Post by EmperorMyric on Feb 22, 2023 10:22:57 GMT
Unassailable Conviction: Aranar System
The pool of water was practically iridescent.
Sparkling droplets almost hovered from the splashes in the low gravity and the soothing voices of hymns gave the air a calm graceful aura. From the large pool Insinia could look down onto the burning world below. Those who had followed Tyrandis had burned, and even now massive orbital infrastructure was being constructed around the grave, a monument to Insinia’s first act in this new galaxy.
Nearby systems were being colonised and set up slowly, and the large forces they had brought with them were being put to good use in assisting the efforts. There was just one problem.
Exotic matter.
Insinia had read all the reports about this realm’s materials, Ancerium they called it. They had of course cannibalised the remains of Tyrandis stock but that had already been dangerously low, they needed to secure more. The Order of Mediation was already out in force talking to previous friendly faces of the Consortium to secure any potential trade deals but with the state of the galaxy and the supposed heretics economic systems such materials were at a premium.
It was a conundrum. And yet, the faithful always had to make do. Insinia stood up out of the pool, the crystalline water running down his almost white skin, his burning golden eyes staring up at the ravaged world above him.
They would secure enough stocks for the short term, the original way.
”Contact High Exemplar Vernadis. Tell him he has full permission to carry out the operation as requested. His holy gaze be with him”
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
The attack was swift, extremely swift.
Zlotosgrad had always been a neutral location, its sheer importance and existence had given it enough political weight to effectively call down the majority of the galaxy on anyone foolish enough to attack its titanic megastructural Ancerium refineries, silos and transfer ports. Its defence force was modest at best, and its very nature meant that Interdiction was kept off here unless strictly needed. It was a bastion of hyperfuel protected by the galaxy, an object too important for anyone to ever contemplate striking.
Only, the galaxy was too busy tearing itself apart, and Zlotosgrad was now the shiniest jewel in the Ancerium market.
The Eosians came in fast, their ships FTLing in at nearly point-blank range on top of one of the megalithic silos. The defence pickets didn’t even have a chance to power their reactors for combat as they were simply disintegrated by point blank gravitic waves. Defensive installations were targeted at the same time, and in only a couple of minutes the installations own protective abilities were all but gone.
The broadcast that followed was simple. Surrender the Ancerium and they would live. The crew, civilian workers and refiners in their thousand, acceded the demand. Seconds later huge Eosian transport ships FTLed in close, hooking themselves up to the silos which were dwarfing even the Consortiums biggest vessels. Siphoning off everything they could, the Eosians did what they promised, much to some of the crew’s surprise.
Having stolen a small nation worth in Ancerium, they left. Even as the alarm went out across the myriad installations of Zlotosgrad, more FTL signatures were detected. Another platform was being raided.
Zlotosgrad scrambled in panic, raising interdiction across its platforms and halting work along with approaching tankers, they had to call for aid. But to who?
CONA and SAGA were ripping each other’s throats out at Aedleshaven, to call them to both assist here would risk the war coming here and the installations being fought over as a prize to either organisation. To ask just one was to invite the anger of the other and end up with much the same outcome. With little time and desperation, the signal was sent to many of the nations who had only just recently connected to the Ancnet or arrived in the galaxy, neutrals who had no ties to anyone to anything.
The message was clear.
Please help us, assist in fending off the Eosian raids and we will sell you Ancerium at massively reduced premiums.
Taros, The Almighty - Quarters of Ezekiel.
The door sat still, a deep mahogany wood engrained and carved with the telltales of the dominion, of Imperator Ezekiel and his Noble House. The room was warm, a firelight coating the room in a yellow-orange glow with a bright yellow-white light mixing in it, from a lamp on his desk. Ezekiel sat in the chair at the desk, rifling through paperwork and signing documents.
In the distance, footsteps, clacks of dress shoes against the metal outside of his planetside Quarters. He straightened his back and sat down his pen, awaiting the knock on his door with a bated breath. When it came, he responded with a 'come in', and thus they did. The one to walk through the door was his counterpart, Meralth. He let his held breath out in a sigh of relief, and adressed her.
"Greetings, Meralth. What is it you need?"
She walked forth with a stride and took a seat afront the desk, looking into his eyes.
"We have recieved urgent calls from a nation known as Zlotosgrad. They have come under attack by Eos, the bastards. Never thought i'd see them with such force again.. Zlotosgrad has cried out for nations neutral in the third war to come to their assistance."
"And what would we gain from this?" he responded.
"They have offered cheaper ancerium, which, to say the least, would be a starsend for us all."
He ponders for a moment. Eos? He'd have to check up on the Ancnet. But he did know that- "I will ready a fleet to go in their aid. Hopefully, they can get the job done. Is that all, Meralth?"
"That shall be all. May the Star above and the Shadow Below bless the Dominion," she began
"-And The Almighty Guide it's Way", he Finished.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
from the far reaches of the Killian Verge came a Hyperspace signature. Dropping out into the system was a Grade-III Carrier fleet, marked with the sigils of the Infinite Dominion and their signature grey-red colour scheme, the deep red Glows of the fleet's sensors, bridges, and radiators sending a wash of blood-light across the grey vessels, marking them in an ominous tone.
In the center of the formation sat the Star-Class Carrier, christened the 'IDS Reach of the Expanse'. Around it was its fleet, a Platinum class escort cruiser sitting beside the carrier with one of the two Usurper-class destroyers floating beside it. A Sortie of three Stantra-class frigates surrounding a pair of longbow-class frigates, with a barrier-class interdiction vessel between them all, alongside a handful of other vessels in the formation, totalling out at Fourteen vessels.
Meanwhile, nearby came in a pair of Infiltrator-frigates, basked in an ominous vantablack paint and dim glowing radiators on low function. They came in with bit-drives, using quantum mechanics to entangles them in, creating a far smaller, but less noticable signature. Their thrusters were silent as they sat alone, away from the main fleet, the only signatures given off from powerful gravity drives serving as their secondary thrusters, and the quiet zero point reactor systems.
The bridge of the Expanse was hectic, to say the least, people rushing to make final checks and get at their stations, in case of battle. Not long after, the Captain of the vessel and Fleet-Admiral of this sortie, a grizzled, dark skinned man with grey hair and a powerfully large beard and moustache called 'Fleet-Admiral Thundrik', took a deep breath, and then began to call for order.
"Comms officer, open a channel with the Zlotosgradi, posthaste," he said in a deep, and calm, but commanding voice, the respective officer doing as told hastily, bringing up a communications hail.
//ENCRYPTED COMMS CHANNEL - ZLOTOSGRAD REGION//
"This is Fleet-Admiral Thundrik of the Infinite Dominion's Navy. We have been tasked here to apply you help with your Eosian invaders, on direct task from Dual Imperator Ezekiel. Our fleet is at your command and our Weapons in your hands."
Anxios System
"Was it every day that the SR is called to assist a neutral system?" was the thought going through the heads of most Selenican citizens when they heard of the plea for help from Zlotosgrad, which was universally well-received. While the SR wouldn't have much to currently gain from having cheaper Ancerium prices at the current moment, having an ally in future and those reduced prices for the "commercial" market is a tantalizing offer. This cry for help was intercepted instantly by the Selenican government and forwarded to the President, with time for delay being little to none.
"Talk about an uncomplicated offer." Selia remarks, reading the transcript of the plea and the situation Zlotosgrad was in. He then presses a button under his desk which plays an ear piercing alarm in his top brass' ears. Seems like the UDS opening the SR lead to more than anyone could've predicted. These admirals and generals, among whom was Leka Strahold and Johath Azria, were all of the highest authority in the military, of course answering ultimately to their President. The commotion of these men and women rushing to their most closed-door meeting room would be well remembered even by the lower-ranking officers and commanders.
The transcript was forwarded to each person, and all read it with much urgency.
"As I understand it, these people control a large amount of the remaining Ancerium supply in the galaxy. And they offered us, for our assistance, heavily discounted prices on this resource. Naturally, we want to be able to defeat their enemies while killing as few civilians as possible." Strahold pipes up first, showing much more restraint than his last showing.
"Of course. If not, we wouldn't be seen as liberators, but indiscriminate butchers." Azria remarks, shifting his old hat on his face. His long body wraps many times around his seat, tightening and releasing. Hopefully, this would be his final meeting like this. Elderly men are not kept for frontline command past exceptional ability.
The debate is strangely calm and relaxed, almost like a grandmaster chess player looking back on a game and identifying all of the mistakes made by their opposing party. An assembly of ships is made with standard crew complements and troop carrying should a land battle be needed, and among these ships are the newest generation of SR vessels. A few of the modernized Farinsa-Class are brought, specifically three, and making up the rest of the fleet are seven new Triza-Class Cruisers and 6 of the Yanzana-Class Destroyers. This would be the ultimate test of the SR's newest technologies, which are more of an iteration on the previous ships though much increased in size and capability.
The call to arms is heeded, and the fleet is assembled to jump at the first possible window. Propaganda having been distributed by the government weeks prior, readying the people for war to assist Zlotosgrad in their time of need. Of course, this propaganda is misleading, as anyone who does more than a cursory analysis knows that the SR is using this as an opportunity for leverage over Zlotosgrad, but never mind that. Admiral Jonath Azria has been transported to his personal flagship of STA Vrinasa, one of the Farinsa-Class, hopefully commanding his final battle to victory.
Location Unknown - Deep Space
Clade Ladon had been busying itself with the ascendence of more of their mono-kin into bioships these past few weeks. They had not anticipated the closure of the wormhole back to their own home galaxy, nor the sudden and rather intense interest on their participation in galactic affairs.
They were far, far too small to be able to successfully navigate the challenging circumstances they found themselves in, and so decided that ascension was the best solution. There were always a dozen or so who were prepared for the transition to a bioship body-mind, but Ladon's own predictions implied a need for a hundred such individuals.
The Consensus waxed and waned on what to do. On one hand, it was custom among the greater meta-culture to self-actualize at ones own pace. On the other, the needs of the clade - especially now that it was all that existed of the Meta-Sax - outweighed the leisure pace that their people were used to.
This debate was still ongoing when the distress call reached the nomadic constellation.
Ancerium had proven to be.. unusual. Exotic matter plasma that caused disturbances at such small scales that it almost surprised the Clade that the locals had figured out a way to refine it into this 'hyperfuel'. Then again, the local physics had been so warped that the reality of it probably rendered their suppositions and the greater sums of knowledge moot.
Ladon had been working hard to figure out a way to synthesize it in viable quantities, but for now they had to participate in the insane resource grab - to secure their future.
And yet, this was not the immediate thought nor the immediate reason the Consensus swiftly acted in unity.
For thousands of years, the Meta-Sax responded to travelers in distress, no matter their creed. So too shall they do so again.
With Towit engaged in another affair, it left them with their support and repair ships, all of whom agreed to join the conflict. Protean shifting began on each vessel to augment its EWAR abilities.
In total, 4 vessels classified as 'cruisers' and 6 of the 'smallship' categories volunteered.
The Clade hummed with eclectic energy as a response message was sent, "Ancient noemata shall be upheld. Clade Ladon of the Meta-Sax sends aid and succor to those in need.
Imperial palace - Primary congregation chamber
"- and just to reiterate, to simply help!" Vulkan exclaimed. "Is all they're asking. The decency to show up at their doorstep with a considerable enough fleet to give our part."
He paced back and forth, not in thought, not in anger, but rather excitement.
"It is indeed quite the opportunity, my lord." Dictator Ios' hologram sat still, looking over at the grand general's as he continued. "Almost a no-brainer, that is, but if that's the case...why are we here?"
The emperor was quick to respond, the humanoid puppet of solid rock turning with an almost confused look in his eyes.
"Well that's a rather silly question, Ios...Of course this demand will be met under my own accordance, it's the sort of thing he empire needs to finally get off its knees and into this galactic community."
He raised a finger, walking closer to the massive ringed table, which was awkwardly empty currently apart from the two dictators and the general.
"But! First we have to hold up our end, and to do that we need a fleet. Our problem lies in that we have no clue what the enemy, these...Eosian's, we're facing has."
His head turned to one of the holograms.
"Of course, sire" Grand general Renault replied. "I sent info teams to trawl the ancnet...as you know, however, our access to it is limited..spotty at best, what we did catch is that they've been here much longer than us, and have a reputation for zealousy, wanton destruction and being rather scary aparently...or had, rather, something happened including some catastrophic event, now there's not much to go on about what they're like currently.
I say we prepare carefully."
[20:12]
"Sounds about right..." Vulkan comments, going over the available information in his mind. "Though I don't think we'll be needing to over-invest, we're almost certainly not the only ones to have received this message. I think we expedite a ferrum-14 here. But i'll let you upscale if you have the resources available. Keep in mind there's not a simulation in the territories that could truly prepare us for this, so a median response is necessary, have your orders to form issued by the hour."
The holograms nodded in unison, performing a sharp salute across their chests before fizzing out of existence.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
Somewhat later to the party, Red Bulwark forces finally began their exit into the system. 3 massive aperture rings of light, crackling with energy pulled themselves open, and the prows of imperial ships soon followed in their wake.
3 Sunrise-class battlecruisers, one for each opening, were pulled through first. Through their apertures followed more vessels. A Kilmore-class missile battery, bristling with launchers and torpedo tubes, 4 Jovian-class escort carriers, 8 Mastadon-class destroyers and the same amount of accompanying iridium's. Finally, 10 Rattlesnake-class frigates brought up the rear of the flotilla, totalling them at 26 military vessels.
The Admiral aboard the foremost Sunrise was not disappointed to see the target they were defending. Seeing the megastructure of ports, docks and industry...all of that for ancerium, the lifeblood their very ships had used to come here in the first place. He had felt the force they were using to be excessive at first but now he understood.
And if he had any doubts about being underequipped, they were quelled quickly by the presence of friendly fleets hailing from other nations stationed about the complex, this was no small operation, and whoever they were fighting wasn't to be under-estimated.
"This is Red Bulwark Admiral Felix Kiinter of the 51st assembled response fleet." He announced into the channel, his thick, almost germanic accent brimming with a confident authority. "The Bulwark has heard Zlotosgrad's call and the Emperor has responded, These 'Eosians' will regret ever stepping foot into this system." Radio chatter immediately went abuzz, requesting status reports and orbital lane access among countless other precautions and measures.
[Deep Space. The territory within Unbroken Sphere of Influence]
Information reached the Unbroken in ways it had always done, through subterfuge and interception. Since the arrival of the Exodus fleet, there haven't been any opportunities to forge connections or alliances. If anyone knew of their nomadic journey it would be through rumor and hearsay. Yet the Unbroken listened, countless AI cores and specialised homunculi scoured the Ancnet for anything worthwile. And while most of it was of little importance to the Purebloods the news of the "incident" involving such a precious material as Ancerium was a priority.
There was no need for a lenghty debate or Council meeting, no need to raise the wisest Purebloods from Stasis for their input. The One Within directed a single command and with it the choice was made.
The Unbroken would fight, for there was much to be gained.
[20:10]
Outrider fleet EI-66.
Flagship - Malignant Prince - Modular Battlecruiser. First class
The bridge was in a state of orderly chaos, it had been just a few spare moments since a direct command from The Council of the Unchanged. Every homunculi had been bred with the explicit purpose of serving their military roles. Yet even they fell into moments of confusion and disarray. Under normal circumstances every mistake would be grounds for severe punishment, today however, Xylvix allowed them some leniance. The Pureblood stood up from the command throne with the hiss of a dozen disconnected neural jacks. His body burned from the pain of stopped stasis and the barrage of echoes in his mind didn't help. Yet the Homunculi that dared to look at their lord felt only his radiating joy. After all the reason for the awakening was not some bloodline dispute or political plot. It was something purer.
War.
Through a connection deeper than that of blood the bridge crew focused their attention on the Pureblood as he issued his first command in a decade.
"Set course for Zlotosgrad territory. The will of the Unchanged shall be made manifest"
Once their Tachyon Sails had picked up enough of a charge the Expedition fleet departed.
[Composition]
Malignant Prince - Battlecruiser - Configuration: Long range fire support / Command ship
2 Modular Cruisers - Configuration: Line warships
1 Modular Cruisers - Configuration: Carrier
1 Modular Cruiser - Configuration: Electronic Warefare - Interdictor
1 Wing of Automated Escorts (12 ships)
She sat in her office, shoulders slumped, a glass of wine in one hand as she stared at the glowing screen in front of her, throwing her tired eyes and crows feet into fine relief. It was a lesson hard learned from the conflict between her community and that of the miners; once you touch off the spark of war, you have no idea nor control of where that fire will spread. The bio-planet set the spark in attacking the resource fleet, CONA and SAGA forming events, the Coronan invasion of Aedleshaven and the ensuing three-way fight had formed the core of the blaze. Now, the sparks sent up into the air from this were finding purchase in oily soil; just as soon as they had sent a force to deal with the Coronan invasion of Leibr, another call for help had come.
Her throat burned as the deep crimson liquid poured down her throat and the rush of alcohol momentarily blanked her mind. She didn’t want more of her fellows to die, more of her people, her responsibility to die, since only three of them could fight anyway remotely effectively, but Zlotosgrad was another story. Through the fine propaganda machine that was the Svaankor media, the careful and trimmed coverage of the Procyon Group and the finely worded conferences with Talidan and Arcnia, they had been able to dance around the truth that the general public and mainstream media were suspecting:
The Alliance had months of Ancerium supplies at most before it ran bone dry and their economy along with it. Contracts were being pulled or left unanswered as previous routes and zones were not dangerous or being controlled under SAGA or CONA supervision, risking entanglement to continue. Worse still, attempts to gain more Ancerium were fruitless; bigger, more influential, more threatening and wealthier powers, often colonial, were able to get access to what production was left after the disaster with the mining fleet. One by one, their options to avoid picking a side for pure economic survival were dwindling. An emergency meeting had been held earlier today, publicly for continuing to respond and handle their response to the Ancerious War going on, but it was a desperate group project to avoid the utter collapse their fragile unification had managed to kick down the road.
So, while she didn’t want to stretch themselves any further, when one of the biggest Ancerium facilities in the galaxy had come under raids that were stealing its Ancerium and they sent out a call to any non-CONA or SAGA nations for help in return for cheaper and guaranteed contracts for Ancerium, their hands were tied. The Liebr operation was burning through the months supply they had, and this one would cost even more, but they had to roll the dice. Finishing the last of her glass, she grabbed the bottle and poured more, while viciously waving her hand at the screen, moving to another portion of the report the Anchor Chain Council had received.
“Eos.”
She mused aloud, the word leaving a strange taste in her mouth. The Eosians had been a famous and powerful force in Ancerious for some time. Religiously fanatical, a real ‘burn the heretic, slaughter the unclean’ type, with psionic power to match their zeal and gravitic weaponry that were an instant kill or disabling once they were within knife fight range. With their dissolution and fracturing after summoning what psionic abomination they called their ‘god’, they had vanished into the shadows of the galaxy.
Intelligence had pulled reports of conspiracies regarding a new infusion of strength and vision from some other group as the source of these raids. Ancerium was always the name of the game, now more than ever and these new Eosian shards wanted a piece. This meant fighting a technologically advanced foe, with unknown new tactics, capabilities and intentions, with no information beyond their raiding operations.
Her door chimed and her husked voice sounded out into the silence of the room:
“Enter”.
She had been expecting her; the ‘special relationship’ held between Talidan and Nasreus required their cooperation and meetings on many matters and this was no different. Amália Nemes, Auspex of the Nasreus Variat cocked her head slightly, her red eyes meeting the Terrane Director’s own. Hawkins knew she was scanning her surface thoughts, trying to get a sense for the sudden request. An eternity passed between the two but only three seconds in reality before:
“Ah. The Eosians. You’re seeking a counter to their psionic might. You are aware of how young our potential and its development have been, Nevaeh?”
“Of course I do, Amália, but they have been able to do what many would call miracles with their psionic power; if we go in without all we can muster for this, we’re setting them up to be slaughtered.”
The other woman’s lips pursed in thought; the Variat had been very withdrawn as of late, even interactions with the Republic, normally fairly open, only happened when required or special insistence by her government. Something was going on but her intelligence agencies weren’t quite sure yet, as trying to infiltrate a society of mind readers was an impossible task unless you were allowed there. The Director spoke, sensing she had an opening,
“Auspex, I know this is risky, but we both know the cost of inaction and Ancerium running out to fuel our ships and thus the Alliance. You told me your people advance and evolve their development through knowledge and experience, I am offering a chance to get both.”
Gazes locked again and the psionic blinked first.
“Joint command?”
Nevaeh nodded. “You and one of our officers will go in; our officer will handle the military parts, yours will be the psionic warfare arena. You are to advise each other and work together. This way, we can bring home a chance to hopefully give us a lifeline out of this war.”
Hesitation.
“What of the Guild and the Group?”
She waved the question away.
“Procyon is heading the Liebr operation and the Guild and the Republic have an…understanding until the Ancerium crisis is handled. Send who you need, and we’ll handle the rest.”
Amália’s hand ghosted up to rub a jewel under the top collar of her uniform before nodding her accession and gliding out of the room.
***
Sensors would flare in detecting massive curves in space time approaching at high speeds before they arrived and burst, the control over the flexing of the laws of physics relaxing and resolving into the forms of twenty-odd ships. The IFF would be identified as the SSA or Solar System Alliance; almost immediately, the ships assumed a rough diamond formation and then began launching from their guns. Anyone tracking would realize these were cold launches, and while numerous, were just probes being sent out in a large net around them, forming a VLA sensor net.
Messages would be sent acknowledging the presence of others, but it was clear they would talk after contact was made with Zlotosgrad. Rear Admiral Aurellian Nemos sat on the bridge, viewing the holographic display, with Aurel, the leader of the Akashic auxiliary spread across his ships. It had been a long and…distressing conversation but both knew their role and where they stood on boundaries and responsibilities. A channel opened with the Zlotosgrad authorities:
”Rear Admiral Aurelian Nemos here. We are sorry for the delay in our arrival, but gathering the necessary forces for anti-raiding operations has been difficult in this climate. The Alliance is ready and willing to aid in your defense; attached to this message are encrypted databursts with our relevant capabilities. If you can direct the best way to work with your defense forces for this operation, it would be greatly appreciated.”
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
“My lord, we are detecting multiple FTL signatures, it appears that additional defenders have arrived as predicted”
The bridge of the Unending Virtue was extremely calm, crew going about duties while the massive battleship hung close to the station which utterly dwarfed even its bulk. Two gigantic vessels were connected via umbilical’s, taking on Ancerium in bulk and another four ships waited to be filled in turn. 10 bulk container vessels were present, all escorted by nearly 50 ships of the Consortium. All under the command of High Exemplar Vernadis.
A new galaxy, so many new enemies.
“Understood. Tell the haulers to step up the schedule, any information on our new guests?” Crone simply smiled, turning to ask one of the bridge crew. Vernadis was not a big man, nor imposing. In fact, he was quite lithe for an Eosian and wore no ceremonial armour, just simple robes. His laid-back nature belied a way of accomplishing missions which many in the Consortium saw as heresy. When they had struck, he had offered them a chance to surrender and live-in exchange for the material, something he expected his compatriots under Insinia to have not even bothered with.
They may be heretics these savages, but they were not stupid. All you had to do sometimes was twist the arm and then ask.
“No information at current, the archives show no data on any of them” Vernadis seemed to nod to himself.
“Trying to stay away from known aligned sides, Zlotosgrad is not yet truly desperate then. Good that works to our advantage”
“Your orders my lord?” He waved a hand.
“Put the ships into defensive formation, nothing provocative please. And get me a wide band transmission to our new arrivals”
----
Arriving in the system it was already obvious where the Eosians were, but what was even more obvious was the awesome engineering and construction which was on show in Zlotosgrad. In this system alone 8 titanic megastructures floated orbiting the systems red dwarf star, thousands of kilometres across each were surrounded by smaller starbases, dockyards, defence platforms and hundreds of vessels. This was only one system too and was one of the lynchpins of the galaxies fuel network, this really was the lifeblood of Ancerious.
One of the stations however had no civilian vessels around it, only debris where defence platforms once orbited and more debris where security vessels had been destroyed. Instead, a small fleet of sleek white and golden vessels hung in defensive formation, protecting giant hauler ships which were even now suckling from the massive structure they linked to.
A small defensive fleet from Zlotosgrad remained, keeping distance from the Eosians it only numbered 12 vessels and all appeared damaged in some way, their armour and forms bent and buckled from clear gravitic wave fire. They almost immediately responded to the hails of the forces arriving in system, their commander looking exhausted but relieved.
“This is Commander Eltris of the Zlotosgrad Security Forces, we are very pleased to see someone got our call for aid. The Eosians are currently in the process of onloading Ancerium, but they haven’t advanced any further. Every tonne of that gold they steal its one less for the galactic community, we need to destroy them and if possible, recapture that Ancerium. Their first raid was a success I don’t want this one to be and I sure as hell don’t want them zealots coming back”
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
The only thought which ran through the Selenican ship's crews were that of awe. Eos ships were...giants compared to theirs, not to mention the megastructures in this area. A lifeline of the galaxy in whole, put under siege like this? Even if they weren't here on a call to war, it would be almost too awesome to understand. But, they weren't alone, thankfully. A significant number of allies are also taking part in the assistance in Zlotosgrad, much to Azria's relief.
---
"Seems like many others answered the call to arms alongside us." He says, breathing out a massive sigh of relief before relaxing his body and tail, inspecting the Selencian Navy's emblem on the hat he brought with him. It was a very old hat, he received it at the start of his position being an admiral. What days those were, not being called to arms by unknown peoples who can only vaguely provide support to some politician who knows how many years from now. "This system is badly damaged, seems like the people of Zlotosgrad weren't lying when they sent the plea for help out."
"Sir, sensors detect that two nations are nations we have met before, Meta-Sax and the SSA. However, the rest are unknown to us. Shall we send out first-contact procedures to the unknowns?" A communications officer requests.
"Permission granted. I'm happy to see the Meta-Sax and SSA here."
---
Soon after the order is granted permission, an encrypted transmission is sent to the allied ships which the SR is meeting for the first time.
//Transmission Begin - Allied Warships//
Greetings to you. We are the Selenican Republic, and we wish for relations to be well-spoken between us. We request only for communications be open and honest for the duration of this engagement.
//Transmission End//
---
Organization between these forces will need to be made, hopefully to great effect against the hulking Eos ships, but all going well, all of the SR's ships can return home with as little damage as possible.
Bulwark crews were likewise starstruck. These complexes, as long as continents, were larger than anything in even the bulwark, not even their largest shipyards being comparable to such construction, a fair number of engineers heads bursted with possibilities. Science teams across the whole fleet were made immediately busy, using optics and sensor arrays to scour what data they could on these marvels before any fighting might start.
Meanwhile, under the bridge, more data was being collated in order to come up with a course of action correspondent to the situation. One thing stood out atop the rest, any sort of conflict would be dangerous. A single stray shell or errant shard of starship could definitely potentially hit one of the massive storage silo's, and this would obviously not be a desirable situation for anyone, avoiding conflict and collateral damage would be hard, but not impossible in the eyes of the tacticians.
The second immediate priority was the haulers. It was obvious that these Eosians would want to hold their fleets at a standoff while they took everything they could, which left everyone with options and perhaps a little time to strategize, of course the most obvious course of action was to deploy focused gravity wave interdiction in the hopes that it would disrupt whatever method of FTL they utilise aboard the haulers and leave them sitting ducks, but there was still room for other courses of action too...
However, to co-ordinate all of this, they decided that talking things over with their allied fleets would be a good way to start things off there was seemingly time to spare after all. They'd already received a transmission from this Selenican republic, a message that was heard directly by the admiral, who would be glad their allies, or at least this group of them, also valued the ability to relay.
Likewise. Admiral Kinter started Quite the tense situation for several navies to meet, but, it's good to know we're united in goal.
He'd skim through the communications section of his command console, registering the activity of this channel and eyeing over the callsigns and contacts from other ships relaying though Zlotosgrad. He'd clear his throat.
I'd like to first suggest we make this line of communication secure, I don't doubt our enemy will be ignoring such an opportunity to gather intelligence, and I would very much like to hear opinions on the situation before we move forward.
He'd turn his gaze toward the huge screen at the far end of the CIC bridge. It didn't offer as clear a view as the navigation bridge's window, but the looming ancerium depot's were still more than visible, along with various sensor readouts and optical zooms showing what could be seen of the Eos fleet.
If we act in disarray i'm sure we'll lose more than we bargain for, after all.
The Clade remained in constant contact with its dispatched fleet of SAR and support craft, pondering the potential situation they might find themselves in. Concerned individuals urged a supremely cautious approach, and others admitted to being uncertain about their consent within the Consensus now that more and more information came out.
This 'Eos' was far, far too similar to The Cult that had killed billions of Meta-Sax in the past. It made even the youngest of them uncomfortable. And the task force that had been sent was more or less unarmed. If the situation called for it, they would have their drones and the chromataphore lasers, but this was hardly proper defensive weaponry. Then again, even the notion of arming themselves once more brought forth a riotous ruckus within the Consensus.
It didn't dampen the spirits of Ano though. They were born to help others, they knew this, and it was their Calling to risk themselves in such dangerous situations if it meant they could aid. The C5 SAR/L&R Type bioship flexed its internal muscles, pulling the plates that formed the exoskeleton of its body tighter around its core.
"Nervous?"
Ano blinked with analogous eyes in the mental space that the task force had created. Unlike their peers, they had chosen the busy little eatery that had been their meet up point on Ladon, "No, just anticipating. I wasn't there for the Cult, so nothing to be nervous about."
Too many of them were too young. Ladon was merely three centuries old as a Clade. Far too young, Ano thought, to be dealing with a situation like this.
Igyin shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not afraid to admit to being terrified. We're SAR, not fighters. We should be going in AFTER the battle."
An older peer from the multimission family beamed at them both, his teeth gleaming in the mild sunset, "Lighten up! We'll be acting as support and coordination right? So just do what you do, and we'll back you up!"
There was a murmur of accord from the rest of the group.
Ano folded their arms across their chest, "Coordination amongst ourselves is one thing, but we'll also need to coordinate with the locals. You know, the ones fighting a galaxy scale war?"
Daya just scoffed and playfully poked Ano, "Relax. It isn't our war for one, and for another this is just a rescue op. We'll go in, see whats up, help who needs it, and go home."
However, all light banter ceased immediately when the task force reached the outer sense horizon of the target star system. The enemy was still there.
Bioships swiftly formed an array, with the support craft behind the MMV's and smallships arranging themselves in a defensive shield.
"I'm detecting numerous communications around us. Those ships are.."
"Overly large, yes. Let's focus on our nominal allies for the time being. Anyone we know?"
A flotilla of sensor drones, ecm drones and other hardware was pumped out of the Meta-Sax ships, "Yes, we know the Republicans thanks to Towit and the others at Leibr. SSA is here as well. Towit's busy coordinating his own mess, but he's sent along a datapacket."
The group established a general consensus on their approach - aligning along the axis of the Republican ships, they moved in their direction and opened a communications channel with Ano taking the point, "Rejoicing at the reunion of the New with the We. Support and succor has arrived. Towit speaks well of New-Republicans and New-SSA."
"To those who have not been encountered; we are the Meta-Sax. We rejoice at the meeting of the New. In circumstances non-aggressive-entosis, rituals of metaxy would be established. In this paradigm, rituals will be forebeared unto the future."
"Be made aware of things; constellation is non-hostile designate. Support, aid, succor, repair, rescue, coordiation; these are our strengths. Will follow and assist."
Ano closed the channel, turning their attention to the behemoth Eosian vessels. The Meta-Sax kept a very literal eye on the Eosians.
Not many would react with anything but fear upon seeing such an overwhelming armada arrayed before them. There were even fewer who could derive joy from such a prospect. Yet to the Pureblood, this was an opportunity like no other. The noise of rivalling Reflections within his mind was drowned out by the feeling of his own boiling ichor. The clear threat before the Unbroken, the chance at glory and destruction, the knowledge to be gained. These brought unification to the fractured Pureblood psyche, at least for now. The Homunculi stood by their stations, fulfilling their duties despite their visible discomfort, and their Master drank those emotions like an intoxicant. Though the Unbroken could never hope to be counted amongst the magically inclined, the bonds of curse and ichor ran more profound than the physical plane.
The invaders brought vessels of such size that only the Bastions could rival them in size, and even then that was doubtful. In a direct engagement, the forces underneath Xylvix would be atomised in moments. However, just as his support AI has predicted, the Unbroken were not alone. With every returning ping of tachyon sensors the situation became clearer, newfound allies were attempting to communicate, just as desperate for victory as everyone else.
For the first time in days, the Pureblood spoke. The noise came from each of the several gaping maws that had sprung from his unstable body, neither male nor female, each different in tone and inclination. Each is malicious in its own way. Xylvix had lost all of his skin to a metamorphic shift long ago, all flesh came to be replaced by a carapace made out of granite and an oily liquid that refused to be examined. The bridge crew had grown to almost revere the form of their Pureblood, yet when the gaze of his multiple sets of eyes focused, the Homunculi could only hope to keep their composure.
“Accept any calls from our new allies, their assistance is needed if we are to survive. Run passive scans of their ships and technology. We need to know if they can stand on their own and if the information on them will be worth keeping.”
One of the Homunculi Neurosmiths saluted, forming the shape of a triangle with their fingers right before their heart. The vat-grown crewman connected to the fleet network and slacked down, their mind departing into the infosphere. In moments the communications feed boomed with the noise of allied calls, and the Unbroken responded.
This is Xylvix Nullwyld. Seventh scion of my Dynasty. Pureblood of the Unbroken. Commander of this Outrider detachment. The Council has decided for us to act in assistance to Zlotosgrad.
We know not of any faction gathered here, as our entrance into this galaxy has been made just recently. I hope only for victory and cooperation against the foe arrayed before us.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
Firstly, came the general response to the selencians. The crews across the fleet were glad to know they hadnt been sent on a suicide mission against eos alone, with allied forces of various other nations, all of which being previously unknown to the Dominion, until now.
//ENCRYPTED COMMS CHANNEL - ALLIED FORCES//
"Communications shall remain open for duration. We are in accordance with various other fleet elements, Cooperation and Coordination between us is imperative to take out a threat such as the Eosians, even with them in their damaged state. For introductions, I am Fleet-Admiral Thundrik of the Infinite Dominion's Navy. My fleet was tasked here presumably for the same reason as the rest of you have been tasked. Defend the region from more Eosian theivery and strikes, while minimizing losses for allied forces. Once a secure line of communication is secured, projected plans for engagement will be phoned to all parties for cooperation."
Dominion Fleet, IDS Reach of the Expanse
A Lieutenant walked up to the helm, carrying a datapad in his hand, glowing red along with the other red lights on the dim bridge.
"Fleet Admiral-"
Quickly turned Thundrick, acnowledging the Lieutenant and letting out a deep breath as he laid down the communications device, waiting for a more secure line of communications to be found.
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"We have gotten results from the anc-net on these allied forces. None of them are aligned with SAGA nor CONA."
"Good, there is no way we can get dragged into the damned galactic war, still."
IDS Reach of the Expanse, Hangar Bay
The hangar was abuzz with activity as it always was before combat, fighters being loaded up with weapns as their pilots sat around talking to their fellow squadron members, steeling themselves for the future combat.
A squadron of interceptors, consisting of five I-26 'Shrikes', new and advanced interceptors by the Dominion's standards, and expensive.
Each one bore a mark on their tail fins, that of 'Valkyrie Squadron', the marks baring a depiction of an old mythological valkyrie flying among the stars, with a sword in one hand and a helm in the other. The squadron was the most renowned one among the various squadrons on the carrier, not only due to the squadron being primarily females, hence the name, but also the fact that the squadron leader having been predicted to be an ace if ever thrown into combat due to excelling in simulated combat, although many had their doubts. The squadron leader's callsign is "Brynhildr", or Valk-1, and her real name is Alyn Vos, the only dreftallech pilot in the squadron, of house vos.
The squadron stood around her plane, speaking amongst one another.
Valk-2, callsign Ivar, is the only male member of Valkyrie squadron, jokingly nicknamed "Berserker" by his squadron, his real name being Ilydhith Aldrin, and is a dominionborn. He spoke first in the conversation.
"Time to see real combat for the first time, against the Eosians much less. Keep your heads clear, ladies," he spoke in a cool, calm, but joking voice, towards the rest of his squadron.
Responding to him was Brynhildr, making a shorthanded quip before grabbing onto the ladder to climb into her plane.
"Watch your back too, Princess Berserk, we can handle ourselves," she joked, smirking slightly at him before continuing in a more serious tone. "To be serious, though, Ivar's right, keep your heads in the game and don't get killed. If we make it home with no casualties, drinks are on me."
That was followed with some laughs and cheers of affirmation as the squadron broke up and head for their nearby planes, getting prepped for launch, set to go as soon as the fighting began.
Hopefully, they had some time to prepare themselves, before the fire began.
”This is Commander Eltris of Zlotosgrad Security Forces, we are very pleased to see someone got our call for aid. The Eosians are currently in the process of onloading Ancerium, but they haven’t advanced any further. Every tonne of that gold they steal is one less for the galactic community, we need to destroy them, and if possible, recapture that Ancerium. Their first raid was a success, I don’t want this one to be and I sure as hell don’t want them zealots coming back.”
Nemos nodded, while Aurel spoke after a moment.
“They don’t provide much in the way of tactical data.”
The Admiral waved the psionic off.
“They’re scared, Aurel. This attack came from nowhere, and considering the last time the Eosians did anything big, it resulted in a reality abomination tunneling its way into the Golden Expanse.”
“Sir.”
Both turned to see the communications officer pulling up frequencies on one screen and the tactical data in another.
“Go ahead.”
“We’re showing the Eosians have detected our presence and arrival, they’re forming a defensive formation typical of their past battles. However, they have made no further moves as of yet. We also have multiple communications from our new allies in arms.”
Aurelion leaned forward and pulled the screen to him, the officer letting it go to his control. A quick scroll through the conversation provided the context, once one got past the usual ‘hello, good to be fighting a battle with you” discussion.
“Inform Admiral Kinter we agree to his idea of a united and encrypted communication scheme, assist how we can and use the communication protocols provided by the CGSS. Inform the Clade we welcome their presence here and their aid, and that we request their help with the encryption and cyberwarfare. Generic responses to all else until more information is acquired.”
“Working.”
The launching of the VLA network continued, slowly drifting around the formation and the coalescing allied fleet, providing information by laser pulses; with each unit, the power of the sensor array and the quality of the information improved. The blips of the haulers, the station and their fifty-odd defenders came into moderate focus.
“Do we have any reports on usage of their psionics in battle, especially space battle?”
Aurel looked up from a holopad he had been reading, a finger caressing the jewel at the base of his neck in a long-worn tic.
“Some, not majorly so; the power of their gravitic weaponry, general superior technology and their aggressive strategies saw them through many of their void conflicts. We are scanning and keeping aware of any Eosian attempt, but having only stories and reports, we cannot guarantee what will or won’t happen.”
The other man sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“Just do what you can, I’ll have enough on my plate just trying to fight their regular ships.”
An alarm rung out and diagnostic lines began appearing over the fleet.
“Passive scans coming from the Outrider force!”
Hrm, a cautious but potentially difficult ally; one could see what one had available but more likely, it would be assumed they were trying to get information on their technology for after this battle.
“Allow the scans; the EM shielding on the hull should interfere enough to prevent anything sensitive from getting through.”
Another alert, and the Admiral felt like his neck was going to seize from whipping back and forth; his eyes shot the incoming message from the Dominion. More of what he expected, although the offer for a plan once their communications were established.
“Alright people, listen up.”
The crew stiffened, preparing for the next stage to begin.
“These new Eosians are bound to reply to our intrusion, be it with words or fire and we need to be ready. Operations, status on the VLA?”
“Thirty-five percent deployed, forty percent clarity on sensor returns currently. They are improving by the second.”
“Good, keep deploying, all of our allies and our ships are going to need every byte of data. Communications, prepare a full encrypted network through the VLA array, standard encryption spread through TAS and have all security subroutines scan for any attempts for intrusion or overwhelming of our defenses.”
“It will be done.”
“Tactical, how are we with pre-battle checks?”
The officer half turned to face the Admiral, one hand on a headset, and nodding to what was being said before facing him fully.
“Strikecraft crews are finishing final checks, pilots are entering their craft and waiting deployment orders. All crewmembers are at their action stations and ready for combat; our weapon and support systems are green. We’re ready at your command, sir.”
A final glance between Aurel and Nemos before he took a breath, held it, and then let it go. The last combat operation beyond pirates since the war with the Guild; it was time to show Talidan’s growth since then.
“Launch fighters, initial defensive wings, spread out the formation to a looser diamond, the Eosians will tear us apart if we cluster together. Inform me on any and all actions and reactions from the enemy force.”
Fighters began to leak out the ships and take up defensive formations around the SSA craft, while power levels would spike as the communication network and cyberware defenses began to come online. Once the network was established, the allies would get access to the data from their Battlenet.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
“It appears there is heavy communications traffic between the incoming ships my lord, we only managed to get basic information before all lines were encrypted” Vernadis waved a hand dismissively.
“Oh, don’t worry about it, no doubt they are formulating a plan and given the context likely some have never met one another. Zlotosgrad may be giving them tactical data, but this… Ancnet has quite the extensive library on our actions just as it has for so many other nations” He flicked a few holographic screens aside, all detailing Eosian tactics and known engagements. Tyrandis may have been a failure in terms of the grand plan, but he had orchestrated war well here, winning a conflict against the Nucleans, Trinovans and Altereans had been a masterful stroke.
“Your orders then my lord Exemplar? If they know how to fight us surely, they will react soon”
“Oh, without a doubt. Is that wide band communication online?”
“Yes, my lord”
“Then I shall use it” Vernadis placed his hands behind his back, allowing full video contact as he made his broadcast “This is High Exemplar Vernadis of the Eos Consortium. I bid you greetings to this galaxy, I in fact am quite new to this place. No doubt you have been called here to assist in evicting us from our operation to gather Ancerium for our people, I applaud your sense of honour to defend those you have not met yet for the benefit of the galactic community. We are here because our latest arrival has seen a vast need for Ancerium, without it our people will suffer, and our rebuilding of our destroyed nation cannot be undertaken. Zlotosgrad and the galactic community has much FTL fuel, the amount in these systems silos alone would sustain all of our nations for many decades. As such I offer you a deal, aid us in harvesting Ancerium here and I will personally ensure each of your nations comes away with enough FTL fuel to sustain your growth and operations for a year, minimum.”
The bridge crew were surprised.
“My lord… You want them to help us?”
“And why not? The amount we would take would barely dent the reserves here, we have many ties and relations to create in this galaxy, many will assist us in the future against true enemies. Let them decide”
The Eosian fleet kept its position, weapons powered down as the Zlotosgrad force almost instantly sent out their own transmission over the joint encrypted communications net.
“Don’t listen to those zealots! The galactic community needs every drop of this fuel, as promised if you assist us here, we will sell your nations fuel at capped low rates, you can sustain yourselves for as long as you like for cheap and long term! I’m uploading the tactical data now, they came in quickly and hit hard, also they operated in small groups I haven’t seen Eos fight like this before”
The message from the Eosian hierarchy-individual had surprised the Meta-Sax assembled here. The need for this material to handle the oddities of this universes particular quirks in physics was something they themselves had to cope with now, and if the Eosians were being truthful about the nature of their civilizations state, then the suffering of their people could well lead to a desperate attempt to secure the substance to preserve themselves.
That said.. the records on the Ancnet did not paint a kind picture of the Eosians. Indeed, the more the Meta-Sax examined it, the more their unease grew. Had The Cult encountered these beings, it would have taken even greater sacrifices on the part of the Meta-Sax to quell their ambitions.
Which brought the current discussion to a foregone conclusion among the connected Consensus.
Ano opened a channel to speak for the collective will of the Clade, "Subjective instance of parley is rejected by Clade Ladon - past behavior of the Eos Consortium aligns with current activities too closely. If the Eos Consortium was in such a situation as to need aid, alternatives were available. By pursuing the pathway that this represents, it consolidates ideation of Eosian behaviors. It does not build metaxy towards apotheosis of peace. If the Eosian-Hierarchy-Individual-Status-Designate-Neutral/Hostile Vernadis wishes to rebuild the nation destroyed by past action, cease entosis. Only through rejection of past models of behavior and integration of new path can alternatives be found. Paths that are open through cooperation, not conquest."
The Zlotosgrad warning stirred them to connect with their allies on the CGSS secured channel, "Insistence of redistribution of tactical schema to accommodate new data from allied-persons. If Eosian subtypes engage in pod-tactics, Meta-Sax will counter with own to harry and disrupt; presumption of failure of entreaty to Vernadis-entity."
