Post by EmperorMyric on Mar 22, 2021 15:40:16 GMT
Hasorn System: Hasorn Hegemony Space
The Hasorn Hegemony was nothing special. Just another of the millions of non aligned tiny empires that were spread across the expanse of the galaxy and one of the many who owned just a singlular star system with little in the way of expansionist capability.
The Hasorn had come to the galaxy in the 3 years after the Unions discovery of the Ancerious galaxy in one of the massive waves of civilian groups who had hoped to seek out a new life and so they had found themselves a small corner of the galaxy to settle on. Building a large floating city in the clouds of their systems largest gas giant the Hasorn enjoyed 50 odd years of relative undisturbed isolation, building and consolidating their own people throughout the Hasorn system, expanding their huge floating city and exploiting the minerals trapped in the gas giants thick ring system, the Hasorn had done well for themselves.
The system consisted of the Hasorn inhabited Gas giant, with its 23 moons most of them colonised or at least with some kind of prescence on them. The systems sun was a binary pair, both yellow midstage stars with close orbits to each other but otherwise fairly stable. 3 more planets also slowly travelled in system, two iceballs which orbited far off in the outer reaches of the system far away from the two life giving suns and another which orbited so close to the binary that it was little more than a molten ball of fire.
Hasorn had been lukcy in that it had weathered the 1st Ancerious war without a scratch, and had also stayed primarily out of the second, it was after all a backwater with some minor trade agreements nothing more. That had been until the discovery.
In one of the routine cloud dives prospectors had found a gleaming crystalline ball, what it was nobody knew, but it had an energy signature and gave off faint signals. Not sure what to do with it the Hasorn had sought expert help offworld on the Ancnet. Only to be greeted with a rather finely dressed buissnessman turning up on their doorstep from Triarch Industires. The buissnessman had asked for access to the crystal ball in exchange Triarch would give Hasorn protection, priority trade agreements and even a small flotilla of patrol ships. Hasorn so overwhelmed at their sudden importance had eagerly accepted, and so the Triarch forces had got to work, even calling in Shadowblade experts and troops to help them. While the Hasorn now finished their new found defenses and ships the two APP members had got to work on the ball.
It hadnt responded at first, but when it released a massive energy burst big enough to be a beacon to the surrounding space it had lit its location up to many others. Realising they had to work quickly both Triarch and SB ordered an acceleration to their research.
There was a bright flash that seemed to be brighter than the brightest star. And as soon as the light came it was gone. There in the middle of space was a black sphere that seemed to absorb all the light around it. If it weren’t for the missing gravity well anyone would have mistaken it for a black hole.
From the inky blackness seven long, blue-ish, crystalline ships appeared from the “Black Hole”. They were assembled with the largest ship in the center and the other six ships in a ring vertically around it.
Conduct a scan of the area. the Commander of the lead frigate ordered. The other Commanders of the six escorts heard the command and ordered their pilots to scan the area they were in. A psionic and high frequency scanning pulse went out from all the ships.
We are reading several low tech ships in the area. The Commander looked down at the energy signature coming from one of the planets in the system.
Move our ships to the large Gas Giant, from there we will scan the object which sent out the beacon. The lead Commander ordered. The 7 ships began to move in unison toward the planet.
A message came in from fleet command, ordering the nearest patrol to investigate. The small fleet diverted from their route, a reserve unit taking their place. In a moment they jumped and appeared near where the disturbance had been detected. Captain Harvus Tarsi waited for reports from his bridge crew to report in. "Jump successful, all units are with us." his second reported. He merely nodded and looked out at the source of the disturbance. "There already seems to be a fleet here Sir." the sensors operator spoke. They were enhanced on screen to show the Ao ships. "Take us towards the planet helm." he ordered and the fleet began to advance
A small section of a Cricaen patrol fleet had been order to investigate an Energy Anomaly, 10 Ships broke off and jumped to where the energy signals had been emitting from. Captain Alcott looked at her crew as they narrowed down where the signals were coming from, “Signal located and Ma’am we are not the only ones here, It seems are ‘Friends’ The Supremacy have arrived as well” He Lieutenant spoke as he received the information from other bridge crew. She nodded, “Noted, take us towards the planet, make sure weapons are functional and have power and full power to Shields” She ordered. As the crews set about the tasks the fleet headed towards the planet.
As the various FTL signatures of the various unknown contacts appeared almost suddenly out of nowhere in system the small escort vessel that was patrolling the outer edge was flooded with alarm beacons. The crew, having only just learnt how to properly use their new and shiny ship (straight out of the Triarch dockyards) scrambled to identify the incoming contacts, seeing as every single of one them flagged as unknowns this made the jumpy captain of the vessel possitively paranoid.
"This is Captain Usein of the Hasorn Hegemony warship Conflict Identify yourselves at once and indicate why you are here immediately" He demanded.
There were around 28 Hasorn vessels in system most huddled in orbit around Hasorn the large gas giant in the inner system. Other unconfirmed sensor bounces also indicated the possible prescence of other vessels in system too but distance prevented any accurate readings. The energy emission was still discernable however, despite the sheer energy emission and com traffic of the Hasorn system the very specific energy frequency of whatever the object was still projected like it had before.
The Commander of the Frigate listened to this Usein of the ship Conflict. They were asking for identification. The other Commanders of the Escorts were chattering away about new sensor contacts and odd psi-signals. Commander, there are 28 vessels in the area of the signal. A Common ‘said’ the Commander took this information and made a decision.
We are the Ancient Ones, we are here for the machine which you have activated. We wish only for the machine, not conflict, so if you could give us the device no harm will come to any of you. If you get in our way do note we WILL not hesitate to forcibly remove the machine. The Commander sent out to the ships within the area via telepathy.
Tarsi’s smile widened as he was informed of the ships in system. “Some new friends to play with. And an old one as well. Most exciting.” He mused as his commander waited for orders. It was at that moment the Ao message arrived and his smile turned cold. He did not appreciate mental intrusion without his permission. It was rare that it occurred and most of the military were trained to prevent such intrusions. For this to make it through his mental barriers was both interesting and…annoying.
“I am Captain Havus Tarsi of the Vaanitas Supremacy. Myself and my force were most intrigued when we detected an energy spike in this area. Pray tell what it is?” he spoke over open comms.
He then directed a message towards the Ao. “I have no knowledge of you but any further mental intrusion will lead to violent consequences.” He transmitted as all of his vessels readied weapons and prepared for a fight if there was one to be had.
Cecilia received the AO message and shook her head “Why does it seem like the training never works” She frowned. “There is a total of 45 ships Ma’am” He Lieutenant spoke, “7 of them these Ancient Ones?, 10 of them from the Supremacy and the other 28 appear to be locals” He finished. She just listened to the message that played from the Supremacy Captain.
“This is Captain Cecilia Alcott of the Cricaen Kingdom, we have registered strange Energy signals from this location and are interested in knowing the source” She spoke over open comms.
“Power all weapons and prepare for a fight, we have new people her and the Supremacy and you know what they can be like” She told her Lieutenant who then nodded and gave the orders.
Suddenly twenty two compacted cobalt clouds of expanding boson particles appeared in the vast void of space. Directly following the sudden appearance of the clouds twenty two vessels smashed headlong into the boson clouds with only two bright eruptions as two of the vessels atomized themselves on entry. These objects could only be described as blazing wrecks that would sooner tear themselves apart by the sheer structure of jagged twisting sheets of rust red metals. Resting in a torn corroded stool a pale white figure coiled in tar black wrappings threw his body forward as he evacuate the contents of his empty stomachs. The stench of acids turned the dry recycled air sour as the rest of the bridge crew lifted themselves with shaking legs to their posts wiping their lips of of the bile. “Report!” screeched the overseer through the psionic network as the scent of warning pheromones flooded his senses. “Chosen one, we have lost two ships upon entering the system. The boson field wasn’t strong enough to support their re-entry.” whimpered a tattered coiled comms officer via the telepathic network. Lifting himself back on the stool gripping the edges to stable him allowing the jump sickness to wash over his shaking body. His very bones felt the icy bite of the void while others on the bridges bodies radiate heat in plumes. “Overseer, sensors are picking up contacts within system along with what may be weapons signatures.” another bridge crew ordered as he cowered in sight of the Overseer. “Signal the remaining fleet to form up on us, and ready battle stations for combat.”
In the cold void of space outside of the Hasorn gas giant 10 flashes signals 10 D.N.A. Vessels have jumped out of FLT space, the vessels in general is an single Nightblade class Battleship, two Ark class Carrier, four Hade class Destroyers, three Chimaera class Frigates.
“Sir we arrived in the system” one of the comm-officers said to the Air Draconight Captain
“Good good, have the fleet from an arrow head formation and keep on at a steady pace” the Air Draconight
At the Captain’s order the small D.N.A. Fleet forms to a arrowhead with the Battleship at the head of the formation and the carriers at the behind as they make a steady pace towards the giant gas planet
"Sir more unknown contacts appearing in system... Along with what looks to be AGA forces belonging to the DNA if Triarch databases confirm" The sensor operator again called out. Husein was bombarded by the communications messages, listening to them in turn as the operator also called out multiple weapons being powered on some of the unknown vessels.
"God damn arrogants think they can steal this find from us, the one thing that has made Hasorn noitcable and that we have needed!" Usein shouted across the bridge, the crew agreeing with him. "We are not going to let them take anything! Sent an encrypted burst to the fleet, tell them we have hostile forces demanding information and handing over of the sphere and tell them we have to defend our home" He then replied to all of the various factions at once.
"This is Captain Usein of the Hasorn Hegemony, we will yield our discovery to nobody, you have no juristiction or claim over our find and any military action to take it from us will be met with lethal force. I am not authorised to tell you anything about the find and demand that you immediately leave the system and our empire in peace. As an attendem the AGA forces are not welcome in this system, I demand forces of the DNA leave immediately or you will be fired upon." Usein cut the link and waited, diverting power to the small escorts weapons and shields.
If the Commander of the Frigate could sigh it would have. These basics weren’t going to give up the object, then so be it. Captain Usein, you have chosen poorly and now you shall face the consequences. The Commander sent to the Captain.
The Commander ordered for the ships to raise shields and ready weapons. Prepare for combat, ready fighters. The Star fighters were awoken from their dormant state and told about their situation.
Move us into optimum firing range. The seven ships moved down to level with the Hasorn ships. The Pilot of each ship targeted the closest ships to them and awaited the order to fire.
Captain Unsein, you have sixty seconds to comply with our demands or be destroyed. The Commander sent.
Tarsi paused and thought about this message. "How very rude, and we were being so polite." he frowned. "Captain these Ancient Ones are moving in and sensors are detecting weapons preparing to fire." his commander spoke. This made him pause once again. "Hold station, keep weapons readied. I have no intent of fighting everyone at once but should a chance for an honourable battle show itself we will be prepared." he spoke.
Cecilia listened to the message and sighed “It seems that they would rather fight then take the more civil route”. “Ma’am, the Ancient Ones have powered weapons and appear to be moving in for a fight with Hasorn, whilst the Supremacy appear to be holding ground but are ready for combat, then we have two newcomers, no word or information about them” Her Lieutenant spoke.
She stopped and contemplated the situation, “Hold here and be prepared for combat should the situation arise, and set up a link with the Supremacy” She spoke. The Lieutenant nodded and established a link. “Captain Tarsi, this is Captain Alcott, please may I enquire what the Supremacy is doing here and what you plan on doing?” She spoke.
Captain Jabbar Ra'id Jericho heard what the Triarch captain demands of him, which boils the Air Draconight's blood since the Triarch possess a some sort machine that in the APP's hands can cause a possibility of death of untold billions like with the Captiol's Crucible.
"We will not comply to your demands! We will not let you get away with what's in your hands and causes more death, like the butchers you and your APP are nothing but dishonorable murders and thieves! May your souls be forever be damned in the darkest of deep and never to raise up again!" He said to Hasorn then cut off communication with Triarch and make contacts with the Ancient Ones "Unknown vessels, we have intercept your transmissions with the Triach and we can form an temporary alliance to deal with the Triach fleet then settle diplomatically on if we get permanent alliance or settle with non-aggressive treaty and possible trade between our empires" He said to AO's fleet captain
Since Jabbar's talk on Triach Captain via communications the fleet have power up their shields and weaponry to max, their fighters are all set to fly out and cause damage to enemy vessel or dogfight that is ready to happen
As the Kal fleet formed up around the Overseer’s flagship creating a bubble around it. The alien’s message reached the ears of the comms officer, sitting there confused by the strange tongue. “Chosen, the aliens are trying to communicate with us. However the system is unable to interpret it.” the skeletal Kal reported as he averted his gaze from the captain. The Overseer righting himself looked down at the officer as his sight returned to normal, “Why isn’t the system working? Was it damaged in the jump?”. The officer turned back to the pressing a few keys, before answering, “The system is working, the translation matrix isn’t picking up any psionic frequency so it has no bases to decode from. The comms officer turned back to the console tapping a few keys allowing the foreign voice to echo around the bridge. The captain’s brow arched as he listen to this oddity, the crew speaking among themselves with their psionic network looking most perturbed. “Open a pionic channel with the unknown fleets and let's see who picks up.” the Overseer command as reports can in of Kal fleet crew ordering into their battle stations and flight teams.
