16/10/07
OK, current list of confirmed entrants into the campaign are as follows:

Me - Earth Alliance (Sheridan)
Ben Stubbs - Gaim Intelligence
Chris Allsopp - Minbari
Phil 'pip' Croft - Earth Alliance (Clarke)
Will Patten - Narn

If anyone else wants to be entered then please send me a pm through the website. As for all those who are already confirmed can we please meet in the kitchen, or somewhere else if it's crowded, so we can run through the first campaign turn and one or two other little things. Thank you.


28/10/07
Alright, first things first sorry for the delay in posting this weeks campaign details but I only arrived back in the country yesterday. Now, down to the business of the first campaign turn; and for the first time on the forum a basic campaign map.

1. Settled world - Industrial
2. Outpost - Mining
3. Space Debris - Ship Grave Yard
4. Space Installation - Construction Yard
5. Gas Giant - Hidden Outpost
6. Uninhabited World - Water
7. Settled World - Industrial
8. Outpost - Observation
9. Uninhabited World - Temperate
10. Inner System Comet - Ice-Rock Composite
11. Jumpgate - Ancient Jumpgate
12. Gas Giant - Medium Yield
Trade Route

The Minbari forces, under the command of Chris, moved in to secure the industrial world at location 7. The forces of the Gaim Intelligance, under the command of Queen Hymono Ptreia (Ben), moved in to secure the Ancient Jumpgate at location 11. The Narn forces, under the command of Will, moved in to secure the Ship Grave Yard at location 3. Whilst the Earth Alliance forces loyal to Sheridan, under the command of General Alexander Dimitriov (Jonathan), moved in to occupy the Industrial World at location 1 but the Clarke loyal forces under the command of Admiral Kent McCord (Phil) have moved to intercept their efforts.

All battles must be fought before the start of the next campaign turn on November 8th. An updated map shall be listed as soon as the battle results are in. So if the battles could be fought and results into me as soon as possible.

08/11/07
“This is an Inter Stellar News network special report, live from ISN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Your host Allison Higgins.”

“Good evening. Our main story today is the breaking news surrounding the growing hostilities around the recently emerging system, and the responses of officials in Earth Dome. Dan Randal with have a full report from the IPX command ship shortly, but first these headlines.”
“The death toll in the terrorist attack on one of Mars’ primary docking ports, nearly three weeks ago, has reached a total of one hundred and thirty two service men, women and Mars born civilians today. Yet amidst all the chaos and tragedy a ray of hope still shines one, as one young woman is pulled from the wreckage alive. Earth security forces discovered the woman, identified as Mars born Miss Emily Florel, whilst carrying out their investigation of the scene. Surviving off the contents of an aid crate she was buried with she is said to be in a good condition considering her ordeal and is being treated at the nearby Earth Force outpost. When questioned on this news today chief blast scene investigator Malcolm Vargo commented; “It’s a miracle, there’s no other way to describe it.”
“A ‘man hunt’ was started today by high ranking elite Psi-cops for the rouge telepath Byron Gordon. Accused of utilising his abilities to coerce others into acts of anti-Earth sedition and treason he is listed as a highly dangerous criminal. Officials are advising the public that if they know anything that could lead to this man’s capture then please contact the Psi-Corp directly. If encountered do not try and confront him, but report it to the nearest security official.”
“And finally, contrary to the rumours and lies being spread throughout our colonies by dissidents and anarchists the 2262 winter Olympics will be going ahead and are destined for the scenic back drop of Vancouver, British Columbia. Later in our show we will cross-over to Jerry Fallshaw as he talks to some of the young men and women pitting themselves against each other, themselves and nature itself.”

