Battle of Vistula: Difference between revisions

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|co1=Maj. [[Duke Danton]]
|co1=Maj. [[Duke Danton]]
|co2=[[Galen]]
|co2=[[Galen]]
|strength1=Less than 10 [[Thunderfighter]]s
|strength1=Less than 10 [[Thunderfighter]]s and 2 [[Scorpion fighter]]s
|strength2=100 [[Scorpion fighter]]s  
|strength2=100 [[Scorpion fighter]]s  
|shiploss1=None
|shiploss1=None
|shiploss2=All enemy [[Scorpion fighter]]s
|shiploss2=Multiple enemy [[Scorpion fighter]]s
|casualties1=None
|casualties1=None
|casualties2=At least 100 of [[Kaleel]]'s followers, including [[Galen]]
|casualties2=Unknown number of [[Kaleel]]'s followers, including [[Galen]]
|prev=[[Defense of Scout Three]]
|prev=[[Defense of Scout Three]]
|next=[[Escape from Sinaloa]]
|next=[[Escape from Sinaloa]]
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}}
}}


<!--{{quote
{{quote
|Kane|So, this is how you bid us safe conduct? Fine escort, at least we will all perish together.  
|Duke Danton|I didn't say I need all the pilots you can spare, Dr. [[Elias Huer|Huer]]. I said I need ''all the pilots'', period.
|attribution=[[Kane]]'s snide comment to Col. [[Wilma Deering]] before she runs to her [[Thunderfighter]] on ''[[Draconia]]'', {{BR25|Awakening|prose=Y}}
|Dr. Elias Huer|Major Danton, I just can't do that. I cannot order that [[Earth]] be left absolutely defenseless.
}}-->
|Duke Danton|And I'm telling you that if the fleet I saw [[Vistula|back there]] lifts off, the Earth is done for anyway.
|attribution=Maj. [[Duke Danton]] and Dr. [[Elias Heur]] after Danton leaves through [[Stargate 5]] from [[Vistula]], {{BR25|Planet of the Slave Girls|prose=Y}}
}}


With a large swath of [[Earth Defense Directorate]]'s pilots affected by poisoned [[food disc]]s originating from [[Vistula]], [[Kaleel]] launches his attack against the [[Earth]]. With knowledge from both Majors [[Duke Danton]] and [[Fields]], Dr. [[Elias Huer]] organizes a small group of Earth's unaffected pilots for a last-ditch offensive {{BR25|Planet of the Slave Girls}}.  
With a large swath of [[Earth Defense Directorate]]'s pilots incapacitated by poisoned [[food disc]]s originating from [[Vistula]], [[Kaleel]] launches his attack against the [[Earth]]. With knowledge from both Majors [[Duke Danton]] and [[Fields]], Dr. [[Elias Huer]] organizes a small group of Earth's unaffected pilots for a last-ditch offensive {{BR25|Planet of the Slave Girls}}.  


<!--
== Background ==
== Background ==


{{quote
{{quote
|Princess Ardala|Permission to come aboard, why?
|Kaleel|What will [[Duke Danton|your friend]] do when he returns to [[Earth]], Captain {{buck|Rogers}}? Let's see. You've seen the fleet I've been slowly, patiently building up, and you've no doubt concluded that my plan is to weaken [[Defense Directorate|Earth's defense squadrons]] by poisoning its members, so the planet can be conquered with ease.  
|Kane|For a special envoy. That's all I know.  
|William "Buck" Rogers|Murder seems to be second nature to you. Why didn't you wipe us all out so you can walk into power?  
|Princess Ardala|It isn't according to protocol. What'd you think they have in mind?
|Kaleel|''[chuckles]'' Mass death would've caused much alarm, attracted too much attention. Dr. [[Elias Huer|Huer]] would have suspected foul play immediately. This way, the gravity of the situation crept up on him. By the time he had an inkling of what was truly happening, it was too late.  
|Kane|I don't know, but they have given us plenty of warning, and there'll be nothing in evidence to betray us.
|William "Buck" Rogers|That's not the reason. The truth is, you get your kicks out of turning people who should logically hate you into mindless zombies who follow you around shouting your name.  
|Princess Ardala|I'd be curious to know what they have in mind. Let's prepare a very special welcome for them.  
|attribution=[[Kaleel]] and {{buck}} discuss the dastardly nature of Kaleel's plan, {{BR25|Planet of the Slave Girls|prose=Y}}
|attribution=Princess [[Ardala]] and [[Kane]] discuss the incoming fighter squadron envoy from [[Earth]], {{BR25|Awakening|prose=Y}}
}}  
}}
 
As part of Emperor [[Draco]]'s cunning plan to conquer the [[Earth]], subjugating it in the [[Draconian realm]], Princess [[Ardala]] and [[Kane]] are dispatched on ''[[Draconia]]''. As one of Draco's many [[star fortress]]es, it claims to fly under a flag of truce (and thus unarmed) as part of a trade delegation to establish a mutual defense treaty against "pirates" that have devastated the spaceways, including disrupting vital food and water Earth needs from other planets.


