+countermeasure

Syntax:
:+countermeasure <type>
This command allows you to deploy defensive countermeasures. Countermeasures are likely to be least useful for fleets and most useful for lone ships or small groups of vessels, because by their very nature they are high-leverage items that are costly and difficult to implement on a grand scale. Unless otherwise noted, you can deploy countermeasures AT ANY TIME, regardless of +turn. However, you may only use ONE countermeasure per turn. There are currently four types of countermeasure:
:1) Chaff. This countermeasure is fired in a screen (from 6 units for a fighter squadron to vast amounts, 200 or more, for a Star Destroyer) and temporarily frustrates missiles fired at the ship. They may still hit, but many will be led astray by the clouds of chaff. However, chaff does not last for very long and is best used to cover an escape or force missile-armed fighters into a laser dogfight.
:2) Flares. This countermeasure is deployed either during or long before a battle, and lasts until used up. Flare beacons are small, pulsating satellites which float about in space, decoying torpedoes launched in their proximity. Each beacon will counteract one torpedo, and as such they are very effective in neutralizing sudden torpedo raids--within reason. Since each beacon is between 5 and 30 times as expensive as a torpedo, they are most effective when dumped suddenly or when someone really wants to spend hundreds of thousands of credits on a secure base facility. Note that flare beacons make no distinction between friendly and nonfriendly torpedoes. It is also easy to blow up flares with lasers once they're deployed.
:3) Speed. Sometimes, in an emergency, you don't need shields, you need legs. If you have sufficient energy stored in your shields, this countermeasure lets you dump half your shields and power up your engines for a sudden sprint. Most effective in escaping (via +run) from a dangerous battle situation.
:4) Lasers. This countermeasure DOES count as a full action. Instead of attacking, emulate Admiral Piet: "Intensify the forward battery, I don't want anything to get through." It substantially increases the effectiveness of your defensive capital ship lasers in picking off torpedoes, but at the cost of your attack.
Category:Space Commands