Role-Playing in a FT game...

I have been thinking of a running a game that involves several plots within a
scenario. The basic scenario is the attack of an Imperial battlefleet on a

key hydrogen mining station. The Imperial objective to to capture the station
intact or nearly so by landing 10 out of 20 assault shuttles filled with
marines. The Confederation must defend the station at all costs.
        The scenario with sub-plots requires at least two players per
side with 3-4 being optimal.

Imperial forces: Battlegroup Alpha Battle Cruiser size ship (Mass 60) 2
Cruisers (Mass 30)

Battlegroup Beta
                3 Assault Carriers (Mass 60)  Ftr Bays Each w/5
shuttles/bay

Battlegroup Gamma 2 Lt. Carriers (Mass 30) 1 Ftr bay each, Std or Int Ftr. 2
Escorts (Mass 15)

Battlegroup Delta Battle Cruiser (Mass 60) 2 Escorts (Mass 15)

Imperial Objectives
        Alpha - To ensure that at least 20 Imperial shuttles dock with
station and destroy all enemy ships.
        Beta - To ensure at least 20 Imperial shuttles dock with the
station.
        Gamma - to Destroy all enemy ships. Hidden objective - to
destroy the spy and prevent data transfer.
        Delta - To Destroy all enemy ships. Hidden objective - rendevous

with Confederate Cruiser for data transfer by shuttle.

Confederate forces: Fuleing Station Epsilon Major
                Mass 500 - 5, 100 point sections 4 quarters and 1 360
degree center. Each quarter section contains 2 B battteries and Level 3

shields, there are also 5 fuel storage spaces. The central section
contains a fighter bay with standard fighters and a 4-arc A battery.
If a fuel storage space is destroyed the base section takes an immediate 3
dice more of damage. If a quarter section is destroyed, excess damage is
transferred to adjacent, not central section. If 3 or more sections are
destroyed the base is considered inoberable and a total loss. Battlegroup
"Free Horizon" 2 Heavy Cruisers (Mass 40)

Battlegroup "Forlorn Hope" 1 Cruiser (Mass 30)

Battlegroup "Aegis" 4 Escorts (Mass 15)

Confederate Objectives
        Base - Fight to the bitter end.
        Free Horizon - Fight to the bitter end.  Secret objective -
destroy enemy light carriers.
        Forlorn Hope - Rendezvous with Battlegroup Delta for Data
Transfer.
        Battlegroup Aegis - Destroy 15 Assault shuttles.

Terrain Large planet Noctaris Epsilon Four in the center (6" diameter planet)
with 3 small moons Numaris, Trimaris, and Demaris in orbits 6", 8" and 10"
away from planet surface (Each is 2" in diameter) station orbits 9" away from
planet.

Background: The Empire once stretched across 200 inhabited planets but
underwent a great decay. Four large sections broke away, the Confederation,
the Union, the Hegemon and the Alliance. Recently the Empire was able to
conquer the Alliance and return them to Imperial control and has now turned to
the Confederacy. This move is somewhat unpopular in the Senate since many
believe that more time is required to

assimilate the Alliance before a new conquest is begun. Noctaris Epsilon 4 is
a gas giant on the corner of Confederate space. Normally not a high traffic
area it is the centerpiece of the imperial thrust, planned as being the major
supply and refueling base for the Imperial thrust into Confederate space. The
importance of the is base is huge since the Empire does not have sufficient
transport available to supply a large invasion without a forward base. Agents
from factions favorable to the Confederacy have learned of the vulnerability
of the plan and have also found out that key strikes against several Imperial
supply centers would cripple the Imperial fleet

in that sector for at least a year. This data was found just as the fleet was
leaving for Noctaris Epsilon. A data packet was smuggled aboard by the captain
of an escort and then given to another captain who

was sympathetic to the Confederate cause. His ship was to rendezvous with a
Confederate cruiser and transfer the packet via shuttle. The presence of
several moons would prvide some cover for the operation. The Confederates were
alerted that a fleet was being sent and that a courier would be bringing vital
information. It was decided that

the Base was not expendable and was required for future use and therefore was
to be defended to the last man. A Cruiser was dispatched to rendezvous with
the Imperial captain with orders to return safely with the data. However, the
spate of communications between the Empire and
Confederac did not go un-noticed and one message was intercepted by
Imperial Intelligence. Intelligence knew that a data transfer was ging to take
place but did not know when or how. An agent was activated aboard a
battlegroup and using Imperial Override, ordered to captain to seek out and
destroy the traitor.

Victory Points:
        Imperial -      Succesful capture of the station - 50 pts
                        Destruction of enemy ships - 5 pts/ 50 Mass

        Confederate -   Successful defense of the station - 40 pts
                        Destruciton of Assault Shuttles - 1 per shuttle
                        Destruction of enemy ships - 5 pts/ 50 Mass

        Secret  -       Successful Data Transfer - 20 Pts
                        Destruction of the Traitor - 20 Pts
                        Destruction of Lt Carriers - 15 Pts
                        Destruciton of Assault Suttles - 15 Pts.

Notes: the sub-plots/secret objectives can only be used if there are
multiple players per side and an individual score fore each player is being
kept, otherwise there really isn't any motivation to pursue the
sub-plots.  Ideally this scenario will generate an odd assortment of
actions that seem totally random unless you know what the objectives are, for
instance a cruiser will seem to take a very roundabout course to the

enemy when suddenly an imperial battlegroup will suddenly break off to
"intercept" and then just as suddenly another group will break off to follow
the fist which in turn appears to targeted by Confederate BattleCruisers. Will
Battlegroup Alpha try to destry the Conferate BattleCruisers or try to wipe
out the waiting escorts? Will the Confederate BC's chase the Lt carriers first
or take out the Assault carriers and then try to finish off the Lt. Carriers.
Will the Confederate Cruiser and Battlegroup Delta Survive against Imperial
Fighters?

i have not balanced this scenario completely since I have not play tested it
yet. Comments are welcome.