In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 92):

The first two have similar armament but differ in the fighters carried, the third one is specially for escort and carries different armament (4 turrets vs 2 and a heavy turret) and less cargo space. Both the pirate one and the Escort have identical speeds...

Dissident Gashidda 639.3 M Solars, 400 dTon Close Structure,
Upgraded with the addition of two Sharurshid Line Freighter reactors and drives, plus two Hero drives. Also this has two turrets replaced by 2 fixed Plasma Guns, and a little more armour added. Cargo space makes long patrols more difficult, but up close, it is much more deadly, and higher speed makes that more likely. Its price makes it difficult to make without some infrastructure though.
(5.96G/Move:3250, dDR:110, dHP: 70, dTons of Cargo Space: 6, SM:+9)
Weapons: 6x Beam, 2x Plasma Guns, Crew:40,
4 Fighters, 1 Assault craft

Pirate Gashidda 623.9M, 400 dTon Close Structure
Disident Gahidda design, modified for the Heavy Fighters.
(6G/Move:370, dDR:115, dHP: 70, dTons of Cargo Space: 5.5, SM:+9)
Weapons: 6xBeam, 2xPlasma, Crew:23, Endurance: 46 weeks,
3x Dissident Heavy Fighter

Escort Gashidda: 641.7M, 400 dTon Close Structure
Very similar to other Gashiddas that get captured, this version has just bean turrets and carries three heavy fighters. Its design has resulted in a need for more robust protection of capital ships from fighters and missiles, though if used with precision attacks it can be dangerous.
(6G/Move:370, dDR:114, dHP: 70, dTons of Cargo Space: 1.5, SM:+9)
Weapons: 12xBeam,  Crew:23, Endurance: 12 weeks,
3x Pirate Heavy Fighter

Ahh, yes, I forgot about that dustup. I checked through the thread, the arrived back on Argon at the 1st Jan 2178. They should be done there by 14th Jan. Date of upgrade finishing is 20 Oct 2177. I will have the upgrade statistics in the players vessels thread today...any small craft purchased? Any Exchanges?

Also, any runs to capture a few more Gashiddas with Madame Fourcade?

Edit: I reread your question. I think the Pirate one is just a later model, with the heavy fighters instead. You are right, it does seem to have more for less, and will probably replace the former.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:37, Mon 27 Jan 2020.

Gloria could do that, but with the enemy locally keeping all their ships in a formation of 10 + a cruiser, not a great place to go cutting out the odd Gashidda. Not sure there is a good place close by, as the message is out. I suppose we could try Ugemirlika and then to Adigarma, but since it only has Jump 2, it's screwed if it finds a large hostile force.
Trying to go from Lishuni around to Llukin would take a month of Sundays. This was one of those places that JEAN BART had a huge benefit with her double jump capability.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 94):

Aware of your concerns, a Military advisor approaches you to discuss options.

"Most of our vessels are Jump 2 vessels. A trick we have learnt is to take one Jump at a time, so if needed, we can jump out again. For our computers, this is still tricky, as we need to get to the jump point, but withour Terran computers, it should be simpler.

There have been raiders in smaller numbers reported in the systems Dashkimnir, Kasarshim and Ugemiriika. A run down there would put a dint in their forward plans, and because it is so close to Iishuni, you should report any major build-ups there. With everything within one jump, you should not be hampered by your fuel tanks."

Edit: A jump of 1 parsec uses half as much fuel as a jump of 2 parsecs. That is why he is suggesting 1 parsec jumps.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:58, Mon 27 Jan 2020.

Your suggestion makes great sense, I should have considered that, I am always thinking in bigger swathes of space to explore. Let us reconnoiter there then.

She will get her things transferred to Madame Fourcade along with the available heavy fighters and a ships boat. We'll take extra Prize crew just in case we can luck out. We will also let Kasarshim know we may be sending back captured ships in ones and twos, as we can so they do not over react.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 96):

The first jump is to Dashkimnir, a single star system with a planetary belt and three gas giants. The large planet has corrosive chlorine in the atmosphere, so it is uninhabited. Which are you jumping to? Arrival will be the 24th Sep 2177.

