War Games - Edited 11-9-2018

I spent the next few days sorting through the additional data that was ‘gifted’ to me, now that I could grasp the new mathematics. We would have a big advantage if our Sol brethren decided to attack. At this point, we didn’t know what to expect from them. That was part of why we were going through this base building scenario.

Nothing was jumping out at me as anything we needed “right now,” so I was sending most of it to Hera. Personal shield devices were one I really liked. The problem is that they only prevented energy damage. Kinetic force could still get through, so armor plating would still be needed for any of our combatants. I did notice that the ship suit I had designed in-game was being issued for replacements for all combat personnel. That made me smile a bit.

“Lieutenant Jax, please assemble your design team at your assigned meeting room. You will be meeting a defense team there. Your outpost design has passed the preliminary stages, and we will be setting you up for defense from each of the other teams. You will then have the opportunity to breach their defenses.” The XOs voice came in over the speakers in my quarters just as I was getting ready for rack time.

Neith, send a message to the team that we need to prove our designs, and that we were just informed by the XO.

Understood.

I put my uniform back on and headed to the conference room. I wasn’t the last to arrive, so bonus points for me.

“Commander Watson! Lieutenant Jax reporting as ordered, sir! I have sent a message to inform my team that we will be tested today. The remaining Spacers should be arriving shortly.” I noticed that Janssens and Turing were part of the assigned Defense Team.

“Thank you, Jax. Can you provide a brief outline of your outpost?”

“Sir, we set up several dummy power generation stations to hide the location of the real station or stations. Defensive drones are available to assist the defenders. A landing field is set up for cargo drops near one side of the outpost. Fuel for cargo is on the other side with an underground tram for delivery. There is anti-air as well as ground-based, anti-personnel defenses. Near the landing field is the primary sensors station. The secondary and tertiary are near the front gate and command post.”

We entered the room, and I pulled up a holographic copy of the plans on the table.

“As you can see we have barracks underground to prevent attacks using biological or chemical warfare. We have a separate residential block here,” I was pointing near the landing area. “This is built for any visiting dignitaries. We have a different residential area for the outpost command staff. Last, we have a second barracks area here with the commissary here.”

“Thank you for the layout. I noticed several buildings you didn’t mention?”

“Drone factories.” I shrugged. “With the proper warning which the sensors should give, a single squad of techs could potentially hold off several hundred.”

The XO barked a laugh.

“I like your confidence. Let’s check, shall we?”

“Sir, I know several of the Marines here. None of them are techs.”

“Are you volunteering?”

“I suppose I am, sir,” I said with a sigh.

The rest of my team had arrived at this point.

“Sir, would you like my entire team to connect up and defend instead of the Marines?”

Janssens was having a hard time keeping the grin off his face. Looking at the rest of my team, he wasn’t the only one.

“Are you sure you want to take that bet?”

“Yes, sir. What are your terms?”

“Oh, terms? Yes, let’s do it this way, then. You lose, and we get access to all of the data that you have. I know you haven’t turned over everything, and we’re not worried about it, yet. In fact, Hera is grateful for everything you HAVE turned over. It is going to allow us to defend ourselves and protect ourselves much easier.”

“Right, and if I win?”

“Your team gets to design a new assault craft.”

My team let out a series of small cheers.

“You’re on, sir.”

We sat down and plugged in, Turing and Janssens joining in caused the XO to start laughing.

“Now I know why you’re so damned sure of yourself.”

I just smiled. After several minutes of small talk and waiting my vision did the familiar black then a single node of light filling everything.

We were on what seemed to be an asteroid. Gravity was about .15 G, which was great because it makes everything lighter. It, unfortunately, has the side effect of fucking with your center of gravity and leverage. Looking at the layout in front of us, we appeared to have spawned in one of the sensor towers.

Neith, can you contact the base intelligence and verify it recognizes us as friendly?

-Done.-

Thanks. Can you patch a minimap into the top right corner of my HUD? Also, when we hit the armory, I’ll need an ammo count as well.

-Setting ship suit to Duty Uniform MK-II beta, ammo counter will be available as part of the standard issued gear.-

“Everyone! Check in with you NIs to see if they can set you to a Duty Uniform MK-II ship suit. Also, check in with the outpost intelligence to validate friend or foe status.”

