A month later, bases are established on all two of the Labrysian rebel planets as well as a Labrysian base on 1339. Needless to say, the Terran colony is no longer secret, with several Government scouts being chased from the system, and some destroyed.

Trade has now been set up, with two Cruisers being fitted with massive Jump-2 drives. The Terran base back at Chrysolite is working hard to accommodate the new alliance, especially as Andrew has agreed to hand over the two cruisers to their control in return for considerable resources and assistance. In fact, Andrew is now officially recognized as Governor of Aegir, as the colony has become known. Andrew is in the process of getting a third cruiser built for himself, but Captain Maya is being re-assigned to one of two massive 6,000 dTon freighter they have repaired. A carrier, two other freighters and two cruisers are being refitted with Fusion power plants and Jump 2 engines, but it will be some time before they are operational. Chrysolite are trying to negotiate to get them as well, but Andrew is working hard to ensure he will not be disadvantaged by the deal!

Cyril is now Captain of the Dastavka. Due to it's size and speed, it has been selected to assist the Labrysians in gathering intelligence about the government forces. The break from fighting has allowed the rebels to repair their fleets, whilst the losses causes considerable infighting within the religious order governing the Labrysian government. The details are not known, but finding out is a large part of your responsibility. You may select Aegir (1339), 1439 or the rebel Mining colony at 1440 as your starting location. Dastavka has now been fitted to accommodate 30 Labrysians, and has room for 37 humans. You will have at least 25 Labrysians aboard for this mission, who need to be delivered planet-side. You have a ships boat (with an APC) and a short range missile fighter. Please let me know any details, such as unusual cargo, supplies, and location you are departing from.

Do we know what is at/on 1540?

Which Planet system is considered the home world?

T which system are we to deliver these Labrysans too?  That affects our decision a lot.
That said, Aegir appears to be the best located for infiltrating the other systems.


[Private to GM: OK, You did some odd calculations on rank... Cyril is a retired Commander [rank level 5 or 6 IIRC], so how will his rank go up and what are the costs? At 5 points a lvl, I can't do a thing. ]

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 2):

1540 is a Binary star system with a single gas Giant planet. It is patrolled by Rebel ships at this point, which report back fortnightly. 1140 is the Government and race homeworld, while the Rebel main colony is just below the map in the next sector at 1401.

The intelligence operatives will be most effective for creating dissent delivered to the homeworld, but scouting the captured research colony at 1340 would be more feasible. Both would be well defended at the moment.

[Private to Cyril Zotmund: Cyrils active rank is level 3, courtesy rank level 5. Hence it costs 4 point to convert a courtesy rank back to an active rank. It is true with just three points you can't go up yet, but you can save the points to go up next time you get a few points, and that is all I am suggesting. That would enable me to assign a small scout to your command as well.]
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:28, Sat 18 June 2016.

And which option do the powers that be want? We can get to either ... which furthers the rebellion best?
As for defended... are we talking a few ships ready to pursue intruders or whole fleets in orbit?

One we have a chance against... the other is likely a one way trip... have the rebels been scouting the home world? Would that be unexpected at this point?


[Private to GM: OK, so we save 3 for later...]

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 4):

Our current intelligence reports are as follows for government systems:

(1140) Garden Moon, Labrysian Homeworld, Binary system, 5 Gas Giants
  Moon around Gas Giant 2, Atmosphere: Standard, Sulphur Taint, 1.06G Gravity
    3 Cruisers, 6 Destroyers, 6 Frigates at planet, Orbital Base

(1239) Garden Planet, Labrysian colony on Planet, 4 Gas Giants, One planet
  Atmosphere: Standard, Hot and Thin, Sulphur Taint, 0.68G Gravity
    3 Cruisers, 6 Destroyers, 6 Frigates, Orbital Base

(1340) Garden Moon, Labrysian Research Colony (Captured, was Rebel), 3 Gas Giants
  Moon around Gas Giant 1, Atmosphere: Standard, Very Cold and Very Thin, 0.5G Gravity
   3 Cruisers, 6 Destroyers, 6 Frigates at planet (60F), Orbital Base being built

Most of their production is focussed at the base being built, but it is believed that another carrier is under construction at the home planet.

