The Bounty Hunters Guild's Investigation of Aurora
(excerpted from the BHG Section of NL 24)
MISSION: To locate and survey the Aurora System for conquest.
TIME: Two Standard Imperial Weeks
PRIZE: Primary = 3,000,000 ICs
CLUE NO. 1
In order to locate the Aurora System's exact coordinates and to survey the System for Imperial conquest by the forces of the Hammer, the Fleet Commander has authorized the expenditure of 3,000,000 Imperial Credits to perform the Mission. The successful Bounty Hunter will proceed to the Aurora System based on online clues he/she follows. Once in the system, the Bounty Hunter will relay back important tactical and strategic information on the systems' specific resources and military installations. Upon receipt of the Bounty Hunter's data, the Command Staff of the Hammer will develop an assault strategy (i.e. RBKugel's Combined Arms Battle will be released).
In order to locate the exact system coordinates and proceed to the Aurora System, the Bounty Hunter is requested to proceed to a NEW Hammer related message board opened under AOL Keyword "SF". In this folder (on DAY 2), Mystique7, one of our key ISB operatives, will provide valuable information on the next Clue...The day of release of this Newsletter will be considered DAY 0....
CLUE NO. 2
Subj: Bounty Hunters survey Aurora!
Date: 95-08-22 00:00:40 EDT
From: Mystique7
<<The following is a posting (Clue No.2) for the Bounty Hunters's Guild of
the Emperor's Hammer in their assigned Mission No. 3 to find and survey the
Aurora System for the Imperial Security Bureau and the Dark Brotherhood>>
The following was relayed by the first Bounty Hunter to exit hyperspace at a
safe distance from the remote probes around the system:
"Until the information recently obtained through the Bounty Hunters was revealed, the Aurora system was unknown. Its sun, Solaria was recorded, but was believed to have no orbiting satellites. This error in observation was due to a cloud of stellar material that orbits Solaria, hiding its details"
"The information surveyed and transmitted by the Bounty Hunters revealed that there were indeed planetary bodies in orbit about Solaria. Furthermore, it was the inhabitants of the main planet in the system who were responsible for the ignorance of the entire Galaxy. It was they who cleverly manipulated the stellar gases and material so as to obscure their homeworld form view. They accomplished this by adapting gravity well generators to the task of holding this stellar material together and causing it orbit Solaria in such a way that no one 'inside' the Galaxy would be able to see their planet."
SOLARIA
Solaria is a red dwarf star, located on the far-most echelon of stars of the Outer Rim region. It has the distinction of being the furthest star in this sector from the Galactic center.
The last recorded mention of the star appears in an Imperial communications log. A stray TIE had to be rescued after a minor skirmish with a rebel flight. The pilot used Solaria as a marker for his coordinates. Other than this one mention, the star has been only casually observed from a distance.
Solaria has only one planet in orbit, Aurora, which was only recently discovered.
>>Bounty Hunters<<
The first Bounty Hunter to E-Mail the Fleet Commander @ GA Ronin with the
following will obtain the first Secondary Prize (500,000 ICs) for this mission, being the
first BH in the system:
>>Solaria identifed...Pyr's system ahead!<<
The next Clue (#3) can be found in the FSRC Organizations Message Area on DAY
4.
Good luck, Hunters!
Mystique7
CLUE NO. 3
"Grand Admiral........Grand Admiral", Adams called for Ronin, but he was
keenly interested in the new survey maps sent back from the Aurora System.
Besides, there was plenty of time until the Hammer reached the Hast
Shipyards. Due to nagging mechanical problems with the Avenger and her drive
systems, the Engineers Corps put the latest arrival estimate in Hast in two
approximately weeks. There was plenty of time to kill.
"Grand Admiral, I have the latest reports from our Hunters at Aurora. Shall
I send them up to your office?"
"Please...That will be all for tonight, you may stand down. Please notify VA
Havok he has the bridge. Goodnight..."
Ronin quickly switched his monitor back to the latest information on the
Aurora System. It would make the perfect base for the Hammer in these
chaotic times.
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-the following was submitted by RBKugel
AURORA
The planet of Aurora is a rather old, tectonicaly stable world. It is comparatively under-populated, and is still quite rich in natural resources. It has an advanced civilization despite its seclusion from the rest of the Galaxy. The human population is apparently heavily augmented by droids of radical design. Half of its surface is covered by water. There are only two land masses which are connected to each other by a wide land bridge, which is thought to be artificial.
Aurora's land is covered in vegetation, and the population centers are small, well ordered and do not seem to adversely impact their surroundings.
It is clear that the Aurorans have spent most of their time and genius on perfecting a quality of life for themselves. Their expertise in droid design, their work with gravity well generators and their control of their environment all speak to this.
Their military capability however, has suffered as a result. They have had to rely on a small supply of fighting craft bought from a few trusted black market traders. Since they've not seen war for more than a standard century, they have been able to amass a large defensive force over time. This lack of war time experience will be a liability when this force meets the Hammer in combat.
They have back engineered several key systems for weapon designs, missiles and other types of weapons, though they still relay on fighter and capital ship deliveries from outside the system. Most of the larger factories are located off world. These will be useful to the Hammer once the system is secured
EOS
Aurora has one natural moon, named Eos. Eos is significantly smaller than Aurora, but rich in ore deposits. It is also home to Auroran colonists, manufacturing and military facilities. Eos is a heavily garrisoned world, and will provide an interesting target for our orbital bombardment.