No psionic reply came from the Hasorn fleet. After all they were merely humans. What did come from the Hasorn fleet however was the total powering of weapons, shields and defense platforms across the system. Fighters and bombers were launched and took up defensive patterns, while still some way away from the Hasorn main fleet the various arrivals still faced off against the smaller escort.
"So you come here to steal what will make our children grow strong in this galaxy, and come to take what will put food on our plates. We remained neutral through the 1st war, and tried to remain neutral now. We thought the APP propoganda against the allies was just that, propoganda but you merely reinforce everything Triarch said." Usein spat in reply to both the DNA and AO fleets "They are right, you are a tyranical menace to this galaxy that needs to be exterminated. I hope your people burn from the Crucible!" The small escort immediately opened fire on the DNA and AO fleets, it was a small vessel armed with mass drivers, missile launchers and light photon lances but Usein would defend his home and his people all the same. This discovery had been what the Hasorn needed, what they desperately required to expand, to bring in new trade and to finally bring their people out of impoverished living conditions, and now the AGA and their ingrate friends were here to take that away from them merely because they had Triarch aid.
Hypocrits, all of them.
Fire The Destroyer’s Commander ordered. The Ancient One fleet opened fire on the Hasorn ships, tachyon beams lashed out through space to their targets. The hulls of the ships peeled back and hundreds of Star Fighters were launched from their ships.
"Said the tyrant, if you calm to be helping your children then why help an group that has killed billions of innocent men women and children! Families, both young and old died by your hands!! You should of have stayed neutral, now your another killer to be burnt away from this galaxy!" Jabber said with vemon to the Triach fleet in hope of shaking any resolve of their crew, before he yelled open fire to his own fleet as barrage of Advance Capital Railguns, Lux Laser guns, Corus Plasma guns, AP Havoc Missiles, and Starburst Plasma missiles onto the Triach fleet and Darknight Fighters flight out of their hanger bays on the hull of their ships. The battle has begin between Triach and Ancient One-D.N.A. fleets
Tarsi had been considering getting involved, he loved a good battle. But this was priceless. Two fleets flinging themselves at a numerically superior force whilst both sides shouted slurs at eachother. This passed for comedy in the Supremacy and he truly found it amusing. "Hold station, anyone foolish enough to shoot at us will feel our wrath but for now let them fight" he laughed. He then opened a private channel to the Cricaen's. "Ah, always wonderful to see the Cricaens. Captain Alcott was it? As always our business is our own. Perhaps you would like to enlighten me to your intentions lest I grow tired of our cease fire." Tarsi replied with no particular tone, bordering on indifference. Tarsi paused as he felt the Psionic communication. "This is Captain Tarsi of the Vaanitas Supremacy. What grounds do you have to contact me in such a form?" he questioned of them in response
The Cricaen fleet held their position as they watched the Ancient One Fleet and the new comers Calling themselves the DNA started firing on the Hasorn fleets. Cecilia found this disgusting how they had just appeared and decided that they needed to wiped out for petty reasons. “Captain your Orders” Her Lieutenant asked. “Hold our position until we are fired upon” She spoke. She listened to the transmission from Captain Tarsi, “We are here only because of the energy reading we picked up, we are not here for a fight but if fired upon we are ready for one, but I think we should focus on the more important matters, not our Nations conflict” She spoke.
The Kal fleet hangs in the void, awaiting an answer that has yet to come from the unknown fleets. The Overseer drums his fingers against his leg as small flashes of lights glowed in the distance. “Sire, there is no response. . . Forgive me there is a fellow psionic.” the comm officer crowded as the scent of fear emanated from him. “Captain Tarsi of the Vaanitas Supremacy, I am unfamiliar with the name. I am Overseer Yaddul of the Kal Thralldom, servants to the Grand Masters. I ask you how else would we communicate?” the confused overseer replied back as he watched the flames of war sparking by the distance lights. “Ready the boson emitters and move us off from the battle zone. Start to scan the unknown vessels.” he ordered as the Kal fleet began to slowly move off away from the combat so they wouldn’t be dragged into it.
Before Usein could point out the sheer ignorance of the DNAs statement his vessel was vapourised by the FTL tachyon beams.
Almost in instant response the Hasorn main fleet activated interdiction, ion drives burned bright as the fleet went to flank speed and began forming up into combat formations. Admiral Trest grimaced as she watched the destruction of Useins vessel "So it seems the invaders of the AGA wish to take our discovery. Fine let them try, cold launch stealth missiles, full barrage, launch attack craft and prep proton cannons for full long range fire. I want all defense platforms and defenses activated across the system. We will hold this line at all costs" She ordered.
Across the Hasorn ships launch rails thundered as they spat out numerous fighter craft, both Triarch Defender interceptors and Attacker Bombers. The groups forming up into defensive formations around the Hasorn fleet, ready to intercept any of the enemies own missiles or fighters. Meanwhile missiles of their own were launched by their small thrusters out of their launches, no massive volley of fire erupted from the launches, the missiles cold fired immediately engaged their stealth systems before lighting their main propulsion and streaming away from the fleet, not on a current intercept course but there either way.
"This is Admiral Trest of the Hasorn Hegemony. You have declared war on the Hasorn unlawfully and in your ignorance forced out hand, we will now seek formal joining of the APP, your actions here clearly confirm what they have been preaching. DNA and AO forces withdraw at once or we will be forced to completely eradicate your prescence from this system. Other nations here we cannot reveal information about our discovery, it is classified and it will not be handed over. Are you too here to try take our salvation?" Trest asked in a system wide broadcast. At the same time defense platforms and orbital defenses on the Hasorn homeworld activated and spurred into life ready to defend against any invasion forces that aimed to push through to land on the floating cities of the planet.
Hasorn System: Hasorn Hegemony Space
The Commander of the Ancient One Destroyer watched as the numerous fighters were launched and missile were too, but disappeared shortly after. It ordered another volley to be fired on the Hasorn ships before directing it’s attention to he Kal Fleet
This is the Commander of the Ancient One fleet to Kal’s. We do not wish to fight you, if you do intervene how ever we will not hesitate to fire on you. It sent to the Kal ships via telepathy. It then turned back to the Hasorn. What matters to you is of no concern to us Admiral Trest. You are simply in the way.
The Ancient One ships opened fire, several shots left from the crystalline hulls. Several intercepted the shots fired from Unsein’s ships and some harmlessly struck the shields of the AO ships.
Tarsi watched the battle unfolding, ignoring the transmission he'd recieved from the Kal and Cricaen fleets. The silent violence the AO had unleashed intrigued him, as did their weapons. The almost rabid shrieking of the DNA was giving him a headache. He knew not what this AGA, or APP meant, but if the DNA were representing the AGA as had been said then he was very much disgusted by them. In turn, these Hasorn were bold indeed and he respected their will to defend their home.
"Maintain our position helm. Have weapons armed but do not target anything yet." he ordered and the ships weapons prepared. He considered opening comms with the Hasorn but decided they would be busy at the moment, and resigned himself to watch and wait.
Cecilia watched the battle that began unfolding before them. She looked at the AO and their weapons and then at the DNA and their weapons as she made sure that they were scanned for anything useful. Her Lieutenant brought up the information she had on the AGA and the APP. “Really they let these DNA people into the AGA when they have just come in and opened fire for petty reasons” She spoke.
“I want every weapons powered still and ready to fire at a moment’s notice and shields at full power, also send a warning shot at the DNA” She said seriously, as she was appalled by their behaviour and was more on the side of this Admiral Trest and Hasorn. “Yes Ma’am” Her Lieutenant spoke as he sent the orders and a single gun fired at the DNA Fleet, not intending to hit them.
Just as the Cricaen Kingdom’s ship fired their warning shot, all the fire and missiles shot pass by Triach fleet barely hitting any of their ships with the missiles self-destruction behind the fleet and away from the planet also.
“Sir, we got missiles launched from the fleet but unable to detect them or their current target, also a single shot fire from unknown fleet number 3 possible warning shot” the comm-officers said
“Have all shields up to full power and hold on!!” Jabber said as he gripped to his seat as along with other crews members as the wait for the missiles to hit while their fighters gets out of range of the missiles as fast as they can.
‘In order to draw out the beast you must first approach their lair with hostile presence’ Jabber said mentally
“My lord. Another message has been picked up on the psionic pathways, a group calling themselves the Ancient One. They have advised against us taking action or else be destroyed by them.” the comm officer reported as the Kal fleet reached the safe distance away from the battle. “Maintain distance from the battle, and open a psionic pathway to these Ancient Ones. Perhaps they may be able to enlighten us on the context of this conflict.” The Overseer commanded as a psionic hail was sent. “This is Overseer Zulgoy of the Kal Thralldom, our communication relays are unable to decode non-psionic messages. Could you inform us on the context to this conflict.”
"And by your actions and callous nature your are simply invaders to be exterminated" Trest commented back to the AO.
"Sir one of the unknown fleets just opened a single round across the DNA fleet, possibly a warning shot" One of the sensor operators called out putting it on screen. Trest smiled.
"Maybe they will help us, but that remains to be seen, direct the stealth missiles into intercept vectors, AO and DNA fleets only and charge proton cannons for long range fire" Trest ordered, the bridge continuing in its activity.
The missiles launched now changed vector, immediately swooping down into intercept courses aiming to hit the AO and DNAs smaller vessels in a concentrated barragem their stealth fields concealing them until close range where gravitational sensors would likely pick them up.
The Ancient One Commander Paid no heed to Trest’s comment. The Commander watched as the Cricaen Kingdom’s warning shot flew past the DNA fleet. To all ships if you fire upon us we will be forced to eliminate you. If you get in our way you will be eliminated. We are taking the device the Hasorn have on this Gas Giant, any attempt to stop us will be met with destruction. This is your final warning. The Commander sent out to the Vaanitas, Cricean, DNA, and Kal fleets.
The Ancient One ships opened fire again before stoping completely. Begin energy transfer procedures. The Commander sent to the Escorts. The ships began to hum with energy as the hulls began to glow a yellowish color. Arcs of energy leapt from the Escorts to the Frigate. Target the center of the Hasorn fleet. The Commander ordered.
Target locked. A Common ‘said’. Energy levels at optimal firing levels. Another said. Fire. The Commander ordered. The Frigate glowed a bright yellow before a beam as wide as the Frigate flew from the ship to the Hasorn fleet.
Cecilia kept watching as everything unfolded. “So what has happened?” She asked her Lieutenant. “Everyone jumped in asked about the Energy Spike, we were denied access and then Hasorn shot at these Ancient Ones, the DNA turned up and just shot them for ‘reasons’” He spoke.
She nodded and came to a decision “Alright people battle stations, all gun prepare to Fire at the DNA Fleet” She ordered. Orders around the fleet were received and guns were aimed. She waited for a moment “FIRE” She ordered. All the guns around the fleet fired towards the DNA Fleet and Missiles launched dropped of sensors.
Tarsi watched the rounds fly out from the Cricaen fleet towards the DNA. "There will be blood this day." He declared to roars of approval from his crew. An open transmission was broadcast. "Hasorn Hegemony. I find your conduct honourable, and you will not feel our wrath." he spoke. "However dishonourable dogs of the DNA." He growled "You have the gall to assault these people for pathetic reasons. You will bleed for your cowardice!" he shouted and the full might of the Vaanitas was unleashed towards them, spinal guns firing and torpedo tubes emptying towards them as the rest of the guns fired at the DNA.
Zulgoy sat there replaying the message from the Ao in his head. “So these Hasorn are the ones who discovered this device within the gas giant. Everyone else here most likely picked up the energy scans, and given the scans we have been able to take they are far more advanced than ourselves.” he thought while looking around at the junk of a vessel. The echoing patter of water dripping from rusting pipes lulled Zulgoy deeper in thought, “If we start a war with any of these factions it could lead to a swift death or renewed enslavement of his people. Even if we capture this device we wouldn’t be able to use it. Only the Masters would know, and none came with this expansion force, they leave that up to the Overseers.” Zulgoy raised his head to see battle start up again as flashes of light glowing in the distance. “Move the fleet forward adjust heading to move us above the gas giant but maintain distance from the battle.” Zulgoy orders as the nuclear thrusters kicked thrusting the ships forward while the ion engines slowly changing the angle of the vessel to the vertical.
The combine firepower from Vaanitas and Cricaen fleet have hit hard on the D.N.A. destroying less than half of their fleet after their shield were overloaded from the barraged with two frigates destroyed, two other destroyers are destroyed but rather fire back the fleet active the their stealth field to hide their fleet and move out of the killzone and out of range of either fleet.
The Captain made an terrible mistake of firing first in his bloodlust and now has to pay the price for it, as he lay unconscious due to an psionic blast from behind by an First-class Psi-Officer, who was imprisoned in an Stasis Pod, but the Captain after he had an major PTSD from his prolong service in the Ragnarok War, if it wasn't for her old friend looking for her a lot more lives and unnecessary incident with the other nation.
"Now I'm acting as Captain here! Get us out of the fire range and remain cloaked until we can fine an window to leave! She order with aggression as she stilled pissed off. Due to her physic gift she is catching attention of Kal Thralldom's fleet leader
The cloaked ships are moving out of either fleet firing range to an safe point and wait till and opening is available to warped out of the system.
