Author Topic: After the Fall, Assault on Ogema  (Read 1822 times)

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After the Fall, Assault on Ogema
« on: February 23, 2014, 04:27:07 PM »
August 4th, 2084   
The day dawned much like all the others, but this day was different.  As the Council members arrive for the morning session they go through the Council building’s security check point as usual, but unlike all other days this time many of the members are asked to accompany a security officer into the bowls of the building.  It was at this point that the Councilor usually noticed that the security guard was, in fact, a fully armed and armored Council Guard, not the usual uniformed security guard that manned the checkpoint.  They then found themselves escorted to a small room and locked inside without explanation.  Several Councilors got wind of the unusual activity and tried to disappear instead of attending the meeting but most were rounded up by the Council Guard force.  The Council Guards, at the insistence of Major General Wireman, were polite and respectful to the detained Councilors, but they were firm and in two cases they used force to detain Councilors who were fleeing.

The coup was nearly bloodless and ruthlessly effective.  Twelve of twenty Councilors were arrested, along with 130 of their aides, assistants, and others who were judged to be impediments to the new order.  The hardliners acted quickly and appointed replacements, and shrewdly they did not pick only those that agreed with them.  Over the next several days monumental changes took place.  First off, research priorities were changed.  Improving the efficiency of the Federation’s refineries and ordnance factories took priority over everything else.  In addition, preparations would be made to invade the third planet of 40 Eridani.  This would necessitate the construction of jump gates at the jump points in Teegarden’s Star and 40 Eridani, so the construction ships were given their orders. 

One week later, after the new regime has consolidated their power, the arrested leaders and their supporters, now numbering just under a thousand, are put on board a BuReLoc transport and shipped out to Struve-B II.  The planet is officially named Terra Nova, but the colonists affectionately call it “Nova Siberia”.  The Federation colony is still small and struggling, as BuReLoc was forced to discontinue shipments of colonists due to the fuel shortage.  For now the total population is 260,000, and many of those are either criminals or political dissidents.  While the population of Terra Nova is not facing immediate disaster, neither is their success guaranteed.  Everyone is needed to work in one of the areas critical to the colony’s survival, and the newly arrived politicians are no exception, no matter how privileged they might think they are.  Eventually some of them might rise to a new prominence in the colony’s government, but for now they will work for their survival, just like everyone else. 

Sept., 2084      
Two Federation refinery ships have arrived on-station in the Alpha Centauri system and begin extracting useable sorium from the atmosphere of the innermost gas giant.  The tugs that assisted them to their target drop them off and set out for home.   

Nov., 2084      
The Council decides to curtail gunboat production to reduce the drain on fuel production. 

March, 2085      
Naval Intelligence teams led by Lt. Commander Toca have completed their analysis of information gathered from sensors and intercepted communications.  The team’s analysis is classified and only made available to selected members of the Council and Admiral Maurais.  The aliens call themselves the Ogema, and their state is the Ogema Empire.  The aliens themselves are insect-like, and look a lot like large praying mantises.   This last is an interesting development, as the figures seen in communications from the alien warships in the 40 Eridani system were definitely bipedal and not insect-like.  The fact that those individuals were covered completely with some sort of armor made it difficult to determine their race, but they were not insects. 

The analysis also concludes that the planetary population of the Ogema Empire is approximately 2 billion, substantially larger than the human population of the Solar system.  Finally, based on the content of the broadcasts and the nature of the emissions from the planet, the teams concluded that the Ogema had not discovered Trans-Newtonian technology, or at least that they were not using it in a large-scale way.  As with their appearance, the apparent low technology level of the Ogema seems to indicate that they had nothing to do with the warships found in their system.  These inconsistencies are kept a closely held secret for now, as the Federation government has embarked on a large-scale propaganda campaign to convince the people of the Earth that the Ogema are a threat. 

May, 2085      
The Gertrude Bell, while conducting a geo-survey of the 40 Eridani system, determines that the Ogema home planet has massive deposits of TN resources at good availability levels. 

June, 2085      
The gate construction ship returns to the Solar System to report the completion of the gate network to 40 Eridani.  In addition, the Constructor-001 relays the Gertrude Bell’s survey report to date.  These results send the Council into an emergency meeting.  The result of the eight hour meeting is orders to Admiral Maurais and Lt. General Wireman to prepare an invasion force. 

In addition, the Council authorizes a salvage effort on the destroyed ships in the 40 Eridani system. 

