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The Dreaded Fortress of Doom currently contains two Griffon modules and two Chimera modules, as well as three Airbase modules loaded with rather obsolescent Fighters. A fourth airbase module is en route, carrying somewhat more modern Fighters.
So we'll want to assemble at least eight Tugs, and perhaps more if we want to have replacements for any Tugs knocked out by the Modrons.
The first five Rock class will be launched in about 15 months. They carry tractor beams, and would make excellent Combat Tugs. Should we wait for them?
... my impulse reply is "No."
So we'll want to assemble at least eight Tugs, and perhaps more if we want to have replacements for any Tugs knocked out by the Modrons.
The first five Rock class will be launched in about 15 months. They carry tractor beams, and would make excellent Combat Tugs. Should we wait for them?
... my impulse reply is "No."
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I must admit that the Rock class would indeed make truly excellent Combat Tugs.
Not only are they very hard to hurt - with TWENTY layers of armor - they are also about 85 kps FASTER than the enemy fleet, and with a mass of over 105,000 tons they will hardly be slowed down at all by towing a Fortress module. They will still move at over 10,000 kps even with a loaded airbase or missile module in tow.
Not only are they very hard to hurt - with TWENTY layers of armor - they are also about 85 kps FASTER than the enemy fleet, and with a mass of over 105,000 tons they will hardly be slowed down at all by towing a Fortress module. They will still move at over 10,000 kps even with a loaded airbase or missile module in tow.
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Our fleet has returned to the jump point to await some Tugs, but our Scouts and Intel vessels are making good use of the time.
The ESN Spy 008 is sidling in toward the newly revealed enemy Red 12 fleet. The ESN Red Orchestra (also a Spy class vessel) is creeping up on the enemy home planet. The ESN Agent 99 is shadowing the enemy Red 11 fleet and keeping it just at the outer edge of RADAR coverage. The ESN James Bond is headed out to inspect the moons of a nearby gas giant planet.
The ESN Spy 008 is sidling in toward the newly revealed enemy Red 12 fleet. The ESN Red Orchestra (also a Spy class vessel) is creeping up on the enemy home planet. The ESN Agent 99 is shadowing the enemy Red 11 fleet and keeping it just at the outer edge of RADAR coverage. The ESN James Bond is headed out to inspect the moons of a nearby gas giant planet.
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The enemy continues to head coreward.
Enemy fleet Red 11 is now over 2.4 billion km from the jump point.
Enemy fleet Red 12 is over 3.3 billion km away.
FYI Planet Mechanus is about 3 billion km from the jump.
Our scouts continue to maintain contact while we bring in Tugs to carry our Fortress forward into combat along with our fleet.
I feel that the extra PD provided by the Fortress will make a Fleet attack on their shipyards a practical operation.
Enemy fleet Red 11 is now over 2.4 billion km from the jump point.
Enemy fleet Red 12 is over 3.3 billion km away.
FYI Planet Mechanus is about 3 billion km from the jump.
Our scouts continue to maintain contact while we bring in Tugs to carry our Fortress forward into combat along with our fleet.
I feel that the extra PD provided by the Fortress will make a Fleet attack on their shipyards a practical operation.
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Oooops.
Did one of our scouts just get jumped at close range?
A closer look reveals that everything is still under control.
Commercial engines and a speed of under 2,000 kps indicates a commercial design, probably a Freighter or Colony Ship.
Did one of our scouts just get jumped at close range?
A closer look reveals that everything is still under control.
Commercial engines and a speed of under 2,000 kps indicates a commercial design, probably a Freighter or Colony Ship.
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Both enemy fleets Red 11 and Red 12 appear to be headed for (or perhaps swanning in the direction of) the jump to the Abhorrent star system.
Just swanning? Or has an emergency developed in that direction?
Did these fools set off the Swarm? In the middle of a major fleet battle that creates hundreds of wrecks?
