Corporate Federation - Updates

[Kurt (OP)]

October 25, 2134: Third Battle of Earth

October 29 – November 3, 2134: The Attack on Venus

November 3, 2134: Troop transports arrive at Earth from the cometary redoubt and begin loading troops.  Operations will begin on the Moon once the four brigades assigned to the attack and occupation are assembled. 
 
November 4, 0540 hours: The Dregluk destroyer group that attacked Venus jumps out of the Solar System.  Admiral Law dispatches a Defender class ship to the jump point to the Washington system to check in with the listening post in that system. 

November 5, 2240 hours: The Defender-003 jumps into the Washington system and makes contact with the listening post.  The only Dregluk ships in the system are the seven ships that recently left the Solar system.  They are currently heading for the jump point to the Denver system.  The Defender-003 jumps back to the Solar System to report, then returns to the Washington system to maintain a watch for further Dregluk attacks. 

November 6, 2134: The Fleet’s plans for defending the Solar system continue to evolve in light of the continuing attacks.  The original plans for deploying a force of large, slow moving monitors to defend the jump points and the inner system have been abandoned, as it would take too long to design and build the large ships.  Now Admiral Law’s staff is looking at deploying large numbers of small attack ships capable of launching long range missiles to swarm the Dregluk.  To this end, the Fleet has finalized the design of a new generation of missile boat, the Missile Boat r2ER design, to be accompanied by the Falcon ER Interceptor.  Both ships will be equipped with box launchers capable of launching the new extended range Bludgeon missiles.  There is some debate amongst Law’s staff of the viability of building meson cannon equipped interceptors instead of missile equipped ships.  While most favor the missile equipped designs, it is difficult to cram the equipment necessary to detect and target ships hundreds of millions of kilometers distant into such small hulls, making meson-equipped designs look viable. 

Four of five AMM bases on Earth have been repaired and refitted to include double the number of fire controls for each base. 

November 10, 2134:  Interim Government forces begin their assault on the Lunar rebels.  The colonists, being essentially defenseless, surrender almost immediately.  The surrender launches a debate within Foster’s administration about how to deal with the problematic colony on the Moon. 

November 21, 2134: A new system defense strategy is finalized.  Phase One will involve refitting and repairing the offensive missile bases on Earth.  The refit for these bases will include new fire control systems capable of targeting ships out to 300 mkm’s, the limit of the range of the Bludgeon mLRASM’s.  Phase two will be the construction of a number of 1,000-ton shipyards to construct either meson cannon or missile interceptors, whichever design is finally approved.  Currently the meson cannon designs are favored, as they will be the perfect weapon with which to engage transit-addled Dregluk ships, all of which are known to be heavily armored.  Earth-based construction will continue to focus on building additional munitions factories.   

November 25, 2134: The Interim government decides to resettle the Lunar colonists on Earth.  The colony ships sheltering at the cometary redoubt in the outer system are recalled. 

November 26, 2134: R&D on active search sensors to support the new Bludgeon mLRASM’s is complete.  A new PDC, the Oculus class, is approved. 

Dec 1, 2134: The autopsies are completed on Dregluk bodies recovered from wreckage in the Solar system.  The Dregluk prefer a warmer temperature than Humanity, and a lower gravity (.59 G), along with a somewhat higher atmospheric pressure tolerance. 

Dec 16, 2134: R&D on improved missile warheads is complete.  This will lead to a new AMM design that should go into production shortly. 

Late in the day the Defender-003 jumps back into the Solar System from Washington with the news that two Mammoth class BB’s have entered the Washington system from the unexplored jump point. 

Dec 20, 2134: The Defender-003 jumps back into the Solar System with a second report.  Eight additional smaller Dregluk ships, of two different classes, have jumped into the system.  The Defender-003 sets out for Earth. 

Dec 21, 2134:
Designs for new missiles finalized:
Aegis IV AMM: 48,000 kps, Range 7.6 mkm (while shorter ranged than the mark III, improved maneuverability gives it a roughly 2x chance to intercept Dregluk missiles)
Bludgeon LRASM Mk II: 20,000 kps, range 275.9 mkm’s, warhead 20, equipped with armor, ECM, and an active sensor. 

[Kurt (OP)]

Dec 23, 1912 hours
Two Dregluk Mammoth class battleships jump into the Solar System.  Four and half hours later, missiles are detected closing on the defenseless Mars colony, which is, at this point in its orbit, is much closer to the jump point to Washington than the Earth.   Unfortunately, the offensive and defensive PDC’s intended to protect the colony are under construction and not yet operational.  The inhabitants of Mars have barely a few minutes of warning before the missiles hit.  The destruction is incredible.  The Martians depend on domed cities to survive, and in an instant of death and destruction most of the domes are breached, killing millions.  All contact with the Martian colony is lost. 

Dec 24, 2134, 1633 hours
The two Dregluk battleships have closed to 270 mkm’s of Earth.  Admiral Law gives the order, and the two newly repaired and refitted PDC’s each launch fifteen Bludgeon mLRASM’s.   The planetary defense team is elated at this first attempt to strike back, but they are soon disappointed when the Dregluk battleships turn away from the earth.  It soon becomes clear that the new long-range Bludgeons will run out of fuel before they can intercept the enemy ships, unless they turn back for some reason. 

At 1902 hours an incoming missile stream is detected forty-three mkm’s out and closing.  The experienced crews in the five newly rebuilt, repaired, and upgraded Aegis PDC’s ready their systems and prepared to defend the Earth, yet again. 

At 1906 hours the Bludgeon missiles launched at the Dregluk battleships lost their lock and switched over to internal guidance.  The Dregluk ships had moved beyond the range of the Earth-based targeting systems. 

The Earth’s defense network achieves lock-on at 3.9 mkm’s and AMM’s are launched from all Aegis PDC’s.    None of the Dregluk missiles get closer than 1 mkm’s to Earth, but this victory is achieved by expending a lot of AMM’s.  The missile wave comes to an end at 1937 hours.  The two Dregluk battleships are retreating towards the jump point and will be able to out run the missiles pursuing them. 

Dec 25, 1214 hours: The two Dregluk battleships jump out. 

Dec 26, 2134: Aegis IV AMM’s put into production. 

Dec 27, 1434:
Eight Dregluk destroyer class ships jump into the Solar System.  The task group is composed of six Harpy class DD’s and two Vulture class, all 9,500 tons and all capable of 4,631 kps. 

Two and a half hours later six more Mammoth class BB’s jump into the system, accompanied by four Demon class cruisers. 

Dec 28, 1034 hours
The Dregluk destroyer force is now 266 mkm’s away.  Admiral Law gives the order, and forty Bludgeon mLR ASM’s roar away from PDC’s on Earth.  This is the Earth’s entire stock of the new long-range missiles.  The Dregluk battleship and cruiser force is at 300 mkm’s and closing. 

The Dregluk BB’s turn back at approximately 270 mkm’s.  The main group of Harpy class destroyers turned back at 1314 hours, at 225 mkm’s range.  At that point the Bludgeon missiles were 36 mkm’s from the Dregluk ships and closing.  Command staff does a few quick calculations and discovers that the Dregluk destroyers cannot outrun the missiles. 

1342 hours
Two salvoes of five Bludgeon missiles each close on their targets, two Vulture class Dregluk destroyers.  One of the DD’s is hit by three of the missiles, the other by four.  Neither was destroyed, but both were staggered and one’s thermal signature dropped.  Twelve minutes later the remaining Bludgeon missiles hit their targets, the six Harpy class DD’s that had turned away.  Nineteen out of thirty missiles hit their targets, damaging all six, dropping their speed to half of what it was. 

Twenty minutes later the first of the incoming missiles from the Dregluk ships was detected.  Earth’s defenders and people settled into what had become routine.  The people rushed to shelters, basements, or whatever cover they could find, while AMM’s began racing away from the defensive bases.  The Dregluk were merciless, targeting anything and everything they could in Earth’s orbit or on the surface.  Multiple Dregluk missiles penetrated the defenses and struck the orbital yards, destroying a civilian slipway.  One of the terraformers orbiting Earth, trying to mitigate the environmental damage from the bombardments, was struck, causing minor damage.  Several missiles penetrated to Earth’s surface, in spite of all that Earth’s desperate defenders could do, causing light damage to several PDC’s armor, and killing over 2 million people.  Sixteen industrial sites were destroyed as well.   

In the aftermath of the missile attack, the two Harpy class DD’s and four Demon class CA’s are still inbound. 

The Harpy’s close to 73 mkm’s and then turn away.  Shortly thereafter inbounds are detected.  These are very fast missiles, 41,600 kps, not seen before.  Each salvo is composed of twelve size three missiles.  While these missiles are very fast, the defenders manage to stop them short of Earth, largely because of the small salvo size.  The only missiles to penetrate the defenses hit the colony transports evac’ing moon.  Seventy thousand colonists are killed in the onslaught.  The last missile is intercepted at 0010 hours on the 29th   The CA’s are still closing and are 75 mkm’s away.  All other ships have turned away, except for four BB’s, which are now inbound.  The CA’s close to 71 mkm’s before turning back, a sure sign that missiles are incoming.  The defenders brace themselves.   

This missile attack is relatively light, with all missiles stopped short except one, which hit a terraformer for minor damage.

The BB’s continue to close and launch another missile attack.  This missile attack is relatively light, and all missiles are stopped short of earth.  The BB’s are now 222 mkm’s from Earth. 

The BB’s continue to close.  At 2020 hours they are 140 mkm’s from Earth, passing Mercury. 

Dec 30, 2134, 101 hours: BB’s now 66 mkm’s away.  These BB’s have closed to much closer than the last attack by the same class.  Admiral Law speculates that they might be out of LR missiles. 

Next missile attack begins at 0123 hours on the 30th.  The attack is very heavy.  The Dregluk missiles are amongst the fastest the Dregluk have used, at 41,600 kps.  Once again, the Dregluk use a scattershot targeting technique.  The colony transports evacuating the Moon take minor damage, and a terraformer is hit, as is the Jump Cruiser Tennessee and the battlecruiser Mars.  Neither the Tennessee or the Mars suffer significant damage.  After a scattering of hits in orbit the Dregluk fire shifts to the surface of the Earth.  Several offensive PDC’s are hit.  The PDC’s suffer only minor armor damage, but the collateral damage is terrible.  Over five million are killed and forty-one industrial sites are hit.   

The attack is over by 0142. By then all Dregluk ships are retreating.  Late in the day the Dregluk BB’s jump out of the Solar System. 

January 2, 2135:
The cruisers and destroyers of the Dregluk attack force are maneuvering in the Solar System, beyond the jump point to the Washington system.  They show no signs of leaving, or of launching any attacks.  They seem to be maneuvering randomly in the outer system. 

January 4, 2135
Four Dregluk cruisers and eight destroyers remain in the solar system.  The bulk of the Dregluk force is maneuvering apparently aimlessly beyond the jump point to Washington.  Two Dregluk destroyers hover protectively over the rebellious Mars colony.  All are out of range of the few long-range missiles in Earth’s inventory. 

[Kurt (OP)]

Classified Top Secret
Compartmentalized X-Ray/Delta

Results of Investigation into and interrogation of Dregluk crew survivors

Executive Summary:
The Dregluk crew survivors uniformly appear to be technically well trained and knowledgeable, and well capable of performing their assigned tasks.   On the other hand, they uniformly display a staggering level of social ignorance and retardation that is hard to believe or understand.  Their answer for almost any question about how their society works, or why things happen within their society, is always related in some manner to “Those-who-decide”.  When asked about their form of government they again displayed a staggering lack of comprehension, referring always to “Those-who-decide”.  When asked where “Those-who-decide” are currently, they evince a lack of concern that indicates a lack of involvement in the decision-making process, and a total lack of concern as to its outcome.  Indeed, the survivors were very forthcoming with information, showing no signs of resistance to our interrogations or any sign of knowledge that answering our questions would be detrimental for the Dregluk war effort.  Indeed, the Dregluk crewers seemed unaware of the fact that they were at war with Humanity, or the consequences of their actions.  To be clear, they understood their duties, but not the consequences.  The Dregluk crews display a marked lack of initiative at all levels beyond personal survival.  For example, the Dregluk missile techs understood what a missile was, and understood that the missile launchers they served were launching missiles but had absolutely no understanding of what their targets were, or even of the consequences of their deployment of their ordnance.  All questions by our interrogators about such matters were referred by the Dregluk crewers to “Those-who-decide”. 

The Dregluk crew members uniformly stated that they performed their jobs under the direction of Those-who-decide, who were present on their ships and made all decisions of substance.  The crews displayed a general lack of comprehension when asked about the penalties for disobeying Those-who-decide, although we were able to determine that Those-who-decide use “Enforcers” at times.  These enforcers are viewed with fear by the crews, who displayed extreme reluctance to discuss them. 

There were a relative few officer-analog survivors, and those who did survive all appear to have suffered some sort of brain damage.  They are non-communicative and generally hostile, requiring interrogators to display caution at all times when in their presence, a marked difference from the crew survivors who were largely docile to the point of apathy.  The autopsy of officer-level individuals recovered from the wrecks shows that the officers are uniformly enhanced with implants in their brains and throughout their bodies.  While the implants within their brains are currently a mystery, we have been able to determine that the implants found in their bodies would have boosted their strength and speed considerably, making them formidable opponents.  None of these implants were functional at the time of examination, and many appeared to have self-destructed at some point prior to the examination of the body. 

Conclusion (Tentative): The Combined Interrogation Groups have developed a working theory.  The Dregluk appear to be completely subservient to Those-who-decide, but we have not been able to locate any of that class as of yet.  Given the cybernetic enhancement of the officer-analogs, we believe it is possible that Dregluk society is an extreme form of dictatorship, with only a relative few at the top having any freedom to decide for themselves.  Under such a form of government, the officer-analogs would be local deciders\enforcers, who then suicided rather than be captured and interrogated.  It is possible that the suicides of the officers were involuntary, decided by those higher up the chain who didn’t want them exposed to outsiders, or to reveal important information.  This top-down society would explain the baffling behavior of certain Dregluk ships in the solar system, who, once they performed their primary mission of launching their missiles at the Earth, seemed to lose direction and begin aimlessly wondering throughout the solar system.  Such a society would discourage individual initiative, and if taken far enough, would ensure that no one would make any kind of decision without direction from above.  Indeed, the Dregluk crewers examined so far seem incapable of making any sort of decision beyond those involved in their own personal care.  If this is true, then it will be extremely difficult to end this war, as no one but the ultimate command authority will be able or willing to make that decision.   

