Kornilius Crusade, Western Garrison, B-E war only. WIP

[Imperialisium]

(Thread Note: This well be in conjuction with 2 other threads representing the other theatres.)
The Kornilius Crusade, The Liberation of the Alpha Quadrant would be a great undertaking by the Imperium. It was decided un-animously by the High Lords of Imperia and the Emperor himself. 2nd Crusade Fleet under the command of Lord Admiral Zaccarius Rath exited slipspace in the Eastern Fringes of the Byzantines Wester garrison territory.
4,000 warships of various classes in an instance appeared in the depths of space.
"Probe data returning" said the Tactical officer to the Lord Admiral.
"Good. Begin the next phase, push into the Byzantine Territory." replied Zaccarius Rath.
'Once we secure space dominance signal the transports to begin landing troops of the 1st and 2nd Crusade Armies. Whats the Status of the Legionary Vessels" continues Rath
"They are now just finishing Slipspace exit" replied the Tactical Officer.

The Legionary vessels had exited slipspace spinward of him and his Crusade Fleet was already in its assigned battlegroups began to move on their targets. The two Byzantine bastions. This was only 1 of 3 theatres the Crusade was going to be fought in. He hoped for a good victroy here. In the Name of the Emperor.

[Protectorate of Sechyvasia]

Vice Star-Admiral Johnny Masoacas was a relatively young Sechyvasian. He had been a Captain in the Star fleet for 4 years until his promotion to Vice Star-Admiral after the recent expansion of the Sechyvasian Armed Forces. The Emperians a friendly race had kindly traded their valuable Slipstream technology thus allowing Sechyvasia access to the Galaxy outside its Star System. His ship the Dreamcatcher was a refitted and totalyl re-vamped warship. In broad terms it was a Cruiser. Boasting 26 Missile pods and 40 Small Laser turrets as the main armament. Relatively light in comparison to other Cruisers espicially those of Sechyvasia's Allies. But Sechyvasia's technology was only now catching up do to trade and prosperity by its new neighbor, Imperialisium.
The ship was guarding several Sechyvasian supply ships supporting the Emperian Kornilius Crusades 2nd Crusade Fleet in an attempt of freeing that region from the aggressive Byzantines.

"Pull us up next to the Emperian main fleet under their Lord Admiral."- said Masoacas while putting his hand through his orange hair. His cap off and uniform more raggy then it should be, Masoacas is a relaxed figure, but effective. He understood that he was seconded to the Emperians and would follow their leading officers orders unless his own government counter-manded it.
"Aye, aye Sir." said his Helmsman who began to steer the 11 kilometre vessel closer to the Emperian fleet. His crew gazed out at the Emperian fleets amassed, it was an amazing sight, so many ships....all intricately beautiful yet fierce at the same time.

[Vetega]

There were several thousand bright flashes of light. This announced the arrival of a Federation force of over 6500 ships. Superdreadnaught class basestars stretched as far as the eye could see. Each basestar was in direct control of AEGIS. VETA was only used for smaller missions, while AEGIS was used during large battles. AEGIS was housed in the flagship, which had suddenly appeared. Being the largest Federation ship other than Hezion itself, Heziovirel was a massive Ori mothership. It dwarfed even the largest Carrierstar and Hive ship combined. Heziovirel It was surrounded by hundreds of stealth basestars, which were larger in size compared to a regular basestar. There were swarms of scoutstars in formation throughout the fleet.
On the bridge, Regent-King Rayborne Anias Diorte sat in the command chair. He controlled the massive ship via mind-link. His mental capabilities were second to the Emperor, therefore he was able to fly Federation ships without moving.
"SitRep." he said.
"Tandem Sync Jump complete. Slipstream core is stabilizing."
"Status of the allied fleet."
"The fleet is at insertion point beta. The Sechyvasians have arrived as well."
"Good. Initiate jump. We will join the fleet." he ordered.
The massive Federation fleet jumped away. The darkness of space was filled with light as the fleet moved away.

Main Emperian Force
Insertion Point Beta
2nd Crusade Fleet

All around the fleet, bright flashes were seen. Even directly behind the fleet there were flashes. Next to the Sechyvasian ship, a massive ship appeared in a flash. The Heziovirel had arrived. Now the 1st Fleet had come to help push into Byzantine space. Rayborne stood up and clasped his hands behind his back. In front of him the view screen showed the entire allied fleet. By now this scene could be seen at all three insertion areas. Each fleet wold be led by a different person. They would work with the Emperians. It had begun.

Hezion
Slipstream

The worldship sailed through Slipstream at high speed. The engine matrix had been patched up, but not fully repaired. That would have to wait until the reached the Emperian capital system. Hezion would be used as a last resort once repairs were complete. When the Crusade pushed farther into Byzantine territory, Hezion would be there to serve as a base of sorts. The shipyards within the worldship were still active due to the massive order that was placed. They would also be used as a base of repair. The allied forces would come here to rest, repair, and go back out to war.
High Emperor Izon Vagros Destraud sat on his ornate throne. It was a little boastful for his tastes, but it was a part of histoy he supposed. His eyes were closed. It looked as if he were resting. However, he was not. He was supposed to be. His abilities allowed him to see the Multiverse for what it really was. It had drawn him and his people into this conflict. Now he had to see it through. There were side affects however. He was dying. Slowly, and rather painfully. He had lived for so long that he had lost track of his age. He needed to Regenerate, but he kept putting it off. Now he had to push it back again.
AEGIS sent him updates via mind-link while he watched a battle play out in a place he called Herin. The system was inhabited by the Vexil. The 7th Fleet had launched a full out assault on the Vexil 4 hours ago, but it looked as if they were getting nowhere. They were truly great enemies. He switched gears and focused on data from the Hazonor system. An enemy had acptured one of his basestars. This was not unusual. He had seen his ship get captured before. However, he wondered why Admiral Helmsley had not ordered its self destruction. An audience with the Admiral was in order.