Just swanning? Or has an emergency developed in that direction?
Did these fools set off the Swarm? In the middle of a major fleet battle that creates hundreds of wrecks?
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August 29th, 2033. 02:34 PM.
Tactical, Mechanus star system. Everybody except a couple of our scouts seems to be heading (or swanning) in the direction of the Abhorrent jump point.
Tactical, Mechanus star system. Everybody except a couple of our scouts seems to be heading (or swanning) in the direction of the Abhorrent jump point.
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The ESN Red Orchestra has closed in to 150 million km from the enemy home planet, and nothing is visible on Thermal or EM except for the Pops themselves.
No ships in orbit... or at least, none that we can detect at this distance.
We'll close in another 30 million km, to 120 million km away... but that's about as close as I'd care to come. Once he penetrates our stealth, we're dead.
No ships in orbit... or at least, none that we can detect at this distance.
We'll close in another 30 million km, to 120 million km away... but that's about as close as I'd care to come. Once he penetrates our stealth, we're dead.
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If they have triggered the swarm, would that change the calculus regarding destroying his shipyards?
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I told you that tractor beam would come in handy.
The fortress module plus rock tug combination isn't something I saw coming in particular but damn is it tactically powerful.
Can we fire a sensor probe at where Mechanus will be when the next 5 day build cycle hits?
I think that highly depends on how large the infestation is. I've seen them build some seriously ridiculous fleets..
.. and the fact that advanced swarm can have different tech levels is new.
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Awful tempted to wait for the Rocks... but that's fifteen months from now.
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Agreed.
I think we'll try it now with the regular Tugs, rather than fifteen months from now with the ideal Tugs.
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OK... I've re-routed ten Tugs to join up with the Fortress of Doom in the Mechanus star system.
It will take a few days.
Let's get this show on the road!
It will take a few days.
Let's get this show on the road!
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Another question:
Should we send in the last reserves?
We have a small fleet at Earth containing at least four Carriers loaded with Fighters, plus PD escorts.
Should we take a week or so to send it to the battlespace? It will mean stripping the Empire - except for anti-Pirate patrols - to throw everything against the Modrons.
Should we send in the last reserves?
We have a small fleet at Earth containing at least four Carriers loaded with Fighters, plus PD escorts.
Should we take a week or so to send it to the battlespace? It will mean stripping the Empire - except for anti-Pirate patrols - to throw everything against the Modrons.
ESN Red Orchestra has reached 120 million km from the enemy home planet and sees nothing except the Thermal and EM signature of the Pops themselves.
If there are any ships in orbit they are too dim (in EM and Thermal) to be spotted at this distance.
If there are any ships in orbit they are too dim (in EM and Thermal) to be spotted at this distance.
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August 29th, 2033. 05:09 PM
Mechanus star system, scouting progress...
We have scouted the four innermost planets, approaching to within 5 million km of A-I, A-III and A-IV and within 120 million km of the Modron home planet A-II.
The passive scout ESN Red Orchestra is now headed outward to search for enemy comet mines, while the ESN Spy 008 heads toward the Mechanus => Abhorrent jump point to check for another possible enemy fleet. This course converges with the enemy Red 12's course, so we should be able to maintain contact. The ESN Agent 99 continues to shadow the enemy Red 11 force. ESN James Bond is still headed outward to check the moon system of the gas giant planet.
Mechanus star system, scouting progress...
We have scouted the four innermost planets, approaching to within 5 million km of A-I, A-III and A-IV and within 120 million km of the Modron home planet A-II.
The passive scout ESN Red Orchestra is now headed outward to search for enemy comet mines, while the ESN Spy 008 heads toward the Mechanus => Abhorrent jump point to check for another possible enemy fleet. This course converges with the enemy Red 12's course, so we should be able to maintain contact. The ESN Agent 99 continues to shadow the enemy Red 11 force. ESN James Bond is still headed outward to check the moon system of the gas giant planet.
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