Servers whirred and racks of disks and data hubs buzzed in unison as the 3 sunrise-class battlecruisers acted as mediators for communication. the decryption had to be fairly complex to stop the eosians, and therefore even moreso for the bulwark, leading to most of their available computing power going towards handling the lines and data webbing between their allies.
Some data in particular, requested by tactical command aboard several ships, was data about these Eosians. The bulwark knew next to nothing about them, but it seemed a few of their allies had knowledge worth sharing, so anything could be useful to help make more informed decisions. There was yet no guarantee their tactics were the exact same, but preparations were being made in the operations and CIC chambers of every bulwark vessel in their flotilla, which began with the formation beginning to spread out, and yet remain in their standoff.
The fleet was splitting into a series of layers, carriers remaining back, surrounded by a ring of destroyers and the battlecruisers further ahead, enough so that the ships weren't caught in the plume of the Sunrise's massive engines. The sunrises themselves were surrounded by the rest of the destroyers in a surprisingly neat and organised star-like pattern, the kilmore sat in the middle, surprisingly up front with the rest of the head vessels. They slowly grew further apart however, the space between each ship becoming more vast as gravitational thrusters pushed them away.
The RBIV 25th Monarch seemed to be the only fixed point of this movement, perhaps marking it as a flagship for any observant enough. Deep under its armoured bridge, the admiral listened to the 'bargain' their enemy tried to make. To him, it was nothing more than a desperate plea, a last ditch attempt to pull some fools over to their side to perhaps give them a better chance. He sneered and chuckled before holding the transmission button to speak, not even needing the input of his officers and captains to decide his reply.
We agree with the uh, meta-sax. He started, a small informational window detailing the offer, likely typed up by one of the tacticians, displaying on one side of his console. Your little deal is a pathetic reflection of your own desperation, such a course of action makes you no better than a rabble of pirates, marauders, no matter how civilised you may see yourself. The Bulwark fleet gladly rejects your offer and we hope for our allies to follow suite.
He paused for a moment, almost forgetting his objectives.
However, though it seems blood has already been spilt by the people of Zlotosgrad, It's not too late to return what you've stole and leave in peace. Think, these supplies will not last you, and we all know next time you visit, this structure's security won't be so lax. If you leave now, there's a much better probability for you to repair your reputation and prosper in the long term.
Or, you can make a massive mistake...and sacrifice your nation's future, consider it a counter-offer.
Meanwhile, projections were being made and plans set in motion, the jovian-class carriers, more specifically the RBIV Decorum was already launching craft, large shuttles with underhanging cargo bays. They seemed to be flying in an odd pattern outwards, though they were still taking some time to deploy. Tactical had to make sure their allies were aware of what they were doing.
Officer Patrick Lin speaking A rather alert sounding voice spoke over an encrypted command line to their allies. From the information we've gathered from your gracious sharing of data, we have adjusted our formation plan to accommodate. We advise all allied constituents to do the same, in whichever way you see fit.
He glanced over a status report on his screen as well as a camera feed from one of the shuttles.
To emphasise however, as we speak, ancerium is being sucked dry into those tankers. Their objective is to get those ships safely out of the system, therefore we believe preventing that from happening will also prevent a standoff wherein they get what they want.
Currently, we are deploying shuttles carrying focused interdiction buoys. When deployed, their range isn't sufficient for our current needs, however with multiple we can merge cones at matching frequency to disrupt the FTL systems of those ships, and any in front of them. We plan on defending these buoys, but we don't have enough ships for all of them, we ask if it's possible to redirect appropriate forces towards our fleet in order to assist in keeping these buoys up. If there are any issues or suggestions with this course of action, inform me when possible.
Contrary to that of his so-called-allies in hiring that stand by his vessel's side, Thundrick had a hard decision splayed before him. His job was to come here and get the ancerium by doing the job. He wasnt here out of good will, afterall, just business and the desire for more sweet liquid gold for the inner workings of his home.
Thus the Eosian's offer was extremely enticing. A guaranteed year worth of ancerium, or more, so long as they were protected long enough to extract all they needed?
But it was a massive risk. Those all beside him may turn on him, so if he accepted he would have to hyperspace away towards the Eosian lines almost immediatley, lest he be torn to shreds before he can escape. Also, the dominion's galactic relations would be tarnished to these other neutrals. Not that it really mattered.
And with that, he finally made his decision.
"Power up the hyperdrives," he said, in a coarse, dry voice, a voice of desperation and remorse knowing what he must do, what he would have been ordered to do either way.
"Why, Admiral?"
"...We fight for the Eosians. Our mission was to collect ancerium for the dominion by however means necessary, be it fight to save Zolotsgrad, or this new offer from the Eosians. It is riskier, but the gains we shall achieve are far more worth it."
"You know that they shall never forgive us, aye?"
"I know what im doing, And you know what you have been told to do."
"Yes, sir."
And thus it was done. The hyperdives on the Dominion vessels peaked, charged up as they had their courses locked in for nearby the Eosian fleets.
Then communications to the Eosians came up.
"Greetings, High Exemplar. I am Fleet-Admiral Thundrick, of the Realm of the Infinite Dominion, and in the past, a captain of the High Imperium. I fought your kind, once, but it seems today we shall meet as allies. This fleet pledges itself to your defense. We were tasked to get ancerium, be it helping them or helping you and thus that is what we shall do. Expect our arrival in a few moments." He then sighed deeply, and spoke to himself once the line was cut and off.
"And may the star above and shadow below forgive me for this."
Then the ships entered Hyperspace, towards the Eosians.
-----
IDS Reach of the Expanse, Hangar Bay
They were confused and riled up.
"Why did we enter hyperspace!?" said Valk-2, his voice gruff and annoyed.
"Sounds like we're going to help Eos. Mustve gotten an offer we cant resist," replied Valk-3, who leaned back against a supply crate. Valk-2 was quick to respond.
"Going to help those bastards!? Shadow be damned, we stoop to new lows every fucking day. What next, will we be owning slaves like those forsaken Imperials that disowned us?! What the hell is the Fleet Admiral thinking!?"
"Calm your tits, Aldrin, we have to follow orders. Fleet Admiral's thinking of the future of our nation. We were ordered to get Ancerium from Zlotsgrad, but they never said that we couldnt take any counter offers. I dont like it, but it's gonna be what we have to do, you hear me?"
"Aye, squadron leader," he said, clearly pissed off and fuming as he stormed away, letting out a hiss of a sigh as he walked towards his plane.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
A year's worth of Ancerium? Even if the SR doesn't need much, it could easily sell it and all but guarantee prosperity for a time. But, what's a limited supply compared to a cheap supply you can sell out for more? Such were the thoughts of Azria and his crew, though dissent was more than prevalent.
"Sir, with all due respect, we cannot afford to make enemies with Eos. Should they desire, they could likely steamroll over our country, smash our fleets, and take what they want by force." A junior officer says to Azria, representing much of the pro-Eos sentiment aboard the Selenican fleet. "It would simply be more prudent and advantageous for our long-term survival to accept their deal."
"What makes you believe that the Eosians will actually keep to their word? They would potentially just take our ships, have us combat our allies, then run off with the Ancerium. If not, who knows what sort of scheme they have. The Eos of yore was brutal and upfront, but who in their right mind would believe they wouldn't at least attempt to get their claws in us? And think from the other perspective, were we to side with Zlotosgrad, we could very easily buy the Ancerium the Eosians would give us, but then, even if we don't need it, we can TRADE it for what we do need." Azria replies, his intentions of a short discussion ended by the rant it became.
"Sir, with a year's supply of Ancerium, we could ALSO trade it, and those trades become even more in our favor at that. And even then, wouldn't we be able to figure out Eos' potential scheme, which we can't even be certain that they'll try? And what of the enemies we'll make?" The junior officer replies, becoming nigh insubordinate, slithering close to Azria, though not close enough it could be seen as a threat.
"Think about our situation. The Republic is lacking weapons, supplies, and everything we NEED to become a galactic power worth our salt. We're already trading away portions of our deposits of Brightstone to get weapons from other powers, but were we to accept Eos' deal, we'd essentially be sacrificing our nation at large. And even then, Eos is by no means guaranteed to attack us. If I'm being blunt, the Republic is no threat to them, and they have further issues to resolve." Azria rants, huffing between sentences and trying to keep from ordering the disciplining of this officer. "The order from home stands."
"Aye, sir." The junior officer replies, anger overcoming him as well. However, the tension is diffused, and he returns to his station. However, an uproar across the fleet is sounded, as a little under half of the ship's crewmen dispute with Azria's decision.
Already more than irritated at his subordinate's insubordination, Azria sends out the dreaded order sign. "Enacting Special Operations Order 5a." This order, seldom used, orders for all insubordinate crew to be detained and imprisoned, then to face trial. Of course, the charge would be treason, and with the rigged Selenican courts, you'd be lucky if you were to ever see the outside from the "prisons" again. Under the threat of permanent imprisonment, a large, large majority of the insubordinate crew is quelled, though the few who remain are duly detained into the lowest decks of the ships.
//OPEN TRANSMISSION BEGIN - EOS FLEET//
"While the ships of our great Republic have listened to and weighed your deal, we have decided to stand with the people of Zlotosgrad."
//TRANSMISSION CHANNEL DESTROYED//
There was a certain degree of satisfaction to be gained from the current chaos. The uncertainty of allies and enemies. The possibility of betrayal, and the power to betray others. It was an almost intoxicating feeling, or at least that is how it felt to the shattering mind of Xylvix. Dozens of reflections kept their incessant demands in his mind, each tugging at his attention, probing for cracks in his willpower. A lapse in concentration and The Pureblood would mutate and perish, his body wracked with unimaginable cancers.
Yet he held, the situation at hand was an anchor unto his mind. The Unbroken had to act quickly, lest they be left behind those who had already chosen a side. Xylvix scoured the room with each malignant eye that had grown onto his frame. The Homunculi, as always, have left the choice up to him. They would act within their orders if his life was extinguished, but with the Pureblood present, they would sit idly by, lest they upset their maker. There was only one voice that Xylvix could rely on to question his choice.
As if invited, the Neurosmith moved into the command centre like frost creeping onto a branch. The crew paid him no heed, as while he was a Pureblood, he was nottheirs. Unlike Xylvix, the rat of the Crucible hid his malformations underneath a cloak woven of nanites and imbedded with sight buffers. One could not focus on Zyrtax unless they wished to invite a throbbing headache. Though his position on the fleet was official as a researcher and intelligence officer, a secondary, more sinister purpose was just as clear.
His speech came scrambled, monotone and metallic, all thanks to whatever pieces of technology were crammed underneath that cloak.
“The Council has requested we deal with this issue, obviously the assumption was that we would help those attacked. Yet the offer is tempting, is it not my friend ?”
“It is. But not for the Unbroken. We are not like the armies of our…allies. Our forces move, jumping day and night, forging tachyon fountains and scrapping them by the dozen. We don’t need Ancerium for fuel. We don’t need it for our weaponry or technology. What we need is–”
Allies
The Neurosmith cut into his sentence. From underneath his covering a single pseudopod moved into the light, ending with a high-resolution camera. Zyrtax took it into both of his metallic hands and ran taloned fingers through its length. The sound was disorientating, grating at the loosening nerves of Xylvix.
” And what better allies are there than the Eos? I’m sure that you have seen the records, yes? In better times they could have wiped out our every fleet without losing anything of worth. And while they have fallen…well, just look at what they have arrayed before us. I’m sure it would take more than our scattering of moronic AI escorts, and slave-piloted cruisers to take on these behemoths. The choice is ultimately up to you, my liege
Xylvix cast his gaze back at the system again. There was no time to debate, no time to waste in seeking opinions from Homunculi, or waiting for an official command from the Council. Fleeing was not an option, he would die rather than bring such shame on his bloodline. Either way, they would fight, and deep down that was all he wanted. Yet to just stand in the midst of combat was not enough, it was a victory that his body craved, and only one choice would bring them victory.
“We stand with Zlotsgrad. Not for the promises of resources they have given to us. Ultimately they won’t matter. We win with Eos and become pariahs in this galaxy. If we lose with the rest, we at least lose together.”
The Pureblood turned to the Neurosmith, ready to pummel the Crucible rat into the floor if he resisted his decision. Zyrtax merely turned to the battlescape, silent, and secretly amused. Xylvix ordered for the helm to open comms to the gathered defenders.
“The Unbroken stand against the invasion. We will fight to our last breath, to the last drop of our Ichor. May Eos choke on our guts and drown in the blood we shall spill. The fleet under my command is not vast enough to strike out on our own, we shall be the Bastions against their attacks for as long as we are able.”
The Unbroken fleet moved into a funnel-like formation. With the largest vessels making up the centre, while the escorts fanned out. The cruiser-carrier began the process of activating its swarms of drones and automated fighter wings. While the Interdictor sent requests to the Interdictor sent out access for data to support the interdiction efforts. The remaining line ships prepared for possible long-range assaults, or the close range-brawl that might come from an FTL jump. Ultimately Eos was an enigma, which made them even more dangerous.
There had barely been a pause to breathe as the final actions ordered had been executed before the plunge finally revealed itself.
“Sir, we’re getting a hail from the Eosians.”
The Rear Admiral gripped the arms of his chair, his stomach roiling itself with pre-combat nerves. “Open the channel.”
”This is High Exemplar Vernadis of the Eos Consortium. I bid you greetings to this galaxy. I am, in fact, quite new to this place. No doubt you have been called here to assist in evicting us from our operation to gather Ancerium for our people. I applaud your sense of honor to defend those you have not met yet for the benefit of the galactic community. We are here because our latest arrival has seen a vast need for Ancerium, without it, our people will suffer, and our rebuilding of our destroyed nation cannot be undertaken. Zlotosgrad and the galactic community has much FTL fuel, the amount in these system’s silos alone would sustain all of our nations for decades. As such, I offer you a deal; aid us in harvesting Ancerium here and I will personally ensure each of your nations comes away with enough FTL fuel to sustain your growth and operations for a year, minimum.”
Confusion reigned. Aurelion blinked and an rapidly mutating expression of confusion, anger and frustration flitted over his face before a trained mask of military steel took its place. Aurel had started forward from his chair, one hand waving before him as if to move something aside, eyes rapidly flicking about, a soft glow permeating from them.
“…I sense no psi tendrils or auras, Rear Admiral. This is what has been expressed; an offer, nothing more.”
The bridge crew were whispering to each other, looking around and some even beginning to show the quick, jerking motions that came with hushed arguments. Eos had been known for its invasions, its power, its zealotry, and faith, this was almost…reasonable.
Sympathetic.
Aurelion had seen the destruction wrought in the wake of the Republic-Guild War in Talidan and the cost that conflict had wrought. The effort to rebuild had nearly unmade them and it has forced the unthinkable; a grudging truce and partnership with Svaankor to rebuild their economies and nations. Still, no matter how sympathetic, they had invaded a sovereign nation and were taking its resources, as colonial nations were wont to do.
A beeping drew all their attention and refocused their discipline, Zlotosgrad had something to say about this.
“Don’t listen to those zealots! The galactic community needs every drop of this fuel. As promised, if you assist us here, we will sell your nations fuel at capped low rates, you can sustain yourselves for as long as you like for cheap and long term! I’m uploading the tactical data now; they came in quickly and hit hard; also they operated in small groups. I haven’t seen Eos fight like this before.”
Aurelion craned his head to view his psionic counterpart and nodded. The other raised an eyebrow but seemed to acquiesce and their eyes regained the glow they had. The Rear Admiral did his best to relax as he felt the icy-cold pinpricks of another mind connecting to this, that alien sensation of something other and wrong forcing its way into his awareness. After a moment, the feeling eased but remained, like a throbbing wound around a splinter.
’It is not like you to request such an invasive way for privacy, Aurelion.’
All around him the emotional concoction returned, suppressed from outward expression.
’We need the speed of thought as we don’t have much time and much to discuss. We have a problem, Aurel.’
The other awareness flexed and trembled and the psionic’s incredulous tone sounded around his mind.
’You can’t seriously be considering their offer, Nemos. This is Eos we’re talking about here. We give any ground to them; they’re going to take a mile and corrupt us into their faith by any means necessary!’
‘I know that; you know that any of the Alliance would know that. But we also know the situation we’re currently in.’
Aurel turned to face the Rear Admiral and make direct eye contact; the other man nodded his assent and the glow in their eyes brightened to an intense white, for a moment before fading entirely. The mask blocking all but his eyes preventing sight of his reaction, until,
“This is beyond our jurisdiction. We need to inform the Council.”
“Agreed.” Aurelion turned to face the bridge crew, their confused faces wondering what had occurred in the past few seconds.
“Open the quantum link with Talidan; highest encryption, oscillate the keys. And send exactly what I am sending to your station.”
The communications officer seemed to hesitate but began to move when his face darkened.
“Ready to transcribe, sir.”
A few keystrokes moved the message to the station; her eyes widened as she read and her hands moved to hesitate once again, but she forced herself forward, typing in the message and then sending it through the quantum entanglement suite located on their vessel.
“M-Message sent.”
The minutes passed as they waited, the bridge crew informing of allied motions and messages, with the Admiral reviewing; the Meta-Sax and Bulwark had both denied the offer almost instantly, with the latter deploying an interdiction buoy network. The Unbroken also refused the offer and yet…
The Dominion either accepted or were fleeing, but judging from the course direction, it was likely they joined the Eosians.
One of the officers piped up, egged on by some and the glowing reports of confusion from other sections as to the lack of new orders
“Sir, how does this end? What are our new orders?”
The Admiral stared at the officer for a moment, before slowly moving to reply when a sound distracted them.
“The message from the Anchor Chain Council; we have orders from all six leaders of the Alliance, Rear Admiral.”
“Send it to my personal console.”
The file moved, decrypted itself under TAS direction using the QE array and revealed itself before him. His shoulders trembled and then righted themselves. He exited the message with an aggressive sideways thrust of his hand, hurling the holographic window out of main view. There was no time left for decisions; action was all that was left.
“Connect me to rest of our ships, highest encryption.”
A message would resound, finally breaking the silent arguments and concerns of the assembled SSA forces.
“Alliance forces, this is your Rear Admiral. An offer has been extended by the Eosian forces, as you are aware. Alliance command has been informed, and after deliberation, have delivered us our new orders. We are to assist the Eosian forces in their operation to secure the future of our fledgling nation.”
Shouting and confused cries sounded, and as if he could hear them, he continued.
“I know this is shocking, revolting even to some. However, we all know the situation we face at home; the choices made and to be made by the various members and the countdown we’re staring down. We have informed the Council, as this is beyond even my jurisdiction, and they have laid down our orders. If you are unable to follow these orders, I understand but I command that doing so will relieve you of duty and be put in the brig for your safety and that of our forces. When we return home, you can make your case and your side known, but we must do what we can to preserve our nations and our peoples, even despite our personal misgivings. Those still willing to follows, prepare to recall fighters and FTL jump; we must escape the growing cordon of interdiction before it’s too late.”
Across the fleet hard discussions were had, but surprisingly, only a relative few were escorted, or forced in some cases, into the brig, with others taking their spots. The psi agents were quick to contact Aurel, but whatever was discussed seemed to get them to back down, but every single one was a ball of anger.
Aurel whispered to the Rear Admiral.
“The galaxy is going to hang us for this; SAGA will not look favorably and CONA despises those working with Colonials.”
Aurelion sat heavily back into his chair.
“I know, my friend, but we’re minutes from midnight and if this comes to internal divides, the Alliance will fall, and we know who wins once that happens.”
Orders were sent, confused pilots began to withdraw into the ships and the formation shifted and the telltale signs of FTL could be seen. Just like the Dominion, an encrypted message was sent to the Eosian force before they jumped out in their direction.
”High Exemplar Vernadis, this is Rear Admiral Aurelion Nemos of the Solar Systems Alliance. After due consideration of our similar situations and your act of reaching out, the Alliance is pledging itself to your operation here. Logs of our conversations with our former allies, dispositions and encryptions that are known will be transmitted upon arrival, though we are sure this is not to last long. Regardless of our force’s survival here today, the Alliance will be in touch for further cooperation and negotiations. Stand by.”
Spacetime warped and groaned, and bubbles appeared around the twenty vessels before they shot forth out of sight, leaving stunned and furious former compatriots, including the Meta-Sax and SR. He knew what good will was being built in the Czinst operation would be lost, but the die had been cast.
It was time to see where it would roll.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
“Well, that worked better than I expected”
“My lord, we don’t actually intend on giving up our bounty to these non-believers?”
“Of course, we intend for it. Trust is important we build bridges with the people here and they will more willingly let the word of Eos into their hearts” Vernadis smiled. Multiple pings indicating FTL jumps flashing on his display. It appeared both the Dominion and SSA were willing to take up the offer.
“Get them onto our network, enough to communicate efficiently. Tell Cadre Inceptor to hold and protect the haulers. We will fight alongside our new friends” As the vessels formed up the Eosian vessels, massive in size began to form up in a defensive but quite spaced-out formation near the Dominion and SSA ships. Vernadis sent them
“Greetings fellow comrades in arms. You made the right choice; I thank you for the intelligence you have give us. We will fight alongside you in defending our haulers until the last possible moment. Every drop of Ancerium we secure is more for all our nations in these turbulent times, after all who is to say Zlotosgrad will even be around to honour its lower price commitments? They didn’t turn to either SAGA or CONA to defend them for fear of turning this place into a battleground, who’s to say it won’t be in weeks’ time? Eos guide your wise choices. I only ask that you do not get too close to our vessels in combat, we can modulate our weapons to have lesser effects on you, but it will still be enough at closer ranges to do damage. We don’t want friendly fire”
Now however, the Eosian ships charged weapons, gravitational flux increased around their ships as wave weapons charged up, across several of the larger vessel’s panels retracted to reveal launch tubes.
----
“Traitors to the cause of neutrality… I thank you all for staying your ground and aiding us. It is a shame some of those who answered the call have fallen for the Eosians lies. No matter, your focused interdiction will be extremely useful, we have additional force elements joining with us from across system and from other systems shortly. Our own fleet cannot stand up to the Eosians in this state, we will defend the buoys for you we have the speed at least.” The anger in the ZSF captains voice was palpable, but he still did his job none the less.
The fast defenders of Zlotosgrad kept close as the buoys were launched using their speed and acceleration to keep pace. Defending them from any smaller elements or fighters that may try to intercept them.
“Do not let the Eosian ships get close to you at any cost.”
The Dominion vessels quickly responded to the Eosian communications, all the while they sent any leftover data and encryption codes used by the other side previously, attuning their own comms to match that of the Eosian encryption to keep their systems and words hidden from the enemy side.
“Understood, we will keep our distance. We will continue to send any information if we recieve it. In the meantime, do you know if and when Zlotosgrad will be receiving reinforcements of their own vessels?”
The relatively small dominion vessels as compared to those of the Eosians fanned out, patching holes in the wide formations while keeping distance from that of Eos, with the carrier holding the Admiral and some escorting vessels taking the heart of the Dominion forces behind the main line.
“Ordnance Officer, get weapons online on the vessel, make sure they’re fully charged and loaded.”
“Aye, Fleet-Admiral, sir. Bringing weapons systems online.”
“Flight Commandant, get all wings of aircraft prepared, and Comms officer, relay those orders across the fleet.”
They both responded sharply, saluting and turning to their stations as they spoke across intercomms and encrypted fleet-communications respectively. Across the fleet, railguns brought themselves up to charge, shells being racked and brought up into the weapon via-autoloaders. Coilguns came to life as the electromagnets were risen to full power, all the meanwhile fusion cannons were pumped with energy from the fusion reactors of the vessel, missile pods uncapping and opening as various other weapons systems fleet-wide powered up.
The Fleet-Admiral then prompted the Vessel’s Artificial Intelligence unit, also serving as a direct connection to the rest of the AI across the fleet, to pop up. The A.I took the form of a glowing red lightning bolt, floating above it’s holographic projector as it’s sharp, crackly, and deep voice came out, sounding like the rumble of thunder crossed with a passing train.
“Yes, Fleet Admiral?” it questioned, the words causing a crackly glow across the hologram with each syllable.
“Bring all drones online and begin defensive sweeps across the area, then send an encrypted data package to the stealth vessels.”
“Aye, Sir. What shall the data package contain?”
“Send all relevant info of the opposing fleets that we have, and send them these orders:”
He paused, before listing off the orders he wanted sent.
“Have all systems running on low and stay hidden from opponent’s sensors to the best of your ability. If and when an assault begins, attempt to get behind their lines and engage in a strike against the flagships of the opponent forces. If interdiction is present, abort mission and instead do a frontal assault and join the defensive line.”
“Sir, data package sent, and Drones coming online.”
“Good.”
Once-more across the fleet, the orders were relayed, but this time by the computer. Syntax-Drones began to launch from the carriers and other vessels with hangars, beginning sweeping runs around the front line, taking note of any and all vessel positionings, probable weaknesses, and making other calculations with their Artificial Drone Brains. Other than that, they served as simple patrols to defend from any future assaults the OPFOR may put up.
Finally, the two Infiltrator-class vessels received their encrypted data packages, using their little bit drives to take up refuge behind one of the stations, seemingly disappearing and re-appearing behind the large structures. In less than a moment, their engines cut power, and external systems went to minimum running, the only things working being communications and passive radar systems, as well as life support. They switched to reliance on ZPRs and Batteries as the main fusion reactor shut itself down to better hide the vessels. They would wait here till’ the time was right, or the time would never come.
A last communication was sent out to the Eosian and SSA vessels.
“This is Dominion Fleet hailing Allied Fleet. We have a pair of stealth vessels carrying anti-ship payloads behind the Megastructure we are currently defending, on minimal running to keep their whereabouts hidden from the enemy when the chaos of combat begins. Their mission objective is to, when the time is favourable, use their Bit-Drives; more commonly known as jump drives; to get behind opposing forces and strike at some of their leading vessels. If the enemies engage interdiction over our region when fighting begins, we request that you focus fire on the interdicting vessels or objects to stop their function and allow stealth vessels to carry out their mission. That is all, Dominion Fleet out.”
Then the Line cut, radio chatter between the fleets once again falling silence as the Dominion awaited a response.
It was going to be a long day.
Or days, really.
The bridge was tensely silent, only the movement of fingers on keys or the various operational sounds of machinery could be heard as the fleet moved to join the Eosian force. To say they were divided was an understatement, with reports from across the task force of officers having to discipline or even temporarily imprison personnel who violently objected to the decision. He couldn’t blame them, but he had gained his rank through many factors, one being the ability to make the decisions and to own them, even ones made by his superiors.
The silence was broken by the comms officer, voice catching before righting itself.
“I-Incoming data from the Eosians; tactical data and battle net handshakes.”
“Integrate and connect, forward along all the data we have on our fellow arrivals and their intentions. I don’t want to relay on the Eosian reputation for victory; it will be punishing from here on out, so we need to play every advantage.”
A beep indicated a message from Vernadis, a weary hand accepted the message:
”Greetings fellow comrades in arms. You made the right choice; I thank you for the intelligence you have given us. We will fight alongside you in defending our haulers until the last possible moment. Every drop of Ancerium we secure is more for all our nations in these turbulent times, after all who is to say Zlotosgrad will even be around to honor its lower price commitments? They didn’t turn to either SAGA or CONA to defend them for fear of turning this place into a battleground, who’s to say it won’t be in weeks’ time? Eos guide your wise choices. I can only ask you do not get too close to our vessels in combat, we can modulate our weapons to have lesser effects on you, but it will still be enough at closer ranges to do damage. We don’t want friendly fire.”
“Send an acknowledgment and our intention to provide long range support and fires, along with cyberwarfare. Move the fleet to the right flank of the Eosian battlegroup, but behind; they will be the tip of the spear, ourselves and the Dominion will be the guards supporting it.”
“Yes sir!”
“Status on the VLA?”
“71 percent deployment, two more salvoes required to finish.”
“Do so, then power up weapons and prepare the cyberwarfare suites. And connect our BattleNet with the Dominion’s, we’ll need to cooperate our support of the Eosians.”
“Working!”
The coilguns would flash twice more, hurtling drones filled with sensor packages and cyberwarfare suites deep into the system. Once they came closer to their pre-planned deployment points, they began to use jets to slow down until they stopped at their assigned points and began to connect with each other through lasers. Their scans washed the system with electromagnetic radiation, gathering data and forwarding it to the Alliance force.
The image, stronger and updating faster than before, showed their former allies continuing the interdiction buoy network that was being deployed to focus the corridors of FTL activity that would be allowed. The only reason they hadn’t jumped here was the Eosians dominance of knife fight battlespaces, so they wanted to control how they came to them. This needed to be challenged, if possible.
“Incoming message from the Dominion.”
“Show me.”
”This is Dominion Fleet hailing Allied Fleet. We have a pair of stealth vessels carrying anti-ship payloads behind the Megastructure we are currently defending, on minimal running to keep their whereabouts hidden from the enemy when the chaos of combat begins. Their mission objective is to, when the time is favourable, use their Bit-Drives; more commonly known as jump drives; to get behind opposing forces and strike at some of their leading vessels. If the enemies engage interdiction over our region when fighting begins, we request you focus fire the interdicting vessels or objects to stop their function and allow stealth vessels to carry out their mission. That is all, Dominion Fleet out.”
”Dominion Fleet, Eosian Fleet, this is Alliance Fleet. From our previous communications with the OPFOR, they are intending to control corridors of the system for FTL with the interdiction buoy systems deployed via shuttle. Unless they were lying, they don’t have the capability to blanket the system this way, so they are trying to control how we, and especially the Eosians, approach. We intend, using long-range fires and strike craft, to attempt to disrupt and prevent this from happening. Any ability for you to assist would be appreciated. This should provide cover for your stealth ships as well. Alliance Fleet out.”
“Activate our defensive drone screens, deploy strike craft and bomber squadrons, have them move out to engage the known locations of these buoys. They are to strike at targets of opportunity; harassment and death by many small cuts is the goal here, not all out assault. Especially if the enemy moves their ships into range. Prepare firing packages for our missiles, gas-pumped laser cores for now. Let’s do some sniping of enemy capabilities.”
The force began to move, shifting into a loose diamond formation, with all the energy of a kicked over anthill. The small forms of the defensive drone screens took their positions around the force, ready to intercept and engage enemy projectiles, missiles and strike craft. Energy poured into the weapons systems, lasers heating up in preparation, coilguns crackling with EM arcs and missiles racking into tubes. Pilots, already prepared in their craft, began to pour out of the hangars, forming up into assault formations and beginning their advanced towards the enemy force. It was a general advance for now, strike craft only, with the VLA and fleet sensor suites supporting with data and preparing spoof packages for when the fray began.
Until either force moved to engage, it would be the Alliance’s game to engage, prod and poke to see enemy reactions and give the Dominion’s anti-ship knives to get into position.
The break up of the allied task force into two distinctive groups was uniquely surprising. They hadn't anticipated anyone would be short sighted enough to believe the Eosians, and yet, here they were. Half the fleet was now fighting for the other side.
Fortunately, the Meta-Sax were wary as a rule when it came to newcomers, especially ones they had no established relations with, so they were quick to adapt their communications frequencies and alter their internal tactics.
Within the Consensus link, the bioships briefly debated on different formations and how far exactly they should 'play their hand' before arriving at a decision to remain more or less within the expected framework they had established before. They arrayed themselves to surround the allied task force, deploying large swarms of sensor nets, defensive drone nodes, scramblers, and a host of additional gear into local space. They also deployed their microship shields, deciding that the mobility provided by these would allow them to snap-defend allied craft that came under fire, while they themselves could rely on their speed and warp-shields.
They altered their tactics, however, when it came to the Eosians themselves and opened a channel to all in the volume.
"It is dismay that we feel that those who had left believe in the tones and words of the Eosian neutral/hostile entity. Is it not wiser to cultivate relationships with peers? With allies? Instead, collaboration with an entity-polity with a history of such violence will spread the tone-of-pain onto yourselves. It will end the possibilities we spoke of; of peace, not conquest. For their path lay only death and entropy. Yet, all is not lost. Should the ones who have left reconsider, the Meta-Sax will still aid, will help. It is noemata."
To their allies, they sent another message.
"Altering of communication channel via frequency linked - defensive formation is established and bioship link complete."-C
"Per Consensus of array, new engagement profile has begun. Will attempt disruption of psychological mechanisms of element-entity/neutral. Disrupt will to fight. Recommend altering of fleet arrangement per shifting situation to reflect paradigm. Enemy hostile-profile is majority focused on Eosian combat capability. Note: web has been deployed with positions marked. Translocation variable every 5 standard seconds to augment network. Connection point is opened to viable nodes for allied forces."
True to the statement, they offered a sensor boost via their node network that would allow those who tapped into it a limited capability to access the quantum/gravity-interchanger network that they used as a sensor medium. Another, smaller access point was given for one of the multimission vessels - a literal eyeball point of view of the battlefield, though overlaid with numerous additional data points.
The position of the defending forces was precarious. It was obvious that enemy retaliation was imminent, the interdiction net had closed around the Eosian vessels, and it would be those buoys that will come under direct fire. If there were no breakaways, it would be a reasonable tactic to enclose the invaders or attempt a long-distance duel. With their former allies now on an intercept course, the only option was to stand their ground and hope for the foe to break on their lines.
The ferrofluid battlesphere before the Purebloods began to shine with crimson and cyan colours, predicted vessel courses as well as possible projectile trajectories began to play out an intricate dance on the projected battleline. The bridge crew worked at the peak of their abilities, acting without rest or a moment of weakness, yet still with precision ingrained in their very bones. Xylvix towered above them both in position and sheer presence, even though most of his attention was focused on the situation at hand, the fractured mind of a Pureblood sees all through its insanity. Mistakes would be punished later, he always made sure of that
With weary eyes and a bowed head one of the bridge crew began to relay information from the rest of the fleet
"My liege, our vessels are at peak combat status, the Homunculi have all been raised and the AI cores successfuly linked togheter. They ask for directions."
The Unbroken fleet formed a funnel. The battlecruiser stood at the centre, its sheer size ensured that it held the heaviest weaponry as well as the most sophisticated command systems. It was made to duel with vessels of grander structure, striking with long-range overwhelming firepower. In the meele that might come it would require protection. But it was not alone, the remaining Line Cruisers as well as the 12 escorts formed around it in an expanding ring. If the situation required they would become shields or the daggers that will finish a wounded foe. Their weaponry had already charged to its peak, vast swathes of ferrofluid moved in endless rings inside giant electromagnets, atom lasers charged and graviton weaponry sucked up vital ancerium for ammunition. The moment that their enemy came into range, the Unbroken greeting wouldn't be missed.
Only the carrier remained outside of the formation, engines at full burn pushed it towards the largest concentration of buoys and allied forces wherein it would disgorge its swarms of drones. Right now they were folded, each shaped like a spearpoint, little more than an android brain and basic interceptor weaponry. Though where they lacked in weaponry they held numbers, over 500 drones were prepared for combat. While more could be prepared, if the time allowed.
Rage was a feeling present throughout the entirety of the Selenican fleet with the betrayal of the SSA. Even with the tantalizing deal that Eos made being well understood, it didn't make the betrayal of a thought-to-be ally at Leibr any less painful. The Dominion was an unknown entity and was expected to act in unpredictable ways, hence an air of apathy regarding their betratal. However, now was not the time to be nursing hurt wounds, but now...now was the time to fight. The berth of information on Eos' past incarnation made clear that traditional Selenican naval doctrine would be utterly suicidal against the Eosian's gravitic weapons, with no defenses to speak of against it. Add on top the SSA and Dominion, both of whom were more than certainly going to have close-range weaponry capable of piercing the thin hides of Selenican warships and the normal strategy of close-range hit and run would be unoptimal.
"Admiral." The commander of the carrier speaks, her deep voice brimming with rage and anger. "With all due respect, we must coordinate with the rest of the allies here should we survive this engagement, let alone come out victorious. I understand that you've had an extremely successful career back home on Anxios, but you can't win this fight alone."
"I'm well aware of that, Commander. As such, my first orders are to establish a combat area patrol around our allies and us alike. Our tachyon-equipped ships must conduct artillery support, focusing fire on the Eosians, the Dominion and SSA can be swept up later. We also have the Meta-Sax to assist us in this backline support, so don't feel afraid to give them a lot of CAP. Orders understood, Commander?" Azria replies, still somewhat heated over that insubordinate officer who tried to force the Selenican Republic to turn its heels on its allies.
"Aye."
The commander slithers down to an intercom, relaying the orders for several squadrons of fighters to be sent out on a combat area patrol.
---
These fighters, having already been prepped for a battle to come, were well and ready to launch from the horns of the carrier. Packed with as much anti-munition and anti-bomber payloads and ammunition they can carry, the sleek, long fighters, originally adapted from an atmospheric design with large payloads within a bomb-bay the fuselage and under the since-removed wings, were prepared to launch at a moment's notice. Then, the order arrives, and within a minute a swarm of these fighters are launched forth, sent out of the catapult exits of the carrier at speeds which nearly causes even the most resilient pilot to black out. Soon after the first wave, two more are sent forth, one covering the fleet itself, one circling around the Meta-Sax, and one present to assist the Bulwark and Unbroken.
---
The other ships of the Selenican fleet ready their guns, the harsh orange glow of tachyonic weapons prepared to fire at a moment's notice lighting up the decks of the Selenican vessels, color being lost in the orange hue. All of the weapons are tracked on various Eosian targets, with one or two destroyers training their guns on the SSA as a threat.
---
All aimed, all ready to fire. All that's left to do is to await the word to launch an all-out barrage on the Eosians and their scum of allies, and to defend the people of Zlotosgrad.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
“Reinforcements will likely arrive shortly, they have additional forces guarding the other depots in this system but more assets will be coming from other systems as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if you are not the only ones who responded to this call for aid either” Vanadis replied to the Dominion. The announcement of the stealth ships made the High Exemplar smile.
It was after all dishonourable and frowned upon to use stealth in warfare, but Vanadis and Insinia were a practical bunch. Victory at any cost no matter the methods, he enjoyed that tactic, and he intended to aid his Dominion allies to carry out the sudden stealth strike. With the additional communication from the Alliance Vanadis nodded to himself, those who had chose to align themselves with the Consortium were capable indeed.
“I understand Alliance fleet I thank you for the information. Ready Mediators. Target two interdictor vessels within the enemy formation, one on the Unbroken, the other the Bulwark. Also launch attack craft, lets harass those satellites they launched to pin us down, ignore the Zlotosgrad security force.”
“My lord we are getting additional sensor updates from SSA and Dominion sensor packages, the Alliance is also launching craft to engage the interdiction platforms.
“Very helpful. You may use that to aid in targeting and form up our wings with theirs. Fire when ready”
Beneath the Unending Virtue two segments retracted into the hull, immediately pushing out huge white and golden darts surrounded by a ring structure. The two large forms almost a kilometre long in themselves, activated their gravitic drives, accelerating away from the Eosian formation and towards the Bulwark and Unbroken fleets, each targeting one vessel projecting interdiction. The kinetic impactors gaining more and more speed as they raced towards their targets, the first shots were now out.
The Eosian hangar bays were next, launching extremely sleek Patron fighters and Rapture bombers. Each one dancing in the void as they moved to form up with Alliance wings and sped towards the interdiction buoys with the intention of unravelling the web now constricting their movements.
Missiles were launched by the Zlotosgrad forces in response to the opening of fire, fusion torpedoes aimed towards the Alliance vessels as the Security group hoped hitting them with missiles would be far easier than using them against Eos, they kept pace with the Bouys directing a single ship to each ready to use all the evasion and weapons they had at their disposal.
"buoys aligned sir, units stable, funnels holding"
The message crackled through the admiral's headset, the source was one of the rearward carriers, its captain responsible for managing the operations of their little network. He wasn't happy of course, there was something worse than pirates, and there they were, traitors.
They'd all come here for the same purpose, seeing their fleets all lined up and uniting against what was clearly a reprehensible action, perhaps it had given the admiral some glint of hope that perhaps this galaxy isn't as cruel as he'd thought, but as each of their former allies ships broke off and vaulted away toward this fleet of miscreants, it seemed more and more like justice, morality and perhaps even common sense were apparently subjective resources. This wasn't how he expected his first operation outside the bulwark to go, though in reality, perhaps it was.
His hand still ached, he was a rather patient person, so even he was surprised when the bottom of his fist had slammed into the arm of his chair.
Now, his hands were clasped, there wasn't much for him to do now but wait on reports.
"Admiral, allied formation adjusting by 17 degrees, detecting deployment of drones."
"Frequency change successful sir, communication busses repopulated fleet-wide."
"Continuing Buoy monitoring, Jovian group response-ready."
"Bypass established, co-ordination with allied fighter groups underway."
"Sir! 2 massive signatures split from the Eosian leadship, accelerating rapidly!"
That last one caught his attention, and looking at the tactical map in front of him, indeed, 2 ships...no, accelerating too fast...torpedoes? were moving away from the enemy.
"Trajectory!"
"0-0-0 Sir, one's heading straight for us, the other appears to be directed at allies, they appear to be projecting...gravitational interdiction fields."
"Well then, I just won a bet. Didn't expect them to be that eager, however. Counter with L-type torpedoes, keep craft go-ready set main guns on that lead ship, we don't know what other tricks it has up its sleeve."
"aye aye"
Elements of the bulwark fleet began to move, ships in the outer ring of the forward formation moving along their circular path, an alternating half of them orienting their broadsides into the circle, the others remaining with their keel facing the same way. The idea was thought up pretty much on the spot by fleet tacticians, but there was hope it might do something to repel what little they knew of Eosian tactics, additionally, the Jovian carriers in the rear began facing their blunt noses outward, towards the buoys, which themselves had reached evenly spaced positions around the entirely friendly formation. Singular vessels and surprisingly small teams of fighters splitting up to defend each of them.
Window lights on the bulwark ships had all been blinked out by reinforced combat shutters, turrets racked and turned in place and massive shells sat cold in their breeches, just waiting to ruin someone's day. Alarms blared in the torpedo loading rooms of the sunrise-battlecruisers, huge revolver-style racks rotating to push out the correct payload. Within just a couple of minutes of the command, the ordnance would be sitting in a vacuum sealed launch chamber, a clear view out the prow of their respective ships, their launch just a button's push away.
There was no going back now of course, he only hoped the misguided souls aboard the ships of those traitors would perhaps rethink their mistake if not now, then some day.
Our allies. He spoke over the command channel.
It seems today we are to be tested, to throw our might against the odds. Though the thin façade of those who acted as our allies broke so easily, we, as a singular force, will use our loyalty against them, we will make sure their little betrayal comes at a heavy price. And I'd like to believe, sometime soon, we can use the very battle dawning on us now as a historical damn example, give yourselves a pat on the back for staying around, hm?
Dull Flashes of orange announced the launch of 2 torpedoes from each of the 3 battlecruisers, half of them beginning to split into their own group as they pushed their way out of the formation, trailing plasma.
Ano balks within the link with her peers. The size of the ordinance of the Eosians was just as over proportional as their ships.
Igyin laughs, "They can't be serious. That's a missile? It's as big as Daya! I almost thought they were deploying a secondary parasite craft or two but these acceleration rates are too great and there's no support around them!"
The MMV bristles at the comment, "I am over a kilometer long, thank you Igyin. What shall we do?"
They collectively ponder their options for a moment, tenths of a second going by in the real world while they take their time in the Consensus to properly formulate a strategy.
Ano hums softly to herself, "We don't know the sensors or the lock on mechanisms.. but, none of the local powers know what we use either. I don't think any of our allies has taken up the offer of a link to the network yet. Why not use the chromas to project some illusions?"
Igyin and Daya voice concern at the idea, but the smallship Asi supports it, "I like the notion. We can surprise them, make them think there are more of our allies than expected. Perhaps, even duplicate a fleet and pretend it was cloaked? As you said Ano, none of them know us. What we can do."
Ano smiles softly at the younger being. Their bravery to still be here and present and helping inspired, "We should be able to pull the protational fields of ourselves and condense them in a manner to make a convincing mass signature. The chromatophores can handle the holograms. Are you familiar with quantum-atomic construction, Asi?"
The younger smallship shakes their head, "No, but I will devote whatever mental energy needed for the task."
It's swiftly decided in in a unanimous Consensus among the bioships; they'll attempt to hoodwink the foe. But for this to work right, they'll need two things. Sufficient surprise, and sufficient cooperation from their newfound friends.
