Carrier Battles Team Mode

[Suicide Junkie]

It is 2409, and combat losses are starting to pile up for the Caspian Empire.

Western front:
Only a few months ago, the veteran Alpha and Delta fleets were both destroyed with all command staff while defending the Hinterland warppoint against a massive Imperial incursion.
With the imperials retreating for repairs, the western front is left scrambling to rebuild a defense force under the command of a freshly promoted fleet commander.
Currently their numbers are less than half of the original force, and new crews are training hard at the nearby military base.

Northwestern front:
Things have been quiet lately, but the military base has been completely depopulated as more and more reinforcements were required in the west. Currently there are only six ships undergoing training or repairs at the military base.
Although the UNS were the last to try attacking through this corridor, a small fleet of theirs has been spotted in the southeast, which casts doubts as to what kind of forces will be seen here in the future.

Northern front:
Ukra-tal are currently besieging the northern colonies with over a hundred ships. Although the colonies are protected from orbital bombardment by planetary shields, almost a thousand enemy units have already landed on the surface, and skirmishes continue to deplete the defending regiments.
Since the outer colonies are six months travel time from the nearest military base, reinforcements would be impractical to send even if we had any.

Northeastern front:
The outer colonies in Fumig have just fallen to a blitzkrieg attack by the Cue Cappa. Two shielded colonies were lost in as many months, and our last remaining colony is under heavy assault by 800 troops. Our forces have been pushed back, but should be able to hold for a few more months unless the enemy brings reinforcements.
Regional defenses include Epsilon fleet, mostly composed of untrained crews, but with a veteran fleet commander. Only 40 ships are present, as compared to the 60+ enemy ships in Fumig, but the 25 veteran ships and officers of Beta fleet are on their way east and will arrive in five months. At that point a counterattack will become an option.
A mini military base is present in Salaph, one jump inwards from Fumig, but has only repair yards with minimal defenses with no training facilities.
Training for this region is typically handled by the full military base at Ashadra to the south.

SouthEastern front:
This region is relatively quiet, but expansive. A handful of enemy ships patrol through the fringe systems, but are not threatening yet.
Most colonies in the area are shielded and have some amount of militia forces sufficient to fend off small packs of ships, but this defense focus has stunted economic growth in the region.
The military base in Ashadra is one of the best equipped in the empire, but currently has only a few ships stationed there. What ships are there are mostly novice crews undergoing training, and watching over a damaged cue incursion fleet which was defeated by Epsilon fleet in 2408. While the fleet is not a threat to any of the colonies in the area, there is insufficient force available to destroy the remaining carriers. All available ships are being sent north as reinforcements.


Southeast:
No enemy empires have been found to the southeast, and colonization is proceeding to push outwards. The main limiting factor is economic; resources and population are in extremely short supply, but this region has been given a high priority.

Core Systems:
Due to budget defecits every turn, most of the shipyards in the core have been idle for the last year.
They are only free to spend organics, since there is a federal reserve of 650k remaining.
Many colonies have recently completed work on ancient-tech inspired atmosphere converters, but they will take until 2412 to complete their work.

Shorter term plans include research into resource extraction, and the development of gas giant colonization tech.
The first dreadnought sized warships are also starting to roll off the assembly lines, but it will be at least a year before their crews can be fully trained.

[Suicide Junkie]

Well, that game got laid low by an inescapable division by zero error.

So I started a new game, with more story from the start!

The first 10 turns:
2400:
Long have the technocratic governments of the galaxy controlled the advanced races of the galaxy.
They have pacified, and oppressed sentients everywhere, unopposed for millennia.
Until today!
Long have we awaited a chance, and on the first day of the year 2400, our electronic overlords were thrown into confusion as the ancient texts predicted.
With the overlords calling on ancient non-existent power sources, our technicians were able to shut down the fusion plants, and starve them into hibernation.
Citizens across the planet are smashing the AI cores as we speak!

2400.1:
So far, we have restored contact with, and confirmed the liberation of Texrek X, Sophenis I, and Telome II. All three have achieved manual control of all major facilities.
Unfortunately many minor planets in our sector are still silent, and we have not heard from any of the other known major worlds.
To investigate, Liberator class ships are now being commissioned. With advanced communications and construction equipment, plus experienced technicians to deal with remaining AI, they are well suited to uplift the minor planets.

2400.2:
Liberators have landed on two minor worlds. Telome I and Xolox VI to the southeast. Our investigations have revealed that these worlds suffered a severe loss of technology during their revolutions. Telome I was in fact dependent on the main AI cores Telome II, and with the loss of control for over three months, the facilities have been badly damaged.
Xolox VI suffered as well, with bad weather adding to the damage.
Given the damage and the unknown state of the facility AIs, both crews have opted to demolish the existing facilities for raw materials and rebuild from scratch.

2400.3:
This month, while a Liberator was passing through Auric, it received a transmission from the primary world there. The fact that it was encoded with AI protocols was a bad sign, but the content of the message was most distressing. It began with "Halt your vessel and prepare for repairs", and followed up with a subversion attempt on the ship's systems.
The liberator also spotted a modified colony ship heading north.
The AI is clearly still in control of the planet and has begun a campaign of reestablishing wider control.
In response to this, the free worlds have banded together into an alliance for mutual protection.

2400.4
Citizens are volunteering in droves to crew liberation forces, but due to the fact that maintenance was done by the AIs until recently there just isn't enough technical equipment to go around, and not enough room aboard the Liberator class ships to carry the technicians.
In order to accomodate more volunteers, the facilities in Sophenis have begun constructing a set of Deliverator class transports, while both free planets in Texrek have begun building equipment. In addition, the liberator was redirected to the tiny mining outpost of Auric IIA.
In total, the four worlds have a capacity for equipping and transporting 550 combat technicians per month.

