Borak - a race for SFB by Jeremy Gray

(RB.0) BORAK STAR LEAGUE

Originally a race of refugees from a destroyed planet, Borak have established an empire that now dominates a region of space beyond Hydran Territory. They were first encountered by the Hydrans in Y83, just months before the start of the Second Klingo-Hydran War. Desperate for supplies and a colony for the thousands of refugees crowding their ships, the Borak opened negotiations with the Hydrans. In return for a colony world on the western frontier of Hydran space, the Borak would provide ships for the coming war with the Klingons. Fearful that they might once again face extermination, the Borak built their new society underground, beneath the surface of New Borax, named for their old home. In Y87, after the defeat of most of the remaining Borak and Hydran ships, the Lyrans reached New Borax. Finding it apparently deserted, the Lyrans assumed the Borak had evacuated. Before a Lyran colony could be established, the planet was abandoned with the start of the Second Lyran-Klingon War in Y88. It was never occupied.

The Borak struggled to maintain an existence for the next three decades. With virtually all of their space-faring vessels destroyed, the Borak slowly built up a planetary infrastructure. In Y115, the first of several new colony ships were launched in an effort to explore and settle the region west of Klingon and Lyran occupied territory. The worlds these explorers discovered would form the basis for the Borak Star League.

By Y135, the first new Borak warships built in over 50 years patrolled the borders of the fledgling Star League of four inhabited planets. After fighting a few small-scale skirmishes with Lyran and Klingon patrols, the Borak encountered their old allies, the Hydrans, who were busily reoccupying their old territory. The Hydrans agreed to allow continued Borak expansion to the west in exchange for the lease of one Borak shipyard, used to construct Hydran warships. Relations between the Hydrans and the Borak remained strong until the beginning of the General War. During this period, the Borak acquired the technology to produce Phaser Cannons, an offshoot of the Hydran Gatling Phaser.

In Y169, the Borak declared neutrality following the Hydran attack on the Lyrans. The Borak had opposed the decision, as they shared a common border with the Lyrans and were not prepared for full-scale war. The shipyard leased to the Hydrans was seized and several incomplete Hydran ships were interned and later converted to Borak technology. Borak-Hydran relations were irrevocably changed by this incident. The Borak remained neutral for the remainder of the General War, despite small clashes with the Hydrans, Lyrans, and Klingons. None of these empires could afford a new adversary and the Borak seemed content to be left alone.

With the end of the General War in Y185 and most of their own territory secure, the Hydrans began to step up operations against the Borak in Y187. This caught the attention of an ISC squadron in Y188 and brought the Borak into contact with the Concordium. Seemingly surrounded by enemies, the Borak refused to participate in Operation Unity and devoted their resources to continued border conflicts with the Hydrans and Lyrans.

(RB.0) BORAK TERRITORY (Y169)

map

Designer's Note: This map presumes the existence of the Peladine Republic, historically conquered by the Lyran Empire in Y140. As the Borak are not an "official" race, I've adopted this "un-official" geography and Peladine history as well. The Peladine, armed with both drones and plasma torpedoes, provide the Borak with a challenging historical adversary with differing technology and tactics as compared to their other neighbors. The Peladine Republic is designed by Jessica Orsini, and is available online at: http://www.jessilaurn.com/.

(RB.1) SPECIAL RULES AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

(RB.1A) MEGAPHASERS

The Borak use a weapon known as a “megaphaser” as their primary heavy weapon. Borak weapon development focused on enhancing phaser technology rather than other armament types. While an efficient and powerful weapon, the megaphaser is difficult to aim due to a limited arc of fire. To help compensate for this shortcoming, the Borak mounted these weapons in turrets (RB.1B).

(RB.1A1) GENERAL: Borak megaphasers operate under all rules listed in (E107.0), published in Module P6, unless modified within rule (RB.1A). Megaphasers require 2 points of power to fire, and are part of the ship's phaser capacitor.

(RB.1A2) DIRECTIONAL DAMAGE: Borak megaphasers mounted in turrets may be destroyed by damage penetrating the shield through which the weapons are currently facing. Borak megaphasers not mounted in turrets may only be destroyed by damage penetrating the shield through which they fire, normally the #1. Megaphasers are ranked above Phaser Cannons (RB.1C) for purposes of damage priority.

(RB.1A3) EARLY MEGAPHASERS: Early Borak ships mounted a lighter version of the weapon that ultimately became the megaphaser. These weapons required 1.5 points of power to fire, used the same firing arc as standard megaphasers, and were part of the ship's phaser capacitor. The damage produced by these early megaphasers was roughly half that of the later weapon and is shown in the chart below:

(Early Borak ships are a future project)

(RB.1B) BORAK TURRETS

To improve the flexibility of their megaphasers, the Borak mounted these weapons in turrets on many of their ships.

(RB.1B1) GENERAL: These turrets operate under the rules in (G52.0), published in module C4, unless modified within rule (RB.1B).

(RB.1B2) COST TO ROTATE: The ship can rotate each turret once per turn at no cost. For each additional rotation on a single turn, the ship must expend one point of reserve power to rotate a turret 60 degrees (one hex facing). This power must come from batteries. It cannot be allocated.

(RB.1B3) ROTATION RATE: The turrets must be rotate in 60-degree increments. Partial rotation in smaller increments is not possible. Turrets may not change facing more than once in any 8-impulse period.

(RB.1B4) NO ARMOR: Borak turrets have no armor. All references to armor in (G52.0) can be ignored for turrets on Borak ships.

(RB.1B5) FIRING ARCS: Turret-mounted megaphaser firing arcs for all turret facings are shown here:

(RB.1C) PHASER CANNONS

The Borak Star League developed the phaser cannon from Hydran gatling phaser technology. It allowed a relatively small weapon to fire several shots as a phaser-2. The resulting weapon was powerful, but expensive to produce. This limited its use in the Borak fleet, which treated the phaser cannon, along with the turret-mounted megaphaser, as a heavy weapon. Borak ships rarely carried more than two of these expensive weapons.

(RB.1C1) OPERATIONS

(RB.1C11) TYPE-C: Phaser cannons are designated as “type-C phasers” and are shown on the SSD as “PH-C”. Each PH-C box on the SSD can be destroyed by a single point of damage allocated to phasers.

(RB.1C12) GENERAL: Phaser cannons are phasers and operate under all phaser rules not modified within rule (RB.1C).

(RB.1C121) A phaser cannon can be fired up to three times during a single turn. Each firing may be during the same or a different impulse. If more than one shot is fired in a single impulse, all shots must be at the same target. If fired on different impulses, each shot may be fired at the same or a different target. A phaser cannon may not fire more than three shots per turn, nor can it fire more than three shots in a ¼ turn period. The ¼ turn period can include some shots fired during the final portion of one turn and some shots during the early portion of a subsequent turn.

