Minbari vs Vorlon
The vorlon continued to pressure their former apprentices the Minbari with an assault on the Minbar Mining Facility. However, this time the Minbari would be ready for the Vorlon encroachment. The Vorlon had been studying the convoy patterns leaving the system, and had hoped to pounce on an unsuspecting convoy, thus disrupting the travel patterns and supply routes. However, the Minbari leaders had forseen such an attempt and equipped the convoys with heavy escorts. Unbeknown to the Vorlon they were about to run headlong into a military escort consisting of 2 Sharlin War Cruisers and 2 Tigara frigates. More than a match for the Vorlon raiders.
The fleet moves out!!
The Vorlon arrive and begin targeting the convoy.
The Vorlon destroyer strikes first, but the other Vorlon's can't gain a lock on the Minbari escorts
The Minbari escorts move to intercept as quickly as possible...one Vorlon destroyer taking significant damage
Cargo ships begin errupting in flames all over the place!!
The Minbari strike back, eveloping one destroyer in fierce fire...the destroyer shriveled up before the other Vorlon could come to its aid.
The other Vorlon strike just as fast, destroying 4 transports & cargo ships within moments
Another Vorlon destroyer whithers before the Minbari firepower. But the mighty Vorlon light crusiser, stands poised to finish off the convoy.
As the Sharlins close to assault the Vorlon light cruiser, the Vorlon begin to worry...will they be able to get away alive!?
With only 1 more convoy ship to destroy, the Vorlon close, ignoring the fact that it is a luxury cruise liner full of thousands of innocent minbari civilians! Knowing this, the Minbari order all ships to concentrate firepower on the light cruiser.
Despite obtaining the objective of disrupting the convoy and seeing the civilian luxury cruiser go down...the Minbari manage to destroy all the Vorlons before they can sneak away!
The final Vorlon ship evaporates into the vacuum!
The final results were a tactical wash...the Vorlon indeed obtained their goal, but had no ships left to reap the benefits. Therefore, for the campaign, the battle resulted in a draw...neither side gained nor lost reinforcement points, however the system stayed in Minbari control. The lesson learned here, never mess with the minbari if you have no scouts or fighters!!
TURN 5
THE CENTAURI MEET THE GREAT MAKER!
The Centauri republic launched an all out assault on Minbar in the hopes of crippling the mighty Minbari Federation. It was to be a magnificent victory, led by none other than the crafty Emperor himself, aboard his Lion of the Universe. However, the fates had something very different in store for the young Emperor.
The Centauri fleet; equipped with scouts to combat the Minbari stealth, and the Lion of the Universe, sets out for certain victory!
The stealthy Minbari fleet sets out to defend Minbar.
The Emperor orders his ships to close on the Minbari left flank, using the nebula as cover. Only moments into the battle and the Octurion has managed to cause major internal damage to the sharlin war cruiser.
The Minbari use the same tactic; the nebula as a screen, to close in on the scout and quickly making it useless. The Sharlin limps towards cover after the first round battering.
The Lion of the Universe changes direction to enter the nebula and seek cover from Minbari sensors. The Octurion begins to absorb a tremendous amount of fire from the sharlin and tigaras
As the Octurion continues to be pummeled; losing her ability to fire weapons with a critical hit to the weapons computers, the Lion of the Universe struggles to bring her mighty guns to bear on the limping sharlin. Meanwhile the Minbari carrier moves into the nebula as well, while it continues to recrew damaged fighters.
Things continue to spiral out of control for the Emperor, as his ships struggle to lock on, and bring their guns to bear.
Centauri fighters attempt to defend the Octurion, but the Tigaras make any hope of retreat impossible, knocking her engines offline!
As the Octurion vanishes, the Emperor declares a retreat...opening a jump point to limp back to Centauri space.
Two battles in a row now for Joe...he has become a force that can no longer be ignored...the dice have shifted! This battle marked the possible end to the once glorious Centauri Republic. All that remains of her fleet is the Lion of the Universe, a maximus, and a Balvarin Carrier. Not nearly enough to defend her borders. Especially considering that the Centauri had not defended two of her systems this turn in the hopes of landing a resounding victory. The Minbari fate rests on the small fleet attempting to run a blockade put up by the Vorlon. Details of that battle must wait for another day!