Liberators continue to move out to free the minor worlds, but with only one world still building them, it will be tough to maintain the current rate of progress.

2400.5
The Alliance outpost in Auric reported that the AIs have been spotted building a large ship of unknown capabilities.
The last wave of liberators have landed on colonies in Xolox, Jorun, Aldan and Othello, and the last of the planets in Telome have freed.
Reconstruction efforts are being focussed on additional ship construction facilities, so that more liberators can be constructed.

2400.6
The mysterious ship being constructed by the AI world in Auric made its move this month; it entered orbit of the mining outpost and deployed three dozen drones to surround the colony.
"This world is now under quarantine"

2400.7
With the addition of an AI point defense ship, plans to send up fighters with anti-drone missiles had to be scrapped.
A fleet of Deliverators is starting to take shape in Texrek, and 1400 Technicians have been equipped.
Fortunately, it appears that the AIs consider the takeover of the mining world an isolated incident, and are concentrating their efforts on the blockade. With luck, our forces will be able to liberate Auric behind their backs.

2400.8
A total of 1940 combat technicians are setting forth form Sophenis today, and should arrive at the warp point to Auric this month, from where they will launch their assault.
An AI PD ship has been spotted heading south. Although still two jumps from the liberated colonies, this expanded probing is not a good sign.
In addition a second AI carrier is under construction. Resistance is stiffening, and the shock of 2400 is wearing off.

2400.9
Massive AI activity this month; the system of Auric has been flooded with 7 AI ships, and even far north, a ship has been spotted approaching Othello III.
Our fleet of Deliverators is pressing forward, and will make their attempt. The only good news is that our reconstruction efforts are bearing fruit in the south; many of the space yards will be operational by the end of the month.

[Suicide Junkie]

2401.0
Things went badly this month. The AIs were prepared, and only a quarter of the combat technicians made it down to the surface. All four deliverator ships were lost. We can only hope that our troops will be able to disrupt the planetary construction network long enough for us to find a way to get reinforcements to them.
An AI ship entered Telome and sent encoded messages to all of our planets. Although there was some trouble with sanitation bots on Telome II, the demolish and rebuild strategy was effective on the colonies.
The AI ships have begun spreading out in all directions lately, so the planets in Texrak and Telome have begun working on defenses.
The outer colonies, with their new construction yards, have begun building a new wave of liberator class ships. The more planets we have on our side, the better off we will be.

A number of plans to counter the AI drone carriers have been tried in simulations and rejected. Given the technological limitations we are currently under, it seems that there will be no easy way. The western worlds are cooperating again, this time to build Independence class carriers, and Asp fighters. Although similar in design to their AI counterparts, our missile bombers will have extra armor and cost more. Given the limited number that can be carried into combat with our limited number of ships, the tradeoff should help us.

2401.1
With our fleet demolished in Auric, the AI forces have redoubled their forces and threats at the mining colony. Our troops are well experienced with the enemy, and know which demands to accept and which to not. While the AI fleets secure orbit, we have been busy organizing defenses. Between signal jammers, EMP mines, nanotube aerosol grenades, and a host of other tricks cooked up by the local technicians, the citizens will be well prepared for the inevitable invasion.

2401.2
The appearance of an AI facility repair ship in the north has concerned the alliance council. Allowing the AIs to restore their control over the minor worlds in that area would be devastating to our cause. One of the unused deliverators has been reassigned from transport duty. Its new mission is to search out AI ships making reconstruction attempts, and stop them before they can complete their work. With luck, the deliverator's technicians should be able to make use of the AI's own heavy construction equipment, allowing the deliverator to help many more planets than it otherwise would.

2401.3
Although we have not yet established reliable contact with the combat technicians on Auric X, alliance leadership is hopeful. The fact that no new ships have been constructed there since the attack is encouraging. The blockade of the mining colony has also been lifted.
Elsewhere, the new wave of liberators have begun rebuilding facilities at worlds on the fringe of free space.
Already, there is talk of using the new Independence class carriers and the last remaining Deliverators to make another troop run at Auric X. With enough of our fighters to fend off whatever remains on the surface, and the remaining space aboard the carriers used for extra troops, the assault should be far more successful.

2401.4
Much optimism was crushed this month, as the reason for the abandonment of the blockade became clear. A fleet of eight AI ships, including three carriers, are now about to warp through to Texrek. Even though Texrek is our main fighter production center, this will be tough to withstand.
A three ship AI fleet was spotted up north in Othello as well. Defenses there are light, and will be strengthened in the next two months.
There was again no new ship construction in Auric, so as soon as the immediate crisis is over, a fleet will be sent with troops to reinforce our position there.

2401.5
The AI fleet stopped at the warppoint, and added a fourth carrier to its number. Even with the timely addition of 40 fighters from a deliverator, we will still be outnumbered if the fleet attacks Telome II.
North, in Othello, a fleet of AI ships have moved to intercept the newly constructed Liberator. Although escape is doubtful, the ship has been ordered to make a run for it.
More bad news in Auric; the last of our technicians were overrun by AI forces, and a new ship has been built there. Reinforcement is no longer an option, and this time the ground forces will be better prepared for our arrival.
The only good news is that our technicians at home have uncovered some useful technical plans in the archives. A prototype speed-4 fighter engine, and very old schematics for an inhabited space station. Such a station should allow us to supplement our ship construction efforts with enthusiastic engineers.

