Attendees: Joe
R, Glenn, Russ & Lixuan, Ken & Lisa H., Xander, Kris & Lisa
M.
Game: Striker, "Fall of Tarkine" scenario
and last scenario of the "District 268 Campaign"
Players: Joe
(IoTA), Xander (Loyalists), Glenn (Mingu's Marvels), Ken (STC Combat
Engineering Company), Kris (referee)
Russ, Lixuan and both Lisas went hiking or for a tour of the
observatory.
Dinner Menu: Salad,
garlic
bread
and baked lasagne (frozen, store bought)
After Action Reports
Dellis, Tarkine
Independence on Tarkine Alliance:
...PATRIOTIC TIMES ***SPECIAL EDITION*** 8 November 5623 CE ...PATRIOTIC TIMES ***SPECIAL EDITION*** 8 November 5623 CE ... "more than an iota of truth" ...PATRIOTIC TIMES ***SPECIAL EDITION***
Hey! We did it!
That's most of journalism basics, I guess:
who? we
what? it!
when? before this writing
where?
how?
60% or so -- three out of five basic questions ... not bad given the amounts of Tarkine Blue and that have been blowing through the press room for the last few days ... not to mention our own Dellis Groat, a fine liquor with a kick ... like a groat. Yes, we reporters do keep a flask in our desks, thank you very much. And in our briefcases, too, usually.
So you'll already have heard the main news: IoTA, assisted by our soon-to-be-new-neighbors, an Aslan mercenary unit whose name we haven't learned, and certainly won't pronounce correctly, removed the puppet government on 6 November and installed a new government, with Subcommander Joe as caretaker prez until elections can be held -- which they say will be real soon now!
Details on the action are sketchy so far. We heard that a good bunch of our boys walked in by the northwest edge of Dellis, near West Road, south of the City Field. They came under fire as soon as they broke cover. The government - the then-government, I should say -- killed and wounded several men, and the whole unit moved north to put the hospital and radio station between them and the enemy.
One of our boys, a young recruit from the Outcountry, I hear, but I haven't learned his name yet (although I expect to hear a song about him on the radio Any Minute Now!), ran south again and took the radio station -- all by his-self! Briefly renaming it KIOTA, this fine young man put his grenade launcher to good use, destroying a government vehicle by the hospital, and damaging one that was parked in front of the business district.
That relieved some of the pressure on the other men of his team, and they turned themselves around and ran into KIOTA a few minutes later, but by then government guns had done their work and that young fella had died with his weapon in his hand -- a brave sacrifice to save his comrades, which will surely be remembered in song and story.
The Aslan showed up in their fine grav tanks and started giving some laser-cannon grief to goverment troops holed up around the main church. Our boys south of West Road threw their fire into there, too, and so the park may have to be replanted and church will definitely need some repair -- and we won't need any SuSAG loans for that, I'm sure.
The STC mercenaries fired on the Aslan with some success, destroying a very expensive grav tank. STC had a tank in the government district, where we understand that they were doing what mercenaries are best at: getting paid. They had just robbed the central bank of your tax money, and eventually took it to the starport, where it may be sitting today.
More mercenaries, those louts that SuSAG hired to protect their somehow-still-legal drug trade, showed up to "protect and serve" the business district. Much to everyone's surprise, they didn't fire a shot, and we've heard from unnamed sources that they brokered a deal that kept all the mercenaries alive ... well, I guess everyone who hired mercs got what they paid for, including IoTA!
By evening, no one was shooting, everyone was drinking, and PDF and IoTA were putting out fires in the residential districts. The planetary governor was nowhere to be seen, and a "search is being conducted", according to an IoTA spokesperson. If you do see the planetary governer, please report him to anyone wearing an IoTA bandanna or armband -- or if you think you can handle it, just arrest him and bring him to Government Center!
Well, everyone enjoy your freedom and your Freedom (the one Imperial import everyone here seems to love, probably more for its bubbly fizz than its thick-sweet substance)! Don't forget to vot! Long Live Tarkine! Huzzah!
