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Page: 119

Posted: Sun Jul 02, 2017 10:56 pm
by Excellion
http://well-of-souls.com/outsider/outsider119.html

Well, it seems Alex arrived at a rather unfortunate time for a scenic tour around the Loroi empire...

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 12:08 am
by icekatze
hi hi

Hmm... Makes me wonder what forces count as available forces. Surely it is a bad idea to leave a system entirely undefended, right? With the Umiak's new sneaky fleets especially, maybe they don't even need to go around the long way. Just make a big obvious push and then when everyone rushes to the defense, the sneaky fleets slip by in the system that just vacated of all defenses.

Also, the Neridi has some interesting headgear. Some things which look like earrings, but I can't place the rest of it. Cybernetic implants perhaps? Or a space headset, similar to what Uhura used maybe?

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 12:40 am
by Mr Bojangles
Pretty sure by the end of this, Alex is going to relish some dull moments, because he's not going to be seeing any for some time to come. Interesting times...

@icekatze

Entirely plausible and I approve wholeheartedly the term "sneaky fleets."

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 12:44 am
by Jayngfet
My best guess after going through the ship profiles is that it's probably something like a Lone Fire backed by whatever ships aren't mobile or modern enough to see action on the offensive, like Halberds and Catapaults, backed by something defensively oriented like Rapiers. Given that you can park a fueling station either on planet or in orbit and build a hangar around it, I'd hazard that there are probably more fighters on defense than the front lines, since there's no need to have dedicated carrier craft if a static installation can do it more effectively.

Obviously though this won't help Alex and company in the slightest. Going by stats shuttles like this one are so slow the Umiak can pretty easily catch up to them even in slower craft.

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 1:53 am
by DavalKatro
OMGERD!!!!

Will the Umiak offensive push these folks together or apart!?!

I love this comic!!!

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 4:23 am
by dapple26
Battle stations everybody. The shit is real.

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 4:45 am
by icekatze
hi hi

I mean, the 51st just got done intercepting a bunch of Umiak in the steppes. Even if they weren't sneaky fleets, they'd have to expect the rest of them to hit the Loroi lines eventually, right? Unless, I dunno, the Umiak are building a forward base in the Naam system and those fleets are there to defend it?

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 8:09 am
by GeoModder
Looks like the "Khalkha Divisions" have arrived...
Now I wonder if "The Stray"'s fleet is supposed to be another prong of this attack, and we'll see more of it.

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 9:45 am
by SVlad
What is "flash traffic"?

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 10:01 am
by Krulle
sounds like an emergency priority message in the data streams for Union members.
Most important traffic the networks are currently transmitting.

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 12:06 pm
by Turrosh Mak
SVlad wrote:What is "flash traffic"?
From Wikipedia

CCEB military precedence
The Combined Communications Electronics Board (CCEB), a five-nation joint military communications-electronics organization (consisting of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States), uses the following message precedence designators, in descending order of importance:

FLASH (Z) is reserved for initial enemy contact messages or operational combat messages of extreme urgency. Brevity is mandatory. FLASH messages are to be handled as fast as humanly possible, ahead of all other messages, with in-station handling time not to exceed 10 minutes. Messages of lower precedence are interrupted on all circuits involved until the handling of FLASH messages is completed.

IMMEDIATE (O) is reserved for messages relating to situations gravely affecting the security of the nation. It requires immediate delivery. Examples include reports of widespread civil disturbance, reports or warning of grave natural disaster, and requests for or directions concerning search and rescue operations. IMMEDIATE messages are processed, transmitted, and delivered in the order received and ahead of all messages of lower precedence. They are to be handled as quickly as possible, with in-station handling time not to exceed 30 minutes. Messages of lower precedence should be interrupted on all circuits involved until the handling of the IMMEDIATE message is completed. The use of the letter "O" comes from the original name for this level, "operational immediate".

PRIORITY (P) is reserved for all traffic requiring expeditious action by the addressee or for conducting operations in progress when ROUTINE precedence will not suffice. PRIORITY precedence messages are processed, transmitted, and delivered in the order received and ahead of all messages of ROUTINE precedence. Examples include requests for supplies or equipment during the conduct of an operation, time-critical items requiring quick response, and situation reports. They are to be handled as quickly as possible, with in-station handling time not to exceed 3 hours.

ROUTINE (R) is used for all types of message traffic justifying transmission by rapid means, but not of sufficient urgency to require higher precedence. ROUTINE precedence messages are delivered in the order received and after all messages of higher precedence. Examples include any message that requires the documentation of its transmission or delivery; messages concerning normal operations, programs, or projects; and periodic or consolidated reports. They should be handled as soon as traffic flow allows, but no later than the beginning of the next duty day.

Flash Override (Y): The National Command Authority (usually the President of the United States) has access to a FLASH OVERRIDE (FO) capability. FO is not a precedence, but instead represents the authority and means to override all other traffic, including FLASH precedence messages. In written message traffic, the proword 'Y' is used to indicate a message having the authority to override all other traffic and is usually assigned to Emergency Action Messages (EAM).

