[Flak]

From what I can assume, it could be just another funny fleet, like Fura/Zy. If it is really a 'sealed evil in a can' Aleyurian or Fir'kyr, I'd assume they are going to be hostile to everyone, like the Nightmares perhaps.

[Lorric]

The moment I'm getting back into the game another ?-fleet is closing in... ??  The last time that happened I got a 100% instant kill 

Anyway tell me what you think I should do and which trait to choose. I'll be off for a week from tomorrow on in some rural japanese areas and I'm not sure about that mobile internet connection

I will try to chew over this stuff tomorrow, but for now, I would go to Polaris and prepare your barrage.

Logistics or aggressive leader for the special. I’d take logistics as this could potentially be a major invasion (supernova a system and open a portal just to let one fleet in?), and if so, we’ll need to be cycling fleets in and out of the front quickly.

Oh, and there are three other full strength fleets that can go to Polaris with you, so we don’t have to entertain the idea of letting them take the system.

[niffiwan]

Holding all the fleets back from Polaris has merit. e.g. 2nd DD (prep barrage) + 3rd CRF defend Sol, 1st CRF defends Formalhaut, 4th SF resupplies to 100/100.  As far as I can see, that gives the ? fleet the following options:

1) take Polaris; we can get in a 1st strike next turn with 3x 100% fleets, with one fleet in reserve
2) double moves to Sol or Formalhaut; we can only hit them with two fleets, but that's still a pretty good 1st strike and the other two will catch up next turn and cut off their supply lines
3) double move to Cordia; we can't attack them, then the question is open as to whether we let them have the 1st attack by moving 3x fleets onto them, or if we try holding off another turn
4) do something nasty to Polaris, like a supernova; this is the only option that I think would cause us real trouble.

Anyway - if we go with something like this, we can still destroy a Cordi fleet with the 1st DD + 2nd CSF + 2nd SF + 2nd SF blitz on a single fleet (1st SF retreats conventionally & resupplies).

The only question is - when does the 4th CRF & 2nd LSF return?  If one of them is due back next turn, perhaps it's better to concentrate more on the Cordi this turn, knowing that we'll have 4x fleets near Sol next turn even without the 1st CRF hanging back?

Anyway tell me what you think I should do and which trait to choose. I'll be off for a week from tomorrow on in some rural japanese areas and I'm not sure about that mobile internet connection

How about defend Sol & prepare barrage?  As for a trait... it's a tricky question.  Assuming you retain Inspirational Leader, Master in Logistics or Breakthrough specialist seem good to me, so that you can repair faster & cheaper, or escape without taking damage.  Aggressive leader is also good though, Fortification expert is the only one I think I'd recommend against, I haven't seen many successful defence actions so far.

[Lorric]

You never know, we may need the delay conquering Polaris will give us sometime. The fact is, if they break us and have already taken Polaris, a move to Sol and a capture and we've lost.

It's one fleet. I do not want us to cower before one fleet. Look at the flag fleet, even that doesn't have scary damage output all by itself. Worst case, we just move the 4th CRF in to take someone's place next turn.

[niffiwan]

Aren't you the slightest bit concerned that it's "just one fleet"? If this were a major invasion surely they'd have three fleets ready to come through the portal? And haven't the hierarchy already thrown their last reserves at us? (crap - I thought Spoon said this somewhere, but I can't find the quote, and I gotta leave the PC now and head to the dreaded family Christmas Eve Dinner of Doom  )

[Enioch]

As a Christmas present every admiral goes one rank up.
Happy holidays and stuff

Every Admiral?

Oh, goody. 

Breakthrough Specialist please.

I'm thinking I should double resupply? Maybe? That would bring me to 200(F)/ 180(C). I could take a Doomstack attack+Kamikaze to the face and still come out fighting (I think).

And it seems like the Kamikaze only happens when the Nordera have taken a pounding but are not quite dead yet. Spoon's way of telling us 'do not ignore those fleets, you can't avoid focusing fire on them, or they'll take you apart for the Hertak to munch on'.

[Jellyfish]

What if the ? is a

Spoiler:

Shivan fleet?

[Lepanto]

Curse you, Spoon, for putting us in suspense with that mystery fleet! CUUUUURSE YOUUUUU! 

Anyway, unless it's something REALLY nasty, we've easily got enough fleet strength to stop it with 3 fleets + the 4th CRF, without pulling fleets out of other theaters. Guys, it was touch and go for a while, but unless something really bad happens, I think victory is in sight.

