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Arctic
ADVANCED CRUISER PROGRAM
By Richard Bax meant gravity, for which the Earth Alliance cur- the heavy cannon was simply a matter of stabi-
T
HE origins of the Arctic Class Heavy rently only had one answer: the rotating section. lizing the whole satellite, which rarely ever saw
Cruiser begin with the upgrade of Earth's While the new Omega Class Destroyer relied on the large gee loads typical of a starship in com-
primary defense grid in 2252. The update a rotating section, there were already questions bat. In addition, waste heat and energy emis-
involved the addition of the two versions of the being raised about its ability to withstand dam- sions during weapon fire could be dumped
new Heavy Orbital Satellite. One of the versions age and remain functional. Unfortunately, there directly into local space without concern on the
included the newly developed heavy particle were no other real options, and a rotating section unmanned satellites. The Arctic would need
cannon. This huge weapon was rumored to pos- was included in the design. However, there careful shielding and ducting to protect its crew.
sess enough destructive energy to decimate the would be one major change from the Omega Finally, and potentially, most difficult, the
East coast of the continental United States, class rotation system. Instead of the rotating sec- Heavy Particle Cannon on the Arctic would have
though like most rumors on military hardware, tion operating in open space, the new design to be made far more reliable and robust. A
this fact was probably wildly overstated. would place the rotating section inside a non- defense satellite's weapons received constant
Never the less, the power of this weapon rotating armored casement. The advantage was maintenance from the planet they protected.
immediately caught the attention of a number of that the rotating section could be made much The Arctic's particle beam would be carried into
senior officers within Earthforce, chief among lighter since it would not require armor or the deep space where maintenance was limited and
them was Admiral Jason Ashvin Singh, the heavier structure needed to support the armor. A as a result the weapon would have to be capable
Chief of Fleet Operations. He quickly came to lighter rotating section had the added benefit of of high fire repetition. In its final form, the
the conclusion that this weapon should be put reducing the size of the rotation equipment. The Arctic's Heavy Particle Cannon would be larger
into immediate fleet use and by virtue of his only real problem was that the armored case- than the satellite version and while not a true
position pushed through a Request for Design to ment surrounding the rotating section limited the spinal mount, it would prove to be too large to
the Fleet Design Bureau. In the request, Singh total living space and required a greater amount mount on any kind of traversing system. As a
called for a high endurance, jump capable vessel of spin to generate appropriate gravity. Even result, the high maneuverability called for by
whose main weapon would be the new Heavy using a fully circular rotating section, the Arctic Singh in the original proposal would be of even
Particle Cannon. In addition, it would carry typ- was going to have far less room than the Omega. greater importance.
ical Earthforce support armaments, two full While habitation engineers struggled with the To get all of this into a single, relatively agile
squadrons of fighters and be more maneuverable rotating section, the armaments team was dis- hull meant that something would have to go.
than existing Earthforce capital ships. covering that a shipboard Heavy Particle The obvious choice was the embarked fighters.
The difficulties of what Singh was asking was Cannon was going to be a difficult proposition. By removing one of the two planned squadrons,
not lost on the design teams. High endurance On the heavy defense satellites, stabilization of designers freed up the space needed for the par-
T is the first in a series that are that in the current reign of confu-
intended to follow each sion at Earthdome, an overdue
other in chronological sequence. Cotton Class Tender would not
Singh: Heavy Cruiser Arctic
with 12 Thunderbolts in the hangar
in hex 0315 heading direction 1,
left behind should the Arctic jump
out are considered destroyed for
follow-on scenarios.