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 12:38 pm
by Turrosh Mak
The first time I ever heard the phrase "flash traffic" was in the movie CRIMSON TIDE...

Yeah, here is the scene

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 2:10 pm
by CrimsonFALKE
Well this can't be good although being taken well away from the attack may only be temporary. 6 divisions is a lot if these click clack bugs use numbers similar to the Soviet Unions divisions. How large is a bug's division?

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 2:32 pm
by Arioch
CrimsonFALKE wrote:How large is a bug's division?
It varies, but a typical Umiak division is around 75 vessels.

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 2:41 pm
by raistlin34
Arioch wrote:
CrimsonFALKE wrote:How large is a bug's division?
It varies, but a typical Umiak division is around 75 vessels.
Quoting Captain Obvious, "this is bad, isnĀ“t"? :?

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 4:00 pm
by Jayngfet
Arioch wrote:
CrimsonFALKE wrote:How large is a bug's division?
It varies, but a typical Umiak division is around 75 vessels.
Does this count gunships carried on tow cables or is it just inter-system ships?

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 5:24 pm
by Arioch
Jayngfet wrote:
Arioch wrote:
CrimsonFALKE wrote:How large is a bug's division?
It varies, but a typical Umiak division is around 75 vessels.
Does this count gunships carried on tow cables or is it just inter-system ships?
Just jump-capable ships. The division that attacked SG-51 on pp.68-84 was a pretty typical medium Umiak division: 8 heavies, 64 medium vessels, and about 50 light vessels and gunboats.

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 5:35 pm
by icekatze
hi hi

I think I've got Beryl figured out now, she's an optimist! :D

I guess my curiosity stems from not knowing just how routine this sort of engagement is. Presumably six divisions is larger than Sala-128 is confident in handling alone, but are the Umiak in a position to win in plain old massed frontal offensive?

The Umiak back home would have a hard time knowing the size and composition of the Loroi defense fleets, as getting intel back across the steppes would be difficult. Maybe they do have the numbers to win by going all in, and the just don't know it? It would be kind of funny if they had sent out sneaky fleets and by the time they got to their targets, the war was already over because the diversion won the war by itself. (not funny for the Loroi obviously.)

Is Seren the yellow dot at the end of the blue path?

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Mon Jul 03, 2017 7:29 pm
by Excellion
icekatze wrote:Is Seren the yellow dot at the end of the blue path?
Yes. If i translated the map correctly:
- The label at the yellow dot at the end of the blue path spells "Neres" - as trade language is read right-to-left that would be Seren. The large blue text are the same symbols which makes sense as Seren is in the Seren Sector.
- The red dot with the white circle is Naam, the system where Bellarmine was destroyed.
- The star marked by red triangles is Sala-128, the system currently under attack.
- The Blue-And-Yellow marker is Alex's currently position at the Leido Crossroads.
- The yellow star one jump down and to the left from Alex's current position is Azimol (Not on the current route).
icekatze wrote:Presumably six divisions is larger than Sala-128 is confident in handling alone, but are the Umiak in a position to win in plain old massed frontal offensive?
I wonder if the "Bypass the Azimol Citadel" claim actually means the Umiak just ignored Azimol and charged into the hinterlands from another angle. Sala-128 seems to have a jump point behind Azimol and that particular star ("Enedd" i think?) has a jump point that leads farther inwards in the Loroi territory. The interdiction fleets are apparently tied up - and 2-3th destroyed - by the diversionary attack so it is possible the 6 divisions hit the Loroi heavy defence fleet head-on.

If the 6 divisions hit Sala-128 without being weakened by interdiction fleets (And perhaps unexpected!) it might just be possible to break through it before reinforcements can arrive. The heavy defence fleet is likely only stationed at the perimeter so 6 divisions heading into the hinterlands may be a very tough nut to crack by the likely "weaker" system defence forces. Keep in mind that space superiority is all that's needed to turn a planet to slag if so desired so this may end up being quite damaging. That said, this is mostly conjuncture so who knows what the next pages will bring us!

Re: Page: 119

Posted: Tue Jul 04, 2017 3:15 am
by sunphoenix
Excellion wrote: If the 6 divisions hit Sala-128 without being weakened by interdiction fleets (And perhaps unexpected!) it might just be possible to break through it before reinforcements can arrive. The heavy defence fleet is likely only stationed at the perimeter so 6 divisions heading into the hinterlands may be a very tough nut to crack by the likely "weaker" system defence forces. Keep in mind that space superiority is all that's needed to turn a planet to slag if so desired so this may end up being quite damaging. That said, this is mostly conjuncture so who knows what the next pages will bring us!
~ I see your Excellion...

...and raise you one GOLDEN WARRIOR!

Image

... its like Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency, its ALL connected, find the connection! :lol: