A skirmish between a tech level 12 independent Corsair and a pair of paramilitary patrol cruisers at a lightly-defended research station on the frontier.
Contents
Somewhere on the frontier...
Order of Battle
Patrol
Cruisers & Ground Installation
Corsair
Battle Report
Epilog
Somewhere on the frontier, at a small research station...
"I’m sorry, Commander, but until that transport arrives, we’ve got no way of moving it."
Commander Kylie Danahur looked up at…It. Doctor Theis and his team had uncovered It six weeks ago, and had sent word back to the Colonies as soon as a courier had been available. Danahur had brought Celadon and Darkoon directly from their patrol stop at Hulin’s World, and he hoped that the courier had been successful in finding a large enough transport to get this thing back to the Exoscience Center. Anything could happen out here…an electronic peep sounded from his commlink.
"Commander Danahur, please respond. We have a problem."
Danahur touched the collar of his coat, already heading for the access tunnel that led to the chill surface above. "Danahur here. What is it, Mr. Hanse?"
His second-in-command’s voice came in through wisps of static. "Commander, the Darkoon’s sensors have picked up a ship arriving in-system. They don’t answer hails, they’re accelerating right for us and they’re got a hull as big as our two patrol ships combined."
"Thank you Mr. Hanse. Hold orbit for my rendezvous, and have Chief Colson beam telemetry to the boat while we’re en route."
Danahur proceeded towards the surface with strides that made Doctor Theis run to keep up. The Commander’s voice was fast, sharp, and even as he spoke over his shoulder to the elderly field scientist.
"It looks like we got here just in time. Doctor, you’d best arm your men as you can and disperse them to defensive positions. We’ll do our best, but I can’t guarantee that these intruders won’t get through."
Danahur paused as the outside doors slid open. He stepped out onto the gravel path, glancing ruefully at the small defense battery near the station’s commo tower. Directed by the station’s limited navigational scanners, these few weapons were more of a morale builder than any real form of defense. The brave men and women running to man them, should the intruders break through, would almost certainly be the first station personnel to die.
Celadon’s boat was already powering up on the landing strip ahead, as Danahur was joined by his pair of armor-suited escorts and took of for it at a run.
We take you now to a small outpost on an otherwise uninhabited world, where
scientists have discovered an ancient artifact of some unknown technology. Two
paramilitary patrol craft have arrived to escort the find back to civilization,
but are delayed while awaiting a transport capable of carrying the artifact. A
ship arrives, but it is not the transport the researchers are waiting for.
Ekandan (Independent World) patrol cruisers and station defenses.
Patrol Cruiser Celadon
PC-1721 Celadon PC-4133332-200000-30002-0 MCr271.608
400dtns
Batteries (all
bear):
2 1 Crew=11. TL=12.
Passengers=0. Low=22. Cargo=36. Fuel=132. EP=12.
Agility=1.
Marines=10. 30dtn Ship's Boat. Onboard Fuel
Treatment.
1 Small Craft Pilot.
Patrol Cruiser Darkoon
PC-1725 Darkoon PC-4133332-200000-30002-0 MCr271.608
400dtns
Batteries (all
bear):
2 1 Crew=11. TL=12.
Passengers=0. Low=22. Cargo=36. Fuel=132. EP=12.
Agility=1.
Marines=10. 30dtn Ship's Boat. Onboard Fuel
Treatment.
1 Small Craft Pilot.
Ship’s Boat (one each aboard Celadon and Darkoon).
KY-0072 Ship's Boat KY-0206621-030000-10001-0
MCr32.85 30dtns
Passengers=10. Crew=2. Cargo=8.7. Fuel=1.8. EP=1.8.
Agility=2.
TL=12. No Bridge. Pulse Laser.
Research Station, Sensors and Defense Batteries.
Computer Model/2, Power Plant-2, Triple Missile "Turret", Dual Beam
Laser "Turret", total crew approximately 50, no troops, marines or
vehicles, approximate cost MCr32.25.
Independent Corsair Ship and carried craft
Pirate Cruiser Alkahest.
CP-9970 Alkahest CP-82233D2-040000-30002-0
MCr514.242 800dtns
Batteries (all
bear): 2
4 2 Crew=20. TL=12.
