WARNING POSSIBLE SPOILERS WITHIN!!
Tales of the Union.
The Perfidious Hierarchy. Part 2.
Gram – Avalon-A II Star Corps HQ wanted a good look at the Baneh home system and was also curious with regards to all the unknown contacts beyond HIP 21482. However they did not wish to spook the Baneh so a limited deployment was authorised. Commodore Leonard was directed to take Task Group 3.1 out of Zwickau – S.W. Burnham 157-A II. This task group, part of Task Force 3, was the nearest one containing an invaluable fleet scout, the Seeker, with which to ferret out information on HIP 21482 and the unknowns in that Expanse. Commodore Leonard was given discretion to explore as far beyond Gliese 140 as seemed reasonable.
Task Group 3.1 (Commodore Bill Leonard, Flag Officer)
Jump Ship Discovery, the Missile Frigates, Flute, Corrie and Edge, Fleet Scout Seeker and the Escort Zirconium.
Jump map of Baneh Space January 90.
Gliese 106.Elements of STG 8 discovered Gliese 106 out of Woolley 9126. This system was a K4-V and K5-V binary system, with but a single planet orbiting each star. One planet was found to have significant deposits of duranium, the other neutronium. The planet orbiting the A component had a colony cost of 1.9 but was unlikely ever to be terraformed. Both however, would make good mining colonies
29th May 90. Woolley 9126. A new class of ship belonging to the Lleida Hierarchy designated the Action IV class of 2,150 tons was detected in Woolley 9126 by vessels of by Survey Task Group 2. It was tentatively identified as a survey vessel.
1st June 90. Avalon. Communications were established with the Empire of Caserta, formerly known as the Penkala aliens. These hairy aliens with prominent canines and leathery wings were still very much inscrutable.
5th June 90. Woolley 9126.An Empire of Baneh colony was detected on Woolley 9126-A II (Thermal signature 631 , EM signature 1589, estimated combat strength 30 ) by the geological survey vessel Diamond. The body has tens of millions of tons of duranium with a 0.7 accessibility.
12th June HIP 21482. A new class of Lleida Hierarchy vessel was detected in HIP 21482. It was designated the Consular class of 1750 tons. The previously unseen vessel transited out of HIP 24496. Its mass and movements would indicate it was probably a geological survey vessel.
20th June. HIP 21482. Task Group 3.1 finally reached the first of the target systems. The large array sensor on Seeker detected eighteen new 31,500 ton contacts. These vessels were of a new class in orbit of HIP 21482-A II, designated Thug class.
3rd July 90. Phi-2 Ceti. Beaumaris Alpha – Phi-2 Ceti-A II was still yielding its secrets. A research facility was recovered and found to contain complete technical details of Tau shield technology, which the Union was still researching.
4th July 90. HD 24496. Task Group 3.1 entered Gliese 140 and once Seeker’s sensors had recovered from jump lag the scan officer on the Seeker received a shock, a major Lleida Hierarchy fleet was in the system. There were a slew of new classes, large vessels at that, cruiser sized. There were five Dauntless class, 14,900 tons, two Gamma class, 22,350 tons, one Lucehulk, 22,350 tons, six Dreadnaught class 7450 tons, nine CR-70, 7450 tons, three Acclamator class, 14,900 tons, one MC-80 class, 7450 tons, one YT-2000 class, 7450 tons, and two Providence class at 14,850 tons. All looked to have recently entered system via jump portal #2. The Hierarchy fleet seemed to be headed for the jump point to HD 24496. All were capable of 4026 k/s except the Providence class which were slightly faster at 4040 k/s. These classes bore a striking resemblance to the wrecks detected in orbit of the Baneh Empire home world. There was no doubt now whom had been the other side in the war with the Baneh Empire, although which was the aggressor was still very much unresolved.
5th July 90. Eta Cephei. A destroyed outpost was located on Eta Cephei-A VI by Ashen Shugar II-004.
7th July Gliese 140. Six Hierarchy Dreadnaught class vessels altered course to intercept Task Group 3.1. Commodore Leonard decided to bring Task Group 3.1 to a stop and allow the six Dreadnaughts to close. He had the distinct feeling that if he did so much as raise shields the Hierarchy ships would open fire. The Hierarchy squadron stopped 750 million klicks from the Union Task Group and there then followed a nine hour staring match, which ended as the Lleida Hierarchy fleets suddenly made off in the direction of theHD 24496 jump point.
11th July 90. Gliese 140. The Hierarchy fleet appeared committed to the HD24496 jump point so Task Group 3.1 made for jump portal #2, the unexplored jump point from which the Hierarchy fleet almost certainly had to have arrived in system by, and transited through.
Task Group 3.1 emerged into V491 Persei, a former battleground with some 203 wrecks of ships such as Shadowhawks, Dreadnoughts, CR-70s and many more unidentified. There were two colony cost 0 planets in the B component. A couple of open wormholes were also easily detectable. There were also many active contacts.
Dozens of Nebulon-B2 contacts of 33,450 tons and 1345 k/s were picked up, some just emerging from jump point #2. V491 Persei-B II had a population with a thermal signature of 85269, which was at least a third higher than Excalibur- Avalon-A IV. The Union now knew the location of at least one populous world of the Hierarchy, very possibly the home world to judge by the thermal signature.
Sensor Screen Shot of V491 Persei.
13th July 90. V491 Persei. As Task Group 3.1 went deeper in system seventeen new contacts of 7450 tons and capable of 9663 k/s lit up the scan station’s display on an intercept course for the task group. This was an unexpected development; they were faster than Task Group 3.1. The navigator’s holotank was very crowded with the hundreds of contacts in the system. Ten vessels of the Recusant class, 31,100 tons, were also detected. There was also a new Dreadnaught class contact. Task Group 3.1 pressed on.
14th July 90. V491 Persei. Task Group 3.1 finally got within sensor range of the Lleida Hierarchy home world, which revealed six more Recusant class, forty-six Nebulon-B2 class, twenty-three Liberator class (14,700 tons), three Sentinel class (4,850 tons) and an orbital shipyard of 80,000 tons. Commodore Bill Leonard decided enough intelligence had been gained, and as the approaching Strike class ships, assumed to be warships of some kind, were faster than his task group it was time to make tracks while they were several days from contact. He was uneasy and did not trust the Hierarchy at all.