(RB.1C122) The effect of each phaser cannon firing is determined on the phaser-2 table. Each firing costs ⅔ of an energy unit (a total of 2 points of energy for all three shots). Fractional accounting (B2.3) can be used if only 1-2 shots are fired on a given turn.

(RB.1C13) ENERGY SOURCE: Phaser cannons require up to two points of power from any source. This power may be allocated or from reserve power. All of this power must come through the phaser capacitor system (H6.22); the phaser capacitors for the phaser cannons are part of the overall phaser capacitor for the ship. The phaser capacitor for each phaser cannon holds two points of power.

(RB.1C14) DAMAGE: For purposes of (D4.3221) damage priority, phaser cannons are damaged in the following order: Phaser-4, Megaphasers (RB.1A), Phaser Cannons, Phaser-1.

(RB.1C15) REPAIR: Phaser cannons cost 8 points to repair. They can be hastily repaired as a phaser-2, but not a phaser-3 (see (RB.1C22)). Such a phaser-2 would cost one point of power to fire. If a ship is eligible to fire a phaser cannon as a phaser-1 (RB.1C21), a phaser cannon may be hastily repaired as a phaser-1.

(RB.1C16) OPTION MOUNTS: Phaser cannons were rarely obtainable by the WYN Cluster or Orion Pirates. WYNs and Orions always treat phaser cannons as foreign technology for purposes of (G15.44). The cost of each phaser cannon placed in an option mount is 5 BPV. They may not be used in wing mounts and are treated as a two-space weapon.

(RB.1C2) ALTERNATE FIRING MODES

(RB.1C21) FIRING AS A PHASER-1: An upgrade was developed for phaser cannons allowing them to be fired as a single phaser-1. This upgrade was applied as part of fleet-wide "Plus" refits. Because multiple firings of a phaser cannon cause excessive vibration, interfering with accurate phaser fire, this effectively turns the phaser cannon into a single shot weapon.

(RB.1C211) If a ship has received the Plus refit, it may fire each of its phaser cannons as a single phaser-1 each turn. If this is done, no other shots may be fired from the phaser cannon during that turn or during a ¼ turn period.

(RB.1C212) The cost of firing a phaser cannon as a phaser-1 is one point of power drawn from the ship’s phaser capacitors.

(RB.1C213) If a ship is not received a Plus refit, this firing option is not available. Some ships never received the Plus refit and thus never had this firing option.

(RB.1C22) LOW POWER: A phaser cannon cannot be fired on low power as one or more phaser-3s. This capability was lost in an effort to produce a compact weapon that would fit into the same space as a phaser-1 or phaser-2. A phaser cannon hastily repaired as a phaser-1 or phaser-2 may not be fired as a phaser-3.

(RB.F0) BORAK FIGHTERS

(RB.F1) BACKGROUND: Given their limited population size, and the high attrition rate among most fighter types, the Borak rely heavily on remote control fighters. While superiority fighters sometimes carry pilots, the unique nature of Borak assault fighters (Hunter-Killers) makes the use of remote controls essential.

(RB.F2) FIGHTER SUICIDE BOMBS: Borak assault (Hunter-Killer) remote control fighters are fitted with suicide bombs identical to those used in suicide shuttles (J2.22). These bombs make the remote control fighters effectively a seeking weapon under direct control of a manned pilot. Fighters equipped with these devices operate under the rules listed in (J15.0) and (J2.22) unless modified here.

(RB.F21) READY RACKS: Suicide Bombs are armed in ready racks, marked on the SSD with a “+”. Each bomb is loaded onto the fighter by a single deck crew action. These bombs may be armed with as much as three points of power over three turns, as in (J2.22), and must be held for one point of power on subsequent turns while in the ready rack. However, once loaded on the fighter, this holding power is no longer required. A suicide bomb may be loaded on the third turn of arming.

(RB.F22) IMPACT: The decision to impact a target is made at the instant a remote control fighter enters the same hex as a potential target. If a fighter carrying a suicide bomb is identified, the presence and size of the bomb will be revealed, but no target is specified as the actual target is not determined until the instant of movement.

(RB.F23) EFFECT OF WILD WEASELS: Remote control fighters carrying suicide bombs cannot be distracted (J3.20) as they are under the control of a pilot, not an unsophisticated seeking weapon control device. However, see (RB.F24).

(RB.F24) EFFECT OF EW: Remote control fighters carrying suicide bombs impacting a target are subject to (D6.36).

(RB.F3) MANNED FIGHTERS: The Borak used a small number of manned fighters in the superiority role for carrier defense and for escorting attack groups of remote control fighters. Normally, one third of the fighters operated by each Borak carrier were of this manned type. While capable of operating by remote control, these fighters retained a fully capable cockpit and frequently performed patrol and independent operations.

(RB.F31) FIGHTER-DESTROYER-A (FD-A): The first superiority fighter produced by the Borak, the FD-A was unusual for its three Ph-3 armament with one weapon in a tail-mounted turret. The FD-A owed much to Borak exposure to the Stinger-1, which the first Borak CV briefly operated with during trials. After its replacement as a carrier fighter by the FD-B, the FD-A remained common in the planetary defense role and production continued on some smaller Borak systems until Y180.

(RB.F32) FIGHTER-DESTROYER-B (FD-B): Adopted in Y173 as the standard Borak superiority fighter, the FD-B replaced the FD-A in carrier service. The fighter featured a significant increase in speed and firepower, and reflected Borak concern that combat versus the potent Stinger-2 was becoming a real possibility. While the FD-B lacked the punch of the Stinger-2's fusions, and was out gunned at close range, its Ph-2s did give it a narrow window of firepower advantage at medium ranges.

(RB.F33) JAMMER-A (JM-A): The JM-A was an electronic warfare version of the FD-A. Few had an opportunity to operate from carriers, but most planetary defense squadrons would eventually include a JM-A. The fighter gave up its rear-mounted phaser to accommodate the electronic warfare pods.

The JM-A and later JM-B played a key role in enhancing the performance of Hunter Killers. The introduction of these fighters meant that HKs could receive EW support on their way into a target without the direct support a carrier.

(RB.F34) JAMMER-B (JM-B): Introduced along with the FD-B, the JM-B was the most common Borak electronic warfare fighter. While built on a modified FD-B frame for maintenance and repair parts commonality, the JM-B did not include the improved armament was not included. Borak doctrine did not call for electronic warfare fighters to engage in combat directly, and the designers felt the JM-As armament remained adequate.

