09-19-2016, 07:55 AM
thanks, almost done with the chapter, this next one features a new mysterious adversary
Bug Hunting: The 12th Imperial Star Fleet was redeployed from Goddard as the political winds changed, and an all Lincoln House force took over duties. We moved to the border with the Corporation along the Fem Fatale Nebula. But even more than keeping the Corps busy, we were also tasked to halt the recent penetration of a Xeniod hive fleet. The Empire’s main anti- Xeniod force, the AEF, was fighting a larger penetration closer to Star quadrant space. Our new base of operations was the system of Fujiharra, which lies in Volkberg space. The 12th SF departed by fleet to the new area, the 121st was the 2nd one to depart.
Our arrival at Fujiharra was a much more pleasant one than the initial arrival at Goddard. Fujiharra was a recent corporate acquisition but it also had a large population of the rodent-like race called the Tikus, we have a few Tikus in the Empire, but mostly they are found outside our borders. They get along well with most of the other non human races, and since their society is matriarchal have no problems with our system of government, although male Tikus are restricted from serving in AIDOF, with the exception of those that the Tikus clan mothers insist on being warriors, most of them tend to be of the sub set that is brown furred.
Fujiharra has two major clans, clan Fuji, and clan Harra. The clan mother of Fuji, Saki Si Fujiniko has the title of Marquessa and is the deputy governess for the system. Her counterpart Hosagi Si Harraniko is also a Marquessa and serves as the garrison commander. Marquessa Hosagi therefore became the main point of contact for the 12th SF.
For the first part of the tour at Fujiharra we did routine patrols and encountered the occasional Xeniod scout craft. The CRURONS and Aerospace were quite busy during these encounters. Xenoid ships were about three times as powerful as ours, but a light cruiser was easily a match for the scout ships which were like oversized corvettes. One lucky thing was that their aerospace used energy weapons only, so we used strictly missiles, get close to one of that trilobite looking fighters and even a Raptor is toast. This hit and run, hide and seek thing went on for several months then we got word that a Xeniod brood ship was heading for Fujiharra.
“Ma’am you are requested to meet with the TGR”, stated Emily Watkins the primary aide to her Grace.
“Ok Ms. Watkins on my way.” I headed for the TGR’s office which was in the next compartment from my own little cubical in the Ops office.
“Your Grace you wanted to see me?”
“Ah yes, Lady Cynthia we have been tasked to intercept a brood ship, I want you to take two DESTRONS and intercept it. Your task is not to destroy the bastard, but rather whittled down its defenses and slow it down, the 45th BTG will have the honor of eliminating it, but their van is almost a full week away. We need three days, five would be nice, but we must slow that sucker down. Your ships are expendable but don’t throw them away. Lady Miller has your written orders Lady Cynthia, Soro protect and preserve your soul.”
The last was a bit ominous as it was a modification of last rites, but I guess sending destroyers and frigates in the path of a Xeniod brood ship was what one would call a one way trip. I looked over my orders and noticed that I was to report immediately to the Feline, as she was tasked as the flag ship. Lady Darla Browning was nearly two years my junior. I had five Tyche and eight Vulcans along with about two dozen Phoebe light attack vessels. I grouped the units as follows. Task Force 1 was the Feline and one Tyche. TF 2 and TF 3 each consisted of two Tyches and four Vulcans. And TF 4 were the Phoebes LAVs. I left a holo for Barbara, and another one with Lady Miller to deliver to Barbara if I did not come back. We then sped off for the jump point and attempt to do the moral equivalent of stopping an elephant with a bunch of dogs.
All ships and vessels arrived at the nondescript jump point of XM 3414-2, about eight days away from Fujiharra. The system consisted of one yellow star and two gas giants. I sent TF 2 ahead to scout the next point. And placed TF 4 in orbit around one of the gas giants, TF 3 was the bait element, while my strong TF 1 hid in the shadow of the other gas giant. It wasn’t long before TF 2 jumped back, one of the frigates appeared damaged.
“Ma’am, we are receiving transmission from Lady Sanders aboard the Line Dancer.”
“O.K. Patch it through to the speaker.”
“Aye Ma’am!”
