Stealing First Base (T8)

## Stealing First BasePart of War of Return

In order for the WYNs to launch their campaign into Kzinti space, they had to establish a bridgehead and a supply point for their forces to operate from. This was particularly vital since (although the new WYN ships could carry some supplies in their cargo bays) the WYN fleet lacked any kind of a tug, mobile bases, or repair ships. The Usurper would, of course, draw most of his supplies from his ally the Count, but did not want to be totally dependent on him.

As part of the political arrangement, the Usurper had agreed to destroy the battle station nearest the Cluster, known as Battle Station Rampart. This station was under control of the Crown Prince, and the Count could not openly revolt until the battle station was no longer a threat. The base figured prominently in the political negotiations between the Count and Usurper, and was the reason for the production of the Narwhal mauler (R12.26).

The Crown Prince had built Battle Station Rampart on the nominal border between the Duke and Count. In theory, it provided a base from which “national” forces could defeat any enemy trying to take advantage of the “seam” between the two “regional” commanders (a common military tactic at all levels). In fact, it was there to watch over both Nobles (and the WYNs), and everyone knew it.

The WYN planners determined that if their campaign was to have any chance of success, it was vital that they not destroy Battle Station Rampart, but instead seize it intact. This would allow the advancing WYN fleet to draw its supplies directly from its own base outside of the Cluster.

One daunting part of the task was that the WYN would now have to deal with the same radiation zone effects upon exiting the Cluster that other empires had to face when entering the Cluster. A bold plan was decided upon.

Several unmarked WYN-Orion ships slipped into Kzinti space prior to R-Day. The ships used silent running and their built-in stealth to move quietly into positions around Battle Station Rampart. Just prior to the main attack, they activated their scanners to draw the attention of local Kzinti patrol squadrons. The WYN-Orion ships would be sacrificed if need be to keep the Kzinti patrols from helping to defend the base.

The WYN Main Force, including the newly constructed ships, a handful of Orions, and some ex-Kzinti units rebuilt by the WYNs, exited the Cluster and (after a brief recovery period) headed for the battle station. While a major group of warships, it would not be enough to attack the base, as anyone tracking it on scanners could tell. This was part of the deception plan; the Crown forces would suspect the force was headed for some other target for the first critical hours.

Before reaching Battle Station Rampart, the Main Force was to be joined by the fast-moving X-Force (the three WYN and one WYN-Orion X-ships, kept hidden until the last moment), a squadron of Orion mercenaries, and Drone Force One (composed of the two WYN drone bombardment ships).

As with all military operations, it was planned in great detail and expected to simply “run on rails.” Like most military operations, it promptly ran off the tracks, but had so much momentum that it would prove very difficult to stop.

## Aftermath

Battle Station Rampart was captured and the War of Return begins.

## References

1. ↑ Various (2017). *Star Fleet Battles Module C3 - New Worlds III*. (Amarillo Design Bureau), p. 55.
2. ↑ Various (2017). *Star Fleet Battles Module C3 - New Worlds III*. (Amarillo Design Bureau), p. 55.