Posted by: Desdinova
« on: October 15, 2020, 02:01:32 PM »Escalation
Hopes for a diplomatic solution are short-lived. In March 2142, the Ndjamena return to Gliese 625 and again demand that humanity withdraw from the system. Unfortunately, the Alliance has no means of evacuating the 700,000 colonists on Silvanus, and no intention abandoning them to an alien empire. As a quick reaction task force is dispatched from Earth, the Ndjamena land additional troops on the planet.
Far away from the escalating crisis in Gliese 625, survey ships in the Lacaille 9352 system discover a third ancient construct on the third planet of that system.
July 13, 2142: Alliance troop transports have arrived in-system with five battalions of light infantry. Two Ndjamena ships pass through the jump point, and intelligence identifies them as likely troop transports. Rear Admiral Mertens orders them to be turned back at any cost. Five destroyers are sent out to intercept. The transports ignore a warning shot from Albatross and continue holding a steady course towards the planet. With no other option, the transports are engaged and eventually destroyed by railgun fire, although it takes several minutes of concentrated fire to chew through their thick armor. The Alliance destroyer squadron recovers 227 survivors and returns them to Silvanus.
There is considerable shock when the first life pods are brought aboard. No human has ever seen an alien to face before, although orbital imaging captured several images of the Curians in Gliese 433 with enough resolution to indicate that that species is not remotely humanoid, but has a centauroid body plan. The Ndjamena, on the other hand, are outwardly indistinguishable from humans, which seems impossible to have occured naturally. But there are physiological differences - the Ndjamena are adapted for a thicker atmosphere, with a partial pressure of oxygen high enough to cause toxicity in humans. Earthlike conditions are uncomfortable for them. No useful information is recovered from interrogating the frightened, wounded survivors, who are entirely enlisted crewmen and soldiers, other than confirming that their mission was to reinforce their presence on Silvanus and presumably conquer the human colony.
As the transports prepare to unload, Alliance reconaissance reports the existence of Ndjamena surface-to-orbit batteries on the planet, having presumably been part of the last transport run. They haven't engaged the human forces for reasons unknown, although Alliance leadership surmises the equipment takes time to install. The human ships in orbit beign a brutal preliminary bombardment of Ndjamena positions, desparate to knock out these batteries before they can be brought online. They succeed, but only after inflicting brutal damage to the planet and its native biosphere. When the railguns stop shooting, the temperature on the planet has been reduced by 50 degrees C from atmospheric dust.
After Alliance troops land, the Ndjamena begin a full-scale assault on the human colony. But the previous bombardment destroyed most of the Ndjamena supply capacity, and so the situation quickly grinds into a stalemate. It quickly becomes clear that the Ndjamena far outmatch humanity technologically. The human soldiers are equipped with the first generation of powered infantry armor, but it offers little protection against the advanced enemy lasers. Meanwhile, the enemy armor is almost completely proof against human small arms - even orbital railgun support sometimes fails to penetrate Ndjamena vehicle armor. But a lucky shot can still an Ndjamena trooper, and with a five-to-one numerical advantage, as well as orbital bombardment support, the casualty numbers favor the humans. Luckily, the Ndjamena have only a few anti-air vehicles on planet, and no tanks or other combat vehicles. On September 24th, the enemy finally ceases their attack, after both sides have suffered about 200 casualties, or 40% of the Ndjamena force.
On 24 September, an enemy civilian ship, presumed to be a freighter, enters the system and is destroyed in orbit of asteroid #30, a presumed Ndjamena mining colony.
The Callisto-class were designed to meet a perceived need for a patrol vessel capable of boarding other starships and conducting routine police & antipiracy patrols. It shares a common drive section with the Vigilant-class destroyer, but has the capacity for 800 tons of Marines. It was hoped that in war time, these ships could be used to board and capture disabled enemy vessels. Whether that strategy will be employable against the Ndjamena remains to be seen. After the first order of five ships is delivered, the yard is converted to produce more Vigilant-class destroyers, as the Alliance has a much more pressing need for missile destroyers than for police cutters.
With a lull in the fighting on Silvanus, the Alliance is able to bring in reinforcements, including logistics and artillery support. The enemy garrison on Silvanus is finally defeated on 19 March 2143. The Chicago-class cruisers return immediately to Earth for a badly-needed overhaul, having expended almost all of their maintenance supplies in the ground support role. Augusta and Kyoto, in particular, have suffered engine damage from the sustained campaign and are no longer combat-effective.