FELINE GROUP THIS IS LINE DANCER TF 2, WE LOCATED AND ENGAGED XENIOD, BROOD SHIP ENROUTE WITH FIVE ESCORT STARS…”
“Damn, five escorts, ok this is the plan TF 2 and TF 3, will go after the escorts. TF 1 will engage with long range assets only the brood ship, TF 4 hold fast until given green light to assault Brood ship. All TF’s you are to pull out after two passes only, or 25% casualties whichever occurs first, set up rendezvous at XM 3414-4…. Lady Browning launch your fighters if you please.”
“Aye Ma’am, ok full squadron launch, Warriors to protect TF, Tempest and Shamans will go after the escorts, full torpedo attack. The main objective for this part of the battle was to disable or destroy as many of the escort ships, called escort stars due to their uncanny resemblance to a giant starfish. However the ships in TF 1 will use missiles to engage the brood ship.
We did not have a long wait before the first of the escort stars jumped in, however that proved to be a mistake as it was pounced on by all of TF 2 and destroyed, another frigate was slightly damaged. Next came two more stars with their fighter escort already deployed. The fighters made a beeline for TF 1, as it is awfully hard to hide a cruiser, but our own fighters engaged them. As for the two escorts they engaged TF 2. This time the exchange was a bit more even, one of the frigates was destroyed, two others (including one of the previously damaged ones), received significant damage, and one destroyer was lightly damaged. One of the stars was toast, but the other one suffered minor damage only.
“Ok, TF 2, pull out we got this turkey.”
The escort star tried to pursue the wounded TF, but was ambushed by the shaman bombers, twenty of the 36 torpedoes impacted, lighting the space with a huge nuclear plume. When the glare faded the last escort star was nowhere to be seen. None of the bombers were lost, which meant they all could be used again. The Warriors however were not as fortunate, five of the twelve were lost, but all of the scarab fighters were destroyed. Our celebration was short lived as the two other escorts and the brood ship jumped in. TF 3, and TF 1 fired off our missiles, while we recovered the fighters and then high tailed it out of there. TF 4 was given the abort code and they likewise jumped to the next staging point. We have given Fujiharra one day, at the cost of 400 dead, and another 300 wounded. 360 hundred of the dead were from the lost and damaged frigates. Each frigate has a crew of 250. The bugs lost three of the five escort stars and unknown damage sustained to the brood ship.
We played cat and mouse, with the remaining two escort stars for the next day. Eventually we got both of them, but TF 3 was nearly destroyed, only one frigate was lightly damaged, and one destroyer had to be towed back to Fujiharra, by the other less damaged sister ship. The other three frigates were destroyed or abandoned and scuttled. The Feline’s aero wing also was in dire straits, all of the Shaman bombers were lost and only three Tempest and two Warriors remained. On the plus side the brood ship was now on its own, and has visible damage from the persistent missile attacks made by TF 1 and TF 2. I ordered TF 3 to return to base and gave Ms. Glover, the Executive of the frigate, a holo with an update of the situation. TF 4 had yet be used, but their moment of glory was soon at hand. That’s two of the promised three days. Our next trap is set at XM 3415-1 or two jumps away from day two’s actions. We are four days away from Fujiharra.
Day three opened much like the other two encounters with the brood ship, however this time no escort stars were present to absorb the damage. Even so TF 2 lost a frigate that got too close and was nailed by the primary beam; at least the crew did not suffer. But the sacrifice was not in vain as the brood ship veered within range of the massed light attack vessels. All 10 of the LAV’s fired full spread of torpedoes, that means six torps each or a total of sixty Angel of Death torpedoes plowed into the massive brood ship. Well as best as we could tell 40 hit. The huge cylinder shuddered but unlike the smaller escort stars was not vaporized. Nearly a third of the ship was gone, but the rest seemed to have sealed off the damaged areas, and sloughed off the worst area. The Xeniod warriors that were not vaporized tried to fight but were easy pickings for the nimble LAV’s. We added to the carnage with our own missiles and guns, until the brood ship began to use its weapons , and picked off two of the LAV’s.
“Right ok fun and games over, all units retreat back to XM 3415-3.”
As I awaited acknowledgement, we sped towards the jump point. The sensors officette informed me that the brood ship has dropped speed by about twenty percent and so is now another day away from Fujiharra. So we actually have given them four days grace, but since my command was still over 50% effective I wanted one more shot with the brood ship.
