Monday, October 28, 2013

Situation Report (Sitrep) #1: Possible Moves by 7/599 & 8/599 DIL on Zenya


Stardate: Fiday, 104-130 ABY/TAg Market Island Security Forces

Subsector: Shannekam

Planet: Zenya

Region: The Tau-Tau Autonomous District

Situation Report:  Defending the Tarsan Evacuation Zone from Battledroid Attack

Early Evening, Local Time

Evacuation of Tarsan citizens is about to commence.  A thin defensive perimeter is currently held by the Vianda and Ooverton Constabulary Battalions (shown above).  These units are really nothing more than reinforced police companies, with only a few crew-served weapons and no artillery.  Their current orders are to conduct a holding, or at least a delaying action, until all Tarsan non-combatants have been evacuated.

How the constabulary conduct this mission will depend on what course of action the 7th Cohort/599th Droid Infantry Legion (7/599DIL) and the 8/599DIL will take.

In open combat each droid cohort is strong enough to defeat both constabulary battalions.  So the droid task force commander may execute separate attacks, in order overwhelm both constabulary units simultaneously and quickly seize the evacuation beachhead.


However, neither of the constabulary battalions are in the open.  The Vianda Battalion is currently in hasty-fortified positions around it's namesake city.  Ooverton has been abandoned and it's constabulary have entrenched and are in the process of setting-up ambush sites in the woods surrounding the beachhead. 

The droid task force commander probably knows this and will therefore concentrate is attack against one constabulary unit.  Such an attack may unfold in one of three ways--

1. A combined attack against Vianda.


This has the advantage of bringing enough force to bear against a unit in a built-up-area (BUA) and the droid will be able to keep their rear areas secure.  However, if the objective is to disrupt the evacuation, such a methodical operation will most likely allow the evacuation to proceed unmolested.

2.a. A combined attack directed against the evacuation zone's defensive perimeter.


Such an attack will by-pass the Vianda Strongpoint, but unless sufficient security forces are left behind, the droid task force's rear area could be vulnerable to a sally from the Vianda Constabulary.

The 7/599DIL will have to choose one of two routes to circumvent Vianda.  Either over the mountains, as shown above or...

2.b ...around the Vandalla Range and through the woods. 


While battledroids don't suffer from fatigue the way living beings do, they can succumb to mechanical breakdowns.  A force-march through the woods, or over the mountains may cause an extensive delay in such an attack.

The enemy plans discussed so far are based on the premise the droid task force commander's goal is to capture Tarsan citizens. 

3. If on the otherhand, he (or she?) is more interested in seizing Tarsan property, then the 7/599 and 8/599 could simply advance against Vianda and Ooverton, respectively. 


Both constabulary battalion commanders have been advised of these assessments. 

A battledroid attack--in any form--is expected to occur within the next 12 hours, or sometime before local dawn tomorrow.

The Kul'kva Constabulary Battalion is to remain on Kulovaan Island, (part of which is seen on the southern edge of the above image), until Tarsan non-combatants are evacuation to Pierson Station on Milquoor Island. 

All evacuaees and constabulary forces are to make their way to Pierson Station for final debarkation to Tarsus once Task Force 627-1 and 627-2 have arrived.

However, based on the latest position reports, TF 627-1/2's ETA are still two to four days from now. 

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Website for Backdrops

(Image from WallpaperUp)

Yesterday I spent nearly four hours looking at pictures on Wallpaper Up.  It's certainly easy for any writer to get distracted while "doing research" on the internet.

But I swear this wasn't the case--for the most part.

I've been on a quest for exotic miniature backdrops to add to my meagre collection, which can be seen here and here.  Most of the stuff I found, like Ez Scenes are more suited for model railroading, depicting 1950s American and Europe than the "...galaxy far, far away." 

After a couple of hours of fruitless trolling, I was about to give up in despair.  Then I stumbled across Wallpaper Up.  The site is actually designed to provide desktop wallpaper for computer screens.  But that didn't stop me from spending an additional two hours downloading and printing various images to use as backdrops for upcoming chapters of Breakout from Bongolaan

I focused my search on:  Planets in Science Fiction, Futuristic Cityscapes, Futuristic Landscapes and was just taking my first peek at Battle Scenes and Star Wars, before calling it a night.

Of the 50 images I downloaded, I printed nine pieces of wallpaper art on standard 8" x 11" cardstock, that I felt would be large enough for close-up shots.  There's at least two dozen photos and on-line artwork I'd like to enlarge and paste on 20" x 30" poster boards. 

"I'd like to..." being the operative phrase.  To accomplish this, I'll have to take these to a print or photography shop.  I may trim this list down, once I get over the sticker shock of the cost per page. 

In the meantime, it's back to trolling through Wallpaper Up for more images, like this...