Hi all, as promised the second Babylon 5 A Call to Arms campaign is here and is ready to open up for sign-ups. As with the previous one for those that participated, and those that watched with interest, I will run a series of background narrative posts on the forum. This time rather than being run as an ISN story the campaign will be watched over by the Techno-mage council who are concerned at recent developments in the galaxy and want to see how things turn out. So for the purposes of anyone who wishes to post the Admiral’s reaction to the unfolding events of the campaign feel free to post as such and simply assume that the Techno-mages are using some form of technical trickery to listen in on these supposedly secure communications or recordings of your Admirals’ thoughts in his log book. Don’t worry about the Techno-mages, I’ll deal with them.

As for the rules and settings of the campaign itself that is all fairly simple.

1) Each player must chose a fleet to command and select 10 BATTLE level points for his fleet roster; this is the list from which you draw your ships for each battle during the campaign and it can be added to during the course of the campaign (so if your unsure which variant of a ship or which command ship to take don’t worry you can get the other one later). If anyone needs help constructing their list I; and presumably others, are happy to help and offer advice. Also multiples of the fleets don’t matter so don’t think that because someone already has ‘your fleet’ you can’t play because it doesn’t.
2) There is no requirement for models as with the current state of production it wouldn’t be feasible, so as with last time my counters will be available along with a limited number of ships on a battle-by-battle basis (just check I have them before putting them in your fleet). If you’re thinking of playing but aren’t sure ask those who played last time or ask for a demo game there are plenty of people I’m sure would be willing to give you one and some of their own personal pointers on playing.
3) There is no requirement for an Admiral though if you wish to choose one to lead your fleet remember to factor in the cost when choosing your fleet (please still think of a name for the Admiral in charge of your fleet as it adds character to the narrative)
4) The campaign is set in the year 2272, so all of each fleets most advanced toys can come out to play; please keep an eye on in service dates as some ships have an end of service date as well.
5) As the campaign is set in 2272; and owing to some campaign based exceptions which will become clearer later, every fleet except the Dilgar (and Early years and Third Age Earth Alliance) are up for grabs including the Vorlons and Shadows.
6) After the kick-off currently set for October 16th, each turn will last three weeks (from the night the actions are decided); so each three weeks a new campaign turn will commence. This is the time in which you have to fight any possible allotted battles, please get them done as I don’t want to have to chase people up.
7) Even though I know that new rules are one their way out in the form of an update called Powers and Principalities at some point soon the campaign will be run using the two books released last year and the re-released Gaim fleet list only (as the changes in Signs & Portents are designed for release with the new book). This way everyone knows the rules we’re using.

The narrative will follow as promised before Thursday and the system we’re fighting over will be posted up in due time (once the majority of the sign-ups are in). So go for it, please join in if you want to and if you have anyone questions on the gaming system there are plenty of people to ask, or if you want to know something about the campaign itself feel free to ask me; you never know I might even give you an answer.

I'm in, as I'm sure you guessed. Fear the Vree! I'll PM you with a fleet list.

Sure I'm in though I 'm not sure which fleet I'll be using maybe ISA or Crusade perhaps even Vorlons lol

Hsss Vree!!!

Well I'm definately in with my ISA. And guess what, The Trident (Victory Class) will be making its presence felt. Ohhhhh yes!

my Drakh will throw themselves into the ring

Would it be possible to make a little display piece for the notice board to keep everyone up to date.

I'm doing the same for the Carnage Cup, and it should make the rest of the club more aware of what is going on.

Good idea Pete, I've just printed off a copy of the rules for the campaign now and hopefully during the course of the campaign I'll be able to make proper use of the campiagn map this time round; possibly also including some kind of marker to show who occupies each strategic target. Thanks.

In what appears to be an ancient clearing or grove nestled deep in a heavily wooded area a large gathering of cloaked figures, with hoods hiding their faces was beginning to form. Seemingly appearing from nowhere they mingled together, like a large group of high thinking academics and professors that have finally met up again after years apart.

“This is unorthodox. We have not so many of us been gathered for some time now.”

“Yes, but if we are to make our move then it is important that we all know what is at stake and what we are moving in to.”

“More time and more consideration must be given before we are ready. This is too soon. More time must be allowed for the sands of time to work through their courses.”

“That is why we must send the probes. As we know from Galen’s interferences with the universe the probes can not be tracked, followed or compromised.” Said one of the gathered, cloaked figures withdrawing a small orb from somewhere in the hidden depths of his cavernous sleeves. “With these we can find what we desire, we can learn what has happened since we came to the hidden place.”

