3rd December 2031 cont.The Nahangs pass the lead alien ships without incident
4th December 2031Three Russian Oscars and a pair of USAN Raposos move past the Belasco ships without incident. The Commune has shown no inclination to attack while the intercepting Solarian ships may well be unarmed scouts.
6th December 2031The first group of Belasco ships reaches the outer edge of the asteroid belt. A European battle group and a smaller Islamic warship force are nearby but so far have taken no hostile action. In Earth orbit, all five Lexington class destroyers and both Spruance class escorts are holding position, all sensors active and weapons ready. As the aliens pass through the belt and into active sensor range of the Cheyenne PDC, their sizes can finally be determined. The Zeus, Dionysus, Perseus and Cerberus classes are 7900 tons, the Agamemnon, Pericles and Socrates classes are 15,800 tons and the two Hectors are 23,700 tons. Resolution-1 sensors are detected on the Cerberus, Socrates, Perseus and Pericles classes, all of which are in the second group; presumably escorts racing to keep up with the warships in the leading group.
7th December 2031The leading group of Belasco ships arrives in Earth orbit and extend greetings to all the people of Earth. A diplomatic team under Reece Barber is assigned to liaise with the aliens and ensure that no military confrontation breaks out between the Colonial Alliance and the Belasco Commune. Because some of the alien ships may be beam-armed and even missiles would reach Earth or anything in orbit before the Spruances could intercept, the Colonial Fleet is ordered to Mars so it will remain active should hostilities break out. How long the other powers will tolerate a large force of alien warships in Earth orbit is unknown. However, after a brief stay in orbit, the Commune ships swing past the Moon and head out of the inner system on a bearing of 030. The second group changes course to follow the first. The Colonial Fleet reverses course and returns to Earth.
8th December 2031All fourteen Belasco ships rendezvous approximately one hundred and eighty million kilometres from Earth and hold position for several hours. Suddenly, the combined force heads straight back toward Earth and takes up position in orbit. The Colonial Fleet moves away once more. As before, the Commune fleet leaves shortly after arrival and over the next few days, it conducts a series of manoeuvres within the inner Sol system, almost as if it is daring the Solarian forces to take action.
10th December 2031Even with an alien battle fleet touring the Sol system, Colonial operations continue in other systems. CFS Endeavour transits a recently discovered jump point in Knossos (two jumps from Earth via Barnard’s Star) and emerges in Mycenae, a red dwarf system with nine planets. Mycenae II is a small terrestrial world with a thin (0.08 atm) nitrogen – oxygen atmosphere, gravity within the acceptable range and a surface temperature of -40C; a potential terraforming candidate
12th December 2031The Belasco fleet moves out of the inner system heading in the general direction of the Athens jump point. Once outside the asteroid belt, the alien ships perform another series of manoeuvres. While they are well outside the range at which they could realistically threaten Earth, it is still very disconcerting to have an alien fleet anywhere in Sol.
22nd December 2031A European Union task group of seven ships moves within eight million kilometres of the Commune fleet, which is now at the orbit of Saturn, halfway to the Athens jump point. The best available intelligence suggests the EU force comprises two cruisers, two escort cruisers and three destroyers. A single destroyer, a Le Terrible class, breaks away from the main body and closes on the alien ships. There are no nearby Colonial ships so all information is based on thermal signatures and sensor emissions being detected by Earth-based sensor stations. The European ships are between the Belasco and the Athens jump point.
Suddenly, fourteen strength-6 nuclear detonations are detected at the same location as the Belasco fleet. The European Union has decided to launch humanity’s first interstellar war. Ten seconds later, thirty-one strength-1 detonations are detected four hundred thousand kilometres from the alien force in the direction of the EU task group; presumably Belasco anti-missiles intercepting a second wave of European anti-ship missiles. Over the next six minutes, more than five hundred anti-missiles explode, with the explosions gradually moving further away from the Belasco fleet. No more detonations are recorded close to the fleet. It appears that after the first salvo, the Commune anti-missile defences easily dealt with the follow-up missile waves.
Ten strength-4 detonations are recorded at the location of the Le Terrible class destroyer. It vanishes from Colonial sensors although there is no sign of a wreck. The Belasco are striking back. Thirty seconds later there are four strength-14 detonations in the same location and a wreck beacon is detected, along with life pods. The Belasco missiles must either be very large or very high tech to have such powerful warheads. The European Union may have made a serious mistake.
