GENESIS TACTICS MANUAL
“THE ONLY VALID TEST IS COMBAT; THE ONLY VALID RESULT IS VICTORY”
BRITTANI HEAVY CRUISER
MITOSIS
The makeup of a starship defines its tactics. This has never been more true than with the Brittani Heavy Cruiser in Mitosis. First, know your own ship. Second, know your enemy’s ship.
The Brittani Heavy Cruiser has a strong Shield #1 and Shield #4, each at 24 boxes. Shield #2, Shield #3, Shield #5, and Shield #6 are 20 boxes each. While the protection of Shield #1 is vital (typical in other galaxies), in Mitosis it is also essential to preserve the starboard and portside Shields for as long as possible. As you perform specific tactical maneuvers, be aware of which Shields you have exposed to your enemy.
The Brittani Heavy Cruiser carries four Photon Torpedoes, two of which are FX and two of which are RX. At the beginning of the Mitosis Timeline, Photon Torpedoes may not be overloaded. Still, the objective is to concentrate the four Photon Torpedoes in order to punch through the enemy’s Shield. Because the Firing Arcs of the Photon Torpedoes are FX and RX, this means their concentration of fire is R and L, where the firing arcs overlap. Therefore, in order to concentrate the fire of all four Photon Torpedoes, the enemy vessel must be within the R or L Firing Arc at the time of firing.
In order to achieve this firing position, the Oblique Attack is best suited for the Brittani Heavy Cruiser. However, because the Brittani’s Photon Torpedoes cannot overload, there is no need to maintain a strict distance of 8 hexes when it comes to the Oblique Option Point. For example, a Brittani Heavy Cruiser could approach such that the Oblique Option Point is 4 hexes away from its opponent, giving it a 1-4 chance to hit with each Photon Torpedo. Alternatively, a Brittani Heavy Cruiser could approach such that the Oblique Option Point is 2 hexes away, giving a 1-5 chance to hit with each Photon Torpedo, or 12 hexes away, resulting in a 1-2 chance to hit with each Photon Torpedo. The decision to turn in or to turn away at the Oblique Option Point is still important, but it is diminished somewhat because the Photon Torpedoes cannot overload.
It is worth noting as well, that since the Photon Torpedoes are FX and RX, they can concentrate their fire not just along the RF and LF Oblique Lines, but also down the RR and LR Lines. This is especially useful in the case of a pursuing enemy vessel.
Curiously, the Brittani Heavy Cruiser has two Phaser-1’s mounted FA and two Phaser-1’s mounted RA. As you should seek to supplement the concentrated Photon Torpedo barrage with Phasers, the two FA Phaser-1’s would be ideal to fire at the Oblique Option Point along with the four Photon Torpedoes. If the Range is 5 hexes or less, the Phaser-1’s are guaranteed to hit. If the Range is 6-8, any roll except a 6 will result in a hit. If the Range is 9-15 hexes, the Phaser-1’s only have a 50% chance to hit. As the supplemental damage scored by the Phaser fire could mean the difference between victory and defeat, choosing the Range for the Oblique Option Point during the Oblique Attack is extremely important. Expect the opponent to try to control the Range as well, disrupting the formulation of your tactics.
Turning away at the Oblique Option Point allows you to bring your two RA Phaser-1’s to bear. If the opponent has not turned or moved since you fired your Photon and Phaser concentrated strike, your RA Phaser-1’s may hit the same Shield.
The Brittani Heavy Cruiser is protected on its Starboard and Port Side by pairs of Phaser-3’s. Unless the enemy vessel is at a Range of 2 hexes or less, these Phaser-3’s are best used for defense against Seeking Weapons.
The Brittani Heavy Cruiser possesses two Shuttles. When facing an opponent armed with Seeking Weapons, these Shuttles are best prepared as Wild Weasels. However, if the opponent has Direct Fire Heavy Weapons instead of Seeking Weapons, the two Shuttles could be used as Suicide Shuttles or Phaser-3 Supplemental Firing Platforms. With only two Shuttles, their wise use is essential.
The Brittani Heavy Cruiser generates 20 Total Power each turn. Since arming all 4 Photon Torpedoes requires 8 energy, the remaining energy must be carefully managed. With 12 Total Warp and a 1/2 Movement Cost, the Brittani Heavy Cruiser has a maximum Speed of 25 (with Impulse added). If High Speed is critical to your tactical plan (such as against an opponent launching Seeking Weapons), then it is recommended to not arm all four of your Photon Torpedoes, instead arming only some or none of them. That energy can then be used to boost your Speed, giving you an advantage against the Seeking Weapons targeted at you.
The Brittani Heavy Cruiser comes with two Batteries. As the Tactics Manual states, these two Batteries should be emptied out during Energy Allocation and refilled with Warp Power, giving you Reserve Warp Power. Use your Reserve Power carefully. Some uses could include boosting your Speed, assisting in powering a High Energy Turn, or providing aid during a Tractor Auction.
Use the Brittani Heavy Cruiser’s two Labs to identify incoming Seeking Weapons. This will enable you to properly defend against them, depending on exactly what they are.
The Brittani Heavy Cruiser is not well suited to performing High Energy Turns, having a Breakdown of 3-6. You should only be performing a High Energy Turn under the most desperate of circumstances, when there are no other options.
Always be ready to defend against the Gorn Anchor. Control the Range and preserve energy for Tractor Auctions.
The Brittani Heavy Cruiser has a notoriosly bad Turn Mode. Be aware of this and don’t employ any tactics that require repeated snap turns. Base your Speed on when your Turn Mode allows you to turn.
If one or more of your Shields have been breached, be prepared for enemy Boarding Parties. Post Guards at critical systems. If your enemy has Shields down, consider launching Boarding Actions of your own.
A good Captain always knows the advantages and flaws in their weaponry. The Brittani’s Photon Torpedoes are no different. What follows is a detailed analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Photon Torpedo taken from the Tactics Manual. It is just as relevent to the Brittani as it is to the Federation.
It can be held.
It does not lose strength over long ranges, making it supreme in base assaults.
It can be fired at range 0 or range 1 with considerable success while under passive fire control. You can still deliver an Alpha Strike under weasel restrictions at the cost of voiding the weasel.
It takes two turns to arm.
It requires warp energy.
The chance of hitting the target reduces greatly as range increases.
Regularly armed torpedoes can’t be fired at a range of less than two hexes.