23rd July 90. HD24496. 09:06. Task Group 3.1 had entered HD 24496 from Gliese 140 to find the Hierarchy fleet strung out in two groups ahead of them. Task Group 3.1 rapidly closed on the neutral vessels. Before long Task Group 3.1 was only a few thousands of klicks from six Dreadnaught class ships of the Hierarchy which formed the trailing group. Sensor operators watched their screens intently trying to detect any untoward action by the group of warships, Weapons officers were poised over their boards inputting targeting data as it came in, waiting to launch as soon as the command was given. The fleet scout Seeker, jump ship Discovery and escort Zirconium all had their sensors hot providing current targeting data to the rest of the group. Commodore Leonard still had a bad feeling about the Hierarchy; their actions just did not fit a race that wanted peaceful relationship with the Union. The threats of the Dreadnought squadron as the Task Group proceeded into V491 Persei and the even more overt threat of the intercepting squadron detected in V491 Persei were just not the actions of a non-aggressive race, especially when contrasted to the actions of the Empire of Baneh who’s vessels hadn’t even stirred from their planetary orbits when the Task Group 3.1 passed through HIP 21482.
09:11. A new active sensor was detected emanating from one of the Dreadnaughts. If it was possible the atmosphere on the bridge of the Discovery grew even tenser. The bridge staff looked to Commodore Leonard to give the word. But still he was impassive, shields down to give a non-threatening posture as the two squadrons passed close enough to actually see the hull markings on the Hierarchy vessels, which did not appear be crafted to inspire confidence in the peaceful nature of the ships. Commodore Leonard did allow maximum cruising velocity. The last thing he wanted was a jump into HIP 21482 with the Hierarchy fleet waiting on the other side. So if anything was to happen, best it happened in HD 24496.
24th July 90. HD 24496. 01:36. Task Group 3.1 passed the Dreadnought squadron and they finally dropped off the thermal sensors. Crews around the squadron breathed a sigh of relief, one hurdle down, one to go. But that was an even more daunting one, consisting of the bulk of the Hierarchy fleet. The Task Group was now close enough to get clear readings of their thermal output. It was quite a quandary who was the other side in the local war? Intelligence was quite sure that some of the wrecks salvaged in HIP 21482 were Hierarchy vessels. Based on the salvage of a Longbow freighter wreck in HD 24496 which revealed it was powered by Magneto-plasma drives all wrecks found with these engines were assigned to the Empire of Baneh, while all those found with ion drives were assigned to their enemy, now without a doubt that enemy was the Lleida Hierarchy.
The War Book contained the outlines of three classes of warships. The details were sketchy but sufficient to give an idea of the Hierarchies capabilities. The Hierarchy fleet had a cruising velocity of just 4026 k/s, indicating that they were still probably using ion drives.
Unknown Class 22,350 tons ? Crew / BP TCS 447 TH ? EM ?
? km/s Armour ? Shields ? Sensors ?/?/0/0 Damage Control Rating ? PPV ?
Maint Life? Years MSP ? AFR ?% IFR ?% 1YR ? 5YR ? Max Repair ? MSP
Ion Drive E7/E8 (5+?) Power ? Fuel Use ?% Signature ? Armour / Exp ?%
Fuel Capacity ? Litres Range ? billion km (? days at full power)
? Shields (?) Total Fuel Cost ? Litres per day
40cm far X-ray laser (2) Range 3,200,000km TS: ? km/s Power Requirement: 40
RM 8 ROF 20 Power Recharge per 5 Secs: 10 Damage Output 40
Gas cooled PB-1 fast reactors (5+?) Total Power Output ? Armour 0 Exp 5%
Active Search Sensor? (?) GPS 960 Range ?m km Resolution ?
EM Detection Sensor ? (?) Sensitivity ? Detect Sig Strength ?: ?m km
Thermal Sensor TH3-18 (?) Sensitivity ? Detect Sig Strength ?: ?m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Unknown Class Type 1 7,450 tons ? Crew / BP TCS 142 TH ? EM ?
? km/s Armour ? Shields ? Sensors 54/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating ? PPV ?
Maint Life? Years MSP ? AFR ?% IFR ?% 1YR ? 5YR ? Max Repair ? MSP
Ion Engine E8 (1+?) Power ? Fuel Use ?% Signature ? Armour / Exp ?%
Fuel Capacity ? Litres Range ? billion km (? days at full power)
? Shields (?) Total Fuel Cost ? Litres per day
Size 5 Missile Launcher (?)
Missile Fire Control FC72-R70 Range: 72 Resolution: 70
Active Search Sensor MR? (?) GPS ? Range ?m km Resolution ?
EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (?) Sensitivity ? Detect Sig Strength ?: ?m km
Thermal Sensor TH1-6 (?) Sensitivity ? Detect Sig Strength ?: ?m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Unknown Class Type 2 7,450 tons ? Crew / BP TCS 142 TH ? EM ?
? km/s Armour ? Shields ? Sensors 54/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating ? PPV ?
Maint Life? Years MSP ? AFR ?% IFR ?% 1YR ? 5YR ? Max Repair ? MSP
Ion Engine E8 (2+?) Power ? Fuel Use ?% Signature ? Armour / Exp ?%
Fuel Capacity ? Litres Range ? billion km (? days at full power)
? Shields (?) Total Fuel Cost ? Litres per day
Size 1 Missile Launcher (5+?)
Missile Fire Control FC17-R1 Range: 17 Resolution: 1
Active Search Sensor ? (?) GPS ? Range ?m km Resolution ?
EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (?) Sensitivity ? Detect Sig Strength ?: ?m km
Thermal Sensor TH1-6 (?) Sensitivity ? Detect Sig Strength ?: ?m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
It was unfortunate that it was not possible to ascribe the War Book data to the classes of ship on the sensors.
01:48.21. The Union Task Group was 13.5 million klicks from the Hierarchy fleet and closing fast. The Sensor officer on the Discovery was lazily looking at his screen when several fast moving contacts began to appear on thermal sensors, his initial thought was a glitch and he set too trying to resolve the problem when the CIWS roared into life and the Weapons officer hit the action stations alarm. The sensor officer immediately reclassified the Hierarchy as hostile and the holotank was speckled with a red rash of incoming ordnance.
