Construction of Space Shipyard begins [Archive]

Clairmont

12-01-2004, 12:54

When it became apparent that Clairmont needed to guard its interests in space and at the same time efficiently pull its own weight and help its allies in the Order Of the Seraphim in space, it was deemed necessary that a yard capable of producing the space assets required to do those tasks was built

The task we faced was massive. The yard needed to be large in order for it to be of sufficient use. The plans of the yard size stretched out to an 10 kilometer across monster with a required budget of over a trillion Clairmont dollars and thousands upon thousands of workers. Alone we could have not faced this task but our allies In The Order came to our aid and provided us with the loans and work force needed to get this project under way.

With this announcement, the construction of Protectorate Space Station (P.S.S) Hephaestus is under way. The final location of the yard is beyond the asteroid belt in Sol system, approximately two light minutes from P.S.S Tranquility, the Clairmont mining station situated at the vicinity of the asteroid belt.

Over 8,000 workers are involved at the initial construction phase and the requirement will rise to over 12,000 when the construction proceeds more.
With current projections and schedule, Hephaestus will be completed in 5 to 8 years.

At this moment we would like to thank those who have helped Clairmont to make this project feasible.

Star Empire of Steel Butterfly, for graciously providing us with a loan to fund the project.

The New Order of Eizen, for also providing us with a loan to fund the budget and 3500 experienced workers to aid in the construction.

Steel Butterfly

12-01-2004, 19:29

[OOC: Tag...I'll post something good later]

Clairmont

12-01-2004, 19:39

'It truly would become something impressive' Rear Admiral Andrew Janacek thought as the Cutter came closer and closer to the construction site. There were ships literally everywhere. Small ships from the 15 meter long Cutter's to large 120 meter long cargo haulers. Workers in bulgous Space Suits swarmed over the station, using their chem catalyst welding gear to attach support pillars and plating. Janacek had seen the plans for the yard. Upon completion it would be a 10 kilometer across web with a massive central hub in the center and building slips and other areas stretching outwards from the central hub. The station would have 24 building slips of which 6 would be capable of constructing even the massive eight and a half million ton Superdreadnoughts the Bureau of Shipbuilding had planned for the to become Clairmont Space Navy. With the vicinity to the Space Station Tranquility over at the asteroid belt with its asteroid smelting facilities, the yard would have all the raw materials it needed.

But yet there was no yard, only a wobbly looking setup of support pillars and battlesteel girders which created the skeleton of quadrant 001 of the yard.There was a small area of the completed support structure where plating had been bolted in place and which looked quite ready, not doubt to act as the space for the crews working on the internal jobs.

"Coming up on final approach, we are cleared for docking on boat bay 1"
The pilot reported from his seat. Janacek snapped out of his thoughts and looked out as the pilot completed the docking approach for the completed boat bay 1 on the station, with palpable ease. Docking arms snatched the small craft and the umbilical extended to it.

Janacek rose up and went to the hatch which showed a gentle green light to signal that the pressure was stabilized. He opened the hatch and stepped out to the cavernous boat bay of the yard.

The lights of the bay burned bright as Janacek noticed the young looking man in the black and gold uniform of the Clairmont Space Navy approaching to welcome him aboard. The man went to parade ground salute which Janacek returned with a thin smile which resulted from the obvious displeasure of the young man.

"Welcome aboard Admiral, im Commander Wolcott and i will act as your guide on your visit."

"Thank you Commander. Its starting to shape up quite fine."

"Yes Sir it is. The personnel that we got on loan from Eizen are helping a lot. They really know their business and they are a good help to our more numerous crews with their experience."

"Its good to hear that Commander, and if this is the result after only six months has passed, i can only imagine what will we have in here in three more years."

"Well Sir, our Chief Engineer can tell you what is the situation then. As a matter of fact, i have arranged you a meeting with him and his staff."

"Excellent, lead on Commander."

With that, the pair left the boat bay.

12-01-2004, 19:47

The idea is an impressive one, a possible intergalatic empire sounds very good.
Also it's a lot of money to consruct, but i'll give you 70,000 workers. (They are reliable, and they are pro's at ship building).
You'll recive them by 10:30 by chinnok helicoppter.

Clairmont

12-01-2004, 20:10

The Protectorate appreciates your offer but at this moment we have a sufficient amount of workers at the site and we wouldnt have the transportation capabilities to bring that many workers to the site, for every single transportation ship we have is tied down on crucial tasks.

Benjamin Alexander II
Star Protectorate of Clairmont

13-01-2004, 00:27

Let his Majesty know if you require anything further.

ooc: Tag.

Clairmont

13-01-2004, 16:38

"Here Chief, see it?" Engineer Trevor Willis pointed at the part of the data screen glowing in front of the two.

"Yep, looks like atleast the secondary and part of the primary control runs have burned." Senior Chief Winston Dempsey replied with a grunt of distaste.

"Thats what i figured but i wanted to check it thru you before we do anything about it."

"And you did well to do so. If, and i press the word IF, you had taken a wrong judgement and started replacing stuff on your own, we could have possibly had a completely faulty junction when the final tests went on."

"So, what do we do about it?"

"Hmm, there's nothing else we can do except open up that entire area and replace the control runs. It will take atleast two months but it was damn lucky that you noticed it now than when the station is completed."

The other engineer nodded in agreement and Senior Chief Dempsey could only sigh. The lack of experience on the part of the Clairmont workers working on the Hephaestus was showing. True, most of the workers who had been part of the construction of Tranquility station were here but there were only a thousand of them and the experience they had did not compensate completely for the lack of experience most of the Clairmont work force had. Hell, most of them had needed two months worth of space work familiarization before they could be used on the project and altough they knew their stuff, this was something completely new for them. It was damn lucky that there hadnt been any larger mistakes along the road. Dempsey could only imagine the disaster if the primary junction bus from flight control central had been screwed, that would have required them to go thru a meter worth of battlesteel, cables and tubing on the entire sector to fix it. But as it was, the mistakes that had been made had been relatively small and relatively quick to fix, true some of them took atleast a month or two to fix but most of them had been repaired in a few weeks. The Senior Chief only prayed that the situation would remain so.

He snapped back from his thoughts and went on to issue instructions to the younger Engineer by his side.

"Allright, get Howard's team and one platoon of those Eizen workers we have and start replacing the control runs."

Willis acknowledged and left.

As it was, the project was well off. Quadrant 001 had been finished to the point where most of the work crew could be stationed there and the work could be controlled from the Command Central of the station. But that was only 850 meters worth of station completed, and as much as it looked like it, 001 wasnt yet completed. But it was going well overall, the web-like structure of the actual yard around the central hub had allready been started by slowly building outwards from Quadrant 001. As long as there were no major disasters, Senior Chief Dempsey was certain that schedule could be held.

Clairmont

14-01-2004, 20:24

======================================
Day 1453 of Hephaestus construction.
Chief Engineer Henry Brentworth
Progress Report A/3

It is my pleasure to report that the construction is proceeding completely on schedule. Building slips Beta-3 and Alpha-4 are operational and the hardwiring checks out perfectly. Despite the slowdown with having to re-make the control runs to a few sectors, the schedule has been holding. Command Central and Traffic Control Central are both operating and they were tested with the approach and docking of the HMS Hawkwing and HMS Terrible. We've also had several problems with having the artifical gravity operating on Quadrant 001 and Quadrant 003 but those problems are now fixed and we have regular single gravity on the completed sectors. It is now my expert estimate that the yard will be ready in another 38 months.

Ending report...

=====================================

Chief Engineer Brentworth punched the report to the transfer queue back to Earth. His levity was easilly detectable to anyone who bothered to look. Despite all the problems and mistakes, they had been staying on schedule and even tough at one moment he had allmost jumped out of the airlock (not seriously ofcourse) with the entire software and three of the CPU's burning along with the power and air channels going down in Quadrant 002, they had managed that also.

He gazed out of the window and marveled at the structure of the Protectorate Space Station Hephaestus. The station had stretched over to 4 kilometers across and it was a magnificent sight. Allready half a dozen completed building and maintenance slips covered the edges of the yard. The pace of construction and the amount of hardware and workers was clear everywhere. Small dots marked zero-g work suited men welding hull and girders in place, larger dots and shapes marked Cutters and utility vessels operating on the station.

Then he gazed at further away in deep space. The two stressed gravity bands of an Impeller propulsion vessel were visible in the distance. And then his comm chirped.

"Brentworth, go." He answered to it crisply.

"Hey Chief, we got a visitor."

"Yeah, its hard to miss and active impeller Dave."

"Well, its the Cassandra Chief, and Admiral Harrington is aboard."

"Shit!" The Chief Engineer cursed. They had had no idea that Admiral Harrington herself was coming for a visit. He put up the magnification in his view portal to space and gazed at the hull of the Star Knight-class Heavy Cruiser Cassandra. At 300 k-tons, the Star Knight-class was the largest spaceship the Protectorate had ever succeeded in constructing to this point, and it had taken sixteen months to get her ready. The construction had been done over at the small yard of the Space Station Tranquility. But that small yard did not have the kind of hardware and space to build something as large as a Star Knight so the construction had taken very long and it had been a tough job. But none of that changed the utter beauty of the craft.

"Allright, i want everyone of the command staff over to boat bay 1 to meet her, and Dave, be damn sure that everyone knows Harrington is coming aboard." With that Brentworth killed the circuit and started getting ready to meet the Admiral.

Clairmont

16-01-2004, 16:59

"They sure arent wasting any time." Lieutenant Jamie Candless grunted as he watched out of the large view port.

"Nope, but why should they? All the critical areas are allready done, most of the remaining yard area consists of building slips, a few boat bays and maintenance hangars." Lieutenant Trevor Summervale answered.

They both looked over the yard stretching outwards from the primary hub. The primary hub was generally higher than rest of the yard, sure there were building slips in two layers and the station was very "high" but the primary hub had specifically been designed to overlook the entire complex.

"Yeah, i guess you're right. And the Navy really is proceeding quickly with this construction program, hell the biggest doubt i have is that we will sooner run out of trained personnel than ships!"

"Possible, but i doubt it. The academy back at Mount Haven is running to full capacity and the academy over at Saganami Island will be completed in two to three more years."

"Yeah. From a matter to another, do you know what they're building at slip Alpha-1?" Lieutenant Candless asked curiously.

"Yep, its another Star Knight-class. But thats nothing yet, i heard Commander Harris himself say that they are going to begin the construction of a Warlord-class Battlecruiser at Beta-7 in two months."

Candless gasped as he heard this for he knew the numbers and details of both the Warlord and Star Knight classes. But then frowned.

"Nice, but those are still the small stuff, i wonder when the higher ups will begin churning out Superdreadnaughts and Dreadnaughts. THOSE are the big guns."

"I know, i know the statistics, but i doubt it will be in another 24 to 36 months atleast, they're going to produce the screening elements and the small guns before moving to the Ships of the Wall."

Before Candless could answer, a shout like the crack of a whip sounded from further away. And the authority in the voice of Commander Harris snapped them back from their day dreams.

"Candless, Summervale, move your butts and get to the Maintenance Hangar on Quadrant 4, they have some hardware problem there."

The two Lieutenants acknowledged and left to follow their orders.

Xanthal

16-01-2004, 17:17

Five Xanthalian Dreadnaughts emerge from slipstream and head for the partially-completed station. Their slipfighter complements are in combat formation, and all weapons are powered. They broadcast no messages and have no IDs on their hulls. They move in, approaching from 10,000 km.

Five Civilized Nations

16-01-2004, 17:23

A minute after the Xanthalian Dreadnaughts exited slipstream, a Meteor X Class Stealth Assault Frigate, the CNWS-899 Abyss, exited from hyperspace. It quickly sent a transmission to the shipyards and then immediately cloaked and proceeded to tail the Xanthalian warships...

[code:1:2ae237c01c]
-BEGIN TRANSMISSION-

TO: COMMANDER OF CLAIRMONT'S HEPHAESTUS SHIPYARDS
FROM: CAPTAIN JOSHUA CHAMERLAIN, COMMANDER CNWS-899 ABYSS

WE ARE TAILING FIVE XANTHALIAN DREADNAUGHTS THAT WE BELIEVE ARE PIRATES, PLEASE PREPARE YOUR DEFENSES. THE FIVE CIVILIZED NATIONS CAN ONLY PROVIDE LIMITED ASSISTANCE, THUS WE SUGGEST EITHER IMMEDIATE EVACUATION OF YOUR SHIPYARDS OR STRENGTHEN YOUR DEFENSES IMMEDIATELY.

