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Post by killer spork on Oct 27, 2015 16:36:45 GMT -6
The Red Scourge had returned! With deadly efficiency they had been carving a bloody swathe through Retaren trade routes, the Empire was bleeding billions of credits as the pirates intercepted Kwazan and Retaren fleets and raided them for goods. The Retarens in turn had laid a cunning trap to lure the pirates in, broadcasting and leaking information about an impending juicy trading haul that Krugg and his men couldn’t resist. The result was the Battle of Aphoria Gate, a small trading post in the Daloth system that the trading fleet was passing through and an excellent ambush point for the pirates.
As the pirates made their approach, the trading fleet was all too eager to surrender. Krugg’s men were congratulating themselves on their easy haul. Yet when the first pirates from the Falconer boarded the massive freighter Imperial Glory, they were in for a rude surprise. Gunfire cut down the Graal and human pirates, leaving the decks strewn with their bodies. Over the corpses, Retaren marines advanced! It was now that the main Retaren Fleet sprung its deadly trap. Systems that had been powered down came alive, exposing their true position. The Retaren Navy had been using the massive trawlers to hide their sensory signatures and with the minimal energy generated from having their weapons and engines powered down, they were indistinguishable from the traders on the pirates scanners.
The Retaren’s drew first blood, a deadly hail of beam fire and railguns pounding into the Brawler, leaving her shields weakened and hull scarred. Meanwhile, on the Falconer, the Retaren’s were swarming aboard in a counter charge, taking the fight to the Graal. Yet, the Retaren’s had underestimated the pirates. These were not the same creatures from two years ago. The RWU had ensured that they were well equipped and well armed. With the fleets both nearly at point blank range, it was now the Krugg’s turn to fight back!
RANGE begins at I for all ships
The battle will last until one side is destroyed or retreats!
Retaren Fleet:
Commander: Generic
Odune, Akroz, Resolute, Sunsplitter Retaren Marauder Ship Class: Destroyer Speed: 2 Defense: 0 Weapons: -- Mass Driver (Accuracy 1, Firepower 3) -- Beam Cannon (Accuracy 3, Firepower 2) Utility: -- Marine Contingent
X 5 Trading Freighters
Red Scourge Fleet
Commander: Comrade Krugg (Admiral Agent) The War Wagon Refitted Antoviyan Missile Cruiser Ship Class: Frigate Speed: II (Secondary Engine) Defense: IV (2x Shields) Weapons: -- 2x Torpedo Launcher Utility: N/A
The Falconer, the Determined, and the Brawler
Refitted Antoviyan Attack Frigate Ship Class: Destroyer Speed: II Defense: II (Shields) Weapons: -- Missile Battery Utility: Marine Contingent
CASUALTIES: Red Scourge: -- Falconer: Antoviyan Attack Frigate (OUT OF ACTION / BEING BOARDED) -- Brawler: Antoviyan Attack Frigate (DAMAGED / STILL COMBAT CAPABLE)
POST ORDER: -- Retaren -- Scourge -- Modmark
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Post by I Like Turtles on Oct 27, 2015 17:37:08 GMT -6
Captain Grolek was not expecting the pirates to be this well armed. Missile batteries, torpedo launchers, shields upon shields. This was going to be a tough fight.
But the Retaren loved tough fights. He barked his orders loudly and clearly and his men followed his every word.
"All Marauders, focus fire, take out that missile cruiser! Helmsmen, defensive pattern Korlok!"
As the Marauders closed in on the lead ship the marines made their way through the enemy ship, led by Lt. Ekthor. As he and his men blasted and clawed their way through the enemy he kept up with the mission. His men were securing engineering and the bridge, the idea was to turn their own ship on them and fire.
-- All 4 Marauders attack the War Wagon with all weapons.
Marines attempt to take over the Falconer and have it join the fight as soon as possible. It will also attack the War Wagon if possible.
If any ship should take out the War Wagon then remaining ships will attack the Determined.
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Post by RWU on Oct 27, 2015 19:07:48 GMT -6
"REVERSE THRUSTERS ENGAGE NOW!" roared Comrade Krugg on the command deck. He needed to put as much distance between himself and the enemy as possible; their weapons were largely short-range while the War Wagon was quite capable of ripping enemies apart from afar. Of course, it could rip them apart at short distance as well if necessary. "TORPEDOES OUT, EACH TUBE TARGET A DIFFERENT SHIP!"