(RB.F35) HEAVY-DESTROYER-A (HD-A): Like other races, the Borak developed a heavy fighter in the late-Y170s. Heavy Destroyer was based on the basic concept established in the Fighter Destroyer type, with two additional Phaser-3s forward, and a larger rear turret to accommodate a Ph-2. Due to the high cost and low production rate, no Hunter Killer equivalent of the Heavy Destroyer was produced, and HD-A did not include the ability to carry a suicide bomb.

The Borak struggled with an employment doctrine for the HD-A. Direct replacement of the few FD-Bs in carrier squadrons was attempted, but this resulted in too few HD-As being carried to remain effective. Ultimately, the Borak elected to use the HD-A in the Alpha-standard of six fighter squadrons. This resulted in the reduction or elimination of Hunter Killers on Borak carriers (HKs had to be given up to accommodate all of the HDs). The loss of the HKs "suicide" capability was extremely unpopular with carrier commanders, and FDs remained very rare outside of purpose built carrier designs like the DNW and CSV.

(RB.F36) HEAVY-DESTROYER-B (HD-B): Advances in engine technology led to this improved Heavy Destroyer. Most were used in service on dedicated carriers like the DNW and CSV, with few seeing service on bases or in planetary defense duty.

(RB.F4) REMOTE FIGHTERS: The bulk of Borak fighter forces were remote control fighters of the Hunter Killer series. These allowed the Borak to preserve their limited supply of trained pilots while employing large numbers of expendable attrition units. These fighters universally carried suicide bombs (RB.F2) and did not include a cockpit (just an armored bay for remote control electronics). As a result, these fighters are incapable of manned flight and cannot be used for independent operations.

(RB.F41) HUNTER-KILLER-A (HK-A): Introduced by the Borak in Y150, the HK-A wasn't even thought of as a "fighter" in the same sense as the Hydran Stinger-1. The HK-A certainly drew on fighter technology gained from the Hydran alliance, but the Borak thought of the HK-A simply as a shuttle bay-housed seeking weapon. What the Borak failed to initially recognize, as is often the case in the introduction of new technologies, was that the HK-A blurred the lines between the fighter and seeking weapons. As a result, though HK-As became common use items in most Borak warships, the Borak did not really conceive of "carriers" as functional combat units for over a decade.

(RB.F42) HUNTER-KILLER-B (HK-B): Appearing a few years after the introduction of the first Borak carriers, the HK-B was a vastly improved model. With longer-ranged phasers and higher speed, the HK-B was far more flexible. HK-As were relegated to ships in less important theaters or on internal patrol. As Hunter Killers were built to be expendable, both peacetime and combat expenditures eventually depleted the HK-A stock to negligible level.

(RB.PF) BORAK FAST PATROL SHIPS

(RB.PF1) FAST PATROL SHIP (PF): Developed in response to Lyran and Hydran PF, the Borak PF is designed around a single phaser cannon in the nose. Exclusively armed with phasers, like all Borak ships, it benefits from large capacitor to support a strong short-range weapon array. Unlike many PFs, the Borak model has good firepower to the rear, a legacy of the Fighter-Destroyer series that preceded it.

Versions include:

C (Cargo)

G (Ground Combat)

L (Leader)

M (Mine Warfare)

Q (Survey)

R (Recovery)

S (Scout)

WB (Workboat)

See (R1.PF1)-(R1.PF6) for rules on standard versions.

There is a Fi-Con variant (RB.PF2) listed below.

(RB.PF1) FI-CON FAST PATROL SHIP (PFF): Like the Kzintis and the Lyrans, the Borak experimented with Fi-Con variants of their PF. The nature of Borak Hunter Killers required that the Borak Fi-Con include remote controls to handle those fighters away from their base or carrier. The result was a relatively expensive PF that never saw extensive service.

Borak Fi-Con flotillas operated on a hybrid of Lyran and Kzinti deployment doctrines. A standard leader and scout accompanied four Fi-Cons, which in turn carried sixteen fighters. The large number of fighters demanded that the Fi-Con flotilla operate in conjunction with a carrier or from a large base. While capable of carrying any single-space Borak fighter, the fighter group shown on the SSD is typical. A fighter group made up of Hunter Killers exclusively was possible, but rarely done as there would not be enough control channels to handle all the fighters without devoting the PFS to that mission.

The fighters land on external mech-links (K1.8).

(RB.0) BORAK SHIPS

(RB.2) DREADNOUGHT (DN): The opening stages of the Four Powers War (Y158-Y162) dramatically illustrated the need for ships more powerful than Command Cruiser to lead Borak fleets. The Borak commissioned their first Dreadnought in Y160 and assigned it to the Lyran border. Three more ships followed, and by Y166, a Borak DN could be found in each of the three Border Fleets, with a fourth serving in the Home Fleet. A fifth ship may have been built between Y168-Y170, but it appears no more than four DNs were ever in service simultaneously. Command Cruisers remained an important element of the Borak fleet, leading task forces and cruiser squadrons, with Dreadnought serving as fleet flagships and the mobile headquarters for the each Fleet Admiral's command. DNs were kept in continuous service on the Lyran and Peladine borders, with ships rotating through the Hydran Border and Home Fleets for maintenance and training.

The DN-class was one of the first to receive the "+" refit in Y168, and remained the most powerful class of warships in the Borak fleet until the introduction of the DNW. The four ships of the DN class would have long service lives, with the final ship remaining in service well into the era of X-ships.

(RB.3) HEAVY CARRIER (CVA): With the early success of the CV, CVS and CVE carrier classes, well aware of heavy carrier programs in underway elsewhere, the Borak designed and completed their first CVA, based on an incomplete DN hull, in Y173 and commissioned a second CVA in Y175. Initially, the ships were maintained in the Home Fleet as a powerful reserve force, but increasing border pressure from the Klingons and Lyrans following the fall of the Hydrans resulted in the assignment of these ships the Lyran and Klingon (formerly Hydran) borders in Y175.

Borak Carriers did not operate with formal escorts, but did rely on escort groups comprised of conventional warships. The all-phaser armament and the use of fighters by most standard Borak warships made them excellent escorts in their own right. Below are the most common escort groups used with these carriers.

