Bob: alright. Next time I post, I'll put that in. Right now, I'm actually getting ready to leave, so I'm a bit busy, but it's better to stop and check then blindly rush ahead

Trying again:
Pollux: The admiral watched from his chair as his Rebel cruiser forces began to split into groups of three. With his own cruiser spearheading his group, that also included an extra two from Apple Core's patrol, they screamed down on the Confed cruisers, fireing missiles and sometimes chancing shots from the proton turrets at extreme range. He opened a channel to all of his cruisers. "No matter what happens, stay with your group. We outnember them, and that's the best way to exploit it. Save your missiles for fighter defence. After the first pass, try to stay in behind them. It's our best shot to avoid most of their heavy weapons."
Elsewhere, the destroyers stayed in one large mass, and locked all their torpedoes on one target, and fired. The effect of 50 torpedoes impacting on a lone Confed frigate was spectacular, to say the least. The frigate disappeared behind a wall of explosions, reappearing only as a cluster of wreckage. They repeated this one more time, then fired their engines and began to close, fireing along the way. The frigates returned fire, takeing out one destroyer.
The Mantas, who had joined up with the ones that boiled out of Ace Rimmer's cruisers, met the vanguard of the enemy fighters head on. In that brief engagement they made two kills, one Gunboat and one Patrol Ship, in exchange for two of their own number.

Antares: Here the forces followed the same basic battle plan as Ace Rimmer had used. The destroyers had to fire two volleys, to make up for their lack of the number in the Pollux system, but the effect was no less spectacular. They repeated this on another frigate, and then began to move in.
The cruisers broke up into groups of four this time, except for one, which only cantained three. They began to fire their missiles, focusing on one target only. After several volleys of this, the tageted Confed cruiser became disabled.
The Mantas also fired their missiles, but at two seperate targets, one Gunboat and one Patrol Boat. This destroyed them.

-----
Losses:
Pollux: Confed cruisers: 0
Frigates: 2 destroyed
Confed fighters: Gunboats: 1 Patrol Ships: 1
Rebel Cruisers: 0
Destroyers: 1
Mantas: 2

Antares: Confed cruisers: 1
Frigates: 2
Confed fighters: Gunboats: 1 Patrol Ships: 1
Rebel Cruisers: 0
Destroyers:0
Mantas: 0

Notes: Is this alright? I tried to keep it fair and coherent, but if it needs work, let me know, and I'll get back to it. Also, I'm basing Confed numbers in Pollux off the fact that my fleet should have already been in Pollux by the time Mackilroy ordered the Vega fleet to assist, so it should take them a day to get there. By which time, the battle should be over. Let me know if this is not the case.

Edit: I accidently put Tiber in, insted of Antares. Edit #2: Fixed several problems that Bob pointed out.

This post has been edited by Ace Rimmer : 02 November 2005 - 08:04 PM

Mod: He isn't attacking Tiber.

Secondly, the first post should really be more strategic, overall-you can attack at long range, but you really shouldn't say what your enemy does. That's his decision.

As far as casualties, they're fair overall-the main problem is with your controlling the enemy forces. If you undo that and make your first post (you too, Mackilroy) more long-range/strategic, you can go for close-range action more in the following posts.

-Bob

Everyone makes mistakes.

Katana paced back and forth on his ship. The intel had predicted that a fight at Regulus would wipe out his fleet. This was not good. He sat down. Maybe a cup of coffee would help matters. It did, and within minutes he had a new plan.

He had time to change the course, so he issued a new order. He would fight the enemy at Antares.

But would there be loot? This was an important question. Katana knew the answer was probably no. He needed to get this enemy out of the way though. Then, he could take over the system. There would be plunder in long term ways. Unfortunately, pirates don't like long term plunder very much.

This post has been edited by Katana !!! : 01 January 2006 - 12:52 PM

Antares: 57 lightnings quickly closed in on the Confeds patrols. The mass of speedy gas guzzlers--the true ship of the pirate...57 of 'em--it was a quite a sight to behold. Kestrels stayed back and unloaded on the frigates. The Corvettes broke into groups of five and stay back to attack with long range warheads. Even with most of the ships stock, the effect was devestating. One of the hotshot lightning pilots decided to go one on one with a frigate. Stupid move. Avenging his death, the missiles from the rest of the lightnings fly through the air towards the frigate. The resulting explosion could be seen for miles. Part of the fleet decides to retreat to meet The Apple Core in Pollux.
The plunder was not so good as the battle. Many of these ships weren't carrying any cash at all, and the general pirate opinion of Katana wasn't high. But he provided the goods. And they were satisfied with the money for the time being. It was enough, and that's all that mattered.

