Carrier Battles Team Mode

[Suicide Junkie]

It has taken me far too long to get through this last year, but it is finally done.

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2406.0:
This year has been lean. 18 worlds have been been added to the Rebel Alliance, bringing the total to 133. With most planets already well developed, and more than 70 working on long term projects, our infrastructure investments are suffering from diminishing returns. Our current projects have been well justified, but all the same, alliance reserves have been reduced to 3.7M minerals, 1.7M organics and 4.1M radioactives. Military spending must be maintained to protect our citizens, and cancelling the long term projects would be an unacceptable waste. How will the budget be balanced then? We must continue to pursue high ROI projects with vigour, and avoid further long term commitments. Once a balanced budget is achieved through the new production facilities, we can begin approving the less lucrative, but still profitable, projects again.

In the north, the three ships which attacked Othello III last month have evaded our counterattack, and are heading for the Dussullet warppoint. Two more carriers are set to intercept them, with a third on its way. Additional cruisers continue to trickle in from Ovelli, and a carrier will be sent to intercept them when available.
The northern AI core world of Torren IV has gathered a significant fleet of 20 ships and carriers and continues to accumulate firepower. Invasion plans for this world have been postponed indefinitely.

In the southeast, only two ships will make the intercept point in time to catch the AI scout. An Honor and a Vigilance will be holding the warppoint, but the enemy design is known to be a direct fire warship, giving the Vigilance little to do but take potshots against the strong shielding. If the Honor fails to destroy the warship's shield generator early on, the Vigilance still has a chance of doing light damage to the enemy engines, and may draw some fire.
The fleet of 40 ships behind the scout in continuing on its way through Zyx, and is expected to enter Beliph next month. Our eastern fleet is burning hard for the Beliph-Ochre warppoint to cut them off, but it will be close.
120 other enemy ships are currently being tracked in the southeastern star cluster, but there is nothing we can do about them yet.

In the south, the 40 ship blockade of recently liberated Nibbrix IX continues unabated, but 30 additional ships have entered from the south. Whether they have come to drop additional troops on Nibbrix IX, or to attack our planets in Tudran is unknown.
The Rebel outpost in Bintrox has spotted two AI cruisers heading north towards Jorun, and a select group of seven crews have been selected from the training center to intercept them. For graduating ahead of their classes with top marks, four Honour crews, two Valor crews and a Vigilance crew have been selected to defend the Jorun warppoint. Enemy arrival is expected within two months.

2406.1:
With the arrival of reinforcements, all of the AI ships in Othello have been destroyed in skirmishes across the system. Fighter casualties were limited to seven pilots, but half the bridge officers aboard the lead carrier were lost when a heavy laser burned through its armor plating. Engineers are guiding the carrier to the nearest repair facility at half speed.
In the southeast, carriers have been dispatched to intercept a pair of scouts attempting to leave the star cluster via the Jorun warppoint. The battle expected early next month will be an easy victory, unlike the pending battle further north. The 38 AI ships have just entered Beliph and are only 11 sectors from entering the hub system of Ochre. Despite their best efforts, Beta fleet is only going to take a full two months to arrive at the warppoint, arriving on day 30. Our assets in the region consist of the 25 ships in Beta fleet, a pair of Independence carriers, and five additional ships that have been pulled from local shipyards. Engineers have confirmed that the damaged Honor (which held the warppoint against the enemy scoutship last month) will not be combat worthy until after the battle has been fought; the current estimate is two months to restore full propulsion and control.
Finally, in the far south system of Nibbrix, an additional 30 ships appear to be on their way to join the blockade of Nibbrix IX. Local defenders have been warned to prepare for potential troop drops behind their lines.

2406.2:
The battle in Nibbrix gas gone badly; while our tanks were held in reserve against the possibility of flanking drops, the actual assault was instead on the front lines. Casualties were extremely high as the AI shock troops deployed right in the middle of our light infantry. Fifty surviving units are now in full retreat, purused by over 700 AI units and vehicles; the local space yard and resupply depot are well fortified, but it is now only a matter of time before the defenders are overrun. At least they won't run out of ammo.

Things have gone better elsewhere. In the southeast, crisis has been averted; the fleet of 40 has turned back, presumably for resupply. Another 30 ships are scattered in the corridor, and may present a challenge. Beta fleet is ordered to hold the corridor until the next wave of trained ships from Centrolius arrive in five months time. The untrained local ships are all being sent on to Centrolius.

In Jorun, only one AI ship attempted to run the blockade. The initial volleys from our trainees disabled its main weapon; an 80mm plasma cannon. Although it still had an array of 60mm DU Cannons, the Honor crews protected each other well; only one of the Honor class shi ps sustained more than a single hit during the battle. The second hit penetrated the ship's shielding and left a significant dent in the armor, but the chief engineer had that problem fixed in only a few hours.

