In October 2074, the first of four Guadalcanal class Troop Transports was delivered to the Federation Navy. The Guadalcanal was based on the hull for the Atlas class Freighter, replacing the cargo holds with troop transport bays, a jump drive, a limited suite of sensors and the new CIWS-160. The close-in weapons system, or CIWS, was a fully integrated, fully automatic point defence system that consisted of a turreted dual half-size gauss cannon, a beam fire control and a short-range active sensor. Because the various components were integrated, they could not be used in conjunction with other systems on the ship. The CIWS-160 operated in autonomous mode, detecting and automatically engaging any missiles headed for the mounting unit. Due to its extremely short range it could not be used to protect other ships, which made it useless for escort vessels but ideal for providing a limited anti-missile capability to support vessels or warships primarily designed for an anti-ship role. As all the required electronics were built into the CIWS-160, the mounting ship did not need specialised anti-missile fire control systems and sensors.
Guadalcanal class Troop Transport 45000 tons 614 Crew 1183.8 BP TCS 900 TH 2250 EM 0
2500 km/s JR 2-25(C) Armour 1-112 Shields 0-0 Sensors 5/5/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
Maintenance Capacity 16 MSP Max Repair 144 MSP
Troop Capacity: 5 Battalions Cargo Handling Multiplier 5
JC45K Commercial Jump Drive Max Ship Size 45000 tons Distance 25k km Squadron Size 2
NPO Energomash Commercial Ion Engine (15) Power 150 Fuel Use 8% Signature 150 Armour 0 Exp 1%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 50.0 billion km (231 days at full power)
CIWS-160 (1x6) Range 1000 km TS: 16000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
FN/SPN-5 Navigation Sensor (1) GPS 1280 Range 12.8m km Resolution 80
FN/SQR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 5m km
FN/SLR-3 EM Detection Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 5m km
In early January of 2075, the first RLS-5A Large Sensor Buoys rolled off the Federation Nations production lines. The RLS-5A could be deployed by the Manxman class Minelayers and comprised one active and two passive sensors plus a reactor capable of powering the buoy for almost four years. The minelayer Douglas began a cruise around the Sol system on January 10th, positioning one RLS-5A within 200,000 kilometres of each of the eight jump points. Once that task was completed, she would repeat the process in Proxima and Alpha Centauri.
FN/RLS-5A Large Sensor Buoy
Buoy Size: 16 MSP (0.8 HS) Armour: 0
Reactor Endurance: 45 months
Active Sensor Strength: 2.1 Resolution: 20 Maximum Range: 420,000 km
Thermal Sensor Strength: 0.6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 600,000 km
EM Sensor Strength: 0.5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 500,000 km
Cost Per Buoy: 12.2
Materials Required: 9x Boronide 3.2x Uridium
Development Cost for Project: 1220RP
On April 9th 2075, the Xenoarchaeology team on 70 Ophuichi II completed their investigation of the ruined alien settlement. They had deciphered the alien language and symbology, which would allow engineers to understand those installations and components that could be salvaged and begin the process of recovery. The alien race that built the crumbled city was known as the Kingdom of Lusaka and it soon became apparent that the smaller ruins on the third planet of 70 Ophuichi were also of Lusakan origin. Engineer Regiments were already in place on both worlds and they began work immediately.
The first success came in early July when the engineers of the Second Alien Recovery Regiment discovered ninety alien shield generators. The Federated Nations had neglected shield technology in favour of armour so rather than use the shield generators on new ships, they were disassembled in an attempt to gain the underlying technology. After taking apart seventy-five percent of the alien components, Federation scientists were confident they had learned enough to replicate them.
The Federation Navy continued to grow in size. By January 2076, three new Agincourts and three new Guardians had joined the Fleet. The Agincourt class destroyer El Alamein and the Guardian class escorts Shield and Cerberus were dispatched to join the Fourth Destroyer Squadron, the surviving two ships of which were still picketing the Ross 248 - Sol jump point. The rest formed the basis of a new Seventh Destroyer Squadron. Fourteen Agincourts and thirteen Guardians were in service but they would be the last of the original design. Due to advances in sensor technology, improvements in missile launcher reload rates and the introduction of a new magazine design with greater internal armour, a more efficient mechanism and an improved ejection system, Flight II versions of both ships were ready for production. The Guardian Flight II could engage incoming missiles at a thirty-five percent greater range than its predecessor, launch its own missiles every ten seconds instead of fifteen and had a fourteen percent greater magazine capacity.
