Undiscovered Combat

 

Preview of the chaos to come.

October 29th 2293.

Peace has failed. While General Chang and his cloaked bird of prey were destroyed in orbit of Khitomer, the Enterprise's success came too late to prevent the assassination of the Federation President and the Klingon Chancellor. In the chaos that ensued, conflict has broken out all along the Neutral Zone. Starfleet's 7th Fleet has forward deployed to Sherman's Planet and awaits inevitable combat.

The Klingon offensive is somewhat disjointed as various generals and council members vie for control, preventing a unified effort. Nonetheless, Individual captains, squadron commanders, and house fleets have taken it upon themselves to attack across the Neutral Zone. A wide variety of starships are now warping towards Sherman's Planet.

Hello everyone, this past Saturday I hosted a game with a new collection. Thus far my forays into Star Trek have been in the 24th and 22nd centuries but I have finally broken into the 23rd. Based in the movie era, my Starfleet and Klingon fleets are primed for big battles in the twilight years of the 2280s and 90s. I will detail these two collections in later posts. For this game I had in attendance, Adrian, Matt, Addy, Kevin, James, and myself.

Text in italics is instructive rather than narrative and serves only to provide a glimpse at the underlying mechanics at work.

Federation Starfleet - 7th Fleet

Fleet Command [Admiral Commanding]

USS Star League - Federation Class Dreadnought [Block 2]

USS Collins - Miranda Class Cruiser (Soyuz Subclass) [Block 1]

USS Protector - Miranda Class Cruiser (Soyuz Subclass) [Block 1]

1st Cruiser Wing [Vice Admiral Commanding]

USS Alliance - Federation Class Dreadnought [Block 2]

USS Defiance - Constitution Class Heavy Cruiser [Block 2]

USS Endeavour - Constitution Class Heavy Cruiser [Block 2]

USS Tori - Constitution Class Heavy Cruiser [Block 2]

USS El Dorado - Constitution Class Heavy Cruiser [Block 2]

USS Lafayette - Constitution Class Heavy Cruiser [Block 2]

USS Independence - Constitution Class Heavy Cruiser [Block 2]

2nd Cruiser Wing [Vice Admiral Commanding]

USS Entente - Federation Class Dreadnought [Block 2]

USS Potempkin - Constitution Class Heavy Cruiser [Block 2]

USS Valiant - Constitution Class Heavy Cruiser [Block 2]

USS Farragut - Constitution Class Heavy Cruiser [Block 2]

USS Orion - Constellation Class Cruiser [Block 1]

USS Calisto - Constellation Class Cruiser [Block 1]

USS Vespucci - Constellation Class Cruiser [Block 1]

1st ELINT Wing [Vice Admiral Commanding]

USS Assawari - Miranda Class Cruiser [Block 2]

USS Faraday - Oberth Class Science Vessel [Block 1]

USS Bombay - Miranda Class Cruiser (Saratoga Subclass) [Block 1]
USS Diana - Hermes Class Scout [Block 2]
USS Melbourne - Hermes Class Scout [Block 2]

USS Oxford - Miranda Class Cruiser (Saratoga Subclass) [Block 1]
USS Tonti - Hermes Class Scout [Block 2]
USS Atlantis - Hermes Class Scout [Block 2]

USS Plato - Miranda Class Cruiser (Saratoga Subclass) [Block 1]
USS Aeolus - Hermes Class Scout [Block 2]
USS Ulia - Hermes Class Scout [Block 2]

1st Escort Wing [Commodore Commanding]

USS Oberon - Miranda Class Cruiser [Block 2]

USS Carmichael - Wilkerson Class Destroyer [Block 1]

USS Ptolemy - Wilkerson Class Destroyer [Block 1]

USS Vosper - Miranda Class Cruiser [Block 2]
USS Janus - Loknar Class Frigate [Block 2]
USS Berlin - Loknar Class Frigate [Block 2]

USS New Mexico - Miranda Class Cruiser [Block 2]
USS Sargon - Saladin Class Destroyer [Block 2]
USS Yosemite - Saladin Class Destroyer [Block 2]

