2433.2: Another Jreanar force has penetrated the initial defences of the Empire. While the mine factories on X100 IV are back to full output, they have not had a chance to build up a decent field yet. Three Jreanar DNs slipped through, and have been detected heading in-system towards our main shipyards at X100 II. We are currently lacking in military strength, as two of the Empire's ubernaughts are undergoing major repairs at the minor shipyards scattered around the twin systems, and three of the regular patrols have insufficient supplies. The StormCloud has checked out after being refueled, and a new Black Hole class Dreadnaught, the Matador, is at minimum combat readiness. On the civilian side, things are going well. Despite the thin military victories we have had recently, every world is bursting with confidence, every citizen jubilant. The legendary ubernaughts of the empire make wonderful propaganda, all of it true
. Our scientists and engineers are making progress on designs for a truly massive ship, theoretically capable of compressing a collection of asteroids into a stable planet. If they can achieve this, we should be able to double the size of our empire in an incredibly short time span!
Unfortunately, the military situation is critical at the moment, and demands my full attention. Strategic options are limited, and I find that I must send both the Matador and the StormCloud to make a preemptive strike against the Jreanar incursion. The Matador has not been refitted with expanded reserve power, and will likely suffer a similar fate to that of the Avenger, even with the StormCloud to assist. Still, the Jreanar must not be allowed to reach the shipyards, since an attack could easily damage the defenceless orbital facilities.
Approaching carefully, the Matador heads slowly towards the Jreanar fleet with the StormCloud hovering close by. The space-wrenching effect reported during earlier encounters is not in evidence, and the ship count remains at three. Missiles are launched, and the two empire ships dive in to meet them, PDCs blazing fire into space. Polaron fires splash around the forward shields of the lead Jreanar DN, and the StormCloud streaks past the Jreanar ship, bLasting a second wave of fire into the aft shields. Hit by PDCs, four missiles flare brightly but harmlessly, and the Matador slips through the Jreanar forces. Two late-fired missiles streak into range, and the Matador's PDCs continue firing only a moment longer before clicking empty. Both missiles slam head-on into the dreadnaught, which dissapears into a blinding white sphere of energy.
Moments later the ship emerges, shields glowing bright blue and trailing sparks, as shield energy bubbles away from overloaded generators.
The Jreanar ships time their missile launches perfectly, and the Matador finds itself surrounded. Polarons smash into the shields of the Jreanar from both sides, and the overloaded shields collapse. Purple fire licks at the hull of the DN, burning away the armor before melting down the antiproton beam emitter and severly overheating one of the heavy shield generators. PDCs are reloaded, but are too late to adequately defend the Matador. Two missiles bLast the shields of the Matador, which flare up as the EMP from the missiles impacts the defences. Hull temperature rises as the fireball leaks through the collapsing shields of the DN, and two more missiles reach range zero. PDCs complete their power up cycle, and begin to fire, but the missiles are too close, and they both smash the aft hull of the Matador. The dreadnaught's ultra heavy armor darkens and cracks as the intense radiation pours in. Four points on the aft shield grid bubble out and burst streams of superheated plasma as generators explode beneath ruptured armor plating. The Last two missiles explode a safe distance away, but the damage has been done. Awash in high-intensity radiation and plasma, the Matador turns to barely miss a Jreanar ship, hammering it with polarons at it passes.
Being ignored for now, the StormCloud cuts into the shields of the lead Jreanar, knocking them out once more, and burns into the remaining weapons on the ship. Twin fireballs erupt from the forward section of the Jreanar DN, which, now disarmed, breaks formation and turns to retreat. The remaining DNs dive independently towards the Matador and spray wildly with antiproton beams, not even expecting a hit.
The StormCloud comes about to follow the rush, burning the shields of the nearest DN with lances of polaron fire, while the Matador hammers her own target. Six heavy polaron beams reach out to touch someone, but as they discharge, newly installed amber warning lights blink to life on the bridge of the Matador. Main power is down 50%, and dropping rapidly from heavy shield and weapons activity.
Although the Matador's shields have been restored to 30%, the battle has devolved into a dogfight, the capital ships twirling around in random patterns. A Jreanar ship swerves directly in front of the Matador, and without warning, two missiles are released. PDCs power up to shoot the missiles, but they are already within the minimum safe distance, and they slam the Matador with nuclear bLasts. One missile slams an EMP into the port shields, overloading the generators, and the second pierces the forward shields with a second bLast. Only partially shielded, the ultra heavy armor is no match for the atom-fueled fireball, and three more shield generators explode through the charred plating.
Polarons continue to stab out to consistently stike the Jreanar ships, but the Heavy shielding continues to hold. The second Jreanar ship feints a ramming, and drops missiles at point blank range before veering off. Her shields only at 20%, the Matador is instantly rocked by the missiles. Shields are slammed by the EMP, and a wave of darkness rolls across the hull as shield generators trip and begin to cycle through a restart sequence. Fire rakes the entire hull, leaving only half the shield generators intact.
One of the Jreanar ships is starting to show weakened shields, so the Matador and StormCloud lock on. A withering stream of fire from the Heavy Polaron cannons on the Matador pierce the shielding, and liquefy the forward hull of the DN. Armor, weapons, shields, and the majority of the living quarters on the ship are vaporized, leaving only the skeletal remains of the support beams and a charred aft section. From the cloud of rubble and polaron flame streak two missiles, and they pound the unsuspecting Matador with burning radiation. Her 15% shielding is pierced, and the outer layers of the Matador's broken armor are scattered into space while another series of generators explode and add more plasma to the veil surrounding the ship. Polarons rip into the shields of the Last DN, dropping its weakened shields by another 30%. Partially blinded by the raging plasma fires on her hull, the Matador is unable to target the tiny missiles launched by the Last Jreanar ship, and the nuclear missiles smash through the 8% remaining shield strength of the DN. Armor and shields burn brightly, lighting up the cloud of generator plasma enveloping the ship. Down to 5% shields, the amber lights wink out on the bridge to be replaced by red. Main power is down to 30%, and the armor is nearly gone.
Polarons rake the Last Jreanar ship, and though its shields are critically low, most of the attack is deflected. Before the DN can reload its missiles, the StormCloud penetrates its shielding again, and bLasts the weapons from the hull. A half-power burst from the Matador burns into the DN, and the Last Jreanar ship explodes into an orange-white fireball.
The Jreanar have again been repulsed, but the crew of the Matador have suffered severe radiation burns. The vailant dreadnaught is being sent to the shipyards at Curyok IV, and can start repairs there, once the Stalwart has been returned to service. Radiation decontamination can be started as soon as the ship arrives, but many crew members are terminally ill, and most will always be sterile.
The StormCloud has proceeded to rejoin the Protector in patrols at the Jreanar wormhole, while the Guardian and Stonewall have been resupplied and are patrolling the Phong wormhole. Another BlackHole class DN, the Thor, is being sent from Curyok to replace the Matador, but it has not had it's heavy internal armor installed yet either.
Casualties are rising each year... how many more lives will be lost defending HomeSystem?