They hung like a stars in the void. Poised and waiting for the appointed time when they'd strike like eagles from the sky. The unsuspecting world was doomed ... or so they thought.
First one, then another, then another activated their massless fields. As each ship dropped to inconsequential mass in regards with the rest of the Universe, nature answered this affront by balancing their energy state, giving them velocity. To the outside world they leapt to light speed and 15 years passed. To the warfleet a single heartbeat flickered.
Over half the ships died incoming, ripped open on talon-sized chunks of rocks thrown into their flight paths. The rest entered a cauldron of destruction. The captain of the Ripping-Talon-From-Above knew the assault was doomed. It had always counted on surprise, and surprise had been lost. Chunks of rocks accelerated to lightspeed ripped through shields and tore gaping holes in ship after ship. Instantly he ordered a random lightspeed jump to escape the spears that evicerated the fleet.
Too late, the sensation hit him the pit of his stomache. Broadcast from his command chair it told him of severe damage to the center of the ship. The massless field still came on. Another heartbeat flickered ... then another ... then another. Time stretched on.
Eyes tightened in instinctive panic. "Shutdown field!", he squawked.
"Main Computer Hit, Backup Fried, Manual Overdrive fused!", reported the damage control officer.
"Shield Strength?"
"30 percent. Dropping. Burn threw ... Multiple Burn threws."
The ship shuttered, then its mass returned.
"Report!"
"Burn threw hit massless pylon 4. Field dropped asymetrically across 1/3 of vessel. Remaining 3 pylons safeties protected rest of ship. Generator functional, standard engines functional, reactor shielding damaged ... radiation spillover occuring. Estimated time to genetic damage 200 rotations, 300 rotations until vessel is uninhabitable. Massless engines down ..." The damage officer droned on.
"Squawk!!", bleeked the comm officer.
"What?", answered the Commander.
"Asynchronis radiation sources from 3rd planet in this system. Indicative of a technological civilization."
"Level?"
"Sources suggest level 2, no extra solar signals. Probably 500-600 planetary rotations beyond black-powder and world colonization level."
The commander turned to navigation. "Set course to 3rd planet."
Six months passed, while the vessel closed in.
Officers stood in a line, awaiting the oppurtunity to report to the Commander.
"Report!", the Commander turned to the comm officer.
"Signals indicate war occurs on planetary surface. Technology is primitive, equivalent to ours 700 greater rotations after unification. Between Tech level 2 and 3."
"War?!? Are they unified."
"We believe so, 2 of the 7 known races had wars after planetary unification occured at Tech level 1, none failed to unify at that technological level. In one case, class war/revolt occured, in the other, war of succession. It appears to be the later, given the heraldric markings on their battlecraft."
"Action?!?"
"The Higuarchy War of Succession ended with one side capturing the Capital, showing an unmistakable strength. We must do the same. Capital appears to be this city, located in the center of this penninusula."
"Indications?!?"
"Industrialized. Most technologically advanced region of world. Also almost undamaged, even though heavy fighting occurs all around it. All signs that were also found in the Higuarchy War of Succession with regards to their Capital at that time."
"Proceed..."
Captain Rhimes had been sent on a damned fool errand. There was no way American tanks could have landed in Southern France, let alone advance this close to Paris. The German Navy controlled the Mediteranian and the Luftwaffe the countryside. What a waste of tanks which were needed on real front lines. He lifted his field glasses to scan the French country side. This time he spotted something.
"Mien Gott! Das ist not ein Sherman!"
Attack/Defense (standard) (Defenders pick 6 objectives markers and place face down on table (1/2 must be in the center 3rd, 1 must be on their side)), Defenders then deploy on their 2/3rds of the table, attackers within 6" of their table edge. Defenders may be dug in, and may place hidden markers for their units (for every 2 placed 1 dummy marker may also be placed). Attacker can call the game whenever they think they can no longer win, or if they think they've taken over 1/2 (pt wise) of the objective markers (if they call the game too soon ... looks like they didn't sufficiently impress the natives).
(For reference, all pictures are looking from the north edge of the board.)
The aliens advanced out of the southwest.
Unfortunately, their recon and then one of their tank units falls prey to a platoon of Panzer IVs. (Same turn, different view.)
The aliens finally destroy the Panzer IVs and push on only to find some Panthers and Tigers. They are also preparing to charge the hill to the east of the road.
The game ended with the Aliens charging the will to the east of the main road with powered infantry.
Last Updated: April 1, 1999
