Dawn

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Hello Everyone

I'm still here, and will have another post up probably tomorrow. There is a lot going on in the empire, and it's taking a bit of time to get the narration to mesh with the gameplay, along with the more mundane aspects like real life, etc.

Thanks to all whove been following the Dawn - more is on the way!

Phil

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2408.1

Nekkar III
Corporate Headquarters...

The research of the empire was running at full capacity. Next month the empire would be able to colonize ice planets, making any known planet type available for acquisition. The scientists were also close to unlocking the “power leech” that was discovered in Mentocka. While not sure of how it could be applied, the potential was interesting.

Of less “interest” and more immediacy was the war with the Sergetti. The interior department announced that mineral stocks were below fifty percent, and current operational usage would deplete them in three months.

The defense department made its recommendation.

“Ladies and gentlemen, given this information, we recommend that our forces in the front line systems change over to a defensive posture. Upon consultation with my staff and the interior department, we propose the following: First, that the systems of Pantrissa, Mentocka, and Zezzis are designated as 'front-line' systems. Priority will be given to, as I said, defensive operations. Planets in those systems should concentrate on building weapon platforms and develop as the situation allows. Second, the remaining systems in the empire should be directed to improve resource gathering and infrastructure improvements. Third, we continue to deploy our latest unit type, the Eagle. If you will direct your attention to the monitors…”

The video began to play showing the first generation of fighter for the Empire (the video made it a point that the earlier development of the "Spider" fighter program was an illegal operation that was contrary to corporate goals at that time). The Eagle has an anti-proton beam, a combat sensor package, ECM and a smaller version of a level 5 shield. Their simulation trials showed a combat speed of an astonishing 22km/sec and that, the narrator explained, was enough to run down any target they chose. While individually not very powerful, their strength would come from massed attacks where their speed, ECM and shields should guarantee a better than average survival percentage for the individual pilot. The narrator then thanked the viewer for their attention.

“To continue, we have deployed a few of these fighters in Zezzis, and are developing them in Ushphada as a stopgap against any incursion from the Mentocka system.

We also completed the deployment of the first cloaked satellites, with the ability to scan ships and planets up to five sectors away. We plan to also deploy these to allow the monitoring of ship traffic around the warp points of the front line systems.

Finally, we will augment the defense of the front line warp points with minefields. The minelayer Aztec has already laid a minefield at the Zezzis-Velocitas warp point, and the new frigate Manchester will arrive to relieve Montreal from guarding the warp point. Montreal will then proceed to the far side of the Zezzis star to assist in defending the colonies close to the Sergetti homeworld.”

Defense concluded with a screen showing new dispositions in Zezzis. West End and Southampton pulled back from the two unknown warp points and defended established colonies in the system. Toronto and Artemis left the Sergetti homeworld and returned to guarding Dawn colonies as well. It was hoped this show of benevolence would help push the Sergetti to the negotiation table. Also in the system was the new frigate Thames.

The meeting was about to be adjourned when an announcement was delivered to the heads of the corporation. A message from the Phong was received. They had sympathized with the Sergetti and had joined the war against Dawn. The Abbidon had also sent a message demanding Dawn to leave the Mentocka system.

Dawn was about to realize the bad side to being king of the hill.

Zezzis V
...onboard CDS West End...

Captain O’Rourke was becoming a legend. Word of her defense at Zezzis IV against a Sergetti carrier and five frigates had reached the colonies, and their congratulations and well-wishes were starting to filter back to her at the front. She had even received messages from classes of school children throughout the empire. To be fair, the entire fleet was receiving such messages, but a genuine fair-haired heroine was too good of an opportunity for the advertising department to pass up. Her parents, still alive, were interviewed and treated like royalty. Relatives of colonists on Zezzis IV were thankful to the point of embarrassment for the safe defense of their own loved ones.

Neither was Artemis left out on the accolades. But while the military analysts made the point that Artemis was the shield that allowed West End to attack and cripple the Sergetti, the public couldn’t get enough of O’Rourke. Her picture was now the standard showing the right with which the Dawn empire proceeded into Zezzis. Spirits were high, and even more so now that more and better empire ships were now in the front lines.

O’Rourke was a bit surprised at the attention, and wasn’t sure if the attention brought to her family was a bit much. She was grateful that the military was intercepting most of the greetings and ridiculous offers of marriage, endorsements, and other communications from reaching the ship. The well-wishes were deemed to be morale boosters, and they, especially from the children - were sent to the ship.

She was also worried now that the Phong were in the war. There was a Phong planet within two sectors of Zezzis V, and that would surely be attacked. More life forms would die.

She thought back to the day in Ushphada when she was the operations officer on Southampton, and Captain Harrison destroyed that first Cue Cappa ship. About how she yearned for the chance to “prove herself” in combat.

About how naïve she was.

She didn’t regret, but she did wish she could have found another way to learn that in combat, nobody really wins. You simply survive. And the more you survive, the more you become a hero to those who have no idea of what combat is really like.

You also become a target...

...onboard CDS Aztec

The mines were loaded, and the ship left Zezzis V for the Lezzari warp point. Scouted by West End, there were Phong colonies there. The warp point was exactly seven sectors away – and Aztec could make the entire round trip in one month. When they reached the warp point, Aztec was wary, but managed to deploy 23 mines at the point. Next month, is all went according to plan, she’d deploy 23 more.