June 29, 2085      
The Federation invasion force enters the 40 Eridani system.  The invasion fleet consists of the following ships:

BCJ Jouett (Belknap Mod 3) (Rear Admiral Mei Milnes, CO Battle Group 1.1)
BC Clifton Sprague, Estocin, Sides, Wadsworth (Oliver H. Perry Mod 2)
FSC Curtis Wilber (Arleigh Burke Mod 2)
Flight Group:    8xForrestal Mod 2 class GB
        1xForrestal AMM class GB
      1xForrestal Mod 2S class GB
CP Berlin, New York, Paris (Portland Mod 2)
TT Iwo Jima, Tarawa (Invasion class Brigade Troop Transport)

After sweeping the area around the jump point the fleet sets out for the third planet.  Once there the transports will land their troops on the planet’s moon, where they will establish a temporary base.  The transports will then return to Earth and pick up more troops.  The invasion will start when five brigades of combat troops and additional replacements are in place. 

August, 2085      
The Salvage Group finishes salvaging all wrecks in the 40 Eridani system.  In addition to almost 4,000 standard units of TN resources, the salvage ships recovered numerous missile launchers and several engines from the gunboats destroyed in the system.  The most valuable finds, though, were two very advanced ECM systems recovered from the wreckage of the alien ships. While some other systems were recovered, it appears that for the most part their technology matched that of the Federation.  The group sets out for Mars to turn over their recovered items. 

Perhaps the most disturbing result of the salvage effort was the determination that the alien ships were robotic, and that there were no crews present on any of the ships.  Indeed, there appeared to be no living areas at all.  There was nothing on the warships to indicate who made them. 

Once the salvaged items are delivered to Mars they are quickly disassembled to determine if any of their technology can be applied to Federation research.  As expected, the only truly advanced items were the ECM units, the disassembly of which provided critical insights into the next generation of ECM units. 

Sept. 25, 2085      
The invasion force is assembled on the Ogema moon, now designated as Advance Base Victory.  The invasion force consists of the following units:
1st Marine Expeditionary Force
HQ (Major Gen. Genaro Scurry)
4xMarine Raider Battalions

2nd Council Guard Group
HQ (Brigadier Gen. Joey Castonguay)
4xAssault Infantry

1st North American Infantry Brigade
HQ (Brigadier Tyler Kyer)
4xMobile Infantry Battalion

3rd Russian Infantry Brigade
HQ (Brigadier Ge. Dario Kummer)
4xMobile Infantry

5th Legion Etrangere Brigade
HQ (Brigadier Gen. Shelton Tarnowski) 
4xMobile Infantry Battalion

Replacement Corps
5xReplacement Battalion

Federation Marines
The Federation Marine Corps was founded in anticipation of the invasion of Ogema.  Marine battalions are outfitted for heavy combat.  Marine infantry are equipped with powered armor (see below), and equipped with 12 mm rapid fire gauss rifles.  Special weapons troopers are armed with either plasma cannons, large bore specialty projectile launchers, or broad-spectrum threat response missile packs.  Marine battalions include integrated artillery and armor support.

Marine Powered Armor: This armor is the logical conclusion of the standard infantry partially powered armor.  It uses the latest technology and is completely sealed so that a marine infantry unit can be deployed in most environments, including full vacuum.  The armor is powered, multiplying a trooper’s strength and speed, which also allows the suit to be heavily armored without impeding the soldier’s mobility.  Each suit incorporates fittings that allow the soldier to plug his primary weapon into the suit for power, which, while it will reduce the suit’s range and endurance, will significantly improve the weapon’s capabilities.  In addition, each suit comes fitted with either a grenade launcher or micro-missile launcher built into the backpack portion.     

The initial fighting was fierce as the Ogema attempted to oppose the Federation forces beachheads.  The 1st MEF suffered losses, but the Ogema forces took serious losses of their own.  Ogema forces vastly outnumbered the Federation ground troops, though, so it was going to be a tough fight to subdue the Empire. 

The next several weeks of fighting are disastrous for the Ogema as Federation forces find their footing.  The North American Infantry Brigade takes casualties, but inflicts serious damage numerous low-tech Ogema divisions.  The Legion Etrangere also takes losses, but as with the North Americans they inflict disproportionate damage on the Ogema. 

Six weeks into the invasion and the Ogema are faltering.  They have unflinchingly fed their low-tech infantry and armor units into the Federation meat grinder, and the Federation Army has obliged.  The death toll for the Ogema has been horrendous, but so far they have not shown any desire to negotiate.  By the 12th of November the Ogema defenses are collapsing. 

On the 27th of November the Gertrude Bell detected alien installations on comet #14 in the 40 Eridani system, the same comet that the alien ships seemed to be heading towards when they were destroyed.  The Bell’s captain ordered his ship in for a closer examination.  There were no ships or anti-ship defenses present, fortunately, and the Bell was able to determine that the comet was likely a listening post for the aliens that controlled the ships.  Her mission complete, the Bell set out for the inner system.

