[center:4v5im33q]Retribution.[/center:4v5im33q]
The planners at the Admiralty were working overtime. They worked out with the Fort Worth in company the Second Fast Attack Squadron could reach the Gliese 832 jump point in Kapteyns Star system, refuel and enter Gliese 832 with a reasonable radius of action. The principal problem was the short sensor range of the Grey class, a mere 16.8 million kilometres. Finding the enemy would be like looking for a needle in a haystack if the hostile wished to avoid contact. As a support measure the manufacture of infrastructure and installations for a colony on Kapteyns Star AI was started and the Mars Terraformer Fleet directed there once they had finished their work at Mars. It was thought should there be prolonged hostilities then a forward base would pay dividends.
As soon as the Battle Group returned to Earth the Fort Worth was refuelled and joined the Second Fast Attack Squadron which consisted of 10 Grey Mk II FAC, Grey Seal, Grey Fox, Grey Whale, Grey Shrike, Grey Shark, Grey Owl, Grey Hawk, Grey Heron, Grey Mustang, Grey Dolphin and two Scout Mk II, Scout Mk II 002 and Scout Mk II 003. The Squadron set out travelling at the maximum speed Fort Worth was capable of, 4000 k/s. They reached the Gliese 832 on the 1st March, refuelled from the Fort Worth and transited into Gliese 832, and started towards the inner planets, cruising at 8000 k/s with a little hope of bringing the enemy to action. Then on 2nd March at 10:00 a hostile contact entered sensor range. The Ships computer gave it the ID of Demolisher 002, which was disconcerting, were there two of the enemy ships or was it a programming glitch? Nevertheless seconds later Scout Mk II 002 and Grey Seal, Grey Fox, Grey Whale, Grey Shrike and Grey Shark rippled off their entire missile complement at the hostile contact, 110 Asps were on their way to avenge the Ajax, Achilles, Dido and Theseus.
At 10:08:29 the first salvo of 18 missiles slammed into the enemy ship which showed no sign of having detected the incoming missiles. Through last second emergency manoeuvring the Demolisher 002 managed to avoid six of the avenging missiles in the first salvo, but the remaining dozen covered the ship in 5 kiloton fireballs. It took only another six hits before it was streaming atmosphere, and after the first three salvos had hit the target there was a 64 kiloton explosion as a magazine detonated. It took only 40 impacts to reduce the Demolisher 002 to a collection of wreckage with generally similar orbits around the Primary. The Second Fast Attack Squadron cruised around the system until their fuel passed the 50% mark without further contacts, then headed back to Kapteyns Star to refuel and return to Sol to rearm.
The Admiralty planners were ecstatic; it proved the effectiveness of the FAC and greatly strengthened the argument for a class of carriers. However the need for a fleet Scout was extreme and it would be two years before one was expected off the slips. Until that time Gliese 832 was off limits. But there was no reason exploration in other arms could not continue! To this end a new Class of Pioneer Class were designed and the Lloyd Werft yard given the contract for the first six units.
Pioneer Mk II class Geological Survey Vessel 16600 tons 351 Crew 936 BP TCS 332 TH 900 EM 0
3614 km/s JR 2-25 Armour 1-57 Shields 0-0 Sensors 11/1/0/3 Damage Control 1 PPV 0
Maintenance Capacity 35 MSP
JC17K Commercial Jump Drive Max Ship Size 17000 tons Distance 25k km Squadron Size 2
Magneto-plasma Drive E0.7 Commercial (6) Power 200 Fuel Use 7% Armour 0 Exp 1%
Fuel Capacity 270,000 Litres Range 418.2 billion km (1339 days at full power)
Thermal Sensor TH1-11 (1) Sensitivity 11 Detect Signature 1000: 11m km
Active Search Sensor S28-R100 Nav (1) GPS 2800 Range 28m km Resolution 100
Geological Survey Sensors (3) 3 Survey Points
This ship is classed as a commercial vessel for maintenance purposesShips in Class: Yuri Gagarin, Marco Polo, Henry Hudson, Thor Heyerdahl, Alexander Mackenzie, Francisco Pizarro.
