Subject: Observation Results
From: ObvDep@KTIndustries.org
To: SemperContendo@KTIndustries.org
CC: Kitty@KTIndustries.org

We have continued our observation after an initial detection of unknown craft entering the Sol system. As per your instructions, all such craft are to be observed carefully, as no one enters this system by mere coincidence. While we are certain that Luna and Mars have detected the craft as well, their own fleets are refusing to currently respond. The Mars and Luna vessels are dedicated to the ironclad defense of Inner Sol, after the events of two centuries ago. Anyway, we identified the vessels as Iron Pagoda armed transport ships, of the 26th People's Courageous Armor Regiment. The ships were observed passing Saturn's rings, and presumably made landings while Ganymede was facing coreward and we were on the opposite side of Jupiter. We cannot be sure of their ultimate intentions at this time. As always, it is up to the Honcho and SecDep to make such decisions pertaining to company defense policy.

Subject: Re: Observation Results
From: SemperContendo@KTIndustries.org
To: Kitty@KTIndustries.org
CC: Honcho@KTIndustries.org

> We cannot be sure of their ultimate intentions at this time. As always, it is up to the Honcho and SecDep to make such decisions pertaining to company
> defense policy.

The presence of an aggressive colonial power in the Jovian Lunar system is an ultimately unacceptable state of affairs. The only reason that the Iron Pagoda would make landings in the Sol system would be to use Ganymede as a staging area for raids on belt-mining operations, or in a worst-case scenario, raids on Europa itself. For all of the chest-beating that the People's Ministry of Defense does, they don't strike targets willy-nilly. Wastefully frittering away valuable fleet and ground assets in futile attacks would be unsustainable, despite the fact that the People's Army has had a somewhat higher acceptable loss threshold than other interstellar armies. In a sense, they're only here because they think they can win against our forces, or they have some objectives where they don't anticipate heavy resistance. However, our objective remains the same: KTI must dislodge the Iron Pagoda forces from Ganymede at best speed. Our security battalions have been training for such operations in case of landings on Ganymede, Io, and Callisto, even using these moons as training areas.

The battle plan is as follows:

1.) Use our fleet assets to drive off or tie up Iron Pagoda vessels so that landings can commence lightly- or un- opposed.

2.) The 13th and 34th Reinforced security battalions will be taking part in the operation, as will elements of our powersuit units.

3.) Capturing enemy intelligence is a high priority, but destruction of enemy armored assets is the primary objective. All enemy units are designated for disposal: surrender will not be asked for by our unit commanders, and will only be accepted if the enemy has been satisfactorily disarmed according to KTI combat manual regulation A-12.

Satellite Information: Ganymede (B4-D10)

Ganymede is one of the four major moons of Jupiter, an ice/rock satellite much like Europa and Callisto. Its major terrain features are ridges and valleys, as well as large impact craters that coincide with the formation of the solar system: such pockmarks may be found on Luna and other major satellites throughout Sol. It has a thin hydrogen atmosphere, is incredibly cold, and is the only moon in the Sol system that possesses an independent, permanent magnetosphere.

Subject: Re: Observation Results
From: SemperContendo@KTIndustries.org
To: Kitty@KTIndustries.org

4.) Iron Pagoda forces may have discovered the whereabouts of a secret Terran facility on Ganymede. Wraith and Shadow squads will be deployed for the purpose of locating said facility, or seizing enemy intelligence that may clue us into their true plans on Ganymede.

I know that you will not fail.

-------------

Message: Mission Directives
To: Ganymede Expeditionary force.

If you are reading this, then you have managed to make it into the Outer Sol zone unopposed, in which case the operation is proceeding exactly as planned. Given that there are no major or minor powers occupying areas in Outer Sol aside from the Jovian Lunar system, you are free to make your approach on Ganymede at your discretion, but you must do so with all proper haste befitting officers of the People's Army. The 26th People's Glorious Armored Regiment has been dispatched with an important task that could very well alter the fortunes of our nation, but remember, that there is no struggle so small as to be insignificant. Over the next several weeks, you and your men may be asked to perform great deeds of self-sacrifice for our cause. However, take heart in the fact that your opponents are cowards and weaklings! Luna and Mars are loath to risk significant assets in defending Outer Sol, and the plutocrats on Europa are mere exporters of armored vehicles, and their only "front line" combat walker is a ramshackle creation.

