My fraps frakked up and didn't took any screenshots after that last picture. Only noticed it after the battle was over.
So anyway, after the last report, our fleet set 90 degrees counter-clockwise from the hostile fleet, with frigates and the one escort to switch from eastern side to the west for maximum protection and firepower. A series of navigational waypoins were set for the fleet to follow in order to manouveur the fleet.
All frigates were given independet targets within the enemy fleet, but due to the hostile Electronic-Countermeasures, the maximum targeting range of our missile guidance systems were reduced from 60 million kilometers to 47. And since we couldn't outfit our ships in time with any Electronic-Counter-COUNTERmeasures, the enemy fleet didn't have such problems. And because of the ECM activity, our anti-missile radars and CIWS' detection range was reduced awfully lot, which bited us in the ass as tens of salvoas hit our fleet, with about 90% shot down before they reached their target.
Once we got into range, we had already lost Missile Frigate "Katumus". The Captain of the ship didn't make it and we couldn't afford being any longer being shot at, so we left the lifepods behind, to be picked up after the hostiles were destroyed.
After couple of minutes, we finally got them within our range, and after short delay, several salvos were launched. The "Valor" class hostile ship was obliterated by the first 4 salvoes. With the 3 next one self destructing because their target had vanished (and they didn't have thermal sensors/active sensors attached on them). The rest of the missiles continued towards the "interceptor" class vessels. Most of them were shot down by point defence guns, only handful hitting their target and causing unknown damage.
I then ordered the destroyer task force to change their course towards the Gas Giant Epsilon Eridani A-VII in order to intercept the enemy fleet and use their guns. While still shooting missiles towards the hostile fleet. After about 15 minutes, the K7 missile stocks were depleted. But at this point the enemy had too emptied their magazines. Depending on the sensor readings, their size suggests that they don't have any short-range capabilities save for their CIWS. However, due to their speed we couldn't reach them, and had to resort shooting our point-defence missiles at them. Half of them shot down while other half hitting them and causing limited damage due to the small warheads.
Then suddenly we detected
another fleet, after a moment we realized they were the same assholes who blew up our unarmed survey vessels. The damned "Nyayo" class ships.
We were left in an awful spot; no missiles whatsoever save for handful of point-defence missiles. And once again we were hit by waves of waves of missiles. During this we lost our last two missile frigates, "Tuonelan Tuoja" and "Viha". However the lifepods were picked up by escort vessel "Pietari Suuri"
Suddenly the interceptor fleet changed course towards the remaining lifepod, which was still around the wreck of Missile Frigate "Katumus". They drove right into our task group's path, unfortunaly we couldn't reach them this time either.
Meanwhile, the other enemy fleet seemingly had emptied their magazines, but kept closing in on our fleet. Perhaps they packed gunturrets and something powerful than their anti-missile defences?
After about 5 minutes, the nyanyao reached our fleet, and surprisingly proceed to try and ram our ships. Every remaining ship let everything go from CIWS, point-defence missiles, to our destroyers six gunturrets. Despite the horrendous pounding we gave them and with no returning fire, they kept on going until all of them were destroyed.
Destroyer "Taipaleenjone Muisto" survived one ramming, while the ramming ship blew up in the attempt. Either way, limited damage was taken.
Rather strange behaviour from our enemy, why are they so desperate to destroy us?
With the other fleet taken out thanks to their suicidal tendencies, the battered 1st destroyer task group proceed to chase the interceptors. Oddly for them, after picking up our lifepod, they turned around and went full speed towards our fleet.
Not before long, the Interceptor fleet reached the Destroyer Task Force. CIWS, and the destroyer guns were brought once again to bear, and started tearing down on the hostiles. But they just kept coming.
The first Escort "Pietari Suuri" shot down one interceptor before being destroyed in a ramming. Going down in a fiery fireball along with all of it's crew and rescued survivors. Next up was Escort "Hurme", targeted by the same ship which rammed "Pietari", due to the Escorts small size, he was able to dodge every attempt while peppering the sodding bastard, and within 15 seconds shot it to pieces. The blast however, caught up the Escorts in it's wake, and both ships were obliterated.
Only two of us, and one of them were remaining. But the last interceptor flared up it's engines, and hit destroyer "Taipaleenjoen Muisto" supposedly head-on, taking down the destroyer along with itself.
The battle was over
Only destroyer "Raatteen Tie" was left barely intact.
No lifepods detected, all the captains along with their crews went down with their ships.
I ordered the destroyer to move to our home system's jump point. This was the first battle for this systems, but most certainly not the last.
For 6 of our ships the enemy lost 10. It could have been worse, but with valuable lessons learned and experience taken, we will hit twice as hard next time.