[Kurt (OP)]

January 5, 2135
Joseph Foster, the de facto ruler of Earth, sighed unhappily.  From the first he had been sure that things would get worse before they would get better, and boy had he been right.  He set his wall display to show a look-down view of the latest missile damage taken from a high-flying drone and winced.  San Diego was never going to be the same.  After a few seconds he sighed again.  Neither were a lot of cities around the globe.  He looked towards the door as his 11 o’clock walked into his office. 

Andrew Oliver, formerly Lieutenant Oliver and Foster’s Security and Intelligence officer, sat down across from Foster.  He looked intensely unhappy. 

Foster arched an eyebrow and said “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

Oliver, now the Provisional Government’s Chief of Intelligence and Security, shook his head.  “No, you aren’t chief.  Not at all.”  He shifted and produced a data chip.  “I’ve got all of the supporting data here, but I can summarize it for you, if you like.”

Foster waived a hand at Oliver to continue, and then turned his chair away to focus on the burning remains of San Diego. 

Oliver cleared his throat then plunged into it.  “You asked me to deep-dive into the current attitudes of the citizens, and the effect that that is having on the developing political processes of the Provisional Government.  It isn’t pretty, and its getting worse.”  Oliver paused, as if waiting for a reaction from his boss.  When he got none, he continued on.  “The people were terrified when missiles began falling from the skies.  The previous government had kept the true situation from them, so when the Dregluk attacked Earth they were entirely unprepared.  In the aftermath of the fall of the old government, and your release of the facts of our contacts with alien races, the people’s fear has largely gone away, now replaced by anger verging on rage.  Fortunately, this anger is directed firmly at the Dregluk and at the old Federation government.  This anger has had several beneficial effects as far as we are concerned.  It has stimulated large portions of the populace to support our actions taken to protect the planet, and made them willing, even eager to endure the hardships inflicted on all of us by the Dregluk bombardment.  In addition, workers in the most critical sectors of our economy have proven willing to make extreme sacrifices if it means enabling us to defend the planet or strike back at the Dregluk.  Missile productivity, in particular, has soared beyond all previous projections as factory workers willingly work double or even triple shifts for little or no extra pay.  Their willingness to sacrifice is matched by the construction workers charged with building new missile factories across the planet.  They are working double or even triple shifts to get the new factories finished ahead of schedule.  And the zeal of these workers has, if anything, been exceeded by those volunteering to help our units that have been assigned to mitigate the effects of the bombardment and to help those directly affected.  The crews of the terraforming ships in orbit have insisted on staying aboard their ships, even under bombardment from the Dregluk, to maintain their efforts to mitigate the environmental effects of the bombardment, and they are just one example of a myriad of heroic efforts by those who have made a life of trying to rescue and/or otherwise help those directly affect by the bombardment.”

Foster’s gaze didn’t move from the display, but he did lift one hand.  “But…”

Oliver hesitated for a moment, gathering his thoughts.  He knew he was venturing into areas that his boss didn’t want to think about, and he wanted to make sure he presented as strong a case as he could.  “When the Board was killed in the bombardment and you were asked to head up the Provisional Government, you made it clear to everyone that you considered yourself to be a temporary stopgap until they came up with a more permanent, and representative, form of government.  That’s not happening, though.   Instead, radicals are rising up along the fringes, taking advantage of the people’s rage, and instead of pushing back the moderates in power are catering to them and giving way at every opportunity.”

Foster shook his head.  He had seen it, indeed, that was why he had asked Oliver to look into what was going on with the lower levels of the Provisional Government, but it didn’t mean he liked it.  He turned from the display.  “Why is this happening? What’s wrong with the regional governments that they are cozying up to these idiots?”

Oliver looked his boss in the eyes.  “It’s a legacy of the Federation.  You should know as well as anyone that it wasn’t really a government, if anything it was an anti-government.  The Board, and the rest of the primary corporations, didn’t really want to rule the people, they just wanted to be free from interference to make money and act on their plans.  Therefore, they let the regional governments take care of all of the nasty issues relating to governance, preferring to remain at arm’s length.   Their only real concern relating to the governance of the people was that the Board pretty much uniformly believed that a relatively happy, educated, population was a productive and consuming population, so they made sure that the regional governments were relatively powerless and ensured basic rights.  The Board also uniformly believed in keeping the regional governments subservient and in their place, and so made sure that they never got ideas beyond their stations.  This made the politicians in charge of the regional governments very timid, and most were effectively bureaucrats that were primarily concerned with keeping the wheels turning and never making waves.  Since the people that mostly made waves were the corporate powers that ran the Federation, their method of dealing with those that made waves was to placate them and cater to their concerns, which is exactly how they are reacting to the new agitators rising on the fringes.”

Foster grimaced.  “And in the meantime, they are doing nothing on what should be their primary goal, which is to get a new and functioning government set up.”

Oliver looked at his boss carefully.  Could he really be this clueless?  “Boss, they are waiting for you to tell them what you want.”  Foster straightened in surprise.  “It’s true.  They don’t believe you when you say that you intend to step down once the new government is established.  They all think that this is a loyalty test, and they are getting tired of waiting for you to congratulate them on passing it.  Eventually they are either going to begin turning to the fringe groups that have been springing up in their areas, or they are going to try to set up an empire themselves.”

Foster looked thoughtful, and then sagged.  “You’ve got worse to tell me, I assume.”

Oliver nodded.  “That brings us to the fringe groups.  They are popping up all along the margins, exploiting the people’s anger and frustration at the continuing bombardment by the Dregluk.  Some are revivals of old nationalistic groups that never quite died out, others are religious in nature.  They are almost all dangerous and fanatical.  The religious groups in particular are a threat.  They are all rabidly xenophobic, which shouldn’t be too surprising given the missiles raining down from the sky on a regular basis.  In the absence of anything better, more and more people are beginning to turn to these groups to give them a purpose.”

Foster grunted.  “How long do we have?”

Oliver shook his head.  “The short answer is - I don’t know.  Barring any major unexpected developments things should continue on as they have for the next several months.  However, after that, there is a rapidly increasing chance of instability as the various fringe groups begin to expand rapidly.  When things get bad, they will do so very quickly, as the current system doesn’t have much resiliency or legitimacy in the eyes of the people.  You, personally, have a vast amount of respect and support from the people, but that hasn’t translated over to the Provisional Government, largely because you have chosen to work behind the scenes.”

Foster shook his head.  “It’s worse than I thought.”  His gaze sharpened on his intel chief.  “What suggestions do you have for me?”

Oliver set his notes aside and looked his boss in the eyes, his gaze level.  “Doing nothing is the surest way to lose it all.  The regional governments will all fall or be coopted by the rising fringe groups in six months to a year.  The fanatics will then turn on each other in a fight for supremacy.  Once that happens you will either be assassinated or turned into a figurehead to give legitimacy to the winning group.”     

“Or?”

“Or, you can take control of the process of forming a new government personally.  Crack down on the fringe groups and begin reforming the regional governments, moving new, dynamic leaders in while easing the old, ineffective leaders out.  But most of all, what you need to do is give the people direction and a cause.  They’ve already rallied behind your banner, now you need to lead them.  Lead them to victory and they will be yours.”

A look of distaste flitted across Foster’s face.  “You’re telling me to set up a dictatorship, aren’t you?”

Oliver held up his hand, palm out towards Foster, as if he was warding off an attack.  “Not necessarily.  If you put down the fanatics on the fringe and are seen to be reforming the ineffective regional governments, then the people will support you.  What you do with that support is up to you.”

A look of intense frustration passed across Foster’s face.  “I wanted to avoid just this situation, you know.  There have been too many times in history when one man used his power to make things worse for everyone.  I wanted a new, just, system to rise from the bottom rather than be imposed from the top.”  There was a look that was almost pleading on his face as he spoke. 

Oliver shook his head.  “Joe, we don’t have the luxury of time.  Dregluk forces are trolling around in the outer system right now, and there could be a new missile attack at any time.  If we weren’t under near constant attack then maybe there’d be a chance of doing it your way.  Maybe.  But with Dregluk missiles raining down on our heads and the temperature dropping a little bit more every day, there isn’t a chance in hell that this works out well unless you take a hand and make it work out.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Oliver stood.  “Do that.  But don’t take too long.”

[Kurt (OP)]

February 1, 2135
The Bludgeon LRASM Mark II is developed.  This new missile has the same speed and range as the previous model, but its warhead is 25% more effective.  A second team completes research on the first part of a new weapons system, an independently targetable warhead for a deployable mine.  The main carrier body is now under development

February 24, 2135
Two Dregluk battleships transit into the Solar system and set out for Earth.  The Earth’s defenders watch carefully, and when the two Dregluk BB’s have closed to 255 mkm’s of Earth a strike wave consisting of sixty Bludgeon LRASM Mk II’s is launched.  Admiral Law and President Foster made this decision, in spite of the chance that the Dregluk might turn away before the missiles can close to attack range.  They desperately need to show the people that their labors and sacrifices are bearing fruit.  One hour and eighteen minutes later, with the Human missiles still 57 mkm’s from their target, incoming Dregluk missiles are detected.  For the first time Aegis IV AMM’s are launched in defense of Earth.  The Aegis IV’s had the exact same engines as the Mark III, but carried less fuel and a smaller, more efficient warhead.  The space freed up by these modifications was devoted to making the IV much more maneuverable, and its designers hoped it would perform much better against the Dregluk missiles pummeling Earth.  As always, the first AMM’s went racing away from their launchers when the Dregluk missiles had closed to 4 million kilometers from Earth. 

By the time the first Aegis IV’s intercepted their targets, the bases on Earth had exhausted their stocks of the new missile and had been forced to switch to the older Mark III’s.  The Aegis IV performs wonderfully, achieving hit ratios almost twice that of the Mark III’s.  Once more are available the Earth’s defenders will be able to stop Dregluk missile swarms with a much lower expenditure of missiles, and with fewer leakers. 

The missile attack ends ten minutes after it started, with the last incoming missile being destroyed 2.7 mkm’s from the Earth.  The new missiles performed excellently, and the people’s celebrations are overwhelming as none of the incoming missiles got closer than 2 mkm’s to the planet.  The military urges caution, as this was a relatively small attack from two battleships, but still, it is a victory all the same. 

Seconds after the last Dregluk missile died short of the Earth, thirty Bludgeon missiles closed with their target, the closer of the two Dregluk BB’s.  Nineteen of the big missiles hit the BB, staggering it, causing its thermal profile to drop to about 60% of its former level.  The second group of missiles pursues the further BB, which has now turned away and is fleeing.  A PDC on Earth launches a second wave of fifteen missiles at the damaged Dregluk BB, in the hopes of finishing it off.  Seven minutes later the second BB was hit by the Human missiles.  Twenty-one missiles hit the big ship, staggering it, and causing its thermal emissions to drop to about 75% of its former value.  That BB continued to flee, while the closer BB, which was also more heavily damaged, continued to close on the Earth. 

Two and a half hours later the second salvo reached the closer battleship, and this time when the explosions cleared there was nothing left except a few life pods streaming away from scattered debris. Once again Earth’s defenders and people celebrate the destruction of a ship belonging to the hated Dregluk.  Earth has begun to strike back!

February 28, 2135
Six additional Dregluk BB’s transit into the Solar system and set out for Earth. 

February 29, 2135, 19:29 hours
The six Dregluk BB’s are 260 mkm’s from Earth when four PDC’s each launch 22 Bludgeon LRASM’s, for a total of 88 missiles targeted on two of the BB’s.  This launch exhausts the Earth’s stocks of long range missiles.  It takes almost three hours for the LRASM’s to reach their targets but when they do the wait was worth it!  Missile after missile slammed into the two targeted BB’s, and when the explosions cleared the BB’s were gone.  The four remaining battleships sailed past, like nothing had happened, but on Earth the response was immediate.  Celebrations began and continued for hours, with the people not even caring that four more BB’s were closing on Earth.  The Earth was striking back!  Interim President Foster spoke to the people of the Earth and promised that the Dregluk could be killed and would be killed.  One by one if necessary.   The PDC’s were reloaded with first generation Bludgeon ASM’s, but these missiles had a maximum range of 41 mkm’s. 

The Dregluk ships closed to 63 mkm’s before they turned away, signaling yet another immanent missile attack.  The attack started on the 30th, at 0750 hours, and followed the standard scatter-shot Dregluk targeting procedure.  The colony transports and terraformers came under fire, with several suffering light to moderate damage.  The Mars was hit by one missile, suffering minor shield damage that was quickly recharged.  Nine missiles got through everything the defenders could throw at them and hit PDC’s on the Earth’s surface, causing minor armor damage.  As always, the collateral damage was devastating.  Three million, six hundred thousand people died in the attack, and twenty-two industrial sites were devastated.  The initial attack was over by 0800 hours.   

A second wave of missiles is detected incoming three minutes later.  These are larger, slower missiles.  This attack goes on interminably.  Eventually the larger missiles run out and are replaced by size 1 missiles.  While they are small, they are also slow, moving at approximately 28,000 kps, making them relatively easy to hit.  While the missile attack lasts forever, the command staff is encouraged.  None of the missiles make it close to the Earth and it appears the enemy is finally running out of more advanced missiles.  Last incoming missiles are destroyed short of Earth at 909.  The attack lasted over an hour, but not one got through.  The four Dregluk BB’s are at 60 mkm’s and receding. 