"Anti Nuclear formation now!" Trest shouted as the large beam from the Ao now flew towards his fleet, at the distances involved they had a tiny bit of time to try disperse, thankfully space was big but unfortunately Triarch vessels were not renowned for speed.
6 of the 27 vessels in the Hasorn fleet were caught by varying degrees by the beam, those that were for all intents and purposes fully impacted were vapourised, and one that was merely glanced took heavy damage but was not outright destroyed, while they were not fast by any means their ships had prestigous armour and shields.
"Sir 5 ships have been destroyed, 2 cruisers and 3 destroyers, im confirming another destroyer has taken heavy damage" The report came in, Trest frowned. His formation was now scattered, but still close by, and he doubted the enemy fleet could do that again anytime soon.
"Sir two of the fleets present have fired upon the DNA... They appear to have cloaked, we cant track them it looks like they took some heavy damage" This time Trest smiled.
"Good, let those cowards flee for their arrogance, reform our formation, do not flag those two fleets as hostile I want all power to diffraction shields, launch another salvo of stealth missiles, and fire Proton cannons!" Trest commanded, the Hasorn fleet once again moving to meet up with their original positions. Once more cold launches pumped stealth missiles into space as the first barrage now was set to impact the AO fleet, but it was the fronts of the larher Hasorn vessels that now fired their ruby red beams from the Proton cannons for long range strikes. At least they hoped to break up the enemy formation.
Worst case scenario they would withdraw to the orbital defenses for additional firepower.
The Commander of the Frigate shifted his stance as the Frigate vibrated from the stealth missiles hitting the shields. It called for a damage report from the fleet, the Escorts had taken minor structural damage from the shock of the missiles and their shields had dropped to 55%. The Commander looked to the Hasorn fleet and watched as more of those missiles were launched along with red beams on energy.
“Scan those beams.” The Commander ordered. A Common called out Proton Beams. The Commander then ordered for their trajectories to be calculated and for shards to be launched to intercept. Meanwhile Commons calculated the time it took from the Hasorn launching the missiles, to their arrival.
“All ships, target the larger Hasorn ships, once your Energy Transfer Conduits are repaired prepare for another fleet firing.” The Commander ordered. The Escorts and Frigate individually targeted the larger Hasorn ships and opened fire.
“Enemy ships have cloaked sir.” The sensors operator warned. Tarsi took a moment to think and something caught his attention on a psionic level, not the AO, or the Thralldom, but another Psionic presence, near where the DNA had just vanished. He closed his eyes, no real effect other than helping him focus. “Fire control…input the following targeting data, adjust to following bearing and velocity” he spoke and using coordinates began giving orders, targeting the psionic whilst accounting for their momentum. “Tracking sir.” Fire control reported. “Open fire, all guns!” he ordered and the ships hummed before firing their spinal nova cannons towards where the psionic would be, the rest of the guns and torpedoes doing the same. Any movement Tarsi accounted for by adjusting coordinates and firing solution.
“Ma’am The Vaanitas Supremacy are firing into space after the DNA cloaked, what do we do?” A weapons officer spoke. "Trace their fire and trajectory and fire all guns in the same Direction” Captain Alcott spoke. The weapons officer nodded and sent orders to the other ships and guns were readjusted and positioned. “All ships Fire” She ordered. All the guns from the fleet fired following the Vaanitas shots. The Missiles finally reappeared at the new coordinates.
Zulgoy sat watching the distance flashes of battle grow closer as his fleet continued to make their adjustments when he felt another psionic presence. The pressure of the psionic energy emitting close to where the DNA fleet was. “Reveal yourself.” Zulgoy demanded as he responded to the psionic call.
The Flagship took damage from the two fleet firepower from its shields collapsing and taking damage on the ship hull, but not enough to collapse their stealth capability and the rest of the D.N.A. fleet are out of range of the other fleets.
Psi-Officer Sofia, sensing that her psionic presence is giving her away and risking her fleet and the crews on them. She ordered an lone Darknight Fighter to move away from the D.N.A. fleet while she use her psychic power to make an mask of her presence on to the Fighter so that the Vaanitas would be mistaken for the Fighter as her flagship. Then she hides her presence from the Vaanitas, but made an hidden connection between Zugol.
“I am Sofia van Hawick, a D.N.A. 1st Class Psi-Officer, there been a terrible mistake, this battle shouldn’t happen” She said psionically to Zulgoy as she sent an psionic image of what happened between her and the mentally unstable Captain
The Tachyon weapons while horrifically powerful when not under interdiction were not so dangerous under interdiction, still the larger Hasorn vessels shuddered as their shields took hits from those beams that were not off set by the Diffraction shields, each layer of such a shield nudging the beam off target by a minute amount but with thousands of such layers built up by the fleets Triarch vessels shots would simply miss diverted even by a fraction enough to not pose a threat. Still shields flared as the impacts hit, but Triarch ships were made to take hits especially the larger vessels such as cruisers. Trests own battleship took three direct beam impacts lessening the shields but doing no more, the Warsmith was a tried and tested design if it could hold its own on the battlefields of the 2nd Ancerious war it would hold here.
But.
Trest frowned, he didnt like the chances, yes he was numerically superior but at any moment some of the other factions could turn to aiding these 'Ao' if that happened it would be a ever declining situation of events, and with the DNA seemingly cloaked he had to watch his flanks.
"All vessels pull back into the cover of our orbital platforms, keep shields up at full, keep launching missiles and let the Proton cannons cool" He ordered as the Hasorn vessels kept their arrowhead defensive formation and began to pull back they did not stop launching missiles however. This was clearly a tactical move.
Hasorn System: Hasorn Hegemony Space
The Commander watched as the Hasorn ships began to retreat. ”Move in and begin striking their orbital defense platforms.” The commander ordered. Hydrogen was condensed and formed a fusion reaction propelling the Ancient One ships forward. ”Fighters, move in to attack their stations key systems.”
”All ships begin firing on the stations.” shots flew from the Ancient One ships toward the orbital platforms as the fighters began to move in large groups that resembled tentacles.
Tarsi wore a satisfied look on his face as some of their munitions hit something they couldn't see. He honed in again on the psionic presence and was alarmed when it had changed location to what he anticipated. He further focussed and concentrated on the psionic signature, something not seeming quite right. "Hold fire" he ordered, not wanting to continue the effort of directing fire when something wasn't quite right. The psionic presence of the Kals and Ancient Ones hadn't changed as far as he could tell.
The fleet followed his command and ceased fire, scanning to ensure they were outflanked or ambushed and otherwise held station.
“Cease Fire” Cecilia spoke, “no point in continuing firing at an enemy that we can no longer see”. Her 2nd Lieutenant looked up at her “Your new orders Ma’am” He asked. “For now we will hold fire, but keep weapons ready in-case the DNA appear again, but for now we hold our position we will not push onto the Hasorn forces” She told her crew and other captains. “So we just sit here and wait Ma’am whilst they get blasted apart” the 2nd Lieutenant spoke. “Yes and if that is a problem and you talk back you know the consequence” She told him before looking out at the Kal Thralldom and AO ships.
“I am unaware of the situation. I don’t understand your mistake Sofia van Hawick, a D.N.A 1st Class Psi-Officer. Our systems were unable to decode the messages that came from the Hasorn fleet.” Zulgoy replied as his fleet neared the northern pole of the gas giant keeping well out of the way of the battle and any force. “Start scanning the gas giant” Zulgoy ordered.
The Darknight Fighter flew towards the flank of the AO fleet, giving an illusion of the D.N.A. fleet heading towards them to continue to aide them in the battle. However the main fleet was instead spreading out, pushing further out onto the edge of the system to seek refuge. She knew her psionic ruse wouldnt fool them forever but it had worked for now. She then responded to Zulgoy.
“To keep this brief, we detected a large energy signature coming from this system, possibly a powerful ancient artifact. But it’s under neutral control in the form of the Hasorn, however rather than making a deal with them, Captain Jeffar chose to assault them and take the technology by force. I tried to stop him, but he Air Blast me into my stasis pod and lock it down so I can’t stop him entirely.” Said Sofia as she kept the story brief rather make it long. Hoping for them to understand.
Trest surveyed the battle from the holo display as his ships withdrew, surprised that his enemy had switched focus from his main fleet and instead begun to fire onto the 15 or so installations that orbited Hasorn proper. Each station was far more durable than his vessels and for such they couldnt move, but they did have considerable firepower.
The Bastille orbital platforms which had been readied under Trests command now volley fired their weapons, payloads of missiles, Photon lances and heavy mass drivers erupted from the fixed positions as the tachyon rounds impacted the platforms in return, some missed from the same defraction fields while others bored through the hull and inflicted crippling damage. Two installations were destroyed from the fire as the enemy fighters were shown to be entering attack vectors. Trest smiled, it was a foolish move to over extend your attack craft.
Defender interceptors which had been alongside the main Hasorn fleet now leapt into intercept courses, while each fighter bought from Triarch was without its powerful stealth field Hasorn had instead used the void in weight to add additional missile payloads. A hail of munitions came from the Defenders as the fighters fired off a volley then immediately hard turned and went full burn, pulling off into escape vectors, it was a hit and run move. Designed to do maximum damage to the AO attack craft as they moved into attack runs on the platforms, whos Point defence systems now activated, throwing killing lasers, missiles and mass driver rounds into the fighter swarms.
The Hasorn fleet wasnt idle in this time either, Trest kept the anti nuclear formation, spreading his ships out as he moved to encircle, giving his fleet the best firing arcs per ship for most of their weapons as Photon lances, Mass drivers of various shapes and sizes and missile launchers all fired in unison towards the AO fleet.
The fighters bobbed and weaved in between the missiles and lasers. Some weren’t so lucky and were shattered from the explosions. Those hit by the lasers absorbed the energy, though a small scar could be seen on the hull. As the fighters swarm they rammed themselves into the Hasorn fighters, or clipped them, leaving shards of their Star Steel skin in the hull.
The fighters then began to swarm around the stations like a tornado, firing tachyon bolts into the stations as they twirled. The missiles destroyed many of them and some of the lasers managed to crack the hulls and kill the fighters.
Meanwhile the Ancient Ones ships had calculated the estimated time of the Hasorn stealth missiles. They began to blind fire smaller tachyon pulses. Some of the tachyons shots destroyed some of the missiles but not all of them. The rest hit the ships, the shields hadn’t gone back to full power but they still tanked the missile barrages. More of the Photon beams struck the ships, some of the Escort’s shields dropped and the energy was absorbed by the hull. The mass-driver shots however went through the armor and stopped right before the bridge of one of the Escorts. The other Escorts took the same kind of damage with some shots going through the ship in one go. Quickly the hulls began to re-grow and ejecting the metal slugs out of the ships.
“All ships target weapon systems.” The Commander of the Frigate ordered. The Ancient Ones ships once again opened fire on the stations. Four consecutive volleys fired from the Ancient One fleet.
Tarsi continued to focus, reaching into the void with his mind. He felt the DNA presence that he was almost sure was false and felt for the other Psion's. He paused his breathing for a moment and focussed. There it was, something coming from the Kals, the faintest strand of psionic communications. In his mind he followed the thread, from the Kals towards its source.
The fleet held station, actively scanning their surroundings, wanting to be aware of any incoming threat whilst also watching the battle.
Cecilia looked at the other fleets in this sector of space and she rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Launcher recon drones to go and scan the surroundings and try and locate the DNA fleet” She ordered. “Aye Ma’am” Her 2nd Lieutenant replied giving the order. The ships in the fleet launched drones which headed in the direction of where the DNA fleet was. Cecilia looked back and watched as the Hasorn fleet fell back.
Zulgoy listen to what this women had to say, only to find it oddly convent and as if made up on the spot. “Well. I thank you for filling me in on how you see this situation. I'm not sure what you wish of us.” he replied as he signaled one of the comms officers to transmit the location of the DNA forces to Tarsi. The Kal Fleet continue to scan the gas giant as they held a defensive position near its’ outer polar orbit.
Sofia was glad that someone had heard that the aggression that transpired was the Captain Jeffar's own doing and hopefully would not reflect the entire D.N.A. But she was also unsure if the other fleets would listen like the Kal did.
"I'm not sure if there is much you can do, the actions that have transpired here cannot be undone, as much as I wish for the rest to understand that the aggression to these neutral people was caused by a mentally unstable captain, that was suffering from centuries of battles and that his transgressions are not representative of D.N.A. doing, I doubt that any will listen after what has happened here. All I can ask of you is to thank you for listening to the truth, I fear there's not much you can do to help." Sofia said with a heavy heart as once something bad had happened like Captain Jeffar's firing onto an neutral planets forces, could be undone nor stopped. She merely kept the DNA fleet at full acceleration away from the planet, spreading it out and moving to hide the vessels in the sensor blind spots behind the various outer debris. She hoped with the battle over and the cool heads prevailing things could be worked out.
Trest watched as two more of his vessels were destroyed, this time one of the Forge class cruisers was destroyed as a cluster of shots managed to make their way through the refraction shielding, coring the cruiser as the high powered shots punched straight through it. The ship merely floated fires ablaze as its crew abandoned ship. So far falling back had given them space and the orbital defence grid added extra firepower, even though it was under attack the Hason fleet pulled into high anchor above the planet, using its outer atmopshere as a buffer to give the enemy beams extra to punch through. The Hasorn fleet continued to fire, this time firing their mass driver barrages in staggered waves hoping to overwhelm the enemy defences while more missiles and lasers were also added to the fire.