27th July 2089 Sol. the second Squadron of Grey class FAC came off the slips, Grey Duck, Grey Goose, Grey Hare, Grey Hornbill, Grey Parrot, Grey Pelican, Grey Phalarope, Grey Plover, Grey Swift, joined Grey Wolf and Scout Mk II 003 as the new 3rd FAC Squadron, while Grey Kangaroo and Scout Mk II 004 formed the beginning of 4th FAC Squadron.
19th November 2089 retooling for Abdiel Mk II class completed at Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Co. But before even the Abdiel could be taken in hand a Mk III variant was proposed and accepted, so Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Co. began the task of retooling for this latest version, which was completed on the 26th January 2090
Abdiel Mk III class Minelayer 7500 tons 635 Crew 1208 BP TCS 150 TH 600 EM 0
5333 km/s Armour 1-34 Shields 0-0 Sensors 33/1/0/0 Damage Control 8 PPV 12
Annual Failure Rate: 0% IFR: 0% Maintenance Capacity 805 MSP
Magazine 1104
Magneto-plasma Drive E7 Mil (10) Power 80 Fuel Use 70% Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 150,000 Litres Range 51.4 billion km (111 days at full power)
Size 16 Missile Launcher (75% Reduction) (1) Missile Size 16 Rate of Fire 320
DSM15-2 Stonefish (69) Speed: 0 km/s End: 540d Range: 2m km WH: 0 Size: 15 TH: 0 / 0 / 0
Thermal Sensor TH3-33 (1) Sensitivity 33 Detect Signature 1000: 33m km
Active Search Sensor S84-R100 (1) GPS 8400 Range 84m km Resolution 100
Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s
This design is classed as a military vessel for maintenance purposesShips in Class: Abdiel, Manxman, Welshman.
24th November 2089. A team on Earth led by Jamie Blanck has completed research into Active Search Sensor S1400-R100. The main sensor for the Pathfinder Class was now available so the retooling of a Yard could commence.
19th December 2089 Sol. A team on Earth led by David Chandler has completed research into Max Jump Squadron Size – 5 as the work for new classes of jump cruisers progressed.
1st February 2090 Sol. The next group of Grey Class FAC joined the fleet. Grey Cockatoo, Grey Lynx, Grey Cheetah, Grey Partridge, Grey Jaguar, Grey Tiger, Grey Lion, Grey Panther, and Grey Francolin joined the 4th FAC Squadron
11th February 2090 40 Eridani, Ruins on 40 Eridani-A III were fully exploited, with a single automated mine and the obsolete commercial jump drive being the only recoverable items from such a devastated world.
20th June 2090, Sol, A team on Earth led by Luke Bell has completed research into Electronic Counter-countermeasures - 2
With all the traffic in and out of Kapteyns Star on 18th July 2090 a wreck contact of an alien ship was detected. It appeared to be the victim of hostile action. More evidence that in an indifferent Universe someone out there was taking it personally.
10th August 2090, Sol. Grey Albatross, Grey Goshawk, Grey Crane, Grey Eagle, Grey Cougar, Grey Squirrel, Grey Wagtail, Grey Triggerfish, Grey Cat, Grey Coyote were completed to form 5th FAC Squadron.
14th August 2090 23:38:34, Kapteyns Star, Salvager 001 completed the salvage of unknown class. 600 research points for Laminate Composite Armour were also gained by Salvager 001.
3rd January 2091, Sol. Yuri Gagarin and Thor Heyerdahl (Pioneer Mk II class) built on Earth, Both assigned to Geo-Survey Group 1 with the Leif Ericson.
6th February 2091, Sol, The atmosphere of Mars became breathable today. The terraformer fleet left for Kapteyns Star AI. The terraforming stations remained to thicken the Martian atmosphere to provide some additional protection against UV radiation.
13th February 2091, Sol, Grey Mangabey, Grey Woodpecker, Grey Gull, Grey Jay, Grey Brolga, Grey Buzzard, Grey Catbird, Grey Fantail, Grey Lourie, Grey Cotinga formed the 1st FAC Squadron. The Dark Class and Mk I Scouts which previously constituted this Squadron formed the 1st Patrol Squadron still based on Alpha Centauri AII.
6th April 2091, Sol, Welshman and Manxman (Abdiel Mk III class) built on Earth
7th May 2091, Sol, Retooling for Pathfinder Mk I class completed at Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Co. Orders for first three units placed.