The other scenarios will be pub- raise any immediate concerns. The speed 6.
lished in following months. While Arctic, on the other EA System Patrol: Victory Conditions
it is possible to play them individu- hand , would Olympus The Arctic wins if it manages to
ally you'll get the most enjoyment be a pri- escape into hyperspace with some
by running each one in turn. ority of its fighters and without loosing
The campaign focuses on the any of its structure blocks. The sce-
actions of a single ship, the Earth nario is a draw if the Arctic
Force Heavy Cruiser Arctic. escapes but looses a structure
Thanks to the Cotton Class block and/or all of its fight-
Long Range Tender ers (Singh was loath to
Bulwark, between some loose all of his limited
scenarios of the cam- Thunderbolts after only
paign, all damage will one encounter). The
be repaired, as is all Arctic looses if it is
damage to fighters destroyed or dis-
and all critical hits. abled via Engine/
Even an entire struc- C&C/ Jump Drive
ture block can be Destruction.
replaced but all
other systems with Historical
the exception of the Outcome
thruster system will Despite direct
be missing. orders from
The Arctic begins Singh to break
the campaign with a off, the opposing
full load of 12 force continued to
Thunderbolt fighters close for combat.
though no fighter mis- As a result Singh
siles are available. launched fighters and
Following some of the targeted the Olympus
scenarios, any lost fighter with a long-range strike.
may be replaced with Aurora The Olympus managed to
fighters from the Bulwark's clear the arcs of the heavy
stores. In the likely situation particle cannon but caught
where there are uneven flights of both heavy lasers to the forward
Auroras and Thunderbolts, produce section. With the forward retro's
addition flights as necessary. For tar- lost the Olympus was unable to
example, the Arctic is carrying 8 get and avoid the heavy particle cannon
Corvette which easily finished it off. The
Thunderbolts and 4 Auroras for the rather than
(Delta) Icarus Thunderbolts made a single pass on
next scenario. When launched the jeopardize both
in hex 3626, Tethys both Tethys loosing three of their
fighter compliment will consist of 1 ships, Singh and the Arctic, would
Police Cutters (Kappa) ESP-1140 numbers in the process of crippling
flight of 6 Thunderbolts, 1 Flight of attempt to make Mentab space via
and ESP 1151 in hexes 3825 and one of the cutters. Both Tethys' then
2 Thunderbolts and 1 flight of 4 another route. Fortunately, as for-
3628 respectively. All units are at broke off the engagement and
Auroras. mer Chief of Naval operation,
speed 9, heading direction 6. began recovering the Olympus's
Singh had in his possession a list of
Breakaway locations and deployments for most escape pods.
Special Rules ***
Having come to a meeting of the of the EA's assets that was only 4
Use a floating map. (SCS in the Attachments folder)
days old. For several weeks Singh
T
HOUGH the Arctic had escaped the Victory Conditions
Epsilon system patrol with little damage, Frontline The Arctic wins if it manages to survive and
the word was now out. EA commanders
scenarios escape into hyperspace. Any other result is con-
accurately concluded that the Arctic was headed sidered a loss.
for Mentab space and reinforced all patrols By RICHARD BAX
along that border. With his original flight plan Historical Outcome
now cut off, Singh was forced into a dangerous Mosquito Hawk in hex 2419, speed 6 heading Overcoming the initial shock of nearly piling
decision. Avoiding the Mentab jump route, direction 6, 12 Sentri fighters, Flight A in hex into the Mosquito Hawk, Singh attempted to
Singh instead turned to a minor route that ended 2519 and Flight B in hex 2420. Both flights are stall, hoping to buy enough time to recharge the
in Beta-3, a Centauri outpost system. Singh at speed 6, heading direction 6. jump engine and escape. Singh's speech was
hoped that if he were to meet a Centauri patrols quickly interrupted when simultaneously; the
he'd be able to bluff his way out of the situation. Special Rules Haven began broadcasting a coded message and
Unfortunately, a particularly aggressive patrol Use a floating map. the Sentri fighters turned onto attack vectors.
captain, a Vasiring Ketter, had been tipped off The Arctic may repair a total of 25 boxes of Fearing the worst, Singh ordered the remainder
about the situation by a Covran Scout that had damage received during the previous scenario. of his fighters launched and opened fire. The
recently returned from an ELINT mission at the Haven managed to avoid the forward arcs of the
These repairs may not be used on systems that
edge of the Epsilon system. As the Covran Arctic but was crippled by two medium laser
were completely destroyed or on sides that have
moved deeper into the system to report to the bursts from the aft LPA's. The Mosquito Hawk's
been destroyed. All critical effects are removed.