Because the Hierarchy were listed as neutral, a programming error had not classified the incoming missiles as hostile! Commodore Leonard immediately ordered shields up, but this was superfluous as the ships of the Task Group were already doing so, however his next order over the intership was much more satisfying. “Target their missile cruisers, return fire! The Task Group will change course to 198
o.” This would open the range between the Hierarchy fleet and the Task Group. “Comms report to Star Corps Command, the Lleida Hierarchy have commenced hostilities with the Star Union of Avalon.” The three frigates began the retaliation, but hopes were not high as there were at least eight and possibly as many as twelve anti-missile escorts. However it was hoped that the Firestar IVs travelling at 64,000 k/s, with a ten-kiloton warhead would cause them some problems.
The Flute was the next target of the fourteen size 5 missiles approaching in two salvos of seven approaching at 23,505 k/s, her CIWS took seven down, but it was thanks to the Zirconium that she escaped damage as the Zirconium’s gauss cannon ripped into the remaining missiles while the 20cm anti-ship lasers from the Zirconium and Discovery sniped at long range at the more distant incoming salvos. The task group’s shields were still in the process of coming up.
01:48:26. The Hierarchies target changed back to the Discovery, but the Hierarchies Herev anti-ship missile again failed to penetrate the alerted Task Group defences.
01:48:31. This bound of missiles were targeted at Edge, but all were shot down. The targets for successive waves were Discovery, Flute and Edge as the shields struggled into double figures. At 01:48:41 another wave of Firestars launched from the three frigates and would continue so every twenty-five seconds until their magazines were empty. The incoming missiles were slow enough that the anti-shipping lasers were destroying missile salvos before they could enter the engagement range of the Zirconium’s gauss cannon.
01:49:11. The waves of fourteen Size 5 missiles appeared to stop, replaced by a new threat, twin salvos of fourteen slower size 7 missiles (18,303 k/s).
01:49:51. Flute, Edge and Corrie fired fifty missiles apiece at their initial targets,
01:51:26. Close to the Hierarchy fleet seventeen one-kiloton explosions were detected, better than half the first wave of Union missiles had been taken out.
01:51:31. Only one Firestar made it through to hit its target. Commodore Leonard decided a change was in order to try and thin out the putative AMM vessels. The three frigates began to target the CR-70 class.
01:51:46. Seventeen Firestars of the second wave were lost to anti-missile fire.
01:51:51. Point defence tore at the approaching Firestars killing six more missiles.
01:51:56. Again only one Firestar made it through the defences.
01:52:41. The next wave of salvos achieved four hits against Dauntless 004, causing it to stream atmosphere after the first two, so some internal damage hopefully! Unfortunately this was the last wave targeted at the big cruisers, follow on salvos were targeted at the smaller 7,450 ton CR-70 class.
01:53:36. The three frigates launched the last of their missiles. So far the results had not been spectacular, five hits in total out of 420 missiles expended!
01:53:56. Of the next wave of Firestars a single missile out of thirty hit CR-70 003.
01:53:41. Six Firestars make it through the Hierarchies defences and detonated on top of a CR-70, any shields are knocked down and armour plate evaporated under the lithium deuteride fuelled plasma lances directed at the vessel. Atmosphere spurted from hull ruptures.
01:54:56.Task Group 3.1 had finally got its shields up to full strength.
01:55:06. CR-70 006 was hit by five Firestars, its thermal signature was reduced from 600 to 480 and the vessel began streaming atmosphere. There were two more waves of thirty missiles targeted at CR-70 006! The effectiveness of the Hierarchy defences was faltering.
01:55:26. The last of the Hierarchies inbound missiles were picked off by the Zirconium’s and Discovery’s lasers.
01:55:31. Four more Firestars made it through the Hierarchy defences to slam into CR-70 006.
01:55:56. The next wave got ten more Firestars through, four detonated around the stricken CR-70 006. The ship could not take a further forty-kilotons of thermonuclear damage and broke up.
01:56:01. Of the six Firestars that were not required to destroy CR-70 one made it through yet more point defence fire to damage Dauntless 002.
01:56:16. Hierarchy AMM fire slackened, only four Firestars destroyed at the first interception point.
01:56:21. Another four firestars were lost at the next interception point.
01:56:26. Just five Firestars were required to reduce CR-70 005 to so much wreckage. The fate of the last thirty inbound Firestars would be interesting as they had been targeted at CR-70 005 as well. There were also eleven Firestars still looking for a target from the penultimate wave.
01:56:26. The lost missiles chose Dauntless 002 as their target and four hit, causing a plume of frozen atmosphere to be seen spewing from the damaged vessel.
01:56:46. The final wave of Firestars broke over the Hierarchy fleet, with no particular target locked in. Their tiny brains picked the hottest target, the 14,850 ton Providence 002 and ten made it through final defensive fire to explode with thermonuclear powered vengeance around the unfortunate vessel. Atmosphere was seen to spurt from rents in the hull. Commodore Leonard was well pleased with events so far. He had fought a far larger but technically inferior fleet to a standstill and inflicted real damage on it. All he had to do now was guide his squadron into HIP 21482 without coming in range of the Hierarchy AMMs of which they still seemed to have an adequate if not plentiful supply. Leonard ordered a change of course to 241
o. But he had to be careful that the Dreadnaught group did not close on the squadron from the other direction.
01:57:21. Just as Commodore Leonard was congratulating himself fourteen size 5 missiles were detected inbound. The Hierarchy had found more missiles from somewhere, or more likely the Task group had strayed back into range.
01:59:56. The last of three salvos of size 5 missiles came into range of the lasers and as they did so a thermal contact registered, approaching at 31,700 k/s, the Task Group had cut the corner to try and get round the Hierarchy fleet which was between Task Group 3.1 and the jump point to HIP 21482.
01:59:46. Another contact was picked up, a further two fourteen missile salvos of size 7 missiles inbound. Commodore Leonard ordered a course change to 182
o to try and move out of range of the closing Hierarchy fleet.
