Posted: Sat May 30, 2020 7:54 pm
Sol 233
Between Mars and Earth
Grand Fleet Expeditionary Force Linse Fleet
Dreadnought 'HMS Indefatigable'
Flag Bridge
A number of the officers in compartment fell silent in shock at the missile numbers coming for them even the holo display of the main bridge fell silent save for the sensor officer calling out the incoming threat. Admiral Linse for his part was unsurprised by the number of missiles, the estimates had actually been higher if he was honest, given the orders to get back to their duties the other senior officers aboard were also unsurprised or just better at dealing with it. The swarm closed with the fleet blinking red icons showing the scale of the problem, those weapons found themselves meeting walls of point-defence fire, AMM Salvos and anti-missile bombs. Given the sudden pulling force to the side the helmsman had deigned to pull some pretty hard evasive manoeuvres though given that the icons on the display had begun to scatter the rest of the fleet had decided it would also be a good idea to evade. The display showed the missiles spiralling off after the Mandate ship but would very shortly show them being thoroughly outpaced by their targets.
“All ships transition to plan Theta 12” barked Linse shortly before he was almost knocked off of his feet by the sudden acceleration “Task Force Drake break formation now”. The Mandate warships had accelerated to 0.995c, not their fastest speed but the maximum advised combat speed. The fleet flowed around the Octavian formation pouring ever more fire into the Octavian vessels and launching half of their strikecraft to hold off the swarms of Octavian fighters. During the manoeuvre a pair of battleships and their escorts detached from the fleet to make for Earth sending shuttles streaming for the planet accompanied by the remaining half of the fleets squadrons.
“Sir, the 52nd Cruiser Squadron is requesting permission to fall back” called one of the officers below “they report having lost a pair of destroyers, three frigates and a light cruiser. Apparently HMS Endeavour is venting atmosphere”.
“Tell Captain Davidson that he still has more than half of his squadron and other squadrons have lost more ships” returned Linse pulling up the squadron in question on the smaller holographic display on his podium “remind him that his ship has also suffered little damage according to the reports. Let him know that if he continues to put his ship above the mission he will be removed from command”.
Sol 233
Between Mars and Earth
Grand Fleet Expeditionary Force Linse Fleet
Marine Shuttle 'BP-23'
Marine Captain Serhing Sirwan braced in his heavy powered armour despite knowing it was pointless as the shuttle shuddered from a near miss, anything that hit them would likely be strong enough to tear open the hull and in any such event such a hit would likely kill the occupants closest to the impact. Though from the quiet sobs and terrified prayers on the public voice net more than a few of his subordinates were terrified, not without reason in his opinion but most of them hadn't performed a real combat landing before and the first was always the hardest. The shuttle swung violently to the side and bucked harshly as the pilot did their level best to keep the little craft alive, a subtle but constant shudder followed the evasive manoeuvre letting Sirwan know the craft gunner had found a target for the defensive weapons mounted to the little craft.
"Eyes front" called Sirwan keying the helmets of his men to display their briefing "we have been charged with securing the Town of Morioh for use as a spacehead. With any luck we'll have a divisions worth of troops down there with us but our main concern is to be clearing the town of Octavian troops while the others get the perimeter. In particular my squad will secure the highlighted estate given the Octavians seem to be focusing on that part of town we have another two platoons assigned to help us clear this part of the town. The buildings highlighting for you now are your squads objectives, clear them of any Octavian resistance but don't kill the locals. If you have to stun them then do so but I want no avoidable casualties. The shuttles'll clear out the worst of the scrap metal on the way in and will remain on station for fire support, do not call it in if you could clear the position on your own and for the love of humanity remember to check the blast radius". The shuttle rocked as it hit atmosphere and began to scream its way through the atmosphere towards Morioh.
Sol 232
Outer system
Grand Fleet Expeditionary Force Osmani Contingent, Dragomech sub-division
Envoy vessel 'Enduring Light'
The sleek purple vessel slid gracefully through the gate accompanied by a pair of similar looking frigates which moved in perfect unison with the envoy vessel. Within the 200m long vessel inside a nearly silent bridge crewed by men and women interfaced directly with the ship Dragomech Erbey Taskiran studied the holographic displays before him. Taking careful note of the alert warships prowling the system the heavily augmented Dragomech lined what he was seeing up with what information he had on the Yamato Empire and failing to come up with a reason for the alert level he was seeing. No matter though, as a Dragomech envoy his purpose was to enter talks with this world to bring them into the glorious light of the Mandates twin suns.
"I require a channel to the planetary government" ordered Taskiran minimising the screens and turning to face the requisite camera.
"It is done honoured one" came the quiet voice of the comms technician "speak and they shall hear".
"Honoured Government of the Yamato Empire" began Taskiran "I am Dragomech envoy Erbey Taskiran. I have been sent by the glorious twin sins of the Mandate, the radiant Sultana Saadet and the most glorious Emperess Anastasia Romanov, open formal relations between your people and the mandate of Humanity. To this end I would like to meet with the divine Emperor Kujiro Yamato in order to best convey the wishes of our twin suns and help both our branches of humanity enter a new age of brotherhood and prosperity". With that he cut the transmission as the three ships steadily moved further into the system, the frigates weapons very obviously powered down to help show their peaceful intent.