2nd Escort Wing [Commodore Commanding]

USS Kearsarge - Miranda Class Cruiser [Block 2]

USS Ajax - Akula Class Frigate [Block 1]

USS Ptolemy - Akula Class Frigate [Block 1]

USS Naken - Miranda Class Cruiser [Block 2]
USS Thelenth - Anton Class Cruiser [Block 2]
USS Normandy - Anton Class Cruiser [Block 2]

USS Mahan - Miranda Class Cruiser [Block 2]
USS Sparta - Abbe Class Cruiser [Block 1]
USS Yosemite - Abbe Class Cruiser [Block 1]

3rd Escort Wing [Commodore Commanding]

USS Alabama - Miranda Class Cruiser [Block 2]

USS Shran - Akula Class Frigate [Block 1]

USS Hypatia - Akula Class Frigate [Block 1]

USS Dayton - Miranda Class Cruiser [Block 2]
USS London - Loknar Class Frigate [Block 2]
USS Sirak - Loknar Class Frigate [Block 2]

USS Torrent - Miranda Class Cruiser [Block 2]
USS Iblis - Saladin Class Destroyer [Block 2]
USS Wilson - Saladin Class Destroyer [Block 2]

Navy Tactics

Evasive Pattern Omega

Push The Limits

Technobabble

Tactics are abilities assigned at the navy level such that every fleet designed in that navy inherits them and can be activated using command points. Evasive Pattern Omega allows the player to increase the target rating of a squadron. Push The Limits allows the player to increase the rating of the sublight drives of a starship. Technobabble allows the player to ignore critical damage on a starship.

Klingon Defence Force - Task Force "Fist of Kahless"

Fleet Command [General Commanding]

IKS Vangshu'a - QeyllS Betleh Class Battleship [Block B]

Cruiser Wing [Brigadier Commanding]

IKS Kalpak - K'Tinga Class Battlecruiser [Block A]

IKS Akua - K'Tinga Class Battlecruiser [Block A]

IKS R'Kang - K'Tinga Class Battlecruiser [Block A]

IKS Chong'pogh - K'Tinga Class Battlecruiser [Block A]

IKS Loktar - Tel Hegh Class Cruiser [Block B]

IKS Dk'Tahg - Tel Hegh Class Cruiser [Block B]

IKS Voh'tahk - Tel Hegh Class Cruiser [Block B]

Okrona Squadron - 3xZ'gavva Class Bird of Prey [Block C]

IKS Gr'oth - D'ama Class Light Cruiser [Block D]

IKS Koraga - V'kar Zadan Class Destroyer [Block B]

IKS B'Moth - V'kar Zadan Class Destroyer [Block B]

Attack Wing [Colonel Commanding]

IKS K'Vada - VoDleH Class Attack Cruiser [Block A]

IKS Laneth - QuD Class Strike Cruiser [Block A]

Em'ree Squadron - 3xZ'gavva Class Bird of Prey [Block C]

ChemVah Squadron - 3xZ'gavva Class Bird of Prey [Block C]

Navy Tactics

A Good Day to Die!

A Leaf on the Wind

Bloodlust

From the Shadows

Tactics are abilities assigned at the navy level such that every fleet designed in that navy inherits them and can be activated using command points. A Good Day to Die! allows the player to ignore the morale effect of a destroyed starship. A Leaf on the Wind allows the player to redo the movement of a squadron. Bloodlust allows a player to reroll dice in a boarding combat. From the Shadows allows the player to mass activate/deactivate stealth generators.

The scenario was taken directly from the rulebook, the Wave Attack Scenario. The Starfleet force would have half the table as their deployment zone with a far superior force. The Klingons would enter the opposing side of the table with a far weaker force. However, random reinforcements would arrive for the Klingons every turn. Additionally, Starfleet would suffer morale losses for destroyed starships as per normal but the Klingons would suffer none. Instead, every turn the Klingons would complete a full morale threshold. This creates an escalating game whereby the Klingon force will (in theory) continue to grow every turn but will be more likely to fail their morale the longer the game takes.

