Battle over High Hroth (Space Battle) [GRAAL]

[Theopolis]

Battle over High Hroth

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Belligerents: Graal Hegemony vs Dronav Holdworlds

Backstory: Two months following the declaration of war from the Krasha on High Hroth, the Hegemony and the Holdworlds first battle would be a space battle over the Dronavi Homeworld of High Hroth. A recently commissioned battlefleet is dispatched to intercept the Graal 2nd Fleet.

Points of Interest:
War Hardened: The Graal are warriors. They have been bred to fight and die, there is no better environment than the trenches of a far away battlefield or the helm of a battleship. All Graal have increased combat prowess and morale because of their Brutal trait.

Forces:
Graal Hegemony:
-- 1 Battleship
-- 5 Destroyers (1 at 30% Health)
-- 3 Frigates
-- 8 Transport Ships

Dronav Holdworlds:
-- 1 Battleship
-- 8 Destroyers

Post Order:
-- Graal Hegemony
-- Dronav Holdworlds
-- ModMark

[Theopolis]

High Hroth, High Orbit

Graal 2nd Fleet, Battleship Slitherfang

Command Bridge

" The Gnatar wants no mistakes, Mognosh. " The Krasha to his side cooed, snorting as he did so. There was no reply, save for a toothy sneer by the Commander of the 2nd Fleet, Mognosh Bock. The bridge of the Slitherfang was chaotic at best, but the Graal were a well oiled machine. The battle, although not yet pitched, was evenly drawn. Nine ships against nine ships; the fleets were not large at all but Graal industry had not yet reached capacity. Mognosh Bock felt confident they would win the day. The Dronavi had arrayed against them only a single real ship, while the remainder of their fleet were large patrol cutters, mere destroyers and escort cruisers. A hoshmosh of ships that didn't deserve front line action. Outstretched hand up, Bock barked an order to his subordinates.

" Ahead full. Standard formation. We will trade them blow for blow. They cannot stand against us. For Graal! " The entire compartment answered him with a tenacious shout as the Xenophite-powered engines powered up and the fleet swarm forward, intending to engage each vessel in a one-on-one knock down, drag out brawl that was the very nature of the warfare the Graal envied.

The secondary transport ships hung back, sulking like wounded dogs. They remained a safe distance behind the 2nd Fleet, close enough to be aided if required but far enough to hopefully avoid any tangles with real Dronavi firepower, which were few and far between anyway.

As the fleet neared range, the Slitherfang's forward facing Zigg 21.92GK Laser Batteries opened with a resounding PWUUUM, PWUUUM. The first initial ships aimed at the enemy Dronavi battleship that lurked in the foreground of the volcanic High Hroth. The Graal destroyers and Frigates would also engage their respective enemy vessels as they came into range, but none would be so devastatingly awe-inspiring as the Graal Battleship.

GNS Slitherfang, Dominion-class Battleship

[Dronav Holdworlds]

High Hroth Orbit,

Dronav Defense Fleet, Battleship Forgeblade


"Captain, Graal coming in hard." One of the ensigns called out. Captain Zeck nodded. He knew this would be the first test of the fledgling fleet.

"Move to engage and return fire with the main batteries seconardy guns hit those transports at first sign of a firing solution. I want our destroyers doubling up on the Graal destroyers and once they take one out they join in with the others. Transports are secondary and should be targeted if an opportunity presents but take out the escorts first." The fleet slid forward to meet the savages who had come to attack their homeworld.

Firebrother Class Battleship Forgeblade

[Empire of Ezria]

Moderation Mark

Initial Engagement:
An explosion blossomed from within the Graal ranks as the heavily damaged frigate GNS Gromm was hit by a volley from the Dronavi ranks. The already heavily damaged ship listed to its port side, explosions riddling it internally before its drive core detonated. The force of the explosion blew the ship in half. The Dronavi had drawn first blood, but things became decidedly bad for the inexperienced and desperate Dronavi fleet as the vicious Graal closed. The quality of the Graal fleet became apparent as they came forward, using their superior vessels and firepower to exact a heavy toll on the Dronav fleet.

