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EARTHFORCE:RECONSTRUCTION

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-

Babcom Issue 15, Page 4


EARTHFORCE:RECONSTRUCTION
ticle cannon, the support weapons and the Now safely in hyperspace, Singh's initiated
enlarged thruster arrangement. The removal of the second part of his plan with the interception
the squadron reduced the ships crew compli- of the EAS Bulwark, a Cotton Class Long Range
ment, which in turn reduced the size of the rotat- Tender, just 5 days out from Earth. She was
ing section, thereby freeing up even more space. fully loaded for a re-supply mission to the fleet
When the final design was issued, Admiral units around Sirius. A few well-chosen words to
Singh wasted little time in approaching the Joint the Bulwark's commander about the situation
Chiefs for authorization to build. He had expect- back home and the looming bulk of the Arctic,
ed a swift approval and instead ran headlong into freed Singh and the Arctic of all supply prob-
a bureaucratic logjam. Omega destroyer pro- lems for the foreseeable future.
duction dominated all ship construction facilities After politely but firmly declining Sheridan's
and long lead construction supply contracts. offers to join his forces, the Arctic spent the rest
Introducing a new design would prove to be dif- of the Earth Civil War avoiding an Earthforce
ficult and the Joint Chiefs' response was to task force Clark has assigned to tracking her
shelve the entire project till a later date. Still, down. While mostly successful, the Arctic's
Admiral Singh was Chief of Fleet Operations cruise was hardly quiet. She fought several small
and was not without certain influences. Instead battles with other Earthforce vessels, had a brief
of shelving the entire study he managed to get but violent disagreement with a Centauri task
support for a single prototype unit. force who felt the Arctic had deliberately
In 2258, the Arctic was completed for ships entered their space and managed to stumble on
trials. By then the prospects of a line of these to a pirate enclave who shot first and never man-
vessels was nearly gone. Rumors were circulat- aged to ask questions later. She took damage
ing through Earthforce hierarchy that a new, and lost fighters but the Bulwark was able to
powerful technology would soon be made avail- make good on all her losses though by the end of
able. Vast sums of research money had been the Civil War, the Heavy Particle Cannon was
diverted from standard R&D to a series of black considered almost too dangerous to fire, being
projects that few in Earthforce were even aware held together with spit, duct tape and a number
of. Finally, further new fleet unit designs were of well directed profanities.
unofficially discouraged until an, as yet, When the Civil War ended Singh returned
unnamed date in the future. Admiral Singh home. His position as Chief of Fleet Operations
remained undaunted and throughout the Arctic's was reassigned and he spent the next year help-
workup touted the successes of "Earth's Newest ing to rebuild the fractured Earthforce command
Defender." None of which made any difference. structure, after which he retired.
With the unexpected death of President The Arctic continues to be a one of a kind,
Santiago things began to change within though her distinction of being the only
Earthforce vessel to mount the Heavy Particle
Earthforce. President Clark's new administra-
Cannon ended with the completion of the new
tion moved quickly to sweep away the old
Warlock destroyer. However, the legacy of the
Earthforce core officers, replacing them with
Arctic may live on thanks, in part, to the new
people more in line with Clark's policies. Even
technology being made available to Interstellar
the Joint Chief's felt the pressure and Admiral
Alliance members. The Arctic design plans
Singh's position of Chief of Fleet Operations,
have been pulled from storage and a new ver-
while not dissolved, was now supplanted by ele-
sion, which incorporates artificial gravity, may
ments of the new Night Watch Organization,
be in the making.
which overviewed all operational decisions and
who were answerable only to Clark himself.
Credits
Singh was fighting for his career now and could The entire Arctic ship idea and background is a
spare little time to champion a ship nobody direct result of the efforts of Lars Joreteg. Most
wanted. Instead he downplayed the Arctic and of you won't recognize the name but you will
quietly began to pull a few strings. recognize his main contribution to Babylon 5, the
Everything came to a head in 2262. Babylon website "Hyperspace - A Guide to B5-Crusade
5 broke away from the Earth Alliance and open Ships" at http://hyperspace.isnnews.net/. He
fighting broke out amongst Earthforce ships. In created the basic premise of the Arctic Cruiser in
a ship graphic.
Earthdome, Earthforce officers not directly sup-
Inspired by it, I asked for and received permis-
ported by Clark were being rounded up and sion to take his idea and run with it in terms of
labeled traitors. Admiral Singh quickly realized developing a Babylon 5 Wars version of the
that he would probably be on Clark's short list of ship. Lar's original design of the Arctic included
officers to be rounded up. artificial gravity. However, I wanted to create
One of the benefits of sponsoring a single ship something that would be available during the
and being Chief of Fleet Operations is that you time frame of the original Babylon 5 series ver-
can control virtually every action and activity sus the later period as depicted by "A Call to
that ship takes. Not only was the Arctic in Earth Arms" and "Crusade." So I came up with the
orbit, she was also fully outfitted and complete- internal rotating section and took advantage of
ly crewed by a hand picked group of Singh's the Heavy Particle Beam described in "The
staunchest supporters. When General Hague Atlas of Earth Alliance Wars." The character of
Admiral Jason Ashvin Singh, the Chief of Fleet
made his call for Earthforce officers to join him
Operations, came from the "Babylon Project -
and stop Clark, the resulting confusion gave Earthforce Sourcebook", by Joseph Cochran
Singh his chance. Before anyone had realized and John Tuffley, which was published by
what had happened, Singh and the Arctic had Chameleon Eclectic Entertainment Inc.
jumped out of Earth orbit. ***