Year	Escorts	Fighters
Y173-Y175	CL, DD, FF or DD, DD, FF	8xFD-B, 16xHK-B
Y176-Y177	CW, DDW, DDW or CAC, DDW, DDW	8xFD-B, 16xHK-B
Y178-Y179	CW, DDW, DDW or CAC, DDW, DDW	8xFD-B, 16xHK-B or 6xHD-A, 12xHK-B
Y180+	CW, DDW, DDW or CAC, DDW, DDW	8xFD-B, 16xHK-B or 6xHD-B, 12xHK-B

Star Fleet Battle Force card available: CVA

(RB.4) WAR DREADNOUGHT (DNW): Introduced in Y175 to replace all future Dreadnought production, the War Dreadnought featured a stronger structure capable of mounting two, twin-Megaphaser turrets. This arrangement allowed the all of the megaphasers to fire both forward and aft, considered the most important positions in Borak combat doctrine. Pressure from the intensifying General War waged beyond the border lead to production of the DNW at more rapid pace than previous Borak capital ships. The DNW class did not replace existing DNs, but rather increased the total number of dreadnoughts in Borak service to eight by Y180.

Due to the cancellation of the Battleship Project, the side-by-side arrangement of the turrets on in the DNW remained unique in Borak service. The smaller Battlecruisers introduced a few years later would be too small to accommodate two side-by-side turrets or withstand the shock of four megaphasers. Even after the introduction of the Advanced Cruiser with its triple megaphaser turret, the War Dreadnought remained the most respected heavy firepower platform in the Borak fleet.

Star Fleet Battle Force card available: DNW

(RB.5) HEAVY WAR CARRIER (CVW): As the two CVAs reached the five year point in their service lives, it become necessary to begin rotating them through overhaul periods beginning in Y178. The first such rotation left only one CVA operational between the Lyran and Klingon fronts, a situation that alarmed the Borak leaderships. It was decided that the DNW scheduled for commissioning in Y179 would be completed as a heavy carrier to insure two such ships would be available at all times. A second CVW was completed in Y181.

The CVW represented a significant improvement over the previous CVA-class. It retained the full armament of the DNW, an advance made possible by housing a portion of the fighter group in semi-external bays. Heavy fighters replaced the Fighter-Destroyer superiority fighters of the CVA-class, and the remaining fighter bay space was devoted exclusively to Hunter-Killers. This resulted in a fighter group with fewer suicide fighters, but it was hoped the heavy fighters would give the carrier better staying power in combat. At least one ship of the older CVA class also operated with this revised fighter group.

Year

Escorts

Fighters

Y179+

CW, DDW, DDW or

CAC, DDW, DDW

6xHD-B, 12xHK-B

(RB.6) SPACE CONTROL SHIP (SCS): With the introduction of PFs, the Borak switched all DNW and CVW production to this class in Y182. Only two of these Space Control Ships were built as new construction, but several DNWs and CVWs were eventually converted to the SCS standard.

The SCS reverted to a more classical mix of Fighter Destroyers and Hunter Killers seen in smaller Borak carriers such as the CV and CVS, with the new PFs making up the balance of the attrition unit force. At the time, some analysts interpreted this as a shift away from the Borak's suicide fighter doctrine, but this would be disproved rapidly with the extensive use of Death Rider PFs by the Borak against the ISC in Y188.

Year

Escorts

Fighters

Y182+

CW, DDW, DDW or

CAC, DDW, DDW

4xFD-B, 8xHK-B

(RB.7) BATTLECRUISER (BC): The Borak BC was always something of an anachronism. While most other Alpha sector races were producing Heavy Battlecruisers as economical wartime replacements for lost Dreadnoughts, the Borak never faced such losses and continued to produce the their DNW class into the Y180's. The design and construction of the BC was driven largely by a Borak misunderstanding of the motivations driving Heavy Battlecruiser production elsewhere, leading to concern that sector-wide growth in cruiser size would force the production of more powerful mainline cruisers.

From the start, the design was a compromise. A third or even fourth megaphaser was viewed as necessary to adequately increase the ship's firepower, but those few Borak cruisers mounting more than two megaphasers suffered either from shock effects or limited firing arcs. Early attempts to mount three megaphasers in a single turret proved unsuccessful and the side-by-side mounting used in the DNW proved impossible on a cruiser hull. Ultimately, Borak designers reverted to the turret and megaphaser layout of the older DN-class. As in the DN, forward firepower was preserved, but the rear arc of the forward turret was blocked.

While capable, the BC was viewed as a disappointment within the Borak fleet for several years. After the design entered service, it was recognized that other fleets would not be capable of massed BCH production. The feared fleets of "super-cruisers" would never materialize. Construction of the BC was ended after the construction of the second unit and the large hull design was used as the basis for BCV and BCS production. The two BCs were used interchangeably with older DN hulls (two old DNs were eventually decommissioned and replaced by the BCs in Y182), while the far superior DNW obviously preferred to both. The BCs would give good service in the border wars after Y187, but by that time it had been eclipsed by the more advanced CCX.

Star Fleet Battle Force card available: BC

(RB.8) BATTLE CARRIER (BCV): From Y165-Y180, the bulk of the Borak carrier force was comprised of CVS and CV class ships. With the General War intensifying, the Borak recognized these carriers (the CV-class ships in particular) were no longer viable in heavy combat. Looking to the BC-class as a suitable base hull, the Borak began a phased replacement of the remaining CV-class carriers with the BCV in Y180. The intention was to eventually replace all CV and CVS class carriers with BCVs, but the introduction of PFs and X-ships curtailed these plans and only the CVs were replaced in frontline service by BCVs.

BCV production ended after only two years and gave way to production of the BCS. Completed BCVs were not converted the BCS standard due to the extensiveness of the conversion. Such conversions were possible, but the Borak elected not to do so for economic reasons.

Year

Escorts

Fighters

Y180+

CW, DDW or

DDW, DDW

4xFD-B, 8xHK-B or

6xHD-B

(RB.9) BATTLE CONTROL SHIP (BCS): With the success of the Borak PF program, production of the BCV was replaced with this design. The first BCS was converted from an incomplete BCV then under construction and was followed by additional ships. The single large hanger of the BCV was divided into two more traditional Borak shuttle bays by a central repair installation to support PF operations and mech links were installed along the trailing edge of the wings.

Year

Escorts

Fighters

Y182+

CW, DDW or

DDW, DDW

2xFD-B, 4xHK-B

(RB.10) HEAVY CRUISER (CA): The core of the Borak battle line for most of their history, the CA served in large numbers from its introduction to the opening stages of the General War. Like many other Borak warships, the CA was generally smaller than contemporary designs used by other races.

The CA-class was introduced in Y150, with the lead ship being the first to carry the revolutionary Phaser Cannon and Hunter-Killer remote fighters. These ships, together with the CL, DD, and later FF classes set a new technological standard for the Borak fleet. All ships of the previous Heavy Cruiser class, now known as the CAE, were converted to this standard over the next decade, and the Borak quickly rose from the status of minor race on the Lyran frontier to major regional power. While the Borak could not hope to match the Lyrans numerically, the CA gave the Borak a warship capable of fighting the best cruisers in the Lyran fleet on roughly even terms.