The Dronav destroyers Hammersmith and the Sundering were destroyed thirty minutes into the battle. The decision to divide the firepower of the Battleship Forgeblade had consequences as she could not bring her full weapons load to bear on the Graal Battleship Slitherfang. The Slitherfang meanwhile was fully committed to engaging the only 'worthy' opponent from amongst the assembled Dronav fleet. The two sides were now locked into the optimal engagement zones with all signs pointing to the fact that it would be a bloody and decisive battle.

SUMMARY:
*Frigate GNS Gromm destroyed
*GNS Slitherfang at 95% effectiveness
*DDF destroyers Hammersmith and Sundering destroyed.
*DDF Forgeblade at 85% effectiveness

[Theopolis]

High Hroth, High Orbit

The destruction of the GNS Gromm was more of an expectation than anything else. The Graal still foresaw a victory and the Gnatar had nothing but faith in Mognosh Bock. The GNS Slitherfang slowed as it came to port with the Forgeblade and unleashed volley after volley into it's side. Elsewhere, the GNS Killmaw, freshly finished with the destruction of the DDF Sundering broke off to engage the Forgeblade's starboard side and enclose her on both side with heavy Graal firepower. The DDF Destroyers would continue to tussle with the shorter, but stouter GNS Destroyers and have a full battle on their hands while the two Battleships slugged it out and went right for the jugular.

[Dronav Holdworlds]

High Hroth Orbit,
DDF Forgeblade

"We're taking a pounding sir and the Graal frigates are closing."

"Order the Dulmar, Shattered Reach, and Void Dancer to engage the one to our starboard side first and then the other. Now, all batteries prepare to open fire on the Slitherfang. And pull in close. I want to shake hands damn it!"

"What about the other destroyers sir?"

" They are to engage the enemy destroyers together, concentrate on one at a time." That how you killed an army. one at a time.

[Empire of Ezria]

Moderation Mark

Engagement:

The battleships were like two dogs thrust into a cage, and in this fight there was to be no mercy as they unleashed devastation onto one another. The battle see sawed back and forth, in the third hour of the battle the DDF destroyers Dulmar and Void Dancer had ceased to exist. The Shattered Reach was down to 30% efficiency and had begun to pull away from the engagement in the hope's of saving itself. On the Graal side, the destroyer Gorgoth the Black had been annhilated and the Killmaw had taken a lucky hit to the bridge that had knocked her out of the action and killed her captain.

Meanwhile, the Battleship Forgeblade had multiple fires raging out of control on her decks, she was beginning to list to starboard and risked destruction if she remained. The Slitherfang was faring slightly better though she too had gaping wounds across her hull from the drawn out struggle, but refused to let go of her prey. The Graal Invasion force for the moment remained relatively untouched as the Dronavi had turned their attentions to engaging the Graal escort ships rather than focus on the ground troops. The DDF faced a decision. Attempt to withdraw with what was left of its battered fleet and live to fight another day or stay to the end and face certain annihilation but perhaps take down a few more Graal ships. Regardless, the battle would be over soon.

DDF:
* Void Dancer, Dulmar,and Shattered Spire destroyed or out of action.
* DDF Forgeblade 42% combat effectiveness

Graal:
*1 Destroyer (Gorgoth the Black) destroyed.
*GNS Killmaw out of action for the remainder of the battle, hull at 65%.
*GNS Slitherfang at 52% combat effectiveness.

Battle ends next turn

[Theopolis]

High Hroth, High Orbit

The loss of Gorgoth the Black caused some consternation within the countenance of Mognosh Bock, but he wiped away the look and remained afoot at the fore of the elevated bridge. The ship rocked to and fro but the Dronavi Battleship was already listing, several of her guns out of commission and now she was being pestered by other Graal Destroyers who had destroyed their respective targets and had deemed the Forgeblade a worthy target. The Krasha at Bock's side snorted, but still seemed unimpressed.