Guardian Flight II class Destroyer Escort 6000 tons 520 Crew 975.44 BP TCS 120 TH 480 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 3-29 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 3 PPV 15
Annual Failure Rate: 82% IFR: 1.1% Maintenance Capacity 356 MSP Max Repair 126 MSP
Magazine 495
Rolls Royce Falcon Ion Engine (8) Power 60 Fuel Use 80% Signature 60 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 37.5 billion km (108 days at full power)
Mk4 Guided Missile Launching System (15) Missile Size 1 Rate of Fire 10
FN/SPG-19 Anti-Missile Fire Control (3) Range 1.3m km Resolution 1
RIM-2A Sentinel (495) Speed: 24,000 km/s End: 1.6m Range: 2.3m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 176 / 105 / 52
FN/SPD-18 Missile Detection Sensor (1) GPS 126 Range 1.3m km Resolution 1
FN/SPN-5 Navigation Sensor (1) GPS 1280 Range 12.8m km Resolution 80
While the Agincourt Flight II also improved its rate of fire and slightly increased magazine capacity, the most important enhancement was within its electronic systems. A combination of improved sensor technology and adapting the resolution of the electronics to the smallest alien ship types resulted in a fifty-five percent increase in fire control and sensor range. In addition, a newly developed ECCM-1 installation was fitted, albeit at the cost of a significant reduction in passive sensor capability. Even though the ECCM would only offset approximately 20% of the effectiveness of the alien electronic countermeasures, it would add ten million kilometres to the lock-on range of the FN/SPG-16 Missile Fire Control. The minimal passive sensors would reduce the solo deployment capability of the Agincourt - Flight II but as the ship was intended to operate in squadrons led by a Kongo class, which had the best sensors in the Fleet, this was an acceptable compromise. Even with the remaining forty percent reduction in performance due to the alien ECM systems, missile range would be over seventy million kilometres, providing a slight range advantage over the alien ships. To make use of the extra fire control range, the Agincourt - Flight II would carry the new RGM-1B Falchion anti-ship missile, already being deployed on some of the Flight I ships, which had an extra nine million kilometres of range compared to the A model. The first units in each of the two new classes would be ready by early 2077.
Agincourt - Flight II class Destroyer 6000 tons 597 Crew 902.08 BP TCS 120 TH 480 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 3-29 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/5/0/0 Damage Control Rating 3 PPV 24
Annual Failure Rate: 96% IFR: 1.3% Maintenance Capacity 282 MSP Max Repair 126 MSP
Magazine 384
Rolls Royce Falcon Ion Engine (8) Power 60 Fuel Use 80% Signature 60 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 37.5 billion km (108 days at full power)
Mk5 Guided Missile Launching System (6) Missile Size 4 Rate of Fire 40
FN/SPG-16 Missile Fire Control (1) Range 119.7m km Resolution 95
RGM-1B Falchion (96) Speed: 20,000 km/s End: 57.7m Range: 69.3m km WH: 5 Size: 4 TH: 66 / 40 / 20
FN/SPS-15 Active Search Sensor (1) GPS 11970 Range 119.7m km Resolution 95
FN/SLR-3 EM Detection Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 5m km
ECCM-1 (1)
No refits to the Flight II model were planned for the existing Agincourt class ships, primarily because the cost and time of such a refit would be two-thirds of the cost of a new ship. However, their severe lack of range against the advanced alien ships was a problem so a more modest upgrade was planned instead. In the Flight IA variant of the Agincourt, the new FN/SPG-16 Missile Fire Control replaced the older FN/SPG-8 and the same reduction in passive sensors as the Flight II allowed the installation of ECCM. They would still have the older Mk 1 GMLS, active sensors and magazines, which would mean a reduced combat capability compared to the Flight II and a greater chance of suffering a similar magazine explosion to the ones that destroyed Cerberus and Ramillies. Despite that, they at least stood a chance of engaging the alien ships in combat, even if the odds were against them. The main problem would be freeing up sufficient shipyard space for the Flight IA refits.