Forced to rely on slow and antiquated troop transports, the Alliance desperately needs a faster, more capable assault ship with orbital drop capability. The Anzio-class is a stopgap measure designed to fill that role until the larger, planned Normandy-class can be constructed. Both classes are compromise designs, using the proven nuclear thermal commercial engine technology, for which tooling already exists. The first three Anzi-class ships are launched in June 2144.
The Normandy class enters service in December 2144. These ships are slower, but have armor, and can embark and drop an entire battalion.
After the defeat of Ndjamena ground forces, no enemy ships are sighted in Gliese until July 2145, when two more troop transports enter the system. They turn tail when they spot the Earth force in orbit, but are intercepted and destroyed.
Alliance intelligence is looking for ways to explain why the Ndjamena haven't committed any combat units to the system since the outbreak of hostilities, and believe that there are a few likely explanations: they may place little strategic value on Gliese, and have essentially written of the system; they may be fortifying on the other side of the jump point, hoping Alliance forces will blunder into a trap; they may be occupied elsewhere, in another external or internal conflict; they may be overconfident due to the technological disparity and may not believe the Alliance poses a credible threat. They clearly weren't expecting the Alliance to be maintaining a constant watch on Silvanus, having entered the system with an unescorted troop transport.
Sure enough, in November, another troop transport enters the system, escorted by a 13,000-ton cruiser, but Silvanus is very close to the jump point at this point in its orbit and both ships are able to escape after detecting the Alliance fleet.
By December 2145, five battalions equipped with ground-based surface-to-orbit particle beam have been raised on Earth. These units are immediately dispatched for Silvanus. with 12 emplacements per battalion, they pack a powerful anti-ship punch, although from the apparent effectiveness of Ndjamena armor, it may not be enough.
In May 2146, another troop transport escorted by a Taugh-class cruiser appears in the system. This time, the Alliance fleet is able to engage. The first task force of ten Vigilant-class destroyers attempts to lock their missiles on the enemy cruiser, but finds the enemy is equipped with a powerful ECM suite. After burn-through of the enemy jammers, a full salvo of 180 missiles is launched. The Alliance discovers, unhappily, that their Mk II anti-ship missiles only have a 18% hit rate against the enemy, which withstands two such volleys without internal damage. With their ammunition expended, the task force decides to close on the enemy. Their first volley of railgun fire does inflict internal damage on the cruiser, but in closing the distance, destroyer Fortune is struck by two laser volleys and explodes. 28 crewmen survive out of a crew of 106.
The brief engagement is the first battle in space between Ndjamena and Alliance forces. The Ndjamena seem to heavily favor powerful, fast laser-armed warships. They do possess very good point-defense fire control, but would still be vulnerable to mass box-launcher strikes - provided the Alliance missiles could hit anything. But the Alliance dependence on box launchers is a critical weakness when defending Silvanus, as they have to return to Earth to reload. One school of thought proposes that the Alliance should fight the Ndjamena on their terms: with a fleet of fast beam vessels designed to out-speed and out-range the enemy. It is technically possible to build a ship capable of matching the speed of Ndjamena warships, although not very efficiently.
Hopes for a diplomatic solution are short-lived. In March 2142, the Ndjamena return to Gliese 625 and again demand that humanity withdraw from the system. Unfortunately, the Alliance has no means of evacuating the 700,000 colonists on Silvanus, and no intention abandoning them to an alien empire. As a quick reaction task force is dispatched from Earth, the Ndjamena land additional troops on the planet.
Far away from the escalating crisis in Gliese 625, survey ships in the Lacaille 9352 system discover a third ancient construct on the third planet of that system.
July 13, 2142: Alliance troop transports have arrived in-system with five battalions of light infantry. Two Ndjamena ships pass through the jump point, and intelligence identifies them as likely troop transports. Rear Admiral Mertens orders them to be turned back at any cost. Five destroyers are sent out to intercept. The transports ignore a warning shot from Albatross and continue holding a steady course towards the planet. With no other option, the transports are engaged and eventually destroyed by railgun fire, although it takes several minutes of concentrated fire to chew through their thick armor. The Alliance destroyer squadron recovers 227 survivors and returns them to Silvanus.
There is considerable shock when the first life pods are brought aboard. No human has ever seen an alien to face before, although orbital imaging captured several images of the Curians in Gliese 433 with enough resolution to indicate that that species is not remotely humanoid, but has a centauroid body plan. The Ndjamena, on the other hand, are outwardly indistinguishable from humans, which seems impossible to have occured naturally. But there are physiological differences - the Ndjamena are adapted for a thicker atmosphere, with a partial pressure of oxygen high enough to cause toxicity in humans. Earthlike conditions are uncomfortable for them. No useful information is recovered from interrogating the frightened, wounded survivors, who are entirely enlisted crewmen and soldiers, other than confirming that their mission was to reinforce their presence on Silvanus and presumably conquer the human colony.
