SPACE SIGNAL ===================================== FROM: HSTS 116AL TO: ESS AGAMEMNON PRECEDENCE: IMMEDIATE CLEARANCE: TOP SECRET FORMAT: EMC CODED & ENCRYPTED DATE: 3197.227 SUBJECT: AFTER ACTION REPORT ===================================== TO: Lt Col TA Killgore, CO 130MR CC: Captain J Rackham, Commodore TF-Alpha FROM: Major P Howland, OC 130MR Battalion Reference: OPORDER 130/1/3197: OPERATION CRANBERRY ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- CONTENTS: --------- 1. EXTRACT 2. NARRATIVE 3. CASUALTIES 4. ROBOTS DISABLED 5. AMMUNITION STATE 6. 130MR TACTICS USED 7. ENEMY TACTICS USED 8. ENEMY TYPES ENCOUNTERED 9. CONCLUSIONS 10. RECOMMENDATIONS ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1. EXTRACT: ------------- I have the honour to report that the Marine Battalion, 130th Marine Regiment, under my command has defeated an attack on HSTS 116AL, by 150+ robots of unidentified origin. The station is habitable. There are no enemy detected within sensor range. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2. NARRATIVE: --------------- 2.1 On 3197.226 130MR successfully occupied HSTS 116AL and the 130MR Battalion under my command prepared to defend the station. The emergency exit hatches in the outer hull, which were blown open to allow B Group to enter the station, could not be resealed. These open hatchways were camoflaged. 2.2 On 3197.227 enemy ships launched an attack on HSTS 116AL. (See Ensign Bigglesworth's After Action Report which describes the naval action.) 2.3 The spin of the HSTS was stopped and the station depressurised, in accordance with EMC SOPs. 2.4 Two cargo-shuttle sized craft were observed to approach the HSTS's shuttle bay, and the first assault was by some 30 robots using this route. Lt. Parrel's Squad destroyed these with a single salvo of grenades. 2.5 Subsequent attacks also entered the HSTS via the weapon pods and spin/attitude thrusters. (The enemy robots removed the maintenance access panels to gain entry.) But they did not use the emergency exit hatches. 2.6 The enemy entered the HSTS in squads at the many entry points. These were destroyed, generally by grenade salvos, as soon as Marines met them. 2.7 Casualties were caused amongst the HSTS crew when an enemy squad broke into the Mess Hall/Recreation Area via the adjoining thruster. Two crew casualties were removed from the ship by the enemy before the room was resecured. 2.8 Major Rutherford had a conversation with an enemy, probably not on the HSTS. This is reported below (see 7.3). 2.9 Major Rutherford has commended, and I endorse, Lt. Levell's sturdy defence of the station ComCen. This was Lt. Levell's first action. 2.10 The enemy withdrew, leaving 149 knocked out robots on the HSTS. These are being stored for later technical evaluation. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3. CASUALTIES: ---------------- 3.1 I regret to inform you that 9 persons were killed or are missing presumed dead, and 4 were wounded in action, in the defence of HSTS 116AL. Details as follows:- 3.2 Alpha Group 130MR: Marine GREAVES - KIA Three marines - WIA 3.3 Bravo Group 130MR: Major HOWLAND - WIA One marine - Suit KO 3.4 Earther Navy: PO LACEY - MIA 3.5 Crew of HSTS 116AL: (see Senior Executive KARLSSEN's report) Five persons - KIA Two persons - MIA One person - WIA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. ROBOTS DISABLED: --------------------- 4.1 Alpha Group: Two Combat Robots - immobilised 4.2 Bravo Group: One Combat Robot - immobilised One Combat Robot - SCA 1 U/S Three Close Support Robots - KO Two Recovery Robots - KO ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. AMMUNITION STATE: ---------------------- 5.1 Initial Ammunition Stock: Grenades - 8 pallets - 192 rounds Demo Charges - 3 pallets - 36 rounds APGW - 80 rounds 5.2 Ammunition Used in Combat: Grenades - 42 Demo Charges - 0 APGW - 8 (Note: 30 APGW are still on the U/S CSRobots) 5.3 Remaining Ammunition Stock: Grenades - 150 rounds Demo Charges - 36 rounds APGW - 42 rounds (Note: the 30 APGW might be recoverable from the U/S CSRobots) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6. 