OOC: As disco has not posted his actual fleet positions I will assume that half of his fleet is in Hrekka. If this changes, let me know in New Life. Now, on with the show!
(EDIT): Followed up on Esponer's moderation. I have only produced 8 Sokar Carriers per turn. That makes my fleet in Hrekka look like:
24 Sokar Carriers
59 Gunships
IC:
=============
Saga of the Guild: Chapter 17
Himgro
The Igadzra arada fired the repulsor beam at the mine andthe beam hit the mine, giving it the impetus to move far across the system. The arada quickly sped after the mine, using a tractor beam with no trouble whatsoever to latch onto the mine and tow it back.
The Igadzra commander was satisfied. Once again he thanked the Miranu for their grace in giving him the beams. He then boarded his ship and the Igadzra departed from Himgro.
The Miranu would remember the Igadzran promise to leave them alone in the future.
============
Mira
Fourteen robed Miranu filed into the High Council meeting hall, accompanied by various aids and a final figure robed in pure black. The lead Miranu took their appropriate seats around the main conference table, and their black-robed companion took the podium. Smashing his fist onto the table, he spoke.
"Today marks the beginning of a new era! Today we remove the thorn from our western side!" shouted Zor Klef, Director of Miranu Fleet Intelligence. Second in command to Supreme Admiral Shek Sunrunner, he was present on Mira that day in the admiral's place since he was not needed at Fleet Headquarters until the battle of Hrekka was over. "We will march forth into battle with our Zachit comrades and a Zidagar task force for support. The fleets will now be positioned across our borders, and the fleet will be in constant contact with the Miranu High Council from this day forth. We will work side by side to better the lives of our people and create frontiers for them to explore. With these promises does the Fleet pledge its undying allegiance to the Miranu Star League and its leaders." Zor Klef bowed his head.
Applause thundered across the hall. Researcher Lelos Somm noticeably clapped loudest.
"Thank you Director Klef," acknowledged Trademaster Dah. "Now, let us address the matters of our current research and production schedule. High Councilor Somm, you have the floor."
The Researcher of Station Pybin nodded. "We have completed the designs for both the Zidagar missile arada and the Miranu Lightninghammer missiles. Trademaster Dah, if you would communicate to our Zidagar friends the plans for the arada?"
Corzun Dah keyed up his docuscribe and sent a message to the Zidagar.
(Transmission...encoding...(Encryption Level Zeta)
To: Zidagar High Command, Zidagar, Zidagar System
From: Miranu High Council, Mira, Mirava System
Subject: Design
Enclosed is the missile arada design plans. Share them with no one. As soon as the renegade threat of Hrekka is finished, this contract will be complete and the only remaining threat will be the renegades of the Rock. The Miranu people thank you for your efforts on their behalf.
Sincerely,
Trademaster Corzun Dah, leader of the Miranu Star League
End Transmission)
"Thank you Trademaster," spoke Somm quickly. "The fleets will be refitted with Lightninghammers after the Hrekka battle. Since most of the pursuit missiles will be used there, we are wasting no resources in this effort. It will take approximately one galactic standard week to implement all the upgrades. Since we now have free resources to pursue other endeavors after completing the arada design, the Research Directorate wishes to put forth the proposal that the Miranu High Council authorize the construction of a new research facility of equal capability. We recommend that it be constructed deep below this very hall, embedded safely in Mira's crust and guarded by the standard research security methods, including the armor purchased from our UE allies. This facility will be complete, we estimate, in four weeks. Is this satisfactory to the High Council?" Lelos Somm stated this final question in such a manner to imply he expected no one to disagree with him. No High Councilor was inclined to do so. Somm was gaining more and more power these days, and besides, the proposal made sense. Fourteen green lights flickered on. Apparently High Councilor Neve Ashak's son, La'ernu Ashak, who served as his father's proxy while he was negotiating with the Conclave, saw reason as well.
"Excellent. The measure passes. Now, Director Zor Klef. Let us watch the battle of Hrekka unfold."
============
Aboard the M.S.L. Discoverer, flagship of the Miranu Defense Fleet
"The Admiral! Salute!"
One million Miranu snapped to attention in perfect unison. One million Miranu wore the blue and violet of the Star League. One million Miranu formed the well trained crew of the flagship of the Miranu Defense Fleet.
"Present," roared Supreme Admiral Shek Sunrunner, "arms!"
The snap of phase rifles filled the barracks. All the soldiers turned to face their leader in exact synchrony. The four vice admirals walked up to flank Sunrunner. He lifted his staff of command, slammed it onto the deck. A ferocious BOOM resonated across the deck. The Admiral turned to the navigator of the ship.
"Disengage hyperdrive on my mark. Nine, sixty-five, two, mark!"