“Good evening, I’m Dan Randall. Today we enter a new and decidedly different and dangerous stage in the exploration and discoveries surrounding the system now determined; by historical records and archive information gleamed from the libraries of other races, to be K’Dasch. This system, the once ancestral home of the now long extinct K’Daschi Imperium, has become the centre of the largest interspecies controversy in the since the Battle of the Line. The long ranged sensor arrays of the IPX system survey ships; used to map the movement of particles, energy emissions and stellar phenomenon, erupted in a mass of ‘blips’ and energy readings this morning as several fleets descended upon this only recently discovered corner of the galaxy.”
“The Gaim, if nothing else, kept to their word and made their intentions of carrying out and backing up their threat by sending in a war fleet. The large fleet, containing several of their near impervious Queen ships and escorted by swarms of fighters, emerged through an ancient jumpgate that had been completely unknown of just a few days ago. If anyone was in any doubt as to the veracity of their hostile threats and intents, this will come as a harsh realisation that they mean to attack us, to use hostile and deadly force against any who get in their way.”
“But they were not the only alien race to dispatch a fleet to this once quiet and peaceful system in the hopes of wrestling it from the control of Earth Alliance hands. The unmistakeable ethereal, ghost-like silhouettes of the secretive and ruthless Minbari jumped in and surrounded the planet closest to the K’Dasch sun. The planet in question had been identified as one of the K’Daschi Imperium’s chief industrial worlds, with much of its surface given over to the buildings and machines of industry. Meanwhile a fleet of warships from the Narn slipped into the system amidst a field of damaged and destroyed warship hulks, the remnants of some long since past and forgotten war. Their apparent attempt at quietly sneaking into the system unnoticed may well have worked, were it not for a remote probe launched into the ship’s graveyard to gather a detailed map and samples of the ships left there.”
“We go now to Dr. Indiri, Dean of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and a leading expert on xeno-psychology and Minbari war syndrome. Dr. Indiri, does any of the actions of these alien races, some previous administrations once called friends, worry you at all?”

“The short answer Dan, yes, their actions are very worrying. The Minbari’s act securing of the industrial world lets us have a peek into the thoughts behind this move, and it’s a frightening one. By securing a world, especially a world such as that, tells us that they are in this for the ‘long haul’ and they have no intention of leaving any time soon. As for the other two it is not so much what they have done, or even where they have occupied; but how they have gone about. The Narn moved their fleet into an area of the system that is filled with damaged and destroyed ships, many as large as or bigger than an Omega and emitting all manner of readings. This is a devious move on their part, attempting to slip into a blind spot, unnoticed and unseen. The generals at Earth Dome will have to keep a close eye on the Narn, as they are trying to hide their intentions and their actions. As for the Gaim, well what can I say? First they openly threaten us and then they boldly and openly send a large fleet; fighters swarming the larger ships, through the ancient jumpgate. Unlike the Narn they are not trying to hide their intentions and are openly hostile and aggressive in their actions; this level of confidence and unrestrained action is unheard of in the League worlds and may be a disturbing sign of things to come.”

“Thank you Dr Indiri. Unfortunately the hostile and threatening actions of the alien races is not our biggest concern at the moment in the fight for K’Dasch. It would appear that the renegade forces; under the command of the rouge former Captain Sheridan, are determined to carve out a small section of this galaxy for whatever nefarious and devious reasons they may have. Already the two sides have clashed, the loyal Earth Alliance Corvettes fighting gallantly as they are pounced upon and surrounded by a larger force of rebels. Though messages and offers of peace were broadcast it seems that this ‘new threat’, this ‘enemy from within’ has no intention of peace or cooperation; mercilessly killing the defenceless and fleeing Earth Alliance Corvettes.”
“In these dark times we must come behind our leaders, rally around them and support them. The human race has survived every challenge to come its way, but only when it is united and resolute; standing together. So together we must stand against the alien, the dissident, the terrorist, the anarchist and the rebel. As for those who have fallen to the lies and false-hoods of the aliens; including Sheridan and all those on Babylon 5, we must remember that they are not fully aware of their actions. They are ill, and in need of our help. We can only extend the hand of friendship and hope that they see the error of their ways and return to us for assistance and the psychological care they so desperately need. This is Dan Randall for ISN, goodnight.”



Alright, all the results are in and the system now looks as follows:

1. Settled world – Industrial Earth Alliance (Sheridan)
2. Outpost - Mining
3. Space Debris - Ship Grave Yard Narn
4. Space Installation - Construction Yard
5. Gas Giant - Hidden Outpost
6. Uninhabited World – Water
7. Settled World – Industrial Minbari
8. Outpost – Observation
9. Uninhabited World – Temperate
10. Inner System Comet - Ice-Rock Composite
11. Jumpgate - Ancient Jumpgate Gaim Intelligence
12. Gas Giant - Medium Yield
Trade Route


The next turn will take place this coming Thursday, so can we please all meet up in the kitchen at 9 to sort out any spending of XP and resources and then move onto the second turn. Oh, and thanks for a great first turn guys.