The CA-class would serve as the undisputed core of the Borak Star Fleet until the introduction of the mass-produced CW-class. The CA-class received both the "+" and "War" refits ahead of most other ship types in an effort to maintain their fighting value. Though the CW-class surpassed the CA-class numerically by the late-Y170s, the CA would remain quite common beyond the General War period.

Star Fleet Battle Force card available: CA

(RB.10E) HEAVY EXPANSION CRUISER (CAE): The largest warship available to the Borak during the Expansion Period (Y120-Y150), the CAE was designed to provide both substantial peacetime and combat capability. In its time, the ships were known simply as "Heavy Cruisers" or CAs, with the "E" or "Expansion" designation being added only after the appearance of the new CA-class, armed with modern Borak weapons. All surviving CAE-class ships were converted to the CA-class standard by Y160.

Only a small number of these ships were ever completed. Due to the severe limitations on the Borak economy during the Expansion Period, destroyers formed the bulk of the Borak fleet. The few CAEs completed were reserved for the most important or dangerous missions, and one would always be found (equipped with flag boxes) leading the Home Fleet around New Borax.

The ship uses Non-Weapon Option boxes (G33.3). Most ships of this class had these boxes configured as cargo or barracks to carry supplies or colonists critical to Borak survival during the Expansion Period. Rarely, a ship of this class would be configured with some other type of system in the NWO boxes, but these never represented more than 33% of the ships in service. In a campaign or (S8.0) scenario prior to Y150, only 1/3 of the Borak ships with NWOs may use systems other than cargo or barracks. After Y150, this restriction is lifted, as the "Expansion" classes were converted or removed from front line service to serve as adhoc support variants while purpose built ships could be completed. If any NWO boxes are converted to shuttle boxes, they adjoin to the existing bays, creating a single tunnel deck with two doors.

(RB.11) RESERVE HEAVY CRUISER (LCA): With the introduction of the new technology in the form of the CAE in Y120, the older YCAs of the Borak fleet were completely outclasses. Due to economic constraints, there were never enough of the newer CAEs or later CLEs. YCAs were upgraded to this standard and continued to serve as "second-class" cruisers for most of the Expansion Period (Y120-Y150).

By Y150, the "Expansion" classes were being converted to modern warships equipped with phaser cannons and hunter killers, and production increases allowed the "second-class" cruisers to be retired from front line service. Many were simply placed in mothballs, but a few received Y150 refits adding modern weapons and remained in service a local defense ships. With the threat of the General War, mothballed ships of this class were brought back into service to swell the fleet's numbers, but it is doubtful they would have survived in the advanced combat environments of the period.

LCAs were the last of the "Reserve" classes to be retired. Armed with a full array of heavy weapons, they remained viable longer than most of the older ships and soldiered on well into the late Y180s when they were finally decommissioned.

(RB.12) COMMAND CRUISER (CC): An improved version of the Heavy Cruiser, the Command Cruiser was used principally as squadron flagship until the beginning of the General War. As more modern designs became available to the Borak Star Fleet, many of the newer CAs were converted to this design.

(RB.12A) TOURNAMENT COMMAND CRUISER (TCC): The Borak Tournament Ship is based on the CC, which does, in fact, use the ¾ movement cost. Its shuttle bays are reduced and lab and transporters increased to bring it more in line with other tournament designs (the base CA has fewer batteries, labs, and transporters, and it has six shuttle boxes). NOT SANCTIONED.

(RB.13) BOMBARDMENT CRUISER (CAB): A relatively rare variant of the basic CA, the Bombardment Cruiser was specifically developed as a fire support ship to support larger Borak formations. The CA’s phaser-1 armament was omitted and a few secondary facilities were removed to provide room for a single, limited traverse megaphaser turret on the ship’s bow. The turret could only be brought to bear through the #1, #2 or #6 shield, but this was viewed as adequate for the intended role.

CABs never amounted to more than 10% of all CA production, and virtually never appeared alone. When not required to support a large fleet effort, they were used to fill CA patrol assignments, typically with a DD or FF assigned as an escorting consort. The Borak later shifted to the smaller, more affordable CLB for the long range fire support role, and production of the CAB came to an end.

Unlike the smaller CLB, the CAB is not subject to shock (D23.0).

Refits: The CAB never received the "+" or "War" refits. Intended to provide fleet fire support from long range, the Ph-C and Ph-2 armament was viewed as defensive only, not warranting an upgrade.

(RB.14) ASSAULT CRUISER (CAC): Like the CAB, the CAC was a rare variant of the CA. It was developed specifically for close range engagement. The megaphaser turret was deleted in favor an armament of four, forward-mounted phaser cannons. It was hoped that the ships would perform much the same role as Lyran maulers, however the ship's small size, short ranged weapons, and lack of a mauler's flexible battery power drastically reduced its survivability in a mauler-like role.

Only a handful of CACs were actually completed. Their lack of any long range weaponry made them poor border patrol ships, and they rarely operated outside of fleet formations. Their short ranged, massed phaser cannons made them ideal as heavy escorts, and those that remained by the late Y170s were used as the core of some heavy carrier escort groups.

Refits: The CAC received the "+", which allowed the Ph-Cs to fire as Ph-1s. By the time the "War" refits became generally available, the CAC's failings as a close assault platform had been exposed and it was relegated to a defensive role. As a result, the "War" refit was never installed to improve the remaining Ph-2s, which were viewed as adequate for fleet defense.

(RB.15) FAST CRUISER (CF): Like many other races, the Borak experimented with the concept of fast warships in the late Y160s. The Borak completed two fast cruisers, one permanently assigned to the Lyran Border and one on that alternated between various fleets. While the Borak explored the concept of independent raiders, they preferred the concept of fast raiding squadrons, which led to the more numerous DDF class. However, the two Fast Cruisers remained the cornerstones of Borak fast ship operations and formed the heart of most raiding squadrons.

(RB.16) CARRIER (CV): The Borak commissioned their first carrier in Y165 with substantial assistance from their Hydran allies. Like many early carriers, the CV lacked long range weaponry, but did maintain a phaser cannon battery for short range work in support of it fighter group or for defensive fire. The lead ship in the class briefly operated with Hydran Stinger-1Fs for initial carrier trials, conducted with the assistance of Hydran advisors.

Production of the CV came to end in Y170 with the introduction of the CVS. Structural limitations prevented economical conversion of existing CV-class ships to the CVS standard. Existing CV hulls did receive "+" refits and remained in service throughout the General War period. Fleet commanders would have preferred to relegate these and other older carriers to support duties, but there were never enough CVS hulls to cover all commitments and the CVs remained in front line service until they were replaced by the BCV class.