In the northern AI core system of Torren, one of our Independence carriers was intercepted by a fleet of two carriers and a heavy cruiser shortly after jumping in. Although all of our fighters were lost, they held back the AI forces for almost 20 minutes. While the enemy fighters were distracted by the new Viper class dogfighters, one of the bomber groups managed to break through and attack the enemy carriers directly. Heavy damage was inflicted on the warship and one of the carriers, while the other suffered light damage. With the enemy forces crippled, the Independence was able to escape with no damage, and outrun the pursuing ships. The Independence is planning a slingshot past the AI core world on its way to the Dussullet warppoint, where it will be restocked.

2406.3:
There were only a few victories this month. Two AI cruisers attacked the Jorun defense line, and were both destroyed. One of the defending Honor frigates suffered minor damage; a cracked armor plate and a damaged engine. Although she can still make full speed on auxiliary power, the ship is being sent back to the yard and will be replaced by a newly graduated ship and crew.
A carrier attack in the northern system of Xuberra has reduced the local defense to only 60 fighters. Two more carriers are being requisitioned from the south to deliver more.
Finances are looking up this month; fifty new resource facilities have come on line recently, and the monthly defecit is down to 20k.

2406.4:
Emergency reports have come in from Torren and Othello; a pack of 13 cruisers has left orbit of the core world and is heading for Dussullet, while a battlefleet of 23 has entered Othello and is threatening the Othello III repair yards.
The independence carrier guarding the Dussullet-Torren warppoint has been ordered to retreat to the colonies until additional forces can be gathered.
At Othello III, the single carrier has left its bombers to help defend the colony, and is now making best speed for Dussullet.
In the southeast, the 28 AI ships have entered Zyx and are now two jumps away from Beta fleet and the Alliance interior. The reinforcements heading south from Centrolius will be cutting their arrival very close.

2406.5:
Most of the AI forces heading for our colonies have stopped their advances unexpectedly. The cruisers in Torren have halted just short of the Dussullet warppoint, possibly for reinforcements entering from the north. Further north, the AI fleet in Othello has vanished from our sensors, and we can only presume that they returned to Ovelli. In the southeast, most of the second fleet has turned back, leaving only a carrier and four cruisers to continue. Beta fleet has been ordered to intercept the remaining ships while they are outnumbered and vulnerable.
Fighting continues on Nibbrix IX, with our defenders down to less than half of their original tank force. There are simply too many AI troops and not enough guns.
The alliance budget has achieved a small surplus of organics for the first time in years, and although there is still a monthly defecit of 35k rads, we have 3.9 million in the treasury so it is of little concern.

In the south, a heavy AI carrier is advancing on Jorun. While it should not be a threat, we have not yet faced such a large carrier in combat. The elite ships will be joined at the warppoint by the full Alpha fleet for training in fleet manoeuvers, bringing the total to over 60 warships plus support ships.

2406.6:
The AIs are back! The fleet of 23 is facing down Othello III again this month, with a pair of cruisers heading for Othello V. The two cruisers should not be a threat, as the orbital defense network has been fully repaired since the last assault by a carrier.
In the recently liberated system of Xuberra, just south of Torren, our warppoint defenses were breached. One of the new heavy carriers jumped through just before our shipment of replacement fighters was due to arrive, and both of our carriers defending the warppoint were overrun. Although they held the line against two waves, and managed to deliver 40% damage to the enemy carrier, both Independences were destroyed. Only two carriers remain operational in the system, one of which has been assigned to guard the warppoint, and the other is chasing down the enemy ships that slipped through while the warppoint was unguarded. A third is being dispatched from Auric to intercept the damaged heavy carrier, and provide support if it can.
Fighter production in Auric has been stepped up, with a not insignificant impact on the budget.
Better news comes from the east, where a class of 17 new warships have been graduated from the training center in Cephedri. They are heading south to reinforce Beta fleet.

2406.7:
AI forces have attacked Othello III! Despite a valiant effort by the three system defense carriers and the planetary militia, our defenders were wiped out. Half of the AI carriers were destroyed in the battle, along with four warships. Five additional AI warships suffered moderate damage, leaving ten ships and two carriers which have taken up blockade positions around the colony.
In the south, the heavy carrier has turned back from Jorun, but new threats are presenting themselves; three fleets of AI ships and carriers are heading for Jorun through the southeast cluster. The 60 current graduates from Jorun have all been gathered into Alpha fleet, and are heading east to cut them off. All available carriers are being mobilized as well. Where possible, our forces will be striking subfleets and then immediately falling back to regroup.

