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Post by Empire of Ezria on May 13, 2012 7:16:03 GMT -5
Second Battle for High Hroth The Second Battle for control of High Hroth would be fought under much different circumstances than the first. No longer were the Graal in overwhelming numbers. Instead, they faced three combined fleets that we're determined to utterly destroy them. Any sane commander would've ordered that they withdraw, and that was what they did. Luckily for the Graal, the Esharan fleet was slowed by their allies due to the fact that the RWU lacked hyperdrive's. By the time the two fleets had closed in, the Graal had withdrawn the great bulk of their surface forces raining hellfire down on the Dronavi cities while they disengaged. The fleet began to break off, a great many support vessels in tow. But it found it's escape blocked by the rebellious Dronavi fleet. The Graal would have to break the gauntlet of enemy fire in order to have a hope of reaching deep space and pulling away from the forces arrayed against them. But for the first time in years, High Hroth was free from the Graal. Though they had left nothing but destruction and death behind in their wake. Forces:Graal:Naval: --1 Battleship --2 Frigates --3 Destroyers (LAND / Evacuated) --1 Graal Infantry Army --1 Planetary Conscript Army (Dronavi Collaborator Unit) --1 Artillery Division --1 Air Wing Eshara:--2 Battleships --1 Carrier --4 Frigates --4 Destroyers RWU:- 1 Dreadnought - 2 Battleships - 2 Carriers Dronavi:-- 1 Battleship -- 6 Destroyers -- 2 Carrier -- 3 Frigates --1 Dreadnought (still recovering from the mutiny in turn 1) Post Order:--Graal --Dronav --Eshara --RWU --Modmark NOTE: Many of the ships are still struggling to get into position, the Graal had advanced warning of the fleets converging on it's location allowing it a narrow window to break through the gauntlet.
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Post by Empire of Ezria on May 13, 2012 7:44:03 GMT -5
'' Sighting of Esharan Princeps class confi--- ''
'' We have more Dronavi vessels moving into positio-- ''
The warnings from the bridge officers were like portents of doom. Mognosh Bock allowed a predatory grin to spread over his grotesque visage. In any other time, in any other moment this would have been a fight for the histories. His small fleet against so many. Hah! The weak sickly pups knew that they could not withstand the might of Graal alone! Like a pack of feral dogs, they would unite to take down the lion. The enemy were about to learn that a cornered animal was the most dangerous. The Dominion class battleship and it's small cadre of escort and support vessels were running at full speed for the safety of the trade lanes and deep space, where they could lose the enemy fleets across the vast distance of space. As much as Bock wanted to stay and fight, he knew that getting his troops back to Gruul was more imperative. The homeworld was threatened and these wretch's would be needed for the inevitable ground battle.
'' FOR THE GNATAR! FORWARD! Break through their lines! '' The enemy were still trying to get their fleets into formation, coordinating such a large force was the only thing saving the Graal from imminent destruction. The small Graal force swung towards the trade lanes, determined to break through the smattering of Dronavi ships infront of them while the Esharan / RWU vessels closed from the flanks.
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Post by Dronav Holdworlds on May 14, 2012 22:12:14 GMT -5
The Dronavi fleet maintained it's course to attack the graal forces as they attempted to flee. The destroyers were leading followed by the frigates and capital ships. The dreadnought Starkiller was the fleet's flagship.
The bridge of the Starkiller was a fury of activity. The battlefield was displayed by holo in front of the captain. He gave a sharp call to an ensign to open a channel to the other captains. "Gentlemen I want this by the numbers. The destroyers are to pair up and take out their counterparts the Dragon's Ire, Curgasos, and Dundan'a will have one of our newer vessels paired with them. The Fulgrim’s Spear will lead the frigates while the Chrysophylax and I will engage the battleship. Dethran’s Shield, Zernthos, I want the fighters and bombers to target the battleship once the screening ships are occupied other than that if an opening presents itself I want those troop ships taken out. Any questions?"
"What about the RWU and Esharan fleets Sir?" The captain of the Fulgrim's Spear had spoken up.
"Ignore them unless they're going to collide with you or get in your line of fire. We don't want an incident because we accidentally blew up one of their ships."
Captain Thane looked over at the display and spotted the Chrysophylax on the display. The battleship was keeping pace with the Starkiller. "XO, remember we're to let the Chrysophylax do most of the fighting, we can't risk any more damage."
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Post by Empire of Ezria on May 18, 2012 17:48:56 GMT -5
The Lord Admiral of the now combined First and Second Republican Fleets watched the Graal ships loom closer and closer. The fleet was deployed for battle though they had yet to reach actual firing ranges yet. The Ayar we're slowing them down but High Command had insisted and thus Sejanus had been forced to oblige.
