Dawn

[attack_condor]

2409.5

Zezzis system
Zezzis IX…

The fighters arrived on the planet, and found enough militia units that they had to abandon their attempt to take the planet with a quick strike. Troops would have to be used. They would still try and avoid civilian or infrastructure damage, but the strategy had changed somewhat. Freightliner was in the system at the Velocitas-Zezzis warp point. She went to Zezzis VI and unloaded 38 troops and 5 fighters on the planet. Zezzis was a small mining colony, and there would be little opposition expected. This would be the last operation for the current troops, for plans were already underway to increase the strength of the ground forces to take on larger colonies and their large number of militia.

Sirius system
Sirius VIII

The Terrans were leaving. That was actually good news for the empire.

As on Ushphada VII, Phong colonists arrived on the planet and began their lives as Dawn citizens. As on Ushphada VII, they thrived in the carbon dioxide atmosphere that the humans could not breathe. While the war had prevented the ship yard in Ushphada from building cargo ships, Sirius and Samora had built one cargo ship each. Both headed to Sirius VIII and the humans left the domed colony and were now on board the cargo ships Adams and Jefferson, back to Sirius V and the oxygen atmosphere there.

With the Terrans gone, the Phong could utilize the planet’s space to its full potential. Sirius VIII would now support two and a half billion lives that breathed carbon dioxide. The same was happening at Chazzwazzer IX. There were now two planets in the empire that supported only Phong colonists.

Mentocka system
Onboard CDS Lugosi

Still cloaked, the stealth ship noted the approach of the Cue Cappa fleet. Nine ships were scanned, and their orders were to attack the colony at Mentocka VII. Apparently, the fighter raid last month woke up the Abbidon and Cue Cappa to the fact that the human colony was still a threat and needed to be obliterated. The technicians on the bridge took note of the ships: two repair ships, one troop transport, one frigate, one point defense ship and four destroyers. This fleet was eight sectors away from the humans and could reach them next month. Six sectors behind the first fleet was a second Cue Cappa fleet of six ships: three point-defense ships, one repair ship and two destroyers. Lugosi had moved directly in-between the fleets and transmitted the information back to Mentocka VII.

Mentocka VII ground control

The four ships orbiting the Abbidon colony on Mentocka VI were a concern – there were only two sectors away – but one of the four was a colony ship, another was a repair ship, the third was a damaged frigate, and the fourth was the repair ship’s escort, a destroyer. The controllers also saw the nine-ship Cue Cappa fleet, but did not understand how they could see even further than their satellite’s range. Mr. Jefferies simply told them he had “friends” in space providing the information. The colonists knew Mr. Jefferies was an intelligence officer, but couldn’t possibly fathom who – or what – his “friends” were. But even that had to be put aside when the controller interrupted their thoughts.

“New contact! Six ships now in range. Position is at –10,-2.”

The senior controller made the next observation.

“That’s the warp point to Tilikanthua! They’re behind us!?”

The first controller spoke up.

“Yes sir, readings indicate four frigates, a destroyer, and something larger…”

The controller’s voice then changed measurably.

“Sir, they’re hailing us! They’re ours!”

Fear changed to joy as they watched the ships warp into the system. They were the frigates Northampton, Cardiff, North Weald, and Portsmouth. The veteran Sniper was also in the fleet, as well as the light cruiser Vancouver. Their first stop was Mentocka VI and the four ships there. The new Dawn ships eliminated their only real opposition – the destroyer – in short order. The frigate, repair ship and colony ship were also destroyed. Just as quickly, the Dawn ships then headed into space, leaving Sniper behind to blockade the planet, to meet the Cue Cappa fleet of nine ships.

Mentocka system location 0,-2

The five Dawn ships encountered the Cue Cappa fleet close to the sun in the system. They closed on the back of the enemy V formation. While the freighters ran, the six combat ships turned to meet the Dawn ships. The first target was the point defense destroyer, whose three PDCs were useless against ships that carried anti-photon beams. Cardiff was in range first, and scored three hits. Even at maximum range, the enemy ship lost 25% of its armor. Portsmouth fired and also scored three hits, and the enemy’s armor was less than half when it finally fired its single DUC at Cardiff and hit. Cardiff’s shields absorbed the hit, and North Weald now fired, scoring only one hit, but reducing the enemy armor to 38%. Northampton fired, and Portsmouth fired again. The enemy had now lost all of its armor, and was starting to take system damage. It fired again and missed, which proved to be its last offensive act as it took four more hits and had its cannon destroyed. The five Dawn ships now targeted the next ship in the formation – a destroyer with two telekinetic projectors, but whose range was less than half of the beam weapons of the Dawn ships. The five ships moved into a line formation as the enemy destroyer drew near. Cardiff’s shields were back at full strength when she fired at the destroyer. Only one beam hit. Portsmouth, North Weald and Northampton were more accurate, and seven more beams burned away 75% of the ships armor. Vancouver finally fired her first shot, and she destroyed the remaining armor, and one of the telekinetic projectors. The enemy destroyer was still trying to get into range to fire back. It was still ten kilometers outside of its range when Cardiff destroyed the ships second weapon. Now unarmed, the destroyer was not a valid target for the Dawn ships, who targeted the next destroyer. This time the enemy approached with three ships almost in a line of their own, but it was too late. The destroyer hit the Vancouver with two shots, and the frigate scored a hit as well. Vancouver’s shields were down to 86%, but the Dawn ships held their formation, firing fifteen beams in response. The destroyer had seventy-six percent of its armor burned off in the volley. The four Dawn frigates fired again, and nine more beams sliced into the destroyer, crippling it. Vancouver then targeted the next destroyer approaching. The enemy frigate fired again at Vancouver, and her shields were down to 71%. Vancouver hit the next destroyer with two beams, and it lost 30 percent of its armor.

Vancouver’s shields were less than 50% when the Dawn ships disabled the fourth destroyer. The enemy frigate had been firing as fast as it could at Vancouver, and was giving a good account of itself. Unfortunately, it was now the last Cue Cappa ship with weapons, and drew the attention of all five of the Dawn ships. The four Dawn frigates volley fired, and the enemy ship was no longer a threat. The Dawn frigates then broke formation to chase down the freighters and the troop transport, while Vancouver finished off the cripples. The freighters and troop transport had managed to get almost 650km away from the battle when they lost their escorts just 33 seconds into the battle. The freighters were moving as fast as they could – 11km/sec. The Dawn frigates cruised at 18 km/sec.

Forty seconds into the battle, Vancouver destroyed the last Cue Cappa warship and joined the chase for the freighters. Porstmouth was leading the other three frigates.

One minute later, the three freighters split into three directions, as the Dawn frigates were within 150km. The Dawn frigates split as well, with the center freighter drawing two frigates, and one each for the other two. The freighters stood no chance of escape.

In just over two minutes, all nine Cue Cappa ships were destroyed. Dawn had returned to Mentocka and this time, they weren’t leaving...