Current Provisional Government Fleet & Defense Forces
Governmental Shipping:
7x Conestoga R2 class colony ships (3 with moderate damage) – assigned to evacuate Lunar colony
37x Long Haul R2 freighters – sheltering at comet hideout
5x Gaia class Terraformers (all five have moderate damage) – assigned to moderate Earth’s ecological damage
15x Hobo class asteroid miners – currently mining the comet Borrelly
3x Construction Rig class construction ships (001, 002, 003) – two are hiding in the outer Solar System, one in the Washington system
3xExxon-Mobile class Refinery Ships – orbiting Uranus
2x Iwo Jima class Assault Transports – Orbiting Earth
2xPeople Mover class Troop Transports – Orbiting Earth

Interstellar Expeditions Survey Group:
1x North Carolina R2 class jump tender (Madrid)
3x Far Seer R1 class Grav Survey ships (GS-001, 002, 003)

Main Fleet:
1x Planet R1 class BC (Mars)
2x Tennessee class Jump Cruisers (Bihar, Tennessee)
2x Defender class missile barge (Defender 002, 003)
1xBrooklyn R3 class Missile Frigate (Sacramento)
1x Missile Boat R2 class (MB-005)
2x Missile Boat R1 class (MB-002, 003)
2xMissile Boat class (MB-007, 008)

Refit Group:
1x Enterprise R2 class Patrol Cruiser (Assistance) – undergoing refit to Enterprise R3 class, has suffered serious damage from missile attacks.  Refit due to be completed May 22.
3x Brooklyn class FFG (Cairo, Vladivostok, Tokyo) – undergoing refit to R3 class (Cairo, Vladivostok), and R4 class (Tokyo).  The Cairo and the Tokyo will be finished in April, the Vladivostok will be finished in April 2136.  The Cairo has suffered serious damage from missile attacks. 
1x Missile Boat class (MB-006) refitting to Missile Boat R2 class.  Will be finished in July. 

Earth Planetary Defenses:
4x Board R1ER class Offensive PDC’s (All four have minor armor damage)
10x Final Line class Offensive PDC’s
5x Aegis R1 class Anti-Missile PDC’s
1x Oculus class Planetary Surveillance Base 
1x Looking Glass class Planetary Anti-Missile Sensor Base

March 2, 2135: Earth Defense Command ground forces launch a series of strikes across the Earth, decapitating several large and well-organized fringe groups that have been growing in power and prestige.  These include the Church of the End in Europe, The Path, in Asia, and the Constitutional Warriors for Righteousness in North America.  Raids also take out numerous smaller groups, along with the others identified by the government as extremists.  The EDC reports a ninety five percent apprehension or kill rate on identified leadership.  At the same time as the raids, the Justiciary, an organization set up by Interim President Foster to consolidate planetary-level law enforcement functions and to coordinate between regional governments, launches a series of raids to arrest suspected supporters within the government of the underground groups being raided by the EDC, as well as corrupt governmental officials across the planet.  Many of these governmental officials are identified by the Interim Government as Corporate Federation sympathizers who committed crimes during the rule of the corporations, or as covert supporters of the extremist groups attempting to undermine the Interim Government and hamper the war effort.  Initial reactions by the public are positive, especially when Foster goes public several days later to explain the raids and to announce a major reorganization of the government to better allow humanity to fight the Dregluk, and “any other alien threat”.   

[Kurt (OP)]

March 4, 2135
Four Dregluk Mammoth class BB’s are approaching Earth, now 254 mkm’s away, well within the range of the long-range version of the Bludgeon missile.  After some debate, a PDC launches all thirteen long range missiles in the Earth’s inventory at one of the BB’s.  They won’t be enough to destroy the target but they will damage it, making it an easier target in the future or forcing the Dregluk to repair it. 

Two hours and sixteen minutes later a single group of sixty-six missiles are detected inbound, headed towards Earth.  The defenses went to high alert.   Twenty-seven minutes later, as the Bludgeon missiles closed on their target, Aegis IV’s began intercepting the incoming missiles, making short work of the incoming missile swarm.  Eight minutes later the Bludgeon long range missiles slammed into their target.  The Dregluk Mammoth class battleship stopped only one of the approaching missiles with its CIWS and two missed the target.  The remaining ten exploded in close proximity to the big ship, staggering it.  When the fireballs cleared the Dregluk ship was still there, but it had slowed to 4328 kps from its former cruising speed of 4607 kps.  The battleships continue to approach.  Three hours later the damaged battleship’s crew managed to repair their engines and the ship quickly accelerated to full speed. 

The four BB’s close to 52 mkm’s before turning away.  Missiles are detected shortly thereafter.  The defensive PDC’s, loaded now with Aegis III’s as the IV’s have run low, begin firing soon thereafter.  The incoming missiles are size one and moving at 28,000 kps.  Each group contains ninety missiles.  Earth’s AMM’s deal with these missiles easily, with only one missile getting through Earth’s defenses.  That missile hit a PDC but did negligible damage and no collateral damage.  Admiral Law quickly comes to the conclusion that the Dregluk are launching old AMM’s at them.  The attack lasts forever, finally trickling out at 1504 hours on the 5th of March.  The BB’s are now 62 mkm’s from earth and receding. 

March 6, 2135: The Dregluk BB’s transit out of the Solar System. 

March 7, 2135: Admiral Law dispatches the fleet to recover rescue pods from the three destroyed Dregluk BB’s.  The Fleet is fully fueled and provisioned with missiles for the operation, as Dregluk cruisers and destroyers are still hovering in the outer system.

Interim President Foster announces that there will be a “constitutional convention” in one week to determine the shape and form of the government of the Earth.  Many persons representing different interests and viewpoints are invited, including more than one CEO that was active in the old Federation.  While there is some protest about the lack of warning or time to prepare, it is muted given the recent unrest and military raids.  In addition, Interim President Foster has never been more popular with the people, given the increasing success of Earth’s defenses in the face of unrelenting Dregluk attack.   

March 12, 2135: The last colonist is removed from the Moon.  Shortly after the last colonist is relocated to the Earth, troop transports arrive and begin lifting the occupying infantry out.  Once the troops are loaded, the transports set out for Mars, covered by the fleet. 

March 14, 2135: The constitutional convention begins in Caracas, South America.  Interim President Foster is the presiding authority.  The press is kept out of the daily convention meetings but does have access to the delegates after hours. 

March 18, 2135: Two Vulture class Dregluk destroyers have been closing on Mars for the last twenty-four hours.  They are now 132 MKM’s from Mars and closing at 4631 kps.  Admiral Law has ordered the fleet to remain over Mars.  The troop transports have not departed the Moon yet, but he fears that the destroyers are trying to lure the fleet into the outer system, or into some sort of ambush in the region around the jump point.  If the Dregluk destroyers approach close enough, he has given the fleet permission to engage with missiles.  Unfortunately, after approaching to 100 mkm’s from Mars they turn back towards the outer system. 

March 20, 2135: The convention has been going on for six days, and the daily reports from the reporters that have swarmed the city have cast a depressing pall over the convention.  Infighting and back-stabbing has abounded, and Interim President Foster has apparently been remote and unapproachable.  Worldwide, people are beginning to become uneasy, wondering if this apparent chaos will threaten ongoing efforts to defend the planet. 

March 22, 2135: The troops have been deployed to Mars.  Taking a break from the convention, Interim President Foster called on the Martian colonists to surrender, however, the situation is too chaotic.  There appears to be no central authority, merely competing gangs, vigilante groups, and militias.  After several attempts to get the Martians to negotiate, President Foster orders the troops to impose order. 

March 23, 2135: The delegates to the convention fall silent.  None will talk to the reporters about what happened that day.  Several reporters and delegates disappear that evening. 

March 24, 2135: Interim President Foster appears mid-day and announces that the convention has successfully concluded.  In a rousing speech, Interim President Foster announces the establishment of the Unified Republic of Earth.  A majority of the delegates to the convention voted Foster to the position of Consul of the Republic.  It will take some time before the details of the new government become clear, but, essentially, the Republic will be ruled by a Consul, who has near dictatorial powers in times of emergency.  The Grand Senate of the Republic will wield the real power during normal times and will act as a check on the power of the Consul during war time or during other emergencies. 

There is a collective sigh of relief across the planet as the people realize that there will be continuity and that the people that they had trusted to defend them, including Interim President, now Consul Foster, will continue standing between them and the Dregluk.  Very quietly several very angry reporters and delegates are released from custody after Consul Foster finishes his speech.  The delegates are patted on the head and sent on their way, while the reporters are promised exclusive access to upcoming events by way of an apology. 

March 27, 2135: The four brigades deployed to Mars encounter only weak and disorganized resistance and manage to re-impose full control of the colony on this date.  Most of the colonists are hungry and afraid, and merely want someone to help them.  Consul Foster orders the Recovery Corps to begin shipping volunteers and supplies to the colony immediately.   

[Kurt (OP)]

April 6, 2135: The Lunar colony is officially closed.  The last colonist has been relocated to Earth and all of the infrastructure has been returned as well.  The lunar colonists have been spread across the Earth and the Recovery Corps has made it a priority to integrate them into the local communities where they find themselves.   

April 29th, 2135: A single Mammoth class BB appears in the Solar System at the jump point to the Washington system and immediately begins launching missiles at a civilian freighter that was passing close to the jump point.  The civilian ship is quickly destroyed by Dregluk anti-ship missiles.  In rapid succession several more civilian ships are destroyed by Dregluk missiles.  The last civilian ship destroyed is almost 250 mkm’s from the Dregluk BB when it explodes, indicating that the Dregluk have at least partially restocked their long-range offensive missiles. 

At 1031 hours another civilian transport is destroyed, this one just 100 mkm’s from Earth.  At 12:55 hours the Dregluk BB turns away from Earth, having closed to approximately 275 mkm’s.  At 1426 hours yet another civilian transport is destroyed, this one 50 mkm’s from Earth.  At 15:08 hours the first missiles were detected inbound towards Earth.  Citizens had already dispersed to whatever shelters they could find.  There were ten salvoes of twenty-three top line Dregluk ship-killer missiles, speeding towards Earth at 25,600 kps.  Against these the Earth’s defenders had the latest Aegis IV anti-missile missiles. 

At 1535 hours the first AMM’s raced away from the five defensive PDC’s that carried all of Earth’s hopes and dreams on their performance.  The Aegis IV’s were worthy of the hopes of the people of Earth.  They perform very much up to expectations and achieve a 35-50% hit ratio, and none of the Dregluk missiles get close to Earth.  By the end of the engagement the defenders have decreased the number of AMM’s launched per incoming missile twice, to 3 to 1.  None of the enemy missiles approach closer than 3 mkm’s to Earth.  There are massive celebrations across the Earth as the Dregluk BB retreats. 

Consul Foster orders Admiral Law to begin deployment of the captor mine program.  The Dregluk BB’s are not approaching close enough to the Earth to be engaged with Bludgeon missiles, so the captor mines may be the only practical recourse available in the near future.

[Kurt (OP)]

May 1, 2135: With the Dregluk BB well out of the solar system Admiral Law dispatches the FFG Sacramento, one of the fastest ships in the fleet, to pick up the life pods from the destroyed civilian ships.  With the Dregluk ships in the outer system Admiral Law has been hesitant to send a ship to the jump point to check in on the Listening Post in the Washington system, but, as the Sacramento has to approach the jump point anyway, he orders the captain to jump into the Washington system as long as the Dregluk cruisers and destroyers in the outer system don’t appear to be reacting to the frigate’s presence. 

May 2, 2135, 0707 hours: The FFG Sacramento has reached the jump point to the Washington system.  Unfortunately, the Dregluk ships in the outer system have definitely reacted to her sortie and are speeding inward at 4631 kps.  The Sacramento’s top speed is 6000 kps, so she can definitely outrun them.  The closest group of Dregluk ships is 259 mkm’s away, and will reach the Sacramento’s position in fifteen hours, giving the ship plenty of time, except for three problems.  First, the Sacramento is already well within the Dregluk cruiser’s active sensor detection range, and if any of the Dregluk ships have ASM’s, it may not be long before the human frigate is within range of those missiles.  The Grand Fleet’s intelligence branch believes that the Dregluk ships loitering in the outer system have expended all of their ranged weapons during their attacks on Earth, but of course no one can be 100% sure, and the Dregluk actions are clearly incomprehensible, making predictions of their future actions difficult at best.  The second problem is that the last set of life pods is located between the Sacramento and the oncoming Dregluk ships, meaning that to pick them up the frigate will have to close on the enemy ships.  And finally, if the Sacramento does enter the Washington system it will have to wait for three hours for a message to reach the listening post and return.  That’s three hours during which the Dregluk ships will be closing on the jump point.  In the end Commander Gemma Tyler decides to take the risk to recover the life pods, but to bypass the jump to the Washington system.  Any potential intel provided by the Listening Post is not worth the increased risk to her command.   

The Dregluk destroyer’s closest approach to the Sacramento was at 0957 hours, as she picked up the 39 survivors from their pods, at which point the two Dregluk ships were 160 mkm’s from the human ship.  At that point the Sacramento turned tail and began running towards Earth, quickly outpacing her pursuers. 

2135 hours: Admiral Law has been watching the Sacramento’s situation avidly, and, as the Dregluk ship’s in the outer system continued to pursue her, has decided to try and deal with the Dregluk ships in the solar system once and for all.  He orders the Sacramento to reduce speed to 4500 kps, just under the speed of the pursuing ships.  With any luck the pursuing ships will follow the Sacramento right into the range of Earth’s ASM’s.  Unfortunately, that is not to be.  At 2237 hours the lead Dregluk DD’s jump out of the system, followed three hours later by the other cruisers and destroyers.  For the first time in months the Solar System is clear of Dregluk ships. 

May 3, 2135: The FFG Sacramento arrives over Earth at 1217 hours, to the acclamation of the entire planet.  Admiral Law publicly welcomes the crews of the destroyed ships home, and Consul Foster awards the Sacramento’s crew a unit citation for bravery in the face of the enemy. 

