ISW-1: The Terran Sucker Punch

[szurkey]

Well guys, how to describe this one... A one turn wonder? The Terran
Sucker Punch?

Rules Options: Fast Space Combat and Fast Ground Combat

This is the shortest ISW-1 that I've ever seen where the Terrans won.
It had everything to do with desperation, lucky activation roles, and
a gaping hole in Imperial defenses. I was the Terrans and my green
skinned Gorn friend the Imperials. The Imperial Intervention was 8,
an economic boom. The Imperial Governor appealed to the Emperor for
forces, and the roll was 6, 1x CA granted. The Terrans really didn't
need either one of theses, especially the grant of the CA.
Correlation of forces:

Without either MN:
Beams: 14 T to 17 I
Torpedoes: 14 T to 28 I
Shields: 16 T to 21 I

Without the Imperial MN:
Beams: 20 T to 17 I
Torpedoes: 18 T to 27 I
Shields: 21 T to 21 I

The Terrans don't stand a chance if the CA links up with the Imperial
fleet at Lagash, because they can not stand against in a open space
battle, and hanging out with the monitor only insures the that
Imperials will state at long range and user their 50% Torpedo
advantage to slow pulverize the Terran fleet.

Terran builds exhibit the frustration and desperation of the
situation: 1x PD, 1x Jump, 3x Inf, 3x Ftr. Imperial builds include
1x CS.

Activation die rolls for the 1st Action Segment is a tie! Rolls for
the 2nd Activation favor the Imperials and they easily link up their
fleet with the CA, move to and take Barnards Star outpost. Rolls for
the 3rd Activation Segment favors Terrans. The Terrans are shocked at
the possibilities. While Lagash, Tau Ceti, and Dingir are heavily
garrisoned, Gashida and Ishkur appear to be undefended, and there are
no Imperial force between the Terran fleet at Alpha Centauri and
Gashida if they go through Sirius. Probably the Imperial Fleet will
pull back from Barnards Star, which just might give the Terrans time
to build a PD on Beta Centauri. Two transports are immediately loaded
with infantry and the fleet off, leaving a 1x DD to block the
Imperials at Proxima Centauri. Surprising the Imperials don't pull
back but attack and destroy both the MN at Alpha Centuari (majority of
forces), and the DD at Proxima Centauri (bait to get the Terran fleet
into a battle they can't win). The Terran Fleet leaves the other DD
behind at Procyon and move into Sirius. The Imperial move their main
fleet and destroy the DD at Procyon. The Terrans move to Shruppack
leaving 1x TB to block Epsilon Eridani. 4th Action Segment. The
Terrans luckily win this one big. They move the fleet to Gashida,
leaving 1x TB to block at Shruppack. The Imperial move to and destroy
the TB at Epsilon Eridani. The Terrans attack and take Gashida and
move one transport to Ishkur and the CL to block at Enki Kalamma. The
Imperials move to Shruppack and destory the TB. The Terrans take
Ishkur. The Imperials have no more activations at this point, and the
Terrans almost out as well.

Glory: 6(start ISW-1) - 1(Appeal) + 1(Capture of Barnard's Star
Outpost) - 3(Loss of Gashidda) - 3(Loss of Ishkur) = 0 The Terrans
win!!!

Imperial Fleet at the End of the Game:
1xMN, 1x CA, 1x CR, 2x crippled CL, 4x DD, 2x SC, 5x TR, Building 1x
CS, 1xCL

Terran Fleet at the End of the Game:
1x CL, 6x SC, 1x AT, 5x TR, Building 3x F

It was an expensive victory for the Terrans, but at least the survived
the first war with only the loss of Barndard's Star. Gashidda and
Ishkur were returned to the Imperials during the peace step. We
actually gamed out the turns of peace using house rules, and are ready
to fight ISW-2 latter this week!