2406.8:
Twelve AI ships remain in orbit of Othello III, enforcing the blockade, but five of the damaged ships have broken off and are retreating. Thankfully, no ground forces have appeared so far.
Othello V remains untouched; the network of defense satellites has dissuaded attack. Plans to duplicate the system at Othello III once the blockade has been broken have been met with enthusiastic support.
The AI forces which broke through Xuberra in the north have made the jump into Auric just ahead of our pursuing force. We expect the final showdown with them early next month.

In the southeast, a successful early raid by the Fizbon carrier group has destroyed six cruisers and two carriers. Casualties include one hundred fighters, but most of the raiding force escaped. These losses have reduced the enemy force to fifty-two ships and carriers.

Down in Nibbrix, our defenders are getting desperate. Only three tanks remain operational, and the AI troops have completely surrounded the shipyard and resupply depot. Unfortunately the AI force in orbit is now 80 ships, and completely unassailable.

For some good news, sixteen ships have graduated from the northern training center of Centrolius this month, and an additional 26 from Jorun. The new recruits will be joining Beta and Alpha fleets respectively, and should give us the edge we need.
As well, the economy has begun an upswing with the completion of new industrial regions in our northeastern systems; construction projects are in full swing and the defecit has been reduced to 20k radioactives.

2406.9:
The two independence carriers we sent to intercept the enemy entering Auric were both destroyed this month in a two week running battle. Initial reports indicate a new type of super-effective fighter was deployed in the battle, but a full analysis is still pending.
The AI heavy carrier was last seen heading back to the north where it intercepted and destroyed an untrained Honor class frigate. An AI warship is now heading through Auric to the system of Telome, home to one of the three founding planets of the alliance. It is unknown what a lone warship can do, but a carrier is being scrambled to intercept it before it can reach any of our planets.

The AI ships entering Dussullet have turned north to enter Othello and are expected to reinforce the blockade.
We will have to commit some very significant force to the north in order to contain this wave of ships, but our main fleets are already committed in the southeast, and we have none to spare.

Our previous attack has disrupted the invasion force in the southeast, and the AI flotilla has dispersed somewhat. 16 enemy ships have entered Dornot, and are being stared down by Alpha fleet, but there are 30 more just on the other side of the warppoint in Fizbon. Alpha fleet is moving to intercept them, hopefully before they can regroup.

[Suicide Junkie]

2407.0:
It is the beginning of a new year, and 23.4 billion free sentients now live on 144 planets across 43 systems.
Economic indicators are quite positive; mineral and organics production once again outstrip expenses, while our radioactives reserve is stable.
Production is back at optimum levels, with much less waste and inefficiency.

Fighting for our freedom are the millions that operate and support the 40 thousand ground units, 400 ships and 140 bases currently in active duty.
Most of those ships have been built in the last two years, with many of them either en route to or stationed at our training facilities.

Although we are currently facing three large AI fleets, and two ground invasions, our forces are still in good spirits.

We are outnumbered 5 to 1 by Nibbrix IX, and our tank divisions have been wiped out, our infantry have managed to maintain control of the local shipyard and resupply depot. With 81 ships blockading the planet reinforcements are impossible, but as long as they are there, they are not assaulting other worlds.

On Othello VIII, the positions are reversed, and our forces outnumber the AI units 5 to 1. AI troops irregularily conduct raids on our outlying villages for power cells and scrap metal. We have over a thousand troops, but the vast undomed areas of the surface make the hunt for AI troops difficult at best.
Nearby, AI forces include a small blockading force in orbit of Othello III, various raiding fleets, and a flotilla of 25 ships and carriers guarding the AI core world of Torren IV.

Near our southern training facility in the hub system of Jorun is the third major AI fleet. Having regrouped from the recent surgical strike by the Fizbon Guard, fifty ships and carriers are making their way across the neighbouring system of Dornot, and are two months from our warppoint. Alpha fleet is 87 ships strong, and in position to intercept the AI fleets as they slingshot around the Dornot star. Although fully trained, and superior in numbers, the realities of war mean that the fleet will certainly be unable to intercept and destroy all of the AI ships. Trainees from Jorun are being moved in to participate in operation Backstop at the warppoint, and are tasked with the destruction of any ships which make it past Alpha fleet. Alpha fleet has been ordered to avoid skirmishes with the lead scout fleet, and strike directly at the core flotilla while our ships are still in prime condition.
Two repair ships are following along with the fleet, and a third has been called in from Zuria, but casualties are expected to be huge. To help with the load, a dedicated repair yard is being constructed in Fizbon, and should come on line as the first casualties trickle in.