-END TRANSMISSION-
[/code:1:2ae237c01c]

Santa Barbara

16-01-2004, 18:02

SCC Cheng. Now the head of the entire Integrated Theater Defense Organization. So much had changed since leaving for Mars, he thought.

Strapped into the command module of the Atmos, monitoring a network of networks of networks, he saw the situation unfolding ahead of him, millions of kilometers away but approaching fast.

Slower each moment, though. The fleet was still moving at breakneck speed, and doing a deceleration burn to snuggly fit back into Earth orbit. But how snug would be appropriate now? Five ships - no, seven- had mysteriously appeared just a few clicks from the PSS Hephaestus, approaching it fast, and not transmitting anything. It looked like an attack, but he couldn't be sure.

Forced to make a decision on less than all the facts. How he hated that. Nothing for it, he thought. He messaged the 41 ships of the 1st BCS to go to general quarters and cease the deceleration burn. He did this with almost no effort and time, not having to speak the words himself (the commanders would hear a voice give the specific orders required, and that voice would sound remarkably like Cheng's, but it would be a synthesized voice.)

At the same time, he sent a message to the Clairmont station.

[code:1:b96bc0c70f]
This is SCC Cheng of 1BCS. We are about to rendezvous for a classified inspection and have a lock on unidentified, potentially hostile contacts approaching your position. Our ETA at present speed is 260 seconds. We are at general quarters and prepared to offer assistance. What is your status? Over.[/code:1:b96bc0c70f]

He sat back (technically, he was always sitting back) and relaxed for a few milliseconds. The command center was tense around him, dark. No one had expected this, but now that it was here the crew was ready for it.

Large though the potential enemy ships were, he was confident they would emerge victorious in a firefight. They had the speed, coming in fast from the Mars trajectory, and outnumbered the contacts six to one. But that was assuming it would come to a firefight, and that these ships weren't, like his, unexpected allies of Clairmont.

He sighed, briefly before continuing on with his job. So much had changed since going to Mars.

Santa Barbara

16-01-2004, 18:22

The MP1 node chirped musically. It had analyzed the hull, drive and weapons system of the enemy vessels, and was quite sure of the results.

The five contacts were Xanthalian in origin, although that could mean anything. Cheng wasn't in the dark on this; he knew that the cash-stripped Xanthal government had a habit of selling their warships to anyone, including pirates. He knew this, because the Conglomerate execs had actually defended the right, publically, of that government to do so-- of course they had, it was free trade.

He looked at the heaps of data. Pirates, then? He couldn't be sure, and neither could the computer.

The other contacts were in radio communication with the Clairmont station, that he knew. MP1 was satisfied that their IDs were from Five Civilized Nations. Perhaps they were here to help, but perhaps not.

He messaged the first five warships.

[code:1:a8f59d263a]
This is SCC Cheng of the 1BCS. Unidentified warships, you are approaching a Conglomerate allied military zone with weapons hot. State your origin and your purpose here. Now.[/code:1:a8f59d263a]

Five Civilized Nations

16-01-2004, 18:31

OOC: Santa Barbara, I only have one ship and its cloaked and built with detection-absorbing-material...

IC:

The CNWS-899, the Abyss detected the approach of an entire fleet of warships. Unsure about the identity of the warships, the Abyss sent a quick transmission...

[code:1:248507904f]
-BEGIN TRANSMISSION-

TO: UNKNOWN WARSHIPS APPROACHING HEPHAESTUS
FROM: 5CN WARSHIP, CNWS-899 ABYSS

PLEASE IDENTIFY YOURSELVES. IF YOU ARE CLAIRMONT'S ALLIES, BE WARNED THAT XANTHALIAN DREADNAUGHTS ARE PROBABLE PIRATES. PLEASE BE PREPARED TO ENGAGE.

-END TRANSMISSION-
[/code:1:248507904f]

Xanthal

16-01-2004, 18:40

Santa Barbara

16-01-2004, 18:43

Clairmont

16-01-2004, 18:45

"What the...footprint! Multiple entry footprints!" Lieutenant Adrienne Ward yelled as she gazed to her sensors.

Commander Hughes whipped around in his command chair and spoke quickly.

"What do you got Adrienne?"

"Seven contacts, big ones right on our goddamn doorstep, sir, they are closer than 10,000 klicks. CiC makes it seven Xanthalian Dreadnaughts, no ID or no communications from them so far."

"Goddamnit, contact the Cassandra and the rest of the flotilla, those buggers are at point-blank energy range and we sure as hell havent invited them."

Around the station, the Star Knight-class Heavy Cruiser Cassandra brought up its sidewalls and turned its broadside to face the incoming Dreadnaughts. 5 Minstrel-class Destroyers followed suite, forming up on the Heavy Cruiser and bringing up their sidewalls.

The Command Central of Hephaestus had turned from the quiet night watch to a hive of activity, but if Admiral Hughes was nervous, it did not show from his face of calmness.

"Record a message to the incoming bogies."

==========================================

To: Xanthalian Dreadnaughts
From: P.S.S Hephaestus

Attention un-identified Xanthalian Dreadnaughts, stop immidietly and identify yourselves and your intentions, failure to comply will result in the use of deadly force.

==========================================

"Admiral, we have two more transmissions, one from a certain Captain Joshua Chamerlain of the CNWS-899 Abyss, and one from SCC Cheng of the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron."

"Allright, respond to the Abyss first."

==========================================

To: CAPTAIN JOSHUA CHAMERLAIN, COMMANDER CNWS-899 ABYSS
From: Admiral Joshua Hughes, commander of P.S.S Hephaestus

We thank you of your warning. Are you absolutely certain that these are pirates? For we do not want an incident with the Xanthalian goverment. And i believe our defenses are adequate to handle the problem, but any help you might be capable of offering would be greatly welcome.

==========================================

==========================================

To: SCC Cheng, 1st Battlecruiser Squadron
From: Admiral Joshua Hughes, commander of P.S.S Hephaestus

Good to hear from you, it seems that we might have a little pest problem here. If this turns ugly, we'll likely will be able to handle them but there might be severe casualties. Please expedite your arrival.

==========================================

Captain Thomas Theisman grunted in thought as he observed the incoming contacts. They were in point-blank range, if they had hostile intentions, there would be no time to start throwing missiles at them, no this would need to be handled with energy weapons, and as it happened, those were something the station and the ships watching it had plenty of. The heavy graser and laser mounts given to the station for protection were nasty pieces of hardware, altough the warships carried heavy energy armaments also, they were smaller than those in the yard and in the defense orbitals.

"Whats the status of the missile pods Claire?" He spoke to his tactical officer.

"We've given them the telemetry data and they're ready to launch whenever you need them. However Skipper, the range from the pods to the bogies is only 100,000 klicks, they wont be maneuvering much."

"I know, but on the other hand the flight time is so low that i dont think much maneuvering is needed."

Five Civilized Nations

16-01-2004, 18:46

Captain Chamberlain swore at the sudden attack. The Abyss jumped as it accelerated after the Xanthalian Dreadnaughts, its pulse and kinetic cannons firing rapidly.

As Chamberlain sat at his chair he became disturbed when he saw the identifications of the dreadnaughts.

What the hell!?! They're Xanthalian Armada Dreadnaughts!?! Shit... We have a possible intergalactic war on our hands.

[code:1:4e14c624ca]
-FLASH MESSAGE-

TO: THE CITADEL, VIRGO SUPERCLUSTER, LEO I GROUP
FROM: CAPTAIN JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN, COMMANDER CNWS-899 ABYSS

XANTHALIAN ARMADA DREADNAUGHTS HAVE LAUNCHED AN UNPROVOKED ATTACK AGAINST CLAIRMONT'S NEW HEPESTATUS SHIPYARDS. REQUESTING ASSISTANCE... POSSIBLE INTERGALACTIC WAR WILL OCCUR...

-MESSAGE END-
[/code:1:4e14c624ca]

Five Civilized Nations

16-01-2004, 18:50

OOC: I'll edit it to make sense, but I'm not buying that it can totally resist detection (and I generally ignore cloaking unless I have a good reason not to), I'm looking at it with thousands of eyes aboard dozens of warships, because this area is where we were headed and we wouldnt have wanted to bump into anything. Since it's moving and communicating with the station too, it will be emitting SOMEthing, even if it's small...

Back to IC now.

[code:1:d92dcc4c41]
Acknowledged. This is SCC Cheng of the 1st BCS. We are allies of Clairmont and have also analyzed that these are probable pirate warships, and standing by to engage. Can we count on your assistancet? Over.[/code:1:d92dcc4c41]

(OOC: okay... that's fine...)

[code:1:d92dcc4c41]
-BEGIN TRANSMISSION-

TO: HEPHAESTUS SHIPYARDS
FROM: CAPTAIN JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN, COMMANDER CNWS-899 ABYSS

XANTHALIAN DREADNAUGHTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS XANTHALIAN ARMADA WARSHIPS... POSSIBLE INTERGALACTIC WAR ON OUR HANDS. ABYSS WILL ASSIST IN ALL POSSIBLE WAYS...

-END TRANSMISSION-
[/code:1:d92dcc4c41]

[code:1:d92dcc4c41]
-BEGIN TRANSMISSION-

TO: COMMANDER 1ST BCS
FROM: CAPTAIN JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN, COMMANDER CNWS-899 ABYSS

ALTHOUGH THE FIVE CIVILIZED NATIONS HAS A LIMITED "ALLIANCE" WITH XANTHAL, WE DO NOT CONDONE ANY OF XANTHAL'S ACTIONS. THEREFORE, THE CNWS-899 ABYSS WILL ASSIST IN ANY WAY POSSIBLE.

-END TRANSMISSION-
[/code:1:d92dcc4c41]

Clairmont

16-01-2004, 18:53

The slipfighters scream ahead at maximum speed and fire a full barrage of cluster missiles at the station, targeting shields and weapons. The Dreanaughts follow quickly, engaging the station at large; firing to damage as much of it as possible. It's quickly apparent that these cannot be pirates, they seem concerned only with doing as much damage as possible. The Dreadnaughts activate their ID beacons, which show them to be registered to the Xanthalian Armada.

The spherical gravitic sidewalls of the station were much heavier than anything mounted on the warships protecting the station, capable of bending away even heavy energy fire from point blank range, they were utterly invulnerable to projectile weapons striking them, the missiles were ripped apart as they hit the sidewalls.

"So they want trouble, lets give them that. Energy mounts 1 thru 16 clear to fire."

At the Admirals orders, 16 Grasers on the station opened up agains the incoming Dreadnaughts. With a diameter of 6 meters, the beams were powerfull enough to rip thru any sidewall with palpable ease and laughed at the best efforts of armor. And they were lightspeed, it took them only a tiny fraction of a second to hit home to their targets.

"All ships, open fire, flush missile pods and engage with energy weapons!"

As one, the 50 missile pods situated away from the yard belched fire, 500 missiles, accelerating at 97,000 G's accelerated away from the pods to strike the Dreadnaughts, at a range of 100,000 klicks, the range could have been as much as non-existant.
At the same time, the 6 warships opened fire. 46 more Grasers and same number of lasers lashed at the Dreadnaughts.

OOC: Consider my last post to have been before engagement.

Santa Barbara

16-01-2004, 18:59

SCC Cheng knew, knew the moment when the Xanthalian ships were about to fire, and they did. He swore. No time now, the protocol was very clear.

He had the 1st DG step on the pedal. At this speed, the battlecruisers were within range. While the destroyers sped ahead, the Atmos and her three sister vessels began jamming the enemy sensors, flooding the targets with more emissions than they could make sense of.

Four seconds. Three.

Allocating power...

The heavy LOS weapons opened up, blasting the Xanthalian warships with microwave and light radiation at horrendous power levels. The Ultrafuze, and more specifically the individual capacitors of each of the 21 Class-A weapons, handled the load as all weapons systems were activated aboard the vessel. MMATS prepared to fire.

He saved the KOFMLs, knowing they wouldn't be of much use right now. The target was moving, and only EM radiation would hit it in reasonable time.

One second. He hoped all those years of nothing but attack drills would pay off now.

Cheng watched and waited the brief time for light to travel to it's targets, the huge enemy warships, knowing that his whole battle group would be firing as well...

Five Civilized Nations

16-01-2004, 19:02

The Abyss performed a high-speed barrel roll, while trying to evade the fire from the Xanthalian Dreadnaughts and firing its multiple pulse and kinetic cannons. The Abyss began to power up its main weaponry, the powerful Lynx Cannon, as it tried to evade additional fire... At the same time, the four missile pods attached to each side of the Abyss opened up with KRAKEN Penetration Anti-Ship and Zeflon Ion Missiles at the Xanthalian Dreadnaughts.