Fleets have a morale chart where they record losses. This chart is subdivided into thresholds and each starship and starfighter squadron has a morale value (essentially just their percentage of the cost of the fleet). At the beginning of the turn when the flag commander rolls for their command points, if the result of the roll is equal to or less than the number of thresholds completed, they lose the game.

With everything laid out to the players, Starfleet began by deploying their forces (Addy, Adrian, Kevin, and Matt).

The center of the 7th Fleet was deployed in close orbit of Sherman's Planet and was composed of the Fleet Command, the 1st Escort Wing, and a squadron from the ELINT Wing.

The left flank of 7th Fleet was composed of the 2nd Cruiser Wing, the 3rd Escort Wing, and a squadron from the ELINT Wing.

The right flank of the 7th Fleet was composed of the 1st Cruiser Wing, the 2nd Escort Wing, and a squadron from the ELINT Wing.

The Klingons exited warp, under cloak, with the flagship and the cruisers facing off against 7th Fleet's right flank. The Attack Wing covered against any maneuvers by Starfleet's left.

Some starship models have a die holder to indicate the number of ships in the group. Starships in a squadron are assumed to be within a few kilometers of each other and therefore "exist" at the same peg. Multiple models can be used if desired, simply measuring all fire and movement from one model. I chose to model my smaller starships in this manner to save on painting.

As the Klingons powered down their warp drives, they began to close the distance under cloak. The range between the two fleets began at extreme torpedo range. For the first minute, a flurry of communications and orders passed between the Starfleet squadrons and the few ELINT vessels, establishing priority targets and attempting to burn through the enemy's cloaks. A few photon torpedoes were loosed, directed by the specially equipped Mirandas and Hermes, but without success.

The Klingons use the Stealth System to represent their cloaking device. The Stealth System does not prevent the enemy from firing on them it merely provides a massive negative modifier, in this case enough of a modifier that there is practically no chance to hit. However, with a good enough sensor hits could be achieved.

The Saratoga subclass of the Miranda and the Hermes class are equipped with Electronic Intelligence Arrays, used to provide a sensor bonus against specific targets, as well as an Ansible, allowing this bonus to be shared with a set number of friendly starships. Utilizing these systems requires command points.

With the range closing, the 7th Fleet's left flank turned to starboard to hopefully assist their brethren. The ELINT squadron on that flank poured every bit of power they could into their sensor systems and computer cores, this time with results. A photon torpedo barrage from a Constitution connected with seemingly empty space, in this case a QuD Class Strike Cruiser, one of the newest ships in the Klingon navy. Shortly afterward, spewing atmosphere and a few warriors into the vacuum, that ship was forced to drop its cloak and raise shields.

Starfleet's right flank met with less success, only a single photon torpedo from the dozens launched managed to find the elusive Klingons, in this case the Klingon flagship. However, the QeyllS Betleh Class Battleship took it on the chin with unusual grace for a Klingon. This allowed the Klingon battleship, battlecruisers, and cruisers to close to within disruptor and phaser range. This point also marked the arrival of the first reinforcements. A fourth Tel Hegh Class Cruiser dropped out of warp in almost perfect formation with its class mates. But it was the center of field that felt the Klingon reinforcements the heaviest.

In a maneuver that a Starfleet captain would classify as suicidal but a Klingon would sing songs about, four more ships dropped out of warp. Aimed directly at the 7th Fleet's flagship, a VoDleH Class Attack Cruiser, a D'ama Class Light Cruiser, and two V'kar Zadan Class Destroyers emerged from a subspace flash. The escort squadrons tasked with defence of the flagship had new targets but the Klingons also had a new target; one of the ELINT squadrons filled the viewscreen. Quickly dropping their cloaks, the heavily outnumbered Klingons unleashed every torpedo tube and disruptor bank that bared into the Saratoga subclass and standard Miranda Cruisers. Within seconds, these two prides of Starfleet broke apart, but the attackers paid the price. Quickly adapting to the new arrivals, two Mirandas, two Wilkersons, two Hermes, two Soyuz, a Federation, and an entire cruiser wing unloaded on the interlopers leaving a wounded destroyer as the only survivor beyond the first 30 seconds.

