                                Command : FIRE

 SYNTAX:
   [##:##] Command: fire [<VSECT> | <VSHIP>] [<ASECT> | <ASHIP>] <NUMBER>

The  fire  command is used to shoot up land sectors or ships.  You cannot fire
on the land of any nation you are not at war with.  (see info relations)

The general form for shooting at land from land is:
   [##:##] Command: fire <VSECT> <ASECT>
Where <VSECT> is the victim sector, (the sector AT which you are shooting, not
the sector FROM which you are shooting).

The general form for shooting at land from ships is:
   [##:##] Command: fire <VSECT> <ASHIP> <NUMBER>

The general form for firing at ships from land is:
   [##:##] Command: fire <VSHIP> <ASECT>
Again, <VSHIP> is the victim ship number.

                                Command : FIRE

The general form for firing at ships from ships is:
   [##:##] Command: fire <VSHIP> <ASHIP> <NUMBER>

If  not  specified  on the command line the program will ask for the sector or
ship FROM which you are firing, (<ASECT> or <ASHIP>).

The only sector that may fire is a fortress, which must have at least two mil-
itary  for  a firing crew, at least one shell to fire, and a gun big enough to
reach the victim location; range is equal to the number of guns, (with a maxi-
mum  of  7),  times the technology factor, (which has a maximum of 1. see info
technology).  [The range is guns * (50+tech)/(200+tech)]

Any military ship may fire as long as it has at leasr one crew (which must  be
military,  not  civilians),  at  least one gun, at least one shell, and has at
least 60% efficiency.  If the ship can fire more than one gun and <NUMBER> was
not  specified  on  the command line the program will ask how many you wish to
fire.  See info ship-types for gun ranges.  [The  range  is  (gun  range/2)  *
(50+tech)/(200+tech)]

Ranges  are  usually  fractional, i.e. 3.6823. In this version, the fractional

                                Command : FIRE

part of a range is interpreted as a chance to shoot an extra sector. For exam-
ple, 3.6823 is range 3, with a 68.23% chance of firing to range 4. This chance
is re-rolled every time you fire (and is also rolled for defensive  fire  back
at you).

Forts and non-destroyers cannot hit submarines on the high seas.  The only way
to attack a submarine is to have a destroyer drop a depth charge on it,  cost-
ing two shells.

The  program  then  prints  a  satisfying  Kaboom!!! and, assuming you were in
range, inflicts damage.

The damages inflicted vary with efficiency of the attacker, the  size  of  the
guns  (battleship  guns are four times as big as patrol boat guns), the number
of guns fired, and the armor of the victim.

An illustrative example of shelling land:
   [##:##] Command: fir 34,18 36,18

                                Command : FIRE

   Kaboom!!!
   13% damage done to sector 34,18

Meanwhile, the owner of sector 35,18 might be logged on and would perhaps  see
the following:

   [15:98] Command: cen 34,18
   Sat Jul 30 16:18:01 1984
   CENSUS              del cnt
     sect      eff mob cmf cmf % * civ mil food min gmin fert oil
    34,18  i  100% 127 ... ...     200 100   23  23   31   73  18
        1 sector
   You have a telegram waiting ...

                                Command : FIRE

   [15:98] Command: read
   BULLETIN!       dated Sat Jul 30 16:18:02 1984
   Country #9 shelled 34,18
   Shall I burn it? y

   [15:98] Command: cen 34,18
   Sat Jul 30 16:18:26 1984
   CENSUS              del cnt
     sect      eff mob cmf cmf % * civ mil food min gmin fert oil
    34,18  i   87% 110 ... ...     175  83   20  23   31   73  18
        1 sector

Note that the shell did about 13% damage in the sector.

If  the  sector  is  out of range, you will be told so. (A shell will still be
used, however)

If the sector fired on is a fort with guns and shells it will fire  back  with

                                Command : FIRE

approximately  the  same damages (assuming it has the range). Range for defen-
sive fire is computed in the same way as for offensive fire.

If the sector is near any friendly forts within range of the attacker that all
such forts will return fire.

If  a  ship fired on has guns and shells it will fire back AND any other ships
of the same nationality that are in range will also fire on you.

See also : attack, assault, torpedo, technology, relations If  the  multi-fire
option is enabled, see multi-fire