He swiftly turned to his communications officer. "Order the frigates to open up with all missiles now! Rip them apart before they can do it to us!"
"What about the Falconer?" the Graal officer replied.
"Leave them for after! Take out the enemy ships, then reinforce the Falconer!"
"Aye aye!"
_____
-- War Wagon falls back while launching torpedoes at the Odune and the Akroz.
-- The two battle-capable destroyers fire at the Resolute and the Sunsplitter.
-- The Falconer must fend for itself for now; if the enemy warships are eliminated, surviving destroyers will move in to reinforce with more marines.
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Post by killer spork on Oct 27, 2015 19:42:19 GMT -6
Moderation Mark The battle was short and bloody, but not entirely one sided. While the Retaren’s had the advantage of surprise, their ships were simply not made for a knock out drag out fight with the enemy at close quarters. The decision to focus fire on the War Wagon meant that the Determined and Brawler were free to pick their targets without the danger of return fire. Pirate missile batteries slammed into the Sunsplitter, one shot striking the bridge and killing its command staff, leaving her dead in the water and listing heavily to port, while a torpedo from the War Wagon punched its way through the thin armor of the Akroz, igniting her fusion core. The explosion was so strong that it temporarily knocked out the sensors of her sister ship, the Odune. Yet not all hope was lost. The War Wagon had been placed under an intense and unrelenting barrage. Her massive shields had been the only thing that was allowing her to stay afloat but even they began to falter. Meanwhile, her fusion engine became heavily damaged, meaning that for the moment, the War Wagon was stuck in place and Krugg was in the sights of the Retaren Fleet. In addition, the Falconer at last had succumbed to the vicious Retaren boarding assault. While the Falconer’s own marines had fought bravely, they proved to be no match for the Retaren’s in close combat. The ship could hardly be considered combat operational but the Retaren’s were able to get limited power to her missile bays and engines that could allow her to play a limited role in the next phase of the engagement. The Retaren’s were faced with a choice. Launch a final attack (and probable suicide run) on Krugg’s damaged ship in the hopes of killing him but risk leaving the Empire defenseless with no ships or withdraw. The Retaren’s could claim a tactical victory here as Krugg’s operational level would be affected until he received proper repairs on the War Wagon and new ships to replace the Falconer. It might be just enough time to allow the Retaren’s to build a stronger fleet and at last push the pirate scum out of Retaren space. TOTAL CASUALTIES: Red Scourge:-- Falconer: Antoviyan Attack Frigate (CAPTURED BY RETARENS / LIMITED COMBAT FUNCTIONALITY) -- Brawler: Antoviyan Attack Frigate (DAMAGED / STILL COMBAT CAPABLE) -- War Wagon: Refitted Antoviyan Missile Cruiser (DAMAGED / IMMOBILE / ONE TORPEDO LAUNCHER OUT OF ACTION) Retaren Empire: -- Akroz: Marauder Class (DESTROYED) -- Sunsplitter: Marauder Class (DESTROYED)
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Post by I Like Turtles on Oct 27, 2015 23:00:22 GMT -6
"The Akroz and the Sunsplitter are gone, sir!" The damage the Odune had taken forced a junior bridge officer into the position of Ops. He was trained for this though, and reported any information he could to his superior officer.
Captain Grolek had just witnessed the destruction of two Marauders. A captain of a lesser species would be terrified at the sight, would pull back and retreat. The Retaren are warriors, and the loss of their ships only drove them to take the fight to the bitter end.
"Marauders focus assault on their lead ship! Disable their weapons if you can! We'll make this bastard pay!"
As Grolek barked out his commands a com chimed in. He quickly answered it.
"Lt. Ekthor to Captain Grolek! Come in captain! We have control of the enemy vessel!"
Grolek smiled, he had a third ship. "Ekthor! Perfect timing, we'll get you a medal yet."
"Orders sir?"
"Kill them all!"
"Aye, sir!"
Lt. Ekthor addressed his crew. "You all heard him, men! The Retaren Empire will make it's mark on this day. You all know what's expected, and what tasks you must carry out for us to succeed. Now is the time! For the Empire!"