The fighter craft that had taken damage pulled off as their pilots ejected into vectors that would allow them to be safely secured by any search and rescue forces, the rest peeled off in boom and zoon vectors, using the tornado like motion of the enemy fighters it was easy for the Hasorn craft to track them and score direct hits, coupled with the point defence systems of the Bastille platforms the sheet lack of defensive manuvers or the like meant that it was like hitting fish in a barrel at such close distances.
Trest opened a coms line to the other ships in system "I sincirely hope you are not going to just sit there and allow this blatant attack on neutral territory. Either that or you are waiting for my demise to move in and pillage my world while these crystalline creatures take the brunt of the fire"
The Ancient One fighters broke off their attack on the battle stations and began to swarm the Hasorn ships. Aiming for engines, weapons, and the bridges. In their fray some slammed into the hull and one began to fly towards the bridge of one of the Hasorn cruisers.
The Commander of the Frigate looked at the positions of the Hasorn ships. ”Begin energy transfer procedures.” The Commander ordered. Arcs of energy leapt from the Escorts to the Frigate. Target a defense platform.
”Target locked.” A Common called out. ”Energy levels at optimum firing levels.” The Commander watched as a single defense platform came into view. ”Fire. The Commander Ordered.” A massive beam left the frigate towards the Hasorn Defense Platform.
He took a moment and paused as he received the transmission from the Kals and smirked. "Seems our foe is still out there, all vessels maintain station for now, I can sense them now. We can wait." he ordered and the fleet held station, disregarding the transmission from the Hasorn as the Vaanitas fighter wings flew around the vessels as a screen.
The Cricaen fleet still held their position whilst drones came back with data ready to be analysed. Cecilia listened to the transmission and ignored it, "Ma'am why are we not helping them" He 2nd Lieutenant asked. "Because unlike the DNA these AO may have a reason behind their attack, and I am interested in their ships and weapons" She spoke sitting back as she got a drone to go and scan the AO ships.
“Launch probes into the gas giant, let’s see if we can get a better idea of what whis energy reading is.” Zulgoy ordered as he watched the battle between the Ao and natives of this system.
The defence platform, a huge lump of armour and mass drivers was simply vapourised by the concentrated beam, as the threat registered the other defence platforms started to target the smaller vessels such as the frigates in the AO fleet, missiles, lasers and solid shot mass driver rounds were poured out, each time concentrating on only a single target.
The Hasorn fleet fared better with the fighters than the defence platforms, Triarch vessels had extensive arrays of CIWS and point defence systems and their own mass drivers could like their Union counter parts switch and engage with flak shells. Fire erupted from the vessels as minature laser systems, gatling arrays and counter missiles spat out of the vessels to target the enemy fighters. Priority was given to targets that were on collision courses as they raked the hulls with Tachyon fire. The Defender interceptors kept hot pursuit diving in and out of the formation each time unloading new ordnance into a target before pulling off. Another one of the Hasorn escorts was crippled and out of the fight when AO fighter swarms smashed its bridge, and in the moments after also proceeded to smash into the engine arrays, putting the vessel into an uncontrolled light spin. The cruiser that was the target of the bridge assault a second time was not idle, the Triarch bridges having been reinforced with secondary shield arrays and more point defence engaged the fighter as it came in.
---
As the probes launched made their way past the battle they began their descent into the upper atmopshere of Hasorn itself. Bands of colourful gases revealled multiple layers of different compounds and visibility was somewhat low. That was until the probes breached into a layer of seemingly habitable gases, the images came in of a huge floating city that was clearly the capital of the Hasorn Hegemony, living quarters, gas mining areas, shipyards and defensive stations as well as sub platforms studded themselves across the huge construct. It appeared that the city was on war footing, defenses pointed skywards and already large wings of aircraft were being launched from military bases.
The Commander watched as the Hasorn munitions traveled towards them. “Our target lays beyond this blockade. Bring us down into the atmosphere.” The Commander ordered. The fleet moved in unison as it began to descend into the atmosphere. As they did however an Escort was caught by the Hasorn weapons and didn’t stand a chance. The ship’s shields fell and the ship exploded with a magnificent rainbow of colors. “Increase dorsal shield power.” The Commander ordered. Power from the ventral shields was re-routed to the dorsal shields to maximize the shield’s defensive power.
The Drone that buzzed around the Ancient One ships was left alone, as they had other things to worry about. “Fighters, break off and head for the source of the signal’s source.” What fighters remained did as they were told and broke off their attacks. They formed worm-like formations as they plunged into the atmosphere of the Gas Giant.
"Looks like they're enjoying themselves" Tarsi said to his second as he watched the battle unfold on the view screen. "Captain should we not join the battle?" the weapons officer asked, itching for more combat. "Stay your hand, we have nothing to gain by joining this battle." Tarsi replied as they continued to observe.
Cecilia looked at the fight happening between the AO and Hasorn on her tactical display "Let them fight it out" She told he crew. "But Ma'am we should help out, sitting back is wrong" her 2nd Lieutenant spoke out. She raised her naval pistol at the man "Speak out again number 2 and i will blow your brains out, the kingdom has nothing to gain, especially fighting a superior force" She told him.
Sofia is struggling on her next plan of action, she has many choices to make for the event that played out, one is that to remain cloaked and find an opening to leave the system to friendly sectors, create a report of the action of what the captain did and hope that the explained situation with the new encountered empires that the action of the Captain's is not the D.N.A.'s ways or to help with Hasornain against the AO and asked for forgiveness on the Captain's violent behavior, but with that scenario anything can help, with either more unwanted deaths that can happen with the small system turning into an all out war, with more enemies at all side something that Sofia doesn't want, with so many choices with many scenario going in and out of her psionic mind that making the correct choice will be her difficult, not only for her but for the crew's live under her command.
A large bulky object was ejected from one of junk ships floating in polar orbit of the gas giant. Twisted and jagged red rusted ball with it’s exterior metal sheets bent and beaten was taken in by the gravitational pull of the Jovian orb. Senor antenna too large for this object extended out as small flashing lights started to blink during its descent. “Probe is away Watcher. Telemetry data is streaming to us now.” a young Kel thrall stammered as he lowered his head his grey rotting rags of clothes barely wrapping around his meek skeletal form. “Good, Continue to gather data. Maintain defensive positions.” Zulgoy scowled.
"Their going into the atmopshere...?" One of the bridge aids seemed confused. Trest himself was also confused. In atmopshere ships could not manuver properly, they had the effectivness of some weapons reduced or outright negated and they were far easier to hit. Not only that but they were now sandwiched between the fleet and the ground based defenses.
The defense platforms kept engaging before silencing themselves hoping to not hit the friendly city and returning to ready mode. The fleet however had no such problems.
"It seems so... Co-ordinate with ground telemetry, catch them in a cross fire" The orders were given, as the battered Hasorn fleet kept firing at any remaining drones that engaged them now opened fire with precise shots. Guided by their own sensors and the ground based sensors the shots could be directed into perceieved engine areas. While the Hasorn didnt know if it would do anything extra the fire kept coming. Trest knew it was mostly up to the ground forces now while he determined if the others in orbit were still a threat...
The city below however, was anything bu unprotected.
Being a floating city the only venue of attack was from space and Hasorn had spared no restraint in protecting themselves. Large laser arrays, banks of missile silos and mass driver emplacements of immense size awaited the AO fleet. Each opened up, directing fire towards the largest ship as smaller more numerous missile launchers, flak batteries and even the ground forces own air defense battalions opened up on the drones. The beautiful contrail bands of cloud were filled with explosions and ordnance as they fought to keep the enemy from landing. All across the city sirens blared as civilians were kept in doors, workers barricaded the gas mining facilities as best they could, and the Hasorn defense forces readied themselves in areas likely for landing. The signal itself was from deep within the city, being around a hundred kilometres across, and around 50 tall the signal was located within what was termed as the vaults deep within the place itself and only accessible from the governmental spire building in the centre of the topside city.
The Ancient One fighters swarmed in the skies, their worm like formations dogging incoming fire and shooting down incoming missiles. When swarms reached the center of the city they fanned out in a flower like pattern and began to bombard the city. Fighters screamed past buildings, their engines creating a wailing sound as they darted through the sky. They targeted defense platforms, targeting sensors, and communications equipment.
The Ancient One fleet kept descending further into the atmosphere, their shields take the brunt of the damage. As they did they launched several shards of Star Steel containing Ancient One Warriors. The fleet eventually traveled bellow the city, skimming through clouds of hydrogen gas.
“Fire shards as well as Light Cannons into the city.” The Commander of the Frigate ordered. The fleet opened fire on the city, beams of tachyons lashing out along with crystal shards of Star Steel, some were hollow and carried Ancient One Warriors and Legionnaires.
“To the leaders of the Hasorn, we order you to surrender or we will bring down your city. This is your last warring.” The Commander sent telepathically to the Trest and the others.
"Sir, a plethora of weapons signatures from where the AO just entered." Sensors informed. Tarsi paused for a moment. "Has there been any sign of the DNA?" he questioned as he paced slightly. "Negative sir, but we haven't detected any FTL signatures either. They're out there somewhere." the response came.
Tarsi nodded "Alright" he started and began focussing on that psionic presence once again. He gave heading orders based off of this and a fighter screen launched also, keeping their eyes open for anything.
Sofia has sent her psychic mind into the mental plane where a psionic user like herself can go to, to either planning out their next plan in battle, to harness on their psionic power for training, or to be alone and collect their thoughts. In the mental plane, real-time move differently for hours, days, and weeks can seem like seconds in the physical plane of reality. There Sofia is gathering her thoughts on to what she should be planned next as she does not want to fight an undesirable battle that'll cause unnecessarily enemies during the Second Ancerious War or have them able to have a reason to join the APP. Sofia knows this is where she can think of an idea without the pressure of the current situation looming over her like a falcon waiting for its prey.
Zulgoy’s fleet remained in orbit above the gas giant while the probes drifting deeper into the jovian body. “My Lord, it seems the fighting between the natives and Ao has dragged out into the atmosphere of the planet now.” a emaciated thrall reported as Zulgoy drifted towards the viewport watching the distant flashs.
Cecilia sat there in her captains chair thinking. “Ma’am the AO fleet is heading into the Hasorn Atmosphere” He 2ic spoke passing on the information from the sensors operator. She looked at her 2ic “At the moment what the AO do is not our concern” She said before turning to her secondary sensors operator. “Has there been any FTL or weapon readings that we can use to pin point the DNA or to find out if they have run away?” She asked the man. “None what so ever Ma’am” He replied. “Then we shall maintain current position and recall the drones” She finished, looking a bit pissed off.
The swarms of drones that spread out across the city found themselves being attacked from near every angle, this was no easily taken location as Hasorn defences toom their toll. For every air defence missile launcher destroyed another one seemed to be rolled out of a warehouse somewhere to continue firing. The defense weaponry however took the brunt of the fleets Tachyon fire, with some emplacements being vapourised others withstood the onslaught thanks to their shields, the return fire was even heavier than before. With the prospect of imminent destruction the defense corps merely threw safety out of the window, missile launchers emptied their entier magizines, lasers overcharged themselves to the point of melting their emitters and railguns fired relentlessly until their barrels melted. It was an act of defiance, and one that would not be ignored.
The Hasorn fleet however seemed to ignore the threat, Trest knew the city would take many hours to destroy even by his own fleet. The enemy were here for the relic and if they destroyed the city they would destroy that too. Trest called their bluff. The Hasorn kept firing, using the situation where the AO couldnt manuver to trap them in the clouds for easy shooting.
The ground forces were ready for the AO ground troopers, precise fire opened up the moment the enemy appeared, heavy LAWs and machine guns of the defense forces targetting the constructs remarkably well for such supposedly inexperienced forces.
The Ancient One fighters that were still around darted through the skyscrapers of the city, firing into the buildings and down at any civilians bellow. The fleet spread out into a rough ‘V’ formation above the city. As they moved towards the source of the signal they fired beams of Tachyon energy into the city along with more and more troops. This time tanks were added into the mix.
The 15-meter-tall walkers landed and began to fire into the city, their feet crushing smaller buildings and cars. Warriors and Legionnaires formed into battle lines and began to march through the streets. The fleet also fired pure shards of star steel into buildings that began to feed off the electricity and grow. The Warriors and Legionnaires screamed telepathically to throw off the Hasorn soldiers. The scream had the same ‘volume’ as a jet going full power inside their heads.
“We will bring this city down and take the device with us.” The Commander of the Frigate sent out telepathically. “You will not stop us, even if only one ship survives.” The ships continued to intercept missiles and munitions, with some ships firing back at the Hasorn fleet. Some of the munitions made their way through the screen and struck the shields of the Ancient One ships.
The Vaanitas fleet kept formation, a fighter screen out in front and more fighters scouting ahead for signs of the DNA.
"You cannot hide forever cowards." Tarsi spoke in a low growl, tapping his foot. Turrets swivelled as they looked for visual signs and sensors operators were glued to their screens, looking for any sign of their foe.
“Ma’am I suggest we leave this system” the 2ic spoke. “We are not leaving, that is cowardice, besides the DNA are still out there and I am interested in seeing how this conflict between Hasorn and the AO is going to end” She said looking at a tactical map.