OOC: A total of eight Krakens and twenty-four Zeflons had been fired.

Xanthal

16-01-2004, 19:04

16-01-2004, 19:05

ooc: is this open or closed?

Clairmont

16-01-2004, 19:05

The Destroyers Hawkwing and Rapier accelerated at full military power towards the Hephaestus. Coming to both sides of Cheng's 1st Battlecruiser Squadron, they also opened their full energy firepower at the Xanthalian Dreadnaughts.

Every single ship so far in the entire Clairmont Space Navy was engaging the attackers.

============================================

To: Xanthalian Dreadnaughts
From: Admiral Hughes, CO of P.S.S Hephaestus

Your squadron is surrounded, heave to and surrender or be destroyed.

============================================

Five Civilized Nations

16-01-2004, 19:09

ooc: is this open or closed?

(OOC: It's open now, since Xanthal just declared war on everyone...)

The hardened computer core fo the Abyss easily isolated the virus and destroyed it. Captain Chamberlain stared in shock at the disappearance of the Xanthalian Dreadnaughts. His first officer walked over and handed him a slip.

Sir, these are the possible slipstream movements that it could have undergone... Sir, there is in reality no way to find out where they have gone...

God damn't...

[code:1:dd4835e406]
-EMERGENCY FLASH MESSAGE-

TO: THE CITADEL, VIRGO SUPERCLUSTER, LEO I CLUSTER GROUP
FROM: CAPTAIN JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN, COMMANDER, CNWS-899 ABYSS

BE ADVISED THAT XANTHAL HAS JUST DECLARED WAR ON ALL SPACE NATIONS... OPENING SALVO HAS BADLY DAMAGED CLAIRMONT'S HEPHAESTUS SHIPYARD...

-END MESSAGE-
[/code:1:dd4835e406]

Xanthal

16-01-2004, 19:16

OOC: Now, just to set the OOC record straight: Those were imposters. Xanthal has no idea what just happened. Of course, your people don't know that yet; which should make this next part very interesting.

IC: The Republic, happy to hear that another nation would be building ships to join them among the stars, has dispatched an Andromeda class vessel to the site of Clairmont building project in order to formally congratulate them. It was to be a surprise visit, so while the information was not classified no one was informed directly in advance of the ship's arrival.
The Andromeda class XAS-06 emerges from slipstream at an easy pace, broadcasting a general greeting. Its weapons and shields are down, and it moves in on the station. Its captain notes the signs of recent battle. "This is XAS-06 to all ships and facilities in the area, is everything all right? We're reading weapons' signatures."

Lunatic Retard Robots

16-01-2004, 19:19

A pair of Abraham Lincoln class battlecruisers pull away from the Benderland international spaceport, just having dropped off a cargo of Pete Townshend CDs and various other commodities produced in LRR, mainly hoverbikes and books.

Captain Peter Bonham sits in his captain's chair on the bridge of the LRRSV Come to Mama.

"Picking up some foriegn ships near the Clairmont shipyards project. 5CN, Santa Barbara, and Xanthal. Energy spikes, it looks like a battle. Oh- wait....there's a slipstream footprint. The Xanthal ships are gone."
"This is very strange. Those can't be xanthal ship-"

"This is the beginning of our war to preserve and enhance our space supremacy. All nations are inferior to Xanthal. We will ensure our survival by eliminating all threats. Long live Xanthal!"

"What in the name of Robert Plant is that?????"
"Not another intergalactic war! Don't we have enough of these on our hands already?"
"Apparently not. Geesh. First the daemons, then Dozle, now this! Rhat are those psycotic Xanthalinians thinking now?"
"We best find out. Ok, launch the fighters, keep 'em in parade formation. Helm, let's hhave us a look."
"Ok. Clairmont vessels, this is the LRRSV Come to Mama and the LRRSV Misty Mountain Hop. Sensor readings indicate that you have just had a battle with Xanthalian ships, and the message we just got tried to infect us with a virus! May we please inqure to the reason?"

The ship's 40 fighters launch from their bays, and form up into 2 20-fighter deltas on the sides of both the ships. The two battlecruisers advance towards the Clairmont station at a regular, calm velocity.

Clairmont

16-01-2004, 19:19

OOC: I'd buy your station beating off that whole attack if it were complete, but your first attempt at building such a thing coupled with the fact that it's not even done yet... Makes me apt to dispute that you can escape without at least some damage.

IC: The Dreadnaughts continue their assault briefly, then seem to simply fade from existence and disappear, taking their slightly depleted slipfighter force with them. A single comm beacon is left behind, it broadcasts a message on an open channel. "This is the beginning of our war to preserve and enhance our space supremacy. All nations are inferior to Xanthal. We will ensure our survival by eliminating all threats. Long live Xanthal!" The beacon then broadcasts a virus designed to cripple the power cores of all the starships in the area. It is a fairly rudimentary virus, and not difficult to block. Still, it is very quick and will probably disable the less advanced ships present, and will almost certainly disable the damaged and incomplete station.

OOC: As you might have noticed from my earlier posts regarding this project, all the critical systems were in place, the only things that arent are half of the building slips and other stuff, sidewall generators are part of the critical parts. And really, the edge of a sidewall is that the gravitic plane is strong which means that you arent getting missiles thru it, which translates to you needing to use stand-off warheads. And i wonder what grounds do you have complaining about my defense system (which with all reason is impenetrable for missiles) when i throw 500 thermo-nukes at you along with energy fire powerfull enough to shatter a small moon (note small). Also, i specifically mentioned that the central hub of the station was completed first, thats where all the computers and that kind of critical stuff are, those however do not make the entire yard, most of the yard is made by the building slips, maintenance hangars and the works but they have no relevance whatsoever to the central computers etc.

IC:

"What the...." Admiral Hughes curses as the lights begin flickering and data screens along with them.

"Talk to me Commander!"

"The Dreadnaughts left, but they transmitted some sort of virus on us. It got thru the software firewalls but the hunter-seeker algorithms will hunt it down pretty quickly."

"Allright, what the hell was that? They come, commit an act of war and then leave with a statement which is adequate proof of their delusions of grandeur? Makes no sense." The Admiral thought aloud.

"I agree sir, but we should leave that for the ONI and Admiralty to think."

Five Civilized Nations

16-01-2004, 19:20

Captain Joshua Chamberlain swore... The Abyss turned and moved to intercept the approaching Xanthalian Armada warship.

[code:1:e467ae549e]
-BEGIN TRANSMISSION-

TO: COMMANDER OF XANTHALIAN DREADNAUGHT, XAS-06
FROM: CAPTAIN JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN, COMMANDER CNWS-899 ABYSS

APPROACHING XANTHALIAN WARSHIP, POWER DOWN YOUR SHIELDS AND WEAPONRY AND PREPARE TO BE BOARDED... THERE EXISTS A STATE OF WAR BETWEEN THE FIVE CIVILIZED NATIONS AND THE EMPIRE OF XANTHAL. YOUR INSIDIOUS EMPIRE WILL BE DESTROYED...

-END TRANSMISSION-
[/code:1:e467ae549e]

Santa Barbara

16-01-2004, 19:23

OOC: Blah, wank is using magic tech to 'fade' from battles. Oh well, I'll go with it for now.... but if we're going to have a war, and I do believe thats what you want, we're gonna have to discuss some rules...

-----
MetaPratt One smiled.

You might not think a computer would or could smile. But this was no ordinary computer; it existed like a hive mind, spread throughout every satellite, every warship in the OOTG. It had easily eliminated the threat Pratt-person had posed- to it's ego.

Now a new threat emerged, to attack it's body. A virus. It smiled, seeing a tiny, young version of itself thrown helplessly against the entire fleet. It was like a child, but it's parents were cruel masters. The virus did nothing and took less than a half-second for the quantum computer to eliminate.

MP1 didn't feel it necessary to alert the Cheng-person about that. It made a note of it in the usual records and went on.
----
Cheng watched the ships, they were about to get hit. Surely they couldn't survive a blast from the multi-megawatt lasers. Their computing systems would surely get annihilated under the crushing energies of microwave radiation. Their crews would get cooked...

Instead, the Xanthalian vessels had seemed to disappear. No debris, nothing further on the scanners. Back to the alternate reality they had went, then. Damn them!

Cheng kept the fleet on alert, but ordered a deceleration burn. It would be tricky. They would slingshot past the station before returning, although the destroyers and merchant cruisers would have the juice (and less inertia) to rendezvous very quickly now.

Message to the Abyss
[code:1:efb25ab5bc] Acknowledged.[/code:1:efb25ab5bc]

Message to Hephaestus
[code:1:efb25ab5bc]We've alerted the CSF, and it appears now our two nations are at war. Good job so far, have you taken damage? The inspection must come sooner than anticipated, and we will have to rush, we will send the inspection team along with any help you require, over.
[/code:1:efb25ab5bc]

Well over a million tonnes of warships pulled it's way to the Clairmont station, and not a single bit of ammunition had been fired.

A bloodless battle... but how about the war?

Yes, many things had changed since first going to Mars.

Sketch

16-01-2004, 19:25

The beacon then broadcasts a virus designed to cripple the power cores of all the starships in the area. It is a fairly rudimentary virus, and not difficult to block. Still, it is very quick and will probably disable the less advanced ships present, and will almost certainly disable the damaged and incomplete station.

ooc: I fail to see how a simple communications transmission would possible have any possible means of infriltrating critical systems aboard military vessels. If somehow you have your reactor powercore tied into your radio, you deserve to lose your ship........ :roll:

Clairmont

16-01-2004, 19:27

As the Xanthalian Andromeda-class vessel came out from slipstream, it was quickly surrounded by 7 Minstrel-class Destroyers and the Star Knight-class Heavy Cruiser Cassandra.

=============================================

To: XAS-06
From: Captain Thomas Theisman, CO of CA Cassandra

Stand down and surrender Xanthalian vessel, and prepare to be boarded. And oh, dont try to play dumb by asking about the weapon signatures, as you wouldnt know that your own ships were blowing away at your yard in here just 5 minutes ago!

=============================================

=============================================

To: LRRSV Come to Mama and the LRRSV Misty Mountain Hop
From: Admiral Hughes

Unfortunately, we are as clueless as you are. The attack was completely unprovoked and we see no sense in it.

=============================================

OOC: Also just to get something straight, the damage to the yard was light, the sidewalls are invulnerable to relatively light physical impacts and explosions like those of the missiles Xanthal fired so there wasnt that much damage.

Santa Barbara

16-01-2004, 19:57

"What? Those lying assholes!"

The CommOps was understandably outraged, and after reviewing the message SCC Cheng thought so too. First Xanthalian-purchased pirate ships attack the station, and now a Xanthalian vessel just happens to respond, claiming ignorance of the situation while having obviously monitored it?

No. It was far too much of a coincidence. Even the FCN ships were suspect. As head of the ITDO, he was the one with most authority to make or match war, but it was a political mess. A good half dozen national fleets were in the area now, and the entire ITDO, already mobilized, was now responding appropriately.

He cursed again, and decided to be diplomatic. He gave the SDS order.

Message to XAS-06
[code:1:1c2a8e8cf9]This is SCC Cheng of the 1st BCS. As you know, Xanthalian vessels have initiated an unprovoked assault on an allied station. Stand down and surrender or we will be forced to conclude your status is hostile.[/code:1:1c2a8e8cf9]

16-01-2004, 20:03

2 otho clas carriers drop out of hyper-space and release their fighters seconds later the rest of the 1st exedishionary force droped out of h-space
===================================
total forces in system:
2 otho class carriers(20 fighters each,2 pulse cannons,and 4 rocket launchers
4 patrol cruisers (4 pulse cannons, 10 railguns ,and 1 chaingun)
1 battle cruiser (10 pulse cannons, 5 fighters, 4 chainguns, and 40 rail- -guns)

Clairmont

16-01-2004, 20:12

Lieutenants Trevor Summervale and Jamie Candless were quite busy. What they had first thought to be a routine maintenance work had suddenly turned to a full fledged combat alert as the Xanthal ships attacked. Luckily, a lions share of the Xanthalian attack had consisted of missiles, as anyone who knew sidewalls was aware, trying to get a missile thru a sidewall was like trying to get a sheet of toilet paper punched thru a brick wall, it simply did not happen for the gravitic stress in a sidewall would without much trouble rip apart a relatively small missile. Thus the damages had been far lighter than they could have been, but that did not mean that there was no damage for the sidewall generator in Quadrant 7 hadnt been installed yet as the attack came and that section did not have it. Luckily, Q7 had also been in very early stage of construction but that did not negate the fact that five months of work had gone straight down the toilet.

