Quest Deep Periphery Quest (Battletech Sandbox Empire Builder)

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Jarow

Jarow

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We have 2 suitcase nukes (and the theoretical ability to build more), and no nuclear missiles.
 
Thors_Alumni

Thors_Alumni

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If the drac's land we can try to smuggle a Suitcase nuke into the bunch of dropships and then detonate it. Won't do much bu ti will piss them off.
 
L

Lightwhispers

Well-known member
Tryglaw said:
So much time had passed and no delivery mechanism was created? No capacity to build more? That's... negligent...
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We just unlocked the research project for anti-shipping missiles with nuclear warheads. If they'd waited until next turn, we'd be in a much better situation.
 
Jarow

Jarow

Well-known member
Tryglaw said:
So much time had passed and no delivery mechanism was created? No capacity to build more? That's... negligent...
Click to expand...
We just acquired the Arrow IV missile the Alamo anti-shipping missile is based on the turn before last, and had no money last turn to actually research it. Nukes weren't considered as necessary as the other weapons we're actually using, given lack of reusability and that they're not that useful in space against fighter swarms (they're basically extra-short range capital weapons).

Getting nukes was definitely something we wanted, but it wasn't a super high priority (also, we weren't entirely sure what the prerequisites were)
 
S

ShadowArxxy

Well-known member
Comrade
Chaeronea said:
I'd suggest that the Defiants focus on just the Aqueduct on the early intercept, just making a single high-speed pass to minimise their exposure to enemy fire before they punch through the formation. Then have them trail the Drac formation trying to lure them into launching ASFs against them, burning more of their remaining fuel, before we have the Defiants join up with our ASFs and engaging the racs over Griffon's Roost.
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As a technical FYI, since every decision maker would know this in character -- during the previous Drac raids, the Aqueduct was important because it was providing the fuel supply for them to hot-deck ASFs. That is not an option for this strike force because they're at full-power acceleration on a zero-zero trajectory, and the ASFs can't keep up with that by any means other than being docked inside their carriers. Knocking out the Aqueduct would have no immediate effect on the space battle -- it would only affect their longer-term logistics.
 
L

Lightwhispers

Well-known member
So, new plan that I like better, which is a modification of Wageslave's one.

[x] After first intercept:"Your presence here proves the Dragon has no honor. If you do not break off from your course, you will no longer have JumpShips, either."

[X] Screw You at High Velocity
-[X] 1st Assault Squadron + Harris-class
--[X] Target and attrit the Droppers directly, starting with the Aqueduct, moving on to the Overlords, and then batting cleanup on the Leopards that remain.
-[X] High speed intercept, course/speed optimized for returning for a second intercept when the Dracs hit the planetary Area of Operations.
-[X] Explorer Squadron + Haskell
--[X] Slingshot on the elliptical to go after the Drac JumpShips. Capture and/or kill as needed.
-[X] ASF Units on/near Griffin's Roost
--[X] Layered deployment of a sphere of defense of mutually supporting units Two elements of screening forces to cover Assault Squadron's run.
-[X] Confederate
--[X] Standby for emergency evacuation protocol.

So, tried to clean things up a little, and change a bit.

Harris-class droppers are going with the Defiants to add a bit of ASF cover, which hopefully will help. High-speed intercept to start to maximize surprise, and minimize the number of Drac ASFs they can launch.

Anyone have thoughts on how to improve it?
 
Wageslave

Wageslave

Well-known member
I like the modifications Lightwhispers made to the plan, about the only other thing I could figure is if we know their trajectories can we throw some rocks from the Belt at the Drac task force... a... Rock On Target barrage, as it were?
 
L

Lightwhispers

Well-known member
Wageslave said:
I like the modifications Lightwhispers made to the plan, about the only other thing I could figure is if we know their trajectories can we throw some rocks from the Belt at the Drac task force... a... Rock On Target barrage, as it were?
Click to expand...
At these distances and velocities, you need dropship-scale engines and continuous active correction to have a chance of connecting. Nobody stays exactly on-course, even if they try.
 
Turn 37 - The Good And The Evil
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    • LordSunhawk

    LordSunhawk

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    Turn 37 - The Good And The Evil

    You are overseeing the engagement, while allowing those who specialize in ASF and Space Navy operations run things, as they are the specialists in those fields.

    ASF forces are being held back at Griffin’s Roost in a strong defensive shell, while the Defiants thrust towards the incoming attack force in a forlorn hope, intending to deal as much damage as possible during interpenetration as they can in the hope of reducing the incoming force to a more manageable size. The Enterprise class ships are arcing around and will reach the jumpships in 6 days, well before they’ll be able to jump out without hotloading their drives.

    On the ground preparations are ongoing to deal with any forces that make it past the aerospace defenses. Reserves have been called up, the fortifications are fully manned and ready. All units have checked in. You will need to decide how to distribute your ground forces.

    []Deployment Plan
    []Balanced - Spread forces across all continents and rely on surface transportation assets to adjust deployments as Drac intentions become clear
    []Focus on Griffsport - if the capital falls, we fall, all else is secondary
    []Focus on defending the factories - With them in play we can recover from any harm the enemy inflicts on us
    []Concentrate all mobile forces into a single strike force and try to anticipate where the enemy will land.

    Your Naval commander informs you that the Aqueduct is unlikely to be strategically or tactically useful in this engagement and may be present as a distraction, it is recommended to adjust targeting priority of the Defiants to Overlords, Leopard-CV then and only then Aqueduct.

    [] Approve
    [] Disapprove

    The Drac commander has not responded yet to your taunt, instead the entire formation of incoming dropships is transmitting Kuritan propaganda about how they’ll crush everything in their path unless we bow down and submit to the Dragon.

    It’s been less than 24 hours since the Dracs arrived in the system. One day down, four until arrival. At their current course and trajectory your Assault Squadron won’t intercept for another 36 hours. Is there anything else you’d like to do now?

    [] Optional Write-In
     
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    • Tryglaw

    Tryglaw

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    [x]Focus on defending the factories - With them in play we can recover from any harm the enemy inflicts on us

    Balanced just asks for defeat in detail, and loosing the capital doesn't actually mean anything (other then symbolic) as VIPs can and should be evacuated somewhere safe and well protected. Factories OTOH can't move and the Dracs are bound to try to destroy them if they can't have them.

    [x] Approve

    [x] Optional Write-In - Talk openly about nuking the Dropships and Jump Ships, since they don't know about your nuke status...
     
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