Little to choose in terms of defensive forces. All are equal, which implies a lack of military thinking. We will need to refresh our supply of nukes I suppose. I can see greatest value to the Rebels in both the home world and the research facility, which maybe populated with many disaffected rebels working under duress. The home world seems politically unsettled as well.    How do you see the benefits?

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 6):

"Actually, much of the homeworld have been brainwashed into thinking that we have been infected by evil spirits. Recent reports indicate that they call you demons, physical manifestations of such spirits. The colonies have a much greater percentage of the population exposed to life beyond the homeworld, so they are generally more receptive to the idea that other intelligent aliens exist.

Unfortunately, the bases, which we have not tested in combat, are positioned to be very threatening to a colony. The homeworld is big enough to be able to last for an extended battle with the Orbital base, but the colonies are not. As such, the key is the Orbital base for the colonies, one of which is still under construction.

Their military thinkers have never come across a situation where brute force did not solve the problem. They have won all wars through attrition. As such, they have been put on the defensive, though they do talk of a new super ship designed to kill the Aliens being under construction on the homeworld."

O then the research station is our best choice and a nuke in the orbital platform would be an huge plus?

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 8):

"Yes. or capturing it using the 'unbelieving' slaves they are using to build it. A problem they have no doubt forseen, but perhaps you have ways of getting around their straightforward thinking? Troops are likely to be the best defence they have for that scenario."

OK, interesting thought ... first we have to send their whole fleet on a goose chase... perhaps with a large dummy drone for them to chase after. Then we have to sneak up and unload your marines and enough weapons for the slaves ... assuming we take this platform... how do we hold it when their cruisers and the rest of the fleet come back? What about the forces on the ground? That plan sounds like something needing a bigger force to pull off.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 10):

"Perhaps. Perhaps you could be the distraction. Head to the other colony and Nuke the Orbital platform there. When the other ships come running, then we might have a better chance...

We would not need to hold the platform...though if all our militaries arrived there, perhaps we could!"

Perhaps... but I think some careful preparation would pay big dividends... fighters, infantry etc. to seize both platform and the planet.

"One question is where do all the raw materials come from? Could we slow the building of the station but cutting off their supplies? That might also draw out some of their fleet"

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 12):

"Yes, true. But we have only 4 fully operational cruisers at the moment, as the rest, and indeed most of the rest of the fleet, are undergoing major refits with new Fusion reactors, Beam weapons and missile racks. They will not be finished for several months at least. Your secretary raises a good point: perhaps if you were to hit the other colony at 1239, also a mining colony and where most of their silica is mined from, to destroy the Orbital base there, we could hit the research colony with an invasion force 8 days later. That would give them time to get word out about the attack and send what ships they could spare to respond. The Dastavka could then move to the Labrysia to insert our operatives there too. Perhaps your ships could then deal with the re-inforcements sent, and we could then re-capture the research station!"

He is getting a bit excited at the idea. But an old commander behind him bursts his bubble...

"But how would you be able to destroy the Orbital Base? They know about your suicidal nuke fighters now, and they will use the whole fleet destroy any that get near. You would have to wipe out the fleet first..."

[Private to Cyril Zotmund: Andrew would be none-too-keen to send his Capital ship away, and the carrier is still undergoing some repairs. A second carrier is being sent in exchange for the Cruiser hulls, but both carriers are only modified Karl Marx vessels with 300 dTon Hangers.]

I suspect we hope for too much too soon ... as much as I would love to see them fall, I think we should take a smaller step with a better chance of success ...  He looks at the older commander... where would you think we could do the most  with what little we have?

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 15):

The old Commander thinks for a few long moments.

"I think the best you could do would be to engage in some piracy on the system near the colony on 1239. If you can capture a freighter, or at least make it look like you tried to, you could attach a nuke to it. Then let it carry the warhead to the Orbital Base, and the rest is much more interesting. But you will have to destroy a lot of fighters first...so perhaps some raids of attrition may be required.

Putting some agents in the Colony first would be very advantageous..."