The EU assault against the alien fleet is obviously still underway as more anti-missiles are exploding approximately a million kilometres from the Belasco ships. Within three minutes of the destruction of the EU destroyer, around two hundred and fifty strength-1 detonations are detected. There is still no sign of any missiles reaching the Commune fleet. Ten Belasco missiles with strength-4 warheads strike a Saphir class destroyer operating one point three million kilometres from the main body of the European task group. The Saphir’s speed drops by twenty percent but it remains on sensors. A minute later, ten more missiles hit and the Saphir’s thermal signature drops below the strength at which it can be detected. Its active sensor is still operating though. Despite surviving a third salvo, the destroyer is blown apart by four strength-14 detonations that trigger a strength-33 secondary magazine explosion.
A single strength-1 detonation is detected two hundred thousand kilometres from the five surviving EU ships. It appears they are no fighting their own defensive battle. Moments later four strength-4 detonations are recorded in the same location as the European task group. Over the next five minutes, thirty-one missiles are intercepted close to the EU force but twenty-four more explode on target. The thermal signatures of both Montcalm class escort cruisers fall by nine percent and they detach from the main body. Given the ratio of interceptions to hits on the European ships, the EU missile defence is of limited effectiveness. The EU task group bravely tries to chase the Belasco but they have no chance. The Belasco have more than a 2-1 speed advantage and the range is opening rapidly.
Another half a dozen strength-1 detonations are detected close to the two Montcalms then one is hit by four missiles with strength-4 warheads. The other suffers five similar hits plus a strength-14 detonation. Suddenly there is a strength-7 secondary magazine explosion, followed by a strength-4 secondary power system explosion and then four simultaneous strength-16 secondary magazine explosions. The ship is ripped apart and another wreck marker appears on Colonial tactical displays. The second Montcalm takes a battering, receiving twenty-five strength-4 hits over a period of ten minutes, culminating in a strength-14 hit that causes it to drop off Colonial sensors, probably due to engine damage. Twenty-four incoming missiles were killed during the same period and a Dunkerque class DD also received a single strength-4 hit.
After a lull of three minutes, a single strength-14 explosion is detected in the same location as the three European ships that remain on Colonial sensors. Meanwhile the Belasco fleet is splitting up. A 15,800 ton Agamemnon class cruiser and a pair of 7900 ton Dionysus class destroyers are moving back in the general direction of the EU task group, although their course indicates they may actually be heading for the Athens jump point, while the other Belasco ships continue toward the inner system. It’s possible the three detached Belasco ships are out of ordnance and heading home for resupply. They will pass within four million kilometres of the three EU ships.
Twenty-three minutes after the last explosion, eighteen strength-1 explosions are detected at the same location as the Belasco Agamemnon class cruiser. Rather than missile interceptions, these appear to be AMMs being used in offensive mode by the nearby EU ships. Twenty-two more detonations follow five seconds later. Within a minute, a total of one hundred and eighty detonations are recorded, battering the Commune cruiser. Its speed drops from 5316 km/s to 4873 km/s but it is still much faster than the European warships. After a break of four minutes, the Agamemnon comes under further attack, suffering a further one hundred and twenty hits. Two huge secondary power explosions inflict catastrophic damage and the Agamemnon blows up.
Four minutes after the destruction of the Agamemnon the two Dionysus class destroyers come under attack. Which EU ship is launching the missiles is unknown. The three ships still on sensors are a 9600 ton Dunkerque class, a 19,200 ton Surcouf and a 19,200 ton Le Redoutable, none of which have resolution-1 sensors as far as Colonial Intelligence can determine, although it is possible they have them but never activated them within range of a Colonial EM sensor. The nearest non-EU ships are in a Chinese battlegroup six hundred million kilometres away in the direction of the Athens jump point. One possible answer though is the second Montcalm, which was seriously damaged enough to disappear from Colonial sensors but has not been destroyed. It may still have missile launch capability.
Which of the Dionysus is taking hits is also unknown but after more than two hundred strength-1 detonations, one of the Dionysus class ships is destroyed by two large secondary explosions and the second reduces speed to 4460 km/s. Five minutes after the destruction of the first Dionysus, the second disappears from Colonial sensors after fifty-three simultaneous strength-1 explosions. Ten seconds later twenty-two more are detected and a new wreck appears. Both sides in the battle have now lost three ships, although it was fortunate for the European Union that the warships of the Belasco Commune moved within weapon range on their way back to Athens. The Belasco might be technologically superior but they have demonstrated a serious lack of tactical awareness. The surviving European Union ships are heading for Earth while the eleven Belasco ships are on a heading of 160, toward the portion of the asteroid belt that lies on the far side of Sol from Earth. For the moment the battle appears to be over.