2407.1:
The AI fleet in Dornot has split up and probably believes it has outmanoeuvered us again. Alpha fleet is currently chasing down the bulk of their forces, while a raiding fleet of 20 ships continued on towards the Jorun warppoint. Although they are only 15 days from making the jump, our freshly trained Gamma fleet will arrive within only five. 18 warships and four carriers strong, they will be slightly outgunned, but have two strategic advantages. First, the fleet does not need to completely destroy the enemy fleet in order to claim victory, but merely reduce their strength to the point that the planetary militias can resist an attack. Second is the fact that rescue and repair ships will be available immediately after the battle for the survivors.
While ship losses will be high, casualties should only be moderate.

2407.2:
Alpha fleet has intercepted the main AI force and reports complete success!
On initial contact, the enemy forces were split into two isolated groups; the smaller group was held back by a pair of Independence carriers, while the rest of Alpha fleet concentrated fire on the rest of the AIs. One Independence was sent ahead to draw out the main enemy lines. Although the carrier's actions also drew heavy fire, the AI fighters obligingly spread their forces thinner in order to do so. They thus opened their flank to a huge bombardment of Laser, Torpedo and DUC rounds from Alpha fleet's gunships
The initial bombardment had little visible impact on the vast cloud of fighters, but the advantageous battle line had been drawn, and minute by minute, the damage mounted until victory was assured.
The main AI fleet has been annihilated, although we lost three Honor class ships, an Independence carrier and one of our two repair ships. The second repair ship suffered heavy damage along with twenty other ships. An additional 16 have suffered light damage but are still combat worthy.

Back in Jorun, the 22 ships and 4 carriers of Gamma fleet faced off against seven heavy AI carriers and nine cruisers transiting the warppoint.
The AI fleet took the interesting tactic of having their ships attempt to disengage from the battle; our force was held back by the vast wall of fighters while their light gunships covered the retreat of their carriers.
Although seriously outnumbered, our fighters did have the close support of our Vigilance and Valor warships. Despite support from a pair of bombardment cruisers, the AI missile bombers were unable to do significant damage, and the 40mm cannons exacted a heavy toll on the enemy's lines.
While the battle raged, three of our Honor frigates managed to sneak past the bulk of the enemy fighters and strike at the enemy ships fromm point blank range. They suffered heavy return fire for this action, and one of the ships was destroyed, but they dealt a crippling blow to the enemy cruisers and eased the missile pressure on our fleet.

In the end, two 30 minute long assaults by the AI forces both resulted in heavy casualties, but no decisive advantage for either fleet. Our forces are down to seven lightly damaged warships and two carriers with a combined complement of 66 asp bombers. The enemy is down to two functional warships and one carrier with 35 unsupported fighters in addition to what remains on the carrier.

The current break in the fighting has given us an opportunity to order a strategic retreat of the heavily damaged ships; all of the surviving craft have some engine power available and will make their way to the local colonies for medical support and repairs.

Relief from the training center in Jorun is still two months away and Alpha fleet is at least three, so the remnants of Gamma fleet will have to hold out with what they have.

Overall our forces have performed beyond expectations. After patching up the least damaged ships and adding the expected new graduates, we should be able to field a force of a hundred ships before the year is out. One of the leading plans for this fleet is an assault on the blockade fleet in Nibbrix; the besieged ground force is in desperate straits and there are 2000 troops available in Jorun if we can punch a hole for the transports.

2407.3:
Jorun has been cleared of hostile ships by Gamma fleet, with surprisingly little damage. Between the stellar defense in Jorun, and Alpha fleet's preemptive strike, only 5 AI ships remain operational, and all of them are in retreat.

In the north, one of our carriers was intercepted at the Auric-Xuberra warppoint as it was bringing reinforcements to the latter system. Despite being completely outmatched by the tiny, high tech AI fighters, the pilots managed to defend the carrier long enough for it to warp to safety. Only two of fourty fighters survived.

In other northernly bad news, the colony of Othello VIII has been attacked. The planetary defenders were wiped out, but they were able to exact a heavy toll on the AI force. Both carriers were destroyed, and eight of the ten warships were heavily damaged. With our defenses demolished, it will be some time before we will be able to push them off, but hopefully most of them will be encouraged to leave thanks to the damage we inflicted.

2407.4:
Gamma fleet got a big boost this month as the latest graduates from the Jorun training center arrived, and tripled their number of combat worthy ships to 18.
Alpha fleet was expected to arrive in Jorun later this month, but has been ordered to turn back to Fizbon. Our outer colonies have reported a 22-ship strong fleet heading for Fizbon, and we cannot allow them to strike our crippled ships at the repair yards there. Fifteen damaged ships are being sent on to Jorun, but the 50 combat worthy warships in Alpha fleet will be more than enough.

