Green Hawk
28-10-2007, 01:48
OOC: This rp is both for fun and to help me get back in the game of writing in rp's (A.K.A. this is to help improve my writing before I start a "real" rp). This is open to everyone so if you want to join just 'jump' (pun intended) right in. :p Just don't come with a massive fleet of two hundred ships, fair enough?
A fleet of ships bearing the symbol of Green Hawk approached another fleet bearing the symbol of Red Shark. The Green Hawk fleet was much smaller then the Red Shark fleet. Made up of only twelve ships, one Warcarrier (http://www.shipschematics.net/bsg/images/colonial/warstar_helios.jpg) lead the fleet, escorted by two Warcruisers (http://www.shipschematics.net/bsg/images/colonial/battlestar_mercury.jpg), and nine Battlecruisers (http://www.shipschematics.net/bsg/images/colonial/battlestar_galactica.jpg) followed. The Red Shark fleet was made up of twenty-four vessels of all kinds from frigates to super carriers. Oddly enough ever commander in the Green Hawk fleet was not worried at all, especially Forward Admiral Bluely Jay.
"Sir, all ships report full combat readiness," the comms officer informed her CO. Bluely just nodded and informed her to tell all ships to launch Vipers. She nodded and went to work.
"Also, tell the fleet that upon contact half of the fleet will focus on point-defense while the other half will engage in ship-to-ship combat, both half's are to move at maxim speed." Outside in space the two fleets started to fire missiles, with a few nukes as well, but most were destroyed by point-defense systems. Soon anti-ship cannons started to open fire upon the other fleet's ships. Red Shark ships were mostly destroyed after a few shots while the Green Hawk ships had yet to suffer any real damage.
Forward Admiral Bluely smiled as several red dots disappeared off the scanners, which represented enemy ships. He had yet to lose a ship while half of the enemies ships were gone. His happy thoughts were soon brought to an end when a report came in which said that several Battlecruisers fell to a spam of nukes and that one third of the launched Vipers were destroyed. Soon the "battle" was brought to an end, for now at least. Green Hawk had "won" the "battle", if you could call it a win or the "battle" a battle.
"What did we lose?" Bluely asked the detection officer.
"Five Battlecruisers and a Warcruiser, sir. Also, two hundred Vipers did not return. Number of deaths are believed to be in the thousands sir." The officer looked done at his computer, hoping that the reports were wrong.
"How many did they lose?"
"Sorry sir, but can you repeat that. Sir."
"How many did we get?"
"Nearly the entire Red Shark fleet was destroyed, but I can't be sure. Sir."
"Good. At least we got some, but for now lets get back to Green Hawk before we lose anymore people..."
This battle was just one of many battles of a war between a Hawk and a Shark. A war which has barely gone on for a year, but as resulted in the deaths of trillions. In a year over ten colonies, planets with billions living on them, were glassed on both sides. Thousands of ships, both military and civilian lost. Yet neither government wanted peace, but wanted more war. Why? No one knows for certain, but one thing is known for sure. Most civilians on both sides weren't even old enough to know why the war started in the first place, but both agreed that the war should end. Protest were held, but were ignored. Some even tried to use force to end the war, they were never seen again. So the blood shedding keeps on going with no end in sight. Green Hawk's ships were of quality over quantity while Red Shark was quantity over quality. Both fought for no known reason. Neither would stop fighting and civilians thus paid for the war with their lives. Choose your side if you wish or just sit back and watch the two sides destroy each other. The choice is yours, but pick it quickly. This battle was just a skirmish, a show of force if you will, and the real battle was about to begin.
The crippling war between Red Shark and Green Hawk did not go unnoticed by the galaxy at large. For the most part, the endless nations of the galaxy either ignored the war, sent minimal aid to either side, or decried the war, doing their best through diplomacy to end the war. As hopeless, idealistic races often do. However, one nation was eagerly eying the conflict as a moment of opportunity, a very golden opportunity.....
