| Author | Message | ||
     Jeremy Ironside |
To: Fleet Captain Tebrun LoraKor; Captain, U.S.S. Coronado Cc: Vice Admiral Brian Aldur; Commanding Officer, Task Group 5.4 From: Colonel Jeremy Ironside; Commanding Officer, 3rd Recon Regiment To: Fleet Captain Tebrun LoraKor; Captain, U.S.S. Coronado Lieutenant Colonel William Jonté; XO, 3rd Recon Regiment Cc: Vice Admiral Brian Aldur; Commanding Officer, Task Group 5.4 From: Colonel Jeremy Ironside; Commanding Officer, 3rd Recon Regiment Target: Pfhor ship-of-the-line (presumably battlecruiser-class or above) designated "Khsier's Retribution" by vessel computer. Staging Areas: U.S.S. Coronado, U.S.S. Macarthur, several Camelynian vessels. Resources: 156 Starfleet Marines, U.S.S. Coronado 450 Starfleet Marines, U.S.S. Macarthur 350 Camelynian Shadow Nights, various vessels (number approximated) Time of Insertion: 1823 hours Time on Target: 3 hours, 5 minutes Time of Extraction: 2128 hours Enemy Casualties by 'race': 'Birdies': 1,436 'Brain' Cylinders: 220 'Brain' Parasites: 12 Meta-class life forms: 2 'Hunters': 47 'Hounds': 72 Casualty Report, Starfleet Marine Personnel: Total Casualties: 151 Lightly Wounded: 54 Moderately Wounded: 44 Severely Wounded: 30 KIA: 23 Casualty Rate by class Lightly Wounded: 36% Moderately Wounded: 29% Severely Wounded: 20% KIA: 15% Assault Preface The assault on the Pfhor vessel Khsier’s Retribution was planned and executed in a minimal amount of time due to constraints imposed on personnel by the ambush and simultaneous attack of enemy forces on the Artemis Convoy. As such, one should keep in mind the relative lack of casualty numbers and accomplished mission objectives before judging mission success based on the primary objective of assaulting and capturing the vessel. A separate report is available for the events leading to the boarding of Khsier’s Retribution, but a short summary follows to introduce the reader to the situational factors that led to the mission’s implementation. Khsier’s Retribution was one of three Pfhor heavy warships involved in the ambush and assault upon the Artemis convoy. Over the course of the vessel’s assault on Coronado, and the arrival of the Camelynian reinforcements, the vessel sustained heavy damage from a false matter torpedo strike to its upper aft pod and from Camelynian weapons fire. The ship read as disabled by Starfleet computers, and ceased hostilities at 1810 hours. At this time, numerous Starfleet marines were already on hot alert and standing by to assault one of the Pfhor destroyers, believing that doing so might allow for Coronado’s escape before the (at that time unknown) Camelynian forces arrived. Upon the retreat of the remainder of Pfhor warships in the system, U.S.S. Coronado and U.S.S. Macarthur inserted forces onto Khsier’s Retribution at 1823 hours. Insertion With limited internal scans of the vessel, the assault forces were inserted into what the computer classified as possible ‘sensitive’ areas. U.S.S. Coronado’s marines were inserted into the forward ‘pod’ of the ship, while the larger marine force from U.S.S. Macarthur inserted into the larger central area of the ship. Camelynian forces were interspersed throughout the vessel’s interior. All forces were inserted into the upper-most decks. Intel: Target Layout and Composition This class of Pfhor warship features corridors and decks of approximately the height of a Starfleet Galaxy-Class Heavy Cruiser, however their width is larger than Starfleet standard at approximately 4.5 meters. The interior bulkheads are composed of a bio-metallic alloy, carrying a distinctive mottled brown and green texture similar to the external appearance of the ship. Approximately every 10 meters, a structural bracing extends out into the corridors along the bulkheads, providing limited cover for one man from enemy fire. Corridors are predominately slightly curved, following the same external lines of the ship concentrically inward, with corridors branching outwards to connect the concentric corridors (similar to the primary hull of most Starfleet vessels). However the branched corridors offset themselves often so one cannot see from the centre of the ship to the corridor closest to the hull. Entrance to rooms is provided by large oval doors that slide aside into the bulkheads, while room interspersion is similar in distance/access to Starfleet vessels. Primary facilities such as control rooms generally are oval in shape and self-contained with a large corridor running around their exterior. Several doors at equidistant distances around the facilities provide access, while corridors branch out offset to the doors so that one can not see the facility entrances from anywhere other than the corridor directly outside. The interior bulkheads are extremely resistant to damage, and appear to function with the same self-repair mechanism as the ship’s external armour. Touchpad control panels providing unknown functions are interspersed