02:00:01. The strength 8 thermal contact resolved itself into eight size 5 missiles. The range to the hierarchy fleet had dropped to 11.6 million klicks.
02:01:06. There were now two streams of missiles approaching one of faster size 5 and one of slower size 7, If the Task Group was unlucky it could suffer an attack by both types of missiles simultaneously, however this still shouldn’t be too dangerous.
02:02:16. The fast size 5 missiles stopped, to be replaced with the slow version.
02:21:41. Commodore Leonard ordered Task Group 3.1 to change to course to 198
o, taking them further away from the Hierarchy fleet, but also further away from the jump point.
02:49:31. Having almost succeeded in trapping the Union fleet in HD24496 the Hierarchy fleet split up, the Dauntless group stayed in place, a single Providence class vessel continued its pursuit of Task Group 3.1 while the rest fell back on the Dreadnaught group some 415 million klicks distant. A curious manoeuvre but one that still left the bulk of the enemy fleet between Task Group 3.1 and the jump point.
04:18:01. Commodore Leonard ordered yet another course change to 243
o. Providence 002 was still in pursuit.
07:38:01. Commodore Leonard ordered a final change of course to 306
o which set Task Group 3.1 on a direct line for the jump point into HIP 21482, the nearest enemy contact was 148 million klicks away. Some of the Hierarchy units would close but not enough to threaten the squadron, apart from which the Dauntless group seemed more interested in investigating a Baneh Longbow freighter also heading for the HIP 21482 jump point.
10:52. Providence 002 gave up its fruitless pursuit.
Commodore Leonard’s last sight of HD 24496 was of six Dreadnaught class vessels on course to transit into HIP 21482, but they were some 428 million klicks astern.
The Battle in HD 24496
25th July 90. HIP 21482. 09:18. A Consular class Hierarchy survey ship was detected in HIP 21482 as Task Group 3.1 transited in from HD 24496, Zirconium was detached to try and run it down. The rest of Task Group 3.1 headed for the jump point to Alpha Trianguli but would not transit as the Seeker illuminated the target for Zirconium to home onto.
27th July 90. HIP 21482.18:33. The transit of six Dreadnaught class vessels from HD 24496 into HIP 21482 was detected.
19:46. five, ten- kiloton explosions were detected close to the jump portal to HD 24496 and a Longbow freighter contact was replaced by a wreck marker on the long-range scan aboard Seeker. Hostilities between the Hierarchy and the Baneh Empire had recommenced, if they had ever ceased! The Hierarchy squadron was heading in system, towards what was assumed to be the Baneh Home world.
28th July HIP 21482. Another Longbow freighter disappeared in a thermonuclear fireball as the Dreadnaught squadron passed close by.
29th July HIP 21482.Zirconium brought Consular 002 into effective laser range and over the next thirty seconds poured fire into her, destroying the craft. Survivors were rescued. Zirconium then proceeded to rejoin Task Group 3.1.
30th July 90. HIP 21482.Zirconium passed close to the Baneh home world and got a reading of the planet, which had an estimated ground combat strength of 1306.
2nd August 90. Gliese 140.A sensor satellite on the jump portal to V491 Persei detected the entry of Dreadnaught 008 into the system.
3rd August 90. HIP 21482.Zirconium rejoined Task Group 3.1 at the jump portal to Alpha Trianguli and at the same time Task Group 3.3 and 3.4 appeared at the jump point in company with a Stellar class replenishment vessel with over seven hundred Firestar IVs on board. Task Group 3.2 was away at Phi-2 Ceti replenishing their missile tubes, so this was all of Task Force 3 that would make it for the duration of the conflict.
Task Force 3
Task Group 3.1(Commodore Bill Leonard, Flag Officer)
Jump Ship Discovery, the Missile Frigates, Flute, Corrie and Edge, Fleet Scout Seeker and the Escort Zirconium.
Task Group 3.3 (Captain Kia George, SO.)
Jump Destroyer Cadal, Missile Boats Giant, Goblin, Unicorn, Werewolf and the Escort Hafnium.
Task Group 3.4 (Squadron Leader Hosvi Vefastrson, SO.)
Jump Ship Eclipse, Missile Frigates Pinnacle, Slab, Saddle, Talus and the Escort Strontium.
4th August 90. HIP 21482.The Lleida squadron of six Dreadnaught class vessels slid into close orbit of the Baneh home world. What happened next could only be surmised as at 12:21:26 a new Dreadnaught wreck appeared in the planet’s orbit, followed five seconds later by two ten-kiloton and eighty-eight one-kiloton explosions and a second Dreadnaught wreck. At 12:21:41 there were ninety, one- kiloton detonations and a third wreck appeared. Five seconds after that a fourth wreck littered the orbital space of the planet, like the first probably a victim of kinetic or beam weapons. Finally at 12:21:51 there were eighty-nine one-kiloton detonations and the last Dreadnaught was transformed into a wreck. It took twenty-five seconds for the Baneh defences to destroy the Hierarchy squadron, and they only succeeded in hitting with two missiles. The real mystery was why the squadron closed to point blank range in the first place. Any Union admiral trying such a stupid stunt against planetary defences would be instantly removed and court marshalled. Task Group 3.4 dispatched the escort Strontium to recover Hierarchy survivors for interrogation.
5th August 90. HIP 21482.Strontium recovered the survivors without incident and one grateful prisoner revealed information on the Lleida Hierarchy Bangalore class warship, which had not been seen by the Union.
Bangalore class Destroyer 7,450 tons 901 Crew 3250 BP TCS 149 TH 600 EM 0
4026 km/s Armour 4-33 Shields 0-0 Sensors 6/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 4 PPV 48
Maint Life 2.57 Years MSP 1091 AFR 111% IFR 1.5% 1YR 231 5YR 3464 Max Repair 505 MSP
Ion Engine E8 (10) Power 60 Fuel Use 80% Signature 60 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 150,000 Litres Range 45.3 billion km (130 days at full power)
40cm C10 Far X-Ray Laser (4) Range 480,000km TS: 8000 km/s Power 40-10 RM 8 ROF 20 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 35 32
CIWS-320 (1x6) Range 1000 km TS: 32000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Fire Control S04 240-8000 (1) Max Range: 480,000 km TS: 8000 km/s 98 96 94 92 90 88 85 83 81 79
Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor Technology PB-1 (9) Total Power Output 40.5 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Active Search Sensor MR96-R70 (1) GPS 13440 Range 96.4m km Resolution 70
Thermal Sensor TH1-6 (1) Sensitivity 6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 6m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
6th August 90. Woolley 9388.Carrier Group 2 was detailed to search for the Lleida scouts last seen in Woolley 9833. The Carrier Group entered an unexplored jump point in Woolley 9388 and discovered the already known system of 94 Aquari.
