The sad thing about challenges is when they are over and you've got nothing to puzzle over (though, if you haven't seen it yet, go and read The Baldie Challenge Aftermath, Part One: A New Home -- it's awesome).

Thus, I figure that I need to start my own challenge.

This is a two-part challenge. You may enter either part or both parts. Indeed, you may make a third entry if you have already entered both parts. Due to the fact that this is basically a player-vs-player challenge, posts may be scheduled to publish on Wednesday, July 29th at 5:00 AM GMT -- but no later. You may, of course, publish earlier but it is likely to be to your severe disadvantage as other players will then be able to ensure that they have planned for your setup, strategy and tactics.

Scenario: An elite Federal Database has been discovered on the station just as the aliens attacked. This station is unusual in that it is in a very sparse section of space with remarkably few star systems and planets. It has therefore started a list of the coordinates of recently discovered habitable planets to encourage multiple cooperative colonization attempts on the same planet. Thus, everyone has the coordinates of a newly discovered very Earthlike planet with no indigenous intelligent life.

The discoverer of the Federal Database (either you or someone else) has immediately taken off in the direction of that planet.

If you haven't guessed by now, the two parts of the challenge are to either gain (grabbers) or retain (keepers) possession of the elite Federal Database. In each case, you need to detail your strategy, your setup and your planned tactics. Note that the last is extremely likely to be very relevant to your results. I will be nice and remind the keepers to remember to pack the Federal Database and not forget it on the station. I also understand that pilots are very useful as well.

The challenge will be judged by matching each grabber with each keeper, making the best guess as to each outcome and totaling the results of all match-ups. Note that I will also be adding one or two grabbers and keepers to each gauntlet (and that I am extremely devious and evil). If other people would like to participate in the judging, you are more than welcome and we can make it a collaborative effort that will likely generate even more ideas for the future (or you can write a post about how you imagined a given match-up would have gone).

What are the prizes? Best entry gets a Black Lotus. Second place gets Ayumi. If there are enough entrants, there will also be a Federal Database and an Octohome. There will also be a number of packs and I will also be giving out rewards for entries that make me laugh (or make me think). If anyone wants to contribute prizes for either this contest or the next, please let me know (especially if you'd like to add super-secret conditions for your prize).

Details:

1. You may use any cards whether you own them or not. All cards are assumed to be non-elite but fully upgraded, if applicable.
2. Assume that the planet, flora and fauna are very close analogs to Earth during the Age of Giant Mammals.
3. Your ship will have virtually no fuel upon landing but there is plentiful food and water available as you should expect on an Earth analog.

Good luck, Captains!