Babcom Issue 15, Page 5


EARTHFORCE:RECONSTRUCTION

Babcom Issue 15, Page 6


EARTHFORCE:RECONSTRUCTION

Sitting on the fence can


be a dangerous passtime
minds with the command of the managed to skirt patrols and dodge The Arctic begins the scenario
Frontline Bulwark, Admiral Singh ordered detection. His luck ran out as he with no fighters deployed and is in
the Bulwark to bypass Sirius and tried to slip through the Epsilon the midst of cycling its jump drive
scenarios continue on for the Mentab/EA system. and must wait 10 turns before being
By RICH BAX border. Rather than escort the able to jump out.
HE FOLLOWING scenario Bulwark, Singh rightly assumed Set-Up Fighters may not ram, fighters

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

Babcom Issue 15, Page 7


The Lions Den
This scenario is the second in a series char ting
the stor y of the prototype light cruiser
Arctic in
chronological sequence. While it is possible to
play them individually you'll get the most
enjoyment by running each one in tur n.

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. ***

Babcom Issue 16, Page 6


Movement amongst
the Shadows
B5W Scenario ship, course and speed same as the
By RICHARD BAX mother ship. Fighters may not
ram.
The Arctic has had all damage

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

Babcom Issue 17, Page 3


EAS Arctic B5W scenario series is present must use the following
By RICHARD BAX rules.
The heavy particle cannon is not
BYOG operating correctly. On any turn
(Bring Your Own Grog) the heavy particle cannon attempts
to fire roll a d6. On a 1, 2, or 3 the

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.)

Babcom Issue 18, Page 6


HERE COMES
THE NAVY
SCENARIO fighter unit that enter an asteroid cluster hex or
By RICHARD BAX adjacent hex takes 10 points of raking damage
FOLLOWING the discovery of the Arctic in per point of speed at the time it enters the hex.
Mentab space, President Clark ordered a task The unit also has its speed instantly reduced
force be formed to hunt down and destroy the by 1 (it is therefore possible that by entering
Arctic. The task force never managed to catch multiple asteroid hexes the speed of the unit
up to the Arctic and was ultimately recalled to can be reduced to 0). Fighters take only 1
help defend against Sheridan's match on point per hex entered times the sum of the
Earth. Had they found the Arctic and her erst- speed plus the jinking level. Direction of
while Raider ally's things would have gotten incoming damage is based on the side that first
very interesting. What might have happened? enters the hex.

Set-Up Special Rules


Singh/Raiders: Heavy Cruiser Arctic, along Use a floating map.
with any Thunderbolts remaining after the All fighters may be deployed within 5 hexes
four previous scenarios with the lost of their mother ship, course and speed the
Thunderbolts now replaced with Aurora's in same (speed 6, facing 3 for the Sanctuary Base
hex 0506, speed 4, and facing direction 3. fighters). Fighters may not ram.
Raider Sloop Deep Pockets with 6 Delta-V's is The Arctic is fully repaired with the exception
in hex 0704, speed 4, and facing direction 3. of the balky heavy particle cannon (see
Sanctuary Base Well Bottom with 36 Delta- below). If there are any Thunderbolts left after
V's and 12 Double-V's (with navigators and the previous 4 scenarios, they may be armed
missiles) in hex 0303 (player set rotation). with full loads of fighter missiles. However,
Clark EA: Omega Destroyer-Alpha Medusa, no navigators are available.
with 12 Aurora's and 12 Thunderbolts (with The heavy particle cannon on the Arctic con-
navigators and full load of missiles) in hex tinues not operating correctly. On any turn the
3927, Artemis-B Hammer in hex 3625, Tethys heavy particle cannon attempts to fire roll a
Police Leader Miranda in hex 3628, Tethys d6. On a 1, 2, or 3 the cannon fires, on a 4 and
Police Cutter ESP-1121 in hex 3924. All are at 5 the cannon safety interlocks prevent firing
speed 4, heading 6. but the cannon can still fired in later turns (the
Asteroid Field: There are a of total 20 aster- arming is not lost but re-roll the die again). On
oid clusters randomly scattered throughout the a 6 the cannon refuses to fire and shuts down.
map. No asteroid cluster may be within 5 If the cannon shuts down, it is unavailable for
hexes of another cluster, nor can they be with- the remainder of the scenario. The power may
in 5 hexes of the Sanctuary Base or 1 hex of be used for other activities and the weapon can
any starting unit on the map. Since the map is still take damage.
floating, anytime an asteroid cluster falls off
the map add another randomly in the exposed Victory Conditions
new section. The asteroids clusters are very He who holds the field wins.
large and encompass the hex the counter is
located in and the adjacent 6 hexes. All 7 Historical Outcome
resulting hexes of an asteroid cluster block That's for you to decide.
line of site. Units in any of the 7 hexes of and ***
asteroid cluster have there line of site limited (The SCS for the Arctic was published in the
only those units in the same hex. Any non June edition of Babcom)