[The Drone Empire]

Epiraxi System
Epiraxi II
--
Kesereigh Defence Array 02:45:57 EST {Imperial Standard Time}

The massive wall of defence stations that drifted in a steady pattern around the Drone Empire's section of the frontier watched closely for the slightest gravitational anomaly to open fire on. Their plethora of powerful defence guns sat alert and online awaiting for the call to open fire. Behind them, far, far behind them was Epiraxi II. A common Drone mining world. It was grey, its atmosphere long gone, there were massive holes ripped out of its surface where Strategic Continental Uplift occurred, or the process of ripping up large deep regions of a world using many, many powerful gravity tethers. Hundreds of mining refineries surrounded the planet. A healthy flow of traffic steadily paced in and out of the warp gates that had been set up all around the Empire, though recently had been wired up to have an emergency shut down should the system fall under assault.

Around the planet were 4 odd looking moons. Like something out of a Sci-Fi film, these were massive, massive Defence stations, each guarding the planet like a guard dog, until the planets eventual destruction when it implodes from core instability due to the mining process. Back at the Kesereigh Array, around the large amounts of stations were multiple fleets of ships, most of them being Battle ships, the occasional War cruiser and a plentiful supply of Frigates. They all sat in each stations hangar, waiting for the signal. That dreadful signal, but whatever forces that were out there to challenge them would find great resistance.

[Imperialisium]

Lord Admiral Zaccarius Rath looked at the data given to him by the Inquisitions numerous stealth recon operations in this area (Western Garrison) of the Alpha Quadrant. He passed it on to his Allies.

Code: Select all

To:Vetegan and Sechyvasian Commanders
Recon has proved able Byzantine resistance. We well proceed.

Operation Redrake
Operation Redrake  is the 1st operation of the Crusade's codeward for our first operation. Our mission is to push past Byzantine Defenses and strike at their worlds and facilities. Operation Redrake West or OP-RW is the codename.

Byzantine Forces appear to be Defensive Arrays and fleets of ships. Nothing we havent encountered before but beware.

"Helmsman all ahead full" said Rath, The helmsman obeyed and the his Emperor-Class Battleship/Carrier the Fortunamoved forward. The fleets arrayed to his flanks and around him moved forward at all speed.
"Fire long range weapons once in range"-Rath
His crew need not reply and 225 Nova Cannons from the fleets in-range of the array opened fire with Lunar shells (The shells with the massive kill radius of a quarter of RL earths moon, ya those bad boys). Long Range Lance Batteries followed as thousands of lasers raced towards the Byzantine defensive units.

Aboard the various carriers and Emperor class ships entire Wings of Fighters and Bombers preped for launch.

[The Drone Empire]

The shots registered within seconds back at the Array. The station AI tracked the lunar shells, firing multiple plumes of missiles, they would intercept most of them that were on their way, the few that got through would find the Array station's shield a very unwelcoming surface to clash with, and while of course some energy got through causing a disturbance in the systems aboard the station. The laser shots were rather shrugged off, as suddenly red alert rang out all across the board. Ships in the hangars lifted themselves off the hard floor and into the void to defend the system.

The alert reached the planet, as the gate's large green light that signaled it was opened faded yellow, alerting all that were near the planet that the alarm had been sounded. Swiftly the civilian vessels made their way towards it to evacuate the system. The refineries came to a screeching halt, probably in the process damaging machinery, but that wasn't of the matter. Whatever was going to happen next, the Drones would be ready.

In the next system over was Regendarisis, a Drone Naval Hub. If the hub received the red alert message, Emperian forces would watch their chances of forces die with every Titan Crusader that entered the system, ever War cruiser that flashed in, every cloud of fighters that amassed.

[Imperialisium]

The shots registered within seconds back at the Array. The station AI tracked the lunar shells, firing multiple plumes of missiles, they would intercept most of them that were on their way, the few that got through would find the Array station's shield a very unwelcoming surface to clash with, and while of course some energy got through causing a disturbance in the systems aboard the station. The laser shots were rather shrugged off, as suddenly red alert rang out all across the board. Ships in the hangars lifted themselves off the hard floor and into the void to defend the system.

The alert reached the planet, as the gate's large green light that signaled it was opened faded yellow, alerting all that were near the planet that the alarm had been sounded. Swiftly the civilian vessels made their way towards it to evacuate the system. The refineries came to a screeching halt, probably in the process damaging machinery, but that wasn't of the matter. Whatever was going to happen next, the Drones would be ready.

In the next system over was Regendarisis, a Drone Naval Hub. If the hub received the red alert message, Emperian forces would watch their chances of forces die with every Titan Crusader that entered the system, ever War cruiser that flashed in, every cloud of fighters that amassed.

"My Lord enemy defences are proving difficult for the Nova Cannons shells to penetrate" yelled the Tactical Officer.
"Switch half the cannons to fire on the enemy ships, the other half is to continue to target the array." replied Rath.
more of the Emperian ships were in range now and the full force of the Nova Cannon equipted ships became present.
315 ships were armed with Nova Cannons, various patterns from Cruisers to Apocalypse Class Battleships. The flashes of their barrels could be seen through the soundless void. Space filled with the Lasers of thousands of Lances battering in systematic firing sequences to bring massive amounts of force at once upon the Array and the ships now coming to defend the system.
"Lord Admiral are Plasma Cannons are in range" said the Tactical officer once more. His face going from various crewed terminals to the large battlefield displaying hololith.
"Fire" said Rath
The Plasma cannons being larger and more long-ranging then Plasma guns fired their initial shots, walls of super-heated mass flying at the array. It was clear at such distance they would lose some of their potency but the amount of ships and weaponry would compensate. hopefully. Any ship foolish to get in the way would be continously slammed with Plasma, Lances and the occaisonal Nova Cannon Round. Which being in range of a Lunar round would be most un-pleasent as being inside the kill radius would destroy a Cruiser-class vessel in a flash. Anything larger would be either destroyed, crippled ro so heavily damaged they would be forced to retreat. So Lord Admiral Zaccarius Rath had wanted to see. Inquisition reports showed that Byzantine Vessels varied in terms of tech level and ability to take punishment.