May 7, 2135: At 1117 hours eight Dregluk Mammoth class BB’s appear on the jump point to the Washington system.  At this time the Earth has enough LRASM’s in stock to destroy four of the behemoths and severely damage another, if they get close enough.   Or, they could be spread out amongst all of the BB’s and hopefully damage all of them.  In any case, if these BB’s are loaded with the Dregluk Empire’s best ASM’s then they’ll be able to launch from beyond the range of the Earth-bound bases. 

Unfortunately, there are several civilian ships within range of the jump point.  The first blows up at 1422 hours.  The ship was 269 mkm’s from the jump point when it was destroyed, indicating that the BB’s had at least some long-range missiles.  The next civilian ship goes up at 1715 hours.  Consul Foster has found it difficult to control the civilian ships, and in spite of constant warnings they still insist on taking least-time courses that take them close to the jump point. 

May 8, 2135, 0135 hours:  Missiles are detected inbound towards Earth.  The Dregluk BB’s are 220 mkm’s from Earth and still closing.  Admiral Law orders the Earth’s offensive PDC’s to launch against the Dregluk BB’s.  Soon thereafter the Earth’s four offensive PDC’s launch a total of 192 Bludgeon II LRASM’s at five Dregluk BB’s. 

At 0204 hours the first Aegis IV AMM races away from the defensive bases.  The incoming missile attack is composed of three salvoes of size 5 missiles racing in at 25,600 kps.  The first two salvoes have ninety-two missiles in them, while the third has sixty-nine.  The Dregluk BB’s are capable of carrying many more missiles than that, so it appears that their supply of their top of the line ASM’s is limited.  The attack ends at 0206 hours, with none of the enemy missiles getting closer than 1.5 million kilometers to Earth.  Once again the Aegis IV’s prove their worth. 

At 0404 hours the first group of Bludgeon II LRASM’s hit their targets.  Both BB’s were totally destroyed.  After action analysis of the strikes showed that it took just over half of the missiles targeted on the first BB to destroy it, and less than a quarter of the missiles targeted on the second, indicating that both had been heavily damaged and not repaired.  The remaining missiles that had been targeted on the first BB acquired a third with their onboard sensors and heavily damaged the big ship.  Seconds later the second salvo roared in, targeted on that same BB.    The next salvo was targeted on the fourth Dregluk BB.  It took only six of the forty missiles targeted on the big ship to destroy it, leaving the remaining missiles of the salvo to target the third BB.  That BB was destroyed just seconds later as the remaining missiles homed in on it.   Unfortunately, the four remaining Dregluk BB’s were just outside of the remaining missiles’ sensor range, and they self-destructed, leaving the third salvo to home in on the last targeted BB.  The last salvo of thirty-two missiles slammed into the fifth BB, heavily damaging it, and dropping its speed from 4606 kps to 3211 kps.   

The remaining Dregluk BB’s continued to approach the Earth, heedless of the losses they had just suffered.  At approximately 50 mkm’s they suddenly turned away, indicating that yet another missile attack was on its way.  Sure enough, Dregluk missiles soon appeared on the Earth Defense Command’s scanners.  These missiles were obviously older AMM’s, as they were size 1 and moving at 28,000 kps.  Once again Earth’s defenders began launching their own AMM’s at the incoming missile stream once their active sensors locked on to the incoming missiles.  The Aegis IV AMM’s were spectacularly effective in this engagement, against the older Dregluk missiles, and none of the incoming missiles got within a million kilometers of Earth.  The remaining Dregluk BB’s withdrew without incident.  After the last BB left the system Admiral Law dispatched the Sacramento to rescue the life pods from the civilian ships and the Dregluk BB’s.  Once again, the Sacramento’s CO has been ordered to approach the Washington jump point and jump out in an attempt to contact the Listening Post in the Washington system. 

May 10, 2135: At 0107 hours the Sacramento arrives at the jump point to the Washington system.  Her crewers are at their stations, missile tubes loaded, and her sensors are active.  After a brief hesitation, Commander Tyler orders her ship through the jump point.   The stress onboard the Sacramento was high.  No human had jumped into the Washington system in months, and no one knew if the Dregluk had left a ship or ships on guard at the jump point.  Or if the Listening Post was still intact.  The 128 crew members were able to breath a huge sigh of relief when, after the jump, it became clear that the area around the jump point was clear.  Commander Tyler immediately sent a query to the Listening Post in the inner system, and then they settled down to wait.  Just over three hours later they received a data burst, along with an all-clear signal indicating that they were not under duress and that they could confirm that the area around the jump point to the Solar System was clear.  Commander Tyler sent off a second message, containing updated orders, news, and personal messages for the small crew manning the station, and then ordered her ship to jump out.  They had life pods to rescue. 

May 11, 2135: The Sacramento returns to earth orbit at 2122 hours to much acclaim and celebration.  She has on board, in addition to the data dump from the Washington system, 1,364 Dregluk and 167 human survivors. 

After off-loading the survivors and re-provisioning, the Sacramento is dispatched to the jump point again, to maintain contact with the Listening Post. 

May 25, 2135: The Sacramento receives a contact report from the Listening Post.  A single Dregluk Crow class DD has entered the system from the jump point to the Denver system, and is headed towards the jump point to the Solar system, ETA – approximately 90 hours.  Commander Tyler orders her ship back to the Solar system to pass on the information. 

May 26, 2135: The lone Dregluk destroyer continues to approach the Sacramento and the jump point to the Solar System.  Admiral Law is disinclined to allow a Dregluk ship the run of the Solar System, so after gaining Consul Foster’s approval he orders the Fleet to sortie.  They will ambush the Dregluk ship after it jumps into the Solar System. 

May 28, 2135: As of 1628 hours the Fleet is eighteen hours from its assembly point short of the jump point.  If the Dregluk ship continues on its course, it would be twenty-seven hours from the jump point.  It is at this point that the Sacramento jumps back into the Solar System with bad news.  Six additional Crow class destroyers have jumped into the Washington system from the Denver system.  After some consideration, Admiral Law orders the Fleet to continue on to its assembly point.  The new Dregluk forces are too far behind the leading vessel to make a difference. 

May 29, 2135: At 1101 hours the Sacramento jumps back to the Solar System, just as the Dregluk DD enters its active sensor range (60 mkm’s).  At 1551 hours the lone Dregluk DD jumped into the Solar System.  The Fleet sat just 300,000 kilometers away, every crew member nearly vibrating with a need to strike back.  Ten seconds after the Dregluk ship jumped in the two Defender class ships each launched four big Bludgeon ASM’s.  The Dregluk DD proves to be more resistant to missile fire than the humans had hoped.  The Dregluk ship’s CIWS destroyed three of the big missiles on approach, and two of the remaining five missed their target completely.  The Dregluk ship was staggered, but still operational.  A few seconds later the Mars spat out eight Thunderbolt II missiles.  The Dregluk ship intercepts five of the eight Thunderbolts and continues running away, shrugging off the three missiles that hit it as if they were feathers. 

Captain Price, the squadron commander aboard the Jump Cruiser Tennessee, has had about enough.  She orders every ship mounting offensive launchers to engage the enemy ship.  Throughout the engagement so far, the Dregluk ship has not returned fire, but seconds after Captain Price ordered her fleet to open fire the alien DD launched eleven size one missiles.  AMM’s began racing away from the Human ships in response.  The Aegis IV AMM’s perform flawlessly once again, stopping the Dregluk missiles short of the Fleet.  Seconds later thirty-three Thunderbolt II missiles race away from the Human fleet.  While the Thunderbolts are racing towards the alien ship a second salvo of incoming missiles is detected.  Once again, the Aegis IV’s make short work of the Dregluk missiles. 

Finally, as Aegis IV missiles engage the third salvo of Dregluk missiles, the massive wave of Thunderbolt II’s roared in on the Dregluk DD.  Only one of the missiles was destroyed by CIWs fire, allowing the others to close to attack range.  It took hits by 23 of the ASM’s to destroy the DD.  The engagement is over, and the Dregluk ship was destroyed with no damage suffered by the human ships.  Still, somehow, it didn’t seem like a victory.  It took three missile strikes to destroy the damned alien ship, meaning that practically everything the fleet could put into one salvo would be needed to destroy a Dregluk DD.  It was obvious that it would be some time before the fleet was ready to take on the Dregluk head to head. 

Captain Price orders one of her ships to pick up the survivors from the Dregluk ship and, once that is complete, to return to Earth.  In spite of the dismay felt by the Fleet’s leaders over the effort that it took to destroy one lone Dregluk destroyer, the people of the Earth greet the Fleet upon its return with celebrations that will go down in history as legendary.  For the first time the Fleet met the Dregluk in open space and destroyed them before they could fire their missiles at the Earth.  The people rightfully see this as progress, and a visible sign that their hard work is paying off. 

June 2, 2135: Six Crow class DD’s enter the solar system through the Washington jump point.   Shortly after arriving they set out for their target, the Earth.  One minute later they pass within 88,000 kilometers of thirteen captor mines placed in between the Earth and the jump point, as a test of the captor mine program.  The mines completely fail to react, and the Dregluk DD’s continue on towards the Earth.  Fleet techs later strip the logs on board the mines and discover that two hours after they were deployed the mines all released their internal missiles, in spite of the fact that the closest ships to their location at that point were the ships that had launched them, and they were twenty-four million kilometers away, far beyond the captor mines detection radius.  The program is placed on hold for the time being. 

Captor mine design:
Size 15.4
Active sensor strength: 2.1, resolution 100, range 2,310,000 km’s against a 5,000 ton object
Second Stage: 2x Mine Captive Missile
Second Stage Separation Range: 150,000

Captive Mine Missile Design:
Size: 6 msp
Warhead: 9
Speed: 32,000 kps
Endurance: 1 minute
Range: 2.5 million kilometers
Active Sensor Strength: 1.05, resolution 100, max range verses 5,000 ton object 1,150,000 km

The mine program’s engineers are mystified. 

[Kurt (OP)]

June 3, 2135: The EDC watches as the six Dregluk DD’s approached the Earth.  They held their fire when the DD’s entered LRASM range, as Earth’s stocks of these missiles were limited and the DD’s showed no signs of stopping.  Finally, when the DD’s crossed the 41 mkm line, the Earth’s PDC’s each spat forth ten first generation Bludgeon ASM’s, targeted on four Dregluk DD’s.  Unfortunately, the Dregluk DD’s had simultaneously started launching missiles of their own and had turned away as they did so.  This was bad news for the Earth Defense Command, as the 1st gen Bludgeon missiles had a range of 41 mkm’s, and they had been banking on the Dregluk DD’s continuing to close.  The PDC commanders ordered their launchers to reload with Bludgeon II LRASM’s and launched an additional ten mark II LRASM’s each at the retreating DD’s.  Seventy-five seconds later a single PDC launches ten additional Bludgeon II LRASM’s at another DD. 

The first salvo of Dregluk missiles manage to destroy a civilian shipyard, as they are top of the line Dregluk ASM’s, and the EDC underestimated the number of Aegis IV’s that it would take to kill them.  In addition, one of the Earth-based PDC’s suffers a hit on its armor, but it causes no real damage and no collateral damage due to the Dregluk missile’s small warhead. 

The second wave of Dregluk missiles is composed of numerous size 1 AMM’s.  Once again Aegis IV’s race away from Earth, and once again the AMM’s perform brilliantly, stopping the attacking missiles well short of Earth.  Behind the scenes, though, the EDC’s defense coordinators are growing worried.  The EDC is having to expend Aegis IV’s at a prodigious rate to stop the numerous incoming Dregluk missiles, and at the current expenditure rate, they will run short of Aegis IV’s before the incoming missiles run out.  They face a choice of allowing their defenses to run dry before the incoming missile stream runs out, then switching to older stocks of AMM’s, or reducing the number of Aegis IV’s they are launching at the incoming missiles, allowing the stocks they have to last through the entire attack but virtually ensuring leakers.  No decision is reached before the first of the human ASM’s reach their target. 

In the middle of the second wave of the Dregluk AMM attack the first wave of human missiles hit their targets.  Two of the four Dregluk DD’s targeted are destroyed outright and the other two are seriously damaged.  The destruction of the two Dregluk destroyers has an immediate effect on the incoming missile waves as numerous missiles lose their target locks on their Earthly targets and self-destruct.  About a minute later the last ten missiles of the human’s attack hit their target, heavily damaging another DD.  After that the Dregluk missile attack peters out.  With the incoming waves of missiles thinned out by the destruction of some of the destroyers, the EDC is able to maintain its rate of fire and make it through the attack without running out of Aegis IV’s.  No more missiles hit their targets on the Earth or in orbit. 

In the aftermath of the battle, four Dregluk DD’s are left streaming away from the Earth, three of them limping at reduced speeds.  Admiral Law requests permission from Consul Foster to pursue with the Fleet, and the President agrees.  Minutes later the Fleet sets out, led by the battlecruiser Mars.  Several older, slower ships are left behind. 

Almost four hours later the Mars launches Thunderbolt II’s against the rearmost fleeing Dregluk ship at 16 mkm’s range.  Seconds before the missiles hit, the targeted Dregluk ship surged in speed as an engine was repaired, but it wasn’t enough to save it.  Six of the missiles are destroyed by CIWs fire, but the other two hit the target, causing large pieces of the ship to peel away and releasing gouts of atmosphere.  In the aftermath of the attack the Dregluk ship slows down again.  The next salvo of eight missiles from the Mars slams home without CIWS opposition, causing even more damage to the Dregluk ship, which is proving more resilient than the humans had bargained for.  A third salvo of four Thunderbolt II’s puts paid to the slowest of the Dregluk DD’s. 

The next Dregluk DD comes into range of the Fleet just over seven hours later.  This time two missile boats launch a total of ten Thunderbolt II’s against the fleeing DD, followed a few seconds later by five first generation Bludgeon ASM’s.  Unfortunately, the relatively inexperienced missile crews of the three ships failed to coordinate their fire, meaning that the two groups of missiles would not arrive together.   Fortunately for the hapless missile crews, the DD’s CIWs was knocked out of commission by the planetary missile barrage.  All ten Thunderbolt II’s hit their target, followed three minutes later by the Bludgeon ASM’s, which completely destroyed the DD. 