Passengers=1. Low=10. Cargo=203. Fuel=184. EP=24.
Agility=1.
Marines=30. 40dtn Pinnace. 2 20dtn Armed Boats.
Onboard Fuel Treatment. 3 Small Craft Pilots.
Passenger berth is for force commander/Corsair
Captain.
Pinnace (one carried on Alkahest, designated Pony One).
KN-0032 Pinnace KN-0204411-330000-10001-0 MCr26.87
40dtns
Passengers=10. Crew=2. Low=0. Cargo=11. Fuel=1.6.
EP=1.6.
Agility=1. TL=12. Pulse Laser. Craft has a bridge.
Strike Fighters (two carried on Alkahest, designated Blade One and
Blade Two).
FS-0064 Strike Fighter FS-0206C31-330000-10001-0
MCr39.71 20dtns
Crew=2.. Fuel=2.4. EP=2.4. Agility=2. TL=12. Pulse
Laser.
No bridge.
No nuclear missiles are available to either side.
Round One
All ships on both sides are in the line. The planet is considered to be in the
line for purposes of combat, but only ships in the reserve can land or take off
safely. Range is automatically Long, Pirates have initiative. Pirate cruiser Alkahest
launches Blade One, both Patrol Cruisers launch their Ship’s Boats
loaded with ten Space Marines each.
Commander Danahur aboard the Celadon growls with frustration as
everything – his cruisers’ lasers and missiles, and those from the ground below
– are unable to connect with the incoming pirate vessel. Alkahest’s gunners
are far more accurate, connecting with every laser and missile and knocking out
all of Celadon’s weapons. Blade One dances into range but fails
to hit Darkoon.
Round Two
Defense has initiative, closes with the enemy. Celadon moves to the
reserve and begins repair attempts on her shattered weapons array. The
Cruiser’s Boats land at the station and unload their complements of Marines,
who immediately move to bolster the station defense force. Alkahest
launches another fighter, Blade Two.
Commander Galen, commanding the Darkoon, fares far better when his ship
first takes blows from the marauding pirate. One laser turret is knocked out,
the pirate fightercraft miss, and Darkoon’s gunners manage to connect
with missiles and lasers both – Alkahest loses two laser turrets, and
her missile batteries are knocked out completely. This will turn out to be, by
far, the best volley of fire the defenders will have today. The ground
batteries fire with more optimism than fire control, missing their targets yet
again. Such lack of success will be their lot all through the battle.
Round Three
Pirate initiative, Alkahest keeps the range at short to advantage her
remaining laser batteries. All pirate craft are in the line. Celadon, in
the reserve, manages to repair a laser turret, while the Boats lift off from
the planet into the reserve.
Lasers and missiles weave a web through space near the planet, knocking out Darkoon’s
missile battery but having no other effect. It appears that the light
paramilitary weapons in use will be unable to do more than fuel and weapon hits
to the combatants, especially against the armored hulls of the two Patrol
Cruisers.
Round Four
Defense initiative. As Darkoon has lost her missile batteries, Commander
Danahur orders Galen aboard the Darkoon to keep the range short. The two
Ship’s Boats take up attack formation with the Darkoon, though they are
seriously overmatched by the pirate Strike Fighters. Celadon manages to
repair another laser turret.
Another exchange of fire leaves the defense flotilla unscathed, but Darkoon’s
laser gunners manage to hole one of Alkahest’s fuel tanks – 18 tons of
fuel are lost before it seals. Had Alkahest made more than a Jump-1 to
get here, it would have been in serious trouble – as is, she still has 86 tons
of liquid hydrogen left.
Round Five
Pirate initiative, range remains short. All ships of both sides are in the
line.
Blade One, one of the pirate strike fighters, manages a laser hit on Darkoon’s
last laser turret. Darkoon manages to answer back with a laser hit on Alkahest,
but the Corsair’s sandcasters manage to block the blow.
Round Six
Defense initiative. Range remains short, Darkoon retires to the reserve
and begins damage control operations.
Alkahest puts Celadon right back where she was an hour and a half
ago, as a pair of the Corsair’s lasers knock out the Patrol Cruiser’s newly-repaired
laser batteries.