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Ronin switched off his monitor. He had directed the Hunters to covertly
survey the Aurora System to obtain preliminary information on orbital
facilities and military capabilities.
Clue No. 4 will be posted in two days (Sunday, 8/27/95) within FSRC Forum by
Arcturus...
I have heard rumors that the Fleet Commander will pay the hunter well who
sends back the requested information...
CLUE NO. 4
Subj: Survey Data from Aurora!
Date: 95-08-27 20:26:30 EDT
From: Arturus
<<The following is posted for the Bounty Hunters' Guild of the Emperor's
Hammer. It represents the first data sent by the Bounty Hunters from the
recently surveyed Aurora System, as submitted by BG Melan Pyr.>>
Grand Admiral Ronin was pleased with the latest data on the capabilities and
military strengths of the Aurorans. The Bounty Hunters' Guild serves the
Hammer well, Ronin thought:
Offworld Facilities:
Platforms are of two basic types, Civilian and Defense. The civilian platforms are pleasant little colonies. The inhabitants are mostly native Aurorans, supplemented of course with their ever-present humaniform droids. Most of these temporary residents are on some sort of sabbatical or extended holiday. It is rumored that the average platform dweller has been off world for no more than 5 standard years.
The Defense platforms are obviously intended to thwart an external invasion of the system. For all of the peace this system has seen, its inhabitants are surprisingly paranoid. Unfortunately for them, their paranoia is matched by their naiveté concerning the Galaxy before them. Despite their obsession with military preparedness, they have no inkling of the power that will presently be arrayed against them.
Factories are situated off world so as to limit the impact of their presence on the planetary environment. There are military, consumer and scientific oriented facilities among their number. The heaviest defenses are anticipated at the military FACs.
Military Capability:
Two fleets were initially detected. The First Fleet was in orbit about Eos. The Second Fleet was located in the Daneel-Settler Quadrant.
Later reconnaissance revealed a substantial Fleet in low orbit over Aurora itself. It was also suspected that a fleet of equal size might be garrisoned on Eos.
In addition to the Fleets, all military platforms and factories are well defended by their own fighter squadrons and static defense systems.
>>The first Bounty Hunter to E-Mail the Fleet Commander @ GA Ronin will
receive the Secondary Prize of 500,000 ICs:
"...First Fleet>Eos...Second Fleet>Daneel-Settler Quadrant..."
The next and last clue, identifying and plotting an assault route on the
Aurora System, will be posted in three days (i.e. on Wednesday, August 30,
1995) in the SF Forum (Keyword "SF") by myself.<<
Best of luck, Hunters!
Arturus, ISB Special Operative
CLUE NO. 5
<<The following is posted for the Bounty Hunters of the Emperor's Hammer and
is not related to this folder or club in any way>>
The Fleet Commander's monitor was showing a lot of interference; the image of
the Bounty Hunter wasn't very clear and the audio was barely being received.
Considering that the tight beam transmission was coming from the other side
of the sector, the reception was better than could be expected.
The moment he had been finally waiting for was here. Ronin was to receive
the suggested assault strategy into Aurora from his spies in-system. Ronin
let the audio fade as he read the document before him:
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The Battle (the following was transmitted/created by RKugel)
Strategy
Maintaining the secrecy of the existence of Aurora is of paramount importance. Any attack must be done in such a way as to not attract undue attention from parties outside the Emperors Hammer.
In order to accomplish this, capital ship movements must be rapid and staggered, so as not to give the impression we are engaged in a major campaign. The attack itself must be planned to bring down the Aurora System as quickly as possible. The shorter this battle is, the more likely it will go undetected by our enemies.
The first stage of the Battle will involve only starfighters. As the battle quickly progresses, the needed capital ships will arrive upon the scene. We will leave the Hammer's secondary vessels in place for the final assaults on the planet's moon of Eos and then Aurora itself. After the system's fighter and static defense has been eliminated, the worlds will be secured and garrisoned as quickly as possible. Our base at PLT Daedalus will be well guarded by most of our captital ships.
The size and expertise of our Fleet will insure a quick operation with minimum losses.
Major Objectives
1. decimate fighter defenses
2. eliminate static defenses
3. capture Eos
4. capture Aurora
5. secure all remaining facilities necessary for the Emperor's Hammer
The long term plans for the Aurora System will be made by the Grand Admiral. He has mentioned the possibility that this system, once secured, might become the Hammer's "home system"
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The Grand Admiral smiled. The Rebellion would pay dearly for Endor..very
dearly.
>>The first Bounty Hunter to E-Mail the following to the Fleet Commander@GA
Ronin will receive the Prize for Mission 3 of the BHG of 3,000,000 ICs:
"Aurora! Veni, Vidi, Vici !"
Good luck Hunters!<<
Arturus
ISB Special Operative
FLEET COMMANDER'S NOTE:
BOBA FETTS, won the Prize for Mission No. 3 of the Bounty Hunter's Guild, as certifed
by e-mail receipt of the above message...Consequently, BOBA FETTS has been paid the contract amount of 3,000,000
ICs and the BHG Roster have been revised accordingly...
Congratulations to the new Grand Master of the Bounty Hunters' Guild!
FC/GA Ronin/CF-1/SSD Avr