Day four came and went, as the recon screen, of two frigates reported that the brood ship has lost another 10% of its speed. Xeniods don’t use jump points but rather travel very fast between systems at near light speed, luckily for us they are single minded and brood ships never deviate from their planned approach. We could use this to our advantage in the future.
The respite was used to rearm and quickly restore some of the damaged systems. A Bacchus class tender showed up along with two more frigates. We used the tender to top off the missiles and I rotated the two frigates with two of the more damaged ones. I was tempted to keep those so to give me a frigate strength of five, but figured three healthy frigates was just as good, and I would not have to worry about protecting cripples. The tender and the damaged frigates jumped out at the close of the day, while the recon group rejoined us as the Brood ship was about to enter the system. The LAV’s were in two groups of four, the three frigates formed up with the two destroyers in TF 2, while TF 1 maintained our center position. We are only two jumps from Fujiharra, and the next one is nothing more than a binary star system without any planets. This system has an asteroid belt and a single gas giant that we can use. So XM 3415-3 is the last stand, although I gave orders for any element that falls below 50% present strength to retreat to Fujiharra.
The fifth day, the brood ship definitely is slower, almost 25% of its original speed. Once in range all missile capable ships let fly with a full barrage. The frigates carried twenty each, the destroyers forty, and us twenty or a total of 160 heavy anti-ship missiles. The frigates and destroyers were done, but we had one more reload and two minutes later an additional 20 missiles streaked towards the big brood ship. The two LAV groups were to attack upon impact of the first volley. However the right group was a bit eager and unmasked too soon.
“Soro to hell, those idiots!”
“What Lady Browning?”
“Ma’am, TF 4-2 is attacking, the brood ship is turning to face them.”
“Time to impact on first volley?”
“Two minutes….TF 4-2 is firing torps!”
“Ok, status on TF 4-1?”
“Still masked, but they have an ideal stern shot….”
“Exactly, order TF 4-1 to engage, time to impact TF 4-2 torps?”
“25 seconds, brood ship is firing on TF 4-2…..TF 4-2 is gone, all four vessels are destroyed…”
“Status of torps?”
“Didn’t you hear me….TF 4-2 is gone….”
“Not now Lady Browning, we can mourn later, status of torps if you will?”
“Twenty on track, missiles in first volley all read green, brood ship is turning to engage TF 2 and TF 1.”
“Right TF 4-1 still set for stern attack?”
“Yes Ma’am, they are approaching from damaged side and are still masked.”
“Right, ok log TF 4-2’s attack as decoy that rash maneuver may give us victory…”
“Aye Ma’am….”
The impact of the twenty torps lit up the dark veil of space and more of the massive brood ship disappeared. The brood ship was just about back on a front on aspect when the first volley of missiles reached the huge form. We estimate only 75% of missiles detonated close enough to do damage, but that is 75% of close to 200 warheads. The huge fusion blasts ripped through the shields and armor of the massive xeniod ship, tearing off its front third. At the same time the stern section received the full fury of 24 torpedoes. By the time the second volley arrived, the brood ship was about 45% its original mass, even so that 45% was extremely dangerous as the lead frigate in TF 2 found out, taking a secondary beam to the port side.
“Shit pull back, regroup for a massed gun attack…”
“Ma’am detecting five jump signatures, two are huge!”
“Right stand by, the cavalry has arrived!...I hope.”
Sure enough the long awaited BTG arrived and between the two Minerva class dreadnoughts and three Dianna class battle cruisers made short work of the remnants of the brood ship. The remaining ships in TF 2 and TF 4 joined up with TF 1 and we headed back for Fujiharra. Besides saving the system we were all handsomely rewarded and I added another silver cluster, the commander of TF 4-2 was awarded a Ruby Star cluster posthumously. Personally I was just glad that the other holo did not need to be sent to Barbara.
After the incident with the brood ship, the Xeniods decided that the Fujiharra area was a bit too hot for them, so we saw a decreasing amount of action as they pulled out to greener pastures. Seemed the Confederation systems were more to the Xenoid’s taste. That left more time for routine patrols and much more enjoyable personal affairs.