Now Summervale and Candless had found their place in their first fight, and sealing sections and bringing power lines back on-line had been the main job after the fight.

"Well Trevor, i think that those Superdreadnaughts will start appearing a bit sooner than you first thought after this.."

Five Civilized Nations

16-01-2004, 20:22

At the Citadel, nearly a million light years away, the government of the Five Civilized Nations functioned. The sudden message from the Abyss claiming an attack by Xanthalian Dreadnaughts and a declaration of war. Immediately a flash message was sent to the closest 5CN patrol squadron.

[code:1:eb7250774a]
-BEGIN TRANSMISSION

TO: COMMODORE JOSEPH ANDERVUL, COMMANDER 5CN 99TH PATROL SQUADRON
FROM: THE OFFICE OF THE DEFENSE MINISTER, THE CITADEL

1. 5CN HAS ENTERED INTO A STATE OF WAR WITH THE EMPIRE OF XANTHAL.
2. MOVE TO THE SOL SYSTEM ASTEROID BELT.
3. RENDEVOUS WITH THE CNWS-899 ABYSS.
4. ALL TYES OF FORCE HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED.

ADMIRAL NELSON, CINCSPACE SENDS

-END COMMUNICATION-
[/code:1:eb7250774a]

Santa Barbara

16-01-2004, 20:31

Taking a few moments of respite to launch the craft from the merchant cruiser Pikeman, a Silent Eagle LTS moved-- elegantly, reactionlessly, carefully, around the gravity wall-- and sent a quick laser-comm to the Hephaestus.

[code:1:92105d507c]
This is classified diplomatic flight alpha 19, requesting immediate docking clearance with the Hephaestus and a meeting with it's commander.[/code:1:92105d507c]

Clairmont

16-01-2004, 20:37

The Command Central of Hephaestus was still a hive of activity altough it had calmed down significantly after the 5 Xanthal Dreadnaughts had left the area. Lieutenant Fuchien tapped her earbug in response as she received the whisker laser communique from the Santa Barbaran diplomatic vessel.

"Admiral, we've got a Santa Barbaran diplomatic flight requesting docking permission."

"Drop the sidewall on Quadrant 1 and tell Traffic Control Central to guide them to boat bay 1."

===========================================

To: Diplomatic Flight A-19
From: Hephaestus traffic control central

Clearance granted. Transferring course data now, follow the instructions and dock to boat bay 1.

===========================================

16-01-2004, 20:53

"Your Majesty, we've recieved word from Clairmont that their new production yards have come under some sort of attack."

His Majesty stodd from his chair, most peeved at the attempt on his investment.

"What has the response been so far?"

THe junior officer cringed as the Emperor stood and faced him, many men had died after provoking his majesty in such a manner.

"Santa Barbara has responded so far and a few other nation were are currently unaligned with."

"Then Order the anaheim Expeditionary fleet to reinforce their defenses for now, if they depart [i]Emperor's Chalice{/i] now they could be there within six hours right?"

"Taking into account the decreased level of activity and the time it will take to implement your decree sire I would estimate we could have our fleet there within ten hours, with the majority of that being transition time. We haven't properly utilized an space routes to Clairmont yet so it will take longer the first time."

"Of course, then it shall be done."

ooc:

Xanthal would do its best to avoid provoking this station any further.

Santa Barbara

16-01-2004, 20:58

[code:1:2a6510dd1a]
Acknowledged, control. Initiating maneuver sequence. Alpha one niner out.[/code:1:2a6510dd1a]

General Officer Peter Stammings gritted his teeth. If there was one thing he had not managed to get used to, it was travelling around in a gravity-manipulating metal box. The damn fool engine was designed by the Glom, but based on Menelmacari designs. Elves. It was a new technology for him, alien, and completely beyond his understanding, seeming to bend the rules of physical science itself just to get him aboard the station.

Why can't they design some magic tech to let me pop over instantly? At least it would cut down on the risk of getting shot at.

"...so we are looking at a full gamma base, then?"

"Yes. We'd classify it as alpha, except for it's location."

"We should find out it's weapons..."

"Yes, of course, we know, Dodgeson, you and your weapons-"

He only half-listened as the boys from R&D continued their discussion. They were nervous, talking to fill these few moments when they would no longer be protected by the armor and weapons of the OOTG warship. Nervous, young, but apparently brilliant.

He wasn't nervous. Nor quite so young. And he suspected his brilliance was a dim and distant bulb in comparison. But he did have several assets that these two didn't.

And after all, he reported directly only to the High Imperator.

Stammings continued to rigidly hold his mouth shut until the docking was completed, which he knew only by the pilot's word carrying down through the main corridor of the LTS. He wondered what the commander of this station would be like in comparison to his records, which had already been duly forwarded and processed prior to this inspection.

If he could, he would have looked out now to see all forty ships of the battle squadron, appraising each one, comparing them to what he knew the future would hold. He wondered what those ITDO folks would say, if they knew what he knew!

But, loose lips sank ships, as the old saying went.

He had already done his homework; he said nothing from the moment he left the merchant cruiser to the momenet the exit hatch to the LTS fell open, clanging against the metal surface of the dock bay.

Santa Barbara

16-01-2004, 21:03

OOC: Xanthal I hope your ship responds to the SDS orders, one way or another. Anyway guys, I gotta go do some stuff for now, don't leave me behind this RP.

Lunatic Retard Robots

16-01-2004, 23:05

Steel Butterfly

16-01-2004, 23:55

The slipfighters scream ahead at maximum speed and fire a full barrage of cluster missiles at the station, targeting shields and weapons. The Dreanaughts follow quickly, engaging the station at large; firing to damage as much of it as possible. It's quickly apparent that these cannot be pirates, they seem concerned only with doing as much damage as possible. The Dreadnaughts activate their ID beacons, which show them to be registered to the Xanthalian Armada.

.:Direct Connection to the Xanthallian Government:.
Message en route

"It has come to my attention that ships of yours of the Dreadnaught classification have recently fired upon a station inhabited by Clairmont. That in itself deeply worries me. However, that is not the extent nor the reason of this transmission.

You see, the Steel-Orion Empire loaned the government of Clairmont a sum total of 225 Billion Credits, which they have not paid back. That means that 225 billion dollars worth of that station is still mine. Therefore, Xanthal has committed an act of war against the Steel-Orion Empire, or at least an act of terrorism. Both are punishable by death.

I demand reperations for both myself and the leader of Clairmont for this unprovoked and ruthless attack. If these demands are ignored, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur..."

Nemerov's face smiled, his lips curling up at the sides. He pointed to his communications officer and winked back at the screen.

"This transmission is also being sent to every press studio that broadcasts in your area. The encription codes will be transmitted if the damages are not recieved within a day. Sweet dreams..."

Transmission Terminated

http://invisionfree.com:54/43/101/upload/p1.gif
Emperor Alexander Nemerov
Star Empire of Steel Butterfly,
In the Orion Sector which includes:
Steel Isle, Steel Moon,
CTaNbHaR Eabo4Ka, XIII,
Aeisis, Bivens, Esthar VIII
Orion Sector Alliance Premier,
Order of the Seraphim

Clairmont

17-01-2004, 00:16

Admiral of the green Joshua Hughes stood rigidly in attention, waiting for the Conglomerate shuttle to disembark its passengers. Beside him stood Captain (Senior Grade) Thomas Theisman.

Hughes wasnt specifically a field officer, it was just his job to command the Hephaestus and keep the Protectorate Space Navy in prime condition and provide new ships for the fleet. Hephaestus wasnt really designed to repell an attack, it wasnt a battlestation, it was a shipyard but it had been given defenses so that it wouldnt be completely helpless against an attack, and today it had been found out that it had been a wise decision to do so, nevertheless, Hughes was going to recommend the construction of a Fortification in orbit around the Hephaestus immidietly when things cooled down.

Theisman was equally silent, in his mind was how this attack should be responded to. He hadnt yet heard anything from the Admiralty but he was sure that the measures to be taken as a result of the attack would be both prudent and decisive. He just hoped that he would get to command the Fearless soon and in the course of that, be the flag captain for the commander of the 3rd fleet.

The light above the docking umbilical glowed green signaling a good seal, and then, the Conglomerate delegation entered P.S.S Hephaestus.

Clairmont

17-01-2004, 00:20

The two LRR battlecruisers continue towards the Clairmont shipyards.

"Eh....well then. Do you mind if we perhaps tag along with your ships? We are very curious. And we're pretty sure that the attack was not launched by Xanthal. Tell me, admiral Hughes, have you ever heard of the Trasnians?"
"And while we've got the comm link open, do you need help repairing your base?"

The two battlecruisers stop within sight of the Xanthalian dreadnaught, about to be boarded.

"I hope this gets resolved before we got another galactic war on our hands."

===========================================

To: LRR Battlecruisers
From: Admiral Joshua Hughes, CO of P.S.S Hephaestus

That is unfortunately impossible at this time. The CSN (Clairmont Space Navy) has initiated a military exclusion zone of 3 light seconds around the station. No vessel except Allied and Clairmont vessels are granted access to this area at this time, other ships must remain outside the exclusion zone. We regret having to take this action but in order to quarantee the safety of Protectorate Citizens and our assets, this action must be taken.

We also thank you of your repair offer but our damages are relatively light and we got thousands of workers onboard whose job is to do just this kind of work.

===========================================

Lunatic Retard Robots

17-01-2004, 00:25

"Ok, then. We'll just be around here. But really, we do not think these are the Xanthalians attacking here. We've had run-ins with the Trasnians before, and this carries the all the regular marks of a Trasnian attack. Except for the speech, but this definately warrants further investigation. Do you have a slipstream heading for the dreadnaughts? I think we have a plan."

Spacer Guilds

17-01-2004, 01:23

Tripolis' electronic eyes, scanning more than ten octaves of electromagnetic noise, noticed that the general area of the Clairmont station had suddenyl become brighter than usual in the range of 400nm and below.

Being the curious type, the Guilds soon dispatched a response- a Minos long-haul transport was quickly disconnected from its dock and began the long journey towards the point of interest. Much to the happiness of the small crew, the wonders of hibernation would prevent them from being bored to death on the week-long journey.

17-01-2004, 02:34

To Xanthal:
From; Imperial Envoy Chistov

The Empire of Eizen has made n equal investment into this particular as has our ally Steel Butterfly. As such the Eizen Empire will demand a similar amount of compensation as you will be providing to Steel Butterfly and Clairmont.

While directly attacking one of our investments isn't a reasonable cause for war attacking one of our allies is a justifiable cause for extermination according to Imperial Law. We would not hesitate to exact retribution should you fail to comply with The Terms Steel Butterfly and Eizen have set forth.

Xanthal

17-01-2004, 02:39

OOC: Ouch. Thats a lot of replies. I think I got them all, but if I missed your post please let me know. I don't want to exclude anyone. By the way, 5CN... We're a Republic, not an Empire. That changed over 100 NS years ago.

IC: The Andromeda class starship halts in space. The general-purpose vessel has no desire to fight these obviously angry people, and it would not have the power to if it did. The captain broadcasts another message. "We have done nothing wrong, nor to our knowledge has the Armada. Our shields and weapons are down. We will allow you to board this vessel, we have nothing to hide. All docking ports are unlocked and shuttlebay doors are opening. I'm not sure what this is all about, we just came to offer the Republic's support to Clairmont. We'll have crew standing by at the docking areas to escort you around the ship. I hope that this misunderstanding can be resolved peacefully. XAS-06 out."

On the Xanthalian capital planet of Aellis V, the Dictator Mimiru Nimbus recieves the Steel Butterfly message. She looks at it in disbelief. After about five hours in conference with various Armada and Ministry representatives, she sends a reply.
To the esteemed Emperor Alexander Nemerov of Steel Butterfly:
We have no knowledge of the attack on Clairmont's station. We sent a single Andromeda class starship to congratulate them on their progress, but no Dreadnaughts. All our warships are accounted for and were not even in the vicinity of the station, let alone in battle there. We are sympathetic for the damage to your investment, but we will not pay reperations unless you can prove that it was our ships that launched the attack. Also, we encourage you to continue to inform us on this disturbing matter; but we resent your threats. As your claims do not represent what we believe to be the truth, the Xanthalian press has been instructed not to publish your story. Rest assured, however, that your point of view will be presented along with ours in the Xanthalian media. I eagerly await your reply, and hope that we can find a peaceful solution to this misunderstanding as soon as possible.
With respect,
-Mimiru Nimbus, Dictator of the Socialist Republic of Xanthal

Xanthal

17-01-2004, 02:43

Xanthal

17-01-2004, 02:56

OOC: And I just want to reaffirm OOC that it wasn't really Xanthal that made those attacks once more. Just so that you don't get the wrong idea that I intend to come out of this RP with a nation of dust.