If a starship has an advanced FTL drive (Warp, Hyper, Jump, or Dimensional) they may perform FTL maneuvers. Star Trek uses the Warp Drive which allows the player to perform tactical FTL jumps (rapidly moving about the table) or strategic FTL jumps (onto or off of the table). When a warp jump is performed, the player moves the model in a straight line to a desired point (beyond a minimum distance). Dice are then rolled and summed with the starship's sensor rating being subtracted. If the result is positive, the starship is moved that many centimeters, even forward, odd back.

This insane maneuver, however, did work as intended. The surprise of the action had distracted Starfleet's right flank allowing the Klingon heavies to advance further into weapons range of the left flank.

When the distance between the fleets dropped to about 100,000km all hell broke loose. Judging that the range was optimal, the Klingon heavies decloaked and began firing. But they were not alone; dropping out of warp, more reinforcements had arrived. A K'Tinga Class Battlecruiser and two Tel Hegh Class Cruisers leapt into the fray like hungry Pirahna. The concentrated fire of the Tel Heghs destroyed a Constitution, a Miranda, an Akula, and left a second Miranda a drifting hulk. In a spectacular case of overkill, the five K'Tingas all concentrated their fire at the Federation Class Dreadnought commanding the 1st Cruiser Wing leaving little identifiable from the proud vessel. The flanking destroyers and birds of prey claimed a Constitution through combined effort. Finally the Klingon flagship took down another Constitution by herself.

This may have seemed like the Klingons now had the upper hand but the 7th Fleet fought like a single cohesive force. Starfleet's left flank had committed to their starboard turn in what would later be described as Operation Conga Line. The lighter forces of the 3rd Escort Wing took down most of the Klingon flank guard, leaving only a half dead QuD Class Strike Cruiser, but not before a Constitution was eviscerated by six birds of prey. The 2nd Cruiser Wing executed a textbook torpedo barrage against the Klingon flagship, ignoring the birds of prey to their front. Receiving no less than 14 photon torpedoes, the mighty battleship saw her starboard nacelle sheared off and significant scoring across the rest of her hull.

In recompense for their losses, the 1st Cruiser Wing and 2nd Escort Wing destroyed two K'Tinga Class Battlecruisers and four Tel Hegh Class Cruisers. The Klingons had exacted a heavy toll in just a few minutes but made a startling realization, their fleet was now smaller than when they started even with the reinforcements. The 7th Fleet was too well equipped and too well coordinated. Continuing the engagement would be just feeding into a woodchipper made of phasers and antimatter. The battle was over.

All told Starfleet suffered the loss of:

1xFederation Class Dreadnought

4xConstitution Class Heavy Cruisers

2xMiranda Class Cruisers

1xMiranda Class Cruiser (Saratoga subclass)

1xAkula Class Frigate

For the effort, the Klingons suffered the loss of:

2xVoDleH Class Attack Cruisers

2xK'Tinga Class Battlecruisers

4xTel Hegh Class Cruisers

1xD'ama Class Light Cruiser

1xV'kar Zadan Class Destroyer

4xZ'gavva Class Birds of Prey.

This game was intense, fun, and challenging in a way I didn't expect. Over the years, myself and my gaming friends have become very familiar with 24th century Star Trek ships and recently with 22nd century ships. The 23rd century is still unfamiliar territory for us and as such we don't yet have a firm grasp on the capabilities and weaknesses of the available designs. This is after all the first time these models have hit the table. We will have plenty of time to master this period, especially with Romulans coming next.

Thank you to Addy, Matt, Adrian, Kevin, and James for a wonderful game.

This game was played using Metaverse Second Edition available here.

My Federation Starfleet navy can be viewed here.

My Klingon Defence Force navy can be viewed here.

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Bonus Pictures