Meanwhile the Lunar Shells that were exploded by enemy missiles would prove equally deadly as the shells had been timed to explode within atleast damaging radius. So Lunar shells althoug many stopped by the arrays defences still unleashed their deadly payload. The explosions and the stations apparent defences being carefully catalogued for future reference and desings.

[The Drone Empire]

The shots registered within seconds back at the Array. The station AI tracked the lunar shells, firing multiple plumes of missiles, they would intercept most of them that were on their way, the few that got through would find the Array station's shield a very unwelcoming surface to clash with, and while of course some energy got through causing a disturbance in the systems aboard the station. The laser shots were rather shrugged off, as suddenly red alert rang out all across the board. Ships in the hangars lifted themselves off the hard floor and into the void to defend the system.

The alert reached the planet, as the gate's large green light that signaled it was opened faded yellow, alerting all that were near the planet that the alarm had been sounded. Swiftly the civilian vessels made their way towards it to evacuate the system. The refineries came to a screeching halt, probably in the process damaging machinery, but that wasn't of the matter. Whatever was going to happen next, the Drones would be ready.

In the next system over was Regendarisis, a Drone Naval Hub. If the hub received the red alert message, Emperian forces would watch their chances of forces die with every Titan Crusader that entered the system, ever War cruiser that flashed in, every cloud of fighters that amassed.

"My Lord enemy defences are proving difficult for the Nova Cannons shells to penetrate" yelled the Tactical Officer.
"Switch half the cannons to fire on the enemy ships, the other half is to continue to target the array." replied Rath.
more of the Emperian ships were in range now and the full force of the Nova Cannon equipted ships became present.
315 ships were armed with Nova Cannons, various patterns from Cruisers to Apocalypse Class Battleships. The flashes of their barrels could be seen through the soundless void. Space filled with the Lasers of thousands of Lances battering in systematic firing sequences to bring massive amounts of force at once upon the Array and the ships now coming to defend the system.
"Lord Admiral are Plasma Cannons are in range" said the Tactical officer once more. His face going from various crewed terminals to the large battlefield displaying hololith.
"Fire" said Rath
The Plasma cannons being larger and more long-ranging then Plasma guns fired their initial shots, walls of super-heated mass flying at the array. It was clear at such distance they would lose some of their potency but the amount of ships and weaponry would compensate. hopefully. Any ship foolish to get in the way would be continously slammed with Plasma, Lances and the occaisonal Nova Cannon Round. Which being in range of a Lunar round would be most un-pleasent as being inside the kill radius would destroy a Cruiser-class vessel in a flash. Anything larger would be either destroyed, crippled ro so heavily damaged they would be forced to retreat. So Lord Admiral Zaccarius Rath had wanted to see. Inquisition reports showed that Byzantine Vessels varied in terms of tech level and ability to take punishment.

Meanwhile the Lunar Shells that were exploded by enemy missiles would prove equally deadly as the shells had been timed to explode within atleast damaging radius. So Lunar shells althoug many stopped by the arrays defences still unleashed their deadly payload. The explosions and the stations apparent defences being carefully catalogued for future reference and desings.

The flurry of assault was a reckoning for the shields, they dropped considerably for the station, the other 5 stations slowly made their way to rotate around to the battle. Their shields overlapping thanks to submissive frequency technology that allowed for these specific shield generators to collapse shields into each other, the came together as one stronger and larger shield. The first station was holding out well still, as from the array fired hundreds upon hundreds of missiles from its armament sectors. They all swiftly raced towards the large fleet.

Meanwhile, the force of ships that had left the shield had been badly hit by the barrage, but the force was still healthy, and with the combining forces from the other massive stations of the array, full retaliation was in order. The vessels ushered forth a wealth of fighters that raced at ferocious speed towards the massive Emperian fleet, while the long range turrets continued their powerful assault as the bright white flashes of the Hybrid tungsten-plasma slugs as they bashed into enemy shields. By now what ever Civilian Vehicals were left were trapped, the Warp gate closed.

Of course, the red light had been sent to Regendarisis, and due to its location being so nearby, it would take a very short time to transport a massive amount of powerful ships. As a large fleet of Titan Crusaders and War cruisers was being put into order, they would be launched in three minutes, and along side this powerful fleet of over 6 Titan Crusaders and 11 War cruisers would follow a large follow up punch of Battleships and Frigates.

[Protectorate of Sechyvasia]

The Emperian assault was awe inspiring indeed. But the Byzantines so far were holding. Dreamcatcher was subsumed into the Emperian forces and used its upgraded mass-driver weaponry to fire nuclear slugs at massive speeds. The 4 Mass Driver guns that protruded subtly from the ship roared to life. Missiles erupted from pods and raced to intercept some of the missiles flying back at the Allied fleet. Masoacas stood briefly in awe, it was his first time in actual combat. He tried to gain composure but failed. Only the pull of his sleeve by his Comms-officer snapped him back to reality. The Emperian Commander had issued a communique amd the Sechyvasian computers now incorporating Emperian technology desciphered the message.
Masoacas read the communique and kept it at his side, turning back t olook at the battle unfolding.

[Vetega]

At the sight of the Emperian forces launching their assault, the Federation fleet joined in. Each basestar launched hundreds of missiles towards any and all enemy objects. If civilian ships got in the way, then that was too bad. On board the flagship, the Regent-King watched the battle unfold. The massive ship stayed right next to the allied fleet.
"Charge the main dish. All Secondary and Tertiary dishes are to be charge and fired when ready." he said.
At that time each Federation ship launched drones and manned fighters. Each ship charged its beam weapons.
"Alert each Hive ship to converge on any war cruiser. If there are any ships like the Titan Crusader, then three Carrierstars will be allocated to each one found." he added.
"Shields are holding!"
"Main weapon is at 10%. Estimated time til fire 3 minutes."
"All secondary weapons are active and firing."
He could see the weaker energy beams erupt from his ship in all directions. They would slam into the enemy's shields. All the while, the main dish gained power. There was indeed a target in mind. The nearest Defense Moon.