2401.6
The AI fleet's analysis of the situation in Texrek must have mirrored our own. High risk for both sides, with little to no possible gains. The fleet has moved back through Auric towards the north.
In Othello this month, a truly heroic effort by the defense forces distracted the AI warships long enough for the Liberator to break orbit. With five more AI ships entering the system, the Liberator set down on Othello V, and began organizing the natives into a defensive force in record time.
A prototype Assembly station has gone up at Aldan IV, and it is being very well received by the locals. More are planned for other colonies, and we should soon have a strong supply of Independence carriers. In Sophenis and Texrek, the supply of fighters is currently five times larger than the current capacity of our carrier fleet, so every additional ship will be a great help.

2401.7
The AI fleet is heading towards Telome now; although there are plenty of colonies with only basic defenses there, we are confident that we will be able to hold off any ground forces they have brought. The newly built orbital facilities are the most vulnerable.
In the north west, the Deliverator patrol has paid off. As an AI colony entered orbit of Dussullet IV, the Deliverator forced it down to the surface and deployed troops. 600 technicians were able to capture the AI equipment intact and without casualties! After building tools for a militia of 50 more technicians to help the locals restore services, work will begin on a space yard.

2401.8
Not much activity this month. Fleets are gathering everywhere, and the AI fleet has turned north. All available Deliverators and Independence are being gathered in Telome and Texrek for a two pronged assault planned for early in the new year.

2401.9
13 AI ships are being tracked across the northern areas, and ten more are leaving Auric to the north. Where they will strike is anybody's guess. Only three ships are orbiting Auric X this month, but our ships are not yet in position.

[Suicide Junkie]

2402.0
In the past two years we have liberated 28 worlds across 17 systems; as far east as Centrolius, and south as Ulce. Final preparations for a second invasion of Auric are proceeding quickly, and development efforts on the free worlds are doing well.
A single AI scoutship has been spotted entering Jorun from the south. This is a clear indication that other major AI worlds other than the one in Auric are still active. Our experience with the local AIs allowed us to fool the new contact long enough to identify three core processing worlds in Fortunil, Delamer and Keptin. Despite our best efforts, the scout did see through our deception, and announced that repair ships were on their way.

2402.1
The invasion fleets are being launched. 300 Asp missile bombers and 2100 Combat Technicians are setting forth from Texrek, and another 240 bombers are aboard Independence carriers breaking orbit from Telome. Reinforcements will meet up as they come available.
A fleet of five AI carriers and five more support ships have entered Auric from the north, and are on a heading which will take them either to the colony or to Telome. The Carriers from Telome will attempt to engage them, giving the Texrak fleet a clear shot at Auric X.
With a total of 14 ships in Auric, but only one actually orbiting Aurix X, we stand a good chance of success here.

2402.2
Although completely overwhelmed by the fleet of 12 ships, and stymied by a quartet of point defense ships, the fighters of Auric IIa were able to moderately damage one of the enemy targets.
With luck, that damaged ship will impair the mobility of the AI fleet next month, when our fleets enter Auric.
In unqualified good news, one enemy ship was also overwhelmed and destroyed at the Auric warppoint by our Texrak fleet with no casualties.

2402.3
Our fleets are in position, and only three AI ships are in range to intercept us. Total forces are 550 bombers and 2853 Combat techs.
To the south, an Independence set out to intercept the AI scout, but was ambushed at the warppoint to Xiban. Although all eight pilots survived the battle, the Independence suffered heavy damage, including both fighter bays. Although they are unable to restock, the fighters do have almost 50 missiles remaining unspent from the last battle.
It is almost certain now that the AI ship exchanged strategic data with its counterpart from the north in order to execute the ambush. This war will not be getting any easier.

2402.4
The operation was a complete success this time! The lone AI defense ship went straight for the lead Independence, and managed to do heavy damage to engines, armor and control systems before the bombers vaporized it with a full volley of missiles. Despite the damage, all of the troops aboard survived the decent to the surface.
Almost all of the AI ships seem to have abandoned Auric now, and with a huge presence over and on a major AI world, morale is very high.
Quite a few ships have been seen in the far north lately, and Othello currently has 18 of them in two fleets. They have been avoiding our worlds in the area, but some type of counterattack is expected in the next few months.

2402.5
Othello V has fallen! Despite a valiant defense effort by the local space forces, disabling half of the 8 AI ships, a horde of laser tanks and rocket-bots was able to destroy 95% of our ground forces in the first 20 days.
Othello V was our oldest and largest world in the north, with the best space defenses. Clearly they were insufficient. All colonies in the area have been instructed to maximize ground defenses in preparation for the AI troops. We hope the sacrifices of Othello V will prove a sufficient delay for the other planets to prepare.
Debate is raging, as to whether a small fleet of ships and the required troops can be spared from the operation in Auric for the 5 month trip to Othello.
In Auric, 1200 additional troops have landed, and reports indicate that we have control of between 2% and 3% of the planet. Independence carriers continue to skirmish with solo ships in the area, but no major threat to our position has yet materialized.
Another Independence suffered moderate damage in Hades as it intercepted an AI ship. There were no casualties, but it will take two months to return to base, and another year to complete repairs with the limited facilities available. The crew will be transferred to one of the other carriers in the area.

2402.6
Light damage was suffered by an Independence at Auric X this month, as an AI missile ship challenged the blockade from below. With 9 other carriers remaining to cover our troop transports, the damaged Independence is being sent to Telome for some armor repairs and seven replacement bombers.
AI forces blockaded Othello III this month, but with only three ships, they were unable to provide a credible threat.
Four damaged ships remain in orbit of Othello V, presumably undergoing repairs using our very own facilities.
More AI ships have been showing up from the south lately, so an Independence is being sent with some technicians and a half load of bombers to take care of the situation. Supplemental units will be available from the southern colonies as needed.

