 |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Kassiopeia
|
 |
Jyväskylä, Finland
Jul 2001
time: 07:16
|
|
This is how I'd publish the article. I took the liberty of fixing and streamlining the language somewhat to make the text more readable. However, I may have changed some meanings and interpretations on the way, so feel free to point any errors out.
Failure of the Modo Doctrine?
by Captain Vishniac
Incidents multiply in Spartan waters. Junta “confident”.
These last months, news of military incidents involving Spartan vessels have repeatedly stunned the citizens of the Spartan Federation.
First, the discovery of our former exploratory ship SCC Hunter hidden in a fungus field a few miles away from our key naval base of Minas Tirith gave us no alternative but its swift destruction. Everybody remembers how The Corporation controlled the minds of its crew in an act of piracy, which opened a vendetta that is going on even now.
The lack of other offensive actions from their side, and the ongoing negotiations to return to us our men and property, as well as their perceived will to sign an immediate truce, has led the Spartan population to believe that no clear and present danger is threatening our coasts, save for the ruthless Chairman Yang and his Hiverian hordes. But hiding a naval probe in sight of one of our military bases could only have one purpose: villainy! And the Spartan right of self defence had to prevail.
Now, we have just learned that a Corporation attack foil was found cruising in front of Climactic Research in the territorial waters of our ally, the University of Planet, who has made a deal with the Spartan Federation to have its coastline guarded. The presence of that foil was a clear transgression of the Modo Doctrine, Sparta expanding naturally its protection to its submissive allies, and it had to be destroyed.
Meeting the press, the Junta speaker, Lieutenant Grosskreutz said:
“These are not small matters, but I am very confident in the fine men and women serving in our Armed Forces. Though these Morganite vessels tried to conceal their presence, they got caught with their guard down every time, and our Navy has performed flawlessly in removing the threat they posed, as it will in the future as well. Our naval power is unparalleled by any other faction and everybody must realize that we are not afraid to use it to assure our survival.”
However, some say that the Junta does not completely agree on this. While Spartan naval supremacy stays unquestioned, what could have been motives of the Corporation? A high-ranked officer has told us that Morganite lack of respect for the 8-tile exclusion zone could mark the beginning of an arms race at sea and a harbinger of things to come, thus marking the actual failure of the Modo Doctrine itself. After all, what use is dissuasion if it does not dissuade?
Well-informed sources in the planetary networks explain that this aggressive Morgan attitude is caused by the dramatic situation that has been brewing these last years: an expansionist Hive is on a rampage to conquer Spartan and Gaian lands, and become Chiron’s sole superpower. Twisted minds in Morgan Industries are ready to make a Faustian pact, calculating to grab short-term gains from us and fortify their own continent, while letting a totalitarian regime impose its evil rule on the other part of this world.
Paranoid ramblings or realistic geopolitics? Regardless, the Spartan Legion, one of the most influential think-tanks in the Federation, has already decided which course of action they will push for: an extension of the Modo Doctrine to the Morganite coastline, instituting a de-facto no-sail zone for as long as would be needed, forcing the other party either to negotiate a real truce or to renounce the utilization of the rich sea resources off its coastline.
Others murmured that the Spartan military would be stretched too thin by such a long-lasting action, and that our current capability is, as the recent events have proven, more than enough to contain any enemy on or under the waves. Police actions are demoralizing for true Spartans and our force is in a strong defense and a rapid response force capable of protecting our freedom. Some even say that any further naval interdiction could be perceived as going beyond self defence, posing an effective threat to the factions with which we are living in harmony.
The Junta's seems to have a limited number of options, most of which are based on reacting to an opposing party's actions. Trying times are ahead but our emissaries know that their words are backed by the finest military machine ever, and that they might need it sooner than anyone had expected, as the failure of the Modo Doctrine would mean just that - a failure!