Bug Hunting: The 12th Imperial Star Fleet was redeployed from Goddard as the political winds changed, and an all Lincoln House force took over duties. We moved to the border with the Corporation along the Fem Fatale Nebula. But even more than keeping the Corps busy, we were also tasked to halt the recent penetration of a Xeniod hive fleet. The Empire’s main anti- Xeniod force, the AEF, was fighting a larger penetration closer to Star quadrant space. Our new base of operations was the system of Fujiharra, which lies in Volkberg space. The 12th SF departed by fleet to the new area, the 121st was the 2nd one to depart.
Our arrival at Fujiharra was a much more pleasant one than the initial arrival at Goddard. Fujiharra was a recent corporate acquisition but it also had a large population of the rodent-like race called the Tikus, we have a few Tikus in the Empire, but mostly they are found outside our borders. They get along well with most of the other non human races, and since their society is matriarchal have no problems with our system of government, although male Tikus are restricted from serving in AIDOF, with the exception of those that the Tikus clan mothers insist on being warriors, most of them tend to be of the sub set that is brown furred.
Fujiharra has two major clans, clan Fuji, and clan Harra. The clan mother of Fuji, Saki Si Fujiniko has the title of Marquessa and is the deputy governess for the system. Her counterpart Hosagi Si Harraniko is also a Marquessa and serves as the garrison commander. Marquessa Hosagi therefore became the main point of contact for the 12th SF.
For the first part of the tour at Fujiharra we did routine patrols and encountered the occasional Xeniod scout craft. The CRURONS and Aerospace were quite busy during these encounters. Xenoid ships were about three times as powerful as ours, but a light cruiser was easily a match for the scout ships which were like oversized corvettes. One lucky thing was that their aerospace used energy weapons only, so we used strictly missiles, get close to one of that trilobite looking fighters and even a Raptor is toast. This hit and run, hide and seek thing went on for several months then we got word that a Xeniod brood ship was heading for Fujiharra.
“Ma’am you are requested to meet with the TGR”, stated Emily Watkins the primary aide to her Grace.
“Ok Ms. Watkins on my way.” I headed for the TGR’s office which was in the next compartment from my own little cubical in the Ops office.
“Your Grace you wanted to see me?”
“Ah yes, Lady Cynthia we have been tasked to intercept a brood ship, I want you to take two DESTRONS and intercept it. Your task is not to destroy the bastard, but rather whittled down its defenses and slow it down, the 45th BTG will have the honor of eliminating it, but their van is almost a full week away. We need three days, five would be nice, but we must slow that sucker down. Your ships are expendable but don’t throw them away. Lady Miller has your written orders Lady Cynthia, Soro protect and preserve your soul.”
The last was a bit ominous as it was a modification of last rites, but I guess sending destroyers and frigates in the path of a Xeniod brood ship was what one would call a one way trip. I looked over my orders and noticed that I was to report immediately to the Feline, as she was tasked as the flag ship. Lady Darla Browning was nearly two years my junior. I had five Tyche and eight Vulcans along with about two dozen Phoebe light attack vessels. I grouped the units as follows. Task Force 1 was the Feline and one Tyche. TF 2 and TF 3 each consisted of two Tyches and four Vulcans. And TF 4 were the Phoebes LAVs. I left a holo for Barbara, and another one with Lady Miller to deliver to Barbara if I did not come back. We then sped off for the jump point and attempt to do the moral equivalent of stopping an elephant with a bunch of dogs.
All ships and vessels arrived at the nondescript jump point of XM 3414-2, about eight days away from Fujiharra. The system consisted of one yellow star and two gas giants. I sent TF 2 ahead to scout the next point. And placed TF 4 in orbit around one of the gas giants, TF 3 was the bait element, while my strong TF 1 hid in the shadow of the other gas giant. It wasn’t long before TF 2 jumped back, one of the frigates appeared damaged.
“Ma’am, we are receiving transmission from Lady Sanders aboard the Line Dancer.”
“O.K. Patch it through to the speaker.”
“Aye Ma’am!”