Five hours after the destruction of the second Dionysus, Montcalm 002 reappears on thermal sensors moving at 1750 km/s. Meanwhile the Belasco force has divided. The two 23,700 ton Hector class ships, classified as battlecruisers by Colonial Intelligence, are continuing on their previous course while the other ships have reduced speed to 2500 km/s and are heading for Earth while maintaining a forty-five million kilometre range to the closest European ships. Over the next few hours the Montcalm class escort cruisers gradually repairs its engines until it is moving at 2500 km/s once more, although still trailing the other ships by over forty million kilometres.
Suddenly, the group of nine Belasco ships reverses course and heads for the remaining European ships. The two Hectors remain on their previous heading. The range closes quickly as the European ships are still heading for Earth. When the two fleets falls are fourteen point five million kilometres apart Colonial sensors detect seventy-four strength-1 detonations in the same location as the three leading European ships. The Belasco are now apparently using their AMMs in offensive mode. More than two hundred more explosions follows in the next thirty seconds. Contact with the Surcouf is lost and a new wreck appears. The Dunkerque class destroyer and the Le Redoutable class cruiser press onwards. The Montcalm is still over forty million kilometres astern. A single strength-1 explosion is detected eighty thousand kilometres from the European ships. It appears the EU force is trying to shoot down the incoming Belasco AMMs. Given their lack of success against normal anti-ship missiles, the EU AMMs would probably be more effective if used offensively.
Next to fall is the Le Redoutable, struck by three hundred and fifty missiles. Only the Dunkerque remains. Six minutes later, another seventy-five strength-1 detonations are detected, accompanied by a strength-16 secondary power explosion. However they are almost nine hundred thousand kilometres from the Dunkerque. It appears there is another ship involved, one that cannot be detected on Colonial sensors at the current range of one point three billion kilometres. Ten seconds later, another twenty-one missiles hit the unknown target and a wreck beacon appears for a European Suffren class destroyer escort. The Suffren is 9600 tons and its engine signature is too small for detection. The Dunkerque is the same size but its position is known due to its active sensor emission. The Suffren has only ever radiated with a resolution-1 sensor, which is too faint to be detected. Belasco attention changes to the Dunkerque and it is destroyed by the next two salvos. The only European ship on sensors in the battle area is the Montcalm that was damaged earlier.
Two Zeus class destroyers split from the Commune fleet and head toward the Montcalm, or possibly the Athens jump point as they are both in the same direction. The other seven ships in the main body continue toward the location of the recent European wrecks. The two Hectors that detached earlier are two hundred million kilometres away but their course has changed so they are moving almost parallel to the inner system with no apparent destination ahead of them. Ten minutes after the destruction of the Dunkerque class, more strength-1 detonations occur in the general area of the European wrecks. The wreck of a Duguay-Trouins class destroyer escort appears shortly thereafter. It would appear the European task group that attacked the Belasco Commune was larger than first believed. Another series of explosions appears four million kilometres further from Sol, resulting in the wrecks of three Foch class destroyer escorts. The European Union has now lost eleven ships compared to three for the Belasco. Two Belasco Cerberus class destroyers (assumed to be escorts based on their sensor emissions) break from the main body and head in the same direction as the recently detached Zeus class destroyers. The other five ships come about and set course for the Hectors.
Once the Zeus move within fifteen million kilometres of the Montcalm, the five ships that were moving away reverse course and head straight for the European cruiser. An interesting development that suggests the Montcalm may have only just been detected by the approaching Zeus, which in turn suggests the Belasco ships in the main group may have limited sensor range. At six million kilometres the leading Zeus is struck by twenty-four strength-1 explosions. The Montcalm is definitely still in the fight. Almost four hundred detonations follow in a deluge which overwhelms the Commune destroyers and two more wrecks join the growing number in Sol. Fifteen minutes later, the two Cerberus class are hit by thirty-four missiles as they move within range but then the explosions cease. Possibly the Montcalm has finally run out of ordnance. The Montcalm and the Cerberus pass within four million kilometres of each other while moving in opposite directions. Five other Belasco ships are closing in on the last European warship.