130MR TACTICS USED: ------------------------ 6.1 Initial Deployment & Intention: Alpha Group was stationed on the Inner Deck and Bravo Group on the Outer Deck. One squad on each deck guarded the open hatches, the 2nd squad and group HQs were placed in support. The HSTS crew were at there duty stations or concentrated in the Mess Hall/Recreation Area. The intention was to use Depth Defence, while maintaining one squad available for counterattack. 6.2 Actual Tactics Used: Because the enemy gained entry to both decks at unexpected points (via the maintenace hatches in the weapon pods and spin/attitude thrusters) the defence's descretion was limited to reacting to each incursion. The battle became separate, simultaneous squad actions. These were short, at close range, and all ended when the enemy were eliminated. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. ENEMY TACTICS USED: ------------------------ 7.1 The enemy attacked in squads of approximately 10 robots. These used only one tactic: a charge to hand-to-hand combat. The concentrated enemy targets were vulnerable to grenades. 7.2 The enemy did not appear to have a plan to capture the HSTS, but charged about apparantly at random. 7.3 Major Rutherford had a discussion with an enemy (my suit had been knocked out by this time). The enemy claimed that their intentions were "peaceful" and that they had come to "repair our space station". However, on no occasion did the enemy act in a peacful manner. 7.4 The did not use the open, but camoflaged, emergency hatches in the outer hull. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 8. ENEMY TYPES ENCOUNTERED: The following three types of enemy robots were noted: 8.1 "CLANKERS" - The vast majority of the enemy encountered were equipped with varying numbers of appendages. They resembled the maintenance robots with which we are familiar, and were similarly unarmed and unarmoured. CLANKERS were the first type to enter through each entry point in squads of about 10. Presumably these CLANKERS opened the maintenace access hatches in the weapon pods and spin/attitude thrusters. 8.2 "CYBERMEN" - These robots appeared in pairs in a second wave, following CLANKERS. CYBERMEN are humanoid and armed with a DEW of similar power to the SCA 1. They are not armoured. 8.3 "HOOVERS" - These are tracked boxes with a single appendage. They are neither armed nor armoured. HOOVERS moved about individually, apparently examining the HSTS systems. These robots were able to operate the door mechanisms. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9. CONCLUSIONS: 9.1 The robots encountered do not appear to be of human manufacture. No humans or sentient aliens were observed. The high g manoeuvres used by the enemy ships may indicate that there was no living crew onboard. 9.2 The enemy had no apparent objective other than to kill the crew. Two of the HSTS's crew were removed by the robots, and some robots escaped to their ships. They will have gained some intelligence from this action. 9.3 The enemy are poorly equipped for combat with Starship Marines, and vulnerable to grenades. They may construct new designs of robots to improve their performance. 9.4 The enemy ships were equipped with Double-HELL weapons, yet they did not destroy the HSTS after their defeat. This may mean that they still want to capture the HSTS, and that they may return soon, when prepared to attack again. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10. RECOMMENDATIONS: 10.1 That the 149 captured, knocked out robots be sent for evaluation. 10.2 That WirePods be issued to Marines tasked with defence against these robots. 10.3 That all Ships and Stations be advised that this new enemy has the capability to open and use all entry points, including maintenance access panels. 10.4 That the defence of HSTS 116AL be reinforced by Earther Naval Ships to withstand a second robot attack. Alternatively the HSTS should be evacuated, since there is no defence against HELL fire. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Major Peter "Red Badge of Courage" Howland OC 130MR Battalion, garrison HSTS 116AL