Lunatic Retard Robots

17-01-2004, 02:59

Aboard the LRR battlecruisers, the crews try their very hardest to track the slipstream heading of the dreadnaughts, knowing that every second brings their quarry further outside detection range.

"Picking up slipstream footprint about 21 ly out, in the direction of Groombridge. Not big enough to be Xanthalian dreadnaughts, though."
"I can't wait until the Clairmont fleet command gives us those slipstream headings! We can track these people down here and now!"

Xanthal

17-01-2004, 03:20

Lunatic Retard Robots

17-01-2004, 03:45

Lunatic Retard Robots: OOC: You'll find IC that they didn't leave by slipstream. Yet another sign that these were no ordinary Xanthalian ships. By the by, the Trasnian pirate organization dissolved a good thirty IC years ago. However five of the Dreadnaughts they had purchased disappeared without a trace shortly after they disbanded. See where this is going?

Ahhhh........ I see.

*Evil Laugh*

Meanwhile......

A small diplomatic shuttle arrives above Xanthal, a Type-20 shuttle, carrying two LRR government representatives.

"Xanthal traffic control, this is S-4574 of LRR. We request landing clearance, over."

Xanthal

17-01-2004, 03:54

Lunatic Retard Robots: "This is Aellis five landing clearance control. Where do you wish to land?"

Lunatic Retard Robots

17-01-2004, 03:59

Lunatic Retard Robots: "This is Aellis five landing clearance control. Where do you wish to land?"

"Wherever is most convinient for you, Aellis Five, over."

Xanthal

17-01-2004, 04:04

Lunatic Retard Robots

17-01-2004, 04:11

LRR: "You are cleared to land at Mac Anu spaceport on the Beta continent. Coordinates have been provided to you. You are now being transferred to Mac Anu regional ATC. Good day."
There is a slight pause, then...
"This is Mac Anu ATC, contacting S-4574 landing at Mac Anu spaceport. Please provide your vessel's landing requirements."

"Agknowledging transfer to Mac Anu ATC. Mac Anu ATC, we read you. We require 20 cubic feet of open space for landing, and a 35 degree approach angle at 50 kilometers, over."

Xanthal

17-01-2004, 04:16

Lunatic Retard Robots

17-01-2004, 04:23

LRR: "Acknowledged. Come in on heading 217. Your landing space has been outlined with beacons tuned to this frequency. Tracking data is being uploaded to you now. Watch for other traffic at 1000 to 500 and 10 to 50 meters. Would you like a tractor beam-assisted landing?"

"Copy heading 217. We have the beacons in detection range. Roger traffic warning. We would like a tractor beam assisted landing. We are starting descent, over."

Xanthal

17-01-2004, 04:28

Lunatic Retard Robots

17-01-2004, 04:33

"Acknowledged. Tractor beams will intercept at 20 meters. There is extensive fog up to seventy meters and moderate cloud cover from 800 to 500 meters. Strongly recommend non-visual, computer guided approach."

"Roger that. Fog noted. Beginning descent now, over."

The Type 20 shuttle descends down through the atmosphere, down towards the landing pad. A freighter taking off passes a few hundred yards to the right, and the landing is mostly uneventful. The tractor beams lock on, and the shuttle extends its landing legs. It sets down on the landing pad, and the cockpit opens. A pair of LRR citizens, one humanoid and one robot, the humanoid dressed in a cartagin sweater and denim pants, and wearing a traditionl fez with a gold tassle climb down from the cockpit.

Xanthal

17-01-2004, 04:39

A computer terminal rises from the ground and activates. The screen has a number of fields, requesting personal information and registry information for the spacecraft. It also request information on who's paying for the parking space and how. An electronic voice greets the crew. "Welcome to Mac Anu spaceport! Please fill in all the required fields on the terminal and proceed to the spaceport exit."

Sketch

17-01-2004, 05:59

ooc: Um.....guys (meaning LRR and Xanthal), not that this is really any of my business, but the title of the thread does say "Construction of Space Shipyard begins" - not "Xanthal's conspiracy development thread". So unless this is going to come back to the immediate issue of your (Xanthal's) attack on Clairmont's project, I think you should be starting another thread...... I kind of want to see how you're going to resolve the touchy situation, not shoot the breeze with your RP partner.

17-01-2004, 06:23

Xanthal

17-01-2004, 07:52

Good point Sketch. I didn't mean to hijack.

All parties wishing to continue the attack conspiracy plotline are directed to this thread: http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=116008

Santa Barbara

17-01-2004, 08:45

17-01-2004, 09:40

To the Imperial Envoy Chistov of Eizen:
We have no knowledge of these attacks, and will not pay you damages for them unless you have proof that it was indeed our Armada that attacked your assets. I await your reply in hopes of resolving peacefully this misunderstanding.
-Mimiru Nimbus, Dictator of the Socialist Republic of Xanthal

Your denials are pathetic. His Majesty's Anaheim Fleet will remain on site of the Clairmont station to provide defense against any attack.

the Empire of Eizen holds the government of Xanthal responsible for this attack regardless of wether or not Xanthal's armada itself participated. Any actions taken towards this station, our investments, or our fleet will be considered an act of war. A war which you surely will not win, and Eizen will not hesitate to destroy every last one of your citizens in the process of making the galaxy safer for us and our allies.

In addition, the 3rd and Fourth Expeditionary Fleets will be diverted from the overcrowded "Emperor's Chalice" facility and be dispatched to augment Clairmonts defenses as well. Think wisely before any more "attacks" occur on this station.

OOC:

I wish I could RP with character not aligned with my nations, Fifty Pirates in Eizen ships drop 4838348 n00ks on Xanthal, boom boom ur dead.

Oh but they aren't me theyre pirates who BOUGHT the ships plz dont fight back... :roll:

Seraphim Order Embassy

17-01-2004, 12:39

[Quantum Encryption - Xanthal]

Start

You have been judged and have been found...wanting.

End

The Order of the Seraphim (http://s2.invisionfree.com/Order_ofthe_Seraphim/index.php?act=idx)

Clairmont

17-01-2004, 12:50

OOC: Hold the damn presses people i need to sleep sometime too.

IC:

Three Pinnace's of the Protectorate Navy closed in on the Xanthalian Andromeda-class vessel. They approatched the Xanthalian vessel quickly but with care.

"Docking in two minutes, get ready people." Lieutenant Thomas Willis
announced to his marines. There was no motion visible to the outside from their bulky Battle Armors but a chorus of acknowledgements came thru the comm.

The 30 Marines in Battle Armor checked their weapons once again. A few sported the massive MK-25 Tri-Barrel while most carried heavy pulser rifles.

The Pinnace shook slightly and a metallic clang sounded thru the air as it attached itself to the Xanthal vessel. The docking hatch opened quickly and the Marines went in.

Setting up a secure perimeter around the entry hatch to the shuttle, the marines kept their weapons ready in case there would be an attack, after all havent these people attacked them just earlier?

Lieutenant Willis followed his marines and sought the first Xanthalian crewman he could find.

"Take me to your captain, and i advise you to expedite."

Clairmont

17-01-2004, 12:56

Stammins came first, saw the Clairmont officers standing at attention, and without much ado he walked straight up to them. Behind him followed two men, both in ITDO uniforms-- except they had no insignia-- wearing looks of what might be awe at the spacious cargo bay, or cool appraisal, it was hard to tell.

Not a soldier, nor a naval officer, and certainly not a member of the Clairmont armed forces, he nevertheless stood rigidly and saluted with a tuned air of military discipline. "Greetings," he said to the Admiral, "I am General Officer Peter Stammins, CSF. Permission to come aboard, sir."

"Permission Granted General." The Admiral returned the salute.
"Captain Thomas Theisman, sir" Theisman standing beside the Admiral spoke and saluted also.

"Now we have the formalities out of the way, its good to have you aboard General and i would be most pleased to show you around Hephaestus if you have the time." The Admiral said.

"And if you are interested Sir, it would please me to give you a tour of the Cassandra" Captain Theisman spoke with pride when talking of the
Star Knight-class Heavy Cruiser he had the privilege to command.

Clairmont

17-01-2004, 12:59

"claimont requesting permition to send diplomates to the station"

as cpt. james raynor sat back he wondered if the laed he had on a secret terrorist group would be worth the cost twice now he had been given lead s for nothing

"Request denied, the area is now sealed from everything else except Allied and Clairmont vessels. This situation will remain untill repairs to the Shipyard have been completed and full investigation of the attack has been carried out."

Lunatic Retard Robots

17-01-2004, 16:54

LRR destroyers deploy all over the area, as peacekeepers. There are enough galactic wars for now.

Message to All Concerned Parties:

LRR is deploying a destroyer sqadron of 30 Rockland Class destroyers in a 10 light-minute radius around the Clairmont station (wherever it is) and the vicinity of the attack area as peacekeepers. If you have any problems with this don't hesitate to say so, but it is for your own good.

Santa Barbara

17-01-2004, 17:07

Stammins seemed to wince at the word "General." He smiled and said, "Thank you sirs, I'd like to get started as soon as possible. Although that's General Officer, equivalent to perhaps an army Captain, not General. CSF enjoys making the rank structure highly confusing."

He turned and gestured behind him at the lagging R&D guys. "These are Mister Dodgeson and Mister Ellis, also from command. As you may have been informed during this mess, we're part of the High Imperator's staff, here on an evaluation only."

Dodgeson was a tow-headed young looking man with freckles dotting his pale face and an steel-framed, electronic eye implant in his left socket. "So what kind of weapons does this station have?"

Stammins rolled his eyes, in his mind. Some people were so one-track minded, even the brilliant ones.

Clairmont

17-01-2004, 19:14

The Admiral noticed Stemmins wincing and then he remembered the Admiralty data packets regarding CSF rank structure and felt like kicking himself.

"I have noticed that, and what complicates the matter even more is the fact that we at CSN have the habbit of giving our Army and Marine captains the courtesy rank of Major to avoid confusion aboard warships.
But General Officer will have to do i guess." The Admiral responded and then turned to Dodgeson.

"Heh heh, for details you can go speak with Lieutenant Bernadelli over at Command Central but Hephaestus itself is relatively lightly armed. We dont have missiles on the actual station at all but we do have 16 500cm Graser's so that we atleast have some last ditch effort guns. For the real nifty armaments you will have to talk to Captain Theisman over here." The Admiral spoke.

Five Civilized Nations

17-01-2004, 19:36

Six unidentified warships exit from hyperspace nearly 5 million kilometers from Clairmont's Hephaestus Shipyards. Accelerating, the warships headed toward Hephaestus. Meanwhile, the CNWS-899 Abyss decloaked and transmitted a short message to Hephaestus.

[code:1:cac2da7062]
-BEGIN TRANSMISSION-

TO: CLAIRMONT'S HEPHAESTUS SHIPYARDS
FROM: CAPTAIN JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN, COMMANDER CNWS-899 ABYSS

TRANSPONDER SIGNALS FROM THE SIX APPROACHING WARSHIPS IDENTIFY THEM AS WARSHIPS BELONGING TO THE ASTEROID PATROL FLEET. FROM THE SIGNALS, THEY ARE ONE NEBULA CLASS STRIKE CRUISER, THREE METEOR X CLASS ASSAULT FRIGATES, AND TWO MUSAI X-II PATROL CRUISERS..

-END TRANSMISSION-
[/code:1:cac2da7062]

The flagship of the approaching squadron was the Nebula Class Strike Cruiser, the Antietam, commanded by Commodore Matthew Stephens coasted to a stop 4 million kilometers from the Hephaestus Shipyards. The docking bay of the cruiser opened and three scientific probes were deployed and moved closer to the Shipyards to investigate the means of departure of the Xanthalian warships.

Santa Barbara

17-01-2004, 19:50

"As I understand it, a gamma wavelength laser is quite the powerful weapon itself," Stammins said, nodding. "We should like to arm this station, particularly in light of today's events. We can't always count on a fleet being nearby, after all."

He motioned with his hand, and Dodgeson eagerly followed to meet Captain Theisman. Smiling, he said to them, "I'll leave the details on that up to you, discuss to your heart's content, Dodgeson. Now if you'll excuse us, I must speak with the Admiral on strategic matters. Admiral, shall we... talk as we walk?"

Clairmont

17-01-2004, 21:32

"It is unlikely that the yard will be armed with anything more than it allready has. Any significant amount of armaments simply would take too much volume which we cant afford. But, the current plan of the Admiralty is first to construct the Home Fleet which wont be leaving for offensive operations ever, but is tasked for guarding our assets in space. And i am also going to recommend the Admiralty to construct atleast a single Fort to protect Hephaestus" The Admiral answered and then turned to Stammins.