The Hasorn Hegemony was nothing special. Just another of the millions of non aligned tiny empires that were spread across the expanse of the galaxy and one of the many who owned just a singlular star system with little in the way of expansionist capability.
The Hasorn had come to the galaxy in the 3 years after the Unions discovery of the Ancerious galaxy in one of the massive waves of civilian groups who had hoped to seek out a new life and so they had found themselves a small corner of the galaxy to settle on. Building a large floating city in the clouds of their systems largest gas giant the Hasorn enjoyed 50 odd years of relative undisturbed isolation, building and consolidating their own people throughout the Hasorn system, expanding their huge floating city and exploiting the minerals trapped in the gas giants thick ring system, the Hasorn had done well for themselves.
The system consisted of the Hasorn inhabited Gas giant, with its 23 moons most of them colonised or at least with some kind of prescence on them. The systems sun was a binary pair, both yellow midstage stars with close orbits to each other but otherwise fairly stable. 3 more planets also slowly travelled in system, two iceballs which orbited far off in the outer reaches of the system far away from the two life giving suns and another which orbited so close to the binary that it was little more than a molten ball of fire.
Hasorn had been lukcy in that it had weathered the 1st Ancerious war without a scratch, and had also stayed primarily out of the second, it was after all a backwater with some minor trade agreements nothing more. That had been until the discovery.
In one of the routine cloud dives prospectors had found a gleaming crystalline ball, what it was nobody knew, but it had an energy signature and gave off faint signals. Not sure what to do with it the Hasorn had sought expert help offworld on the Ancnet. Only to be greeted with a rather finely dressed buissnessman turning up on their doorstep from Triarch Industires. The buissnessman had asked for access to the crystal ball in exchange Triarch would give Hasorn protection, priority trade agreements and even a small flotilla of patrol ships. Hasorn so overwhelmed at their sudden importance had eagerly accepted, and so the Triarch forces had got to work, even calling in Shadowblade experts and troops to help them. While the Hasorn now finished their new found defenses and ships the two APP members had got to work on the ball.
It hadnt responded at first, but when it released a massive energy burst big enough to be a beacon to the surrounding space it had lit its location up to many others. Realising they had to work quickly both Triarch and SB ordered an acceleration to their research.
There was a bright flash that seemed to be brighter than the brightest star. And as soon as the light came it was gone. There in the middle of space was a black sphere that seemed to absorb all the light around it. If it weren’t for the missing gravity well anyone would have mistaken it for a black hole.
From the inky blackness seven long, blue-ish, crystalline ships appeared from the “Black Hole”. They were assembled with the largest ship in the center and the other six ships in a ring vertically around it.
Conduct a scan of the area. the Commander of the lead frigate ordered. The other Commanders of the six escorts heard the command and ordered their pilots to scan the area they were in. A psionic and high frequency scanning pulse went out from all the ships.
We are reading several low tech ships in the area. The Commander looked down at the energy signature coming from one of the planets in the system.
Move our ships to the large Gas Giant, from there we will scan the object which sent out the beacon. The lead Commander ordered. The 7 ships began to move in unison toward the planet.
A message came in from fleet command, ordering the nearest patrol to investigate. The small fleet diverted from their route, a reserve unit taking their place. In a moment they jumped and appeared near where the disturbance had been detected. Captain Harvus Tarsi waited for reports from his bridge crew to report in. "Jump successful, all units are with us." his second reported. He merely nodded and looked out at the source of the disturbance. "There already seems to be a fleet here Sir." the sensors operator spoke. They were enhanced on screen to show the Ao ships. "Take us towards the planet helm." he ordered and the fleet began to advance
A small section of a Cricaen patrol fleet had been order to investigate an Energy Anomaly, 10 Ships broke off and jumped to where the energy signals had been emitting from. Captain Alcott looked at her crew as they narrowed down where the signals were coming from, “Signal located and Ma’am we are not the only ones here, It seems are ‘Friends’ The Supremacy have arrived as well” He Lieutenant spoke as he received the information from other bridge crew. She nodded, “Noted, take us towards the planet, make sure weapons are functional and have power and full power to Shields” She ordered. As the crews set about the tasks the fleet headed towards the planet.
As the various FTL signatures of the various unknown contacts appeared almost suddenly out of nowhere in system the small escort vessel that was patrolling the outer edge was flooded with alarm beacons. The crew, having only just learnt how to properly use their new and shiny ship (straight out of the Triarch dockyards) scrambled to identify the incoming contacts, seeing as every single of one them flagged as unknowns this made the jumpy captain of the vessel possitively paranoid.
"This is Captain Usein of the Hasorn Hegemony warship Conflict Identify yourselves at once and indicate why you are here immediately" He demanded.
There were around 28 Hasorn vessels in system most huddled in orbit around Hasorn the large gas giant in the inner system. Other unconfirmed sensor bounces also indicated the possible prescence of other vessels in system too but distance prevented any accurate readings. The energy emission was still discernable however, despite the sheer energy emission and com traffic of the Hasorn system the very specific energy frequency of whatever the object was still projected like it had before.
The Commander of the Frigate listened to this Usein of the ship Conflict. They were asking for identification. The other Commanders of the Escorts were chattering away about new sensor contacts and odd psi-signals. Commander, there are 28 vessels in the area of the signal. A Common ‘said’ the Commander took this information and made a decision.
We are the Ancient Ones, we are here for the machine which you have activated. We wish only for the machine, not conflict, so if you could give us the device no harm will come to any of you. If you get in our way do note we WILL not hesitate to forcibly remove the machine. The Commander sent out to the ships within the area via telepathy.
Tarsi’s smile widened as he was informed of the ships in system. “Some new friends to play with. And an old one as well. Most exciting.” He mused as his commander waited for orders. It was at that moment the Ao message arrived and his smile turned cold. He did not appreciate mental intrusion without his permission. It was rare that it occurred and most of the military were trained to prevent such intrusions. For this to make it through his mental barriers was both interesting and…annoying.
“I am Captain Havus Tarsi of the Vaanitas Supremacy. Myself and my force were most intrigued when we detected an energy spike in this area. Pray tell what it is?” he spoke over open comms.
He then directed a message towards the Ao. “I have no knowledge of you but any further mental intrusion will lead to violent consequences.” He transmitted as all of his vessels readied weapons and prepared for a fight if there was one to be had.
Cecilia received the AO message and shook her head “Why does it seem like the training never works” She frowned. “There is a total of 45 ships Ma’am” He Lieutenant spoke, “7 of them these Ancient Ones?, 10 of them from the Supremacy and the other 28 appear to be locals” He finished. She just listened to the message that played from the Supremacy Captain.
“This is Captain Cecilia Alcott of the Cricaen Kingdom, we have registered strange Energy signals from this location and are interested in knowing the source” She spoke over open comms.
“Power all weapons and prepare for a fight, we have new people her and the Supremacy and you know what they can be like” She told her Lieutenant who then nodded and gave the orders.
Suddenly twenty two compacted cobalt clouds of expanding boson particles appeared in the vast void of space. Directly following the sudden appearance of the clouds twenty two vessels smashed headlong into the boson clouds with only two bright eruptions as two of the vessels atomized themselves on entry. These objects could only be described as blazing wrecks that would sooner tear themselves apart by the sheer structure of jagged twisting sheets of rust red metals. Resting in a torn corroded stool a pale white figure coiled in tar black wrappings threw his body forward as he evacuate the contents of his empty stomachs. The stench of acids turned the dry recycled air sour as the rest of the bridge crew lifted themselves with shaking legs to their posts wiping their lips of of the bile. “Report!” screeched the overseer through the psionic network as the scent of warning pheromones flooded his senses. “Chosen one, we have lost two ships upon entering the system. The boson field wasn’t strong enough to support their re-entry.” whimpered a tattered coiled comms officer via the telepathic network. Lifting himself back on the stool gripping the edges to stable him allowing the jump sickness to wash over his shaking body. His very bones felt the icy bite of the void while others on the bridges bodies radiate heat in plumes. “Overseer, sensors are picking up contacts within system along with what may be weapons signatures.” another bridge crew ordered as he cowered in sight of the Overseer. “Signal the remaining fleet to form up on us, and ready battle stations for combat.”
In the cold void of space outside of the Hasorn gas giant 10 flashes signals 10 D.N.A. Vessels have jumped out of FLT space, the vessels in general is an single Nightblade class Battleship, two Ark class Carrier, four Hade class Destroyers, three Chimaera class Frigates.
“Sir we arrived in the system” one of the comm-officers said to the Air Draconight Captain
“Good good, have the fleet from an arrow head formation and keep on at a steady pace” the Air Draconight
At the Captain’s order the small D.N.A. Fleet forms to a arrowhead with the Battleship at the head of the formation and the carriers at the behind as they make a steady pace towards the giant gas planet
"Sir more unknown contacts appearing in system... Along with what looks to be AGA forces belonging to the DNA if Triarch databases confirm" The sensor operator again called out. Husein was bombarded by the communications messages, listening to them in turn as the operator also called out multiple weapons being powered on some of the unknown vessels.
"God damn arrogants think they can steal this find from us, the one thing that has made Hasorn noitcable and that we have needed!" Usein shouted across the bridge, the crew agreeing with him. "We are not going to let them take anything! Sent an encrypted burst to the fleet, tell them we have hostile forces demanding information and handing over of the sphere and tell them we have to defend our home" He then replied to all of the various factions at once.
"This is Captain Usein of the Hasorn Hegemony, we will yield our discovery to nobody, you have no juristiction or claim over our find and any military action to take it from us will be met with lethal force. I am not authorised to tell you anything about the find and demand that you immediately leave the system and our empire in peace. As an attendem the AGA forces are not welcome in this system, I demand forces of the DNA leave immediately or you will be fired upon." Usein cut the link and waited, diverting power to the small escorts weapons and shields.
If the Commander of the Frigate could sigh it would have. These basics weren’t going to give up the object, then so be it. Captain Usein, you have chosen poorly and now you shall face the consequences. The Commander sent to the Captain.
The Commander ordered for the ships to raise shields and ready weapons. Prepare for combat, ready fighters. The Star fighters were awoken from their dormant state and told about their situation.
Move us into optimum firing range. The seven ships moved down to level with the Hasorn ships. The Pilot of each ship targeted the closest ships to them and awaited the order to fire.
Captain Unsein, you have sixty seconds to comply with our demands or be destroyed. The Commander sent.
Tarsi paused and thought about this message. "How very rude, and we were being so polite." he frowned. "Captain these Ancient Ones are moving in and sensors are detecting weapons preparing to fire." his commander spoke. This made him pause once again. "Hold station, keep weapons readied. I have no intent of fighting everyone at once but should a chance for an honourable battle show itself we will be prepared." he spoke.
Cecilia listened to the message and sighed “It seems that they would rather fight then take the more civil route”. “Ma’am, the Ancient Ones have powered weapons and appear to be moving in for a fight with Hasorn, whilst the Supremacy appear to be holding ground but are ready for combat, then we have two newcomers, no word or information about them” Her Lieutenant spoke.
She stopped and contemplated the situation, “Hold here and be prepared for combat should the situation arise, and set up a link with the Supremacy” She spoke. The Lieutenant nodded and established a link. “Captain Tarsi, this is Captain Alcott, please may I enquire what the Supremacy is doing here and what you plan on doing?” She spoke.
Captain Jabbar Ra'id Jericho heard what the Triarch captain demands of him, which boils the Air Draconight's blood since the Triarch possess a some sort machine that in the APP's hands can cause a possibility of death of untold billions like with the Captiol's Crucible.
"We will not comply to your demands! We will not let you get away with what's in your hands and causes more death, like the butchers you and your APP are nothing but dishonorable murders and thieves! May your souls be forever be damned in the darkest of deep and never to raise up again!" He said to Hasorn then cut off communication with Triarch and make contacts with the Ancient Ones "Unknown vessels, we have intercept your transmissions with the Triach and we can form an temporary alliance to deal with the Triach fleet then settle diplomatically on if we get permanent alliance or settle with non-aggressive treaty and possible trade between our empires" He said to AO's fleet captain
Since Jabbar's talk on Triach Captain via communications the fleet have power up their shields and weaponry to max, their fighters are all set to fly out and cause damage to enemy vessel or dogfight that is ready to happen
As the Kal fleet formed up around the Overseer’s flagship creating a bubble around it. The alien’s message reached the ears of the comms officer, sitting there confused by the strange tongue. “Chosen, the aliens are trying to communicate with us. However the system is unable to interpret it.” the skeletal Kal reported as he averted his gaze from the captain. The Overseer righting himself looked down at the officer as his sight returned to normal, “Why isn’t the system working? Was it damaged in the jump?”. The officer turned back to the pressing a few keys, before answering, “The system is working, the translation matrix isn’t picking up any psionic frequency so it has no bases to decode from. The comms officer turned back to the console tapping a few keys allowing the foreign voice to echo around the bridge. The captain’s brow arched as he listen to this oddity, the crew speaking among themselves with their psionic network looking most perturbed. “Open a pionic channel with the unknown fleets and let's see who picks up.” the Overseer command as reports can in of Kal fleet crew ordering into their battle stations and flight teams.