Beta-3 commander, Ketter decided that if he return fire erased one of the LPA's and seriously
The Arctic has literally jumped right into the
could nail the Arctic he could score that promo- damaged one of the main thrusters.
middle of the Centauri patrol. The Arctic has one
tion that would finally get him out of outpost Standard particle beam fire in conjunction the
flight of fighters deployed in combat space
patrol hell. Thunderbolts had almost finished off the last of
patrol in the same hex.
While his total patrol task group was not par- the Sentri, when the Pride of Immolan's plasma
ticularly large, he did possess the latest hyper- Centauri commander Ketter has been waiting accelerator burst plowed into the portside of the
space eddy data, courtesy of the Covran, by in hyperspace hoping to jump in after the Arctic. Arctic. Fortunate that the portside thruster sur-
Roll a d6. On a 1 or 2 Ketter arrives via jump
which he set up a tight net of patrols along like- vived, the Arctic began a game of cat and mouse
ly hyperspace exit points. With his patrols in point in 2 turns, a 3 or 4 and he arrives in 3 turns with the Pride of Immolan attempting to get the
and finally, on a 5 or 6 in 4 turns. His force con-
place, Ketter waited and hoped for a little luck. ship into heavy particle cannon's arc. For sever-
He got it, though the commander of the Haven sists of the Vorchan Pride of Immolan and the al minutes both ships zigged and zagged when
Mosquito Hawk would have begged to differ. Havens Favorite and Stinger. suddenly the Vorchan zagged when it should
The jump point from the Vorchan can form in have zigged. The heavy particle cannon pro-
Set-Up any of the six hexes that surround the Haven ceeded to remove the nose of the hapless
Mosquito Hawk. If the Mosquito Hawk has been Vorchan and drive deeply into the primary.
Singh: Heavy Cruiser Arctic, along with any destroyed an emergency distress beacon will still With the remaining Haven's hovering out of
guide the Vorchan in. Simply mark the hex
Thunderbolts remaining after the last scenario in range, long-range sensors now picked up signs
hex 2115, speed 4, heading direction 2. where the Haven was destroyed and use the of additional reinforcements. Recovering his
above rule. fighters, Singh proceeded to jump out.
Centauri Beta-3 Patrol Group 4: Haven No fighters from either side may ram. ***
H
AVING slipped away
from the Centauri at Beta- sustained during the previous two
3, Singh managed to sneak scenarios repaired. The exception
into the former Narn system of is if a side had been destroyed at
Kotok. From there the Arctic man- which point only the structure and
aged a harrowing but ultimately the thrusters have been repaired.
uneventful trip to Mentab where The Arctic jumped in to normal
she hooked up with the Bulwark. space 2 turns ago and cannot jump
While the Mentabs were aware out for another 18 turns. In addi-
of the Arctic they turned blind eye tion, the heavy particle cannon is
to her activities allowing her time unavailable for use during this sce-
to repair and relax. nario. The power may be used for
Ultimately, Earthdome intelli- other activities and the weapon
gence determined where the Arctic can still take damage.
and prepared a strike group to The Shadow Destroyer phased in
bring back or destroy wayward the previous turn and cannot phase
cruiser once and for all. back into hyperspace for another 7
Fortunately, Singh's remaining turns.
allies within Earthdome caught
wind of the planned attack and got Victory Conditions
word to Singh. Singh again sent
the Bulwark off alone towards the The Arctic wins if it manages to
Gaim home system while he and survive. Any other result is consid-
the Arctic made jumped towards ered a loss.