Agincourt - Flight 1A class Destroyer 6000 tons 597 Crew 838.8 BP TCS 120 TH 480 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 3-29 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/5/0/0 Damage Control Rating 3 PPV 24
Annual Failure Rate: 96% IFR: 1.3% Maintenance Capacity 262 MSP Max Repair 96 MSP
Magazine 360
Rolls Royce Falcon Ion Engine (8) Power 60 Fuel Use 80% Signature 60 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 37.5 billion km (108 days at full power)
Mk 1 Guided Missile Launching System (6) Missile Size 4 Rate of Fire 60
FN/SPG-16 Missile Fire Control (1) Range 119.7m km Resolution 95
RGM-1B Falchion (90) Speed: 20,000 km/s End: 57.7m Range: 69.3m km WH: 5 Size: 4 TH: 66 / 40 / 20
FN/SPS-7 Active Search Sensor (1) GPS 7680 Range 76.8m km Resolution 80
FN/SLR-3 EM Detection Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 5m km
ECCM-1 (1)
On June 1st 2076, the Swan Hunter Shipyard completed retooling for the new Victory class Missile Cruiser, a ship designed for both fleet combat and solo deployment. The offensive armament for the Victory comprised the same six Mk5 GMLS as the Agincourt Flight II, backed up by twelve Mk4 GMLS firing RIM-2A Sentinel anti-missiles and a pair of CIWS-160 point defence systems. Sensors and fire control systems matched those on the latest destroyers while the passives were as capable as those on the Agincourt Flight I. Her armour belt was one third thicker than the destroyers, both ECCM and a new ECM system were fitted and the Victory was the first Federation warship to feature the shield technology reverse engineered from the Lusakan shield generators discovered on 70 Ophuichi III. Three ships were laid down and were due for delivery in November 2077.
Victory class Missile Cruiser 15000 tons 1288 Crew 2249.32 BP TCS 300 TH 1200 EM 1200
4000 km/s Armour 4-54 Shields 40-300 Sensors 10/10/0/0 Damage Control Rating 8 PPV 36
Annual Failure Rate: 225% IFR: 3.1% Maintenance Capacity 750 MSP Max Repair 126 MSP
Magazine 876
Rolls Royce Falcon Ion Engine (20) Power 60 Fuel Use 80% Signature 60 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 300,000 Litres Range 45.0 billion km (130 days at full power)
Mk1 Shield Generator (16) Total Fuel Cost 280 Litres per day
CIWS-160 (2x6) Range 1000 km TS: 16000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Mk5 Guided Missile Launching System (6) Missile Size 4 Rate of Fire 40
Mk4 Guided Missile Launching System (12) Missile Size 1 Rate of Fire 10
FN/SPG-16 Missile Fire Control (1) Range 119.7m km Resolution 95
FN/SPG-19 Anti-Missile Fire Control (2) Range 1.3m km Resolution 1
RIM-2A Sentinel (404) Speed: 24,000 km/s End: 1.6m Range: 2.3m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 176 / 105 / 52
RGM-1B Falchion (120) Speed: 20,000 km/s End: 57.7m Range: 69.3m km WH: 5 Size: 4 TH: 66 / 40 / 20
FN/SPD-18 Missile Detection Sensor (1) GPS 126 Range 1.3m km Resolution 1
FN/SPS-15 Active Search Sensor (1) GPS 11970 Range 119.7m km Resolution 95
FN/SQR-2 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 10 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 10m km
FN/SLR-4 EM Detection Sensor (1) Sensitivity 10 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 10m km
ECCM-1 (1) ECM 10
The first major achievement of the Federated Nations terraforming program came on December 21st 2076, when the atmosphere of Proxima II became breathable. The colony planet was still too cold to be ideal but the surface temperature of -17C would rise over time as carbon dioxide was pumped into the atmosphere. With the restrictions on movement outside the core systems since July 2074, the concentration of the civilian sector had been on expanding the colony worlds. Proxima II had recovered strongly from the destruction of the original colony. All the radiation was gone and the population had reached twenty-five million. With its ideal habitable conditions, Minerva was an even more popular destination and had forty-two-seven million inhabitants. Easily the largest and most important colony though was Mars, with a population of eighty-three million and twenty research facilities. 70 Ophuichi III was by far the smallest, with a population of just one point four million. Civilian mining colonies were in operation on eight bodies in the Sol system and two more in Alpha Centauri, both of which were on moons orbiting the same gas giant as Minerva. Thirty-six civilian-owned freighters and colony ships plied the spaceways between Earth's colonies.
