[HH-STGOD] Main Story Thread

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2003-09-20 06:28am

"Without arrogance," Admiral Tourville said, "we can safely assume that Mesa has nothing to really stop us. We should go in hard, and fast."

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2003-09-20 12:53pm

"Yes, but we should also make sure to hit as many of them as possible in the first wave, with forces they can not escape from, to decrease the future pirate population with a grudge against us"

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2003-09-20 03:19pm

consequences wrote:"Yes, but we should also make sure to hit as many of them as possible in the first wave, with forces they can not escape from, to decrease the future pirate population with a grudge against us"

We could attack from two sides of the system, making it tougher for surviving units to escape.

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2003-09-20 08:38pm

"There are also the various minor systems they have clustered around their main stronghold. At this point, I intend to dispatch all of the CLACS at my command, plus a screening element, to take care of those, while our heavy metal crushes them. That should vastly simplify the future annoyance they can provide to us. And I dispute the notion that they have nothing to stop us, given their connections with unscrupulous League corporations, and the vast amounts opf money they have to wave around, we could easily find ourselves facing top of the line League hardware in enough strength to give our task forces a tough time."

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2003-09-22 07:21am

"Well, once we've cut off the head, the rest will be small fry. Much to my chagrin, I have to admit that Manticoran hardware is above Solarian, and Havenite, levels. And even if they should have something to threaten us with, they'll be facing a solid wall of more than a hundred Superdreadnoughts. Even Mesa can't buy enough hardware to counter that..."
He cleared his throat. "Should we commence some short training exercise to help...decrease tensions between Havenite and Manticoran units. And then, as soon as possible, we should strike."

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2003-09-22 10:43am

"We should be able to conduct sufficient training on the way to Mesa, and now that we are ready to act, I am loathe to give those vermin any more time. We should take a few days here to get our basic dispositions and coordination sorted out, and fine-tune everything en-route."

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2003-09-22 01:27pm

Meanwhile, back on Manticore:

"Has someone been spiking Hemphill's coffee? I'm starting to regret giving her BuWeaps, this is getting ridiculous" White Haven exclaimed, looking over the plans for the new LAC countermissile cannister that had just hit his desk, along with a cannister designed for deployment in missile pods. "See of we can cut loose some more of the budget for her, and start implementing these."

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2003-09-22 02:22pm

consequences wrote:"We should be able to conduct sufficient training on the way to Mesa, and now that we are ready to act, I am loathe to give those vermin any more time. We should take a few days here to get our basic dispositions and coordination sorted out, and fine-tune everything en-route."

"Well then, Let's be about it, as your Admiral Harrington say," and a huge smirk crept on Tourville's face.

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2003-09-22 02:47pm

After the requisite shaking down, the fleets departed for Mesan territory.

(Hey, do we have the slightest clue where the Torch wormholes end up?
Would it be viable to short-circuit the process by going through them?)

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2003-09-22 04:30pm

After hours of flight, the fleet finally reaches the Mesa system.
"Prepare for N-space translation."
On his command, the whole fleet reverted into the Mesa system, and immediately began sending out a message.
"This is Admiral Tourville. We are here to end the inacceptable slavery of Manpower. You will surrender, or die. You have 20 minutes to comply. Tourville out."
"Captain Finkelstein, the Wall will advance."

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2003-09-22 05:22pm

"This is Admiral Brentworth, commanding Manticoran Alliance forces. Before you scum get your hopes up, we're here backing up the Havenite fleet. Surrender if you value your lives. Brentworth out."

"Captain Marchant, the Wall will advance. Maintain increased separation for Volley Fire."

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2003-09-22 06:30pm

"We'll close in in standard wall formation. Open fire when we reached a range 30 percent longer than previous Havenite designs. That should outrange the Mesans, and won't show our full cards to the Manties. Concentrate on Superdreadnoughts, if any."

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2003-09-22 07:19pm

"Initiate full counter measures and commence fire as we reach half our maximum range, against the ECM those ships may mount, anything longer could be a waste of munitions."

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-22 10:23pm

"All ships prepare for action. Get into missle formation immediately, cruisers are to screen the main body."

The Mesan fleet had been taken by suprised but was well drilling and highly proffessional. They were outmatched but they had a few tricks up their sleeves none the less.

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2003-09-22 10:53pm

"Well, they don't seem to want to be reasonable. Launch the primary LAC force to bolster our point defense net. Drop the secondary wave behind us in stealth."

1000 LAC began rapidly launching from the Grayson carriers, with a fully defensive missile load, while the Manticoran force, still not up to the exacting wartime standards that had held previously, took up position behind the Alliance fleet.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-22 11:19pm

"They're launching LACs. Make it at least a thousand for the entire. I'm not seeing all of them, some must be coming in on stealth."

The Mesan's had pinpointed all the Alliance carriers, the DN sized vessels were rather easy to pick out for their more monstrous brethren. Already planet bound LACs were being dispacted to intercept them short of the Mesan fleet.

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2003-09-23 12:58am

The Alliance LAC swarm calmly held position with the main fleet, daring their counterparts to close with the ships of the wall.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-23 01:00am

The Mesans waited patiently. The enemy was almost in position....

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2003-09-23 01:17am

"Maintain full sensor sweeps, and see if you can get some Ghost Rider platforms in among their fleet, I don't like how they seem to be inviting us to destroy them."

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2003-09-23 05:56am

Tourville watched the LACs race outwards.
"A pity we couldn't use ours." He turned to his Tac officer. "Anything from the long range drones?"
"He turned to his chief of staff. "Have the destroyers screen even further. Time to test our new EW equipment I think. Go to full power."
On his command, the Havenite fleet was pumping up their EW powers to full power, and were turning the fleet into so much static on sensors.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-23 10:20am

"They're almost there Admiral"

The enemy fleet was approaching on the the extensive minefields layed out across the system. There were few systems more heavily mined than Mesa which had to contend with all manner of threats. Now it was paying off.

The first of the allied ships stumbled into the mines and they began detonating.

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2003-09-23 02:24pm

"Mine Fields directly ahead!"

According to doctrine, upon this annoncement, all ships ceased accelerating, and engaged their bow and stern-walls, while starting full jamming, and launching decoys. The Harrington's devoted one pod salvo to establishing a Ghost Rider drone shell, while all bow chaser and broadside tubes went to continuous fire with proximity detonated standard nukes.

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-23 02:26pm

The feild was swept clear but not before the mine fields had scored hits on many of the vessels. It wasn't a crippling loss but it bled the allies.

Mean while the countdown rolled on until the massive orbital fortresses could engage.

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2003-09-23 02:28pm

"Return the LAC to the carriers for reloading and repair, and decelerate a little to give them sufficient time for the reload. I want a full Ghost Rider sweep of the inner system, we're not giving these scum any more freebies"

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2003-09-23 02:32pm

"Hmmm, rather hestitant aren't they?"

"They're looking for easy kill I suspect. Half of them probably never saw combat before now." The admiral glanced at the plot, "Good, the BBs are almost in position."