As for your mission: The presence of an energy barrier system on the "Mite" has caused serious concern in many of our upper military officials: According to some of our scientists, such defenses should be a near-impossibility on fission-powered machines, and destroying Lunar machines, while an asset to our cause, would in no way make this exotic technology any clearer to us. However, in our digging through the archives of the vessels of the Terran fleet that defected to our cause, there are several references to a research station in the Jovian lunar system. Ganymede would be the most likely location, as it is not subject to the violent convulsions of Io, nor would construction be hampered by the crater-saturated surface of Callisto. Europa, again, is controlled utterly by KTI, and the construction of its vast cities would have certainly turned up any facilities of that nature by now. All teams are dedicated to finding the research facility, and seizing any technical information that can be found on the energy shield system.

Any resistance is to be dealt with extremely harshly, as per our standard procedures: Let all feel the might of the People's Army!

------------------
Operation Icepick
Environment: B4-D10
Terrain: Mildly broken, with occasional impact craters.
Skill: Regular, against otherwise specified.
KTI vs. Iron Pagoda
------------------

Scenario 1: Whatever Happened to Leon Trotsky?

KTI: Our forces have landed without serious incident, and have organized for combat against the Pagoda forces. We have begun to fan out and attack isolated detachments, though we are well away from the core of the regiment's armored strength. In any case, we must be ready for their command structure to respond in force at any time. They will operate as aggressively as they can manage, so it is imperative that we catch them off-balance. To that effect, we have started deploying our faster walkers to swiftly destroy the smaller detachments of enemy troops. While our Agilaz units were meant to neutralize enemy air units, they may prove effective against the jet-assisted KTI walkers. We have assigned the following forces for this engagement:

KTI attack squad (588)

2x Militia M28*
2x Agliaz V32*
1x Hawkwood M35

Destroy as many enemy units as you can, but if heavy reinforcements arrive, do not hesitate to retreat. These are only the opening stages of the conflict, and we are unlikely to gain any decisive advantage immediately.

--------

Iron Pagoda: While our fleet struggles valiantly in the skies, it is up to you to repel the initial stages of the enemy assault on the ground. Unfortunately, since we were deployed into search squadrons, we are unable to bring the entirety of the People's might to bear against the plutocrats at this time. Still, though, reinforcements are racing to all quarters in order to assist in defeating the enemy strike teams, so hold on as long as there is life! The People's strength will surely prevail over the enemy forces, for it is the lifeblood of our nation. fight on, drive off the enemy, and secure this moon for the further exploration of this satellite. After assembly, your forces should consist of:

Iron Pagoda Detachment (413)
1x L-17 Missile battery
1x Shang
2x S-3 Cobra

Reinforcements are on the way as we speak, however! A full section of tanks will arrive on the field in order to assist.

3x T-137 Main Battle Tank.

Notes: The playing field size is 4' x 4', the standard size and marked with appropriate terrain. KTI forces may choose to deploy 3 hexes in from whatever edge they wish, with Pagoda troops deploying 3 hexes from the opposite edge. On Turn 5, the reinforcements arrive from the same edge as the Pagoda forces. At this point, the KTI forces may retreat from their home edge.

Conditions:

KTI scores a victory if it destroys all initial Pagoda forces, a superb victory if it destroys all Pagoda forces.

It is a Pagoda victory if the KTI units are destroyed, a superb victory if this occurs before the reinforcements arrive.

It is a draw if KTI withdraws without fulfilling its objectives.

*Stats for these units can be found in my KTI fall catalog/secret projects thread.

To be continued.</r>