12/11/07
“This is Commander Suzanne Ivanova of Babylon5, bringing you ‘The Voice of the Resistance’. Our best wishes go to our brothers and sisters on Mars and Proxima III, who are fighting for their freedom against overwhelming odds. Our regards to those aboard Earth Alliance star ships who risk being arrested and court-martialled for listening to these stellar casts, your loyalty to Earth and to freedom is appreciated.”
“It would appear that the emergence of the system now identified as K’Dasch has had more of an effect on the galaxy than anyone could have first predicted. As a number of governments dispatch forces to stake their claim within the system, and the first of the predicted fighting breaks out, we will bring you reports from the diplomats and governments responsible for deploying these forces and news on how the events surrounding this new system are impacting the rest of the galaxy at large. But first of all I’d like to clear up and dispel the falsehoods being spread by Clarke’s propaganda machine as we go live to General Alexander Dimitriov, captain of the ‘Titans’ and task force commander in the K’Dasch system.”

“General Dimitriov, firstly thank you for taking the time to clear things up and set the record straight.”
“Is no problem. Clarke can only lie for so long, eventually the truth will catch up to him and he’ll be nothing more than a footnote in the history of evil dictators.”
“We’ve heard what ISN has reported about your battle; what Clarke wants them to say. But anyone who knows what we stand for, what we’re doing and why, will want to know what did happen. So please, enlighten us.”
“One of our routine patrols encountered a pair of Olympus Corvettes loyal to Clarke’s regime; the Phoebos and Ganymede. They were set to intercept a number of ships establishing some basic supply and defensive structures around the first planet in the system. Our ships were ordered to protect the civilian crews and new facilities, and moved between Clarke’s forces and their intended target. As the two corvettes entered range the offer for a cease-fire and request that they stand down was issued, however they proved unwilling to accept the peaceful solution. When they entered weapons range they opened fire, damaging the Hestia and killing a number of her crew. Our forces only returned fire to defend themselves, and the destruction of the two Olympus corvettes and deaths of their crew was regrettable, but necessary.”

“Thank you General Dimitriov. As he said, their deaths were regrettable but necessary. We will not fire on any Earth Alliance ship that has not proved itself hostile first, either through attacking our ships or by carrying out the illegal and unconscionable acts of civilian directed atrocities ordered by Clarke to try and subdue them to his will; but we will defend ourselves with deadly force. So if you want to avoid being on the wrong end of a pulse cannon, surrender or be somewhere else. Remember, you have a conscience and free will for a reason; use and save your life. Now, on with our other headlines…”

20/11/07
“Good evening, I’m Dan Randall. In the aftermath of the merciless slaying of two loyalist Earth Alliance Corvettes by Sheridan’s rebels it seems that the forces involved in the bitter struggle for the dominance of the K’Dasch system have been given some serious pause for thought. Perhaps the governments didn’t intend to get into a shooting war, desiring to occupy their ‘fair share’ of the new system without bloodshed, without loss of life. Now, however, blood has been spilt and lives lost.”
“In the lull; the calm of contemplation, the task forces consolidated their positions and occupied ground. Each of the governments has dug in, capturing resources and holding onto strategic targets. But more serious than the expansion of the alien races influence in the sector is the nearly unnoticed and startlingly quick construction of two alien space stations. Both the Minbari and the Gaim Intelligence have attempted to solidify their position, their illegitimate hold on the K’Dasch system. We turn now to Dr. Indiri, who will attempt to shed some light on this intriguing and worrying development.”

