Star Smash - Battle Description

Round: | 1
Game: | 4
Opponents: | 7 Ken Buchs / Klingon Squadron 1
| 8 David Ternes / Independent (IKS) Squadron 1
Victor: | 8 David Ternes / Independent (IKS) Squadron 1
Play Date: | 29 December 2002
Play Location: | The Keep, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Order of Battle

7 Ken Buchs / Klingon Squadron 1
7 Ships / Combat Efficiency: 300.0

Ship Name |  | Class Name |  | Type |  | Class
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Throat Slitter |  | D-7T Bringer of Regrets |  | Cruiser |  | IX
Bright Explosion |  | D-7T Bringer of Regrets |  | Cruiser |  | IX
Final Battle |  | D-7T Bringer of Regrets |  | Cruiser |  | IX
Winged Terror |  | D-18D Gull NC |  | Destroyer |  | IX
Fanged Stalker |  | D-2D Stingtongue |  | Destroyer |  | VII
Poisoned Fang |  | D-2D Stingtongue |  | Destroyer |  | VII
Snake Bite |  | D-2D Stingtongue |  | Destroyer |  | VII

8 David Ternes / Independent (IKS) Squadron 1
8 Ships / Combat Efficiency: 299.6

Ship Name |  | Class Name |  | Type |  | Class
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Vulture |  | D-18C2 Kestral |  | Destroyer |  | IX
Hawk |  | D-18C2 Kestral |  | Destroyer |  | IX
Eagle |  | D-18C2 Kestral |  | Destroyer |  | IX
Raven |  | D-18C2 Kestral |  | Destroyer |  | IX
Revenge In Blood |  | A-2A Scrap Dog |  | Destroyer |  | VII
Hand Of Destruction |  | A-2A Scrap Dog |  | Destroyer |  | VII
Knife Thrust |  | A-2A Scrap Dog |  | Destroyer |  | VII
Jennifer's Rage |  | A-2A Scrap Dog |  | Destroyer |  | VII

Battle Description

Each force deployed in a fairly conventional manner.

The Klingons placed their D-7T cruisers in a triangular formation on their left. The D-2D Stingtongue destroyers took the center, also in a triangle formation. The D-18D Gull destroyer was the right flank.

The IKS formed four groups, each of one A-2A Scrap Dog and one D-18C2 Kestral. The groups advanced in line.

The Klingons advanced slowly. They spread out slightly, with the two triangular formations shifting to the left.

The IKS also advanced slowly, modifying their formations into two pairs of Scrap Dogs and two pairs of Kestrals.

Both sides opened fired at extreme range. Each hit the other's ships. IKS disrupters hit three Klingon ships, but failed to penetrate any shield. The Klingons concentrated on the Jennifer's Rage, pierced its forward shield, and caused modest damage.

The Klingons continued their slow advance and shifted to the left while holding their formations. Although the IKS force was still at long range, they fired most of their photon torpedoes while their disrupters recharged.

The IKS accelerated to take the initiative from the Klingon force and quickly closed with the enemy to get their torpedoes into range. The ships held their fire, waiting for the minimum range.

The Klingon advance slowed significantly. Disrupters hit the Jennifer's Rage and the Raven at short range. The damage was moderate, with both IKS ships still well able to fight.

The IKS ships pressed their speed advantage to reach firing positions close to their targets. Firing in pairs; two Kestrals engaged the Throat Slitter on the right, two Scrap Dogs engaged the Snake Bite, two Scrap Dogs engaged the Poisoned Fang, and two Kestrals engaged the Fanged Stalker.

The Klingons took heavy damage from the close range fire. The Throat Slitter's superstructure was smashed, and its warp core shut down leaving it drifting in space. The Poisoned Fang took nine photon torpedoes hits and almost a dozen disrupter hits. Although still barely operational, the ship had too few crew members left alive to operate it. Damage to the Fanged Stalker was extensive, leaving it barely able to function. The Snake Bite also took moderate damage.

The Klingon's almost appeared not to react to the close approach of the IKS ships. Only the Snake Bite moved, and that was to change its facing so that it could fire two torpedoes at the Vulture. It missed. On the Klingon left the Raven was hit by two disrupters, taking minor damage.

The IKS ships continued their high speed maneuvering, and brought their remaining armament to bear. The Final Battle took a single torpedo from the right flank Kestrals. The Poisoned Fang took two torpedoes, despite its lack of crew. Three Scrap Dogs put torpedoes and disrupter damage into the Fanged Stalker, which crushed its superstructure and forced its warp core off line.

The Klingons continued to maneuver slowly, concentrating their power into their disrupters. The two remaining D-7s moved toward the Raven, and the Winged Terror attempted to close on the Revenge In Blood. While the Raven helped the Klingons by holding position, the Revenge In Blood made itself a poorer target, leaving the Winged Terror to its squadron mates. The Raven took heavy damage which caused its warp core to shut down, leaving it dead.

The IKS ships were still moving at high speeds. On the right flank the Raven and Eagle positioned themselves in front and in back of the D-7s. The Jennifer's Rage moved away from the Snake Bite to engage it with rear weaponry. The Knife Thrust reversed course to help the Jennifer's Rage. The Snake Bite received a torpedo into its rear. The Bright Explosion took the full force of the two Kestrals, and was nearly destroyed.

On the IKS left flank, the two Kestrals and the Hand Of Destruction charged the Winged Terror. The resulting damage smashed the target's warp core and left it drifting in space.

At this point (the end of Turn 4, Phase 1) the Klingon player conceded defeat. Only three Klingon ships were still operational. The Snake Bite had heavy damage; the Bright Explosion had moderate damage; and the Final Battle had light damage. Against this there were still seven operational IKS ships, only one of which had moderate damage and two had light damage. The IKS also still had considerable fire power left to use on the Klingons in the current turn.