[Imperialisium]

The Crusade Fleet continued to fire upon the Byzantine array stattions, literally Petatons worth of force was being thrown against it at a continous rate. The Point defence systems and the massive firepower directing towards the Array Stations destroyed most of the missiles coming from them. Sinse most of the Fleet just sat their pounding away the shields could be reinforced as less energy was needed for the engines. But every now and then a missile made it through and impacted a quickly popping up Void Shield. It was mainly the forward ships who had to do this but no worries was the probable thought from the Shipmasters.

"Fire Seradite Pulses at the Arrays and enemy ships" said Lord Admiral Rath.
"Yessir" replied his Tactical officer.
Only a small hole was needed in the enemy line Rath thought to himself, and the whole thing would un-ravel.
"Sir, Perhaps we could use our Sanctioned Psykers?" said his Tactical officer inquisitively.
"hmmm, save them, I want t ohave a few aces up my sleeve" stated Rath
The Psykers would use their Psychic energy t ocause all sorts of Spacial anomalies such as Warp Storms to prevent enemy vessels from entering the system. But hopefully that would not be needed.
"What of the Legionary Vessels" continued Rath
"They are waiting for an opening or if need be board the enemy ships and Defense Platforms to dismantle them." came the quick terse answer of his Communique officer.

[The Drone Empire]

However, Rath had made a grave, grave mistake. As suddenly just above Epiraxi III many, many, many flashes, up to at least 17 massive gravitational fluxes raddled the system. As the light that hid their identity faded instantly, 7 Titan crusaders now floated above the world, complemented by 11 War Cruisers. Seconds later over 40 Flashes appeared near by them. 20 Frigates, 20 Battle ships. The Varmentian Sector was under complete red alert, a massive assault unfolding, it was like a child rattling a hive of wasps, expect to get stung. And so the wasps would, in the form of massive plasmodic bombardment. As the Titan Crusaders moved in on the fleet, their massively powerful turrets bombarded whatever ship they saw fit, while the war cruisers took lower flight below the Titans, firing round for round for what has become the largest Drone defence ever staged in a matter of less than a human hour.

The Seradite charge that had been launched by the initial defence fleet did nothing really, the Drones having instituted a complete overhaul of the Drone system of electronics thanks to recent discoveries in Seradite technology, basic discoveries on how to block its lethal effects to machines and the like. As the reinforcement fleet approached the sea of warships that were battering down on the Array's super-shield, in itself was down to 65%, a large blow, they would provide a greatly needed ease on the massive assault. Battleships raced to the rescue of the failing defence fleet, along with a fresh new flood of fighters to reimburse the slowly falling original group or "Cloud" as Drones referred to them as due to the Fighter groups preferred shape that reminisced that of a cloud. As the new arrived fleet fought back the Vetegans and Emperians with full force assaults, but this was far from over, even a single foothold into their territory would take its toll. However, inside the System were 4 Super Battle stations designed to protect the planet, if they'd even be able to punch that far in, as far as the Drones saw, they were still on the outer reaches of the system, the frontier, Epiraxi II was a mere dot far off, right now the closest planet they were near was Epiraxi III, a gas giant.

On the Vetegan side, which was receiving a fair share of retaliation from their assaults, the Vetegans would also find all 4 Defence moons orbiting Epiraxi, far within the system. The War Cruisers that were now firing down upon both sides of the assault from the defensive side, or the array. The Hive ships in order to swarm each war cruiser would have to also suffer a royal smiting from the Titan crusaders up above. This sudden wave of assault was only 1 of many reinforcements that were bound to come. With all this destruction, the Drone ship construction stations would be awakened after over 300,000 years of silence, war usually was never this destructive, and construction of new vessels would dig into their long growing supply of materials, but of course, 300,000 years of non stop mining wouldn't drain them of everything, certainly not, but a dip was calculated ahead of time. In the mean time, they still had 15,345 military vessels at their disposal, they'd need only a hundredth of that.

[Imperialisium]

Zaccarius Rath stood as he watched the new enemy icons flash on screen. All was going to plan.
"Sir we have completed assessment of enemy forces, from what he have recieved from the Kormulki and Hazonor engagements we have still the larger victory probabilities, discounting Pyskers sir or reinforcements" said his Tactical officer whom recieved several data slates from the Auspex crew.
"Good, fire all weapons at well at all targets, are main target is still the Array, That artificial fleet is no more then a thorn." replied Rath, well know for his courage and gusto. These artificials must have gone hay-wire awhile back thought Rath as he looked at the odds.
Only a 5th of the fleet which still dwarfed the Drone reinforcements opened up massive broadsides and guns, over 700 ships from small but fast destroyers to large Apocalypse Battleships fired, Lunar shells exploded within reach of the reinforcements, the Nova Cannons never ceased their cacophic firing.

"Launch fighters and bomber craft." said Rath to his Tactical and Communique officers whom spread the message to the rest of the fleet. From Carriers ranging from Heavy to Light, Emperor Battleships and Cruisers equipted wit hHanger bays erupted swarms of Phoenix Fighters and Bombers.
"Ready the Psykers!" hollared Rath at the Communique Officer.
The officer nodded and gave orders to a crew member at his communication-lith.
"Move Battlegroup 4 forward!" yelled Rath. A moment later 2 Retribution Class vessels, supported by 1 Emperor Class, 1 Medium Carrier, 7 Cruisers, 20 Destroyers, 13 Frigates and 1 Apocalpyse Battleship moved towards the Array. All weapons ablaze.
The Emperian Crusade Fleet undaunted continued to unleash a might at the Array and the newly arrived Drone ships.

[Vetega]

All 6500 Federation ships unleashed all at once. The enemy thought that they could use overwhelming firepower. But this would not work in this situation. As the outer sections of the fleet took damage, they were constantly being rotated out for ships with no damage or weakening shields. Hundreds on thousands of missiles roared towards the nearest Defense Moon.