Might as well go to the Outermost GG and refuel, then jump to Kasarshim. I assume we would jump to the inhabited location to make contact.
But be on guard in case some insidious Lemrukiri ships are there.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 98):

The outermost Gas Giant is uninhabited. The inner Gas Giant, however, is not. Ten Gashiddas patrol there, with 10 more at the planet along with a single Kargash. Roll for stealth to see if they notice you.

Just made stealth.
09:36, Today: Gloria Flake rolled 11 using 3d6 with rolls of 4,1,6.  Stealth.

How far are the 10 Gashiddas from the Planet?  Very nice of them to save us a long trip. Let's see they can put up 90 missiles, Can we handle that?
I think we have 2 Heavy Fighters and a Ships Boat ... we didn't settle that before I departed. Even Light Fighters would be a help, although they are fragile. Guess we'd need to close in quickly and savage a few...

Girii needs to know that Lemrukiri is in their system and slowly strangling any trade.

I really think they need to get the pirates to savage the back parts of Lemrukiri's holdings to get some relief.
The Raiders need a Kargash killer too ... not sure The Aasha is best for that.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 100):

They do not seem to have noticed you for now.

Girii is well aware that Lemrukiri is trying to strangle trade, though ships this close suggest keeping scouts out as well. When you said you wanted to fill up with heavy fighters and a ships boat, I fitted 3 Heavy fighters and a military ships boat in, as per you vessel sheet. The Pirates are modifying a Merishmirr and an Aasha, both with heavy Particle cannon and bay plasmas...and they are adopting the smaller Seru class of heavy fighters (Kalishnikov renamed their heavy fighters after a Vilani planet to make sales easier. Imperial law will reluctantly accept new designs of small craft as a companies variation, though many traditionalists will not, as long as they are made by a Vilani company.)

So there are 10 Gashiddas 12 hours away, and 10 Gashiddas and a Kargash 16 hours away, and 8 hours away from the other group. Your actions?

Well crud, They can reinforce before I can even get to them ...  Let's refuel and jump to Karsarshim's star port and see what we find.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 102):

You refuel, and still seems to be off their radar. Coming from the Gas giant, you continue processing the fuel.

Did you want to try to sneak up on the Gashiddas, or just jump. Roll stealth to try to sneak up.

It's tempting but unwise, there are ten of them, even if we wing a couple, there are still enough to prevent our jump and give us no real time to extract a prize or two, then the other crew get's in range and it goes down hill.  Were the other group further away or not there, it would be a good shot a creating mayhem, as while not immune, I am certainly the equal of 4 or so of them in a close fight. Surprise and the morale loss they would likely suffer would further be in my favor.

Anyway, just my thinking, let's jump to Kasarshim's star port.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 104):

Right. Kasarshim is in a binary system with 5 gas giants.

Coming out of hyperspace, your IFF is interrogated by a Shamshir class, with 10 Gashiddas backing it up...they are 130,000 miles distant and closing at 40,000 miles. The planet is 500,000 miles distant.

"Stand down and prepare to be boarded, Kimashargur. Or be destroyed..."

Shamshir Destroyer Escort, 1.2 B Solars, 1000 dTons
(5G/Move:370, dDR:160, dHP:100, dTons of Cargo Space: 26.5),
Weapons:6x Pulse, 15x Missiles,
90 dTon Hanger Bay

Gashidda Patrol Cruiser, 440 M Solars, 400 dTons x10
(4G/Move:3250, dDR:90, dHP:70/70, dTons of Cargo Space: 51.5),
Weapons:3x Pulse, 9x Missiles, 3x Sandcasters,
Assault Craft

3 Oct 2177, 6.4/7 dTons of supplies
Kasarshim (Time in system: 0 hrs, 50% refined fuel)
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:02, Thu 30 Jan 2020.

Sure, Come on Over big guy ... in her best sexy voice.

What sort of formation/grouping are they in?  We'll head for the Shamshir as ordered at about 4 Gs. Keep the HF aboard for now and close to full beam range. Target the Shamshir first, targeting and Bridge.  Once deployed the Heavy Fighters can do the same for Gashiddas.