Pathfinder Mk I class Fleet Scout 7400 tons 768 Crew 2432 BP TCS 148 TH 780 EM 0
7027 km/s Armour 1-33 Shields 0-0 Sensors 33/1/0/0 Damage Control 18 PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 3% IFR: 0% Maintenance Capacity 1643 MSP
Magneto-plasma Drive E7 Mil (13) Power 80 Fuel Use 70% Armour 0 Exp 5%
Fuel Capacity 270,000 Litres Range 93.8 billion km (154 days at full power)
Thermal Sensor TH3-33 (1) Sensitivity 33 Detect Signature 1000: 33m km
Active Search Sensor S1400-R100 (1) GPS 140000 Range 1,400m km Resolution 100
Active Search Sensor S84-R1 (1) GPS 84 Range 840k km Resolution 1
ECM 10 This design is classed as a military vessel for maintenance purposesShips in Class: Guardian, Defender, Cerberus
5th June 2091, Sol, A team on Earth led by Oswaldo Fullenkamp has completed research into Max Tracking Time Bonus vs Missiles 40% in an effort to improve missile interception.
15th August 2091, Sol, Grey Myna, Grey Falcon, Grey Waxbill, Grey Kingfisher, Grey Sunbird, Grey Swan, Grey Flycatcher, Grey Bushchat, Grey Robin, Grey Kite formed the 6th FAC Squadron, the final squadron ordered. Sol now had the protection of sixty Grey Class FAC, but it was still lacking the ability to actually detect an enemy ship in deep space, although the planet was covered by a level 44 Deep Space Tracking ability.
9th September 2091, Sol, A team on Earth led by Liu Feng Hui has completed research into Turret Tracking Speed (10% Gear) 6250 km/s.
24th September 2091, Sol, A team on Earth led by Robert Patterson has completed research into Missile Launcher Reload Rate 5
21st September 2091 Geo-Survey Group 1 assigned to survey Ross 154.
24th September 2091 23:23:34, Ross 154, New Thermal Contact! Strength 200. The Yuri Gagarin had just entered Ross 154 and was cruising in towards the first planetary bodies when a thermal contact was observed moving at a surprising 10,000 k/s. At 23:23:39, a new active sensor was detected! Strength 1820, Resolution 65, reminiscent of the sensors detected in Gliese 832. At 23:23:49 ten 9 kiloton explosions rent the Yuri Gagarin from stem to stern, The Thor Heyerdahl witnessed the destruction just as it transited into Ross 154. The Thor Heyerdahl waited a few minutes as it received the final transmission from the Gagarin then reversed course into Proxima Centauri and reported the outrage via the jump Gate network.
Once more the Admiralty was thrown into confusion. Ross 154 lay beyond Proxima Centauri which lay beyond Wolf 359 and thus three jumps from Sol. The Carriers were still the figment of a designer’s imagination. The Second FAC Squadron with the Fort Worth could just make it but would be at the limit of their range and they still lacked the all important search sensor. The squadron left Earth enroute for its second alien encounter. Unfortunately the squadron could not reach Ross 154 in time to rescue the survivors of the Yuri Gagarin and on 11th October the Yuri Gagarin lifepods ran out of endurance. All 166 crew perished. On 16th October, in Proxima Centauri, FAC Squadron 2 carried out orders to detach its tanker after fuelling from it for the last time before entering Ross 154.
On 16th October at 22:28:54, only a few hours after entering Ross 154 the Second FAC squadron detected the wreck of the Yuri Gagarin. The squadron continued in towards the nearest asteroid which the Gagarin was to survey. There was nothing on the myopic sensors of the squadron. At 02:28:54 on 17th October the squadron headed back to the jump point with no contact apart from the desolate wreckage of the Gagarin. Because of the limited fuel of the Task Group this would be the only incursion possible. Then at 05:28:54, only a few hours’ later four new contacts entered the myopic range of the Grey Class FAC! The ships master computer gave the contacts the IDs: Silent Death 001 to 004 and confirmed beyond all doubt their drive and power signatures as belonging to the Gliese 832 Aliens. Due to the congruence of the Grey class search and fire control sensors the Second FAC Squadron was in position to open fire immediately on the contacts. At 05:29:14 Grey Fox, Grey Hawk, Grey Heron and Grey Dolphin each fired their 18 Asp missiles at the contacts. There was then a short wait; the approaching contacts appeared oblivious of the onrushing missiles. Then at 05:38:24, forty-three 5 kiloton nuclear detonations were detected, nuclear death flaring among the killers of the Yuri Gagarin. The nuclear fires guttered out, leaving four wrecks in their wake. The Squadron returned to its course to the jump point and Proxima Centauri, well satisfied with the outcome.