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Googlie
|
 |
Commanding Officer, CRYPTEIA
Apr 1999
time: 21:16
|
|
A key success factor for the PTS Raid is how much "clutter" we'll encounter for our rovers to deal with (formers and crawlers)
Morgan has 5 crawlers in operation, three of them working the Scorpi-Vulcanology sites, one that we'll miss east of ZZT and one that I can't find on their map (but I'm thinking it might be working the new mine NE of Argi Narnia, and is merely obscured by that former building the road there - all five are accounted for in base minerals production, so it's not on the move, so i think it's Morgan Mussels' one)
Their Supercrawler is SE of Micha and won't be a hindrance.
So what will they do with the new one coming out of Morgan Industries? This has the potential of stalling us - and maybe of ending up with an isolated rover, but I think with the triple energy boost they'll reassign a worker from that 1-2-5 tile to a 1-2-2 forest tile and put the crawler where the energy special is. (see screenie below)
If they do that, we're OK. If they assign the crawler to the forest tile, then we're still OK, 'cos in the sim I had that missing crawler one tile south and it was effectively blocking the advance and had to be taken out in the sim.
Also, if they don't exit Mussels with their plasma hoverboat, it'll need that secopnd rover to take that out as well, but that's OK toom as it stacked with the first in the sim without firing a shot to provide probe immunity.
So it looks like the PTS Raid won't fail or be blocked!!
 Attachment: 2159 - mi.jpg
This has been downloaded 76 time(s).
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Zeiter
|
|
Well, with the PTS raid being a success, what are our plans now? Do we go after Morgan again, or focus on Yang, or what? What kind of offensive forces do we have? And transports?
|
|
| |
|
|
|
sentry33
|
 |
Warsaw, Poland
Jun 2004
time: 06:16
|
|
quote:
Which one is the most dangerous 1) short-term 2) long-term ? |
I think that Morganities will be happy to accept short term peace, only to recover and build up military, possibly forging alliance with others against us. I see them as worse threat than Hive - that should be dealt with ASAP.
As for short term threat - I do not think that either Hive or Morgan pose much of it, Hive is played by AI, Morganities are behind us in terms of stability and war preparations.
Worst possibility IMO is facing new wars at this moment - if Gaians and Angels allied with Morgan, this would make things very difficult.
quote:
1. Send out a harrassing force to Morgania ASAP. Basically, something to keep them occupied. Even two Amphibious Rovers can do the trick, methinks.
2. Secure the chokepoint against Yang, by taking those two cities.
3. Conduct a massive sea invasion against Morgan. This time - taking cities.
4. Clobber Yang to the point of a truce, or even subjagation. |
looks good! 
We have everything we need for keeping Morgan occupied - and they have yet to recover.
Last edited by sentry33 on 20-02-2005 at 17:13
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Modo44
|
 |
in western Poland
Jul 2004
time: 06:16
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by vishniac
Which one is the most dangerous 1) short-term 2) long-term ? |
Short-term: Hive - they have units headed our way.
Long-term: Morgan, if allowed to recover and establish a tech lead.
quote:
Originally posted by vishniac
How many units to bring down which one? |
We need only a small force now against Morgan. It will be a pain for them, since they have no effective defenses against amphibious harassing. But we need to ultimately crush them, meaning as many units as only possible in the long run.
The Hive front depends on how much they concentrate us, and how much on other factions. And if we only want to stall them (i.e. not taking bases), then we might do with an even smaller force.
quote:
Originally posted by vishniac
Can we hope to contain one with a diplomatic action? |
The Hive, certainly, if we take bases.
In case of Morgan, we need to ask ourselves if we want peace at all. If they will not agree to a big lump-sum payment (fat chance  ), I think we have little to gain here.
EDIT: How about continuing the diplomatic illusion? Does it have any chance of success? I posted this in the Morga-Sparta relations thread. Please answer there.
My first idea was just telling Morgan:
"Your stalling tactics in negotiations and your numerous transgressions against Sparta, have been recognized as a direct threat. We have deemed it necessary to use pro-active defeses and strike first. Enjoy." In other words, a simple "it is war" statement.
BUT, we might try this:
"Your insincerity and stalling tactics have lasted long enough. We have decided to take action to make absolutely sure you hear our words. Yes, it required a blow you would notice, and never forget. But we still hope our relations can return to normal.
Now you hopefully listen. We require you to:- Immediately resume all per-turn payments you stopped without agreement.