"We can talk on the way there, we can take the lift directly to the briefing room."

Hughes motioned at the lift situated at the back of the boat bay and motioned the General Officer to follow, leaving Captain Theisman with the R&D people.

"Now, i really need to get back to the Cassandra before my Exec spills his beans. We'll take a pinnace to the ship." Theisman spoke to the two R&D folks and motioned for one of the Pinnace's settled in the docking arms of the boat bay.

Five Civilized Nations

17-01-2004, 22:35

The three science probes completed their task and returned to the Antietam. Moments later a quick message was sent to the Abyss.

[code:1:b296021f71]
-BEGIN TRANSMISSION-

TO: CAPTAIN JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN, COMMANDER CNWS-899 ABYSS
FROM: COMMODORE MATTHEW STEPHENS, COMMANDER 9TH SOL ASTEROID PATROL SQUADRON

TRACES OF XANTHALIAN WARSHIPS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED AS ANTIQUATED XANTHALIAN DREADNAUGHTS. HIGH POSSIBILITY THAT XANTHALIAN ARMADA NOT RESPONSIBLE. ORDERS FROM FLEET COMMANDER TO RETURN TO SOLOMON ASTEROID BASE.

COMMODORE STEPHENS SENDS...

-END TRANSMISSION-
[/code:1:b296021f71]

As soon as it came, the squadron of 5CN warships turned around and entered hyperspace. Meanwhile the Abyss transmitted a quick message to Hephaestus

[code:1:b296021f71]
-BEGIN TRANSMISSION-

TO: HEPHAESTUS SHIPYARDS
FROM: CAPTAIN JOSHUA CHAMBERLAIN, COMMANDER CNWS-899 ABYSS

ATTACKERS POSSIBLY NOT XANTHALIAN, BUT RENEGADES. PLEASE BE ADVISED TO INCREASE SECURITY AND DEFENSE. 5CN WARSHIPS WILL DEPART FROM AREA, ALTHOUGH PATROLS TO THIS AREA WILL CONTINUE...

-END TRANSMISSION-
[/code:1:b296021f71]

Lunatic Retard Robots

17-01-2004, 23:45

Santa Barbara

18-01-2004, 00:46

Xanthal

18-01-2004, 02:44

Clairmont

18-01-2004, 02:49

OOC: Yo! I said it before, I'm saying it again since you seem to have missed it: If you're going to continue this RP with me, move it to this thread: http://www.nationstates.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=116008

This thread is about my shipyard, and that one ship of yours is still in the area of my shipyard and it is affected by my vessels protecting the shipyard, so thusly all actions against that single ship of yours in my area still belong in this thread, everything else regarding the Xanthal part of this attack go elsewhere, including tracking the Dreadnaughts and so on.

Clairmont

18-01-2004, 02:57

"Sure, no prob," Dodgeson replied eagerly. "What about this Fort of yours? Projectile or beam weapons?"

It was clear he was excited after many months of inactivity, while Ellis merely looked a bit nauseated. Then again, with a sickly complexion he tended to always look a bit nauseated. He gave a look like he was thinking, This is the point where the good Captain here gets tired of Dodgeson and boots him out the airlock.

"Ah, an impeller wedge ship, I take it?" noted Ellis, making Dodgeson squeal. "That's definitely something we're looking into. I don't suppose you have any chief designers aboard the Cassandra?"

"And impeller missiles..." Dodgeson said to himself, running a tongue between his dry lips.
-----------------------------------------

"Excellent, Admiral," Stammins replied, and followed him to the the lift, taking natural, easy-paced strides. He looked at the floor, and a ghost of a grin touched his clean shaven face. "Nice to have gravity again," he remarked quietly.

Theisman hid a slight internal wince at the fellows curiosity. It was allright for an R&D guy he supposed, afterall they were supposed to be building the guns to blow up the enemy so a bit of curiosity wasnt bad. But he was a combat commander, not a damn Bureau of Weapons expert. Nevertheless he retained his loose demeanor.

"Well i have only glanced at the specs of the thing but it will have a mixed armament, both energy and missile armaments but it will have a lot of both of them either way." He replied to the curious officer (is he an officer?) and turned to Ellis.

"Impeller indeed. As a matter of fact, the only vessels where we use reaction drives any more is in Cutter's but thats only because the things are too small to mount both an Impeller and an Inertial Compensator. And if you want to learn more about my ship, i think you will find my tactical officer a good company for you."

"...and yes, impeller missiles."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hughes laughed slightly at Stammins' remark about the gravity.
"Yes it is, it was pretty damn inconvinient to move around here when the grav plating hadnt been installed yet. Can even imagine running this station anymore without artificial gravity."

Clairmont

18-01-2004, 03:02

The LRR peacekeeping squadron commences operations around sol.

The flagship of the squadron, the LRRSV Roger Daltrey motors towards the Clairmont station.

"Clairmont station, this is the LRRSV Roger Daltrey. We would like to send over a shuttle of diplomats in order to share our intelligence on this attack. Also, we have around 25 destroyers in the area in case they decide to come back. And once we figure out where the attackers came from, all those ships can be put under your command."

"We are currently running our own investigation of the event and the area is still off-limits. But we appreciate your concern and if it is convinient for you, could you transmit the data over via whisker-laser communication or some other secure form of transmitting?"

Santa Barbara

18-01-2004, 03:25

Dodgeson grinned infectiously and clapped a hand on Theisman's shoulder. "Then take me to your tactical officer, kindly sir!" Then, looking at the look on the captain's face he quickly dropped the hand.

"Reaction drives, well they have their advantages, but we're getting bored with the old rocket equation," he went on, "Really, we're looking for something new, but those cutpurses, you know...."

He went on, babbling and walking along slowly.

Ellis decided to let him just vent until he was finished. Then they'd get down to the real details aboard and about the ship. That'd be fun.

------------------------------------------------------------
Stammins smiled politely. "Well, the last ship I was on was designed for that, with bars along the walls you can monkey around on. But I'm glad I was never caught unprepared during the accels," he chuckled.

"Now then, onto those 'strategic matters,'" he said as they entered the lift, "The recent attack changes some things. First, we will have to be investigating the situation thoroughly. I believe SCIA will handle that part. But it's my job to come up with contingencies that shape the CSF's continued development, with your help. For this station, that is. What can you tell me about it's onboard industrial capacity?"

Aquilla

18-01-2004, 03:37

I was going to congratulate Clairmont for the first page of this thread; most don't bother to RP getting themselves into space.

Xanthal

18-01-2004, 04:19

Clairmont

18-01-2004, 12:00

OOC: "My" ships left the area, except for the Andromeda class ship and that isn't going to interact with your station. I'm not going to split my RP over two threads. If you want a reply from me, you post on the other thread.

OOC: Umm, it is going to interact with my guard force and it is directly in the line of events where the attack occurred. But i'll see if i have the time to continue it for your convinience in the other thread.

Clairmont

18-01-2004, 12:26

Theisman lead the duo of officers to the Thunderhawk-class Pinnace docked to the boat bay. The Thunderhawk-class was primarily meant for ground assault and marine insertions because of its heavy firepower, but it worker well as a personnel transport also.

"Chief, are we ready to go?" The Captain shouted to the cockpit.
"Yeah Skipper, whenever you're ready." Senior Chief Steilman replied.

Theisman motioned the two officers to take whatever seats they like in the passenger section of the Pinnace. After a minute, the small craft detached itself from Hephaestus and moved to the safety distance of the station to light off the impeller of the vessel. The two stressed gravity bands of an impeller drive snapped in place as Chief Steilman began the trip towards the Cassandra. Accelerating at measly 2 kps squared, the 100,000 kilometer hop would be over very quickly. As the Pinnace began its landing approach for the Cassandra, Theisman turned to the two officers.

"If you want to have a good look at her, i suggest you take a glance from the starboard view port."

------------------------------------------------------
"The attack came at a really bad time. It could have been worse time like before we installed the sidewall generators but better for it to come now than then. I also allready send all my data of this to ONI (Office Of Naval Intelligence) and Admiral Givens is on it so when the Order investigators come, they should work in tight cohesion with Givens and ONI." The Admiral answered to the first remark and then grinned slightly as he would get to tell about what the yard could churn out.
"Well as you most likely know, we needed Hephaestus because we needed a navy in space. Sure we have a small maintenance and construction yard over at the Tranquility station at the asteroid belt, but that isnt really a dedicated shipyard and most definately not for warships. The Cassandra was built there but it took over twice as long as it would take when we build Star Knight-class vessels here not to mention the higher cost of construction. So we needed something a bit bigger. The Hephaestus was designed to produce enough warships and merchant marine for us to get the space assets really running. The complete station will have 10 Quadrants and each Quadrant has 4 sectors. It will have 24 building slips which can be used to construct warships. Only 6 of those slips however are large enough to facilitate the construction of Ships Of The Wall, namely Dreadnaughts and Superdreadnaughts but the rest of the slips can build anything from LAC's to Battlecruisers. We estimate that at full capacity and using best possible construction pace, we can complete a Superdreadnaught in 8 to 9 months. The average is about a year however. For Battlecruisers for example, we can get one up and running in about 5 months. The building time doesnt decrease exponentially largely because of how we build the ships here. But thats for the building capacity. For maintenance and small construction jobs we have 16 Maintenance Hangars that can repair and maintain anything from Pinnace's to Alpha and Beta nodes of impeller's, Grasers and the works, and they have a lot of internal space for those jobs. We also have 20 fabrication workshops that can build us the electronics and hardware we need. However we cant produce all of it here so some of the hardware going in to the ships comes from Earth."
The Admiral finished, proud for his command was capable of giving to Clairmont Space Navy.
"So, what do you think General Officer?"

Santa Barbara

20-01-2004, 17:41

Ellis moved toward a nearby view port, peering out, his eyes instinctively squinting against any possible radiation or light (as if squinting while staring would have helped shield them somehow). He asked, "I'm curious, what's this made of?" he tapped the viewport with his index finger twice.

-------------------------

General Officer Stammins seemed fairly impressed, and you could tell by his slight lifting of his left eyebrow. He checked his arm attached PDA, punched in a few things, and then said, "Hmm, not too bad at all there, Admiral. I think that the Conglomerate, in fact, should be helping here as well-- you know their industrial capacity, I'm sure they could at least help ship raw materials here, with all those merchant cruisers. Of course, I can only suggest this to them; I don't have the capacity to speak or make decisions for the PCC."

He frowned. "As it is however, I am certain the High Imperator will be interested in utilizing Hephaestus as a primary construction center, particularly for your Ships of the Wall, which are too big for, say, OMF units to make efficiently."

"On that note, I'm interested in the impeller drive and node manufacture. Can they be produced planetside, for example?"

20-01-2004, 19:39

Eizen Anaheim FLagship Eidolon to Clairmont Command:

What are the status of the LRR forces in the area, are they allied with your nation, and if not should we consider clearing all unaligned nations out of this area? Eizen's two fleets could handle that task easily.

Clairmont

20-01-2004, 22:50

Theisman gazed at what the man was pointing and then understood.
"Ah our viewports, they are armorplast." He said simply and continued after a few seconds. "Basically its a metallic alloy with structural strength equaling and surpassing highly refined steel. The trick is in making the stuff transqluent so we can use it like glass. The strength of armorplast is that there is simply no way outside physically puncturing the plast to break a view port made out of it. There are no electrical systems attached to them that are necessary to keep them in place. To put it very shortly, its transqluent armor grade steel."

The Pinnace was now drawing on final approach to boat bay 3 of the Star Knight-class Heavy Cruiser. Shutting down its impeller on the regulation set safe distance and coasting forward with the guidance of the small attitude thrusters only. It quickly attached itself to the docking umbilical extended to it and Captain Theisman moved over to the docking hatch. It showed the bright green light of stabilized pressure.

Aboard Space Stations, the docking umbilicals had their own gravity so that personnel could transfer more easilly, but aboard warships, such luxury was not made. Upon disembarking or entering a warship for a parasite craft, the person doing so needed to coast thru 8 meters of horizontal tunnel where zero-gravity reigned. For people un-accustomed to zero-gee enviroments, those docking umbilicals could be a real pain but Theisman swung himself to the tube with the grace of someone who had done it dozens of times and shouted for the two officers to follow.

---------------------------------------------------

"That would be most helpfull General Officer. With the kind of naval expansion the Admiralty and the Goverment has planned, we will be needing a lot of raw materials and trained crew to maintain the pace of comissioning new ships."

