Gratuitous Federation & Empire

 The Coalition machine moves on the Kzinti capital, while the Klingons amass a very large attack force against the Hydrans: On the southern front, or Rimward if you like, the Klingons threaten the Hydran Starbase with so many ships that the little guys can't afford to react out and leave the installation undefended. This finally results in the loss of the last two of their border Battle Stations. The reason the Klingons don't attack immediately is lack of command ships. The Lyrans don't have the same problem, though, as the Enemy's Blood, Foremost and Far Stars clans all assault the Hydran Starbase on that front.  In the north, the Coalition moves on the Kzinti capital with purpose: It was a really good idea to build all those extra defences. You might be able to make out four separate extra fighter squadrons on the Kzinti side; these are from the major planet right next to the capital hex. Rather than try to defend that as well, they sent the fighters to help the home

The Klingons are clearly massing for a major offensive on our front, so once again we make a lightning thrust to disrupt their logistics. I take part in the only engagement that is needed, as we easily vaporise their last remaining border Battle Station, if you don't count the ones supposedly controlled by the Vudar. The Klingons are still hampered by their lack of a Dreadnought-class command ship, but they are learning how to deal with our Stingers as best they can. However, by concentrating their fire on the littlest guys, they present an opportunity for our Heavy Cruisers simply to drive up and blow the station away. Even we are astonished. The Klingons leave hastily. In the aftermath, we realise that not a single ship was actually damaged on either side. This means that my seventh fleet combat is a bit of a no-show. Not that I'm complaining...

 ... and ending it with a bang: Apart from the forces needed on the Federation border, the Kzinti have now entirely retreated to defend their capital region. The Hydrans, however, are making another assault on a Klingon Battle Station to try to disrupt preparations for a direct Klingon attack on the Hydrans' main Starbase on this front.  My Hydran game is turning out differently from what I gather happened according to the timeline of the Amarillo Design Bureau's original campaign history. For a start, I didn't throw away good ships by making a vainglorious run for Federation space, nor am I going to defend the capital until the last ship. Also, you should be able to make out a stack of crippled vessels in the bottom left of the map as you look at it; underneath that lot is a newly completed Hydran Starbase. I'll also try to build a Battle Station in the extreme bottom left hex when a Tug becomes available. The Kzinti will be under a great deal of pressure when the coal

 The Klingons split their Western Fleet in two and attack the last two remaining Hydran Border Battle Stations. Due to command ship losses, each fleet is only led by a D7C Command Cruiser, with no others in reserve. One of these fleets is probably going to have a bad time because it will meet the Hydrans with the Uhlan Carrier Group. It is possible that the force ending up in this situation may be able to wear the Hydrans down through sheer weight of numbers, but it is very unlikely. It turns out that the carrier is in the more northerly (or less rimward, if you prefer) of the two stations, and the Klingons have d distinctly bad time here. This force is named with the honorific Battle Group Blood because it is not expected to do well - any force that fights under this banner is effectively being used to distract and delay a much more powerful enemy force, while Klingon numbers succeed elsewhere. In two engagements, the Hydran exchange lots of fighters for a D7C Command Cruiser, a D6S H

 This will be my fifth fleet action, and again it is in defence of one of our Battle Stations on the Klingon border. Our fleet is most impressive: a Paladin Dreadnought leads, and the Inevitable  and another Knight Destroyer are assigned to accompany the flagship, along with a Scout Frigate. The remainder of the fleet is composed as follows: a Lord Bishop Command Cruiser and a Thoroughbred Fast Cruiser acting as a team; a Heavy Cruiser Squadron comprising a Dragoon and two Rangers; our Uhlan Carrier Group, reduced somewhat because one of their Escort Frigates was crippled on a previous occasion; and three Lancer Destroyers. Command has decided not to bother engaging the Klingons at a remove from the station, figuring that concentrated force will allow us to do the most damage. It will be touch and go as a series of battles, because although we have the advantage of powerful ships, fighters and the station, the Klingons outnumber us significantly. We don't expect them to be led by a