Fellas!
as promised here is the next update. I hope you enjoy and again I apologize for the delay. Bear in mind however that it is summer and that as teh days get longer and the sun stays on more my free time for AARing decreases linearly (is that even a word) anyways as a direct funtion or something like that. Fuck grade ten math and what i remember of it. ok enough of this blabber. TO THE AAR!
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Earth
Sol System
Capital world of the Federation
Commodore Alan Bradshaw put the report down and rubbed his eyes free of the drowsyness that threatened to take him over. The past month had truly tested his limits, both physical and mental. His organizational skills had stood the test but every day brought new challenges. Every ship of the Fleet had to be in the right place at the right time, and as Commander in Chief it was his job to make sure of that. He had trustworthy subordinates and a will of steel, but an interstellar war was something never before experienced in the history of mankind and it was job to lead it to victory.
In the past month every single primary objective had been met and Terran forces advanced in all sectors. Other than the pyrrhic victory over Kupe V in which the Federation had lost three out of four wings of a squadron of Helix-Bs, the first phase of the war with the Drengin Empire was a resounding success. Terran Stellar Marines had made succesfull planet falls on nine planets and were currently in the process of occupying them and reorganizing the local governments. There had been one instance in which a full transport load of marine was anihilated when an ion storm deviated the trajectory of the dropships. The entirety of the four marine divisions crash landed in close proximity to the capital world of the planet, the most heavily guarded area. The battle lasted for two full days until finally, exhausted, surrounded, and out of ammunition they surrendered to the Imperial garrison. The remaining Stellar marines were paraded through the streets of the capital in chains and bind-locks while the local population threw garbarge at them. They were herded into the center square and every last one of them was executed publicly. The Drengin did not show mercy.
Bradshaw had other things on his mind however. The internal situation of the federation was dire. Though Anderson had in the end agreed to co-sign the deployment orders of the Fleet his political pull was deeply weakened. Many of his own ministers had already resigned and the vision of a strong central government in charge of weak satellite planets was beginning to wither away. Bradshaw slumped into his chair and picked up a book lying on his table. He always knew he could find solace in the book, and he needed it now more than ever. Other than massive political turmoil there were other concerns gnawing at the Federation, and at the very survival of mankind. The coffers of the Federation were empty. Less than empty to be exact. The Federation was in debt for the fist time since its existence. The vast amount of capital needed for the expansion of the Galactic navy had exceeded the income for too long and now they found themselves in debt.
Regarding the Navy two new ships were already in production. The brains at Gray Rock had found a replacement for the Harvard Class. The new Sparrow class had twice the speed and range as the Harvard while carrying the exact same weapons and defense platforms. The second class was named after a very pleasant city before the cataclysm. The Halifax Class was now the heaviest ship in the Fleet bristling with missile banks and three times as heavy as the Harvard because of its thick armour. The Halifax could not support atmospheric flight while the Sparrow, with its long wingspan like the Harvard, was more than capable of doing so. This would increase the eficiency of stellar marine operations with heavy air support.
Bradshaw turned his thoughts away from the latest specs of his new ships and continued to thumb the book. He faced a dilemma at the moment even though the book's author was clear about what to do in such a situation. Bradshaw had already devoted so much of his life to Plato's teachings and Plato was clear. In times such as this, when the very fabric of the Federation was unravelling, it was the leader's duty to do something many people thought to be immoral. To lie. To lie for the good of the population. Bradshaw cleared his head and began to think of the facts. The Federation was broke, the Federation lacked an able leader to control the central government and more importantly the colonies. The Federation had lost another planet to the Drengin on the morrow of the declaration of war. Andoria II had defected and the majority of its Human population was now being used as slaves. Bradshaw then looked at the positive facts. The Federation had lost relatively few forces, material, and lives. The Federation was advancing on all fronts. The Federation had superior ships and continued to produce even more powerful ones to stay on top.
The Commodore of the Terran Federation Galactic Navy sighed and closed his eyes. He knew that if information leaked to GNN about the empty coffers his master plan would be ruined. The population would demand an end to hostilities and a peace treaty. Such a thing would be suicidal for the continued free existence of mankind. He knew that with one big push the navy would put and end to the Drengin Empire. The latest situational reports indicated that Navy vessels were less than one moth away from the Imperial capital of Kona. With Federation war vessels in low orbit above their homeworld, the Drengin would have no choice but to negotiate a settlement on terms dictated by Humans. For now though, he would be forced to lie.
TFS Tripoli
Outskirts of Fivel System
Fivel System
Captain Nolan Commanding
"Davai Captain Nolan!" and with that the comm channel turned off and Vavilov's image disappeared.
Nolan turned to his helm officer "Increase to full impulse and keep on that fat bitche's tail."
The Tripoli, in conjunction with the Fivel action Group, had been operating in the Fivel System for the past month. They had engaged two Drengin warships and one Drengin Heavy fighter squadron. Their success rate was 100% and they had suffered absolutely no casualties and no serious damage. The first engagements had taken place over Fivel II. A Drengin corvette had charged straight at the Action Group only to be taught a deadly lesson of such a foolish action. The Tehran had obliterated the corvette, and her captain, Darryl Renges, hadn't stopped reminding Nolan about it. A terran transport had then taken low orbit over the planet and had begun dropship operations. The planet was now under Federation occupation.
