Star Smash - Battle Description

Round: | 3
Game: | 3
Opponents: | 5 Larry Bingham / Klingon Squadron 1
| 8 David Ternes / Federation Squadron 1
Victor: | 5 Larry Bingham / Klingon Squadron 1
Play Date: | 16 March 2003
Play Location: | The Keep, Fort Wayne, Indiana

Order of Battle

5 Larry Bingham / Klingon Squadron 1
5 Ships / Combat Efficiency: 294.8

Ship Name |  | Class Name |  | Type |  | Class
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Messenger of Kronos |  | L-24B Ever Victorious |  | Battleship |  | XIII
Stormy Petrel |  | D-32B Stronger Bird NC |  | Cruiser |  | VII
Death Blow |  | D-32B Stronger Bird NC |  | Cruiser |  | VII
Venom's Death |  | D-19A Viper's Tongue |  | Destroyer |  | VII
Envenimem Bite |  | D-19A Viper's Tongue |  | Destroyer |  | VII

8 David Ternes / Federation Squadron 1
4 Ships / Combat Efficiency: 298.7

Ship Name |  | Class Name |  | Type |  | Class
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Delta |  | Alpha Mk I |  | Cruiser |  | X
Hera |  | Dianna Mk I |  | Light Cruiser |  | VIII
Emerald |  | Thufir Mk IV |  | Destroyer |  | IX
Rodney |  | Nelson Mk VI |  | Scout |  | VII

Battle Description

The Federation opened the engagement in a tight formation and moved rapidly toward the asteroid belt. The Klingons moved much slower, and deployed a cruiser and a destroyer out on each flank.

The Klingons continued a slow advance, while the fast moving Federation force made a big mistake. It came out of the asteroid belt to fight the Klingons in open space.

The opening exchange of fire saw the Klingon's Venom's Death smashed by the combined fire of the Delta and Hera. At the same time the Stormy Petrel was ripped apart by the Emerald and the Rodney. Klingon return fire heavily damaged the Delta and the Emerald.

The Federation ships now realized that they were too far from the asteroid belt to reach it and so be able to take full advantage of their superior speed. Instead, they were forced into a close range battle with the Klingon ships, and the heavy firepower of the Klingon battleship.

The Delta closed behind the Messenger of Kronos but despite being at point blank range was unable to hit with even half of its weapons. The battleship had no such problem, and the Delta went dead in space. The other three Federation ships ganged up on the Envenimem Bite. The destroyer survived, but was very heavily damaged. In return, the Emerald took additional damage, with almost half of her weapons systems knocked out of action.

The close in fighting continued. Although the Federation was outmaneuvering the Klingons, the massive firepower of the Klingon battleship was ruling the battle. The Messenger of Kronos engaged the Emerald, and crippled her. She also fired on the helpless Delta to prevent her from making sufficient repairs to become operational. Meanwhile, the Rodney did some additional damage to the Envenimem Bite, and the Hera and Deadly Blow exchanged shots. Unfortunately, for the Deadly Blow, the Hera came out well ahead, as the Deadly Blow's warp core overloaded and was ejected by the crew.

Following the end of the fourth turn, the Federation player conceded defeat. The fight at that point was effectively the lightly damaged Hera and the fully repaired Rodney against the heavily damaged Envenimem Bite and the very lightly damaged Messenger of Kronos. The Federation's Delta was technically repairable, but had suffered heavy crew casualties, and would not be able to fire her weaponry. It was obvious that the battleship would take out at least one of the Federation ships in the next turn, probably without sustaining crippling damage in return.