Story thread - chronicles

[Alneyan]

I have read it, and definitively liked this story so far.

[ February 11, 2004, 14:32: Message edited by: Alneyan ]

[Growltigger]

COLD PEACE

Avalon was the jewel of the Federation colony worlds. The adverts run by Federation Command on all Earth media for the Avalon colony portrayed it as a veritable Garden of Eden and the epitome of the unspoiled wilderness. It truly was a beautiful planet, towering mountains, heavily forested uplands, verdant plains sweeping down to oceans which sparkled in the bright sunlight of Tau Ceti. The main settlement, Carthage, was expertly laid out, and despite being a new settlement, was a mass of leafy avenues, clean white buildings, space and room to breathe. To the economists of the Federation, it was a veritable potential powerhouse for mineral and radioactive production, and also had the possibility of producing huge amounts of foodstuffs. To a citizen of Earth, with its environmental contamination, polluted atmosphere, food shortages and industrial complexes, Avalon really was something akin to paradise.

But even paradise had its serpent, and humanity now discovered that it did not have the monopoly on terror and warfare.

Discovery had pulled into orbit around Avalon, and was in the process of transferring its wounded down to hospitals in Carthage, prior to undergoing repairs at Avalon's newly completed spaceyard facility.

The alien vessel transitted the warp point 3 days after Discovery had returned to Avalon, and headed straight for the planet. All warning signals were ignored, and the civilian administration in Carthage ordered the population to disperse. Many people did not, and this did not sit well with the captain of the Discovery, who came to the cold conclusion that his damaged vessel was the only defence Avalon had. Frantic Messages were transmitted to Earth, but the 1st Cruiser Squadron was several months away even at full speed, and the 2nd Cruiser Squadron, redirected from its voyage to Asgard, was the other side of Earth. The captain realised that he was the sole Federation military presence in the system, and who knew how many alien vessels would be lurking the other side of the warp point.

Two weeks later, the alien vessel approached Avalon. A hastily repaired Discovery speeded out to meet it. The captain of the Discovery had been frantically reviewing every tactical handbook he could find. He knew that his primary advantage lay in the fact that his missiles seemed to have better range than the linear accelerators on the alien vessel. Provided he could keep the range open, he could shell the alien ship before it could get in range to fire.

The Battle of Avalon was one sided. The alien ship, damaged from its previous encounter with Discovery, bore straight toward the planet, obviously intent on bLasting Carthage to atoms in a blaze of kinetic projectiles. It barely tried to dodge when the first missile from the Discovery smashed into it. The missile bLast fractured the alien ship, and despite a call to surrender, no signal was received from the alien wreck. The second missile from the Discovery blew it apart. Discovery proceeded to start search and rescue operations to see if any of the alien crew had survived, and also to attempt to obtain technical data on the alien vessel..

Federation Command was in an uproar. All ship production on Earth was cancelled, and new light cruisers, incorporating the latest phased beam, armour and point defence technology, were put into production. Hephaestus and Vulcan would continue to build Nova class colony ships, as Federation Command realised it needed additional mining colonies to provide the resources needed to service a war fleet.

Meanwhile, the linguistics technicians and engineers aboard on Avalon had made some important discoveries.

The alien ship did not appear to be more technically advanced than the Federation. It was the same size as the frigate designs Federation Command had contemplated building in early 2401, but it was still half the size of a Federation light cruiser. It armour was not as technically advanced as the complex composites used by Federation designers, its ion engines were less efficient than comparable Federation designs, and the linear accelerators, whilst initially quite frightening, did not have the range and punch of the phased beams being installed on Federation cruisers. In fact, the military hotheads at Battlefleet had even run analysis's and had reached the conclusion that 4 or more of these vessels would be needed to take on a single Agamemnon class light cruiser of the Terran Federation Navy with any hope of success. On this basis, Federation Command breathed a sigh of relief as whatever these aliens were, they did not appear to be the Asgard Enigma.

Although no bodies had been retrieved from the wreckage, the scientists had managed to decipher the signals received from the alien ship in its first encounter with Discovery. Both audio and visual signals had been decoded. The audio signals were decoded first. The language was unusual, but a linguistics professor at the newly founded Carthage University pointed out that it had disturbing similarities to proto-Aryan and older Earth Languages. The visual signals were decoded later, and what these showed caused massive uproar across the Federation.

It would have been better if the images showed horrible green hairy bug eyed monsters. They didn't. True, the person speaking out of the video channel was generally more slender and taller than the average human, wore strange garments and appeared to have a trenchant for face paint, but they looked undeniably human. Could it possibly be that humanity on Earth was just part of a wider human civilisation across the stars? Every lunatic and fringer on Earth went into overdrive, and political bodies demanding that Earth be reunited with its brethren across the stars appeared overnight. Every scientist on Earth and Avalon was dreaming of the chance to get its hands on some of the alien DNA.