An hour after it dispatched the two Zeus class destroyers, the Montcalm starts taking fire. Even though it was already seriously damaged in the earlier stages of the battle, it stubbornly ploughs onwards through the explosions. Eighty-five missiles strike in five different volleys and the Montcalm slows to 2000 km/s. Then the explosions cease. It appears the Belasco ships have also run out of missiles. Three Socrates class cruisers set course for the Athens jump point but a Pericles class cruiser and a Perseus class destroyer continue to close on the Montcalm. When they reach point-blank range the thermal signature of the Montcalm starts to fall. The two Commune ships are obviously beam-armed. The gallant EU warship cannot hold out any longer and its crew are forced to abandon ship.
After destroying the Montcalm, the Pericles and Perseus set a course to rendezvous with the two Hectors, which have now changed course to head for the Athens jump point. Both Cerberus and all three Socrates are also heading for the jump point. It seems that after inflicting a serious defeat on the European Union, the Belasco fleet is returning home for repair and resupply. Three Russian Oscar class destroyers, most likely scouts although they retain the DD designation for now, are closing on the Hectors and are currently eighty million kilometres astern. A formation of European Union fast attack craft is also out past the asteroid belt in pursuit of the Belasco but they are slower than the alien warships. If intelligence on the EU is up to date, the FACs represent the European Union’s only mobile military force, although there are also six bases in orbit of Earth.
30th December 2031Eight days after the destruction of the European Union fleet, the Belasco Commune warships transit into Athens. Contact was lost with the smaller Belasco vessels before transit due to their smaller thermal signature but there is no reason to assume they did not transit with their larger siblings. The question for every intelligence service and news outlet in the Sol system is when will the Belasco return?
11th February 2032The European Union launches four new 9600 ton ships of a new type, designated as the Gloire class by Colonial Intelligence.
14th February 2032CFS Endeavour enters a newly discovered jump point in Knossos and arrives in Ephesos, a binary of two red dwarves orbiting twenty-two billion kilometres apart with two planets orbiting each star. Ephesos-A II has gravity and temperature in the acceptable range and an 0.39 atm atmosphere of nitrogen, ammonia and methane. If the latter two gases were to be removed and sufficient oxygen added, this would become an ideal habitable world.
12th April 2032CFS Eclipse, a fourth Nebula class geological survey ship, is launched by the Schumacker-Navarra Shipyard.
3rd June 2032The Dirk Ream espionage team is captured while operating in the People’s Republic of China. The PRC issue a diplomatic protest but take no action beyond that.
18th June 2032Two Hector class battlecruisers of the Belasco Commune transit into Sol through the Athens jump point. Since the destruction of most of its fleet the European Union has constructed four Gloire class destroyers, which given their observed speed of 6500 km/s could very well be fast scouts, a single Normandie class destroyer, with the normal EU warship speed of 2500 km/s, and a single Pegasus class FAC, taking the total for that class to twelve. The crews of those ships will no doubt be watching the course of the Commune battlecruisers with considerable apprehension.
19th June 2032Twenty hours after the Hectors arrival, a Pericles class escort cruiser and three Socrates class escort cruisers transit into Sol. Meanwhile the two battlecruisers are on a course for the inner Sol system.
22nd June 2032The available EU ships go out to meet the approaching Belasco fleet. The Normandie was on the far side of the Sol system when the Belasco arrived and is much slower than the Pegasus and Gloire class ships so it is trailing the other EU ships by almost a billion kilometres by the time they move within a hundred million kilometres of the Hectors. Preceding the EU force are the three Russian Oscar class destroyers, also believed to be fast scouts.
Colonial sensors detect four strength-14 detonations and a secondary explosion at the same location as a group of three Gloires, eighty-five million kilometres from the Hectors. Four more detonations are detected thirty seconds later, destroying one of the European ships. After the destruction of the Gloire, the two Hectors reverse course, heading back to the jump point, pursued by the remaining Gloires and the Pegasus class FACs. Nine hours later, with the leading two Gloires seventy million kilometres from the Hectors and the Belasco battlecruisers twenty-four million kilometres from a rendezvous with the four escort cruisers that followed them into Sol, three new thermal signatures register on Colonial sensors. Two Cerberus class DDs and a single Perseus class destroyer escort are detected accompanying the escort cruisers. There are now nine Commune ships in Sol.