" Always room for improvement, Bock. "

" Were you not the Gnatar's personal slave, I'd gut you for addressing an officer on his personal command vessel. "

" Of course, Mognosh .. of course. "

[Dronav Holdworlds]

Bridge of DDF Forgeblade

"Captain, we have to attempt an escape!"

Zeck threw his head back and roared in laughter. The entire bridge was locked on him as his peals of mirth echoed over them. "Escape?, no. We're surrounded."
He punched a few buttons bringing up the damage display. Most of the of Forgeblade was heavily damaged. "Hail the captains of the Curgasos, Dundan'a, and the Dragon's Ire."

"Yes captain."

Three faces sprang to life on the flickering monitors. "Gentlemen, You and your ships are to make every effort to escape and harass enemy supply lines. On your way out open fire on the troop transports while the enemy is focused on us. This is most likely my final order as your superior officer and I'd like to say it's been an honor." Zenk punched a button and the faces blinked out.

"Sir what are your orders?" The XO was looking at him.

"We going to try to make a break for it of course! But lets give these worm fondling cretins a parting gift. I want all active guns to concentrate on the Slitherfang's engines as we go. Who knows, maybe their engines will blow. Also ensign I want this audio file on blanket broadcast flood the Graal comunications if we can."

The ensign set up the file. "Sir, is this?"

"Yep, an old Esharan hymnal. Should drive them up the bulkheads. Oh yes, on a loop if you would?"

Audio file sent by Zenk



Last three Destroyers attempt to flee towards Graal space attacking the transports as they do so.
The Forgeblade attempts to flee to Fundin'Gar for repairs while taking shots at the Slitherfang's engines.

[Empire of Ezria]

Moderation Mark

Engagement:
Like jackals surrounding a wounded lion, the destroyers and frigates of the Graal closed in on the wounded Forgeblade. The Dronavi Battleship continued to fight it out, even as her guns were knocked out one by one, and her hull was breached on multiple decks. Meanwhile, what was left of the Dronavi fleet made a desperate bid to escape. The Shattered Reach which had limped away from the main melee, now re-engaged in the hope's of drawing the fire of the Graal long enough for its sister ships to escape. Her resistance didn't last long as her hull bucked under repeated strikes. The remaining DDF fleet pushed through the Graal lines, continually harassed along the way by Graal destroyers who had broken off from the wounded Forgeblade to chase them.

The destroyer Dundan was pummeled but managed to soak up the damage as the three ships headed for the Graal invasion force. One of the troop ships was heavily damaged under repeated Dronavi fire, but they didn't have long to engage the remaining ships if they wanted to flee. Pumping all power to engine's, the destroyers retreated. Rather than pursue, the Graal turned their attention to mopping up the Forgeblade which finally succumbed to her wound. Gracefully, the Forgeblade began to list to port. Her death cry in the form of a mass explosion was so strong that it immolated the Graal destroyer Iron Claw in the blast when it strayed too close.

TOTAL CASUALTIES:
Dronavi:
KILLED:
1 Battleship
5 Destroyers

Escaped / Wounded:
3 Destroyers
Destroyer Dundan at 40% capability. (two Grand Campaign turns to repair)

Graal:

KILLED
1 Frigatee
2 Destroyers

Wounded:
Battleship Slitherfang at 42% combat effectiveness. (two Grand Campaign turns to repair)
Frigate Killmaw at 62% combat effectiveness (one Grand Campaign turn to repair)
1 Troop Ship (46% hull integrity, heavy loss of life onboard along with stocks of equipment.)
1 Graal Infantry Army (will fight at 50% effectiveness)

Aftermath:
The Graal have managed to drive off the Dronavi Defense Force protecting High Hroth but now have the difficult challenge of taking a planet that has had some time to prepare for them. The burning ships of the Graal and Dronav navies can be seen all throughout High Hroth on the night sky, leaving no doubt of the ferocity of the battle that has taken place.