"Oh cute."

The gunboats were firing back at his Kestrel. Katana did a quick barrel roll to dodge the relatively tame shots (they really couldn't put a dent in his armor) and made quick work of the group with his turret.
In his kestrel, satisfied with the attack, Katana smiles. It is the first smile he has had in a long time.
"Stay with your groups" he reminds the ships that are coming with him.
Then, the familiar voice of the ship computer booms over the fleet...
"Fasten your seatbelts."
--------------------------
Fleet going to Pollux:
27 lightnings
5 Kestrels
10 Corvettes

This post has been edited by Katana !!! : 30 December 2005 - 11:02 PM

The Remote outpost known as Pirate's Cove was mere minutes away from being abandoend. Every freighter was loaded well beyond recomended safty cpacities, but naturally the pireates cared little. They were going to leave. Their 'warfleet' would keep the rebels in Atropos occupied whilst the rest of the fleet moved to Darven. The Rapiers and Clippers would secure the system and the station, and the pirates would move in. Simple. If all went well, the operation would be complete in two days.

Warfleet:
20 Corvettes
5 Kestrels

Figheter Wing:
50 Rapiers

Evac. Freighter Fleet:
125 couriers
75 Scoutships
50 Clippers
20 Bulk Freighters
40 Argosies

Mod: The only problem with that topic, Katana, is that it's littered with problems-we'll discuss it and the others more thoroughly in #MaximusWebstory, or somewhere.

-Bob

Fleets AF-1 and SF-1 are ordered from Zaxted to Zaphod via route Altair-Polaris-Matar-Yemuro-Zaphod. Fleet ASF-1 will remain in Satori.

The fleet entered Atropos, and was met by the 'regional defender' fleet of 5 destroyers and 20 mantas. The Fleet countered, a Kestrel and a Corvette to every destroyer, and a corvette to every two mantas. The rest of the fleet pulled back, and prepared to jump to Darven.

This post has been edited by ~vIsitor~ : 05 November 2005 - 02:49 PM

All Rebel fleets will return to base so they can be refitted:
Destroyers will gain two proton turrets.
Mantas will gain two swivel guns.

Yemuro fleet will go to Turin.
Risa fleet will go to Zaphod.
Pelagon fleets will go to Sirgil.

visitor: there were no fleets there. I sent them to Antares to help with a Confed fleet.

This post has been edited by The Apple Cřre : 05 November 2005 - 08:52 PM

Infernal taxes..

At least that's what Pikera muttered to himself as he clicked and clacked away at the datapad, carefully and quickly making his selections amidst the many modifications. He carefully picked out the shield and armor modifications manually, much to the concernation of the help program built into the little datapad, and made little quirks here and there in the ship's systems..

Pikera, a rather personable character in his mid-twenties, could easily be picked out in a crowd. Wild, tousled brown hair frew like a wild animal atop his head, matching nicely with his bright, mischievous sandy eyes, and there was always something of a playful smirk about his features. Wearing a long, white trenchcoat that seemed so typical amidst many a mad scientist over his rough and worn jumpsuit full of pockets (and patches!), it was little wonder people's gazes would often linger on him for a bit..

He wasn't alone, however, there in the shipyards of Starport Alpha, hovering over Earth.. A nearby Confederate representative seemed to be heckling him over something..

"Mr. Spazerion, I can only implore you to rethink our generous offer instead of partaking in such an.. oddball mission.."

"No."

"But Mr. Spazerion, the Confederation could make great use of a man with your brilliance, for we are always looking for more able-minds to help us against the rebels!"

"I ain't making you no death ray of uber destruction."

"Of course not, Mr. Spazerion! We had hoped to apply your successful research to more.. economical research! Now, if you would onl-"

"Wow! What a big bird!!"

"What? Whe-" The confused Confederate started, but as he looked back to where the famous scientist had once been.. he was already well down the passageway, much to the frustration of the recruiter.

Yes, Pikera was somewhat famous in the field of brains and science and egos. He was one of those little prodigy children when he was younger, the brilliant and doomed to be bored by conventional schooling child, which often led him down strange and odd paths of research and exploration. Pikera had done quite a bit, quite a bit of which led him to quite a bit of infamy. But through all of it, Pikera had never once lost his love for going down paths few had ever ventured upon.