The increase in naval strength continued throughout 2077 and the first half of 2078. By July 2078, the Federation Navy was preparing to take the offensive. All seven destroyer squadrons were at full strength and each comprised a Kongo class jump cruiser, two Agincourt Flight IAs and two Guardian class escorts. A new formation, designated as Battle Fleet, contained all the recent construction with the exception of a single Guardian Flight II that was assigned to the Seventh Destroyer Squadron. Its order of battle consisted of the first three Victory class missile cruisers, four Agincourt Flight IIs and five Guardian Flight IIs. Battle Fleet would provide the primary striking power for the Fleet when it advanced into Lacaille 9352. In addition to the warships, a pair of Caernarvon II planetary defences had been built on Minerva and a second pair on Proxima II. All four were constructed deep within mountain ranges and would be very difficult for an attacker to destroy. Unlike the original Caernarvon PDCs that were built on Earth, the updated design had PDC-specific missile launchers with double the rate of fire of their shipboard equivalents.
Caernarvon II class Planetary Defence Centre 10100 tons 582 Crew 1283.8 BP TCS 202 TH 0 EM 0
Armour 10-41 Sensors 1/126 Damage Control Rating 0 PPV 36
Troop Capacity: 1 Battalion Magazine 936
Mk7 PDC Guided Missile Launching System (6) Missile Size 4 Rate of Fire 20
Mk6 PDC Guided Missile Launching System (12) Missile Size 1 Rate of Fire 5
FN/SPG-19 Anti-Missile Fire Control (2) Range 1.3m km Resolution 1
FN/SPG-16 Missile Fire Control (1) Range 119.7m km Resolution 95
RIM-2A Sentinel (456) Speed: 24,000 km/s End: 1.6m Range: 2.3m km WH: 1 Size: 1 TH: 176 / 105 / 52
RGM-1B Falchion (120) Speed: 20,000 km/s End: 57.7m Range: 69.3m km WH: 5 Size: 4 TH: 66 / 40 / 20
FN/SPD-18 Missile Detection Sensor (1) GPS 126 Range 1.3m km Resolution 1
FN/SPS-15 Active Search Sensor (1) GPS 11970 Range 119.7m km Resolution 95
ECCM-1 (1)
On July 4th, the first two Phoenix class Salvagers launched from the Nagasaki Shipyard. The Phoenix was intended to clear up after the offensive, recovering raw materials and intact components from wrecked ships and possibly even new technology from the wrecks of alien ships. The jump capable salvage vessels would be accompanied by Atlas class freighters during operations which would carry away any recovered materials.