Elsewhere in the southeast, the system of Zuria reports a 14 ship fleet heading west towards our core systems. Fortunately both Beta and Delta fleets were well on their way to Zuria already, and will wait in ambush at the warppoint. With 67 ships total, we expect no losses and there are plenty of shipyards in the area to clean up whatever damage we sustain.

In Othello, many fighters have remained in orbit of Othello VIII to harass the locals, but the bulk of the fleet has moved on towards Othello III. AI ships are also swarming in the Torren system, and it is only a matter of time before they start attacking some of our core systems. 46 ships will be graduating this month, and are being assigned to the northern front. We must do something before the high tech carriers and fighters being fielded up there get out of hand.

2407.5:
In the southeast, Beta and Gamma fleets dispatched their targets efficiently. Fighter casualties were light, and although many ships suffered scrapes and dings only two were damaged enough that they cannot continue. One will be heading to the nearest yard for repairs, while the other will have to wait for assistance.
The fleet will have to move on without them, as they must respond to a second incursion force heading towards Zuria. Thirty-five ships strong, it will be much greater challenge than the previous turkey shoot. Six additional carriers stationed in Zuria will provide support where possible.

Our victories of late have certainly not deterred the AI forces. This month, both Othello III in the north and Quikil I in the south were blockaded and are suffering orbital bombardment. Ground defenses are holding, for now.
The newly strengthened Gamma fleet in Jorun is being redeployed south to deal with the attack in Quikil. They will meet up with next month's graduates and any ships from the battle which have finished repairs before moving in. We need to take out as many ships as we can from small fleets like this before the 80 ship fleet finishes with Nibbrix IX and comes for us.
Speaking of Nibbrix IX, we have not yet heard from our troops this month, and we fear the worst.

2407.6:
The bombardment of Quikil I has intensified, and our ground forces are taking heavy casualties to protect the civilians and infrastructure. Over six percent of our assets were disabled or destroyed last month alone.
Othello III is taking even heavier damage, but has a large defending force left over from the previous ground battle.

In Auric, the heavy carrier that has plagued us is finally destroyed. Since our gunners are unable to hit the tiny AI fighters, we had to resort to the older technology of our Asp bombers. With area effect missile blasts, hitting is not an issue, and we made up for the low damage with volume of fire. Despite the weakened state of the AI force, we still lost half of the bombers we sent in, but the threat has been eliminated.

We have recieved word of a great breakthrough in technology this month; live testing of a modular, floating habitat suitable for gas giants has been completely successful. The key breakthrough is that all of the support systems are passive. No computer controlled fusion thrusters, or unstable balancing at all. The main drawback is the size. Given all the equipment required for a self sustaining colony, it will take an entire year to build just one of them, and almost 50 thousand units of raw materials. Funding has been approved for four of these systems, which will be used to establish a presence on oxygen giants which appear to have a few of the original facilities partly floating.

2407.7:
Four Independence carriers from Xuberra struck at the Othello III blockade fleet this month in an attempt to halt the bombardment. All four carriers were severely damaged and less than a third of the bombers survived, but they managed to destroy three carriers and three support ships including a repair cruiser. Unfortunately that leaves five destroyers, seven cruisers and a carrier... including one which we have confirmed is loaded with anti planet missiles and is directly responsible for the increased casualties.

There is mixed news from the south; the bombardment of Quikil I ended with the withdrawal of AI forces, but Nibbrix IX has fallen. Fifty million people will need rescuing from an entrenched AI force next year.

In the southeast, Alpha, Beta and Delta fleets are all preparing to intercept enemy forces. Next month promises to be very bloody.

2407.8:
The carriers at Othello III were lost, and the planetary defenses suffered 6% damage. Two AI warships were destroyed, and the rest of the force has retreated to Othello II.

Beta and Gamma fleets struck their target in Zuria this month. Of the 35 AI ships, only 24 still remain, and they are all moderately damaged. Only three of our ships were lost, but damage is quite extensive. A wing of six carriers is being sent in from Zuria II to assist.

Alpha fleet suffered badly in their battle; a third of the enemy force was carriers, and alpha lacked any fighter support. Even worse, the AIs stopped to ambush Alpha after traversing a warppoint. Despite these difficulties, Alpha fleet fought hard. Our forces broke through the enemy lines early and delivered heavy damage to their warships. We took heavy casualties from the enemy bombers, but the Valors were able to pin them down and deliver some retribution in the last third of the battle.
Half of Alpha fleet has been disabled or destroyed, and half of the remainder have taken light damage. Honors were hardest hit due to their front line roles, but fortunately most of the Valor antifighter ships are operational, so we do stand a chance if the battle resumes before we can get reinforcements to the sector.
Of the enemy force, only two or three warships remain operational, but are damaged. The only real threat is the enemy fighters. An estimated 150-170 remain out of the original force of 300, primarily bombers.