Carrier Group 2
Task Group 2.1. (Squadron Leader Bill Norris , Flag Officer.) Jump Carrier Sand Dragon, Carriers Ameer and Empress, Fleet Scout Guardian, Replenishment Vessels Stellar Causeway and Stellar Span and 116 embarked Thunderhead attack shuttles.
Carrier Task Group 2.2. (Captain Gurtrud Rothmann, SO.) Jump destroyer Glamredhel, escorts Chromium, Dubnium, Molybdenum, Radium and Scandium.
HD 24496.Task Group 3.1 in company with Task Groups 3.3 and 3.4 returned to HD 24496 and detected a large part of the Hierarchy fleet about to enter Gliese 140, which five vessels had already been detected entering by the surveillance satellite at the jump point. The fleet could be returning to V491 Persei or laying in ambush on the other side of the jump point in Gliese 140.
8th August 90. Luyten 431-25.The exploration of an unexplored jump point in the 94 Aquarii system by Carrier Group 2 revealed the new system of Luyten 431-25. The wrecks of a Pizzaro class warship, a Fradera Cabo base plus the wreck of an unknown ship class were detected deep in system. Luyten 431-25-A II had a Colony Cost of 0.
Squadron Leader Bill Norris looked at his repeater screen, then into the Holotank. Once the sensors had recovered from jump lag there was a red rash around Luytens 431-25-A II, the most powerful Destroyer fleet yet located, with three new types of warships not seen before, including a vessel of the Medas class that massed 20,100 tons. The carriers were always regarded a strategic reserve and had never seen combat apart from the campaign against the Devarian Imperialist when the C V Emperor had delivered her fast attack squadron to aid in the investiture of the Devarian orbitals. He was faced with a choice, leave them and retire or launch the first ever attack shuttle strike in the Union’s history. The former was not really an option. Squadron Leader Norris ordered the three carriers to launch their squadrons, No. 8 Squadron (CVJ Sand Dragon), No. 9 Squadron, (CV Ameer) and No. 10 Squadron (“Starfighters”, CV Empress).
The Destroyer battle group consisted of one Medas class 20,100 tons, two Pizarro class, 13,400 tons, one Delfin class, 13,400 tons, one Vencedora class, 6.700 tons, two Bergantin class 6,700 tons and one Hernan Cortez class, 6,700 tons. When the Destroyer squadron detected the presence of the Union Task Force it left the planet and headed for Carrier Group 2.
9th August 90. Luytens 431-25. The attack squadrons reached their designated launch position. No 8 and No. 9 squadron were to deliver the main strike, while No. 10 acted as a reserve to finish off any cripples. At 51 million klicks from target squadron commanders switched on their fire controls, much as expected the Destroyer battle group has strength five ECM, reducing the effective range of the Sunsnake missiles from 59.8 million klicks to just 34.5 million.
The range shrank to 31.3 million klicks. The squadron commanders reported to the carriers, “strike package in place, condition green, going for launch.” Five seconds later 456 Sunsnake missiles made their combat debut. Seven minutes later the veritable tsunami of missiles broke over an unsuspecting squadron that hadn’t activated a single sensor. There was none of the expected AMM fire from the escorts and only a mere handful of Sunsnakes were hit by point defence on final approach. It was massive overkill. The lithium dueteride fuelled nine-kiloton thermonuclear warheads seemed to boil the very vacuum itself. As the squadrons retired to their carriers’ radiation alarms were triggered onboard the attack shuttles as the wave front passed over them, such was the intensity of the conflagration. A full 198 missiles were left without a target fruitlessly looking for something to home on. No. 10 “Starfighter” squadron continued on to cleanse the planet of the orbital forts.
05:22’ Squadron commander of No. 10 Squadron reported in “Strike package in position, condition green, proceeding to launch” (and eventually received his acknowledgement some 50 minutes later from the carriers’ 896 million klicks distant, long after the forts were radioactive debris). The strike commander had allocated forty-eight missiles to each fort in light of the inability of the mobile units to mount any sort of missile defence. The wave broke over the two bases, and once again the point defence was woeful accounting for only eight missiles. Magnetic fields existing for picoseconds directed the lances of lithium deuteride powered plasma fury against the structures, defences evaporated under the onslaught and the hulls were rent open spilling their half melted mechanisms into the void. There were only a dozen missiles which could not find a target due to overkill. It was likely there were mines in the planetary orbits which the Task Force was ill equipped to deal with so the carrier group recovered its attack shuttles and left the system.
15th August 90. NSV 14784. The 16th Light Assault Division landed on NSV 14784-A III and began their attack on the Lleida Hierarchy colony on the planet. It was thought intelligence would be the principal benefit as it looked suspiciously like a ghost colony.
18th August 90. NSV 14784. The light MI of the 16th advanced on the colony. Even before the outskirts were reached there was desultory skirmishing which went wrong for the Hierarchy when they mistook an assault infantry battalion for an MI battalion and as a result the attacking Hierarchy battalion had over a third of their effectives killed, wounded or captured.
19th August 90. Gliese 140. Task Groups 3.1, 3.3 and 3.4 combat jumped into Gliese 140 then joined to form Task Force 3. After jump shock wore off a battle group of ten Hierarchy warships were detected. The battle group consisted of the two cruisers of the Providence class (14,800 tons), a single cruiser of the Acclamator class (14,900 tons) four escorts of the CR-70 class (7,450 tons) and a single 7,450 ton vessel each of the Dreadnaught, YT-2000 and MC-80 classes. Task Force 3 moved to engage.
03:34. Commodore Leonard studied the approaching Hierarchy fleet. As it entered standard sensor range (230 million klicks) he ordered “Task Force to defence stations,” although most captains already had their crews at defence stations well before this.