FELINE GROUP THIS IS LINE DANCER TF 2, WE LOCATED AND ENGAGED XENIOD, BROOD SHIP ENROUTE WITH FIVE ESCORT STARS…”
“Damn, five escorts, ok this is the plan TF 2 and TF 3, will go after the escorts. TF 1 will engage with long range assets only the brood ship, TF 4 hold fast until given green light to assault Brood ship. All TF’s you are to pull out after two passes only, or 25% casualties whichever occurs first, set up rendezvous at XM 3414-4…. Lady Browning launch your fighters if you please.”
“Aye Ma’am, ok full squadron launch, Warriors to protect TF, Tempest and Shamans will go after the escorts, full torpedo attack. The main objective for this part of the battle was to disable or destroy as many of the escort ships, called escort stars due to their uncanny resemblance to a giant starfish. However the ships in TF 1 will use missiles to engage the brood ship.
We did not have a long wait before the first of the escort stars jumped in, however that proved to be a mistake as it was pounced on by all of TF 2 and destroyed, another frigate was slightly damaged. Next came two more stars with their fighter escort already deployed. The fighters made a beeline for TF 1, as it is awfully hard to hide a cruiser, but our own fighters engaged them. As for the two escorts they engaged TF 2. This time the exchange was a bit more even, one of the frigates was destroyed, two others (including one of the previously damaged ones), received significant damage, and one destroyer was lightly damaged. One of the stars was toast, but the other one suffered minor damage only.
“Ok, TF 2, pull out we got this turkey.”
The escort star tried to pursue the wounded TF, but was ambushed by the shaman bombers, twenty of the 36 torpedoes impacted, lighting the space with a huge nuclear plume. When the glare faded the last escort star was nowhere to be seen. None of the bombers were lost, which meant they all could be used again. The Warriors however were not as fortunate, five of the twelve were lost, but all of the scarab fighters were destroyed. Our celebration was short lived as the two other escorts and the brood ship jumped in. TF 3, and TF 1 fired off our missiles, while we recovered the fighters and then high tailed it out of there. TF 4 was given the abort code and they likewise jumped to the next staging point. We have given Fujiharra one day, at the cost of 400 dead, and another 300 wounded. 360 hundred of the dead were from the lost and damaged frigates. Each frigate has a crew of 250. The bugs lost three of the five escort stars and unknown damage sustained to the brood ship.
We played cat and mouse, with the remaining two escort stars for the next day. Eventually we got both of them, but TF 3 was nearly destroyed, only one frigate was lightly damaged, and one destroyer had to be towed back to Fujiharra, by the other less damaged sister ship. The other three frigates were destroyed or abandoned and scuttled. The Feline’s aero wing also was in dire straits, all of the Shaman bombers were lost and only three Tempest and two Warriors remained. On the plus side the brood ship was now on its own, and has visible damage from the persistent missile attacks made by TF 1 and TF 2. I ordered TF 3 to return to base and gave Ms. Glover, the Executive of the frigate, a holo with an update of the situation. TF 4 had yet be used, but their moment of glory was soon at hand. That’s two of the promised three days. Our next trap is set at XM 3415-1 or two jumps away from day two’s actions. We are four days away from Fujiharra.
Day three opened much like the other two encounters with the brood ship, however this time no escort stars were present to absorb the damage. Even so TF 2 lost a frigate that got too close and was nailed by the primary beam; at least the crew did not suffer. But the sacrifice was not in vain as the brood ship veered within range of the massed light attack vessels. All 10 of the LAV’s fired full spread of torpedoes, that means six torps each or a total of sixty Angel of Death torpedoes plowed into the massive brood ship. Well as best as we could tell 40 hit. The huge cylinder shuddered but unlike the smaller escort stars was not vaporized. Nearly a third of the ship was gone, but the rest seemed to have sealed off the damaged areas, and sloughed off the worst area. The Xeniod warriors that were not vaporized tried to fight but were easy pickings for the nimble LAV’s. We added to the carnage with our own missiles and guns, until the brood ship began to use its weapons , and picked off two of the LAV’s.
“Right ok fun and games over, all units retreat back to XM 3415-3.”
As I awaited acknowledgement, we sped towards the jump point. The sensors officette informed me that the brood ship has dropped speed by about twenty percent and so is now another day away from Fujiharra. So we actually have given them four days grace, but since my command was still over 50% effective I wanted one more shot with the brood ship.
