Democratus
Mongoose
The Dilgar had been keeping the Centauri-held world of Demeter under siege for two weeks. While the verdant world produced enough food to feed billions it had no munitions industry. Centauri war supplies were running critically low.
In a last, desperate attempt to relieve the world the Centauri sent a task force carrying vital materiel to break through the Dilgar blockade. If they succeeded it would allow the defenders to hold off attack long enough for reinforcements to arrive. If they failed the world would certainly fall.
Mission: Blockade
Priority Level: Battle
Forces:
Dilgar
Targrath Heavy Cruisers: Omen, Slayer
Omelos Light Cruisers: Flawless, Vigilant
Ochlavita-Ki Command Destroyers: Dogma, Duty, Doctrine
Jashakar Tae Torpdeo Ships: Bullet, Arrow, Bolt, Archer, Thrower, Javelin
Jashakar Vi Scout Ships: Finder, Hunter, Quester, Searcher
24 Thorun Torpedofighter flights
14 Thorun Dartfighter flights
Centauri
Sulust Escort Destroyers: Valiant, Courageous
Maximus Escorts: Samno, Scutario
16 Sentri fighter flights
Set Up
I placed all my ships within 9" of the back edge of the board. This insured that my opponent would get no free shots at me on the first turn.
In the very center of my line I placed my scout pentacon consisting of:
Ochlavita-Ki, Jash Vi x4
With these in the center, I could move in turn 2 to provide full scout coverage no matter where the Centauri entered. The command destroyer's bonus to CQ rolls allowed successful scouting rolls on a 2+ for all scouts.
12" from the center, to either side, I placed my lone Targrath cruisers. They were primarily there to support the scout group in case the enemy was crazy enough to charge down the center.
14" from the edge, to either side, I placed a fighting pentacon consisting of:
Omelos, Ochlavita-Ki, Jash Tae x3
These would be the primary engagement ships to try and stop or slow down the enemy. Unless my enemy came down the center, one of these groups would fight and the other would have nothing to do throughout the battle.
In front of each of my fighting pentacons I placed 7 Dartfighters and 12 Torpedofighters.
Turn 1:
As predicted, the Centauri put all his ships on one side and raced up the left side of the board with an APTE order. The Sulusts moved 15" and the Maximi moved 12". Fighters moved on, supporting the Maximi and trailing the Sulusts.
I launched my only two shipboard fighters from my Targrath cruisers.
No firing happened because my ships were 25" away from the Sulusts.
Turn 2:
Initiative Centauri.
The Centauri continued to move up the board. However, the Sullusts had to slow down in order to allow the Sentri fighters to catch up and act as interceptors. Therefore they gave a Close Blast Doors! order. This gave them Interceptors 6 each plus the CBD. The Maximi moved 12" using APTE and were accompanied by their fighters as well.
My left side battle pentacon moved up in range for both their missiles and their bolters, so they all gave the Concentrate Firepower! order. Since the squadron had a ship with CQ 6 and the bonus +1 CQ for the Ochlavita-Ki this order was automatically passed. (Wohoo Dilgar!)
The left-side Targrath (my flagship, Omen) gave a Come About! order and started to race toward the edge, not quite getting within missile range this turn.
The Scout unit hooked left and began moving toward the enemy as well.
Finally my Fighters moved in a massive cloud careful to avoid Anti-Fighter range of any enemy unit. They managed to form a circle of death around the Maximus Samno and the Sulust Courageous.
The scouts all succeeded in "painting" all Centauri vessels, giving me the much needed re-rolls on the attack with my fighter flights.
Using this valuable assistance the Torpedo fighters unloaded into the two vessels. With supporting fighters and lent Interceptors, each of my targets had Interceptors 10! After all my fighters had opened fire the net result was to kill all the fighters supporting the Sulust Courageous and two of the fighters supporting the Maximus Samno. Both ships, however, had their interceptors significantly depleted.
The Sulust Courageous opened fire on one of my poor torpedo frigates (Bullet) and destroyed it utterly with a hail of fire from its Ion Cannon.
Then the remaining 4 ships of the battle pentacon opened fire on the Sulust Courageous and, thanks to very good CBD rolls, manage to get within one point of crippling the Sulust. Close but no cigar. Courageous did suffer a critical that reduced its weapons by -1 AD.