Master of Logistics, please.

[Lorric]

First thing’s first, I’m taking Breakthrough Specialist. Breakthrough Specialist along with my Master in Logistics gives a fleet a lot of tactical flexibility.

I'm not scared of one fleet. Look at the Hertak Flag fleet, we could handle that quite easily if it was all on it's own. I'll start getting nervous if this ? Fleet is simply the first of many. It's a lot of trouble to go to to supernova a system to open a portal just to grant passage to one fleet. But we have lots of fleets capable of heading to Polaris and the 4th CRF showing up in Sol next turn. Even fleets fighting in Aldebaran can go straight to Polaris if necessary if things really start getting ugly.

Don’t quote me on it, but I think Spoon said something like “I’m running out of fleets I can use.” I can use. He couldn’t use whatever can come through that portal when he said that. I’ve always operated under the assumption that he doesn’t have all his pieces on the board.

I am thinking the 1st and 3rd CRF Fleets should move into Polaris. This will require Veers to change orders. The 2nd DD should prepare barrage and move into Polaris also. The 4th CRF will be on hand next turn. If the ? Fleet attacks, it will take damage, and then we can hit it back with a devastating counterattack, by switching whoever gets attacked out for the 4th CRF.

Next, the 4th SF should double Resupply and the 1st SF get out of there and Resupply. I suggest Virgo the destination.

For my front, I would try to push on and secure it, so the 1st DD will join us in the attack:

2nd CRF Fleet:
- Fighter attack strength: 20+9=29 (16+2+3)
- Capital attack strength: 18+10=28 (17+3)
- Fighters at 92% Strength, 3rd Gen
- Capital ships at 90% Strength
- Morale: Zealous

Delest Defense: 3/3
1st DD Fleet:
- Fighter attack strength: 20+9=29 (18+2)
- Capital attack strength: 17+10+4=31 (17)
- Fighters at 100% Strength, 3rd Gen
- Capital ships at 100% Strength
- Morale: Normal
- Inspirational Leader
- Barrage prepared

2nd SF Fleet:
- Fighter attack strength: 20+8=28 (18+5+1)
- Capital attack strength: 15+10=25 (18+1)
- Fighters at 79% Strength, 4th Gen
- Capital ships at 78% Strength
- Morale: High

vs.

6th Cordi Fleet:
Fighter attack strength: 14 (20)
Capital attack strength: 10 (12)
Fighters at 72% Strength
Capital ships at 83% Strength
Morale: Normal

We do 84 damage. It dies. That Barrage will be put to crucial use. This I think is the better choice than the 1st CRF. The 1st CRF is significantly stronger than the 1st DD, we would do 84 damage with the 1st CRF here also, but I think that powerful fleet will be better off in the back that at this little mop up. Though I don’t mind if there is a switch, since the destruction of the Cordi is accomplished either way.

For the bottom, Let us first take a look at the maximum Doomstack attack:

Hertak Flag Fleet:
Fighter attack strength: 25+18=43 (25)
Capital attack strength: 35+13=48 (35)
Fighters at 156% Strength
Capital ships at 456% Strength
Morale: Normal

1st Fura'ngle Fleet:
Fighter attack strength: 12+8=20 (16)
Capital attack strength: 16+6=22 (20)
Fighters at 66% Strength
Capital ships at 72% Strength
Morale: Normal

4th Hertak Fleet:
Fighter attack strength: 19+14=31 (22)
Capital attack strength: 28+10=38 (30)
Morale: Normal
Fighters at 87% Strength
Capital ships at 92% Strength

108 capital ship damage.

Someone is going to die if the Doomstack delivers an attack. But there is a way to avoid this, and we do the killing instead.

Andrew took Draco. Which means they can’t attack into Vega because they’ll have to use a turn securing Draco. The Hierarchy can pile into Vega though, but they can’t attack.

Here’s what I would do. The 3rd DD can recover 100/100, niffiwan can take Breakthrough Specialist and flee to Vega. Andrew takes Breakthrough Specialist, and flees all the way to Aquarius. He is joined there by the 1st LSF, which prepares Combined Arms. The 2nd SF Resupplys and waits.

So in Vega we’ll have a super strong force next turn. Strong enough to obliterate the 4th Hertak in one attack, should it enter Vega, in which case niffiwan leaves, 1st LSF returns and attacks with the 3rd DD + 2nd SF.