“It is too soon. We must remain as we are and preserve our ways; ensure that those we sought to hide ourselves from do not undo all of our good work.”

“No, if we do not continue to observe and keep watch then we will not know when the universe is safe once more and it would be wrong to keep ourselves from the universe.”

“Besides, it has already been decided upon and this course of action chosen. We will send out our probes. We will observe the universe. We will see what has happened since our departure. When we meet again it will be to discuss our findings and to decide upon our next course of action.”

Then, without a word, the gathering dispersed as quickly as it had formed. In a flash they were gone and the grove was empty, as if none had been there in many years.

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As promised here is the first piece of narrative and there will be more to follow in the weeks running up to the start of the campaign.

When's this planned to kick off?

This coming thursday. We'll run the first campaign turn which basically involves seeing the system that we'll all be fighting over and deciding which strategic targets (planets, outposts, debris, etc) and generally involves very little in the way of combat. Hopefully we'll meet in the kitchen at about nine o'clock roll up a few things and the first turns actions will be decided.

I am definatly definatly interested with Narn this year

Sign me up

No worries. If memory serves me correctly this is the current list of players involved in the campaign and the fleets they are using:

Me (Brakiri)
Ben Stubbs (Drakh)
Chris Pymm (Vree)
Chris Allsopp (Minbari)
Chris Simons (ISA)
Will Patten (Shadows)
Adam Calver (Crusade era Earth Alliance)
Andy Dodd (Narn)

If I've spelt anyone's name wrong I apologise and if I've got anyone's fleet wrong please tell me. Also if anyone wants to sign up and hasn't please let me know this week as we are starting the campaign this thursday. Don't worry you don't require your fleets this week, only yourselves; we're basically choosing where we each fleet is going to move/attack and if there is going to be any combat at all.

“This is ridiculous. Summoning us all together twice in one week, it’s unheard of.”

“Yes, not since we decided to leave to protect our knowledge have we had so much contact with each other.”

Came the ring of complaints towards the main hooded, cloaked figures in the centre of the clearing; apparently the ruling council. But they had expected as much, they knew that their fellow people did not like to be disturbed once they were settled into their own routines, content to go on with their own lives for as long as possible. However, any plan of this magnitude; a reintegration of themselves into the known galaxy had to have considerable planning behind it.

“All must be informed of the decisions the council makes and of the reasons why. Just as with our removal from the known universe our reintegration into it will also take time, planning and the involvement of everyone.” Answered one of the council figures, holding up a hand to silence the gathering.

“But the probes can not have finished their scans yet, not even if you skipped over all the uninhabited systems and hitched a lift with some convenient jump points.” Shouted one of the men from the gathering.

“No, but one has returned some rather disturbing information. Though we have found that Z’ha’dum has been destroyed and the Vorlon homeworld abandoned, confirming reports we have received that they have left for beyond the Rim, that is not the worst of it.”

“Yes, it would appear that their departure for the Rim was not as complete as would have been hoped. A small contingent of both the Shadows and Vorlons have been found, hidden deep within an uninhabited system far from the main jumpgate lanes, out near the Rim. They seem to be biding their time, waiting and growing in strength; unsatisfied with the resolution of their conflict with the younger races they will wait until they are strong enough and then launch a renewed assault on them.”

A murmur of grumblings and concern rose from the gathered horde of people. For some it confirmed their opinion that it was too soon to leave, whilst others were concerned for friends they had left behind years ago.

“We will continue to watch the developments in this sector whilst the other probes finish their scans. With the near feverish expansion of some of the races, pushing the boundaries of their empires ever further, they can not remain hidden forever. Conflict will come, it is only a matter of when and what will be the outcome.”

“You will all be summoned again when we have further major developments. For now we will keep watch, and observe the actions of the younger races.”


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Ok then, current battles are as follows: Chris Pymm is intercepting Chris Simmons fleet. More in terms of the narrative will be posted as each turn unfolds and as I said earlier please feel free to post log entries, communications with command, or chats between your admiral and his crew; just assume the techno-mages are listening in, no matter how secure you thought you systems were.