The fleet was deployed into three 'lines', with the destroyers and frigates out infront of the battleships to act as a screen, with the battleships and carriers lurking in the rear. Even now fighters and bombers we're being prepped for takeoff, deadly payloads being positioned as pilots strapped themselves in.
'' Should we not have the fleet engage the Graal, my lord? '' One of his tribunes piped in his hear.
'' And why should we do that? Our first priority is to secure planetfall. Pursuit of the Graal is secondary. There are plenty of ships to do both jobs well enough. Have the bombers on standby and our ships acquiring firing solutions. Landing of the troops shall begin immediately. '' Besides, Sejanus had a different set of orders from the Princeps to enforce. The Graal would always be secondary to the interests of the Republic's
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on May 18, 2012 18:51:25 GMT -5
Fleet Commander Adamus Walayad of the Revolutionary Workers' Navy looked over the virtual battle display as its disparate formations of warships came together towards inevitable confrontation. The short, middle-aged Esharan man's spectacled eyes moved slowly and carefully, soaking in every detail the virtual display had to offer.
"The situation is straightforward," he announced with deliberate slowness and clarity, "but a review can do no harm. The glorious flagship RWN Voice of the People and our two companion battleships will continue to advance at full speed along the flank of the enemy, broadsides ready to deliver a focused barrage on the enemy's frigate/destroyer screen once we are in range.
"Meanwhile, the carriers will use the dreadnought as a shield while they launch their fighters and bombers. Once most of the enemy's point-defense capability is down or out of the way, the bombers and their fighter escorts will emerge from behind their cover and strike at the colonizers where it hurts: The troop transports.
"Keep in mind that we are to ignore the enemy battleship: The Dronavi will make short work of it. Understood?"
The officers and crewmen around him nodded, while the faces of the captains of the various RWU capital ships gave their "Yes, Comrade-Fleet Commander"s on the immense tactical screen overlooking the battle display. Excitement and tension hung thick in the bridge: his would be the first-ever engagement of the RWN since its official formation.
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Post by Empire of Ezria on May 18, 2012 20:10:08 GMT -5
Moderation Mark A shot from the Starkiller ripped the troop ship carrying 30,000 Graal in half. Spilling the vessels belly opening and sending corpses billowing out into the blackness of space. The GNS Killmaw was immolated along with her crew as they pushed their way past the fleets, earning the attention of the Voice of the People. In the space of mere minutes, thousands were dead. But the allies had not escaped the fray unscathed. The Dronavi destroyer Dragon's Ire exploded when the Sliverfang's forward gun's cut her in half. Meanwhile, the horde of Dronavi and Ayar bombers descended. The Graal ships kept a tight net around the Slitherfang and the all important transport ships. Targeting algorithms and the fact that the Graal fleet consisted mostly of frigates and destroyers meant that it had good anti-air defenses. Missiles and mini gun's lit up the stars, the occasional larger flashes were bombers being shot to pieces. But even with their anti-aircraft umbrella, the enemy still managed to slip through. A ship carrying four regiments of Dronavi collaborator troops that had been evacuated from High Hroth was left a smoking wreck, she would explode an hour later taking all hands. Yet the Graal we're still making progress, they were rapidly leaving High Hroth behind for the safety that deep space could offer where they could lose the allied fleets in the twisting web of asteroid belts and any number of rogue moons or planets that offered good hiding places from a searching fleet. CASUALTIES:Dronav:1 Destroyer Graal:2 Troop Ships 1 Frigate
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Post by Empire of Ezria on May 18, 2012 20:15:05 GMT -5
Mognosh Bock watched the destruction of his fleet with detachment. His real gaze was focused on the path ahead and escaping the range of the Allied guns which we're tearing his fleet to pieces. The ship shook as her anti-aircraft gunners blasted fighters and bombers out of the sky. He watched a particularly daring Dronavi bomber make an attack run towards the bridge, jinking past two forward gun's, before a third well placed SAM blew the bomber in half. Even in defeat, the Mognosh could relish the fight.
'' Keep pushing! Don't stop to engage! '' The Slitherfang's gun's kept up a battery of firing, like a shepard protecting it's flock. Any Allied ship that got too close to the fleet was targeted by a broadside from the Slitherfang's gun's which we're capable of ripping through the toughest armor. The Mognosh knew that he would lose more men before the day was out. He would be lucky if the Grand Council didn't stick his head on a spike along with that wretched traitor Comrade Kor.
