TO All System Governments Q7
TO JAC Flag Officers
FROM JACHQ
DATE 3198.245
1. A Berserker 'Viking' unit attacked L'Fayet Station on 3198.240. The 16 Pacifiers of the Protection Squadron and the Star Guard Squadron engaged the Viking within 20 km of the Station. The L'Fayet Star Guard Squadron consists of the ASS Tracy C5A (4 HELL, 4 Multi Cannon, 2 Chaff), ASS Pimpernel and ASS Daisy C3A (1 HELL, 1 Multi Cannon, 1 Chaff).
2. The following is a compilation from the reports of Captain Rootes, ASS Daisy and Captain Scarlett, ASS Pimpernel.
"The Star Guard formed line between the Viking and the Station; 12 Pacifiers were echeloned forward on the left with 4 on the right. The Viking and the Star Guard were initially closing slowly at 100 metres per second when the Pacifiers accelerated to attack. The Viking was accompanied by 4 Shadows and these engaged the Pacifiers in 'dog fights'. The Pacifiers pressed in to engage the Viking at point blank range and obtained numerous hits with HELLFIRE and cannon.
Many of the Pacifiers were knocked out in this combat, but they significantly reduced the fire power of the Viking at the time that the Star Guard closed within effective HELLFIRE range. All 3 Star Ships obtained hits, with both HELLFIRE and cannon, on the Viking before all our weapon systems were knocked out by numerous PAD and HELL hits.
The Viking had by this time passed the Star Guard vessels and was decelerating to ram and board L'Fayet Station. The ASS Pimpernel had been reduced to 2 Hull Points with no functioning weapons and with the DCP hit so manoeuvred to rescue Pacifier pilots. The Daisy had half her hull structure intact but also had no functioning weapons, and withdrew to pick up other Pacifier pilots while repairing the HELL.
The Viking was in contact with L'Fayet Station for some minutes before disengaging and burning away from the Colony. When the Daisy had effected repairs on her HELL she went in search of Pacifiers and a Shadow known to be drifting towards the planet. Captain Rootes states that he closed with the Shadow and as he entered HELL range observed it to be rotating so that its HELL was about to point directly at the Daisy. Unable to manoeuvre out of the way quickly enough, the Daisy was obliged to fire on the Shadow. The hit obtained finally destroyed the Shadow."
This is the first combat between Colony System defences and Berserker units for which we have detailed reports. Conclusions are as follows:
1. That 16 Pacifiers are sufficient to obtain significant hits on a Viking, but not sufficient to cripple it. If the Pacifiers were armed with nuclear weapons they would have an 83.7% probability of destroying a Viking.
2. It is confirmed that auxiliary warships armed with up to 4 HELL are not powerful enough to seriously damage a Viking unless available in large numbers.
3. The confirmed effectiveness of Pacifiers indicates that Escort Carriers are the optimum type of auxiliary warship against Berserkers.
From: Lt. Commander P. Closterman, L'Fayet Pacifier Defence Squadron
To: Naval HQ
Copies: JAC HQ
It is my duty to report the status of my squadron following the recent battle against the 'Viking' unit and 4 'Shadows':
STATUS
Pacifiers engaging: 16
Pacifiers destroyed: 10 (subsequently 11)
Pacifiers recovered damaged: 5 (subsequently 4)
Pacifiers returned to base: 1
Pilot Losses: 0
No pacifiers escaped damage and only one finished the action with operating engines (but with no HELL and no forward cannon ammunition).
Repairs to the remaining 10 pacifiers are expected to take approximately 50-70 days and will exhaust stocks of some key components.
One pac was lost during recovery operations due to a catastrophic explosion.
Battle Report
The plan was to engage the Viking unit directly, avoiding combat with its accompanying Shadows, which were deemed not to be a serious threat to the station. In this, the plan was quite successful and it seemed as though the Shadows were momentarily outfoxed as they allowed the squadron to get some good hits in on the Viking, particularly to its thrusters. This slowed it down and enabled the Starguard to join in. I would like at this poinf to commend the Starguard as they engaged the enemy with great skill and bravery.
Although the Viking seemed not to have 'blind-spots', a successful tactic proved to be concentration of all available pacs on one area of the enemy. This reduced the damage he was dealing. After about a minute of this the Shadows returned to cover their carrier and apparently fell under the misapprehension that pacs have no rearward firing cannon as 2 Shadows fell victim to some excellent rear gunnery by members of the Squadron.
The Viking proved capable of rapid repair and was able to quickly eliminate all pacifier and Starguard threat, not however before the latter had managed to pop another Shadow and the last manoeuvrable pac damage the 4th.
It would seem from subsequent events that although it is estimated we caused 45-50% damage to the structure of the Viking, it was able to complete its mission.