All eight carriers from Fizbon are being scrambled to assist, and should arrive on day 8. Should they arrive in time, we should be able to minimize further casualties. Should they not, we may lose most of Alpha fleet.

Another 34 ship fleet has been spotted in the southeast border system of Fwandrei, and they appear to be heading for the Fwandrei V. That world happens to be the most fortified in the system, but the 24 defense sats and 80 fighters are fantastically outmatched.

2407.9:
Alpha fleet was counter-attacked before the relief carriers could even break orbit of Fizbon VIII. Despite all expectations, the Valor and Vigilance cruisers were able to hold the line and protect the damaged ships. Only four ships were destroyed, and although many more were crippled, they managed to whittle down the enemy fleet to just fifty bombers.
No ship was spared from damage when the enemy forces made a second run, and there were too few of our ships still operational to destroy more than a handful of the remaining bombers. Only two more ships were lost before the AI fleet was forced to retreat from our oncoming carriers.
Our eight carriers have been ordered to pursue and destroy the remaining fleet before returning to protect the survivors of Alpha fleet.

In Zuria, we lost six ships before the AI fleet was driven off, but destroyed seven along with a large number of fighters. Seventeen of the ships have escaped the sector with heavy damage, but another thirteen reinforcements are moving in from Cephedri. Our carriers have been ordered to NOT pursue, since they will need their full strength to fend off this second wave.
21 warships have been deemed combat worthy, and have all been transferred to Beta fleet where they will protect the repair ships. Delta fleet comprises the remainder of the mobile ships, and will be taking the next two months to reach Zuria II with the wounded.

Fwandrei V has also been hit hard by the AI forces; all orbital defenses and factories have been destroyed, and 40% of our ground based units have been wiped out, including 77 Asp bombers. Four of the thirty-five assault ships were destroyed along with an unknown number of fighters. Six hundred combat drones and vehicles have reached the surface and have dealt quite some damage in the initial strikes. Fortunately, we have quite a few armored infantry and the manufacturing centers are still operational. After distributing small arms to resistance fighters in the worst hit areas, we will produce a few heavy tanks to bolster our limited vehicle pool and allow some counterattacks.

The recruits we sent to the northern front earlier have almost arrived, and will be taking up defensive positions at the Xuberra and Arklite warppoints. This is fortunate timing, as recent attacks in Xuberra have reduced our guard force to just 47 fighters.

Finally, what might just be the worst news we've gotten in a long time; our outpost in millenia has spotted 54 new AI ships that just warped in. Although they are about five months from reaching the Fizbon-Dornot area, the ships of Alpha fleet will be out of commission for years.

[Suicide Junkie]

2408:
Our long and difficult struggle has brought us to 2408. 24 Billion people live in freedom across 153 planets in 43 systems.
We are in excellent shape economically, and although our reserves were greatly depleted in the last few years, we are slowly rebuilding them once again.
Our military forces have faced great challenges recently, and many good crews were lost in battle. Our three greatest fleets are limping home, great victories achieved at great cost in the southeastern star cluster. Even greater challenges await them this year, as major invasion fleets lay siege to Othello in the north and Tudran in the south.

2408.1:
The survivors of Alpha fleet have reached the repair facilities in Fizbon, where they are being sorted out. The heavily damaged but mobile ships are being sent out to any idle yard available while the planet tends to the wounded.

In the south, Gamma fleet was decimated while attempting to defend the Quikil warppoint; 33 ships have been lost, and the survivors have gathered on the few remaining ships. They will be attempting to escape to Jorun, but twenty carriers and as many warships stand in their way. Only five enemy cruisers suffered light damage, and an unknown number of fighters were destroyed.

On the other southern front, two colonies were attacked in Tudran. 45 enemy ships assaulted Tudran VII, wiping out 140 defense fighters before proceeding to deliver a heavy surface bombardment. Four enemy ships were destroyed, and 10 more suffered moderate to heavy damage.
Tudran III was also sieged by 25 warships, but had no significant fighter force with which to resist. Bombardment of surface targets has begun, but most of the heavy ships are busy at VII.
Both planets are building bombers with which to harass and wear down the enemy while we gather an organized response, but if the bombardment keeps up, we will need to bolster our ground defenses.

In the north, skirmishes continue between ground forces and the swarms of AI fighters orbiting Othello III and VIII. Although their numbers are overwhelming, their ammo is low and our bombers are dealing a lot of damage before being shot back down. With almost 200 enemy fighters in orbit, it will take quite a while to clear the blockade and then begin rebuilding the planetary defenses.

