Delta Prime, 2160.1.11
Commander Benjamin Holden shook Commander Anna Bundick hand. The occasion had been his retirement formal ceremony held at the Corporate Headquarters. This was his final act as a Commander and Fleet Chief, the boring speeches had end with Dylan Doyle giving a 30 min talk about duty, honour and corporate responsibility. Ben wasn’t sure, if it was a lecture to the masses or a pat on the back for his service. Either way he would be happy knowing a week from now he would be fishing for trout in the mountains.
DX Cancri, GEV Imperial, 2160.4.14
“Lieutenant, we have detected a ship that has jumped into the system. We have located and marked the wormhole.” the sub officer in charge of the sensor station busied himself trying to obtain more data for the ship’s captain.
Lieutenant Viola Greenberg had spent ten long hard years on this ship and she was damned if she was going to lose her. She held her gaze at the monitor but spoke to the sensor sub-officer “Can you get a contact reading and a possible identification?”
“Yes ma’am, the contact is a Grisson vessel Zenzontle Class”
Viola reviewed the data on the Zenzontle Class, which was less than the data she was accumulating at the moment. Her eyes narrowed momentary in surprise 40659km/s before she realised the vessel but be in hyper drive to the outer systems. She tapped at her chair “what to do, we obviously have a connecting system to Grisson controlled space. Headquarters would want to know this ASAP, sending a communiqué in system would be risk, she should leave quietly and hope they don’t spot the transit.
“Sensors, do you think they spotted us”
“No ma’am I am pretty sure we are in the clear” sensors sounded sure but there was a slight waver
“Ok engines, take us out of here 1000km/s to be safe, to the jump point” Viola was satisfied with her actions.
Earth, Chicago, 2160.5.5
Commander Geoffrey Alberding ducked low behind a parked truck. He looked across the sparsely lit compound, which hosted only a single guard. The rest of his four man team spread out, each armed and dangerous. His elite team was the best and every mission he had been for the last 10 years has been one success after the next. This one should not be any different. He signalled one of his members to take out the guard. The guard was leaning on a car, smoking a cigarette and probably wishing he was anywhere but here. Colonel Jonas Maietta approached silently with a KBar knife in his hand, and with a quick bound he buried it into the guards ribs with a hand across the mouth. The only sound made was a quiet slide down the car as he drifted away. Lieutenant Commander Wan Bi Xiong took his cue to leap over a small fence and whip out a tablet with various wires hanging lose. He approached the door preparing to hack it. Two guards open that same door and stood face to face with Xiong. One of the guard’s head became a crimson mist. Colonel Jerone Kasendieck marksmanship was second to none. Xiong with lighting reflexes, pivoted and spun low, bring his leg around to sweep the guard off his feet. His foot also stopped the now closing security door from shutting. The final member of the team Lieutenant Commander Jordon Willenbrink, walked casually by the now stunned guard and popped two rounds centre mass with his silenced pistol and strolled into the building.
Geoffery smiled just another day in the office, now for the new Brightstar Cannonade plans.
Earth, Chicago, 2160.7.10
Lieutenant Junior Grade Shashenka Bulatov, walk down the gang plank from the small shuttle, she had spent a month aboard the BrightStar cargo fleet, which had arrived on Earth to transport research centres back home. It was funny how Delta Prime is now home to her, although like most others she was born on Earth. Although Earth was familiar she had quite a distant relationship to this planet and its habitants.
She needed to focus on the job she had to do, first head outside Chicago and met up with her team. Her job was twofold, spy on Earth and find and execute the A-team. This was the nick name given to the team that was picking holes in the Brightstar’s security grid as if it was a soft marshmellow.
Earth, Jeremiah Simonson Shipyard, 2160.8.10
Three Burke class Colony ships glide past the dignities within the shipyard’s viewing area. Two colony ships were bound for the Wolf 1061 system. There was a Class 2 moon, which had an abundant of mineral resources. More than Earth would need for the next 50 years. The information on this sytem which had never been surveyed, was courteous of the Intelligence section, via a Brightstar data steal. No doubt Brightstar was also looking to colonize this moon, it was a matter of who is going to get there first.
