The Starfire Saga Begins - First Contact

[UBoater]

Communication Option: I added this just for narrative. Obviously the unknown ship had replied to communications by opening fire. But there was that TOS episode where Kirk got really old, so the Federation Commissioner/Diplomat took command,  ordered a shortcut thru the Neutral Zone, and when the Romulans opened fire he asked if he could just negotiate with them. But in this case Capt. Anderson is not a Diplomat.

Prudent Option: Immediately turn around and withdraw thru the Warp Point with the knowledge that a hostile race is in the system and at least we have the scanned data from the unknown ship. This would be a Tactical Victory for the Terran side. But this feels like a mission failure without the planet data.

Reckless Option: Immediately engage in combat with the unknown ship assuming the ship/system has no more surprises and the Discovery can overcome them. Risky.

Risk/Benefit: Focus on the mission by continuing on to the planet and collecting the information while engaging/evading the unknown ship and getting thru the Warp Point. But this still assumes there are no more surprises in the system.

For this play thru Capt. Anderson goes for the planet hoping to engage/evade the unknown ship.
The Alkzar expends all MPs in place allowing it to turn to any direction at the end of its movement - doing a 180 to pursue the Discovery as it moves towards the planet. Both sides exchange fire and the Alkzar scores a missile hit taking out one of Discovery's science packages, while the Discovery misses both with its Laser and Missile. Not a good showing for the Discovery.



The Discovery closes to scanning range of the planet while the Alkzar continues pursuit. The Alkzar gets a lucky Gun hit as well as a Missile hit taking out a Hold and an Ion engine on the Discovery. This reduces the Discovery's max speed to 5. The Discovery returns fire and finally lands a Laser and Missile hit taking out the Alkzar's Shields and Armor. Things are not looking promising for Capt. Anderson making it back to the Warp Point.



Instead of continuing to move away from the Alkzar to reduce the effectiveness of its fire, Capt. Anderson decides to continue around the planet and go immediately for the Warp Point. The Alkzar moves to intercept. Alkzar scores a missile hit and takes out Discovery's Laser - did Capt. Anderson make the wrong decision going for the Warp Point and not trying to evade? The Discovery lands a hit with its remaining missile taking out an Ion engine and reducing the Alkzar to 3 MPs max. The Discovery can take more damage but the Warp Point is still a long distance away and the Alkzar is between her and escape.

[UBoater]

Is this the game system that Honor Harrington series author David Weber set some of his earlier novels in?

The books were a collaboration between David Weber (later writer of HH series - I am a big fan of this series also) and Steve White.

The 4 books I am referring to were combined into two compendium books:
Stars at War I - Crusade/Death Ground
Stars at War II - Shiva Option/Insurrection

You can get free ebook copies of the books on the Baen website:
http://baencd.freedoors.org/Books/The%20Stars%20at%20War%20I/
http://hell.pl/szymon/Baen/Storm%20From%20the%20Shadows/The%20Stars%20at%20War%20II/index.htm

The background info/scenarios for ISW 1 and 2 (Terrans vs Khanate) and ISW 3 (all versus Rigellians) were in the Classic Starfire Strategic rules and Stars at War add on from the SDS.

[UBoater]

The Discovery moves for the Warp Point while trying unsuccessfully to get behind the Alkzar into its blind spot behind its engines.

The Alkzar Gun scores a hit and takes out Discovery's remaining Science package while both ships missiles miss due to the close range.

<T7>


The Discovery slowly opens the range on the Alkzar while heading for the Warp Point - turning at the end to unmask its weapons. Alkzar continues pursuit.

Alkzar gets a missile hit taking out one of Discovery's Ion engines reducing its speed to 4 MPs. The Discovery gets a missile hit taking out Alkzar's Gun. Now it is a missile duel.

<T8>


The race for the Warp Point continues. Alkzar's missile hits again taking out Discovery's missile launcher leaving it with no weapons. All that is left is to get to the Warp Point before the Alkzar can take out its remaining engines.

<T9>

[UBoater]

It's a straightforward race to the Warp Point. The Alkzar will pursue slightly slower with the range slowly opening - but for missile fire it remains in optimum range the entire way. To hit the Alkzar needs a 9 or less - 1 in 4 chance to miss. She needs to hit sooner rather than later to start reducing the Discovery's speed.

Turn 10 - The Discovery makes a beeline for the WP. The Alkzar pursues and fires - and MISSES! The Discovery will get another turn at speed 4.

<T10>


Next Turn both ships move straight ahead full speed. The Alkzar fires again - and rolls BOXCARS! In some games that would mean the missile launcher fails. Another Turn at 4MP for the Discovery and now it is too late for the Alkzar to stop her. She fires again finally getting a hit reducing the Discovery to 3 Ion Engines/MPs. But it is too little too late.

<T11-T12>


Capt. Anderson and the Discovery limp thru the Warp Point to safety and more importantly with vital information for the Terran Federation. What the Terran Federation decides to do with the information sets up the next scenario. And Capt. Howard Anderson earns a new nickname - 'Lucky Howie'...

And the Alkzar Missile Crew... well if you know anything about the Khanate race, their careers have moved into a much less promising path.