- Give back the 50 ecs payment you took for the lost probe. A payment we never agreed to give.
- Full reparation for the Hunter. Meaning the rushing cost of a similar unit.
- Returning to Treaty status with us.
- A tribute of XX ecs to stop further Spartan military actions. Yes, pay or suffer.
We are still ready to talk about selling technology. However, and let this be clear, only for a lump-sum payment."
Even if they would not agree, we could make the impression of going for peace to some of their members. We can add something about being busy with Yang ad not wanting to keep a 2-front war going. And, in fact, we would be going after Yang, at least for a while. What do you guys think?
Last edited by Modo44 on 20-02-2005 at 18:23
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Googlie
|
|
Commanding Officer, CRYPTEIA
Apr 1999
time: 21:16
|
|
What Now?
In 2162, we launch our airforce, with a fledgling strength of 2 missile needlejets.
Also that year, the GeneralTacticus will reach safehaven at Climactic Research, and the Njord and Vladimorei will link up for some serious tagteam foraging.
The SCC Iaci will complete sea trials, and will head south to link with the SCC Invincible whose crew is currently enjoying some R & R in UN Great Refuge
In 2163 the Heimdall will make contact with the Pegasus, and can take on her cargo of R-112, the 3rd Ogre and the podpopped Unity rover.
We need to develop our short-term and mid-term (and possible longer term) military strategy.
Choices are, (as I see them - there may be more, and they are not necessarily exclusive)- pinprick aggravations of Morgan, such as naval shelling of coastal and 1-tile inland improvements like forests, farms and mines, and bombing of in-range opportunitic targets such as crawlers (especially upgraded ones), formers and anything else that moves
- a vigorous air campaign to seek and destroy Morgan ships at sea
- in conjunction with either one or both of the above, and after we get the CDF built, enter a phoney war stage for a handful of turns, and embark on a massive infrastructure build up - rec commons, creches, research hospitals and tree farms, and force a pop-boom on ourselves, then "gird our loins" for a major landwar once more
- a vigorous interdiction of Hive movement towards our 2 key southern bases of MT and 2NS, by deploying the noodles there and patrolling the fungus between our territories
- a concerted effort to rid our continent of the Hive by capturing/destroying Laborers' Throng and Hole of Aspiration
- longer term we could even lower the seabed at 47:31, making Great Collective into Great Atlantis - that'd need planning, though, and constant air cover to stop the seaformer(s) being shelled. But with our command of the seas it'd make us pretty immune from Yang
- A raid (with the Heimdall's cargo) on Yang's southern shores - we have no probe teams in the vicinity, so can't capture and hold bases, but how about capturing and gifting them to either the Uni or to Lal? Anything that weakens Yang strengthens us
- an outright invasion of Morgan - with the intent of capturing - and holding - the bases we get
- an outright offensive against Yang, either alone, or partnering with the Gaians and dividing the spoils. While they won't be too keen to see us get stronger, they need to do something dramatic to improve their standing in the game (maybe, for payment of much needed ec's, we soften up a base or 2 from the air and the Gaians enter from the ground with their wormy army)
- launch a massive probe offensive, infiltrating the Angels and the gaians - damn the torpedoes - and also on Morgan and Yang, using probes to assassinate researchers for example (don't let Morgan get to clean reactors by taking out his accumulated lab points, or yang get to air power)
Thoughts?
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Zeiter
|
|
I propose:
1. We move against the 3 Yang footholds on our continent and secure the isthmus chokepoint near Great Collective. We can accomplish this by:
A. Bringing up the 3-unit task force sailing in the southern oceans right now.
B. Bringing our frontier forces in Minas Tirith out against Yang.
C. Providing air cover and easily empty bases with our air force.
D. Building two or three cheap crypteias to garrison the conquered Yang bases.
We could accomplish this with mostly existing hardware, only making a minimal investment with regards to the crypteias. Thus, we should be able to pursue this objective simultaneously with other actions.
2. We move against Morgan with the intention of gaining a permanent foothold in Morgania, and eventually securing the HGP and PEG. This would require:
A. Building up our Morgan-sector airforce (not counting our minimal Yang airforce contingent) to a fleet of, I'd reckon, at least 10 needlejets.