Coriana. Singh knew the low tech
Coriana people that inhabited the HISTORICAL OUTCOME
sixth planet would offer no resist-
ance so he assumed it would be a The shadow destroyer moved in
relatively simple matter of jump- while the Arctic lined up behind its
ing in and then proceeding on to fighters. In the initial pass, the
the Brakiri held system of destroyed proceeded to annihilate
Gamma-7 where he would again the Aurora fighter group with a
rendezvous with the Bulwark. barrage of cutter bolts. In return
However, as he approached the Arctic managed a solid hit with
Coriana, sensors picked up an one heavy laser and a glancing
object moving at high speed blow with the second while the
towards the Arctic. Thunderbolts continued to close.
Disconcertingly, the ship was Closing the range still further, the
approaching from perpendicularly Arctic traded medium laser fire
to the navigation beacon, almost against shadow's heavy phasing
as if it did not need the beacon to pulse cannons. The entire star-
navigate. board side of the Arctic was
Singh ordered all weapons to be brought down in almost an instant
armed and immediately dropped and heavy casualties were report-
back into normal space. As the ed. Fortunately, the second flight
Arctic departed hyperspace, a SET-UP Shadows : Shadow Destroyer in of Thunderbolts dove in under the
surge in the heavy particle cannon hex 3928, speed 12, heading 6. cover fire of the Arctic and from
was detected. In response auto- Singh : Heavy Cruiser Arctic, point blank range gutted the
matic safety interlocks down along with any Thunderbolts SPECIAL RULES destroyer. Heavily damaged, the
checked the huge weapon and remaining after the two previous Arctic recovered her remaining
powered it down. A few moments scenarios with the lost Use a floating map. fighters and jumped into hyper-
later the Arctic was joined by Thunderbolts now replaced with space.
something that seemingly phased Aurora's. Artic is in hex 0304, All fighters may be deployed ***
into being. speed 8, heading 3. within 5 hexes of their mother To be continued
F
OLLOWING the mystery cannon fires, on a 4 and 5 the can-
Shadow attack, Singh non safety interlocks prevent fir-
limped the Arctic into ing but the cannon can still fired in
Gamma-7 and again met the later turns (the arming is not lost
Bulwark. The local Brakiri corpo- but re-roll the die again). On a 6
rations agreed to allow the Arctic the cannon refuses to fire and
to stay in exchange for a large shuts down. If the cannon shuts
"donation" by the Bulwark's quar- down, it is unavailable for the
termaster. Fortunately, the remainder of the scenario. The
Bulwark's holds were easily capa- power may be used for other activ-
ble of making good on the pay- ities and the weapon can still take
ment. The Bulwark also made damage.
good on the lost fighters, though The Delta-V's will surrender if
the number of available pilots was their particular mother ship is
becoming critical. destroyed or jumps out. Simply
The Arctic was also repaired but remove them from combat and
with one major exception, a 100% continue play.
fix on the heavy particle cannon.
The instability reported earlier
VICTORY CONDITIONS
could not be tracked down and all
The Arctic wins if it manages to
the diagnostics indicated green,
survive.
yet the cannon refused to arm. The
primary armaments expert avail-
HISTORICAL OUTCOME
able finally disengaged the safety
The swarm of Delta-V's raised
interlock that originally shut the
havoc on the outnumbered Arctic
cannon down and warned Singh
fighters. The Arctic easily lined up
not to fire unless necessary.