Year	Escorts	Fighters
Y165-Y169	CL, DD or DD, FF or CVE, DD/FF	4xFD-A, 8xHK-A
Y170-Y175	CL, DD or DD, FF	4xFD-B, 8xHK-B
Y176+	CW, DDW or DDW, FFW	4xFD-B, 8xHK-B

Star Fleet Battle Force card available: CV

(RB.17) STRIKE CARRIER (CVS): Like other empires introducing fighters in the late Y160s, the Borak quickly discovered the vulnerability of early carriers that lacked heavy weaponry. "Distant Strike" theories based on fighters operating at long range while the carrier remained out of heavy combat proved less than workable with new warships capable of out maneuvering the fighters of the period. The Borak found this particularly problematic due to their dependence on remote control for the hunter killers.

The Strike Carrier class was an up-gunned version of the CV intended to closely support its fighter group. With the armament of a heavy cruiser, including two megaphasers, it could stand in the line of battle and fight effectively at medium ranges. Unlike similar ships introduced in other fleets, the Borak CVS lacked the flag facilities of a command cruiser. Doctrinally, the Borak continued to consider most carriers primarily fleet support units and viewed flag facilities on carriers smaller than a CVA unnecessary.

Year	Escorts	Fighters
Y170-Y175	CL, DD or DD, FF	4xFD-B, 8xHK-B
Y176-Y177	CW, DDW or CAC+, DDW or DDW, FFW	4xFD-B, 8xHK-B
Y178-Y179	CW, DDW or DDW, FFW	4xFD-B, 8xHK-B or 6xHD-A
Y180+	CW, DDW or DDW, FFW	4xFD-B, 8xHK-B or 6xHD-B

(RB.18) SURVEY CRUISER (SR): A survey cruiser typical of the type used by other empires, the Borak SR was somewhat limited by the small CA hull on which it was based. While the phaser cannons of the CA were retained, the ship generally lacks the heavy weapon punch of most contemporary survey cruisers.

The SR class received a number of upgrades over its history. "Plus" and "War" refits, improving the phasers were applied at roughly the same time as those upgrades became available for the CA. However, due to the long periods where SRs were away from refit facilities, it would not be unusual to find these refits uninstalled for several years after they were available. Like all other races, the Borak were eventually forced to press their SRs into wartime service as fleet scouts. When possible, the Borak took the additional step of converting a portion of the cargo deck to APRs to improve the ship's electronic warfare capability at the expense of survey capacity. This refit is shown on the SSD, and when converted, an "a" is added to the ship's designation. In cases where the ship survived its combat service, the APRs were removed before it returned to survey duty.

(RB.18A) SURVEY CRUISER (w/ WARTIME FIGHTERS) (SRf): Some SRs pressed into service as fleet scouts received facilities and deck crews for two Hunter Killers. The ready racks shown on the SR SSD are also installed on this refit; they were not present in the original design, which carried only shuttles. While SRs used in combat generally received both this refit, designated by an "f", and the APR "a" refit, there were cases of an SR receiving one or the other refit, but not both.

(RB.18B) COMMANDO SCOUT (SRC): One or two SRs saw temporary service as commando ships. This required a conversion that outfitted half of the ship's cargo bay as barracks for additional marines. The normal compliment of administrative shuttles was largely replaced by a ground assault shuttle contingent. These conversions were largely temporary, used either in independent commando raids or to support large planetary assault operations. There were simply too few Survey Cruisers available survey duty to allow for their permanent assignment as commando ships.

The SRC conversion was not compatible with the "a" or "f" wartime service refits.

(RB.19) GUNSHIP (GUN): When the Borak declared neutrality in Y169 and seized the shipyard they had leased to the Hydrans, two incomplete Hydran cruisers were interned. Initially, the hulls were simply kept in storage, moved out of the building ways to make room for Borak ship construction. Once the Hydran homeworld fell, it became clear that an invasion by the Lyrans, despite the neutrality status, was a real possibility. Worse, the neutrality decision had a devastating effect on diplomatic relations with the Hydrans. The Hydrans now partially blamed the Borak for the fall of their homeworld and considered them to be Lyran sympathizers. With the Lyran menace looming, and no hope of salvaging the Hydran situation, the decision was taken to complete the two interned hulls to a Borak configuration.

When seized, the two ships were little more than structural shells. Major power systems had been installed, but much of the hull remained incomplete. The warp engines were of a dated Hydran design (the yard had not yet received the latest Hydran engines when neutrality was declared), and the Borak had no economical way to improve them. As a result, the completed designs would be rather slow. With that limitation in mind, the Borak elected to convert the ships to firepower support ships. The cavernous Hydran hull afforded sufficient room for the installation of two, twin megaphaser turrets, though there would be significant obstructions to their forward and aft arcs. While massive additional bracing was added to prevent shock, it failed to preserve the ships' breakdown rating.

Finally entering service in Y172 and Y173 respectively, the Gunships were anachronisms in the Borak fleet. With the firepower of contemporary Borak Dreadnoughts, they were often assigned to fleets led by command cruisers, as they lacked command facilities themselves. In the little combat the ships' saw during the General War period, their slow speed and unconventional weapon arcs made them somewhat awkward in the hands of most Borak commanders, though occasionally an inspired captain would find tactics to overcome their deficiencies.

Both ships were mothballed in Y180. The foreign engines had proven notoriously difficult to maintain, and increasingly powerful Borak capital ships had rendered them far less awe inspiring than they once had been. An attempt was made to return the ships to the Hydrans as part of a diplomatic effort to restore good relations, but the heavy modification of the hulls and their pre-war technological standards made them of little real bargaining value to the Hydrans.

They were reactivated in Y188 after hostile confrontations with the ISC. Having never received the "+" refit during the General War, they were now upgraded to that standard, as the secondary armament of Ph-2s was no longer viable in the era of X-ships. The additional of Ph-1s did little to help their survival, as both ships would be destroyed less than five years after re-entering service.

Refits: The GUN never received the "+" during the General War, but could have. Intended to provide fleet fire support from long range, the Ph-C and Ph-2 armament was viewed as defensive only, not warranting an upgrade. This decision was reversed when the ships were reactivated in Y188. Had the ship remained in use as frontline fleets, or had the Borak been drawn into the General War, the ships might have received this upgrade as early as Y175. Note, the GUN never received the engine or phaser upgrades of the Hydran "+" refits.