Ushphada system

The discovery of the Cue Cappa frigate in Ushphada raised the alarm. Fighters had been sent to intercept the ship.

“Eagle lead to all Eagles – there it is. 195,000km from the border. Looks like its turning back toward us…”

So began the first official interception of a Cue Cappa frigate by Dawn fighters. Three of the Eagles were severely damaged, but the frigate was a lifeless hulk. It’s destruction was averted when the fighter control from Ushphada I called the fighters back for repair. Despite the protests of the eager pilots, Dawn had plans for the Cue Cappa ship...

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2408.2

Mentocka system
Onboard CDS Sniper...

With the completion of the supply depot Sniper was ordered to complete the exploration of the Mentocka system. Leeds also explored a little, but not far, since she had to return to guard the colonists the same month. Sniper was able to explore all of the rest of the system, and found two stable warp points. There were two Cue Cappa planets in the system with the Abbidon planets, but none of the planets were homeworlds. Each of the three empires had two colonies in the system, and there was one gas giant left, and three ice worlds. Dawn, now with the ability to colonize ice planets, could possibly establish colonies on all of them, and legitimize its claim that Mentocka belonged to the Dawn...

Ushphada system
...onboard CDS Chaney...

She was the first of the new Chaney class frigate. Unlike her sister class, England, her weapon was not conventional. She carried a different kind of death. Her job was to not destroy ships, but to take them. To do so, she had a boarding party compliment as well, but her boarders carried no weapons, save a small tool kit with a cutting torch to clear debris. She would find her first trial in Ushphada space, floating lifelessly where the fighters left it.

Chaney arrived in the sector with the Cue Cappa frigate, and confirmed her condition with a scan. Then, she closed to within 40km. The captain gave the order to fire.

In the bowels of the ship, protected from the rest of the craft with shielding and sealed doors was the weapon bay. Nobody was inside, however. The weapon crew loaded and fired the weapon from the other side of the sealed room. Computer displays showed the status of each weapon. There were only three weapons “loaded” today, one for the attack on the frigate, and two because protocol held that the Chaney might stumble into a battle and not have time to load them on the spot.

Chaney’s weapon – a missile body, in essence – was “loaded” by injecting a toxic cocktail made of radioactive isotopes, bacteria, and viruses. In fact, every known pathogen the medical labs in the Empire knew of was on board this new ship. The Chaney class was – in a very real sense – a ship of death.

Today’s mission was to fire the weapon at the Cue Cappa frigate and then board the ship. The “boarders” were medical technicians, who would certify the fast acting agents were inert, and the ship could be crewed by the Empire. The plan worked perfectly, as the weapons fired, penetrated, and the boarders certified the ship fit for habitation within an hour after infection. This particular ship, however would have to wait for the repair ship, Melbourne, to repair the damage left by the fighters before it would be space worthy. Chaney would wait with her, but once Melbourne began to repair the frigate, Chaney would head into Zezzis and give the enemies of Dawn a new threat to defend against...

Pantrissa system
...onboard CDS Jaguar...

The new Aztec class minelayer, Jaguar was immediately sent to pick up a load of mines and lay a minefield at the Pantrissa-Sheliak warp point. Dover and Longbow were already on station guarding the point. Next month Jaguar would arrive and begin to close the door with Sheliak.

Haphik system
...onboard CDS Freightliner...

The ship was huge, even larger than the new Harvester being built at the same yard. Freightliner left the yard and went to Haphik II, where a load of ground troops was taken on board. The transport then made its way to Velocitas, and eventually to the Zezzis war zone.

Zezzis system
Zezzis V control center...

The operators on display noticed the proximity alert, and switched to a view of the Zezzis-Lezzari warp point. It began to shimmer, and seven Phong ships made it into the Zezzis system. As each materialized, it triggered a timer circuit in a mine, which would patiently wait for 13 millionths of a second to receive a code that would prevent detonation. Not receiving the code, the mines began to explode all around the frigates. Damage to the fleet was substantial, as four of the six frigates were now without armor, weapons or supplies. One frigate sustained moderate armor damage, but still had point-defense capability. One missile frigate was unharmed. Also severely damaged was a cargo transport. Whatever it was carrying was now gone, as all cargo bays were destroyed. It also had no armor or supplies.

As the fleet limped into the system away from the warp point, Aztec laid a new field of twenty-four mines for the next intrusion. Aztec then returned to Zezzis V, and the controllers decided that Thames and West End, augmented by Montreal would attack the Phong. Meanwhile, a message from the Sergetti to a colony ship in system was intercepted. The ship was to colonize a planet in the Lezzari system. Toronto was ordered to intercept and disable the ship. The Sergetti had refused to accept the terms offered by Dawn, so their ships now would be attacked.

Fighters had dispatched the lone Sergetti frigate that was damaged, and Toronto chased down and attacked the colony ship. She was able to destroy the crew compartment, and her boarding parties met no resistance. Again, like the Cue Cappa frigate in Ushphada, there was massive damage to the ship, and Alice Springs was also in the sector, trying to get the big ship able to sustain a crew to get it back to the safety of a Dawn colony. Toronto returned to Zezzis IV while fighters from Zezzis VII moved out to screen Alice Springs and her charge. Then there was the question of what to do with the Sergetti colonists on board.