Federation Command ignored the political upheaval. Its linguistic experts had managed to decipher the alien language, and although certain words had to extrapolated or inferred by reference, they had enough of the general meaning of the Messages to be worried. Apparently, the ship had been warning Discovery that it had entered into a star system claimed by the alien empire. Astronomy data indicated that the star system was Sigma Draconis, and that in addition to several gas giants and ice planets, it had one habitable world. In addition, it had an unexplored warp point. Data on what the alien empire was could not be interpreted, as the linguists could not determine enough information.

The 1st Cruiser Squadron had entered Tau Ceti space and was only 1 month away from reaching Avalon. The Hainan was only a month behind carrying 200 million colonists. A second alien vessel, which closely matched the first ship in design, transitted the warp point from Sigma Draconis. Unlike its predecessor, it did not charge towards Avalon all guns blazing, but sat on the warp point, not moving.

Messages were sent, and were responded to, and the linguistics and diplomatic experts finally opened the dialogue they wanted to with the aliens.

The aliens came from the Proxima Centauri star system, which was somewhere beyond Sigma Draconis. They called themselves the Centauri Republic, and were aggressive, notwithstanding the gift of minerals and foodstuffs sent to them by officials on Avalon. The Centauri would not be drawn, nor did they seem to show any interest in why they and Humans looked so alike. The offer of a non-aggression pact made by the Federation was rebuffed, with the cryptic message from the Centauri that this was not a time for alliances.

However, certain information was obtained from the Centauri. They inhabited 4 star systems, and generally had a technology level less advanced than the Federation. References to other ships however indicated that the Centauri fleet was larger than the Federation Navy. As suddenly as they had appeared, the Centauri vessel slipped back through the warp point and disappeared. The Last communication being an emphatic "no" to the Federation's request for a non-aggression treaty.

In the meantime, Venus, Ganymede and Europa had been colonised by Federation Command, and the resource stockpile was rapidly being replenished. Construction had been completed of the Federation light cruisers Theseus, Acheron, Argonaut and Bellerophon. More were in construction. These ships boosted out of Earth orbit on the long voyage to Avalon. Science Command and Battlefleet worked together to commence research on military techniques which could be used to train and increase the expertise of fleet vessels.

The military might of the Federation was to gather at Avalon. It was obvious to Federation Command that the Centauri Republic were hostile for some reason, and it was only a matter of time before the hammer fell on Avalon. How hard that hammer would fall, and whether the Federation could survive it, was the principal question.

[dogscoff]

Excellent stuff. Any chance of posting some kind of map so we can see what the layout is like?

[Growltigger]

Cheers Dogscoff, compliments on writing from you mean something, as you do have a joyful way with words (even if you do eat poo )

Dunno how I post a map, but we are only three jumps out from or two warp point starting system so there is not really much to show!

I will see what I can do.

[primitive]

Keep it comming, Kat. You got me hooked

[Growltigger]

THE FIRST WAR IN THE STARS

On 15 September 2403, the Discovery transitted the warp point leading to Sigma Draconis. Its sensors showed no Centauri presence in the system, and the colonisable world, which had been christened Xanadu, sparkled on the sensor viewport. Discovery launched a courier drone through the warp point. Minutes later, the 3rd Cruiser Squadron, comprising the light cruisers Acheron, Argonaut and Bellerophon, appeared in the darkness of space, escorting the larger bulk of a Nova class colony vessel, crammed with 1 million Federation military personnel.

Operation Retro was a bold plan, but one which had nearly toppled the most powerful parties in the World Senate. The Federation had made repeated gifts to the Centauri Republic, and had offered numerous trade or non-aggression treaties. The gifts had been accepted with appropriate thanks and platitudes, but all treaty offers had been rebuffed. In addition, the Centauri attitude toward the Federation was moving from angry to positively murderous. Still no face to face meeting had ever taken place between a Centauri and a Human, and it was becoming doubtful that it ever would.

Operation Retro had been invented by the military hotheads at Battlefleet, who, following the Battle of Avalon, were enjoying a renaissance and surge to prominence in the war rooms at Federation Command. It was obvious that the Centauri claimed the Sigma Draconis system, but they had taken no action to colonise the mineral rich and valuable Earth-like planet christened as Xanadu., and therefore Earth would. A military colony would be landed on Xanadu, who would construct resupply and construction facilities. Battlefleet light cruisers would build up at Xanadu, and as this was the only known point of contact between the Federation and the Republic, any Centauri response would hit Battlefleet heads on. And if a science vessel like Discovery could take out a Centauri frigate, then surely several cruiser squadrons could thrash the whole empire.