Round Seven
Defense initiative. Defenders take the range to long, to give their Boats a
better chance to hold the line while the Cruisers repair weapons. Celadon
and Darkoon, both in the reserve, manage to repair their missile batteries.
All Pirate craft are in the line.
The station ground batteries get their first and only hit of the battle on the Alkahest,
only to see their missile prematurely detonated by the Corsair’s sandcaster
array. Celadon’s luckless Ship’s Boat comes under Alkahest’s
guns, and the small craft is instantly blown to fragments by both of the
Corsair’s laser turrets (six critical hits, including a Ship Vaporized
result). Darkoon’s Boat is more fortunate – she doesn’t hit anything,
but she manages to evade the lasers and missiles of the two Pirate Strike
Fighters.
Round Eight
Pirate initiative, the Corsair commander closes range to press his beam weapon
advantage. All pirate craft in the line, all surviving defense craft in the
line as well.
Exchanges of fire continue. Alkahest manages to knock out Celadon’s
missile battery, and Blade Two gets a minor fuel hit on Darkoon,
which replies with a fuel hit on Alkahest. The Corsair still has plenty
of fuel for the battle, but will need to repair and refuel before jumping out.
Round Nine
Pirate initiative, range remains close. Celadon is in the reserve again.
Alkahest manages to knock out Darkoon’s missiles, but most fire
fails to connect. Darkoon’s Ship’s Boat is the only battleworthy craft
left to the defenders.
Round Ten
Pirates maintain initiative and close range. Only Darkoon’s Ship’s Boat
remains able to hold the line of battle against Alkahest and her two
Strike Fighters.
Both Alkahest and Blade Two manage to connect with the last
surviving Ship’s Boat, and they pound it into a wreck. Fuel tanks shattered,
power plant knocked out, fire control destroyed, the two small craft crew
hunker down in their dark cockpit and await rescue. The Pirates have broken
through!
Breakthrough Step
The Pirate Strike Fighters fail to hit the weaponless Patrol Cruisers. Alkahest
comes into close orbit and begins orbital laser bombardment of the research
station. Within minutes, both ground batteries are silenced. Except for the
Patrol Cruisers’ Marines and the lightly-armed station crew, the station is now
defenseless.
Round Eleven
The Patrol Cruisers are effectively in the line, though weaponless. Blade
One and Blade Two keep them at a safe distance, peppering Celadon
with a minor fuel hit in the process.
Meanwhile, Alkahest performs a hot-zone assault landing on the outskirts
of the research station, disgorging her Marine contingent. The black-armored
Corsair Marines charge forward, lasers and battle rifles blazing.
Boarding Step
The Pirates have 30 Marines (+6 to roll). The defenders have mustered 20
Marines from the Patrol Cruisers (+4) and have armed the scientists and support
personnel as best as they can (50 crew, +1, total of +5). The battle is short,
bloody, and decisive.
Commander Danahur surveyed the smoking science huts and the double row of tarp-covered bodies. His ship, the Celadon, was sitting on the landing field beyond, crew and scientists trying to repair her wrecked weapons before another raider showed up. Darkoon had headed back to civilization as fast as her drives could carry her, carrying word of the attack.
"How many did we lose, Doctor Theis?"
The white-haired field scientist looked up from his datapad, cradling it against his bandaged arm. "All of your troopers from the Celadon are dead, Commander. They were holding positions nearest to the artifact, the focus of the pirate’s attack. Two of Darkoon’s troopers are dead, and all the rest seriously wounded…we’ve got two dead and a dozen wounded among the station staff as well. The Pirates took their dead and wounded with them, but we think we got at least ten or twelve of them."
Danahur looked over at the excavation tunnel, where smoke still rose from the breached doors. "They got It, then?"
Doctor Theis nodded his head. "Once they had secured that area, they moved their ship right up to the tunnel entrance. Their ship had a large enough cargo bay to accommodate It, whatever It was." The scientist’s tired expression darkened to a frown. "A discovery of a lifetime, and now we’ll never even know what It was for!"
Commander Danahur tucked his men’s ID tags into his belt pouch. "I hope you’re right, Doctor. I hope those bastards never figure out what that thing does, and I hope they never bring It back to show us what It can do."
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