Two seconds after the launch of the missiles, the Saxheelians open another comm with the fleet. -C
"Allied forces shall be informed of updated Meta-Sax strategy. Field boundary projection used at Leibr successful against lower sophistication sensing organs. Possibility of similar strategy viability in this locality. Meta-Sax shall use projection of peer-reality holography in conjunction with mass-manipulation to imitate vessels of selves. Orientation of fleet assets to emulate them as real, physical objects will aid in illusion."
Then, they sent a second tight beam transmission, this time directed solely at the SSA forces, "It is not beyond the time of reconsidering. Your people fought with honor at Leibr; Towit praises you still. We will not give up on reconciliation, even should you choose to fire upon us. There is always hope, always another path. Let us help."
At last, they sprang their little plan. The skin of the Meta-Sax ships were composed entirely out of computerized artificial atoms, ones that allowed them to project light, EM fields, and a host of other useful benefits. For this particular trick, however, they projected these pseudo-real holograms into the space surrounding them. Shimmering into view, a dozen additional starships appeared, each of them Meta-Sax. One, in particular, was far larger than the rest and it is to this one that Ano and Igyun focus their gravitational manipulation through their mastery of dark fluidics. They gave it mass, an EM signature, everything that they could think of that could spoof conventional sensors. Then, they gave it a name, Ang.
Each of the original Meta-Sax ships became focus points for a network of lasers - infrared, believable if one was to only glance as com lasers - to the rest of these "decloaking" facsimiles.
Once again, they opened a channel. Casting themselves through the Consensus, they used the perspective of the false large-ship's voice, "I Am Vigilance. You are outnumbered."
"Understood, we will keep a lookout for any arriving foes." replied Thundrick, who closed the line.
"Comms, Flight. Launch offensive craft, stick close to allied attack craft. Hit the satellites hard and fast. Ordnance, have six torpedoes fired from the Frigates, three to an Unbroken interdictor, and three to a Bulwark bouy. Have the longbows target the same two targets with particle lances. See if the Ewar frigates can prepare to get defensive jamming online to protect from incoming weaponsfire, send pulse missiles if needed."
"Aye, sir," replied the trio, all three getting to work as Flight sent in commands towards the flight decks, comms relayed all the orders within the Dominion Fleet, and the Ordnance officer passing commands to the weapon crews through the ship.
The three stantra-class frigates opened up a pair of bays each on their sides, revealing racks of torpedoes within themselves. The Z-03 Leviathans were pushed out of their racks, clicking onto their targets as their fusion thrusters kicked on, sending bright glowing streams of red plasma behind them, their small CIWS guns coming online with shield nodes whirring around like little protective eyes of plasma waiting to defend the torpedoes, of which are far smaller than the massive ones from the Eosian vessel. As well as this, Sirius-class Ewar Frigates brought Electromagnetic Pulse missiles into their racks, rearing to fire as soon as the enemy's torpedoes got in range.
Hangar Bay
"Alright, kids. Launch time!" called out Brynhildr, pulling herself into the seat of her Shrike, her helmet clasping onto her head while her hands tug and pull to get her flight suit just right. She continued over her squad-radio.
"I want everyone in their planes, ready to go. Flight wants us in the vacuum ASAP, we're flying to assault the satellites alongside the SSA and Eosians. No complaining, or i'll kick your ass when we get back on the ground."
Valk-4, callsign Herja, responded first.
"How's the odds?"
"We'll be fine," replied Ivar, "as much as I hate Eos, they know what they're doing."
Then Valk-3, Eir. "We'd better be okay. Dont wanna die on our first combat mission. Let's go get em, Girls and boys."
"Everyone locked in?" questioned Brynhildr. "Valk squadron call and launch."
"Valk-2, plane's on the catapult."
"Valk-3, thrusters are burnin' hot!"
"Valk-4, standing by for launch sequence."
"Valk-5, all clear."
"Alright, Valkyries, initiate catapult sequence."
The fighters were all five locked into their electromagnetic fighter catapults, as they pressed the button to initiate the launch sequence. One by one, they were slung forwards at powerful speeds, the planes shaking for a moment until they were released, thrusters already fully burning halfway down the tube as they hit the vacuum of space, forming up on one another as other fighter squadrons and wings followed up from different catapults and the main hangar bay, plus an additional reinforcement wing of craft from the platinum-class cruiser's bays. The fighters, interceptors, and attack-craft alike formed up with the Eosians and SSA craft heading towards the Interdiction bouys, while the drones launched before stayed behind as defenses for the fleet.
WARNING INCOMING RAMSHIP
The message came with shifting colours manifesting on the Ferrofluid battlesphere, two streaks of burning crimson pushing further than any projectile trajectory or fighter formation. The attack itself wasn't shocking, its form was. The Unbroken had expected some sort of wunderweapon, a beam of arcane force or dimensional energies. In the end, a large projectile is all one needs. In the few brief moments, before the battle truly began, Xylvix had reconnected himself with command nexus of his fleet. Every piece of information flowed through his fractured mind like intrusive thoughts, yet for one cursed with endless foreign whispers, this was nothing.
By now there was no need for spoken words, every command of the Pureblood transferred directly into the mind-interfaces of the Homunculi on the bridge. Veterans of previous battles under their Primogenitor accepted the connection, to some it was an almost holy sensation. Those who stood in the chamber for the first time shuddered under the touch of their Lord, fearing that their innermost thoughts were laid bare before him.
The Homunculi relayed the commands to the fleet
Intercept the Impactor. The loss of our Interdictor is unacceptable. Remain in formation, focus your point defence at the incoming foe, strike down their fightercraft, eliminate their firepower, punish those that act too eagerly.
The commands were vague to those with no connection to the Pureblood, the bridge crew had fought long enough to discern what their master wanted with each order and the Unbroken began to act. The Battlecruiser and Line Cruisers opened fire with their Boser weaponry, the Eosian impactor was the obvious target. Despite its sheer speed, its size allowed for precise interception fire, the beams had to be constant, to ensure that there was no trace left, or that its course had been diverted by a large enough margin to matter. While this took the ships out of other combat roles, the escorts would attempt to pick up the slack.
Eight of the automated ships attempted to act as deterrents, their size and weaponry was too insignificant to truly hurt enemy ships at this state. But a combined salvo from every LLA cannon would strain enemy ships enough for their Allies to finish the strike. The Four remaining escorts broke formation and added their fire to the salvos of intercepting munitions. The concentration of their LLA streams weakened, turning from sharp cutting beams into scattershot-like projectiles, while ineffective against capital ships these would be far more effective against any fighter wing or missile.
By then the Carried had already purged itself of the 500 drones hidden inside its belly and began to retreat to allied lines, still close enough for its commands to be received, but outside of enemy weapons range. The fighter automata began to cruise around deployed buoys and allied ships, adding their firepower to any possible interception, but mainly focusing on dogfights with enemy spacecraft. Individually each was little more than a gun attached to an AI mind, easily dispatchable by any competent pilot. Yet when used in the dozens they could have the same effect as any Ace
"What the..." the commander of the Selenican carrier exclaims at the hulking...things coming towards their allies. "Wait, it's targeting our frontline!"
"Is it now?!" Azria shouts, staring out of the small windows on the bridge. These dart-looking projectiles started slow, but their speed was gaining and gaining. It wouldn't be but so long until they reached their targets. "Fire main weapons on them! They have a straight course, shouldn't be hard to calculate."
"Sir! Receiving transmissions from our people who're cooperating with the Unbroken and Bulwark!" a communications officer shouts.
"What're they saying?" The commander asks,
"One sec."
This comms officer then begins the almost asinine procedure of playing back communications on the nearing-on obsolete equipment the Selenicans once used in these ships. "The Great Red Disappointment" the Farinsa-Class and her sisters, along with the other designs of this period. were called, never having seen deployment before recently and painted in the traditional crimson red of the past. The recent uptick in interaction between the Selenican Republic and the galaxy at large have had these ships being repainted in the white and red of wartime service.
"Do we have orders to allow the CAP to fire on these lances?" the commander asks Azria, one final confirmation for, as far as she knows, a declaration of war against the Eosians.
"You may fire at will." Azria replies, and the itchy trigger fingers of the turret operating crews across the fleet loosing. A short moment later, a bright orange glow emanates from the turrets of the cruiser's and destroyer's tachyonic weapons as a shot of these supercharged particles are fired on an intercept course with the lances headed towards the Bulwark and Unbroken fleets in a somewhat tight volley as the order hits the bridges of each ship and the orders are relayed. Discipline is taught and enforced heavily, and now is no exception.
The Admiral perused the reports of the crew put into the brigs for now; one would say brigs, but they were more isolation pods, both to restrain the occupants and protect them from the sheer kinetic force of the ship engines moving the ship. What scraps of arguments and rants had the same theme over and over; betrayal of new allies, breaking the trust of the CGSS and not being able to trust the Eosians. He wished he could explain what he had been briefed on when being sent on this mission; the rising inflation and scarcity of goods in the Alliance due to the Ancerium crisis and 3AW, the 6 month supply of Ancerium they had, how 2/3rds of that amount had been locked away by a hostile cyberwarfare element in the Alliance and the threat of the Procyon Group if it came to civil war or a coup. But he could not, and so all he could do was hit a few keys and put in an order for no discharge or mark on their records to be done after the fact.
“Sir. We’re being hailed…by the Meta-Sax.”
He rubbed his eyes tiredly and shoved the reports away and pulled the tactical window closer.
“Send to my station and play. Await further orders.”
The message appeared, both in audio and subtitled format:
”It is dismay we feel that those who had left believe in the tones and words of the Eosian neutral/hostile entity. Is it not wiser to cultivate relationships with peers? With allies? Instead, collaboration with an entity-polity with a history of such violence will spread the tone-of-pain onto yourselves. It will end the possibilities we spoke of; of peace, not conquest. For their pay lay only death and entropy. Yet, all is not lost. Should the ones who have left reconsider, the Meta-Sax will still aid, will help. It is noemata.”
He moved the message over to the side, moving the reminder of his decision, his orders, off for a minute to focus on the battle at hand. There had been an increase in power and sensor strength from the Meta-Sax, their support abilities coming online as they had at Leibr. The Unbroken were forming a shield around their capital class ship, a standard defensive measure, but the carrier had pushed ahead, moving towards the buoys and the shuttles, part of the counter to their strike craft thrust.
“Admiral, we’re seeing firing arcs of the Selencian fleet beginning to focus on our ships!”
His eyes flicked over to the Operations officer, before returning to the display. Two destroyers were marked; no surges of energy, this wasn’t a barrage but a warning, especially at this distance. Another beep, another message, irritating him as he tried to focus on the battle.
”I understand Alliance fleet, I thank you for the information.”
The Eosians began to react as well; their hangar bays opened and spilled forth their fighters, dancing ably in the void and running rings in comparison to the Alliance craft, but forming up all the same to join alongside. The more surprising action was the surge of power as two massive darts surrounded by a ring launched out, their projected path indicating these were their answer to the interdiction. Alarms began to sound as the Zlotosgrad forces launched the initial salvo, fusion torpedoes, aimed for his fleet.
An answer to the Eosian attack. It was now far too late to go back, Aurelion deleted the Meta-Sax message, only to be taunted for yet another one came in-
”It is not beyond the time of reconsidering. Your people fought with honor at Leibr; Towit praises you still. We will not give up on reconciliation, even should you choose to fire upon us. There is always hope, always another path. Let us help.”
With a growl he shoved the message away, muscles pulsing with tension in his arms, as he gripped his chair and watched as the Meta-Sax seemed to reveal their hand; around twelve additional ships appeared, centered around a larger capital-class vessel, bellowing out its name, Vigilance, to the system. There was a ripple of concern and then confusion before,
“Operations, did we detect any FTL surges or Ancerium traces before their arrival?”
“No, sir, there was no sign of any transit beyond the light barrier. However these ships got here, it wasn’t by a drive.”
So, either they had stealth technology far more advanced than they were aware of or capable of detecting, or this was a trick. Considering the Meta-Sax aversion to offensive combat and their support abilities at Leibr, he was prone to believe the latter. Still, he had to prepare for these being real.
“Focus VLA array on the new arrivals and the incoming torpedo swarms, we need to see if we can puncture through their cyber defenses and confirm if we’re dealing with shadows or steel.
All strike craft are to coordinate with Dominion and Eosian squadrons; the focus are the buoys and the shuttles; we need to prevent them from laying more buoys and degrade the network. Time until contact?”
Ops scanned their screen and turned around,
“Approximately ten minutes. We’re showing an Unbroken drone force of around five hundred, their home ship is pulling back from the combat area. We’re also reading Bulwark pods of fighters and escort-class ships around the nodes.”
Aurelion took a deep breath, his body shaking from the tension, the turmoil and, with a practiced timing, exhaled, letting it all drain from him. His eyes opened, his mind focused; the rest was problems and factors for after the battle or he would cease to have to worry with his death. For now, he had a job to do.
“When the torpedo swarm comes into contact, switch that portion of the VLA to be emitters for the EWAR, I want their communications and sensors to have as difficult a field to play in. False data, contacts, rapid frequency oscillations, swarms of attempted connections, the works. They know we’re coming, and our allied craft are going to hit a wall of fighters and enemy point defense.
Load up firing pattern Alpha-Two, send a salvo of laser core missiles to support the attack, see what we can pick off.”
While he had been focused on doing his job as commander, he was unaware of Aurel gazing at the message from the Meta-Sax, eyes tightening as he read. His head tilted back and his eyes glowed, the connections from his brethren across the fleet coming together into a united whole. As per his preference, the Ideascape was a starry field, with holographic stills of the ships around them, the other members of his force coming into the scape.
This action is madness, Aurel. We know of the situation for the Alliance but we’re going to be suicided by the galaxy or SAGA rather than internal collapse at this rate.
Even so, we agreed to work together when we signed the constitution, brother. If we outright rebel now, we’re guaranteed to collapse the weak foundations we have and Procyon will roll over us all.
His head turned, his eyes gazing at the Meta-Sax representation in the demi-plane.
Still, there may be a method to try one last roll of the dice, but I will require your help.
They all raised their hands and the stars began to grow brighter and brighter as the building psionic power began to resonate with them.
You need only but to ask. If the Heart of Nasreus is to prosper, we cannot cut ourselves off from the galaxy. Do what must be done.
***
Psionic powers were a tricky thing to get a handle on; there are so many versions and systems and rules, with very few hard and fast principles one could rely on. The pinnacle was that whatever you did was easier and more likely to happen if it remained within the realm of physics, another was distance increased the energy required exponentially. For the Nasreuis practitioners, there was the further restriction of the reading of minds and controlling of minds being one of the most difficult of tasks to do. The mind was a fragile yet strong thing, able to react to intrusions with force but also collapsing under the weight of the conflict. So dominating a mind was likely to make them into a brain-dead slave, a zombie only able to respond to basic commands. But influencing, that was something that could be done without such collateral damage.
They were aware of the Eosians own psionic abilities, so they had to be sneaky and careful with this. Instead of just creating a bubble of power and surging it into their target, they formed a net through the bond, linking each other like a series of ships with a communication laser, to channel the power, with the agent at the end being the recipient of it. They would walk over to the communication officer on one of the smaller vessels, put their hand on their shoulder and ask a question about the link to the VLA. While they were answering, the power was leaked through their hand into the person’s body; they kept typing and working while explaining, but their focus was nudged onto the conversation, rather than what was being typed. They could only do this so long before their mind noticed and began to cave or the Eosians clued in that this was something beyond normal operations.
When it was enough, it was sent into the comm network, encrypted but in a different cipher as before, sent to the Meta-Sax. The message was short and to the point.
”We are at the brink of collapse; all methods of trade, bargaining and negotiation have been attempted. Internal strife threatens collapse, one number holds a knife to our throats if it comes to war. The Alliance will fail and we join the rest of those conquered unless we get this Ancerium. We seek bonds but without Ancerium, we only have this open to us.”
The psionic network settled down but maintained their bond for now, choosing to bolster their crews and their aura as they comforted them in this time. So, it would seem more of an activation surge than any sign of anything suspicious. The Meta-Sax had been answered; whether they had enough to help remained to be seen. It mattered not for them; if they choose to betray again, the Eosians would wipe them out since interdiction prevented another move.
While this was happening, the fleet readied its arms, specifically the coilguns loaded new ammo; instead of the drones of the VLA deployment, they had cold-launched missiles with x-ray laser cores, designed to explode and use the reaction to stab out with dangerous energy, part of their precision warfare doctrine. Guns flashed across the fleet as they finished coordinating and calculating and a swarm of these missiles stabbed out into the intervening void between. Once they reached an appropriate distance, a planned timed action would activate the maneuvering jets and engine of the missile, increasing its speed further to reach the battlezone at the appropriate time. Data would be fed to them as quickly as possible from the VLA, helping to guide and update paths and orders as they came in.
Now, it was just a waiting game to see how the initial opening hands played out.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
Flashes of Alcubierre drives powering down and breaking their warp field signalled the arrival of more Zlotosgrad Security Forces. Nearly 20 vessels of various classes including a much larger battleship equivalent used for command and control. Almost instantly they ignited their drives and moved to link up with the main allied force, no doubt having been communicating with the command systems here to get full tactical data on the situation. While their ships were not tough, they were fast, with decent weapons. Already the new arrivals were putting themselves under the joint tactical command so they could be utilised in the best way possible.
The Bulwarks counter torpedo strike heralded the first real engagement of the battle with the newer forces. The Eosian impactors detected the incoming signatures and tried to evade, throwing themselves on widely different paths. They also seemed to charge in energy, readying Kinetic wave weapons for if the Torpedoes would attempt impact or proximity detonation. But with the rapidly approaching speeds their contact would be very soon. Still the incoming Boser fire and Tachyon fire would prove a problem, the first strikes vaporising segments of superplastic hull and coring segments from one of the impactors, but due to its size it would take sustained fire to bring down fully.
“Enemy force is intercepting impactors; Dominion appears to be protecting them” Vanadis nodded in response.
“I wanted to see how they chose to do so, see what we are looking at, very nice of our new friends to- Oh… Look at that” He pointed as the Meta-Sax implemented their ploy “New signatures, we have mass, EM output, IR signatures. But no FTL release of exotic particles we have observed so far in this galaxy. Sensors, focus those new arrivals, I expect they are projections, if they are I must commend those who created them for they have done a marvellous job. I wish to know how, or if they are new contacts, how they FTLed in without detection” The Eosian fleet was not convinced of the new arrivals, but their powerful sensor arrays were focused, getting every scrap of information they could gather to ensure it was the case.
“First Wall Advance, I want us to accelerate, take us in waiting here has gone on long enough. More and more of the reinforcements will enter. Keep the rest close to the hauler”
15 of the Eosian vessels began to accelerate, slowly, their gravitic drives slowly forcing their huge bulks onto an intercept course with the Zlotosgrad allied forces. It seemed the Eosians were making their move.
Daya quipped in the mini Consensus, "It would seem.. our ploy may not work. Perhaps the peoples of this galaxy do not possess cloaking technology?"
Hedhu poked at Ano, "It was a good idea. We-"
Igyin interrupted, "Tight encoded transmission from one of the Alliance ships."
The group read it collectively. Ancerium.. it did seem to be the source of much of the galaxy's woes. For a moment, the support ship pondered if people would be willing to return to a slower time.. but that was neither here nor there, "Well, what we can offer them is substantial, but we can't give them the exotic fuel reserves we're manufacturing for ourselves. It just isn't stable outside of a bioship."
Ano nodded, "Not to mention, we're already stretching resources. Too much of our manufacturing ability simply no longer works. But.."
Yesoh hum-clicked, their voice buzzing, "We can give them our share from this. It will double their share of ancerium and should stabilize their faction. Additionally, our task force can redeploy to their space."
They dabbled in some scenario building while Ohus shifted projections in space. They wouldn't be threatened by a lack of the material, they simply wouldn't be able to make any progress. Stasis can be its own form of stability. Consensus was decided and a return message sent along the same line as the Alliance had opened.
"Then you shall have ours. We did not come here for the fuel. We came here to help. The shares that are offered to us will be given to you. We whom are here equally will dedicate ourselves to your aid. If this will be sufficient, keep your ships far from the battle - the foe approaches and will soon be out of range to double back upon you without risking a flank."
Message sent, they refocused on the battle. The giant impactors were quickly closing the distance and would be a significant problem unless dealt with. Ano peered at the rest of the fleet formation, assessing effectiveness, "We should get moving."
The group agreed.-C
The projections adjusted their positions in space, offering cover from enemy attack while parasite craft swiftly embedded themselves into the "skins" of the facsimiles. One method to give them weapons, to make them a more convincing threat, at least, that was the idea.
The projected smallships moved out of formation and towards the impactors, their drone-weapons firing the small, but potent particle beams typically meant for anti-fighter work. It wouldn't be enough, they knew that. The MMV's fired off a small salvo of micro-missiles which briefly oriented in the ships magnetic field before accelerating via the reactionless engines the Meta-Sax used.
Vigilence, meanwhile, moved near the back of the circular array. It was really just them duplicating something they had observed from the Unbroken formation, a means of expressing it as a 'flagship' of sorts.
Finally, they started cyberwar offensive measures. Low level lasers were sent out from the larger ships which started to poke and prod at various points, trying to find an open sensor node, some point of entry, on all the enemy ships save for the Alliance.
"We need to move, FAST. Link up with some Zolotsgrad forces, they should be able to keep up with us, and we need to get the hell away from the primary line of fire. Our first targets will be Eos, cut the head off the dragon and the body will fall." Azria shouts to the bridge, getting the orders relayed to every ship in the taskforce with haste.
"Admiral, sir, about our area patrol?" the commander replies, punching all sorts of quick-response commands into her console. "We can't abandon our allies."
"This ship will not move out of sync with our allies. We HAVE to detach the combat vessels lest we be annihilated!" Azria replies. "And that is an order, commander."
"Aye, sir."
//ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION BEGIN - ZLOTOSGRAD DEFENSE FORCE//
"A portion of your forces are requested by our Admiral in order to assist with artillery hit-and-run operations against those wretches who've invaded your system and backstabbed your allies. All volunteers, the code for the Selenican flagship is F-77KE-556-WZ3, if you so wish to help. Any and all assistance will not go forgotten."
//ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION END//
//ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION BEGIN - ALLIED FORCES//
"As per the combined will of the Selenican Republic's forces here, we will begin our attack on the Eosian forces with assistance from our Zlotosgrad allies. It will be of a hit-and-run nature, and as such our support will not be extremely localized. Our flagship, however, will remain with the bulk of you, to provide a combat area patrol and other interception operations."
//ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION END//
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With the order given and their allies made aware of the plan, the crimson red of the low power mode of the Selenican's fusion thrusters begins to glow ever brighter a red, with tahcyonic weapons being recharged quite slowly as they begin a turn to port, turrets rotating to continually face the Eosian forces as whatever volunteers the Zlotosgrad forces decide to send have space allotted for them in the Selenican formation. Onboard the Selenican carrier, constant landings and takeoffs are occurring with extreme frequency as the low fuel, high speed Selenican interceptors are returning from their patrol with the Unbroken, Bulwark, and Meta-Sax. All but two wings of interceptors are churned out of the carrier, forming a mass swarm of the gunmetal grey painted fighters constantly patrolling the area for any smaller vessels they could reasonably attack and force away from the bulk of the task force.
Dominion Flagship
"New Signatures!" Called out the sensors admin aboard the ship.
"Identification?" replied Thundrik, leaning forwards as to hear the man better.
At the central holo-table on the bridge, the new signatures- 20 of them -appeared in an orange-gold colour; Zlotosgrad Defense forces; as they moved to link up with the "allied" forces opposite the Eosian line.
"Get us into full combat readiness, send a section of the fleet and get this job done." said the Fleet-Admiral, internally grimacing with the new arrivals.
Dominion Fightercraft
As the combat had begun, the fighters and interceptors of the Dominion had stuck close to the Dominion torpedoes and Eosian superimpactors. But with the counter-barrage from the Bulwark forces coming in, they began to peel off, racking missiles; interceptors, mostly; and flashing their red fusion drives to maximum thrust. Though some remained, a large portion of the Dominion's craft had now begun dogfighting, others intercepting. A wing of fighters came upon the bulwark's torpedoes, and unleashed a volley of interception missiles before pulling up and around, heading back towards the superimpactors.
Valkyrie Squadron
Over the Radio, Brynhildr called out the first order of business to her squadron.
"Alright, Girls and Boy! Party's starting! Command wants us racking interceptors and hitting these bulwark torpedoes hard and fast. Think we can pull it off?"
"Damn right we can!" quipped Eir, "I'm ready to finally use these damn things!"
"Dont get too cocky, Kiddo! I think we can do it; but we gotta be smart." interrupted Ivar.
The Shrikes shot forwards at a speed considerably far more immense than that of most comparable Dominion Aerospace craft, the new Interceptors proving their worth as searing-hot plasma shot from the fusion torches, leaving blood-streaks of red tracers behind the squadron. Their sleek silver coating with the signature red made for a pretty display as they brought themselves into a tight Delta formation. The Distant fighting grew ever closer as the squadron passed the superimpactors.
Over the comms, Brynhildr cracked a half-joke half-order;
"Hold fire until we can get a full lock on torps, aye? Missiles are expensive!"
"Wouldn't have it any other way, Bryn'," replied Herja.
Over the sensors display, the Bulwark's torpedoes began to pop up, a deep, deep crimson red as the Interceptors began to pull around, bringing their noses to face their new targets. RCS thrusters shot out jets of air as they manouvered, the wings clicking open to reveal hidden weapons racks, long interceptor missiles with fusion warheads showing themselves, raring to shoot forth at their targets like rabid dogs of metal and plasma, pinpricks of red trails already forming behind them like secondary and tertiary tracers to the craft itself as their torch-drives warmed up.
"Valk One Locked on. All Valkyries, confirm lock!"
"Valk Two, Missiles locked to target."
"Valk Three, Interceptors ready."
"Valk Four, firing sequence prepared."
"Valk Five, Finger's on the Trigger!"
Brynhildr took a deep breath as they each called off their readiness to fire. This would be their first combat, their first meaningful shots fired at a true enemy.
What would it feel like?"
"Valkyrie Squadron, Fire Interceptors!"
It felt like bliss.
MR-23 Silverhawk Wing
In the midst of the fighting, a wing of Silverhawks had been given a task. These meta-sax ships that had shown up; whether they be projections or real vessels; were firing on the superimpactors. This could not be allowed. The Multirole fighters- loaded with anti-ship missiles- would intercept these vessels, unleash a volley of the ASMs, and pull away. They would repeat this process once more with another volley of missiles, then return to the carrier to re-arm.
The Grey-silver fighters; while nowhere near as fast as the famed Shrikes, were still fast enough to keep track of these Saxheelian vessels, their blood-trails of fusion torches shooting behind them as the fighters internal weapons bays shifted open. Out of it came a large, guided anti-ship missile by the name of the GM-70 Thebes. The missile took up half of the large internal bay itself, a second missile waiting for the next pass to be launched from the fighters.
Getting closer, the Silverhawks began to lock onto the Meta-Sax 'projections', and with the clicks of buttons and calls of comms over the various squadrons, they launched. Swiftly the missiles shot forth, expunging vast swathes of bloodied plasma from their fusion torches. RCS thrusters shot jets of pressurized air as they guided themselves to their Saxheelian targets.
Dominion Fleet
Following the orders of their Fleet-Admiral, a section of the fleet began to move out from the defensive line, forming up behind the vast Eosian vessels while still keeping their distance, an attempt to prevent being gutted incidentally by their own 'allies'. Massive torches of fusion warmed up, a red glow engulfing the vessels as the plasma began being piped to the engines, the signature glowy-crimson beginning to form tail-trails behind the vessels as their speed began to pick up.
At the head of the spear was the Platinum-class cruiser; the headpiece of the manouver, and serving as the small battlegroup's commanding unit. Flanking it were the two Usurper-class destroyers, who kept just behind the cruiser, staying close to provide defense and protection. Behind even them in a flat two dimensional triangle shape were three stantra class frigates, who were miniscule compared to the larger ships before them.
Supporting this, a large Vanguard-Class began to trail with the fleet, swirling blue portals of plasma itching to form defensive barriers afront the battlegroup, waiting and wanting. Beside this was a much smaller, but more devious vessel of a Sirius-class, a mobile Electronic warfare platform loaded with Electromagnetic pulse missiles, jamming, and even cybernetic warfare capabilities. When the order was given, it would begin throwing directed jamming at the enemy fleet. False signatures, overloading radio with noises, and attempts at hacking into the enemy to display falsities upon their screens or steal information.
But not quite yet; First, something else must be taken care of.
The Selencians were on the move, it seemed, so the Dominion fleet aimed to suppress them as they shot forth.
Orders were to bring around railguns and fire potshots in their direction to keep their CIWS busy, and thus that is what they shall do. Across the fleet, railguns and coilguns brought their barrels around, electrostatic and electromagnetic charges building up and zapping through the vacuum between the ends of the barrels.
And with one command, they all fired. A Silent crack, shriek, and boom of the guns all near-simultaneously firing shells shaking each vessel to its core, as the projectiles zipped forth, mostly aimed to strike fear in the hearts of the selencians and to keep them busy, focusing on taking down projectiles and avoiding hits instead of making plans.
Meanwhile, farther back towards the still defending Dominion ships, the two longbows had begun to charge their spindly tower-like particle lances, running down the spine of the ship like a backbone, bleach white energy pouring through.
On the bridge, the capain spoke to a projection of the fleet Admiral.
“Do we have permission to fire, Fleet Admiral? Our trigger-fingers are itching.”
“Fire at will, strike them down. You have your orders.”
The Captain saluted, and the hologram dissipated, prompting him to turn to his crew.
“BRING THE MAIN GUNS TO BARE! I WANT TO PIERCE THOSE VESSELS LIKE OUR ANCESTORS PIERCED THE CLOUDS AND YEARNED FOR THE STARS!”
A cheer from the crew, and then a rumble, the whole ship shuddering and shaking, exactly as her sister ship beside her shook and shivered beside her, lances of neutral particles being sent at relativistic speeds right for the heart of the Selencian fleet.
The Music's started; Are they ready to dance?
The impactor followed its course unimpeded. To the Homunculi aboard the Interdictor Cruiser, it was like an arrow, fired from the bow of a vengeful deity. Absolute and certain death creeping ever closer with each passing second. The crew could only observe in abject horror, that the Cruiser had poured all of its power into its interdiction arrays, its engines were insufficient to even attempt a dodge, even if operating at peak efficiency. Flashes of Unbroken fire struck the Eosian projectile with increasing frequency, even amongst the chaos of the battlefield the Homunculi could recognise them. A thin streak of ferrofluid, accelerated to a near-plasma state, a pulse of gravitons, catching nearby projectiles in its path, an atom laser, cutting through matter like a scalpel.
There was no power to spare for a sensor sweep, no one aboard knew the state of the Impactor. Yet even if these were their last seconds, the Homunculi would fight to the moment they scattered into debris. Even as the signature of their doom changed from a distant speck in the void, to a visible outline, everyone aboard stood by their stations, focused on their duty to the end. Only the leading Alpha took in the scene from a wider perspective and spoke across the inner vessel comms.
"Today we give our blood for New Eden, for Gaia, for our Primogenitor and the Unbroken. The Exodus will remember our sacrafice. Our kindred will ensure it is not in vain."
The Alpha cursed under his breath, speeches weren't in his combat programming and neither did his Pureblood ever bother to give one that was worth a damm. As the Eosian Impactor neared its target, he was glad that at least no one else heard his attempt at heroism. The crew collectively took a breath and prepared for an explosive end, though in the end, it never came.
The only chance at destroying such a vast and mobile target was in close range when the firepower of every assembled Unbroken vessel could be wagered. The escorts focused their graviton weaponry on a single damaged spot, ripping the armour and internals outward. Immediately every other weapon in the fleet fired, atom lasers, LLA cannons, missiles. Even some drones had diverted their course on a kamikaze run. The Impactor split in the middle, each of the separated parts moved by its initial momentum far off course into the void
Though the Unbroken forces had saved their interdictor, their efforts had put them in a precarious position. The fleet had to focus entirely on the incoming projectile, ignoring the other hostile, even if it meant taking avoidable damage, and though the Carrier had recalled some of its drones from interception duty, the majority still clung to the FTL buoy arrays. Xylvix had no choice but to hope that his allies would give them air to breathe for the few precious moments it would take for the fleet to reorient itself
The design of bulwark torpedoes were fully automated of course, however they were also massive compared to missiles, this gave a lot of room for enhancements, as the Valkyries would quickly notice.
Radar signatures lit up through the internal computers of each of the 6 huge projectiles, no IFF's, foreign heat signatures, increasing velocity's. In moments, hull sections popped out, revealing themselves as the top plated of CIWS turrets, a way to make sure important payloads absolutely reached their targets. Sprays of rounds spewed forth from spinning barrels, streaks of orange tracers being directed by intercept algorithms and precision return lasers. For something destined to destroy itself, they were certainly prepared to defend themselves.
Of course they had launched 6 for a reason, and the redundancy was showing its effectiveness. A missile breaking through the wall of fire would lead to more seeping through, thin armour would buckle and the resulting explosions would be visible from both fleets. 1 down, 2, a 3rd, a 4th, the slow payloads being easy pickings for swarms of fighters...and then they weren't going so slow anymore. The 2 remaining torpedoes split a stage, a much smaller, faster lower range section rocketing from the huge shell, yet it still seemed so far away from its target, and the reason quickly became clear. 2 balls of light shone brightly for mere seconds, warheads in the megatons firing off around a hundred kilometres from the remaining impactor.
Suddenly that impactor was pierced, and due to its speed, practically sliced by bomb pumped lasers. There were no warheads left to redirect towards other enemy forces, but they had stopped their capital ships from being scrap in their first engagement.
"A good start..."
Felix leaned back in his command chair, indicators on his screen displaying incoming projectiles as destroyed, a small doubt lifted off his shoulders, they weren't completely outmatched it seemed, though this was still far, far from over.
"They've drawn their fighters out for that intercept, make sure they stay isolated or Eos will have the upper hand."
He stared out at the hologram ahead of him, their formation was still strong, but prevented long range broadside, no matter however.
"Keep our own squadrons on standby, Kilmore is cleared to fire anticraft battery when ready.
Forward guns on all frontline ships ready, keep moving closer, lure them in and stay alert on all angles. Intent status?!"
The tactical main officer, a few metres away, though barely visible apart from dim red lighting, responded.
"Sir! No full intent to target on our fleet, conclusive scans predict energy emissions and projectiles are being directed towards Selencian ships, Eosian formations are moving to intercept ZG security, allies are projecting farce ships, providing further targets."
The admiral scoffed, he almost felt like he was being underestimated, or perhaps he was just lucky today.
"The Eosians will be showing us their broadside and the dominion's guns are trained on our allies...
Split formation, keep the backline fleet and buoys in place, move frontline up and around for a better angle, order destroyers to fire S-type torpedoes, target the dominion, keep long-range capables trained on Eosian vessels and fire once within effective angle."
As he was speaking, the captain of the single Kilmore-class they had brought, stationed in the rear fleet, was already underway ordering its firing sequence. The blocky mobile missile battery was dotted with hull plates that had angled out to reveal tens of reloadable missile racks, and soon enough, smoke and fire engulfed the hull as they were fired off using short inertial pulses, giving them a heavy boost, allowing them to spread out before beginning a ranged convergence on the dominion fighter groups who had come forth to intercept the torpedo barrage.
each missile is equipped with the capability to fire its own salvo of smaller anticraft interceptors from a distance, but would still have to catch up first.
It was clear too, that the bulwark fleet was gaining momentum, the ring of destroyers and frigates surrounding the 3 battlecruisers began to burst forward ahead of the carriers, escorts and buoys sitting far behind them, it seemed they were curving around and under the east, each ship in the circular formation trailing an orange streak of plasma as they went. Within these ships, the targeting reticules of hundreds of computers and high fidelity optics were coalescing on the gold and white shapes moving toward the Zlotosgrad ships...
The return message of the Meta-Sax was received along the same pre-planned line and the officer at the communications station absently displayed the message to the agent who had remained in physical contact. They nodded and spoke quietly and the officer deleted the message before returning to their combat duties. As the agent walked away, their hands slightly shook and the officer blinked and shook their head, trying to clear their head of the combat nerves they felt. The message was sent through the Ideascape to Aurel who saw the words blaze into fire in his mind:
”Then you shall have ours. We did not come here for fuel. We came here to help. The shares that are offered to us are given to you. We whom are here equally will dedicate yourselves to your aid. If this will be sufficient, keep your ships far from the battle-the foe approaches and will soon be out of range to double back upon you without risking a flank.”
His eyes flicked to the Rear Admiral, eyes glowing as he sensed his mental state; Determination. Anger. Regret. Desperation. Futility. He would feel forced to be part of this course until another one presented itself. Even with the alarms of twenty more Zlotosgrad defense force ships arriving, it would not be enough. The Meta-Sax offer was helpful, but they had rightfully lost their own share with their actions, so it would still not really be enough. He would have to see a chance to betray the Eosians, and win, for any argument to convince him. Talidan doctrine indicated that they fight at long range, so they could follow the recommendations of the Meta-Sax for now.
Mental probes from his colleagues reminded him that it was possible that Eos would prove to be victorious, and he reminded them that they had two paths when previously they had one; their duty to Nasreus and the Little Star eclipsed all. If the Eosians path of blood was needed to protect it, they would go down it, but only if nothing else was possible.
Aurelion, unaware of Aurel’s moves behind the scenes, reviewed the combat data on the tactical screen; the increased focus of the VLA on the Meta-Sax possible reinforcements had been providing increased resolution on them before the Meta-Sax cyberwarfare had kicked into gear, scrambling further attempts, requiring more time and power. If they could align the entire array, they could punch a hole through it, but they’d leave no support and ECM for the Sax’s and others cyber attacks. Craft had come and attached themselves to the new arrivals, for what purpose, he was unsure, but he had a decision to make, in light of the futher reinforcements from the defense forces.
“Operations.”
“Sir, a portion of the Eosian forces are moving to engage the enemy forces. OPFOR has destroyed the impactors coming for the interdictor vessels. Our squadrons were too far away and too slow to match pace and provide protection.”
Aurelian leaned forward and began to speak.
“Time to contact with enemy solar garrison and I-Buoys?”
“Five minutes, Admiral.”
“Reorient VLA, focus on ECM and EW on the enemy fleets, focus on the area around the nodes; prepare next firing package and continue salvos until ordered otherwise. We need to break their interdiction hold on us. If we can jump freely, the Eosians can finish this battle quickly. Prepare the fleet to move out.”
“Rear Admiral.”
He turned to see Aurel, having remained silent thus far, coming to stand beside him.
“What is it; with us coordinating with the Eosians, your role in this battle has become very minimal.”
“We should keep our forces back here; the Dominion is moving to engage the Selencians, the Eosians are doing a general advance, but that leaves the Bulwark to come to us. We fight better at long range, and the Eosians are the perfect shield to our sword. If they try anything to come for the storage and Ancerium facilities here, we should be prepared intercept or deploy soldiers should they try a hot drop.”
Aurelion paused and then nodded.
“A reasonable plan. Counter the last, fleet is to remain in support for the Eosians for now.”
Electric blue flashes continued from the coilguns and another cloud of missiles began to make their way to the front.
At the frontline, the cloud of interceptors, fighters and bombers began to reach the lines; squadron leaders prepared their flight mates for battle, and the oriented VLA began to support their systems, providing more data for target acquisition and trying to spoof/confuse enemy sensors. As the battlefront heated up, the force divided into thirds, each going after a particular node and began to come roaring in against the enemy fightercraft formations.
Interceptors burst forward, seeking enemy fighter craft, the screeching of missile tracking in their ears as they began launching the initial salvos. As they closed, lines of kinetic fire could be seen as they began to engage and dogfight the enemy forces. The fighters remained with the bombers, preparing to intercept incoming fire and breakthrough fighters to protect the bombers, who themselves were lining up target locks and firing angles to began hitting the nodes, launching explosive-core and bomb-pumped laser core missiles.
As the scrum began, alarms would be screaming as the first wave of bomb-pumped laser missiles would arrive; at pre-set proximities, they would attempt lock ons to their targets and launching their line of x-ray radiation to destroy, damage or even fry the systems and people, if any, of their targets. Several nodes were targeted in this initial strike, with the three being attacked included.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
“Any updates?”
“We have determined them to be decoys my lord. Matching our sensor readings with those of the Alliance and Dominions as well as the distinctive lack of exotic particles we can confirm they are no threat, merely an intimidation tactic” Vanadis nodded.
“Exemplary work. I must admire their abilities, they had me fooled for a moment if we had been a lesser species perhaps, we would have focused them down with more long-range fire.”
“High Exemplar, it appears we are being targeted. Dominion forces are matching our course too, Impactors have also been intercepted, no confirmed kills”
“No matter. Point Wave guns, find us a firing solution and prep another round of impactors.”
The Eosian vessels that were part of the First Wall came in a cylindrical formation. The Unending Virtue was at its centre, the huge Divine class battleship surrounded by a mix of Basilica Heavy Cruisers, Virtue class cruisers and Crusader class heavy escorts, arrayed in concentric rings around the larger vessel. All continued to accelerate towards the Meta-Sax & Unbroken forces while the Bulwark had taken a flanking route along with the Zlotosgrad forces and Selenicans the Eosians always struck the centre.
Large turrets on the Basilicas rotated into position as a firing solution was found on the Meta-Sax formation. Already alerts were popping up of low powered lasers illuminating the Eosian vessels from there, and while Eos had no focus on cyberwarfare or false minds, they were no strangers to the threats of virtual infiltration.
Barrels spun up as gravitational flux distorted the main guns, released a moment later the bolts release, firing a barrage of point wave fire towards the Meta-Sax formation. It would help to truly solidify the decoys but also damage their vessels, meanwhile directed wave weapons and omnidirectional waves were charged and held ready. The Bulwark and Unbroken were likely seconds away from opening fire, they would be ready for the return.
----
As the remaining bulk of the Eosian fleet stayed close to the fuel vessels the fighters, escorting their allies towards the interdiction nodes now tangled with the Zlotosgrad escorts.
Flashes of laser fire immolated fighter craft as the Eosian Rapture bombers opened their launch bays and unleashed a flurry of kinetic impactors and point wave missiles. While smaller than the gigantic monstrosities which had sped towards the allied fleet their premise was the same as they accelerated away towards both the Zlotosgrad vessels and the nodes in question. The point missiles were different, designed to explode in powerful gravitic waves just like Eosian weapons. Even as an entire squadron was wiped out by laser fire, one of the Zlotosgrad destroyers was cored by a trio of impactors which smashed through its reactor and main engineering, immolating it.
The battle was truly being joined.
Bulwark Rear Fleet
"They're going straight for it. Hadn't a lick of doubt."
The bouys were not decoys, far from it of course, but they were still bait, the captain of the Jovian-class RBIV Truth or consequences knew this fact very well.
"Captain, the 'Opulent' and the 'Merchant' are reporting enemy fighters launching long-range armaments at multiple buoys." A comms officer interjected. The captain pouted, it seemed they'd have to skip ahead of schedule a little.
"The defensive elements can hold, begin deployment pattern Charlie immediately, make sure the others in our group are doing the same and co-ordinate proper distribution."
The reply was cold, their ships were relatively safe this far back behind the buoys and their escorts, and apart from that little hiccup, things were going to plan.
The Jovians themselves began to fulfil their roles, almost immediately after the command was issued, hatches across the front ends of the ships split open, revealing arrays of launch tubes, not for missiles or torpedoes, but for fighters, or at least for right now, drones. Flashes of light indicated the catapulting of small automated units towards buoys where the enemy was predicted to be at their densest in order to assist already present defensive formations and their additional allies as well as to buy time for additional fighter reinforcements.
Individual forces at each buoy had already begun to react to what they could, targeting incoming projectiles as screens of flak and CIWS fire hurled forth from the escort destroyers and attached fighter groups. It seemed they were very happy to stay on the defensive however, the fighter craft not going to meet the incoming force head on, but letting long range defensive fire soften them up first, which would help delay for the arrival of the drones.
It would be very unlikely that forces were split evenly to attack all 8 buoys, so with what reports they had, 2 rattlesnakes sitting at the centre of the rear formation would move in to assist where things were looking to be the worst. adding their own fighter compliments to the fray.
Meanwhile, the Valkyries and a lot of the associated craft that had gone to intercept the laser torpedoes would find themselves being locked onto by an increasing number of incoming missiles, splitting out into groups to encapsulate them like a vile claw.
Bulwark Forward Fleet
Within the gunnery command rooms of every available ship, an order was issued in almost perfect synchronisation.
"SALVO, DELAY 3, FIRE!"