Minbari Blockade Run
In an effort to cut off the Minbari from their mining facility (these were a hot target this turn!), the Vorlon put up a blockade. It was the responsibility of the Minbari's fastest ships (the Tigara's) to break through the blockade and worn the rest of Minbar that the Vorlon were on the move again.
The Vorlon began by deploying his destroyer fleet in a broad line, hoping to intercept any ships leaving the mining facility to warn Minbar. The Minbari concentrated all of their ships to the far left flank, hoping to sneak out at least three of the Tigara's.
The Minbari sprint for the border, ordering all power to the engines. They quickly close on the Vorlon lone destroyer.
The Minbari open up with all guns from three of the Tigara's. They begin the battle with a devestating blow to the light destroyer. But the Vorlon pushes on, unphased!
Even wounded...the Vorlon destroyer smashes through the stealth of the Tigara, while another Vorlon destroyer flanks the other Tigara, crippling her computers, and dealing a huge blow to her crew!
The Vorlon begin to come about, and line up shots for the other two Vorlon vessels. One Tigara has already been crippled and is a sitting duck. And with initiative the Vorlon have first fire.
Minbari start erupting in flames as they begin to take hits from all angles!
Another one goes up in flames. With only one Minbari ship making it through the blockade things begin to look grim for them.
The final view, as the Vorlon claim a victory, only allowing one Minbari vessel to escape.
The battle started off great for the Minbari, they struck hard and fast. But once the critical systems began to be hit the tide shifted. One ship was crippled and reduced to skeleton crew, which allowed the lead Vorlon ship to ignore her and concentrate fire on a new target. By doing so, she knocked out the engines on the Tigara that was only centimeters from exiting the board. The final Tigara casualty was decimated by a critical systems catastrophic explosion. The Vorlon lead vessel was hit hard, she suffered over half damage, but due to the nature of the Vorlon vessel was able to repair quickly. With Turn 6 now in development, things begin to look grim for the Minbari. The Vorlon are now poised to strike at the Minbari homeworld, effectively removing them from play.
Narn Annihilate the Shadow!!!
In a battle to decide the fate of the Centauri System the Narn dispatched a foce consisting of a Bin'Tak, Fast Cruiser, 2 torpedo ships, and 3 scouts. Attempting to hold their ground the Shadow brought 2 scouts and 2 hunters to the fray. The winner of this Annihilation match would surely be in the driver's seat of this system.
The first turn saw the Narn closing on the shadow Hunter...while the shadow scouts worked quickly to gain the flank
Turn two saw the Narn continue to batter the lead Hunter, while the G'Vrahn fast cruiser took a beating in return.
On the same turn the Narn lost a scout while destroying a Hunter.
More Shadow ships fall to the E-Mine Barrage and the Bin Tak's massive guns
The final Shadow Hunter is tracked down before it can get away.
This battle may have sealed the fate of the Shadows...all that remains in the fleet is a Shadow spider ship...only 4 points worth of a fleet, they must purchase at least on scout to keep from surrendering due to the 4 point fleet minimum.
Vorlon Take a Hit
In hopes of returning the blockading favor of their last battle, the Minbari set up a blockade of the Vorlon's newly acquired Mining Facility. This would prove a tough task for the fragile Vorlon Destroyers!
The Vorlon sprinted across the Minbari controlled territory, while taking major damage from the smaller Tigara Class Cruiser (40points in one turn)
Turn 2 saw the Vorlon running out of time..one destroyer already fell!!
The final Vorlon Destroyer falls just short of exiting the system. A clear victory for the Minbari...Not a single shot landed from the Vorlon Destroyers.
The Minbari have looked strong the last 2 turns, but their time is running short, as the Vorlon have taken control of Minbar, with no resistance...Minbar must be retaken next turn, or they fall to the Victorious Vorlon!