Art of Domination - Thread 02

[Mayu_Zane]

Continuing the Art of Domination thread, that started here: http://www.mspaforums.com/showthread...-of-Domination

And stopped here: http://www.mspaforums.com/showthread...ination/page97

AAC - 4500
SASAPC - 1800
Tumorhide Armor - 2000
Alliance Laser Rifle - 5000
Organic EMP-proof Radios - 2000
Port Restructuring - 90
Needlefish - 4500
Left-over - 110 RP

(Clarification: APCs loaded with troops can be carried by the AACs. However, an APC can carry only up to 20 people inside.)

Ghulls transmits your orders to HQ. High Command sends in the vehicle crews and the planetside Omni-Factory gets to work.

Rainhar buys:

3 Volcano-4 Tanks (13,500 RP)
1 AAC (4,500 RP)

You now have 110 RP, while Rainhar has 2,000 RP.

After spending some time pondering, he tells HQ to construct a PMC Barracks.

Rainhar now has 200 RP.

You: I thought you said you didn't like PMCs.

Rainhar: I don't, but I figured I should make use of the resources I had left. From the looks of things, we're not going to get Standard Battalion or Spec Ops reinforcements any time soon, and I thought we might as well leave the PMC option open in case we need more infantry.

You: Speaking of infantry, why do you think High Command is taking so long to 'reorganize' the infantry division?

Rainhar: Didn't you hear the news?

You: What news?

Rainhar: 8.4 out of 28 billion soldiers were killed.

You: Right, and High Command is shifting people around so we can't call in re-

Rainhar: Vora, if 8.4 billion people are dead, how many do you think were wounded?

It takes a few seconds for his words to sink in. With dread, you ask him for a number.

Rainhar: Thirteen billion.

You: Does... Does that count the ones suffering with minor wounds?

Rainhar: No, Vora. That number is a generous rounding of how many of our troops were critically wounded. People with missing legs, arms, eyes, some suffering from cancer and chemical poisoning. None of them can fight and the Alliance can't afford to give them all the treatment or body parts they need.

You: What the hell? I know we were fighting multiple wars but what you're telling me is that we've lost three-quarters of our army?!

Rainhar: I hate to say it, but yes. Thanks to the incompetent, stubborn morons who somehow became Commanders, we have lost about 76.248% of our entire armed forces. Granted, our enemies suffered even worse, but it's still bullshit because they were already trying to surrender and our idiotic peers ordered our forces to keep fighting and it ended up making all our enemies desperate enough to use biological and chemical weapons.

You: You're telling me that Alliance Commanders ordered their troops to keep fighting even after the enemy's already declared that they've given up?

Rainhar: Yes.

What has happened to the Alliance? You've been serving for 20 years, and you've seen your fair share of horrible mistakes, but this? With so many losses, no wonder High Command is still trying to figure out how and where to re-assign people!

This also explains why you losing a thousand troops at the start of the war here didn't make for big news back home: Millions more were dying elsewhere.

The two of you decide to stop talking about the Alliance's recent Pyrrhic victory and focus on the current mission. However, before either you can start making new plans, Ghulls receives a call from HQ down below.

===>

[The_Codfish]

I guess that we won't be able to reinforce our troops automatically for the rest of this adventure?

[Mayu_Zane]

I guess that we won't be able to reinforce our troops automatically for the rest of this adventure?

Unfortunately, with the way things are, reinforcements are impossible. Anyone who dies will not be replaced.

[Rysan Marquise]

I was under the impression we face enough enemies that they can afford to have a small group focus on the hovercraft, and we know they communicate rather well - also making the skinners' hit and run tactics less effective. Once we have cut their communications abilities with those organic radio jammers it would certainly be a good tactic - but that's not something we have yet.

A question for the author though - we know organic radio jammers come eventually... do we have any access to some sort of EMP weaponry as it is though?

If we can somehow cut their radio communications, I don't mind the idea of getting some skinners to cause some mass confusion.

EDIT: Sounds like high command may already have found a copy of the Art of Domination...

I wonder if high command has indeed snapped. Focusing on anti-psychic measures may help us reclaim or own populations. I believe this furthers my agenda of promoting as many anti-occult measures as possible. Preferably while staying as far away from it ourselves as we can.

We have minimized our own personal military power for the moment, though it will pay off later. We need to take the moment and focus on gaining as much intelligence as possible and strengthening our new military foot-hold.

[The_Codfish]

Oh wow, so then our forces won't get even a little replenished like in the conclusion of our last battle?

[Mayu_Zane]

Oh wow, so then our forces won't get even a little replenished like in the conclusion of our last battle?

No. All losses are now permanent, until High Command manages to figure out how to spare a battalion or a Spec Ops team without leaving one of the Alliance's colonies undefended.

It's pretty much why Rainhar decided to build a PMC Barracks, he knows we're going to need a lot more than ten thousand troops to win.

[The_Codfish]

Oh hey, about our human battalions. We're supposed to get one trainee group every 1 week and an upgraded version of it every 2 weeks, right?

[Rysan Marquise]

Oh hey, about our human battalions. We're supposed to get one trainee group every 1 week and an upgraded version of it every 2 weeks, right?

It's really an 'or' statement.

[gloomyMoron]

Well. Fuck. Need some time to process all that.

