Kuntari conquer the Galaxy - an Horizon AAR

[Martok]

So the Kor'Thaz have declared war on you, and you've established a treaty with the Minbari Kamzak.  A most interesting set of developments! 

[Anguille]

Yeah...there's indeed a strong Babylon 5 influence in this game. 

In 2313, the Gargals, declare war on the Kuntari as well...did the Kor'Thaz asked them to do this? Anyway, soldiers in all the barracks are on alert and ready to fight, new recruits are coming every day....the Kuntari gound troops will be ready...the biggest problem is the weak fleet! The available ships are redeployed on the borders.



There are good news however, the mighty Har'Kans agreed to improve the relation with the Kuntari by signing a commercial treaty. But this is followed by a bad news shortly afterwards, the Kuntari meet a new race in the Lumina system 



They call themselves the Tantik....they are not going to be the new friends of the Kuntari either...



The Tantik have various ships in Kuntari space despite the fact that their homeworld is far and away....

[Anguille]

The Kuntari had decided to reinforce the Lemuria system...however, due to the blockade by a Kor'Thaz battle cruiser, the battlestation cannot be built. The High Command orders a group of ships to lift the blockade...will they manage?



The latest information on the situation in the galaxy show that the Kuntari are way behind in research....not looking good....



The Gargals launch an unexpected ground attack on Technos which the Kuntari forces manage to defeat....these Gargals are braver than we thought!



The ships sent to Lemuria did not manage to break the blockade. Without any protection, the Kor'Thaz drops gound troops on Lemuria...the battle is tougth but Kuntari are the best warriors. The Kor'Thaz will have to bring more troops next time.

[W8taminute]

The land battles seem interesting.  Can you control the individual units?  Can you also control the individual ships in space combat?

The Tantik sound very much like the Sathar of the Star Frontier series.  In fact the description you showed of the Tantiks is very much the same description of the Sathars. 

http://starfrontiers.wikia.com/wiki/Sathar

[Anguille]

The land battles seem interesting.  Can you control the individual units?  Can you also control the individual ships in space combat?

The Tantik sound very much like the Sathar of the Star Frontier series.  In fact the description you showed of the Tantiks is very much the same description of the Sathars. 

http://starfrontiers.wikia.com/wiki/Sathar

You cannot control units in land battles. You have to make sure you build up barracks early enough and do research in the various techs available for ground battle.

In space combat you can control every single ship, even fighters who are launched from bigger ships. It's all turn-based.

Thanks for the interesting link.

[Anguille]

In 2342, the Gargals make another attempt in the Ren System. 30'000 troops land there who were repelled by the 70'000 strong Kuntari forces.



The Korum meets again and every warlord is discussing with it's neighbor. The Emperor enters the place and everyone is silent.

- The wars with the Gargals and the Kor'thaz are not going the way we want. We're on the defensive. In Lemuria, our colony is still blockaded, this is untolerable and it has to stop...now. We need to start a counter-offensive. The Kor'thaz are too strong for us but our goal will be to free the Lemuria system. The Gargals however, will be our objective. First, we will recon their planets and systems. Second, we are producing a brand new fleet with cruisers which will be sent to conquer these worlds. It's long-term objective and all Kuntari will have to work hard to achieve it. Can i count on your support?
- Ey Ey Ey, shouted the Warlords.

On the scientific side, new technologies for land battles, like armed transporters, are being researched. Also Ion cannons are in the pipeline.

[Martok]

You know, it just occurred to me that you got pinned down fairly early.  Does that happen a lot?  (Note:  I've not played Horizon much in classical mode.) 

[Anguille]

You know, it just occurred to me that you got pinned down fairly early.  Does that happen a lot?  (Note:  I've not played Horizon much in classical mode.)

Can't really say as it's my first game with the classical mode. However, in all my games, some races have always been very aggressive (like the Tantik).

In 2353, the Kuntari meet another race, the Lezgoon. They are very curious and seem benevolent which is a good change for the Kuntari. After a short time, they also accept a commercial treaty...the Kuntari have found new friends.



Meanwhile, on Kuntaria, the production of ships is going well and the first cruisers are almost finished.