The Fleet pursues the remaining two DD’s for several more hours, until they jump out.  Following orders, the Fleet turns back and sets a course to rescue the Dregluk survivors. 

June 21, 2135: A single Dregluk BB transits into the Solar system.  Missiles are detected inbound at 1303 hours, at 25,500 kps approximately.  The first AMM’s are launched at 1343.  The attack stumbles to a halt at 1348 and no missiles approached Earth.  The lone BB has turned back towards the jump point, and while it is within range of LRASM’s, no attack is launched.  It is a tossup whether the missiles would reach the ship before they ran out of fuel, and it is leaving, so Consul Foster and Admiral Law decide to let it go. 

At 1439 a new missile wave is detected headed towards Earth.  This wave is composed of missiles speeding towards Earth at 36,000 kps.  After the first several interceptions, the EDC orders the planetary and Fleet AMM launchers to begin launching more AMM’s per incoming missile.  This missile attack is composed of size 3 missiles moving at 36,000 kps, and is proving difficult for the Aegis IV’s to deal with.  The increased fire rate does the trick and the last missile is destroyed at 1451 hours.  Six hours later the BB ran right past the jump gate to the Washington system and headed out towards the outer system. 

Captain Garner, the CO of the Mars, requests permission to go into pursuit of the Dregluk BB.  After consulting with Consul Foster, Admiral Law orders the Fleet to remain in orbit.  The BB might still retain large stocks of AMM’s, which would make missile attack difficult and might pose a threat to the Fleet.  In addition, closing with the jump point when there might be Dregluk ships on the far side of the jump point, would put the fleet in a very vulnerable position. 

June 23, 2135: Eight Dregluk DD’s, six Harpy class and two Vulture class, jump into the Solar System.  They head in-system, but it soon becomes clear that they aren’t headed directly towards the Earth.  Five hours later they turn towards the Earth.  Their original course wasn’t towards any known object or ship. 

At 0541 hours three PDC’s each launch fifteen Bludgeon II LRASM’s, followed eighty seconds later by another forty-five mark II LRASM’s.  At 0829 the first salvo hits the three targeted Harpy class DD’s.  Two are completely destroyed, while the third is crippled.  Eighty seconds later the next wave attacks its three targets, destroying all three.  This leaves only the two Vulture class DD’s intact.  Unfortunately, the Earth is out of LRASM’s. 

At 1320 hours the first incoming missiles are detected, and the defenses are readied.  Yet again these are top of the line Dregluk ASM’s, incoming at 36,000 km/s.  The missile attack is relatively light, as it originates from just two DD’s, and is wiped out short of Earth.  The two DD’s continue to obliquely approach Earth.

By 1837 hours the two DD’s have approached to 70 mkm’s from Earth.  They hover there for a short time and then turn away.  Shortly thereafter a large wave of missiles is detected headed towards Earth.  It appears that the DD’s have launched numerous AMM’s against planetary targets.  Once again Earth’s defenders brace themselves.  The small Dregluk missiles are hard to intercept, and some get through, but losses are light due to their small warheads. 

June 24, 2135, 2323 hours: The Dregluk DD’s are now retreating towards the jump point when a several new ships are detected jumping into the system.  They are quickly identified as three Demon class CA’s.  Several minutes later they are followed by eleven new Dregluk ships, indicating that this will be a major attack.  The new force is composed of four Raven class DD’s, and Imp class DD, three Fiend class CA’s, and three Banshee class CA’s.  It should be noted that EDC Intelligence is assigning class names based entirely on emission profiles and observed tonnages.  Very little is known about the capabilities of each class.  Over the next ten hours the Dregluk fleet approaches Earth, then after reaching approximately 70 mkm’s range, it turns back.  Shortly thereafter a large wave of small size one missiles appears on EDC’s scanners.  Once again missiles race away from the defense bases.  The Dregluk attack is stopped once again, although Earth’s stocks of Aegis IV’s are once again low. 

The three DD’s from the first attack, and the three CA’s from the second attack eventually transit out, but the eleven remaining ships from the second attack passed the jump point and headed out-system to join the BB loitering there.   

July 25, 2135: Two Crow class DD’s jump into the Solar System from Washington.  Earth is at its closest approach to the jump, approximately 308 mkm’s.  The two Dregluk DD’s are within the EDC’s sensor range, and will be within Bludgeon LRASM range shortly. 

Three hours later the two DD’s were 260 mkm’s out and closing.  Admiral Law gave the order and shortly thereafter thirty LRASM’s shot away from two PDC’s.  Three hours later the missiles hit their targets, which were now 211 mkm’s from Earth.  One of the DD’s was destroyed outright, while the other was heavily damaged and reduced in speed to about 80% of its former maximum. 

The lone Dregluk DD continues to limp inwards towards the Earth as if determined to complete its mission in spite of reality.  After watching the ship approach for 20 minutes Admiral Law orders the PDC’s to launch again, and five LRASM’s are launched towards the Dregluk ship.  Two and a half hours later the missiles wipe the Dregluk vessel from space, causing celebrations to break out across the planet. 

Two sets of life pods now float out there, between the Earth and the jump point.  And there they will float.  The government has been under intense pressure to stop rescuing the Dregluk, or the “Beasts”, as the people call them.  With a large number of Dregluk ships moving about in the outer system it is easy for the government to decide to avoid the question complete and leave them to their own devices. 

[Kurt (OP)]

Classified: Top Secret
Need to Know: Ministerial Level or Above
24 June, 2135

Current Status of the Human Race
Earth:
Population: 4.91 Billion
Shipyards/Slipways: 23/44
Industrial Facilities (All): 11,782
R&D Labs: 198
Environment: Average Temp -25.5 degrees from normal averages.  Radiation currently causing 25% drop in industrial efficiency. 
Estimated annual population decrease rate is -5.14%.

Lunar Colony: Abandoned, heavily irradiated
Venusian Mining Colony: Destroyed

1st attack, August, 2134: 200 million killed on Earth and the Moon.  The Moon colony is shattered and all R&D labs destroyed.  The Earth’s government is decapitated in the attack and later falls. 

2nd attack, October, 2134: 9 million killed on Earth, 10 million on the Moon. 

3rd attack, late October, 2134: Venusian mining colony destroyed, 30 million killed on Earth.

4th attack, December, 2134: 7 million killed.

Martian Colony:
Population: 12.45 million
Planetary industry destroyed
Environment: Residual radiation from bombardment causing 2.71% drop in industrial efficiency. 
Estimated annual population growth rate is 8.17%.  Current infrastructure capacity is 36.79 million.  While there is a only a small drop to productivity due to radiation effects, there continues to be unrest and a marked lethargy throughout the colony as a result of the disorder that followed the collapse of the former corporate government during the bombardment.  The Interim Government forces deployed to the planet, primarily from the 3rd Infantry Brigade, are spending most of their time trying to root out the criminal syndicates and militia groups that sprang up during the period of lawlessness and that continue to plague the colony. 

4th Attack, December, 2134: Unknown number of Martian colonists killed, estimated to be 5-10 million.  All mining facilities, both crewed and automated, are destroyed. 

Ganymede Colony:
Population: 5.4 million
Industry: 184 mines (both automated and crewed)

Outer System Installations:
Six outer system bodies being mined by mining ships or automated mines. 
Total mines: 222

Conclusion:
The long-term effects of the bombardment of the Earth are incalculable at the current time, as the bombardment is ongoing.  The current scientific consensus is that it will take years, perhaps decades, for the dust and radiation in the Earth’s atmosphere to clear, and for the birth rate to rise to a positive factor once again.  Reports from industrial leaders indicate that in spite of the current dedication of the work force to contribute the war effort, productivity is down by 25%, affecting not only munitions and ground construction efforts, but also shipyard productivity.  These effects can be avoided by moving critical industry off planet.  There are advantages and problems with all of the existing options:

Option #1: The Moon is close to the Earth, meaning it would take less time to transport colonists.  In addition, The Moon’s proximity to the Earth means that it lies within the Earth’s defensive envelope, and can be defended by Earth’s missile bases.  However, The Moon was bombarded nearly as heavily as the Earth was, and the radiation present will hinder industrial production nearly as much as it does on the Earth.     

Option #2: Mars has an existing population and the lowest colonization cost in the Solar System, aside from Earth.  It is farther away than the Moon, meaning that colony ships will have a much longer round-trip time/cost, and it is outside the Earth’s defensive envelope.  Indeed, for significant periods of time Mars is closer to the jump point to the Washington system than the Earth, making it a prime target. 

Option #3: Ganymede, like Mars, has an existing population, however, the distance from Earth and the high colonization cost both argue against making Ganymede our first choice.  In addition, Ganymede suffers from the same problem as Mars, in that it is currently undefended and has likely only escaped Dregluk attention because of its low profile. 

Based on the above factors, it appears that Mars would be the best option to escape the pervasive radiation that has poisoned both the Earth and the Moon, but building up that colony will have to wait until defenses can be built and the Fleet has better control of the system. 

[Kurt (OP)]

August 16, 2135: Two Vulture class DD’s transit into the Solar System.  The Earth is still at close to its closest approach to the jump point, putting them nearly within range of the EDC’s LRASM’s from the minute they transited into the system.  The EDC waits three hours and then launches thirty missiles at the two DD’s.  Just over three hours later both DD’s are wiped from space, to much celebration.  Once again, the life pods are left to drift.  Private individuals have taken to transmitted taunting messages to the drifting life pods until they run out of life support.  Competitions have arisen to determine who gets in the best taunts before the Dregluk run out of air.  The few who bother to protest this bloodthirsty sport are invited to tour the dead zones, areas that the Dregluk bombed until they were uninhabitable.  Some of these zones are in what used to be the Earth’s biggest cities.  Sometimes the invitations are…forceful. 

September 3, 2135: Four Demon class CA’s transit into the Solar System.  The Earth has begun moving away from the jump point, but it is still relatively close and it won’t take long for the cruisers to enter range of the EDC’s missiles.  Six and half hours later the cruisers are 242 mkm’s away and closing.  All four EDC offensive PDC’s begin launching missiles.  Seconds later eighty missiles are on their way to intercept the cruisers.  Nearly three hours later, with the Bludgeon II LRASM’s closing on their targets, incoming Dregluk missiles were detected.  Several minutes later the Bludgeon LRASM’s slammed into their targets, damaging all four CA’s.  Two of the CA’s were slightly slowed, while the other two were slowed to less than half their previous speed.  The EDC decides to let the four limping cruisers go rather than launch another strike.  Of course, that meant that the EDC was going to have to deal with the incoming missiles, but it is doubtful that even if the EDC launched a second strike on the limping cruisers that they could have destroyed them before the Dregluk missiles reached their target.  In any case, the EDC’s Aegis IV missiles dealt with the attack handily, and none of the attacking missiles made it closer that the Moon. 

September 5, 2135: Shortly after the last crippled Dregluk CA transits out, a new Harpy class DD transits into the Solar System.  Eight and a half hours later the hostile DD had closed to 210 mkm’s and the EDC opened fire with fifteen Bludgeon II LRASM’s.  Almost as soon as the EDC launched the LRASM’s the Dregluk ships turned away and began fleeing back towards the jump point.  About an hour later incoming missiles were detected.  Two missiles get through everything the EDC can throw at them, killing 1.2 million people and destroying nine industrial facilities.  The Bludgeon missiles caught up with the fleeing DD just before it moved beyond their range, heavily damaging the Dregluk ship, leaving hanging in space.  Eight hours later the DD is still sitting right at the limit of the Bludgeon’s range, motionless.  EDC launches three additional missiles in an attempt to finish it off.  Just as the PDC’s launched the DD began slowly moving towards the jump point.   Unfortunately for the Dregluk crew, the missiles caught up with the limping DD before she could move out of range and swatted the ship from space.  Once again, the life pods were left to their own devices. 

September 8, 2135: The first Shield class PDC goes online.  The Shield class is the result of concentrated R&D efforts and is the best point defense system that humanity can deploy.  The base has one turret mounting four 100mm meson cannons and the most advanced fire control systems that humanity can produce.  The turret and the base’s fire control systems can track targets moving at 16,000 kps effectively.  Earth’s industry can and will be building a new meson defense base every two and a half weeks. 

In the chaos in the aftermath of the bombardment of Earth and the fall of the Corporations, the staff of the EDC dismissed this concept for several reasons.  First and foremost, it was clear to all that Earth’s primary defense was going to be based on anti-missiles, and therefore all resources, both industrial and R&D, would have to concentrated in that area if Earth was to survive.  The effectiveness of the Aegis IV and the Bludgeon II missiles can attest to the wisdom of this strategy.  Secondly, early analysis of the situation showed that humanity’s technology was not up to deploying a tracking system capable of effectively targeting missiles moving at the speeds at which most Dregluk missiles were capable of moving.  Therefore, the concept was shelved.  After experiencing the near-constant bombardment by the Dregluk, though, the EDC has re-evaluated the concept.  Although the tracking system effectiveness of the Shield class will be degraded against most Dregluk missiles, the Shield class units will only have to deal with leakers from salvoes already winnowed by AMM’s, and will provide a last line of defense.  In addition, the Shield class can be built by planetary industry, and can be built in large numbers.  Quantity will have a quality of its own. 

September 23,2 135: The Aegis IV-m goes into production.  The IV-m is a modified version of the standard interceptor missile, with increased agility based on newly developed technology that should give the IV-m a much better chance to intercept its targets.  The engine and warhead of the original Aegis IV are unchanged. 