throughout the corridors along the bulkheads. When damaged, these too repair automatically. Movement between and along decks is facilitated by a lift system that was not used during the assault due to tactical and safety reasons. There are two sizes of lifts: one to move personnel, and the other to presumably move cargo, ammunition, and the meta-class lifeform. Vertical movement between decks is also accomplished through zero-gravity shafts which run for several decks at a time, but never the entire height of a particular ship’s section (be it the forward pod, or the central core). There are also several decks approximately twice the size of a normal sized deck that seems to house both cargo, and a ferocious meta-class lifeform. These decks are arranged in large, open halls rather than corridors. Intel: Target Crew The target’s crew numbers approximately somewhere in the 6000 range based on vague life form readings, casualties inflicted by the Marine assault, and the deceased visually identified by the assault as being dead before the assault commenced. There were six identifiable species crewing Khsier’s Retribution: 1. The birdlike xenomorphs encountered at Tarndare (‘Birdies’): Height: Average of 1.8 meters Basic Appearance: Two armed biped w/3 eyes. Slim but muscular build with beige tight rubbery skin Combat strengths: Fast moving and manoeuvrable Combat weaknesses: Skeletally frail in comparison to other humanoids Dress: Waist and Torso armour (various colours) w/breathing apparatus, armed with energized quarterstaff or Full Armoured Suit (various colours) w/bubble dome viewing helmet armed with charged pulse rifle (some with under-slung RPG launcher) 2. The ‘floating cylinders’ and their subspecies Height: Difficult to determine. From tip of cloak to top of exoskeleton is 3.2 meters Basic Appearance: Cylindrical exoskeleton with large central energy port (0.75m diameter), 2 acuity sensors (eyes?). Cloak draped over ‘shoulders of exoskeleton. Exoskeleton appears to have primitive ‘arms’ to lift cloak. Combat strengths: Extremely powerful weaponry, detonates violently when destroyed Combat weaknesses: Slow, low damage threshold Dress: Large ‘cape’ (red or purple) Subspecies: Parasite Height: 18cm Basic appearance: Mammalian brain with 4 ‘legs’ Combat strengths: Small, fast, ability to take control of host Combat weaknesses: Extremely frail Dress: None Note: It is now known that the small parasitic brains, the control centre of Pfhor strike craft, the biosoftware virus, and the floating cylinders all share the same DNA and are likely different forms of the same life form. 3. Meta-class life form constrained to double sized decks Height: 5.8 meters on average Basic appearance: Rock-like grey skin, hunchbacked, extremely muscled Combat strengths: Size, power, damage resistance Combat weaknesses: Slow reaction time, size, lack of combat strategy Dress: Crude robe garments 4. Hunters Height: 2.2 metres on average Basic appearance: Sharply designed armoured exoskeleton w/3 acuity sensors (eyes?), a shoulder mounted plasma cannon, and two wrist-mounted charged pulse rifles similar to those carried by the birdies. Combat strengths: Weaponry, armour, adaptability, combat strategies Combat weaknesses: None that we are currently aware of. Dress: See basic appearance 5. Hounds Height: 1.3 metres on average Basic appearance: Snakelike tail leading into a thick, muscular upper torso with two razor-sharp mantis-like pincers, powerful jaws and teeth. Compound eye. Combat strengths: Speed, agility, burrowing capability, armoured hide Combat weaknesses: Reliant on Hunters for tactics and guidance 6. Species similar to ‘birdies’ Height: 2.4 metres average (although only 2 spotted) Basic appearance: Similar to the birdies, but with a darker blue instead of a beige skin, and many more eyes on a taller and more elongated head. Combat strengths: Unknown Combat weaknesses: Unknown Dress: Multicoloured robe and cape (possibly with body armour beneath), with some type of large fusion weapon. Assault Progression U.S.S. Coronado’s marines were inserted into the forward ‘pod’ of Khsier’s Retribution near section 12, believed to be a control centre. Initially, there was little to no resistance outside of an isolated cylinder or rogue birdie. The internal communications system within the vessel seemed to be working, as the birdlike warble of the birdie’s language echoed throughout the corridor over the soft klaxon pulsing in the background. Using concussion grenades and the room-clearing ability of the Type-IV phaser, section 12 was quickly cleared of enemy presence. The facility, described as above; was large and oval in shape, with six doors placed equidistantly around the room’s edge. Inside, there were a bevy of control ‘pods’ and other lighted panels, however, there were no visible switches or levers of any kind. A team with computer specialists was left in section 12 to examine and attempt to discover what the facility