A small fleet attacks Gargal ships in the Ren system in 2360. This victory seems promising while the main fleet is still under construction.

The Delta system is discovered by an exploration unit and the Korum decides to establish a military outpost there in order to extend the range of our ships.



Shortly after the colonization of Delta II, the Kuntari are informed by the Tantik Ambassador, that war has been declared. The situation is getting worse and worse. The Tantik are one of the most powerful races in the galaxy...the Kuntari are now at war with 3 different races.

Meanwhile, the relations with the Lezgoon get better and better. The Kuntari diplomats work hard to achieve an alliance with them but the road is still long. The information gathered on the situation of the galaxy thanks to the information treaty with them could make the difference. The Kuntari are informed on the existence of other nations (Humans and Varaians).

[Anguille]

Chapter 1: first generation

2380

The main fleet of the Kuntari is gathering in the Delta System. Two cruisers, Two strike frigates and six fighters.

On board of the Cruiser Kuntaria:

-   Commander, we have received new instructions.
-   Thank you Lieutenant. You may leave.

Commander Lodia Trolaroli had been placed on command of the fleet. She was proud to carry the flags of her family into combat; still, she was missing her son and her husband a lot. They both had stayed on Kuntaria, her husband being one of the main scientists working on improving nuclear missiles. She opened the message…the orders of the Korum were short and clear: “Attack the Crimta system and land troops…good luck!”

She went to her command position, switched the internal speakers on and said.

-   Here is Commander Trolaroli, everyone prepare for departure! We will be leaving the orbit of Delta II in 5 hours.

The travel to Crimta would take 3 years.



2383

The Tantik launched a ground attack on Tashir II. While the 467’300 men of the armed forces managed to fight back the 90’000 invaders, the losses were important.

2385

The Kuntari fleet got out of hyperspace on the border of the Crimta System and all personal went back to its working station.



-   Status? Asked Commander Trolaroli.
-   All systems clear, Commander. All ships report to us.
-   Fine, what do the scanners show?
-   2 enemy ships and missile bases on the planet’s surface.
-   Fine…let’s move into attack position.

And so the Kuntari fleet approached the planet and began to fire on the missile bases. At that point, the enemy ships appeared. They were more numerous than what the scanners had shown, still it should be manageable. Two Battlecruisers with some fighters.

-   Cruiser Korum Prime, attack the enemy ships with the support of the fighters and the frigates, we will continue to bombard the bases.
-   Aye sir, said Commander Turlari from the Korum Prime.

Lodia Trolaroli focused again on the attack of the planet. After a short while, she looked at the monitors showing the rest of the fleet engaging the enemy ships. A blast very bright suddenly came out of the first enemy battle cruiser and passed through the Korum Prime. Commander Trolaroli couldn’t believe her eyes…the Korum Prime was gone! It had just started to engage combat! Already, the enemy ships were moving into attack position and were firing at the frigates and the fighters.

-   We have to support them….headsman, turn the ship and head towards our ships!
-   Aye Commander.



When at firing range, she shouted:

-   Aim at their first battle cruiser…Fire!

The enemy ship, already damaged, exploded under the impact of the nuclear missiles. But the next ships were already closing on the Kuntaria…and the rest of the Kuntari fleet was badly damaged if not destroyed. Commander Trolaroli saw the blazing fire of the enemy ships coming towards her ship…her last though was for her family…and the Kuntaria exploded in thousand pieces….

One month later

General Kroanali was holding the microcomputer with the latest news of the wars in his hands while he was walking to present them to the Korum. He felt sick and wanted to throw up. The giant doors of the Korum were guarded at all times by two sentinels who were completely emotionless. General Kroanali looked at them and wished he could trade places. The giant doors opened and he entered the central place of the Korum and waited for a signal of the eldest.

-   What do you have to report General? Said the leader of the Korum.
-   I am afraid to say that the news are bad…very bad.
-   Explain.
-   After the defeat of our fleet in Crimta, the Gargals have attacked Delta II and our troops have lost the planet. Our campaign against the Gargals is not going the way it should and they have much better weapons than we thought…

It was silent for a while….

