SCENARIO TWO: Romulan Incursion of 2289

USS Dakota

NCC-3347

Captain: B. Howard

Romulus

RL-D13

Captain: B. Francis

USS Lexington

NCC-1709

Captain: D. Lundgren

Praetor's Swordarm

RL-OC29

Captain: J. Walker

Wings of Fury

RL-OC55

Captain: M. Gaiser

SET-UP

    Lay out one Star Trek Combat Simulator mapsheet.  This represents the area where combat occurs.  All vessels move at sub-light speed.  Place two (2) planetary bodies at random on the mapsheet.  Each planet has one moon, which orbits the planet at a range of 2 hexes.

Attackers:

    1 D’Daridex (Warbird) Class Battlecruiser (T’Rielliu [Romulus], RL-D13), 2 Ocaca Vastam (Firewing) Class (V-26) Cruisers (Type 2 Variants) (T’Varniex [Praetor's Swordarm], RL-OC29 and R’Vastam Lel [Wings of Fury], RL-OC55)

Attacker Deployment:

    The D’Daridex Class Battlecruiser begins the encounter anywhere along the left edge of the map, uncloaked.  The two Ocaca Vastam Class Cruisers enter the map on the left edge, cloaked or uncloaked as the individual captains decide.

Defenders:

    1 Excelsior Class Battlecruiser (Refit) (USS Dakota [NCC-3347]), and 1 Constitution Class Cruiser (Refit) (USS Lexington [NCC-1795]

    1 R-1 Class Research/Science Station (GM Control)

Defender Deployment:

    The two Federation starships begin the encounter anywhere on the right edge of the map, and may enter on Turn 2.  The R-1 Class Research/Science Station begins play inside the gravitational effect radius of either of the two planets, determined randomly.

Victory Conditions:

    The Attacker wins a minor victory if the R-1 Class Research/Science Station is destroyed, and a major victory if either the Excelsior Class Battlecruiser or the Constitution Class Cruiser is also destroyed.  If all three are destroyed, or if at least one Federation vessel is captured (see below), this is considered a crushing victory.  The Attacker must have at least one ship capable of movement off the playing field to declare victory.

    The Defender wins a minor victory if the attacking forces are turned back or destroyed, but loses the R-1 Class Research/Science Station.  A major victory is won if the Romulan ships are turned away or destroyed without loss of the R-1.  A crushing victory is scored if the Federation manages to capture any Romulan ship (see below).

Special Rules:

    Capture: A vessel is considered captured if the attacking ship is able to pull alongside (within four hexes) and is able to keep one unshielded side facing an unshielded side of the Defending ship for three phases.  At that time, the Defending ship is now under the Attacker’s control.  If the ship can be recaptured or destroyed, this does not count towards victory conditions.  The attacker must be able to move the captured vessel off the playing field where they entered.  The captured vessel may move two hexes per phase, and may power one shield facing and one weapon.

    Escape: Players escape by Warping Out, or by exiting on their side of the map.  Any vessel leaving the map may not return.

"...repeat, this is Federation Deep Space Outpost Alpha Niner Seven, Sector 30, Quadrant 411...<STATIC>...ong range sensors have detected a Romulan warship decloaki...<STATIC>...ring to fire, I say again, they are preparing to fire!  Do you read us, Starfleet, do you...<STATIC>"

END TRANSMISSION, FEDERATION DEEP SPACE OUTPOST A-97

    In 2289, Romulan High Command and the Tal’Shiar came to the conclusion that a recently completed and manned Federation deep space research outpost in Sector 30 was, in truth, a spy platform, intended to monitor Romulan fleet deployments along the Neutral Zone.  Declaring this to be a violation of the Treaty of Algernon (establishing the Neutral Zone), the Romulans deployed a Praetor’s Wing to destroy the outpost.

    Deep Space Outpost A-97, in orbit around Tirol IV,  managed to sense the gravimetric disturbances generated as the Romulan Warbird Romulus passed Tirol III, and sent a distress call to Starbase 44.

    After transmitting a distress call, Deep Space Outpost A-97 powered up shields and weapons, even though the deflectors were little better than navigational aids, and the armaments insufficient to be any sort of a threat to any vessel.  Moving to a position just to galactic north of Tirol III, the Romulus begins actively pinging the quadrant with her targeting sensors, making an inviting target.  Undetected, Praetor’s Swordarm and Wings of Fury begin crossing the quadrant under cloak, approaching just east and north of Tirol IV.

    As Dakota and Lexington approach, Romulus takes ranging shots against Dakota with torpedoes, but Dakota’s shields easily absorb the damage.  As Lexington moves to a covering position designed to protect Deep Space Outpost A-97, the Dakota is able to pierce Wings of Fury’s cloak, and opens fire at near point blank range.  Under the tremendous onslaught of the Excelsior-class’ weapons, Wings of Fury loses her shield and weapons grid, while suffering massive structural damage.  Dakota maintains her position, preparing to defend against the approaching Romulus, while Lexington maneuvers in to bring weapons to bear on Wings of Fury.  Unknown to the Federation captains, Praetor’s Swordarm is slowly and quietly maneuvering into position behind Dakota.

    Receiving more damage from Lexington, Wings of Fury uses the last of her maneuvering ability to approach Deep Space Outpost A-97 and, commending themselves to the Praetor and to the Empire, annihilates herself in an attempt to destroy the station.  Both Lexington and Deep Space Outpost A-97 take damage (the latter much more than the former), but manage to survive the blast.

    As Wings of Fury ignites, Praetor’s Swordarm is badly startled when Dakota passes directly over them, on their way to face down Romulus, but they remain undetected for the moment.  Unfortunately, debris from Wings of Fury strikes Praetor’s Swordarm’s shields, allowing Dakota and Lexington to detect her.  Praetor’s Swordarm has no choice but to attempt to penetrate Dakota’s shields with her minimally powered shields and torpedoes, but to little effect.

    Meanwhile, this distraction has allowed Romulus to position herself nose-to-nose with Dakota.  After the two capital ships exchange heavy fire, Romulus self-destructs, in what is believed to be an attempt to take her opponent with her.  Dakota, through more than a little luck, manages to ride the shockwave, but with massive internal damage and systems failure.

    With the destruction of the Romulus, Praetor’s Swordarm attempts to maneuver to a position where they can attack Deep Space Outpost A-97, but they are quickly brought under the remaining Starfleet guns, and are destroyed.