One ship is forced to fire at the Maximus Samno due to range considerations and does light damage to it.
The Maximus Samno fires on my Omelos with its Matter Cannon and scores only light damage.
At this point, the Centauri have used their defensive technology well. Their massive interceptor grid stopped an insane amount of fire from the Dilgar and they suffered no crippling damage.
Turn 3:
Initiative Centauri.
The Centauri again moves his Sulusts forward 10" and gives the CBD order. The Maximi both move 12" with APTE. The two furthest ships (Sulust Valiant and Maximus Scutario) are undamaged and still have all 4 escort fighters. The Sullust Courageous has no fighters in defense and the Maximus Samno has 2 fighters in support.
My scout pentacon pours on the speed with APTE and closes the distance with the fleeing Centauri ships.
My left battle pentacon performs a hook and moves in behind the Centauri formation. They attempt, but fail, to perform an Alpha Strike! order.
My targrath, Omen, also pours on the speed and gets within about 13" of the enemy. Close enough for missiles but not for its short range bolters. My appreciation of the Omelos class grows (it has 15" bolters).
Next, the fighters again move to surround the two damaged enemy ships. If I can kill these two ships then I will win the battle thanks to the fighter losses already suffered by the centauri.
Scouts light up the Centauri ships like Xmas trees.
The torpedofighters now open fire, concentrating most of their wrath at the Maximus Samno. The few fighters that do fire on the Sullust Courageous manage to just cripple it thanks to more excellent CBD rolls. Fire against the Maximus Samno achieves little damage, but it does kill the remaining defensive flights of Sentri and deplete the interceptors.
The Centauri have moved far enough forward now that only two of them have ships in their forward arc now. The Sulust opens fire on another torpdedo frigate as I berate myself for not maneuvering better. The poor Arrow is destroyed.
My battle pentacon open fire on the two damaged ships, destroying the Sullust Courageous and damaging the Maximus Samno, which suffers two criticals reducing its weapons by -2 AD.
The Maximus Samno, with nothing better to do, decides to fire its damaged matter cannon at the Targrath Omen. He scores 5 damage and a critical - which promptly comes up 6,6 doing 22 more damage! Omen is crippled with a single shot and begins to bleed smoke and atmosphere into space. My poor flagship!
Omen pathetically returns fire with one missile rack, managing only to scratch some paint on the Samno.
Turn 4:
Initiative Dilgar.
The enemy are getting very close to the edge. This will be my last chance at the Sulust Valorous. The two Maximi still have 2 more turns before escape.
The Centauri again soldier ahead. CBD for the remaining Sulust, APTE for the two Maximi.
The damaged Maximus Samno is my best chance for victory. I think I have it cold. So much so that I move my left battle pentacon (now just a squadron due to the 2 losses) behind the undamaged enemy Sulust Valorous.
My scout squadron has now moved within bolter range of the Samno with an APTE order.
The crippled Omen crawls forward, thankful that it is no longer in any enemy firing arcs. It does manage to turn enough to allow shooting at the Maximus that wounded it.
Gambling that I will kill the damaged Samno with the two pentacons bearing, I move all my torpedofighters against the undamaged Sulust Valorous.
Scouts once again light up the enemy ships.
12 Torpedofighter flights all let loose against the Sullust Valorous. The undamaged Maximus Scutario lends 4 interceptors to the ship, giving the Valorous Interceptors 10. While this is an impressive number, we have learned that it is death to defending fighters. All 4 Sentri flights are destroyed defending the ship and a small amount of damage does get through, but little of consequence.
The Centauri now have no weapons pointing at the Dilgar. They have no fire.
The left battle pentacon fires at the Valorous and scores light damage plus a single critical. The critical sends the ship ADRIFT!
The scout pentacon now fires on the damaged Maximus. These may be small ships, but even they can be deadly in numbers. The pentacon cripples the Maximus.
Finally, the wounded Omen opens fire with its bolters and is rewarded with a nice explosion. Sweet revenge!
The end of this turn is a grim time for the Centauri. They have lost a Sulust and a Maximus (and the battle) plus the other Sulust is adrift and surrounded.