In that moment plumes of light erupted from across the formation, ships quaking and rumbling as shells the size of buildings flung from broadsides or main heavy turrets and into the void, accelerating rapidly from their origin. The command issued, however, meant that from one gun group to the next, each ship would wait 3 seconds before firing again, in the hope that all their projectiles wouldn't be destroyed at once, in response to what they knew about Eos' defences.
At this distance the heavy rounds would take some time to cross the gap towards the Eosian detachment, but their arrival was inevitable, and the speed they'd pick up during travel likely lethal. After around the second volley, torpedo tubes opened to the vacuum, and oversized missiles pushed their way out, webbing plasma and smoke across the front of the ships red bows. Between the sunrises and the surrounding destroyer ring, around 39 were launched, 3 from each vessel, already pulling away on different paths, aiming to pass the SSA completely and to converge towards the dominion from two directions.
Such a massive expel of munitions wouldn't go unnoticed of course, but this was none of the admiral or anyone else's concern, so defensive measures from hardlight to autocannon were already being prepped up to counter whatever return fire would be thrown at them.
"Shells away sir, and torpedoes on course, estimating mid to low gap before intercept arrival."
"Fantastic." His voice betrayed the excitement of the word. He watched the weapon directory screen as the animated graphic of each gun turned red as they were fired and yellow as reloading began.
"Make sure to keep secondary armament on the enemy as we approach, and target the SSA once we get within range."
"Sir, are you sure it's wise to be spreading our firepower out between every enemy fleet? We'd be drawing too much attention." A concerned tactician voiced through his headset. The admiral almost chuckled in response.
"As if we haven't already...but fine, once secondary guns are in range, readjust main turrets to focus fire on higher class targets within proximity. Avoid punch-through, we don't want to look like monsters." His mind was running through strategies, but his eyes were fixed on the clump of dots representing the far-flung dominion fighters, if those missiles did their job they'd tilt the scales at least a little.
The very space surrounding the Unbroken vessels began to tremble with the volume of incoming fire, the ships themselves shook nearly constantly. Every piece of ablaitive plating melted by an energy blast, every projectile melted by the plasma screen, or barely deflected by the magnetic shielding. The engineering Homunculi had to activate the magnetic anchors on their armor, lest they be thrown around round like ragdolls. Some sections of the cruisers had already taken enough damage to force for Golems to be deployed, in support of the repair automata already working overtime. The machines worked tirelesly, patching microscopic holes and punctures with nanite-based solutions, or simply by welding new plating ontop.
"My liege. Enemy capital ships on a direct combat course for our fleet and the Met Sax group. They appear to be focusing on them."
Respond in kind. On this day we fight and die with our allies. The Unbroken will not be found wanting
The Unbroken formation remained just as it was when defending the Interdictor stood as the primary goal. Whether it be due to mockery or a simple tactical advantage, the Unbroken ships created a funnel, just like the Eos warfleet.
The greatest mistake of the Council was the amount of warships deployed, and their relative small size compared to their opponents. Yet by working in concert some of those weaknesses would be mitigated. The leading battlecruiser possesed a potent atom laser, a weapon powerfull enough to punch above its weight. The cruisers and the escorts began to project their shields forwards, each ship covering itself and parts of the vessel in front of it. The automated escorts would be the least defended, being on the outskirts, but such was their role, to take the firepower directed at crewed ships. Every ship further into the funnel was under heavier protection and could focus on striking back at the approaching invaders.
The battlecruiser fulfiled its role as an artillery ship, anytime an approaching vessel had its shields brought to the brink of collapse, it would focus its atom laser on breaking that unfortune foe.
Selenican - Zlotosgrad Joint Fleet
"SIR! Munitions headed our way!" the commander of the slightly smaller battle force shouts, his comms headed straight to Azria's ears.
A message is sent back in great haste, as simple as it is curt and to the point.
"EVADE! We can't risk being hit, get the hell out of the way!" Azria's garbled voice sounds, distorted from the range.
"Aye, sir!"
A quick forwarding of the admiral's order is sent out to the rest of the ships of the formation, Zlotosgrad forces included, and the relatively light anti-kinetic PD is readied and aimed at target.
"Match, set, FIRE!"
This three-word command is heard across most Selenican ships as the PD opens fire, bleaching the color from the eyes of any onlooker as the hail of kinetic fire opens, set right on course with the incoming Dominion railgun fire. While this opera of bullets is sent forth to the enemy projectiles, an unfortunate frigate, one of the few available to the Selenican forces, begins to struggle with its engines...
"Commander, engines are bleeding power, we're only being pushed forward at 40 efficiency." One of the maintenance crew radios to the bridge, the heat emanating off of the frigate's engines being near lethal. "Coolant supplies to the engines are dangerously low, leak suspected."
"Fall back to the rest of our allied formation th-!" the commander begins to say, when...
As one of the few cruisers brought along moves out of the way of the particle lance, it places the burden of fire right on the frigate, incapable of dodging with its engine troubles, and a flash is seen across the formation as the primary, oversized reactor of the ship is pierced. All shields were powered to full, but the sheer strength of enemy fire shorted the tachyonic methods of shielding, even the plasma shielding was overcome. A silent boom is felt, the shockwaves of explosive force making its way through the rest of the ships in formation.
[+][+]
"Admiral, down one frigate, complete loss. Survivors unlikely." the commander of the task force comms over to Azria, his voice cold and empty.
"We can't afford to stop, keep pushing. Focus all fire on those Dominion artillery ships, NOW!" Azria replies, the rage bubbling from his voice clear to all. "Clear them from space!"
"Aye, sir."
With this, the track of Selenican turrets flies over to their new targets- the Longbow-Class of the Dominion. With another order, a tight volley flies out from all of the ships of the fleet, purging color from whatever photography was done as the flight of tachyonic projectile clusters begins. Zlotosgrad forces also receive a slightly softer version of the order, owing to their entire participation in this being voluntary.
The dance of battle begins.
Longbow
The Longbow’s captain cheered loudly alongside his crew as they sliced through and immolated the Selencian frigate, a few moments late due to the light-lag of the vast distances.
“Thats one kill! Keep charging so we can fire again as soon as possible!”
“Aye, Captain!” replied the XO, Saluting and speaking with the weapons and engineering officers respectively.
Sensors spoke up. “Captain! Selencians engaged return fire! Tachyonic weaponry inbound, unlikely to dodge, but remaining ships not sent to the frontlines are moving to-”
The ship shook violently and the lights went red as a packet of Tachyons slammed into them, tearing and ripping a hole into the side of the ship, but missing the main particle lance.
It’s sister-ship, however, was not as lucky. Slamming into it were a few more tachyon-arrows, slicing through weak armour like butter as it’s main reactor was decimated, the whole ship shutting down and running on emergency power, shuddering and floating. Another arrow ripped and tore through the central lance, shearing it in half and leaving massive holes spotted along the artillery vessel.
“Captain, sister ship is mission-kill! Our lower navigational thrusters are offline, but main power still full, orders?”
“FUCK! Get us closer to the carriers and prepare for another round of firing, aim for their flagship!”
“Aye, Captain!”
Valkyrie Squadron
“Woo-hoo! Torpedo down! Other fighters got three of em, but two broke through.” called Bryn over the radio.
“All-right! What’s our next move, Bryn?!” replied Ivar ecstatically.
She replied swiftly- “We need to move for dogfi-” but was cut off by a loud warning.
Missiles.
“Valkyrie Squadron, Missiles inbound! Lots of em!”
Eir quipped in, “Looks like Bulwark drones have caught our tails, lets give em’ the dogfight of their lives!”
“Hell yeah!” responded the rest of the squadron.
As the missiles grew ever closer, the squadron kicked in thrusters back to max, ready to weave through the walls of missiles, and sent out small flare-missiles and radio scramblers, hoping to kick some of them off their tail.
Despite all that, there was one hit. Ivar found that part of his wing was damaged, a missile slicing through it, the tip of the wing left behind in the void of space as scrap.
“I’m hit! Damage is superficial but it’s gonna limit my weapons! Lost my whole left wing!”
“Shit! Keep up the pace and ready to fire interceptors into those drones!”
The squadron pulled around and began to lock on with their own missiles, firing into a wing of dronefighters.
“Remember. Nobody fucking dies today, do you hear me!” screamed Valk-3.
“Aye!” was the only response from various squadron members, as they kicked into the fray.
Dominion Fleet and Fighters
In response to the various missile launches from the bulwark, dominion fighters got struck down, but fought back in response. Wings took losses, and dished out countering missiles, the dogfight intensifying as the bulwark joined into the fray.
The fleet, however, had different plans.
“Captain Richt. Selencians gutted a longbow, and Bulwark have launched a mass of torpedoes to try and come at us. Orders?”
“Intercept the snakes, and have fightercraft pull back where possible to defend against the torpedoes. Make sure the Vanguard is ready to throw a fleet-shield, and have defensive primes. Fire another volley towards the Selencian fleet, all weapons free.”
“Understood, Captain.”
The fleet of Dominion vessels shifted in sync, their courses bending and aiming around to intercept the selencian vessels halfway, Thrusters kicking in maximum to slow them down and alter their courses.
And as this happened, they opened up with another volley.
Railguns, Coilguns, Missiles, Torpedoes; Everything they had. Fusion cannons fired bolts and the spinal weapons of the fleet took aim, firing irradiating particle beams and shearing railguns, many vessels in the fleet having to take breaks from shooting to vent masses of heat that had begun building up, leading to the volleys coming in waves with each ship, when one ship stopped another started. This would be quite the bloody battle.
Several things happened in quick succession.
The array found itself under the attentive eye of the Eosian's heading for their formation. Two projections were being targeted by the Dominion strike craft. Allied ships were being destroyed nearby. Unbroken forces had successfully defeated the two incoming impactors.
And now a wall of force was coming towards them.
Within the mental space they shared, there was aroused emotions; "We're not fighters, this is well beyond us!"
"Impact time is measured as twenty-two seconds in real-time, " Asi droned on with additional data in the background as the debate continued.
"Be that as it may, we're still best equipped to handle that-"
"If we commit ourselves-"
"Surely through combined-"
It was functionally circular. Ultimately, they did have the choice to flee - to use their speed and their technology to simply escape the battle and leave the rest to their fate. But that was never an actual choice, and they all knew that. No one, not a single one of their kind, would ever be able to live with the guilt. Yet, staying carried with it the very real risk of death. The First Death in a very long time.
Ano thought it was ironic, especially given that they had meant for this to be a fairly simple S&R. Just hang back, support, repair, ease the burden of others. Now though, as the Eosian's behemoth approached, they were finding themselves soon to be fighting for their own lives.
Her eyes tasted the depth of color of the gravitic wave weapons that headed for the projections and themselves. The Eosians had spread their fire, keen to pop the illusions and reveal the fraud to the rest of the battling forces, but it also meant that the wave occlusions were quite evident.
Hedhu pointed it out as well, and as the group stubbornly acquitted itself to staying, they began to devise a counter strategy.
"17 seconds."
The timer wasn't as much of a burden, not really. Just a reminder that no matter how sophisticated the network, how powerful the mind, there was never truly enough time.
Projections were moved, morphed, and adjusted. The smallship illusions expelled their parasites out inside space, which flitted about like hornets disturbed from their nests, chasing after the fighters that hounded their hosts. Particle beams that had been relatively ineffective against the impactors found their intended prey as the tiny apertures spouted out gouts of pencil-thin rays in angry vengeance against the strikecraft that had unleashed anti-ship warheads.
Those that had not been targeted by the enemy strikewing shifted into shimmering needles - their curvature affect marred by the projected protational boundaries to give it a vibrancy all its own. With the deliberate motions of the twin MMV's coordination, they flung their mass-shadows into the path of the waves in sequence. Each was immediately destroyed: the projected matter filtering away as though disintegrating, and with each sacrifice the waves lessoned.
Ano's strategy involved moving themselves away from these eddies, to build space and thus time for themselves and those around them. So two more sacrifices were made of the illusionary cruisers. Twisted into spinning rope-hewn mass shadows and light, they too made the dive into the waves.
Sentinel elements of the composite shields were sending out sense-feelings of contact with the leading edge of the wave when Ano and Igyin activated their last real "ace". It was simple really; using their mastery of dark fluidics, spatial liquid dynamics, and the topography of the star systems own gravitational emission spectrum, they would project a large field around themselves and the Unbroken fleet that they encircled.
As Ano and Igyin assumed the galactic North and South positions in the circle respectively, they would be able to conjoin the spatial region on their own without requiring the aid of their peers.
No, instead the aid would come in other ways - for while they could do this, it would take all of their mental power to crunch the math to pull it off. And the net effect would be just a velocity increase for the Unbroken - an ability to borrow for a brief period of time the reactionless abilities of a Saxheelian.
Straining ever further, pushing their resources harder and harder. Ano knew they wouldn't be able to keep it up.
The smallships coalesced into two squads of three to protect the logistics ships - they quickly formed delta's that focused their own protational gravity shields into a cone to disrupt the remainder of the incoming gravity waves. The net effect was a cancelation - the point smallship would lose its field boundary for a time, making it vulnerable to the wave effect weapons, but the actual living bioships would be unharmed. They swapped their positions as soon as the wave diminished.
Composite shields moved across the skins of the ships, stretching into space like thin membranes of connecting bat wings - their arrays would be effective against the other factions weapons as seen thus far, but were powerless against the Eosians.
To the Allied vessels, the Meta-Sax sent a message, "Capacity to withstand the attack of the Eosians is negative-time-sensitive. Proximity will increase challenge by exponential qualities. Unbroken hierarchy-detachment-entity: note that a field has been placed around The Circle and your Spiral. It will effect a percentage of reactionless movement. Redirect constellation of forces away from Eosians - only with distance will we be able to sustain a defense. To other Allied ships: the SSA may disengage from the battle entirely. Our efforts have been marginally successful, and per that dialogue, the SSA formation is remaining in the rear of the battle. Suggestion to focus all fire currently arrayed against SSA units to Eosians. If the backbone of the armada is broken, the rest will scatter."
With so much of their efforts being placed on defending against the gravity weapons, the lasers that had been previously raking across the Eosian ships looking for an opening ceased. None of them were available to take advantage of an opening anyways.
For a glimmer of a moment, the Consensus of The Dust Fleet wished that Towit had been with them, to guide them in matters of war, of pain, to teach them how to Die.
Chaos reigned.
The battle had been joined in earnest, as the Dominion began to duel with the Selencians and the Bulwark, the Eosians going deep towards the enemy center and hammering the Zlotosgrad and the Meta-Sax and the Unbroken holding the line around the Interdictor. But for the Alliance squadrons engaging their chosen buoy targets, it was chaos of another kind. Communications channels were full of static-filled shouting orders, acknowledgments and updates, every so often enemy EW breaking through with a loud wail or hissing before the VLA managed to push it back out in the endless tug of war.
The moment the first salvo came in, space had erupted in enemy fire, as the OPFOR’s fighter formations launched their own anti-missile weaponry and the point defenses of the associated ships came online, filling space with tracers, lines of energy and explosions as missiles and ordinance detonated. Bomb-pumped missiles ignited their cores, the nuclear reaction consuming the fuel inside and the machinery of the missile focusing the energy of the blast out of the tube, stabbing outward toward their targets, three of the buoys. As this was going on, the fray continued, the dull-gray hulls of the Alliance ships flitting through space, their rapid-fire coilguns striking out at enemy targets, leaving debris and floating corpses in their wake, but these were also joined by their own, pilots flaming out to sustained fire or becoming brief stars from missile or last impacts, their craft and body disintegrating to join the stardust floating throughout the system.
Still, the attack continued on, the momentum keeping them moving forward, as the fighters attempted to stem the tide of incoming fire and fighters, relying on the interceptors to keep enough at bay, and formed wedges to drive towards the buoys. A protracted battle against the defending ships, without proper full class ship support was a losing battle, this had to be a single target strike each. As they pushed onward, the bombers continued to unleash their firepower on the assigned through buoys, attempting to weaken the network of interdiction at all.
It was when the Dominion fightercraft began to peel off that concern entered the equation; the enemy had concentrated their fighter craft, outside of some defensive operations, on these buoys and without the Dominion’s support, it was just the Alliance and the Eosians against the full might of the squadrons and their backup escorts point defense. An all out rush was ordered, to try and gain some advantage while one ally pulled back to deal with incoming fire.
Even as the battle intensified, another salvo from the SSA fleet could be seen incoming, flashes of light exploding and lances of laser fire stabbing towards the same buoys, an increasing array of fire as more salvos were on the way and being unloaded by the SSA fleet still with the Eosians in orbit.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
“Enemy forces have opened fire my lord”
“As expected, and about time, very good. Projected impact time?” The High Exemplar felt the vessel shake as several impacts from Unbroken weapons made contact with the hull “Never mind, I see. That battlecruiser is likely to put up a good fight. It appears our new found allies are pulling their weight, enemy vessel destroyed”
“Indeed my Exemplar, they are holding the line. Reporting 39 torpedoes on trajectory along with additional kinetic volleys” The ship rocked again. The closer range weapons were now exchanging between the Unbroken and the Eosian formation. Weapons hammered as gravitic waves rushed outwards, both to inflict damage and to try intercept munitions. A bright light shone however briefly as one of the Heavy cruisers suffered a reactor failure.
“Report”
“Basilica Herald of Nartham destroyed my lord, the Unbroken are focusing down vessels and the battlecruiser is gutting them, the fake vessels were also just that sir but it appears the Meta-Sax are using gravitics to dampen our weapons fire onto both them and the Unbroken”
“I see. Focus fire gravimetrics onto the Unbroken, including directional wave guns, I want area waves to intercept the incoming Bulwark fire and launch more impactors, target the Bulwark and give them something to focus on” Vanadis wasn’t smiling so much anymore.
The Eosian formation kept closing, having lost a ship and now taking fire they focused their point wave weapons and directed wave weapons onto the Unbroken. With closing distance, they hoped to break open the foe, and hammer through the protective sheathe of the Meta-Sax. The vessels AOE waves however were kept on standby as the torpedoes and railgun volley closed from the Bulwark, it would impact soon but another three impactors slipped loose from the Eosian ships, each one targeting one of the Bulwarks cruisers.
The Eosians were used to chaotic engagements.
----
The appearance of the drones did not surprise Khalic.
Even deep within the womb neural interface of his Patron fighter surrounded by gel his closed eyes revealed more to him than they ever did when disconnected. He was his fighter, every part of it was merely an extension of his body. It took great mental discipline and prayer not to be driven insane whenever he was disconnected, to have so much power and widened senses stripped from you. To flying the cosmos under the creators’ eyes to merely being a small insignificant vessel. These doubts Khalic wrestled with every time he was in his craft.
Point wave guns fired, defending him from a missile as he arrested his movement and pulled an incredible manoeuvre using the grav drives. A burst of golden energy hunting down one of the foes. They were outnumbered, even with the SSAs fighter elements that Khalic agreed were fighting respectably the drones were too many now that the Dominion squadrons had withdrawn. But they had quality, and they had to merely keep them off the bombers. Raptures would detonate here and there, but they kept on, releasing payloads to destroy the buoys.
But they would have to withdraw soon to re-arm, they were reaching operational limits.
Bulwark Rear Fleet
Drone warfare wasn't the 'peak' of imperial military acumen, they much preferred swarms of cheap and hardy fighters or interceptors, however the way they used it was certainly in line with the rest of their doctrine. Enemy pilots would find that the bulky W shaped machines were dumb, but tough. They were able to read a decent number of manoeuvres and had their own counters here and there, but it really wasn't a whole lot smarter than a rookie pilot.
What was notable however was their annoying habit to take shots. Without crew, their armour and engines were upscaled to allow for a much thicker hide than would usually be expected, some might keep going with an engine blown out or a wing sheared off, or just tank a blast entirely. It was also obvious how incredibly disposable they were, drones failing to intercept weapons missing the destroyer and reaching the buoys would instead sacrifice themselves, trying their best to take the bullet, or perhaps laser, in the presence of a much more important objective. Their rapid suicidal manoeuvres also made them highly unpredictable, like a household fly, yet not so bad once you managed to predict them correctly.
With dominion groups pulling back though, and buoys suffering damage within relatively low tolerances (apart from a couple, which had been deemed operational, but non-responsive) as well as rattlesnake frigates giving support at the densest clusters of conflict, Rear command almost decided against launching the manned fighter wave from the Jovian carriers. The admiral helpfully reminded them that even the drones would need to re-arm eventually, whether that be from their nearby destroyer, or retreating back to the carriers themselves, they would fail eventually.
As such, the order was given, pilots had boarded fighters and small gunships, armaments ready before launch, preparing while the drones bought them time. Their craft were loaded up onto racks to be queued up for deployment through the magnetic acceleration tubes opening on their respective ship's blunt end, apertures opening to reveal them. Klaxons blared as the captains aimed their ships once more to where this firepower would be most needed, taking into consideration the number of terminated drones and buoy integrity as well as reports from the defending destroyers.
Flashes erupted as the manned craft were lunged toward their assigned objective in unified wings, their acceleration was slower than the drones to abide by human tolerances, but the machines and destroyers would hopefully hold their ground for them to get there, fingers crossed.
Bulwark Forward Fleet
Now far separated from the rear defensive ring, the Admiral was pleased to hear that their efforts were holding well, and with news of dominion retreats, a decision was made to fire another anti-fighter salvo on a predicted intercept, to perhaps thin their numbers before they reached their home fleet. Within minutes, a number of cruise missiles were away, aiming for a mid-range swarm strike as plasma turbines trailed streaks of blue across the empty space in-between.
"Hm." Was the first reaction the admiral gave as gravimetric sensors and long-range optics revealed the launch of impactors from the Eosian fleet on the other side of the battlefield. They weren't the most concealed thing, but Felix somewhat appreciated it, he was raised on the thought that hiding was a coward's game, after all.
Either way his vocalisation wasn't of worry, or annoyance, it was of surprise, somewhat.
"And here I was expecting a brutal two way duel. Seems they're more content playing their same old tricks...looks like they're far from invincible too."
He noticed the report of an Eosian cruiser being detonated and eyed the signatures with curiosity, there had to be more to this. Either way, they couldn't send their torpedoes to deal with it like last time, they were lucky they weren't all shot down. The unbroken definitely saved themselves. Now, if they sent them to the space between the two fleets it would be easy for a fighter group to split off from those moving back and forth to intercept. The order had to be changed.
"How many L-types do we have left?" He looked slightly toward his weapons officer. The helmeted individual took less than a moment to answer.
"1 in each Sunrise sir, 2 smaller yields in each supporting destroyer. Though I'd like you to consider we can't know how many projectiles the enemy has."
"Thank you for the input, officer.” The reply was actually grateful, it was true after all, he hadn’t considered how many of those things they could store in the stomachs of their massive vessels. Either way, they couldn’t do nothing, and they couldn’t send torpedoes out into the gap lest they be intercepted by fighters passing to their other targets. The order had to be changed.
“...Launch all three, target one for each projectile, keep them in close formation to prepare for a near range intercept. Assign research team 1 to measure their performance, I want to know if our low yields might make the cut too.”
After a number of minutes, the airlocks within their tubes allowed the torpedoes to push forth into the void. Though instead of rocketing forward with singular cause like most would expect, something odd happened. Each weapon slowed down, and started keeping pace with the formation, flying in the space between the battlecruisers and the outer ring as if they were like any other ship.
With decent manoeuvring, the torps found their place nestled between the ships of the outer ring, waiting steadily for their targets to come within acceptable range.
Valkyrie squadron
It likely wouldn’t take long for them to realise…
There were no drones. Only a swarm of countless incoming missiles faced them as they turned, the last of them heading up the rear of the swarm, splitting from the last cruise missile far off in the distance. They had come direct, straight from the Bulwark’s forward fleet missile platform just for them, and their numbers were meant to outweigh the skill of pilots.
Countless lines of blue zipped through space towards them, swerving and weaving erratically, honing in on the fighters who had mistakenly flipped toward them, waves of lock signals piling onto their alerts from a rather scary amount of angles. And to make it worse, out here in no man’s land, they only had themselves to help in order to survive.
SSA fleet
Thousands upon thousands of kilometres away, warheads flew, engines singing into the emptiness and automated systems guiding them on a warpath. Relative to the plane the enemy fleets were on, these warheads were travelling both above and below them in two groups, passing right around their vessels, heading straight for the dominion fleet.
They were far too distant for point defences but their trajectory was clear, they weren’t exactly hard to spot with any sort of sensors after all.
Selenican - Zlotosgrad Joint Fleet
"Scratch one enemy artillery ship! Keep up the pressure on the other!" Azria shouts, with eruptions of cheers throughout the crew being heard.
"Aye, sir!" the commander of the detached unit replies, thrusters burning at full speed. A noticeable shift in the Dominion's course is detected, owing to their plans to intercept the Selenicans and cross their T, as it were.
A flurry of orders and the rushing of crew through the tight hallways echoes throughout every ship of this fleet, including the Zlotosgrad forces whose point defenses were being put to overdrive in terms of their work. A mass volley from EVERY Dominion gun is spotted, but their firing solutions were not as precise as the Longbows owing to the irregular pattern from each ship. Evasive maneuvers were ordered in full, and the fleet begins to disperse from its long, thin line formation to something significantly more offensive - a dual-layered line, with a cruiser and 2 destroyers on both top and bottom, plugging the gaps with Zlotosgrad forces completing the pillar serving as mobile PD batteries, though the increase to firepower they have was sure to be used.
The mass of Dominion fire did yield some results, however, as it struck the thrusters of a Zlotosgrad vessel and a Selenican cruiser, causing them to fall slightly behind. Not a massive change, but one which could bear terrible fruit. A few Selenican frigates were additionally dispersed, open targets for a follow up volley.
"Don't just keep rushing straight ahead, turn to face or at least out of a direct crossing!" Azria warns the detached fleet, although the time it took to set up the formation was precious and slowed down the push. All guns faced the Dominion, all weapons online, including even the most minor of Gauss cannonry.
"FIRE AT WILL!"
Such orders were uncommon throughout the Selenican service as order and accuracy were highly prized among the cruiser and destroyer captains but the implication of this order was clear - the Dominion was to be swept aside from the Selenican's path.
A resounding ripple was felt as the fleet conducted its first salvo, then another, then another, pushing the weak frames of the Selenican vessels almost to their breaking point. The orange hue of tachyonic fire was everywhere in this sector of battle. It was now that the main guns of the Zlotosgrad vessels additionally opened fire, adding to the force of guns on the Selenican side.
Dominion Forward Fleet
"Damage report!" called out the Captain of the Platinum-class, Richt.
Responding was the ship's XO, "Captain, taking heavy fire along Bow, the destroyer "Adashcift" is on the verge of destruction."
"Damnit, Keep the pressure on those bastard snakes and Zlotos! All weapons, fire for full effect!"
"Aye, Captain, what of the vanguard?"
"Get that goddamned shield online, now!"
The deep glow of red lights on the bridges of the fleet's vessels pressured the ships, as they violently shook and rumbled, holes being punched in their armour by oncoming munitions. One of the two Usurper-class destroyers was lagging behind, engines sheared away as it floated in space. It was pierced by a Selencian tachyon weapon, and its power cut completely, atmosphere being vented through the hole through the side, as there was no power left to close bulkheads. The crew died a painful death of asphixiation and radiation poisoning, and the vessel was left dead in the ocean of space. Strike-craft fell in droves like insects to a flame, explosions racking in a glorious display as drones and manned fighters met their demise from bulwark missiles. Even protected by manouvering and point defense, many never made it home.
Meanwhile, the Dominion's Forward fleet pressed on, every gun in their arsenal trying to take out Selencian and Zlotosgradi vessels, railguns aimed for larger ships while coilguns and missiles picked and nipped at the easy targets that lagged behind, torpedoes being loosed from racks. Within the depths of the Sirius-class frigate, it began to aim its antennae as it begun its attempts to jam communication and sensors, popping fake Radar blips and drowning radiofrequencies with meaningless nonsense and white noise, while it loosed racks of electromagnetic-fission missiles designed to fry electronics.
Finally, the Vanguard began to act. The bow of the ship turned to face away from the selencians as one of the 'portals' of swirling blue plasma drowned itself in energy, the plasma from the other side draining away and bulging out from the craft's selencian-facing side as magnetic drives churned energy into them.
With nought but a moment's notice, the vanguard shot out a massive wave of plasma, the bubble popping alongside various nodes along the craft shooting out their own uncontained beams of blue energy. The rest of the fleet went along with this, pouring plasma from their shield nodes into the cloud of blue mist that formed a wall between them and the selencian's munitions, the rest of their guns going silent aside from missiles that arced around the wall. The plasma was caught in the collective electromagnetic fields of the fleet, stabilizing itself into a shining blue wall that caught projectiles, melting away at metal projectiles and detonating missiles, if not slowing them down enough for point defense to catch them before they got too close. Using this, the fleet began to push its thrusters harder than before, bringing them ever closer to the intercept point.
They had bought themselves some time.
Valkyrie Squadron
"Shit, Shit, Shit!"
"These arent Drones, they're just missiles!"
"Fuck, pull up, pull up!"
Through the chaos, and the fighting, Valkyrie Squadron had gotten unlucky. Pushing forwards expecting dronefighters to shoot, they were met only with munitions that hunted them down like packs of wolves would hunt their prey, the squadron turning and running, trying to outpace the missiles.
Most of them made it away, on the verge of blacking out from the high-G manouvers they found themselves forced into. Eir, however... Did not survive. With a tug of her controls, she tried to pull away from a missile but found it had struck her engines, leaving her unable to move.
"Shit, Engines gone! I'm hit, i repeat, I'm h-"
An explosion, and static from her radio. A swarm of missiles had struck the plane that had no more ability to manouver, left floating in a straight line as the missiles tore through it's frame, detonating munitions in a solemn yet beautiful red, orange, and blue explosion in the void of space.
"Eir, no!" called out Herja, who tensed up, barely avoiding another missile as the remaining four in the squadron continued rushing towards the safety of their home fleet.
"She's gone, Four! Dont tense up!" screamed Bryn, voice cracking. "Come on!"
Forward Buoy Combat Zone
The battle around the buoys was becoming more and more difficult to maintain, as the space became littered with the metal shards, drifting blood globules and body parts from destroyed Eosian, Dominion, Alliance fighters and Bulkwark drones. Light blue streams of coilgun fire erupted from Alliance interceptors are they struggled to maintain the defense around their bombers.
Andrew juked his fighter around a drone that tried to ram his vehicle, seeing it streak behind him and get annihilated by a missile, even as the beeping continued as he was locking onto another target. He braced himself against the geforces and whipped the interceptor around and blazing another drone done with his twin coilguns. A quick glance at the tactical display made his stomach drop. Of the squadrons deployed to this area, one-fourth of their number had been destroyed, and the numbers were increasing; the enemy’s point defenses as well as the drones tendency to suicide into both them and their missiles/bomb-pumped lasers from their fleet and their targets were only lightly damaged. Without more fire support, which neither the Eosians or Dominions could spare, or more fighters, which the Dominion had their own problems, this was becoming a losing battle.
As if on cue, the comm crackled and his commander’s voice sounded,
”All wings, next volley from Home Fleet is coming in, use it as cover to withdraw. We need to go back and rearm, and Command has determined this push isn’t working and we have more enemy fighters coming in to reinforce. Each of you have one final firing package, each group will fire all of their remaining ordinance at the three buoys and then we’ll withdraw. They can decide to block our and the fleets shots or come after us. The Eosians will be informed. Out.”
The Eosians would be given a similar message, to try and coordinate and informing they would assist in a fighting withdrawal should the enemy decide to come back for them instead of defending the network.
With the orders given, the remaining interceptors and bombers shot into action, target locks found and unleashing their missiles, the bombers pumping everything they had in a stream of ordinance, while the Interceptors launched their missiles at the drones, and stabbed out with their rapid-firing kinetic guns before sweeping around and making an attempted coordination withdrawal with the Eosians, heading back to the orbit of the planet. As this wave of ordinance was coming in, yet more missiles would arrive from the SSA fleet, a hail of explosives-cored missiles, nuclear fusion cored missiles and explosions would register behind the main mass, and beams of x-ray particles would stab forward, against at the same three buoys, looking to finish at least a part of their objective.
SSA Fleet
Aurelion looked at the updates from the engagement around the buoys and shook his head in frustration. They were losing trained pilots to a lost cause at this point; it was two vs four out there, so he was pulling them out. They needed a change in strategy, thus far they were losing more than the enemy force was. The display also registered the Eosian deployment of more impactors, heading towards the enemy force. They were likely to focus fire on those, drawing away some enemy resources and if they got through, they’d finally have some good losses on the OPFOR.
“Sir, we’re registering incoming ordinance, and a lot of them. They seem to be…Bulwark and they’re heading to the Dominion force!”
Dammit.
“What is the Dominion’s status?”
“They have sustained losses and damage in their Vanguard and their main fleet. We’re also registering the Selenican and Zlotosgad auxiliaries are opening fire on them as well!”
They had to back off the buoys, their strength was getting too divided, but now he had a choice; to support the Dominion’s defense or Eos’ attack. His eyes scanned the display for a few moments before making a decision.
“Cancel last orders; reorient our salvos towards the enemy force, match their timing with the Eosian impactors. I want them launched and aimed towards removing any ships or ordinance the enemy may have to stop them. We need at least one of them to make contact.”
A chorus of ayes sounded off as the salvo was reordered and targeting solutions plotted. Once they were prepared, this time the coilguns barked in tandem with the missile deployments, launching both shells and missiles towards the fray. Their onboard suites were being matched with data from the VLA, feeding them course adjustments and target updates. The Eosians would be informed of the intention of their ordinance. And the salvos woulds now continue in the direction of the line once more, but opening up completely
With the Eosians continuing to concentrate on their wards, the Meta-Sax found themselves quickly becoming stretched thin in terms of defensive resources.
"Ano, anything?"
"I've reached the limit of what I can project, any further and I'll risk leaving myself defenseless. Igyin?"
"Same. I've got feelers going out to see if the paras system is viable to shore up the Unbroken ships, but there's only so much glue will do against that."
That was the wave of gravitic weaponry that was barreling down upon the Unbroken ships like a cascading tide. The spherical wall of defensive power that had been thrown up to repel it had initially done the job, but it was quickly becoming apparent that the closer the enemy got, the more devastatingly powerful the weapons became.
The smallships had overtaxed themselves in their delta formations and were hiding behind the cruisers at this point. With the pair of logistic ships functioning as the North and South pole of the protational vortex, there was nothing else to be done.
Hedhu had taken a sheer-curve rupture to the outer skin of its hull as well, with repairs underway. Under concentrated power, the Meta-Sax would have to dramatically alter their formation to survive and more or less sacrifice their allies. An unacceptable solution.
Opening a direct channel to the Unbroken battlecruiser, Ano beseeched them, "Per current objective-strategy, request Unbroken constellation assets to withdraw to a safer distance from the Eosian-cult attack force. Ability of our ships to defend yours grows weaker the closer they get. The reinforcement sphere will last only a little while longer before it expires."
Truth be told, it would only last a minute at most. And that was presuming the Eosian concentrated firepower did not increase beyond what was being experienced currently.
The smallships, under cover from the cruisers, send their composite microship shields to defend the Unbroken Battlecruiser - it was the linchpin of the array.
Doomrider(Unbroken/Shemesh) — 11/10/2022 18:38
The moment that the Herald of Nartham was destroyed, a cheer was raised through the entire Unbroken fleet. Though a single motion from the Pureblood ended it as abruptly as it began. Despite any temporary victory, the situation was too dire for any celebration. The Meta Sax had saved the fleet from total obliteration, that much was certain, their array had mitigated the overwhelming superiority of the Eosian assault. It could do so further for only so long.
Already cracks were forming in it, stray shots and gravity waves passing through and impacting the automated escorts. Each projectile, wave or particle beam raised out a call to the commanding AI and the Purebloods linked to it.
One minute
Zyrtax spoke up for the first time in a while, dislocating himself from the depths of the command network to address his "ally" in the flesh. His expression was still hidden underneath the nanite cloak and the obfuscating buffer surrounding the Neurasmith. Through all of it, the crimson shine of his Pureblood eyes still peered through, directed straight at Xylvix.
"Explain. Quickly"
The shield fails in...50 seconds now. Our escorts fall in less than 5 minutes, the Battlecruiser follows behind before a quarter passes.
The course of action was clear to anyone seeing the battlefield, either the Neurasmith thought his ally was as blind as newly-formed homunculi, or he had some other point to raise. Before the Purebloods could bicker -
[Per current objective-strategy...]
The message from Ano came with perfect clarity, projecting directly into the psyche of Xylvix.
You could always run away. I'm sure the Council would understand.
The synthetic tone of the Neurasmith came with all the scorn and derision of someone who sacrificed their scraps of humanity for knowledge. The strike at his pride was clear, as was the hidden threat. Xylvix sighed, turned his gaze to the homunculi and discarded his honour. Not that he would have any left after this battle was over.
"Brother. I just might." Xylvix turned to the Homunculi operating their comms array "*Meta-Sax command entity, and allied forces. My forces are withdrawing to a safer distance, close quarters combat is their field of superiority. Limit your inertialess field, cut off the Automated vessels rushing forwards, their use in this situation is null. Their sacrafice will buy us a chance to move backwards intact. We will return fire once our ships are outside of their close-weapons range."
The change in the Unbroken formation was immediate. The smaller escorts rushed forward, abandoning the shield-circle they had projected to defend the larger vessels. It was inevitable that they would be destroyed, but if that kept the guns of Eosian vessels away from the cruisers for a second more. It would be worth it in the end. Their usefulness ended the moment Eos decided to close the distance, no defences of the Unbroken could protect them against the wave-weaponry of the Invaders.
While the Escorts attempted their last assault, the larger vessels of the Unbroken diverted all power into their main weaponry and side-manoeuvring thrusters. One after another the Cruisers, and the Lightbearer fired their primary weapons as a continuous beam, slashing sideways through the Eos formation. It was a haphazard assault, more designed to keep enemy vessels at bay than to destroy them, especially for the Atom Laser which lost effectiveness without precise targeting.
The pushback from the main weapons, side-thrusters at full burn, and the momentary inertialess-state granted by the Meta Sax allowed the Unbroken ships to turn 180 degrees at a speed that was normally impossible for such vessels. The G-forces imparted on the crew were extreme, Homunculi without extensive cybernetic enhancements blacked out or collapsed where they stood. Most sections of the cruisers were guided only by the leading AI and the Neurasmith who took control of the network.
Once the ships faced away from the Eos armada, all power output was directed to backside shielding and thrusters, if luck was on their side, they would have a chance to fight back soon.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
“Break their formation open”
The Eosian force swept in as the Unbroken and Meta-Sax formations broke away. Their ships had never been renowned for speed, but once the Eosian vessels got up to acceleration they were certainly not slow. Unbroken fire raked across their formation as their ships did everything they can to distance themselves from the gleaming vessels, punching holes into white hulls and tearing sections out into space. But it was a withdraw foremost and Eos knew it, Vanadis watched as Gravitic weapons were focused not onto the clearly disposable lighter vessels but the heavier ships breaking to get away. The lighter ships would face their wrath momentarily.
Omni-directional waves fired off moments later, set to impact the lighter unmanned vessels left behind as a sacrifice, but also the incoming kinetic rounds. Sheer waves of gravitic force, amplified by the formation and each ship firing off its own wave leapt out to intercept the Bulwarks staggered fire, swatting even kinetics from the void as the clear show that Eos was fully able to defend itself from all angles was made clear. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Rounds impacted ships as they were blown apart, the debris impacting superplastic hulls or making it through battered and bruised.
Vanadis watched as a Crusader class heavy escort was broken in two by a combined Unbroken and Bulwark fire, followed swiftly by a large detonation, a Virtue class cruiser taking another direct impact. Another further red light indicated the loss of a Domina class heavy escort, already damaged from the Unbroken fire had been destroyed by Bulwark kinetic shots. Several vessels also reported heavy damage from torpedo strikes or kinetic impacts. His formation had been bloodied.
“My Lord damage reported on multiple ships, Eos Reign, Starlit Bridge and Wanton Ceremony all destroyed. Unbroken and Meta-Sax formation are accelerating away, continued fire from the Bulwark detected, they are intercepting the impactors”
“Shift position, cease pursuit and bring us around, target the Bulwark maximum acceleration. Directional wave guns are to aid interception, point wave guns fire maximum spread. Target their escorts and strip away their point defence protection so our allies can also strike effectively”
The Eosian formation turned, quickly transferring its acceleration into a new direction thanks to the gravitic drives, they were not fast but they were certainly agile for their huge size. While the formation now plotted an intercept course with the Bulwark additional defensive fire was placed to engage the incoming kinetics while a round of point wave gun beams leapt out, set to detonate within the Bulwark fleet targeting lighter elements. All the while the wrecks of the Eosian ships destroyed continued on their original course now reduced to drifting debris.
----
Khalic acknowledged the order to withdraw.
Their squadrons were taking losses and running low on the fuel, the bombers had launched their missiles and both Dominion and SSA fighters were reporting fallback plans. Khalic was as zealous as they came but he was not upset at this, it was how fighter combat operated in the void. Back and forth, jousts and high intensity combat for periods before withdrawal and regrouping.
Surprisingly, the Eosian fighters fell back first, withdrawing behind the bombers as they now broke and raced for the carriers. The Rapture bombers, formed up into a loose formation, putting themselves between the Bulwark drones and the now withdrawing Eosian aligned squadrons. A brief energy spike signalled the bombers overloading their gravitic wave weapons, aimed in such a way to reinforce one another and let out a huge blast to destroy any pursuing drones covering the withdraw. Khalic had seen it done before, and he commended the Bomber pilots for being easily just as zealous as him and his fighters.
Bulwark forward fleet
A gravity wave rushed over Yesterday's tomorrow, the disturbance shaking the hull like a tin of rice and knocking many a crewman to their feet. It was one of the first signs that things were about to get rougher. As the Eosians began to turn their jaws towards the forward fleet, reports flooded across the formation of incoming fire and tactical suggestions, the admiral had only began to eye the situation before his tactical officer spoke.
"Sire, it seems we've caught their attention with that volley. NSC shells seem to be gouging their armour effectively however, allies and long-range reports at least 3 incapacitated ships."
"They seem to be returning fire." He commented just as one of his feeds showed a shimmering golden beam stretching into the middle gap thankfully far below one of the destroyers, likely pushing countless more deckhands off their feet.
"Yes sire, at this range and with the distance between our ships, tactical believes there to be a small window of time before they begin causing serious damage, but they're picking up speed so we'll likely see the damage they do increasing rapidly sooner rather than later."
Felix thought about his options, their initial plan was to flank behind the static alliance fleet while the dominion was distracted and cause as much damage as possible in order to get into accurate range of the freighters and disable them, destroying them would be a last resort. The plan could still be applied, but with the Eosian group on a warpath, a different etiquette would need to be applied.
"Sharp turn, change fleet course head-on towards the SSA and move to flanking speed, tax the engines if you have to. Keep our vector on depot 15, we'll go from cover to cover. Let's see how itchy their trigger fingers really are, hm?"
Inertial impulse thrusters strained as the formation began a co-ordinated turn, where their trajectory was to originally go behind the SSA formation, now it was pointing at them, prows of red growing closer by the second. Nozzles burst into new life, plumes of orange plasma flecking blue and leaving a streak of ionised gas kilometres long as the hulks of metal began accelerating towards the alliance's battlegroup, their aim to pass through their formation and move on to the depots.
To prepare for their intrusion, secondary guns began firing. 'Smaller' turrets of the 2-3 metre calibre beginning to clear shells from their muzzles, and along with that, any main turret that could target the SSA joined the chorus. The formation was now firing volleys ahead and to their broadside, flinging Nuclear shaped charges and tungsteel armour piercing explosives in both directions, erupting cones of radioactive plasma along the hulls of Eosian ships while the SSA would have to watch as a growing number of incoming projectiles coming from their broadside began to dot up on their displays. All the while, the missile platform continued to launch anti-fighter volleys, meeting those not covered or expecting it with a good handful of swarming explosives.
The admiral wouldn't show it, but he was tense, if the Eosians were willing to fire through their allies, they'd start taking losses badly. And just as the thought was crossing his mind, a point wave beam slammed into the shield of one of the destroyers. The Merryweather's Promise felt the consequences immediately, its pristine armour crumpling and shattering in a way nobody in the fleet had ever seen before, a tear opening up in its forward shroud where decompression blew out the contents of 4 decks worth of outer rooms, and compromised a coolant line. Though the Promise was still operational, it was clear now how ineffective their shields were against these weapons, and so the rule was simply reinforced: Don't get hit.
At least with the torpedoes waiting for the impactors to approach within intercept range, their battlecruisers would be safe enough...surely.
The pool of water was practically iridescent.