As the transports prepare to unload, Alliance reconaissance reports the existence of Ndjamena surface-to-orbit batteries on the planet, having presumably been part of the last transport run. They haven't engaged the human forces for reasons unknown, although Alliance leadership surmises the equipment takes time to install. The human ships in orbit beign a brutal preliminary bombardment of Ndjamena positions, desparate to knock out these batteries before they can be brought online. They succeed, but only after inflicting brutal damage to the planet and its native biosphere. When the railguns stop shooting, the temperature on the planet has been reduced by 50 degrees C from atmospheric dust.
After Alliance troops land, the Ndjamena begin a full-scale assault on the human colony. But the previous bombardment destroyed most of the Ndjamena supply capacity, and so the situation quickly grinds into a stalemate. It quickly becomes clear that the Ndjamena far outmatch humanity technologically. The human soldiers are equipped with the first generation of powered infantry armor, but it offers little protection against the advanced enemy lasers. Meanwhile, the enemy armor is almost completely proof against human small arms - even orbital railgun support sometimes fails to penetrate Ndjamena vehicle armor. But a lucky shot can still an Ndjamena trooper, and with a five-to-one numerical advantage, as well as orbital bombardment support, the casualty numbers favor the humans. Luckily, the Ndjamena have only a few anti-air vehicles on planet, and no tanks or other combat vehicles. On September 24th, the enemy finally ceases their attack, after both sides have suffered about 200 casualties, or 40% of the Ndjamena force.
On 24 September, an enemy civilian ship, presumed to be a freighter, enters the system and is destroyed in orbit of asteroid #30, a presumed Ndjamena mining colony.
Code: [Select]
Callisto class Patrol Ship 5,000 tons 120 Crew 654.5 BP TCS 100 TH 240 EM 0
4800 km/s Armour 3-26 Shields 0-0 HTK 32 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 6
Maint Life 3.18 Years MSP 702 AFR 133% IFR 1.9% 1YR 104 5YR 1,563 Max Repair 180 MSP
Troop Capacity 800 tons Boarding Capable
Lieutenant Commander Control Rating 2 BRG AUX
Intended Deployment Time: 12 months Morale Check Required
Improved Nuclear Pulse Engine EP240.00 (2) Power 480 Fuel Use 78.08% Signature 120.0 Explosion 12%
Fuel Capacity 514,000 Litres Range 23.7 billion km (57 days at full power)
10cm Railgun V10/C3 (2x4) Range 10,000km TS: 4,800 km/s Power 3-3 RM 10,000 km ROF 5
Beam Fire Control R48-TS4800 (1) Max Range: 48,000 km TS: 4,800 km/s 79 58 38 17 0 0 0 0 0 0
Improved Pebble Bed Reactor R6-PB30 (1) Total Power Output 6 Exp 15%
Active Search Sensor AS3-R1 (1) GPS 10 Range 4m km MCR 359k km Resolution 1
EM Sensor EM1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Thermal Sensor TH1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
The Callisto-class were designed to meet a perceived need for a patrol vessel capable of boarding other starships and conducting routine police & antipiracy patrols. It shares a common drive section with the Vigilant-class destroyer, but has the capacity for 800 tons of Marines. It was hoped that in war time, these ships could be used to board and capture disabled enemy vessels. Whether that strategy will be employable against the Ndjamena remains to be seen. After the first order of five ships is delivered, the yard is converted to produce more Vigilant-class destroyers, as the Alliance has a much more pressing need for missile destroyers than for police cutters.
With a lull in the fighting on Silvanus, the Alliance is able to bring in reinforcements, including logistics and artillery support. The enemy garrison on Silvanus is finally defeated on 19 March 2143. The Chicago-class cruisers return immediately to Earth for a badly-needed overhaul, having expended almost all of their maintenance supplies in the ground support role. Augusta and Kyoto, in particular, have suffered engine damage from the sustained campaign and are no longer combat-effective.