At the same time, West End, Thames and Montreal also engaged in battle, destroying five of the seven Phong cripples from the minefield. Montreal was also able to board and capture the freighter. Thames and West End returned to Zezzis V while Montreal guarded the helpless freighter as they waited for repair.

Alice Springs was going to be a very busy ship for quite a while as the strategy of the Dawn had shifted. Since the mineral shortage precluded building warships, Dawn would acquire them another way.

They would be taken.

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2408.3

Ushphada system...

With the successful test of the new Chaney class boarding ship, fighters were dispatched to the sector and destroyed the ship. Chaney had proceeded to Zezzis and Melbourne proceeded to begin supply runs to the Harvesters in the system. The last of the fighters were built and sent to the Ushphada-Tlilkanthua warp point to guard the system against intruders. Ushphada I began to build the new ice colony ships, designated the Santa Maria class and complete colonizing the remaining planets in the system...

Pantrissa system
Pantrissa-Sheliak warp point...

Jaguar laid its minefield and returned to Pantrissa III. Sixty mines were backed up by the frigate Dover and the point defense ship Longbow. Next month, Jaguar would add sixty more mines to the field.

Chazzwazzer system
Chazzwazzer IV...

The policy of core systems concentrating on infrastructure improvements was beginning to make some headway into the resource shortage, as the stocks seemed to be holding at about 50,000 minerals. Organic and radioactive resources were well above 100,000 and surplus amounts were generated every month. The shipyard at Chazzwazzer IV contributed another Harvester 400 mineral miner this month, and it was sent to an asteroid field that had a reported 272% improvement on mineral availability compared to a standard planet. The field was in the Qornor system, and the Harvester would arrive in two month. The space yard now began construction of an ice colony ship, as a small ice planet with an oxygen atmosphere was in Qornor as well.

Zezzis system
Zezzis V...

The Norak were back.

The controllers monitored their entry from the Fezzran system. It was a seven ship fleet, but no minefield hindered its progress. Despite the initial urge to attack these new ships as a response to the many intelligence thefts by the Norak, the controllers maintained their defensive posture. Thames was sent to Zezzis VIII where only Artemis was guarding the planet. Southampton was still guarding Zezzis IX, while Montreal and Alice Springs joined Toronto at Zezzis IV, which was only one sector from the Norak fleet. Manchester, guarding the Zezzis-Velocitas warp point, was sent to Zezzis V to join West End in holding the colony there. The Ferret spy satellite at Zezzis IV couldn’t detect any orders the Norak fleet had, but the four colonies in the system were well defended.

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2408.4

Zezzis system
...onboard CDS Toronto...

The Norakian presence in Zezzis was increasing. Two more point defense ships were now in the system. The seven-ship fleet hadn’t moved, but two point defense ships were en route to join them. The spy satellite over Zezzis IV had intercepted their orders and knew both were on their way to join the fleet.

Toronto and Montreal moved out of Zezzis IV’s orbit and made the short two-sector move to intercept the closest point defense ship. The two light cruisers bore down on the Norak ship. It turned to meet the threat, and fired its lone DUC at first one cruiser and then the other. Both cruisers held fire, and as the Norak frigate was turning to open the range, boarding parties from both ships were launched.

Walter Sen was now in command of a boarding party in a war. For the first time, they were going to attempt the capture of a completely undamaged enemy ship. As their boarding pods contacted the hull of the frigate, cutting torches from recessed pockets in the pod sliced into the hull of the target. Sen and his troops assaulted the ship from the port side, while Montreal’s boarders assaulted from the right. The Norak crew were outgunned 4 to 1, and were also engaged with two light cruisers at the time. The battle was quick. 86 of the boarding party were incapacitated, but the ship had been taken. Dawn’s newest member of the fleet took up a position between Montreal and Toronto, and all three ships returned to Zezzis IV.

The arrival of the Norak had other consequences to the plans in Zezzis. Aztec, which was to lay a second minefield at the Zezzis-Lezzari warp point was ordered to Zezzis IV and – if possible – lay a minefield of sixty mines at the Zezzis-Fezzran warp point and stop the Norak incursion. Twelve Norak frigates were now in Zezzis.

Also supporting the move against the Fezzran warp point was Beagle, the cloaked spy ship. Captain Cabrerra would penetrate the warp point, and provide advance notice of what was headed towards Zezzis and remain undetected all the while.

The cargo ship Freightliner also entered Zezzis from Velocitas, but stayed at the warp point under the protection of the mines and the fighters there. The Phong planet Zezzis VII was a tiny rock world with a space yard, supply depot, space port and two research stations. Although she was guarded by a Phong destroyer sporting three DUCs and a point defense ship, the plan was for Manchester and West End, along with fighter support from Zezzis V to take the two ships on and destroy them. Scans revealed the presence of no troops on the planet. The chance to acquire of a space yard in a war zone was too good to pass up...

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2408.5

Nekkar III
Corporate headquarters...

The Chairman blinked a couple of times. He hated the lights, but they had to be there. People had to see their leader. Chairman Lomax was to deliver another speech on the state of the empire, and the state of the war. Upon cue from the floor director, Lomax began his prepared speech.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for allowing me to take part of your day to speak with you. As you know, we are at war with the empires of Sergetti and Phong in the Zezzis system. Our forces and brave colonists need our support and material in order to bring this conflict to a safe resolution – not only for our empire, but all of the peace-loving peoples of the world. Today, ladies and gentlemen, I offer a ray of hope in ending this unproductive venture.