Unexpectedly, the Hectors pass the other seven Belasco ships and continue toward the Athens jump point. The larger force continues sunward and the EU Gloires and Russian Oscars reverse course to remain ahead of them. The Pegasus class FACs, being tracked by sensor emissions from three of the craft, continue to close on the approaching Commune warships. When the FACs reach fifty million kilometres, the Belasco force reverses course and follows the Hectors toward the jump point. For some reason the Belasco Commune, despite its technological superiority and huge tonnage advantage, seems reluctant to engage. The nine Commune ships proceed toward the outer Sol system with three Gloires, three Oscars and a dozen FACs in their wake.
26th June 2032The two Hector class battlecruisers transit out of Sol, followed by the seven ship Belasco task group. The pursuing European and Russian ships come about and head back toward the inner system. The brief Belasco incursion resulted in the destruction of a single European destroyer, although given the potential Belasco firepower their decision to retreat after that single kill is puzzling to say the least.
24th July 2032The Hectors return to Sol, joined three hours later by the four escort cruisers and probably the three destroyers, although the thermal signatures of the latter are too small to be detected by Colonial sensors. The European ships head out to meet it, with the Normandie several hundred million kilometres ahead of the Gloires and FACs. Small groups of ships from the other major powers also head out in the general direction of the approaching alien fleet. Four days after the transit, the Normandie is destroyed one hundred and sixty million kilometres from the Commune battlecruisers by a dozen strength-14 explosions. It would seem the larger Belasco missiles are being launched by the Hectors and they have considerable range. All the Belasco warships continue sunward.
28th July 2032The three Russian Oscars pass close to the Belasco ships and move beyond them before reversing course and shadowing the alien fleet. Fourteen hours after the destruction of the Normandie, the Gloires begin taking heavy fire and soon all three are reduced to wreckage. All nine Commune warships turn around and head back toward the jump point. Once again the EU FACs are unable to get within weapon range. The Belasco are slowly picking off the entire European Union space fleet.
1st August 2032The Belasco fleet departs the Sol system once more.
10th August 2032CFS Discovery transits a newly discovered jump point in Argos, two jumps from Earth via Alpha Centauri. She emerges in the known system of Mycenae, until now accessible via Barnard’s Star and Knossos. Endeavour, Eclipse and Nebula are already in Mycenae carrying out gravitational and geological surveys. At the moment Mycenae II is probably the best candidate for the Colonial Alliance’s first extra-solar colony. Although it requires terraforming due to its thin atmosphere and low temperature, it is colony cost 2.0 and has reasonable mineral deposits. For the moment though Discovery returns to Argos to continue her gravitational survey.
Mycenae-A II Survey ReportDuranium 903,168 Acc: 0.9
Neutronium 8,667,136 Acc: 1
Corbomite 10,240,000 Acc: 0.1
Tritanium 2,073,600 Acc: 0.1
Mercassium 5,308,416 Acc: 0.3
Vendarite 6,230,016 Acc: 0.1
Sorium 6,718,464 Acc: 0.3
Uridium 451,584 Acc: 0.1
Corundium 5,161,984 Acc: 0.1
Gallicite 7,054,336 Acc: 1
13th August 2032The Columbia class gravitational survey ships Challenger and Enterprise are launched from the BAE systems shipyard. There are now six Columbias in service.
3rd September 2032Two new Lexington class destroyers, Yorktown and Indomitable, are launched from the Norfolk Navy Yard, taking the total number for the class to seven. Shortly after they launch, the Belasco return to Sol once again. This time however only the two Hectors are detected. The European Pegasus class FACs go out to meet them, as do the Russian Oscars and a separate Russian task group that includes both 30,000 ton battleships, a 10,000 ton Sovremenny class destroyer and a recently launched 10,000 ton Grisha which, based on its sensor emissions and speed, also appears to be a destroyer.
7th September 2032As before, the Oscars pass the Belasco ships and begin shadowing them from astern. The Pegasus class FACs close to within ten million kilometres before the Hectors reverse course and begin opening the range, presumably because they don’t have low resolution sensors and have only just detected the FACs. Six minutes after the course reversal a FAC is blown to pieces by a pair of strength-14 detonations. Eleven minutes after the first explosion, the wrecks of twelve Pegasus FAC litter the wake of the retreating Commune battlecruisers. Unlike the previous visits the Hectors don’t continue onwards to the Athens jump point. Instead, they reverse course once again and head for the inner Sol system where the European Union is defenceless except for its orbital bases. The Russian Oscars continue to shadow the alien ships and the Russian battleship task group is still on a direct intercept course.
