[Starhawk]

2438.1 Fire and Starlight
Rear Admiral Forseti had been given command of the Artemis flight of 6 heavy raiders plus the 43rd SD division to investigate rumors of a Sol Coalition convoy that had just engaged and destroyed a scouting party. This was Forseti’s first command and his nerves were gnawing at him like lynch rats, Vice Admiral White had recommended him for this command just before she had been given command of the 5th fleet a month ago.
“Admiral we’re approaching the warp point, the enemy fleet should be mid system by now so it’ll take us at least a week to catch up, assuming the warships stick to the transports.” Captain Rheinhard Merkatz said as he stepped away from the master plot. The Artemis flight had been reinforced by the Superdreadnought division for this operation because it was decided that the additional muscle might be require to tackle the convoy’s SD escorts.
“Thank you Captain, tell Commodore Saunders that I’ll want her super dreads to form a spearhead in front of the Artemis and the other raiders, let’s try to keep their firepower and armor in front so we can get rid of those escorts as quickly as possible, that’ll allow us and the other raiders to snag those transports and the few hundred million people they are transporting.” Forseti grinned at Merkatz as he thought of the prize money he and his crews would receive for capturing three large transports.
“Approaching warp jump in five……four……three…..two……one…..all hands brace for jump!” The helmsman called out an instant before the lurch that signaled Warp transition.

A moment after transition Forseti flinched as a brilliant green flash lit the screen and suddenly alarms and klaxons howled as if a beast screaming with rage, it took Forseti a moment to regain his senses but when the shock wore off the Admiral saw in his screens two massive Sol Coalition SDs right in front of him and their guns were firing.
“Admiral unknown weapons they’re passing right through our shields!!” the tactical officer shouted over the klaxons and alarms as the screens lit up again this time with the glow of an explosion that could only be caused by a large ship exploding.
The momentary advantage that the Solars had was enough to inflict massive damage on the Icarans, the Decimator had been destroyed in a matter of seconds as null space cannons and then heavy AP weapons cut her apart four of the five raiders had suffered heavy damage and the Sauron was shot to pieces.
Fortunately Commodore Saunders quickly regrouped her division’s survivors and began trading fire with the Solar warships, Forseti’s raiders attempted to provide gunnery support as well but most of them had their sensors knocked apart only Artemis herself scored any hits and her massive I-lasers quickly reduced one of the 6 enemy SDs to wreckage and then disabled two of the three transports with ease.
Beams crisscrossed between the two groups of warships and as another volley of null enemy AP beams sliced into the shields of the Icarans a devastating volley of I-lasers crossed the void and lashed out at the Sol warships crippling one and blowing the rest apart as the Snipe finally managed to score hits with her cannons despite the wrecked sensors.
The battle was soon at an end as the last Sol transport was crippled by the Artemis, the three transports and a single enemy SD were quickly captured by the marines of the 4 raiders who had not been totally disabled however the Icaran victory had come at a high cost, thanks to the initial shock that the Sol forces had on their side the Icarans had almost been destroyed and had it not been for the commander of the Super dreadnoughts reforming so quickly all 12 Icaran ships may have been totally destroyed, as it was however the casualties were still significant, Decimator had been destroyed with no survivors and the Starlighter had lost half her crew and her entire marine compliment, the other ships could claim little better unfortunately and the entire Artemis flight was forced to remain stationary until the 3rd fleet arrived with repair ships and transferred the 5 surviving Superdreadnoughts to Star Admiral Ross’ command.

Casualties:
HMS Decimator Destroyed (6,100 dead)
HMS Imperial (SM) 42% (1,300 dead)
HMS Snipe (SM) 46% (4,100 dead)
HMS Triumphant (SM) 46% (3,800 dead)
HMS Starlighter (SM) 57% (5,000 dead)
HMS Sauron (SD) 42% (2,300 dead)
Total Casualties: 22,600 dead
Total Crusade Casualties: 311,471