I started the awkward low-G jog/hop to the armory in the nearest barracks area.

Establish a connection to the drone fabs, please. I want some of the M1K33 shield units with a Heavy built up as part of my kit.

“Gunny,” I sent through local comms. “You and Janssens are on AA. Before they land, get your drones queued up!”

I found my preferred loadout. A Taishi Ci battle rifle with one of my modded stocks and short barrels. I pulled a dozen magazines loaded with some AP rounds. Not the Depleted Uranium rounds that I had used on “Escort,” but a standard armor piercer. The DU’s would only be useful if our invaders brought armor. I then grabbed a modified gauss pistol, two EMP grenades, and a phosphorous grenade. I then made sure that I had a mono-blade. My arm was a default model, so I didn’t have any of my built-in utilities.

“I’m geared up! Headed to the landing field. I’m running with two shields and a weapons platform. Torres, I want you in the command bunker with the Senior Chief. Asimov, secondary sensors. Make sure we don’t lose the link with the base intelligence. Werner, secondary drone fab. Yavuz, you and Marques hit the residential areas. You two decide who goes where. CBs, warehouses. Jorges’ ammo dump. Take Thorisdottir.”

“Understood, give the signal when we want to switch on the welcoming lights,” Torres called out.

The holo-display must have shown us all hit the armories then scatter like roaches. As I was jogging to the landing fields, I was joined first by a shield drone, then the heavy weapons platform and then the last shield drone. I hopped on the first shield drone and hitched a ride.

As I approached the landing field, I noticed several landing craft coming in. I watched as a single laser lit up on the lead craft for just over a second, then the ship turned into a fireball. Two more AA lasers then opened fire. Again, a single pulse just about a second long was all it took to turn the landers into wreckage.

Next, the invaders tried to take out the AA lasers with missiles. Again, a quick pulse was all it took to take them out. This time, however, the pulses weren’t even long enough to register, then the AA took out the craft that launched the missiles. Finally, a third wave came in using a stealth craft.

“Should we let them in this time? By my count they are down 0-90.” came in from the Gunny.

“Not yet. Let them walk in. That way they will be down 0-135, pissed and tired.”

“I agree with Janssens on this one, light ‘em up!”

Another set of pulses. This time the light refracted off the hull.

“If you have a heavy weapons drone, go full kinetic!”

I set my drone to track the nearest craft.

*CRACK* *CRACK* *CRACK*

The three rounds launched from my heavy drone at a speed that surprised even me, and I had designed them. The explosion was already blooming from the ship by the time I heard the cannon rounds breaking the sound barrier. The thin atmosphere muffled the noise drastically.

Did you help the tracking?

Yes.

Okay, that explains that. A moment later there was another shot that was fired, and a second after that another shot followed by an explosion. The third craft almost made it to the perimeter. Then, another set of anti-air reports and explosion.

“What percent ‘c’ did you all have your drones set to?” Asimov called in.

“I was at 50%,” I responded.

I heard responses of 65% and 40% from the Marines.

“Let them through if they’re on foot.” I sent to my team. “They will need to hike to get here. If they keep coming through the air, keep shooting them down.”

Neith, let’s make this interesting. Throw a “kill counter” up there for us. Link it up to everyone. Set it with total, a dash, and then personal counter.

Done.

“What’s with the numbers in my HUD?” Takeshi was the first to respond.

“I asked Neith to keep score for us. Total number downed then personal numbers downed. He linked up with your NIs, and if you have a kill count on your HUDs, then your NI agreed.”

“Wait the NI can do that?” the Gunny asked

“Yeah, didn’t you ask yours to help configure your HUDs? Ask for an ammo counter and a mini-map.”

A series of “whoop”-ing and exclamations of joy and came in through the comms.

We fended off two more aerial assaults before we were at the point where we had to cycle back indoors to refill our air. After cycling through we finally got some action from boots on the ground.

“Sensors are showing on two platoons with heavy weapons three klicks outside the western zone.” The call came in from Asimov.

“Okay, building a set of sensor relay drones to send out and verify. Someone get eyes out on the East and South. We want to make sure that it is just them. They seem a platoon shy if we go by the threes they had sent in earlier.” I called out into comms.

I didn’t need to.

