in position to fire off torpedoes towards the target to have them arrive at the same time?

Continue to discuss. I'm not sure what time I'll be back on tomorrow as I'll be updating resumes and the like in the morning.

>>3471002
>for large engagements, could Versa co-ordinate Time on Target barrages against supers and such for disparate groups?
Yes.

>>3470773
[ ] Archangel
[ ] Scarecrow/ OH Type 2

Yes

>>3471014
>>for large engagements, could Versa co-ordinate Time on Target barrages against supers and such for disparate groups?
>Yes.

Well that's convenient.

>>3470773
>1) Which mediums did you want to prioritize for repairs? (Select 2)
>[ ] Cordate
>[ ] Archangel
>2) Did you want to relocate any of the Faction or Neeran Modular bases or deploy the remaining FOB?
Deploy FOB

>>3470773
I must admit I've kinda lost track of the various Neeran ships at this point. I'd be grateful if you could check the stuff I think I've figured out:

>Scarecrow/ OH
This one's fast and very adaptable. If you have enough time and the right equipment you can set it up for almost every role although it will perform less well if going fast isn't part of it.

>Nautilus
This one I don't really get. Is it a mass production variant of the Scarecrow? It seems very similar to the OH design but we haven't seen a lot of them. Or are they so fragile that they usually don't survive combat in salvageable condition?

>Cordate
Does provide a durable high performance ECM/ECCM platform. Kinda meh at everything else but can see some upgrades to improve combat performance without impacting its intended role too much.

>Archangel
The Neeran take on the Lance class cruiser? Except this one hasn't been designed hundreds of years ago.

>>3471536
>Scarecrow/ OH
Accurate.

>Nautilus
It's meant to be a competing design to the Scarecrow made by different member states. It fills much the same role and is competing for market share within the Empire.

>Cordate
>Kinda meh at everything else
Precisely. It was designed for its role and intended to stay out of direct combat as much as possible. Of course close range combat does tend to happen regardless so it might as well stand a chance at surviving will still doing its job.
It is more maneuverable than most mediums.

>The Neeran take on the Lance class cruiser?
Fast corvette truck. It was actually supposed to carry up to 32 corvettes, but they cant all operate in turret mode then. The extra mounts also worsen the structural integrity so a few of them have been removed on most models.

Supposedly when its designers started work it wasn't supposed to be used in combat. Just going really fast to far flung areas to help get corvettes to where they were needed. Then corvette turrets became a thing and suddenly it was re-classed as a front line warship.

>>3472737
Thanks. So the Archangel is faster than most faction mediums at ftl travel?

Anyway, voting for
>>3470773
>[x] Cordate
>[x] Scarecrow/ OH Type 1

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The Cordate and one of the Scarecrow Mediums are moved to the nuked base for long term repairs. At the same time you have Phas take the other FOB and establish it out in the tail region to begin work there. If it can excavate a large enough base maybe the Faction fleets can make use of it when they arrive?

While that has been happening the Knights organized the relocation of their base. To help ensure the movement wasn't detected by nearby sensor positions Zinovev attacked and destroyed as many of them as they could. In the process they made sure to lead pursuers back to the reserve bases they had destroyed. Just to make sure the enemy were aware of how much damage they'd been doing.

Due to battle damage the Knights will be standing down from raids for a few days.

With multiple holes punched in their sensor perimeter the enemy is scrambling to redeploy forces back to their home systems. There may be opportunities to ambush some units. The perimeter itself isn't being completely disassembled. It looks like they're thinning out the number of arrays so that more of them can be relocated elsewhere.
The Rekesh are having trouble determining where some sensors are being placed as they do not appear to be using the existing communications infrastructure.

With the arrival of new recruits the second compact heavy is now mostly operational with just enough crew for combat. The Baron wishes to have the ship deploy along with the heavy tanker to resupply the fuel stores. Further escort could be provided by the newly assembled mixed wing. The rebel crews could use any sort of experience they can get.

1) Approve the rebel refueling mission? Viq, Gun or someone else could take a bit of a break and keep on them.
>Y/N?

2) Did you want to employ any of the Supers and the gravity well generator to lay ambushes for enemy units?
2A) Mezan's unit
2B) Mezan & gravity well
2C) Mezan & Forbearance
2D) Mezan, Forbearance & Gravwell
2E) Just use minefields

>>3473714

>1) Y either or whoever needs more of a break

>2C) Mezan & Forbearance
Keep them mobile and bully any enemy forces into submission.

>>3473714
1) Approve the rebel refueling mission? Viq, Gun or someone else could take a bit of a break and keep on them.
>Y
>2C) Mezan & Forbearance

>>3473714
>Y
Sure. Seems like a good missions to ease the fresh crews into their new jobs.

>2e)
I think none of our supers have been detected yet. I'd like to keep it that way as long as possible.

>>3473714
>2E) Just minefield

>1) Y

We should keep our Supers secret as long as reasonable until we've built the rebels/rekesh up enough that they can hold off the response to us.

The Neeran are already considering withdrawing, revealing our Supers should happen at a time when it could cause them to withdraw but we'll have enough power to resist getting immediately kicked out by the Ulgeans.

Sorry I've been fighting my media players the past hour with no success.

>>3473866
>>3473905
You are both about an hour too late.

>>3473714
Y
2D) Mezan, Forbearance & Gravwell

Fuck it I'm making no progress. Going with this.