And that right there was the reason for his newest exploit to find out more about the myserious aliens who had nearly whiped humanity from existance less than a century ago. Pikera had noted, with much heated anger, that nearly everyone in known existance merely wanted to get on with their lives instead of attempting to understand why and how the aliens had attacked them. He finally took it upon himself to confront the matter himself, and massed together a number of old rich spacers, many of which were veterans of the alien wars, or sons thereof, who wished to find answers as well, but had neither the means or the know-how.

And so, with 50 million credits to toy around with, Pikera was busily purchasing his kestrel class capital ship with many a modifications to both itself and its lightning escorts...

As he stepped aboard the bridge and ordered his new crew to begin making preparations for hyper-travel, the dock master of Starport Alpha sent the following message..

"Alien Probe, you are clear for launch."

Meanwhile, the recruiter made a disappointing call..

"Yes... No.. No.. He wasn't willing to sign up.. Determined to go alien chasing.. No.. Yes.. I know.. Just notify our command.. Seems we won't be having our mad scientist afterall."

This post has been edited by Alien5672 : 14 November 2005 - 01:29 PM

"Attention captains!" Apache's voice crackled over the subspace tranceiver, "All ships from the combat fleets are ordered to proceed to Antares. Destroy any Confederation ships that you can handle. That is all."

Fleets AF-1 and SF-1 are ordered from Zaphod to Antares via Zaphod-Yemuro-Matar-Polaris-Altair-Zaxted-Diphidia-Antares.
Orders are to engage any Confed ships in the immediate area when they arrive.

Mod: Unfortunately, in addition to you not being able to jump that far, or through all of those systems, you would get slaughtered.

-Bob

OOC: Sorry I haven't been playing, guys I've been busy in the Interplanetary Wargame. Hopefully I'll be able to do a post by tomorrow.

Everyone's fleets are in home port-the next research-type stuff is going to happen next week, so no refits this time around. Nobody actually made anything.

I suppose I'll make an update post, sometime soon.

-Bob

The move was a success. After being breifly being baffled by the apparent lack of militia in Atropos, the Pirates moved on passed the booty-devoid rim-system, and onto the Pirate's Jewel: Darven (and therein, Blackthorn). The 9 rapiers sent to intercept the fleet were easily dispatched by superior numbers, and the station was captured without incident (well, in a pirates view, that is...). The new station would serve them well, should they succeed in protecting it.

Visitor: Yeah, I suppose I should have been a bit clearer about Indie defense fleets and the like-this time around, I'll let things pass. But Indies will get fleets of their own after this, so takeovers won't be so easy.

-Bob

OOC - Oh yes, sorry. The Alien Probe has four other kestrels to accompany her.

IC - As the new independent fleet set out, the Kestrels wasted little time in quicking moving out from Stardock Alpha. heading through the Centauri system, through the Rigel system, and through the Independent system of Levo.. There was a bit of a scuffle with a pair of pirate corvettes in the system of Vulcan, but the crew found Pikera to be a capable battle commander, making swift work of both the pests with minimal damage to the Kestrel's shielding. Finally, the fleet stopped off in the Apollo system for refueling.

The crew of this impressive little fleet was a little bit perplexed about their unusual captain... Pikera Spazerion was an oddball to say the least, always puttering away on some kind of research, and always ever so cheerful. Heck, he was jumping up and down excitedly when they were combating the pirates, but his orders were clear enough. No one was quite sure why they had signed up with this nutcase, but one thing was for sure.. It paid, and they were alien hunting.

This post has been edited by Alien5672 : 21 November 2005 - 11:17 AM

After securing massive loans from some marginal-type venture capitalists, nine months of agressive recruiting/hiring, and placing all the employee's investments into paying off the fleet before the interest adds up, the Independant Public Militia fleet assembles for the first time outside a private shipyard in Deneb. It is officially in active operation and accepting clients.

1 Kestrel, the Trumbull
12 Corvettes
7 Rapiers
5 Scoutships
3 Clippers

The fleet may be hired out for only one mission at a time.

(OOC) 400 posts. Movin' on up.

This post has been edited by Robert Marlin : 10 December 2005 - 09:09 PM

The ten destroyers and forty mantas I had sent from Atropos and Orion arrived at Antares just as the recall-to-refit order was issued. They immediately jumped for Tiber, where they merged with Ace Rimmer's fleets.

Note: Apache1990 is going to be fired as a merc if he doesn't do something within three days of this edit. has been officially fired.

This post has been edited by The Apple Cřre : 21 December 2005 - 10:16 PM