Phoenix class Salvager 45000 tons 812 Crew 1279.8 BP TCS 900 TH 2550 EM 0
2833 km/s JR 2-25(C) Armour 1-112 Shields 0-0 Sensors 5/5/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
Maintenance Capacity 18 MSP Max Repair 200 MSP
Salvager: 1 module(s) capable of salvaging 500 tons per day
JC45K Commercial Jump Drive Max Ship Size 45000 tons Distance 25k km Squadron Size 2
NPO Energomash Commercial Ion Engine (17) Power 150 Fuel Use 8% Signature 150 Armour 0 Exp 1%
Fuel Capacity 200,000 Litres Range 100.0 billion km (408 days at full power)
CIWS-160 (1x6) Range 1000 km TS: 16000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
FN/SPN-5 Navigation Sensor (1) GPS 1280 Range 12.8m km Resolution 80
FN/SQR-1 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 5m km
FN/SLR-3 EM Detection Sensor (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 5m km
As well as planning for the investigation of alien wreckage, the Federation Navy considered the possibility of planetary landings and even boarding actions. Although the Guadalcanal class troop transports could each carry an entire brigade, they could not deploy them quickly or attempt a boarding action so a new type of ship was required. The resulting design was the Heinlein class Dropship. The Heinlein was powered by the new Rolls Royce Kestrel engine, making it the fastest ship in the Fleet, and was capable of instantly deploying a full battalion from its combat drop modules. The drawbacks to the new high-powered engine were its exceptionally high fuel consumption and a general instability that prevented more than one engine per hull, which made the new drop ship extremely short-ranged compared to a full sized starship. As a combat drop module was only suitable for carrying troops for short periods due to its cramped, claustrophobic interior, this was not as significant a problem as it first appeared. For the purposes of the forthcoming operation in Lacaille, the Heinleins would operate from Proxima II as it was conveniently located close to the Lacaille 9352 jump point. Suitable maintenance facilities and fuel were already in place on the colony and the 1st Marine Regiment with its four attached battalions was forward deployed.
Heinlein class Dropship 1000 tons 41 Crew 132.6 BP TCS 20 TH 120 EM 0
6000 km/s Armour 2-8 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 8% IFR: 0.1% Maintenance Capacity 83 MSP Max Repair 60 MSP
Drop Capacity: 1 Battalion
Rolls Royce Kestrel Ion Engine (1) Power 120 Fuel Use 700% Signature 120 Armour 0 Exp 15%
Fuel Capacity 50,000 Litres Range 12.9 billion km (24 days at full power)
As future ground force and Marine targets were unlikely to be located close to Federation colonies, a more long-distance option was required for the future. This would be provided by the Rodger Young class Assault Carrier. A group of five Heinleins and a single Rico class command dropship would be transported by each assault carrier, which would operate in conjunction with a Guadalcanal class troop transport. The Heinleins would launch from the carrier, pick up their troops from a Guadalcanal at a safe distance from the target and then move in to make the assault at high speed. The Rico class command dropship, which was not yet in service due to a lack of suitable shipyard space, would accompany the troop carrying dropships and provide the same sensor coverage as a Victory class missile cruiser. The first two Rodger Youngs were only laid down in July 2078 and therefore would not be available in time for the Lacaille operation.
Rodger Young class Assault Carrier 12000 tons 645 Crew 1370.6 BP TCS 240 TH 960 EM 0
4000 km/s Armour 2-46 Shields 0-0 Sensors 1/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 5 PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 230% IFR: 3.2% Maintenance Capacity 357 MSP Max Repair 36 MSP
Hangar Deck Capacity 6000 tons
Rolls Royce Falcon Ion Engine (16) Power 60 Fuel Use 80% Signature 60 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 200,000 Litres Range 37.5 billion km (108 days at full power)
CIWS-160 (1x6) Range 1000 km TS: 16000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
FN/SPN-5 Navigation Sensor (1) GPS 1280 Range 12.8m km Resolution 80
Rico class Command Dropship 1000 tons 90 Crew 223.6 BP TCS 20 TH 120 EM 0
6000 km/s Armour 2-8 Shields 0-0 Sensors 10/10/0/0 Damage Control Rating 1 PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 8% IFR: 0.1% Maintenance Capacity 140 MSP Max Repair 126 MSP
Rolls Royce Kestrel Ion Engine (1) Power 120 Fuel Use 700% Signature 120 Armour 0 Exp 15%
Fuel Capacity 50,000 Litres Range 12.9 billion km (24 days at full power)
FN/SPS-15 Active Search Sensor (1) GPS 11970 Range 119.7m km Resolution 95
FN/SQR-2 Thermal Sensor (1) Sensitivity 10 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 10m km
FN/SLR-4 EM Detection Sensor (1) Sensitivity 10 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 10m km
The final preparatory action before the Fleet entered Lacaille was the creation of a minefield around the Proxima - Lacaille 9352 jump point to cover any withdrawal. The minelayer Douglas laid an inner ring of captor mines at 400-500k, an outer ring at approximately one million kilometres and a third group between two and three million kilometres from the jump point in the direction of Proxima II.
