This.
This is it.
Your first major operation as high Hegemon.
You've ensured that the operation has everything it needs to succeed.
The pirates have nowhere to run.
They have nowhere to hide.
You take all you're planning.
And let the pieces fall.
Pirates: 57-30 (nowhere to hide) -10 (preparation)= 17
Kanta's fleets: 43+40 (???) -10 (long way home) –10 (preparation) =63
1st fleet: 81+10 (ruthless)
Ardis Soloman grinned. just where she wanted them "initiate full burn! Straight through the Vultures!" a dozen confirmations buzz through the Alexanders Bridge, then, for a split second the ships engine goes silent.
And then, it roars
She can feel the panic in the opposing captains minds even before the two Vultures start to wheel away from the Alexanders onslaught, the Alexander gets so close to one that point defence turrets are able to fire onto it's already damaged hull.
But the Alexander doesn't stop, it keeps going, past the Vultures and straight into the carrier fleet behind them. everything fires, old Condors and modified freighters pop in bright flashes as something critical to the ships explodes, planes that try to take off are mauled by flak the moment they get out of their motherships shields. In a minute the Carrier fleet is all but scrap, and without its support the two vultures and their escorts quickly crumble.
She sees as dozens of pirate frigates see the coming of the tide and bolt, some are stupid enough to get in range of the Alexander in their flight, and are quickly snuffed out.
Just for a moment, in the debris of a dozen ships, she sees the nearly burnt off painting of a blood red crow, Kanta's insignia.
Soloman grinned, and it was all teeth.
2nd fleet: 38
"This is Echo leader, confirmed bogeys closing fast at vector two, seven, zero at ten kilometres, looks like they've plotted an intercept course, moving to engage. You guys going to be all right?"
Somchai looked at the target on radar, an old Destroyer sized Combat freighter, no escorts. "We'll be fine Echo, just remember to get back in one piece"
"Same to you guys, Echo leader over and out." Somchai looked as his squadrons escorts changed course, slowly traveling off into the distance
The freighter was getting closer by the second. Almost at visual range "this is Sage 1 to squadron, prepare for attack run on the Mule" a series of confirmations, his team always knew what to do.
Visual range, just a few more seconds to go "looks like Pharaoh squadron already did a number on it" Sage 2, a Yaman who loved the sound of his own voice declared happily. "I think its radar's disabled, It hasn't even noticed us" not even a second later and the point defence started tracking their movements
Somchai swore "you just had to tempt murphy, didn't you. Sage squadron, you know what to do!" and with that, he dived.
Within seconds, he was in the main guns range. The Freighter, desperate to botch the run, fired its main gun, it was an easy thing to doge even with his Khopesh. Next up was the point defence, his fists clenched as he could feel something bracket his spacecraft. Just a few more seconds.
He let loose his payload, two dozen rockets sailed towards the ships bridge, only to explode on the shields.
But the rest of his crew were luckier. A dozen rockets from sage 3 managed to get past before the shields could be raised on the left side, shattering one of the point defence guns and creating a weeping hole as secondary explosions went off, sage 2 managed to get his entire payload off on the engine, as his team started breaking off he could see the engines continue seemingly through sheer spite. Before a gush of flame started spraying out of what he thought was the engine room and then finally, the engines went silent.
"This is Sage squadron, the target is dead in orbit, returning to resupply."
3rd fleet: 46
Roger Mustafa saw out the bridge as a Hound popped under sustained fire "Scratch another one" three so far, it was a good day "bring the ship over to port, let's see what we can do to the Buffalo 2" the Buffalo had already started venting atmosphere from a bomber attack. This was just the coup de grâce.
"Standard procedure, request their surrender, tell them their rights should they become a prisoner" he quickly zoned out the comms officer after the order, this always goes one way, silence, open weapons, and finally death. He could barely understand the reasons, some deep seated hatred of the Hegemony? Mindless bravado? Fear that their crimes would end in execution anyway?
He preferred it when he was facing Tri-Tachyon, at least they surrendered.
"Sir, it's the enemy captain, he wants to talk to you." And like that he jumped back to focus. A chance, just a chance of negotiation was good enough for him "put up on main comms, now."
What he got was a pile of static dotted with the gargled voice of someone in a void capable suit "am I speaking to the Captain yet?"
He started to go into rote. "Yes, this Captain Mu-"
"Shut up, will you take care of my crew?"
Roger chafed a bit at the interruption "we can ensure safety, food, water, and minor medical treatment while they are transported to an incarceration facility, at which point their treatment will be beholden to the Civilian prison system, considering your actions here, the sentences will range from five to forty years" their opponents weren't soldiers, so POW camps hadn't been set up for the campaign.
A moment of silence, and then a reply "fine, we surrender"
A genuine smile reached Mustafa's lips "I'll arrange for transports to board your ship, you've made the right choice"
"I sure fucking hope so"
Roger Mustafa smiled, he was still on three, and it was a great day.
4th fleet: 24
Captain Miyazaki looked upon his opponent, the battered Shrike he faced continued to retreat, staying just out of range of the Ironsides cannons
Funny, for a ship so eager to join battle to retreat so soon.
He knew how this would end, the Shrike, now considering itself a safe enough distance from its opponent, turned its bow away from the Ironside, turned off its shields, and proceeded to full burn.
Seems his crew would have to be satisfied with just one destroyer kill this week.
System Garrisons: 8: No noticeable victories
Bounty Hunters: 9: the usual amount of bounty hunters, the usual amount off kills
you have successfully mauled the pirate fleets common in the sector, destroying 1/4 of those in your space outright, and damaging most of the rest. however only the 1st ever fought against Kanta's fleets, it is assumed the rest of her fleets eluded your forces. whatever forces you haven't killed, they are most certainly in hiding until the heat dies down. +1500 income a turn as trade flourishes in the pirates absence, +500 income a turn from new legal trade with Garnir. congrats on your first successful campaign. Kanta is watching you
...
yeah, so here's this one! while the draft for this was not nearly as completed as the previous one, I actually had a lot of spare time today. i'll probably get to the next turn post in a week, see you then!