Star Fleet Battle Force card available: GUN

(RB.20) FLEET TUG (TUG):

(RB.21) BATTLE POD (P-B):

(RB.22) CARGO POD (P-C):

(RB.23) EXPRESS TRANSPORT POD (P-E):

(RB.24) GROUND ASSAULT POD (P-G):

(RB.25) PF TENDER POD (P-P):

(RB.26) REPAIR POD (P-R):

(RB.27) SCOUT POD (P-S):

(RB.28) TANK LANDING POD (P-T):

(RB.29) CARRIER POD (P-V):

(RB.30) RESERVE TUG (LTG):

(RB.31) LIGHT CRUISER (CL): Though originally intended as an affordable substitute for heavy cruisers during Expansion Period (Y120-Y150), the Light Cruiser class emerged as the workhorse of the Borak fleet. Rapid expansion left the Borak with vast amounts of territory to be protected, and this duty fell to ships of the CL and FF classes, with the Light Cruisers acting as local "flagships". Many internal emergencies were averted or contained by the rapid response of the local light cruiser.

Additionally, light cruisers continued to play an important role in Borak fleet formations. They provided flexibility between the CA-dominated battle line and the skirmishing DDs, and could reinforce either as the situation dictated. The evolution of the class resulting in the War Cruiser would end the role of the CL as a destroyer-reinforcer and would spur increased production of DDL and FFL class ships.

(RB.31E) LIGHT EXPANSION CRUISER (CLE): The last Borak warship type introduced during the Expansion Period (Y120-Y150), the CLE was intended as a less expensive and more easily produced alternative to the CAE. In its time, the ships were known simply as "Light Cruisers" or CLs, with the "E" or "Expansion" designation being added only after the appearance of the new CL-class, armed with modern Borak weapons. All surviving CLE-class ships were converted to the CL-class standard by Y160.

A relatively small number of CLEs were completed, but the number of ships in the class eventually out-paced the production of the CAE-class and formed the bulk of the Borak cruiser force during the Expansion Period. With less capability as exploration ships than the earlier DDE, the CLE was used primarily for military missions and formed the core of Borak fleet formations.

(RB.32) RESERVE LIGHT CRUISER (LCL):

(RB.33) LIGHT BOMBARDMENT CRUISER (CLB): Produced as a more affordable alternative to the CAB in the fire support role, the CLB entered service in Y170. The CAB had proven effective in this role, but it was viewed as a costly diversion of limited CA production. CAB production ceased in Y170 in favor of this design.

Various design studies concluded that mounting three megaphasers on a hull smaller than a CA would produce shock. Considerable effort was made to reduce these effects. The standard megaphaser turret of the CL was omitted to strengthen the ship's structure, and the limited traverse mount used on the bow of the CAB was adopted. However, the mounting of two additional megaphasers in the normal phaser cannon positions proved problematic. Limited traverse mountings were considered, but shock projected for off-axis firings was projected to be severe and fixed mounts were installed instead. Even so, a shock-prone design was unavoidable. This was ultimately deemed acceptable, as the CLBs were only expected to operate in support of limited duration, fleet level operations with significant repair support.

The CLB must roll for shock if it fires more than two megaphasers in a period of 16 consecutive impulses. PH-Ms "down fired" as Ph-1s or Ph-3s do not produce shock. The CLB has a shock rating (Annex 7B) of 17.

Refits: The CLB never received the "+" or "War" refits. Intended to provide fleet fire support from long range, the Ph-2 armament was viewed as defensive only, not warranting an upgrade.

(RB.34) WAR CRUISER (CW): An extensive upgrade applied the CL-class during the mid-Y170s, the War Cruiser was a response to numerous other ships of similar performance in neighboring fleets introduced during the General War. While technically considered part of the fleet-wide "War" refit program, these upgrades were far more significant, and centered around the replacement of the single megaphaser turret with a lightweight version of the twin-weapon model used on cruisers. This gave the CW-class nearly the same combat power of the larger Heavy Cruisers, and allowed the Borak to rapidly upgrade their existing fleet without resorting to the wartime production rates bleeding other economies. By Y180, virtually all "line" light cruisers were updated to this standard, though the basic light cruiser hull remained in production to support numerous variants.

(RB.35) SCOUT (SC): The Borak built their initial, and ultimately most successful, scout on the proven light cruiser design. The SC-design originated in the expansion period, with the original purpose of leading the massive Borak exploration and colonization effort. They were eventually replaced in that role by larger Survey Cruisers, and became dedicated fleet electronic warfare support platforms. Numbers were always limited and led the Borak to consider alternative scouts, but the SC-class would continue to serve as the primary fleet scout well into the X-ship era.

(RB.36) SCOUT CARRIER (CSV):

Year

Escorts

Fighters

Y177-Y178

CW, DDW, or

DDW, DDW

6xHD-A

Y179+

CW, DDW, or

DDW, DDW

6xHD-B

(RB.37) PF TENDER (PFT):

(RB.38) MINESWEEPER (MS):

(RB.39) DESTROYER (DD):

Star Fleet Battle Force card available: DD

(RB.39E) EXPANSION DESTROYER (DDE): The most numerous warship class produced during the Expansion Period (Y120-Y150), the DDE was developed as an affordable combination of military and peacetime capability. In its time, the ships were known simply as "Destroyers" or DDs, with the "E" or "Expansion" designation being added only after the appearance of the new DD-class, armed with modern Borak weapons. Most surviving DDE-class ships were converted to the DD-class standard by Y160, but a handful remained unconverted well into the Y170s.

DDEs were the first "standard-technology" ships produced by the Borak, with the lead ship entering service in Y120. Production of these ships eventually grew to massive scale, and the DDE class became the single most massive run of warships in Borak history. They performed a plethora of peacetime exploratory and colonization functions, while also maintaining security over much of Borak territory. The success of the Borak expansion effort is largely attributable to this diminutive class of ships.

(RB.40) RESERVE DESTROYER (LDD):

(RB.41) DESTROYER LEADER (DDL): Designed to give more ranged firepower to destroyer squadrons, the DDL gave up its aft phaser-1 battery for a megaphaser turret.

(RB.42) DESTROYER SCOUT (DDS):

(RB.43) FAST DESTROYER (DDF): Unlike many other races, the Borak chose to focus on fast raiding squadrons rather than on independent raiders. The result was the fast destroyer. Eight ships of this class were ultimately completed between Y167 and Y178. They typically operated in squadrons of three, often around one of the more powerful fast cruisers. Operations were limited, as the Borak remained neutral during the General War, however the Borak did develop tactics very similar to the "wolf packs" of Earth's Second World War submarines.

Borak "wolf packs" were brought to bear against the Hydrans in the Y180s. Fast squadrons proved exceptionally well suited to support X-ship operations, and the veteran fast squadrons proved quite capable of exploiting the weakened Hydran battle lines in the wake of the General War. The ISC proved much tougher, and a number of the fast destroyers found their end at the hand of ISC forces.