Turn 5:
Initiative Centauri.
The remaining Maximus orders APTE and comes within 2" of the edge of the board. It still has all fighters acting in defense and its own refitted and improved interceptors.
The Sullust...drifts.
Left battle pentacon flies past the damaged Sullust and puts the Maximus in their sights.
Scout pentacon does the same, moving behind the Maximus.
Omen is too far away and out of the battle.
The fighters all move into attack position around the Maximus.
Scouts again paint the enemy.
Fighters open fire and manage to kill all defending fighters, but little else.
Scout pentacon then opens fire and damages the maximus significantly, but doesn't cripple it.
Left battle pentacon then fires and destroys the Maximus with a critical hit to the engines.
All that is left is to clean up the drifting Sulust. My opponent concedes the battle and we go out for drinks.
Result:
Cent Losses
Maximus Samno (3 VP)
Maximus Scutario (3 VP)
Sulust Valiant (5 VP)
Sullust Courageous (5 VP)
3 Sentri Wings (6 VP)
Dilgar Losses:
Targrath Crippled
Jashakar Tae
Jashakar Tae
1 Sentri Flight escaped (2 VP)
Dilgar Victory! (18 to 2)
Conclusion:
This wen far better than I could ever expect. There were some crazy criticals that turned against the Centauri at a critical moment. But overall I think planning and proper application of firepower won the day.
This was my first Dilgar battle where I actually got to have a significant force. And I must say I am impressed. The sheer number of attack dice this fleet can lay down makes a mockery of interceptors.
Pentacons led by an Ochlavita-Ki are awesome. Include one ship anywhere in the squadron with a CQ of 6 and you automatically pass any check of difficulty 8!
Scouts are critical, as they turn the Thorun Torpedofighter from an annoyance into a ship killer. A dozen TL/AP/DD shots from outside Anti-Fighter range is something terrifying to behold.
All patrol-level ships in the Dilgar navy have at least 4 AD of AP/DD weaponry. This is also very significant in numbers.
Edit: Got the VP wrong. The Centauri don't get VP for killing Dilgar ships - only for exiting the board. Also forgot that I had lost two frigates. Thanks, DaBoss!
In a last, desperate attempt to relieve the world the Centauri sent a task force carrying vital materiel to break through the Dilgar blockade. If they succeeded it would allow the defenders to hold off attack long enough for reinforcements to arrive. If they failed the world would certainly fall.
Mission: Blockade
Priority Level: Battle
Forces:
Dilgar
Targrath Heavy Cruisers: Omen, Slayer
Omelos Light Cruisers: Flawless, Vigilant
Ochlavita-Ki Command Destroyers: Dogma, Duty, Doctrine
Jashakar Tae Torpdeo Ships: Bullet, Arrow, Bolt, Archer, Thrower, Javelin
Jashakar Vi Scout Ships: Finder, Hunter, Quester, Searcher
24 Thorun Torpedofighter flights
14 Thorun Dartfighter flights
Centauri
Sulust Escort Destroyers: Valiant, Courageous
Maximus Escorts: Samno, Scutario
16 Sentri fighter flights
Set Up
I placed all my ships within 9" of the back edge of the board. This insured that my opponent would get no free shots at me on the first turn.
In the very center of my line I placed my scout pentacon consisting of:
Ochlavita-Ki, Jash Vi x4
With these in the center, I could move in turn 2 to provide full scout coverage no matter where the Centauri entered. The command destroyer's bonus to CQ rolls allowed successful scouting rolls on a 2+ for all scouts.
12" from the center, to either side, I placed my lone Targrath cruisers. They were primarily there to support the scout group in case the enemy was crazy enough to charge down the center.
14" from the edge, to either side, I placed a fighting pentacon consisting of:
Omelos, Ochlavita-Ki, Jash Tae x3
These would be the primary engagement ships to try and stop or slow down the enemy. Unless my enemy came down the center, one of these groups would fight and the other would have nothing to do throughout the battle.
In front of each of my fighting pentacons I placed 7 Dartfighters and 12 Torpedofighters.