[attachment=7:iutiiqzc]minefield.GIF[/attachment:iutiiqzc]
With that task was complete, the long-awaited offensive against the Lacaille aliens could begin. The order of battle for the Federation assault force, led by Rear Admiral Cornelius Hilgendorf, was as follows:
Battle Fleet - Rear Admiral Cornelius Hilgendorf
3x CG Victory: Africa, Agamemnon (Fleet Flag), Ajax
4x DDG Agincourt Flight II: Aboukir Bay, Cape Matapan, Copenhagen, Trafalgar
5x DE Guardian Flight II: Balrog, Basilisk, Chimera, Cyclops, Daemon
1st Destroyer Squadron - Rear Admiral Stanizlov Kazakov
1x CJ Kongo: Kirishima
2x DDG Agincourt Flight IA: Agincourt (TG flag), Blenheim
2x DE Guardian Flight I: Guardian, Watchman
2nd Destroyer Squadron - Commodore Robert Rowley
1x CJ Kongo: Kongo
2x DDG Agincourt Flight IA: Salamanca (TG flag), Waterloo
2x DE Guardian Flight I: Protector, Safeguard
Support Group - Commander Alexei Sokolov
2x Guadalcanal TT: Alexander Vandergrift, Tulagi
3x ML Manxman: Douglas, Manxman, Ramsey (TG Flag)
5x DS Heinlein: Heinlein 001 - 005
1st Marine Regiment, 1st Heavy Assault Brigade, 7th Heavy Assault Brigade
Construction Ship
1x JCS Sydney Harbour: Sydney Harbour
First into Lacaille 9352 was the First Destroyer Squadron, with the mission of assessing any immediate threat near the jump point. Active sensors recovered from jump shock within fifteen seconds and detected a 64,000 ton wreck in close proximity, almost certainly the construction ship Golden Gate which was given up as missing, presumed lost in October 2072. There was no sign of alien contacts within the two hundred and forty million kilometer range of Kirishima's SPY-11 Area Search Sensor so she jumped back into Proxima to summon the rest of the fleet. The construction ship Sydney Harbour remained in Proxima and would be summoned forward to build a jump gate in the Lacaille side once the system was secure.
Once the fleet was assembled in Lacaille 9352, the two destroyer squadrons were deployed twenty degrees either side of the line of advance for the Battle Fleet at a distance of five million kilometres. The sensors on the Kongo class jump cruisers leading each squadron were the most powerful in the entire Federation force and would provide sufficient warning of any alien ships. The support group followed two million kilometres astern. Due to the slow speed of the troop transports, the rate of advance was 2500 km/s. During the previous two visits to Lacaille 9352 by Federation forces, alien ships were observed withdrawing toward the system's fifth planet, a gas giant with thirty-five moons. The largest of those moons was 5800 km in diameter but had no atmosphere and showed no sign of habitation. However, it was possible that some type of military installation or resupply node was on one of the moons. The other point of interest was the third planet, a terrestrial size body with a very thin nitrogen - oxygen atmosphere and a surface temperature of -61C. While hardly ideal for humans, it could very well be a vacation spot for the Lacaille aliens as nothing was known about their species' environmental tolerances. As Lacaille 9352-V currently lay between the Proxima jump point and the third planet, that was the initial target for the Federation fleet.