No psionic reply came from the Hasorn fleet. After all they were merely humans. What did come from the Hasorn fleet however was the total powering of weapons, shields and defense platforms across the system. Fighters and bombers were launched and took up defensive patterns, while still some way away from the Hasorn main fleet the various arrivals still faced off against the smaller escort.
"So you come here to steal what will make our children grow strong in this galaxy, and come to take what will put food on our plates. We remained neutral through the 1st war, and tried to remain neutral now. We thought the APP propoganda against the allies was just that, propoganda but you merely reinforce everything Triarch said." Usein spat in reply to both the DNA and AO fleets "They are right, you are a tyranical menace to this galaxy that needs to be exterminated. I hope your people burn from the Crucible!" The small escort immediately opened fire on the DNA and AO fleets, it was a small vessel armed with mass drivers, missile launchers and light photon lances but Usein would defend his home and his people all the same. This discovery had been what the Hasorn needed, what they desperately required to expand, to bring in new trade and to finally bring their people out of impoverished living conditions, and now the AGA and their ingrate friends were here to take that away from them merely because they had Triarch aid.
Hypocrits, all of them.
Fire The Destroyer’s Commander ordered. The Ancient One fleet opened fire on the Hasorn ships, tachyon beams lashed out through space to their targets. The hulls of the ships peeled back and hundreds of Star Fighters were launched from their ships.
"Said the tyrant, if you calm to be helping your children then why help an group that has killed billions of innocent men women and children! Families, both young and old died by your hands!! You should of have stayed neutral, now your another killer to be burnt away from this galaxy!" Jabber said with vemon to the Triach fleet in hope of shaking any resolve of their crew, before he yelled open fire to his own fleet as barrage of Advance Capital Railguns, Lux Laser guns, Corus Plasma guns, AP Havoc Missiles, and Starburst Plasma missiles onto the Triach fleet and Darknight Fighters flight out of their hanger bays on the hull of their ships. The battle has begin between Triach and Ancient One-D.N.A. fleets
Tarsi had been considering getting involved, he loved a good battle. But this was priceless. Two fleets flinging themselves at a numerically superior force whilst both sides shouted slurs at eachother. This passed for comedy in the Supremacy and he truly found it amusing. "Hold station, anyone foolish enough to shoot at us will feel our wrath but for now let them fight" he laughed. He then opened a private channel to the Cricaen's. "Ah, always wonderful to see the Cricaens. Captain Alcott was it? As always our business is our own. Perhaps you would like to enlighten me to your intentions lest I grow tired of our cease fire." Tarsi replied with no particular tone, bordering on indifference. Tarsi paused as he felt the Psionic communication. "This is Captain Tarsi of the Vaanitas Supremacy. What grounds do you have to contact me in such a form?" he questioned of them in response
The Cricaen fleet held their position as they watched the Ancient One Fleet and the new comers Calling themselves the DNA started firing on the Hasorn fleets. Cecilia found this disgusting how they had just appeared and decided that they needed to wiped out for petty reasons. “Captain your Orders” Her Lieutenant asked. “Hold our position until we are fired upon” She spoke. She listened to the transmission from Captain Tarsi, “We are here only because of the energy reading we picked up, we are not here for a fight but if fired upon we are ready for one, but I think we should focus on the more important matters, not our Nations conflict” She spoke.
The Kal fleet hangs in the void, awaiting an answer that has yet to come from the unknown fleets. The Overseer drums his fingers against his leg as small flashes of lights glowed in the distance. “Sire, there is no response. . . Forgive me there is a fellow psionic.” the comm officer crowded as the scent of fear emanated from him. “Captain Tarsi of the Vaanitas Supremacy, I am unfamiliar with the name. I am Overseer Yaddul of the Kal Thralldom, servants to the Grand Masters. I ask you how else would we communicate?” the confused overseer replied back as he watched the flames of war sparking by the distance lights. “Ready the boson emitters and move us off from the battle zone. Start to scan the unknown vessels.” he ordered as the Kal fleet began to slowly move off away from the combat so they wouldn’t be dragged into it.
Before Usein could point out the sheer ignorance of the DNAs statement his vessel was vapourised by the FTL tachyon beams.
Almost in instant response the Hasorn main fleet activated interdiction, ion drives burned bright as the fleet went to flank speed and began forming up into combat formations. Admiral Trest grimaced as she watched the destruction of Useins vessel "So it seems the invaders of the AGA wish to take our discovery. Fine let them try, cold launch stealth missiles, full barrage, launch attack craft and prep proton cannons for full long range fire. I want all defense platforms and defenses activated across the system. We will hold this line at all costs" She ordered.
Across the Hasorn ships launch rails thundered as they spat out numerous fighter craft, both Triarch Defender interceptors and Attacker Bombers. The groups forming up into defensive formations around the Hasorn fleet, ready to intercept any of the enemies own missiles or fighters. Meanwhile missiles of their own were launched by their small thrusters out of their launches, no massive volley of fire erupted from the launches, the missiles cold fired immediately engaged their stealth systems before lighting their main propulsion and streaming away from the fleet, not on a current intercept course but there either way.
"This is Admiral Trest of the Hasorn Hegemony. You have declared war on the Hasorn unlawfully and in your ignorance forced out hand, we will now seek formal joining of the APP, your actions here clearly confirm what they have been preaching. DNA and AO forces withdraw at once or we will be forced to completely eradicate your prescence from this system. Other nations here we cannot reveal information about our discovery, it is classified and it will not be handed over. Are you too here to try take our salvation?" Trest asked in a system wide broadcast. At the same time defense platforms and orbital defenses on the Hasorn homeworld activated and spurred into life ready to defend against any invasion forces that aimed to push through to land on the floating cities of the planet.
Hasorn System: Hasorn Hegemony Space
The Commander of the Ancient One Destroyer watched as the numerous fighters were launched and missile were too, but disappeared shortly after. It ordered another volley to be fired on the Hasorn ships before directing it’s attention to he Kal Fleet
This is the Commander of the Ancient One fleet to Kal’s. We do not wish to fight you, if you do intervene how ever we will not hesitate to fire on you. It sent to the Kal ships via telepathy. It then turned back to the Hasorn. What matters to you is of no concern to us Admiral Trest. You are simply in the way.
The Ancient One ships opened fire, several shots left from the crystalline hulls. Several intercepted the shots fired from Unsein’s ships and some harmlessly struck the shields of the AO ships.
Tarsi watched the battle unfolding, ignoring the transmission he'd recieved from the Kal and Cricaen fleets. The silent violence the AO had unleashed intrigued him, as did their weapons. The almost rabid shrieking of the DNA was giving him a headache. He knew not what this AGA, or APP meant, but if the DNA were representing the AGA as had been said then he was very much disgusted by them. In turn, these Hasorn were bold indeed and he respected their will to defend their home.
"Maintain our position helm. Have weapons armed but do not target anything yet." he ordered and the ships weapons prepared. He considered opening comms with the Hasorn but decided they would be busy at the moment, and resigned himself to watch and wait.
Cecilia watched the battle that began unfolding before them. She looked at the AO and their weapons and then at the DNA and their weapons as she made sure that they were scanned for anything useful. Her Lieutenant brought up the information she had on the AGA and the APP. “Really they let these DNA people into the AGA when they have just come in and opened fire for petty reasons” She spoke.
“I want every weapons powered still and ready to fire at a moment’s notice and shields at full power, also send a warning shot at the DNA” She said seriously, as she was appalled by their behaviour and was more on the side of this Admiral Trest and Hasorn. “Yes Ma’am” Her Lieutenant spoke as he sent the orders and a single gun fired at the DNA Fleet, not intending to hit them.
Just as the Cricaen Kingdom’s ship fired their warning shot, all the fire and missiles shot pass by Triach fleet barely hitting any of their ships with the missiles self-destruction behind the fleet and away from the planet also.
“Sir, we got missiles launched from the fleet but unable to detect them or their current target, also a single shot fire from unknown fleet number 3 possible warning shot” the comm-officers said
“Have all shields up to full power and hold on!!” Jabber said as he gripped to his seat as along with other crews members as the wait for the missiles to hit while their fighters gets out of range of the missiles as fast as they can.
‘In order to draw out the beast you must first approach their lair with hostile presence’ Jabber said mentally
“My lord. Another message has been picked up on the psionic pathways, a group calling themselves the Ancient One. They have advised against us taking action or else be destroyed by them.” the comm officer reported as the Kal fleet reached the safe distance away from the battle. “Maintain distance from the battle, and open a psionic pathway to these Ancient Ones. Perhaps they may be able to enlighten us on the context of this conflict.” The Overseer commanded as a psionic hail was sent. “This is Overseer Zulgoy of the Kal Thralldom, our communication relays are unable to decode non-psionic messages. Could you inform us on the context to this conflict.”
"And by your actions and callous nature your are simply invaders to be exterminated" Trest commented back to the AO.
"Sir one of the unknown fleets just opened a single round across the DNA fleet, possibly a warning shot" One of the sensor operators called out putting it on screen. Trest smiled.
"Maybe they will help us, but that remains to be seen, direct the stealth missiles into intercept vectors, AO and DNA fleets only and charge proton cannons for long range fire" Trest ordered, the bridge continuing in its activity.
The missiles launched now changed vector, immediately swooping down into intercept courses aiming to hit the AO and DNAs smaller vessels in a concentrated barragem their stealth fields concealing them until close range where gravitational sensors would likely pick them up.
The Ancient One Commander Paid no heed to Trest’s comment. The Commander watched as the Cricaen Kingdom’s warning shot flew past the DNA fleet. To all ships if you fire upon us we will be forced to eliminate you. If you get in our way you will be eliminated. We are taking the device the Hasorn have on this Gas Giant, any attempt to stop us will be met with destruction. This is your final warning. The Commander sent out to the Vaanitas, Cricean, DNA, and Kal fleets.
The Ancient One ships opened fire again before stoping completely. Begin energy transfer procedures. The Commander sent to the Escorts. The ships began to hum with energy as the hulls began to glow a yellowish color. Arcs of energy leapt from the Escorts to the Frigate. Target the center of the Hasorn fleet. The Commander ordered.
Target locked. A Common ‘said’. Energy levels at optimal firing levels. Another said. Fire. The Commander ordered. The Frigate glowed a bright yellow before a beam as wide as the Frigate flew from the ship to the Hasorn fleet.
Cecilia kept watching as everything unfolded. “So what has happened?” She asked her Lieutenant. “Everyone jumped in asked about the Energy Spike, we were denied access and then Hasorn shot at these Ancient Ones, the DNA turned up and just shot them for ‘reasons’” He spoke.
She nodded and came to a decision “Alright people battle stations, all gun prepare to Fire at the DNA Fleet” She ordered. Orders around the fleet were received and guns were aimed. She waited for a moment “FIRE” She ordered. All the guns around the fleet fired towards the DNA Fleet and Missiles launched dropped of sensors.
Tarsi watched the rounds fly out from the Cricaen fleet towards the DNA. "There will be blood this day." He declared to roars of approval from his crew. An open transmission was broadcast. "Hasorn Hegemony. I find your conduct honourable, and you will not feel our wrath." he spoke. "However dishonourable dogs of the DNA." He growled "You have the gall to assault these people for pathetic reasons. You will bleed for your cowardice!" he shouted and the full might of the Vaanitas was unleashed towards them, spinal guns firing and torpedo tubes emptying towards them as the rest of the guns fired at the DNA.
Zulgoy sat there replaying the message from the Ao in his head. “So these Hasorn are the ones who discovered this device within the gas giant. Everyone else here most likely picked up the energy scans, and given the scans we have been able to take they are far more advanced than ourselves.” he thought while looking around at the junk of a vessel. The echoing patter of water dripping from rusting pipes lulled Zulgoy deeper in thought, “If we start a war with any of these factions it could lead to a swift death or renewed enslavement of his people. Even if we capture this device we wouldn’t be able to use it. Only the Masters would know, and none came with this expansion force, they leave that up to the Overseers.” Zulgoy raised his head to see battle start up again as flashes of light glowing in the distance. “Move the fleet forward adjust heading to move us above the gas giant but maintain distance from the battle.” Zulgoy orders as the nuclear thrusters kicked thrusting the ships forward while the ion engines slowly changing the angle of the vessel to the vertical.
The combine firepower from Vaanitas and Cricaen fleet have hit hard on the D.N.A. destroying less than half of their fleet after their shield were overloaded from the barraged with two frigates destroyed, two other destroyers are destroyed but rather fire back the fleet active the their stealth field to hide their fleet and move out of the killzone and out of range of either fleet.
The Captain made an terrible mistake of firing first in his bloodlust and now has to pay the price for it, as he lay unconscious due to an psionic blast from behind by an First-class Psi-Officer, who was imprisoned in an Stasis Pod, but the Captain after he had an major PTSD from his prolong service in the Ragnarok War, if it wasn't for her old friend looking for her a lot more lives and unnecessary incident with the other nation.
"Now I'm acting as Captain here! Get us out of the fire range and remain cloaked until we can fine an window to leave! She order with aggression as she stilled pissed off. Due to her physic gift she is catching attention of Kal Thralldom's fleet leader
The cloaked ships are moving out of either fleet firing range to an safe point and wait till and opening is available to warped out of the system.
"Anti Nuclear formation now!" Trest shouted as the large beam from the Ao now flew towards his fleet, at the distances involved they had a tiny bit of time to try disperse, thankfully space was big but unfortunately Triarch vessels were not renowned for speed.