*************
Arbiter's Shield, Sangheilios
The Covenant Imperium was a vast and powerful nation, one often suited to conquest and imperialistic tendencies. Many nations, having learned of their many reforms, would have hoped by hope that they had changed for the better after the Human-Covenant War. That they had become a more benevolent, kindly race.
Disappointment was the reward for their optimism.
The Imperium, having recovered efficiently after two centuries, had plenty of territory, a booming economy and a population that was eager for the prosperity to continue. Their own resources were inefficient for this task and the trade via the ITH wormhole system was going to take too long to get a decent hold in their economy. So they turned to their favorite tool of all: taking what they wanted. Now, they would have normally had to make up some pathetic excuse to invade or just gone after some weak nation that would easily fall, but the situation in Green Hawk gave them all the reason they needed, with a smaller nation that was very weakened by war to boot. The trillions of lives lost and the several planets meant a lot of their resources were used up. There was even a bonus; the Red Shark were similarly weakened, and in the same boat. The Covenant couldn't have believed their luck. If there was one thing that could unite the Covenant more than anything, without fail every time, was the promise of a good war. The Unggoy, now that they were better trained and treated better, were eager to prove themselves, the Kig-Yar wanted to showoff in an effort to undermine the Unggoy, the Yanme-e wanted new hives and this would supply them, the Huganok were eager to jump for the idea of new technology to study, the Lekgolo were poets and gentle beings, yes, but they had an honor code and it pointed to the Covenant survival first, so they were ready to go. And finally, the Sangheili, having already established their authority, had been quite bored without an enemy to fight. A warrior race such as them could only do adminstrative, political and economic duties for so long before beginning to pine for the “golden days” when war and the possibility of a good battle was high.
Now, they would get their chance.
The Covenant High Command met on Sangheilios to discuss the coming operation, the largest, most massive operation planned since the Human-Covenant War. Well, that one wasn't planned too well, just some contingencies made that helped little as the war progressed, and from the losses taken in that war, they had decided to plan every detail meticulously to ensure such a catastrophe did not happen again. The Maraeu'vee, the Covenant word for Emperor, had been consulted and was now sitting in on the council to serve as a counterpoint to the more....bloodthirsty instincts of his admirals and generals. If he let them loose, they'd forget the economy totally and devote everything to their war. One Covenant Field Master was reported saying “One can never have enough toys, especially on the battlefield.” Not that they would run out, 'Yavumi was seeing to that to ensure it never happened. It hadn't happened yet, and he never wanted to see it happen.
Shifting in his gently floating seat, the gravity setting on it keeping it from buoying so much that it made him sick, he laid his arms on the rests, his purple cloak and armor glowing softly in the light of the briefing room. <”So, tell me my most trusted warriors of the Covenant, what is the situation? I just returned from issuing that statement of our intent to help the Dratherians in their war against the Republic, and I find that we are planning to enter another conflict. I do hope you aren't trying to pull one of the two front plans on me like our ancestors did during the war against the Humans. Only the Forerunners know how well that would have done.”>
One of the Admirals, Admiral Xenshein Irum'vee, moved forward, his white armor gleaming, as the Forerunner symbols glowed with frightening intensity. <”Of course not, Maraeu'vee, the enemy we face here will scarcely take but a portion of our might to attack.”> Koro glanced at the Admiral.