04:42. There was then a wait of over an hour before Leonard ordered over the intership “Task Force to action stations. Missile frigates set up firing solutions, missile boats stand-by.” He always intended that the missile boats would be his reserve as they could not reload anywhere short of Xi Pegasi and there were few missiles this side of Avalon itself.
05:27. An hour forty-five minutes later with the range down to 118 million klicks Leonard gave the curt order ”commence fire plan alpha.” In this set-up the possible AMM platforms were targeted by two salvos’ of ten missiles each, then the cruisers were targeted by two frigates each for another salvo. Results were observed and the plan repeated as required. Thirty seconds later Leonard ordered cease fire before the cruisers could be fired on. He announced over the intership “let’s see how the first two salvos do, they still haven’t activated a search sensor and must be blind!”
05:56:16. Nine of the Hierarchy vessels were grouped together, trailing them was Providence 002, which Task Group 3.1 had hurt in the engagement in HD 24496, it had obviously not been able to rectify all of the damage. The Hierarchy battle group appeared to think they were on a peacetime cruise with still no detectable sensors active. The first wave of 70 missiles came as a complete surprise to the Hierarchy force, 45 ten- kiloton thermonuclear warheads found their targets, the two CR-70s and the YT-2000 were reduced in short order to so much debris without a shot in return. All other targets were streaming atmosphere. Only two salvos had been eliminated by point defence, a poor reflection on what they could or should have achieved.
05:56:31. The Hierarchy squadron at last came to life and AMMs descended upon the second wave accounting for thirteen of the onrushing Firestar IVs.
05:56:36. Another ten Firestar IVs were taken out by point defence fire. MC-80 was retiring; the rest of the Hierarchy squadron was strung out but still advancing on Task Force 3.
05:56:41. Ten more missiles were lost to point defence. But the fleeing MC-80 did not get far and exploded in a shower of bright sparks. The two remaining CR-70 class ships also succumbed to the onslaught, disintegrating as magazines detonated in sympathy. Only the Dreadnaught 008 of the first phase targets was untouched, being the beneficiary of the point defence fire. Acclamator 004 was not so lucky picking up all the missiles that had lost their targets after the first wave struck. Firestars exploded about the unfortunate vessel and a plume of leaking atmosphere was easily detected. The bad news for Acclamator 004 was there were still Firestars looking for targets!
05:59:46. The unlucky Acclamator 004 attracted the loose Firestars and while ten were destroyed by point defence the rest descended on her like the hammer of the gods. Lithium deuteride powered thermonuclear explosions opened the hull to vacuum, crew and contents alike spewed into the vacuum as the ships atmosphere blew away. The ship flew apart on the nuclear wind. Leonard observed the outcome of the task forces strike with considerable satisfaction. He then ordered “fire plan theta, go!” A fire plan no one thought they would ever use as it only targeted each cruiser with fifteen missiles and each escort sized vessel with five, observe results and repeat as necessary. But Leonard was conscious of his limited missile supply and decided to eke it out as long as possible.
05:56:51. The missiles left the frigates launchers on their way to their targets.
06:47:46. The Firestars faced no point defence fire as they exploded around their targets, overwhelming Providence 003 and Dreadnaught 008. Providence 002 took a further five missiles and then the battle of Gliese 140 was over. It was noticeable that this time the Hierarchy took the time to recover some of their life pods, not that it did them much good, but Commodore Leonard was frustrated in his search for additional intelligence on the Hierarchy.
11:14. The reason for the reluctance of the Hierarchy to allow its crews to be captured was explained as two disgruntled individuals who were transferred from survey to battle fleet duties against their wishes showed their disapproval of the Hierarchy by revealing a geological survey of Tau-6 Eridani and the gravitational survey results for Gliese 200 which they just happened to have on a data chip. Both these systems had only recently been discovered by the Union.
Beta Ophiuchi. Exploration of a jump point in the HR 7683 system by Survey Task Group 9 revealed the new system of Beta Ophiuchi. Beta Ophiuchi-A was a K2-III star with a well developed solar system. Beta Ophiuchi-A IV had a colony cost of 2.71. The system would prove to be well endowed with TN minerals but off the main development route.
24th August 90. NSV 14784.The 16th Light Assault tightened their grip on the countryside surrounding the Hierarchy colony, trying not to get too close to the prepared defences. All went well until 407th Mobile Infantry Battalion strayed into an ambush and had 38% of its effectives disable or killed. In return they were able to savage a Hierarchy garrison battalion, killing, disabling or capturing a quarter of its personnel.
Ross 769.Exploration of a jump point in the V1396 Cygni system by Task Force 1 revealed the new system of Ross 769. Ross 769 was a M3-V star with two planets in company, Ross 769-A II had a colony cost of 1.90
28th August 90. Upsilon Eridani.Carrier group 2 returned to 94 Aquarii and entered the final unexplored jump point which was found to lead to Upsilon Eridani. This was a large single star system centred on an F7-V star consisting of twelve planets, dozens of moons and hundreds of asteroids. Upsilon Aquarii-A IV and Upsilon Aquarii-A V both had colony costs of 1.90.
As Carrier Group 2 headed in system the scout Guardian picked up the signature of the Hierarchy scout YM 2000 006 on its sensors, unfortunately too far away to launch a strike immediately. Soon after a second Hierarchy survey ship (YM-2800 002) was detected.
29th August 90. NSV 14784.The Ground Attack on the NSV 14784-A III Lleida Hierarchy colony reached a hiatus as the Union assault battalions prepared to assault the outskirts of the colony and the defenders dug in.
1st September 90. V491 Persei.Task Force 3 entered V491 Persei and the holotank lit up with a rash of hostile contacts and wrecks. Most had been classified as transports but Commodore Leonard was looking for the seventeen Strike class vessels that challenged his last incursion into this system. It did not take long to filter out the extraneous contacts and reveal the approaching flotilla. This time Leonard would not be declining combat.
2nd September 90. V491 Persei.Five Dauntless class missile cruisers were detected as they began their approach to the Task Force.
Upsilon Aquarii.Contact was established with YM-2800 003, which meant three of the five known scouts had been located.