This assumes they don't launch all their missiles ... if they do, we'll have to deploy the fighters and rush on in close at max speed.

Assuming we do get to close to Beam range, we'll turn on the targeting and go for broke (sensors are working of course, so it should only take a split second for the targeting to lock on).

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 106):

"Don't get smart with me. Though if you want to go that way, we can discuss it once you are over here. Now heave too and prepare to accept our troops."

You both close to reduce the range to 50,000 miles. They are in tight formation, and a ships boat launches from the Shamshir.

Your troops wonder if that might not be a bad idea...capture the Shamshir intact...

Your scanners do pick up 2 other squads at other gas giants, 3 days and 5 days away respectively. (Note the use of 20 minute rounds effecting ranges!) They are both of similar composition.

Off the radio OK, I want to hear confusion with people giving orders, yelling, someone crying and all that confusion...now when I call goofus in charge.

On Radio with sexy dumb blonde voice ...  OK so how close do we get so you boat isn't out there all week?  My crew is shutting stuff down.... What papers do you want, we are authorized to be here.

Off Radio, OK, Boarding Party, suck them in and seize their ship,  We'll handle it once things go to squat. Put all captives in low berths, at least the officers and NCOs.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 108):

"That is enough. Stop at 20,000 miles from the boat."

The ships boat is traveling at 2G, or 20,000miles per 20 minutes. You can reach that this round easily.

The Gashiddas are breaking up into pairs to surround you at 20,000 miles, with one pair at each degree of freedom, ie 1 pair above, 1 pair below, 1 pair behind, 1 pair to port and starboard, and the Shamshir directly ahead, all at 25,000 miles. Once they in position, the ships boat approaches to dock.

"All right sweetie, you are surrounded. No funny business now...our scanners have those weapons in sight, and the moment you power them up, we launch missiles from all directions and pop you like that."

He makes the sound of an explosion, just to emphasize the point.

With still some noise of confusion in the back ground You don't have to threaten us, we are doing as asked.

We'll let the Boarding party in and up a hall, then jump the boat crew and the party from front and rear with our Soldiers.  We have extra soldiers aboard, we'll cram 50 odd of our prize crew soldiers on the shuttle and return "with papers".

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 110):

Ok. Roll a tactics...perhaps several times!

Please select a tactic from link to a message in this game, message #9.

You have 40 crew, versus the 30 on the ships boat. But yours have done this before so they are at least Good Quality (+50%) with similar equipment (Both basic pistols, but your guys have more stuff, hence more options, hence Basic kit (+0%) for them, Good quality kit (+50%) for you.)

Basic troop strength

MF   40 + 100% = 80
Imps 40 = 40

Ratio: 2:1, hence +4 bonus.

Own Ship, you have a +4 position bonus.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:07, Fri 31 Jan 2020.

In reply to Fate (msg # 111):

Well the list is a bit short, our tactic is subterfuge/ambush/surprise followed by something like all out attack, as at that point, we are in it deep and need to rip the will to fight out of these guys.

Rolled exactly the same rolls as the Vilani ... in the same order!

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 112):

Lol, actually, you did them in reverse order, which is much nicer!

There is no ambush/subterfuge/surprise, but I will go with Raid, in order to apply the damage to those holding the Ships boat, effectively cutting them off. They will select rally.

You get

Basic troop strength

MF   40 + 100% = 80
Imps 40 = 40

Ratio: 2:1, hence +4 bonus, +4 Position Bonus
Tactics 13, rolled 10, 3 under, increases to 11 under with bonii.

They rolled 13, with a penalty of 2, so effectively 15.[Private to GM: Skill 11, local commander, so 4 over.]

Margin of victory falls results in

MF    0% casualties! Keep +8 Bonus
Imps, -35%, additional -7 penalty!

Second round they make a desperate push for their Ships boat. (All out Attack)

MF     +8+2 (All out attack), Skill 13, rolled 12, 1 under +10 = 11 under, results in 0% casualties
Imp    -7+2, Skill ??, rolled 12 [Private to GM: so 1 over, -5 = 6 over. Margin = 17], results in 80% casualties!

Did not get to the third round.

