The trip to Nagunishmure goes without significant ado. You do see some small craft, usually Iikens and Heros, but nothing that is definitely enemy and indeed, many seem to be from Girii, re-establishing small worlds that were abandoned in the war.

You arrive at Nagunishmure on New years day. Reports from Shuurashana suggest that there are three Shamshirs and three Gashiddas at the Colony, and two Shamshirs and a single Gashidda at the other gas giant. Relations are strained, since the blockade routinely searches any ships passing through, often unnecessarily rudely, and reports of female crew being strip searched and worse are propagated. You doubt that attacking them will make many enemies here...

01 Jan 2181, Nagunishmure 24.5/28 dTon of supplies (0.7 dTon/week), Current Budget: M$674.5
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:24, Fri 11 Dec 2020.

We make efforts to ensure we can withdraw through here as well, perhaps with some excuse like "Well there were some ships at the far GG but they jumped before we were able to get ships there" ... excuse if need be.

[Private to GM: 10:07, Today: Cyril Zotmund rolled 7 using 3d6 with rolls of 3,2,2.  Diplomacy.   by 5 ]

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 2):

You hardly need the excuse...they will be happy to assist, albeit not officially, if you can deal with the heavy-handed blockade.

Let me know which gas giant you are jumping to...

01 Jan 2181, Nagunishmure 24.5/28 dTon of supplies (0.7 dTon/week), Current Budget: M$674.5
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:25, Fri 11 Dec 2020.

OK, so to verify, I have Kugelblitz, the Gashidda we can call an LSTS (landing ship tank-Space), three Bounty hunters and the Hero?

If so, we'll jump to the Planet and arrive fighting ... Kugelblitz will push off a few minutes before the others. Our aim is to arrive among them, so we may need to adjust the arrival slightly to be about where (within about 30K miles) the Vilani normally station their guard ships.

I am assuming that we have all our Marines and prize crews back.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 4):

And extra. You have a full compliment of troops. The three Bounty Hunters and the Hero however Andrew does not want to let go. He feels they would be too vulnerable in an attack, and they are too useful as patrol craft (They have just 50 dDr armour). So just KB and the LST-T (Large Stationary Target - Space?)

Vilani normally station their ships at 100 x diameter of the planet, which is where most ships drop out of hyperspace. Chance to confirm tactics before we have at it?

01 Jan 2180, Nagunishmure 24.5/28 dTon of supplies (0.7 dTon/week), Current Budget: M$674.5

Yes, given what we don't have... rethink.  The LST needs to be well back, as it is more vulnerable, but close enough for mutual support.

We both can jump back out if need be... and we are both faster than the expected enemy, but it is still 6 on 2... surprise will only be momentary.

Kugelblitz currently has 2 Heavy Fighters, 2 Bombers,  a Recovery Ball  and a Transport ball, is that correct?
Oh and the 2 AK Modular fighters.


So our ability to kill all their missiles is there but just... andwe need to close quickly. We also need the die roller to discover it has choices below 10 on a reasonably regular basis. Their small craft may be an issue ...

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 6):

That is pretty accurate. You are also not sure if other ships have been brought in, or if some have been called away. But they are Vilani, so generally predictable.

But in a war of attrition, there is no requirement to hit the prison this time...taking the smaller number of ships back from the gas giant away from the colony will likely reduce numbers, since there are a limited number of ships Sukun has, stretched thinly already.

01 Jan 2180, Nagunishmure 24.5/28 dTon of supplies (0.7 dTon/week), Current Budget: M$674.5

So jumping the GG makes more sense, we can still try and get close and make short work of them...  The Gashidda should be able to handle his opposite number and I should be able to keep both Shamshirs fully occupied.

We'll go that route.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 8):

Cool. Rolled to see if there were variations to the patrol strength...nice roll!

If there is one thing you have to love about Vilani, it is that they are predictable! The two Shamshirs form up as you arrive just 120,000 miles away, with the Gashidda close behind them.

"Girii Vessels, stand down and prepare to be boarded...wait, are you Terran or Girrian? Send your registration papers!" You close to 50,000 miles quickly as they were moving towards you. They seem uncertain of your intentions...

Shamshir Destroyer Escort, 1.2 B Solars, 1000 dTons
100/100, 100/100,
(5G/Move:370, dDR:160, dHP:100, dTons of Cargo Space: 26.5),
56 Crew, 17 in Gunnery/Flight/troops, Minimum 25
Weapons:6x Pulse, 15x Missiles,
90 dTon Hanger Bay

Gashidda Patrol Cruiser, 440 M Solars, 400 dTons
70/70
(4G/Move:3250, dDR:90, dHP:70, dTons of Cargo Space: 51.5),
Crew: 36, 19 in Gunnery/Flight/troops, Minimum 12
Weapons:3x Pulse, 9x Missiles, 3x Sandcasters

08 Jan 2180, Nagunishmure 23.8/28 dTon of supplies (0.7 dTon/week), Current Budget: M$674.5
This message was last updated by the player at 09:28, Tue 17 Nov 2020.

Deploy Seru Fighters ...  Surrender Immediately and no one dies. You are significantly overmatched; we are better armored, armed and faster.

I will take any fire as hostile, any deployment of fighters or attempt to turn and run as hostile, in fact just about anything except talk ... and we will then shoot. We will take on the shamshirs, Left on gets priority... Bombers deploy at 29k miles.

In reply to Cyril Zotmund (msg # 10):

Their response is typically vilani, attempting to open up some distance while launching a full salvo of missiles.

"You have only beam weapons. We will accept YOUR surrender, Terran."

Despite their attempts to open up the range, you are still able to close the range to 32,000 miles (-15).

KB 22xBeams: Precision Skill 17+2(sAcc)+2(Comp)-15(Range)= 6, r
KB 2xSandcasters, dDR: 110, skill 16+2(Comp)-15(Range)+10(SM)= 13, r
LST, 15xBeams: Precision Skill 16+2(sAcc)+2(Comp)-15(Range)= 5, r
6xAKHB Beams: Precision Skill 17+2(sAcc)+2(Comp)-15(Range)= 6, r
2xBombers Beams: Skill 17-1(sAcc)+2(Comp)-14(Range)+10(SM)= 13,not launched

[Private to GM:
Shamshir precision pulse, 12xPulse: Skill 16+2(sAcc)+2(Comp)-15(Range)= 5, r12
Gashidda precision pulse, 3xPulse: Skill 16+2(sAcc)+2(Comp)-15(Range)= 5, r14
Gashidda 3xSandcasters, dDR: 90+45=135, skill 16+2(Comp)-15(Range)+10(SM)= 13, r6
]

Shamshir Destroyer Escort, 1.2 B Solars, 1000 dTons
100/100, 100/100,
(5G/Move:370, dDR:160, dHP:100, dTons of Cargo Space: 26.5),
56 Crew, 17 in Gunnery/Flight/troops, Minimum 25
Weapons:6x Pulse, 15x Missiles,
90 dTon Hanger Bay

Gashidda Patrol Cruiser, 440 M Solars, 400 dTons
70/70
(4G/Move:3250, dDR:90, dHP:70, dTons of Cargo Space: 51.5),
Crew: 36, 19 in Gunnery/Flight/troops, Minimum 12
Weapons:3x Pulse, 9x Missiles, 3x Sandcasters