Enduring hope: a Starsector Civ Quest

While all this talk about specific ships and their merits is nice and all what it isn't nice is playing on an uneven field. So here's some links to help get into the nitty-gritty quest stuff.

Various ships of the sector

A useful realspace map of the Coreworlds

Weapons galore!

There's a level of silence as you think "are you sure the garrison can handle this?" four days with the enemy fleet before support arrives…

The Space Marshall, a woman by the name of Norma Stelks looks steadfast at the screen "while our fleets do not have the same reputation of valour as the Navy, I can assure you each man and woman knows what they're doing, they can hold."

A moment's breathe, and you make your decision "we'll go with plan Gamma. Mobilize the 1st​ and 3rd​ fleets. I don't want any of the bastards leaving the system. Understood?" a series of loud affirmations and salutes. Before names wink of the channel, leaving just you and your own thoughts.

You doubt their chances, the most experienced of Navy captains would balk at those odds. Even with the possibility of reinforcements it'll be four days of hell.

There's no point in guessing the best or worst, dreading catastrophe or cheering inevitable victory. You'll do all you can to make sure the men and women in the Corvus system get out alive. And celebrate or mourn when the dust has settled.


…..


Halt trade
Hire Mercenaries

Throughout the bars and markets of Jangala loud swearing can be heard, merchants complain incessantly to beleaguered government officials as civilian traffic is halted both in system and to the hyperspace gates, profits disintegrate as deals are broken by circumstance. News channels discuss the events as they unfold, with a few of the more controversial reporters suggesting that the pirate attack might even be a fabrication by a hostile nation to damage the Hegemony's economy, but for now the census remains caution instead of rampant conspiracy.

Meanwhile, the mercenary ship Chimera and its two escorts break orbit, joining the Security fleets desperate attempts at preparation.


…..


Scouting roll: 81+ 10 (supporting ship)= 91. Success

There's always something unnerving about hyperspace, the eternal void of swirling purple and abyssal black as far as the eye can see. The idea of going into some of the deep hyperspace clouds and just not coming back out.

Doesn't help that they were looking for a bunch of mass murdering looters. Captain Torres thought to himself. Peering into the abyss, with every minute the enemy Armada came closer, occasionally stray thoughts would enter his mind, thoughts of his puny frigate torn apart by an Atlas II's guns, crew motionless out in the void. That any second the enemy fleet could be barging towards the-

"Are you all right sir?"

Torres swirls back in a flurry of motion "SON OF A-" it's just Anderson, the old Engineer holding two cups of steaming liquid in his hands. Torres quickly pats down his uniform trying his best to ignore the minor panic attack he just had right in front of the most veteran soldier on the entire ship "Sargent Anderson, everything's all right with the engines I hope?"

The slightly raised eyebrow showed exactly what the veteran thought of his little diversion "all green, same as the last fifteen times you asked" the veteran coughed into his arm before raising one of the steaming cups in his hands "looked like you needed some coffee, you've been staring out the bridge for the last hour."

Torres blinked, before looking at the bridges clock, 24:37 Domain Standard. Felt earlier than that. "Very well, if you insist." A few minutes of silence followed, with Torres continuing to look out the bridge window into the unflinching void while Anderson looked at him in a way he could not place.

With a sigh Anderson put down the cup, before putting a hand to the ship "she'll hold, she always holds, she held in the Sindrian wars, she held in the Second AI war, she'll hold now." The old Engineer turns to Torres "it's survived worse than this, as long as we keep treating her with respect she'll be as good as any destroyer and with her we will make it through, there's no need to worry yourself to death."

The tension slowly dims from Torres shoulders, and a weariness he hadn't noticed starts to show itself "you're a damn good speaker Anderson, ever think of becoming a politician?"

Andersons wise old man persona breaks down in a guffaw "think I'll take the pirates sir"

Ping

Silence fills the Bridge as the Sensor Officer starts to speak "contact, bearing 362 degrees, in the deep hyperspace cloud, transponders are off."

Ping Ping Ping Ping

"Holy shi- sir, I thinks it's them. Seeing a massive sensor reading, at least twenty ships" a level of panic starts rising amongst the crew

Torres quickly brings his voice to full bore "stay focussed everyone, this is it! Charles get word to Captain Isiera that we've got a contact." Torres hears the door slam, seems Anderson was already on the way to engines. But first, there's a level of Confusion on the sensor officers face "what is it Lieutenant?"