(Author: Glenn)
City of Dellis, Tarkine
Aslan Grav Tanks
Dellis Burns
Joe's Assault
View Towards Oakland & Houses
STC Combat Engineering Company
After Action Report
- Security vehicle 4 (S4), on detail in Dellis, the capitol city, to receive the monthly payroll, reported combat in the city.
- Security platoon (SecPlt) strengthened by the attachment of Engineering vehicle 1 (E1) departed the starport to rendezvous with S4. The remainder of the company remained in defense of the starport.
- S4 began to make its way toward Hwy 1 to return to the starport, but was ordered to halt. It remained in the financial district with partial cover and protected itself and friendly units within range with is point defense on dedicated support.
- Mingu's Marvels APCs entered the financial district and dismounted troops. The troops then occupied the office building containing the SuSAG offices.
- An IoTA ATGM crew entered the radio station and destroyed the Loyalist Stryker gun systems in the vicinity. The ATGM crew was engaged and wounded with laser rifle fire by the gunner and driver. (Fusion Gun was not used due to proximity of Mingu's Marvels personnel.)
- Four minutes into the engagement, the SecPlt entered the area or operations (AoO) via Hwy 1. They encountered a TL-7 AFVs. The AFV fired on S1 (the lead SecPlt vehicle) with no effect. S1 returned fire with its 3 MW FG, scoring a catastrophic hit. A second AFV, around a bend, began withdrawing toward the city.
- A four vehicle platoon of Aslan grav tanks also entered the AoO and approached the financial district at low altitude to NOE. S4 could only engage one of the grav tanks; it fired a target designated missile from one launcher with IR follow-up missile from the other launcher. Both missiles hit. The grav tank went inertial and impacted the ground North of the city.
- The remaining grav tanks withdrew to concealed NOE potions.
- The E1 fired smoke to interrupt the AFV's line of sight, while the SecPlt maneuvered to just out of sight.
- SecPlt advanced on the AFV, but on transiting the smoke screen found the AFV had withdrawn further toward the city
- SecPlt section 2 again laid smoke and advanced on the AFV while section 1 advanced off-road toward the city.
- At this point, the Loyalist forces began surrender negotiations. At their conclusion, transfer of government was performed without further combat. S4 rejoined SecPlt, which returned to the starport with the payroll intact.
Casualties:
Loyalist casualties est. at three Stryker gun systems, two Stryker APCs, and ~50% losses of the company of infantry.
IoTA casualties: two of three TL-7 AFVs; ~30% losses of the company of infantry.
Aslan grav tank platoon casualties: 1 grav tank crew kill.
No Mingu's Marvels casualties.
No STC casualties.
Damage:
Extensive damage to radio station, and residences in vicinity of Loyalist positions.
No STC damage.
Ordnance Expended:
S4 fired two 25 cm Tac missiles; one target designated (Cr329) plus an IR follow-up (Cr529), and one bottle of prismatic aerosol (Cr20).
E1 fired four rounds 8 cm MD Incendiary smoke (Cr21 ea.).
Total expense: Cr942.
Notes:
Loyalist troops performed admirably, despite taking severe casualties. If not for the intervention of the Aslan grav tank platoon, they would likely have been able to maintain control of the city. Of particular note: their personal armor (flack vests) was greatly deficient, as well as the armor of their Stryker vehicles. Adequate armor would have reduced casualties markedly.
S4 crew is commended for their performance. While separated from their unit with NCO Zarkov being the ranking soldier, and confronted with a complex tactical situation including sniper, ATGM, and a platoon of grav tanks, S4 secured their objective and their position. This provided support to the Loyalist units and the civilian government, as well as imperial industrial interests. Of particular note is the quick engagement of the Aslan grav tanks by Cpl Boylston, which resulted in the elimination of one grav tank, and the suppression of the remained of the platoon.
Other STC personnel performed well throughout mission.
No deficiencies found in any STC unit performance.