6 of the 27 vessels in the Hasorn fleet were caught by varying degrees by the beam, those that were for all intents and purposes fully impacted were vapourised, and one that was merely glanced took heavy damage but was not outright destroyed, while they were not fast by any means their ships had prestigous armour and shields.
"Sir 5 ships have been destroyed, 2 cruisers and 3 destroyers, im confirming another destroyer has taken heavy damage" The report came in, Trest frowned. His formation was now scattered, but still close by, and he doubted the enemy fleet could do that again anytime soon.
"Sir two of the fleets present have fired upon the DNA... They appear to have cloaked, we cant track them it looks like they took some heavy damage" This time Trest smiled.
"Good, let those cowards flee for their arrogance, reform our formation, do not flag those two fleets as hostile I want all power to diffraction shields, launch another salvo of stealth missiles, and fire Proton cannons!" Trest commanded, the Hasorn fleet once again moving to meet up with their original positions. Once more cold launches pumped stealth missiles into space as the first barrage now was set to impact the AO fleet, but it was the fronts of the larher Hasorn vessels that now fired their ruby red beams from the Proton cannons for long range strikes. At least they hoped to break up the enemy formation.
Worst case scenario they would withdraw to the orbital defenses for additional firepower.
The Commander of the Frigate shifted his stance as the Frigate vibrated from the stealth missiles hitting the shields. It called for a damage report from the fleet, the Escorts had taken minor structural damage from the shock of the missiles and their shields had dropped to 55%. The Commander looked to the Hasorn fleet and watched as more of those missiles were launched along with red beams on energy.
“Scan those beams.” The Commander ordered. A Common called out Proton Beams. The Commander then ordered for their trajectories to be calculated and for shards to be launched to intercept. Meanwhile Commons calculated the time it took from the Hasorn launching the missiles, to their arrival.
“All ships, target the larger Hasorn ships, once your Energy Transfer Conduits are repaired prepare for another fleet firing.” The Commander ordered. The Escorts and Frigate individually targeted the larger Hasorn ships and opened fire.
“Enemy ships have cloaked sir.” The sensors operator warned. Tarsi took a moment to think and something caught his attention on a psionic level, not the AO, or the Thralldom, but another Psionic presence, near where the DNA had just vanished. He closed his eyes, no real effect other than helping him focus. “Fire control…input the following targeting data, adjust to following bearing and velocity” he spoke and using coordinates began giving orders, targeting the psionic whilst accounting for their momentum. “Tracking sir.” Fire control reported. “Open fire, all guns!” he ordered and the ships hummed before firing their spinal nova cannons towards where the psionic would be, the rest of the guns and torpedoes doing the same. Any movement Tarsi accounted for by adjusting coordinates and firing solution.
“Ma’am The Vaanitas Supremacy are firing into space after the DNA cloaked, what do we do?” A weapons officer spoke. "Trace their fire and trajectory and fire all guns in the same Direction” Captain Alcott spoke. The weapons officer nodded and sent orders to the other ships and guns were readjusted and positioned. “All ships Fire” She ordered. All the guns from the fleet fired following the Vaanitas shots. The Missiles finally reappeared at the new coordinates.
Zulgoy sat watching the distance flashes of battle grow closer as his fleet continued to make their adjustments when he felt another psionic presence. The pressure of the psionic energy emitting close to where the DNA fleet was. “Reveal yourself.” Zulgoy demanded as he responded to the psionic call.
The Flagship took damage from the two fleet firepower from its shields collapsing and taking damage on the ship hull, but not enough to collapse their stealth capability and the rest of the D.N.A. fleet are out of range of the other fleets.
Psi-Officer Sofia, sensing that her psionic presence is giving her away and risking her fleet and the crews on them. She ordered an lone Darknight Fighter to move away from the D.N.A. fleet while she use her psychic power to make an mask of her presence on to the Fighter so that the Vaanitas would be mistaken for the Fighter as her flagship. Then she hides her presence from the Vaanitas, but made an hidden connection between Zugol.
“I am Sofia van Hawick, a D.N.A. 1st Class Psi-Officer, there been a terrible mistake, this battle shouldn’t happen” She said psionically to Zulgoy as she sent an psionic image of what happened between her and the mentally unstable Captain
The Tachyon weapons while horrifically powerful when not under interdiction were not so dangerous under interdiction, still the larger Hasorn vessels shuddered as their shields took hits from those beams that were not off set by the Diffraction shields, each layer of such a shield nudging the beam off target by a minute amount but with thousands of such layers built up by the fleets Triarch vessels shots would simply miss diverted even by a fraction enough to not pose a threat. Still shields flared as the impacts hit, but Triarch ships were made to take hits especially the larger vessels such as cruisers. Trests own battleship took three direct beam impacts lessening the shields but doing no more, the Warsmith was a tried and tested design if it could hold its own on the battlefields of the 2nd Ancerious war it would hold here.
But.
Trest frowned, he didnt like the chances, yes he was numerically superior but at any moment some of the other factions could turn to aiding these 'Ao' if that happened it would be a ever declining situation of events, and with the DNA seemingly cloaked he had to watch his flanks.
"All vessels pull back into the cover of our orbital platforms, keep shields up at full, keep launching missiles and let the Proton cannons cool" He ordered as the Hasorn vessels kept their arrowhead defensive formation and began to pull back they did not stop launching missiles however. This was clearly a tactical move.
Hasorn System: Hasorn Hegemony Space
The Commander watched as the Hasorn ships began to retreat. ”Move in and begin striking their orbital defense platforms.” The commander ordered. Hydrogen was condensed and formed a fusion reaction propelling the Ancient One ships forward. ”Fighters, move in to attack their stations key systems.”
”All ships begin firing on the stations.” shots flew from the Ancient One ships toward the orbital platforms as the fighters began to move in large groups that resembled tentacles.
Tarsi wore a satisfied look on his face as some of their munitions hit something they couldn't see. He honed in again on the psionic presence and was alarmed when it had changed location to what he anticipated. He further focussed and concentrated on the psionic signature, something not seeming quite right. "Hold fire" he ordered, not wanting to continue the effort of directing fire when something wasn't quite right. The psionic presence of the Kals and Ancient Ones hadn't changed as far as he could tell.
The fleet followed his command and ceased fire, scanning to ensure they were outflanked or ambushed and otherwise held station.
“Cease Fire” Cecilia spoke, “no point in continuing firing at an enemy that we can no longer see”. Her 2nd Lieutenant looked up at her “Your new orders Ma’am” He asked. “For now we will hold fire, but keep weapons ready in-case the DNA appear again, but for now we hold our position we will not push onto the Hasorn forces” She told her crew and other captains. “So we just sit here and wait Ma’am whilst they get blasted apart” the 2nd Lieutenant spoke. “Yes and if that is a problem and you talk back you know the consequence” She told him before looking out at the Kal Thralldom and AO ships.
“I am unaware of the situation. I don’t understand your mistake Sofia van Hawick, a D.N.A 1st Class Psi-Officer. Our systems were unable to decode the messages that came from the Hasorn fleet.” Zulgoy replied as his fleet neared the northern pole of the gas giant keeping well out of the way of the battle and any force. “Start scanning the gas giant” Zulgoy ordered.
The Darknight Fighter flew towards the flank of the AO fleet, giving an illusion of the D.N.A. fleet heading towards them to continue to aide them in the battle. However the main fleet was instead spreading out, pushing further out onto the edge of the system to seek refuge. She knew her psionic ruse wouldnt fool them forever but it had worked for now. She then responded to Zulgoy.
“To keep this brief, we detected a large energy signature coming from this system, possibly a powerful ancient artifact. But it’s under neutral control in the form of the Hasorn, however rather than making a deal with them, Captain Jeffar chose to assault them and take the technology by force. I tried to stop him, but he Air Blast me into my stasis pod and lock it down so I can’t stop him entirely.” Said Sofia as she kept the story brief rather make it long. Hoping for them to understand.
Trest surveyed the battle from the holo display as his ships withdrew, surprised that his enemy had switched focus from his main fleet and instead begun to fire onto the 15 or so installations that orbited Hasorn proper. Each station was far more durable than his vessels and for such they couldnt move, but they did have considerable firepower.
The Bastille orbital platforms which had been readied under Trests command now volley fired their weapons, payloads of missiles, Photon lances and heavy mass drivers erupted from the fixed positions as the tachyon rounds impacted the platforms in return, some missed from the same defraction fields while others bored through the hull and inflicted crippling damage. Two installations were destroyed from the fire as the enemy fighters were shown to be entering attack vectors. Trest smiled, it was a foolish move to over extend your attack craft.
Defender interceptors which had been alongside the main Hasorn fleet now leapt into intercept courses, while each fighter bought from Triarch was without its powerful stealth field Hasorn had instead used the void in weight to add additional missile payloads. A hail of munitions came from the Defenders as the fighters fired off a volley then immediately hard turned and went full burn, pulling off into escape vectors, it was a hit and run move. Designed to do maximum damage to the AO attack craft as they moved into attack runs on the platforms, whos Point defence systems now activated, throwing killing lasers, missiles and mass driver rounds into the fighter swarms.
The Hasorn fleet wasnt idle in this time either, Trest kept the anti nuclear formation, spreading his ships out as he moved to encircle, giving his fleet the best firing arcs per ship for most of their weapons as Photon lances, Mass drivers of various shapes and sizes and missile launchers all fired in unison towards the AO fleet.
The fighters bobbed and weaved in between the missiles and lasers. Some weren’t so lucky and were shattered from the explosions. Those hit by the lasers absorbed the energy, though a small scar could be seen on the hull. As the fighters swarm they rammed themselves into the Hasorn fighters, or clipped them, leaving shards of their Star Steel skin in the hull.
The fighters then began to swarm around the stations like a tornado, firing tachyon bolts into the stations as they twirled. The missiles destroyed many of them and some of the lasers managed to crack the hulls and kill the fighters.
Meanwhile the Ancient Ones ships had calculated the estimated time of the Hasorn stealth missiles. They began to blind fire smaller tachyon pulses. Some of the tachyons shots destroyed some of the missiles but not all of them. The rest hit the ships, the shields hadn’t gone back to full power but they still tanked the missile barrages. More of the Photon beams struck the ships, some of the Escort’s shields dropped and the energy was absorbed by the hull. The mass-driver shots however went through the armor and stopped right before the bridge of one of the Escorts. The other Escorts took the same kind of damage with some shots going through the ship in one go. Quickly the hulls began to re-grow and ejecting the metal slugs out of the ships.
“All ships target weapon systems.” The Commander of the Frigate ordered. The Ancient Ones ships once again opened fire on the stations. Four consecutive volleys fired from the Ancient One fleet.
Tarsi continued to focus, reaching into the void with his mind. He felt the DNA presence that he was almost sure was false and felt for the other Psion's. He paused his breathing for a moment and focussed. There it was, something coming from the Kals, the faintest strand of psionic communications. In his mind he followed the thread, from the Kals towards its source.
The fleet held station, actively scanning their surroundings, wanting to be aware of any incoming threat whilst also watching the battle.
Cecilia looked at the other fleets in this sector of space and she rubbed the bridge of her nose. “Launcher recon drones to go and scan the surroundings and try and locate the DNA fleet” She ordered. “Aye Ma’am” Her 2nd Lieutenant replied giving the order. The ships in the fleet launched drones which headed in the direction of where the DNA fleet was. Cecilia looked back and watched as the Hasorn fleet fell back.
Zulgoy listen to what this women had to say, only to find it oddly convent and as if made up on the spot. “Well. I thank you for filling me in on how you see this situation. I'm not sure what you wish of us.” he replied as he signaled one of the comms officers to transmit the location of the DNA forces to Tarsi. The Kal Fleet continue to scan the gas giant as they held a defensive position near its’ outer polar orbit.
Sofia was glad that someone had heard that the aggression that transpired was the Captain Jeffar's own doing and hopefully would not reflect the entire D.N.A. But she was also unsure if the other fleets would listen like the Kal did.
"I'm not sure if there is much you can do, the actions that have transpired here cannot be undone, as much as I wish for the rest to understand that the aggression to these neutral people was caused by a mentally unstable captain, that was suffering from centuries of battles and that his transgressions are not representative of D.N.A. doing, I doubt that any will listen after what has happened here. All I can ask of you is to thank you for listening to the truth, I fear there's not much you can do to help." Sofia said with a heavy heart as once something bad had happened like Captain Jeffar's firing onto an neutral planets forces, could be undone nor stopped. She merely kept the DNA fleet at full acceleration away from the planet, spreading it out and moving to hide the vessels in the sensor blind spots behind the various outer debris. She hoped with the battle over and the cool heads prevailing things could be worked out.
Trest watched as two more of his vessels were destroyed, this time one of the Forge class cruisers was destroyed as a cluster of shots managed to make their way through the refraction shielding, coring the cruiser as the high powered shots punched straight through it. The ship merely floated fires ablaze as its crew abandoned ship. So far falling back had given them space and the orbital defence grid added extra firepower, even though it was under attack the Hason fleet pulled into high anchor above the planet, using its outer atmopshere as a buffer to give the enemy beams extra to punch through. The Hasorn fleet continued to fire, this time firing their mass driver barrages in staggered waves hoping to overwhelm the enemy defences while more missiles and lasers were also added to the fire.