You look to Admiral Tama.
"Forbearance didn't get much of a chance for combat during the break out did it?"
"No, but it was protecting a good portion of our logistics craft."

"Let's give them a workout. We'll take Forbearance and Mezan's units along with an escort and use it to intercept some enemy fleets."

Coordinating with your own scouts and the Rekesh you find a number of FTL lanes that enemy forces are headed for or soon will be. Determining which routes appropriate sized fleets will take and reaching them in time will be difficult. You'd rather not spring a trap on a force large enough to turn things back in their favour.

Roll 3d100 for intercepts

Rolled 93, 47, 7 = 147 (3d100)

>>3473927

Stop right there Neeran scum!

Rolled 81, 47, 89 = 217 (3d100)

>>3473927

Rolled 15, 31, 82 = 128 (3d100)

>>3473927
For intercepts!

The fleet reaches its first intercept point in good time, catching two heavy cruisers and a carrier by surprise. While older models these heavies have clearly had some upgrades, increasing their firepower and shield strength. It takes a full barrage from Forbearance and the Monitors to down their shields. A second volley is enough to leave one of the heavies a burning wreck and the other can do little to avoid subsequent torpedo fire.

When Forbearance turns her guns on the Heavy Carrier you give the order to target engines and try to cripple her. By now the mediums and small craft are being cut to pieces by the attack wings. A few corvette squadrons skim the flank of the engagement and help to put more fire into parts of the carrier ensuring it fails to escape.

Once the fighting dies down salvage teams are called on to see if they can jump out any of the damaged vessels. If they can limp some of them even a few light years away it may be possible to recover them later.

Departing for the second site it doesn't look like you'll make it there in time. It's still worth trying though. On reversion you immediately notice that this turn out well. A cloaking field is covering the entire area. ECM ships launch relay probes to help cut through the field while the navigators prepare an escape course.

[ ] We should at least destroy the cloak generator
[ ] Leave 2 wings to search, big ships jump out
[ ] Withdraw, even if it means revealing your numbers

>>3473993
>[ ] We should at least destroy the cloak generator

>>3473993
>[ ] We should at least destroy the cloak generator

Destroy or capture it. If we can capture it great, we can use it to redeploy it else where. If we cant, I'm not going to lose sleep over it.

>>3473993
>[ ] We should at least destroy the cloak generator

>>3473993
[X] withdraw

Do not linger a critical asset in a hostile cloaking field

"Find the ship that cloak generator is on and take it out."

Tama orders starfighters launched to help act as relay craft to cut through the cloaking fields. Attack wings split up into squadron strength units and spread out. Some are used to set up defensive perimeter around Forbearance while the rest search.

"Keep an eye on our time on site. I dont want to miss the next intercept because we're screwing around paying hide and seek."

A few squadrons think they've narrowed down the likely position of the cloak generator when the defense units report enemy contact. Two units are coming in fast, engaging the outer defenses only briefly while heading towards the center of your group. A fast medium does an admirable job of evading medium plasma cannon fire while closing, almost reaching visual range before Versa designates a barrage point.

With friendly units ordered to watch the fire lanes the fleet throws out a wall of AI target assisted plasma cannon fire. Both mediums are crippled in short order. Help from Versa or not, some Frigates and FTL equipped corvettes still manage to get through the outer lines and are engaged by the secondary batteries.

"I think it's safe to say they definitely know we're here. Navigation, align the fleet for jump."
"Beginning starfighter recovery." says Tama.

Once the fleet is ready you tell the forward attack wings they have five minutes then they're to jump out. Part of the cloaking field goes down just before Forbearance and her escort jumps so they must have found part of the source.

At the next rally point the mixed squadrons rejoin the fleet. They report that a Cordate carrying a cloaking field was responsible for most of the area. It ceased operations and ran at the first signs of trouble. A pair of SP torpedoes damaged it but not enough to prevent its escape.

After forming up again the fleet jumps to its next intercept in time to catch a logistics group. A pair of heavy transports are hauling cargo and station equipment that must have been meant for establishing watch bases along the sensor perimeter.

>Cont.

A heavy cruiser, 5 Shoal mediums and 3 squadrons of battleships try to screen the convoy while corvettes launch and cargo ships scatter. The fleet has jumped in a bit close and as a result the siege guns have difficulty locking onto the heavy cruiser as it maneuvers to get in closer. This is made worse when all of the escort craft switch their weapons to plasma ball mode, trying to obscure the transports in combination with jamming.

Mezan directs her ships against the closer threat while you try to make sure the convoy gets its fair share of the action.
"Tell Forbearance if they cant get a targeting solution, aim for the big ones at the back!"

Despite heaving jamming and poor visuals the siege cannons manage to hit one of the heavy transports, completely destroying its aft section. It's hard to tell what's going on after that as corvettes that bailed out of their transports swarm the line. Assault Corvettes and torpedo batteries finally put the enemy mediums and heavy down with a wave of SP torpedoes.

When sensors begin to clear you can see that half the transports have escaped though many are burning wrecks. A Heavy Carrier and a Heavy Transport loaded with modular stations are about to jump. Versa has enough time to cripple the engines of one of them.

[ ] Heavy Carrier
[ ] Heavy Transport

>>3474202
> [ ] Heavy Transport

It'll be better for setting up our own bases and expanding the Rekesh control over the area.

>>3474202
>[x] Heavy Transport
We already have more combat ships than we can crew adequately. A heavy transport will help with a lot of things.

> 5 Shoal mediums
I think we haven't had the chance to salvage any of these yet.