Yesterday, we received a message from the Sergetti. One of their colony ships was drifting in space. Our repair ship there, Alice Springs, docked and restored their engines and life support.”

Lomax conveniently didn’t mention how the ship got that way, but continued.

“I am happy to report that the Sergetti have reclaimed their ship, and – more importantly – their colonists as well. While we wish we could have done more for the repair of the ship, we hope this provides a demonstration of our benevolence.

As a further demonstration, I am announcing now that all offensive operations against the Sergetti have been terminated. Our forces will still defend themselves, but we do not consider the Sergetti an ‘enemy’.”

He paused for effect. The pause was for the audience watching on monitors around the systems, as no one but the technicians and Lomax himself were in the room.

“I invite any empire that wishes to do so, simply send a message that they wish to live in peace with us. We never wanted war. We will not shrink from our responsibility to defend our military forces, our colonists, or our friends. Having said that, I must also announce that the Abbidon empire, for no reason known to us other than the fact we have established colonies in the Mentocka system, has declared war on us.

We strongly urge the leaders of the Abbidon empire to consider their actions carefully. Do not make the mistake that we will not defend our colonies.

But even with the unwarranted actions of the Abbidon empire, we will not make the first overt act of war with them. We, in fact, reject their declaration and do not recognize that a state of war exists between our empires. Should the Abbidon choose to reinforce their declaration with an overt act of their own, we will have no choice but to respond in kind.

Ladies and gentlemen, we will not start wars. We will not visit atrocities on innocent life forms. We will recognize the right of all life to exist in peace – and we require that right be accorded to us.

Ladies and gentlemen, this war will end, as all wars do. The time and the fashion of the ending is left to our opponents. But peacefully, of through conquest, make no mistake.

We will end this war.

We will.”

Less than twenty-four hours after that transmission, the mood of the empire surged, and the cry 'We will!' had been taken up by the masses. Enterprising marketing designs of the slogan, some with Captain O’Rourke’s image looking toward the future were now appearing on buildings everywhere. Cadets in training were greeted and treated like heroes themselves, even though all they had done to this point was sign a piece of paper. Production was just a bit higher, and the people seemed to work just a little bit better with each other. The population was galvanizing around the slogan, 'We will'.

Zezzis system
Zezzis V war operations center...

With the arrival of Chaney and Freightliner at Zezzis V, the Phong colony at Zezzis VII was ready to be assaulted. The Anous class point defense ship was still in orbit, but the Phong destroyer had left the colony for the Fezzran warp point. Manchester and Chaney would overwhelm the ship, and Freightliner would drop the troops onto the surface of the planet. Nothing more than militia was expected to be in opposition to the assault.

The forces were arrayed, and the order was given. Manchester led the assault, and she fired one salvo of missiles. It was enough to destroy the Phong ship weapons, and Chaney closed in behind her. After two toxic weapon hits, there were only six of the original crew still functional. The ship surrendered in due time, and the three of them returned to Zezzis V. Freightliner, meanwhile launched her troops and followed the ships back to the Dawn base. The battle for Zezzis VII was now in the hands of the ground forces...

Fezzran system
...onboard CDS Beagle...

Under her cloak, Beagle slid into the warp point under the cover of a Sergetti colony ship. She arrived in Fezzran and found two Phong planets. Just before they warped in, a message from Alice Springs reported that Montreal and Toronto had captured the Phong destroyer that was guarding Zezzis VII two months ago. Now in the Fezzran system, Cabrerra and his crew had to attend to the task at hand. The Phong would certainly not like the fact that ships they build are beginning to show up in Dawn fleets. Should they find out there was an unarmed ship filled with the latest Dawn technology, right in their own backyard, there would be no mistaking that reaction.

Cabrerra was there to make sure they didn’t find out. They headed three sectors away from the warp point and into a plasma storm, where they uncloaked. The system had two stars, which made solar collectors a good option for the spy ship that has everything. Perhaps if the Dawn could nab that space yard the Phong built back in Zezzis, Cabrerra could wrangle out a deal for collectors for his, um, “freighter”.

In the meantime, there were ships to track. The first Norak ship was another frigate – codenamed “Steelghost” – and was only one sector from warping into Zezzis. A new kind of frigate was 9 sectors away from the warp point.

With their report coded and transmitted, Beagle slipped quietly back into the storm and kept her vigil...

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2508.6

Zezzis system
Zezzis V war operations center...

The announcement of the capture of Zezzis VII had lifted the morale all across the empire. With one operation, the Dawn empire had brushed aside the militia there, added a colony with a shipyard (desparately needed in a war zone), a supply depot, two more research centers, and denied the Phong a space port to ship any resources back to their empire. The captured frigate Anous was sent to Zezzis IV, as was the boarding ship Chaney. The captured destroyer was still under repair in space by Alice Springs. The colony immediately began construction of a second minesweeper for the system.

The focus of the empire now turned not to an empire they were at war with – declared war, that is. The Norak empire was blatantly stealing information from the Dawn empire, and now their fleet of thirteen frigates had been stationed one sector away from Zezzis IV and its Dawn colony for over two months. Repeated calls for the Norak empire to move them were unanswered, and the Ferret spy satellites confirmed the orders of ships arriving into Zezzis were to join the fleet and increase their presence. The Dawn colony was unhappy about so many ships so close to them. The Navy was now ready to confront the Norak in Zezzis.