In order to determine the veracity of {{Buck}}'s story, Col. [[Wilma Deering]] convinces Dr. [[Elias Huer]] of the [[Earth Defense Directorate]] to fly a welcoming committee in the form of the [[Third Force of the Earth Directorate]]—a squadron of [[Thunderfighter]]s, including Rogers—to meet with ''Draconia''. In response, Ardala preemptively launches [[Hatchet fighter]]s in order to stage a "pirate ambush." It is her aim to convince the humans that the "pirates" are a mutual threat when, in reality, the pirates are Draconians themselves wishing to weaken the Earth for conquest.


Upon the Third Force landing aboard ''Draconia'', Kane presents Ardala to Deering and Rogers. During the introductions, Ardala feigns ignorance on ever meeting Rogers, thus continuing to germinate the seeds of doubt as to Rogers' loyalties. Before being able to continue their investigation of ''Draconia''—prompted by Rogers' belief that the ship is not unarmed—the "pirates" engage ''Draconia'', placing the Third Force in harm's way.


== Battle ==
== Battle ==


{{quote
{{quote
|William "Buck" Rogers|Colonel, I'm switching to manual, see if I can start dishing out a little of what we've been taking.
|Duke Danton|Leader to squadron, I'm breaking radio silence. You've no doubt seen on your scanners what lies ahead of us. We're too late. The armada on [[Vistula]] is in the process of taking off, and before we reach the combat [[vector]], we'll be outnumbered almost 10-to-1. But it's no use turning back. They're on their way to [[Earth]]. We either fight them here or we fight them there. So ready your [[pulsar cannon]]s. We're going to take them on now, and before we're through with them, they will have had one big fight on their hands.
|Col. Wilma Deering|Buck Rogers, I'm ordering you back to the base.  
|attribution=Maj. [[Duke Danton]] to his squadron as [[Kaleel]]'s force of [[Scorpion fighter]]s, lead by [[Galen]], launches from [[Vistula]], {{BR25|Planet of the Slave Girls|prose=Y}}
|William "Buck" Rogers|''[ignoring Deering, directing his efforts to their attackers]'' Now then, let's see how you like a little old-fashioned red dogging.
|attribution={{buck}} and Col. [[Wilma Deering]] disagree on defense strategy, {{BR25|Awakening|prose=Y}}
}}
}}


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{{quote
{{quote
|Dr. Theopolis|Our [[Computer Council|Council]] has had a formal request from her majesty, Princess [[Ardala]].
|Ryma|I told you, [[Kaleel]] has called for his escape craft. This is our chance--it's our ''only'' chance.
|Col. Wilma Deering|What has that got to do with the Captain?
|Vistula Worker|Ryma, there are so few of us.  
|Dr. Theopolis|Well, the Princess feels he single-handedly saved their unarmed vessel from the renegade pirates, and wants to thank him personally.
|Ryma|And so few of them--most of them are out in space. This is our chance, while the armada is losing, and Kaleel is uncertain.
|Col. Wilma Deering|''[chagrined]'' "Single-handedly"?
|attribution=[[Ryma]] and an [[Vistula Worker|unnamed Vistula worker]] discuss striking Kaleel's weakened forces in the [[Sea of Stone]] during the ongoing battle up in space, {{BR25|Planet of the Slave Girls|prose=Y}}
|Dr. Theopolis|Apparently, even your ship was nearly destroyed. Were it not for Captain Rogers' inordinate skills and quick thinking, the Princess feels that—
|Col. Wilma Deering|''[angrily]'' I don't care what the Princess feels!
|attribution=Dr. [[Theopolis]] (conveyed by [[Twiki]]) and Col. [[Wilma Deering]] discuss the aftermath, {{BR25|Awakening|prose=Y}}
}}
}}