The Heziovirel slid through the fighting unscathed. Having been built 200 years ago, this old but powerful flagship boasted weapons from every species they had encountered. There were hits on its shields now and then, but there was just no way that the enemy could get anything through the massive wall of ships. Even if that Arc was fired from all directions. As the ship moved closer, the weapon finished charging.
"Main dish has finished charging!"
"We've lost three baseships. They were too far ahead."
"Target the nearest Defense Moon. Have every ship fire on all vessels. If it's firing at us, give them a present in return."Rayborne said.
"Fleet reports Trinity is charging!"
He frowned. This would not be over quickly. Heziovirel had only 3 shots with the main dish before they had to rely on the sheer amount of firepower it had. By AEGIS's and VETA's assesments, the ship could take on 4 Titan Crusader class ships before taking any significant damage. The main dish glowed furiously. The energy wanted to be released.
"Begin preparations for another shot after this one." he added.

[Nationalist Tantalus]

"This is Null-Alpha Wing to the Kesereigh Defence Array- My God!"

~~

Any gravitational-flux detectors on all vessels within the Epiraxi system would be able to faintly detect what would amount to some 650 FB-33 Fighter-Bombers, 42 Poseidon-class Cargo Transports outfitted with two long-range missile-pods; and what would appear to be a sole ATE-2200 Assault-Carrier leading from the rear of the multitude of squadrons. Though dwarfed by the presence of nearly 10,000 Emperian-Vetegan vessels, all 693 vessels sent by the Tantalan Kaiserreich bore the advantage of pre-flight initiation of shield generators in preparation for the oncoming war to unleash itself.

Within the bridge of the Hellhound Assault-Carrier, Admiral Lorosovo and her team of eight senior Officers stood calmly as joint Emperian-Vetegan fire wrecked havoc upon the Drone defense-"moons." Humming quietly to herself, Admiral Lorosovo found herself deep in contemplation of the massive battle ahead until a Colonel's voice broke the silence: "The Drones are taking a-"
"Colonel, you are in no position to badger me on the condition of our allies. As I said before... Six of twenty-seven squadrons under our command are to protect these mechanicals while the Kaiser-Shield Attack Group is to bombard the hell out of these Emperian-unknown vessels."
Finally speaking with a calm tone in her voice, Admiral Lorosovo opened her radiant brown eyes as she turned her head to face the 180-degree panorama overseeing the bedlam transpiring about the Epiraxi starsystem. The 693 vessel-formation had fallen into the system on the opposite edge of the Vetegan-Emperian strike forces; Admiral Lorosovo bared her teeth as the Hellhound lurched forth with the rest of the 101^st Tantalan Expeditionary Wing.

~~

"This is Null-Un Leader to the Drone-Protection Group: All six squadrons under my command are hereby ordered to follow my squadron's lead."

Sitting within the cockpit of the partially-aged Null-Un FB-33 Fighter-Bomber was an equally-experienced Tantalan Royal Navy Colonel well into his mid-fifties, his disgruntled eyes surveying the damage done by the Emperian-Vetegan siege upon the Drone moons from afar. Though out of range from Vetegan-Emperian forces, a sense of genuine anxiety gripped Null-Un Leader's heart as he pushed forward onto the control stick, sending his fighter into a vector leading to the besieged moon-base still under direct fire by enemy vessels. Help finally arrived in the form of some 144 FB-33 fighters to fend off the advancing Vetegan forces while the remainder was to expel as many Vetegan-Emperian starships out of the system.

[The Drone Empire]

And this help was deeply appreciated, with the primary front of all Drone Forces holing off the Emperians, they being the primary threat, the assigned fleet to address the Vetegans, the 445th Defensive fleet from the Apharindia Naval Intelligence sector, had yet to arrive, but its 155 vessels would be one hell of a force to be reckoned with, and gravely needed indeed.

The Defence moon, officially the Super Planetary Defence Platform, was taking a beating to its rotational shields, and with a large sum of the kinetic force breaking through the very shield, the Station was taking a beat down, but slowly the other three Battle stations were inbound and rotating at maximum velocity around to the site of the battle, which its self was rather slow.

The Battle station its self was dishing out 20 times what it received, its entire surface area was quite literally covered with guns, turrets, cannons, everything. Most missiles that were inbound for the station, however, would find the SAM's making it nearly impossible to get a single missile in, but alas, most energy assaults made it through, those that didn't had smashed into a plasma shot from the station, nullifying both shots.

--Just entering slip space-from Apharindia NIS--

155 ships sped quickly through slip-space, their warp cores at full rotation, ETA: 34 minutes.

The 445th fleet consisted of..

-35 HA Frigates [LA Frigates will be release from inside every other ship above the HA Frigate]
-30 LA Battleships
-25 HA Battleships
-25 LA Dreadnoughts
-20 HA Dreadnoughts
-15 LA Flagships
-5 HA Flagships

This fleet would hopefully leverage the battlefield a bit more, as it would tackle largely the Vetegans.

[Imperialisium]

The 2nd Crusade Fleet was dishing out quite the punishment, extinction level firepower was blasting away at the Drone ships and the Array. The ships taksed with engaging the Drone reinforcements kept a bit of distance, Retribution Class battleships blasting away with large broadsides blanketing Drone shields in withering fire, 10 Lunar Cruisers flanked around the Emperian right (Drone left, in case battlefield terminology is a hinderence, note I do add battlefield terminology) firing Lances before opening up with their other main armaments, Plasma rocketed threw space and Lunar shells detonated with massive explosive and concussive force. Frigates too wheeled around in a dance of complex maneuvres all weapons ablaze, the numerous Destroyer/Escorts or Cobra class ships fired at small ships and craft, forming deadly lines of fire to force ships into so the bigger Cruiser and Battleships could pop off a quick salvo of destruction. Armageddon class cruisers with extre Lance turrets and Plasma guns at the expense of less missile pods supported this indeavour to great effect.
But The Drones looked determined and 1 escort had to limp away after suffering breaching hits to its engines while a Cruiser almost lost its bridge to enemy salvoes.

"My Lord we are picking up enemy reinforcements in system" said his Tactical officer.
"Hopefully our 4th Battlegroup can smash a hole" said Rath.
"Well the armoured prows of our ships have been able to get through shields" ventured the officer
"You know you may be on to something" replied Rath with an inquisitive look.
He looked out towards the enemy array as more Nova Cannon Lunar Shells slammed into it.