8th September 2032Eleven strength-9 detonations are detected in the same location as the Hector class battlecruisers. The Russian task group is seventy-five million kilometres away and is the only force on sensors that could realistically have launched the missiles. It appears the Indo-Russian Alliance has decided to join the fight. Ten more detonations follow a minute later. A third salvo of inflicts eleven hits, causing enough damage to slow Hector 01 and shut down its active sensor. The two battlecruisers split up due to the 115 km/s difference in speed. Three more salvos result a further twenty-six hits, all of them on Hector 02, but there is no more sign of damage.
Thirty-six minutes later, the Russian Grisha, moving ahead of the battleships in close formation with the Sovremenny, is struck by three strength-14 warheads. A further four detonations occur seventy seconds later accompanied by a pair of magazine explosions. A wreck beacon appears but it is an Osa class escort cruiser. The Osa was not on Colonial sensors and presumably was the target of the previous salvo rather than the Grisha which just happened to be in the same location. An unfortunate drawback in observing the battle on passive sensors from one point six billion kilometres away is that only estimates can be made about what is actually happening. Both Hectors are now heading back toward the Athens jump point. The intervention of the Russian task group has apparently curbed their enthusiasm for attacking the inner system.
Nineteen minutes after the destruction of the Osa, Hector 01 is struck by eight strength-9 warheads. A strength-10 secondary power explosion is quickly followed by a huge strength-24 secondary explosion and the Belasco battlecruiser blows up. The Russians apparently underestimated the Belasco defences with their first attack but have quickly corrected that oversight. Fifteen minutes later, Hector 02 is hit twelve times and suffers its own large secondary explosion. Its thermal signature drops by 40%. Seventy seconds later, a follow-up salvo scores eighteen more hits, completely destroying the battlecruiser. The Commune capital ships that have plagued the Sol system for months have finally been eliminated. While the Belasco still have the escort forces that did not enter Sol on this occasion, they will be far less effective without the heavy firepower of the two 23,700 ton battlecruisers. All the Russian ships turn and head for home.
10th September 2032CFS Discovery investigates a new jump point in Argos and finds Pergamon, an unremarkable red dwarf system with seven planets.
24th October 2032CFS Nelson and CFS Murray, a pair of Spruance class destroyer escorts, join the Colonial Fleet
10th September 2032CFS Discovery transits Argos’ recently discovered fourth jump point and emerges in 70 Ophiuchi, a binary system of two orange K-class stars orbiting three point five billion kilometres apart. Five planets orbit the primary, one of which has acceptable gravity and surface temperature of -24C but no atmosphere, and three unremarkable planets orbit the companion star.
24th November 2032Four Belasco ships of a new type, the Apollo class, transit into Sol at 10,000 km/s. The Colonial Alliance has increased its number of deep space tracking stations on Earth from eight to twelve since the last incursion so it will be able to track ships with a smaller signature 50% further away. At the moment it is tracking the Apollos based on their sensor emissions. Five Russian colony ships are in the outer system apparently en route to Athens. The Russians may be establishing a base in Athens but it puts the presumably unarmed colony ships in a difficult position.
26th November 2032The four Apollos pass within thirty million kilometres of the colony ships without incident. Given their speed and lack of offensive action, they may be some form of fast scout. Although scouts and task groups from all the Solarian powers are on manoeuvres in different parts of the Sol system, they struggle to intercept due to the sheer speed of the new arrivals, who are heading straight for Earth.
27th November 2032As the Apollos reach seven hundred and twenty million kilometres from Earth, Colonial sensors pick up their thermal signature of strength-200, which suggests they are actually FACs, not some form of fast scout. In addition, while there are only four EM signatures from active sensor emissions, there are nineteen thermal signatures. The Russian battleship task group is closing in but they are four hundred million kilometres away and almost perpendicular to the course of the Belasco FACs. Given their speed of 2640 km/s it seems very unlikely they will get within weapon range before the FACs reach Earth. The three Russian Oscars are closer but behind the Apollos and in any event they do not appear to be armed, based on past events.