(RB.44) ESCORT CARRIER (CVE): Following the introduction of the CV class, the Borak began production of the CVE to provide a less costly contemporary to the larger carrier. It was hoped that these smaller carriers might reduce the number of larger carriers required to support the fleet, but operational experience would prove the CVE insufficient for high-intensity combat. Most CVEs were relegated to lesser roles, including rear area defense, anti-piracy patrol, and convoy escort. Some were pressed into service as fighter conveyers, shuttling fighters to replenish fleet formations before sufficient fast carrier resupply ships were available for the role.

Year	Escorts	Fighters
Y166-Y169	DD or FF	2xFD-A, 4xHK-A
Y170-Y175	DD or FF	2xFD-B, 4xHK-B
Y176+	DDW or FFW	2xFD-B, 4xHK-B

In the developmental years of Borak carrier operations, alternative carrier formations were considered in addition to the standard formations shown above. On more than one occasion, a CVE (with no escorts of its own) replaced the heaviest escort in a CV-lead group. These formations generally fell out of favor with the introduction of the CVA and its large fighter group, but continued to appear occasionally when CVAs were unavailable or for special missions.

(RB.45) LIGHT PF TENDER (PFTL): A late war conversion of surviving DDS scouts. While all the scout channels of the DDS were retained, the many power demands placed on the ship often meant most of the channels went unused in combat.

(RB.46) FRIGATE (FF):

Star Fleet Battle Force card available: FF

(RB.46E) EXPANSION FRIGATE (FFE): During Expansion Period (Y120-Y150), the Borak produced a relatively large number of this class of low cost frigates to perform internal security and patrol duties. The FFE ultimately proved too poorly armed for serious combat duty and had too little internal volume for colonization work, but performed admirable completing day-to-day internal policing functions. In its time, the ships were known simply as "Frigates" or FFs, with the "E" or "Expansion" designation being added only after the appearance of the new FF-class, armed with modern Borak weapons. All surviving FFE-class ships were converted to the FF-class standard by Y160.

(RB.47) RESERVE FRIGATE (LFF):

(RB.48) FRIGATE LEADER (FFL): Like the larger DDL, the FFL was designed to provide more firepower to frigate squadrons.

(RB.49) FRIGATE SCOUT (FFS):

Refits: The FFS never received the "+" or "War" refits.

(RB.50) COMMANDO FRIGATE (FFG):

Refits: The FFG never received the "+" or "War" refits.

(RB.51) LIGHT MINESWEEPER (FFM):

Refits: The FFM never received the "+" or "War" refits.

(RB.52) FAST CARRIER RESUPPLY FRIGATE (FFR):

Refits: The FFR never received the "+" or "War" refits.

(RB.53) STARBASE (SB):

See R1.1 for generic Starbase rules.

(RB.54) SECTOR BASE (STB):

See R1.47 for generic Sector Base rules.

(RB.55) BATTLE STATION (BATS):

See R1.2 for generic Battle Station rules.

(RB.56) BASE STATION (BS):

See R1.3 for generic Base Station rules.

(RB.57) MONITOR (MON):

See R1.22 for generic Monitor rules.

(RB.58) LARGE Q SHIP (L-Q):

See R1.7 for generic Q-ship rules. The ship's identity will be exposed immediately if the megaphaser turrets are rotated. The megaphasers are hidden in the forward (facing 1) position behind concealment panels. They cannot be concealed while at any other facing.

(RB.59) SMALL Q SHIP (S-Q):

See R1.7 for generic Q-ship rules

(YRB.0) EARLY BORAK SHIPS

(YRB.1) WARP-REFITTED CRUISER (WCA):

(YRB.2) WARP-REFITTED DESTROYER (WDD):

(YRB.3) EARLY HEAVY CRUISER (YCA):

(YRB.4) EARLY TUG (YTG):

(YRB.5) EARLY LIGHT CRUISER (YCL):

(YRB.6) EARLY DESTROYER (YDD):

(YRB.7) EARLY FRIGATE (YFF):

(RB.0X) ADVANCED BORAK SHIPS

(RB.200) ADVANCED COMMAND CRUISER (CCX):

(RB.201) ADVANCED DESTROYER (DDX):

(RB.202) ADVANCED SCOUT (SCX):

(RB.0) BORAK MASTER SHIP CHART

à BORAK MASTER SHIP CHART ß

BORAK TACTICS: In general, the Borak use their megaphasers to fight at medium ranges for several turns, relying on high speed to avoid seeking weapons and preserve the bulk of their phaser energy. Once the enemy is “softened up”, the Borak can close to point blank range and finish the enemy with a powerful close range alpha strike. Players should note that reloading the entire phaser capacitor is extremely difficult. Once it is empty, it is best to reload it over two or more turns if the ship needs to move at a useful speed. Also, because of the restricted megaphaser arcs, the Borak are extremely vulnerable when stopped. This is critical, as an opponent can approach a stationary Borak ship to a range of two hexes without falling under the arc of the megaphasers.

Opponents should seek to deplete the Borak's phaser capacitor early in the battle. While the all-phaser armament is particularly efficient and allows the Borak to run at high speed while holding weapons, Borak ships tend to have substantially less power than contemporary warships of the same class. As a result, once they have fired their initial volley of phasers, Borak ships can rarely operate at high speed and rearm their full phaser capacitor quickly. Depleting a Borak ship's phaser capacitor with seeking weapons while it is still at range can leave it "power poor" as the battle closes to knife fighting range.

Borak turrets not only allow the megaphasers, normally a "spinal-mount" weapon to fire more freely, but also allow the Borak to turn the megaphasers away from anticipated damage and preserve their limited numbers for late in the battle. However, there is a drawback to this defensive approach to turret use. If a Borak ship is struck by a moderate volley and the turret is turned out of arc, it is very likely the ship will lose one of its two phaser cannons. The phaser cannons are a significant part of the Borak's defensive weapons array, and if they are given up early in the battle to protect megaphasers, a ship could later find itself much more vulnerable to seeking weapons.

Borak Star League designed by Jeremy Gray.

Playtesters: Justin Howell, Jeff Lloyd, Matthew Francois, Ken Wang, Henry Meyer, Dale McKee, Jacob Karpel.

Special thanks for advice and suggestions: Arthur Braune, Mark Kuyper, Tim Longrace, Glenn Hoepfner, Mike West, Mike Mckenzie, Richard Wells, Garth Getgen, David Kass, Bruce Campbell, Tony Barnes, Jim Davies, John Kasper, Andrew Harding, Rus Lender-Lundak, Daniel Bivona, Christopher Graves, John Trauger, Sean O'Carroll, Robert Cole, Ken Kazinski.