Turn 1:
As predicted, the Centauri put all his ships on one side and raced up the left side of the board with an APTE order. The Sulusts moved 15" and the Maximi moved 12". Fighters moved on, supporting the Maximi and trailing the Sulusts.
I launched my only two shipboard fighters from my Targrath cruisers.
No firing happened because my ships were 25" away from the Sulusts.
Turn 2:
Initiative Centauri.
The Centauri continued to move up the board. However, the Sullusts had to slow down in order to allow the Sentri fighters to catch up and act as interceptors. Therefore they gave a Close Blast Doors! order. This gave them Interceptors 6 each plus the CBD. The Maximi moved 12" using APTE and were accompanied by their fighters as well.
My left side battle pentacon moved up in range for both their missiles and their bolters, so they all gave the Concentrate Firepower! order. Since the squadron had a ship with CQ 6 and the bonus +1 CQ for the Ochlavita-Ki this order was automatically passed. (Wohoo Dilgar!)
The left-side Targrath (my flagship, Omen) gave a Come About! order and started to race toward the edge, not quite getting within missile range this turn.
The Scout unit hooked left and began moving toward the enemy as well.
Finally my Fighters moved in a massive cloud careful to avoid Anti-Fighter range of any enemy unit. They managed to form a circle of death around the Maximus Samno and the Sulust Courageous.
The scouts all succeeded in "painting" all Centauri vessels, giving me the much needed re-rolls on the attack with my fighter flights.
Using this valuable assistance the Torpedo fighters unloaded into the two vessels. With supporting fighters and lent Interceptors, each of my targets had Interceptors 10! After all my fighters had opened fire the net result was to kill all the fighters supporting the Sulust Courageous and two of the fighters supporting the Maximus Samno. Both ships, however, had their interceptors significantly depleted.
The Sulust Courageous opened fire on one of my poor torpedo frigates (Bullet) and destroyed it utterly with a hail of fire from its Ion Cannon.
Then the remaining 4 ships of the battle pentacon opened fire on the Sulust Courageous and, thanks to very good CBD rolls, manage to get within one point of crippling the Sulust. Close but no cigar. Courageous did suffer a critical that reduced its weapons by -1 AD.
One ship is forced to fire at the Maximus Samno due to range considerations and does light damage to it.
The Maximus Samno fires on my Omelos with its Matter Cannon and scores only light damage.
At this point, the Centauri have used their defensive technology well. Their massive interceptor grid stopped an insane amount of fire from the Dilgar and they suffered no crippling damage.
Turn 3:
Initiative Centauri.
The Centauri again moves his Sulusts forward 10" and gives the CBD order. The Maximi both move 12" with APTE. The two furthest ships (Sulust Valiant and Maximus Scutario) are undamaged and still have all 4 escort fighters. The Sullust Courageous has no fighters in defense and the Maximus Samno has 2 fighters in support.
My scout pentacon pours on the speed with APTE and closes the distance with the fleeing Centauri ships.
My left battle pentacon performs a hook and moves in behind the Centauri formation. They attempt, but fail, to perform an Alpha Strike! order.
My targrath, Omen, also pours on the speed and gets within about 13" of the enemy. Close enough for missiles but not for its short range bolters. My appreciation of the Omelos class grows (it has 15" bolters).
Next, the fighters again move to surround the two damaged enemy ships. If I can kill these two ships then I will win the battle thanks to the fighter losses already suffered by the centauri.
Scouts light up the Centauri ships like Xmas trees.
The torpedofighters now open fire, concentrating most of their wrath at the Maximus Samno. The few fighters that do fire on the Sullust Courageous manage to just cripple it thanks to more excellent CBD rolls. Fire against the Maximus Samno achieves little damage, but it does kill the remaining defensive flights of Sentri and deplete the interceptors.
The Centauri have moved far enough forward now that only two of them have ships in their forward arc now. The Sulust opens fire on another torpdedo frigate as I berate myself for not maneuvering better. The poor Arrow is destroyed.
My battle pentacon open fire on the two damaged ships, destroying the Sullust Courageous and damaging the Maximus Samno, which suffers two criticals reducing its weapons by -2 AD.