Battlegroup 4's vessels were getting close now to the stations and faced withering fire from the defences, although some of the rear power for the shields had been diverted frontwards and ships with Void shields aimed much of their energy also to the front sense thats where the enemy fire would be coming from. However some enemy fire did get through, 2 Destroyer Escorts suffered a few missiles impacts, 1 or 2 managed a breach which the Escorts were able to seal off. A Frigate took a nasty line of Plasma fire down its right side, melting ugly pockets in its thick armour and destroying a few plasma guns said incoming reports.

[The Drone Empire]

The 2nd Crusade Fleet was dishing out quite the punishment, extinction level firepower was blasting away at the Drone ships and the Array. The ships taksed with engaging the Drone reinforcements kept a bit of distance, Retribution Class battleships blasting away with large broadsides blanketing Drone shields in withering fire, 10 Lunar Cruisers flanked around the Emperian right (Drone left, in case battlefield terminology is a hinderence, note I do add battlefield terminology) firing Lances before opening up with their other main armaments, Plasma rocketed threw space and Lunar shells detonated with massive explosive and concussive force. Frigates too wheeled around in a dance of complex maneuvres all weapons ablaze, the numerous Destroyer/Escorts or Cobra class ships fired at small ships and craft, forming deadly lines of fire to force ships into so the bigger Cruiser and Battleships could pop off a quick salvo of destruction. Armageddon class cruisers with extre Lance turrets and Plasma guns at the expense of less missile pods supported this indeavour to great effect.
But The Drones looked determined and 1 escort had to limp away after suffering breaching hits to its engines while a Cruiser almost lost its bridge to enemy salvoes.

"My Lord we are picking up enemy reinforcements in system" said his Tactical officer.
"Hopefully our 4th Battlegroup can smash a hole" said Rath.
"Well the armoured prows of our ships have been able to get through shields" ventured the officer
"You know you may be on to something" replied Rath with an inquisitive look.
He looked out towards the enemy array as more Nova Cannon Lunar Shells slammed into it.

Battlegroup 4's vessels were getting close now to the stations and faced withering fire from the defences, although some of the rear power for the shields had been diverted frontwards and ships with Void shields aimed much of their energy also to the front sense thats where the enemy fire would be coming from. However some enemy fire did get through, 2 Destroyer Escorts suffered a few missiles impacts, 1 or 2 managed a breach which the Escorts were able to seal off. A Frigate took a nasty line of Plasma fire down its right side, melting ugly pockets in its thick armour and destroying a few plasma guns said incoming reports.

The Array was still existent however, and kicking quite hard. Its shield seemed to be shimmering as it grew weaker and weaker, but the Drones were not worried, even if they breached the array, the Battle stations would end them entirely. HA Frigates am massed around any ship with a nova cannon, as it was seen that removing the ships, or even less, the cannon, would be a tactical must. But the HA Frigate assault on these ships was not the primary assault. The primary assault came for when a large cloud of bombers swooped in, flying into the enemy shields. Surely, since enemy anti-air couldn't take them all down. Many made it, unleashing a massive sum of bombs directly on top of the Nova cannon, while fighters shot at the bridge of the ship.

While this vicious assault on the Enemy's Apocalypse Battleships was under way, and seemingly unstoppable, War Cruisers and Titan Crusaders hounded down on many ships below them with a rain of massive bolts of Plasma bolts and beams, kinetic strike rods, High-Velocity Missiles and a massive plethora of torpedoes that washed over the shields of the Emperians with a purplish-white hue. Battle ships, which were more centered in front of the enemy fleet, beat own on mainly enemy frigates, overloading their shields from an insurmountable rush of firepower and ultimately destroying the Frigate. The expendable LA Frigate of the Drones was being put to best use, as large fleets of these vessels assaulted Lunar Cruisers with massive plethora's of Plasma bolts, and when a frigate's engines failed, they would crash their battered down vessels into the very ship its self, rupturing its reactor in the process and exploding it [The LA Frigate's reactor], tearing a large hole in the enemy ship just as well.

44th Defence Fleet ETA: 29 minutes.

[Nationalist Tantalus]

"Lock all weapons in attack position! Prepare for our first strafing run!" The Colonel warned as he tapped unto several buttons on his console before a notification beep indicating the weapon status gave him the affirmative. Behind, the Drone-Defense Group followed suit as every weapon-tracking system came online. As they did so, the Fighter-Bomber Group slowly began to dissolve as the distance between each ship grew further apart, making the Fighter group loo like an ever-expanding cloud of metal difficult to contain in one location. "Weapon-systems in range," the feminine-mechanical voice notified through the tracking computers of all 144 FB-33s as they came into visible range of the Emperian Destroyers, Frigates, and Cruiser.

Breaking off from the rest of his group, the Colonel held his breath as he and 23 other fighters converged upon the Emperian flagship near the defensive-moon, leaving the rest of the squadron to unleash a volley of deep-penetration AAMs and ASMs upon the Emperian dispatchment. From the confines of his cockpit, the Colonel uttered the words: "Fire into the flagship's bridge. Make them burn! Make those fuckers burn!"

And thus a volley of missiles would be unleashed upon Rath's Bridge as the Colonel's Squadron whizzed past the massive Emperian vessel.

[Vetega]

Federation fighters intercepted all the missiles as they wer einboud for the bridge of the Emperian vessel. If they didn't shoot them, a drone fighter would ram it. Then the massive horde of fighters turned their attention on the ones that fired the missiles and fired their own.

Heziovirel
The massive flagship of the Incursion Fleet took damage, but it was taking it well. The shields were rotating. This tactic had been performed by AEGIS in the Hazonor system. It worked.
"Sir, Infinty is charged!"
"Good. Fire the weapon."
"Trinity amongst the fleet is also charged."
"Have them fire as well." he said.
From the front end of the flagship, a dish shimmering with golden energy unleashed its load. The golden beam erupted into the enemy. It would slice a path of destruction. Having a larger source of power than the AEGIS sphere, the enemy would find it hard to survive this attack. At the same, each large Federation ship let loose with their Trinity weapons. The smaller scoutstars and warstars(frigates) did not have Trinity, therefore the stuck to firing on any enemy in range.