Sparkling droplets almost hovered from the splashes in the low gravity and the soothing voices of hymns gave the air a calm graceful aura. From the large pool Insinia could look down onto the burning world below. Those who had followed Tyrandis had burned, and even now massive orbital infrastructure was being constructed around the grave, a monument to Insinia’s first act in this new galaxy.
Nearby systems were being colonised and set up slowly, and the large forces they had brought with them were being put to good use in assisting the efforts. There was just one problem.
Exotic matter.
Insinia had read all the reports about this realm’s materials, Ancerium they called it. They had of course cannibalised the remains of Tyrandis stock but that had already been dangerously low, they needed to secure more. The Order of Mediation was already out in force talking to previous friendly faces of the Consortium to secure any potential trade deals but with the state of the galaxy and the supposed heretics economic systems such materials were at a premium.
It was a conundrum. And yet, the faithful always had to make do. Insinia stood up out of the pool, the crystalline water running down his almost white skin, his burning golden eyes staring up at the ravaged world above him.
They would secure enough stocks for the short term, the original way.
”Contact High Exemplar Vernadis. Tell him he has full permission to carry out the operation as requested. His holy gaze be with him”
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
The attack was swift, extremely swift.
Zlotosgrad had always been a neutral location, its sheer importance and existence had given it enough political weight to effectively call down the majority of the galaxy on anyone foolish enough to attack its titanic megastructural Ancerium refineries, silos and transfer ports. Its defence force was modest at best, and its very nature meant that Interdiction was kept off here unless strictly needed. It was a bastion of hyperfuel protected by the galaxy, an object too important for anyone to ever contemplate striking.
Only, the galaxy was too busy tearing itself apart, and Zlotosgrad was now the shiniest jewel in the Ancerium market.
The Eosians came in fast, their ships FTLing in at nearly point-blank range on top of one of the megalithic silos. The defence pickets didn’t even have a chance to power their reactors for combat as they were simply disintegrated by point blank gravitic waves. Defensive installations were targeted at the same time, and in only a couple of minutes the installations own protective abilities were all but gone.
The broadcast that followed was simple. Surrender the Ancerium and they would live. The crew, civilian workers and refiners in their thousand, acceded the demand. Seconds later huge Eosian transport ships FTLed in close, hooking themselves up to the silos which were dwarfing even the Consortiums biggest vessels. Siphoning off everything they could, the Eosians did what they promised, much to some of the crew’s surprise.
Having stolen a small nation worth in Ancerium, they left. Even as the alarm went out across the myriad installations of Zlotosgrad, more FTL signatures were detected. Another platform was being raided.
Zlotosgrad scrambled in panic, raising interdiction across its platforms and halting work along with approaching tankers, they had to call for aid. But to who?
CONA and SAGA were ripping each other’s throats out at Aedleshaven, to call them to both assist here would risk the war coming here and the installations being fought over as a prize to either organisation. To ask just one was to invite the anger of the other and end up with much the same outcome. With little time and desperation, the signal was sent to many of the nations who had only just recently connected to the Ancnet or arrived in the galaxy, neutrals who had no ties to anyone to anything.
The message was clear.
Please help us, assist in fending off the Eosian raids and we will sell you Ancerium at massively reduced premiums.
Taros, The Almighty - Quarters of Ezekiel.
The door sat still, a deep mahogany wood engrained and carved with the telltales of the dominion, of Imperator Ezekiel and his Noble House. The room was warm, a firelight coating the room in a yellow-orange glow with a bright yellow-white light mixing in it, from a lamp on his desk. Ezekiel sat in the chair at the desk, rifling through paperwork and signing documents.
In the distance, footsteps, clacks of dress shoes against the metal outside of his planetside Quarters. He straightened his back and sat down his pen, awaiting the knock on his door with a bated breath. When it came, he responded with a 'come in', and thus they did. The one to walk through the door was his counterpart, Meralth. He let his held breath out in a sigh of relief, and adressed her.
"Greetings, Meralth. What is it you need?"
She walked forth with a stride and took a seat afront the desk, looking into his eyes.
"We have recieved urgent calls from a nation known as Zlotosgrad. They have come under attack by Eos, the bastards. Never thought i'd see them with such force again.. Zlotosgrad has cried out for nations neutral in the third war to come to their assistance."
"And what would we gain from this?" he responded.
"They have offered cheaper ancerium, which, to say the least, would be a starsend for us all."
He ponders for a moment. Eos? He'd have to check up on the Ancnet. But he did know that- "I will ready a fleet to go in their aid. Hopefully, they can get the job done. Is that all, Meralth?"
"That shall be all. May the Star above and the Shadow Below bless the Dominion," she began
"-And The Almighty Guide it's Way", he Finished.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
from the far reaches of the Killian Verge came a Hyperspace signature. Dropping out into the system was a Grade-III Carrier fleet, marked with the sigils of the Infinite Dominion and their signature grey-red colour scheme, the deep red Glows of the fleet's sensors, bridges, and radiators sending a wash of blood-light across the grey vessels, marking them in an ominous tone.
In the center of the formation sat the Star-Class Carrier, christened the 'IDS Reach of the Expanse'. Around it was its fleet, a Platinum class escort cruiser sitting beside the carrier with one of the two Usurper-class destroyers floating beside it. A Sortie of three Stantra-class frigates surrounding a pair of longbow-class frigates, with a barrier-class interdiction vessel between them all, alongside a handful of other vessels in the formation, totalling out at Fourteen vessels.
Meanwhile, nearby came in a pair of Infiltrator-frigates, basked in an ominous vantablack paint and dim glowing radiators on low function. They came in with bit-drives, using quantum mechanics to entangles them in, creating a far smaller, but less noticable signature. Their thrusters were silent as they sat alone, away from the main fleet, the only signatures given off from powerful gravity drives serving as their secondary thrusters, and the quiet zero point reactor systems.
The bridge of the Expanse was hectic, to say the least, people rushing to make final checks and get at their stations, in case of battle. Not long after, the Captain of the vessel and Fleet-Admiral of this sortie, a grizzled, dark skinned man with grey hair and a powerfully large beard and moustache called 'Fleet-Admiral Thundrik', took a deep breath, and then began to call for order.
"Comms officer, open a channel with the Zlotosgradi, posthaste," he said in a deep, and calm, but commanding voice, the respective officer doing as told hastily, bringing up a communications hail.
//ENCRYPTED COMMS CHANNEL - ZLOTOSGRAD REGION//
"This is Fleet-Admiral Thundrik of the Infinite Dominion's Navy. We have been tasked here to apply you help with your Eosian invaders, on direct task from Dual Imperator Ezekiel. Our fleet is at your command and our Weapons in your hands."
Anxios System
"Was it every day that the SR is called to assist a neutral system?" was the thought going through the heads of most Selenican citizens when they heard of the plea for help from Zlotosgrad, which was universally well-received. While the SR wouldn't have much to currently gain from having cheaper Ancerium prices at the current moment, having an ally in future and those reduced prices for the "commercial" market is a tantalizing offer. This cry for help was intercepted instantly by the Selenican government and forwarded to the President, with time for delay being little to none.
"Talk about an uncomplicated offer." Selia remarks, reading the transcript of the plea and the situation Zlotosgrad was in. He then presses a button under his desk which plays an ear piercing alarm in his top brass' ears. Seems like the UDS opening the SR lead to more than anyone could've predicted. These admirals and generals, among whom was Leka Strahold and Johath Azria, were all of the highest authority in the military, of course answering ultimately to their President. The commotion of these men and women rushing to their most closed-door meeting room would be well remembered even by the lower-ranking officers and commanders.
The transcript was forwarded to each person, and all read it with much urgency.
"As I understand it, these people control a large amount of the remaining Ancerium supply in the galaxy. And they offered us, for our assistance, heavily discounted prices on this resource. Naturally, we want to be able to defeat their enemies while killing as few civilians as possible." Strahold pipes up first, showing much more restraint than his last showing.
"Of course. If not, we wouldn't be seen as liberators, but indiscriminate butchers." Azria remarks, shifting his old hat on his face. His long body wraps many times around his seat, tightening and releasing. Hopefully, this would be his final meeting like this. Elderly men are not kept for frontline command past exceptional ability.
The debate is strangely calm and relaxed, almost like a grandmaster chess player looking back on a game and identifying all of the mistakes made by their opposing party. An assembly of ships is made with standard crew complements and troop carrying should a land battle be needed, and among these ships are the newest generation of SR vessels. A few of the modernized Farinsa-Class are brought, specifically three, and making up the rest of the fleet are seven new Triza-Class Cruisers and 6 of the Yanzana-Class Destroyers. This would be the ultimate test of the SR's newest technologies, which are more of an iteration on the previous ships though much increased in size and capability.
The call to arms is heeded, and the fleet is assembled to jump at the first possible window. Propaganda having been distributed by the government weeks prior, readying the people for war to assist Zlotosgrad in their time of need. Of course, this propaganda is misleading, as anyone who does more than a cursory analysis knows that the SR is using this as an opportunity for leverage over Zlotosgrad, but never mind that. Admiral Jonath Azria has been transported to his personal flagship of STA Vrinasa, one of the Farinsa-Class, hopefully commanding his final battle to victory.
Location Unknown - Deep Space
Clade Ladon had been busying itself with the ascendence of more of their mono-kin into bioships these past few weeks. They had not anticipated the closure of the wormhole back to their own home galaxy, nor the sudden and rather intense interest on their participation in galactic affairs.
They were far, far too small to be able to successfully navigate the challenging circumstances they found themselves in, and so decided that ascension was the best solution. There were always a dozen or so who were prepared for the transition to a bioship body-mind, but Ladon's own predictions implied a need for a hundred such individuals.
The Consensus waxed and waned on what to do. On one hand, it was custom among the greater meta-culture to self-actualize at ones own pace. On the other, the needs of the clade - especially now that it was all that existed of the Meta-Sax - outweighed the leisure pace that their people were used to.
This debate was still ongoing when the distress call reached the nomadic constellation.
Ancerium had proven to be.. unusual. Exotic matter plasma that caused disturbances at such small scales that it almost surprised the Clade that the locals had figured out a way to refine it into this 'hyperfuel'. Then again, the local physics had been so warped that the reality of it probably rendered their suppositions and the greater sums of knowledge moot.
Ladon had been working hard to figure out a way to synthesize it in viable quantities, but for now they had to participate in the insane resource grab - to secure their future.
And yet, this was not the immediate thought nor the immediate reason the Consensus swiftly acted in unity.
For thousands of years, the Meta-Sax responded to travelers in distress, no matter their creed. So too shall they do so again.
With Towit engaged in another affair, it left them with their support and repair ships, all of whom agreed to join the conflict. Protean shifting began on each vessel to augment its EWAR abilities.
In total, 4 vessels classified as 'cruisers' and 6 of the 'smallship' categories volunteered.
The Clade hummed with eclectic energy as a response message was sent, "Ancient noemata shall be upheld. Clade Ladon of the Meta-Sax sends aid and succor to those in need.
Imperial palace - Primary congregation chamber
"- and just to reiterate, to simply help!" Vulkan exclaimed. "Is all they're asking. The decency to show up at their doorstep with a considerable enough fleet to give our part."
He paced back and forth, not in thought, not in anger, but rather excitement.
"It is indeed quite the opportunity, my lord." Dictator Ios' hologram sat still, looking over at the grand general's as he continued. "Almost a no-brainer, that is, but if that's the case...why are we here?"
The emperor was quick to respond, the humanoid puppet of solid rock turning with an almost confused look in his eyes.
"Well that's a rather silly question, Ios...Of course this demand will be met under my own accordance, it's the sort of thing he empire needs to finally get off its knees and into this galactic community."
He raised a finger, walking closer to the massive ringed table, which was awkwardly empty currently apart from the two dictators and the general.
"But! First we have to hold up our end, and to do that we need a fleet. Our problem lies in that we have no clue what the enemy, these...Eosian's, we're facing has."
His head turned to one of the holograms.
"Of course, sire" Grand general Renault replied. "I sent info teams to trawl the ancnet...as you know, however, our access to it is limited..spotty at best, what we did catch is that they've been here much longer than us, and have a reputation for zealousy, wanton destruction and being rather scary aparently...or had, rather, something happened including some catastrophic event, now there's not much to go on about what they're like currently.
I say we prepare carefully."
[20:12]
"Sounds about right..." Vulkan comments, going over the available information in his mind. "Though I don't think we'll be needing to over-invest, we're almost certainly not the only ones to have received this message. I think we expedite a ferrum-14 here. But i'll let you upscale if you have the resources available. Keep in mind there's not a simulation in the territories that could truly prepare us for this, so a median response is necessary, have your orders to form issued by the hour."
The holograms nodded in unison, performing a sharp salute across their chests before fizzing out of existence.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
Somewhat later to the party, Red Bulwark forces finally began their exit into the system. 3 massive aperture rings of light, crackling with energy pulled themselves open, and the prows of imperial ships soon followed in their wake.
3 Sunrise-class battlecruisers, one for each opening, were pulled through first. Through their apertures followed more vessels. A Kilmore-class missile battery, bristling with launchers and torpedo tubes, 4 Jovian-class escort carriers, 8 Mastadon-class destroyers and the same amount of accompanying iridium's. Finally, 10 Rattlesnake-class frigates brought up the rear of the flotilla, totalling them at 26 military vessels.
The Admiral aboard the foremost Sunrise was not disappointed to see the target they were defending. Seeing the megastructure of ports, docks and industry...all of that for ancerium, the lifeblood their very ships had used to come here in the first place. He had felt the force they were using to be excessive at first but now he understood.
And if he had any doubts about being underequipped, they were quelled quickly by the presence of friendly fleets hailing from other nations stationed about the complex, this was no small operation, and whoever they were fighting wasn't to be under-estimated.
"This is Red Bulwark Admiral Felix Kiinter of the 51st assembled response fleet." He announced into the channel, his thick, almost germanic accent brimming with a confident authority. "The Bulwark has heard Zlotosgrad's call and the Emperor has responded, These 'Eosians' will regret ever stepping foot into this system." Radio chatter immediately went abuzz, requesting status reports and orbital lane access among countless other precautions and measures.
[Deep Space. The territory within Unbroken Sphere of Influence]
Information reached the Unbroken in ways it had always done, through subterfuge and interception. Since the arrival of the Exodus fleet, there haven't been any opportunities to forge connections or alliances. If anyone knew of their nomadic journey it would be through rumor and hearsay. Yet the Unbroken listened, countless AI cores and specialised homunculi scoured the Ancnet for anything worthwile. And while most of it was of little importance to the Purebloods the news of the "incident" involving such a precious material as Ancerium was a priority.
There was no need for a lenghty debate or Council meeting, no need to raise the wisest Purebloods from Stasis for their input. The One Within directed a single command and with it the choice was made.
The Unbroken would fight, for there was much to be gained.
[20:10]
Outrider fleet EI-66.
Flagship - Malignant Prince - Modular Battlecruiser. First class
The bridge was in a state of orderly chaos, it had been just a few spare moments since a direct command from The Council of the Unchanged. Every homunculi had been bred with the explicit purpose of serving their military roles. Yet even they fell into moments of confusion and disarray. Under normal circumstances every mistake would be grounds for severe punishment, today however, Xylvix allowed them some leniance. The Pureblood stood up from the command throne with the hiss of a dozen disconnected neural jacks. His body burned from the pain of stopped stasis and the barrage of echoes in his mind didn't help. Yet the Homunculi that dared to look at their lord felt only his radiating joy. After all the reason for the awakening was not some bloodline dispute or political plot. It was something purer.
War.
Through a connection deeper than that of blood the bridge crew focused their attention on the Pureblood as he issued his first command in a decade.
"Set course for Zlotosgrad territory. The will of the Unchanged shall be made manifest"
Once their Tachyon Sails had picked up enough of a charge the Expedition fleet departed.
[Composition]
Malignant Prince - Battlecruiser - Configuration: Long range fire support / Command ship
2 Modular Cruisers - Configuration: Line warships
1 Modular Cruisers - Configuration: Carrier
1 Modular Cruiser - Configuration: Electronic Warefare - Interdictor
1 Wing of Automated Escorts (12 ships)
She sat in her office, shoulders slumped, a glass of wine in one hand as she stared at the glowing screen in front of her, throwing her tired eyes and crows feet into fine relief. It was a lesson hard learned from the conflict between her community and that of the miners; once you touch off the spark of war, you have no idea nor control of where that fire will spread. The bio-planet set the spark in attacking the resource fleet, CONA and SAGA forming events, the Coronan invasion of Aedleshaven and the ensuing three-way fight had formed the core of the blaze. Now, the sparks sent up into the air from this were finding purchase in oily soil; just as soon as they had sent a force to deal with the Coronan invasion of Leibr, another call for help had come.
Her throat burned as the deep crimson liquid poured down her throat and the rush of alcohol momentarily blanked her mind. She didn’t want more of her fellows to die, more of her people, her responsibility to die, since only three of them could fight anyway remotely effectively, but Zlotosgrad was another story. Through the fine propaganda machine that was the Svaankor media, the careful and trimmed coverage of the Procyon Group and the finely worded conferences with Talidan and Arcnia, they had been able to dance around the truth that the general public and mainstream media were suspecting:
The Alliance had months of Ancerium supplies at most before it ran bone dry and their economy along with it. Contracts were being pulled or left unanswered as previous routes and zones were not dangerous or being controlled under SAGA or CONA supervision, risking entanglement to continue. Worse still, attempts to gain more Ancerium were fruitless; bigger, more influential, more threatening and wealthier powers, often colonial, were able to get access to what production was left after the disaster with the mining fleet. One by one, their options to avoid picking a side for pure economic survival were dwindling. An emergency meeting had been held earlier today, publicly for continuing to respond and handle their response to the Ancerious War going on, but it was a desperate group project to avoid the utter collapse their fragile unification had managed to kick down the road.
So, while she didn’t want to stretch themselves any further, when one of the biggest Ancerium facilities in the galaxy had come under raids that were stealing its Ancerium and they sent out a call to any non-CONA or SAGA nations for help in return for cheaper and guaranteed contracts for Ancerium, their hands were tied. The Liebr operation was burning through the months supply they had, and this one would cost even more, but they had to roll the dice. Finishing the last of her glass, she grabbed the bottle and poured more, while viciously waving her hand at the screen, moving to another portion of the report the Anchor Chain Council had received.
“Eos.”
She mused aloud, the word leaving a strange taste in her mouth. The Eosians had been a famous and powerful force in Ancerious for some time. Religiously fanatical, a real ‘burn the heretic, slaughter the unclean’ type, with psionic power to match their zeal and gravitic weaponry that were an instant kill or disabling once they were within knife fight range. With their dissolution and fracturing after summoning what psionic abomination they called their ‘god’, they had vanished into the shadows of the galaxy.
Intelligence had pulled reports of conspiracies regarding a new infusion of strength and vision from some other group as the source of these raids. Ancerium was always the name of the game, now more than ever and these new Eosian shards wanted a piece. This meant fighting a technologically advanced foe, with unknown new tactics, capabilities and intentions, with no information beyond their raiding operations.
Her door chimed and her husked voice sounded out into the silence of the room:
“Enter”.
She had been expecting her; the ‘special relationship’ held between Talidan and Nasreus required their cooperation and meetings on many matters and this was no different. Amália Nemes, Auspex of the Nasreus Variat cocked her head slightly, her red eyes meeting the Terrane Director’s own. Hawkins knew she was scanning her surface thoughts, trying to get a sense for the sudden request. An eternity passed between the two but only three seconds in reality before:
“Ah. The Eosians. You’re seeking a counter to their psionic might. You are aware of how young our potential and its development have been, Nevaeh?”
“Of course I do, Amália, but they have been able to do what many would call miracles with their psionic power; if we go in without all we can muster for this, we’re setting them up to be slaughtered.”
The other woman’s lips pursed in thought; the Variat had been very withdrawn as of late, even interactions with the Republic, normally fairly open, only happened when required or special insistence by her government. Something was going on but her intelligence agencies weren’t quite sure yet, as trying to infiltrate a society of mind readers was an impossible task unless you were allowed there. The Director spoke, sensing she had an opening,
“Auspex, I know this is risky, but we both know the cost of inaction and Ancerium running out to fuel our ships and thus the Alliance. You told me your people advance and evolve their development through knowledge and experience, I am offering a chance to get both.”
Gazes locked again and the psionic blinked first.
“Joint command?”
Nevaeh nodded. “You and one of our officers will go in; our officer will handle the military parts, yours will be the psionic warfare arena. You are to advise each other and work together. This way, we can bring home a chance to hopefully give us a lifeline out of this war.”
Hesitation.
“What of the Guild and the Group?”
She waved the question away.
“Procyon is heading the Liebr operation and the Guild and the Republic have an…understanding until the Ancerium crisis is handled. Send who you need, and we’ll handle the rest.”
Amália’s hand ghosted up to rub a jewel under the top collar of her uniform before nodding her accession and gliding out of the room.
***
Sensors would flare in detecting massive curves in space time approaching at high speeds before they arrived and burst, the control over the flexing of the laws of physics relaxing and resolving into the forms of twenty-odd ships. The IFF would be identified as the SSA or Solar System Alliance; almost immediately, the ships assumed a rough diamond formation and then began launching from their guns. Anyone tracking would realize these were cold launches, and while numerous, were just probes being sent out in a large net around them, forming a VLA sensor net.
Messages would be sent acknowledging the presence of others, but it was clear they would talk after contact was made with Zlotosgrad. Rear Admiral Aurellian Nemos sat on the bridge, viewing the holographic display, with Aurel, the leader of the Akashic auxiliary spread across his ships. It had been a long and…distressing conversation but both knew their role and where they stood on boundaries and responsibilities. A channel opened with the Zlotosgrad authorities:
”Rear Admiral Aurelian Nemos here. We are sorry for the delay in our arrival, but gathering the necessary forces for anti-raiding operations has been difficult in this climate. The Alliance is ready and willing to aid in your defense; attached to this message are encrypted databursts with our relevant capabilities. If you can direct the best way to work with your defense forces for this operation, it would be greatly appreciated.”
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
“My lord, we are detecting multiple FTL signatures, it appears that additional defenders have arrived as predicted”
The bridge of the Unending Virtue was extremely calm, crew going about duties while the massive battleship hung close to the station which utterly dwarfed even its bulk. Two gigantic vessels were connected via umbilical’s, taking on Ancerium in bulk and another four ships waited to be filled in turn. 10 bulk container vessels were present, all escorted by nearly 50 ships of the Consortium. All under the command of High Exemplar Vernadis.
A new galaxy, so many new enemies.
“Understood. Tell the haulers to step up the schedule, any information on our new guests?” Crone simply smiled, turning to ask one of the bridge crew. Vernadis was not a big man, nor imposing. In fact, he was quite lithe for an Eosian and wore no ceremonial armour, just simple robes. His laid-back nature belied a way of accomplishing missions which many in the Consortium saw as heresy. When they had struck, he had offered them a chance to surrender and live-in exchange for the material, something he expected his compatriots under Insinia to have not even bothered with.
They may be heretics these savages, but they were not stupid. All you had to do sometimes was twist the arm and then ask.
“No information at current, the archives show no data on any of them” Vernadis seemed to nod to himself.
“Trying to stay away from known aligned sides, Zlotosgrad is not yet truly desperate then. Good that works to our advantage”
“Your orders my lord?” He waved a hand.
“Put the ships into defensive formation, nothing provocative please. And get me a wide band transmission to our new arrivals”
----
Arriving in the system it was already obvious where the Eosians were, but what was even more obvious was the awesome engineering and construction which was on show in Zlotosgrad. In this system alone 8 titanic megastructures floated orbiting the systems red dwarf star, thousands of kilometres across each were surrounded by smaller starbases, dockyards, defence platforms and hundreds of vessels. This was only one system too and was one of the lynchpins of the galaxies fuel network, this really was the lifeblood of Ancerious.
One of the stations however had no civilian vessels around it, only debris where defence platforms once orbited and more debris where security vessels had been destroyed. Instead, a small fleet of sleek white and golden vessels hung in defensive formation, protecting giant hauler ships which were even now suckling from the massive structure they linked to.
A small defensive fleet from Zlotosgrad remained, keeping distance from the Eosians it only numbered 12 vessels and all appeared damaged in some way, their armour and forms bent and buckled from clear gravitic wave fire. They almost immediately responded to the hails of the forces arriving in system, their commander looking exhausted but relieved.
“This is Commander Eltris of the Zlotosgrad Security Forces, we are very pleased to see someone got our call for aid. The Eosians are currently in the process of onloading Ancerium, but they haven’t advanced any further. Every tonne of that gold they steal its one less for the galactic community, we need to destroy them and if possible, recapture that Ancerium. Their first raid was a success I don’t want this one to be and I sure as hell don’t want them zealots coming back”
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
The only thought which ran through the Selenican ship's crews were that of awe. Eos ships were...giants compared to theirs, not to mention the megastructures in this area. A lifeline of the galaxy in whole, put under siege like this? Even if they weren't here on a call to war, it would be almost too awesome to understand. But, they weren't alone, thankfully. A significant number of allies are also taking part in the assistance in Zlotosgrad, much to Azria's relief.
---
"Seems like many others answered the call to arms alongside us." He says, breathing out a massive sigh of relief before relaxing his body and tail, inspecting the Selencian Navy's emblem on the hat he brought with him. It was a very old hat, he received it at the start of his position being an admiral. What days those were, not being called to arms by unknown peoples who can only vaguely provide support to some politician who knows how many years from now. "This system is badly damaged, seems like the people of Zlotosgrad weren't lying when they sent the plea for help out."
"Sir, sensors detect that two nations are nations we have met before, Meta-Sax and the SSA. However, the rest are unknown to us. Shall we send out first-contact procedures to the unknowns?" A communications officer requests.
"Permission granted. I'm happy to see the Meta-Sax and SSA here."
---
Soon after the order is granted permission, an encrypted transmission is sent to the allied ships which the SR is meeting for the first time.
//Transmission Begin - Allied Warships//
Greetings to you. We are the Selenican Republic, and we wish for relations to be well-spoken between us. We request only for communications be open and honest for the duration of this engagement.
//Transmission End//
---
Organization between these forces will need to be made, hopefully to great effect against the hulking Eos ships, but all going well, all of the SR's ships can return home with as little damage as possible.
Bulwark crews were likewise starstruck. These complexes, as long as continents, were larger than anything in even the bulwark, not even their largest shipyards being comparable to such construction, a fair number of engineers heads bursted with possibilities. Science teams across the whole fleet were made immediately busy, using optics and sensor arrays to scour what data they could on these marvels before any fighting might start.
Meanwhile, under the bridge, more data was being collated in order to come up with a course of action correspondent to the situation. One thing stood out atop the rest, any sort of conflict would be dangerous. A single stray shell or errant shard of starship could definitely potentially hit one of the massive storage silo's, and this would obviously not be a desirable situation for anyone, avoiding conflict and collateral damage would be hard, but not impossible in the eyes of the tacticians.
The second immediate priority was the haulers. It was obvious that these Eosians would want to hold their fleets at a standoff while they took everything they could, which left everyone with options and perhaps a little time to strategize, of course the most obvious course of action was to deploy focused gravity wave interdiction in the hopes that it would disrupt whatever method of FTL they utilise aboard the haulers and leave them sitting ducks, but there was still room for other courses of action too...
However, to co-ordinate all of this, they decided that talking things over with their allied fleets would be a good way to start things off there was seemingly time to spare after all. They'd already received a transmission from this Selenican republic, a message that was heard directly by the admiral, who would be glad their allies, or at least this group of them, also valued the ability to relay.
Likewise. Admiral Kinter started Quite the tense situation for several navies to meet, but, it's good to know we're united in goal.
He'd skim through the communications section of his command console, registering the activity of this channel and eyeing over the callsigns and contacts from other ships relaying though Zlotosgrad. He'd clear his throat.
I'd like to first suggest we make this line of communication secure, I don't doubt our enemy will be ignoring such an opportunity to gather intelligence, and I would very much like to hear opinions on the situation before we move forward.
He'd turn his gaze toward the huge screen at the far end of the CIC bridge. It didn't offer as clear a view as the navigation bridge's window, but the looming ancerium depot's were still more than visible, along with various sensor readouts and optical zooms showing what could be seen of the Eos fleet.
If we act in disarray i'm sure we'll lose more than we bargain for, after all.
The Clade remained in constant contact with its dispatched fleet of SAR and support craft, pondering the potential situation they might find themselves in. Concerned individuals urged a supremely cautious approach, and others admitted to being uncertain about their consent within the Consensus now that more and more information came out.
This 'Eos' was far, far too similar to The Cult that had killed billions of Meta-Sax in the past. It made even the youngest of them uncomfortable. And the task force that had been sent was more or less unarmed. If the situation called for it, they would have their drones and the chromataphore lasers, but this was hardly proper defensive weaponry. Then again, even the notion of arming themselves once more brought forth a riotous ruckus within the Consensus.
It didn't dampen the spirits of Ano though. They were born to help others, they knew this, and it was their Calling to risk themselves in such dangerous situations if it meant they could aid. The C5 SAR/L&R Type bioship flexed its internal muscles, pulling the plates that formed the exoskeleton of its body tighter around its core.
"Nervous?"
Ano blinked with analogous eyes in the mental space that the task force had created. Unlike their peers, they had chosen the busy little eatery that had been their meet up point on Ladon, "No, just anticipating. I wasn't there for the Cult, so nothing to be nervous about."
Too many of them were too young. Ladon was merely three centuries old as a Clade. Far too young, Ano thought, to be dealing with a situation like this.
Igyin shrugged her shoulders, "I'm not afraid to admit to being terrified. We're SAR, not fighters. We should be going in AFTER the battle."
An older peer from the multimission family beamed at them both, his teeth gleaming in the mild sunset, "Lighten up! We'll be acting as support and coordination right? So just do what you do, and we'll back you up!"
There was a murmur of accord from the rest of the group.
Ano folded their arms across their chest, "Coordination amongst ourselves is one thing, but we'll also need to coordinate with the locals. You know, the ones fighting a galaxy scale war?"
Daya just scoffed and playfully poked Ano, "Relax. It isn't our war for one, and for another this is just a rescue op. We'll go in, see whats up, help who needs it, and go home."
However, all light banter ceased immediately when the task force reached the outer sense horizon of the target star system. The enemy was still there.
Bioships swiftly formed an array, with the support craft behind the MMV's and smallships arranging themselves in a defensive shield.
"I'm detecting numerous communications around us. Those ships are.."
"Overly large, yes. Let's focus on our nominal allies for the time being. Anyone we know?"
A flotilla of sensor drones, ecm drones and other hardware was pumped out of the Meta-Sax ships, "Yes, we know the Republicans thanks to Towit and the others at Leibr. SSA is here as well. Towit's busy coordinating his own mess, but he's sent along a datapacket."
The group established a general consensus on their approach - aligning along the axis of the Republican ships, they moved in their direction and opened a communications channel with Ano taking the point, "Rejoicing at the reunion of the New with the We. Support and succor has arrived. Towit speaks well of New-Republicans and New-SSA."
"To those who have not been encountered; we are the Meta-Sax. We rejoice at the meeting of the New. In circumstances non-aggressive-entosis, rituals of metaxy would be established. In this paradigm, rituals will be forebeared unto the future."
"Be made aware of things; constellation is non-hostile designate. Support, aid, succor, repair, rescue, coordiation; these are our strengths. Will follow and assist."
Ano closed the channel, turning their attention to the behemoth Eosian vessels. The Meta-Sax kept a very literal eye on the Eosians.
Not many would react with anything but fear upon seeing such an overwhelming armada arrayed before them. There were even fewer who could derive joy from such a prospect. Yet to the Pureblood, this was an opportunity like no other. The noise of rivalling Reflections within his mind was drowned out by the feeling of his own boiling ichor. The clear threat before the Unbroken, the chance at glory and destruction, the knowledge to be gained. These brought unification to the fractured Pureblood psyche, at least for now. The Homunculi stood by their stations, fulfilling their duties despite their visible discomfort, and their Master drank those emotions like an intoxicant. Though the Unbroken could never hope to be counted amongst the magically inclined, the bonds of curse and ichor ran more profound than the physical plane.
The invaders brought vessels of such size that only the Bastions could rival them in size, and even then that was doubtful. In a direct engagement, the forces underneath Xylvix would be atomised in moments. However, just as his support AI has predicted, the Unbroken were not alone. With every returning ping of tachyon sensors the situation became clearer, newfound allies were attempting to communicate, just as desperate for victory as everyone else.
For the first time in days, the Pureblood spoke. The noise came from each of the several gaping maws that had sprung from his unstable body, neither male nor female, each different in tone and inclination. Each is malicious in its own way. Xylvix had lost all of his skin to a metamorphic shift long ago, all flesh came to be replaced by a carapace made out of granite and an oily liquid that refused to be examined. The bridge crew had grown to almost revere the form of their Pureblood, yet when the gaze of his multiple sets of eyes focused, the Homunculi could only hope to keep their composure.
“Accept any calls from our new allies, their assistance is needed if we are to survive. Run passive scans of their ships and technology. We need to know if they can stand on their own and if the information on them will be worth keeping.”
One of the Homunculi Neurosmiths saluted, forming the shape of a triangle with their fingers right before their heart. The vat-grown crewman connected to the fleet network and slacked down, their mind departing into the infosphere. In moments the communications feed boomed with the noise of allied calls, and the Unbroken responded.
This is Xylvix Nullwyld. Seventh scion of my Dynasty. Pureblood of the Unbroken. Commander of this Outrider detachment. The Council has decided for us to act in assistance to Zlotosgrad.
We know not of any faction gathered here, as our entrance into this galaxy has been made just recently. I hope only for victory and cooperation against the foe arrayed before us.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
Firstly, came the general response to the selencians. The crews across the fleet were glad to know they hadnt been sent on a suicide mission against eos alone, with allied forces of various other nations, all of which being previously unknown to the Dominion, until now.
//ENCRYPTED COMMS CHANNEL - ALLIED FORCES//
"Communications shall remain open for duration. We are in accordance with various other fleet elements, Cooperation and Coordination between us is imperative to take out a threat such as the Eosians, even with them in their damaged state. For introductions, I am Fleet-Admiral Thundrik of the Infinite Dominion's Navy. My fleet was tasked here presumably for the same reason as the rest of you have been tasked. Defend the region from more Eosian theivery and strikes, while minimizing losses for allied forces. Once a secure line of communication is secured, projected plans for engagement will be phoned to all parties for cooperation."
Dominion Fleet, IDS Reach of the Expanse
A Lieutenant walked up to the helm, carrying a datapad in his hand, glowing red along with the other red lights on the dim bridge.
"Fleet Admiral-"
Quickly turned Thundrick, acnowledging the Lieutenant and letting out a deep breath as he laid down the communications device, waiting for a more secure line of communications to be found.
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"We have gotten results from the anc-net on these allied forces. None of them are aligned with SAGA nor CONA."
"Good, there is no way we can get dragged into the damned galactic war, still."
IDS Reach of the Expanse, Hangar Bay
The hangar was abuzz with activity as it always was before combat, fighters being loaded up with weapns as their pilots sat around talking to their fellow squadron members, steeling themselves for the future combat.
A squadron of interceptors, consisting of five I-26 'Shrikes', new and advanced interceptors by the Dominion's standards, and expensive.
Each one bore a mark on their tail fins, that of 'Valkyrie Squadron', the marks baring a depiction of an old mythological valkyrie flying among the stars, with a sword in one hand and a helm in the other. The squadron was the most renowned one among the various squadrons on the carrier, not only due to the squadron being primarily females, hence the name, but also the fact that the squadron leader having been predicted to be an ace if ever thrown into combat due to excelling in simulated combat, although many had their doubts. The squadron leader's callsign is "Brynhildr", or Valk-1, and her real name is Alyn Vos, the only dreftallech pilot in the squadron, of house vos.
The squadron stood around her plane, speaking amongst one another.
Valk-2, callsign Ivar, is the only male member of Valkyrie squadron, jokingly nicknamed "Berserker" by his squadron, his real name being Ilydhith Aldrin, and is a dominionborn. He spoke first in the conversation.
"Time to see real combat for the first time, against the Eosians much less. Keep your heads clear, ladies," he spoke in a cool, calm, but joking voice, towards the rest of his squadron.
Responding to him was Brynhildr, making a shorthanded quip before grabbing onto the ladder to climb into her plane.
"Watch your back too, Princess Berserk, we can handle ourselves," she joked, smirking slightly at him before continuing in a more serious tone. "To be serious, though, Ivar's right, keep your heads in the game and don't get killed. If we make it home with no casualties, drinks are on me."
That was followed with some laughs and cheers of affirmation as the squadron broke up and head for their nearby planes, getting prepped for launch, set to go as soon as the fighting began.
Hopefully, they had some time to prepare themselves, before the fire began.
”This is Commander Eltris of Zlotosgrad Security Forces, we are very pleased to see someone got our call for aid. The Eosians are currently in the process of onloading Ancerium, but they haven’t advanced any further. Every tonne of that gold they steal is one less for the galactic community, we need to destroy them, and if possible, recapture that Ancerium. Their first raid was a success, I don’t want this one to be and I sure as hell don’t want them zealots coming back.”
Nemos nodded, while Aurel spoke after a moment.
“They don’t provide much in the way of tactical data.”
The Admiral waved the psionic off.
“They’re scared, Aurel. This attack came from nowhere, and considering the last time the Eosians did anything big, it resulted in a reality abomination tunneling its way into the Golden Expanse.”
“Sir.”
Both turned to see the communications officer pulling up frequencies on one screen and the tactical data in another.
“Go ahead.”
“We’re showing the Eosians have detected our presence and arrival, they’re forming a defensive formation typical of their past battles. However, they have made no further moves as of yet. We also have multiple communications from our new allies in arms.”
Aurelion leaned forward and pulled the screen to him, the officer letting it go to his control. A quick scroll through the conversation provided the context, once one got past the usual ‘hello, good to be fighting a battle with you” discussion.
“Inform Admiral Kinter we agree to his idea of a united and encrypted communication scheme, assist how we can and use the communication protocols provided by the CGSS. Inform the Clade we welcome their presence here and their aid, and that we request their help with the encryption and cyberwarfare. Generic responses to all else until more information is acquired.”
“Working.”
The launching of the VLA network continued, slowly drifting around the formation and the coalescing allied fleet, providing information by laser pulses; with each unit, the power of the sensor array and the quality of the information improved. The blips of the haulers, the station and their fifty-odd defenders came into moderate focus.
“Do we have any reports on usage of their psionics in battle, especially space battle?”
Aurel looked up from a holopad he had been reading, a finger caressing the jewel at the base of his neck in a long-worn tic.
“Some, not majorly so; the power of their gravitic weaponry, general superior technology and their aggressive strategies saw them through many of their void conflicts. We are scanning and keeping aware of any Eosian attempt, but having only stories and reports, we cannot guarantee what will or won’t happen.”
The other man sighed, running a hand through his hair.
“Just do what you can, I’ll have enough on my plate just trying to fight their regular ships.”
An alarm rung out and diagnostic lines began appearing over the fleet.
“Passive scans coming from the Outrider force!”
Hrm, a cautious but potentially difficult ally; one could see what one had available but more likely, it would be assumed they were trying to get information on their technology for after this battle.
“Allow the scans; the EM shielding on the hull should interfere enough to prevent anything sensitive from getting through.”
Another alert, and the Admiral felt like his neck was going to seize from whipping back and forth; his eyes shot the incoming message from the Dominion. More of what he expected, although the offer for a plan once their communications were established.
“Alright people, listen up.”
The crew stiffened, preparing for the next stage to begin.
“These new Eosians are bound to reply to our intrusion, be it with words or fire and we need to be ready. Operations, status on the VLA?”
“Thirty-five percent deployed, forty percent clarity on sensor returns currently. They are improving by the second.”
“Good, keep deploying, all of our allies and our ships are going to need every byte of data. Communications, prepare a full encrypted network through the VLA array, standard encryption spread through TAS and have all security subroutines scan for any attempts for intrusion or overwhelming of our defenses.”
“It will be done.”
“Tactical, how are we with pre-battle checks?”
The officer half turned to face the Admiral, one hand on a headset, and nodding to what was being said before facing him fully.
“Strikecraft crews are finishing final checks, pilots are entering their craft and waiting deployment orders. All crewmembers are at their action stations and ready for combat; our weapon and support systems are green. We’re ready at your command, sir.”
A final glance between Aurel and Nemos before he took a breath, held it, and then let it go. The last combat operation beyond pirates since the war with the Guild; it was time to show Talidan’s growth since then.
“Launch fighters, initial defensive wings, spread out the formation to a looser diamond, the Eosians will tear us apart if we cluster together. Inform me on any and all actions and reactions from the enemy force.”
Fighters began to leak out the ships and take up defensive formations around the SSA craft, while power levels would spike as the communication network and cyberware defenses began to come online. Once the network was established, the allies would get access to the data from their Battlenet.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
“It appears there is heavy communications traffic between the incoming ships my lord, we only managed to get basic information before all lines were encrypted” Vernadis waved a hand dismissively.
“Oh, don’t worry about it, no doubt they are formulating a plan and given the context likely some have never met one another. Zlotosgrad may be giving them tactical data, but this… Ancnet has quite the extensive library on our actions just as it has for so many other nations” He flicked a few holographic screens aside, all detailing Eosian tactics and known engagements. Tyrandis may have been a failure in terms of the grand plan, but he had orchestrated war well here, winning a conflict against the Nucleans, Trinovans and Altereans had been a masterful stroke.
“Your orders then my lord Exemplar? If they know how to fight us surely, they will react soon”
“Oh, without a doubt. Is that wide band communication online?”
“Yes, my lord”
“Then I shall use it” Vernadis placed his hands behind his back, allowing full video contact as he made his broadcast “This is High Exemplar Vernadis of the Eos Consortium. I bid you greetings to this galaxy, I in fact am quite new to this place. No doubt you have been called here to assist in evicting us from our operation to gather Ancerium for our people, I applaud your sense of honour to defend those you have not met yet for the benefit of the galactic community. We are here because our latest arrival has seen a vast need for Ancerium, without it our people will suffer, and our rebuilding of our destroyed nation cannot be undertaken. Zlotosgrad and the galactic community has much FTL fuel, the amount in these systems silos alone would sustain all of our nations for many decades. As such I offer you a deal, aid us in harvesting Ancerium here and I will personally ensure each of your nations comes away with enough FTL fuel to sustain your growth and operations for a year, minimum.”
The bridge crew were surprised.
“My lord… You want them to help us?”
“And why not? The amount we would take would barely dent the reserves here, we have many ties and relations to create in this galaxy, many will assist us in the future against true enemies. Let them decide”
The Eosian fleet kept its position, weapons powered down as the Zlotosgrad force almost instantly sent out their own transmission over the joint encrypted communications net.
“Don’t listen to those zealots! The galactic community needs every drop of this fuel, as promised if you assist us here, we will sell your nations fuel at capped low rates, you can sustain yourselves for as long as you like for cheap and long term! I’m uploading the tactical data now, they came in quickly and hit hard, also they operated in small groups I haven’t seen Eos fight like this before”
The message from the Eosian hierarchy-individual had surprised the Meta-Sax assembled here. The need for this material to handle the oddities of this universes particular quirks in physics was something they themselves had to cope with now, and if the Eosians were being truthful about the nature of their civilizations state, then the suffering of their people could well lead to a desperate attempt to secure the substance to preserve themselves.
That said.. the records on the Ancnet did not paint a kind picture of the Eosians. Indeed, the more the Meta-Sax examined it, the more their unease grew. Had The Cult encountered these beings, it would have taken even greater sacrifices on the part of the Meta-Sax to quell their ambitions.
Which brought the current discussion to a foregone conclusion among the connected Consensus.
Ano opened a channel to speak for the collective will of the Clade, "Subjective instance of parley is rejected by Clade Ladon - past behavior of the Eos Consortium aligns with current activities too closely. If the Eos Consortium was in such a situation as to need aid, alternatives were available. By pursuing the pathway that this represents, it consolidates ideation of Eosian behaviors. It does not build metaxy towards apotheosis of peace. If the Eosian-Hierarchy-Individual-Status-Designate-Neutral/Hostile Vernadis wishes to rebuild the nation destroyed by past action, cease entosis. Only through rejection of past models of behavior and integration of new path can alternatives be found. Paths that are open through cooperation, not conquest."
The Zlotosgrad warning stirred them to connect with their allies on the CGSS secured channel, "Insistence of redistribution of tactical schema to accommodate new data from allied-persons. If Eosian subtypes engage in pod-tactics, Meta-Sax will counter with own to harry and disrupt; presumption of failure of entreaty to Vernadis-entity."
