Bombardment Run (SL356)

## Bombardment Run

After the conclusion of Operation Wedge, Star Fleet decided that before a sustained offensive could be launched against the Klingons, a key station supporting Coalition operations in the southwestern sectors had to be eliminated. Star Fleet Intelligence became aware that the Klingons were urgently attempting to reinforce the base with mines, a squadron of the new Z-Y fighters, and possibly a new type of attrition unit known as "Interceptors."
A previous Klingon convoy carrying mines and fighters to the battle station was destroyed three months earlier by fighters from the heavy carrier Napoleon.

Although most fleet assets were exhausted during Operation Wedge, Star Fleet still had one "trump card" left to play: the Third Bombardment Group. However, Vice Admiral Duncan Onstine, commanding a wing of the Second Fleet, knew that Klingon fleet elements were operating out of the Klingon BATS, and decoy raids would be necessary. Onstine sent a strong advance squadron (led by the heavy cruiser Endeavor) on a reconnaissance-in-force to try to draw out Klingon units that could defend the base.

To directly support the attack, Admiral Onstine configured a tug for battle and "borrowed" a light carrier group. He was aware of the possibility of reinforcements reaching the base in spite of his best decoy efforts and ordered the Bombers to destroy the station as rapidly as possible.

Unfortunately for Star Fleet, the senior Klingon officer present in the sector, Commodore Hemikel Ravec, was a particularly shrewd strategist, and realized the true purpose of the increase in Star Fleet activity in the sector. Klingon intelligence informed him of the presence of the Third Bombardment Group in the sector. He reasoned that if he held a squadron of ships undetected just south of the base (allowing the Endeavor and her escorts to shoot up other units), Star Fleet would launch its base attack, which he would then immediately counter-attack and destroy. It was a gamble, but Ravec thought the risk justified because of the opportunity to destroy significant Star Fleet assets.

## Aftermath

Commodore Ravec's calculated risk only partially paid off. The BATS was destroyed in a hail of phasers and photons, but the Federation paid a tremendous price, losing Alexander and Collins. Additionally, Tamerlane and Wolf were crippled (its battle pod was later scrapped), and Hannibal and Armstrong were moderately damaged. The remaining Federation ships only made it home because the Endeavor group was fast enough to pull back and cover the withdrawal. In addition to the BATS, the Klingons suffered the loss of Insolent and Pursuit, and Rogue successfully disengaged her boom to avoid total destruction. In an unusual turn of events, Ravec actually retained his command after an inquiry into what happened (his superiors agreed with his assessment at the time, and the one convoy he did not adequately protect was somewhat shot up, but survived relatively intact).

For the Federation, Admiral Onstine could have taken the time to plan something better than a hasty assault given the fact that the Alliance wound up attacking the Romulans first in an attempt to knock them out of the war, an attack plan that Onstine knew was "in the works" at the time, but disagreed with. Strategically (and with the benefit of hindsight), the whole episode turned out to be somewhat vainglorious for Star Fleet.

## References

1. ↑ Various (2020). *Captain's Log 54*. Edited by Stephen V. Cole. (Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc.), pp. pp 45–47.
2. ↑ Various (2020). *Captain's Log 54*. Edited by Stephen V. Cole. (Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc.), pp. pp 45–47.
3. ↑ Various (2020). *Captain's Log 54*. Edited by Stephen V. Cole. (Amarillo Design Bureau, Inc.), pp. pp 45–47.