[Kurt (OP)]

October 3, 2135: Consul Foster authorizes Operation Retribution.  The operation begins with the FFG Sacramento, which leaves orbit late in the day and heads towards the jump point to the Washington system.   Nineteen hours later the Sacramento jumped through to the Washington system and sent a message to the Listening Post in the inner system.  Three hours later the Sacramento jumped back to the Solar system and reported that the Washington system was clear of Dregluk ships.  Shortly thereafter, the Fleet departed orbit to join the Sacramento.  Once the Sacramento rejoined the fleet at the jump point, they then set out in pursuit of the Dregluk ships loitering around Saturn.  At this point the fleet consists of the BC Mars, two Jump Cruisers, four FFG’s, two defender class ships, and five missile boats of various types.  The Dregluk fleet consists of a Mammoth class BB, three Banshee class cruisers, three Fiend class cruisers, and four Raven and one Imp class destroyers.  Intelligence believes that all of these ships have expended their missiles, but, of course, no one can know that for sure.   As the fleet heads out-system, the Dregluk fleet turns inwards, towards the oncoming Human ships.  After a day the Dregluk ships turn away from the Human ships, apparently continuing their random maneuvers.  With the Defenders and the Jump Cruisers along the Fleet cannot catch the Dregluk.  After sixteen hours of chasing the Dregluk, Captain Wallace detaches the slower ships and the fleet is able to speed up to the top speed of the Mars, which is faster than the Dregluk ships, if barely. 

Ten hours after detaching the slower ships the Dregluk fleet turns back towards the oncoming human fleet.  Unfortunately, shortly thereafter the fleet once again turned away.  Eleven hours later, with both fleets beyond Saturn’s orbit, Captain Wallace detached the four FFG’s, the fastest ships in her fleet, to pursue the Dregluk.  Twenty-four hours later the FFG’s had closed to 350 mkm’s from the fleeing Dregluk ships.  Unfortunately, it will take the frigates seventy more hours to catch the Dregluk ships, and by then they will be low on fuel.  Captain Wallace orders the fleet to turn back and assemble on the jump point.  Operation Retribution is over. 

Several days later the fleet is reassembled on the jump point, and the Dregluk fleet heads back towards Saturn, presumably to resume its random maneuvering.  On October 16th, though, the Dregluk fleet passes Saturn and continues towards the jump point and the Fleet.  The Dregluk fleet approaches to approximately 480 mkm’s and then turns around and heads back out-system.  That pattern will be repeated numerous times over the next nine days. 

October 24, 2135: Admiral Law orders the fleet to return to Earth orbit. 

October 29, 2135: Four Demon class cruisers jump into the Solar System.  Three of the ships are the same ones that attacked in August, while one hasn’t been in the Solar System for some time.   At 1100 hours on the 30th the EDC’s offensive PDC’s launched thirty-nine Bludgeon II LRASM’s at the incoming cruiser force.  Shortly after the PDC’s launched, the Dregluk cruiser force turned away.  Approximately an hour later incoming missiles appeared on the EDC’s scanners.  The defensive PDC’s begin launching Aegis IV-m’s at 1234 on the 30th.  The new IV-m’s ran out shortly into the battle and the bases were forced to switch over to the older Aegis IV’s.   

The missile attack on Earth is stopped short by the Aegis missiles, and the new point defense meson bases don’t get a chance to go into action.  Two hours later the Bludgeon II’s approach their targets.  None of the cruisers are destroyed, but all are left streaming atmosphere and limping away.  The four cruisers withdraw and meet up with the BB that had been trolling around in the outer system, then jump out.  There are still six Dregluk cruisers and five destroyers in the group maneuvering in the outer system. 

November 4, 2135: A single Demon class cruiser jumps into the Solar system.  The PDC’s open fire at 275 mkm’s, the maximum range of the Bludgeon II’s.  Three hours later the missiles swat the Dregluk ship from space.  There are celebrations across Earth in response.  Once again there is no suggestion that the Dregluk in the life pods should be picked up. 

November 12, 2135: The Dregluk fleet, which had been maneuvering in the outer system for months, jumps out of the Solar System. 

November 30, 2135: Four Mammoth class BB’s transit into the Solar system. 

[Kurt (OP)]

December 1, 2135, 1455 hours, Earth Defense Command PDC
Admiral Samantha Russell frowned at the plot in front of her.  “Are those positions current?”

An ensign sitting off to the side of the plot table nodded.  “Yes ma’am.  All plots are current.”   

“Very well.”  She turned and nodded at Rear Admiral Bradshaw, CO of Sword-003, her command PDC.  “Inform the others, coordinated launch in two minutes.”   

Admiral Bradshaw, at his own plot to one side of the command center, nodded back and turned to his communications officer to coordinate with the other PDC commanders.  At 1457 hours all four of the EDC’s Sword class offensive PDC’s launch their first salvo, followed eighty seconds later by a second salvo.  After that everyone settled in to wait.  Space battles were quite often hours of waiting followed by seconds of terror.  Waiting for their missiles to travel hundreds of millions of kilometers and knowing that almost certainly Dregluk missiles were racing towards them, was all part of the mission.  They had all been through it many times by this point, and while they weren’t exactly bored, they weren’t sitting on the edge of their seats either. 

Two hours later Admiral Russell was again standing in front of her plot.  If this attack held to the same pattern of the previous attacks then…her thoughts were interrupted by the command center’s AI.

“Status change.”  The AI had a mellow human-sounding voice that was somehow calming even as it announced their possible doom.  “incoming missile stream detected.”  The plot flickered and then updated to show Dregluk missiles closing on the Earth, approximately 40 mkm’s out.   The Dregluk attack was light, composed of only one wave of ninety-two size five missiles, and a second wave of ten size five missiles.  Russell frowned and gestured for Admiral Bradshaw to join her.  “Morgan, what do you make of this attack?”

Admiral Bradshaw, tall and spare, frowned at the plot.  He tended to be pessimistic, something she valued in her command PDC’s commander.  “Admiral, I think that these are their front-line ASM’s, and that what we are seeing is all that they had on hand at the time they left port.”

“I agree.  Our AMM’s should make short work of such a light attack.”

Admiral Bradshaw was still frowning at the plot.  “Yes, but…if the Dregluk ships survive our missile attack they will close and launch the rest of their missiles.  While they will likely be less capable missiles, those big ships can carry a lot of them.”  He shook his head.  “A lot.”

Admiral Russell smiled.  “We’ll get those battleships, Morgan.  And then there will be a party like no other.  Four Dregluk battleships!  Think about it!”

Admiral Bradshaw’s face never lightened up as he continued to stare at the plot.  “I am thinking about it.”

Unfortunately, while the Earth’s detection network was good enough to detect the incoming missiles that far out, the detection was on thermal passive sensors, which could not generate a target lock for the Earth’s defenses.  They would have to wait until the missiles closed to four million kilometers before the massive anti-missile sensors of the Looking Glass PDC could generate a target lock on the tiny targets.  In spite of the fact that the Looking Glass base’s sensors were nearly as large as an interceptor class unit, 4 million kilometers was the best that human tech could do at the current time.  Admiral Russell snorted, lost in thought as she watched the missiles close on the Earth.  She had argued with the Consul about this very issue.  She had wanted anti-missile sensors twice as large as the ones currently installed in the Looking Glass facility, and twice as capable.  In the end she had been overruled.  Consul Foster claimed that her very large sensor array would be too expensive, and take too long to develop.  Privately, she admitted to herself that Foster was probably right.  The damned things would take forever to design and build.  And, R&D was working on the next generation of sensors, which would be much more capable than the current generation.  Hopefully. 

The two admirals watched as the Dregluk missiles closed on the Earth.  Finally, twenty-four minutes later the missiles had closed to five million kilometers and the two admirals leaned over the plot in anticipation of the Looking Glass PDC gaining target lock on the incoming missiles.  They watched as the missile icons crept across the line at four million kilometers and continued to close.   The icons stubbornly refused to change from blurred arrows indicating passive detection to sharp, crisp arrows denoting active target lock. 

Admiral Russell felt the blood drain from her face and turned to Admiral Bradshaw, who was gaping at the plot.  He spoke first.  “This, this can’t happen!” 

Admiral Russell shook herself.  They had a minute, maybe less.  “Morgan, get ahold of Captain North at Aegis command!  Make sure they’ve switched over to local targeting!  Now!”   Alarms began ring throughout the great base as Admiral Russell willed her defensive bases to begin firing. 

Meanwhile, in the Looking Glass PDC, in Antarctica…
Alarms were ringing throughout the base, which had been plunged into darkness the very second they prepared to acquire the incoming missiles.  Lt. Commander Craig stared around her command center in shock as the emergency lighting began to illuminate a scene straight out of her nightmares.  “What is going on?  What’s happened?” 

For the most part her command center operatives seemed as lost as her.  Lieutenant Cross looked up from her display.  “Ma’am, this doesn’t make sense!  We have multiple redundant power systems!  There is no way this could just happen.”

Lt. Commander Craig realized that one of her command center crew was furiously typing at his console, and had been throughout the blackout.  “Senior chief, what are you doing?”  She moved towards his console, only to stop short when he rose from his console with a pistol aimed at her head.  Her eyes nearly crossed looking at the barrel, the opening of which looked large enough to swallow her.  The only thing that crossed her mind was to wonder how he got a pistol into her command center.  There were supposed to be safeguards against that kind of thing. 

Senior Chief McAllister smiled at his commanding officer.  “That’s enough, commander.  I’m going to…”

Lt. Commander Craig stared in shock as the back of McAllister’s head exploded and he fell to the deck.   “What…what?”  She staggered back and sat in her chair, looking around the command deck in shock.

Lieutenant Cross walked across the deck and kicked the gun out of McAllister’s hand, keeping her gun on him the whole way.  “Are you okay, ma’am?”

It took Craig a few minutes to realize that Cross was talking to her.  “Yes, I think so.”  She looked around the deck, still shrouded in darkness.  “What did he do?  Can you fix it?”

Lieutenant Cross shook her head.  “No ma’am.  Whatever he did, he screwed the power system up completely.  We can fix it, but…not in time.  The Dregluk missiles should be arriving just about now.”

Lt. Commander Craig shook her head.  “Who are you?  You aren’t just any lieutenant!  And how did you get a gun into my command center?  For that matter, how did he?”  She gestured at the remains of Chief McAllister and saw just what a mess Cross’ gun had left of him and suddenly threw up as her gorge rose. 

Cross waited until the Commander had herself together again.  “Ma’am, I’m Naval Intelligence, and we’ve been keeping an eye on this base for a while.”

“You knew this was going to happen?  For god’s sake, you’ve risked the entire planet!”

Cross shook her head, then moved to the side where she could keep an eye on the other members of the base command group, although none of them had made a move since McAllister had been shot.  “Ma’am, we had reason to think that some remnants of the nationalist groups might be up to something, but we certainly had no idea that they’d be insane enough to do something to our defenses.   I’m merely here as a backup.  And I failed.  I completely missed whatever it was that he did to the power systems.  He’s good.”

“Not that good.”  She didn’t look at the corpse again, having just gotten control of her stomach back.  “What now?”

Lieutenant Cross gestured with her weapon, and Craig realized that the other woman had never put it down.  “Well, since I don’t know who all was involved, I’m going to put you all in the command center head until help arrives.” 

Elsewhere…
The core of the Earth Defense Command’s Earth-based defenses were five Aegis anti-missile PDC’s, scattered across the Earth.  These bases each mounted thirty anti-missile missile launchers and six fire control systems, and were protected by thick armor.  Standard operating procedure during an attack was for the bases to rely on targeting information fed to them from the Looking Glass PDC, located in central Australia.  Each base also had a much smaller, less capable anti-missile sensor, installed in case the Looking Glass PDC was lost or damaged.  This had never happened, and none of the crews had thought it ever would, especially as the Earth’s defenses improved under constant Dregluk attack. 

When the Looking Glass PDC dropped out of the net unexpectedly, each Aegis base was forced to activate its local sensors.  If this had happened a year ago, when the base crews were inexperienced and untried, it would have been a complete disaster.  These crews were not what they were a year ago.  They were battle tested, tried and true defenders of the Earth.  They knew that the entire human race depended on them, and they tried to live up to that faith every time the Dregluk attacked.  They lived up to those expectations again.  When the Looking Glass base went dark, none of the Aegis base commanders panicked.  There was no confusion.  Instead, the Aegis bases rose to the moment.  Their sensors would localize the incoming missiles at one million kilometers, giving them enough time to launch two successive interception attempts against each incoming missile.  All five Aegis base commanders came to the same conclusion, and ordered their fire control systems to reconfigure to launch five AMM’s against each incoming missile.  This would likely result in significant overkill, and commensurate wastage of valuable AMM’s, but that was far from their thoughts as the Dregluk missiles closed. 

Right on time the PDC’s local sensors acquired the incoming missiles and Aegis IV-m’s raced away from the bases as they went to rapid fire.  For fifteen straight seconds the five defensive PDC’s launched missiles from every launcher they had, saturating the incoming Dregluk missile salvo.  As the AMM’s closed on the first wave of Dregluk missiles the second wave of incoming missiles reached one million kilometers and the bases began launching at it as well.  The massive wave of Aegis IV-m’s completely overwhelms the incoming Dregluk missile wave short of Earth.  The bulk of the interceptions took place around 500,000 kilometers out, giving viewers on Earth spectacular light shows as over five hundred nuclear explosions pockmarked the sky.   

Consul Foster dispatched elements from the 2nd Infantry Brigade to secure the Looking Glass installation, which had failed to reconnect with the defense network in the aftermath of the Dregluk attack.  Shortly after the Dregluk missile wave was wiped out, the EDC’s missiles closed on their targets.   Once again crowds across the world watched as the Dregluk BB’s are overwhelmed by human missiles.  Three of the huge ships are destroyed outright by human missiles, while the fourth is severely damaged.  Later analysis of the attack will reveal that the EDC PDC crews made a targeting mistake, and instead of evenly spreading the missiles between the four BB’s, one of BB’s, the one that escaped, was targeted by only half as many missiles as the other three.  An investigation will reveal that it was an “honest” mistake, made by new missiles crews rushing to complete their jobs, however, in the aftermath of the sabotage of the Looking Glass PDC the government is not willing to take a chance.  A massive investigation gets underway. 

The last BB is allowed to limp away. 