Orders to units on payroll detail should be reviewed; tactical options of S4 may have been overly restricted.
The STC equipment was found to have some significant tactical limitations:
- The installation of the Tac Missile launchers on the turret prevents them from engaging targets from all approaches. Specifically, the gunner must have the target in sight at launch even for teleguided missiles. Further gunner training may enable a gunner to flyout a teleguided missile to a position of vantage, where the target can be acquired and engaged using the on-board seeker. Alternatively, a software solution may be feasible in which the missile can be fired using Go-Onto-Location-in-Space (GOLIS) guidance to a position of vantage, then handed off to terminal guidance appropriate to the type of guidance system on the missile. Had S4 been able to utilize their teleguided missiles against the suppressed Aslan grav tanks, they would likely have been able to destroy the tanks and prevent many of the Loyalist casualties the Aslan inflicted.
- Given the current limitations on employment of Tac Missiles on targets not in line-of-sight. STC should supplement its target designation capabilities with an additional crew member per tactical vehicle. This crewman's role would be to dismount in cover and advance to a position where they could designate a target. When not dismounted, he would supplement missile reloading or operate Station 1 weapons remotely. These crewmen would be provided with a TL13+ laser rifle or carbine and the best personal protection available, including: smoke grenades and prismatic aerosol bottles. Additional crewman to be provided a weapon station in the hull using space currently allocated to the cargo compartment.
- While the supply of prismatic aerosol bottles was adequate in this engagement, had S4 been forced to maneuver extensively, it could have exhausted its supply. TSVs are to be immediately supplemented with an additional 5 bottles on their hull, and 8 on their turret; TEVs and TTVs an addition7 hull and 1 turret; and the TAV an additional 4 bottles. A full set of smoke and aerosol reloads should be carried in the cargo compartments when not otherwise occupied.
- The Engineering vehicles should further explore application of smoke to interrupt line-of-sight from hostile units toward friendly units. In particular, a means of deploying smoke by indirect fire should be sought.
Sincerely,
Capt. Neil McGowan, commandingSTC Combat Engineering Company
Visitor Center
Lixuan, Russ's Wife
Visitor Center
Automated Planet Finder (Inoperative)
Shane Dome
Shane 3-meter Telescope
Shane 3-meter Telescope
View Towards San Francisco
Lick Observatory
Tarkine Down Security Ticket Final Report
STC Combat Engineering Company (CEC) has completed the Tarkine Down Security Ticket.
The ticket ended after 11 of the scheduled 12 months with the contractual default by the Tarkine government.
The up-front payment (MCr1.3), 11 monthly payments (KCr170/mo.) and the full success-only payment (MCr1.3), which had been held in escrow.
During the contract execution period there was one armed incursion on the starport itself, on the day the CEC made planetfall. During that engagement, three armed insurgents were killed, and an unknown number escaped capture. The CEC prevented damage from artillery with point defenses.
At the request of the Tarkine Planetary Defense Forces (PDF), the CEC made one excursion off the starport to recover three PDF armored vehicles and their crews, which had been immobilized by insurgent activity.
The CEC Security Platoon also made one excursion to the capitol city to rendezvous with security vehicle 4 (S4) which came under fire while on payroll detail to the city.
STC suffered no casualties or loss of equipment.
Casualties amongst insurgents due to CEC fire are estimated at nine, including one known dead.
The Aslan mercenary platoon suffered one grav tank and crew casualty due to CEC fire.
Expenditure of ammunition was modest (value included in financial statement below).
At the moment, the CEC is in possession of the starport, and does not anticipate any resistance to our departure.
However, indications are that the new government, being formed by the members of the Independence on Tarkine Alliance (IoTA), will offer a follow-on contract for the continued defense of the starport. My recommendation is that STC negotiate a contract while the CEC remains in possession of the starport for a period not to exceed two weeks. I would advise within that period, whether transport off-world is required. Proposed minimum terms and conditions include: full functional and personal immunity to civil or criminal prosecution or indemnity for STC and its personnel for any and all damages and casualties due to actions occurring prior to the contract being finalized, a repatriation bond for all STC personnel and equipment held in escrow off-world, and monthly payments of at least KCr170. If a follow-on contract is not finalized within that period, the CEC will prepare their equipment for departure per the original schedule.