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Post by Dronav Holdworlds on May 18, 2012 21:06:33 GMT -5
"Prepare the Zero-point drive all power to weapons I want the Slitherfang out of commission now. Tell the Chrysophylax to follow suit between the two of us it should be short work." Captain Thane spoke with the echo of a man lost in though. He'd served as XO on the Dragon's Ire during the first battle of High Hroth. He had seffered no illusions that this would be a bloodless victory, but the loss of the man who had trained him and the ship that had been his home was hard.
"And our other ships, Sir?"
Thane was roused by the need for command. "They are to continue as planed." He looked at the holo map. Also hail the Esharans and tell them to desist disembarking their troops imedietly or we will have to be treated as a hostile for for landing on holdworld soil with out our consent. They have untill the graal are dead or run off to comply. Let the RWU know the message so we have full disclosure."
"Sir, aren't they here to fight the Graal?" His XO stated in suprise.
"Maybe but accorrding to the ground pounders all the graal forces packed up and hoofed it to the troopships we've been burning out of the sky. There's no reason for Esharans to put boots on the ground."
(the Dreadnought Starkiller and Battleship Chrysophylax will use zero point-drives and target the graal battleship)
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Post by Empire of Ezria on May 18, 2012 21:15:47 GMT -5
Sejanus cocked an eyebrow at the display before giving a shake of his head. The Holdworld's below we're devastated from the Graal occupation and the planetary bombardment that had occurred over four grueling months, millions were dead, and millions more we're going to die without the supplies that we're stowed away on his landing ships. The Dronavi fleets weren't in a position to resupply the planet, without the Allies High Hroth would starve. But if that's what the newly independent nation wanted, then so be it.
' We shall desist in our landing, but future threats of hostility will be meant with sanction and retaliation. '' Sejanus said, the damned midget monkies had to be kept in check after all.
'' Order our ships to hold position and bring up the rear. Mop up any Graal vessels that are left in our path. Once that is finished, we'll begin preparations for the invasion of Sorguth Prime. ''
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Post by Revolutionary Workers' Union on May 18, 2012 21:43:07 GMT -5
Commander Walayad was perplexed at the Hegemony's choice of formation. The tight net made the Graal fleet one giant target; it was an easy matter of reorienting the RWU attack plan to turn it into a giant killzone.
"Order the bombers to cease their attack and position themselves five minutes' travel time ahead of the Graal fleet. Advise our Dronavi comrades' bombers to do the same. Then have all of our guns rip that tight ball of a formation to pieces.
"Concentrate firing solutions on the frigates and destroyers, and try to hit them the moment our bombers move so they don't have time to spread out."
Within a few minutes, the intermittent firing-off of the Voice of the People's and RWU battleships' guns was exchanged for a shower of sustained red beams, seemingly minute turns in angle prompting broad sweeps of fiery destruction across the dense Hegemony grouping.
Meanwhile, the RWU bombers and their escorts sat in loose attack formation ahead of the enemy's projected trajectory, waiting to dive in on whatever crippled mess remained, or on any transports that tried to escape the Hegemony's self-imposed chokepoint.
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Post by Empire of Ezria on May 19, 2012 15:00:22 GMT -5
Moderation Mark Under the combined firepower of the Allied Fleets, the Slitherfang and many of her escort vessels disintegrated into fiery death. But not before the Dronavi frigate Fulgrim's Spear was immolated and the Ayar Battleship Hammer of the People took three torpedo hits to her port side that managed to get past the thick Esharan armor to cripple several of her gun batteries. The ensuing fireball (generally due to the fact that the Dronavi had used their powerful Zero Point Drive) swept backwards and forwards. In an instant, an Esharan squadron lining up for an attack run had been incinerated while their comrades desperately retreated. The energy released and the debris field from the floating wrecks overloaded many of the fleets sensors. The Dronavi had used their Zero Point Drive Acclerator meaning that they had taken all auxiliary power and put them into their gun's. It left them with little fuel in their reactors to pursue the Graal survivors whom were using the death of the Slitherfang to flee past the sensors of their pursuers to the safety that deep space provided. TOTAL CASUALTIES: Graal:(DESTROYED) 1 Battleship 1 Frigate 2 Destroyers 1 Planetary Conscript Army (Dronavi Collaborator Unit) 1 Artillery Unit 1 Graal Infantry Army (70%) Eshara:1 Carrier (90% capability) RWU:1 Battleship (85% capability) Dronavi:(DESTROYED) 1 Frigate 1 Destroyer
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