And just for your ease in figuring out what’s going on here is a list of the system and the current action in it.
1. Settled World – Industrial (Minbari)
2. Gas Giant – Medium (Crusade Earth)
3. Gas Giant – Low
4. Dead World – Barren
5. Space Installation – Scrap Yard
6. Outpost – Mining (Drakh)
7. Uninhabited World - Temperate
8. Space Debris – Asteroid Belt
9. Inner System Comet – Mineral Rich (Narn)
10. Dead World - Molten
11. Uninhabited World – Verdant (Brakiri)
12. Dead World - Barren
13. Dead World - Molten
14. Settled World – Industrial (ISA vs. Vree)
15. Uninhabited World – Verdant (Shadows)
Trade Route

“Sir, we have received an urgent report from Keeper Sil’Karn-2-7.”
Vash’dak turned to face the junior Drakh officer who had disturbed him from his meal, the look on the young Drakh’s face and the personal emanations coming from him stopping Vash’dak just short of an outburst at being interrupted at this time. He inclined his hand towards the table and indicated the data projection unit that lay in the centre, to which the younger officer attached the data crystal he had brought. “The Keeper is attached to an engineer aboard an IPX long-range scouting vessel operating in special grid 34-Thr’tl-6,” the junior unnecessarily reminded Vash’dak as the data loaded up. “They were scouting a system far off the jump beacon, one of the system’s uninhabited worlds, when the fleet they were attached to was set upon.”
The crystal’s image projected above the table, showing a fleet of civilian ships from the perspective of the IPX vessel, parked in the shadow of a small moon. Just as Vash’dak was about to become disinterested, an intimately familiar set of black jagged tears phased into view, issuing forth violet beams of death towards the fleet. “The ship managed to flee whilst our masters were distracted finishing off the fleet, our Keeper’s host has disabled the ship’s long-range communications equipment without discovery.”
Vash’dak could hardly believe what had happened, their masters had not apparently left, or at least not all of them. This was most fortuitous. He must try to rejoin them, at all costs. “Order the fleet to assemble at this abandoned mining outpost,” he indicated a set of coordinates on the map of the system in question. “Have the Keeper bring the ship out of hyperspace and order the closest ships to intercept them.”

A few hours later, in a remote abandoned system an IPX long-range scout listed aimlessly through an asteroid field, with only the virtue of space’s vacuum preventing the chief engineer’s string of curses from being heard outside. He was not having a good day, first the Shadow attack, then the comms, and now the jump engines drop them in the middle of nowhere and then also fail. Unfortunately for him, the four orange five-winged shapes weaving through the chunks of rock in their direction were about to bring his troubles to an end…

Sorry it has been a while guys and I'm afraid this will be a rather short post; because as soon as I finished uni for 2008 and went on holiday so did my imune system (cough, splutter, sneeze, wheeze and generally crawl back into bed).

The Drahk assault on the Minbari industrial world last turn failed and the Shadows simply didn't show up against the Vree; could be part of some evil plan to keep us all off balance, so be careful. The Crusade Era Earth Alliance have pulled out of the system due to some internal matters closerto home and have had to devote their resources elsewhere for the duration.

This turn opens up with the Minbari attempting to take control of the trade route and the ISA boldly jumping in to stop them, or possibly they just want it for themselves. The Shadows meanwhile continue their treck inwards through the system and come across a Brakiri occupied world, hopefully they'll pull the same trick they did with the Vree. As the Naarn move in on a recently abandoned Gas giant, left in the wake of the Earth Alliance withdrawl the Vree spot an opportunity for 'commercial expansian' and move in their fleet.

So the battles to be fought are as follows:

Minbari (attacker)* vs. ISA (defender)*
Shadows (attacker) vs Brakiri (defender)
Narn (attacker)* vs Vree (defender)*
*NB These may change in terms of attacker and defender


The system at the start of this turn looks as follows:
1. Settled World - Industrial Min
2. Gas Giant - Medium Narn vs Vree
3. Gas Giant - Low Min
4. Dead World - Barren Brakiri
5. Space Installation - Scrap Yard Vree
6. Outpost - Mining (Electro Magnetic Distortion) Drahk
7. Uninhabited World - Temperate Drahk
8. Space Debris - Asteroid belt (Space Time Anomaly)
9. Inner System Comet - Mineral Rich Narn
10. Dead World - Molten Narn
11. Uninhabited World - Verdant Brakiri
12. Dead World - Barren
13. Dead World - Molten (Heavy Asteroid Density) Brakiri vs Shadows
14. Setteled World - Industrial Vree
15. Uninhabited World - Verdant(+1) Shadows
Trade Route Min vs ISA