The first order was to mine the Fezzran-Zezzis warp point, and maintain the minefield there. This would close the system to new Norak ships. At the same time, Beagle would penetrate Fezzran and provide intelligence with regard to what was approaching Zezzis from the Fezzran side of the point. Finally, the entire military strength of the system would be brought to bear on the Norak fleet. Once the population felt at ease, the process of colony improvements could begin in earnest. The planners made it a priority not to directly engage the Sergetti. This policy cost the Dawn empire a month, as a Sergetti colony ship was in the Fezzran warp point. With the point now clear of ships, Aztec would lay her mines.

The mines would be an unwelcome surprise for the two destroyers and three frigates of the Norak empire approaching the warp point to Zezzis. Beagle, having penetrated Fezzran found a plasma storm they could call home for the next few months and scan any ships approaching the point. The system appreared to belong to the Phong, as they had two colonies visible. As Beagle took up her vigil, Cabrerra thought of how the Phong would love to get a hold of the sophisticated technology on board his ship. Should they find out there was an unarmed Dawn ship in their system feeding intelligence back to the empire, their reaction would be predictable. Inside the storm and under a protective cloak, however, Cabrerra felt secure that wouldn’t happen. He knew what the “security” guards would do to the crew to prevent their capture, so he was determined not to let it get that far.

Back in Zezzis, Montreal and Toronto cut off an unlucky Norak supply frigate that entered the system at the wrong time. Their boarding crews captured the ship intact, and the now three ships joined the others at Zezzis IV to begin the assault on the Norak fleet.

As the two fleets approached each other, the plan was brutally simple. West End – with the famous Captain O’Rourke, Southampton with Captain Benjamin Harrison, Manchester and Thames would volley no less than eight missiles at one ship at a time. The Norak had a good deal of point defense, which would be reduced as their ships became disabled.

Chaney would lurk in the distance, waiting for the unlucky ship that had no weapons and try to single her out and kill the crew with her biological weapon.

The fighters would be joined by the captured ships and operate on the wings of the fight, crisscrossing strafing runs once the point defense environment was less hostile.

The Norak approached, and the Dawn ships in the center retreated, drawing the enemy toward them. The wings retreated as well, to keep the immediate threat in front of the enemy.

The first salvo or eight missiles made it through the defense and destroyed the first Norak frigate. The Dawn frigates reloaded and waited for the next ship to come into range.

The next target was a Steelghost frigate. It too was fired on with eight missiles. It too, was destroyed after the missiles outlasted the point defense.

Although the Norak had lost two frigates without getting a shot off in return, Captain Harrison wanted the frigates to align so they would all fire simultaneously. With a bit of maneuvering, the four ships were in a line waiting for the next target.

With the Dawn frigates in a tighter formation, a Voidmist point defense ship was the next closest ship. Captain Harrison gave the order to target the frigate and fire when she got within range.

This time, the missiles were synchronized better, but the Voidmist was just as dead.

The battle continued, and the Norak were eliminated. Thames suffered severe damage, and could not return with the others. She stayed in orbit until Alice Springs could get back to her and escort her to a yard for repairs.

The war continued, but the Norak had been removed from Zezzis. A message offering peace was sent to the Sergetti. If they agreed, the focus of the efforts could shift to the security of Mentocka, and the empire could once again prosper...

[attack_condor]

2408.7

Zezzis system
Zezzis VII...

The Phong on Zezzis VII were at first fearful of their conquerors, but when they survived their first month under the rule of a new empire, they thought there may be hope for them to continue to lead their lives. The one change that was enacted was the demolition of the space port. In its place was a facility that would improve the conditions of the planet. The space yard, supply depot and research stations were untouched, though promises of upgrades were to come. Even the two ships the yard had launched were back in orbit over the planet – under new command, of course – but they were back. Even a Sithrak frigate – once mortal enemies of the Phong – now flew the colors of the Dawn empire and joined the orbiters over the new colony.

The news crews were everywhere, it seemed. The adaptation and acceptance of the empire by this planet’s population was heartening to see. And the corporation’s advertising department would make sure it was seen.

...onboard CDS West End...

Captain O’Rourke was reviewing the supply manifest when her PCS activated. She turned the screen on and Captain Harrison was on the display.

“Katherine, good to see you again!”

The captain of Southampton, and O’Rourkes mentor was on the ship’s display, so O’Rourke knew it wasn’t a social call.

“Captain Harrison, how is everyone on Southampton?”

Try as she might, she couldn’t stop seeing him as ‘Captain’ Harrison.

“We’re doing well, Katherine. It seems as things are finally turning around for us here in Zezzis. But I am calling about a new assignment that was sent out. Check your orders on the secure link.”

O’Rourke automatically keyed her code in, and the Colonial Dawn Empire crest appeared, along with the usual security warnings.

“Where is West End off to now, sir?”

There it was again. ‘Sir’.

“Not West End, Katherine,” Harrison replied. “West End and Southampton. Both of us. We’re going home.”

She had just read the orders when she heard his words.

“Nekkar III? But that’s not…”

Harrison cut her off.

“I know. But you parents are on Nekkar V, and we are authorized a month’s leave. I suspect we will have new ships after that.”

O’Rourke blinked. Leave West End? Apart from her training on Southampton, it – and her crew – was family. Could she simply walk away from them like that?