the lumbering battlewagon, but
With the Arctic mostly in the
only the heavy lasers fired as the
green, Singh considered his
heavy particle cannon balked and
options. Sooner or later, even the
reset, leaving the battlewagon
Bulwark would run out of supplies
damaged but still alive. Seeing its
to pay the Brakiri bribes. And the
opportunity, the sloop slipped and
bribes themselves did not guaran-
tee that someone still wouldn't landed a number of hits on the
inform Earthdome. The Arctic Arctic port side, before being crip-
needed an out of the way place to pled by multiple medium laser
hang out and wait for the lunacy hits. The Delta-V's managed sev-
back at Earth to end. Singh settled eral passes on the Arctic and
on the Mitoc system. A dead world scored a significant amount of
following the atrocities of the damage before the Arctic again
Dilgar war, the Mitoc system was lined up the battlewagon. This
the Raiders that he wasn't looking Aurora's. The Artic is in hex 0313 time the heavy particle cannon
now claimed by the Cascor though
for a fight but the fighters quickly heading 2. fired, smashing its way through
they had done little to the system
other than maintain the jump gate. explained that there was a large Raiders : Raider Battlewagon the side structure and into the pri-
Taking the Bulwark with him, base hiding back in the asteroids. Vainglory with 24 Delta-V fight- mary. Follow up fire smashed the
Singh moved to Mitoc and while The Artic had inadvertently found ers is in hex 4117, Raider Sloop reactor and the battlewagon was
the Bulwark waited, the Arctic a Sanctuary Base and the raiders Deep Pockets with 6 Delta-V's is gone a moment later in a flash of
jumped into the edge of the sys- weren't going to let him leave in hex 4119. Both ships are at nuclear fire. Before the light of the
tem. Tired of jumping to one sur- without a fight. Rather than jump speed 6, heading 6. explosion had faded the remaining
prise after another, Singh moved out and be followed into hyper- fighters surrendered and the fight
quietly through the out skirts of space where the Bulwark might be SPECIAL RULES was over.
the system, making a careful sur- threatened, Singh elected to fight Use a floating map. Singh and the Arctic, through
vey of the system. For once luck it out. Besides if the pirates could All fighters may be deployed the captured fighter pilots man-
was with the Arctic and a particu- build a full size base here and not within 5 hexes of their mother aged an agreement with the Boss
larly sharp sensor tech caught a be found then the Arctic should ship, course and speed same as the of the Sanctuary Base. In
weak blip of something in the easily be able to hide here. Once mother ship. Fighters may not exchange for the Arctic not
asteroid fields between the outer the pirates and he saw eye to eye. ram. destroying the base, Singh got
two most planets of the system. The Arctic has had all damage what he wanted, which was sim-
Singh sent a flight of fighters in to SET-UP sustained during the previous sce- ply to be left alone until the end of
investigate while he watched. In Singh : Heavy Cruiser Arctic, nario repaired. The exception is if the Earth Civil War.
short order the fighters came tear- along with any Thunderbolts a side had been destroyed at which ***
ing back with Raiders hot on their remaining after the three previous point only the structure and the (The SCS for the EAS Arctic
heels. scenarios with the lost thrusters have been repaired. The can be found in the July edition
Singh sent an open message to Thunderbolts now replaced with heavy particle cannon, assuming it of Babcom.)
Intercept Rating: -4
2
10 Rate of Fire: 1 per turn
OFFENSIVE MODE:
PORT
7
Class: Particle
6 Modes: Standard
5 5 Damage: 1d10+8
Fire Control: --/--/+8
8 10 Range Penalty: -2 per hex
12
2 2
6
5
2 12 13 2 5
ICON RECOGNITION
Thruster
3 2 14 15 2 3
C&C
Sensors
9 11
Engine 6
2
Jump Engine PRIMARY
Reactor
AFT
Hangar 3 3
PRIMARY HANGAR
Hvy Particle Cannon 6 7 12 Fighters
4 Shuttles Thrust: 3
Hvy Laser Cannon 5 Armor: 1 Defense: 8/10
5 5
Laser/Pulse Array 2 2
Std Particle Beam 18 19
Interceptor 4 4 DESIGN and SCS by Richard L. Bax, 2004
PERMISSION GRANTED TO PHOTOCOPY FOR PERSONAL USE