3rd September 90. V491 Persei.A different kind of surprise was thrown at Commodore Leonard as a new alien race was detected on V491 Persei-B III.
Upsilon Aquarii.A fourth Hierarchy scout, YM-2800 005, was located by Carrier Group 2. They only needed one more for the set.
4th September 90. V491 Persei.Seventeen Strike class entered the engagement envelope of Task Force 3, that is if they had FIrestar Vs. in their magazines. Fire plan Alpha required that fifteen were to be engaged by twenty missiles each in the first wave. Alternate fire plans were also set up.
But at 06:35 the Strike battle group turned tail! Their velocity had dropped to 9410 k/s, and they had a proven capability of 9664 k/s. Perhaps they had a missile that out ranged the Firestar IV (range: 123. million klicks) and they had already launched them! At 06:55 with a bad feeling Bill Leonard ordered the Task Force to reverse course to the jump point. The Strike Group also reversed course to keep Task Force 3 at the same range approximately 142 million klicks. Leonard was convinced incoming was not far off. In addition sixty 1000 ton Attack Craft were detected closing on the Task Force.
Two hours twenty minutes later there was no missile attack materialising. At 09:15 Leonard reconsidered the situation, were the Strike class vessels just waiting for the Attack Craft to arrive and launch a coordinated attack? Or had they run out of missiles? Leonard took a chance, detached his slow escorts and closed with the enemy at 10285 k/s compared to their 9663 k/s.
NSV 14784.The mobile infantry began to invest the outlying districts of the colony. But the Hierarchy garrison was fighting from prepared positions and gave better than they got. The 464th Mobile Infantry Battalion suffered 33% casualties while only inflicting 20% casualties on the Hierarchy unit in return.
5th September 90. V491 Persei.05:58. The seventeen Strike class vessels were now just 90 million klicks from the Task Force and the sixty IPV-1 Attack Craft were 492 million klicks away. The attack craft were not a real threat as they travelled at only 6000 k/s. Commodore Leonard gave the order “Fire plan Alpha, shoot!”
06:23. the first wave of Firestars hurled themselves at their unsuspecting targets, seven dissolved riven by secondary power systems exploding, leaving wreckage and life pods in their wake. The second wave was no less ferocious, and more ships dropped off the scan reduced to fragments. Whatever the vessels were they were considerably more fragile than expected with no apparent means of defence. The forty missiles of the last wave made short work of the two final targets, leaving dozens of Firestars looking for targets.
Rescued Hierarchy crews revealed details on enhanced radiation warheads (33% yield, 3 x radiation), Summary data of the Nirghat and Udaygiri class Jump Destroyers and geological survey information on Gliese 106.
Nirghat class Jump Destroyer 7,450 tons 667 Crew 1426.7 BP TCS 149 TH 600 EM 0
4026 km/s JR 3-100 Armour 3-33 Shields 0-0 Sensors 6/1/0/0 Damage Control Rating 4 PPV 10
Maint Life 2.63 Years MSP 479 AFR 111% IFR 1.5% 1YR 98 5YR 1467 Max Repair 288 MSP
Magazine 226
J7500(3-100) Military Jump Drive Max Ship Size 7500 tons Distance 100k km Squadron Size 3
Ion Engine E8 (10) Power 60 Fuel Use 80% Signature 60 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 500,000 Litres Range 151.0 billion km (434 days at full power)
CIWS-320 (1x6) Range 1000 km TS: 32000 km/s ROF 5 Base 50% To Hit
Size 5 Missile Launcher (2) Missile Size 5 Rate of Fire 25
Missile Fire Control FC77-R20 (1) Range 77.3m km Resolution 20
Herev Anti-ship Missile (45) Speed: 23,500 km/s End: 56.8m Range: 80m km WH: 10 Size: 5 TH: 78 / 47 / 23
Active Search Sensor MR77-R20 (1) GPS 5760 Range 77.3m km Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH1-6 (1) Sensitivity 6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 6m km
Udaygiri class Jump Destroyer 7,450 tons 1026 Crew 3659 BP TCS 149 TH 600 EM 0
4026 km/s Armour 2-33 Shields 0-0 Sensors 12/6/0/0 Damage Control Rating 4 PPV 60
Maint Life 2.54 Years MSP 1228 AFR 111% IFR 1.5% 1YR 265 5YR 3977 Max Repair 505 MSP
Ion Engine E8 (10) Power 60 Fuel Use 80% Signature 60 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 100,000 Litres Range 30.2 billion km (86 days at full power)
40cm C10 Far X-Ray Laser (5) Range 480,000km TS: 8000 km/s Power 40-10 RM 8 ROF 20 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 40 35 32
Fire Control S04 240-8000 (1) Max Range: 480,000 km TS: 8000 km/s 98 96 94 92 90 88 85 83 81 79
Gas-Cooled Fast Reactor Technology PB-1 (12) Total Power Output 54 Armour 0 Exp 5%
Active Search Sensor MR96-R70 (1) GPS 13440 Range 96.4m km Resolution 70
Thermal Sensor TH2-12 (1) Sensitivity 12 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 12m km
EM Detection Sensor EM1-6 (1) Sensitivity 6 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 6m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
11:13. The three detached escorts rejoined the body of Task Force 3.
18:34. The sixty IPV-1 class Attack Craft entered the engagement range of Task Force 3. Leonard ordered “Fire plan Alpha two, shoot!” Two Firestars were targeted at each enemy vessel.
19:00. The first wave broke over the attack craft, pairs of missiles aimed at each craft. Two missiles were, much to Leonard’s relief, sufficient to destroy the first 22 targeted. Every twenty-five seconds another wave of missiles lashed the attack craft. In the excitement the weapons officer on Werewolf got so excited he left one fire control on standby, so for three rounds of firing he didn’t fire at three targets only two. One of Werewolf’s targets fell victim to a pair of missiles not required in the primary kill. But two remained to be picked off by Werewolf 16 minutes later. 25 seconds after that the formation ceased to exist and TF 3 started to recover survivors. When survivors were recovered they revealed details of the Tikhonravov Anti-ship Missile (designed to fit in a mine) and geological survey data on Gliese 200. The Werewolf transferred four missiles to the missile frigate Corrie and then TG3.2 was detached to re-arm its missile boats, hopefully at Xi Pegasi. Leonard retained the escort Hafnium that should have accompanied Task Group 3.2.