“I’m here and watching with Takeshi,” Riviera called into comms. “Nothing yet. Scratch that. I have some movement that shouldn’t be there. Thermals are showing temperature discrepancies. They have stealth suits. Tell me when we want to open up.”

I sent out a request for another couple of drones with a stealth detection package. The first set of sensor relay drones were on their way over towards the point where we detected the first two platoons.

“Ma’am they’re almost at the perimeter,” Takeshi called out.

“Did anyone equip an anti-materiel rifle? I would love for a sniper to start taking them out.”

I was greeted by silence.

“Okay then. Takeshi, Riviera, what package did you put on your drones?”

“Two heavies and a shield for me, two shields and a heavy for Riviera.”

“Okay, set them up and start taking pot shots to keep them down. The second sensor drone with the stealth detection packages is almost done. I’m sending the first over now.”

The counter increased by three right before I heard the muffled report of the drone.

“NICE!” I shouted over comms. “There’s a second drone headed your way, Riviera.”

I then queued up another six drones and set them to automatically deploy to the other sides of the base.

The invaders were being whittled down slowly. They had dug in a little outside of the perimeters which would make it difficult for us to get to them without leaving our own fortification.

We cycled through the buildings to recharge our air once more, just to ensure that we were topped up if this became a protracted battle. Regardless of us attacking them or them coming to us, due to air limitations they would be dead in three more hours if they didn’t win the scenario.

“Asimov keep eyes on the area. Let us know if anyone else is going to join in. Torres get ready to turn on the anti-personnel measures. Takeshi, Riviera keep an eye on the stealth group. The drones have picked up a stealth field generator, so take that out when you feel like it. Turing, back them up. Janssens, take Jameson, Jorges, and Marques around the primary group and let’s catch them in a pincer. Yavuz, Watson, Thorisdottir, you’re with me. Bring your drones and meet at the secondary barracks.

After an hour of us waiting for a change in circumstance, the invading team finally made a move. Perhaps the invaders realized that life support was limited. One advantage of the sensors drones was they could detect the radio chatter. We noticed a significant uptick in the radio traffic, so we were ready for them when they moved.

“The amount of radio chatter sounds like they’re getting ready to push. Go! Go! Go!”

I was walking with the two shield drones in front of me with the heavy drone offset to the side. This way I could fall behind a shield if necessary. Yavuz and Watson were doing similar. Thorisdottir had a set up with two shield drones and a sensor drone but didn’t have a battle rifle. Instead, he was equipped with a heavy assault rifle.

The gunfire started up in the distance. My mini-map showed the conflict happening. Janssens group was slowly pushing them towards us, a few of the invaders being marked as dead as it happened. We were around a “corner” in the landscape from them. Some rocks on the surface having hidden our approach.

“EMP grenades first.” I pulled back my drones a few yards just to be safe. “Grenades OUT!”

Four EMP grenades went flying from my group just as the invading team came around the blind only to have grenades land at their feet. The *THUMP* was much more muffled than I had experienced prior, then ten of the invaders were down. The remaining 12 then tried to hunker down. I pushed my drones forward. My mini-map showing the fallen soldiers as neutralized, not dead.

“Take them out as we pass.”

The shield drones all formed into ranks to create a long bulletproof wall. We advanced, taking shots at those on the ground, dazed from the EMP grenades. The kill counter rose continuously.

“The stealth group is advancing, taking out the generators now,” Takeshi called

The hollow markers suddenly filled in with red marking them as hostile.

“We have two more groups coming in from the North, requesting anti-personnel measures,” Asimov called out.

“Torres, you heard him.”

“Aye-aye, Ma’am!” the response was quick.

A stampede of red markers stormed the outpost from the “north.” As quickly as they approached the grounds, they died. The anti-personnel laser guns didn’t even need to concentrate fire for long enough to become visible. They had no idea where they were getting shot from.

The numbers quickly fell from 12 in the group we were advancing on to just one person who surrendered. The stealth team was taken out almost as fast, and the stampede of red didn’t even manage to make it within 50 meters of the grounds.

In front of my vision, a glowing notice appeared. “Victory.” It was short, simple and to the point. When comparing our numbers later, Torres came out ahead. The anti-personnel turrets took out 92 persons. I had a respectable 17. The lowest numbers were “0” from Asimov and Yavuz who didn’t control anything that took out an invader.