“I know, Katherine. It’s like walking out on your best friend. But you know the Navy. Southampton and West End are the oldest ships in the fleet. With all of the new equipment and capabilities, we have to stay with the newest and best ships. I know for a fact that we’re needed in Mentocka, and there is rumblings of ships even newer than that ship nobody is supposed to know exists.”

“You mean the Beagle?”

Both of them shared a laugh, and got to the business of getting their crew ready for the voyage home.

Ushphada system
Ushphada VII landing pad...

The ship had received clearance to land. The ice colony had just been established. The colonists completed another supply depot, and now the mining freighters would be at full supply every month without Nave assistance. One of the supply ships was landing on Ushphada VII, and the controller understood when the pilot landed too far from the colony dome’s airlock.

“Freighter Ushphada seven bravo, nice try, sir; but you’re 500 meters from the airlock. Can you hover and reposition, over?”

The controller waited for a response.

“Freighter Ushphada seven bravo, this is Ushphada seven control, come in please.”

The controller waited, then his jaw dropped open. He keyed the transmitter.

“Seven bravo, your seal is broken! Sir, your hatch is opening. Seven bravo, you are not, repeat not engaged with the airlock!!”

As if it had a mind of its own, the door slid open, and fresh air filled the freighter. Fresh carbon-dioxide air.

“Ushphada seven control, this is seven bravo. Sorry about that sir. I had to get back into the airlock here. Please standby sir. There is no problem.”

The controller couldn’t figure out what was going on until he saw the first one step out of the ship. It stopped, looked around, and breathed deeply.

It then walked down the ramp and was followed by others.

Just then the door of the control room opened, and the supervisor, followed by three men wearing Intelligence Directorate uniforms came in, along with another man in civilian clothes. The man in civilian clothes politely asked for the controller to stand aside.

Still in a daze as to what was going on, the controller slowly stood up, and looked from the ship, to the men, and back to the ship. Meanwhile, the man now at the communication link spoke something into the microphone that the controller, or anyone else for that matter, didn’t understand.

What the confused controller was watching, indeed what the empire was seeing was the first Phong migrants to Ushphada. And from their reaction, they were ecstatic to be on a world where the atmosphere was so pure.

The controller’s face was a microcosm for the feelings of an entire empire. It was going to be a new way of life.

For everyone...

Fezzran system
...onboard CDS Beagle...

While not a ship of war, per se (Beagle had no weapons at all), Cabrerra learned that his ship was probably the most dangerous in the fleet. He poked his ship - still cloaked - out of the storm at the predetermined time and received a microburst transmission from the Fezzran-Zezzis warp point. To anyone else receiving it, the transmission seemed to be garbled noise. The transmission held order updates and requests for information, along with classified messages for the security staff that Cabrerra didn't have access to.

There was one more piece of information. Cabrerra warned that five new Norak warships were on their way into Zezzis. He read the report that five Norak warships were destroyed by a minefield at the warp point. There were no survivors.

Cabrerra thought about that for a second and slipped the ship that didn't exist back into the plasma storm.

(note: Wow - the past couple of turns have taken "forever"! So much going on, and I'm afraid I keep missing things to work into the storyline. (I had to edit to include the Norak minefield encounter I forgot to add! Now, if the Sergetti will get the hint and make peace already! sheesh!...)

[attack_condor]

2408.8

Pantrissa system
Pantrissa-Sheliak warp point...

The minelayer Jaguar was making another run to the warp point. She carried 43 more mines to deploy there. The frigate Dover and point defense ship Longbow were already there, on defense. So far, they kept their watch in relative obscurity. The shimmering of the warp point changed all of that in an instant.

The signature of the ship read Norak, but it was destroyed by the minefield. Jaguar immediately deployed her mines on arrival and turned back toward the planets for more. The back door to the Dawn empire had just been found. Fortunately, it was bolted shut.

Lacerta system
...onboard CDS Beagle

The orders were changed. With the Pantrissa minefield incident, Beagle was ordered to return to Pantrissa along the expected route the Norak had taken. Turning away from Zezzis, Cabrerra started to shadow a Norak frigate and found a warp point out of Fezzran that was being used by the Norak ships. He entered, and found himself in the Lacerta system. Beagle entered the system and right past the Norak patrol ship on guard at the warp point. The patrol ship never knew they were there. He cleared the warp point by two sectors and found a Norak colony. Scans showed a shipyard, along with a religious shrine of some type. Nine research stations were also there. Cabrerra noted that Lacerta connected with Sheliak, which connected with Pantrissa. Beagle had just found the back door as well...

Zezzis system
Zezzis-Lezzari warp point...

The new minelayer CDS Texcoco had just finished laying her first field. The Dawn now had two minelayers in the system, with Aztec maintaining the field at the Zezzis-Fezzran warp point. The warp point there had 93 mines, with more on the way. The Zezzis-Lezzari warp point had 47 mines protecting it, with more on the way as well. Also in the system the shipyard at Zezzis VII had repaired Toronto and the new boarding ship CDS Karloff. Toronto was getting an upgrade as well. The Canada class wold no longer carry boarding troops, but would be equipped with a new solar sail, as well as armor that could actually reflect some of the energy of weapon fire back out into space. She also was trading in 30kT of armor for a third anti-photon cannon. The former Phong destroyer was the last damaged ship there. The population had accepted the new rulers so well that Freightliner lifted the occupying troops and fighters off and plans were made to take the radioactive resource mining colony – the last Phong colony in Zezzis.

