The Era of Zaarin-Milk Runners
 

With unexpected vigor and fury the traitors have struck against our Emperor's rule. Like many attacks over the past 2 days it appears that the traitor Zaarin is concentrating his efforts against the Empire's more advanced starfighter assets. Convoy 1138, which is under the protection of the Talos has come under attack by raiders. Their target is the Super Transport XI Rail Runner, which is transporting two wings of TIE Advanced [After Hoth], large numbers of beam weapons, as well as a small batch of Dark Troopers. Therefore, your orders are to ensure that the Rail Runner escapes the area by reaching its jump point. Your escort force includes: Nebulon-B Frigate Talos (drydock work has been completed), Bayonet-class Light Cruiser Gunray's Fate, Corellian Gunship Iron Sides, and 3 GAT-12j Skipray Blastboats. Your task force's compliment: 2 TIE Fighter and 1 TIE Bomber squadrons and 2 Katarn-class Boarding Shuttles (along with associated troops) [onboard the Talos]. Traitor forces include: Bayonet-class Light Cruiser Spear, Class 1000 Cruiser Halberd, and 6 ATR Transports (fully loaded with troops). Their starfighter forces include: 1 TIE Advanced [After Hoth], 1 TIE Fighter, and 2 Assault Gunboat Squadrons. Each grid square is 100 x 100 space units. A craft with a sublight speed of 2 Space Units can cross into the next grid square in 125 seconds. While a craft with a sublight speed of 4 Space Units can cross into the next grid square in 75 seconds, etc.

Note that no reinforcements are available. Your TIE Fighters are not modified to carry ordnance. However, the TIE Bombers may be armed with 16 Concussion Missiles or 8 Proton Torpedoes. Reload in battle will not be possible. Enemy TIE Fighters have 20 SBD shields but no warheads. The TIE Advanced [After Hoth Version] and Assault Gunboats are fully armed, while the ATR Transports are loaded down with 4 Proton Torpedoes each.

>>To find out more info on the battle, in the Tactical Map place your cursor over the ships and wait a few moments for the caption of data to pop up for that particular ship.<< [[NOTE: Click on the listings in the LEGEND below to see their data entries]]

 

LEGEND IMPERIAL FORCES Nebulon-B Frigate Super Transport XI GAT-12j Skipray Blastboat Bayonet-class Light Cruiser Corellian Gunship

LEGEND TRAITOR FORCES Bayonet-class Light Cruiser Class 1000 Cruiser ATR Assault Transport Assault Gunboat Squadron TIE Advanced [After Hoth Version] Squadron TIE Fighter Squadron

Click Here for Tactical Map (TOP VIEW)

 

Correct Response Number 1

First, I would send the two Katarns to dock with the Rail Runner and transfer their troopers to it while activating the Dark troopers. Then, we would withdraw while letting the freighter fall behind. The enemy ATRs would disable, then board the vessel while the rest of the enemy’s forces pursed my retreating capital ships. The Dark troopers and troops from the Katarns would ambush the boarders from the ATRs then, when they were eliminated, take over the ATRs. When the troops began to fight aboard the Rail Runner, the capital ships would form a wedge with Talos at the front and begin concentrating turbolaser and missile fire on the Halberd. The TIE fighters would engage the enemy fighters in a dogfight within laser cannon range of the capital ships, which would fire their laser cannons at the assault gunboats. The TIE bombers and Skipray blastboats would begin to make runs on the Halberd while the skiprays fired their laser turrets at the enemy assault gunboats. Once the Halberd was destroyed, the capital ships would shift their fire to the Spear while still firing their laser cannons at the assault gunboats. The bombers and skiprays would fire their remaining missiles at the assault gunboats and enemy TIEs. When the capital ships destroyed the Spear, they would use their laser cannons to mop up the remaining enemy fighters. After this, they would proceed back to the Rail Runner and help repair it from the Ion cannon damage. Finally, the task force and captured ATRs would hyper out. Eric Moroney

Correct Response Number 2

None

Galactic Empire Data Bank's Answer

There is too much firepower to deal with, plus the Rail Runner has no shields. Thus a run to the jump point must be made. The initial primary target will be the traitor Class 1000 Cruiser Halberd, due to its ion cannons. All TIE Bombers would be armed with proton torpedoes. All escort ships would move at 4 space units to quickly close the gap and concentrate their fire on the Halberd. All the bombers and Skiprays would unleash a withering fire of torpedoes to help quickly destroy the primary target. Concussion missiles from the Skiprays will be saved, and instead employed against the Assault Gunboats and ATRs. Composing the primary intercept force would be the Iron Sides taking the left flank along with all the Skiprays, the Talos the right, and ahead 5 space units with all weapon power diverted to shields, the Gunray's Fate.     This diversion of power should allow the Gunray's Fate to survive the ATRs' torpedo barrage with at least some shields. She would also serve as a block to prevent the Spear from getting at the Iron Sides. Meanwhile, both TIE Fighter squadrons would provide cover with preference engaging the slower Assault Gunboats. During this the Rail Runner would slow to half speed. The Talos and TIE Bombers would finish off the Halberd. Meanwhile, the Iron Sides would concentrate its laser fire against enemy starfighters with preference against the Assault Gunboats and shielded TIE Fighters, and direct its turbolasers and concussion missiles to destroy the ATRs. TIE Bombers and when possible, the Skiprays in the form of their concussion missiles and proton torpedoes would also attack the ATRs.     Once the ATRs are engaged, the Gunray's Fate would head towards the Spear (and diverting power to its weapons, except its tractor beams), and the Rail Runner would start making its way towards the jump point at maximum velocity. TIE Fighters and Bombers, Skipray Blastboats and the Talos would move to engage the Assault Gunboats. The primary threat will be the TIE Advanced [After Hoth] which will unfortunately inflict heavy losses amongst my starfighter forces. Inevitably, this will force the Spear into the engagement. Due to this the Talos, Gunray's Fate, and the Iron Sides (once the ATRs are destroyed) would provide a delaying action against the Spear. If the Spear's shields drop, her engines would be the primary target.     It must be stressed however, the Iron Sides' primary objective would be against the Assault Gunboats. Unavoidably, the Gunray's Fate would be destroyed during the engagement. Before this, all her crew, except the bridge and gunnery crews (to ensure the ship keeps fighting) would escape the ship via escape pods. All forces would keep the Assault Gunboats away from the Rail Runner so that it can make its jump. Should the Spear hit the Rail Runner with tractor beams, the Talos would put itself between them to break the tractor beams' grip. While the objective will be accomplished, Imperial Forces will suffer severe losses.