The fighter craft that had taken damage pulled off as their pilots ejected into vectors that would allow them to be safely secured by any search and rescue forces, the rest peeled off in boom and zoon vectors, using the tornado like motion of the enemy fighters it was easy for the Hasorn craft to track them and score direct hits, coupled with the point defence systems of the Bastille platforms the sheet lack of defensive manuvers or the like meant that it was like hitting fish in a barrel at such close distances.
Trest opened a coms line to the other ships in system "I sincirely hope you are not going to just sit there and allow this blatant attack on neutral territory. Either that or you are waiting for my demise to move in and pillage my world while these crystalline creatures take the brunt of the fire"
The Ancient One fighters broke off their attack on the battle stations and began to swarm the Hasorn ships. Aiming for engines, weapons, and the bridges. In their fray some slammed into the hull and one began to fly towards the bridge of one of the Hasorn cruisers.
The Commander of the Frigate looked at the positions of the Hasorn ships. ”Begin energy transfer procedures.” The Commander ordered. Arcs of energy leapt from the Escorts to the Frigate. Target a defense platform.
”Target locked.” A Common called out. ”Energy levels at optimum firing levels.” The Commander watched as a single defense platform came into view. ”Fire. The Commander Ordered.” A massive beam left the frigate towards the Hasorn Defense Platform.
He took a moment and paused as he received the transmission from the Kals and smirked. "Seems our foe is still out there, all vessels maintain station for now, I can sense them now. We can wait." he ordered and the fleet held station, disregarding the transmission from the Hasorn as the Vaanitas fighter wings flew around the vessels as a screen.
The Cricaen fleet still held their position whilst drones came back with data ready to be analysed. Cecilia listened to the transmission and ignored it, "Ma'am why are we not helping them" He 2nd Lieutenant asked. "Because unlike the DNA these AO may have a reason behind their attack, and I am interested in their ships and weapons" She spoke sitting back as she got a drone to go and scan the AO ships.
“Launch probes into the gas giant, let’s see if we can get a better idea of what whis energy reading is.” Zulgoy ordered as he watched the battle between the Ao and natives of this system.
The defence platform, a huge lump of armour and mass drivers was simply vapourised by the concentrated beam, as the threat registered the other defence platforms started to target the smaller vessels such as the frigates in the AO fleet, missiles, lasers and solid shot mass driver rounds were poured out, each time concentrating on only a single target.
The Hasorn fleet fared better with the fighters than the defence platforms, Triarch vessels had extensive arrays of CIWS and point defence systems and their own mass drivers could like their Union counter parts switch and engage with flak shells. Fire erupted from the vessels as minature laser systems, gatling arrays and counter missiles spat out of the vessels to target the enemy fighters. Priority was given to targets that were on collision courses as they raked the hulls with Tachyon fire. The Defender interceptors kept hot pursuit diving in and out of the formation each time unloading new ordnance into a target before pulling off. Another one of the Hasorn escorts was crippled and out of the fight when AO fighter swarms smashed its bridge, and in the moments after also proceeded to smash into the engine arrays, putting the vessel into an uncontrolled light spin. The cruiser that was the target of the bridge assault a second time was not idle, the Triarch bridges having been reinforced with secondary shield arrays and more point defence engaged the fighter as it came in.
---
As the probes launched made their way past the battle they began their descent into the upper atmopshere of Hasorn itself. Bands of colourful gases revealled multiple layers of different compounds and visibility was somewhat low. That was until the probes breached into a layer of seemingly habitable gases, the images came in of a huge floating city that was clearly the capital of the Hasorn Hegemony, living quarters, gas mining areas, shipyards and defensive stations as well as sub platforms studded themselves across the huge construct. It appeared that the city was on war footing, defenses pointed skywards and already large wings of aircraft were being launched from military bases.
The Commander watched as the Hasorn munitions traveled towards them. “Our target lays beyond this blockade. Bring us down into the atmosphere.” The Commander ordered. The fleet moved in unison as it began to descend into the atmosphere. As they did however an Escort was caught by the Hasorn weapons and didn’t stand a chance. The ship’s shields fell and the ship exploded with a magnificent rainbow of colors. “Increase dorsal shield power.” The Commander ordered. Power from the ventral shields was re-routed to the dorsal shields to maximize the shield’s defensive power.
The Drone that buzzed around the Ancient One ships was left alone, as they had other things to worry about. “Fighters, break off and head for the source of the signal’s source.” What fighters remained did as they were told and broke off their attacks. They formed worm-like formations as they plunged into the atmosphere of the Gas Giant.
"Looks like they're enjoying themselves" Tarsi said to his second as he watched the battle unfold on the view screen. "Captain should we not join the battle?" the weapons officer asked, itching for more combat. "Stay your hand, we have nothing to gain by joining this battle." Tarsi replied as they continued to observe.
Cecilia looked at the fight happening between the AO and Hasorn on her tactical display "Let them fight it out" She told he crew. "But Ma'am we should help out, sitting back is wrong" her 2nd Lieutenant spoke out. She raised her naval pistol at the man "Speak out again number 2 and i will blow your brains out, the kingdom has nothing to gain, especially fighting a superior force" She told him.
Sofia is struggling on her next plan of action, she has many choices to make for the event that played out, one is that to remain cloaked and find an opening to leave the system to friendly sectors, create a report of the action of what the captain did and hope that the explained situation with the new encountered empires that the action of the Captain's is not the D.N.A.'s ways or to help with Hasornain against the AO and asked for forgiveness on the Captain's violent behavior, but with that scenario anything can help, with either more unwanted deaths that can happen with the small system turning into an all out war, with more enemies at all side something that Sofia doesn't want, with so many choices with many scenario going in and out of her psionic mind that making the correct choice will be her difficult, not only for her but for the crew's live under her command.
A large bulky object was ejected from one of junk ships floating in polar orbit of the gas giant. Twisted and jagged red rusted ball with it’s exterior metal sheets bent and beaten was taken in by the gravitational pull of the Jovian orb. Senor antenna too large for this object extended out as small flashing lights started to blink during its descent. “Probe is away Watcher. Telemetry data is streaming to us now.” a young Kel thrall stammered as he lowered his head his grey rotting rags of clothes barely wrapping around his meek skeletal form. “Good, Continue to gather data. Maintain defensive positions.” Zulgoy scowled.
"Their going into the atmopshere...?" One of the bridge aids seemed confused. Trest himself was also confused. In atmopshere ships could not manuver properly, they had the effectivness of some weapons reduced or outright negated and they were far easier to hit. Not only that but they were now sandwiched between the fleet and the ground based defenses.
The defense platforms kept engaging before silencing themselves hoping to not hit the friendly city and returning to ready mode. The fleet however had no such problems.
"It seems so... Co-ordinate with ground telemetry, catch them in a cross fire" The orders were given, as the battered Hasorn fleet kept firing at any remaining drones that engaged them now opened fire with precise shots. Guided by their own sensors and the ground based sensors the shots could be directed into perceieved engine areas. While the Hasorn didnt know if it would do anything extra the fire kept coming. Trest knew it was mostly up to the ground forces now while he determined if the others in orbit were still a threat...
The city below however, was anything bu unprotected.
Being a floating city the only venue of attack was from space and Hasorn had spared no restraint in protecting themselves. Large laser arrays, banks of missile silos and mass driver emplacements of immense size awaited the AO fleet. Each opened up, directing fire towards the largest ship as smaller more numerous missile launchers, flak batteries and even the ground forces own air defense battalions opened up on the drones. The beautiful contrail bands of cloud were filled with explosions and ordnance as they fought to keep the enemy from landing. All across the city sirens blared as civilians were kept in doors, workers barricaded the gas mining facilities as best they could, and the Hasorn defense forces readied themselves in areas likely for landing. The signal itself was from deep within the city, being around a hundred kilometres across, and around 50 tall the signal was located within what was termed as the vaults deep within the place itself and only accessible from the governmental spire building in the centre of the topside city.
The Ancient One fighters swarmed in the skies, their worm like formations dogging incoming fire and shooting down incoming missiles. When swarms reached the center of the city they fanned out in a flower like pattern and began to bombard the city. Fighters screamed past buildings, their engines creating a wailing sound as they darted through the sky. They targeted defense platforms, targeting sensors, and communications equipment.
The Ancient One fleet kept descending further into the atmosphere, their shields take the brunt of the damage. As they did they launched several shards of Star Steel containing Ancient One Warriors. The fleet eventually traveled bellow the city, skimming through clouds of hydrogen gas.
“Fire shards as well as Light Cannons into the city.” The Commander of the Frigate ordered. The fleet opened fire on the city, beams of tachyons lashing out along with crystal shards of Star Steel, some were hollow and carried Ancient One Warriors and Legionnaires.
“To the leaders of the Hasorn, we order you to surrender or we will bring down your city. This is your last warring.” The Commander sent telepathically to the Trest and the others.
"Sir, a plethora of weapons signatures from where the AO just entered." Sensors informed. Tarsi paused for a moment. "Has there been any sign of the DNA?" he questioned as he paced slightly. "Negative sir, but we haven't detected any FTL signatures either. They're out there somewhere." the response came.
Tarsi nodded "Alright" he started and began focussing on that psionic presence once again. He gave heading orders based off of this and a fighter screen launched also, keeping their eyes open for anything.
Sofia has sent her psychic mind into the mental plane where a psionic user like herself can go to, to either planning out their next plan in battle, to harness on their psionic power for training, or to be alone and collect their thoughts. In the mental plane, real-time move differently for hours, days, and weeks can seem like seconds in the physical plane of reality. There Sofia is gathering her thoughts on to what she should be planned next as she does not want to fight an undesirable battle that'll cause unnecessarily enemies during the Second Ancerious War or have them able to have a reason to join the APP. Sofia knows this is where she can think of an idea without the pressure of the current situation looming over her like a falcon waiting for its prey.
Zulgoy’s fleet remained in orbit above the gas giant while the probes drifting deeper into the jovian body. “My Lord, it seems the fighting between the natives and Ao has dragged out into the atmosphere of the planet now.” a emaciated thrall reported as Zulgoy drifted towards the viewport watching the distant flashs.
Cecilia sat there in her captains chair thinking. “Ma’am the AO fleet is heading into the Hasorn Atmosphere” He 2ic spoke passing on the information from the sensors operator. She looked at her 2ic “At the moment what the AO do is not our concern” She said before turning to her secondary sensors operator. “Has there been any FTL or weapon readings that we can use to pin point the DNA or to find out if they have run away?” She asked the man. “None what so ever Ma’am” He replied. “Then we shall maintain current position and recall the drones” She finished, looking a bit pissed off.
The swarms of drones that spread out across the city found themselves being attacked from near every angle, this was no easily taken location as Hasorn defences toom their toll. For every air defence missile launcher destroyed another one seemed to be rolled out of a warehouse somewhere to continue firing. The defense weaponry however took the brunt of the fleets Tachyon fire, with some emplacements being vapourised others withstood the onslaught thanks to their shields, the return fire was even heavier than before. With the prospect of imminent destruction the defense corps merely threw safety out of the window, missile launchers emptied their entier magizines, lasers overcharged themselves to the point of melting their emitters and railguns fired relentlessly until their barrels melted. It was an act of defiance, and one that would not be ignored.
The Hasorn fleet however seemed to ignore the threat, Trest knew the city would take many hours to destroy even by his own fleet. The enemy were here for the relic and if they destroyed the city they would destroy that too. Trest called their bluff. The Hasorn kept firing, using the situation where the AO couldnt manuver to trap them in the clouds for easy shooting.
The ground forces were ready for the AO ground troopers, precise fire opened up the moment the enemy appeared, heavy LAWs and machine guns of the defense forces targetting the constructs remarkably well for such supposedly inexperienced forces.
The Ancient One fighters that were still around darted through the skyscrapers of the city, firing into the buildings and down at any civilians bellow. The fleet spread out into a rough ‘V’ formation above the city. As they moved towards the source of the signal they fired beams of Tachyon energy into the city along with more and more troops. This time tanks were added into the mix.
The 15-meter-tall walkers landed and began to fire into the city, their feet crushing smaller buildings and cars. Warriors and Legionnaires formed into battle lines and began to march through the streets. The fleet also fired pure shards of star steel into buildings that began to feed off the electricity and grow. The Warriors and Legionnaires screamed telepathically to throw off the Hasorn soldiers. The scream had the same ‘volume’ as a jet going full power inside their heads.
“We will bring this city down and take the device with us.” The Commander of the Frigate sent out telepathically. “You will not stop us, even if only one ship survives.” The ships continued to intercept missiles and munitions, with some ships firing back at the Hasorn fleet. Some of the munitions made their way through the screen and struck the shields of the Ancient One ships.
The Vaanitas fleet kept formation, a fighter screen out in front and more fighters scouting ahead for signs of the DNA.
"You cannot hide forever cowards." Tarsi spoke in a low growl, tapping his foot. Turrets swivelled as they looked for visual signs and sensors operators were glued to their screens, looking for any sign of their foe.
“Ma’am I suggest we leave this system” the 2ic spoke. “We are not leaving, that is cowardice, besides the DNA are still out there and I am interested in seeing how this conflict between Hasorn and the AO is going to end” She said looking at a tactical map.