War Games - Original

I spent the next few days sorting through the additional data that was ‘gifted’ to me, now that I could grasp the new mathematics. We would have a big advantage if our Sol brethren decided to attack. At this point we didn’t know what to expect from them. That was part of why we were going through this base building scenario.

Nothing was jumping out at me as anything we needed “right now”, so I was sending most of it to Hera. Personal shield devices were one I really liked. The problem is that they only prevented energy damage. Kinetic force could still get through, so armor plating would still be needed for any of our combatants. I did notice that the ship suit I had designed in game was being issued for replacements for all combat personnel. That made me smile a bit.

“Lieutenant Jax, please assemble your design team at your assigned meeting room. You will be meeting a defense team there. Your outpost design has passed the preliminary stages and we will be setting you up for defense from each of the other teams. You will then have the opportunity to breach their defenses.” The XOs voice came in over the speakers in my quarters just as I was getting ready for rack time.

Neith, send a message to the team that we need to prove our designs, and that we were just informed by the XO.

Understood.

I put my uniform back on and headed to the conference room. I wasn’t the last to arrive, so bonus points for me.

“Commander Watson! Lieutenant Jax reporting as ordered, sir! I have sent a message to inform my team that we will be tested today. The remaining Spacers should be arriving shortly.” I noticed that Janssens and Turing were part of the assigned Defense Team.

“Thank you, Jax. Can you provide a brief outline of your outpost?”

“Sir, we set up several dummy power generation stations to hide the location of the real station or stations. Defensive drones are available to assist the defenders. A landing field is set up for cargo drops near one side of the outpost. Fuel for cargo is on the other side with an underground tram for delivery. There are anti-air as well as ground based, anti-personnel defenses. Near the landing field is the primary sensors station. The secondary and tertiary are near the front gate and command post.”

We entered the room and I pulled up a holographic copy of the plans on the table.

“As you can see we have barracks underground to prevent attacks using biological or chemical warfare. We have a separate residential block here,” I was pointing near the landing area. “This is built for any visiting dignitaries. We have a different residential area for the outpost command staff. Last, we have a second barracks area here with the commissary here.”

“Thank you for the lay out. I noticed several buildings you didn’t mention?”

“Drone factories.” I shrugged. “With proper warning that the sensors should give, a single squad of techs could potentially hold off several hundred.”

The XO barked a laugh.

“I like your confidence. Let’s check, shall we?”

“Sir, I know several of the Marines here. None of them are techs.”

“Are you volunteering?”

“I suppose I am, sir.” I said with a sigh.

The rest of my team had arrived at this point.

“Sir, would you like my entire team to connect up and defend instead of the Marines?”

Janssens was having a hard time keeping the grin off his face. Looking at the rest of my team, he wasn’t the only one.

“Are you sure you want to take that bet?”

“Yes sir. What are your terms?”

“Oh, terms? Yes, let’s do it this way, then. You lose, and we get access to all of the data that you have. I know you haven’t turned over everything, and we’re not worried about it, yet. In fact, Hera is grateful for everything you HAVE turned over. It is going to allow us to defend ourselves and protect ourselves much easier.”

“Right, and if I win?”

“Your team gets to design a new assault craft.”

My team let out a series of small cheers.

“You’re on, sir.”

We sat down and plugged in, Turing and Janssens joining in caused the XO to start laughing.

“Now I know why you’re so damned sure of yourself.”

I just smiled. After a several minutes of small talk and waiting my vision did the familiar black then a single node of light filling everything.

We were on what seemed to be an asteroid. Gravity was about .15 G, which was great because it makes everything lighter. It unfortunately has the side effect of fucking with your center of gravity and leverage. Looking at the layout in front of us, we appeared to have spawned in one of the sensor towers.

Neith, can you contact the base intelligence and verify it recognizes us as friendly?

Done.

Thanks. Can you patch a mini map into the top right corner of my HUD? Also, when we hit the armory, I’ll need an ammo count as well.

Setting ship suit to Duty Uniform MK-II beta, ammo counter will be available as part of standard issued gear.

“Everyone! Check in with you NIs to see if they can set you to a Duty Uniform MK-II ship suit. Also check in with the outpost intelligence to validate friend or foe status.”

