Three years ago I ran a Spelljammer/Battlesystem miniatures scenario to test out some of my ideas concerning astroid base defense. Fist, I provide the order of battle, then the report of the Elven commander describe the results of the battle.
Elven Imperial Navy
The base is unwalled, but does have a pair of fortified towers. All buildings are made of stone. The ballistae and catapult have good, 360' fire arcs.
Scro
Scorpionship armed w/ 1 Bombard, 1 Medium Ballista, Ramclaws Crew: 50 Scro Warriors Officers: 1 Captain (F6), 1 XO (F5), 2 Warpriests(M/P 5/5) Deathhelm w/5th level prisoner
The Scorpion carries 3 Goblin Blades in its Cargo space:
3 Goblin Blades (w/Greek Fire Projector) Each helmed by a Furnace helm (the Scro have a small supply of scrolls with Light spells which they use for fuel) Crew: 2 scro warriors each.
3 Galleons armed w/1 Light Ballista and 2 medium ballista Crew:40 orcs Officers: Captain (orc F5) 2 Shamans (orc Pr4)(1 is helmsman) Minor Helm 1 galleon has been outfitted with 2 sets of "ballista boxes" for ground attack.
Mantis Ship
armed w/grappling rams, 2 medium ballistae, 1 heavy catapult
Crew: 70 Scro Warriors
Officers: Admiral (M/P 7/7), Captain (F6), XO (F5),
5 Warpriests (M/P 5/5)
death helm
To: Admiral Glindorie, Sindspace Command, Elven Imperial Navy From: Captain Syndrial, Commander; Lytherian Base, Elven Imperial Navy re: Scro assault of 12 Cyr Cycle
Sir;
On the 12th day of the Cyr cycle a small fleet of scro vessels appeared within the vicinity of my command. Due to the relative density of the astroid field within this region, they were not spotted until they were within 1000 yards of the base. The alert was immediately sounded, the artillery crews rushed to their machines, the Kintiara took up their positions within the upper levels of the complex, and the noncombantants retreated into the cellars below. The crews of the two flitters assigned here, as well the dragonfly-class Calibril's Arrow all rushed to their vessels and prepared to launch, according to our prearranged plan they were to attempt to engage the enemy close to the fortification, where the warmachines of the base could support them.
I immediately contacted the captain of the man-o-war Darnnanon, which I knew to be nearby, and requested assistance. She informed me that they would arrive within 12 hours. I then turned to repelling the assault.
The Imperial Navy crews acted valiently, but with little effect. The Scro had chosen to attack the landing field first; within minutes of takeoff both flitters had been destroyed by a barrage from medium ballistae and fire projectors. Calibril's Arrow was also destroyed, but her catapult crew managed to destroy one of the attacking Blade class vessels. A fireball was also seen to hit the Mantis class vessel. The heavy catapult on the base fired with little effect.
The scro vessels moved slowly closer to base and began exchanging fire with our own warmachines. The Scro's 2 remaining Blade class vessels pulled away at this time, disappearing into the astroid field. This left one Mantis class vessel, one Scorpion Class vessel, and two Galleon class vessels. They appeared to possess standard armament, except for the Scorpion, which had replaced it's heavy catapult in the tail section with a bombard. The Scro commander was professional, he refused to close within range of our medium ballistae, which only allowed our 2 light ballista to return the Scro fire. After several minutes of fire, the scro managed to knock out one of those medium ballistae.
Then, the two Blades returned, following another Galleon class vessel armed with some sort of arrow catapult on the underneath. These fired upon our heavy catapults position with little effect. The Galleon then positioned itself so as to block the fire of our ballistae as the Blades attacked the Heavy Catapult position with their Fire projectors. Their attack was succesful in killing or wounding most of the catapult crew, but I managed to destroy both Blades with a well place fireball. The Catapult remained functional, but uncrewed. The Galleon which blocked the fire of our ballistae was swept by fire from the ballistae and longbowmen, inflicting severe crew losses but inflicting little damage on the ship itself.
Undermanned and lacking the blades to protect it, the Galleon moved back into the safety of the astroid field. I attempted to recrew the heavy catapult, but the position was swept by fire from the medium Ballistae of the Scro vessels. Within moments all of my light Ballistae were crewless, as was the heavy catapult. This left me with only one crewed medium ballista. The Scro Mantis vessel attemptted to advance into what it percieved to be a hole in our fields of fire and land troops. I had stationed one company of Kintiara (with boarding spears) and three mages here for just such an eventuality. The mages swept the deck of the Mantis with Fireball and Magic Missile spells, inflicting severe crew damage. The Scro Warpriests abroad the mantis replied in kind, decimating the Marine company. Only one Elven mage survived this exchange.
The losses inflicted upon the Mantis crew, as well as the obvious fact that a company of Marine Longbowmen still waited within the towers (ready to fire when targets presented themselves and protected from the artillery fire of the Scro vessels), persuaded the Scro commander to abandon the assault. Before leaving, however, he took the time to carefully destroy my warmachines with his medium ballistae. He and his vessels then retreated into the astroid field for the final time. The Darnnanon arrived on time and her crew immediately began to help with the cleanup.
Casualties: 60 Imperial Marines, 140 Militia troops, 10 Imperial sailors, 6 officers dead or seriously wounded. 1 Dragonfly and 2 flitter class vessels destroyed. 1 heavy catapult, 2 medium Ballistae, and 3 light Ballistae destroyed. The fortifications stood up well to the scro warmachines. Only minor repairs are required.
Enemy Losses(estimated): 70 scro, 40 orcs, 5 officers dead or wounded. 3 Blade vessels destroyed. 1 Mantis and 1 Galleon class vessel lightly damaged.
Reccomendations: All bases should have at least ten flitters, with two in space at any one time. All light ballista mounts should be replaced with medium ballistae. The Scro used their medium Ballistae very effectively. All warmachine mounts on astroid bases should have increased shielding against personal attacks. The Scro showed an intimate knowledge not only of the Base defences, but also of our resupply schedule. It was obvious the Scro commander knew he had less than one day before reinforcements would arrive. This indicates either a)excellant reconnaisence by the scro or b)a scro spy within Sindspace headquarters. I suggest actions be taken to eliminate both threats. Though we managed to hold off the Scro assault we suffered heavier casualties and only succeeded because they advanced their Mantis prematurely. Next time we will not be so lucky.
(note from Admiral Glindorie at bottom of report)
Have Captain Syndrial demoted to lieutenant and replace him as Base
Commander.
I wrote this a while ago, my only complaint is that the tone of the report is too "modern" (actually, that's a pretty common complaint I have with much SJ writing, I prefera more "medieval" feel, I do it myself, however, its a difficult trait to overcome). Please note the actual course of the battle is how it played out on the table top. As always, I welcome comments.