8th November 2091 21:38:24,Sol, FAC Squadron 2 returned to Earth and a hero’s welcome. The AST3-1 Asp missiles achieved a 60% hit rate, better than their estimated probability of 44%. The Admiralty was well pleased with the FAC and their weapons; all it required now was a sensor platform worthy of the name. But another system had been proscribed, awaiting proper investigation. It was disconcerting that the Gliese 832 aliens had shown up in two different Arms with no apparent link except through Sol! The Solar Union needed a Deep Space Fleet, but the ships were still in the drawing programme. Two classes of Jump Cruisers, one for jump point assaults were planned plus the Battle class light cruisers and Sea Monster class Escorts. But vital pieces of technology were still under development and the designs were already topping 12,500 tonnes. This lead to another problem, it would be mid ’95 before the majority of Naval ‘Yards were able to construct ships of this size, so the earliest a new Battle Group could be constructed would be late ‘96-’97. The Furious class CVs would be available before that, but dependent on the construction of Jump Gates to enter and leave a system.
The Admiralty were not slow to realise their problems, the colonies had no protection, apart from Alpha Centauri which had a short squadron of obsolete FAC. The colonists were not yet clamouring for protection, but it was only a matter of time, not withstanding that so far no alien presence had been detected along the Alpha Centauri Arm. But should precious resources be diverted to give a token protection to the colonies or the creation of a modern deep space fleet? It was decided that as soon as a colony could support a FAC squadron one would be dispatched, however, this had to include fuel stockpiles as well as maintenance. For Kapteyns Star this would require at least five of the seven proposed mining colonies for this system. So it was not envisaged this would rapidly deplete the Earth based FAC squadrons.
18th October 2091, Kapteyns Star. Terraformer Group 1 has completed its move from Mars and started to transform the atmosphere of Kapteyns Star AI.
15th December 2091. A team on Earth led by Christopher Pollard has completed research into Capacitor Recharge Rate 5.
Kapteyns Star AI, the first colonists arrive at the colony, unfortunately due to a scheduling muddle a couple of weeks in advance of the colony infrastructure. The colonists are understandably somewhat aggrieved, with a surface temperature in the high forties!
1st January 2092. Kapteyns Star AI. The colony infrastructure finally catches up with the colonists.
16th October 2092. A team on Earth led by Christopher Pollard has completed research into Triple 12cm C4 Ultraviolet Laser Turret, heralding the introduction of a new family of laser weapons.
21st October 2092. A team on Earth led by Charlie Holloway has completed research into J12500(5-200) Military Jump Drive intended for the Assault Jump Cruiser.
2nd April 2093. Sol,A team on Earth led by Jamie Blanck has completed research into Compact Electronic Counter-countermeasures – 1
29th April 2093. A team on Earth led by Luke Bell has completed research into Fire Control S16 128-20000 intended for the new Sea Monster class escorts.
27th June 2093. A team on Earth led by Robert Patterson has completed research into Size 6 Missile Launcher intended for the new Battle class CL.
2nd July 2093. A team on Earth led by Liu Feng Hui has completed research into Single 12cm C4 Ultraviolet Laser Turret.
29th July 2093. A team on Earth led by Zane Mentzel has completed research into Ground Unit Strength 16
26th August 2093. A team on Earth led by Agastya Prabhu has completed research into Electronic Countermeasures – 2
13th September 2093. 2000 tons of capacity added to Lockheed Shipbuilding & Construction Co. on Earth.
23rd September 2093 07:13:04,Sol,A team on Earth led by Charlie Hayward has completed research into Twin 12cm C4 Ultraviolet Laser Turret.