Now the Hierarchy might go to Odin instead. What I need is the 1st CSA to Secure Odin this turn. No Hierarchy ships are in range for a counterattack, but they can fill the system. Breakthrough Specialist is advised to be taken by the 1st CSA so it can leave without taking any damage. Taking Odin is vital. Because the Hierarchy will be stalled by having to take Odin the turn after. Which will give us time to array our forces in Aquarius to deliver a devastating attack, as the best they could do is take Odin then move into Tamy. Then we’d storm in and kill them.

If the Hierarchy settles into Draco, we can just pull back to arrange our super stack in Aquarius. If they then move into Vega we wipe someone out.

The Hierarchy could get cute and keep a system between us so they get to attack first. In that case, we stall them until we have a new ultimate doomstack, consisting of a full strength 3rd DD and a full strength 1st and 2nd UGCR. That could absorb the first strike, then we smash them with the counter.

If the Hierarchy goes North, we take their supply line and crush them all in a pincer.

[Jellyfish]

Virgo? That ? Fleet is too close to Sol for comfort. I'd move to Polaris, then Resupply there.

[Flak]

To avoid casualties from doomstack, we need two prongs. The first is of course the fleets to assault part of the doomstack fleet itself, hopefully killing it off. The second group need to assault and stall the reinforcement fleets so they cannot replace the lost fleets in the doomstack.

[CommanderDJ]

I've been away from home for the past few days and won't get ack till towards the end of the week. dunno when the deadline is but if I don't.make it other SF admirals are free to make my moves for me.

[Lorric]

I thought cancelling the mercs would take an action, but if it doesn't, Andrew should cancel his mercs also.

And please, one of Veers or AdmiralRalwood, please change your orders to killing the 6th Cordi. I'd prefer the other one of you to go to Polaris also, but the important thing is killing the 6th Cordi, and you don't both need to be there.

I've been away from home for the past few days and won't get ack till towards the end of the week. dunno when the deadline is but if I don't.make it other SF admirals are free to make my moves for me.

I think you'll be alright. It was only yesterday when Spoon put up the turn, he got delayed.

[Veers]

AdmiralRalwood, ill let you decide otherwise Ill change my orders to attacking th 6th Cordi.

[Lorric]

AdmiralRalwood, ill let you decide otherwise Ill change my orders to attacking th 6th Cordi.

Thanks Veers.

[AdmiralRalwood]

And please, one of Veers or AdmiralRalwood, please change your orders to killing the 6th Cordi. I'd prefer the other one of you to go to Polaris also, but the important thing is killing the 6th Cordi, and you don't both need to be there.

Someone's going to have to move out of Aldebaran first; the 1st and 2nd SF haven't taken their moves yet.

[Lorric]

And please, one of Veers or AdmiralRalwood, please change your orders to killing the 6th Cordi. I'd prefer the other one of you to go to Polaris also, but the important thing is killing the 6th Cordi, and you don't both need to be there.

Someone's going to have to move out of Aldebaran first; the 1st and 2nd SF haven't taken their moves yet.

1st SF's nearly dead. It'll move.

[AdmiralRalwood]

And please, one of Veers or AdmiralRalwood, please change your orders to killing the 6th Cordi. I'd prefer the other one of you to go to Polaris also, but the important thing is killing the 6th Cordi, and you don't both need to be there.

Someone's going to have to move out of Aldebaran first; the 1st and 2nd SF haven't taken their moves yet.

1st SF's nearly dead. It'll move.

"It will move" != "it has moved". If the turn ends before CommanderDJ makes his move, and I've set a movement into Aldebaran as my move, we'll all feel like idiots. As soon as he's specified his orders, I'll switch mine.

[Lorric]

And please, one of Veers or AdmiralRalwood, please change your orders to killing the 6th Cordi. I'd prefer the other one of you to go to Polaris also, but the important thing is killing the 6th Cordi, and you don't both need to be there.

Someone's going to have to move out of Aldebaran first; the 1st and 2nd SF haven't taken their moves yet.

1st SF's nearly dead. It'll move.

"It will move" != "it has moved". If the turn ends before CommanderDJ makes his move, and I've set a movement into Aldebaran as my move, we'll all feel like idiots. As soon as he's specified his orders, I'll switch mine.

Very well.

[Spoon]

"When the Cordi prisoners were asked about this sudden arrival in Polaris they told us that the Hertak found a weapon cache left behind by the Aluyerians in subspace. They apparantly needed quite some time to get these weapons operational but now that they are, extreme caution should be taken when facing them. Their weaponry can wipe out whole fighter wings in a moment notice."