That seems to get her off her constant murmurings "the contact is splitting up, looks like ones heading for Barads Gravity well with the Atlas IIs and the other… I don't know sir, but it's the smaller of the two"

Ludd dammit. Torres thought to himself. We need more info. "Is Captain Isiera on comms yet?"

"Yes sir, they're confirming the sensor contact, they think the second fleet is heading to the inner jump point"

That's good enough for now, now he just needed a plan.


…..


The pirate fleet has been found one day before it reaches Corvus, the fleet seems to be splitting into two sections, with a larger one heading towards the Barad gravity well with the three capital ships and a smaller one heading for the inner jump point, while actual fleet composition is currently unknown due to the Hyperspace cloud they are currently using as cover both fleets should be visible by the time they enter the jump points. there are currently two Centurion-class Heavy Frigates, five Lasher-class Frigates, 3 Hound-class shieldless frigates, and 4 frigate sized combat freighters in the Garnir system of which all but 1 Hound and 4 combat freighters are going silent. you also have 1 Hammerhead-class destroyer and 2 Wolf-class frigates guarding the Nav buoy past Jangala and Asharu.

Five days until the 1st arrive, six days until the 3rd arrive.

You currently do not know the opposing fleet composition, while the Hounds could scout it out they would be dangerously close to the opposing fleet. The two captains decide.
Which fleets should the hounds follow?
.....
not sure how I feel about this one, I'll check once I'm no longer a sleep deprived mess. anyways, Update!

"Sir, the Little Bear is going dark, Captain Isiera is suggesting we should do the same"

A bitter snarl reaches Torres lips, Isiera was always quick to pursue danger no matter who they dragged along, but Torres knew every bit of info could save lives "I want everything but life support and sensors down. We're going dark." He just hoped it wouldn't cost any.

For two hours, the miniscule hounds continue scanning the pirate fleet, like animals playing dead with one eye open. Soon the fleet tore through the hyperspace cloud, three titanic freighters surrounded by frigates, with a far smaller fleet coming out after at a different angle. Ship size, type, and even a surprising amount of damage from hyperspace storms were relayed to the main defence fleet. Before all contact was halted as the fleets drew nearer to their location.

Detection: 44 VS 94

There is little more terrifying to a Frigates crew than being alone with an enemy fleet inches away. Save that very same fleet changing course to the frigates location

Powering up the engines takes time, several minutes as the enemy fleet first casually flies closer, and then begins moving to combat positions with five off their best frigates skimmed off the Capitals escort going full burn.

But finally, the engines roar back to life, and the Hounds bolt.

FUCKING LEG IT: 59–30(ridiculously close)=29 VS 28

For a moment it seems like the Pirate detachment was going to catch up, the Pirates simply have the advantage of sustained momentum, going full speed long before the hounds even reached burn 5. Two ships were about to be snuffed out, their broken hulls becoming part of the background noise of hyperspace.

Until slowly, begrudgingly, five hours after the chase began, the pirate pursuit force returns to the main fleet. Its obvious why, as the goose chase was going on, the main fleet was continuing through the gravity well, and the pirate frigates where being left behind. With both frigates safe the crew breathe a sigh of relief, and Captain Isiera learns some new words from his irate comrade.


…..


"All right folks, this is it! Behind us is over four thousand civilians, mothers, fathers, children, and in front of us is the biggest threat this System has seen in a decade. But make no mistake! These are not some indomitable horde come to shatter civilisation, these are cowards, crooks, and madmen all looking to prey on the weak. We're going to show them that they are the ones who are weak! Let's show them what proper sailors can do." System Marshall Lina Munshi blocked out the cheers as she looked at the opposing fleet, the final ship diving out of Hyperspace in a flash of purple and red. Right on schedule.

Four days, she just needs to hold four days.


…..


The two main pirate fleets have officially warped in system, exactly where they were predicted to enter, the detachment going to the inner hyperspace gate is now out of scouting range. Both the pirate pursuit fleet and the Hegemony scouting detachment are currently a day away from the battle. The Capital fleet is two days away from Garnir.

The three pirate fleets forces are listed below





What method of engagement do the fleets defending Garnir choose?

…..


so here's a small post so we can get to the actual combat, hope you folks like it!