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Originally posted by spl_cadet:
While this was being done, the Pirate fleet moved backwards, preventing the HC fleet from moving in on them
Wow. Thanks for playing right into my hands. 
Quote
Originally posted by spl_cadet:
and drawing the HC fighters back along with them.
Wrong. What part of "screen" do you not understand? Their mission is to defend, not attack. Give them enough credit to be at least that disciplined, or we'll have to triple KK's losses after Pollux due to "Surf's up" failing utterly. 
Your loss figures from the first volley are also grossly skewed, as usual. My fighters can return fire just fine, and I think you overestimate the strength of your Missiles slightly. You also ignored my Skyblade Frigates backstopping the screen. Also, you would not have any chance to kill any Skates or Devil Rays, as they're behind the screen amongst the rest of my fleet.
- 1 Intrepid-Class Battlecruiser
HCS Intrepid, flagship
- 3 Enterprise-Class Battlecruisers (2 still at Perseus)
- 1 Freedom-Class Cruiser
- 2 Interdictor Cruisers
- 3 Skyhawk Carriers
- 5 Skyblade Frigates
- 1 Destroyer M7
- 3 Destroyer M8s
- 2 Hammerhead Gunboats
- 2 Tigershark Gunships
- 85 Stingrays
- 24 Skates
- 24 Devil Rays
Combined Pirate fleet:
Asriel/spl_cadet's fleet (combined)
1 Halberd
8 Drakes
44 Corvettes
4 Gunstars
19 Deborahs
3 Ghosts
38 Styx
18 Starscreamers
Far from the battle, Mac's two new Interdictor Cruisers watched. After some time in the system, they'd managed to refine their placement of the gravity cones so that the Pirate fleet was pinned, while the HC fleet body could leave at any time.
The Captain of the Sentinel walked over to the Gravjector operator. "Lieutenant, do you have those coordinates plotted?"
"Yes, sir. I have the cone adjusted so we can drop them in right there, next to the lead Drake," he said.
"Give that to communications. Comm, request confirmation from the President before we call them in."
After a short dley, the Lieutenant responded, "Macavenger says to wait twenty seconds and then call them in, sir."
"Prepare to send them the vectors."
Commodore Decker watched as a group of fighters split off from the main fleet and raced towards the capital fleet. Sensors indicated a group of over 60 Stingrays and 24 Skates. Pirate fighters moved to intercept.
"Calling now," communications reported. All eyes turned to the main viewscreen. After a few long seconds, the two remaining Enterprise cruisers rippled out of hyperspace right next to the lead Drake, dragged back to realspace by the gravity cone from their own forces, and opened fire at point blank range.
-----
Sovereign and Galaxy dropped out right in front of the lead Drake with shields and targeting references still down from the hyperspace jump, firing blind along a vector supplied by _Sentinel _. 160 Turbolaser Turrets and 8 particle Beam Cannons all fired into the Drake, which transformed into a glowing fireball in about half a second. Just before the amazed Pirates were able to respond, the ships hit full action status and began firing.
The two cruisers quickly proved that HC Enterprise-class Cruisers are indeed juggernauts in a close range duel. Each ship immediately engaged two different Drakes (firing from weapons placed on each hull of the ship) While aiming all Torpedoes at the Halberd. Drakes began to return fire with some Tri-Photons, LRBMs and Guided propulsion Mines. The Sentinel had been sure to place them a little out of range of the Halberds HNRs. Within 10 seconds, 5 of the original 8 Drakes were destroyed, along with the Halberd.
Starscreamers began to return to unload their own weapons against the two as the two fighter groups hit each other. The Stingrys had more HALOs left than the enemy had Missiles, so this went fairly well for the HC fighters. After concentrating the first salvo on the fast Styx fighters, the Stingrays again pulled aside just before they got in Tri-Photon range - and the Skates following directly and undetectably behind them roared through, knocking the Pirate ships (turning to try to engage the Stingrays) broadside with a salvo of rockets and cannons, again focusing on the fastest. They did not stop to engage, but kept going, aiming for the Starscreamers which were hitting the (i)Galaxy_ and (i)Sovereign_ with GPMs. The Stingrays then interposed between the Skates and Pirate fighters, fighting a rear-guard action against them to keep them from even trying to catch the Skates, pestering them with HALOs, never quite coming close enough to engage in full.Meanwhile, Mac's Skyblade Frigates began approaching the Pirates from behind, outdistancing the rest of the fleet.
Meanwhile, the two cruisers had pretty well finished the Pirate main fleet. 2 Drakes had survived long enough to flee out of Turbolaser range, though one had quickly been destroyed by a torpedo salvo. The two had also destroyed a few Starscreamers, but several were still active, while both cruisers had heavily damaged shields. However, the rapidly approaching Skates should soon puit an end to that, while the Pirate fighters were closed to being trapped... and the Interdictor Cruisers still prevented Pirate escape into hyperspace.
1 Intrepid-Class Battlecruiser
3 Enterprise-Class Battlecruisers (2 heavily damaged)
1 Freedom-Class Cruiser
2 Interdictor Cruisers (at distance)
3 Skyhawk Carriers
5 Skyblade Frigates
1 Destroyer M7
3 Destroyer M8s
2 Hammerhead Gunboats
2 Tigershark Gunships
69 Stingrays
22 Skates
24 Devil Rays
Combined Pirate fleet:
Asriel/spl_cadet's fleet (combined)
1 Drake
36 Corvettes
4 Gunstars
13 Deborahs
12 Styx
14 Starscreamers
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- Macavenger | e-mail: (url="http://"mailto:e-gamerguy1@attbi.com")mailto:e-gamerguy1@attbi.com(/url)e-gamerguy1@attbi.com
