26/07/2026
EARTHFORCE COMMAND
18th Fleet – Operations Division
Priority: Immediate
Classification: SECRET
To: Captain Helen Harmond, Commanding Officer, EAS Bellerophon
From: Vice Admiral Jonathan Mercer, 18th Fleet Headquarters
Subject: Operation Lifeline
The situation within the Alba System remains precarious. Although your task force prevented the Centauri from securing a decisive victory during the opening stages of their offensive, the enemy has maintained operational superiority in the surrounding sectors. Recent engagements have inflicted heavy losses on both sides, and our colony’s reserves are approaching critical levels.
A convoy of four heavy transports has departed Scapa Flow Station carrying replacement Starfury fighters, reactor components, ammunition, medical stores, food supplies, and specialist engineering personnel. Without these reinforcements the colony’s ability to resist further Centauri operations will be severely compromised.
Signals Intelligence indicates that the Centauri Republic has intercepted fragments of our communications. We must therefore assume the convoy has been detected and that an interception force is already moving to engage.
Your orders are as follows:
1. Es**rt the convoy safely through the designated transit corridor to the colony.
2. Preserve the transports wherever possible. Their cargo is considered of greater strategic value than any individual warship under your command.
3. Avoid unnecessary fleet action. If circumstances require, sacrifice tactical advantage in order to ensure the convoy’s survival.
4. Should enemy forces prove overwhelming, you are authorised to withdraw surviving warships only after every reasonable effort has been made to protect the convoy.
The repaired EAS Diomedes has rejoined your command following emergency dockyard work. Damage to EAS Perseus has been stabilised sufficiently for her to participate, though her captain reports that several systems remain unreliable. Expect reduced operational endurance from that vessel.
We anticipate the enemy will employ fast attack ships to pe*****te your screen while heavier units attempt to occupy your capital ships. Do not underestimate their willingness to ignore your escorts and strike directly at the transports.
The people aboard those freighters are not merely cargo. They are pilots who will fly beside your crews in the battles to come, engineers who will restore our damaged ships, doctors who will save wounded spacers, and civilians whose courage is no less than that of any soldier in uniform.
Should this convoy fail, the defence of Alba may fail with it.
Good hunting, Captain.
For Earth.
Vice Admiral Jonathan Mercer
Commanding Officer, 18th Fleet Operations
Scenario: Convoy Es**rt
Background
Following the costly engagement, EarthForce has assembled a convoy carrying replacement Starfuries, reactor components, food, medical supplies and personnel for the embattled colony. Intelligence warns that a Centauri raiding force is nearby.
The Centauri commander knows these transports are worth more than another inconclusive fleet action.
⸻
Earth Alliance Objective
Es**rt 6 transports across the table.
Each transport exiting safely scores victory points.
⸻
Centauri Objective
Destroy or cripple the convoy.
The Centauri don’t need to defeat the escorting fleet—only prevent the supplies getting through.