Mentocka VIII
...onboard CDS Leeds...

The duty officer had to be sure.

“Mr. Chase, are you sure of the count? No ghosts or echoes? There can’t be that many!”

Sam Chase was too busy to be annoyed at the lieutenant for questioning his report. He was trying to classify the targets that just appeared on the display.

“Sir”, in an even of a voice as he could manage – “There are twenty-three Abbidon warships headed for us. I will have their classifications shortly, but they are headed right for us. And they are in a big hurry about it, sir.”

Nekkar III
Corporate headquarters...

Lomax was furious. After reading the report of the Abbidon war fleet's arrival in Mentocka he realized he underestimated the Abbidon.

“Explain to me again, why weren’t mines already deployed? We barely have enough ships in the system for observation. What are expected to defend the colonists with?” He looked at the Defense minister.

“We have Leeds, Northampton, Sniper, and the new boarding ship Lugosi. The repair ship Melbourne there as well.” The Defense minister didn’t sound too enthusiastic.

Rita Edwards spoke next.

“Mr. Chairman, we at least know where they are headed. Communication intercepts put them on a direct course with Mentocka VIII. They plan to attack it. Very soon. I have reports that the colonists are trying to build mines, but unless the Abbidon change their orders, they won’t be ready in time.”

Defense again spoke, more forcefully this time.

“We will defend Mentocka VIII, Mr. Chairman. We will drive them off!”

The Chairman was silent for a long time before he next spoke.

“No. The ships we have are not capable of protecting the colonists from an attack force like this. If we defend the colonies and lose the ships, the way into Ushphada and even Praxis is wide open. All that stands in their way would be a handful of fighters and some mining ships. Minister, bring the fleet in Mentocka back to the Ushphada-Tilikanthua warp point.”

Nobody spoke.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I feel as bad about this as you do. If the colonies in Mentocka survive somehow, they certainly won’t have us to thank for it. But I cannot risk our core for two planets. I won’t bore you with the speech of the ‘greater good’. And don’t be concerned with blame.

The blame is mine.”

Now, all the company had to do was tell the rest of its people that 100 million of them were just labeled "expendable"...

[attack_condor]

2408.9

Mentocka VIII
...onboard CDS Leeds...

The captain was called to the bridge. In his hand he held the message from the Navy ordering the withdraw.

“We have been ordered to withdraw to Ushphada. We have been ordered to abandon the colonists to their fate. Over 100 million citizens with one weapon platform between them and oblivion.”

Sam Chase didn’t necessarily agree with the order either, but all saw the logic of it. Even if they did successfully engage that many ships, they were limited with the number of missile salvos they had on board. The Abbidon surely had numerous point defense ships scattered throughout their fleet that would further reduce the effectiveness of the Dawn frigates. The captain spoke again.

“I will not comply with these orders.”

The bridge crew looked at each other. Their decision was unanimous. They would stay.

Well, almost all of them would stay.

The captain spoke again.

“While I can make the decision for myself, and recognize your decision as officers in the fleet, I cannot speak for everyone. We are therefore transferring the remainder of the crew to Melbourne for transport back to Ushphada. Mr. Chase? Will you please accompany them?”

Sam Chase was stunned.

“Sir! I respectfully request to stay on board! Sir!”

The captain shook his head.

“Thank you Mr. Chase, but we have the picture of what we are facing. I won’t need a sensor officer to tell me the enemy is coming for me.” He smiled. “We’ll be able to see them just fine, Sam. Now do me the favor of escorting the men and women to safety. And Lieutenant Chase?”

Sam Chase stood at attention.

“Yes sir?”

“Make sure they spell our names right.”

Chase saluted and was granted permission to leave the bridge. He said nothing on the shuttle to Melbourne, nor on the way back to Ushphada.

Mentocka VIII
...onboard CDS Leeds...

The Abbidon did slightly change their orders. Only sixteen of the tweny-three ships attacked Mentocka VIII. Twenty seconds into the engagement, Leeds fired two missiles at the first Abbidon frigate. Leeds then turned to run parallel with the firing arcs of the enemy ships. The captain wasn’t a fool. He knew his – and the colony’s – only chance at survival was to buy them one month to get a minefield in place. He willed the missiles to their target. The missiles did well, and the first frigate lost 75% of its armor. Five seconds later, the second salvo of missiles was away. They also did well, and the lead frigate had lost one engine and all of its armor. Leeds concentrated on the wounded Abbidon and fired her third salvo. This time, the Abbidon point defense performed better and the lead frigate took no more damage. The lead elements of the fleet were less than 250km from the planet.

On her fourth salvo, Leeds’ missiles penetrated the point defense of the Abbidon, and her target was struck. Explosions ripped the Abbidon frigate, and she was helpless, burning with no engines or weapons. The other fifteen ships moved right past her and approached within 150km of the planet. The Abbidon traded one ship for putting Leeds into a corner. There would be no more fancy maneuvering. The captain on Leeds tried to skim the planet and draw the Abbidon into the range of the weapon platform that would begin to engage at 110km.

At 115km away from the planet, the new lead ship was an Abbidon missile frigate. She was the new target for Leeds, who fired salvo number five. The captain knew he had fifteen shots left, then he would become a spectator.