By the 29th the collapse of the Ogema defenses are complete.  Unfortunately, the five combat brigades that the Federation has on planet are insufficient to control the population centers.  Major General Scurry sends a request for reinforcements.  While General Scurry does not have enough troops to control the entire planet, he does manage to secure the bulk of the high tech facilities that the Ogema have managed to build, including:

1xSY (Naval, 1,000 ton)
6xResearch Lab
5xMaint. Fac.
1xDSTS
 4,418,034 fuel
2,00 maint. supplies 

Dec., 2085      
The Gravitic Survey Squadron has discovered four additional jump points in the 40 Eridani system.   The jump points are probed, revealing relatively uninteresting systems.  Only one of the systems, Giclas 99-49, has a planet with an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere, and a close approach is scheduled. 

On the 20th the Diego Garcia, a fleet support ship, arrives from Alpha Centauri with the first shipment of fuel from the mobile refineries there.  This shipment, along with increased production from the local refineries, finally allows the 1st Fleet to fill its tanks. 

The Federation Council, in reaction to General Scurry’s request for reinforcements, passes the Federation Reserve Forces Act.  This law designates corporate security forces as reserve military units, and enumerates the conditions under which the Federation can call them to active duty.  Six hours after the act is passed the Council calls to active duty the eleven corporate security units guarding the civilian mining outposts in the Solar system.  The corporations are told that they will be transferred to Ogema within the next six months.  There are protests, but the corporations are reimbursed for their costs.   

Jan., 2086      
While moving towards the Giclas 99-49 inner system to probe the potentially life-bearing planet, the Walter Raleigh detects a thermal contact nearly 800 mkm’s to its “east”, with north being the bearing to the system primary.  Captain Montaluo immediately orders his ship to reverse course and begins transmitting first contact messages at the unknown ship.  The contact is motionless, and from its current position, far outside of the planetary system, Captain Montaluo guesses that it is a gravitic survey ship much like his own.  Shortly after reversing course the aliens disappear from the Raleigh’s scanners. 

Captain Montaluo reports his discovery to Admiral Milnes in the 40 Eridani system immediately after jumping into the system.  Admiral Milnes is torn.  Her initial desire is to take her fleet out to make contact with the aliens, but her mission ties her to the planet.  Her relief will be arriving in March, though.  In the end she orders the 1st Gravitic Survey Group to return to the solar system and report its findings to the Council.  In the meantime she detaches the Paris to picket the jump point to the Giclas system. 

On the 23rd the Gravitic Survey Group returns to the Solar System and reports on the situation in the Giclas system.  This report galvanizes both the Council and the 1st Fleet Command structure.  The response is immediate.  The Council authorizes a mission to Giclas, and Admiral Maurais begins putting together the expedition. 

First, a small group of warships built around the brand-new battle cruiser John A. Moore and the fleet scout Stout are detailed to replace Admiral Milnes’ force over Ogema.  Next, a probe force composed of fourteen warships, including the flagship Belknap, is organized to enter the Giclas system.  Finally, Admiral Milnes’ force is ordered to hold the jump point into the 40 Eridani system and act as a reserve.  Admiral Milnes’ force is composed of the Federation’s most advanced ships, but they are not as well trained or experienced as the force under Admiral Maurais.   

February 12, 2086   
With all forces in position, Admiral Maurais orders her squadron and the jump point guard force to jump into the Giclas system.  Once their sensors reactivate after the jump and the area around the jump point is cleared Admiral Maurais orders her squadron to set out for the last known position of the alien ship.  It is well beyond range of their sensors, so the aliens could still be there, although everyone agrees it is unlikely. 

By the 14th the spot where the aliens were last sighted is within sensor range of the probe force.  Nothing is detected. 

On February 16th, at 0153 hours, the advancing probe force picked up a ship at the edge of their sensor range, 693 mkm’s away, directly ahead of them as they headed for the spot where the aliens had last been spotted.  The alien ship is in deep space, in an apparently uninteresting part of the system, far beyond the planetary system.  The contact is 16,900 tons, and although it is twice the tonnage of the ships encountered in the 40 Eridani system, the contact has an emission profile consistent with the robotic warships.  Admiral Maurais orders her fleet to intercept the alien ship.  Unfortunately shortly after it was detected the alien ship slipped away from the Federation fleet at 6655 kps. 

Admiral Maurais, not wanting to lose the alien ship, detached three Portland class cruisers and ten gunboats to chase it down.  One hour and forty minutes later, when the detached force had moved 24 mkm’s in front of the main fleet, they picked up the alien ship again.  The ship was heading directly away from them at 6655 kps.  Unfortunately, with an overtake speed of on 845 kps it would take the pursuers 226 hours to overtake the fleeing ship.  The gunboats, with their much higher speed, could overtake the alien ship in 33 hours, which was well within their operational range.  Admiral Maurais ordered the gunboats to pursue on their own. 