B. Building at least 4 crypteias.
C. Building at least 4 offensive ground units.
D. Building 2 Mercury-class transports.
3. Hunt for mind worms. We can divert one or two of our frontier rovers in Minas Tirith for this task.
I suggest an emphasis on crawler production, and a postponement of any extensive facility building until Morgan is vanquished and/or the situation drastically changes. The only facilities that I might consider building during this might would be recycling tanks.
When we get Int Int, our drone problems will be easily solved by cheap police units, so there's no need for Rec commons. Children's creches and pop booming can wait until after Morgan, when we will be able to tolerate a switch from fundy to demo.
As for terraforming, I suggest we generally try to build some boreholes. Otherwise, forests.
Infiltration of the others can wait until we have finished with Morgan.
All this time we should, of course, divert a few air units to patrol duty to guard against probe foils and such.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Zeiter
|
|
Theoretically, it looks like it would be possible to drive Yang from our continent by 2165. We could clear out the bases with our air force. We could also use our air force to block the isthmus crossing to Great Collective, which would help us hold those bases. We could rushbuild crypteias in each one, although I think Hole of Aspiration would be in less danger with regards to probes. A less ambitious proposal might be to first concentrate on capturing and securing Laborer's Throng. It seems that the only problem would still be probe defense.
Laborer's Throng would also give us a launching pad from which we could harass the Gaians a bit, if anything happens with them.
Attachment: attacksonyangfootholds.jpg
This has been downloaded 32 time(s).
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Googlie
|
|
Commanding Officer, CRYPTEIA
Apr 1999
time: 21:16
|
|
Some comments on the comments:- Naval Shelling and Air Bombing
I didn't mean for the naval forces to take on ground units (rather, shelling of farms, mines etc) versus bombing (aircraft) of crawlers, formers, units-in-transit, etc
- Impact Aircraft
Having a handful of 20-mineral impact noodles for air cover is brilliant (maybe even think of making some of them 30-mineral Impact Interceptors - they'll be used mostly for blocking land unit attacks on our forces, and with their 100% air superiority bonus will be able to form our fighter squadrons for some time to come - at least until fusion drives and chaos weapons)
AU, FB and RG could certainly produce an Impact Bomber every 2 turns, while FS and OA (if we home the supercrawler to there and work the mine with it) could produce an Impact Bomber every turn, or two Impact Interceptors every 3 turns or a Missile bomber every 2 turns. By the start of MY 2166 we could have an air force (max) of the current two Missile noodles plus 14 Impact noodles - quite impressive in anyone's book!!
- Capturing Hive Bases
We could always divert back the Disco Volante to do duty as a probe defence until we get a Crypteia up and running
If we took Great Collective, we'd be subject to incessant arty attacks from Social Engineering Den (within 2 tile range) so we'd need to mount a concerted air attack on that base every so often to bleed it of Hive arty
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Zeiter
|
|
Do the Morganites have the capability to produce AAA units yet? Does anyone have this capability?
We definitely need to focus on securing a foothold in Morgania as soon as possible. Right now we have limited range with our aircraft, but once we obtain a launching pad on that continent, we can bleed their whole continent dry. All we would really need to secure a foothold would be 1 transport with 2 crypteias, 1 missle rover, and 1 skanky's seleni. Air support could accomplish the rest. If we landed at Vander Eudaimonics, we could use air cover to block the roads leading to that base, preventing any counter-attacks and/or probe team operations, no? Then we would have our launching pad.
So, what forces do we have on hand, or when can we build the forces necessary for such an operation?
Also, once we unload Heimdall's cargo near Laborer's throng to join that theatre, we can sail Heimdall over to our western shores and use it in our Morgan operations.
Edit: With the Vander Eudaimonics operation, we wouldn't even need an offensive unit. We could accomplish it with a team of 3 crypteias and 1 skanky's seleni, I believe.
Specifically, what this operation would need would be 3 or 4 aircraft of varying strengths to take out base defenders in VE. We'd then need another 3 aircraft to block the passage between Morgan Vulcanology and VE. Then we'd need 3 more aircraft to be standing by to take the places of the previous 3 the next turn when the previous 3 aircraft blocking the passage to VE would have to re-fuel. And then we'd have our transport team.