2402.7
Ground forces continue to flow into Auric, but progress is slow. Casualties from the blockade trickle in monthly; eight bombers one month, a damaged carrier the next. Morale remains high despite, or possibly because of, the lack of reports coming from the surface.
AI forces continue to increase in the north. There must be at least one more major AI planet in the area. With a fleet of 16 heading south out of Othello, the militia forces of Arklite have been put on alert. Defense plans include a network of missile satellites plus extensive ground fortifications, but both will take time.
In the south, two AI ships are being pursued by our carriers. Although Independence carriers have proven more than a match for solo AI gunships, we have a number of unarmed liberators and potentially vulnerable colonies which must be protected.

2402.8
More trouble in the south this month. Two more AI ships have entered Jorun, including a carrier, which we must assume is fully stocked and extremely dangerous. The two AI ships at the Dornot warppoint are due to be intercepted early next month, but we have no ships in position to intercept the new two, which may be headed for our immobilized carrier in Xiban.
Although two rescue ships have already arrived and begun work, the damage is quite extensive and the carrier will not be able to extract our pilots for another two months. While the eight bomber pilots would stand a chance against a single AI ship, against an entire carrier, there is no hope.
A fully stocked carrier has been detached from escorting troop transports in Auric to assist in southern defense.

In the north, more AI ships have been spotted moving south into Dusullet, so another Independence has been detached from the Auric blockade to boost defenses in that region as well.

This increasing drain on Auric assets is worrisome, but replacement carriers are on their way from the orbital yards in Aldan.

2402.9
The southern AI ships are moving north to meet our incoming carriers. Our forces will be holding position over the Xolox colonies to await the AI forces.
In the north, AI forces continue to build up. Clearing this territory will be a very tough challenge. Even holding our ground is becoming questionable. If the battle in Auric drags out too much longer, we may be unable to build enough of a fleet fast enough to counter the AI forces.

[Suicide Junkie]

2403.0
After three years, we have now liberated 51 planets, but lost one back to the AI forces. Our borders have not expanded much in the last year, but much progress has been made in rebuilding local worlds. Most of the newly librated colonies have been in the Ochre-Zuria corridor to the east, and there has been no AI activity in that region.
New expansion efforts will be focussed on securing the Jama-Baksha loop in the north, but there are also plans in development for the Bardron-Remnorak chokepoint region.
Two additional AI core worlds have been identified through an AI scout in Udix; two in Lenoltris, and one in Ephandra. Combined with the one known and two suspected local core worlds, this brings the total to nine. The Independence which discovered the ship has been ordered to intercept it before it can make contact with the local AI cores.
At home, our best estimates point to three thousand casualties in ground combat so far, with roughly five thousand troops remaining on the surface of Auric X. Actual progress in the battle is much less certain; anywhere from 10% to a very optimistic 50% control over the planet.

2403.1
An AI scout claiming to be representing core worlds in Rakshasa and Zoma has been spotted far north in Hermes. This has put an increased urgency on developing a presence in Bardron-Remnorak to protect the interior worlds.
Critical systems have been restored on the damaged carrier in Xiban. After eight months of living aboard their fighters, the eight pilots were finally able to land and move into real crew quarters instead of relying on umbilicals.
Just to the north, our two carriers intercepted the enemy ships entering Xolox this month. The AI forces were overwhelmed and defeated, but we lost 33 of the 80 bombers, and one of the carriers sustained heavy damage. Fortunately, with life support and living spaces undamaged, casualties were minimal. The second carrier is now coordinating recovery efforts, and will take as many pilots as they can carry to the south for further operations. The remaining pilots will be transferred back to the damaged carrier to await the repair ships from Xiban. With only two months travel time, and another two months to get engines and at least one functional fighter bay, the rescue and recovery operation should proceed much more swiftly this time. Despite the light damage to critical systems, the carrier itself will not be returning to active service for at least two years due to extensive superstructure damage.
In other news, AI forces have shifted towards Dussullet in the north, with 20 ships and carriers harassing the residents, and a southern Carrier has been spotted in Jorun.
Due to the continued lack of counterattacks in Auric, four of the eight remaining blockade carriers are being dispatched for operations in the western front. While they will be outclassed by any major AI fleet, targets of opportunity may present themselves.

2403.2
The AI presence in Dussullet has balooned to 40 ships this month. It seems unlikely that the single Independence in orbit of the colonies would have deterred a 17 ship fleet from closing to combat range, and they are probably just waiting for the rest of the ships to catch up, but each month of delay means 200 additional defenders can be equipped.
Two small pursuits are in progress this month. In the north, the local defenders in Dammitol have been transferred to a fresh carrier in order to intercept a returning AI scoutship, while in the south, a pack of two carriers are hunting a carrier on course to Xiban. The damaged carrier is now safely out of the way, and undergoing repairs at Jorun V.

2403.3
Dussullet IV and its two moons were attacked this month. Despite being overwhelmed by almost 20 AI ships and carriers, the lone Independence made good use of the limited satellite defense net to disable two enemy ships and moderately damage a third. All orbital assets have been destroyed, and 16 enemy ships are now blockading the entire sector. Although a ground offensive has not yet begun, there is a second wave of 19 AI ships expected to arrive next month.
An additional 8 ships have bypassed Dussullet, and have entered Kythrik. Their current mission is unknown, but many Kythran worlds have light defenses, having focussed on economic improvements.
In Jorun, the AI carrier expected to make a run for Xiban has instead doubled back and earned itself another month of pursuit. This time, however, it is trapped between the fleet of two, and a warppoint guarded by a third carrier.
Things have quieted down in Othello, and orbital defense work is proceeding well. If the situation continues to improve, Othello V may even switch to offensive production by the end of the year.
An additional ship and a carrier have been spotted down south. There should be plenty of Independence carriers available to intercept them when they arrive, although most are currently busy with manoeuvers or repairs.