[The Drone Empire]

Federation fighters intercepted all the missiles as they wer einboud for the bridge of the Emperian vessel. If they didn't shoot them, a drone fighter would ram it. Then the massive horde of fighters turned their attention on the ones that fired the missiles and fired their own.

Heziovirel
The massive flagship of the Incursion Fleet took damage, but it was taking it well. The shields were rotating. This tactic had been performed by AEGIS in the Hazonor system. It worked.
"Sir, Infinty is charged!"
"Good. Fire the weapon."
"Trinity amongst the fleet is also charged."
"Have them fire as well." he said.
From the front end of the flagship, a dish shimmering with golden energy unleashed its load. The golden beam erupted into the enemy. It would slice a path of destruction. Having a larger source of power than the AEGIS sphere, the enemy would find it hard to survive this attack. At the same, each large Federation ship let loose with their Trinity weapons. The smaller scoutstars and warstars(frigates) did not have Trinity, therefore the stuck to firing on any enemy in range.

The Infinity shot smashed through many Drone frigates, multitudes of fighters swaths, LA battleships, but like the Arc would to a Carrier star, the Infinity shot would find it quite hard to breach a Titan Crusader's shielding, and so the shot ended their, the shields were decreasing indeed, but they could never maintain a shot such as this for long enough to full deplete the shield. Like any beam of such power would, leaving a path of destruction in its wake, it had its effects that reached through shield, but nothing as the raw power of the beam that was being sustained by the powerful 4 layers of shielding with a thick layer of heat shielding.

The Trinity shots only seemed to effect the smaller ships, but the larger ones took medium damage to shielding, still being able to continue their defensive battle with the Super Defence Station firing at them all the while with massive amounts of power. Many War Cruisers seemed to focus their approach in the Vetegan front primarily on the Heziovirel, pounding the ship with lethal doses of plasma and missile fire along side massive rounds of torpedoes. Bombers ran back and forth emptying their stockpiles onto the ship's shield, a Titan Crusader joined in, as it was Flagship on Flagship now, aided by many light dreadnoughts.

[Nationalist Tantalus]

Federation fighters intercepted all the missiles as they wer einboud for the bridge of the Emperian vessel. If they didn't shoot them, a drone fighter would ram it. Then the massive horde of fighters turned their attention on the ones that fired the missiles and fired their own.

Heziovirel
The massive flagship of the Incursion Fleet took damage, but it was taking it well. The shields were rotating. This tactic had been performed by AEGIS in the Hazonor system. It worked.
"Sir, Infinty is charged!"
"Good. Fire the weapon."
"Trinity amongst the fleet is also charged."
"Have them fire as well." he said.
From the front end of the flagship, a dish shimmering with golden energy unleashed its load. The golden beam erupted into the enemy. It would slice a path of destruction. Having a larger source of power than the AEGIS sphere, the enemy would find it hard to survive this attack. At the same, each large Federation ship let loose with their Trinity weapons. The smaller scoutstars and warstars(frigates) did not have Trinity, therefore the stuck to firing on any enemy in range.

Still hugging the outermost boundaries of the Epiraxi system, the ATE-2200 Assault Carrier and its 44-strong fleet of Poseidon-class Cargo Transports remained out of range for the Infinity beam to pose much of a threat. Nonetheless, Admiral Lorosovo clenched her teeth nervously as her terminal-feed picked up the data of the Infinity Beam's electromagnetic radiation. "Be careful, everyone! It seems as if our foes have some heavy-ass guns!" The woman barked to the somewhat-panicked officers below on the Observation Deck before she refocused her attention to the panorama before herself. Finally, the last of the remaining 21 Squadrons were ready for battle as orders were relayed throughout the entire Chain-of-Command. And with almost half of the Cargo Transports ready to assist the fighter groups, the Kaiser-Shield was ready to initiate a deadly counterstrike against the Vetegans in the system.

~~

The Infinity beam bore little of a threat to the fighters due to their sheer velocities and training. Nonetheless, the sudden launch of so many Vetegan missiles gave the now-humbled Colonel the green-light for Plan B:
"Null-Un Leader to the Drone-Protection Group: Draw out these hostiles and unleash whatever you have against these needle-sticks!" Beads of perspiration transpired upon the Colonel's forehead as he veered left to launch a homing missile upon one of the Vetegan fighters. Behind him, what was once a well-organized arrow formation had degenerated into a swarm as Tantalan fighters engaged their Vetegan counterparts with deadly volleys of guided missiles and polarized-proton beam cannons. Once more, the discipline of the Tantalan Royal Navy degenerated into yet another dogfight. Again.

[Imperialisium]

The Emperian Fleet was doing what it did best, soak up fire and dish out punishment like the Emperors Wrath Incarnate. Drone fighters converged only to face fire from all angles as the Emperian ships were able to form massed covering fire of eachother. Emperian Fighters swarmed out of Light and Heavy Carriers, Emperor Class Battleships and Cruisers firing at the enemy assaulting the Ships. Void shields popped up in well calculated timing to absorb the majority of the impacts, some fire did make it through and damage was registered on 5 vessels in the engagement zone. The previously wounded Frigate of Battlegroup 4 suffered several explosions before breaking up as did the limping Escort facing the Drones, escape boats fired off coursing to Rear ships. The well protected Apocalypse Ships took the beating well only a few shots from the enemy fighters actually hitting something but was abosrbed by the thick armour. A Lunar Cruiser suffered a ramming and like the Drone Frigate exploded from Reactor breaches. However to the drones dismay this tactic came at a price, The larger Cruiser class ships could out fire them, systematically bombarding the Frigates shields tell they had a molten feel. Emperian Frigates were also taking a pounding but their maneuvrability meant that the enemy had to track them, lineing them up for crippling broadsides and Nova Cannon Lunar rounds.