Eight hours after the thermal detection of the nineteen FACs, they pass the outer edge of the asteroid belt, avoiding all attempts to intercept. The members of the Colonial Alliance Command debate the issue of potentially intervening in the war. Any serious attack on Earth would cause significant environmental damage that would affect all its inhabitants, not just those of the European Union and Indo-Russian Alliance. However, attacking the Belasco directly would make the Colonial Alliance a target as well. Therefore a decision is made that the Spruance class destroyers will defend Earth against missile attack but no offensive action will be taken against the FACs. Two of the four Spruances are on a fleet training exercise and are attempting to return to Earth in time. It is unlikely they will be successful, which means the task falls on the recently launched Nelson and Murray. While the EU and the Indo-Russian Alliance have ten orbital bases between them and theoretically should be able to stop a missile attack, Colonial Intelligence has no idea of the number and capability of the missiles carried by the FACs.
28th November 2032Twenty million kilometres from Earth, the Apollos are picked up by the active sensors of the Cheyenne PDC, confirming their size as 1000 tons. With the FACs sixteen million kilometres from Earth, planetary sensors detect fifty-seven strength-9 thermal signatures just ahead of the Apollos moving at 33,600 km/s; presumably missiles. The FACs reverse course, adding weight to that conclusion. Halfway to Earth the small thermal contacts vanish. The reason is unknown. No intercepting missiles were detected. The FACs continue moving away after their seemingly aborted attack on Earth. The Russian battleship task group is still too far away to intercept the FACs, even on their return journey, and the Apollos transit out of the system four days later.
21st December 2032The FACs return. This time there are no sensor emissions to give away their transit. Their thermal signatures appear on Colonial sensors just seven hundred million kilometres from Earth. The Russian battleship task group is on the far side of the inner system and cannot intercept in time. The orbit of Mars has brought it into alignment with Earth and the Athens jump point, with Mars two hundred million kilometres closer to the Belasco FACs. The FACs make a slight change course to bring them into Mars orbit, where they launch missiles at the European Union colony on the red planet. Twenty-four strength-11 explosions completely wipe out the EU settlement. The resulting dust thrown into the thin Martian atmosphere is enough to lower the global temperature by almost three degrees while the background radiation will result in a lower population growth. The Martian colony of the Colonial Alliance has reached twenty-nine million and there have already been discussions within the Colonial Alliance Command regarding whether the Alliance should concentrate on settling Mars to avoid any conflicts around Earth, rather than attempting to build an interstellar colony. The Belasco attack has strengthened the position of those members opposing such a strategy. Five FACs reverse course and head back towards the Athens jump point. The other fourteen continue onward to Earth.
As the FACs approach, colony ships and freighters from the European Union and Indo-Russian Alliance depart Earth orbit. Colonial Alliance freighters and colony ships are dispatched to the asteroid Cruithne, currently on the far side of Earth from the approaching Belasco ships. With the FACs seventeen million kilometres from Earth, eleven strength-9 thermal contacts are detected, moving toward the planet at 33,000 km/s. Unlike their previous attack, the FAC remain in position after the launch of the missiles. At two million kilometres the incoming salvo is picked up on active sensors and confirmed as thirty-three size 5 missiles. All four Spruance class destroyer escorts are in Earth orbit and begin launching RIM-3A Stiletto anti-missiles. The Stiletto is slightly slower than the inbounds so the interception rate is not likely to be high.
At one point eight million kilometres, fifty size-1 missiles appear in Earth orbit and head toward the incoming salvo at 15,800 km/s. Their chance to hit will be far lower than the RIM-3A. Which of the EU or Russian orbital bases launched the missiles is unknown. When the Belasco missiles reach 950,000 kms from Earth the first forty Stilettos intercept, scoring just five kills. Nine more intercept a few seconds later, killing a single inbound. Eighteen more AMMs are launched in Earth orbit, presumably by a different power as these are travelling at 19,400 km/s.
The group of fifty slower AMM fails to score a single hit as the much faster FAC-launched missiles simply streak past them. The slightly faster second group of AMMs destroys one missile, leaving twenty-six. Stilettos account for two more then the remaining twenty-four reach orbit. Ten strength-11 warheads detonate, followed by a chain of seven large secondary magazine explosions. One of the Russian Baku-class orbital bases is completely obliterated. Given the number of defensive bases in Earth orbit, it is shocking to the leaders of the Colonial Alliance to see how easily the Belasco missiles penetrated the Solarian anti-missile defences. The fourteen FACs head for the Athens jump point, presumably to reload and return.
to be continued