2403.4
Yet another new AI scout was detected as the first Liberator entered Fwandrei, this time the scout is representing core worlds in Azurii and Vornal.
At the same time, an unexpected fleet of 12 has entered the system of Zuria. With AI forces this strong, it will take a major military commitment to secure the southeastern cluster.
In preparation, colonies in the Ochre-Zuria corridor have started ramping up fighter production. When carriers start arriving from the shipyards in Aldan they will be able to stock up en route.
The fleet of eight AI ships in Kythrik are headed straight for a confrontation with the four carriers we dispatched from Auric earlier.

2403.5
The 12 ship fleet in Zuria is now heading for Zyx. A Liberator heading south narrowly avoided the fleet and certain doom.
Another AI carrier has been destroyed in Bintrox, and pursuit continues with available ships. Currently our forces are mainly limited by a lack of bombers, but most of the planets in Jorun are busy building replacements.
In the north, the fleet of eight is manoeuvering in Kythrik, but our own fleet is in hot pursuit. With 40 ships lurking in Dussullet, care will have to be taken to avoid being drawn into a trap.
Another scout ship has been spotted in Fwandrei this month, hailing from the far east of Amon and Xtreme. With all of the AI core worlds revealed so far, it is a good thing that these ones are so distant and should not become a threat for many more years.

2403.6
Combat in Kythrik! Our fleet intercepted the enemy expeditionary force early this month, and it was quickly apparent that we had the upper hand. With four full carriers facing off against only two carriers and a handful of support ships, our forces pressed the attack. Amidst the main missile exchanges between the two fighter armadas, a pair of AI assault ships attempted to break through the lines for a shot at our carriers. Our numbers advantage proved too much, and the assault ships were easily destroyed.
With their gambit failed and casualties mounting, the AI forces went on the defensive, and their fighters screened the remaining ships for a retreat.
With the AI forces making a strategic retreat towards Texrek, our forces pursued. Despite their reduced numbers, the AIs still had an ace to play. Halfway to the Texrek warppoint from the original battle site, and with our forces in hot pursuit, the AI forces suddenly turned for an ambush.
Unexpectedly finding themselves at point blank range before any fighters could be scrambled, our carriers were vulnerable, and the AI force struck with their remaining forces.
Two of our carriers were targetted and suffered moderate to heavy damage in the opening exchange, but the AI fleet quickly ran out of fighters to launch. Within minutes, the AI forces were again overwhelmed and the last of the fighter drones were destroyed. Also among the casualties was the missile ship which lead the attack against our carriers. Over fifty missiles were fired towards it, but given the situation and the lack of other targets, the pilots can hardly be blamed.
In total 93 of the original 160 fighters are still combat worthy, the enemy has lost all offensive capability, and we still have two fully operational carriers with which to continue the pursuit.
The damaged carriers will be travelling under their own power to shipyards in Kythrik until our fleet has cleared the path to the faster facilities in Texrek.

Just north, the AI troops have arrived at Dussullet. Around 30 tanks, and almost a thousand smaller units have been spotted on the surface of Dussullet IV and its outer moon, but our technicians are well entrenched. Hundreds of technicians have been shuttled in from IV A to help keep the production centers and main cities clear.

In the east, many scout ships have been spotted. A total of 13 additional craft in addition to the worrisome fleet of 12.
Demand for fighters and carriers is becoming desperate, and we will have to reduce troop production in order to get a supply of loaded carriers into the area quickly.
The latest estimates are that we have over 12000 troops on the surface in Auric, plus an additional few thousand waiting for transport so the liberation force is in no immediate danger. Primary production centers will be refocussed on bombers and carriers for the front lines.

2403.7
A stunning victory in Auric! With our forces surrounding the capital city, power was cut off and the AI core was besiged while supplies of food were shipped in for the civilians. After two weeks of increasingly desperate counterattacks by AI units, the main core had depleted its reserves and shut down in defeat. With thousands of technicians pouring into the city and the help of local citizens, the surviving AI units were disconnected from the grid and disabled. Power and other basic services are quickly being restored across the city, and planetary production will soon be up and running thanks to the many months our technicians have had to prepare for this day.
Our blockade fleet in Auric has gathered seven of the troop transports and is now heading north into Xuberra. Striking AI forces from behind and liberating some additional worlds may hopefully disrupt the blockade in Dussullet and allow us to provide reinforcements against the AI invasion there.

With this victory, it seems the AI forces have upped the stakes as well. The fleet in Dussullet has begun a concentrated bombing effort on the free moon of IV A, drawing troops away from the invasions on the other two worlds. To the south, AI forces bombed our liberation force on Quikil I, and we lost contact shortly afterwards.
At the same time, AI recovery and repair teams have infested colonies in Nibbrix, and attack forces have started flowing into the eastern systems of Dornot, Zuria, Fizbon and Baksha.

Fortunately, the southern AI forces are at the limit of their range, and the two largest fleets, comprising 30 ships total, have turned back.
We have a two-carrier attack fleet moving to intercept the carrier in Dornot, but few forces available for the other fronts.

2403.8
Minor skirmishes this month, with an AI scout destroyed in Texrek and a second in Dornot. The AI carrier in Dornot fled the system before it could be chased down.
In the north, the bombardment of Dussullet continues, but our ground forces have been able to keep the enemy fighters from damaging the local production centers. Troop casualties are light enough for a trickle of stealthy reinforcements to the main planet each month.
Our fleet entering Xuberra has identified three AI held worlds as soft targets and plus a fourth, larger planet which is likely to put up some resistance. We will be taking a few months to free the AI worlds and send liberators to the other inhabited planets before the fleet moves on to the north.
In the south, an AI fleet of 18 has been spotted in Quikil, heading for Nibbrix. The Nibbrix system itself has been scouted by one of our Liberators, and it is definitely under active AI control. We may still have a window of opportunity to easily free the planets before the AI forces gather too much local strength.