“Hello Dan. This is not welcome news and does not bode well, but is telling of the alien’s intentions. The Gaim build quickly, as drones can be bred en mass to fulfil any particular role at any particular time and then turned to another task or cast aside and discarded. That does not however mean nothing. As they are one of the smaller governments, part of the League of non-aligned worlds, their resources are limited and the Gaim have only recently revealed the construction of their own ships; proving that they weren’t the scavengers everyone thought they were. So this is a major statement for them, a statement of just how much they are intending on committing to this conflict. As for the sudden emergence of the Minbari space station, this is the more worrying of the two. The Minbari as a race are secretive and much like the Vorlons were they don’t often get involved in the affairs and goings on beyond their boarders. This is a bold move from an otherwise reclusive race, and quite possibly a hostile one. Though a third of their culture may belong to their ‘worker caste’ the construction of a space station this far from home is not a simple or small undertaking. As well as being responsible for constructing their devastating ships, the worker caste maintains their machines of war and their cities and infrastructure. This leads me to surmise that much of the station must already have been constructed in the space around Minbar, meaning that they have been planning this move and this conflict for a while.”
“In short, these two events speak of two races that are committed to a protracted and drawn out conflict. They have and are setting aside the resources for a full scale occupation, if not a full scale war. It was only a matter of time before such an event were to happen, before one or more of the alien races would try and take advantage of our former administrations previous open and close relations with them; clearly a mistake our current government will not be repeating.”

“Thank you Dr. Indiri for those insights into the minds and thoughts behind the actions, into the mind of a potentially hostile force. So, what exactly their plans and their thoughts are we don’t know. But one thing is for certain, this isn’t going to be a quiet sector any time soon. This is Dan Randall for ISN, at the heart of the fighting in K’Dasch, goodnight.”

*****************************************************************


Alright, turn two was a simple and thankfully quick affair with no battles to be fought and strategic targets occupied all round. This will be the last time that happens and we are almost guaranteed to see numerous combat phases in the remaining turns. As of the end of turn two the system now looks as follows:

1. Settled world – Industrial Earth Alliance (Sheridan)
2. Outpost – Mining Gaim Intelligence
3. Space Debris - Ship Grave Yard Narn
4. Space Installation - Construction Yard Narn
5. Gas Giant - Hidden Outpost
6. Uninhabited World – Water Minbari
7. Settled World – Industrial Minbari
8. Outpost – Observation
9. Uninhabited World – Temperate* Earth Alliance (Sheridan)
10. Inner System Comet - Ice-Rock Composite
11. Jumpgate - Ancient Jumpgate Gaim Intelligence
12. Gas Giant - Medium Yield Earth Alliance (Clarke)
Trade Route

*Temperate world was discovered to be a previously unidentified mining outpost, rich in Quantium-40.

The battles for this round are as follows: Earth Alliance (Clarke) vs Narn. If the battle could be fought by 9 pm on Thursday 29th of November, then we can organise the fourth turn that evening. Thanks.

28/01/08
“This is an Inter Stellar News network special report, live from ISN headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. Your host Allison Higgins.”

“Good evening. Tonight we bring a special update on the situation developing around the K’Dasch system and the battles being fought to secure the resources locked away within its orbiting bodies. Dan Randal will have the full story for you after a brief reminder of our main headlines.
“Nearly two hundred people were left without lighting, power and gravity today when the power distribution grid of an orbital research station near Jupiter was severely damaged by a maintenance bot. The unmanned device; often seen tending to basic maintenance or cargo transfer around the larger space docks, apparently stopped responding to commands from the stations control room and began acting erratically, before ploughing into the main power distributing grid. The resulting explosion caused significant damage to the power relays, rendering all but the life support systems and backup generators inoperable. Emergency replacements have been brought in from the colony on Io, however the damaged grid will have to be removed and a new one installed before the station can return to full working condition. Officials do not believe that this was a random accident or a simple malfunction, and are investigating the possibility that this is just part of an anti-Clarke terrorist movement.”
“Nightwatch officers, assisted by elite Psi-Cops from the anti-terrorism branch, engaged in a protracted fire-fight with anti-Clarke dissidents. Information provided during the interrogation of several members of the organisation calling themselves the ‘Sol Liberation Army’ provided the names of a number of their command structure and the location of the facility raided today. The situation at the apartment block in central Berlin turned violent when one of the dissidents opened fire on the arresting officers, wounding one of them in the process. During the course of the ensuing fire-fight three officers were injured and one Nightwatch officer fell to the rebels weapon fire, however 23 of the dissidents were eliminated and a further 38 rounded up for questioning and processing at a secure Psi-Corps interrogation facility.”
“And finally, trading today in Earth based products is at its highest levels since the anti-Clarke terrorism and dissident movements tried to seize control of the ISN headquarters and martial law had to be instigated to bring the situation under control. This boon in Earth based trade has reassured many market and financial analysts that faith has been restored in the Earth based industries and suggests that this trend will continue and the market will strengthen as a result. So the message today is whatever you’re thinking of buying, think Earth first.”