[attachment=6:iutiiqzc]Lacaille005.GIF[/attachment:iutiiqzc]
[attachment=5:iutiiqzc]Lacaille006.GIF[/attachment:iutiiqzc]
Fourteen hours after entering the system, the first alien contact was made. The two Apollo class and four Achilles class warships that originally raided Proxima and Alpha Centauri were detected at maximum sensor range. The direction of their approach appeared to be from empty space rather than a specific system body. The fleet continued on course and allowed the alien ships to close the range. An hour after the initial contact, the three smaller Odysseus and Menelaus class ships that took part in the destruction of the Proxima II colony in September 2072 appeared eleven million kilometres astern of the Apollos. Every known vessel of the Lacaille aliens was now within Federation sensor range. For the moment, Rear Admiral Hilgendorf retained his original formation, with the intention of pulling the destroyer squadrons back toward the main body once they reached alien missile range. At 16:55 on July 19th, with the closest alien vessel almost one hundred and forty million kilometres away, two hitherto unknown 1000 ton alien ships were detected just nine point six million kilometres from the closest destroyer squadron and moving at 8000 km/s. Designated as the Zeus class, the aliens were much smaller than 5000 ton or larger ships the SPY-11 was designed to detect, explaining why they were only picked up at four percent of maximum sensor range.
[attachment=4:iutiiqzc]Lacaille007.GIF[/attachment:iutiiqzc]
Unfortunately, none of the Federation fire control systems, which were also intended for use against larger ships, could lock up the two Zeus class, so Rear Admiral Hilgendorf ordered the First Destroyer Squadron to close the range until they could achieve a lock-on and then destroy them. Forty seconds after they were first detected, the small alien ships began moving away and active sensor contact was lost, although passive contact was retained as one of the Zeus had activated an active sensor shortly after they were detected and the emissions of that sensor were picked up by Federation EM sensors. The behaviour of the alien ships suggested a missile attack so all tactical officers in the Federation fleet began paying particularly close attention to their missile detection sensors. Eight minutes after initial detection of the two ships, just as everyone began to suspect it was a false alarm, sixteen incoming missiles were detected by the Second Destroyer Squadron, five million kilometres from the First.
[attachment=3:iutiiqzc]Lacaille008.GIF[/attachment:iutiiqzc]
Protector and Safeguard, the two Guardian class escorts in the Second Destroyer Squadron, immediately began launching RIM-2A Sentinel anti-missiles. Each escort had fifteen Mk2 Guided Missile Launching Systems that recycled every fifteen seconds. The Mk4 GMLS on the more modern Guardian Flight IIs recycled every ten seconds but no refit had been planned for the older ships due to economic considerations. To give the Guardians more time to engage the inbounds, Commodore Rowley ordered his squadron away from the alien missiles to reduce their overtake speed. Unfortunately, the five ships in the squadron had not spent enough time training together and they were slow to respond to the course change. They were still on their original heading when the last incoming missile was destroyed just seventy thousand kilometres from the squadron. Sixty-four Sentinels were expended by the two escorts, which was approximately seven percent of their total loadout.
[attachment=2:iutiiqzc]Lacaille009.GIF[/attachment:iutiiqzc]
Meanwhile, realising that the First Destroyer Squadron was not going to catch the fleeing Zeus class ships, Rear Admiral Hilgendorf ordered it to abandon pursuit before it was drawn too far from the other Federation ships. Two hours later, with the main alien force seventy-seven million kilometres away, he detached the support group and sent it toward the rear while the two destroyer squadrons pulled back to within 300,000 kilometres of the main body, so they could offer mutual anti-missile support. Instead of being positioned along the line of advance, they now held station twenty degrees either side of the threat axis, which for the purposes of formation keeping was designated as Achilles 001. The main body changed course to head back toward the jump point so their missiles would be travelling 'down hill' toward the alien fleet while any alien anti-ship missiles would have a slower rate of overtake and therefore a shorter effective range. With having to worry about the support group, the fleet increased speed to 4000 km/s, still slower than the 5800 km/s of the higher technology Lacaille aliens but far better in terms of avoiding incoming fire speed than 2500 km/s.
[attachment=1:iutiiqzc]Lacaille010.GIF[/attachment:iutiiqzc]
[attachment=0:iutiiqzc]Lacaille011.GIF[/attachment:iutiiqzc]