"There are no particular limits to where the alpha and beta nodes of an impeller drive can be produced, the construction process does not require a vacuum or a zero-g enviroment in order to be done which makes the drive construction much easier."

-----------------------------------------------------

Hephaestus Command Central to Eidolon

"We have no alliance with LRR. But the vessels are staying outside the military exclusion zone we have set up and they are conducting their own examination of the events. They are of no problem to us, as long as they stay outside the exclusion zone, Admiral Hughes has allowed them to remain."

Santa Barbara

21-01-2004, 06:19

Ellis and Dodgeson managed fairly well with the zero gravity section, although not with quite as much skill as Theisman. They had nevertheless spent several months aboard zero-gravity warships, and despite an initial look of disappointment at having to do it again, Dodgeson followed. Ellis gave a furtive glance back at the translucent steel, clearly quite impressed, muttering something to himself about sub-molecular engineering.

The heavy cruiser's doors loomed ahead, inviting the three men inward. Dodgeson stifled a giggle, much as he had when first arriving aboard the Pikeman. And, just as he had done at that time, Ellis rolled his eyes. Some people just didn't have the proper attitude.

------------------------

"That's quite good. I think we can safely say that by combining several industrial nation's capabilities, and distributing engineering plans and knowledge of the impeller drive components, we might speed up construction a bit in the process," said Stammings. "Although, I am not a technical man, I take it that this sounds reasonable?"

The lift became silent as the General Officer waited briefly for confirmation or denial.

Clairmont

21-01-2004, 08:58

Theisman swung out from the zero-gee tube to the boat bay galley of the Heavy Cruiser. He had specifically asked to leave the honor guard this time and only his exec was waiting.

"Good to have you back sir."

"Good to be back, any news?"

"Nothing much Skipper, the boys at engineering got Graser Three working again but nothing else you arent allready aware of."

Theisman nodded to the Commander and turned to see the two Officers accompanying him from the Pinnace, swinging from the tube to the safe one gravity of the Cassandra.

"These are Mr. Ellis and Mr. Dodgeson Exec, they'll be aboard for a while to check her out."

----------------------------------------------------------

"Umm, yes that would help the process definately. " The Admiral responded as the lift came to its destination. The twin doors hissed open and revealed the smoothly lit space of the main briefing room. The Admiral motioned Stammins to go first and followed after he had entered. The room was meant for relatively small briefings compared to Battlesquadron or Fleet level briefings. Only about 40 seats were placed in ascending rows for the listeners and the front section had a large holo-tank and a table.

The Admiral motioned Stammins to sit as he himself made a call to his steward to bring some coffee.

Santa Barbara

22-01-2004, 17:55

Dodgeson smiled and waved his hand briefly. "Grasers, you say? I was wondering, what kind of power outputs do you typically see on that?" he asked eagerly.

"Forgive my friend here," Ellis apologized, "We've had a long time of no activity. I'm Alex Ellis, we're here on orders of the High Imperator. Nothing too formal really, more of a comparison session for us. We'll try not to be too disruptive to the flow of things."

He shot a sideways glance at the exuberant Dodgeson.

---------------------------

The General Officer took a look around the briefing room, not giving anything more than a once-over glance. As he sat down on a seat not particularly distinct from any of the others, he idly appraised the holo tank, and seemed to find it to his liking, as he nodded very subtly to himself.

He waited politely for the higher ranked Admiral to speak first, not wanting to seem too obtrusive.

Clairmont

26-01-2004, 14:26

"Heh heh, no hard done Mr. Ellis, curiosity is good atleast on eggheads so i hear but im not really an expert on the weapons systems. Mr. Young, our Tactical Officer has the bridge watch currently, he is the one you should talk to." The Exec answered.

"Indeed, im quite sure you feel like home when you get Mr. Young really running about the specs of the Cassandra. But with no further ado, lets get underway." Theisman said and motioned for the two officers and his exec to move on to the lift to the bridge.

Altough several hunder k-tons, a Star Knight-class Heavy Cruiser was still relatively small. The trip to the bridge took a measly minute. Usually the bridge was a hive of activity, but now with the Cassandra tasked to the guarding of Hephaestus, activity was lower than usual.

"Lieutenant Young, i have the watch." Theisman announced as he strode to the bridge and the Tactical Officer surrendered the captains seat quickly. Theisman waited for their quests to come closer and then introduced them.

"Lieutenant, these are Mr. Ellis and Mr.Dodgeson, they are here to take a little look at our systems. Give them a little tour of our lady here and answer their queries."

The Lieutenant acknowledged and shook hands with the two officers.
"Allright gentlemen, i am at your disposal." The Tactical Officer said cheerfully to the two.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hughes waited for the General Officer to be seated and as they settled in, his Steward allready came in and left a tray with two cups and a can of coffee on the table. Hughes poured himself a cup-full of the black drink and sipped it carefully, after noting that it was as good as allways, he laid down the cup and crossed his hands.

"Six more months before we get this thing completed. It will be an enormous relief especially if everything works as they are supposed to!" The Admiral spoke.
"But the hassle wont be stopping there, hell judging from the build-up plans the admiralty has made, this place will be so crowded and busy that the construction phase will feel like a vacation."

Santa Barbara

26-01-2004, 17:28

Dodgeson seemed somewhat dampened by the response from the executive officer, though he smiled and began gingerly poking at bulkheads aboard the bridge.

Meanwhile, Ellis said, "I don't know about it feeling like home exactly, I don't think I've spent that much time here to qualify it as so."

He firmly gripped the Tactical Officer's hand and shook it. "Alright, well here's something I've been wondering since I got on this ship. How many alpha and beta nodes does she have?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Stammins wasn't the sort who normally went in for coffee, and he disliked the addiction factor of caffeine. But he took the cup in his hands, filled it, and brought to his lips and sipped quietly. He nodded. "I understand the ITDO moved several hundred tonnes of fresh coffee beans to Mars recently. This reminds me of that."

The Admiral's gentle gripe amused him and he laughed. "Of course, and if my commanders have anything to say on it, this station will be a central point for all kinds of activity. You name it, research, construction. A lot of that depends on what we decide here today, though."

He reclined a bit, placing the coffee on the table and eyeballing the Admiral. "As you can probably guess, the High Imperator would like a fleet of new ships to be produced by such new construction facilities. These ships would merge several national armed forces technology and design theory, and the first, it is hoped, would be produced right here."

Clairmont

26-01-2004, 19:53

The tactical officer hid a slight internal smile, 'these guys went straight into business allright' , and answered.
"The Star Knight-class uses a combination of 6 Alpha-nodes both in the after and forward Impeller Rings and 10 Beta-nodes both in the after and forward impeller rings for a total of 12 Alpha and 20 Beta nodes. Bigger ships both carry more nodes and they are bigger, bigger size corresponds to stronger Impeller Wedge but also more power used."

"Now, where would you like to begin your tour? The Combat Information Center is my own favorite place in the entire ship, but im a tac officer what can i say, but we can start from where ever you like."

--------------------------------------------------------------

"We have our own supply of fresh beans here also, if i like the Admiralty for something, its for their decision to straight out decline the idea of using cheaper make-up coffee." He replied and took another sip of the stuff and then proceeded to reply to the rest.

"We are well suited here for all those tasks. Im not sure if you knew but Hephaestus is now in Phase 1. BuPlan and BuShips has planned the yard to be expanded under regular intervals, adding more building capacity etcetera with every expansion. Now at the start i think that most of our capacity will go for the buildup of the CSN but since most of our R&D is done on Earth, the R&D facilities that will be added here in 8 more months will be used a lot less by us."

"And yes i had some idea of the High Imperators plans. As a matter of fact, BuShips has allready been in progress of preparing for joint working to produce that kind of ships and i think that for those tasks, the R&D facilities we will be getting here to Hephaestus will have a great potential to further that cause."

Santa Barbara

27-01-2004, 18:02

Santa Barbara

27-01-2004, 18:02

Ellis listened carefully. But the truth was, he wasn't sure of how the alpha and beta nodes worked together to achieve the impeller effect, and he had found a source of information. He wasn't going to give it up that easily! "Do all ships tend to have the same ratio, 3 to 5, of alpha to beta?" he pressed on.

Dodgeson interrupted before the answer could arrive, his hair wriggling around on his head like a toupee. "The Combat Information Center sounds great!" he said to the tac officer with a warm smile.

-----------------------------------------------------

"Hrmm," Stammins mused. "I'll make a note of that in my report. Personally, I'm eager to see what those R&D folks can cook up."

And here he launched into a tanjent, feeling unusually talkative. Probably the coffee, he figured.

"When I was younger, I took a tour of the Orbital Manufacturing Facilities as part of my certification process. It was simply amazing, the kinds of gadgets they had up there, and this was about ten years ago. And you know how small those OMFs were-- tiny."

He remembered something he had wanted to ask, now that he mentioned it. "Speaking of which, here's an odd question, does Hephaestus have, or will it have the ability to say, de-construct a vessel and turn out useful metals and materials?"

Clairmont

27-01-2004, 20:39

"Right this way, we'll take the lift down to the CiC, for the purposes of fast moving of personnel, the CiC is close to the lift." Young said and motioned for the elevator the two had used to come up with the captain.

In the lift, he remembered Ellis' question.
"The ratio remains the same regardless of ship class, its a part of impeller physics."

The trip was short, the CiC also was deep in the Heavy Cruiser to give it best possible survivability in combat, it was a short walk from the lift.

The CiC was the primary data processing and information generating source for the Bridge of any warship which was large enough to have a CiC. It was a large room with scores of data screens, a large holo tank in the middle of the room and nearly two dozen personnel in tasks of all kinds all around the room. The lighting was noticably darker than in other portions of the ship, this to give the best view of the numerous data screens and the holo tank.

"Gentlemen, this is, should i say, the CPU of our ship"

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Heh heh, yes i remember well our first orbital structures and how large they felt, but now when i have Hephaestus under my feet, those structures feel like closets compared to a stadium."

He sipped again on his coffee and returned to his thoughts.

"Yes as a matter of fact we have that capability. The basics of the process are basically that first, the yard takes a ship apart by breaking it to several large pieces. Then, we remove the electronics, everything from the impeller nodes to electronic-warfare equipment and data screens. Essentially, the large portions of what were the vessel are after that only bulks of alloy. Finally, we tow those portions to the large smelter plants that will be their own indepentant structures which will arrive in another year or so. The smelters melt the basic battlesteel that compose the primary hull of our vessels so that it can be used again. Armor is removed before this tough."

Vernii

27-01-2004, 22:08

OOC: W00T! Another nation that uses honorverse tech. I'm going to send you a telegram Clairmont.

Santa Barbara

28-01-2004, 07:32

OOC: One of these days I'll just have to read these books of yours. :P

IC

"Ah, yes. A very efficient design," remarked Mr Ellis as he followed Young into the lift again. "And hey, do they teach impeller physics to all Clairmont spacemen, or just the officers, or what?" he replied just as the doors opened to the CIC.

Suddenly Dodgeson jabbed his comrade in the ribs with an elbow, and pointed at the many computers with a mischevious grin.

----------------------------------------

"That's very good," Stammins said, approvingly, "I don't have to tell you how much these kinds of investments are worth in terms of resources. How universal would you say your process is? That is, could you take apart ships built of different alloys and get the same kind of return? Say, enemy ships?"

Clairmont

28-01-2004, 12:18

OOC: You damn well should, if you like military sci-fi at all and space sci-fi at that, Honorverse books sometimes feel like the nectar of gods, or something to that effect. Besides, you can read them as e-books or in the 'net for free.

IC:

"Standard Impeller physics is one of the mandatory courses required to pass the Academy, ofcourse NCO's and Enlisted all get the standard Impeller physics lectures also. But since its simply not cost or time effective to teach the in-depth Impeller physics to every man and woman aboard our ships, specialization is necessary and thats why we have driveroom technicians, impeller technicians and the works."

Young answered to the man before the doors opened.

As they entered the CiC, he noticed the hungry look on Ellis' eyes.

"Basically, we were forced to seek new types of computer options when we began designing our space forces and old style circuit board style computers were not a viable option. Perhaps you have heard of molecular circuitry?" Young asked the men with a wicked grin and walked to the shoulder of one Officer working on one of the computer stations.

"Hey Fulton, i need your screen for a few minutes."

The man in the chair rose obediently and gazed quickly at the two R&D officers, regognizing a fellow thinkers and eggheads, he gave them a friendly nod.

"Sure Lieutenant, take all the time you need." He said and left for other tasks in the room.