[Not The Author]

That's, um... hm. Okay, yeah, that explains why there are a lot of "these are alright but I'm not sure we really need them" choices in that list. We sorta, kinda, do need them. Um. Fuck. Both for the sheer casualty rate and for the no-more-specops-for-the-rest-of-forever.

Well, let's hear the damages, then. HQ calling can only mean bad news. All we can hope is that the news is worse for someone who isn't us.

E: I am now sort of wondering if there are already several copies of The Book floating around, but as yet it's not a logical conclusion to which to jump.

[Hype]

I think it would be wise to bring up the possibility to Rainhar that he might think on it, but to only really discuss it in depth later. For right now, we should find out what HQ has to say.

[gloomyMoron]

You realize we can't let this change how we approach combat right? I know Vora will know that, but I'm making that clear to everyone now. We cannot let this news effect how we run this campaign. That will only makes things worse. That being said, damn it. With an Army of.. 28 billion.. the Sarmis population would be, what, at least 10 times that.. so 280 billion at least. How many civilian causalities are we looking at? Chemical and Biological weapons used on Sarmis colonies and soldiers.

[Dragon Fogel]

>Might be a good idea to contact Lagantis soon. See what he knows about these orders, maybe if there's any common links between the specific commanders issuing them?

[BigBurkhart]

Personal thoughts:

Well, so much for those peace treaties.

...And I really wanted to get a Commander's Vanguard. ._.

Even so, this makes me really happy we decided to get the personal medipacs for our troops. It should help cut down on casualties. Also, will personal upgrades such as the medipac and anti-psi helmets be applied to PMC corps?

We need to find Al Barri and fix their goddamn communication equipment. NOW. Then convince them to get their factories running full tilt starting now. We need to find a peaceful way to deal with the Rockhearts, and possibly conscript them into our ranks.

And while I'm thinking about it, Rainhar should NOT be the one to make first contact with the SoS. He'll have a harem in less than 5 minutes. Xenophilia...

Wait a second... I'm going to have to redo my ratings of the PMC corps. Crap. I'll do it tomorrow.

[Hype]

This does change how we have to run the campaign - preserving our soldiers is a key priority. Any research that can help keep them alive should be seen as very important.

I'm also very glad we have the medipacks given this news - and agree we need to get on the ball with helping the Al Barri get their comm equipment fixed and get the factories running.

I don't think conscripting the rockhearts is a good idea given their history and image (they're the ones who kidnap people for sex slaves, right?)

[Chookster]

Priorities shifted, we're probably looking at armoured cavalry as a better investment now as they're piloted by only a couple of saramis (presumably)

hmmm, also the plant mercenaries are looking awesome, ambush tactics!

Lets have ghulls put the damn call through

[DWeird]

Hmm.

Well, we needed to make our troop composition more vehicle-heavy anyway. Start using our infantry in a more supporting role and move them to defend cities instead. Phase out saramis battallions with human ones, slowly.

> The one human battallion we have should join the main army now (and a saramis battallion or two should be send to protect the area we already control).

How expensive are cyborg or cloned parts, by the way? Not worth it for entire battallions, but getting Commander's Vanguard or more Spec Ops may be useful even if we have to pay for replacement parts for every single member of them.

On the yet broader scale of things, High Command may go absolutely insane eventually, which for us may mean that we will have to get on without the RP infusions for missions we have been receiving up to now. Might lose access to "High Command can send" units, too... So let's be ready to start relying on ourselves alone, and get that human spy sooner rather than later.

Need to drop a line to Lagantis, too - maybe he can explain why HC is/was being so crazy.

[Rysan Marquise]

Need to drop a line to Lagantis, too - maybe he can explain why HC is/was being so crazy.

Agreed

[PaperGolem]

You realize we can't let this change how we approach combat right? I know Vora will know that, but I'm making that clear to everyone now. We cannot let this news effect how we run this campaign. That will only makes things worse.

Shouldn't it? If we knew we would never be able to build any kind of aircraft, wouldn't we try to keep whatever air force we had going for the long haul, and build more things like sonic swatters to deal with enemy air force? More artillery, because we wouldn't be able to get more air strikes?

[torac]

If we are short on Saramis troops could we ask High Command to expand our human recruitment program? It would be nice if we could get more than one human battalion each week.

[Dragoshi]

...wait WHAT?!

Thirteen billion. Thirteen. Billion. I... wha. Jesus fuck. That... what. Arrrgh. And here I was hoping to get a Vanguard at some point. :T

Well, good thing we invested in those medipacks, because jeeze. Might want to work on Tumorhide Armor sometime in the fut- Oh wait we already are. Nevermind. I guess we can figure out what other defensive stuff to work on when the time comes. As for now, uh... Shit. This is certainly something.

[The_Codfish]

Well, if things ever get desperate enough (they probably will), we may get the chance to requisition a Vanguard.

[swampmist1142]

um mayu? you know that new threads go in the cradle now right?

[Demonsul]

um mayu? you know that new threads go in the cradle now right?

It's impossible to make them outside of the Cradle. This was just immediately airlifted to the main thread zone because it's not a new adventure.

[Solaris]

um mayu? you know that new threads go in the cradle now right?

new threads of old adventures dont