Dawn

[attack_condor]

2410.6

Zezzis system
Zezzis VII...

The Phong builders on the planet had been dedicating their talents to refitting existing ships for the empire, as well as upgrading their own facilities for maximum production and support. This month, however, they produced their first ship for the empire. A second Harvester 600 was now in service, and it now mined the first of the Zezzis asteroid systems. When the Phong had been shown this technology they couldn’t believe that asteroids could be mined the same way a planet could. Once shown, however, they caught on easily enough. Their contribution to the fleet of asteroid miners just added another 16,000 minerals a month to the empire’s totals…

...Zezzis XI...

The Sergetti on the planet were in a much better mood – so much so that most of the ships orbiting the planet could be released for general system duties. CDS Polk had arrived with a load of Terrans from Zezzis I. The Terrans would now breathe the oxygen on Zezzis XI with their Sergetti counterparts, while the Phong on Zezzis I were now able to demolish the domes. Zezzis X and XII, the two large ice worlds with oxygen atmospheres were earmarked for a shipyard each, as their population was already over a billion on each planet. That type of production advantage could not be ignored. The small Phong planet Zezzis VII would eventually use its shipyard for repairs and upgrades only, eschewing production to the larger planets. Once the colonists on Zezzis X and XII were happier in their new role as empire citizens, the transformation from research and farming colonies to construction yards could begin.

Sheliak system
Shelak-Pantrissa warp point...

They really didn’t mean to do it.

The cruiser Mastiff led the frigates Dover, Bristol, and Weymouth as well as the point defense destroyer Longbow into the Sheliak system from the Pantrissa side of the warp point. They knew a Norak destroyer would be guarding the Sheliak side of the point.

They didn’t know the Cheththod would have a pair of destroyers there as well.

As Mastiff materialized in the Sheliak system, the Norak destroyer was firing on the Cheththod. Unfortunately, the inexperienced crew on Mastiff fired on the first target presented to it by the computer systems on board. While the Norak fired on one of the Cheththod destroyer, Mastiff fired on the other. When the mistake was realized, it was too late. The Cheththod targeted by Mastiff was crippled, and the second Cheththod destroyer was trying to disengage from the Norak. Meanwhile, the Norak captain saw all five of the Empire ships materialize, and realized he was seriously outgunned. He broke off and almost made it out of the sector before the frigates caught him. Seeing the Norak being chased down by the frigates, Mastiff’s captain took it upon himself to chase down the second “enemy” and destroy it.

When all was said and done, the Dawn empire would regretfully inform their Cheththod allies that their destroyers were destroyed by a Norak ship that was observed to be firing on them. The fact that the Cheththod were able to destroy their attacker before perishing themselves spoke highly of their ability.

...onboard CDS Mastiff...

The crew didn’t have time for recriminations – they were on their way to the Norak colony of Sheliak II. Standing in their path was another pair of Norak destroyers. They were destroyed as the fleet moved into orbit around their target. The attack was carefully planned, as the planet had seven weapon platforms with level two capital ship missiles whose range was 120km. The anti-photon beams on Mastiff had a range of 110km.

Longbow played her role to perfection, drawing the enemy’s missiles to her skimming along the edge of their firing range, and then pulling away, firing her flak cannons as the missiles closed. She did take three missiles which wiped her shields out and disabled one engine. She was able to get the shields back, but not the engine. Still, she was more careful and didn’t make any more mistakes.

Mastiff and her three frigates were taking advantage of the missiles that were targeting Longbow and closed to fire two beam salvos before retreating outside the missile’s range. Working together in this way, Mastiff, the frigates, and Longbow were able to eventually wipe the weapon platforms out, along with four intelligence facilities. The frigate Weymouth also took a missile hit and also lost a single engine, but the planet itself was dead. The Dawn empire had finally entered the intelligence war - in about as most blunt of a way as is possible...

As the five ships moved back to the warp point to wait for the eventual response, Weymouth distributed her supplies to the four remaining ships and warped back into Pantrissa. Until a repair ship could get to them, she would ferry supplies to the ships on the Sheliak side of the warp point...

Nekkar III
Corporate Headquarters...

The successful strike against a Norak intelligence colony wasn’t without risks. The damaged ships were not really that much of a concern, at least as much as how the Cheththod would respond to the attack on a planet in their system. Ironically, the mistake at the warp point could work out to their advantage. If the Cheththod could be convinced that the Norak were attacking their ships and trying to blame their ally (which was exactly what the Dawn was trying to do, albeit in reverse) then they might be convinced to join their ally in expelling the Norak from Sheliak.

Otherwise, the empire ran the risk of going to war with another empire – something they distinctly wished to avoid...

Drepana system
...onboard CDS Lugosi...

The system belonged to the Cue Cappa. There were space stations, frigates and destroyers almost everywhere. Some were damaged, but the analysis of the data suggested the damage was from refits rather than battle. The stealth ship approached Drepana I and performed a scan. The results were coded and sent as a burst transmission. What the rest of the empire’s planners would find out in the next hour is what Lugosi’s crew already knew.

They had found the home world of the Cue Cappa...