Rath watched the enemy fire at his bridge but the Vetegans shielded him, he owed the ma favour, The bridge was however safe in any regards, the Psykers were being brought in. Nasty t obe at the recieving end of a trained Psyker.

"Sir enemy Frigates are trying to swarm our Apocalypse Ships!" hollared his Tactical Officer
"Good envelope them int othe fleet and bombard them into star dust." replied Rath with a smile.
The Emperian Armadas fleets swiftly subsumed them bombarding them in all manner of Plasma Guns, Cannons, Lance Turrets, and Missiles.
Nova Cannons fired Volleys at the Drone ships and the array still, the firing never ceased.

Meanwhile back at Raths Flagship some of the Turrets and a few of the Eascorts as well opened fire on the tantalan fighters, 2 squadrons of Phoenix Fighters also jumped into the fray. Engaging them at close quarters dogfighting like at Kormulki.

"The Psykers have full release now" stated Rath
"yes sir" said his tactical officer sternly
Psykers were not messed with, even thoug hevery Emperian had some degree of Psychic capability, A Psyker was someone who could actually harness it into reality, top scholars from accross the Imperium studied this for the entirety of its existence and their has been no concrete answers, some say the Emperor knows but does not answer whos Psychic power would seem to be awe inspiring indeed.
The Psykers now could use their powers whether to combine it or remain seperate. But they where now manifesting as quite few enemy missiles either exploded at random or veered off course entirely. Plasma strikes never madie it or simply turned back at their owners, it would see mlike grave misfortune or freak accidents are occuring but this was the Psykers, their power limited at the sheer range of the engagements and size of it but sense many were either on the bridge of an assigned vessel or had a hololith showing live footage of the engagment in their rooms. This was not fool proof and enemy fire continued to hammer targeted vessels but this was but one ace up Raths sleeve. However the strain put on by the use of this would drain the Psykers to the point of them needing to cease their laborsor die. Hopefully the tide would shift once more into Raths favour before that happens.

Battlegroup 4 continued its advance towards the array. Firing as they went, using overlapping shields and joint void shield tactics now aided by Phoenix fighter and bomber squadrons.

[Vetega]

Rayborne could feel the ship rumble slightly. The enemy had realized the threat.
"Begin charging of the Infinity weapon once more. And have the fleet recharge Trinity as well." he said calmly.
The Heziovirel turned into the path of the oncoming Titan Crusader. The two large vessel began to hammer each other. As the smaller ships tried to join in the fight, the Heziovirel's assigned escort Hive ships intercepted them and proceeded to hammer them from all sides.
"Their vessels are powerful indeed. However, we have numbers. Use it to our advantage." he said.
As the shields continued to rotate constantly, shrugging off the brunt of the assault, the flagship released its own fighters to intercept the enemy. The Hives released Dart fighters as well.
"I want those battle cruisers behind us now! Prepare to have them enter the fight-Guns 42-74 rotate your fire to the Titan Crusader-All beam wepons are to be fired on the Titan Crusader, all missile are to be fired as well-I want all AA to be on the lookout more strike craft inbound-The Aries is down, I repeat Aries is down."
All of these voices continued to chatter as the fighting grew more intense. Then all sound was lost. Time seemed to stop before him.
<<Rayborne, Hazonor is no longer a target. Hezion is now focused on the Crusade. I'm on my way to Hydraphur now. But soon, I will...make an appearance.>>
This truly frightened him. The Emperor coming to fight meant that he meant business. Total War had been declared. He wondered if Hezion would come into battle, but he doubted it. Then time started again. He refocused on the battle with the Titan Crusader. This seemed to be the only thing other than the Defense Moons that was capable of damaging the ships shields. Golden beams poured into the warship from the Heziovirel and all of the closest baseships.

[The Drone Empire]

--The Array--

The re-sent plasma bolts simply dissapered, having lost all their heat, the faded to nothing more than a rapidly dying heat signature, not even visible. They didn't care what these psychic freaks could do, they could do just the same using a stasis beam, but none were on the ship, so they couldn't at the moment. As they continued to smash the hammer of the Drones onto the enemy, their shields swallowed missiles whole, slurping up the delicious remnants of fire that left in their chaotic wake. The fire of too many guns came from the Drones onto the encroaching fleet upon the Frigates. They quickly like older siblings came to the rescue, pounding them with missiles and plasma, kinetic strikes and powerful plasma lances. One Titan crusader even smashed its upper prow directly into an Apocalypse class, smashing its nova cannon's to pieces, just short of ramming the ship's arc into the Emperian vessel. War Cruisers glided by them, unleashing round-per-round of massive firepower onto the Apocalypse classes. On the far side of the Emperian front some War cruisers and battleships were amassing a large line of fire, gunning directly into the enemy ships in a mass exchange of powerful gun fire. Fighters all across the enemy front persisted in shot-lived dog-fights and small strategic missile bomb runs on an Emperian vessel, dodging fire as best they could. Bombers did something similar, but only bombed Emperian vessels, floating into their passive shielding, flying at high speeds across their hulls, they'd drop the bombs directly onto the raw hull, destroying cannons and guns in their destructive wave across the vessel. This who charade of assault from all the Drone forces never went without repercussion, Frigates still received damage, War cruisers got battered, fighters were shot to pieces, bombers were blown to smithereens, et cetera, et cetera.

--Epiraxi II--

The Titan Crusader returned with great retaliation, while War cruisers stayed their focus on the Hive ship's charring their surface a thousand times over with a grand assault. Fire spewed from its disgusting surface, the organic ball of disgusting matter would not survive much longer an attack of the sort. Battleships on this front were more so spread, but still focusing just as much effort. They mined their weapons into carrier-stars mainly, them being powerful vessels, their combined effort to remove them from the battlefield would ease the woes of their Tantalan ally greatly whence they came closer into the fight. The three other battle-stations were nearing, as shots began to flow in from them, it would not be long before their combined forces would overwhelm the Vetegans in a whirlwind of firepower. Rath's vessel would never survive the assault, they were much to close, and had invoked the full wrath of the Drone Planetary defence system.