[geoschmo]

2417.3

In retrospect it was remarkable that the Sallgan rebels had managed even the small amount of damage they did in the brief battle in Usphada. They outnumbered the Norak warships by 4 to 1, but these were not the outdated Norak ships that the Sallegan navy had faced in the Battle of Cephredi a couple of years before. These four ships were top of the line Norak battle ships, with much superior weponry, and the mysterious Religious Tailsmans that the Sallegans had so far been unable to decipher.

While the rebels did have three Grandow class Battle Cruisers, they were early units of the series, including the initial Grandow herself, serial 0001. The remainder of the fleet were pratically relics. Frigates, and destroyers with hoplessly outdated weaponry and little or no combat electronics. Remainders of the Xi'Chung and Sergetti wars pressed into service due to the recent tensions and assigned to what was supposed to be a security post in a less critical area of the empire. In fact a couple of the Desroyers had actually taken part in the invasion of the Xi'Chung homeworld and were scheduled to be given to the naval museum as soon as the situation allowed. A few of their youngest crewmembers were not as old as the ships they were serving on.

In tonnage and number of weapons it was far closer to an even fight than the number of ships relayed, and in fact in quality the Norak were far superior. Despite this the Sallegans did manage to destroy one Texas V class Battleship, although the rest of the Norak vessels escaped apparently without scratch. Many of the smaller Sallegan vessels were destroyed by the first Norak volleys before even making to their own weapons ranges.

Davisen/Flicken had done a careful job of selecting officers for key fleet positions that were loyal to their cause. This in conjunction to a well timed Sergetti interferance had resulted in Admiral Grandow not being aware of the operation until it was too late to stop it. He attempted to warn the Norak government of the plot, but his signals either did not arrive in time, or were not taken seriously.

Apporpriate appologies were expressed over the loss of Norak life on the battleship. Grandow considered them all very fortunate that that was the extent of the losses. He could not imagine the damage to Sallegan/Norak relations at such a critical juncture in the peace process had the rebels succeded in their attack. It very likely could have lpunged the quadrant into a war that neither side would have recovered from in his lifetime.

In fact, since most of his frontline ships could not leave the Cephredi system, he had to dispatch the fleet garrisoning the Xi'Chung homeworld. He was not even sure they would have been able to deal with the rebel fleet in Ushpada had they been victorious. If they managed to get through this crises Grandow decided he needed to have a talk with his minister in charge of keeping the fleet retrofits up to date.

Despite the incident the Norak government showed restraint. Negotiations were finalized to turn the colony in Narcisston back over to Norak control. The order was sent, although Grandow was not sure who was at the receiving end. The loyalist fleet he dispatched from Organtrix would not be in Narcisston for four months, and though he had issued orders for Governor Simpson to be arrested, communications had been sporadic from the eastern systems. Most of his concrete information over the Last couple months had come from the Norak themselves. There was still a large Sallegan fleet in Narcisston, and he was afraid that considering the events of late, he was not totally sure of their loyalty.