Between Mars and Earth
Grand Fleet Expeditionary Force Linse Fleet
Dreadnought 'HMS Indefatigable'
Flag Bridge
A number of the officers in compartment fell silent in shock at the missile numbers coming for them even the holo display of the main bridge fell silent save for the sensor officer calling out the incoming threat. Admiral Linse for his part was unsurprised by the number of missiles, the estimates had actually been higher if he was honest, given the orders to get back to their duties the other senior officers aboard were also unsurprised or just better at dealing with it. The swarm closed with the fleet blinking red icons showing the scale of the problem, those weapons found themselves meeting walls of point-defence fire, AMM Salvos and anti-missile bombs. Given the sudden pulling force to the side the helmsman had deigned to pull some pretty hard evasive manoeuvres though given that the icons on the display had begun to scatter the rest of the fleet had decided it would also be a good idea to evade. The display showed the missiles spiralling off after the Mandate ship but would very shortly show them being thoroughly outpaced by their targets.
“All ships transition to plan Theta 12” barked Linse shortly before he was almost knocked off of his feet by the sudden acceleration “Task Force Drake break formation now”. The Mandate warships had accelerated to 0.995c, not their fastest speed but the maximum advised combat speed. The fleet flowed around the Octavian formation pouring ever more fire into the Octavian vessels and launching half of their strikecraft to hold off the swarms of Octavian fighters. During the manoeuvre a pair of battleships and their escorts detached from the fleet to make for Earth sending shuttles streaming for the planet accompanied by the remaining half of the fleets squadrons.
“Sir, the 52nd Cruiser Squadron is requesting permission to fall back” called one of the officers below “they report having lost a pair of destroyers, three frigates and a light cruiser. Apparently HMS Endeavour is venting atmosphere”.
“Tell Captain Davidson that he still has more than half of his squadron and other squadrons have lost more ships” returned Linse pulling up the squadron in question on the smaller holographic display on his podium “remind him that his ship has also suffered little damage according to the reports. Let him know that if he continues to put his ship above the mission he will be removed from command”.
Sol 233
Between Mars and Earth
Grand Fleet Expeditionary Force Linse Fleet
Marine Shuttle 'BP-23'
Marine Captain Serhing Sirwan braced in his heavy powered armour despite knowing it was pointless as the shuttle shuddered from a near miss, anything that hit them would likely be strong enough to tear open the hull and in any such event such a hit would likely kill the occupants closest to the impact. Though from the quiet sobs and terrified prayers on the public voice net more than a few of his subordinates were terrified, not without reason in his opinion but most of them hadn't performed a real combat landing before and the first was always the hardest. The shuttle swung violently to the side and bucked harshly as the pilot did their level best to keep the little craft alive, a subtle but constant shudder followed the evasive manoeuvre letting Sirwan know the craft gunner had found a target for the defensive weapons mounted to the little craft.
"Eyes front" called Sirwan keying the helmets of his men to display their briefing "we have been charged with securing the Town of Morioh for use as a spacehead. With any luck we'll have a divisions worth of troops down there with us but our main concern is to be clearing the town of Octavian troops while the others get the perimeter. In particular my squad will secure the highlighted estate given the Octavians seem to be focusing on that part of town we have another two platoons assigned to help us clear this part of the town. The buildings highlighting for you now are your squads objectives, clear them of any Octavian resistance but don't kill the locals. If you have to stun them then do so but I want no avoidable casualties. The shuttles'll clear out the worst of the scrap metal on the way in and will remain on station for fire support, do not call it in if you could clear the position on your own and for the love of humanity remember to check the blast radius". The shuttle rocked as it hit atmosphere and began to scream its way through the atmosphere towards Morioh.
Sol 232
Outer system
Grand Fleet Expeditionary Force Osmani Contingent, Dragomech sub-division
Envoy vessel 'Enduring Light'
The sleek purple vessel slid gracefully through the gate accompanied by a pair of similar looking frigates which moved in perfect unison with the envoy vessel. Within the 200m long vessel inside a nearly silent bridge crewed by men and women interfaced directly with the ship Dragomech Erbey Taskiran studied the holographic displays before him. Taking careful note of the alert warships prowling the system the heavily augmented Dragomech lined what he was seeing up with what information he had on the Yamato Empire and failing to come up with a reason for the alert level he was seeing. No matter though, as a Dragomech envoy his purpose was to enter talks with this world to bring them into the glorious light of the Mandates twin suns.
"I require a channel to the planetary government" ordered Taskiran minimising the screens and turning to face the requisite camera.
"It is done honoured one" came the quiet voice of the comms technician "speak and they shall hear".
"Honoured Government of the Yamato Empire" began Taskiran "I am Dragomech envoy Erbey Taskiran. I have been sent by the glorious twin sins of the Mandate, the radiant Sultana Saadet and the most glorious Emperess Anastasia Romanov, open formal relations between your people and the mandate of Humanity. To this end I would like to meet with the divine Emperor Kujiro Yamato in order to best convey the wishes of our twin suns and help both our branches of humanity enter a new age of brotherhood and prosperity". With that he cut the transmission as the three ships steadily moved further into the system, the frigates weapons very obviously powered down to help show their peaceful intent.