<”Details, Admiral, what details do you have to convince me here?”>
The Admiral reached forward, pressing a holographic key to activate a holomap of Green Hawk and Red Shark. <”Here are the two factions, and their respective spheres of influence. They are colored by their names, as you can tell. Now, we have received war over the course of the year that both of these nations have begun a massive and very bloody war against each other. So far, only a year has passed, with today being the current day of fighting, and they have already lost ten colonies, in these regions, as well as trillions of lives.”> The regions he mentioned shifted to a dull blue, showing their glassed state. <”Now, I have the statistics but its rather obvious. The data streaming in on your stations shows it rather bluntly. They have had many fleet engagements, and even some ground, and they are still at square one, a stalemate. They have not made any progress, all they have done is expended countless millions on this war, strain their economy and lose untold numbers of lives, thereby weakening their people's resolve to fight. In short-”>
He was cut off by a now smiling Koro, who finished it for him. <”-they are easy pickings. However, if we do attack both of them, as you say, they will unite, their people regaining resolve. Although I am sure we can handle them, seeing as we are large than both and have fresh resources, ships and our people like war, how do we prevent something along the lines of what the Humans did during the Great War until we can beat down their morale again with several glassings and military defeats?”>
Another Admiral spoke. <”Well, to put it simply, the first part of the plan is to take a large amount of their colonies that have not been glassed, on both sides and consolidate a large area to launch an invasion against both of these nations. We can have large bases, defenses, garrisons, fleets and the works, to launch an invasion here. We don't want to conquer them entirely, unless they cave in, but we can't force it too much, so we need to keep it balanced. Basically keep fighting to keep the troops happy, hold onto what we have and keep them weak until we can do it or they are ready for peace.”>
Koro did the Sangheili equivalent of raising an eyebrow. <”You do realize that we are supposed to send a fleet to aid the Dratherians against the Federal Republic, correct and they will need plenty of killing, they aren't as small nor weakened as these two nations.”> They all nodded.
<”That is true, but we need to get something in. This opportunity is too good to pass up. That and we have planned contingencies for this attack.”>
<”Like?”>
<”Oh, I don't know, the reinforcing fleet of 100 ships we will have at the ready in case they somehow manage to force us back. The Hawk use higher quality ships but the Shark have more in bulk, so its a possibility, low to be truthful, but it is there. Focus on the war against the Terran Federal Union, we will take care of this.”> The Maraeu'vee grinned evilly.
<”Alright boys, go ahead and have fun, as the Humans say, 'in the sandbox'”>
**********************
Sirius Minor system, four hours later. Covenant-Green Hawk border
The go-ahead for the mission had been approved, and now the Covenant-Green Hawk/Red Shark War could begun, and the fleet gathered for the assault was none other than the Fleet of Incandescent Purity. This fleet was well-known, as it was full of warriors who had faced plenty of combat. When the shattered Covenant had rallied and finally drove the Sun'Shyumm and the Jiralhanae into extinction, it was the Fleet of Incandescent Purity that got the job did, transporting the armies, crushing their fleets and glassing their worlds. This fleet was rather large, much larger than it had been during the mop-up battles of the Covenant Civil War, and was now gathering in the S. Minor system with an armada of over 200 ships. A massive fleet that consisted of 69 frigates (http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/7088/covenantfrigateov0.jpg), 47 light cruisers, 32 cruisers (http://images.wikia.com/halo/images/thumb/f/f7/Covenantcrusier.png/300px-Covenantcrusier.png), 20 destroyers (http://www.covenant-clan.co.uk/battle41.jpg), 9 CCS class battlecruisers, 10 carriers, 12 Assault Carriers (http://images.wikia.com/halo/images/thumb/c/c5/Shadow_of_Intent.jpg/600px-Shadow_of_Intent.jpg), all lead by the flagship , the Arbiter's Will, a supercruiser that dwarfed all the other ships in size, scale, and power, along with the host of support craft needed.
In command of this mighty force was Admiral Xenshein Irum'vee, the very Sangheili who had fought hard for this invasion and brought all the data in. Standing aboard the Arbiter's Will, he gazed around at the bridge crew, watching as they did their best to please him and operate at top capacity under his eye. Of course, he kept looking back at the figures rolling down the various screens around the bridge. Taking a deep breath, he let it out. Finally, the Empire was going to expand it's borders, reveal the hidden might it had kept back for far too long. With all the reforms he had been instituting, they thought the Maraeu'vee was going to be one of those pacifist leaders who would bring them to ruin and deny them good wars. However, they had found out differently, which had soothed the military greatly, and now, they were given a war. His mandibles stretched outward in an Sangheili version of a human grin.