Thirty three hours later the gunboats were within range of their missiles.  Seconds later one hundred Phoenix Mod 2 missiles flashed away from the gunboats.  Eighty three of the missiles hit, with no signs of active defenses.  Eight of the missiles were intercepted by some sort of last second fire from the alien ship, but it obviously wasn’t enough.  The alien ship plowed through the explosions and kept going, undeterred.  The gunboats launched another fifty missiles at the fleeing ship, determined to stop it.  Shortly after the second salvo was launched the alien ship turned and charged the gunboats in a blatant attempt to close to beam range.  Of course, the attempt was doomed to failure and its only effect was to allow the Federation missiles to hit that much quicker.  Forty one out of fifty hit the alien ship, and this time it was slowed when it emerged from the fireballs.  The gunboat force launched another twenty missiles at the alien ship, but this time the aliens intercepted ten of the twenty missiles and the attack had no observable effect.  The gunboat group was forced to launch its last fifty missiles at the oncoming ship.  This last salvo did the trick.  Forty three missiles hit, causing multiple internal explosions, leaving nothing but wreckage behind.  The gunboats turned back to the main fleet. 

While the gunboats returned to the main fleet, Admiral Maurais sent the three detached cruisers on a circuit of the outer system.  Once the gunboats rejoined the fleet Admiral Maurais ordered her ships to set out for Giclas 99-49 A-V, a small rocky planet in between the fleet and the inner system.  It would be their first waypoint into the system.  The planet proved uninteresting, and so the fleet moved on to Giclas 99-49-A III, a super Jovian planet with six moons, orbiting just outside the system’s asteroid belt. 

With A-III cleared, the fleet set out for A-I, a rocky planet about one half of Earth’s size with a trace atmosphere and a surface temperature of 177.2 degrees due to its close orbit of the primary.  A-II was the next target, a planet close to Earth-sized, with an oxygen-nitrogen atmosphere with about 1/5 of a standard atmosphere pressure.  The surface temperature was a little cool, at -26.3 degrees, but the planet as a good target for terraforming at some point.  Eventually the entire system was cleared and the 1st Fleet reassembled on the warp point back to 40 Eridani.  Admiral Maurais spent most of her time writing her after-action report, but for the life of her she couldn’t figure out why anyone would leave a robotic warship loitering in the outer system of an uninhabited system.  It just didn’t make sense. 

March, 2086      
With the threat in Giclas eliminated, and the questions about the robotic ships going unanswered, Captain Eliopoulos, CO of the Ogema Watch Force, decides that the robotic listening post on Comet #14 needs to be investigated.  He detaches two Portland class cruisers to escort a troop transport carrying the 1st MEF with orders to land on the comet and investigate the facilities that the Gertrude Bell found there.  In the meantime, the Bell is dispatched to the Giclas 99-49 system to survey the planets there. 

April 14, 2086      
The marines of the 1st MEF land on Comet #14.  There they find a small abandoned base.  The base includes a deep space tracking installation and four hundred and seventeen ASM’s.   After spending several days searching the comet, the marines return to their transport and the squadron sets out for Ogema.  A small guard force is left behind to secure the base until Federation freighters can arrive to remove the valuables. 

June, 2086      
A Federation troop transport unloads the 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force, completing the deployment of Federation troops to Ogema.  At this point there are only two combat brigades in the Solar System, both of which are Council Guard units, one on Earth and the other on Mars.  Everything else has been transferred to Ogema. 

On June 9th the Ogema government officially surrenders to the Federation.  In addition to the high tech facilities taken previously, the Federation now controls the rest of the Ogema nation’s resources and facilities, including 2717 conventional industry and almost 24,000 standard units of TN resources.  In addition, the Ogema government agrees to pay the Federation 140,000 standard economic units as reparations. 

General Scurry dispatches one of the troop transports orbiting Ogema to Earth with the news of the surrender. 

On June 10th, the Gertrude Bell discovers large deposits of eight different TN resources on the second planet of the Giclas system, several of which are present at good availability levels.  Even more interesting, though, are the ruins of a destroyed alien outpost.  The Bell’s commander orders his ship to the jump point to report the discovery. 

The Bell’s report arrives at Ogema on the 20th.  Captain Eliopoulos immediately dispatches the cruiser Paris to the Solar System with the reports.  The Paris arrives in the Solar System on the 25th.  The Council reacts quickly by dispatching a jump gate construction ship to the 40 Eridani system.