Servers whirred and racks of disks and data hubs buzzed in unison as the 3 sunrise-class battlecruisers acted as mediators for communication. the decryption had to be fairly complex to stop the eosians, and therefore even moreso for the bulwark, leading to most of their available computing power going towards handling the lines and data webbing between their allies.
Some data in particular, requested by tactical command aboard several ships, was data about these Eosians. The bulwark knew next to nothing about them, but it seemed a few of their allies had knowledge worth sharing, so anything could be useful to help make more informed decisions. There was yet no guarantee their tactics were the exact same, but preparations were being made in the operations and CIC chambers of every bulwark vessel in their flotilla, which began with the formation beginning to spread out, and yet remain in their standoff.
The fleet was splitting into a series of layers, carriers remaining back, surrounded by a ring of destroyers and the battlecruisers further ahead, enough so that the ships weren't caught in the plume of the Sunrise's massive engines. The sunrises themselves were surrounded by the rest of the destroyers in a surprisingly neat and organised star-like pattern, the kilmore sat in the middle, surprisingly up front with the rest of the head vessels. They slowly grew further apart however, the space between each ship becoming more vast as gravitational thrusters pushed them away.
The RBIV 25th Monarch seemed to be the only fixed point of this movement, perhaps marking it as a flagship for any observant enough. Deep under its armoured bridge, the admiral listened to the 'bargain' their enemy tried to make. To him, it was nothing more than a desperate plea, a last ditch attempt to pull some fools over to their side to perhaps give them a better chance. He sneered and chuckled before holding the transmission button to speak, not even needing the input of his officers and captains to decide his reply.
We agree with the uh, meta-sax. He started, a small informational window detailing the offer, likely typed up by one of the tacticians, displaying on one side of his console. Your little deal is a pathetic reflection of your own desperation, such a course of action makes you no better than a rabble of pirates, marauders, no matter how civilised you may see yourself. The Bulwark fleet gladly rejects your offer and we hope for our allies to follow suite.
He paused for a moment, almost forgetting his objectives.
However, though it seems blood has already been spilt by the people of Zlotosgrad, It's not too late to return what you've stole and leave in peace. Think, these supplies will not last you, and we all know next time you visit, this structure's security won't be so lax. If you leave now, there's a much better probability for you to repair your reputation and prosper in the long term.
Or, you can make a massive mistake...and sacrifice your nation's future, consider it a counter-offer.
Meanwhile, projections were being made and plans set in motion, the jovian-class carriers, more specifically the RBIV Decorum was already launching craft, large shuttles with underhanging cargo bays. They seemed to be flying in an odd pattern outwards, though they were still taking some time to deploy. Tactical had to make sure their allies were aware of what they were doing.
Officer Patrick Lin speaking A rather alert sounding voice spoke over an encrypted command line to their allies. From the information we've gathered from your gracious sharing of data, we have adjusted our formation plan to accommodate. We advise all allied constituents to do the same, in whichever way you see fit.
He glanced over a status report on his screen as well as a camera feed from one of the shuttles.
To emphasise however, as we speak, ancerium is being sucked dry into those tankers. Their objective is to get those ships safely out of the system, therefore we believe preventing that from happening will also prevent a standoff wherein they get what they want.
Currently, we are deploying shuttles carrying focused interdiction buoys. When deployed, their range isn't sufficient for our current needs, however with multiple we can merge cones at matching frequency to disrupt the FTL systems of those ships, and any in front of them. We plan on defending these buoys, but we don't have enough ships for all of them, we ask if it's possible to redirect appropriate forces towards our fleet in order to assist in keeping these buoys up. If there are any issues or suggestions with this course of action, inform me when possible.
Contrary to that of his so-called-allies in hiring that stand by his vessel's side, Thundrick had a hard decision splayed before him. His job was to come here and get the ancerium by doing the job. He wasnt here out of good will, afterall, just business and the desire for more sweet liquid gold for the inner workings of his home.
Thus the Eosian's offer was extremely enticing. A guaranteed year worth of ancerium, or more, so long as they were protected long enough to extract all they needed?
But it was a massive risk. Those all beside him may turn on him, so if he accepted he would have to hyperspace away towards the Eosian lines almost immediatley, lest he be torn to shreds before he can escape. Also, the dominion's galactic relations would be tarnished to these other neutrals. Not that it really mattered.
And with that, he finally made his decision.
"Power up the hyperdrives," he said, in a coarse, dry voice, a voice of desperation and remorse knowing what he must do, what he would have been ordered to do either way.
"Why, Admiral?"
"...We fight for the Eosians. Our mission was to collect ancerium for the dominion by however means necessary, be it fight to save Zolotsgrad, or this new offer from the Eosians. It is riskier, but the gains we shall achieve are far more worth it."
"You know that they shall never forgive us, aye?"
"I know what im doing, And you know what you have been told to do."
"Yes, sir."
And thus it was done. The hyperdives on the Dominion vessels peaked, charged up as they had their courses locked in for nearby the Eosian fleets.
Then communications to the Eosians came up.
"Greetings, High Exemplar. I am Fleet-Admiral Thundrick, of the Realm of the Infinite Dominion, and in the past, a captain of the High Imperium. I fought your kind, once, but it seems today we shall meet as allies. This fleet pledges itself to your defense. We were tasked to get ancerium, be it helping them or helping you and thus that is what we shall do. Expect our arrival in a few moments." He then sighed deeply, and spoke to himself once the line was cut and off.
"And may the star above and shadow below forgive me for this."
Then the ships entered Hyperspace, towards the Eosians.
-----
IDS Reach of the Expanse, Hangar Bay
They were confused and riled up.
"Why did we enter hyperspace!?" said Valk-2, his voice gruff and annoyed.
"Sounds like we're going to help Eos. Mustve gotten an offer we cant resist," replied Valk-3, who leaned back against a supply crate. Valk-2 was quick to respond.
"Going to help those bastards!? Shadow be damned, we stoop to new lows every fucking day. What next, will we be owning slaves like those forsaken Imperials that disowned us?! What the hell is the Fleet Admiral thinking!?"
"Calm your tits, Aldrin, we have to follow orders. Fleet Admiral's thinking of the future of our nation. We were ordered to get Ancerium from Zlotsgrad, but they never said that we couldnt take any counter offers. I dont like it, but it's gonna be what we have to do, you hear me?"
"Aye, squadron leader," he said, clearly pissed off and fuming as he stormed away, letting out a hiss of a sigh as he walked towards his plane.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
A year's worth of Ancerium? Even if the SR doesn't need much, it could easily sell it and all but guarantee prosperity for a time. But, what's a limited supply compared to a cheap supply you can sell out for more? Such were the thoughts of Azria and his crew, though dissent was more than prevalent.
"Sir, with all due respect, we cannot afford to make enemies with Eos. Should they desire, they could likely steamroll over our country, smash our fleets, and take what they want by force." A junior officer says to Azria, representing much of the pro-Eos sentiment aboard the Selenican fleet. "It would simply be more prudent and advantageous for our long-term survival to accept their deal."
"What makes you believe that the Eosians will actually keep to their word? They would potentially just take our ships, have us combat our allies, then run off with the Ancerium. If not, who knows what sort of scheme they have. The Eos of yore was brutal and upfront, but who in their right mind would believe they wouldn't at least attempt to get their claws in us? And think from the other perspective, were we to side with Zlotosgrad, we could very easily buy the Ancerium the Eosians would give us, but then, even if we don't need it, we can TRADE it for what we do need." Azria replies, his intentions of a short discussion ended by the rant it became.
"Sir, with a year's supply of Ancerium, we could ALSO trade it, and those trades become even more in our favor at that. And even then, wouldn't we be able to figure out Eos' potential scheme, which we can't even be certain that they'll try? And what of the enemies we'll make?" The junior officer replies, becoming nigh insubordinate, slithering close to Azria, though not close enough it could be seen as a threat.
"Think about our situation. The Republic is lacking weapons, supplies, and everything we NEED to become a galactic power worth our salt. We're already trading away portions of our deposits of Brightstone to get weapons from other powers, but were we to accept Eos' deal, we'd essentially be sacrificing our nation at large. And even then, Eos is by no means guaranteed to attack us. If I'm being blunt, the Republic is no threat to them, and they have further issues to resolve." Azria rants, huffing between sentences and trying to keep from ordering the disciplining of this officer. "The order from home stands."
"Aye, sir." The junior officer replies, anger overcoming him as well. However, the tension is diffused, and he returns to his station. However, an uproar across the fleet is sounded, as a little under half of the ship's crewmen dispute with Azria's decision.
Already more than irritated at his subordinate's insubordination, Azria sends out the dreaded order sign. "Enacting Special Operations Order 5a." This order, seldom used, orders for all insubordinate crew to be detained and imprisoned, then to face trial. Of course, the charge would be treason, and with the rigged Selenican courts, you'd be lucky if you were to ever see the outside from the "prisons" again. Under the threat of permanent imprisonment, a large, large majority of the insubordinate crew is quelled, though the few who remain are duly detained into the lowest decks of the ships.
//OPEN TRANSMISSION BEGIN - EOS FLEET//
"While the ships of our great Republic have listened to and weighed your deal, we have decided to stand with the people of Zlotosgrad."
//TRANSMISSION CHANNEL DESTROYED//
There was a certain degree of satisfaction to be gained from the current chaos. The uncertainty of allies and enemies. The possibility of betrayal, and the power to betray others. It was an almost intoxicating feeling, or at least that is how it felt to the shattering mind of Xylvix. Dozens of reflections kept their incessant demands in his mind, each tugging at his attention, probing for cracks in his willpower. A lapse in concentration and The Pureblood would mutate and perish, his body wracked with unimaginable cancers.
Yet he held, the situation at hand was an anchor unto his mind. The Unbroken had to act quickly, lest they be left behind those who had already chosen a side. Xylvix scoured the room with each malignant eye that had grown onto his frame. The Homunculi, as always, have left the choice up to him. They would act within their orders if his life was extinguished, but with the Pureblood present, they would sit idly by, lest they upset their maker. There was only one voice that Xylvix could rely on to question his choice.
As if invited, the Neurosmith moved into the command centre like frost creeping onto a branch. The crew paid him no heed, as while he was a Pureblood, he was nottheirs. Unlike Xylvix, the rat of the Crucible hid his malformations underneath a cloak woven of nanites and imbedded with sight buffers. One could not focus on Zyrtax unless they wished to invite a throbbing headache. Though his position on the fleet was official as a researcher and intelligence officer, a secondary, more sinister purpose was just as clear.
His speech came scrambled, monotone and metallic, all thanks to whatever pieces of technology were crammed underneath that cloak.
“The Council has requested we deal with this issue, obviously the assumption was that we would help those attacked. Yet the offer is tempting, is it not my friend ?”
“It is. But not for the Unbroken. We are not like the armies of our…allies. Our forces move, jumping day and night, forging tachyon fountains and scrapping them by the dozen. We don’t need Ancerium for fuel. We don’t need it for our weaponry or technology. What we need is–”
Allies
The Neurosmith cut into his sentence. From underneath his covering a single pseudopod moved into the light, ending with a high-resolution camera. Zyrtax took it into both of his metallic hands and ran taloned fingers through its length. The sound was disorientating, grating at the loosening nerves of Xylvix.
” And what better allies are there than the Eos? I’m sure that you have seen the records, yes? In better times they could have wiped out our every fleet without losing anything of worth. And while they have fallen…well, just look at what they have arrayed before us. I’m sure it would take more than our scattering of moronic AI escorts, and slave-piloted cruisers to take on these behemoths. The choice is ultimately up to you, my liege
Xylvix cast his gaze back at the system again. There was no time to debate, no time to waste in seeking opinions from Homunculi, or waiting for an official command from the Council. Fleeing was not an option, he would die rather than bring such shame on his bloodline. Either way, they would fight, and deep down that was all he wanted. Yet to just stand in the midst of combat was not enough, it was a victory that his body craved, and only one choice would bring them victory.
“We stand with Zlotsgrad. Not for the promises of resources they have given to us. Ultimately they won’t matter. We win with Eos and become pariahs in this galaxy. If we lose with the rest, we at least lose together.”
The Pureblood turned to the Neurosmith, ready to pummel the Crucible rat into the floor if he resisted his decision. Zyrtax merely turned to the battlescape, silent, and secretly amused. Xylvix ordered for the helm to open comms to the gathered defenders.
“The Unbroken stand against the invasion. We will fight to our last breath, to the last drop of our Ichor. May Eos choke on our guts and drown in the blood we shall spill. The fleet under my command is not vast enough to strike out on our own, we shall be the Bastions against their attacks for as long as we are able.”
The Unbroken fleet moved into a funnel-like formation. With the largest vessels making up the centre, while the escorts fanned out. The cruiser-carrier began the process of activating its swarms of drones and automated fighter wings. While the Interdictor sent requests to the Interdictor sent out access for data to support the interdiction efforts. The remaining line ships prepared for possible long-range assaults, or the close range-brawl that might come from an FTL jump. Ultimately Eos was an enigma, which made them even more dangerous.
There had barely been a pause to breathe as the final actions ordered had been executed before the plunge finally revealed itself.
“Sir, we’re getting a hail from the Eosians.”
The Rear Admiral gripped the arms of his chair, his stomach roiling itself with pre-combat nerves. “Open the channel.”
”This is High Exemplar Vernadis of the Eos Consortium. I bid you greetings to this galaxy. I am, in fact, quite new to this place. No doubt you have been called here to assist in evicting us from our operation to gather Ancerium for our people. I applaud your sense of honor to defend those you have not met yet for the benefit of the galactic community. We are here because our latest arrival has seen a vast need for Ancerium, without it, our people will suffer, and our rebuilding of our destroyed nation cannot be undertaken. Zlotosgrad and the galactic community has much FTL fuel, the amount in these system’s silos alone would sustain all of our nations for decades. As such, I offer you a deal; aid us in harvesting Ancerium here and I will personally ensure each of your nations comes away with enough FTL fuel to sustain your growth and operations for a year, minimum.”
Confusion reigned. Aurelion blinked and an rapidly mutating expression of confusion, anger and frustration flitted over his face before a trained mask of military steel took its place. Aurel had started forward from his chair, one hand waving before him as if to move something aside, eyes rapidly flicking about, a soft glow permeating from them.
“…I sense no psi tendrils or auras, Rear Admiral. This is what has been expressed; an offer, nothing more.”
The bridge crew were whispering to each other, looking around and some even beginning to show the quick, jerking motions that came with hushed arguments. Eos had been known for its invasions, its power, its zealotry, and faith, this was almost…reasonable.
Sympathetic.
Aurelion had seen the destruction wrought in the wake of the Republic-Guild War in Talidan and the cost that conflict had wrought. The effort to rebuild had nearly unmade them and it has forced the unthinkable; a grudging truce and partnership with Svaankor to rebuild their economies and nations. Still, no matter how sympathetic, they had invaded a sovereign nation and were taking its resources, as colonial nations were wont to do.
A beeping drew all their attention and refocused their discipline, Zlotosgrad had something to say about this.
“Don’t listen to those zealots! The galactic community needs every drop of this fuel. As promised, if you assist us here, we will sell your nations fuel at capped low rates, you can sustain yourselves for as long as you like for cheap and long term! I’m uploading the tactical data now; they came in quickly and hit hard; also they operated in small groups. I haven’t seen Eos fight like this before.”
Aurelion craned his head to view his psionic counterpart and nodded. The other raised an eyebrow but seemed to acquiesce and their eyes regained the glow they had. The Rear Admiral did his best to relax as he felt the icy-cold pinpricks of another mind connecting to this, that alien sensation of something other and wrong forcing its way into his awareness. After a moment, the feeling eased but remained, like a throbbing wound around a splinter.
’It is not like you to request such an invasive way for privacy, Aurelion.’
All around him the emotional concoction returned, suppressed from outward expression.
’We need the speed of thought as we don’t have much time and much to discuss. We have a problem, Aurel.’
The other awareness flexed and trembled and the psionic’s incredulous tone sounded around his mind.
’You can’t seriously be considering their offer, Nemos. This is Eos we’re talking about here. We give any ground to them; they’re going to take a mile and corrupt us into their faith by any means necessary!’
‘I know that; you know that any of the Alliance would know that. But we also know the situation we’re currently in.’
Aurel turned to face the Rear Admiral and make direct eye contact; the other man nodded his assent and the glow in their eyes brightened to an intense white, for a moment before fading entirely. The mask blocking all but his eyes preventing sight of his reaction, until,
“This is beyond our jurisdiction. We need to inform the Council.”
“Agreed.” Aurelion turned to face the bridge crew, their confused faces wondering what had occurred in the past few seconds.
“Open the quantum link with Talidan; highest encryption, oscillate the keys. And send exactly what I am sending to your station.”
The communications officer seemed to hesitate but began to move when his face darkened.
“Ready to transcribe, sir.”
A few keystrokes moved the message to the station; her eyes widened as she read and her hands moved to hesitate once again, but she forced herself forward, typing in the message and then sending it through the quantum entanglement suite located on their vessel.
“M-Message sent.”
The minutes passed as they waited, the bridge crew informing of allied motions and messages, with the Admiral reviewing; the Meta-Sax and Bulwark had both denied the offer almost instantly, with the latter deploying an interdiction buoy network. The Unbroken also refused the offer and yet…
The Dominion either accepted or were fleeing, but judging from the course direction, it was likely they joined the Eosians.
One of the officers piped up, egged on by some and the glowing reports of confusion from other sections as to the lack of new orders
“Sir, how does this end? What are our new orders?”
The Admiral stared at the officer for a moment, before slowly moving to reply when a sound distracted them.
“The message from the Anchor Chain Council; we have orders from all six leaders of the Alliance, Rear Admiral.”
“Send it to my personal console.”
The file moved, decrypted itself under TAS direction using the QE array and revealed itself before him. His shoulders trembled and then righted themselves. He exited the message with an aggressive sideways thrust of his hand, hurling the holographic window out of main view. There was no time left for decisions; action was all that was left.
“Connect me to rest of our ships, highest encryption.”
A message would resound, finally breaking the silent arguments and concerns of the assembled SSA forces.
“Alliance forces, this is your Rear Admiral. An offer has been extended by the Eosian forces, as you are aware. Alliance command has been informed, and after deliberation, have delivered us our new orders. We are to assist the Eosian forces in their operation to secure the future of our fledgling nation.”
Shouting and confused cries sounded, and as if he could hear them, he continued.
“I know this is shocking, revolting even to some. However, we all know the situation we face at home; the choices made and to be made by the various members and the countdown we’re staring down. We have informed the Council, as this is beyond even my jurisdiction, and they have laid down our orders. If you are unable to follow these orders, I understand but I command that doing so will relieve you of duty and be put in the brig for your safety and that of our forces. When we return home, you can make your case and your side known, but we must do what we can to preserve our nations and our peoples, even despite our personal misgivings. Those still willing to follows, prepare to recall fighters and FTL jump; we must escape the growing cordon of interdiction before it’s too late.”
Across the fleet hard discussions were had, but surprisingly, only a relative few were escorted, or forced in some cases, into the brig, with others taking their spots. The psi agents were quick to contact Aurel, but whatever was discussed seemed to get them to back down, but every single one was a ball of anger.
Aurel whispered to the Rear Admiral.
“The galaxy is going to hang us for this; SAGA will not look favorably and CONA despises those working with Colonials.”
Aurelion sat heavily back into his chair.
“I know, my friend, but we’re minutes from midnight and if this comes to internal divides, the Alliance will fall, and we know who wins once that happens.”
Orders were sent, confused pilots began to withdraw into the ships and the formation shifted and the telltale signs of FTL could be seen. Just like the Dominion, an encrypted message was sent to the Eosian force before they jumped out in their direction.
”High Exemplar Vernadis, this is Rear Admiral Aurelion Nemos of the Solar Systems Alliance. After due consideration of our similar situations and your act of reaching out, the Alliance is pledging itself to your operation here. Logs of our conversations with our former allies, dispositions and encryptions that are known will be transmitted upon arrival, though we are sure this is not to last long. Regardless of our force’s survival here today, the Alliance will be in touch for further cooperation and negotiations. Stand by.”
Spacetime warped and groaned, and bubbles appeared around the twenty vessels before they shot forth out of sight, leaving stunned and furious former compatriots, including the Meta-Sax and SR. He knew what good will was being built in the Czinst operation would be lost, but the die had been cast.
It was time to see where it would roll.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
“Well, that worked better than I expected”
“My lord, we don’t actually intend on giving up our bounty to these non-believers?”
“Of course, we intend for it. Trust is important we build bridges with the people here and they will more willingly let the word of Eos into their hearts” Vernadis smiled. Multiple pings indicating FTL jumps flashing on his display. It appeared both the Dominion and SSA were willing to take up the offer.
“Get them onto our network, enough to communicate efficiently. Tell Cadre Inceptor to hold and protect the haulers. We will fight alongside our new friends” As the vessels formed up the Eosian vessels, massive in size began to form up in a defensive but quite spaced-out formation near the Dominion and SSA ships. Vernadis sent them
“Greetings fellow comrades in arms. You made the right choice; I thank you for the intelligence you have give us. We will fight alongside you in defending our haulers until the last possible moment. Every drop of Ancerium we secure is more for all our nations in these turbulent times, after all who is to say Zlotosgrad will even be around to honour its lower price commitments? They didn’t turn to either SAGA or CONA to defend them for fear of turning this place into a battleground, who’s to say it won’t be in weeks’ time? Eos guide your wise choices. I only ask that you do not get too close to our vessels in combat, we can modulate our weapons to have lesser effects on you, but it will still be enough at closer ranges to do damage. We don’t want friendly fire”
Now however, the Eosian ships charged weapons, gravitational flux increased around their ships as wave weapons charged up, across several of the larger vessel’s panels retracted to reveal launch tubes.
----
“Traitors to the cause of neutrality… I thank you all for staying your ground and aiding us. It is a shame some of those who answered the call have fallen for the Eosians lies. No matter, your focused interdiction will be extremely useful, we have additional force elements joining with us from across system and from other systems shortly. Our own fleet cannot stand up to the Eosians in this state, we will defend the buoys for you we have the speed at least.” The anger in the ZSF captains voice was palpable, but he still did his job none the less.
The fast defenders of Zlotosgrad kept close as the buoys were launched using their speed and acceleration to keep pace. Defending them from any smaller elements or fighters that may try to intercept them.
“Do not let the Eosian ships get close to you at any cost.”
The Dominion vessels quickly responded to the Eosian communications, all the while they sent any leftover data and encryption codes used by the other side previously, attuning their own comms to match that of the Eosian encryption to keep their systems and words hidden from the enemy side.
“Understood, we will keep our distance. We will continue to send any information if we recieve it. In the meantime, do you know if and when Zlotosgrad will be receiving reinforcements of their own vessels?”
The relatively small dominion vessels as compared to those of the Eosians fanned out, patching holes in the wide formations while keeping distance from that of Eos, with the carrier holding the Admiral and some escorting vessels taking the heart of the Dominion forces behind the main line.
“Ordnance Officer, get weapons online on the vessel, make sure they’re fully charged and loaded.”
“Aye, Fleet-Admiral, sir. Bringing weapons systems online.”
“Flight Commandant, get all wings of aircraft prepared, and Comms officer, relay those orders across the fleet.”
They both responded sharply, saluting and turning to their stations as they spoke across intercomms and encrypted fleet-communications respectively. Across the fleet, railguns brought themselves up to charge, shells being racked and brought up into the weapon via-autoloaders. Coilguns came to life as the electromagnets were risen to full power, all the meanwhile fusion cannons were pumped with energy from the fusion reactors of the vessel, missile pods uncapping and opening as various other weapons systems fleet-wide powered up.
The Fleet-Admiral then prompted the Vessel’s Artificial Intelligence unit, also serving as a direct connection to the rest of the AI across the fleet, to pop up. The A.I took the form of a glowing red lightning bolt, floating above it’s holographic projector as it’s sharp, crackly, and deep voice came out, sounding like the rumble of thunder crossed with a passing train.
“Yes, Fleet Admiral?” it questioned, the words causing a crackly glow across the hologram with each syllable.
“Bring all drones online and begin defensive sweeps across the area, then send an encrypted data package to the stealth vessels.”
“Aye, Sir. What shall the data package contain?”
“Send all relevant info of the opposing fleets that we have, and send them these orders:”
He paused, before listing off the orders he wanted sent.
“Have all systems running on low and stay hidden from opponent’s sensors to the best of your ability. If and when an assault begins, attempt to get behind their lines and engage in a strike against the flagships of the opponent forces. If interdiction is present, abort mission and instead do a frontal assault and join the defensive line.”
“Sir, data package sent, and Drones coming online.”
“Good.”
Once-more across the fleet, the orders were relayed, but this time by the computer. Syntax-Drones began to launch from the carriers and other vessels with hangars, beginning sweeping runs around the front line, taking note of any and all vessel positionings, probable weaknesses, and making other calculations with their Artificial Drone Brains. Other than that, they served as simple patrols to defend from any future assaults the OPFOR may put up.
Finally, the two Infiltrator-class vessels received their encrypted data packages, using their little bit drives to take up refuge behind one of the stations, seemingly disappearing and re-appearing behind the large structures. In less than a moment, their engines cut power, and external systems went to minimum running, the only things working being communications and passive radar systems, as well as life support. They switched to reliance on ZPRs and Batteries as the main fusion reactor shut itself down to better hide the vessels. They would wait here till’ the time was right, or the time would never come.
A last communication was sent out to the Eosian and SSA vessels.
“This is Dominion Fleet hailing Allied Fleet. We have a pair of stealth vessels carrying anti-ship payloads behind the Megastructure we are currently defending, on minimal running to keep their whereabouts hidden from the enemy when the chaos of combat begins. Their mission objective is to, when the time is favourable, use their Bit-Drives; more commonly known as jump drives; to get behind opposing forces and strike at some of their leading vessels. If the enemies engage interdiction over our region when fighting begins, we request that you focus fire on the interdicting vessels or objects to stop their function and allow stealth vessels to carry out their mission. That is all, Dominion Fleet out.”
Then the Line cut, radio chatter between the fleets once again falling silence as the Dominion awaited a response.
It was going to be a long day.
Or days, really.
The bridge was tensely silent, only the movement of fingers on keys or the various operational sounds of machinery could be heard as the fleet moved to join the Eosian force. To say they were divided was an understatement, with reports from across the task force of officers having to discipline or even temporarily imprison personnel who violently objected to the decision. He couldn’t blame them, but he had gained his rank through many factors, one being the ability to make the decisions and to own them, even ones made by his superiors.
The silence was broken by the comms officer, voice catching before righting itself.
“I-Incoming data from the Eosians; tactical data and battle net handshakes.”
“Integrate and connect, forward along all the data we have on our fellow arrivals and their intentions. I don’t want to relay on the Eosian reputation for victory; it will be punishing from here on out, so we need to play every advantage.”
A beep indicated a message from Vernadis, a weary hand accepted the message:
”Greetings fellow comrades in arms. You made the right choice; I thank you for the intelligence you have given us. We will fight alongside you in defending our haulers until the last possible moment. Every drop of Ancerium we secure is more for all our nations in these turbulent times, after all who is to say Zlotosgrad will even be around to honor its lower price commitments? They didn’t turn to either SAGA or CONA to defend them for fear of turning this place into a battleground, who’s to say it won’t be in weeks’ time? Eos guide your wise choices. I can only ask you do not get too close to our vessels in combat, we can modulate our weapons to have lesser effects on you, but it will still be enough at closer ranges to do damage. We don’t want friendly fire.”
“Send an acknowledgment and our intention to provide long range support and fires, along with cyberwarfare. Move the fleet to the right flank of the Eosian battlegroup, but behind; they will be the tip of the spear, ourselves and the Dominion will be the guards supporting it.”
“Yes sir!”
“Status on the VLA?”
“71 percent deployment, two more salvoes required to finish.”
“Do so, then power up weapons and prepare the cyberwarfare suites. And connect our BattleNet with the Dominion’s, we’ll need to cooperate our support of the Eosians.”
“Working!”
The coilguns would flash twice more, hurtling drones filled with sensor packages and cyberwarfare suites deep into the system. Once they came closer to their pre-planned deployment points, they began to use jets to slow down until they stopped at their assigned points and began to connect with each other through lasers. Their scans washed the system with electromagnetic radiation, gathering data and forwarding it to the Alliance force.
The image, stronger and updating faster than before, showed their former allies continuing the interdiction buoy network that was being deployed to focus the corridors of FTL activity that would be allowed. The only reason they hadn’t jumped here was the Eosians dominance of knife fight battlespaces, so they wanted to control how they came to them. This needed to be challenged, if possible.
“Incoming message from the Dominion.”
“Show me.”
”This is Dominion Fleet hailing Allied Fleet. We have a pair of stealth vessels carrying anti-ship payloads behind the Megastructure we are currently defending, on minimal running to keep their whereabouts hidden from the enemy when the chaos of combat begins. Their mission objective is to, when the time is favourable, use their Bit-Drives; more commonly known as jump drives; to get behind opposing forces and strike at some of their leading vessels. If the enemies engage interdiction over our region when fighting begins, we request you focus fire the interdicting vessels or objects to stop their function and allow stealth vessels to carry out their mission. That is all, Dominion Fleet out.”
”Dominion Fleet, Eosian Fleet, this is Alliance Fleet. From our previous communications with the OPFOR, they are intending to control corridors of the system for FTL with the interdiction buoy systems deployed via shuttle. Unless they were lying, they don’t have the capability to blanket the system this way, so they are trying to control how we, and especially the Eosians, approach. We intend, using long-range fires and strike craft, to attempt to disrupt and prevent this from happening. Any ability for you to assist would be appreciated. This should provide cover for your stealth ships as well. Alliance Fleet out.”
“Activate our defensive drone screens, deploy strike craft and bomber squadrons, have them move out to engage the known locations of these buoys. They are to strike at targets of opportunity; harassment and death by many small cuts is the goal here, not all out assault. Especially if the enemy moves their ships into range. Prepare firing packages for our missiles, gas-pumped laser cores for now. Let’s do some sniping of enemy capabilities.”
The force began to move, shifting into a loose diamond formation, with all the energy of a kicked over anthill. The small forms of the defensive drone screens took their positions around the force, ready to intercept and engage enemy projectiles, missiles and strike craft. Energy poured into the weapons systems, lasers heating up in preparation, coilguns crackling with EM arcs and missiles racking into tubes. Pilots, already prepared in their craft, began to pour out of the hangars, forming up into assault formations and beginning their advanced towards the enemy force. It was a general advance for now, strike craft only, with the VLA and fleet sensor suites supporting with data and preparing spoof packages for when the fray began.
Until either force moved to engage, it would be the Alliance’s game to engage, prod and poke to see enemy reactions and give the Dominion’s anti-ship knives to get into position.
The break up of the allied task force into two distinctive groups was uniquely surprising. They hadn't anticipated anyone would be short sighted enough to believe the Eosians, and yet, here they were. Half the fleet was now fighting for the other side.
Fortunately, the Meta-Sax were wary as a rule when it came to newcomers, especially ones they had no established relations with, so they were quick to adapt their communications frequencies and alter their internal tactics.
Within the Consensus link, the bioships briefly debated on different formations and how far exactly they should 'play their hand' before arriving at a decision to remain more or less within the expected framework they had established before. They arrayed themselves to surround the allied task force, deploying large swarms of sensor nets, defensive drone nodes, scramblers, and a host of additional gear into local space. They also deployed their microship shields, deciding that the mobility provided by these would allow them to snap-defend allied craft that came under fire, while they themselves could rely on their speed and warp-shields.
They altered their tactics, however, when it came to the Eosians themselves and opened a channel to all in the volume.
"It is dismay that we feel that those who had left believe in the tones and words of the Eosian neutral/hostile entity. Is it not wiser to cultivate relationships with peers? With allies? Instead, collaboration with an entity-polity with a history of such violence will spread the tone-of-pain onto yourselves. It will end the possibilities we spoke of; of peace, not conquest. For their path lay only death and entropy. Yet, all is not lost. Should the ones who have left reconsider, the Meta-Sax will still aid, will help. It is noemata."
To their allies, they sent another message.
"Altering of communication channel via frequency linked - defensive formation is established and bioship link complete."-C
"Per Consensus of array, new engagement profile has begun. Will attempt disruption of psychological mechanisms of element-entity/neutral. Disrupt will to fight. Recommend altering of fleet arrangement per shifting situation to reflect paradigm. Enemy hostile-profile is majority focused on Eosian combat capability. Note: web has been deployed with positions marked. Translocation variable every 5 standard seconds to augment network. Connection point is opened to viable nodes for allied forces."
True to the statement, they offered a sensor boost via their node network that would allow those who tapped into it a limited capability to access the quantum/gravity-interchanger network that they used as a sensor medium. Another, smaller access point was given for one of the multimission vessels - a literal eyeball point of view of the battlefield, though overlaid with numerous additional data points.
The position of the defending forces was precarious. It was obvious that enemy retaliation was imminent, the interdiction net had closed around the Eosian vessels, and it would be those buoys that will come under direct fire. If there were no breakaways, it would be a reasonable tactic to enclose the invaders or attempt a long-distance duel. With their former allies now on an intercept course, the only option was to stand their ground and hope for the foe to break on their lines.
The ferrofluid battlesphere before the Purebloods began to shine with crimson and cyan colours, predicted vessel courses as well as possible projectile trajectories began to play out an intricate dance on the projected battleline. The bridge crew worked at the peak of their abilities, acting without rest or a moment of weakness, yet still with precision ingrained in their very bones. Xylvix towered above them both in position and sheer presence, even though most of his attention was focused on the situation at hand, the fractured mind of a Pureblood sees all through its insanity. Mistakes would be punished later, he always made sure of that
With weary eyes and a bowed head one of the bridge crew began to relay information from the rest of the fleet
"My liege, our vessels are at peak combat status, the Homunculi have all been raised and the AI cores successfuly linked togheter. They ask for directions."
The Unbroken fleet formed a funnel. The battlecruiser stood at the centre, its sheer size ensured that it held the heaviest weaponry as well as the most sophisticated command systems. It was made to duel with vessels of grander structure, striking with long-range overwhelming firepower. In the meele that might come it would require protection. But it was not alone, the remaining Line Cruisers as well as the 12 escorts formed around it in an expanding ring. If the situation required they would become shields or the daggers that will finish a wounded foe. Their weaponry had already charged to its peak, vast swathes of ferrofluid moved in endless rings inside giant electromagnets, atom lasers charged and graviton weaponry sucked up vital ancerium for ammunition. The moment that their enemy came into range, the Unbroken greeting wouldn't be missed.
Only the carrier remained outside of the formation, engines at full burn pushed it towards the largest concentration of buoys and allied forces wherein it would disgorge its swarms of drones. Right now they were folded, each shaped like a spearpoint, little more than an android brain and basic interceptor weaponry. Though where they lacked in weaponry they held numbers, over 500 drones were prepared for combat. While more could be prepared, if the time allowed.
Rage was a feeling present throughout the entirety of the Selenican fleet with the betrayal of the SSA. Even with the tantalizing deal that Eos made being well understood, it didn't make the betrayal of a thought-to-be ally at Leibr any less painful. The Dominion was an unknown entity and was expected to act in unpredictable ways, hence an air of apathy regarding their betratal. However, now was not the time to be nursing hurt wounds, but now...now was the time to fight. The berth of information on Eos' past incarnation made clear that traditional Selenican naval doctrine would be utterly suicidal against the Eosian's gravitic weapons, with no defenses to speak of against it. Add on top the SSA and Dominion, both of whom were more than certainly going to have close-range weaponry capable of piercing the thin hides of Selenican warships and the normal strategy of close-range hit and run would be unoptimal.
"Admiral." The commander of the carrier speaks, her deep voice brimming with rage and anger. "With all due respect, we must coordinate with the rest of the allies here should we survive this engagement, let alone come out victorious. I understand that you've had an extremely successful career back home on Anxios, but you can't win this fight alone."
"I'm well aware of that, Commander. As such, my first orders are to establish a combat area patrol around our allies and us alike. Our tachyon-equipped ships must conduct artillery support, focusing fire on the Eosians, the Dominion and SSA can be swept up later. We also have the Meta-Sax to assist us in this backline support, so don't feel afraid to give them a lot of CAP. Orders understood, Commander?" Azria replies, still somewhat heated over that insubordinate officer who tried to force the Selenican Republic to turn its heels on its allies.
"Aye."
The commander slithers down to an intercom, relaying the orders for several squadrons of fighters to be sent out on a combat area patrol.
---
These fighters, having already been prepped for a battle to come, were well and ready to launch from the horns of the carrier. Packed with as much anti-munition and anti-bomber payloads and ammunition they can carry, the sleek, long fighters, originally adapted from an atmospheric design with large payloads within a bomb-bay the fuselage and under the since-removed wings, were prepared to launch at a moment's notice. Then, the order arrives, and within a minute a swarm of these fighters are launched forth, sent out of the catapult exits of the carrier at speeds which nearly causes even the most resilient pilot to black out. Soon after the first wave, two more are sent forth, one covering the fleet itself, one circling around the Meta-Sax, and one present to assist the Bulwark and Unbroken.
---
The other ships of the Selenican fleet ready their guns, the harsh orange glow of tachyonic weapons prepared to fire at a moment's notice lighting up the decks of the Selenican vessels, color being lost in the orange hue. All of the weapons are tracked on various Eosian targets, with one or two destroyers training their guns on the SSA as a threat.
---
All aimed, all ready to fire. All that's left to do is to await the word to launch an all-out barrage on the Eosians and their scum of allies, and to defend the people of Zlotosgrad.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
“Reinforcements will likely arrive shortly, they have additional forces guarding the other depots in this system but more assets will be coming from other systems as well. I wouldn’t be surprised if you are not the only ones who responded to this call for aid either” Vanadis replied to the Dominion. The announcement of the stealth ships made the High Exemplar smile.
It was after all dishonourable and frowned upon to use stealth in warfare, but Vanadis and Insinia were a practical bunch. Victory at any cost no matter the methods, he enjoyed that tactic, and he intended to aid his Dominion allies to carry out the sudden stealth strike. With the additional communication from the Alliance Vanadis nodded to himself, those who had chose to align themselves with the Consortium were capable indeed.
“I understand Alliance fleet I thank you for the information. Ready Mediators. Target two interdictor vessels within the enemy formation, one on the Unbroken, the other the Bulwark. Also launch attack craft, lets harass those satellites they launched to pin us down, ignore the Zlotosgrad security force.”
“My lord we are getting additional sensor updates from SSA and Dominion sensor packages, the Alliance is also launching craft to engage the interdiction platforms.
“Very helpful. You may use that to aid in targeting and form up our wings with theirs. Fire when ready”
Beneath the Unending Virtue two segments retracted into the hull, immediately pushing out huge white and golden darts surrounded by a ring structure. The two large forms almost a kilometre long in themselves, activated their gravitic drives, accelerating away from the Eosian formation and towards the Bulwark and Unbroken fleets, each targeting one vessel projecting interdiction. The kinetic impactors gaining more and more speed as they raced towards their targets, the first shots were now out.
The Eosian hangar bays were next, launching extremely sleek Patron fighters and Rapture bombers. Each one dancing in the void as they moved to form up with Alliance wings and sped towards the interdiction buoys with the intention of unravelling the web now constricting their movements.
Missiles were launched by the Zlotosgrad forces in response to the opening of fire, fusion torpedoes aimed towards the Alliance vessels as the Security group hoped hitting them with missiles would be far easier than using them against Eos, they kept pace with the Bouys directing a single ship to each ready to use all the evasion and weapons they had at their disposal.
"buoys aligned sir, units stable, funnels holding"
The message crackled through the admiral's headset, the source was one of the rearward carriers, its captain responsible for managing the operations of their little network. He wasn't happy of course, there was something worse than pirates, and there they were, traitors.
They'd all come here for the same purpose, seeing their fleets all lined up and uniting against what was clearly a reprehensible action, perhaps it had given the admiral some glint of hope that perhaps this galaxy isn't as cruel as he'd thought, but as each of their former allies ships broke off and vaulted away toward this fleet of miscreants, it seemed more and more like justice, morality and perhaps even common sense were apparently subjective resources. This wasn't how he expected his first operation outside the bulwark to go, though in reality, perhaps it was.
His hand still ached, he was a rather patient person, so even he was surprised when the bottom of his fist had slammed into the arm of his chair.
Now, his hands were clasped, there wasn't much for him to do now but wait on reports.
"Admiral, allied formation adjusting by 17 degrees, detecting deployment of drones."
"Frequency change successful sir, communication busses repopulated fleet-wide."
"Continuing Buoy monitoring, Jovian group response-ready."
"Bypass established, co-ordination with allied fighter groups underway."
"Sir! 2 massive signatures split from the Eosian leadship, accelerating rapidly!"
That last one caught his attention, and looking at the tactical map in front of him, indeed, 2 ships...no, accelerating too fast...torpedoes? were moving away from the enemy.
"Trajectory!"
"0-0-0 Sir, one's heading straight for us, the other appears to be directed at allies, they appear to be projecting...gravitational interdiction fields."
"Well then, I just won a bet. Didn't expect them to be that eager, however. Counter with L-type torpedoes, keep craft go-ready set main guns on that lead ship, we don't know what other tricks it has up its sleeve."
"aye aye"
Elements of the bulwark fleet began to move, ships in the outer ring of the forward formation moving along their circular path, an alternating half of them orienting their broadsides into the circle, the others remaining with their keel facing the same way. The idea was thought up pretty much on the spot by fleet tacticians, but there was hope it might do something to repel what little they knew of Eosian tactics, additionally, the Jovian carriers in the rear began facing their blunt noses outward, towards the buoys, which themselves had reached evenly spaced positions around the entirely friendly formation. Singular vessels and surprisingly small teams of fighters splitting up to defend each of them.
Window lights on the bulwark ships had all been blinked out by reinforced combat shutters, turrets racked and turned in place and massive shells sat cold in their breeches, just waiting to ruin someone's day. Alarms blared in the torpedo loading rooms of the sunrise-battlecruisers, huge revolver-style racks rotating to push out the correct payload. Within just a couple of minutes of the command, the ordnance would be sitting in a vacuum sealed launch chamber, a clear view out the prow of their respective ships, their launch just a button's push away.
There was no going back now of course, he only hoped the misguided souls aboard the ships of those traitors would perhaps rethink their mistake if not now, then some day.
Our allies. He spoke over the command channel.
It seems today we are to be tested, to throw our might against the odds. Though the thin façade of those who acted as our allies broke so easily, we, as a singular force, will use our loyalty against them, we will make sure their little betrayal comes at a heavy price. And I'd like to believe, sometime soon, we can use the very battle dawning on us now as a historical damn example, give yourselves a pat on the back for staying around, hm?
Dull Flashes of orange announced the launch of 2 torpedoes from each of the 3 battlecruisers, half of them beginning to split into their own group as they pushed their way out of the formation, trailing plasma.
Ano balks within the link with her peers. The size of the ordinance of the Eosians was just as over proportional as their ships.
Igyin laughs, "They can't be serious. That's a missile? It's as big as Daya! I almost thought they were deploying a secondary parasite craft or two but these acceleration rates are too great and there's no support around them!"
The MMV bristles at the comment, "I am over a kilometer long, thank you Igyin. What shall we do?"
They collectively ponder their options for a moment, tenths of a second going by in the real world while they take their time in the Consensus to properly formulate a strategy.
Ano hums softly to herself, "We don't know the sensors or the lock on mechanisms.. but, none of the local powers know what we use either. I don't think any of our allies has taken up the offer of a link to the network yet. Why not use the chromas to project some illusions?"
Igyin and Daya voice concern at the idea, but the smallship Asi supports it, "I like the notion. We can surprise them, make them think there are more of our allies than expected. Perhaps, even duplicate a fleet and pretend it was cloaked? As you said Ano, none of them know us. What we can do."
Ano smiles softly at the younger being. Their bravery to still be here and present and helping inspired, "We should be able to pull the protational fields of ourselves and condense them in a manner to make a convincing mass signature. The chromatophores can handle the holograms. Are you familiar with quantum-atomic construction, Asi?"
The younger smallship shakes their head, "No, but I will devote whatever mental energy needed for the task."
It's swiftly decided in in a unanimous Consensus among the bioships; they'll attempt to hoodwink the foe. But for this to work right, they'll need two things. Sufficient surprise, and sufficient cooperation from their newfound friends.
Two seconds after the launch of the missiles, the Saxheelians open another comm with the fleet. -C
"Allied forces shall be informed of updated Meta-Sax strategy. Field boundary projection used at Leibr successful against lower sophistication sensing organs. Possibility of similar strategy viability in this locality. Meta-Sax shall use projection of peer-reality holography in conjunction with mass-manipulation to imitate vessels of selves. Orientation of fleet assets to emulate them as real, physical objects will aid in illusion."