I started the awkward low-G jog/hop to the armory in the nearest barracks area.

Establish a connection to the drone fabs, please. I want some of the M1K33 shield units with the a Heavy built up as part of my kit.

“Gunny,” I sent through local comms. “You and Janssens are on AA. Before they land, get your drones queued up!”

I found my preferred load out. A Taishi Ci battle rifle with one of my modded stocks and short barrels. I pulled a dozen magazines loaded with some AP rounds. Not the Depleted Uranium rounds that I had used on “Escort”, but a standard armor piercer. The DU’s would only be good if our invaders brought armor. I then grabbed a modified gauss pistol, two EMP grenades, and a phosphorous grenade. I then made sure that I had a mono-blade. My arm was a default model, so I didn’t have any of my built-in utilities.

“I’m geared up! Headed to the landing field. I’m running with two shields and a weapons platform. Torres, I want you in the command bunker with the Senior Chief. Asimov, secondary sensors. Make sure we don’t lose link with the base intelligence. Werner, secondary drone fab. Yavuz, you and Marques hit the residential areas. You two decide who goes where. CBs, warehouses. Jorges’ ammo dump. Take Thorisdottir.”

“Understood, give the signal when we want to switch on the welcoming lights.” Torres called out.

The holo-display must have shown us all hit the armories then scatter like roaches. As I was jogging to the landing fields, I was joined first by a shield drone, then the heavy weapons platform and then the last shield drone. I hopped on the first shield drone and hitched a ride.

As I approached the landing field, I noticed several landing craft coming in. I watched as a single laser lit up on the lead craft for just over a second, then the craft turned into a fireball. Two more AA lasers then opened fire. Again, a single pulse just about a second long was all it took to turn the landers into wreckage.

Next, the invaders tried to take out the AA lasers with missiles. Again, a quick pulse was all it took to take them out. This time, however the pulses weren’t even long enough to register, then the AA took out the craft that launched the missiles. Finally, a third wave came in using a stealth craft.

“Should we let them in this time? By my count they are down 0-90.” came in from the Gunny.

“Not yet. Let them walk in. That way they will be down 0-135, pissed and tired.”

“I agree with Janssens on this one, light ‘em up!”

Another set of pulses. This time the light refracted off the hull.

“If you have a heavy weapons drone, go full kinetic!”

I set my drone to track the nearest craft.

*CRACK* *CRACK* *CRACK*

The three rounds launched from my heavy drone at a speed that surprised even me, and I had designed them. The explosion was already blooming from the ship by the time I heard the cannon rounds breaking the sound barrier. The thin atmosphere muffled the noise drastically.

Did you help the tracking?

Yes.

Okay, that explains that. A moment later there was another crack that missed, and a second after that a crack followed by an explosion. The third craft almost made it to the perimeter. Another crack and explosion.

“What percent ‘c’ did you all have your drones set to?” Asimov called in.

“I was at 50%.” I responded.

I heard responses of 65% and 40% from the Marines.

“Let them through if they’re on foot.” I sent to my team. “They will need to hike to get here. If they keep coming through the air, keep shooting them down.”

Neith, let’s make this interesting. Throw a “kill counter” up there for us. Link it up to everyone. Set it with total, a dash, and then personal counter.

Done.

“What’s with the numbers in my HUD?” Takeshi was the first to respond.

“I asked Neith to keep score for us. Total number downed then personal numbers downed. He linked up with your NIs and if you have a kill count on your HUDs, then your NI agreed.”

“Wait the NI can do that?” the Gunny asked

“Yeah, didn’t you ask yours to help configure your HUDs? Ask for an ammo counter and a mini-map.”

A series of “whoop”-ing and exclamations of joy and came in through the comms.

We fended off two more aerial assaults before we were at the point where we had to cycle back indoors to refill our air. After cycling through we finally got some action from boots on the ground.

“Sensors are showing on two platoons with heavy weapons three klicks outside the western zone.” The call came in from Asimov.

“Okay, building a set of sensor relay drones to send out and verify. Someone get eyes out on the East and South. We want to make sure that it is just them. They seem a platoon shy if we go by the threes they were sending in earlier.” I called out into comms.

I didn’t need to.

