STGOD 4 Game Thread

Bugsby · Post by **Bugsby** » 2004-09-08 08:58pm

As the Nashtar turned and ran, the Krell fired off all lance cannons and one final salvo of missiles, trying to deal as much damage as possible before the escaping ships got away. The last round did massive damage, but some ships did escape.

A few Krell ships had taken damage and had to be repaired. They checked the hyperdrives for safety, then headed for the docks at Edean with an escort of undamaged ships. The rest of the fleet set about to scanning the wreckage. In the middle of the carnage, many lifesigns flared from crewmen in escape pods and broken apart sections of ship that maintained pressure. The Krell set about rescuing these survivors, taking them prisoner and saving them from long, slow death in space. Once the fleet's business was concluded, it headed back to Edean.

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2004-09-08 09:08pm

Tortuga system

Minmatar hyperspace signatures appeared as a small gathing of ships emerged into normal space near Unity Station.

Vanguard (1) -Battleship
Ronin (2) - Missile Cruiser
Argos (1) - Escort Cruiser
Panther (3) - General purpose cruiser
Osiris (2) - Supercarrier

"This is the MFB Travellion calling Unity Station, the Unity defense force is in position."

"This is Captain Santiago. We're not expecting hostilities in this region but be prepared for anything.

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2004-09-08 09:13pm

Cluster of Candaris
Elysium Sector

No response returned from the Cluster's massive transmitters- just a heavily encrypted freecast that would find it's way back to Eketrina.

Across the lower bands, though, warnings filled space. Information flashed between the massive Cluster and the swarms of individual vessels large and small that surrounded it. Some ran, but most snuggled up to the cyclopean mess of foamed steel and rock. Quiescent within the mass were point defense batteries and theatre-shield generators, which encased major industrial sections and some of the Cluster's huge food factories.

Candaris was a major habitat for the Hajr, and her population was in the tens of billions. She would be a dangerous target for enemy invasion.

<< The Free Cluster of Candaris will not submit, Flatlander Scum. The Diaspora will not be stemmed.>>

(Candaris is equiv. to a core system, such as Oromas. Defended by modern weapons and shields, but without full "planetary shields."

[/i]

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-09-08 09:14pm

To: Admiral Sir Alastair Von Bek, Commander Expeditionary Force
From: Imperial Intelligence
RE: Fleet Departures
*Triple Encrypted Ansible Link*

The time is now. The enemy fleets have been reported departing. Begin transit to the target.

Gloriam Imperator.

Darksider · Post by **Darksider** » 2004-09-08 09:16pm

:::::::::Emperor's command bunker, Carulan::::::
"The senate vote Is in"

"And?"

"You're not gonna like it"

"I don't have a choice. Deploy the second and third fleets to the war front."

OOB
2nd Fleet
C.O.: Admiral Thomas Nakema
4 dreadnaughts
5 battleships
20 cruisers
30 frigates
50 patrol destroyers

OOB
3rd fleet
C.O.: Admiral Joseph Conner
2 Dreadnaughts
3 battleships
15 cruisers
20 frigates
45 patrol destroyers

(too anyone who invades: I have four more fleets with roughly the same number of ships as each of these defending my territory, I just have not written up exact OOBs yet.)

Bugsby · Post by **Bugsby** » 2004-09-08 09:21pm

Nexus
1 Week before UPA arrival at Elysium

"New intel in from Draconis space. Traders in the area had been reporting a large fleet supplying over the core worlds. The fleet disappeared about three hours ago."

"No idea where they are going?"

"None. But it doesn't take a genius to realize that they are going after the Ousters."

"Right. Well, we know what to do. Copy to Monacora. Send the orders."

The second contracted Krell fleet lept for hyperspace, bound for the Draconis home worlds. A quick rendesvous, and the attack would start.

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2004-09-08 09:40pm

In other news, the Minmatar wishes to announce the revival of the Minmatar colonial program. A series of colony pods and personell are being prepared for placement on a number of outlying worlds that have deemed to be fit for habitation. One of the main goals in establishing these outposts will be a small expansion of the Minmatar territories to create solid borders with our neighboring nations in order to promote trade and provide refueling and resupply services for all incoming trade convoys.