2408.2:
Heavy bombardment of our colony on Tudran VII continued all month, destroying 20% of our ground defenses. Thick point defense neutralized all of our missiles, so the guerrilla bomber project has been canceled. All production is now devoted to buying more time with ground defenses.

The blockade of Tudran III has been abandoned, but only because the ships have attacked Tudran V. The military stronghold in the system, our colony there sported 200 fighters and 1600 troops. Unfortunately it was nowhere near enough. Our pilots exacted a heavy price for their removal; three of the eight enemy carriers have been destroyed, along with a few of the warships.

The north has been relatively quiet; a few skirmishes with scouts at the warppoints, but nothing major. The 30 ship fleet gathered at the Core world is somewhat worrying, but with 5000 of our troops in Dussullet waiting for an opportunity to strike, it is surely a defensive measure.

Trouble continues to brew in the southeast. Although the invasion of Fwandrei V has been stalled by our strong defenses, the the fighting is a heavy drain on our resources in the area. We cannot even afford the queue time to build a wing of bombers for removing the solo cruiser that remains to blockade the colony.
Fwandrei IV and its satellite network are currently facing down the main enemy fleet in the area. Unless the battle for V depleted their reserves significantly, there is little hope that the AI warships will be stopped by the local defenses.

On the plus side, cleanup work from the large fleet battles earlier is progressing well; only five immobile wrecks are left for the recovery teams. Actually getting ships back into serviceable condition is proving the greater challenge. All shipyards in the region are completely overwhelmed, and ships are piling up. Dedicated repair facilities will be a priority construction item for the next few years.

As far as our operational forces go, things will be a bit thin until we graduate a few more classes. We have 30 fresh recruits heading to Fizbon, and 40 on their way to Zuria, although the Zurian relief will not arrive until the end of the year. In the mean time, 20 combat worthy survivors of Beta fleet are moving to intercept a small group of 7 incoming warships. Without carrier support, they should be easy prey.

It has been decided to redeploy Alpha fleet's experienced command staff to the south, where they will be given command of all of this year's pending graduates and the task of removing the AI fleets from Quikil then Tudran. We must put a stop to the rampage.


2408.3:
The southern AI fleet has completely leveled Quikil I. Local fighters were quickly overwhelmed by the fourteen heavy carriers, and despite their best efforts the ground units were hopelessly outmatched by almost as many bombardment cruisers. There is no sign of any survivors.
All of the colonies in Quikil are building defenses, but against such firepower things look grim.
Tudran has been spared further damage for this month, as the damaged enemy fleet abandoned their attack on Tudran V. 47 enemy ships remain from the initial invasion force, and most seem to be heading north to the system of Ulce.

In the southeast, there were a few minor skirmishes in which we shot down solo scouts. Of note is a 20 ship fleet in Zuria which appears to be heading for Fizbon. We expect to have a force of 36 ships gathered by next month, which should be sufficient.
Even further out is a fleet of 55, but they are traveling east and are not considered a threat at this time.

There appears to be a resurgence of activity in the north as well; fleets of 20 ships each are putting the systems of Othello and Dussulet on alert. Although we have a severe lack of mobile forces in the north, the systems are heavily fortified due to years of being on the front line, and should weather the storm.

2408.4:
Our outposts in the far northeast have reported a group of 43 heading south. If they continue straight, they should arrive in our southeastern system of Fwandrei before the end of the year.

The fleet of 20 entering Fizbon has not moved towards the colonies or the core warppoints. Instead, they seem to be heading back east. The plan is to intercept these ships anyways, in order to prevent them from joining a larger fleet and as practice for bigger engagements later. Having gathered all of the new and undamaged ships in Tudran, Rho fleet now consists of 34 warships and 6 carriers; more than a match for the local enemy force.

Another invasion attempt is reported from the far southeast planet of Fwandrei V.
600 troops have landed, but the defense forces are confident they will prevail as in the previous invasion.

In the south, there have been no new attacks, but all 85 ships are heading for Bintrox. They are not likely interested in our tiny observation post at Bintrox IX A, and we must assume that they are going to pass through the system to strike at our training center of Jorun. So far, we have only 37 ships ready, and the next batch of recruits is not due for another two months. Odds are good that we will have to throw untrained crews into the fight and yet still be outgunned.

Some positive news in the north; Othello VIII has nearly destroyed all of the blockading fighters; only 13 remain, and production will soon go towards rebuilding defenses.
While the northern AI is focusing on the west, we have started gathering our forces for a counter attack from the east. With 9000 troops and hundreds of tanks available, we only need to gather enough warships to clear the way.