Young motioned for the two officers to to come and pulled one more seat to the side of the one allready in front of the screen.
"Take a seat fella's, i think you'll find the processing time on these 'puters to be quite fast. To put it in more exact terms, this particular 'puter has maximum processing speed of roughly 5 million teraflops. It might seem insanely fast but really, when taking into account the sheer amount of data and the amount of work our computers aboard starships need to go thru, its almost too little to handle the job."

"You can browse the basic database from here. The commands are all really simple and the operating-system is extremely easy to use. And dont worry of messing anything up."

----------------------------------------------------------

Hughes considered the question for a moment. To be frank, he wasnt aware of all the details on the smelter plants, just some basics but after a while of consideration, he knew how to answer.
"Well, Battlesteel is basically just an alloy altough rather complicated to manufacture. So, depending on the hull material of the vessel going to the smelter plant, it could be eventually turned out as battlesteel. Ofcourse if the material of the smelted vessel or object differs from the composition of battlesteel by a huge margin, this isnt possible."

Santa Barbara

30-01-2004, 18:23

Dodgeson grinned at the man named Fulton, obviously pleased.

But Ellis grabbed the seat right in front of the monitor first, ignoring Dodgeson's puppy-dog look at having to take the secondary one. He tilted his neck, cracking the bones audibly, as he listened to Mr Young describe the processors.

He lifted his eyebrows at the processing speed, but inwardly was not all that impressed. He had just come from a ship hooked up to a quantum computer, after all. "I understand, a ship this size requires enormous computational power. I'll try not to mess it up, we better not let Dodgeson use this thing... hmm, let me see here..."

And he began typing commands in while his comrade watched to the side. He knew what he was doing, clearly, and began skimming data files and procedures avidly, almost forgetting that the others were there.

------------------------------------------------------------

Stammins nodded, apparently satisfied with the Admiral's answer.

"Well, that is all good," he let out a small, quick sigh. "I must say I'm quite pleased with what you have here so far. Some minor things, and lots of information that will have to get shared with the CSF, but otherwise I'd say this might even constitute an Alpha, or command, Base. Is there anything else you'd like the High Imperator to know?"

Clairmont

30-01-2004, 20:19

"And really, this is just a workstation, the REAL 'puters we got hooked up at the analysis station for example or in the targeting stations, they are in the 30 million teraflop area." He yet continued about the processing speed and looked with a slight grin at the two eggheads dwelling into the fountain of information on their hands.

"I'll let you two skim thru what you like. When you want to continue, im at at the tactical plot at the back." He said pointing the large holo-tank positioned in the room and left the two look at what they liked.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Its good to please Mr.Stammins. And perhaps a few things for the High Imperator. For starters, you can inform him that our first Battlecruiser Squadron will be completing in another 22 months when we get the yard fully running. The construction of the fort should begin in another 12 months or so. But other than those little things, nothing big. I hope that as soon as we start getting squadrons to service, we would get time for some wargames." Hughes said with a slight grin.

"And one other thing came to mind. Our tactical crew here and Captain Theisman's tactical people over at Hephaestus go over a set of simulated maneuvers every monday, wednesday and friday. As it happens its friday and we're scheduled for our regular maneuvers in another two hours. If you have the time, you could accompany me to simulator 1 for the duration of the excersise." Hughes said.

The sims were the next best thing to real thing. High capacity computers and analysis units perfectly duplicated battles and even the visual imagery was as authentic looking as someone could hope. The simulators themselves were basically just small warship command bridges with all the operating stations of a warship bridge and everything needed to command a battlesquadron or just a single destroyer.

Santa Barbara

31-01-2004, 18:40

"Yes, I think I've heard rumor of upcoming wargames," GO Stammins replied with seriousness. "Well, I shall pass the information along."

Stammins was familiar with VR war-sims. In training he'd gotten to use Angelan "c-space" modules as well as the ITDO virtual command modules, both of which used similar software and wetware, but vastly different hardware. In those few, hectic weeks, he'd played enough of war to know that he wasn't a commander or leader of men, and that it was much more fun to make war when lives didn't hang in the balance.

Come to think of it, he'd managed some respectable scores in space VCM. He could certainly afford to spend a few moments reminiscing and checking out the new Clairmont sims.

"I'd be delighted and honored to accompany you and observe," he said at last in response to the Admiral's invitation.

He figured, those kids Dodgeson and... what was that other's name? ... well, they would probably find something to keep them occupied, and would probably also need him to physically pull them away back to their duties, such as they were.

But that would be later.

Clairmont

31-01-2004, 19:17

For the remaining two hours, Hughes showed Stammins around the station. Maintenance bays, a Superdreadnaught building slip, Command Central, Traffic Control Central...and yet there would still have been so much to show. But time was something that allways ran out.

Hughes arrived to the primary simulator bridge on the Hephaestus tactical excersise area. The bridge was the size of a Heavy Cruiser bridge, the standard ground-side tactical simulator size for excersises.

The duplicate bridge was allready filled with personnel. A captain was manning the captains station and other officers were attending to their duties.

As the Admiral and his guest arrived, the Captain rose up and saluted sharply.

"At ease Captain Polaski, are we ready to kick Captain Theisman's butt?"

There was a hushed laughter on the bridge at the sentence and Cpt. Polaski grinned sharply.

"Yes sir, however there has been a change of plans."

"Indeed?"

"Yes sir, we just got the notification that Captain Theisman will be acting as flag captain for this excersise." Polaski stated.

Hughes showed a slight edge of curiosity at this change, usually Theisman would be the CO of the opposing force.

"And who is the CO of the opposing force Captain?"

"Admiral Harrington sir." The Captain stated with a slight edge of awe in his voice.

Now Hughes' supprise was detectable to anyone with working eyes. She knew Harrington very well, as a matter of fact, most likely every officer in the Protectorate Navy knew Harrington, the woman was by far the best tactician in the entire Navy. And this was just like her to supprise Hughes with something like this.

"I see. Well i dont see how this changes our routine in any way. "

"No sir."

"Well, are we ready to show Admiral Harrington what we can do?"

"Yes sir."

"Then start the show."

The simulator bridge sealed up and the main holo tank bursted to life along with every screen on the bridge. Hughes turned to Stammins and began explaining the outline of the excersise.

"We allways do our mock battles with atleast Squadron strength on both sides, for the last few times we have been using nothing more than cruiser sized squadrons for both sides but this time we have something more interesting. The aggressor force under Admiral Harringtons command has a squadron of Manticore-class Superdreadnaughts. Thats 8 SD's, 12 Warlord-class Battlecruisers, 16 Star Knight-class Heavy Cruisers, 20 Apollo-class Light Cruisers and 22 Minstrel-class Destroyers."
Hughes stated and gave a few seconds for his explanation to sink in and then continued.
"We on the other hand have 10 Manticore-class Superdreadnaughts, 10 Warlord-class Battlecruisers, 8 Star Knight-class Heavy Cruisers, 16 Apollo-class Light Cruisers and 18 Minstrel-class Destroyers. In essence, we have the edge in launchers and energy weapons but not a big one tough."

"Their mission is just basically to "destroy" Hephaestus, our job is to defend it."

With that the excersise began as the mission clock turned on and began counting seconds passed in the excersise.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Lieutenant Young at the Cassandra had been forced to return to the bridge for the excersise, he had called Dodgeson and Ellis to come with him and assured the two Officers that the mock battle would be a sight worth seeing.

When Young arrived, the bridge was allready up in battle stations and the simulation mission was about to start. Everyone was at their stations but there was an extra person at the bridge.

Young regognized the woman immidietly. 194 centimeters of slender body fitted in the suit of an Admiral of the Protectorate Space Navy stood slightly behind the Captain's seat. He had had no idea that she was coming, but from the look on Captain Theisman's face, he handnt had a clue either. But here she was, and her purpose here was clear as crystal. She had come to take command of the aggressor force for the duration of the excersise.

Admiral Harrington stood silently and calmly gazing at the primary tactical plot and observed the actions of the crew, the simulation was about to start and she hoped that either of the sides wouldnt be trying to impress her too much and in the process end up fudging royally.

Santa Barbara

04-02-2004, 08:39

Stammins listened with interest, nodding. At the end, he asked Hughes, "I noticed these seem to be your own ship types, do you have sims involving, say, Melkor gravships? Other national forces. Like OPFOR."

He found himself approving of Admiral Harrington, particularly observing the respect the crew seemed to radiate for her. A good leader, he thought with an un-uttered grunt, virtuous and with all the best qualities.

Back at command, there were many skilled and respected leaders... but virtue, such as it is, always seemed in short supply.

----------------------------------

Dodgeson hurried his pace, trapsing after the lieutenant with boyish eagerness in every step. Freckles on his face twitched as he examined the simulator equipment before him, breaking out into another one of his characteristic and, in Ellis' humble opinion, absurd grins.

"These look similar to our own sim training gear," Ellis noted, seizing the opportunity to cut Dodgeson off before he could start. "Like many of your info systems."

Dodgeson said breathlessly, "Yeah. Like the computers. Wouldn't it be great if we hooked them all up? Then we could really have some fun!"

Ellis suppressed a sigh.

Santa Barbara

06-02-2004, 19:21

<kickin' it to the top>

Clairmont

06-02-2004, 20:09

"Mostly we have simmed against our own ships, but yes we have also had OPFOR simulations." The Admiral supressed a small laugh and continued "As a matter of fact, we've even practiced against a Battlegroup of JIL vessels. Captain Theisman had two of the Cruentis-class Missile Dreadnaughts in his disposal and take my word for it General Officer, he really put them to good use. Heck, in the end the only way we managed to bring those down was by using a sheer overkill missile salvo from one of our Inquisitor-class SD's."

It had been thirty minutes to the simulation, and so far there was yet no sign of Admiral Harrington's Battlegroup. Tension was beginning to rise on the simulator bridge, especially among the younger officers. But Admiral Hughes kept himself calm.
Harrington would come eventually he thought. And almost like his words had been a spell, the tactical officer on the bridge gave an announcement.

"Contact at three-nine-five-five at ten light minutes, CiC is making estimates now." The woman announced calmly.

Hughes gazed at the tactical plot and frowned. The Agressor force was coming from at a course reciprocical to the system ecliptic, and right at the sensor edge of his gravitics.

"CiC makes it Eight SD's and all of the Battlecruisers and Heavy Cruisers of the Agressor force."

Hughes rubbed his jaw at this announcement. So all the heavy firepower in Harrington's disposal was right there, but where were the screening elements? It was possible she was trying to lure Hughes into chasing his force away from Hephaestus and then Harrington would use her lighter elements to destroy the shipyard. Possible, the screening elements had quite an accelerative advantage over the Superdreadnaughts, and if he used his entire force to go and meet the Aggressor force, he would never catch the Light Cruisers and Destroyers of Harringtons screen if they came in in a slashing attack.

He contemplated his options. In the end, he HAD to go and meet the Aggressor force, or Harrington could simply attack the shipyard with cee-fractional missile strikes. But he couldnt leave the yard unguarded either.

He turned to the general officer and spoke.
"The Aggressor force has done a clever move General Officer." The Admiral told the man and indicated the light codes on the tactical plot that represented the detected vessels of the Aggressor force.
"As you might notice, the force we have detected has no screening elements whatsoever with them. This could mean two things; either Admiral Harrington has her screening elements there, but under stealth, or then she has detached them from that force." He waited for his explanation to sink in and continued.
"As it is, we have to go and meet them for Hephaestus is an immobile target. Harrington can simply use cee-fractional missile strikes to wipe the yard out and we could only sit here and do nothing if we do not go and meet her. But we cannot leave the yard unguarded either."
He finished and now turned to the bridge crew.

"Signal rest of the Task Force that we are going to meet the Aggressor force. Two of the Battlecruisers and half of the Light Cruisers will remain here to guard the yard."
Captain Polaski immidietly began issuing orders when Hughes finished and in two minutes, Ten Superdreadnaughts, Eight Battlecruisers, Eight Heavy Cruisers, Eight Light Cruisers and Eighteen Destroyers lighted off their Impeller wedges and began accelerating on an intercept course towards the incoming aggressor force vessels"

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Admiral Honor Harrington hid a smile as the Impeller sources blinked to existance on the tactical plot. The Defenders were taking the bait that she had graciously given them, oh she couldnt fault Admiral Hughes. Afterall, the man had little choice. He could either intercept the Aggressor force or he could lose with the Aggressor force destroying Hephaestus with cee-fractional missile strikes.

"It seems they are going for it Ma'am." Captain Theisman said, his pleasure easilly detectable on his voice.

"That does seem to be that case Tom."

"If accelerations remain constant, they will reach maximum powered missile range in two-point-four hours. " The tactical officer reported.

NationStates Jolt Archive

Construction of Space Shipyard begins