"Reaching full speed sir" Nolan's helm announced.
After Dropship operations had begun a Drengin frigate had appeared on the far side of the moon and had engaged the Terran transport. The tehran, being the closest ship available had engaged the larger Drengin ship and with support from the Harvard, had managed to destroy the target. Rear-Admiral Vavilov had written up a reccomendation to navy HQ at Pearson NS for a platinum star for Capatain Darryl Renges following that brave episode.
"We're within reach sir" Nolan's tactical officer, his good friend Dee, announced
After the Frigate there was the squadron of heavy fighters. They had been no more than an intensive round of target practice. With the two gunships and the full power of the Harvard's weapon banks the Action Group was able to launch a total of sixty AI guidance missiles twice every minute. The Drengin squadron, though brave and able, hadn't stood a chance against the full weight of the action group's firepower. Vavilov had congratulated both Nolan and Renges on jobs well done but so far the action group hadn't been able to track down their all important secondary objective; the Drengin troop transport. Until now.
"Confirm target range and commence nuclear weapon activation. Helios!" Nolan barked authoritatively.
The computer mind chimed in "Captain Nolan"
"Nuclear Activation on the Alpha weapon. zero zero one niner mike charlie six."
The AI chimed again "Nuclear Activation complete. The weapon is armed."
Since the cataclysm the use of nuclear wepaons was something of a controversy. There existed many groups who demanded the absolute abolishment and destruction of the WMDs but the military and political masterminds still could not deny their power and usefulness. There existed no better deterrent than a couple of nukes, and no better way to destroy an enemy.
Nolan had never felt so anxious. His life had been full of anxious moments within the Guild, but up until this past month he had never actually been in combat. He had never been in a situation in which his life was in immediate danger due to someone actually trying to kill him. In combat there is no time to hesitate, it's all about you and the man next to you. He looked around the small bridge of his Navy gunship Tripoli and he knew he could not let these men and women down, no matter what that meant for the enemy. In this case the use of a nuclear weapon had been authorized to destroy the behemoth Drengin troop transport. he fact was that Nolan had been completely unaware that his ship carried a nuke. Safety protocol demanded that certain ship captains be kept in the dark concerning whether or not their ship carried a nuclear weapon. This was to ensure that none of these devasting bombs could be stolen.
The Navy had established a tight cordon around Drengin systems known, or thought, to contain enemy troop transports. Though they had been on the lookout for the transport located in Fivel they hadn't managed to track it down and it had managed to slip through their sensor nets. The Tripoli had caught up to it as it was heaeding straight into Federation space. A full transport load of Drengin troops ready to ravage any Federation planet it chose. It was Nolan's job to make sure the ship was entirely destroyed.
"Open a channel with the Harvard and let the Rear-Admiral in on our situation." Nolan told his comm officer.
I am the bringer of death. Nolan attempted to control his breathing. He had seen the full power of a thermonuclear hydrogen bomb and had been appalled that man could produce such a thing.
"The Rear-Admiral acknowledges and tells us to continue as planned." the comm officer replied
Nolan sat in his chair and looked at his flat viewer. The large Drengin ship was clearly visible. Aboard it was approximately 50 000 warriors who had no idea of the doom that awaited them. The Tripoli's bridge was quiet and everyone stared at Nolan, awaiting the orders he was sure to give. He had a duty to protect the loyal citizens of the Federation. His hand quivered a bit. Fifty thousand souls incinerated in a second. Nolan attempted to clear his mind and yet he still hesitated. He had never actually killed anyone. He knew that at some point during the skirmish with the Drengin fighters his missiles must have hit some targets, but this was different. He knew that being part of the Galactic navy meant being used as a weapon to kill the enemy. The soldiers aboard that ship also had a duty, but no means to defend themselves. However, given the chance to do so they would bring havoc and destruction to their enemies. Fellow Humans like Nolan.
"Release clamp locks and fire on my mark."
"Aye sir"
"3. 2. 1 Mark"
"Weapon away."
Nolan continued to watch his flatviewer and watched as a single plume of smoke raced towards the enemy ship. The most powerful weapon created by man. The infinite power of the atom.
"Ensure safe distance and take evasive action if necessary."
The Tripoli did a 180 degree turn and fired it's afterburners to reverse its current trajectory.
"Prepare to boost power to EMP defense." All Navy ships had been built to withstand the electro magnetic pulse of a nuclear explosion. Paradoxically, to make sure the systems were properly defended one had to boost as much available power to it depending on the force of the EMP blast. Using hard coded wiring a Navy ship with full power attributed to the defense system could withstand the strongest of EMP blasts.
Nolan continued to watch the screen. "Boost power!" The lights on the bridge dimmed and a loud humming noise could be heard as all electronics aboard were hard coded.
A blinding flash filled Nolan's screen as the weapon detonated upon impact. The shockwave reached the Tripoli and shook it violently. As it passed and things returned to normal Nolan looked at his screen one last time. Where there was once a large ship and 50 000 souls there was now three large piceces of a ship still exploding and millions of fiery fragments shooting out in every direction. Nolan's hand stopped quivering. He had a duty, and it just so happned that he had been on the winning side this time. He dreaded the day the opposite would be true.
