2181-2190

[Mart]

I am really not sure about that hive activity on that eastern Gaian coast. Gaians might also simply follow our foil to show us - We are here too - it is our coast.

[Mart]

The DC has 2 psych only with borehole. Later I would switch back to borehole in RPS, coz RPS has better infrastructure. All those +50 % from network nodes and energy banks count more in RPS than DC. Then we need that recreation commons in DC.

[Mart]

Idea
If we could spare two F-6, we might forward them to Gaian Razorbeak's Wood Memory. We could then make our own air cover of that foil probe till it performs the action. Whether probing Yang or Spartans, this would deplete our air forces for some time though. Any comments? We of course would have to have Gaian permission to operate our units from their bases. We would NOT turn over the control of those fighters to them.

Idea 2
What do you think of an air base in the field? This would possibly make our air units invisible to those who infitrated us. I have though not much experience with them, must check scenario editor.

[Kataphraktoi]

if its 4 turns later,we could get crawler then rec comons. crawlers are superior to any other buidl,ever.imho

we barely have any f6 and send some to cover a probe? i suspect if the S want to kill it they can bring more air than 2 f6 can stop.

yeah airfield if it has no bad disadvanatges. get S wondering where our non existant air force is.

[Kataphraktoi]

oh actually i think your right. looked over it again

[Mart]

Originally posted by Cataphract887
if its 4 turns later,we could get crawler then rec comons. crawlers are superior to any other buidl,ever.imho

We need to quell a drone now in DC. Recreation commons cost, but a worker will just work on it, giving additional nutrients and minerals, e.g from a forest

we barely have any f6 and send some to cover a probe? i suspect if the S want to kill it they can bring more air than 2 f6 can stop.

That would be more for protection against native life and hive foils. And since it is Hive region still now, we can always claim, it was for probing Yang. Spartans would have to enter a vendetta with us, would they do it? After we refuse drop ability our chances for war with them grow again.

yeah airfield if it has no bad disadvanatges. get S wondering where our non existant air force is.

We may soon be quite militarily fit. Now we have 6 fighters, 3 bombers, 3 copters (one of them unity scout though). Soon more.

[GeoModder]

Got the turn open now. Checking...

Comment on your ideas Mart: I'm fine with asking the Gaians permission to operate from Razorbeak, but F6 fighters can't get there on their own radius (17 tiles from FH and RPS), they need to stop in another Gaian base first. So Gaians would need to agree we will scout part of their terrain first.
For the airbase, I wholeheartedly agree 36.60 or 37.61 sounds nice to me. One thing tho: if we do this I insist it on being constructed out of any base-radius, so if we want to establish a base in that area as well this should be taken into consideration.

[Mart]

Our Foil Probe can be in place good to probe 2 hive bases in 3 turns. F-6 would not reach that area this fast anyway. I wonder if there is any point to try to this, unless we will wait for probe actions that long as 6+ turns or so

Do you think Spartans probed Yang's Mine? Rendering the base as increased security? I have impression they did that. What gives us only Labor Network available for clean action.

[Mart]

If we get a base 32,62, then 35,59 would be outside the radius. But available from the sea. Does units defending airbase get colateral damage? in case of marine assault?

[GeoModder]

There might be an opportunity to let Googlieplex popboom.
If we put the newly created crawler on 23.71 (ridge tile) and harvest 2 nuts, while the worker there works 21.69 (1/3/1 income) then there's 2 nut/turn there. It then should still be possible to let the crawler hurry the HSA in 3 turns if the former on 19.71 constructs a road on 23.71 afterwards. Or else this could be a nice spot to use our LIT for. The timing is about right.

Think about it, we got an extra pop in Googlieplex, and a crawler to replace the nut crawling is already under construction to replace it afterwards.

I know that with 2/3 movement point for the crawler there is a risk, but if we use for instance a drop probe to 'ease' movement onto that tile it should work.

[GeoModder]

The problem with 35.59 is that it is in Hive territory at present, but I suppose that in a few turns that doesn't matter anymore. Frankly, I don't have experience with the defense of airbases, but will try to incorporate it in my current game. There's an added risk on such an exposed tile from the sea tho: naval bombardment.

If the Spartans committed a probe action, then Yang Mine was the only possible target. I don't know if probe actions from other faction increase the risk for our probe teams. Game mechanics could calculate it as different "probing protocols".

In my experience, AI factions don't hassle too much when units are in it's territorial waters, we could always try to move the probe foil-and air cover into the bay. Wait one, IIRC during the Borg war I managed to destroy a foil which was protected by a plane with a cruiser (artillery fire). So our presumption that the probe foils are safe there from Hive naval attacks might be false.

[GeoModder]

We could already "workshop" a drop scout and, for future defense, a plasma pulse garrison (perhaps linked with AAA as ability) for we still don't have ECM ability (I'm thinking of the Spartan marine rovers).
The drop scout is done in one turn, so GM could easily do that and drop it right into the Gaian base in 2 turns.
On the map you show the patrols returning in a straight line, but I hope you use their radar and range utmost and check more of the area then just the line between their position and the homebase?

As long as we don't need the free F6's for aircover or pre-invasion placement, I suggest spreading them out on our western and south-west bases to check for Spartan patrols. The plan to sent them to Razorbeak Wood is in the bin with that of course.

[Mart]

Originally posted by GeoModder
... if the former on 19.71 constructs a road on 23.71 afterwards. ...

That would not work, LIT is too far for former, however it can reach 23,71 on time in order to help the crawler there to get to SH

Air bases are best defended by fighters. Land units get colateral damage unfortunatelly, but not fighters.

I tried to attack a fungus square containing probe cruiser and an air superiority fighter with unity gun foil. I get the message, that units without air superiority cannot attack units in air. So our probe foil should be protected, unles opponent has air superiority.

Wait a moment, long range fire indeed is capable of doing it.. damn...

a question though, could AI use long range fire? it's so stupid usually...

[GeoModder]

Well, I didn't meant the LIT transporting the former from 19.71 to 23.71, that former would have to made it on it's own. The LIT transporting the former was the second thing I meant. However, a road on 23.71 is a good precursion for (finally) making that tile productive... it is a ridge tile after all.
Guess I need to word my suggestions better in the future.
Does the general idea sounds ok and doable to you then? Crawler moving uphill with 2/3 movement isn't a problem in my tests.

And for the aircover thing, I guess it was a Hive bomber then that tried to protect that foil back in the 'Borg days. Thinking of it, it couldn't be anything else with the distance from it's homebase taken into account.

[Mart]

I covered probe cruiser with Tactical fighter!!! Geo. Still unity gunship using long range fire killed probe cruiser easily. You are right, in this case air cover is worth nothing.

So we have the agreement of sending drop scout to Gaians, or drop AAA scout? We can design it now and start in 2187. Drop in 2188. Long time to clean formers then.