Day four came and went, as the recon screen, of two frigates reported that the brood ship has lost another 10% of its speed. Xeniods don’t use jump points but rather travel very fast between systems at near light speed, luckily for us they are single minded and brood ships never deviate from their planned approach. We could use this to our advantage in the future.
The respite was used to rearm and quickly restore some of the damaged systems. A Bacchus class tender showed up along with two more frigates. We used the tender to top off the missiles and I rotated the two frigates with two of the more damaged ones. I was tempted to keep those so to give me a frigate strength of five, but figured three healthy frigates was just as good, and I would not have to worry about protecting cripples. The tender and the damaged frigates jumped out at the close of the day, while the recon group rejoined us as the Brood ship was about to enter the system. The LAV’s were in two groups of four, the three frigates formed up with the two destroyers in TF 2, while TF 1 maintained our center position. We are only two jumps from Fujiharra, and the next one is nothing more than a binary star system without any planets. This system has an asteroid belt and a single gas giant that we can use. So XM 3415-3 is the last stand, although I gave orders for any element that falls below 50% present strength to retreat to Fujiharra.
The fifth day, the brood ship definitely is slower, almost 25% of its original speed. Once in range all missile capable ships let fly with a full barrage. The frigates carried twenty each, the destroyers forty, and us twenty or a total of 160 heavy anti-ship missiles. The frigates and destroyers were done, but we had one more reload and two minutes later an additional 20 missiles streaked towards the big brood ship. The two LAV groups were to attack upon impact of the first volley. However the right group was a bit eager and unmasked too soon.
“Soro to hell, those idiots!”
“What Lady Browning?”
“Ma’am, TF 4-2 is attacking, the brood ship is turning to face them.”
“Time to impact on first volley?”
“Two minutes….TF 4-2 is firing torps!”
“Ok, status on TF 4-1?”
“Still masked, but they have an ideal stern shot….”
“Exactly, order TF 4-1 to engage, time to impact TF 4-2 torps?”
“25 seconds, brood ship is firing on TF 4-2…..TF 4-2 is gone, all four vessels are destroyed…”
“Status of torps?”
“Didn’t you hear me….TF 4-2 is gone….”
“Not now Lady Browning, we can mourn later, status of torps if you will?”
“Twenty on track, missiles in first volley all read green, brood ship is turning to engage TF 2 and TF 1.”
“Right TF 4-1 still set for stern attack?”
“Yes Ma’am, they are approaching from damaged side and are still masked.”
“Right, ok log TF 4-2’s attack as decoy that rash maneuver may give us victory…”
“Aye Ma’am….”
The impact of the twenty torps lit up the dark veil of space and more of the massive brood ship disappeared. The brood ship was just about back on a front on aspect when the first volley of missiles reached the huge form. We estimate only 75% of missiles detonated close enough to do damage, but that is 75% of close to 200 warheads. The huge fusion blasts ripped through the shields and armor of the massive xeniod ship, tearing off its front third. At the same time the stern section received the full fury of 24 torpedoes. By the time the second volley arrived, the brood ship was about 45% its original mass, even so that 45% was extremely dangerous as the lead frigate in TF 2 found out, taking a secondary beam to the port side.
“Shit pull back, regroup for a massed gun attack…”
“Ma’am detecting five jump signatures, two are huge!”
“Right stand by, the cavalry has arrived!...I hope.”
Sure enough the long awaited BTG arrived and between the two Minerva class dreadnoughts and three Dianna class battle cruisers made short work of the remnants of the brood ship. The remaining ships in TF 2 and TF 4 joined up with TF 1 and we headed back for Fujiharra. Besides saving the system we were all handsomely rewarded and I added another silver cluster, the commander of TF 4-2 was awarded a Ruby Star cluster posthumously. Personally I was just glad that the other holo did not need to be sent to Barbara.
After the incident with the brood ship, the Xeniods decided that the Fujiharra area was a bit too hot for them, so we saw a decreasing amount of action as they pulled out to greener pastures. Seemed the Confederation systems were more to the Xenoid’s taste. That left more time for routine patrols and much more enjoyable personal affairs.
![[Image: detail.gif]](https://static.hentai-gif-anime.com/upload/20170529/26/52988/detail.gif)