The Miranu Defence Fleet burst out of hyperspace in the Hrekka System. Along their right flank was the Zidagar force, led by Commander Myrx. On the left were the Zacha, already arranging themselves into formation and chanting mercilessly across the comm units their war cries to strike fear into the hearts of the renegades. The Miranu formed themselves into a wall formation, an arrangement allowing them to concentrate all the fire of the Gunships and Carriers onto any target in front of them without hitting each other. The Sokar Carriers began launching fighters, utilizing the Quick-Drop fighter bay inherent in their design, and soon they hade each disembarked 8 Crescent Fighters, and shortly after that, another wave of 8 from each Carrier joined them. The 24 Sokars had soon flooded the Miranu side of the system with 384 Crescent Fighters; the fighters in turn rearranged themselves into 32 squadrons of 12. The 59 Miranu Gunships moved to cover the Fighters, and the Carriers began arming their pursuit missile launchers.
"Ensign, how many renegade vessels are in the system," asked Supreme Admiral Sunrunner with infuriating calm.
"Sir, there are 18 Crescent Warships, 14 Laziras, 44 renegade aradas, 35 Crescent Fighters, and," the ensign paused, "and 6 ships that appear to be heavy freighters. They could be any type of ship commander."
"Thank you Ensign. To all ships," said the admiral. "Fire a volley of SADs and pursuit missiles at the Heavy Freighter blasphemies. After they are eliminated, focus fire on the Aradas and Laziras. Order all Gunships and Crescent Fighters to engage all enemy ships, with the Crescent Warships as their primary target. Let's make this attack as quick as possible people!"
A mass of fire flowered from the Miranu lines. 177 SADs raced towards the renegades, who were just now becoming alert to this enemy fleet attacking them. The SADs were accompanied by 72 pursuit missiles. As the renegades started scrambling for a defense, the missiles slammed into their hulls, despite their attempts to take evasive action. All six of the NT Light Cruisers were instantly vaporized. Another volley followed, and another and another until 15 renegade aradas and 5 laziras. The renegades, better awake now from the jolt. Started launching fighters from their Crescent Warships as the Miranu fighter fleet and gunship force moved in bolstered by the Zidagar and Zachit forces.
The battle for Hrekka had begun.
(Miranu Losses):
3 Gunships
20 Crescent Fighters
(North Tip Renegade Losses):
6 NT Light Cruisers
15 Renegade Aradas
5 Laziras
============
Star League Construction Guild Report:
Constructed/Built/Completed: 20 Ra-class Gunships, 8 Sokar-class Carriers, 10 M. Freighters, 5 M. H. Freighters
(All these warships will be stationed in Himgro. The Himgro System now looks like this.):
Himgro (Himgro System)
20 Ra Gunships
8 Sokar Carriers
30 Miranu Heavy Freighters
47 Miranu Freighters
(The freighters and heavy freighters will be stationed in Mira):
Mira (Mirava System)
30 Miranu Heavy Freighters
46 Miranu Freighters
Station Pybin Research Directorate:
Research: Miranu Cloaking Device: The MCD works on the principle of a one-way sub-spacial cloak. Namely, the Miranu cannot be seen nor detected by enemy vessels and sensors, as it is places the Miranu ship into another dimension while active, but the Miranu still have the ability to use sensors to see outside the cloak. Extensive research will allow weapons to be fired from the ship while it is under cloak. The downside is that the cloak drains fuel, and once all of a vessel's fuel is consumed, the cloak suddenly deactivates. (Begun: 12/6/02) (End: 12/13/02)
Project: Zidagar Missile Arada design:
Standard Arada Chassis
Weaponry:
2 Pursuit Missile Launchers: 15 Pursuit Missiles
3 Phase Cannons
Complete
New Project: Event Horizon, a high-security research laboratory buried under Mira's crust. It will serve the function of speeding research advances within the Miranu Star League. (Translation: an additional research slot) (Begun:12/9/02) (End: 12/13/02)
Project: Lightninghammer Missile: Utilizing the recently acquired plans from the Zidagar, the missile will be based on the following design. A pursuit missile chassis will be equipped with the Miranu-modified warhead, keeping the same speed and accuracy as the original missile at the cost of increased mass. It can still be fired from the standard pursuit missile launcher. It will weigh 2 tons and causes both moderate shield and armor damage. Complete
Follow-up Project: Refitting of Miranu fleets with Lightninghammer missiles. All ships with pursuit missile launchers will now have Lightninghammers instead of the standard pursuit missiles. (This will not take effect until after the Hrekka battle concludes): (Begun: 12/9/02) (End: 12/10/02)
------------------
Cogito Ergo Cogito
United we stand, so I wandered off and got me a chair.
(This message has been edited by Solel (edited 12-09-2002).)
(This message has been edited by Solel (edited 12-10-2002).)
(This message has been edited by Solel (edited 12-10-2002).)