2408.5:
Three carriers attacked the system of Xuberra, but were repulsed at the warppoint with minimal casualties. A repair ship has been put on order, since the defense ships are showing some wear and tear.

The other northern forces have turned around and are heading back east in response to our mobilization. Many of them will be too late to intercept, but there are already 24 ships protecting their core in Torren. We will know more when we are in position.

In the south, our first wave of survivors from Gamma fleet are entering Jorun, but there are no combat worthy ships among them. Two undamaged carriers are present, but without fighters to load them with, they will be useless in the coming fight.

The enemy fleet has made a detour in Bintrox; they appear to be gathering into a single vast armada, and worsening our situation.

In the east, Fwandrei IV has been blockaded by a growing fleet of 40. The orbital defenses have been obliterated, but as of yet the enemy has not landed troops or begun a bombardment.

2408.6:
Rho fleet demolished ten enemy warships and two carriers in Fizbon this month; only nine remain. Although six of our forty are unable to continue, three of them should be back in service within a year and two highly experienced ships from the previous battle have been repaired.

Elsewhere in the southeast, Fwandrei V was shocked to find that the invading force had tripled in size with most of them behind our defensive lines. Most of the planet has fallen to the AI forces already, and our troops are in disarray. Our surviving forces are few, but attempting to regroup and gather militia support. Even if the capital does not fall by the end of the month, any additional troop drops would surely wipe out our last stronghold.
64 enemy ships are in orbit to ensure there is no rescue attempt, and an additional 41 orbit the Fwandrei IV, where the next invasion will surely come.

In the south, the gathering of ships we were expecting did not materialize. Instead, the two fleets passed each other at full speed, essentially trading locations. Strategists have refused to predict the meaning of this action.

The northern situation is unchanged, but the official gathering date has been set as 2408.9, with the main strike on the first of 2409.

2408.7:
Rho fleet has chased down and destroyed the last enemy ships in their area. Although they had to chase them through the southern warppoint to the system of Dertran and two ships were disabled in the battle, all nine enemy ships have been destroyed. The fleet will be staying in Dertran for the next few months in order to make use of the local repair facilities instead of waiting for the overloaded Fizbon yards.

In Fwandrei, the last of our tanks were wiped out in heavy combat. AI troops are patrolling in the capital, with only irregular forces still opposing them. Our offensive capability on the planet is essentially zero, and it is only a question of delaying their complete victory now.

The south system of Quikil, it looks like part of the AI fleet is moving to strike Quikil V. Our damaged ships are being diverted away from the site for safety.

Reinforcements have arrived recently on almost every front, and with the enemy forces arrayed against us backing off, things look good for our military. That illusion is sure to be shattered soon.

2408.8:
Reports indicate that 95% of newly recruited resistance fighters do not survive their first month on Fwandrei V. The machines are everywhere, and what little damage is done to them is quickly repaired. The citizens are few, but defiant, and the planet's industry continues to be unusable.

In the north, we now have 65 ships almost in position. 4500 troops will be participating in the first wave, with more to come next year.
One of the AI attack fleets has broken off its pursuit of our fleet and is headed to the east. On the far side of that warppoint lies 42 recently arrived ships; the 2407.6 graduates from the eastern training center of Centrolius. There will be no invasions as occurred in Othello, and soon we will make Othello one of the safest systems in the galaxy for free sentients.

In the south, AI activity continues to be chaotic and mysterious. With the latest recruits from Jorun, the restored Alpha fleet will abandon their defensive position and begin a counterattack.

In the east, Rho fleet continues its shore leave while the ships undergo more repairs. They should get at least one more month before returning to combat operations. There are currently two small enemy fleets which are potential targets heading for Dertran or Fizbon

2408.9:
Alpha fleet is making its move south this month with just over a hundred ships. Their first target is a subfleet of 35 in Quikil. The destruction of this fleet will allow damaged survivors to escape to Jorun and relief ships to enter with supplies and troops.

Rho fleet is ending their shore leave in Detran to intercept a small fleet attacking from Millennia in the southeast. It should be a turkey shoot, with 35 ships against only 10.

Also in the east, the planet of Fwandrei V continues to resist the occupation, and have destroyed one of the light troops in an ambush. Only 2151 left to destroy.
An armada of 70 ships is reported in the system heading north towards Zuria where Beta fleet is regrouping. Beta fleet is currently only 50 ships strong, but the Cephedri graduates of 2408.0 are due to arrive first and even up the fight.

The far north has a lot of activity as well, with the assault on the Core World in Torren and a counterattacking fleet of 23 attempting to push into the normally quiet system of Arklite where, our recruits have just arrived after a year long trip.

Unfortunately, all of this activity will unfold in the next year, and there is nothing to do but wait.