Then, they sent a second tight beam transmission, this time directed solely at the SSA forces, "It is not beyond the time of reconsidering. Your people fought with honor at Leibr; Towit praises you still. We will not give up on reconciliation, even should you choose to fire upon us. There is always hope, always another path. Let us help."
At last, they sprang their little plan. The skin of the Meta-Sax ships were composed entirely out of computerized artificial atoms, ones that allowed them to project light, EM fields, and a host of other useful benefits. For this particular trick, however, they projected these pseudo-real holograms into the space surrounding them. Shimmering into view, a dozen additional starships appeared, each of them Meta-Sax. One, in particular, was far larger than the rest and it is to this one that Ano and Igyun focus their gravitational manipulation through their mastery of dark fluidics. They gave it mass, an EM signature, everything that they could think of that could spoof conventional sensors. Then, they gave it a name, Ang.
Each of the original Meta-Sax ships became focus points for a network of lasers - infrared, believable if one was to only glance as com lasers - to the rest of these "decloaking" facsimiles.
Once again, they opened a channel. Casting themselves through the Consensus, they used the perspective of the false large-ship's voice, "I Am Vigilance. You are outnumbered."
"Understood, we will keep a lookout for any arriving foes." replied Thundrick, who closed the line.
"Comms, Flight. Launch offensive craft, stick close to allied attack craft. Hit the satellites hard and fast. Ordnance, have six torpedoes fired from the Frigates, three to an Unbroken interdictor, and three to a Bulwark bouy. Have the longbows target the same two targets with particle lances. See if the Ewar frigates can prepare to get defensive jamming online to protect from incoming weaponsfire, send pulse missiles if needed."
"Aye, sir," replied the trio, all three getting to work as Flight sent in commands towards the flight decks, comms relayed all the orders within the Dominion Fleet, and the Ordnance officer passing commands to the weapon crews through the ship.
The three stantra-class frigates opened up a pair of bays each on their sides, revealing racks of torpedoes within themselves. The Z-03 Leviathans were pushed out of their racks, clicking onto their targets as their fusion thrusters kicked on, sending bright glowing streams of red plasma behind them, their small CIWS guns coming online with shield nodes whirring around like little protective eyes of plasma waiting to defend the torpedoes, of which are far smaller than the massive ones from the Eosian vessel. As well as this, Sirius-class Ewar Frigates brought Electromagnetic Pulse missiles into their racks, rearing to fire as soon as the enemy's torpedoes got in range.
Hangar Bay
"Alright, kids. Launch time!" called out Brynhildr, pulling herself into the seat of her Shrike, her helmet clasping onto her head while her hands tug and pull to get her flight suit just right. She continued over her squad-radio.
"I want everyone in their planes, ready to go. Flight wants us in the vacuum ASAP, we're flying to assault the satellites alongside the SSA and Eosians. No complaining, or i'll kick your ass when we get back on the ground."
Valk-4, callsign Herja, responded first.
"How's the odds?"
"We'll be fine," replied Ivar, "as much as I hate Eos, they know what they're doing."
Then Valk-3, Eir. "We'd better be okay. Dont wanna die on our first combat mission. Let's go get em, Girls and boys."
"Everyone locked in?" questioned Brynhildr. "Valk squadron call and launch."
"Valk-2, plane's on the catapult."
"Valk-3, thrusters are burnin' hot!"
"Valk-4, standing by for launch sequence."
"Valk-5, all clear."
"Alright, Valkyries, initiate catapult sequence."
The fighters were all five locked into their electromagnetic fighter catapults, as they pressed the button to initiate the launch sequence. One by one, they were slung forwards at powerful speeds, the planes shaking for a moment until they were released, thrusters already fully burning halfway down the tube as they hit the vacuum of space, forming up on one another as other fighter squadrons and wings followed up from different catapults and the main hangar bay, plus an additional reinforcement wing of craft from the platinum-class cruiser's bays. The fighters, interceptors, and attack-craft alike formed up with the Eosians and SSA craft heading towards the Interdiction bouys, while the drones launched before stayed behind as defenses for the fleet.
WARNING INCOMING RAMSHIP
The message came with shifting colours manifesting on the Ferrofluid battlesphere, two streaks of burning crimson pushing further than any projectile trajectory or fighter formation. The attack itself wasn't shocking, its form was. The Unbroken had expected some sort of wunderweapon, a beam of arcane force or dimensional energies. In the end, a large projectile is all one needs. In the few brief moments, before the battle truly began, Xylvix had reconnected himself with command nexus of his fleet. Every piece of information flowed through his fractured mind like intrusive thoughts, yet for one cursed with endless foreign whispers, this was nothing.
By now there was no need for spoken words, every command of the Pureblood transferred directly into the mind-interfaces of the Homunculi on the bridge. Veterans of previous battles under their Primogenitor accepted the connection, to some it was an almost holy sensation. Those who stood in the chamber for the first time shuddered under the touch of their Lord, fearing that their innermost thoughts were laid bare before him.
The Homunculi relayed the commands to the fleet
Intercept the Impactor. The loss of our Interdictor is unacceptable. Remain in formation, focus your point defence at the incoming foe, strike down their fightercraft, eliminate their firepower, punish those that act too eagerly.
The commands were vague to those with no connection to the Pureblood, the bridge crew had fought long enough to discern what their master wanted with each order and the Unbroken began to act. The Battlecruiser and Line Cruisers opened fire with their Boser weaponry, the Eosian impactor was the obvious target. Despite its sheer speed, its size allowed for precise interception fire, the beams had to be constant, to ensure that there was no trace left, or that its course had been diverted by a large enough margin to matter. While this took the ships out of other combat roles, the escorts would attempt to pick up the slack.
Eight of the automated ships attempted to act as deterrents, their size and weaponry was too insignificant to truly hurt enemy ships at this state. But a combined salvo from every LLA cannon would strain enemy ships enough for their Allies to finish the strike. The Four remaining escorts broke formation and added their fire to the salvos of intercepting munitions. The concentration of their LLA streams weakened, turning from sharp cutting beams into scattershot-like projectiles, while ineffective against capital ships these would be far more effective against any fighter wing or missile.
By then the Carried had already purged itself of the 500 drones hidden inside its belly and began to retreat to allied lines, still close enough for its commands to be received, but outside of enemy weapons range. The fighter automata began to cruise around deployed buoys and allied ships, adding their firepower to any possible interception, but mainly focusing on dogfights with enemy spacecraft. Individually each was little more than a gun attached to an AI mind, easily dispatchable by any competent pilot. Yet when used in the dozens they could have the same effect as any Ace
"What the..." the commander of the Selenican carrier exclaims at the hulking...things coming towards their allies. "Wait, it's targeting our frontline!"
"Is it now?!" Azria shouts, staring out of the small windows on the bridge. These dart-looking projectiles started slow, but their speed was gaining and gaining. It wouldn't be but so long until they reached their targets. "Fire main weapons on them! They have a straight course, shouldn't be hard to calculate."
"Sir! Receiving transmissions from our people who're cooperating with the Unbroken and Bulwark!" a communications officer shouts.
"What're they saying?" The commander asks,
"One sec."
This comms officer then begins the almost asinine procedure of playing back communications on the nearing-on obsolete equipment the Selenicans once used in these ships. "The Great Red Disappointment" the Farinsa-Class and her sisters, along with the other designs of this period. were called, never having seen deployment before recently and painted in the traditional crimson red of the past. The recent uptick in interaction between the Selenican Republic and the galaxy at large have had these ships being repainted in the white and red of wartime service.
"Do we have orders to allow the CAP to fire on these lances?" the commander asks Azria, one final confirmation for, as far as she knows, a declaration of war against the Eosians.
"You may fire at will." Azria replies, and the itchy trigger fingers of the turret operating crews across the fleet loosing. A short moment later, a bright orange glow emanates from the turrets of the cruiser's and destroyer's tachyonic weapons as a shot of these supercharged particles are fired on an intercept course with the lances headed towards the Bulwark and Unbroken fleets in a somewhat tight volley as the order hits the bridges of each ship and the orders are relayed. Discipline is taught and enforced heavily, and now is no exception.
The Admiral perused the reports of the crew put into the brigs for now; one would say brigs, but they were more isolation pods, both to restrain the occupants and protect them from the sheer kinetic force of the ship engines moving the ship. What scraps of arguments and rants had the same theme over and over; betrayal of new allies, breaking the trust of the CGSS and not being able to trust the Eosians. He wished he could explain what he had been briefed on when being sent on this mission; the rising inflation and scarcity of goods in the Alliance due to the Ancerium crisis and 3AW, the 6 month supply of Ancerium they had, how 2/3rds of that amount had been locked away by a hostile cyberwarfare element in the Alliance and the threat of the Procyon Group if it came to civil war or a coup. But he could not, and so all he could do was hit a few keys and put in an order for no discharge or mark on their records to be done after the fact.
“Sir. We’re being hailed…by the Meta-Sax.”
He rubbed his eyes tiredly and shoved the reports away and pulled the tactical window closer.
“Send to my station and play. Await further orders.”
The message appeared, both in audio and subtitled format:
”It is dismay we feel that those who had left believe in the tones and words of the Eosian neutral/hostile entity. Is it not wiser to cultivate relationships with peers? With allies? Instead, collaboration with an entity-polity with a history of such violence will spread the tone-of-pain onto yourselves. It will end the possibilities we spoke of; of peace, not conquest. For their pay lay only death and entropy. Yet, all is not lost. Should the ones who have left reconsider, the Meta-Sax will still aid, will help. It is noemata.”
He moved the message over to the side, moving the reminder of his decision, his orders, off for a minute to focus on the battle at hand. There had been an increase in power and sensor strength from the Meta-Sax, their support abilities coming online as they had at Leibr. The Unbroken were forming a shield around their capital class ship, a standard defensive measure, but the carrier had pushed ahead, moving towards the buoys and the shuttles, part of the counter to their strike craft thrust.
“Admiral, we’re seeing firing arcs of the Selencian fleet beginning to focus on our ships!”
His eyes flicked over to the Operations officer, before returning to the display. Two destroyers were marked; no surges of energy, this wasn’t a barrage but a warning, especially at this distance. Another beep, another message, irritating him as he tried to focus on the battle.
”I understand Alliance fleet, I thank you for the information.”
The Eosians began to react as well; their hangar bays opened and spilled forth their fighters, dancing ably in the void and running rings in comparison to the Alliance craft, but forming up all the same to join alongside. The more surprising action was the surge of power as two massive darts surrounded by a ring launched out, their projected path indicating these were their answer to the interdiction. Alarms began to sound as the Zlotosgrad forces launched the initial salvo, fusion torpedoes, aimed for his fleet.
An answer to the Eosian attack. It was now far too late to go back, Aurelion deleted the Meta-Sax message, only to be taunted for yet another one came in-
”It is not beyond the time of reconsidering. Your people fought with honor at Leibr; Towit praises you still. We will not give up on reconciliation, even should you choose to fire upon us. There is always hope, always another path. Let us help.”
With a growl he shoved the message away, muscles pulsing with tension in his arms, as he gripped his chair and watched as the Meta-Sax seemed to reveal their hand; around twelve additional ships appeared, centered around a larger capital-class vessel, bellowing out its name, Vigilance, to the system. There was a ripple of concern and then confusion before,
“Operations, did we detect any FTL surges or Ancerium traces before their arrival?”
“No, sir, there was no sign of any transit beyond the light barrier. However these ships got here, it wasn’t by a drive.”
So, either they had stealth technology far more advanced than they were aware of or capable of detecting, or this was a trick. Considering the Meta-Sax aversion to offensive combat and their support abilities at Leibr, he was prone to believe the latter. Still, he had to prepare for these being real.
“Focus VLA array on the new arrivals and the incoming torpedo swarms, we need to see if we can puncture through their cyber defenses and confirm if we’re dealing with shadows or steel.
All strike craft are to coordinate with Dominion and Eosian squadrons; the focus are the buoys and the shuttles; we need to prevent them from laying more buoys and degrade the network. Time until contact?”
Ops scanned their screen and turned around,
“Approximately ten minutes. We’re showing an Unbroken drone force of around five hundred, their home ship is pulling back from the combat area. We’re also reading Bulwark pods of fighters and escort-class ships around the nodes.”
Aurelion took a deep breath, his body shaking from the tension, the turmoil and, with a practiced timing, exhaled, letting it all drain from him. His eyes opened, his mind focused; the rest was problems and factors for after the battle or he would cease to have to worry with his death. For now, he had a job to do.
“When the torpedo swarm comes into contact, switch that portion of the VLA to be emitters for the EWAR, I want their communications and sensors to have as difficult a field to play in. False data, contacts, rapid frequency oscillations, swarms of attempted connections, the works. They know we’re coming, and our allied craft are going to hit a wall of fighters and enemy point defense.
Load up firing pattern Alpha-Two, send a salvo of laser core missiles to support the attack, see what we can pick off.”
While he had been focused on doing his job as commander, he was unaware of Aurel gazing at the message from the Meta-Sax, eyes tightening as he read. His head tilted back and his eyes glowed, the connections from his brethren across the fleet coming together into a united whole. As per his preference, the Ideascape was a starry field, with holographic stills of the ships around them, the other members of his force coming into the scape.
This action is madness, Aurel. We know of the situation for the Alliance but we’re going to be suicided by the galaxy or SAGA rather than internal collapse at this rate.
Even so, we agreed to work together when we signed the constitution, brother. If we outright rebel now, we’re guaranteed to collapse the weak foundations we have and Procyon will roll over us all.
His head turned, his eyes gazing at the Meta-Sax representation in the demi-plane.
Still, there may be a method to try one last roll of the dice, but I will require your help.
They all raised their hands and the stars began to grow brighter and brighter as the building psionic power began to resonate with them.
You need only but to ask. If the Heart of Nasreus is to prosper, we cannot cut ourselves off from the galaxy. Do what must be done.
***
Psionic powers were a tricky thing to get a handle on; there are so many versions and systems and rules, with very few hard and fast principles one could rely on. The pinnacle was that whatever you did was easier and more likely to happen if it remained within the realm of physics, another was distance increased the energy required exponentially. For the Nasreuis practitioners, there was the further restriction of the reading of minds and controlling of minds being one of the most difficult of tasks to do. The mind was a fragile yet strong thing, able to react to intrusions with force but also collapsing under the weight of the conflict. So dominating a mind was likely to make them into a brain-dead slave, a zombie only able to respond to basic commands. But influencing, that was something that could be done without such collateral damage.
They were aware of the Eosians own psionic abilities, so they had to be sneaky and careful with this. Instead of just creating a bubble of power and surging it into their target, they formed a net through the bond, linking each other like a series of ships with a communication laser, to channel the power, with the agent at the end being the recipient of it. They would walk over to the communication officer on one of the smaller vessels, put their hand on their shoulder and ask a question about the link to the VLA. While they were answering, the power was leaked through their hand into the person’s body; they kept typing and working while explaining, but their focus was nudged onto the conversation, rather than what was being typed. They could only do this so long before their mind noticed and began to cave or the Eosians clued in that this was something beyond normal operations.
When it was enough, it was sent into the comm network, encrypted but in a different cipher as before, sent to the Meta-Sax. The message was short and to the point.
”We are at the brink of collapse; all methods of trade, bargaining and negotiation have been attempted. Internal strife threatens collapse, one number holds a knife to our throats if it comes to war. The Alliance will fail and we join the rest of those conquered unless we get this Ancerium. We seek bonds but without Ancerium, we only have this open to us.”
The psionic network settled down but maintained their bond for now, choosing to bolster their crews and their aura as they comforted them in this time. So, it would seem more of an activation surge than any sign of anything suspicious. The Meta-Sax had been answered; whether they had enough to help remained to be seen. It mattered not for them; if they choose to betray again, the Eosians would wipe them out since interdiction prevented another move.
While this was happening, the fleet readied its arms, specifically the coilguns loaded new ammo; instead of the drones of the VLA deployment, they had cold-launched missiles with x-ray laser cores, designed to explode and use the reaction to stab out with dangerous energy, part of their precision warfare doctrine. Guns flashed across the fleet as they finished coordinating and calculating and a swarm of these missiles stabbed out into the intervening void between. Once they reached an appropriate distance, a planned timed action would activate the maneuvering jets and engine of the missile, increasing its speed further to reach the battlezone at the appropriate time. Data would be fed to them as quickly as possible from the VLA, helping to guide and update paths and orders as they came in.
Now, it was just a waiting game to see how the initial opening hands played out.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
Flashes of Alcubierre drives powering down and breaking their warp field signalled the arrival of more Zlotosgrad Security Forces. Nearly 20 vessels of various classes including a much larger battleship equivalent used for command and control. Almost instantly they ignited their drives and moved to link up with the main allied force, no doubt having been communicating with the command systems here to get full tactical data on the situation. While their ships were not tough, they were fast, with decent weapons. Already the new arrivals were putting themselves under the joint tactical command so they could be utilised in the best way possible.
The Bulwarks counter torpedo strike heralded the first real engagement of the battle with the newer forces. The Eosian impactors detected the incoming signatures and tried to evade, throwing themselves on widely different paths. They also seemed to charge in energy, readying Kinetic wave weapons for if the Torpedoes would attempt impact or proximity detonation. But with the rapidly approaching speeds their contact would be very soon. Still the incoming Boser fire and Tachyon fire would prove a problem, the first strikes vaporising segments of superplastic hull and coring segments from one of the impactors, but due to its size it would take sustained fire to bring down fully.
“Enemy force is intercepting impactors; Dominion appears to be protecting them” Vanadis nodded in response.
“I wanted to see how they chose to do so, see what we are looking at, very nice of our new friends to- Oh… Look at that” He pointed as the Meta-Sax implemented their ploy “New signatures, we have mass, EM output, IR signatures. But no FTL release of exotic particles we have observed so far in this galaxy. Sensors, focus those new arrivals, I expect they are projections, if they are I must commend those who created them for they have done a marvellous job. I wish to know how, or if they are new contacts, how they FTLed in without detection” The Eosian fleet was not convinced of the new arrivals, but their powerful sensor arrays were focused, getting every scrap of information they could gather to ensure it was the case.
“First Wall Advance, I want us to accelerate, take us in waiting here has gone on long enough. More and more of the reinforcements will enter. Keep the rest close to the hauler”
15 of the Eosian vessels began to accelerate, slowly, their gravitic drives slowly forcing their huge bulks onto an intercept course with the Zlotosgrad allied forces. It seemed the Eosians were making their move.
Daya quipped in the mini Consensus, "It would seem.. our ploy may not work. Perhaps the peoples of this galaxy do not possess cloaking technology?"
Hedhu poked at Ano, "It was a good idea. We-"
Igyin interrupted, "Tight encoded transmission from one of the Alliance ships."
The group read it collectively. Ancerium.. it did seem to be the source of much of the galaxy's woes. For a moment, the support ship pondered if people would be willing to return to a slower time.. but that was neither here nor there, "Well, what we can offer them is substantial, but we can't give them the exotic fuel reserves we're manufacturing for ourselves. It just isn't stable outside of a bioship."
Ano nodded, "Not to mention, we're already stretching resources. Too much of our manufacturing ability simply no longer works. But.."
Yesoh hum-clicked, their voice buzzing, "We can give them our share from this. It will double their share of ancerium and should stabilize their faction. Additionally, our task force can redeploy to their space."
They dabbled in some scenario building while Ohus shifted projections in space. They wouldn't be threatened by a lack of the material, they simply wouldn't be able to make any progress. Stasis can be its own form of stability. Consensus was decided and a return message sent along the same line as the Alliance had opened.
"Then you shall have ours. We did not come here for the fuel. We came here to help. The shares that are offered to us will be given to you. We whom are here equally will dedicate ourselves to your aid. If this will be sufficient, keep your ships far from the battle - the foe approaches and will soon be out of range to double back upon you without risking a flank."
Message sent, they refocused on the battle. The giant impactors were quickly closing the distance and would be a significant problem unless dealt with. Ano peered at the rest of the fleet formation, assessing effectiveness, "We should get moving."
The group agreed.-C
The projections adjusted their positions in space, offering cover from enemy attack while parasite craft swiftly embedded themselves into the "skins" of the facsimiles. One method to give them weapons, to make them a more convincing threat, at least, that was the idea.
The projected smallships moved out of formation and towards the impactors, their drone-weapons firing the small, but potent particle beams typically meant for anti-fighter work. It wouldn't be enough, they knew that. The MMV's fired off a small salvo of micro-missiles which briefly oriented in the ships magnetic field before accelerating via the reactionless engines the Meta-Sax used.
Vigilence, meanwhile, moved near the back of the circular array. It was really just them duplicating something they had observed from the Unbroken formation, a means of expressing it as a 'flagship' of sorts.
Finally, they started cyberwar offensive measures. Low level lasers were sent out from the larger ships which started to poke and prod at various points, trying to find an open sensor node, some point of entry, on all the enemy ships save for the Alliance.
"We need to move, FAST. Link up with some Zolotsgrad forces, they should be able to keep up with us, and we need to get the hell away from the primary line of fire. Our first targets will be Eos, cut the head off the dragon and the body will fall." Azria shouts to the bridge, getting the orders relayed to every ship in the taskforce with haste.
"Admiral, sir, about our area patrol?" the commander replies, punching all sorts of quick-response commands into her console. "We can't abandon our allies."
"This ship will not move out of sync with our allies. We HAVE to detach the combat vessels lest we be annihilated!" Azria replies. "And that is an order, commander."
"Aye, sir."
//ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION BEGIN - ZLOTOSGRAD DEFENSE FORCE//
"A portion of your forces are requested by our Admiral in order to assist with artillery hit-and-run operations against those wretches who've invaded your system and backstabbed your allies. All volunteers, the code for the Selenican flagship is F-77KE-556-WZ3, if you so wish to help. Any and all assistance will not go forgotten."
//ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION END//
//ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION BEGIN - ALLIED FORCES//
"As per the combined will of the Selenican Republic's forces here, we will begin our attack on the Eosian forces with assistance from our Zlotosgrad allies. It will be of a hit-and-run nature, and as such our support will not be extremely localized. Our flagship, however, will remain with the bulk of you, to provide a combat area patrol and other interception operations."
//ENCRYPTED TRANSMISSION END//
[+][+]
With the order given and their allies made aware of the plan, the crimson red of the low power mode of the Selenican's fusion thrusters begins to glow ever brighter a red, with tahcyonic weapons being recharged quite slowly as they begin a turn to port, turrets rotating to continually face the Eosian forces as whatever volunteers the Zlotosgrad forces decide to send have space allotted for them in the Selenican formation. Onboard the Selenican carrier, constant landings and takeoffs are occurring with extreme frequency as the low fuel, high speed Selenican interceptors are returning from their patrol with the Unbroken, Bulwark, and Meta-Sax. All but two wings of interceptors are churned out of the carrier, forming a mass swarm of the gunmetal grey painted fighters constantly patrolling the area for any smaller vessels they could reasonably attack and force away from the bulk of the task force.
Dominion Flagship
"New Signatures!" Called out the sensors admin aboard the ship.
"Identification?" replied Thundrik, leaning forwards as to hear the man better.
At the central holo-table on the bridge, the new signatures- 20 of them -appeared in an orange-gold colour; Zlotosgrad Defense forces; as they moved to link up with the "allied" forces opposite the Eosian line.
"Get us into full combat readiness, send a section of the fleet and get this job done." said the Fleet-Admiral, internally grimacing with the new arrivals.
Dominion Fightercraft
As the combat had begun, the fighters and interceptors of the Dominion had stuck close to the Dominion torpedoes and Eosian superimpactors. But with the counter-barrage from the Bulwark forces coming in, they began to peel off, racking missiles; interceptors, mostly; and flashing their red fusion drives to maximum thrust. Though some remained, a large portion of the Dominion's craft had now begun dogfighting, others intercepting. A wing of fighters came upon the bulwark's torpedoes, and unleashed a volley of interception missiles before pulling up and around, heading back towards the superimpactors.
Valkyrie Squadron
Over the Radio, Brynhildr called out the first order of business to her squadron.
"Alright, Girls and Boy! Party's starting! Command wants us racking interceptors and hitting these bulwark torpedoes hard and fast. Think we can pull it off?"
"Damn right we can!" quipped Eir, "I'm ready to finally use these damn things!"
"Dont get too cocky, Kiddo! I think we can do it; but we gotta be smart." interrupted Ivar.
The Shrikes shot forwards at a speed considerably far more immense than that of most comparable Dominion Aerospace craft, the new Interceptors proving their worth as searing-hot plasma shot from the fusion torches, leaving blood-streaks of red tracers behind the squadron. Their sleek silver coating with the signature red made for a pretty display as they brought themselves into a tight Delta formation. The Distant fighting grew ever closer as the squadron passed the superimpactors.
Over the comms, Brynhildr cracked a half-joke half-order;
"Hold fire until we can get a full lock on torps, aye? Missiles are expensive!"
"Wouldn't have it any other way, Bryn'," replied Herja.
Over the sensors display, the Bulwark's torpedoes began to pop up, a deep, deep crimson red as the Interceptors began to pull around, bringing their noses to face their new targets. RCS thrusters shot out jets of air as they manouvered, the wings clicking open to reveal hidden weapons racks, long interceptor missiles with fusion warheads showing themselves, raring to shoot forth at their targets like rabid dogs of metal and plasma, pinpricks of red trails already forming behind them like secondary and tertiary tracers to the craft itself as their torch-drives warmed up.
"Valk One Locked on. All Valkyries, confirm lock!"
"Valk Two, Missiles locked to target."
"Valk Three, Interceptors ready."
"Valk Four, firing sequence prepared."
"Valk Five, Finger's on the Trigger!"
Brynhildr took a deep breath as they each called off their readiness to fire. This would be their first combat, their first meaningful shots fired at a true enemy.
What would it feel like?"
"Valkyrie Squadron, Fire Interceptors!"
It felt like bliss.
MR-23 Silverhawk Wing
In the midst of the fighting, a wing of Silverhawks had been given a task. These meta-sax ships that had shown up; whether they be projections or real vessels; were firing on the superimpactors. This could not be allowed. The Multirole fighters- loaded with anti-ship missiles- would intercept these vessels, unleash a volley of the ASMs, and pull away. They would repeat this process once more with another volley of missiles, then return to the carrier to re-arm.
The Grey-silver fighters; while nowhere near as fast as the famed Shrikes, were still fast enough to keep track of these Saxheelian vessels, their blood-trails of fusion torches shooting behind them as the fighters internal weapons bays shifted open. Out of it came a large, guided anti-ship missile by the name of the GM-70 Thebes. The missile took up half of the large internal bay itself, a second missile waiting for the next pass to be launched from the fighters.
Getting closer, the Silverhawks began to lock onto the Meta-Sax 'projections', and with the clicks of buttons and calls of comms over the various squadrons, they launched. Swiftly the missiles shot forth, expunging vast swathes of bloodied plasma from their fusion torches. RCS thrusters shot jets of pressurized air as they guided themselves to their Saxheelian targets.
Dominion Fleet
Following the orders of their Fleet-Admiral, a section of the fleet began to move out from the defensive line, forming up behind the vast Eosian vessels while still keeping their distance, an attempt to prevent being gutted incidentally by their own 'allies'. Massive torches of fusion warmed up, a red glow engulfing the vessels as the plasma began being piped to the engines, the signature glowy-crimson beginning to form tail-trails behind the vessels as their speed began to pick up.
At the head of the spear was the Platinum-class cruiser; the headpiece of the manouver, and serving as the small battlegroup's commanding unit. Flanking it were the two Usurper-class destroyers, who kept just behind the cruiser, staying close to provide defense and protection. Behind even them in a flat two dimensional triangle shape were three stantra class frigates, who were miniscule compared to the larger ships before them.
Supporting this, a large Vanguard-Class began to trail with the fleet, swirling blue portals of plasma itching to form defensive barriers afront the battlegroup, waiting and wanting. Beside this was a much smaller, but more devious vessel of a Sirius-class, a mobile Electronic warfare platform loaded with Electromagnetic pulse missiles, jamming, and even cybernetic warfare capabilities. When the order was given, it would begin throwing directed jamming at the enemy fleet. False signatures, overloading radio with noises, and attempts at hacking into the enemy to display falsities upon their screens or steal information.
But not quite yet; First, something else must be taken care of.
The Selencians were on the move, it seemed, so the Dominion fleet aimed to suppress them as they shot forth.
Orders were to bring around railguns and fire potshots in their direction to keep their CIWS busy, and thus that is what they shall do. Across the fleet, railguns and coilguns brought their barrels around, electrostatic and electromagnetic charges building up and zapping through the vacuum between the ends of the barrels.
And with one command, they all fired. A Silent crack, shriek, and boom of the guns all near-simultaneously firing shells shaking each vessel to its core, as the projectiles zipped forth, mostly aimed to strike fear in the hearts of the selencians and to keep them busy, focusing on taking down projectiles and avoiding hits instead of making plans.
Meanwhile, farther back towards the still defending Dominion ships, the two longbows had begun to charge their spindly tower-like particle lances, running down the spine of the ship like a backbone, bleach white energy pouring through.
On the bridge, the capain spoke to a projection of the fleet Admiral.
“Do we have permission to fire, Fleet Admiral? Our trigger-fingers are itching.”
“Fire at will, strike them down. You have your orders.”
The Captain saluted, and the hologram dissipated, prompting him to turn to his crew.
“BRING THE MAIN GUNS TO BARE! I WANT TO PIERCE THOSE VESSELS LIKE OUR ANCESTORS PIERCED THE CLOUDS AND YEARNED FOR THE STARS!”
A cheer from the crew, and then a rumble, the whole ship shuddering and shaking, exactly as her sister ship beside her shook and shivered beside her, lances of neutral particles being sent at relativistic speeds right for the heart of the Selencian fleet.
The Music's started; Are they ready to dance?
The impactor followed its course unimpeded. To the Homunculi aboard the Interdictor Cruiser, it was like an arrow, fired from the bow of a vengeful deity. Absolute and certain death creeping ever closer with each passing second. The crew could only observe in abject horror, that the Cruiser had poured all of its power into its interdiction arrays, its engines were insufficient to even attempt a dodge, even if operating at peak efficiency. Flashes of Unbroken fire struck the Eosian projectile with increasing frequency, even amongst the chaos of the battlefield the Homunculi could recognise them. A thin streak of ferrofluid, accelerated to a near-plasma state, a pulse of gravitons, catching nearby projectiles in its path, an atom laser, cutting through matter like a scalpel.
There was no power to spare for a sensor sweep, no one aboard knew the state of the Impactor. Yet even if these were their last seconds, the Homunculi would fight to the moment they scattered into debris. Even as the signature of their doom changed from a distant speck in the void, to a visible outline, everyone aboard stood by their stations, focused on their duty to the end. Only the leading Alpha took in the scene from a wider perspective and spoke across the inner vessel comms.
"Today we give our blood for New Eden, for Gaia, for our Primogenitor and the Unbroken. The Exodus will remember our sacrafice. Our kindred will ensure it is not in vain."
The Alpha cursed under his breath, speeches weren't in his combat programming and neither did his Pureblood ever bother to give one that was worth a damm. As the Eosian Impactor neared its target, he was glad that at least no one else heard his attempt at heroism. The crew collectively took a breath and prepared for an explosive end, though in the end, it never came.
The only chance at destroying such a vast and mobile target was in close range when the firepower of every assembled Unbroken vessel could be wagered. The escorts focused their graviton weaponry on a single damaged spot, ripping the armour and internals outward. Immediately every other weapon in the fleet fired, atom lasers, LLA cannons, missiles. Even some drones had diverted their course on a kamikaze run. The Impactor split in the middle, each of the separated parts moved by its initial momentum far off course into the void
Though the Unbroken forces had saved their interdictor, their efforts had put them in a precarious position. The fleet had to focus entirely on the incoming projectile, ignoring the other hostile, even if it meant taking avoidable damage, and though the Carrier had recalled some of its drones from interception duty, the majority still clung to the FTL buoy arrays. Xylvix had no choice but to hope that his allies would give them air to breathe for the few precious moments it would take for the fleet to reorient itself
The design of bulwark torpedoes were fully automated of course, however they were also massive compared to missiles, this gave a lot of room for enhancements, as the Valkyries would quickly notice.
Radar signatures lit up through the internal computers of each of the 6 huge projectiles, no IFF's, foreign heat signatures, increasing velocity's. In moments, hull sections popped out, revealing themselves as the top plated of CIWS turrets, a way to make sure important payloads absolutely reached their targets. Sprays of rounds spewed forth from spinning barrels, streaks of orange tracers being directed by intercept algorithms and precision return lasers. For something destined to destroy itself, they were certainly prepared to defend themselves.
Of course they had launched 6 for a reason, and the redundancy was showing its effectiveness. A missile breaking through the wall of fire would lead to more seeping through, thin armour would buckle and the resulting explosions would be visible from both fleets. 1 down, 2, a 3rd, a 4th, the slow payloads being easy pickings for swarms of fighters...and then they weren't going so slow anymore. The 2 remaining torpedoes split a stage, a much smaller, faster lower range section rocketing from the huge shell, yet it still seemed so far away from its target, and the reason quickly became clear. 2 balls of light shone brightly for mere seconds, warheads in the megatons firing off around a hundred kilometres from the remaining impactor.
Suddenly that impactor was pierced, and due to its speed, practically sliced by bomb pumped lasers. There were no warheads left to redirect towards other enemy forces, but they had stopped their capital ships from being scrap in their first engagement.
"A good start..."
Felix leaned back in his command chair, indicators on his screen displaying incoming projectiles as destroyed, a small doubt lifted off his shoulders, they weren't completely outmatched it seemed, though this was still far, far from over.
"They've drawn their fighters out for that intercept, make sure they stay isolated or Eos will have the upper hand."
He stared out at the hologram ahead of him, their formation was still strong, but prevented long range broadside, no matter however.
"Keep our own squadrons on standby, Kilmore is cleared to fire anticraft battery when ready.
Forward guns on all frontline ships ready, keep moving closer, lure them in and stay alert on all angles. Intent status?!"
The tactical main officer, a few metres away, though barely visible apart from dim red lighting, responded.
"Sir! No full intent to target on our fleet, conclusive scans predict energy emissions and projectiles are being directed towards Selencian ships, Eosian formations are moving to intercept ZG security, allies are projecting farce ships, providing further targets."
The admiral scoffed, he almost felt like he was being underestimated, or perhaps he was just lucky today.
"The Eosians will be showing us their broadside and the dominion's guns are trained on our allies...
Split formation, keep the backline fleet and buoys in place, move frontline up and around for a better angle, order destroyers to fire S-type torpedoes, target the dominion, keep long-range capables trained on Eosian vessels and fire once within effective angle."
As he was speaking, the captain of the single Kilmore-class they had brought, stationed in the rear fleet, was already underway ordering its firing sequence. The blocky mobile missile battery was dotted with hull plates that had angled out to reveal tens of reloadable missile racks, and soon enough, smoke and fire engulfed the hull as they were fired off using short inertial pulses, giving them a heavy boost, allowing them to spread out before beginning a ranged convergence on the dominion fighter groups who had come forth to intercept the torpedo barrage.
each missile is equipped with the capability to fire its own salvo of smaller anticraft interceptors from a distance, but would still have to catch up first.
It was clear too, that the bulwark fleet was gaining momentum, the ring of destroyers and frigates surrounding the 3 battlecruisers began to burst forward ahead of the carriers, escorts and buoys sitting far behind them, it seemed they were curving around and under the east, each ship in the circular formation trailing an orange streak of plasma as they went. Within these ships, the targeting reticules of hundreds of computers and high fidelity optics were coalescing on the gold and white shapes moving toward the Zlotosgrad ships...
The return message of the Meta-Sax was received along the same pre-planned line and the officer at the communications station absently displayed the message to the agent who had remained in physical contact. They nodded and spoke quietly and the officer deleted the message before returning to their combat duties. As the agent walked away, their hands slightly shook and the officer blinked and shook their head, trying to clear their head of the combat nerves they felt. The message was sent through the Ideascape to Aurel who saw the words blaze into fire in his mind:
”Then you shall have ours. We did not come here for fuel. We came here to help. The shares that are offered to us are given to you. We whom are here equally will dedicate yourselves to your aid. If this will be sufficient, keep your ships far from the battle-the foe approaches and will soon be out of range to double back upon you without risking a flank.”
His eyes flicked to the Rear Admiral, eyes glowing as he sensed his mental state; Determination. Anger. Regret. Desperation. Futility. He would feel forced to be part of this course until another one presented itself. Even with the alarms of twenty more Zlotosgrad defense force ships arriving, it would not be enough. The Meta-Sax offer was helpful, but they had rightfully lost their own share with their actions, so it would still not really be enough. He would have to see a chance to betray the Eosians, and win, for any argument to convince him. Talidan doctrine indicated that they fight at long range, so they could follow the recommendations of the Meta-Sax for now.
Mental probes from his colleagues reminded him that it was possible that Eos would prove to be victorious, and he reminded them that they had two paths when previously they had one; their duty to Nasreus and the Little Star eclipsed all. If the Eosians path of blood was needed to protect it, they would go down it, but only if nothing else was possible.
Aurelion, unaware of Aurel’s moves behind the scenes, reviewed the combat data on the tactical screen; the increased focus of the VLA on the Meta-Sax possible reinforcements had been providing increased resolution on them before the Meta-Sax cyberwarfare had kicked into gear, scrambling further attempts, requiring more time and power. If they could align the entire array, they could punch a hole through it, but they’d leave no support and ECM for the Sax’s and others cyber attacks. Craft had come and attached themselves to the new arrivals, for what purpose, he was unsure, but he had a decision to make, in light of the futher reinforcements from the defense forces.
“Operations.”
“Sir, a portion of the Eosian forces are moving to engage the enemy forces. OPFOR has destroyed the impactors coming for the interdictor vessels. Our squadrons were too far away and too slow to match pace and provide protection.”
Aurelian leaned forward and began to speak.
“Time to contact with enemy solar garrison and I-Buoys?”
“Five minutes, Admiral.”
“Reorient VLA, focus on ECM and EW on the enemy fleets, focus on the area around the nodes; prepare next firing package and continue salvos until ordered otherwise. We need to break their interdiction hold on us. If we can jump freely, the Eosians can finish this battle quickly. Prepare the fleet to move out.”
“Rear Admiral.”
He turned to see Aurel, having remained silent thus far, coming to stand beside him.
“What is it; with us coordinating with the Eosians, your role in this battle has become very minimal.”
“We should keep our forces back here; the Dominion is moving to engage the Selencians, the Eosians are doing a general advance, but that leaves the Bulwark to come to us. We fight better at long range, and the Eosians are the perfect shield to our sword. If they try anything to come for the storage and Ancerium facilities here, we should be prepared intercept or deploy soldiers should they try a hot drop.”
Aurelion paused and then nodded.
“A reasonable plan. Counter the last, fleet is to remain in support for the Eosians for now.”
Electric blue flashes continued from the coilguns and another cloud of missiles began to make their way to the front.
At the frontline, the cloud of interceptors, fighters and bombers began to reach the lines; squadron leaders prepared their flight mates for battle, and the oriented VLA began to support their systems, providing more data for target acquisition and trying to spoof/confuse enemy sensors. As the battlefront heated up, the force divided into thirds, each going after a particular node and began to come roaring in against the enemy fightercraft formations.
Interceptors burst forward, seeking enemy fighter craft, the screeching of missile tracking in their ears as they began launching the initial salvos. As they closed, lines of kinetic fire could be seen as they began to engage and dogfight the enemy forces. The fighters remained with the bombers, preparing to intercept incoming fire and breakthrough fighters to protect the bombers, who themselves were lining up target locks and firing angles to began hitting the nodes, launching explosive-core and bomb-pumped laser core missiles.
As the scrum began, alarms would be screaming as the first wave of bomb-pumped laser missiles would arrive; at pre-set proximities, they would attempt lock ons to their targets and launching their line of x-ray radiation to destroy, damage or even fry the systems and people, if any, of their targets. Several nodes were targeted in this initial strike, with the three being attacked included.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
“Any updates?”
“We have determined them to be decoys my lord. Matching our sensor readings with those of the Alliance and Dominions as well as the distinctive lack of exotic particles we can confirm they are no threat, merely an intimidation tactic” Vanadis nodded.
“Exemplary work. I must admire their abilities, they had me fooled for a moment if we had been a lesser species perhaps, we would have focused them down with more long-range fire.”
“High Exemplar, it appears we are being targeted. Dominion forces are matching our course too, Impactors have also been intercepted, no confirmed kills”
“No matter. Point Wave guns, find us a firing solution and prep another round of impactors.”
The Eosian vessels that were part of the First Wall came in a cylindrical formation. The Unending Virtue was at its centre, the huge Divine class battleship surrounded by a mix of Basilica Heavy Cruisers, Virtue class cruisers and Crusader class heavy escorts, arrayed in concentric rings around the larger vessel. All continued to accelerate towards the Meta-Sax & Unbroken forces while the Bulwark had taken a flanking route along with the Zlotosgrad forces and Selenicans the Eosians always struck the centre.
Large turrets on the Basilicas rotated into position as a firing solution was found on the Meta-Sax formation. Already alerts were popping up of low powered lasers illuminating the Eosian vessels from there, and while Eos had no focus on cyberwarfare or false minds, they were no strangers to the threats of virtual infiltration.
Barrels spun up as gravitational flux distorted the main guns, released a moment later the bolts release, firing a barrage of point wave fire towards the Meta-Sax formation. It would help to truly solidify the decoys but also damage their vessels, meanwhile directed wave weapons and omnidirectional waves were charged and held ready. The Bulwark and Unbroken were likely seconds away from opening fire, they would be ready for the return.
----
As the remaining bulk of the Eosian fleet stayed close to the fuel vessels the fighters, escorting their allies towards the interdiction nodes now tangled with the Zlotosgrad escorts.
Flashes of laser fire immolated fighter craft as the Eosian Rapture bombers opened their launch bays and unleashed a flurry of kinetic impactors and point wave missiles. While smaller than the gigantic monstrosities which had sped towards the allied fleet their premise was the same as they accelerated away towards both the Zlotosgrad vessels and the nodes in question. The point missiles were different, designed to explode in powerful gravitic waves just like Eosian weapons. Even as an entire squadron was wiped out by laser fire, one of the Zlotosgrad destroyers was cored by a trio of impactors which smashed through its reactor and main engineering, immolating it.
The battle was truly being joined.
Bulwark Rear Fleet
"They're going straight for it. Hadn't a lick of doubt."
The bouys were not decoys, far from it of course, but they were still bait, the captain of the Jovian-class RBIV Truth or consequences knew this fact very well.
"Captain, the 'Opulent' and the 'Merchant' are reporting enemy fighters launching long-range armaments at multiple buoys." A comms officer interjected. The captain pouted, it seemed they'd have to skip ahead of schedule a little.
"The defensive elements can hold, begin deployment pattern Charlie immediately, make sure the others in our group are doing the same and co-ordinate proper distribution."
The reply was cold, their ships were relatively safe this far back behind the buoys and their escorts, and apart from that little hiccup, things were going to plan.
The Jovians themselves began to fulfil their roles, almost immediately after the command was issued, hatches across the front ends of the ships split open, revealing arrays of launch tubes, not for missiles or torpedoes, but for fighters, or at least for right now, drones. Flashes of light indicated the catapulting of small automated units towards buoys where the enemy was predicted to be at their densest in order to assist already present defensive formations and their additional allies as well as to buy time for additional fighter reinforcements.
Individual forces at each buoy had already begun to react to what they could, targeting incoming projectiles as screens of flak and CIWS fire hurled forth from the escort destroyers and attached fighter groups. It seemed they were very happy to stay on the defensive however, the fighter craft not going to meet the incoming force head on, but letting long range defensive fire soften them up first, which would help delay for the arrival of the drones.
It would be very unlikely that forces were split evenly to attack all 8 buoys, so with what reports they had, 2 rattlesnakes sitting at the centre of the rear formation would move in to assist where things were looking to be the worst. adding their own fighter compliments to the fray.
Meanwhile, the Valkyries and a lot of the associated craft that had gone to intercept the laser torpedoes would find themselves being locked onto by an increasing number of incoming missiles, splitting out into groups to encapsulate them like a vile claw.
Bulwark Forward Fleet
Within the gunnery command rooms of every available ship, an order was issued in almost perfect synchronisation.
"SALVO, DELAY 3, FIRE!"