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » 2004-09-08 09:53pm

<< The Free Cluster of Candaris will not submit, Flatlander Scum. The Diaspora will not be stemmed.>>

"Sir, they are also transmitting encrypted." The Com officer reported. Admiral Williams nodded, it was to be expected.

"Transmit, 4 words, begin... Now. Your Submission is irevelent." The Admiral pronouce. The fleets opened fire. The interdictors were on, split between the two modes.

The fleets fired, on their targets, thousands of missles stabbing out into the void at the Ouster Clusters.

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2004-09-08 09:56pm

Explosions rippled across the Cluster. It began to break apart. It was a fragile environment, in it's own way. Explosive decompression hit it's galleries, and bodies were vented into the darkness. Candaris had a population in the tens of billions. If this bombardment continued, it was unlikely there would be any survivors.

Vessels scattered from the ruins, freecasting like mad. Soon, images of this operation would appear on screens across Known Space.

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-09-08 10:10pm

Elysium

"Sir, there are no legitimate targets. No fleets, no shipyards... Just civilian stations."

"Hold fire," ordered Admiral Fisher in confusion. "Are we to believe that a system that spawned a fleet that large has no industry?"

"Apparently so, sir. There's nothing."

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2004-09-08 10:14pm

Unity Station

"The Minmatar are curious as to what criteria must be met before the United Protectorates consider mass genocide as a viable solution to a conflict."

Straha · Post by **Straha** » 2004-09-08 10:33pm

Bredith, Draconis Republic
Beyond the Oort cloud

Santiago had screamed, Santiago had yelled, Santiago had thrown such amazing fits of rage to get crews in shape over the training period. He'd grown a comradierie over the months since then with the crew, just like he'd grown with every fleet he'd ever had. And now, pulling out of one of the most intense war games they'd ever had into what was probably going to be one of the most intense battle of their lives, he was spinning around in his command chair.

"Admiral, fleet is in regular space, massive contacts ahead... IFF, hails, and sensors identify them as the Krell."

"Whheee! Alright boys! Tell them to cry Havoc and let loose the dogs of war, full in bound, destroy everything that gets in our way except for the Krell, if there too many of the reptiles, we can always leave them badly maimed. FOR THE PRINCES, HUZZAH!"

OOB:

Monacoran 8th Fleet
Commander: Admiral Santiago
(All former Jardanian Ships)

2 Dreadnaughts
1 Battle Carrier
5 Heavy Cruisers
2 Light Cruisers
50 Frigates
75 Destroyers

And whatever fleet Bugsby has sent.

Bugsby · Post by **Bugsby** » 2004-09-08 10:36pm

The Monacoran fleet arrived just minutes after the Krell fleet. The two fell into formation and headed inward, to strike at the Draconis core worlds.

4 Titans
9 Lances
6 Walls
15 carriers
40 missile frigates
50 Harleys
70 blue collars
60 Bombardment destroyers

Stormbringer · Post by **Stormbringer** » 2004-09-08 10:41pm

Asgard force arrives:

Tune in for more details.

Straha · Post by **Straha** » 2004-09-08 10:47pm

Deep Space

Lt. Commander Prochnow smiled as he starred over the helm officer's shoulder. They'd been deployed, his pack had been sent with two others to start attacking a republic world. Soon they would link up with a cruiser force, and together they'd start doing what they did best.

Monacoran Worlds

Troop transports were blasting off, soon these would join those already in space. Soon over 300 regiments would be in deep space to be deployed where it would be deemed best. Some regiments were already moving to deployment positions. Others simply waited.

Matar

It was a note.

"We have been attacked, various alliance ships have passed through the extended teritory that we declared off limits. Also an ally of ours, and by extension yours, the Diaspora, has been attacked. We hereby invoke our treaty for your entry into the war."

consequences · Post by **consequences** » 2004-09-08 10:51pm

Conflicting requirements and threat areas had delayed the decisive launch of the Shi fleet. Now, in unison, they made straight for the heart of the Krell Combine.