-   You may go.

Kroanali was happy to leave the Korum with his head on his shoulders…

[Martok]

Ouch.  Just...ouch. 

[Anguille]

Chapter 2: Blood covers Tashir II

2387

The Tantik attack again Tashir II. The 304’000 remaining men of the armed forces managed to fight back the 60’000 invaders but how long can they resist? The Tantik have droids, drones and other technologies that the Kuntari do not have. The missile bases won’t be ready for a long time.

One year later, the Tantik make another attempt. The Kuntari resist but these constant attacks don’t allow them to rebuild their forces.

2392

Major Trolaroli had had nightmares that night…the Tantik were haunting his nights again and again. It was almost 10 years that they had started their offensive against Tashir II and Trolaroli had just been graduated from the officer school. This seemed like an eternity. So many battles had occurred since then, so many loses. Many of his friends were gone.  As he woke up, he took a glimpse at the news display but there was nothing interesting. He took a cup of Korniomi, a short bath and put on his uniform. Then he took his large sword and looked at it with pride….many Tantiks had died with that one and their blood was still on it. Obviously, Kuntaris had fire weapons but they still preferred the old way when killing an enemy…with a sword. As he walked outside his house, he was thinking about his cousin Lodia who had died in the war against the Gargals…and now he was facing a dark future himself…if only they could finish the missile bases!

Suddenly all the alarms started to scream….WOOOWAAAAWOOOWAAAAWOOOOOWAAAAA…

What? He started to run and reached the HQ of the Kuntari forces on Tashir II. The other generals were already there, staring at the monitors showing the planet’s tactical situation. Groya, the oldest general was explaining the situation while giving orders.

-   The Tantik have landed with 125’000 troops, it’s their biggest invasion to date and we only have 197’000 soldiers left…Clan K’rot and Clan Paisir, you attack them from that side, Clan Opoar and Clan Hlair, you will attack them from the opposite the side. Understood?
-   Aye Sir!
-   General Trolaroli?
-   Yes Sir?
-   Your clan will protect the capital…and in case of an evacuation, you make sure that as many civilians as possible can leave the planet. Do you understand?
-   But…
-   I said DO YOU UNDERSTAND?
-   Yes Sir.

All the Generals left the HQ in order to give their orders to theirs clans…the battle would be difficult.

Two hours later, General Trolaroli was turning around in his HQ as he was expecting news from the front…had the clans managed to break through the enemy lines? His transmitter started a small noise. He took it and said:

-   General Trolaroli?
-   This is….warrior Roas, from the K’rot clan.
-   Where’s the general of your clan?
-   They’re dead….they’re all dead….they….Aaaaahhh!

General Trolaroli couldn’t believe it….the strongest clan was defeated…for a second he was lost but then he went to his warriors while pressing on the evacuation button…the alarms sounded in the entire capital.

-   Prepare for the evacuation…warriors, we have to give as much time as possible to the population.

The population started to go on board the evacuation ships that were waiting for them….it would take at least 6 – 7 hours to embark. General Trolaroli then took his telescope and tried to see incoming troops of the Tantik. The attack started only one hour later, but what for an attack!  The Kuntari, protected by the high walls surrounding the city, managed to repel the first wave of attack but many died fighing the Tantik and their robots. As the night was starting, we could see in the skies  the evacuations ships flying away as well as the shells crossing…..if it wasn’t as deadly, it could have been beautiful…

-   Sir, there are only two evacuation ships left, we should go!
-   We managed to embark all the civilians?
-   The ones from the city, yes….we can’t help the ones outside the walls…
-   Damn it….

The first wall of defenses was lost and so the warriors around the General started the retreat to the second line of defenses. The battle was lost but many had been saved.

-   Let’s evacuate….

As soon as they entered the last ship, thousands of enemy troops rushed onto the astroport….still, the ship managed to start…

General Trolaroli looked at his beloved planet with a heart full of sorrow. Tashir II, the planet he was born on, one of the greatest colonies of the Kuntari empire was lost….

[Martok]

Damn.  Things are not looking good for the Kuntari at all.  Is there any hope?