Jethanis Incident

[Siirenias]

Stardate 2436.4

In the intervening time, USHF VI's single repair cruiser managed to repair one of its boarding frigates into some semblance of function, even if said function was effectively useless without capture cruisers or battleships to support. As precious, non-replenishable missiles were re-allocated to the cruiser divisions, the lone frigate was tasked to ride shepherd on the support craft.

The pair of light cruiser colliers managed to deliver fresh units of fuel and reactive mass before the second battle began. A fleet of 25 -25!- battleships pursued with bloody intent. The poor remaining crippled boarding frigate was written off and abandoned as two cruisers, escorted by frigates, accelerated in futile defense of their charges.

In a surprise twist, USHN's revolutionary doctrine of space engagement allowed the cruisers to even the odds a little more.

14 Xi'Chung battleships, a light cruiser, and a destroyer never made it out in one piece, and forced the rest to scatter in disarray. Although the numbers were impressive, the relatively low exchange rate was still crushing, as the cruiser Eagle and frigate Wicker shattered under withering fire. In addition, all of USHF VI's missiles had been spent, leeching away the Fleet's last advantage...

[Siirenias]

Stardate 2436.5

A miracle.

Knocked back onto their heels by the pair of staggering losses, the Xi'Chung Hive found themselves reeling. No third wave had come. Yet.

However, a Duruksha flotilla of resupply shuttles managed to make their way to the crippled fleet, rearming all USHF VI's remaining missile batteries and filling her magazines.

However, with replacement vessels coming from so far, the wait was agonizing as orders from Admiralty ordered the fleet to stay put and continue to show the Xi'Chung Hive the USH's displeasure with their presence.

[Siirenias]

Stardate 2436.6

The Xi'Chung strike again, hoping to make up for the lost time they spent reeling from their losses, using the ships that escaped the last conflict.

The cruiser USHNS Falcon took 4 or 5 battleships with her, and the frigate USHNS Shield dissolved in a cloud of expanding gas. Though crippled, the boarding frigate USHNS Slug staggered free of the engagement, while the remaining two frigates took care of the last battleships. The Slug is becoming a regular in the repair cruiser's repair bay.

Reinforcements are steaming at full speed toward USHF VI, but disturbing reports from the Sithrak Dominion place a force of 87 Xi'Chung vessels in the neighboring system...

[Siirenias]

Stardate 2436.8

No more incursions on Fleet VI by the Xi'Chung have been attempted as of yet. The first reinforcement, the capture cruiser USHNS Bolt, is one system away. The massive group of Hive ships have been confirmed -- a massive destroyer flotilla surrounding a core of battleships. Their intentions are unknown, and if Sithrak contacts are reliable, they have remained in the same sector for an extended period. Morale, nevertheless, improves with the first reinforcement a warp point away.

[Siirenias]

Stardate 2437.0

The 6th fleet of the United Systems Hegemony Navy is now nearing the completion of its rebuilding. Several of its heaviest elements are just a warp point away.

In fact, with the rendezvous of an additional capture cruiser, a retaliation action was taken. The capture cruisers USHNS Bolt and USHNS Rifle sought out and captured a crippled battleship recorded as being part of the second Battle of Jethanis. Although the battleship's consort escaped, due to insufficient breaching shuttles, the capture was a success. The fleet's repair cruiser moved up to rendezvous with the Rifle, Bolt and the captured battleship.

As the repair cruiser docked with the battleship, a long range scanner reading chilled the crew's blood. Nearby, another Xi'Chung warship was cruising by. Said ship was well within the mass ranges for a dreadnought class vessel. The prospect of dreadnoughts in as vast numbers as the fleet's encountered battleships may keep some sailors from sleeping easy that night.

[BlueTemplar]

Interesting story, but you start to repeat yourself a little bit...

[Siirenias]

Stardate 2439.0

After two full years of activity in the region, as well as establishing a series of forward bases in a neighboring system, United Systems Hegemony Fleet 1 has been ordered back into the Jethanis system, from the other side.

So far, sensors have confirmed that an ally has retained its toehold in the system, and USHF 1 has been ordered to assume a planetary orbit while the situation is being assessed.

During the last two years, USHF 6 has been joined by 3 more fleets in the area, has conquered one moon, and established two new, large planetary bases in the area. The USHF 2, 4 and 6 are stationed in a neighboring system, as relief vessels, expatriate transport ships, and fresh, modern capture ships come in from the home systems.

(I know I repeat myself more than just a bit. I like it anyway.)

[Siirenias]

Stardate 2439.3

USHF 1 seemingly took one of the Xi'Chung major fleet bases a little more rapidly than the local enemy forces could handle.
Shortly after the planet was conquered, a fuel depleted fleet of immense proportions came by to reprovision.

They were able to capture some 4 destroyers and take a part of a battleship in the short engagement. Now that the enemy fleet is known to be depleted, a pair of capture squadrons have been called in from a neighboring system to attempt an intercept.