was and how it worked. Also at this time, the first signs of organized resistance began to appear. Groups of the battle-armoured birdies began running firefights through the corridors with the Coronado marines as they began to move aft wards towards the engine area, and forwards towards section 10. Although numerous, the birdies’ armour does not seem capable of handling the rapid fire and kinetic plasmatic discharge of the PPR, and as such, it does not take much more than a 3 round burst from a rifle to down one. The armour, however, does seem to stand up reasonably well to the PAR fire, but only in single shots. A rapid series of PAR bolts will melt and vapourize birdie armour. In turn, the weapons carried by the birdie troopers are capable of whittling the shielding of the Starfleet medium hard suit away rather quickly, and the armouring even quicker. A Starfleet marine will suffer increasingly severe injuries as enemy fire begins to shatter and burn through his armour. A round that makes it both through shield and armour is likely to cause critical injury. The U.S.S. Macarthur’s marines beamed into the large, central area of the Pfhor vessel and began to spread both aft wards and bow wards. In their advances they were not able to stop long enough and investigate any areas of interest, and functioned more as a sweeper team, engaging and eliminating the vessel’s crew. They quickly located and discovered the zero-gravity shafts to begin moving downwards into the lower decks of the vessel and assuming as many easily defensible positions as possible. Although they have not issued any sort of formal report on their activities, the Camelynian Shadow nights primarily roamed the vessel, hunting down and eliminating as many targets as possible. As the marine forces propagated throughout the ship, the primary foe encountered was the birdie life form with the energized quarterstaff. The staffs, when swung, are extremely powerful in close combat and capable of burning through both shielding and armour on a Starfleet marine, causing serious heat and impact injuries. At distance, the staffs are also capable of launching energy bolts similar to those launched by the Cylinders. These birdies, without the encumbering trooper armour, are very fast, but very vulnerable. A single round to an exposed body part will incapacitate the target, and more than one round to their limited armour will certainly cause critical injury. Hunters and Hounds were few and far between onboard the vessel, indicating that the upper aft pod destroyed on the ship by a false matter torpedo is likely their barracks facility. The cylinders were also absent from the central parts of the vessel, and more concentrated towards the bow and aft. U.S.S. Macarthur’s marines, when pressing aft wards towards section 8, encountered stiff resistance from enemy forces. Without other Pfhor forces in the system, it was decided to hold off on the assault on the heavily defended aft section until more of the ship had been secured. On the opposite side of the vessel, U.S.S. Coronado marines encountered fanatical-level resistance in section 10 by the cylindrical lifeforms. Without the heavy support of MR-65 mortar launchers, the marines were unable to make advances into section 10 without risking significant casualties. It was at this time that marines from both Starfleet vessels began to encounter the aforementioned double-sized decks. On these decks they encountered the nigh-invulnerable meta-class lifeforms. These lifeforms are capable of sustaining an incredible amount of fire without slowing down, and one swipe of their arms is enough to kill a humanoid. However, these lifeforms seem contained to the double sized decks. The marines continued to press downwards through the vessel. It was at this time that some Camelynian Shadow Nights, as well as a small number of marines who had been forced to remove their hard suit helmets, were subverted by small, quadrapeds resembling mammalian brains. These brains took over all functions of the host body and turned them against the assault forces. Some also tricked themselves into being beamed aboard U.S.S. Macarthur and Coronado. Eventually, the appearance of these life forms ceased, and the assault came to a standstill as increased enemy resistance forced the marines to consolidate their posisitions. The return of nine Pfhor warships, and the subsequent ensnarement of Khsier’s Retribution forced the marine assault force to retreat from the target to the U.S.S. Macarthur under cover from friendly starships. Under the assumption that section 10 was an integral location onboard the enemy vessel (based on the fanatical resistance encountered there), U.S.S. Macarthur engaged Khsier’s Retribution with a torpedo barrage to that area. Shortly afterwards, the vessel exploded, either due to the damage caused by the strike, or from another cause. U.S.S. Macarthur then retreated to the predetermined rendezvous point. |