BETA SECTION: TO PROTECT AND SERVE

INTRODUCTION

The characters are relaxing at Star Law HQ in Gozzorf City when they are alerted to a Sathar attack.  Quickly they respond by taking the Star Law Patrol ship up to the fight.  As the Sathar fleet destroys the space stations defenses, it becomes apparent they intend to invade.  The characters must slow down the Sathar in order to evacuate as many as possible to the safety of Gozzorf.

ALERT

The characters are currently assembled with the RIK liason officer RIK'Sst'Ik discussing local crime reports when they receive an alert message from the orbiting space station: "This is Larzat Station calling Star Law HQ!  We have detected multiple energy signatures consistant with Sathar capital ships 300,000 km from Kraatar on an intercept course!  We anticipate they'll be here in just over 30 minutes!"  RIK'Sst'Ik contacts his HQ and alerts them to the problem.  It takes the characters just over 10 min to reach the starport by aircar and launch.  As they escape gravity, the tactical situation is as follows:

SETUP

Kraatar: 2720 (hex #)

Larzat Station: 2622 moving clockwise

SLS Defiant (character's ship): 2620 moving away from Kraatar, speed 0

SAV Warmonger (Heavy Cruiser): 0220 heading for Kraatar, speed: 5 hexes/turn

SAV Pestilance (Assault Carrier): 0222 heading for Kraatar, speed: 5 hexes/turn

6 Sathar Fighters: hexes surrounding carrier, speed: 5 hexes/turn

SAV Plague (Assault Transport):  0121 heading for Kraatar, speed: 5 hexes/turn

Larzat Station:  HP 80 / ADF 0 / MR 0 / DCR 75 / Weapons: LB (Energy 2), RB (x6) (Rocket 2) / Defenses: RH, MS (x2), ICM (x6)

SLS Defiant: HP 30 / ADF 5 / MR 4 / DCR 60 / Weapons: AR (x5), LB (x2) / Defenses: RH, MS (x2), Masking Field, Reinforced Hull; (skills are per characters or NPC techs equal to Pilot 4, Rocket 2, Energy 2 (x2), Engineer 3)

SAV Warmonger: HP 100 / ADF 2 / MR 1 / DCR 175 / Weapons: LC (x3), PB (x2) (Energy 1), EB (x2) (Energy 1), LB (x6), T (x6) (Rocket 2), RB (x9), S (x3) / Defenses: RH, AP(h), Reinforced Hull, SS, ICM (x11)  (Due to lack of resupply the Sathar will avoid using torpedos, rocket batteries, ICMs); Pilot 6, Engineer 4 (This ship is a "new" Heavy Cruiser design of hull size 18 with 102-HP of weapons/defenses & may be replaced with a standard one)

SAV Pestilance: HP 75 / ADF 2 / MR 1 / DCR 150 / Weapons: LB (x2) (Energy 1 each), RB (x8), 6 Fighters / Defenses: RH, MS (x4), ICM (x10) Pilot 6, Engineer 2  (see above re: RB & ICM) (An "older" style Assault Carrier)

SAV Fighters: HP 8 / ADF 5 / MR 5 / DCR 30 / Weapons: AR (x3) / Defenses: RH (Since the carrier's stores are full they WILL use rockets) Pilot 2

SAV Plague: HP 60 / ADF 1 / MR 2 / DCR 90 / Weapons: LB (x2) / Defenses: RH; Pilot 4, Engineer 2, 1000 Troops, 10 Shuttles (cap. 20 with equip.)

Shuttles: HP 10 / ADF 4 / MR 4 / DCR 26 / Defenses: RH

TACTICS

The Sathar will focus on disabling the station's weapons and protecting the Assault Transport and Assault Carrier.  They want to capture it to use as an advanced supply depot as well as a jump off point to invade the planet.  After the weapons have been disabled, the Plague will send 5 shuttles with 100 troops to the station as it slows to begin docking procedures.  The fighters will protect the shuttles and attempt to destroy any non-Sathar trying to escape the station.  They will only aggressively attack the Defiant if it threatens the fighters or shuttles, since they will reley on the Warmonger to protect the other capital ships.  Once the station is helpless and realizes the situation the RIK forces there will call for the Defiant to dock and help repel the boarders while they evacuate to the planet.  In addition, three shuttles will launch from the planet to help evacuate the station.

NEW SHIPS

Star Law Ship Defiant:  Star Law Patrol Class Starship;  HS 4,  HP 30,  Length: 75 meters, Width: 12 meters, Wingspan: 48 meters,  Hatches: 2,  DCR 60, 2 Atomic Type "A" Engines: ADF 4 / MR 5,  Weapons: 2 Laser Batteries, 5 Assault Rockets,  Internal Machine Gun and Heavy Laser; Defenses: Reflective Hull, Reinforced Hull, Masking Screen (2), Masking Field, Skin Sensors, Camera System, Level 6 Security Locks, Subspace and Videocom Radios, Radar and Energy Sensors, WNB, Starship Deluxe Astrogation, Life Support 20 Main / 20 Backup, 4 Escape Pods, 10-Man Launch, 2 Workpods, Bridge detaches in emergency to become a "Special" Lifeboat for 16 people for 40 hrs., Brig for up to 4 prisoners.  This ship is an advanced design which is how it can land on planets.

Assault Transport:  HS 10,  HP 60,  Length: 240 meters, Width: 40 meters,  Hatches: 3 plus shuttle bays, DCR 90, 3 Ion Type "B" Engines: ADF 1 / MR 2, Weapons: 2 Laser Batteries, Defenses: Reflective Hull, 10 HS 2 Shuttles each carries 20 troops with equipment, 1000 Troops.

Once the characters have docked at Larzat Station use the commercial deck section.  The characters enter from the elevator.  There will be 20 Sathar troops (STR/STA: 40/40, DEX/RS: 40/40, INT/LOG: 45/45, PER/LDR: 45/65) with 2nd Beam Weapons skills entering from the left side of the map.  They will be armed with laser rifles set at 4 SEU with 2 extra clips and albedo suits under their spacesuits.  There are 3 RIK Vrusk security using the clothing store, Frontier lounge, and souvenir shop for cover.  Their stats are as follows:  STR/STA: 50/50, DEX/RS: 60/60, INT/LOG: 50/45, PER/LDR: 45/45, Beam Weapons 3, Thrown Weapons 2, Melee Weapons 2, Martial Arts 2.  They have laser rifles with power beltpacks and albedo suits.  If the characters wish, they may use Spacesuits with spacesuit armor instead of screens, but it must be stated before entering the station.  Once these Sathar have been dealt with, the final citizens will be leaving and the characters can retreat to their ship.  The shuttles will be limited to moving one hex at a time to get into position to land on the planet and they should travel 2 hexes before entering the planet in order to align themselves for approach.  After they "enter" the planet they will be safe from attack.  Until then, the Defiant will have to protect them from any fighters.