Xanadu was established on 15 October 2403. The colonists immediately commenced with construction of the refuelling facilities, guarded by the ever watchful Federation cruisers in orbit. Discovery meanwhile boosted out toward the unexplored warp point in Sigma Draconis.

In the meantime, Avalon had constructed ship and fleet training facilities, and the 1st Cruiser Squadron, 2nd Cruiser Squadron and 4th Cruiser Squadrons (comprising Theseus, Odysseus and Ares) were in orbit, conducting wargames and increasing their experience. Repairs were also being completed to the light cruisers in the 1st and 2nd squadrons, as these ships had been refitted to include the latest armour and phased beam technology.

Earth, meanwhile, was continuing to construct light cruisers. The 5th Cruiser Squadron was finalising construction in geostationary orbit round Earth. The warships, Thetis, Atalante and Apollo, would be boosting out to Avalon as soon as construction was completed.

Colony ships had been sent to Sirius to colonise the habitable worlds there, although it would be another 4 months before they reached their destinations.

Mining colonies had been established on New California and New Arizona, mineral rich planets in the Epsilon Eridani system. A research base had been built on Artemis, and the scientists had discovered the remains of a huge shield generator, with apparently the ability to project an energy defence field around the whole of a planet. Construction of such a huge facility would be time consuming and expensive, but plans were made for these defence works to be constructed at Avalon and Xanadu. No remains of alien life forms were found, but the engineering designs of the ruins did not match those found on Asgard. This was obviously another alien race.

The Asgard Enigma deepened, and was augmented by what was called the Artemis Conundrum. Whatever had wiped out the warlike aliens on Asgard, may have lived on Artemis, but if it was them that lived on Artemis, what had the power to punch a whole through a huge planetary shield facility, and who had destroyed them? This implied that something more powerful was out in the galaxy.

Research on military projects, and the development and training of combat troops and mechanised vehicles, was continued.

[Growltigger]

CHARYBDIS

The second warp point in Sigma Draconis system was christened Charybdis. Discovery boosted through the warp point on 3 November 2403 and was never seen again. No courier drone or message was received from the crew. She simply disappeared.

Scientists wracked their brains for the reason for the disappearance. The military assumed it was the Centauri, but the scientific establishment pointed out that not much was known about warp points. Humanity may have been lucky to date, but perhaps Charybdis was a new type of gravitational whirlpool which did not offer a short cut to other stellar systems, but which destroyed ships instead. The military pointed to the presence of the Centauri frigate in Sigma Draconis. It came from somewhere, and unless there was some invisible warp point in that system, it could only had come through Charybdis.

This viewed was reinforced when a Centauri battlegroup jumped through Charybdis. The battlegroup comprised 5 frigates and a larger vessel, half again as large as the frigates, but still three quarters the size of the defending light cruisers. The battlegroup ignored all hailing signals, and advanced on Xanadu.

The 3rd Cruiser Squadron deployed in orbit round Xanadu. After furious consultation with the planetary commander, it was agreed that the warships should boost out to meet the Centauri battlegroup as far out in space as possible. Xanadu had no defences other than the warships, and any battle should be kept as far away from the planet as possible.

The squadrons closed, the Centauri ignoring all Messages sent to them by the Federation cruisers. The large Centauri vessel opened the battle at long range, by volleying off 3 missiles. The remaining frigates closed the distance to the Federation ships. TFN (Terran Federation Navy) Bellerophon was leading the Federation fleet. At long range, she opened fire on the frigates. Three of her four phased beam arrays struck the frigate, and it could be seen that its armour was destroyed and it was streaming atmosphere. TFN Acheron fire next and the wounded frigate was destroyed. TFN Argonaut directed her fire at another frigate, and caused heavy damage. The Centauri missiles sped toward the Federation squadron, but were engaged by the point defence batteries on the ships. All missiles were destroyed at extreme range from the fleet.

The Centauri frigates moved to attack range, and the three undamaged survivors fired their linear accelerators at TFN Bellerophon. The ship shuddered as multiple hits rocked its armour, but the plating held and the warship powered on. She fired her beams at the nearest frigate, and almost destroyed it. Acheron finished the Centauri off, and Argonaut blew the damage frigate apart.

The remaining two frigate continued to fire at Bellerophon, smashing her armour and damaging her engines. She started to stream atmosphere. She continued to fire her beam weapons and disabled a further Centauri vessel. At point blank range, the phased beams were far more powerful than the cannon on the Centauri ships, and Acheron and Argonaut destroyed the Last two vessels.

Meanwhile, the Centauri destroyer fired its missile batteries. The missiles were destroyed at long range by the squadron's point defence batteries, and it was obvious that the missiles were no threat to the well defended warships. The cruisers closed, and after having demands for surrender ignored by the Centauri vessel, they blew the ship apart.

The first battle of Xanadu was a Federation victory, and hopefully, the first of many.