It was a good time to be Covenant. <”What is the status of the Fleet of Incandescent Purity?”>
One of the bridge crew, a Major in red armor, tapped a key. <“They report 95% completion of material and food supplies, as well as fuel. They only await the final packages and for the support craft to get into position, and they will be set to jump.”>
<”Good. Tell them to proceed as quickly as possibly and keep me informed.”>
<”Of course, Admiral”>
Two hours pass, and the report that all supplies have been received is sent out and the fleet gathers for a massive Slipspace jump. By going in large groups, they will strike the lightly defended colonies with a speed and ferocity that both sides would not expect. And due to their jamming, as well as their distance, both sides would hardly even hear of the incident. As such, they would be able to build up in peace, giving them the base they needed to sustain a campaign in their territory.
The Admiral turned to his navigation officer. <”Begin the countdown.”>
<”Yes, Admiral.”>
The timer started and wound down to zero, launching the fleet in a series of blue flashes as they exited into Slipspace, headed for their targets.
Two hours later, outer systems of Green Hawk and Red Shark
Admiral Irum'vee sat on the Arbiter's Will, orbiting a world. A world of vast forests, punctuated by a forest or two, and the many clearings the colonists had made, it was a dark green orb with a smattering of brown and blue globs.
Much of the green was now a dull-red, a significant sign of the plasma bombardment that had taken place. Covenant High Command didn't want to expend resources on lengthy campaigns just to pacify the damned planets. So, after arriving, jamming the systems, setting up their FTLi and destroying what little there was to guard the planets, they had proceeded to give an ultimatum. Basically, surrender or you get a taste of what the floating bits of what used to be your ships felt before they die. Some had listened, frightened enough. Others laughed off their demands, saying they would never dare to bombard civilized worlds, that would be against all morality.
The Admiral had laughed at that. They didn't have the stupid preconceptions of morality these humans did. In war, all tools were to be used to prevent loss of life. True, they wouldn't torture anyone or all that, some things were just abominable, but if they needed to glass a few towns to prove a point, they would. So, now with the hint of fire and plasma that was a possible future, they were very cooperative. Orders were sent to secure the systems, they had captured about eight worlds in all, and all around each other, making defending them all the easier. They established temporary bases on all the planets, with deploying troops going into the garrison for that, as well as in all the major cities, starports, and capitals. A second wave of ships, that were timed to come in just after they sent the signal for all-clear, arrived, carrying building materials, Huganok and Yanme-e workers, and more supplies. Shipyards, both on the ground and in orbit, were being constructed, as well as more extensive and permanent military bases, air and land defenses and orbital defense platforms. In short, they were here to stay.
A flicker on the holoscreen resolved itself into the image of one of the other Ship Masters. He put an arm to his chest and bowed. <”Admiral, phase one of the pacification is complete, what are you orders?”>
He shifted in his seat, gazing at another screen presenting him data. <”Have the fleets begin patrols, in case either side, or both, try to come after us, if they even know we are here, as well as to keep an eye out, period. Oh, and begin phase two. I want those probes, as fast as you can without revealing them and showing our position, to begin filtering throughout both nations space so we can see how their war goes as we build ourselves up.”>
<”Your will be done.”> The screen flickered and Irum'vee grinned. Now, all they had to do was let the Huganok and Yanme'e work their construction magic and they would soon be able to begin the war in the earnest.
Xiscapia
02-11-2007, 02:20
It had been a routine mission. Go to this system, gather data on the war, report back, go home. One Scout ship, two SRS troopers, in and out. With the war so close to Xiscapian boarders, a few hyperspace jumps away, this was very concerning to High Command. This system was quiet, backwater even. The last place you'd expect a battle to happen.
And then they came.
A fleet of some 200 ships, of a like the Scout's pilots had never seen. They had been cloaked before, but now they cut all power to remain completly invisable. The fleet had sweeped aside the colonys defenses like they weren't even there and utterly glassed the planet, with large patchs of once green land now dull red and shattered. Unfortunatly, due to the jamming, ths Scout could not transmit back to home. Nor could it escape the system without revealing it's presence and likely getting blown out of space.
The pilots, one male, one female, sat in perfect stillness, in the way only an Xiscapian can. The male spoke first.
"What do we do?"
"There's not much we can do. We wait and hope they go away."
"That's not very reassuring."
"You got any bright ideas, flyboy?"