In that moment plumes of light erupted from across the formation, ships quaking and rumbling as shells the size of buildings flung from broadsides or main heavy turrets and into the void, accelerating rapidly from their origin. The command issued, however, meant that from one gun group to the next, each ship would wait 3 seconds before firing again, in the hope that all their projectiles wouldn't be destroyed at once, in response to what they knew about Eos' defences.
At this distance the heavy rounds would take some time to cross the gap towards the Eosian detachment, but their arrival was inevitable, and the speed they'd pick up during travel likely lethal. After around the second volley, torpedo tubes opened to the vacuum, and oversized missiles pushed their way out, webbing plasma and smoke across the front of the ships red bows. Between the sunrises and the surrounding destroyer ring, around 39 were launched, 3 from each vessel, already pulling away on different paths, aiming to pass the SSA completely and to converge towards the dominion from two directions.
Such a massive expel of munitions wouldn't go unnoticed of course, but this was none of the admiral or anyone else's concern, so defensive measures from hardlight to autocannon were already being prepped up to counter whatever return fire would be thrown at them.
"Shells away sir, and torpedoes on course, estimating mid to low gap before intercept arrival."
"Fantastic." His voice betrayed the excitement of the word. He watched the weapon directory screen as the animated graphic of each gun turned red as they were fired and yellow as reloading began.
"Make sure to keep secondary armament on the enemy as we approach, and target the SSA once we get within range."
"Sir, are you sure it's wise to be spreading our firepower out between every enemy fleet? We'd be drawing too much attention." A concerned tactician voiced through his headset. The admiral almost chuckled in response.
"As if we haven't already...but fine, once secondary guns are in range, readjust main turrets to focus fire on higher class targets within proximity. Avoid punch-through, we don't want to look like monsters." His mind was running through strategies, but his eyes were fixed on the clump of dots representing the far-flung dominion fighters, if those missiles did their job they'd tilt the scales at least a little.
The very space surrounding the Unbroken vessels began to tremble with the volume of incoming fire, the ships themselves shook nearly constantly. Every piece of ablaitive plating melted by an energy blast, every projectile melted by the plasma screen, or barely deflected by the magnetic shielding. The engineering Homunculi had to activate the magnetic anchors on their armor, lest they be thrown around round like ragdolls. Some sections of the cruisers had already taken enough damage to force for Golems to be deployed, in support of the repair automata already working overtime. The machines worked tirelesly, patching microscopic holes and punctures with nanite-based solutions, or simply by welding new plating ontop.
"My liege. Enemy capital ships on a direct combat course for our fleet and the Met Sax group. They appear to be focusing on them."
Respond in kind. On this day we fight and die with our allies. The Unbroken will not be found wanting
The Unbroken formation remained just as it was when defending the Interdictor stood as the primary goal. Whether it be due to mockery or a simple tactical advantage, the Unbroken ships created a funnel, just like the Eos warfleet.
The greatest mistake of the Council was the amount of warships deployed, and their relative small size compared to their opponents. Yet by working in concert some of those weaknesses would be mitigated. The leading battlecruiser possesed a potent atom laser, a weapon powerfull enough to punch above its weight. The cruisers and the escorts began to project their shields forwards, each ship covering itself and parts of the vessel in front of it. The automated escorts would be the least defended, being on the outskirts, but such was their role, to take the firepower directed at crewed ships. Every ship further into the funnel was under heavier protection and could focus on striking back at the approaching invaders.
The battlecruiser fulfiled its role as an artillery ship, anytime an approaching vessel had its shields brought to the brink of collapse, it would focus its atom laser on breaking that unfortune foe.
Selenican - Zlotosgrad Joint Fleet
"SIR! Munitions headed our way!" the commander of the slightly smaller battle force shouts, his comms headed straight to Azria's ears.
A message is sent back in great haste, as simple as it is curt and to the point.
"EVADE! We can't risk being hit, get the hell out of the way!" Azria's garbled voice sounds, distorted from the range.
"Aye, sir!"
A quick forwarding of the admiral's order is sent out to the rest of the ships of the formation, Zlotosgrad forces included, and the relatively light anti-kinetic PD is readied and aimed at target.
"Match, set, FIRE!"
This three-word command is heard across most Selenican ships as the PD opens fire, bleaching the color from the eyes of any onlooker as the hail of kinetic fire opens, set right on course with the incoming Dominion railgun fire. While this opera of bullets is sent forth to the enemy projectiles, an unfortunate frigate, one of the few available to the Selenican forces, begins to struggle with its engines...
"Commander, engines are bleeding power, we're only being pushed forward at 40 efficiency." One of the maintenance crew radios to the bridge, the heat emanating off of the frigate's engines being near lethal. "Coolant supplies to the engines are dangerously low, leak suspected."
"Fall back to the rest of our allied formation th-!" the commander begins to say, when...
As one of the few cruisers brought along moves out of the way of the particle lance, it places the burden of fire right on the frigate, incapable of dodging with its engine troubles, and a flash is seen across the formation as the primary, oversized reactor of the ship is pierced. All shields were powered to full, but the sheer strength of enemy fire shorted the tachyonic methods of shielding, even the plasma shielding was overcome. A silent boom is felt, the shockwaves of explosive force making its way through the rest of the ships in formation.
[+][+]
"Admiral, down one frigate, complete loss. Survivors unlikely." the commander of the task force comms over to Azria, his voice cold and empty.
"We can't afford to stop, keep pushing. Focus all fire on those Dominion artillery ships, NOW!" Azria replies, the rage bubbling from his voice clear to all. "Clear them from space!"
"Aye, sir."
With this, the track of Selenican turrets flies over to their new targets- the Longbow-Class of the Dominion. With another order, a tight volley flies out from all of the ships of the fleet, purging color from whatever photography was done as the flight of tachyonic projectile clusters begins. Zlotosgrad forces also receive a slightly softer version of the order, owing to their entire participation in this being voluntary.
The dance of battle begins.
Longbow
The Longbow’s captain cheered loudly alongside his crew as they sliced through and immolated the Selencian frigate, a few moments late due to the light-lag of the vast distances.
“Thats one kill! Keep charging so we can fire again as soon as possible!”
“Aye, Captain!” replied the XO, Saluting and speaking with the weapons and engineering officers respectively.
Sensors spoke up. “Captain! Selencians engaged return fire! Tachyonic weaponry inbound, unlikely to dodge, but remaining ships not sent to the frontlines are moving to-”
The ship shook violently and the lights went red as a packet of Tachyons slammed into them, tearing and ripping a hole into the side of the ship, but missing the main particle lance.
It’s sister-ship, however, was not as lucky. Slamming into it were a few more tachyon-arrows, slicing through weak armour like butter as it’s main reactor was decimated, the whole ship shutting down and running on emergency power, shuddering and floating. Another arrow ripped and tore through the central lance, shearing it in half and leaving massive holes spotted along the artillery vessel.
“Captain, sister ship is mission-kill! Our lower navigational thrusters are offline, but main power still full, orders?”
“FUCK! Get us closer to the carriers and prepare for another round of firing, aim for their flagship!”
“Aye, Captain!”
Valkyrie Squadron
“Woo-hoo! Torpedo down! Other fighters got three of em, but two broke through.” called Bryn over the radio.
“All-right! What’s our next move, Bryn?!” replied Ivar ecstatically.
She replied swiftly- “We need to move for dogfi-” but was cut off by a loud warning.
Missiles.
“Valkyrie Squadron, Missiles inbound! Lots of em!”
Eir quipped in, “Looks like Bulwark drones have caught our tails, lets give em’ the dogfight of their lives!”
“Hell yeah!” responded the rest of the squadron.
As the missiles grew ever closer, the squadron kicked in thrusters back to max, ready to weave through the walls of missiles, and sent out small flare-missiles and radio scramblers, hoping to kick some of them off their tail.
Despite all that, there was one hit. Ivar found that part of his wing was damaged, a missile slicing through it, the tip of the wing left behind in the void of space as scrap.
“I’m hit! Damage is superficial but it’s gonna limit my weapons! Lost my whole left wing!”
“Shit! Keep up the pace and ready to fire interceptors into those drones!”
The squadron pulled around and began to lock on with their own missiles, firing into a wing of dronefighters.
“Remember. Nobody fucking dies today, do you hear me!” screamed Valk-3.
“Aye!” was the only response from various squadron members, as they kicked into the fray.
Dominion Fleet and Fighters
In response to the various missile launches from the bulwark, dominion fighters got struck down, but fought back in response. Wings took losses, and dished out countering missiles, the dogfight intensifying as the bulwark joined into the fray.
The fleet, however, had different plans.
“Captain Richt. Selencians gutted a longbow, and Bulwark have launched a mass of torpedoes to try and come at us. Orders?”
“Intercept the snakes, and have fightercraft pull back where possible to defend against the torpedoes. Make sure the Vanguard is ready to throw a fleet-shield, and have defensive primes. Fire another volley towards the Selencian fleet, all weapons free.”
“Understood, Captain.”
The fleet of Dominion vessels shifted in sync, their courses bending and aiming around to intercept the selencian vessels halfway, Thrusters kicking in maximum to slow them down and alter their courses.
And as this happened, they opened up with another volley.
Railguns, Coilguns, Missiles, Torpedoes; Everything they had. Fusion cannons fired bolts and the spinal weapons of the fleet took aim, firing irradiating particle beams and shearing railguns, many vessels in the fleet having to take breaks from shooting to vent masses of heat that had begun building up, leading to the volleys coming in waves with each ship, when one ship stopped another started. This would be quite the bloody battle.
Several things happened in quick succession.
The array found itself under the attentive eye of the Eosian's heading for their formation. Two projections were being targeted by the Dominion strike craft. Allied ships were being destroyed nearby. Unbroken forces had successfully defeated the two incoming impactors.
And now a wall of force was coming towards them.
Within the mental space they shared, there was aroused emotions; "We're not fighters, this is well beyond us!"
"Impact time is measured as twenty-two seconds in real-time, " Asi droned on with additional data in the background as the debate continued.
"Be that as it may, we're still best equipped to handle that-"
"If we commit ourselves-"
"Surely through combined-"
It was functionally circular. Ultimately, they did have the choice to flee - to use their speed and their technology to simply escape the battle and leave the rest to their fate. But that was never an actual choice, and they all knew that. No one, not a single one of their kind, would ever be able to live with the guilt. Yet, staying carried with it the very real risk of death. The First Death in a very long time.
Ano thought it was ironic, especially given that they had meant for this to be a fairly simple S&R. Just hang back, support, repair, ease the burden of others. Now though, as the Eosian's behemoth approached, they were finding themselves soon to be fighting for their own lives.
Her eyes tasted the depth of color of the gravitic wave weapons that headed for the projections and themselves. The Eosians had spread their fire, keen to pop the illusions and reveal the fraud to the rest of the battling forces, but it also meant that the wave occlusions were quite evident.
Hedhu pointed it out as well, and as the group stubbornly acquitted itself to staying, they began to devise a counter strategy.
"17 seconds."
The timer wasn't as much of a burden, not really. Just a reminder that no matter how sophisticated the network, how powerful the mind, there was never truly enough time.
Projections were moved, morphed, and adjusted. The smallship illusions expelled their parasites out inside space, which flitted about like hornets disturbed from their nests, chasing after the fighters that hounded their hosts. Particle beams that had been relatively ineffective against the impactors found their intended prey as the tiny apertures spouted out gouts of pencil-thin rays in angry vengeance against the strikecraft that had unleashed anti-ship warheads.
Those that had not been targeted by the enemy strikewing shifted into shimmering needles - their curvature affect marred by the projected protational boundaries to give it a vibrancy all its own. With the deliberate motions of the twin MMV's coordination, they flung their mass-shadows into the path of the waves in sequence. Each was immediately destroyed: the projected matter filtering away as though disintegrating, and with each sacrifice the waves lessoned.
Ano's strategy involved moving themselves away from these eddies, to build space and thus time for themselves and those around them. So two more sacrifices were made of the illusionary cruisers. Twisted into spinning rope-hewn mass shadows and light, they too made the dive into the waves.
Sentinel elements of the composite shields were sending out sense-feelings of contact with the leading edge of the wave when Ano and Igyin activated their last real "ace". It was simple really; using their mastery of dark fluidics, spatial liquid dynamics, and the topography of the star systems own gravitational emission spectrum, they would project a large field around themselves and the Unbroken fleet that they encircled.
As Ano and Igyin assumed the galactic North and South positions in the circle respectively, they would be able to conjoin the spatial region on their own without requiring the aid of their peers.
No, instead the aid would come in other ways - for while they could do this, it would take all of their mental power to crunch the math to pull it off. And the net effect would be just a velocity increase for the Unbroken - an ability to borrow for a brief period of time the reactionless abilities of a Saxheelian.
Straining ever further, pushing their resources harder and harder. Ano knew they wouldn't be able to keep it up.
The smallships coalesced into two squads of three to protect the logistics ships - they quickly formed delta's that focused their own protational gravity shields into a cone to disrupt the remainder of the incoming gravity waves. The net effect was a cancelation - the point smallship would lose its field boundary for a time, making it vulnerable to the wave effect weapons, but the actual living bioships would be unharmed. They swapped their positions as soon as the wave diminished.
Composite shields moved across the skins of the ships, stretching into space like thin membranes of connecting bat wings - their arrays would be effective against the other factions weapons as seen thus far, but were powerless against the Eosians.
To the Allied vessels, the Meta-Sax sent a message, "Capacity to withstand the attack of the Eosians is negative-time-sensitive. Proximity will increase challenge by exponential qualities. Unbroken hierarchy-detachment-entity: note that a field has been placed around The Circle and your Spiral. It will effect a percentage of reactionless movement. Redirect constellation of forces away from Eosians - only with distance will we be able to sustain a defense. To other Allied ships: the SSA may disengage from the battle entirely. Our efforts have been marginally successful, and per that dialogue, the SSA formation is remaining in the rear of the battle. Suggestion to focus all fire currently arrayed against SSA units to Eosians. If the backbone of the armada is broken, the rest will scatter."
With so much of their efforts being placed on defending against the gravity weapons, the lasers that had been previously raking across the Eosian ships looking for an opening ceased. None of them were available to take advantage of an opening anyways.
For a glimmer of a moment, the Consensus of The Dust Fleet wished that Towit had been with them, to guide them in matters of war, of pain, to teach them how to Die.
Chaos reigned.
The battle had been joined in earnest, as the Dominion began to duel with the Selencians and the Bulwark, the Eosians going deep towards the enemy center and hammering the Zlotosgrad and the Meta-Sax and the Unbroken holding the line around the Interdictor. But for the Alliance squadrons engaging their chosen buoy targets, it was chaos of another kind. Communications channels were full of static-filled shouting orders, acknowledgments and updates, every so often enemy EW breaking through with a loud wail or hissing before the VLA managed to push it back out in the endless tug of war.
The moment the first salvo came in, space had erupted in enemy fire, as the OPFOR’s fighter formations launched their own anti-missile weaponry and the point defenses of the associated ships came online, filling space with tracers, lines of energy and explosions as missiles and ordinance detonated. Bomb-pumped missiles ignited their cores, the nuclear reaction consuming the fuel inside and the machinery of the missile focusing the energy of the blast out of the tube, stabbing outward toward their targets, three of the buoys. As this was going on, the fray continued, the dull-gray hulls of the Alliance ships flitting through space, their rapid-fire coilguns striking out at enemy targets, leaving debris and floating corpses in their wake, but these were also joined by their own, pilots flaming out to sustained fire or becoming brief stars from missile or last impacts, their craft and body disintegrating to join the stardust floating throughout the system.
Still, the attack continued on, the momentum keeping them moving forward, as the fighters attempted to stem the tide of incoming fire and fighters, relying on the interceptors to keep enough at bay, and formed wedges to drive towards the buoys. A protracted battle against the defending ships, without proper full class ship support was a losing battle, this had to be a single target strike each. As they pushed onward, the bombers continued to unleash their firepower on the assigned through buoys, attempting to weaken the network of interdiction at all.
It was when the Dominion fightercraft began to peel off that concern entered the equation; the enemy had concentrated their fighter craft, outside of some defensive operations, on these buoys and without the Dominion’s support, it was just the Alliance and the Eosians against the full might of the squadrons and their backup escorts point defense. An all out rush was ordered, to try and gain some advantage while one ally pulled back to deal with incoming fire.
Even as the battle intensified, another salvo from the SSA fleet could be seen incoming, flashes of light exploding and lances of laser fire stabbing towards the same buoys, an increasing array of fire as more salvos were on the way and being unloaded by the SSA fleet still with the Eosians in orbit.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
“Enemy forces have opened fire my lord”
“As expected, and about time, very good. Projected impact time?” The High Exemplar felt the vessel shake as several impacts from Unbroken weapons made contact with the hull “Never mind, I see. That battlecruiser is likely to put up a good fight. It appears our new found allies are pulling their weight, enemy vessel destroyed”
“Indeed my Exemplar, they are holding the line. Reporting 39 torpedoes on trajectory along with additional kinetic volleys” The ship rocked again. The closer range weapons were now exchanging between the Unbroken and the Eosian formation. Weapons hammered as gravitic waves rushed outwards, both to inflict damage and to try intercept munitions. A bright light shone however briefly as one of the Heavy cruisers suffered a reactor failure.
“Report”
“Basilica Herald of Nartham destroyed my lord, the Unbroken are focusing down vessels and the battlecruiser is gutting them, the fake vessels were also just that sir but it appears the Meta-Sax are using gravitics to dampen our weapons fire onto both them and the Unbroken”
“I see. Focus fire gravimetrics onto the Unbroken, including directional wave guns, I want area waves to intercept the incoming Bulwark fire and launch more impactors, target the Bulwark and give them something to focus on” Vanadis wasn’t smiling so much anymore.
The Eosian formation kept closing, having lost a ship and now taking fire they focused their point wave weapons and directed wave weapons onto the Unbroken. With closing distance, they hoped to break open the foe, and hammer through the protective sheathe of the Meta-Sax. The vessels AOE waves however were kept on standby as the torpedoes and railgun volley closed from the Bulwark, it would impact soon but another three impactors slipped loose from the Eosian ships, each one targeting one of the Bulwarks cruisers.
The Eosians were used to chaotic engagements.
----
The appearance of the drones did not surprise Khalic.
Even deep within the womb neural interface of his Patron fighter surrounded by gel his closed eyes revealed more to him than they ever did when disconnected. He was his fighter, every part of it was merely an extension of his body. It took great mental discipline and prayer not to be driven insane whenever he was disconnected, to have so much power and widened senses stripped from you. To flying the cosmos under the creators’ eyes to merely being a small insignificant vessel. These doubts Khalic wrestled with every time he was in his craft.
Point wave guns fired, defending him from a missile as he arrested his movement and pulled an incredible manoeuvre using the grav drives. A burst of golden energy hunting down one of the foes. They were outnumbered, even with the SSAs fighter elements that Khalic agreed were fighting respectably the drones were too many now that the Dominion squadrons had withdrawn. But they had quality, and they had to merely keep them off the bombers. Raptures would detonate here and there, but they kept on, releasing payloads to destroy the buoys.
But they would have to withdraw soon to re-arm, they were reaching operational limits.
Bulwark Rear Fleet
Drone warfare wasn't the 'peak' of imperial military acumen, they much preferred swarms of cheap and hardy fighters or interceptors, however the way they used it was certainly in line with the rest of their doctrine. Enemy pilots would find that the bulky W shaped machines were dumb, but tough. They were able to read a decent number of manoeuvres and had their own counters here and there, but it really wasn't a whole lot smarter than a rookie pilot.
What was notable however was their annoying habit to take shots. Without crew, their armour and engines were upscaled to allow for a much thicker hide than would usually be expected, some might keep going with an engine blown out or a wing sheared off, or just tank a blast entirely. It was also obvious how incredibly disposable they were, drones failing to intercept weapons missing the destroyer and reaching the buoys would instead sacrifice themselves, trying their best to take the bullet, or perhaps laser, in the presence of a much more important objective. Their rapid suicidal manoeuvres also made them highly unpredictable, like a household fly, yet not so bad once you managed to predict them correctly.
With dominion groups pulling back though, and buoys suffering damage within relatively low tolerances (apart from a couple, which had been deemed operational, but non-responsive) as well as rattlesnake frigates giving support at the densest clusters of conflict, Rear command almost decided against launching the manned fighter wave from the Jovian carriers. The admiral helpfully reminded them that even the drones would need to re-arm eventually, whether that be from their nearby destroyer, or retreating back to the carriers themselves, they would fail eventually.
As such, the order was given, pilots had boarded fighters and small gunships, armaments ready before launch, preparing while the drones bought them time. Their craft were loaded up onto racks to be queued up for deployment through the magnetic acceleration tubes opening on their respective ship's blunt end, apertures opening to reveal them. Klaxons blared as the captains aimed their ships once more to where this firepower would be most needed, taking into consideration the number of terminated drones and buoy integrity as well as reports from the defending destroyers.
Flashes erupted as the manned craft were lunged toward their assigned objective in unified wings, their acceleration was slower than the drones to abide by human tolerances, but the machines and destroyers would hopefully hold their ground for them to get there, fingers crossed.
Bulwark Forward Fleet
Now far separated from the rear defensive ring, the Admiral was pleased to hear that their efforts were holding well, and with news of dominion retreats, a decision was made to fire another anti-fighter salvo on a predicted intercept, to perhaps thin their numbers before they reached their home fleet. Within minutes, a number of cruise missiles were away, aiming for a mid-range swarm strike as plasma turbines trailed streaks of blue across the empty space in-between.
"Hm." Was the first reaction the admiral gave as gravimetric sensors and long-range optics revealed the launch of impactors from the Eosian fleet on the other side of the battlefield. They weren't the most concealed thing, but Felix somewhat appreciated it, he was raised on the thought that hiding was a coward's game, after all.
Either way his vocalisation wasn't of worry, or annoyance, it was of surprise, somewhat.
"And here I was expecting a brutal two way duel. Seems they're more content playing their same old tricks...looks like they're far from invincible too."
He noticed the report of an Eosian cruiser being detonated and eyed the signatures with curiosity, there had to be more to this. Either way, they couldn't send their torpedoes to deal with it like last time, they were lucky they weren't all shot down. The unbroken definitely saved themselves. Now, if they sent them to the space between the two fleets it would be easy for a fighter group to split off from those moving back and forth to intercept. The order had to be changed.
"How many L-types do we have left?" He looked slightly toward his weapons officer. The helmeted individual took less than a moment to answer.
"1 in each Sunrise sir, 2 smaller yields in each supporting destroyer. Though I'd like you to consider we can't know how many projectiles the enemy has."
"Thank you for the input, officer.” The reply was actually grateful, it was true after all, he hadn’t considered how many of those things they could store in the stomachs of their massive vessels. Either way, they couldn’t do nothing, and they couldn’t send torpedoes out into the gap lest they be intercepted by fighters passing to their other targets. The order had to be changed.
“...Launch all three, target one for each projectile, keep them in close formation to prepare for a near range intercept. Assign research team 1 to measure their performance, I want to know if our low yields might make the cut too.”
After a number of minutes, the airlocks within their tubes allowed the torpedoes to push forth into the void. Though instead of rocketing forward with singular cause like most would expect, something odd happened. Each weapon slowed down, and started keeping pace with the formation, flying in the space between the battlecruisers and the outer ring as if they were like any other ship.
With decent manoeuvring, the torps found their place nestled between the ships of the outer ring, waiting steadily for their targets to come within acceptable range.
Valkyrie squadron
It likely wouldn’t take long for them to realise…
There were no drones. Only a swarm of countless incoming missiles faced them as they turned, the last of them heading up the rear of the swarm, splitting from the last cruise missile far off in the distance. They had come direct, straight from the Bulwark’s forward fleet missile platform just for them, and their numbers were meant to outweigh the skill of pilots.
Countless lines of blue zipped through space towards them, swerving and weaving erratically, honing in on the fighters who had mistakenly flipped toward them, waves of lock signals piling onto their alerts from a rather scary amount of angles. And to make it worse, out here in no man’s land, they only had themselves to help in order to survive.
SSA fleet
Thousands upon thousands of kilometres away, warheads flew, engines singing into the emptiness and automated systems guiding them on a warpath. Relative to the plane the enemy fleets were on, these warheads were travelling both above and below them in two groups, passing right around their vessels, heading straight for the dominion fleet.
They were far too distant for point defences but their trajectory was clear, they weren’t exactly hard to spot with any sort of sensors after all.
Selenican - Zlotosgrad Joint Fleet
"Scratch one enemy artillery ship! Keep up the pressure on the other!" Azria shouts, with eruptions of cheers throughout the crew being heard.
"Aye, sir!" the commander of the detached unit replies, thrusters burning at full speed. A noticeable shift in the Dominion's course is detected, owing to their plans to intercept the Selenicans and cross their T, as it were.
A flurry of orders and the rushing of crew through the tight hallways echoes throughout every ship of this fleet, including the Zlotosgrad forces whose point defenses were being put to overdrive in terms of their work. A mass volley from EVERY Dominion gun is spotted, but their firing solutions were not as precise as the Longbows owing to the irregular pattern from each ship. Evasive maneuvers were ordered in full, and the fleet begins to disperse from its long, thin line formation to something significantly more offensive - a dual-layered line, with a cruiser and 2 destroyers on both top and bottom, plugging the gaps with Zlotosgrad forces completing the pillar serving as mobile PD batteries, though the increase to firepower they have was sure to be used.
The mass of Dominion fire did yield some results, however, as it struck the thrusters of a Zlotosgrad vessel and a Selenican cruiser, causing them to fall slightly behind. Not a massive change, but one which could bear terrible fruit. A few Selenican frigates were additionally dispersed, open targets for a follow up volley.
"Don't just keep rushing straight ahead, turn to face or at least out of a direct crossing!" Azria warns the detached fleet, although the time it took to set up the formation was precious and slowed down the push. All guns faced the Dominion, all weapons online, including even the most minor of Gauss cannonry.
"FIRE AT WILL!"
Such orders were uncommon throughout the Selenican service as order and accuracy were highly prized among the cruiser and destroyer captains but the implication of this order was clear - the Dominion was to be swept aside from the Selenican's path.
A resounding ripple was felt as the fleet conducted its first salvo, then another, then another, pushing the weak frames of the Selenican vessels almost to their breaking point. The orange hue of tachyonic fire was everywhere in this sector of battle. It was now that the main guns of the Zlotosgrad vessels additionally opened fire, adding to the force of guns on the Selenican side.
Dominion Forward Fleet
"Damage report!" called out the Captain of the Platinum-class, Richt.
Responding was the ship's XO, "Captain, taking heavy fire along Bow, the destroyer "Adashcift" is on the verge of destruction."
"Damnit, Keep the pressure on those bastard snakes and Zlotos! All weapons, fire for full effect!"
"Aye, Captain, what of the vanguard?"
"Get that goddamned shield online, now!"
The deep glow of red lights on the bridges of the fleet's vessels pressured the ships, as they violently shook and rumbled, holes being punched in their armour by oncoming munitions. One of the two Usurper-class destroyers was lagging behind, engines sheared away as it floated in space. It was pierced by a Selencian tachyon weapon, and its power cut completely, atmosphere being vented through the hole through the side, as there was no power left to close bulkheads. The crew died a painful death of asphixiation and radiation poisoning, and the vessel was left dead in the ocean of space. Strike-craft fell in droves like insects to a flame, explosions racking in a glorious display as drones and manned fighters met their demise from bulwark missiles. Even protected by manouvering and point defense, many never made it home.
Meanwhile, the Dominion's Forward fleet pressed on, every gun in their arsenal trying to take out Selencian and Zlotosgradi vessels, railguns aimed for larger ships while coilguns and missiles picked and nipped at the easy targets that lagged behind, torpedoes being loosed from racks. Within the depths of the Sirius-class frigate, it began to aim its antennae as it begun its attempts to jam communication and sensors, popping fake Radar blips and drowning radiofrequencies with meaningless nonsense and white noise, while it loosed racks of electromagnetic-fission missiles designed to fry electronics.
Finally, the Vanguard began to act. The bow of the ship turned to face away from the selencians as one of the 'portals' of swirling blue plasma drowned itself in energy, the plasma from the other side draining away and bulging out from the craft's selencian-facing side as magnetic drives churned energy into them.
With nought but a moment's notice, the vanguard shot out a massive wave of plasma, the bubble popping alongside various nodes along the craft shooting out their own uncontained beams of blue energy. The rest of the fleet went along with this, pouring plasma from their shield nodes into the cloud of blue mist that formed a wall between them and the selencian's munitions, the rest of their guns going silent aside from missiles that arced around the wall. The plasma was caught in the collective electromagnetic fields of the fleet, stabilizing itself into a shining blue wall that caught projectiles, melting away at metal projectiles and detonating missiles, if not slowing them down enough for point defense to catch them before they got too close. Using this, the fleet began to push its thrusters harder than before, bringing them ever closer to the intercept point.
They had bought themselves some time.
Valkyrie Squadron
"Shit, Shit, Shit!"
"These arent Drones, they're just missiles!"
"Fuck, pull up, pull up!"
Through the chaos, and the fighting, Valkyrie Squadron had gotten unlucky. Pushing forwards expecting dronefighters to shoot, they were met only with munitions that hunted them down like packs of wolves would hunt their prey, the squadron turning and running, trying to outpace the missiles.
Most of them made it away, on the verge of blacking out from the high-G manouvers they found themselves forced into. Eir, however... Did not survive. With a tug of her controls, she tried to pull away from a missile but found it had struck her engines, leaving her unable to move.
"Shit, Engines gone! I'm hit, i repeat, I'm h-"
An explosion, and static from her radio. A swarm of missiles had struck the plane that had no more ability to manouver, left floating in a straight line as the missiles tore through it's frame, detonating munitions in a solemn yet beautiful red, orange, and blue explosion in the void of space.
"Eir, no!" called out Herja, who tensed up, barely avoiding another missile as the remaining four in the squadron continued rushing towards the safety of their home fleet.
"She's gone, Four! Dont tense up!" screamed Bryn, voice cracking. "Come on!"
Forward Buoy Combat Zone
The battle around the buoys was becoming more and more difficult to maintain, as the space became littered with the metal shards, drifting blood globules and body parts from destroyed Eosian, Dominion, Alliance fighters and Bulkwark drones. Light blue streams of coilgun fire erupted from Alliance interceptors are they struggled to maintain the defense around their bombers.
Andrew juked his fighter around a drone that tried to ram his vehicle, seeing it streak behind him and get annihilated by a missile, even as the beeping continued as he was locking onto another target. He braced himself against the geforces and whipped the interceptor around and blazing another drone done with his twin coilguns. A quick glance at the tactical display made his stomach drop. Of the squadrons deployed to this area, one-fourth of their number had been destroyed, and the numbers were increasing; the enemy’s point defenses as well as the drones tendency to suicide into both them and their missiles/bomb-pumped lasers from their fleet and their targets were only lightly damaged. Without more fire support, which neither the Eosians or Dominions could spare, or more fighters, which the Dominion had their own problems, this was becoming a losing battle.
As if on cue, the comm crackled and his commander’s voice sounded,
”All wings, next volley from Home Fleet is coming in, use it as cover to withdraw. We need to go back and rearm, and Command has determined this push isn’t working and we have more enemy fighters coming in to reinforce. Each of you have one final firing package, each group will fire all of their remaining ordinance at the three buoys and then we’ll withdraw. They can decide to block our and the fleets shots or come after us. The Eosians will be informed. Out.”
The Eosians would be given a similar message, to try and coordinate and informing they would assist in a fighting withdrawal should the enemy decide to come back for them instead of defending the network.
With the orders given, the remaining interceptors and bombers shot into action, target locks found and unleashing their missiles, the bombers pumping everything they had in a stream of ordinance, while the Interceptors launched their missiles at the drones, and stabbed out with their rapid-firing kinetic guns before sweeping around and making an attempted coordination withdrawal with the Eosians, heading back to the orbit of the planet. As this wave of ordinance was coming in, yet more missiles would arrive from the SSA fleet, a hail of explosives-cored missiles, nuclear fusion cored missiles and explosions would register behind the main mass, and beams of x-ray particles would stab forward, against at the same three buoys, looking to finish at least a part of their objective.
SSA Fleet
Aurelion looked at the updates from the engagement around the buoys and shook his head in frustration. They were losing trained pilots to a lost cause at this point; it was two vs four out there, so he was pulling them out. They needed a change in strategy, thus far they were losing more than the enemy force was. The display also registered the Eosian deployment of more impactors, heading towards the enemy force. They were likely to focus fire on those, drawing away some enemy resources and if they got through, they’d finally have some good losses on the OPFOR.
“Sir, we’re registering incoming ordinance, and a lot of them. They seem to be…Bulwark and they’re heading to the Dominion force!”
Dammit.
“What is the Dominion’s status?”
“They have sustained losses and damage in their Vanguard and their main fleet. We’re also registering the Selenican and Zlotosgad auxiliaries are opening fire on them as well!”
They had to back off the buoys, their strength was getting too divided, but now he had a choice; to support the Dominion’s defense or Eos’ attack. His eyes scanned the display for a few moments before making a decision.
“Cancel last orders; reorient our salvos towards the enemy force, match their timing with the Eosian impactors. I want them launched and aimed towards removing any ships or ordinance the enemy may have to stop them. We need at least one of them to make contact.”
A chorus of ayes sounded off as the salvo was reordered and targeting solutions plotted. Once they were prepared, this time the coilguns barked in tandem with the missile deployments, launching both shells and missiles towards the fray. Their onboard suites were being matched with data from the VLA, feeding them course adjustments and target updates. The Eosians would be informed of the intention of their ordinance. And the salvos woulds now continue in the direction of the line once more, but opening up completely
With the Eosians continuing to concentrate on their wards, the Meta-Sax found themselves quickly becoming stretched thin in terms of defensive resources.
"Ano, anything?"
"I've reached the limit of what I can project, any further and I'll risk leaving myself defenseless. Igyin?"
"Same. I've got feelers going out to see if the paras system is viable to shore up the Unbroken ships, but there's only so much glue will do against that."
That was the wave of gravitic weaponry that was barreling down upon the Unbroken ships like a cascading tide. The spherical wall of defensive power that had been thrown up to repel it had initially done the job, but it was quickly becoming apparent that the closer the enemy got, the more devastatingly powerful the weapons became.
The smallships had overtaxed themselves in their delta formations and were hiding behind the cruisers at this point. With the pair of logistic ships functioning as the North and South pole of the protational vortex, there was nothing else to be done.
Hedhu had taken a sheer-curve rupture to the outer skin of its hull as well, with repairs underway. Under concentrated power, the Meta-Sax would have to dramatically alter their formation to survive and more or less sacrifice their allies. An unacceptable solution.
Opening a direct channel to the Unbroken battlecruiser, Ano beseeched them, "Per current objective-strategy, request Unbroken constellation assets to withdraw to a safer distance from the Eosian-cult attack force. Ability of our ships to defend yours grows weaker the closer they get. The reinforcement sphere will last only a little while longer before it expires."
Truth be told, it would only last a minute at most. And that was presuming the Eosian concentrated firepower did not increase beyond what was being experienced currently.
The smallships, under cover from the cruisers, send their composite microship shields to defend the Unbroken Battlecruiser - it was the linchpin of the array.
Doomrider(Unbroken/Shemesh) — 11/10/2022 18:38
The moment that the Herald of Nartham was destroyed, a cheer was raised through the entire Unbroken fleet. Though a single motion from the Pureblood ended it as abruptly as it began. Despite any temporary victory, the situation was too dire for any celebration. The Meta Sax had saved the fleet from total obliteration, that much was certain, their array had mitigated the overwhelming superiority of the Eosian assault. It could do so further for only so long.
Already cracks were forming in it, stray shots and gravity waves passing through and impacting the automated escorts. Each projectile, wave or particle beam raised out a call to the commanding AI and the Purebloods linked to it.
One minute
Zyrtax spoke up for the first time in a while, dislocating himself from the depths of the command network to address his "ally" in the flesh. His expression was still hidden underneath the nanite cloak and the obfuscating buffer surrounding the Neurasmith. Through all of it, the crimson shine of his Pureblood eyes still peered through, directed straight at Xylvix.
"Explain. Quickly"
The shield fails in...50 seconds now. Our escorts fall in less than 5 minutes, the Battlecruiser follows behind before a quarter passes.
The course of action was clear to anyone seeing the battlefield, either the Neurasmith thought his ally was as blind as newly-formed homunculi, or he had some other point to raise. Before the Purebloods could bicker -
[Per current objective-strategy...]
The message from Ano came with perfect clarity, projecting directly into the psyche of Xylvix.
You could always run away. I'm sure the Council would understand.
The synthetic tone of the Neurasmith came with all the scorn and derision of someone who sacrificed their scraps of humanity for knowledge. The strike at his pride was clear, as was the hidden threat. Xylvix sighed, turned his gaze to the homunculi and discarded his honour. Not that he would have any left after this battle was over.
"Brother. I just might." Xylvix turned to the Homunculi operating their comms array "*Meta-Sax command entity, and allied forces. My forces are withdrawing to a safer distance, close quarters combat is their field of superiority. Limit your inertialess field, cut off the Automated vessels rushing forwards, their use in this situation is null. Their sacrafice will buy us a chance to move backwards intact. We will return fire once our ships are outside of their close-weapons range."
The change in the Unbroken formation was immediate. The smaller escorts rushed forward, abandoning the shield-circle they had projected to defend the larger vessels. It was inevitable that they would be destroyed, but if that kept the guns of Eosian vessels away from the cruisers for a second more. It would be worth it in the end. Their usefulness ended the moment Eos decided to close the distance, no defences of the Unbroken could protect them against the wave-weaponry of the Invaders.
While the Escorts attempted their last assault, the larger vessels of the Unbroken diverted all power into their main weaponry and side-manoeuvring thrusters. One after another the Cruisers, and the Lightbearer fired their primary weapons as a continuous beam, slashing sideways through the Eos formation. It was a haphazard assault, more designed to keep enemy vessels at bay than to destroy them, especially for the Atom Laser which lost effectiveness without precise targeting.
The pushback from the main weapons, side-thrusters at full burn, and the momentary inertialess-state granted by the Meta Sax allowed the Unbroken ships to turn 180 degrees at a speed that was normally impossible for such vessels. The G-forces imparted on the crew were extreme, Homunculi without extensive cybernetic enhancements blacked out or collapsed where they stood. Most sections of the cruisers were guided only by the leading AI and the Neurasmith who took control of the network.
Once the ships faced away from the Eos armada, all power output was directed to backside shielding and thrusters, if luck was on their side, they would have a chance to fight back soon.
Zlotosgrad Aedleshaven Region
“Break their formation open”
The Eosian force swept in as the Unbroken and Meta-Sax formations broke away. Their ships had never been renowned for speed, but once the Eosian vessels got up to acceleration they were certainly not slow. Unbroken fire raked across their formation as their ships did everything they can to distance themselves from the gleaming vessels, punching holes into white hulls and tearing sections out into space. But it was a withdraw foremost and Eos knew it, Vanadis watched as Gravitic weapons were focused not onto the clearly disposable lighter vessels but the heavier ships breaking to get away. The lighter ships would face their wrath momentarily.
Omni-directional waves fired off moments later, set to impact the lighter unmanned vessels left behind as a sacrifice, but also the incoming kinetic rounds. Sheer waves of gravitic force, amplified by the formation and each ship firing off its own wave leapt out to intercept the Bulwarks staggered fire, swatting even kinetics from the void as the clear show that Eos was fully able to defend itself from all angles was made clear. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. Rounds impacted ships as they were blown apart, the debris impacting superplastic hulls or making it through battered and bruised.
Vanadis watched as a Crusader class heavy escort was broken in two by a combined Unbroken and Bulwark fire, followed swiftly by a large detonation, a Virtue class cruiser taking another direct impact. Another further red light indicated the loss of a Domina class heavy escort, already damaged from the Unbroken fire had been destroyed by Bulwark kinetic shots. Several vessels also reported heavy damage from torpedo strikes or kinetic impacts. His formation had been bloodied.
“My Lord damage reported on multiple ships, Eos Reign, Starlit Bridge and Wanton Ceremony all destroyed. Unbroken and Meta-Sax formation are accelerating away, continued fire from the Bulwark detected, they are intercepting the impactors”
“Shift position, cease pursuit and bring us around, target the Bulwark maximum acceleration. Directional wave guns are to aid interception, point wave guns fire maximum spread. Target their escorts and strip away their point defence protection so our allies can also strike effectively”
The Eosian formation turned, quickly transferring its acceleration into a new direction thanks to the gravitic drives, they were not fast but they were certainly agile for their huge size. While the formation now plotted an intercept course with the Bulwark additional defensive fire was placed to engage the incoming kinetics while a round of point wave gun beams leapt out, set to detonate within the Bulwark fleet targeting lighter elements. All the while the wrecks of the Eosian ships destroyed continued on their original course now reduced to drifting debris.
----
Khalic acknowledged the order to withdraw.
Their squadrons were taking losses and running low on the fuel, the bombers had launched their missiles and both Dominion and SSA fighters were reporting fallback plans. Khalic was as zealous as they came but he was not upset at this, it was how fighter combat operated in the void. Back and forth, jousts and high intensity combat for periods before withdrawal and regrouping.
Surprisingly, the Eosian fighters fell back first, withdrawing behind the bombers as they now broke and raced for the carriers. The Rapture bombers, formed up into a loose formation, putting themselves between the Bulwark drones and the now withdrawing Eosian aligned squadrons. A brief energy spike signalled the bombers overloading their gravitic wave weapons, aimed in such a way to reinforce one another and let out a huge blast to destroy any pursuing drones covering the withdraw. Khalic had seen it done before, and he commended the Bomber pilots for being easily just as zealous as him and his fighters.
Bulwark forward fleet
A gravity wave rushed over Yesterday's tomorrow, the disturbance shaking the hull like a tin of rice and knocking many a crewman to their feet. It was one of the first signs that things were about to get rougher. As the Eosians began to turn their jaws towards the forward fleet, reports flooded across the formation of incoming fire and tactical suggestions, the admiral had only began to eye the situation before his tactical officer spoke.
"Sire, it seems we've caught their attention with that volley. NSC shells seem to be gouging their armour effectively however, allies and long-range reports at least 3 incapacitated ships."
"They seem to be returning fire." He commented just as one of his feeds showed a shimmering golden beam stretching into the middle gap thankfully far below one of the destroyers, likely pushing countless more deckhands off their feet.
"Yes sire, at this range and with the distance between our ships, tactical believes there to be a small window of time before they begin causing serious damage, but they're picking up speed so we'll likely see the damage they do increasing rapidly sooner rather than later."
Felix thought about his options, their initial plan was to flank behind the static alliance fleet while the dominion was distracted and cause as much damage as possible in order to get into accurate range of the freighters and disable them, destroying them would be a last resort. The plan could still be applied, but with the Eosian group on a warpath, a different etiquette would need to be applied.
"Sharp turn, change fleet course head-on towards the SSA and move to flanking speed, tax the engines if you have to. Keep our vector on depot 15, we'll go from cover to cover. Let's see how itchy their trigger fingers really are, hm?"
Inertial impulse thrusters strained as the formation began a co-ordinated turn, where their trajectory was to originally go behind the SSA formation, now it was pointing at them, prows of red growing closer by the second. Nozzles burst into new life, plumes of orange plasma flecking blue and leaving a streak of ionised gas kilometres long as the hulks of metal began accelerating towards the alliance's battlegroup, their aim to pass through their formation and move on to the depots.
To prepare for their intrusion, secondary guns began firing. 'Smaller' turrets of the 2-3 metre calibre beginning to clear shells from their muzzles, and along with that, any main turret that could target the SSA joined the chorus. The formation was now firing volleys ahead and to their broadside, flinging Nuclear shaped charges and tungsteel armour piercing explosives in both directions, erupting cones of radioactive plasma along the hulls of Eosian ships while the SSA would have to watch as a growing number of incoming projectiles coming from their broadside began to dot up on their displays. All the while, the missile platform continued to launch anti-fighter volleys, meeting those not covered or expecting it with a good handful of swarming explosives.
The admiral wouldn't show it, but he was tense, if the Eosians were willing to fire through their allies, they'd start taking losses badly. And just as the thought was crossing his mind, a point wave beam slammed into the shield of one of the destroyers. The Merryweather's Promise felt the consequences immediately, its pristine armour crumpling and shattering in a way nobody in the fleet had ever seen before, a tear opening up in its forward shroud where decompression blew out the contents of 4 decks worth of outer rooms, and compromised a coolant line. Though the Promise was still operational, it was clear now how ineffective their shields were against these weapons, and so the rule was simply reinforced: Don't get hit.
At least with the torpedoes waiting for the impactors to approach within intercept range, their battlecruisers would be safe enough...surely.