* Princess Ardala is able to continue the charade of the Draconian's peaceful intentions, as well as obfuscate any connection to the so-called "pirates."
* For all of his hubris, [[Galen]] is easily dispatched after a terse but short starfighter battle with {{buck}}.  
* Draconian forces now have proof that Earth's forces, such as the [[Thunderfighter]]'s [[combat computer]], are easily dispatched. Another weakness is the human's blind-faith on the technology, removing the "human equation" from space combat.
* The wild-card is {{buck}}, an accidental 20th century transplant from a "paranoid time," who is highly suspicious of Ardala and is able to dispatch the Hatchet fighters with great aplomb despite his lack of prior space combat experience. Further, he equates the peace envoy to the [[w:Trojan Horse|Trojan Horse]] from the historic defeat known as the [[w:Battle of Troy|Battle of Troy]]. 
** The fact that Rogers is able to single-handedly defeat the Hatchet fighters further endears Ardala to Rogers, as she sees a man who can bring her great power—a weakness that Rogers [[Draconia's Attack on Earth|later exploits to great effect]].
** Rogers piloting skills would be needed for Kane's upgraded experimental [[Hatchet fighter]] variant in {{BR25|Ardala Returns|prose=Y}}.  


==Notes==
==Notes==


* Earth is unaware of both the Hatchet fighter's capabilities and their inclusion in the Draconian arsenal, suggesting that the craft is new to the battlefield.
* The Hatchet fighters are able to render the [[combat computer]]s of [[Thunderfighter]]s useless by means unknown.
-->


{{stub}}
{{stub}}

Revision as of 00:51, 10 May 2021

Battle of Vistula
[[Image:|center|300px|]]
Summary
Conflict:
Date: 2491 CE
Related Episode(s):
Place: Near Vistula
Result: Successful Earth offensive.
Combatants
Earth Defense Directorate Kaleel's forces
Commanders
Maj. Duke Danton Galen
Strength
Less than 10 Thunderfighters and 2 Scorpion fighters 100 Scorpion fighters
Materiel Losses
None Multiple enemy Scorpion fighters
Casualties
None Unknown number of Kaleel's followers, including Galen
Battle Chronology
Previous Next
Defense of Scout Three Battle of Vistula Escape from Sinaloa



I didn't say I need all the pilots you can spare, Dr. Huer. I said I need all the pilots, period.
Major Danton, I just can't do that. I cannot order that Earth be left absolutely defenseless.
And I'm telling you that if the fleet I saw back there lifts off, the Earth is done for anyway.

With a large swath of Earth Defense Directorate's pilots incapacitated by poisoned food discs originating from Vistula, Kaleel launches his attack against the Earth. With knowledge from both Majors Duke Danton and Fields, Dr. Elias Huer organizes a small group of Earth's unaffected pilots for a last-ditch offensive (BR25: "Planet of the Slave Girls").

Background

What will your friend do when he returns to Earth, Captain Rogers? Let's see. You've seen the fleet I've been slowly, patiently building up, and you've no doubt concluded that my plan is to weaken Earth's defense squadrons by poisoning its members, so the planet can be conquered with ease.
Murder seems to be second nature to you. Why didn't you wipe us all out so you can walk into power?
[chuckles] Mass death would've caused much alarm, attracted too much attention. Dr. Huer would have suspected foul play immediately. This way, the gravity of the situation crept up on him. By the time he had an inkling of what was truly happening, it was too late.
That's not the reason. The truth is, you get your kicks out of turning people who should logically hate you into mindless zombies who follow you around shouting your name.

 — Kaleel and William "Buck" Rogers discuss the dastardly nature of Kaleel's plan, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century's "Planet of the Slave Girls"


Battle

Leader to squadron, I'm breaking radio silence. You've no doubt seen on your scanners what lies ahead of us. We're too late. The armada on Vistula is in the process of taking off, and before we reach the combat vector, we'll be outnumbered almost 10-to-1. But it's no use turning back. They're on their way to Earth. We either fight them here or we fight them there. So ready your pulsar cannons. We're going to take them on now, and before we're through with them, they will have had one big fight on their hands.

 — Maj. Duke Danton to his squadron as Kaleel's force of Scorpion fighters, lead by Galen, launches from Vistula, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century's "Planet of the Slave Girls"

Following deployment, the Thunderfighters from the Third Force engage against the Hatchet fighters, resulting in the decimation of the squadron due to the pilot's over-reliance on their combat computers to properly handle the situation. Despite Deering's protestations, Rogers attempts to help his fellow pilots to no avail. Fed up, Rogers ignores Deering's order to return to base, taking manual control of his Thunderfighter and goes on the offensive, destroying the Hatchet fighters with great aplomb much to Deering's befuddlement and displeasure — and Ardala's pleasure.

Aftermath

I told you, Kaleel has called for his escape craft. This is our chance--it's our only chance.
Ryma, there are so few of us.
And so few of them--most of them are out in space. This is our chance, while the armada is losing, and Kaleel is uncertain.

 — Ryma and an unnamed Vistula worker discuss striking Kaleel's weakened forces in the Sea of Stone during the ongoing battle up in space, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century's "Planet of the Slave Girls"

Notes