                              Command : PARADROP

 SYNTAX:
   [##:##] Command: paradrop <PLANES> <ESCORTS> <SECT> <PATH> <WHAT>

The `paradrop' command is used to sneak troops or spies behind enemy lines, or
to  drop  in  unawares  on  lightly-defended  enemy islands or outposts.  Like
`fly', it represents a complete flight for one or more transports and  escorts
taking off, making one or more drops, and then landing.

<PLANES> represents a list of planes which can carry commodities.  Only planes
which  have a transport capacity, belong in a sector which is stocked with gas
and military, and have sufficient mobility will be successfully  selected  for
the mission.

<ESCORTS> is a list of one or more fighter planes which are capable of escort-
ing  the  transports  all  the way to the destination.  Escorts must also have
fuel and mobility.

                              Command : PARADROP

<SECT> is an assembly point.  This is a sector over which all of the planes in
the  mission  meet  before proceeding on as a group to the destination sector.
The assembly point must not be more than four sectors away  from  any  of  the
planes selected for the mission.

<PATH> is the flightpath from  assembly  point  to  destination.   (See  `info
flightpath'  for information about specifying flightpaths.)  Note: if you want
to fly higher than altitude 1, you should include an  altitude  change  (e.g.,
"^4")  early  in the flight path.  Points at which you want to drop paratroops
should be indicated by asterisks "*" in the flightpath.  You  must  be  at  or
below altitude 2 to successfully paradrop.

<WHAT> indicates what you want to drop.  It should be either  `mil'  or  `spy'
(`m'  or  `s' suffices).  If you want to paradrop a spy, you must also provide
the spy's name or id number.

If the transports stray over enemy territory, then they  may  be  intercepted,
aborted,  or shot down; flights over sectors equipped with guns and shells may
draw anti-aircraft flak.  If the destination sector is not  an  airport,  then
all  planes  in the mission must have V/STOL capability.  If the planes manage

                              Command : PARADROP

to fight through enemy air defenses and arrive on-target,  each  transport  in
the mission will be shot at by any guns present on the ground.

In a military drop, surviving transports will drop all (or a portion, if  your
flightpath  has  more  than one drop zone) of the paratroops they carry, which
then attack any enemy military occupying the target sector.   Paratroops,  due
to  their  vulnerability and lack of heavy equipment, count only 1/2 in combat
against the ground troops in the target sector.

If you win, then the target sector is yours and you  capture  any  commodities
and  planes which happen to be there (although it is probable that planes will
be damaged by their ground crews before capture).

Spy drop missions do not carry any military, and deliver just  one  lone  spy.
If  you  specify  more than one aircraft in the flight (not counting escorts),
only one will be chosen and the rest will be left on the ground.  The  success
rate  of  a  spy drop depends largely on the type of terrain and the number of
people in the drop zone.  Mountain, forest, and water regions generally have a
high probability that the spy will not survive the landing.  Populated sectors
have a high probability of witnessing the drop  and  a  lower  probability  of

                              Command : PARADROP

capturing and killing the intruder before the poor guy can even  unbuckle  his
parachute harness.

   [##:##] Command: para 4,-8 . . jj*ggh spy 2

                              Command : PARADROP

   No escorts...
   assembly point @ 4,-8
   Ending sector is 4,-8
   range to target #1 is 2
   range to final destination is 4
   (#116) fighter 1 standing by
   (#133) jet transport standing by
   (#134) jet transport standing by
   (#135) jet transport standing by
   (#136) jet transport standing by
   (#136) jet transport equipped and airborne
   #135 jet transport can't contribute to mission
   #134 jet transport can't contribute to mission
   #133 jet transport can't contribute to mission
   #116 fighter 1 can't contribute to mission

   aircraft departing, grouping at altitude 1
   flying over fortress at 6,-8 (alt:1)
   flying over fortress at 8,-8 (alt:1)

                              Command : PARADROP

   TARGET #1: Heyaheya (#32) fortress @ 8,-8
   GERONIMOOOOOoooooooo..........!
   agent #2 lands successfully in Heyaheya (#32) fortress @ 8,-8

   flying over fortress at 6,-8 (alt:1)
   flying over airfield at 4,-8 (alt:1)
   jet transport (#136) landing in 4,-8
   jet transport (#136) unloading 13 unused pet
   1 aircraft landed successfully

See also : plane-types, bomb, fly, drop, recon, strafe, flightpath