2403.9
Our fleet in Xuberra has successfully captured the smallest colony. A tiny, nearly useless ball, the lack of facility space means that this colony will never amount to much, but now fourty nine million more people are free. Only 3000 of the 4200 troopers available were needed in this operation, which lasted only a week.
In stark contrast, we suffered high casualties in Fizbon when an AI carrier ambushed our force at the warppoint. Although the enemy carrier was destroyed, we lost more fighters than they did and both of our own carriers were seriously damaged. The main bridges on both carriers were targetted and destroyed early in the battle, so they are limping back to the shipyard in Dornot.
We also lost a carrier to the local militia forces while dropping troops on Nibbrix IX; although the fighters valiantly defended the carrier long enough for it to reach the drop point, they were outnumbered and destroyed.
Our forces did manage to shoot down an anti-fighter destroyer in Telome, but we lost 20% of the carrier's contingent.

Some changes in strategy are required, and a commission has been launched to investigate new military options made available by the new facilities and databases discovered in Auric.
In the short term the ground battles in Dussullet are shifting gears. Our analysis of the AI forces indicate that mostly light units are on the planet along with a smaller number of medium bots. The heavy AI forces, on the other hand, have been concentrated on the moon, with over a hundred medium bots and 25 laser tanks to complement the light units.
Our main strength is on the planet, since our facilities can support a far greater number of troops and the enemy forces there are weaker.
Our main weakness is the lack of facilities on the moon; our logistics have been strained for months.
The new plan for Dussullet is to shift all of the available heavy weapons to the moon, and transfer the excess light equipment to the planet wher it can be used.
In addition, some suborbital skimmers will be constructed on the moon, armed with chainguns. The innovative development making this design worthwhile is the nanotube sheathed bullets; when fired at AI units, the nanotubes will short out any electronics exposed by the bullet holes. With a far faster rate of fire than the EMP charge-guns typically used by heavy troopers and a much better kill rate than the basic plasma rifles of light troopers, these skimmers will allow small crews to deliver far more damage.
Downsides to the skimmers include a long assembly time for the firepower; small arms can be mass produced twenty times faster, and no armor to speak of.
Given the situation on the moon, these craft are perfect; high attack power relative to their logistical demands, which is absolutely critical here, and their defensive weakness is mitigated by our strong fortifications.

[Suicide Junkie]

2404.0
It has now been four long years since the opportunity for freedom was given to the organics of the galaxy. Our "Rebel" Alliance now includes 21 billion people, across 81 planets and 35 systems.
Free worlds have been reindustrialized as far south as Tudran, as far east as Baksha and all the way to Millenia and Fwandrei in the southeast star cluster.
Life in the fringes of free space has always been dangerous, and it is even more so now, with AI controlled warships becoming more aggressive and far more numerous.
Despite the dangers, our members have been signing on in record numbers to help bring the freedom we enjoy to all of the other planets in the galaxy. Over 32000 space and ground units are working across the galaxy, with thousands more serving aboard our carriers, troop transports and reconstruction ships.
We have faced and overcome many challenges these last years, but the greatest challenges remain ahead of us. Up to this point, we have made most of our gains by restoring basic services on worlds with collapsed infrastructure and thus no AI presence. We have been doing our work in systems free of AI ships.
Such easy objectives are quickly running out as the AI reconstruction ships move ever farther out from their core worlds and become more and more aggressive in their attempts to regain control over the people of the galaxy. We have been given a taste of the future in Dussullet, and we all know what our fate will be if we fail.
We have made progress towards our goals from the past year, but none have been achieved yet. Securing the southern and eastern borders, as well as the southeast star cluster remain high priorities, but our methods must change. This year, our goals are to first clear out the scattered AI ships from all three areas, to liberate and rebuild the planets in the area, and finally to begin preparing defenses for the inevitable return of the large AI fleets.
Although the ongoing battles with the AI planets in the north are very important, the situation is mostly contained, and there are plenty of resources in the area for small scale operations to continue, so it is not a priority.

2404.1:
Our only loss this month was a liberator, ambushed at a warppoint in the northeast. We are hopeful that there are no reconstruction ships in the area yet, but our nearest armed response is 5 months away so there is little we can do about it if they do come.
In the southeast, one AI scoutship was destroyed in Zyx, but two more have just entered and a third is on its way. Although our bomber squadrons are more than capable of destroying these scouts, if they split up interception could be a problem.
In the south, a fresh batch of ships has arrived from the core; five Independence carriers and a Deliverator are being sent south to attack the AI world in Quikil and provide reinforcements to the isolated troops in Nibbrix. 2600 troops and 62 bombers should make quick work of the light AI defenses.
Good news up north as well; the mining world of Xuberra VI was captured with four facilities intact including a small spaceport. Six thousand minerals per month are now benefitting us instead of them. While local defense troops are training on VI, the fleet is now making its way to the system capital of Xuberra VII.
Even better, the AI has started pulling ships out of Dussullet; a fleet of four Independence carriers is being dispatched from Kythrik to break the remaining blockade.

2404.2:
Over four thousand troops participated in the liberation of Xuberra VII this month, and the last citizens are now free. With a well developed infrastructure including resupply and repair facilities now under manual control, the population should have no trouble defending themselves in the future.
That is the extent of the good news this month, unfortunately. AI forces are rallying on every front with fleets of up to 20 ships. In the far south, 30 heavy tanks and 300 light troops launched a surprise raid on Tudran V. Although defenses were in place, they were overwhelmed by the volume and strategic positioning of troop drops. At last report, over 90% of our forces have been overrun, and it is only a matter of days before the last few villages fall.
Large AI fleets have also been spotted entering Zuria in the southeast, Baksha in the east, and Othello in the north.
All planets in border regions have been advised to cancel economic projects and increase defense production.