“I’m here and watching with Takeshi.” Riviera called into comms. “Nothing yet. Scratch that. I have some movement that shouldn’t be there. Thermals are showing temperature discrepancies. They have stealth suits. Tell me when we want to open up.”

I sent out a request for another couple of drones with a stealth detection package. The first set of sensor relay drones were on their way over towards the point where we detected the first two platoons.

“Ma’am they’re almost at the perimeter.” Takeshi called out.

“Did anyone equip an anti-materiel rifle? I would love for a sniper to start taking them out.”

I was greeted by silence.

“Okay then. Takeshi, Riviera, what package did you put on your drones?”

“Two heavies and a shield for me, two shields and a heavy for Riviera.”

“Okay, set them up and start taking pot shots to keep them down. The second sensor drone with the stealth detection packages is almost done. I’m sending the first over now.”

The counter increased by three right before I heard the muffled report of the drone.

“NICE!” I shouted over comms. “Second drone headed your way, Riviera.”

I then queued up another six drones and set them to automatically deploy to the other sides of the base.

The invaders were being whittled down slowly. They had dug in a little outside of the perimeters which would make it difficult for us to get to them without leaving our own fortification.

We cycled through the buildings to recharge our air once more, just to ensure that we were topped up if this became a protracted battle. Regardless of us attacking them or them coming to us, due to air limitations they would be dead in three more hours if they didn’t win the scenario.

“Asimov keep eyes on the area. Let us know if anyone else is going to join in. Torres get ready to turn on the anti-personnel measures. Takeshi, Riviera keep an eye on the stealth group. The drones have picked up stealth field generator, so take that out when you feel like it. Turing, back them up. Janssens, take Jameson, Jorges and Marques around the primary group and let’s catch them in a pincer. Yavuz, Watson, Thorisdottir, you’re with me. Bring your drones and meet at the secondary barracks.

After an hour of us waiting for a change in circumstance, the invading team finally made a move. Perhaps they realized they had limited air. One advantage of the sensors drones was they could detect the radio chatter. We noticed a large uptick in the radio traffic, so we were ready for them when they moved.

“The amount of radio chatter sounds like they’re getting ready to push. Go! Go! Go!”

I was walking with the two shield drones in front of me with the heavy drone offset to the side. This way I could fall behind a shield if necessary. Yavuz and Watson were doing similar. Thorisdottir had a set up with two shield drones and a sensor drone but didn’t have a battle rifle. Instead he was equipped with a heavy assault rifle.

The gunfire started up in the distance. My mini-map showed the conflict happening. Janssens group was slowly pushing them towards us, a few of the invaders being marked as dead as it happened. We were around a “corner” in the landscape from them. Some rocks on the surface having hidden our approach.

“EMP grenades first.” I pulled back my drones a few yards just to be safe. “Grenades OUT!”

Four EMP grenades went flying from my group just as the invading team came around the blind only to have grenades land at their feet. The *THUMWP* was much more muffled than I had experienced prior, then ten of the invaders were down. The remaining 12 then tried to hunker down. I pushed my drones forward. My mini-map showing the fallen soldiers as neutralized, not dead.

“Take them out as we pass.”

The shield drones all formed into ranks to create a long bulletproof wall. We advanced, taking shots at those on the ground, dazed from the EMP grenades. The kill counter rose continuously.

“The stealth group is advancing, taking out the generators now.” Takeshi called

The hollow markers suddenly filled in with red marking them as hostile.

“We have two more groups coming in from the North, requesting anti-personnel measures.” Asimov called out.

“Torres, you heard him.”

“Aye-aye, Ma’am!” the response was quick.

A stampede of red markers stormed the outpost from the “north”. As quickly as they approached the grounds, they died. The laser anti-personnel guns didn’t even need to concentrate fire for long enough to become visible. They had no idea where they were getting shot from.

The numbers quickly fell from 12 in the group we were advancing on to just one person who surrendered. The stealth team was taken out almost as quickly, and the stampede of red didn’t even manage to make it within 50 meters of the grounds.

In front of my vision a glowing notice appeared. “Victory”. It was short, simple and to the point. When comparing our numbers later, Torres came out ahead. The anti-personnel turrets took out 92 persons. I had a respectable 17. The lowest numbers were “0” from Asimov and Yavuz who didn’t control anything that took out an invader.