Battle for the Lytherian astroid

Three years ago I ran a Spelljammer/Battlesystem  miniatures scenario to
test out some of my ideas concerning astroid base defense.  Since the list
has gone through some permutations since then, I thought I'd reedit and
repost the results.  Fist, I provide the order of battle, then the report
of the Elven commander describe the results of the battle.  Let me know
what you folks think.:)

The Lytherian Astroid base (Imperial Elven Navy):
100 IEN Kintiara (F2) with Chain,  Longbow,  Longsword
100 IEN Kintiara (F2) with Chain,  Longsword, Spear
60 Elven Militia (F1) Leather,  Longbow
3 light ballistae
2 medium Ballistae
1 Heavy Catapult
1 Standard Dragonfly(Light Catapult,  Minor helm) with full crew (10 IEN eF2)
2 Crewed Flitters (Tactical helm) Each pilot has a Wand of Lightening Bolts
(10 charges)
Officers
Elven Captain F/M 7/7
3 Lts Elven F/M 5/5
Dragonfly Captain Elven F/M 6/6
DragonFly Helmsman Elven Pr 6
2 Flitter Pilots Elven F/M 3/3

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.

The Gamaro Revenge Fleet

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.  Note:The Ballista Boxes were designed by Toby Mekelburg
<toby@????.net> :)

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,  Imperial Elven Navy
From: Captain Syndrial, Commander; Lytherian Base,  Imperial Elven 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.

Authors Note:
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.

"We look on the same stars,  the sky is common,  the same world surrounds
us.  What difference does it make by what pains each seeks the truth?  We
can not attain to so great a secret by one road..."
Symmachus,  "Memorial on the Occasion of the Removal of the Altar of
Victory from the Senate House" (392 AD)

Paul Westermeyer,  westermeyer.3@???.edu
Phd Candidate, History, Ohio State
Adjunct Faculty, Humanities Department, Columbus State Community College