Code: [Select]
Anzio class Assault Ship 15,598 tons 138 Crew 508.6 BP TCS 312 TH 512 EM 0
1641 km/s Armour 1-55 Shields 0-0 HTK 47 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 20 Max Repair 200 MSP
Troop Capacity 5,000 tons Drop Capable Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 1
Lieutenant Control Rating 1 BRG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Commercial Improved Nuclear Thermal Engine EP128.00 (4) Power 512 Fuel Use 7.95% Signature 128 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 250,000 Litres Range 36.3 billion km (255 days at full power)
Active Search Sensor AS3-R1 (1) GPS 10 Range 4m km MCR 359k km Resolution 1
Active Search Sensor AS18-R100 (1) GPS 1000 Range 18.5m km Resolution 100
EM Sensor EM1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Thermal Sensor TH1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
Forced to rely on slow and antiquated troop transports, the Alliance desperately needs a faster, more capable assault ship with orbital drop capability. The Anzio-class is a stopgap measure designed to fill that role until the larger, planned Normandy-class can be constructed. Both classes are compromise designs, using the proven nuclear thermal commercial engine technology, for which tooling already exists. The first three Anzi-class ships are launched in June 2144.
Code: [Select]
Normandy class Assault Ship 51,019 tons 348 Crew 2,012.1 BP TCS 1,020 TH 1,024 EM 0
1003 km/s Armour 4-122 Shields 0-0 HTK 128 Sensors 5/5/0/0 DCR 1 PPV 0
MSP 24 Max Repair 200 MSP
Troop Capacity 25,000 tons Drop Capable Cargo Shuttle Multiplier 1
Captain Control Rating 2 BRG ENG
Intended Deployment Time: 3 months
Commercial Improved Nuclear Thermal Engine EP128.00 (8) Power 1024 Fuel Use 7.95% Signature 128 Explosion 5%
Fuel Capacity 500,000 Litres Range 22.2 billion km (255 days at full power)
Active Search Sensor AS3-R1 (1) GPS 10 Range 4m km MCR 359k km Resolution 1
Active Search Sensor AS18-R100 (1) GPS 1000 Range 18.5m km Resolution 100
EM Sensor EM1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
Thermal Sensor TH1.0-5.0 (1) Sensitivity 5 Detect Sig Strength 1000: 17.7m km
This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
The Normandy class enters service in December 2144. These ships are slower, but have armor, and can embark and drop an entire battalion.
After the defeat of Ndjamena ground forces, no enemy ships are sighted in Gliese until July 2145, when two more troop transports enter the system. They turn tail when they spot the Earth force in orbit, but are intercepted and destroyed.
Alliance intelligence is looking for ways to explain why the Ndjamena haven't committed any combat units to the system since the outbreak of hostilities, and believe that there are a few likely explanations: they may place little strategic value on Gliese, and have essentially written of the system; they may be fortifying on the other side of the jump point, hoping Alliance forces will blunder into a trap; they may be occupied elsewhere, in another external or internal conflict; they may be overconfident due to the technological disparity and may not believe the Alliance poses a credible threat. They clearly weren't expecting the Alliance to be maintaining a constant watch on Silvanus, having entered the system with an unescorted troop transport.
Sure enough, in November, another troop transport enters the system, escorted by a 13,000-ton cruiser, but Silvanus is very close to the jump point at this point in its orbit and both ships are able to escape after detecting the Alliance fleet.
By December 2145, five battalions equipped with ground-based surface-to-orbit particle beam have been raised on Earth. These units are immediately dispatched for Silvanus. with 12 emplacements per battalion, they pack a powerful anti-ship punch, although from the apparent effectiveness of Ndjamena armor, it may not be enough.
In May 2146, another troop transport escorted by a Taugh-class cruiser appears in the system. This time, the Alliance fleet is able to engage. The first task force of ten Vigilant-class destroyers attempts to lock their missiles on the enemy cruiser, but finds the enemy is equipped with a powerful ECM suite. After burn-through of the enemy jammers, a full salvo of 180 missiles is launched. The Alliance discovers, unhappily, that their Mk II anti-ship missiles only have a 18% hit rate against the enemy, which withstands two such volleys without internal damage. With their ammunition expended, the task force decides to close on the enemy. Their first volley of railgun fire does inflict internal damage on the cruiser, but in closing the distance, destroyer Fortune is struck by two laser volleys and explodes. 28 crewmen survive out of a crew of 106.
The brief engagement is the first battle in space between Ndjamena and Alliance forces. The Ndjamena seem to heavily favor powerful, fast laser-armed warships. They do possess very good point-defense fire control, but would still be vulnerable to mass box-launcher strikes - provided the Alliance missiles could hit anything. But the Alliance dependence on box launchers is a critical weakness when defending Silvanus, as they have to return to Earth to reload. One school of thought proposes that the Alliance should fight the Ndjamena on their terms: with a fleet of fast beam vessels designed to out-speed and out-range the enemy. It is technically possible to build a ship capable of matching the speed of Ndjamena warships, although not very efficiently.