Tikhonravov Missile Size: 2.5 MSP (0.25 HS) Warhead: 6 Armour: 0 Manoeuvre Rating: 10
Speed: 29300 km/s Endurance: 1 minutes Range: 1.8m km Active Sensor Strength: 1.2 Cost Per Missile: 3.9205
Chance to Hit: 1k km/s 97% 3k km/s 416% 5k km/s 58% 10k km/s 29%
6th September 90. V491 Persei.The Hierarchy committed its fleet piecemeal. The next targets were two Gamma class cruisers which if ever allowed to get close could cause some damage as they were believed to be armed with 40cm far X-ray lasers, but they were never going to get that close.
22:39. Leonard engaged the two approaching Gamma class cruisers with 25 missiles apiece in an attempt to preserve his ammunition. But it took 55 Firestar IVs to kill them. His seven frigates missile outfits were down to between 65 and 69 missiles each.
7th September 90. V491 Persei.Task Force 3 recovered survivors from the two Gamma class cruisers. A grateful Hierarchy weapons tech gave technical details of 35cm focal aperture lasers.
8th September 90. V491 Persei.Five Dauntless class ships accompanied by a Lucehulk class vessel fled the orbit of V491 Persei-B II as a much reduced Task Force 3 approached. These were classified as warships so their behaviour was unusual. All civilian shipping likewise left orbit and headed to the fringes of the system. The merchant marine on sensors included thirty-seven Nebulon-B2 class, six Recusant class and nine Nebulon-B. Twenty-one Liberators, two Acclamators, three Sentinels, two YT-2000 and two Nebulon-B2 remained in orbit. The identification of Liberators as orbital forts was in some doubt as two were detected some 32 million klicks from the Hierarchy home planet.
Wolf 219.STG 8 discovered Wolf 219 out of HIP 24496. Wolf 219 was a lone white dwarf with a handful of comets.
NSV 14784.Progress was slow as the assault troops and MI inched forward. The Hierarchy was making a fight of it and the 16th Light Assault Division lacked the heavy weapons of regular assault divisions. However they were still gaining ground and Hierarchy battalions were still taking casualties.
9th September 90. V491 Persei.Two Nebulon-B vessels of 33,450 tons (classified as freighters) left orbit of the Hierarchy home planet. Initially they were assessed as being on an intercept course for the Task Force, but as time went on it was clear they were making for a jump point.
As Task Force 3 closed on the B component readings were obtained of the ground strength of the two occupied planets in the system. The second alien population in V491 Persei had its ground combat strength assessed at 169. Whereas Enemy ground forces on Leida – V491 Persei-B II were rated at 1340!
10:01. Task Force 3 closed to 50 million klicks from Leida – V491 Persei-B II. Leonard ordered fire plan Alpha executed. Task Force 3 targeted the first two Liberator class orbital forts with 35 Firestars each, with each subsequent wave targeting two more forts until the missiles ran out.
10:14:26. Liberator 002 and 003 were the unfortunate recipients of the first two waves, twenty-eight salvos of five Firestars targeted at them. As the first few missiles burst over them and they writhed under the thermonuclear fury of the ten-kiloton warheads it was apparent that the strength of the forts had been overestimated. Both targets were rent by massive secondary magazine explosions. Untargeted Firestars picked their targets from the constellation before them untroubled by defensive fire. Five seconds later the errant missiles sought out the hottest heat sources, the mobile units in planetary orbit. YT-2000 003 and 004 were the first to fall, only sixteen missiles were required to eliminate both, then it was the turn of Acclamator 002 and 003 to be turned into radioactive wreckage by an average of another sixteen missiles apiece.
10:14:46. The second wave swept in, but having also been targeted at Liberator 002 and 003 they had to select new targets and they made free with two more Liberator bases and a Sentinel class fort which added to the orbital debris field and the wreckage raining down on the populous below. Finally another Sentinel class fort was left bleeding atmosphere. Ominously ten missiles were lost to point defence whereas the initial wave went in unopposed.
10:15:06. The third wave of missiles crashed over the planetary defence forts, but now the defenders were alert. Twenty missiles were lost to point defence fire. The only positive result was that Liberator 004 was left streaming atmosphere from hull punctures. Missiles targeted at Liberator 005 in the second wave began to look for a fresh target to hurl themselves against.
10:15:11. Anti-missile fire began to cut down swathes of incoming Firestars, nearly half being lost of the fourth wave while point defence accounted for another ten. The remaining missiles sought out Sentinel 003, which survived but was streaming plumes of frozen atmosphere.
10:15:31. The defenders had got into their stride and were now destroying missiles well before they could threaten the forts. Any Firestars which made it through the anti-missile barrage were picked off by point defence. This was the pattern for subsequent waves.
10:16:46. By the time the last few salvos of Firestars approached the forts the Hierarchy had a watertight defence operating, the AMMs destroyed most Firestars millions of klicks from their targets, only a handful made it through to threaten the bases but fell to an unwavering point defence. Task Force 3 had shot its bolt; they were now dependent on the arrival of Task Force 7, a few days away, to resume offensive operations.
11th September 90. Upsilon Aquarii.No 8 Squadron launched from Sand Dragon, split into its four sections of nine Thunderheads and moved to intercept the four Hierarchy scout vessels still on sensors.
03:31. No. 1 Section 1 was the first to move into a firing position, having been launched only a short distance from their target. Thunderhead 117 targeted YM-2800 006 at 41million klicks and launched six Sunsnake missiles.
03:42. Six nine-kiloton warheads made short work of the flimsy scout vessel. YM-2800 006 ceased to exist in the heart of a raging nuclear inferno. No. 1 Section returned to the Sand Dragon.
19:12:11. No. 2 Section was the next to acquire their target closing to a few million klicks but still did not elicit a response from the Hierarchy ship. Thunderhead 126 targeted YM-2800 002 with four Sunsnake missiles and fired on its unsuspecting target at a range of only 4.55 million klicks.
19:13. Four thermonuclear burst signalled the end of the Hierachy scout. The Thunderheads moved in to pick up survivors.
End of Part 2 to be continued