You set up the ambush nicely. A group was prepared to rush in and capture the Ships boat before they could make any transmission. As long as the Vilani behaved as expected...

But you needed not worry. They were Vilani, of course they behaved as expected. Once the main boarding party headed for the bridge, you sprung your trap. It all went like clockwork, the training really telling. Your men moved into the Ships boat with surprising speed, using knives and quiet weapons so that you were in the cockpit before they even realized it, and you took control of the craft without even a peep from the radio. So far so good. Then the others realized something was wrong, but their desperate attempt to get off the ship and out of the killing zones failed badly. Trapped, some surrendered once the officers were down, but it was almost routine for your men. You captured 14, 6 badly injured and 6 killed. The Shamshir is probably still waiting for the report...
This message was last edited by the GM at 05:16, Fri 31 Jan 2020.

Gloria will have someone who speaks really good low Vilani (like a crewman would speak) send a somewhat garbled. Under control, minor issue resolved, Lt (or whatever the senior officer was) taking control, Documents being sent for your review.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 114):

One of the Vilani crew members from Girii is particularly good at impersonations and responds as you directed, in a voice that to your ears sounds exactly like the senior lieutenant. The response comes back

"Very good. Bring back the senior officers and senior sailors, and all the weapons you can find. Come soon. That ship is coming up on our databases as one of the most wanted pirate vessels, and they may have information on a Nobleman that went missing recently. Over."

We send an in route and the shuttle shoves off.

Mean while, we get everyone ready to act as soon as the shuttle docks plus about 5 seconds.  Are there any Gashiddas near the Shamshir? I assume not, so we will go after the pair above first. At 20K, the Plasmas should be in range and the Beams can raise hell, We will be aware of Missiles, but expect them to be a hard to target at close ranges with so many friendlies about. The Shamshir is to seize the ship, then try to assist us in fighting the Gashiddas as best it can. Missiles should be useable as they are less concerned with friendlies.

In reply to Gloria Flake (msg # 116):

Correct. The Shamshir stands alone ahead of you, whilst the Gashiddas are in pairs at the other 5 directions from you, at a range of 20,000 miles. With total Life support for 70, we can assume that is how many you have aboard. You would struggle with less than 40 crew, however, but since you have a flight section of 20 and 5 troops, plus 5 command team to fly the vessel, you can spare 30 and fit that many into the craft. Shamshirs usually have 56.

The shuttle loads and departs, taking a full combat round to travel through the distance and dock with the Shamshir. The same crew member who did such a good job on comms last time did a less convincing job as they prepared to land in the hanger, but they were not stopped. As they moved in, you prepared to fire.

[You want to make the rolls? I have done the battle onboard the Shamshir...you will know results pretty soon after the fireworks start!]

[Private to GM: Combat as follows:
Troops     MF           Shamshir
Numbers    30           60-20 = 40
Gear       +50%         0
Training   +50%         0
Strength   60           40
Ratio      1.5          1
Benefit    +2           0
Tactics    13           ??
PB         0            +4         Position Bonus
Rn1        Attack       Rally
           0            -2
Total      13+2=15      ??+4-2= ??+2
Roll rnd 1 12, 3 under
MOV        +2                  Margin of Victory
Casualties 10%(-2)      15%(-3), -1 PB
PB         0            +3
Rn2        Raid         All out Attack
           +1           +2
Total      13+2+1-2=14  ??+3+2-3=??+2
Roll rnd 2 11,
MOV        4
Casualties 5%           40%, -2 PB
Total Cas  15% (-3)     55% (-11)
PB         0            +1
Rn3        Del. Att     Mobile Def
           +1           0
Total      13+2+1-3=13  ??+1-11=-10
Roll rnd 3 10, 3 under
MOV        15
Casualties 0%           30%
Total Cas  15% (-3)     85% (-17)
PB         +3           0
Last 6 Surrendered (1 with minor injuries)

Your troops have 3 badly injured men, one may die.
Their side have 10 dead, 8 Seriously injured and 22 that surrendered, some with minor injuries. The enemy commander has a critically injured pride that may prove fatal!
]
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:30, Sat 01 Feb 2020.