Babcom Issue 19, Page 9


Version 2: 2E/RLB Name:______________ Counter:____________

EA Arctic Heavy Cruiser (Alpha Model)


SPECS MANEUVERING COMBAT STATS WEAPON DATA
Class: Capital Ship Turn Cost: 2/3 Speed Fwd/Aft Defense: 15 (11) Hvy Particle Cannon
In Service: 2258 Turn Delay: 2/3 Speed Stb/Port Defense: 17 (13) Class: Particle
Point Value: 875 Accel/Decel Cost: 3 Thrust Engine Efficiency: 3/1 Modes: Raking 9
Damage: 6d10+60
Ramming Value: 290 Pivot Cost: 3+3 Thrust Extra Power: +0 Range Penalty: -1 per 3 hexes
Jump Delay: 20 Turns Roll Cost: 2+2 Thrust Initiative Bonus: +0 Fire Control: +6/+4/+0
Intercept Rating: n/a
Speed 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Rate of Fire: 1 per 6 turns
Turn Cost 1 2 2 3 4 4 5 6 6 7 8 8
Turn Delay 1 2 2 3 4 4 5 6 6 7 8 8 Hvy Laser Cannon
Class: Laser
6
FORWARD HITS SPECIAL NOTES Modes: R, S
1-4: Retro Thrust Damage: 4d10+20
5-6: Hvy Laser Cannon Unique Ship (Only 1 Exists) Range Penalty: -1 per 3 hexes
7-8: Interceptor Fire Control: +3/+2/-4
9-10: Hvy Particle Cannon 16 1 17 Intercept Rating: n/a
11-18: Forward Structure SENSOR DATA Rate of Fire: 1 per 4 turns
19-20: PRIMARY Hit
Defensive EW 2 2 Laser/Pulse Array
SIDE HITS Target #1 This weapon can fire as
1-6: Port/Stb Thrust either a medium laser or
7-8: Std Particle Beam Target #2 medium pulse cannon,
9-10: Laser/Pulse Array Target #3 determined at the time of firing.
11-18: Port/Stb Structure The ROF is based on the 5
19-20: PRIMARY Hit Target #4 2 3 shot being taken.
Target #5 3 3
Med Laser Cannon
AFT HITS
1-6: Main Thrust Target #6 4 Class: Laser
7-8: Laser/Pulse Array 3 3 Modes: R
Damage: 3d10+12
5
9-10: Interceptor
11-18: Aft Structure Range Penalty: -1 per 2 hexes
4 4
19-20: PRIMARY Hit Fire Control: +3/+2/-3
Intercept Rating: n/a
PRIMARY HITS Rate of Fire: 1 per 3 turns
1-7: Primary Structure Med Pulse Cannon
8-9: Jump Engine
10-11: Std Particle Beam
6 Class: Particle
12-13: Sensors
Modes: Pulse 3
14-15: Engine FORWARD Damage: 10 1d5 Times
Maximum Pulse: 6
16-17: Hangar
18-19: Reactor 4 5 Grouping Range: +1 per 4
20: C & C 8 Range Penalty: -1 per hex
Fire Control: +4/+3/+1
Intercept Rating: -2
4 4 Rate of Fire: 1 per 2 turns
Standard Particle Beam
Class: Particle
Modes: Standard 1
6 4 6 3 6 Damage: 1d10+6
Range Penalty: -1 per hex
Fire Control: +4/+4/+4
Intercept Rating: -2
Rate of Fire: 1 per turn
Interceptor Mk-II
STARBOARD

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

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