Regardless of the outcome of the contract negotiations, I also
recommend immediate purchase of two reconnaissance drones and
implementation of the recommendations included in the 11/07/2010 after
action report.
(Author: Ken H.)
Directions
Clouds
Lick Observatory
Russ & Lixuan In Traffic Mirror
Mingu's Marvels
SuSAG, LIC Press Release
SuSAG, LIC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **** ALL PRESS CHANNELS **** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **** ALL PRESS CHANNELS **** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **** ALL PRESS CHANNELS **** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE **** ALL PRESS CHANNELS ****
SUSAG SECURITY FORCES PROTECT NON-COMBATANTS AND PRIVATE PROPERTY
Dellis, Tarkine/District 268 -- 311-1108 IE
During the recent disturbances at the capital, private security professionals under contract to SuSAG, LIC, secured and protected the business district from potential looting and other dangers. Civilian personnel, including employees of SuSAG, other interstellar corporations, and local businesses, received protection and medical treatment. No lives were lost in the operation, and SuSAG’s security professionals were pleased to report that they did not fire their weapons in the course of the operation.
Prior to the arrival of the SuSAG security force, fighting in the area had injured six civilians, all of whom were treated by a SuSAG medic and transported to Dellis General Hospital during a halt in the fighting negotiated and mediated by the SuSAG security team leader with the local combatants.
Buildings and property in the Dellis business district had sustained some collateral damage and looting prior to the arrival of the SuSAG security force. SuSAG is making available low-interest loans to facilitate repairs and restorations.
SuSAG security forces remained in the business district for the entire period of the recent disturbances, assisting with evacuation of civilian personnel, protecting the perimeter and buildings, and maintaining communications with all organized forces operating in the city to ensure the neutrality and safety of the business district. SuSAG security forces drove off several groups of looters during the night.
SuSAG reaffirms its commitment to obedience to the applicable laws of every location where it does business. SuSAG takes no position on the composition of any local government and does not interfere in local political disputes and discussions, but always stands ready to advise and consult with local parties if requested and to the extent allowed by local law. SuSAG offers its congratulations to the new government of Tarkine, and looks forward to continuing its mutually rewarding relationship with the world's people and government into the future.
Carter J. BurkeVice President, Corporate Communications
SuSAG, LIC – Mauve Forest 318 Pharmaceutical Processing Facility
(Author: Glenn)
The Great Refractor
The Great Refractor
The Great Refractor
James Lick's Tomb
And a Little Ditty:
Remember remember the sixth of NovemberGun power vs puppet despots,
I see no reason why IoTA
Should ever be forgot...
(Author: Kevin)
The Great Refractor
Photos
Game photos were taken by Kris. Russ took the wonderful photos of the observatory.Click on any photo to see an enlargement.
Sunset
Notes
This meet ended another era of the Tactics-0 club. This
era was defined by Kris living at the observatory. We've met at
the observatory to play a fair bit, unless players thought the drive
was too much. Then we usually met at Game Kastle in Santa
Clara.
I remember our first meet where we played in the basement garage and
deer were walking by just outside the open garage door. Lisa M.
and Rima spotted a mountain lion a short distance from the house right
before we broke for dinner.
At one of our three-day long anniversary meets at the
observatory someone said that the club's anniversary meets were like
"mini conventions." This comment was the seed for an idea that
led to the CelestiCon/Ground Zero Games West
Coast Convention. 2011 will be the third year of the
convention. We'll see how that goes, but I'm very hopeful it will
have a bright future.
This was our 11th anniversary meet. I hope and am certain that we will have many, many more.
View of Visitor Center from Kris & Lisa's Cottage
Kris & Lisa's Cottage