The Border fleet had already begun its voyage in order to hold the jump gate. Once Brightstar finds out that Earth has a colony things might become a little heated. It would be good to have the pride of the fleet in standby.
Delta Prime, Amfels Shipyard, 2160.8.23
Dylan Doyle watched the new Colony Ship Siege Perlious making ready to take on passengers, only yesterday was the ship finally completed. He had rejoiced for this day, there was a system nearby that had an abundance of resources and a planet capable of terraforming. It would set Brightstar up well into the future and perhaps even rival Earth, but they had a long way to go. Even so today he was a proud man.
Wolf 1061, Proxima Centuari Jump Point. 2160.10.12
“Rear Admiral, a Brightstar ship has transited from the jump point. Intelligence class this vessel as the Siege Perilous, a civilian ship. Probably a colony ship.”
Rear Admiral Claudia Heinickle grab both the chair’s armrests and pushed herself to a standing position, she clasped her hands behind her back “Ok, active sensors, paint her up. And patch me a link.”
The front displayed the Brightstar ship’s captain, he looked to be a junior officer, and his startled expression and confused persona, made Claudia already feel at ease.
“This is Rear Admiral Heinickle of the Border Force Earth Union Fleet, with whom am I speaking with”
The man had gathered his composure and fast “I am Lieutenant Junior Grade Delreal, of the Brightstar commercial fleet, what is the meaning of this act of force”
The Rear Admiral smirked at the plucky courage of the kid “You have entered Earth Union space, please return to your sector or be fired on. “
“You cannot be serious, I have 100000 souls here onboard, we are a Colony ship bound to Wolf 1061 Planet 2, you have no colony in this system, you have no jurisdiction.”
“See this fleet, is all the jurisdiction I need, now turn about and leave.”
“I will need to call my superiors and let them decide the matter” Delreal was not going to be stopped just yet.
“Very well” the admiral rolled her eyes “You have 24 hours to vacate the area”
Wolf 1061, Proxima Centuari Jump Point. 2160.10.12
“Communications, encrypt a message to command. Earth stopped vessel at Wolf 1061 Jumpgate, Earth claiming this is their controlled space. Orders?”
After about 2 hours a reply message is received.
“Hold position, tell the Earth Union vessel we will pursue through diplomatic channels, you are ordered not to move.”
Delreal contacted the Admiral who agreed with a 14 day diplomatic process, this would be an interesting standoff and he is without weapons
Wolf 1061, Proxima Centuari Jump Point. 2160.10.25,
06.56.26 “Rear Admiral multiple contacts, with shields. We have four new vessel unknown, ships computer identifies them as Stellar Wrath, but has no information. We have one further contact the DD Pius Antorius.”
“Tell Aisne to launch fighters. Hail the DD Pius, I say that would be their flag as the other vessels are tiny only 6500 tons. Bring us 200kk away from the Fleet”
06.57.36 Abyssinia
“Admiral, we now 200kk away” “I want sensor locks on each warship leave the colony ship alone”
08.01.06 DD Pius Antonis
Dialog had opened up between the two fleets, tensions are running high, both fleets have targeted one another, at point blank range and neither fleet is standing down. Lieutentant Commander Kane Phillips was in charge of the Brightstar fleet, he knew from the academy days if Heinickle was pressed she would back down. He had left nothing to chance. His orders were clear, show Earth we are not to be pushed around. Phillips only had one chance, launch first, and he might win. Either way body bags might be high today.
He felt the Rear Admiral relax a little, now was the time. He nodded to his weapons conn officer which was the signal to destroy the Earth Fleet.
08.01.16 Abyssinia
“Admiral the Brightstar vessels have launched missiles and fired on the Patrick Ferguson” the voice was strained. Claudia internally though smeg “Return Fire” She knew there would be a few seconds before the crew returned fire. Her first thought, should she run, she was unsure what these new vessels were capable of. Let see for now valuable seconds are involved.