December 7, 2135: Consul Foster stands in front of the Grand Senate of the Republic.  The two hundred men and women that would normally meet in the chamber represent the entire population of the Earth and the colonies.  Now there is just Foster and three individuals, the leaders of the critical committees in the Senate.  “We have concluded our investigation of the sabotage of the Looking Glass facility.”  He paused and looked at the three, all of whom were following his words intently.  “We were able to do so because we had already suspected that the group involved was going to take an action, we just did not expect…this.” 

Senator Avasarala, head of the Combined Intelligence Committee, frowned.  “If you knew…”

Foster shook his head.  “Like I said, we had no idea that they were this desperate.  Their plan was to disable the Looking Glass facility during the attack, hampering our missile defenses, allowing some of the Dregluk missiles to get through our defenses and hit their surface targets.  The confusion and destruction would demoralize the people, discredit the government and our military, and allow them to strike a weakened foe.  They then planned on ‘rallying’ the people and becoming the saviors of humanity, thus ensuring their power.”

Senator Gutierrez looked shocked.  “But…that’s insane!  Millions would have died if they had succeeded!”

Senator Avasarala’s eyes narrowed.  “And stupid.  Our defense bases all have backup sensor systems for just this eventuality.  Surely they knew that?  Who could be competent enough to pull off as much as they were able to, but stupid enough to believe they could succeed?”

Foster shook his head.  “In the aftermath of the purges, the most fanatical members of the worst groups just faded away.  We had hoped that they had just gone underground and would surface at some point, but instead they joined forces, burying their hate for each other to unite against us.  They knew it they had little hope of succeeding, they just didn’t care.  As I said, they were desperate.  The purges last year cost them dearly, and since then they have only managed to hang on to their most fanatical members.  They needed something big, and apparently this was it.  And they weren’t basing all of their hopes on the Looking Glass base, they had several teams positioned to sabotage a couple of the Aegis bases as well.  Our security teams stopped them cold there, though.  They were shorthanded, and gambled on everything going their way, and they lost that bet.  There was a big gap in their planning as well.  Even if the Dregluk missiles hit the Earth, they wouldn’t have had enough ground-based combat strength to overwhelm the surviving government forces, no matter how much hopeful thinking they threw into the mix.  This was really just a pathetic last gasp.”

Senator Blake eyed Foster curiously.  “So, can we assume that arrests have been made?”

Consul Foster nodded.  “This morning.  Even as we speak we are rolling up nearly their entire organization.  With the exception of a small core group.”

Senator Avasarala sat back.  “With the exception of a core group.  And you are here briefing us.  Why don’t I like this?”

“Because you are smart.”  Foster looked at the three of them for a few seconds.  “My people wanted to go ahead with the last few arrests, in spite of who the targets were, but I felt it set a bad example.”

Senator Blake looked at his colleagues for a few seconds, then turned to Foster.  “Who?”

Consul Foster grimaced.  “Senator Constantine and his staff.  We have them under surveillance, but we haven’t acted.  I don’t want to set a precedent of arresting Grand Senators so soon after the establishment of the Senate.”  He looked at the three.  “This is all new.  We have to act in accordance with the way we want things to be done in the future.  I will turn over the evidence we have gathered, including statements by his co-conspirators, to the Senate.  You then have the option of doing as you will with this man, and my administration will carry out your wishes.”

The three Senators looked shaken for a few seconds, then rallied.  After a year and half of Dregluk bombardment, no one on Earth had any time for panic or weakness.  “We will convene a full session of the Senate this morning.  Will you deliver Senator Constantine to us?”

Consul Foster stood.  “Consider it done.”

The operation went like clockwork.  The members of the Combine, as they called themselves, had scattered in the aftermath of their failed attempt.  It hadn’t done them any good.  Earth’s very effective security forces rounded up most of them, including several former members of the military who had suddenly abandoned their posts in the aftermath of the attack.  In addition, the Grand Senate convened a closed session that morning.  The session lasted most of the day.  During the session, Consul Foster’s government announced the arrest of the Combine, and their responsibility for the sabotage of the Earth’s defenses. 

After six hours the Grand Senate called Consul Foster to the Assembly.  There they told him that they had unanimously convicted Senator Constantine of treason against the people of the Republic, and had formally stripped him of his Senatorial status.  Senatorial Guards then turned the former Senator and his staff, all of whom had been convicted along with their boss, over to the Consul’s guards.  The Senate’s spokeswoman then announced their findings publicly, and announced that they had recommended the death penalty to the Consul’s office. 

At 1800 hours, four hours after he was handed over to the Consul’s guards, Senator Constantine was publicly executed by firing squad for treason against humanity.  The remainder of the Combine was held for trials, which were expected to be held in the next several weeks.     

December 12, 2135: A Dregluk ship transits into the Solar system.  This ship is a new class, not previously seen before.  It’s emission profile is similar to the Mammoth class BB’s, so Intel provisionally names the class the Behemoth class battleship. 

The EDC PDC’s opened fire on the 13th, at maximum range.  Unfortunately, the Behemoth ventures into range only briefly, before turning and running.  Eventually, Dregluk missiles are detected approaching the Earth.  Once again, the defensive PDC’s go into action, pumping out Aegis IV-m’s every five seconds.  The new missiles perform excellently, stopping the missile barrage well short of Earth.  The new missiles are close to reaching interception rates of 50%, which is a massive improvement over just a year ago. 

December 17, 2135: Two Salvage class ships are launched from the orbital yards.  These are humanity’s first salvage ships.  These salvage ships will represent a massive step forward in recovering Dregluk technology for human use, but as they will be operating away from the Earth’s defensive envelope they will require a more secure environment in which to operate.  Admiral Law dispatches the Fleet to the jump point to provide cover while the two salvage ships move the closest wrecks of Mammoth class BB’s and begin salvaging them. 

December 23, 2135, 0648 hours.  The picket deployed by Rear Admiral (LH) Wallace to the Washington side of the jump point receives a transmission from the Listening Post.  The Listening Post has detected a single Dregluk ship, a Mammoth class BB, entering the system through the jump point to the Denver system.  ETA to the jump point to the Solar System is 92 hours.  The salvage ships will not be close to completing their tasks in the Solar system, and if the Mammoth gets into the solar system, they will be closer to it than the Earth, making them prime targets.  Admiral Wallace orders the fleet to the Washington side of the jump point. 

December 26, 2135, 1207 hours: For the last three days the fleet watched as the Dregluk ship approached.   Finally, Dregluk missiles appeared on the Fleet’s sensors, just under a million kilometers out and closing at 25,600 km/s.  As was standard for Mammoth class units, there was twenty-three missiles in the leading wave, and there were could be up to seventeen to twenty waves of missiles in total, if the BB emptied its magazines.  As Aegis IV’s raced away from the Fleet, Admiral Wallace ordered the fleet to jump back to the Solar system.   Note: The fleet is equipped with Aegis IV’s.  The newer Aegis IV-m’s have been retained for planetary defense.

The first salvo of thirty-one Aegis AMM’s took out sixteen Dregluk missiles, and the second wave of twenty Aegis AMM’s killed the remaining missiles of the first wave, but by then the second wave of twenty-three missiles were on the scopes.  More AMM’s raced away from the fleet to intercept the incoming missiles, and once again the Aegis IV’s got them all, but the Dregluk missiles penetrated much closer to the fleet before they were stopped.  And worse, another wave of incoming missiles was on the screens, and it was clear that they would approach closer to the fleet before being engaged, as the defenses had been preoccupied with the previous wave.  Just then the Fleet managed to get underway and one by one the Fleet jumped out of the system, leaving behind the Dregluk missiles. 

Two hours later Admiral Wallace sent a Missile Boat through the jump point to scan the area.  The missile boat returned several minutes later to report that the jump point was clear.  Admiral Wallace ordered the entire fleet to jump back to the Washington system. 

When the Fleet was assembled on the Washington side of the jump point, it became clear that the Dregluk ship had exhausted its missile supply as it was headed back the way it came at maximum speed, its active sensor off.  Admiral Wallace was tempted to detach her Interceptors and Missile Boats to pursue, but after checking the plot it became clear that the smaller ships would not be able to overtake the Mammoth before it jumped out.  Several minutes later its active sensor came on again, and the BB turned back towards the Fleet.  The Dregluk BB approached for a short period of time, then turned back and began running again.  Forty minutes later a single salvo of three missiles appeared on the Fleet’s scanners.  The Fleet’s Aegis IV’s quickly put paid to the three missiles. 

[Kurt (OP)]

January 13, 2136: One of the salvage ships completes its work, salvaging a number of systems from the wrecked Mammoth.  The ship returns to Earth to unload its treasures before setting out to salvage another BB. 

January 20, 2136: Research teams begin examining salvaged systems from Dregluk wrecks.  All of the engine pods recovered were internal confinement fusion drives, a system which is under research right now.  The results of this examination will accelerate this research by several months.  In addition, several different types of sensors are examined, yielding advances in active sensor technology. 

Fifteen construction brigades have been relocated to the Moon and have begun assembling a prefab Looking Glass class PDC.  After completing work on that installation, the construction units will begin assembling Shield class PDC’s to provide point defense for Luna. 

January 27, 2136: The Listening Post reports that a Dregluk BB has jumped into the Washington system.  Analysis shows that it is a BB encountered before, and that it was lightly damaged in the previous encounter.  Admiral Wallace orders the fleet to remain on the jump point in the Washington system, for now. 

January 30, 2136: Admiral Wallace orders the Fleet to jump back to the Solar System, and then to take up a position one million kilometers from the jump point.  The Interceptor commanders request to be detached to allow them to set up on the jump point and pursue the Dregluk ship when it jumps into the system, however, Admiral Wallace declines.  She wants to keep her fleet together. 

February 1, 2136, 1017 hours: The Mammoth class BB jumps into the Solar system exactly on time.  As soon as the BB appeared, Admiral Wallace gave the order to open fire and to maintain the fleet’s distance from the Dregluk ship.  Unfortunately, it wasn’t as easy as that.  In spite of the fact that they were fairly certain when the Dregluk ship was going to appear, there was still a certain amount of surprise that had to be overcome by the missile and engine room crews.  In addition, Admiral Wallace wanted to overwhelm the BB’s defenses, and so ordered that every ship in the fleet would fire together, meaning that none could fire until all were ready.  The enemy BB immediately began moving directly away from the Fleet, which was not yet ready to move and was being left behind.  It is a race to see whether the Dregluk will be able to launch first, or the humans.  Humanity won that race twenty-five seconds after the Dregluk BB entered the system.  The ships of the human fleet launched eighteen Bludgeon ASM’s and one hundred and twenty-one smaller Thunderbolt ASM’s.  After that huge salvo the human fleet had only two ships still capable of launching missiles, the battlecruiser Mars and a missile boat that had had a malfunction and failed to launch with the rest of the fleet.  The first missiles to approach the target are the eighteen Bludgeon missiles.  The Mammoth manages to shoot down two Bludgeon’s and avoid three more, leaving thirteen to slam into the big ship’s armor.  The battleship is rocked by the explosions, and by two additional internal explosions.  When the explosions clear the BB has slowed to just 2512 km/s.  The Thunderbolt missiles catch up to the limping ship fifteen seconds later and wipe it out, leaving only a drifting hulk behind.  With the threat gone the Fleet turns towards Earth. 

February 3,2 136: The Fleet arrives at the Earth to immense acclaim!  All of the crews are given citations, bonuses and leave, and the officers receive their own awards.  Admiral Wallace receives the Humanity’s Victory medal from Consul Foster.  In the meantime, the Fleet is refueled and resupplied with missiles, then dispatched to the jump point yet again once the crews are rounded up from their leave.   Several of the ships will remain behind to undergo overhauls. 

February 5, 2135: The Listening Post reports the arrival of another Dregluk BB in the Washington system.  This is the relatively new Behemoth class BB, equipped with eleven missile launchers.  Admiral Wallace prepares the fleet for the upcoming engagement. 

February 9, 2136, 1314 hours: The Dregluk BB materializes in the Solar System and Admiral Wallace orders her fleet to open fire.  As with the previous engagement, the Dregluk BB immediately begins moving away from the fleet.  Twenty-five seconds later the human fleet launches one hundred and twenty-six Thunderbolt ASM’s at the Dregluk ship.  Ten seconds later the Dregluk ship launches eleven missiles of its own and Aegis IV-m’s begin spilling into space in response.  The AMM’s perform excellently, taking out the Dregluk missiles well short of the fleet.  Unfortunately, the first-generation Thunderbolt missiles are relatively slow and have an overtake speed of only 12,200 km/s, meaning that it is a long chase.  The Behemoth gets off a second salvo, which is also intercepted well short of the fleet.  The Behemoth gets a third salvo off just before the Thunderbolt missile wave hits.  The avalanche of older missiles completely overwhelms the Dregluk ship and leaves nothing but drifting wreckage when the explosions clear.  The Fleet returns to Earth, victorious, to immense acclaim. 

February 15, 2136: The salvage ships continue to prove their worth.  Salvage-1 completes its salvage of a Dregluk Crow class destroyer and recovers a large amount of data and material that gives the R&D teams working on Internal Confinement Fusion drives a big boost. 

February 16,2 136: Three Dregluk ships are detected jumping into the Washington system.  The ships, a Mammoth class BB and two Imp class DD’s, set course for the Solar system.   

February 20, 2136, 0116 hours: The three Dregluk ships transit into the Solar System.  The defensive fleet now consists of the BC Mars, the Patrol Cruiser Assistance, two Defender class ships, six missile frigate of various marks, five missile boats of various marks, and four interceptor class ships.  Admiral Wallace gives her orders and the Fleet moves into action like the well-oiled machine they are becoming.  Twenty-five seconds after the Dregluk ships appeared the fleet launched thirteen Bludgeon II missiles and one hundred and twenty-six older Thunderbolt ASM’s.  As the human missiles approach the Dregluk ships they manage to launch a salvo of twenty-three ASM’s.  Aegis IV-m’s began racing away from the Fleet as the human ASM’s closed on the Dregluk force. 