"There it is," Grolek said to his battered crew, "our enemy! The scum have plagued us! Now we can be rid of them for good. It may take a great sacrifice from us today, but our efforts will ensure the dominance of the Retaren people for all time. We have to succeed, we must succeed! For the Empire!"
Somewhere, on one of the ships, one clever Retaren comsmen decided to broadcast the sound of numerous bloodthirsty Retaren on what could be their final charge. Maybe the Graal blocked it out, but if his signal got through, they would hear the savage voices of the Retaren shouting "For the Empire!" as their weapons roared.
--
The Odune and the Resolute press the attack on the disabled War Wagon, hoping to cripple the ship to board later but willing to destroy it if necessary.
Now under Retaren control, the Falconer hurries into position against the Determined, trying to stay between it and the Marauders, while unloading it's payload against the Brawler to take it out for good.
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Post by RWU on Oct 27, 2015 23:52:37 GMT -6
Whether Krugg lived or died would be a matter of luck, but that didn't mean there weren't ways to improve his chances.
"Engines gone cap'n! And one of our tubes too!"
"Rerout the power from them to the shields then! And don't stop firing with the one we have left!"
Meanwhile, outside, the remaining attack frigates continued their barrage, except now their own Falconer was a target. There was no time for second-guesses, either they would be wiped out or their enemies would
__________
-- War Wagon fires another torpedo at the Odune and rerouts power from knocked-out systems to shields.
-- Determined maneuvers to engage and destroy the captured Falconer.
-- Brawler continues barrage against the Resolute.
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Post by killer spork on Oct 28, 2015 21:02:50 GMT -6
Final Moderation Mark The Odune exploded in a flash of light, a perfectly placed and accurate torpedo cutting through her armor and detonating. Without proper point defenses or armor, the ship was a sitting duck as it made its attack run. The Resolute fared little better, disappearing under a barrage of missile fire from the Brawler as it chugged on. It managed to hammer the War Wagon with several well placed beam shots before she too exploded. It wasn't enough to destroy Krugg's ship or get through the vessels remaining -albeit limited- shield strength. The Falconer with its limited crew complement had difficulty executing any of the orders placed upon it. It was struggling under a barrage of missiles from the Determined. Unlike her comrades however, this pirate vessel had shields that allowed her to withstand the bulk of the firepower directed at her. The marines aboard the ship instead diverted power from her weapons bay to her engines. The ''liberated'' pirate vessel disappeared, completing a dangerous warp jump to the nearest Retaren system. The Emperor had to know what had happened here! Rather than take the chance that there were more marines aboard the convoy of trade ships, Krugg's pirates unloaded with missiles and torpedoes to ensure that there was nothing left but slag and space dust. The engagement was over but the ramifications would be far reaching. SUMMARY: The Retaren Fleet lay in ruins. While her plan and tenacity had been admirable, the Retaren ships were simply obsolete and outclassed by their better equipped pirate opponents. Yet the Retarens did learn some crucial things from this engagement. First, they had captured an Antoviyan destroyer, giving them access to superior design techniques that could be used in future shipbuilding of a new (and better) fleet. Secondly, Krugg's fleet had taken a heavy blow in the short term. His raiding operations with the Falconer gone and the War Wagon heavily damaged would be restricted... but news of this defeat was only bound to spread throughout the sub-sector, increasing the pirate lords reputation. The strength of Krugg and his fleet would only continue to grow now that he had crushed the Retaren Navy. He would return soon with a bigger fleet and his raids could grow even bolder to threaten the Retaren's planets... RETAREN DEFEAT! -- Retaren Empire gains Antoviyan Attack Frigate BLUEPRINT (plus captured ship) -- Krugg's operations have been affected, reducing his ability to conduct raids. 25% percent penalty on Kwazan-Retaren trade route for one turn (will resume at 50% after) -- The destruction of the Retaren Navy has caused outrage and panic in the capital. (-2 order on Odune for two turns) Total Casualties Red Scourge: War Wagon: Refitted Antoviyan Missile Cruiser (out of action for one turn) Falconer: Antoviyan Attack Frigate (CAPTURED) Retaren Empire: -- Odune, Sunsplitter, Akroz, and Resolute: Retaren Marauder Class (DESTROYED)
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