08.01.21 Bravo Flight (Wildcats)
The eyeballed a group of missile inbound on the fleet moving fast. There was nothing they could do, before they knew it, the missiles were past and gone.
08.01.31 DD Pius Antonis
Kane watched as all 20 of his missiles were destroyed, by point defence, the expectation by command, was that the speed would bypass point defence. He knew right at that point, his fleet would be lost. The Earth fleet had fired missiles now bearing down on his fleet, their limited to no point defence would not be a match.
08.1.36 Abyssinia
Claudia was smiling even though the Brightstar fleet was running to the inter planets she knew the tried and tested GSlam missile would not be matched. The only point defence was four missiles to intercept, 20 GSlam missiles. Each 4 did not miss now they had 16 missiles inbound.
The simultaneous destruction of the BrightStar fleet was a series of blinding flashes, Claudia had to rely on the precise sensor readout to know what happened.
Stellar Wrath 003 was hit by 4 missiles, shields deflected 2 missiles, armour absorbed half of the explosions, the rest of the explosives forced internally into the ship. Ship broke apart.
Stellar Wrath 001 hit by 6 missiles, shields deflected 3 missiles, armour absorbed half of the explosions, the rest of the explosives forced internally into the ship. Ship broke apart.
Stellar Wrath 004 hit by 6 missiles, shields deflected 3 missiles, armour absorbed half of the explosions, the rest of the explosives forced internally into the ship. Ship broke apart.
08.1.41 Pius Antonis
“This is madness” screamed Kane “Call for a cease fire and surrender”, he had lost three ships in the space of a second, he was not even sure on the amount of lives lost. I hope the board is happy he thought sarcasticly.
08.1.41 Abyssinia
“Tell them to pick up their survivors and leave the system, I will be in my ready room” Claudia could not be happier her fleet were exemplary, apart from scratches on the DD Patrick Ferguson, not a single loss of life. Easier then fighting the precursors and Earth will be happy, Brightstar has been brewing for a fight. Earth can now use diplomacy to gain a few concessions.
Delta Prime, 2160.11.7
768 survivors walked down the gangway, head held low. Lieutenant Commander Clyde Levett was the only ship captain out of the three to survivor. It was not because he was a coward or ran to the life pod before the other ship captains. His ship was lucky, 435 survived out of a complement of 710 crew. Less than 180 on both other ships survived. Why his ship was target with only 4 missiles and the other had 6 would be left to god to decide.
He did not hate Earth for this, they of course had fired first, he actually detest the boards arrogance that they were ready for a fight with Earth. He already been assigned Stellar Wrath 008, but first he need time to morn.
Wolf 1061 II Moon 6, Colony Vinogradov, 2160.11.26
Julianne Moore and her three kids placed their suitcases on the small bunk provided to them. This would be a new life for them, a new beginning and since they were the very first one on Vinogradov, they would also have free accommodation for the rest of their time here.
The view was amazing. Compared to Earth, this moon was one of 12 that orbited a gas giant, it was a little warm outside at 41 degrees but it was more bearable at the poles, where the colony was placed. There was water, but the oxygen density was not enough, the gravity would take a little to get used to 6/10th of Earths but the simulated gravity rooms would help her restore any lost bone density, they believe just one day a month would be fine.
Barnwell, 2161.1.7
Brigadier General He Song Gang was finishing his final touches to his report to Earth on the progress. He looked over the numbers one more time.
519 Ruins to explore
Construction Factory 19, Ordnance Factory 12, Fight Factory 5, Fuel Refinery 5, Mines 34, Automated Mines 69, Mass Drivers 2, Terraforming 11, Research Labs 7, Ground Force Training 1.
Fuel 30m litres, Maintenance Facility up to 1800 tons, Infrastructure Habitat able to support 28.08 million people.
Now here was the newest figure of the lot Civilians 100,000.