Captain Sanger of the Lafayette nodded mildly. “Well, it’ll be at least 5 minutes until we get to you. What’s your plan?” Sanger was obviously more worried for his friend than Hill was worried for himself.

“I think if we drop out of warp now, we’ll catch them by surprise. You can get here quicker, and the transports will have a few moments to reenergize their warp coils. All we gota do hold them off for a few minutes and the freighters will be able to jump back to warp. In 10 minutes, they’ll be in-system and close enough to the base that the Klingons won’t bother them.” Hill had a slight smile on his face.

“We’ll be there as quick as we can. Good luck. Lafayette out.” Sanger closed the channel. Hill was talking about minutes in a world where seconds meant life or death in the coldness of space.

“I can give us a bit more speed.” reported the Lafayette’s chief engineer.

“Please do, Mr. Ziel. Please do.” Minutes and seconds, though Sanger.

Minutes and seconds

GAME SET-UP

Lay out two Star Trek Combat Simulator map-sheets in the configuration shown. This represents the area of space where the conflict takes place. All vessels start the game at sub-warp speed. Use the Graduate Starship Tactics Course rules in this scenario.

Defender
The Defending force consists of:

3 Mo’Kal Mk II Class X Transport (Ekateriny, Francen, Savitri)
2 Remora Mk II Class VI Escort (Freesia, Lloyd)
1 Maguellanes Mk I Class XI Escort Cruiser (Lafayette)

On Phase 1 of turn 4 the defending force receives the following reinforcements:

1 Arc De Triumph Mk I Class XI Fire Support Cruiser (Arc De Triumph)

Deployment
The Defending force deploys along the left edge of the map. Re-enforcements arrive from the left side of the map.

Attacker
The Attacking force consists of:

Attacking Force 1
3 D-7 M Class IX Battlecruiser (Impaler, Ruinous Wrath, Unconquered Devastator)

Attacking Force 2
1 D-5 K Class VII Battlecruiser (Swiftdeath’s Blade)
2 D-14 B Class VI Destroyer (Audacity, Powerful Defiance)

Attacking Force 3
1 D-5 K Class VII Battlecruiser (Creeping Avenger)
1 D-14 B Class VI Destroyer (Hurricane, Winged Blade)

Deployment
The attacking force enter in groups of three from the right top, right bottom and right center edge if the map.

Victory Conditions:

The attacking force wins a major victory if they can destroy two or more of the transports. The attacking force wins a minor victory if they destroy one of the transports. The defending force wins a major victory if all three transports move off the right side of the map. The defending force wins a minor victory if only two of the transports escape.

SPECIAL RULES:

Escape:
Either side may attempt to escape off the opposite edge they started from. Once within 5 hexes of the appropriate edge, the vessels may go to warp. Any vessel that can not go to warp is considered destroyed.

Ending:
The scenario ends on turn 12 due to massive Federation re-enforcements.