“Good evening, I’m Dan Randall. Last week saw the triumph of loyalist Earth Alliance forces, as they drove back the attacking Narn, hoping to take advantage of a defenceless cargo freighter. The brave crews of the Iaptus and the Oberon; two of the older Olympus-class corvettes, put their ships and their lives on the line by literally placing themselves between the alien aggressors and the civilian transport vessel. In the ensuing battle they were able to drive back and subsequently eliminate the Narn vessel before they could call for heavy reinforcements to murder the Earth Alliance ships and the crew of the civilian freighter. However this good fortune was not to continue for long.”
“As the loyal forces of the Earth Alliance, under the command of Admiral McCord, celebrated their success signs of trouble on the horizon began to brew. Propelled forth by the power of numerous shuttles and lighter transports a large structure of a similar design to the Babylon 5 station emerged from a jump point the size of which would normally be associated with an Explorer-class survey ship. With the structure settled into a synchronous orbit its energy orbit jumped as its systems were brought on line, adding significant weight to the defensive capabilities of Sheridan’s rebel forces.”
“Don’t think that this week has been a quiet one. Between the near inconclusive stand-off between the forces of the Narn Regime and those of the Gaim Intelligence and driving off Gaim forces by Sheridan’s rebels there has been anything but silence in the K’Dasch system this week. With the merciless destruction of the loyal Earth Alliance Olympus-class Corvette Iaptus; the brave heroes of the K’Dasch system, and the butchering of her crew the Gaim Intelligence has made an enemy of humanity this day. Gaim Intelligence ships are advised to steer clear of Earth Alliance territory, or suffer a similar fate to that of the Iaptus and her crew.”
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of that brave crew tonight, may they find peace and closure in the days to come. This is Dan Randall for ISN, at the heart of the fighting in K’Dasch, goodnight.”

************************************************************

Alright, turn four (I think, I’m not quiet sure but we’ll say it is) is completed with battles both won and lost, but no strategic targets changing hands. Hopefully the next few turns will go ahead without too many issues or delays. As of the end of turn four the system now looks as follows:

1. Settled world – Industrial Earth Alliance (Sheridan)
2. Outpost – Mining Gaim Intelligence
3. Space Debris - Ship Grave Yard Narn
4. Space Installation - Construction Yard Narn
5. Gas Giant - Hidden Outpost Earth Alliance (Clarke)
6. Uninhabited World – Water Minbari
7. Settled World – Industrial Minbari
8. Outpost – Observation Gaim Intelligence
9. Uninhabited World – Temperate* Earth Alliance (Sheridan)
10. Inner System Comet - Ice-Rock Composite Minbari
11. Jumpgate - Ancient Jumpgate Gaim Intelligence
12. Gas Giant - Medium Yield Earth Alliance (Clarke)
13. Outpost – Mining Gaim Intelligence
Trade Route

*Temperate world was discovered to be a previously unidentified mining outpost, rich in Quantium-40.

With the Gaim Intelligence establishing a clear lead the battles for this round are as follows:
Narn vs Gaim Intelligence,
Earth Alliance (Clarke) vs Minbari,
Earth Alliance (Sheridan) vs Gaim Intelligence and
Minbari vs Gaim Intelligence.

If the battles could be fought by 9 pm on Thursday 14th of February and preferebly in the order they are listed, then we can organise the next turn that evening; with any luck. So if Will and Ben could have their battle this week and Pip could have his with Chris. If you can't please try and organise the battles for the week after.
Thanks.

Ok, all the posts from the old forum have now been copied over to the nice new shiney forum for your viewing pleasure. As I haven't posted in a while I figured I should just say that this next turn is liable to be the last of this present campaign, in an attempt to draw it to a close and not have it drag on and people lose interest in the campaign and the game itself. I will however be looking to start up a new campaign running along a similar format to this one but different and unique in its own ways probably starting around late September-early October and having a similar run time as this one. I may also look to run a fixed fleet tournament sometime between now and then, though timings and details are yet to figured out. With Will and Pip hopefully having their battle on Thursday, the biggest battle of the campaign thus far at a wopping 6 points at battle level, we'll be able to move onto the final turn.