Last edited by Zeiter on 05-03-2005 at 22:27
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Snoddasmannen
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Zeiter
Do the Morganites have the capability to produce AAA units yet? Does anyone have this capability?
|
No ... Nobody is close. You need Advanced Military Algorithms, and for that you need Adaptive Doctrine, which nobody has... I guess Yang could go research for it, but that would take him at least 15 years.
quote:
All we would really need to secure a foothold would be 1 transport with 2 crypteias, 1 missle rover, and 1 skanky's seleni. |
Yeah, that could very well be enough to wreak some havoc. If we get 10 B-n noodles, we can use a couple of them to capture Vander, a couple to block the roads and park the rest in the base. The next turn, we will have all the options in the world to do damage 
Maybe we should hurry a mercury class transport in Minas Tirith and rush it over there. We have a crypteia completed in Craterwest and we should be able to get some Skankies out there too.
We've talked about this kind of attack before, are we up for it?
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Zeiter
|
|
I'm up for it. By Googlie's calculations, we could have an airforce of 2 B-6's and 14 B-4's. That would give us 2 B-6's and 8 B-4's that wouldn't be tied down with blocking the passage to VE. If we set sail with a mercury-class transport from Minas Tirith in 2163, we could arrive at VE by 2166.
As for what crew we could put together, don't we have the longstrider that was just returned to MT? And I believe we have 2 other crypteias there, do we not? And then we could throw in one of our frontier impact squads or something, or we could have that missle rover visiting the monolith hop on board as the transport sails by the crater coast.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
Googlie
|
|
Commanding Officer, CRYPTEIA
Apr 1999
time: 21:16
|
|
quote:
Originally posted by Zeiter
As for what crew we could put together, don't we have the longstrider that was just returned to MT? And I believe we have 2 other crypteias there, do we not? |
No - the returned Longstrider is now the sole probe defender at MT. there was another, but he is now en-route to defend at 2NS, while that one there boards the Hermes for shipping to Iaca
But let's think outside the box a little. Craterwest is 8 tiles from Vanderbase.
For 50 mins - 2 turns at OA, plus a handful of ec's - we can build a transport aircraft (range of 4 with fission power, and a cargo of 1 - and 6 and 2 with fusion upgrade) and ferry units over to Vanderbase after we take it.
So if we have that airtrannie sitting half way there when we bomb and invade the base, it can then land and drop off the Crypteia. 4 turns later it's back with another. A lot faster than with cruiser transports by sea (albeit our cruiser trannies can carry 4 at a time). But it is an alternative - and it can shuttle units such as formers between Vladivostok and Arcadia University (7 tiles), altho that's not so vital as both are seaports and cruiser transports would be more efficient - if they can be spared.
Talking of which (AU), we should plant a base in the forest west of AU (northwest of Argos), as technically it is neutral territory right now (as is the whole wasteland north of OA and V V, up to Cape Wrath, and east of Sparta Command as well as southwest of Fort Superiority - see map below)
Attachment: 2161 neutral territories.jpg
This has been downloaded 16 time(s).
Last edited by Googlie on 05-03-2005 at 23:24
|
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
Zeiter
|
|
Regarding the air trannie idea, it sounds neat, but I don't know if it would be any better than just having a sea transport. As I understand it, we would be able to transport 1 unit per every 4 turns between Sector Craterwest and VE. But with a 7-movement sea transport we could transport 4 units per every 2 turns, could we not? And the sea transport is 1 min row cheaper. We'd just need to plan ahead a bit with the sea transport and move our units to the craterwest coast the turn before they get picked up. I just don't see the advantage right now of investing in an air transport.
Last edited by Zeiter on 05-03-2005 at 23:58
|
|
| |
All times are GMT. The time now is 05:16.
Apolyton Time is 00:16. |
top of page
|
|
|
Forum Rules:
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
|
HTML code is ON
vB code is ON
Smilies are ON
[IMG] code is ON
|
|
|
|
|
|
14-02-2005 01:53
I told you I didn't know much about computers. 
|
