Kimberlite

1) Just a warning, attacking Vladivostok is going to be very tough with Vlad there. Also, that seems a little low for assault assistance, doesn't it? There's a pretty good chance that the Zaku Worker, at least, won't make it (though that could be a blessing in disguise, who says we have to tell the EFF that?).

2) Between the three of us we have approx 2600 RP. Take out 300 RP for the merch contacts we're buying to move. 2300 RP left. That's not even including what we'd eventually receive when we splodey RF-3. Are we saving that for something? I mean, why not buy a Big Tray (1800)? That leaves us 500 RP, which can do the following:
1x terrorist contact at 100 RP to take out the howitzers
28x guerillas on the Big Tray at 196 RP, all on the Big Tray; Big Tray also carries the Zaku Worker, GM G, and 2 Zakus
Des takes the 2 type 74s as his "MS Team" to offer a bit of long range support scanning, as well as borrowing my Bedouins to fill up that last slot.

And we still have about 300 RP left over either to save, or spend on other stuff. Say, if you really want it, those 3 guerilla contacts for another 150 RP. That would put us at over 40 guerilla units (or about 500 men in real terms). I think we're going to need at least that many - look at how damn many suits there are. Most of the foot troops are going to get destroyed before they get there.

We'd still have a bit of RP left over, to boot, just in case. Plus, we'd likely end up with at least some of those guerillas surviving, plus have a staging platform for a huge number of foot soldiers as long as the Big Tray doesn't bite it.

Additionally, the Big Tray's forward guns are probably enough to put a dent in some of the defenses, especially if we leave it an MS screen so it doesn't just get instantly raped. Maybe enough to take out the outer wall or something.

2b) Potential cost-saving measure: even if we can't get EFF to help us out on the assault, we may be able to convince them to have one of their guys buy the Big Tray for at cost, then sell it to us for that much, or close to cost (say 1000 RP, give them an extra hundy for their trouble). That would save a sizable amount.

3) Are we positive they can't beef up the defenses before we get there? I mean, if they do, it screws us over pretty heavily. It's going to be tough enough as is.

Ok, I'm off duty now and can give a proper response.

Jon's breakdown is correct if we approached this as if we were Feddies or Zeeks. I want to do this as rogues though. So instead of trying to build a force around the biggest ship we can buy like the others this operation should go in the opposite direction. I believe the key element to this will be Heavy Transports.

This is the way I'm seeing the approach to this at the moment. I will need an obvious scouting of Lhasa. EF participants will need to stage from the Indian Ocean. This way if my scouting of Kimberlite is found out (very likely) the Zeeks are most likely to stage from North Africa to protect all three major targets that the Federation might go for by using Gaws to paradrop right after the EF makes their move.

While the EF stages in the Indian we will be in South Africa. For our attack on Kimberlite I'm looking at spending almost 4k RP which I figure we should have for when we prep this to kick off. For a shop purchase I'm considering something as follows.

21x lvl0 Heavy Transport: 840 RP
42x Zaku II C: 2268 RP
28x Guerrilla: 196 RP
14x Type 60: 126 RP
3x Terrorist Contact + terrorist specialty: 300 RP
Total: 3730 RP

By breaking the trucks down into fleets of three we can create seven fleets capable of supporting 6 MS and 6 vehicles each for 42 MS and 42 vehicles. These trucks will probably die in the attack, but this isn't a plan built around the idea of multiple pushes. We have to get in and take it on the first shot.

I chose the addition of Type 60's to the guerrillas to provide a smoke screen. If attacking with the wind at our back this should prove to be extra effective. Going with Zaku II C's instead of arranging something else through Federation contacts is a choice centered around overwhelming our enemy in number. No point in getting superior mobile suits if our pilots will still be inferior.

Targets for the four terrorist contacts would be the mounted defenses, outer wall, the Dobday, and the last saved to help us breach the compound. The one utilized for the Dobday will be followed up with a detachment of guerrillas to seize the ship. I was wanting to use one on the mine field, but I figure that if we can get the Federation involved their love for fighters would allow them to carpet bomb the minefield. I admit that I wish I could buy more services. v.v

However this doesn't take into account interference from a Zeek paradrop. The solution there would be an eighth fleet created specifically to intercept them by patrolling in South Africa. I'd like to field two of these patrol fleets, but I don't think we will have that luxury as the cost would be almost 400 RP to provide them with a +8 on the patrol chance to stop an incoming fleet. +6 if only a ship.

Well, that's my latest idea anyway. Let me know what you think.