The Maximus Samno, with nothing better to do, decides to fire its damaged matter cannon at the Targrath Omen. He scores 5 damage and a critical - which promptly comes up 6,6 doing 22 more damage! Omen is crippled with a single shot and begins to bleed smoke and atmosphere into space. My poor flagship!
Omen pathetically returns fire with one missile rack, managing only to scratch some paint on the Samno.
Turn 4:
Initiative Dilgar.
The enemy are getting very close to the edge. This will be my last chance at the Sulust Valorous. The two Maximi still have 2 more turns before escape.
The Centauri again soldier ahead. CBD for the remaining Sulust, APTE for the two Maximi.
The damaged Maximus Samno is my best chance for victory. I think I have it cold. So much so that I move my left battle pentacon (now just a squadron due to the 2 losses) behind the undamaged enemy Sulust Valorous.
My scout squadron has now moved within bolter range of the Samno with an APTE order.
The crippled Omen crawls forward, thankful that it is no longer in any enemy firing arcs. It does manage to turn enough to allow shooting at the Maximus that wounded it.
Gambling that I will kill the damaged Samno with the two pentacons bearing, I move all my torpedofighters against the undamaged Sulust Valorous.
Scouts once again light up the enemy ships.
12 Torpedofighter flights all let loose against the Sullust Valorous. The undamaged Maximus Scutario lends 4 interceptors to the ship, giving the Valorous Interceptors 10. While this is an impressive number, we have learned that it is death to defending fighters. All 4 Sentri flights are destroyed defending the ship and a small amount of damage does get through, but little of consequence.
The Centauri now have no weapons pointing at the Dilgar. They have no fire.
The left battle pentacon fires at the Valorous and scores light damage plus a single critical. The critical sends the ship ADRIFT!
The scout pentacon now fires on the damaged Maximus. These may be small ships, but even they can be deadly in numbers. The pentacon cripples the Maximus.
Finally, the wounded Omen opens fire with its bolters and is rewarded with a nice explosion. Sweet revenge!
The end of this turn is a grim time for the Centauri. They have lost a Sulust and a Maximus (and the battle) plus the other Sulust is adrift and surrounded.
Turn 5:
Initiative Centauri.
The remaining Maximus orders APTE and comes within 2" of the edge of the board. It still has all fighters acting in defense and its own refitted and improved interceptors.
The Sullust...drifts.
Left battle pentacon flies past the damaged Sullust and puts the Maximus in their sights.
Scout pentacon does the same, moving behind the Maximus.
Omen is too far away and out of the battle.
The fighters all move into attack position around the Maximus.
Scouts again paint the enemy.
Fighters open fire and manage to kill all defending fighters, but little else.
Scout pentacon then opens fire and damages the maximus significantly, but doesn't cripple it.
Left battle pentacon then fires and destroys the Maximus with a critical hit to the engines.
All that is left is to clean up the drifting Sulust. My opponent concedes the battle and we go out for drinks.
Result:
Cent Losses
Maximus Samno (3 VP)
Maximus Scutario (3 VP)
Sulust Valiant (5 VP)
Sullust Courageous (5 VP)
3 Sentri Wings (6 VP)
Dilgar Losses:
Targrath Crippled
Jashakar Tae
Jashakar Tae
1 Sentri Flight escaped (2 VP)
Dilgar Victory! (18 to 2)
Conclusion:
This wen far better than I could ever expect. There were some crazy criticals that turned against the Centauri at a critical moment. But overall I think planning and proper application of firepower won the day.
This was my first Dilgar battle where I actually got to have a significant force. And I must say I am impressed. The sheer number of attack dice this fleet can lay down makes a mockery of interceptors.
Pentacons led by an Ochlavita-Ki are awesome. Include one ship anywhere in the squadron with a CQ of 6 and you automatically pass any check of difficulty 8!
Scouts are critical, as they turn the Thorun Torpedofighter from an annoyance into a ship killer. A dozen TL/AP/DD shots from outside Anti-Fighter range is something terrifying to behold.
All patrol-level ships in the Dilgar navy have at least 4 AD of AP/DD weaponry. This is also very significant in numbers.
Edit: Got the VP wrong. The Centauri don't get VP for killing Dilgar ships - only for exiting the board. Also forgot that I had lost two frigates. Thanks, DaBoss!