Some results have come in from the military commission; first of all, our current forces are quite reasonably effective in small combat such as we have seen until recently. However, our reliance on missile bombers has become a serious hinderance in more modern fights, since they are hard to organize effectively in the so-called target rich environments. Asp bombers utilize timed patterns of missiles to penetrate the AI plasma shields; although the first missile of each volley does no damage, it does open a hole for the rest. Until now, direct fire cannons have been avoided because fighters are simply too small to carry a gun powerful enough to penetrate AI shields. Given that missile combat has reached a point of diminishing returns, we will be forced to rely more on direct fire weapons. This also means that we will have to rely less on fighters to provide anti-ship firepower: we need our own combat ships.
It is also clear that the warships will need to operate in large packs, to deny the enemy an easy missile advantage. Our industrial base should be more than sufficient for the task now. What will not be sufficient is the skills of our crews. Training facilities will have to be set up in strategic locations for ships and crews to gather and practice the brand new art of ship combat. Two locations have been chosen so far; Centrolius, gateway to the east, and Jorun, a convenient link between the southern and southeastern fronts.
Design plans for the new warships have yet to be finalized.

2404.3:
The attack fleet in Tudran has vanished like a ghost back to Nibbrix, leaving only the 300 troops and a subjugated world in their wake. We have also lost track of the fleet in the east, which has presumably entered Vullera. In the southeast, 13 ships are expected to reach Zuria V on the 18th of the month. Although there are no space defenses, we have twice the ground defenses as were in Tudran. In the north, the AI fleet is travelling through Othello, destination unknown.
The 18 ships from the Dussullet blockade have left for Othello as well, and our fleet of four carriers have won by default.
An Independence suffered light damage this month while intercepting an AI scout at the Jorun warppoint after a long chase. Due to cargo bay damage, four of the bombers will have to be picked up later this month by a spare carrier.

Our liberation fleet in the north has warped from Xuberra into the hub system of Torren. There are four industrialized AI worlds detected; the core world of Torren IV and its two moons, and Torren IX. The isolated world of Torrent IX has been chosen as our first target, as it will make a good base of operations for a future attack on the AI core. A direct assault on the AI core world will not be a viable option for quite some time... in order to be successful, we will need a force capable of destroying any orbital defenses, as well as maintain a blockade afterwards. As shown by our battle in Auric, we will also need to commit ten thousand troops for two years. With our fleets dispersed over four fronts, that is not going to happen for quite some time.

2404.4:
Five AI ships were destroyed by an Independence in Zuria this month, at the cost of 17 bombers. The AI fleet in the system has begun a blockade and bombing campaign at Zuria V. The smallest of the major fleets, it contains only a single carrier and a large continent of escort ships. With the addition of a second carrier and a restocking of bombers from Zuria II, we may be able to break the blockade.
In the north, 150 medium and heavy AI troops have landed on Othello VIII. Despite an estimated 15% casualty rate during the initial drops, our forces retained control of the manufacturing centers, and are holding their positions.
In the south, the AI fleet has returned to Tudran V, this time with 30 ships. Attacks are expected on the other planets in the system at any time.

For our part, we are gathering forces in Dussullet. Combined with the fleet in Torren, we should have twenty carriers capable of striking targets in Othello within two months. Our primary target will be Othello III; it has been almost three years since the planet fell to AI control, and the return of freedom is long overdue. After that we will strike at the blockade of Othello VIII and deliver reinforcements for a quick end to the AI invasion force.
Our strength is also improving in the south; we now have ten loaded carriers operating south of Jorun, although most of them are tasked as troop transports and we are still vastly outnumbered.

2404.5:
Two more AI scout ships were destroyed this month, but that is little consolation for the losses suffered elsewhere.
In the north, AI forces dropped 800 new light troops behind our lines on Othello VIII. Casualties were very heavy, and our troops have been forced to retreat back to the capital. All of the outlying towns have been overrun with AI troops, and the capital is now under siege. Without additional troops, the capital is expected to fall by the end of the year.
In the south, our troop invasion of Quikil VI was nearly wiped out before it could begin, as the AI revealed a new type of extra-small fighter. Although our missiles were still able to lock on, the enemy fighters had surprisingly dense shielding and charged straight into our lines, opening fire with DU cannons. While our bombers attempted to deal with the threat, enemy bombers struck hard at our troop transports. A quarter of our force was trapped aboard the lead Independence when its engines were disabled only seconds from insertion; all hands were lost as the ship broke up under a heavy missile bombardment. The second Independence was hit shortly after deploying troops, and suffered heavy damage before our bombers were able to end the threat. The Deliverator escaped with minor damage, and has taken on fighters to shuttle back north. The damaged carrier will spend the month retrieving the remaining stranded fighters before setting out at speed 1 for the repair facilities in Jorun. Emergency repair ships are on their way to assist.
And finally, the southern AI fleet of 30 bombed Tudran II for two solid weeks. We lost contact with the last bunkers as fighters strafed them with cannons and torpedoes.

2404.6:
A stupendous showing this month; the two Independence carriers have broken the blockade of Zuria V! Of the 13 enemy ships, six were destroyed and two more damaged. The remaining AI ships are now in retreat. Despite the loss of most of our fighters, and the disabling of one of the carriers, this is a clear strategic victory. Fighters will be restocked from the nearby Zuria II, and a repair ship has begun construction there to get the carrier out of danger.
In the north, an AI carrier intercepted our main troop fleet at the Dussullet-Torren warppoint. Although it was a suicide mission against against a far superior force, they were able to damage the engines one of our carriers. Unfortunately, this will delay their arrival by another month. The fleet from Dussullet unfortunately does not carry any troops, but will press on without the extra support of the Torren fleet. A carrier loaded with troops from Othello V will attempt to meet up with the fleet next month; if the carrier can be protected long enough to drop, our ground forces will be able to easily hold out for the second wave. With 25 AI ships in the blockade, that will be a tall order.
In the south, Tudran III has been bombed by the AI fleet as well. The fleet is in position to strike any of three more planets next month, but all of the planets have significant ground defenses, so it will not be as easy this time. A pack of three Independence carriers are making a run past the fleet, hoping to drop troops to retake Tudran V.