Force declaration:
1 mauler
2 Superdreadnoughts
4 Supercarriers
6 missile cruisers
8 heavy cruisers
8 light cruisers
16 heavy destroyers
24 light destroyers
24 frigates
80 escorts
6 interdictors

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2004-09-08 10:58pm

Matar

Negative, Monacoran positions have not been attacked and the Hajr are not a signatory to our pact, nor does the pact specify that pact members are responsible for the defense of the allies of other pact members. Conditions for the activation of the pact have not been met.

Straha · Post by **Straha** » 2004-09-08 11:13pm

Spyder wrote:Matar

Negative, Monacoran positions have not been attacked and the Hajr are not a signatory to our pact, nor does the pact specify that pact members are responsible for the defense of the allies of other pact members. Conditions for the activation of the pact have not been met.

Need we remind you of the danger our planets are in due to 8th fleet's deployment. We are invoking the treaty, just as we would have let you invoke the treaty had you been violated like us.

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2004-09-08 11:39pm

Straha wrote:
Need we remind you of the danger our planets are in due to 8th fleet's deployment. We are invoking the treaty, just as we would have let you invoke the treaty had you been violated like us.

"Very well, the Minmatar will abide by the terms of our pact and send vessels to bolster the defense of the Monacoran worlds."

Post by **Beowulf** » 2004-09-09 01:23am

New Shanghai
Former Oceania Union

*ring ring*

"Yes Petey?"

"You got a contract. It's in United Protectorate space. More specifically, the capital planet."

"Damn, I don't think I'll have time to get passage on anything other than that freighter I just bought."

"Have fun, and good hunting."

Rogue 9 · Post by **Rogue 9** » 2004-09-09 01:35am

Scattered points in space within a few lightyears of Ix'agal

NRS Kensington

"Navigation, establish our position."

"We're about two point five lightyears away from the system, a little south of the ecliptic."

"Sensors?"

"Not showing any of our ships in the immediate vicinity. I could do an active scan, but that'd probably tell the Krell that we're still in the neighborhood."

"No scan, then. Damage report."

"Shields down, we've sustained light hull damage. We'll be fine, sir."

"Everyone knew that we were supposed to go to Itsil. I hope that anyone else that got out can get there."

NRS Lance

"Damage report."

"The forward hangar bay is gone, sir. Doors blasted off, the compartment decompressed. The number two engine is damaged. Engineering shut it down to prevent further damage. Hull damage all over the place. There was a breach in Section 17, Deck Five. All airtight doors sealed properly and the breach has been contained. We only have two fighters left; an F-235 and an F-250, both in the starboard bay. Number Two railgun is hit and offline."

"Can we make it to Itsil?"

"Aye, sir."

"Helm, set course. Prepare to jump. Sensors, anything?"

"No sign, sir. I don't have to tell you why we shouldn't do an active scan."

"Helm, inform Sensors when we're about to jump. Sensors, I want an active sweep ten seconds before the jump. That should get us the information we need and still get us out before the Krell come knocking."

"Aye, sir."

NRS Mira

"Captain, we're out three lightyears and almost direct line from the ecliptic."

"Good. No sign of the others, I presume?"

"None, sir."

"Well, our last rallying point was Itsil. We can't go direct back to Praetor now, or we risk provoking the Unification anyway. Helm, set course for Itsil."

"Aye, sir."

"Conn, Sensors, we've just been pinged by an active scanner, sounds like one of ours. Carrier set, probably the Lance. Bearing 190 mark 210."

"Well at least we weren't the only ones to get out. Helm, lay in that course and jump."

NRS Highwayman

"Set course for Itsil. The Krell will be out looking for us after that ping."

"Aye, sir,"

"Engage."

The one surviving frigate of the task force blurred, enlongated, and streaked forward before vanishing into hyperspace.

NRS Sun Knight

"We only managed to recover a single fighter, sir, an F-250. The pilot was lucky and the fighter's fast, that's all to say about it. We'd probably better go," said the XO.

"Indeed. Helm, set course for Itsil and engage hyperdrive."