The Bludgeon II ASM’s reach their targets, the two Imp class DD’s, first.  One DD is disintegrated by the big missiles, while the other is damaged and slowed.  Twenty seconds later the Thunderbolt ASM’s flashed in and slammed into their targets.  The destroyer is gone when the explosions clear, but the Mammoth is still there, slowed and streaming atmosphere, but still there.  The Mars is the only ship still capable of launching, as the other ships in the fleet are either armed with box launchers or smaller, slow-reloading missile launchers.  Admiral Wallace orders the Mars to open fire and orders the Assistance to escort the smaller meson ships into range of the Mammoth.  She detaches the frigates Cairo and Tokyo to cover the beam-attack force with their AMM’s.  As the smaller units begin to pull away from the Fleet, the Dregluk BB launches fifteen missiles at its pursuers. 

As the pursuit continues Admiral Wallace is forced to adjust her anti-missile fire to reduce the number of AMM’s fired per incoming missile.  If the fleet is going to be forced into a long running battle, its going to have to conserve its AMM’s. A minute or so later the first salvo of eight Thunderbolt missiles comes into range of the fleeing Mammoth.  Unfortunately, the Mammoth’s CIWS is still intact and most of the Thunderbolts are swatted from space before they can hit their target.  Only two make it through the defensive fire to hit the big battleship, but the ship’s armor is shredded and the two missiles slow the Dregluk ship even more.  Shortly after that, two Dregluk missiles, which had avoided every AMM launched at them, closed with the small detached units closing on the fleeing Dregluk ship.  For the first time in months the close-in defenses of the human ships are tested.  The CIWS on the Tokyo successfully destroyed the missile closing on it, and the Assistance’s gauss turret swatted the other missile as it approached. 

A minute later three more ASM’s avoid the Mammoth’s CIWS and add further damage to the big Dregluk ship, as the human ships close in.  A minute later two more Dregluk ASM’s closed on the pursuit fleet.  The Assistance managed to stop one of the missiles with her gauss cannons, but the other streaked in through everything they could throw and impacted against the Tokyo’s armor.  The missile’s warhead didn’t penetrate the armor, but it did leave a big crater in the ship’s armor, and if the next missile hit anywhere near that impact point it would penetrate and do damage. 

The next missile exchange went better for the human ships.  The Aegis IV-m’s stopped the Dregluk missiles short of the pursuit force, and two of the eight Thunderbolt missiles from the Mars snuck past the Mammoth’s CIWs and slowed the big ship yet again.  The Mammoth was reduced to 3350 km/s, giving the pursuit force an overtake speed of 2,650 km/s.  In addition, the Mammoth lost a few more launch tubes to the last salvo, and was reduced to launching nine ASM’s at a time.  Unfortunately, the Mars was out of missiles and the two salvoes on their way would be the last chance to attack the Dregluk ship, at least until the detached squadron had closed to within range of its energy weapons. 

Three missiles from the second-to-the-last Thunderbolt salvo manage to slip past the big ship’s CIWS and get hits, slowing the BB even further.  As the last salvo of Thunderbolts closes with the BB, the Mars runs dry of AMM’s as well.  Once again three Thunderbolts slip past the CIWS and slam into the BB, slowing it even more.  In spite of all of the damage the big Dregluk ship continues to forge ahead, seemingly unstoppable.  One missile from the next Dregluk salvo managed to avoid the human AMM’s and get within attack range, but was stopped by the Assistance’s gauss cannon turret.  The next Dregluk missile salvo was composed of only seven missiles, so the human bombardment was taking its toll. 

With the pursuit force closing on the Dregluk BB intercepting its missiles became more problematic.  The other human ships were too far back to help in missile defense, and the frigates with the pursuit force didn’t have enough distance to effectively intercept the incoming missiles.  Worse, they were running out of AMM’s.  When the two groups were 342,000 kilometers apart Dregluk missiles started scoring hits.  AMM’s managed to get just one of the seven incoming missiles, CWIS on the Tokyo managed to get two more, and the Assistance destroyed two as well.  The Interceptors tried to intercept the incoming missiles with their meson cannons but their crews were green and they failed.  Just one of the Dregluk missiles hit the Tokyo, and her armor absorbed most of the damage, but some got through, destroying two of her four magazines. 

Fortunately, the Tokyo is almost out of AMM’s, while her sister ship the Cairo still has over 100 of the interceptors, making Admiral Wallace’s decision easy.  She orders the Tokyo to break off and return to the jump point, taking her out of harms way.   The pursuit group manages to pull within range of the Assistance’s lasers just as the Dregluk ship launches another salvo.  The range is very long, at the edge of the cruiser’s abilities, but the human fleet cannot stand up to the bombardment forever so the Assistance opens fire.  The Assistance misses with its first shots, but as the BB gets closer that will change.  The second shot from the Assistance’s lasers managed to score a hit, but it didn’t seem to affect the big Dregluk ship, which continued running in front of the human force.  The next shot from the Assistance’s spinal laser caused a gout of atmosphere from the BB, and this time it hurt as the big BB slowed yet further. 

Things began happening very fast after that.  The Assistance continued pounding the Dregluk ship, which eventually managed to launch another salvo of missiles, but only four this time.  The missiles were launched so close that they would hit almost as soon as they launched.  The Cairo’s crack crew managed to get off interceptor missiles, taking out two of the four before they could hit.  In response the Assistance’s spinal laser punched another shot deep within the fleeing BB.  It then became clear that the Dregluk were firing at one of the other ships as the missiles continued on past the pursuit force.  The Dregluk BB was now just 107,000 kilometers away and closing.  Soon it would be in range of the Interceptor’s meson cannons. 

Fortunately, AMM’s from the Cairo were able to run down the Dregluk missiles before they could reach the Tokyo, if that was its target.  The Assistance was now hitting the big ship regularly with its lasers.  When two more laser strike stab into the ship it staggers and slows, and loses its active sensor.  Just before the Dregluk ship would have slipped to within range of the pursuit force’s meson cannons the Assistance’s full laser barrage struck it, plunging into and through the crippled battleship.  The laser strike left the BB in two drifting pieces.  The battle was over. 

The human fleet reassembled, checked in with the Listening Post in the Washington system, then sets out for Earth to reload its missile magazines and refuel.     

February 22, 2136: The Fleet arrives in orbit over the Earth and is met with a planet-wide celebration.  In a public ceremony, Consul Foster awards every ship in the fleet a unit citation, and the Captains, officers, and crews of the Tokyo, Cairo, and the Assistance, receive medals for bravery under fire.  The Tokyo goes to the orbital yard for repairs, and is replaced by the newly built Birmingham.  A day later the fleet returns to the jump point.  The Tokyo’s crew, in particular, are celebrated across the planet as heroes while their ship is in the yards.   

February 24, 2135: Salvage-1 completes recovery work on a Crow class DD and discovers useful information relating to beam tracking systems.  The information is transmitted to Earth immediately. 

February 30, 2136: Salvage-1 drops off raw materials and ship’s systems salvaged over the last several months.  Teams examining the fusion drives salvaged from the derelict Dregluk ships recovers enough information to complete the R&D team’s work on developing Internal Confinement Fusion drives.  Work will begin immediately on developing missile engines for new generations of missiles.  In addition, tech information is recovered assisting R&D in active sensors as well.  New generations of missiles will have to wait until research is completed on several related technologies that will all vastly improve the performance of the missiles used by the EDC and the Fleet. 

The EDC completes the refit of its Looking Glass class PDC, equipping it with a superior AMM tracking sensor which will allow the EDC to engage incoming missiles further from Earth. 

The Republic begins shipping colonists to Mars, more to get them away from the toxic environment on Earth than for any other reason. 

[Kurt (OP)]

March 5, 2136: Repairs on the Tokyo are complete and the frigate leaves Earth orbit to join the fleet. 

April 18, 2136: No new Dregluk ships have appeared in the last two months.  Many of the smaller ships in the fleet are not meant for long deployments, so Admiral Wallace detaches the Assistance to picket the jump point and orders the fleet home for overhaul. 

April 29, 2136: The Listening Post reports to the Assistance that a Vulture class destroyer was detected jumping into the Washington system.  The Assistance reports this news to Fleet Command, which dispatches the Tokyo, two missile boats, two Falcon class Interceptors, and one new meson-armed Fast Attack Craft to the jump point.  The rest of the Fleet is being overhauled in orbit and will not be able to respond in time.  Intelligence isn’t sure about the armament of a Vulture, but past attacks have shown that they aren’t equipped with CIWS and the ships being sent to the jump should be able to deal with one Dregluk DD. 

April 30, 2136: The squadron has joined the Assistance on the jump point.  Commander Turner, the senior officer of the squadron, divides his forces into two groups.  The Assistance, along with the FAC and the two Interceptors, will be stationed on the jump point, while the missile boats and the Tokyo will be stationed five hundred thousand kilometers away from the jump point, ready to launch their missiles at the Dregluk ship when it comes through the jump point. 

May 3, 2136, 1932 hours: The Vulture class DD comes through the jump point right on time.  The Assistance, with her crack crew, goes into action immediately and scores hits with her two heavy lasers and her spinal laser.  The Dregluk ship’s armor absorbs the blows as it speeds away.  The two missile boats stationed five hundred thousand kilometers from the jump point launch their Bludgeon II missiles at the DD almost as soon as it entered.  Fifteen seconds later the Assistance’s heavy lasers fire again, scoring hits that are apparently absorbed by the DD’s armor.  While the Interceptors and FAC are finally ready to fire the Dregluk ship has moved out of their range as the human forces haven’t managed to get underway yet.  Five seconds later the Assistance’s spinal laser fired, scoring another hit.  The Assistance’s heavy lasers get one more chance to fire, scoring a hit, but then the Bludgeon missiles roared in on their target.  As before the Dregluk ship shows no sign of active missile defenses.  Four of the big missiles missed the DD, but the other six completely destroyed the Dregluk ship, leaving little but a drifting hulk in their wake.  The Assistance once again took up its post on the jump point, while the rest of the Squadron returned to Earth to a huge celebration for its victory. 

May 9, 2136: Another Vulture class DD is detected entering the Washington system.  Once again, a squadron is dispatched to the jump point to meet it, this time reinforced by the FFG Birmingham, which had finished its overhaul. 

May 13, 2136, 1732 hours: The Vulture appears on the jump point, again, right on time.  This time the entire defensive squadron was assembled on the jump point.  The Assistance’s lasers struck out at the fleeing Dregluk destroyer, scoring deep cuts into its armor.  Even as the Assistance fired its lasers, the two missile boats, which were sitting on the jump point, launched their Bludgeon missiles.  Five seconds later the Bludgeon missiles decisively ended the battle, wiping the destroyer out. 

June 14, 2136: Two Harpy class DD’s are detected jumping into the Washington system.  Admiral Wallace orders the fleet, which has finished overhaul, to the jump point. 

June 18, 2136, 1903 hours: Two Harpy class destroyers jump into the solar system.  Admiral Wallace orders the Fleet to open fire immediately after they materialize.  The Assistance skewers one of the DD’s with her lasers and the Mars launches eight Thunderbolt missiles at the same DD.  The other ships in the Fleet are struggling to get their weapons into action as the Dregluk DD’s speed away.  The Mars’ Thunderbolt missiles slam into the already damaged DD, penetrating its armor.  As the missiles go in, the two Defender class ships launch their Bludgeon missiles at the second DD.  Seconds later the Bludgeon’s slam into the fleeing DD, wiping it out.  It only took the Bludgeon missiles from one of the Defenders to destroy the Dregluk DD, and after hesitating for a second or two the remaining Bludgeons used their internal sensors to acquire the second DD and slammed into it, seriously damaging it.  The Assistance continues to pour laser fire into the fleeing DD when the Singapore, one of the newer FFG’s, finally gets her missile systems online and launches ten Thunderbolt missiles at the last Dregluk DD.  Two of the missiles miss, but the rest slam into the retreating ship, staggering it.  It is still intact, although slowed.  The Sacramento fires ten more Thunderbolt missiles, destroying the Dregluk ship.  Once again, the Assistance takes up its guard position as the fleet returns to the Earth. 

July 9, 2136: Two additional Salvage ships are launched from the orbital yards.  With over one hundred wrecks still scattered around the solar system, this increase in salvage capacity is welcome. 

August 21, 2136: R&D begins on a new generation of missiles.  These missiles will combine multiple advances in different fields to yield an improved generation of missiles that will outperform anything deployed by humanity prior to this date:

Aegis V:
Speed: 50,000 km/s
Range: 11.7 mkm’s
This AMM is improved in every way over the previous versions.  It is slightly faster and has a 50% greater range to take advantage of the new sensors that are being developed.  Additionally, its maneuverability has been improved by 50% over the Aegis IV-m, making this by far the best AMM ever produced. 

Bludgeon III LRASM
Speed: 31,200 km/s
Range: 395.6 mkm’s
Warhead: 20
Armor: 1
ECM: 2
This long-range missile is over 50% faster than the previous version and has improved active sensors and ECM.  In addition, the missile’s range has been increased to almost 400 mkm’s, out-performing every known Dregluk missile system.  To achieve this range some sacrifices had to be made, and this missile has slightly worse maneuverability than the previous version. 

Thunderbolt III ASM:
Speed: 32,000 km/s
Range: 240.7 mkm’s
Warhead: 6
This version of the venerable Thunderbolt missile is approximately 25% faster than the previous version.  The warhead has the same explosive power, in spite of improved technology, and the resulting savings in space has been devoted to increasing this version’s range to over ten times that of the previous version, putting human ships employing this missile on an even footing with the Dregluk Empire’s best missiles. 

The development of the new missiles is just the leading edge of a massive increase in capability for the Earth Defense Command and for the Fleet.  New missile launchers have been developed, and along with new sensors and fire control systems, will give the Fleet the capability to match or exceed the Dregluk in ship-to-ship combat.  Of course, it will take some time to complete R&D on all of these systems, especially some of the planet-based sensors which are very large and capable designs.  Once the systems R&D has been completed, new ship designs and upgrades of old designs will have to be finalized, and then the yards will have to be retooled to build the new classes or upgrade older designs.  It will be some time before the increased capabilities will make themselves felt, although the new missile designs will be put into production as soon as they are available.