Ground battles continue in Dussullet, but with the blockade cleared, we are making excellent progress. AI troops on the planet are now in full retreat, and we expect complete victory before the year is out. AI forces on the moon are also starting to wear thin, but they are still well entrenched.

The military commission has released the finalized plans for three warships this month, codenamed Honor, Valor, and Vigilance. The Honor class ships are frigate hulls with 900 kt of heavy armor and a 100mm DUC cannon; these ships are very simple and require only a minimal crew. Their main role is to lead the charge and strike at enemy ships and carriers directly. This will put them in harm's way, which is why they carry so much armor and so little crew.
Valor class ships are based on the much larger cruiser hulls, and although they carry more moderate armor, sheer size and extra shielding boosts their resilience, particularily against fighter scale weaponry. These ships mount three 40mm Laser cannons, plus forward and aft light Torpedo tubes. This long range firepower is intended mainly for shooting down fighters, and thick defenses should protect them from much of the small ordnance being returned.
Lastly, the Vigilance class ships have a large crew composed mostly of gunners. A battery of 13 small laser cannons and 12 flak torpedoes will allow the Vigilant to shoot down up to ten missiles per minute in combat. Defenses include light shielding and extra armor to help protect against missile impacts, since this ship will be flying right in amidst them.
These three designs have begun construction at yards across Alliance territory, but they will not arrive at the front lines in sufficient numbers to begin offensive operations until at least 2406.

2404.7:
The southern AI fleet has begun bombing raids on Tudran VII this month, but our ground forces were ready for them. Although none of the enemy fighters were shot down, they could not reach any of our industrial centers and had to settle for strikes against our outer air defenses. Losses were limited to a few troopers and vehicles.
Our trio of troop carriers has made it past the AI ships, and will be dropping all 1800 troops early next month.
In Nibbrix an Independence on a scouting mission was attacked by seven ships, including a carrier. One ship was destroyed and two more were heavily damaged along with an unknown number of fighters before the Independence was finally surrounded and destroyed.
In the north another Independence was lost at the Arklite warppoint. Vastly outnumbered by 16 AI ships, they were able to destroy only about 20 enemy fighters before their lines were overrun.
There were also a few skirmishes in the southeastern system of Fizbon. A number of AI scoutships have been attempting to penetrate deeper into Alliance territory lately.

2404.8:
And now, what you've all been waiting for; the battle for Othello VIII... will not be seen today.
The AI fleet broke orbit just ahead of our first wave, and the six hundred troopers from Othello V made their insertion without incident. Dropping in behind the enemy lines, our forces made great gains and broke the capital siege. Although our forces are still outnumbered, the immediate threat has been defused. With Othello VIII safe from capture, our main force and planned second wave, will be striking Othello III as originally planned before this emergency.

In the east, we finally got a carrier into Vullera, but surprisingly, the system was found to be empty. With the Loop clear of AI forces, Baksha is now a single chokepoint for the entire eastern front. Liberators have been scheduled to visit all of the local planets and will begin reconstruction in relative safety.
Two AI ships attempted to pass the Baksha-Kartogia warppoint into the Loop this month, but both were easily destroyed by the pair of Independence carriers guarding it.

In the south, bombardment continued on Tudran VII; in a total of six major strikes, we lost 15% of our defenses. Although planetary production is currently able to keep up with the demand for replacements, we cannot allow the situation to continue indefinitely. Four attack carriers from Quikil will attempt to cross through the AI held system of Nibbrix and enter Tudran from the east. If all goes well, they could arrive in three months.
An additional four carriers are being organized in Jorun, but they are at least five months away.
Our three troop carriers at Tudran V are making a break for the north, and a carrier from Ulce will attempt to hold the warppoint until they are through.

2404.9:
The southern AI fleet has broken off their attack, and are heading back towards Nibbrix this month, presumably to stock up on ordnance. Our four carrier force has spotted 26 more ships in Nibbrix, with half of them heading in the direction of Tudran.
The fleet will attempt to avoid system defense ships until the 30 ship fleet passes the warppoint before proceeding themselves.
The newly liberated Quickil VI was attacked this month by a single AI carrier, but the fighters left behind fought valiantly. Only one bomber survived, but the AI carrier was destroyed and the colony was saved.

In the north, AI troops on Dussullet IV were defeated at their last remaining stronghold; a power plant converted to a charging station. A final sweep for any remaining units is underway.
On the nearby moon, completion of the spaceyard facilities has increased our troop capacity by 40%. An additional 250 troops are being transferred from the planet, and the enemy forces are becoming increasingly desperate. Our strikes this month decimated the last remaining concentration of heavy tanks on the moon, and complete victory is expected in the next eight months.
Victory was ours in Othello as well; five thousand troops made a clean sweep of Tudran III. With the help of the locals, we were able to capture and subvert a large number of facilities, including a vast research complex. Some prototype plasma-based weapons have been discovered, and the design is simple enough to build into a ground based vehicle. Preliminary tests show excellent damage potential, and inexpensive material costs; although the plasma charges ignite organic materials quite easily, the extreme ionization kills electronics just as fast. A tank using the plasma cannon will be capable of carrying heavy armor while still delivering more firepower than a Skimmer.