A task force card represents a temporary grouping of starship units formed for the purpose of carrying out a specific operation or mission. Each task force card lists the number and type of units in the task force (1) and the total points value (2) of all the units making up the task force.
After the first two scenarios, players will have the opportunity to use task force cards and, in addition, purchase a number of support vessels.
A task force card is a pre-constructed force, usually close to 100 total points. When the total is less than 100 points the number of remaining points are noted at the bottom of the card (3). A player can use these remaining points when purchasing support vessels.
Purchasing Support Vessels
Each player, in addition to the units listed on the task force card, will have a number of points with which to purchase additional support vessel units. These units, along with the units from the task force card, are the fleet of ships that a player will command in a scenario.
Unless stated otherwise in the scenario notes, each player will normally have 40 points to spend on support vessel units.
| Ship Unit | Figs | Points |
| Heavy Battleship | 4 | 23 |
| Standard Battleship | 3 | 18 |
| Heavy Cruiser | 4 | 16 |
| Standard Cruiser | 3 | 11 |
| Heavy Destroyer | 4 | 15 |
| Standard Destroyer | 3 | 10 |
| Heavy Fighter | 4 | 6 |
| Standard Fighter | 3 | 4 |
Note: The number of fighter units deployed by a player may not exceed the number of other units in the task force, which includes any support units purchased.
Remaining Points & Stars
The number of points remaining after a player purchases his support vessels will affect the number of stars a player has at the start of a scenario.
After support units are purchased:
- When a player’s remaining purchase points are over the scenario points allowed:
- Lose 1 star for the 1st point over, or
- Lose
for 2 points over - A player cannot go over 2 points.
- When a player’s remaining purchase points are under the scenario point total allowed:
- Gain 1 star when 1 point under, or
- Gain
when 2 or more points under.
TASK FORCE UNIT DEPLOYMENT
After each player gathers the corresponding unit markers as listed on the task force card, each player will purchase additional support vessel units. Once support vessel units are purchased, gather the corresponding unit markers. Support vessel units along with the units from the task force card will make up the fleet of starships a player commands in the scenario.
When players are using task force cards and are purchasing support vessels, steps 3 and 4 of the set up procedure are amended as follows:
Step 3. (Update) Place the space feature hexes (space terrain) on the battlefield as indicated by the scenario’s battle map. When players are using task force cards, the scenario map will show a number of hexes with a faction marker, usually 10. Place a faction marker on each hex on the battlefield as indicated by the scenario map. These battlefield hexes with a faction marker are the deployment hexes for a player.
Step 4. (Update) Scenario battle notes will direct players as to whether a task force card is drawn randomly or is chosen. If drawn randomly, shuffle the task force cards and draw one card at random.
Hidden Deployment
Each player at the same time will select one unit marker and place it under any one of his faction markers. The unit marker is hidden in this way from the opponent during the deployment. When a player has placed a unit marker on all hexes with his faction markers, any remaining markers a player still has are held back.
If both players still have unit markers held back, the player with the highest task force card number will place his remaining unit markers on any hex that is adjacent to one of his faction markers. These makers will be visible to his opponent. After all these unit markers are placed, the player with the lower task force card number will then place his remaining unit markers on a hex adjacent to one of his faction markers.
Should only one player have markers held back, he will place his markers on any hex that is adjacent to one of his faction markers.
When both players have deployed all markers, players will then remove all faction markers from the battlefield, leaving the unit markers, and return these to the faction marker pools. Both players will then place their unit figures on the hexes with their unit markers.