At 40 seconds into the battle, the Hercules weapon platform fired its two anti-proton beams and hit the Abbidon frigate, stripping away 18% of its armor.

At 42 seconds into the battle, the missiles from Leeds clawed through the point defense and stripped another twenty percent of armor away. The wounded frigate also launched its missile, and the Hercules immediately fired a flak cannon burst at it.

The Abbidon missile was destroyed, and the missile frigate took another hit from the anti-photon cannons, along with a pair of hits from meson blasters. It had only about fifteen percent of its armor left. A second Abbidon frigate was now in range and it also fired a missile, responded to again by the flak cannon of the Hercules.

The missile frigate was hit by more beams and blasters, and was disarmed. The crew on the Hercules immediately targeted the next frigate. Two more frigates were now in range and fired.

More and more frigates began to fire on the planet, and DUCs started to rain down onto the planet’s surface. The Hercules was shielded, and her shields were holding, but other structures were beginning to take damage.

At fifty-six seconds into the battle, the Leeds was wounded by DUC fire, and her last act was to ram an Abbidon frigate that was just about to launch a missile. The Abbidon survived, but it was disarmed. Leeds disappeared in a violent explosion.

At one minute and fifteen seconds into the battle, the Abbidon finally broke through the Hercules weapon platform and disarmed it. There was now nothing standing in the way of Mentocka VIII and total annihilation. Of the sixteen ships the Abbidon attacked with, two were badly damaged and six were destroyed. The Dawn empire had lost the frigate Leeds and their first planet. The colonists on Mentocka VII had the time to complete and launch their minefield. Heartened by the performance of the Hercules V weapon platforms, they began construction in earnest on more of them. The research department had improved the shielding and range of the anti-photon cannon, and these improvements were incorporated as the people on Mentocka VII fought desperately for the right to exist...

Ushphada system
Usphada-Tilikanthua warp point...

The fighters were almost fully supplied. Twenty-eight of them patrolled the warp point. They knew what was happening on the other side of the Tilikanthua system. They knew also the five ship fleet was due back in at any time.

But not this early.

“Eagle lead, this is Eagle seventeen. Activity at the point. Sensors show a ship coming in.”

“Eagle lead, Eagle twenty. Confirmed. Something is coming through now.”

The leader of the fighters now had to decide. Call Ushphada control, wait and see what materialized, or open fire. He decided to hedge his bets and do all three.

“Eagles, open fire. Say again – open fire. The ship is not, repeat not friendly.”

With the amount of fighters at the warp point, they would fire, circle as their weapons recharged, and fire again. Meanwhile, the fighters in the second rank would be firing as the first rank recharged their beams, and so on. While this ballet was playing out, the call to Ushphada control confirmed the fleet was not due in until next week.

Whatever was coming through was doing so at their own risk.

As it turned out, the ship that almost materialized was a Cue Cappa frigate. The fighters destroyed it in good order. Only two fighters reported damage. Later that week, the fleet did arrive. Melbourne and Sniper remained at the point. Sam Chase transferred the remnants of the Leeds’ crew to Northampton as both they and Lugosi headed for the space yard at Ushphada I. There, Chase would relate the story about how Leeds had engine anomalies and could not warp out of Mentocka. The intelligence officer who was debriefing Chase told him that Leeds was reported destroyed as was the colony at Mentocka VIII.

Chase made sure they spelled the names right...

Ushphada system
Ushphada I space yard...

The refit was underway for both ships. Lugosi was being converted into a stealth ship. Northampton was refitting into the next generation of England frigates. This time there was a major shift in policy, as missiles were being replaced on the frigates by anti-photon beams. Northampton would get a level 6 shield and a level 2 shield regenerator. She also was fitted for a solar collector and a solar sail. Her speed in simulation trials was 17km/sec, and with three anti-photon beams her ability to cause harm was impressive. No longer would the empire rely on ordinance weapons to keep the enemy at length.

Ushphada-Tilikanthua warp point...

Nine more fighters joined the twenty-eight already there. There were five more just one sector away, and the space yard at Ushphada I was about to commission a minelayer. The colonists, both Terran and Phong, on Ushphada VII had twenty-four mines ready to be loaded and would have twenty-four more next month. This warp point was to become the point to hold and preserve the integrity of the Ushphada system and the Dawn Empire.

Lacerta system
...onboard CDS Beagle...

Two sectors away from the Lacerta-Sheliak warp point, Cabrerra found a medium gas-giant planet with oxygen atmosphere. In a more benign time, Dawn might have negotiated to colonize it, but not today. Cabrerra saw an Eee survey ship in Lacerta, and included that into his report. He had one more system to jump through unnoticed before he would be home...

Zezzis system
Zezzis I...

The operation to remove the last Phong colony in Zezzis had begun. The troops and fighters that occupied successfully Zezzis VII now would fight for control at Zezzis I. This time, there were actual ground forces to overcome along with militia, but they had been softened up with a barrage of DUC from space. The captured Phong and Sithrak frigates performed the bombardment. Damage to the radioactive extraction facilities was light, and – should the colony fall into Dawn hands – would be quickly repaired. On Zezzis VII; Southampton, West End and Karloff were being refit as England IX frigates. The outcry against toxic weapon usage was heard, and the military deemed the project closed. It wasn’t closed due to the public outcry, but rather the frustration of not being able to upgrade the captured ships. Toronto had completed her upgrade, and Montreal moved to the Phong shipyard to await her turn...