Spyder · Post by **Spyder** » 2004-09-09 02:40am

Given the complexities of running a modern galactic society the Minmatar had found itself in a position where focusing on one objective at a time would have been terribly poor time management.

The war had taken an interesting and rather tragic turn when the United Protectorates opened fire on the Floater cluster. To this moment the death toll continues to rise; something that that Minmatar officially declared as undesireable. The Minmatar itself would have little to do with the front lines of the conflict save for bolstering the security forces within the Monacoran borders as stated in the mutual defense pact. The Monacoran leaders need not worry, additional ships they requested, additional ships they shall receive. As for everyone else, the Minmatar had created no enemies and attacking the Minmatar core systems would only divert much needed military resources away from far more important targets. Minmatar was fast becoming the eye of the storm.

Apart from a lockdown of all foreign military vessels, it was business as usual within the Freehold. The recent revival of the colonial program had piqued the interest of many political groups and officials. At noon, the twelve ships were launched from the Alpha Starbase on Arsius and sent to their respective destinations near the Minmatar border, the border which was soon to expand outwards in all directions, until it had reached the edges of Minmatar's neighbors and could expand no more. Already trade officials were being advised of new routes in and out of Minmatar territory that would be operational in the coming months. They would no doubt find the overall lower costs appealing.

Unity Station, the Minmatar proposed come Minmatar constructed centre of galactic diplomacy. While the delegates argued and debated in the main chamber, workers still continued on outside. Less then a day over its completion plans were already put into motion for potential upgrades and expansion. The main goal was to improve the station's overall outlook. While the delegates remained in temporary quarters set aside in a collection of pre-fabricated living spaces work was underway on a more comfortable living module. While this went on, additional modules were also being constructed and prepared for transport and fitting. As interest in the station was steadilly growing, the demand for services that it may offer would also continue to grow. Among the proposed improvements were full residential and commercial centres, as well as a more suitable defense system should a disgruntled individual or power decide that Unity's goals were mutually exclusive of their own. It would perhaps be nothing if not an interesting social experiment.

Murazor · Post by **Murazor** » 2004-09-09 04:03am

Talathrant.

How can the weak defeat the strong? How can a nation fight a war against a far more powerful enemy with hopes of victory? In space, a guerrilla war can't be fought forever if the objective is to prevent occupation of a territory: eventually, the powerful will find the hideouts and since then it is only a matter of time for the rebel ships to run out of fuel, ammo or food. A fleet without bases is as good as dead, for it will die soon.

In order to defeat the powerful, the weak must use his inventiveness, prescind of ideas without use in the situation (such as honour or pride) and be willing to make sacrifices. And the White Sun Confederation had swallowed its pride months ago, first by signing an Alliance with humans and then by allowing human telepaths to explore the minds of the high officers of its government in a fruitless attempt to prove their inocence. The Confederation also had the will to make the sacrifices that might be needed to ensure its survival. And last, but certainly not least, the Ethereals had shown themselves to be rather ingenious under pressure.

As the 3rd War Cluster of the Hajr of the Diaspora started its bombardment with long range kinetic projectiles, a good sample of their talent was leaving the belly of the Liberty, mothership of the 5th fleet of the White Sun Confederation, that after the start of the combat had hidden behind the planet from Ouster sensors.

The vessel was the Swift Retribution, a former cargo ship that had been modified following the specifications sent by the Bureau of War Science. It wasn't a large ship with its 300 m in length and 150 in width and height. It looked like a bulky box and seemed to be about as maneuverable as a washing machine, but appearances can be deceiving. Its old drive had been replaced by one of the high perfomance GIDs designed for the Striker class frigates and now the Swift Retribution was at least as fast as any Known Space frigate. However, the most important change wasn't there, but in the cloaking device incrusted in the machinery of the refitted spaceship.

After the end of the Great Revolt, the Ethereals had found themselves in possession of one hundred and twenty nine cloaking devices built by the Masters. Through experimentation, they had learned to use them in frigate-sized ships, but they hadn't been able to create more. Although many had been lost over the years, the Confederation still had seventy two cloaking devices and in mere minutes the number would change to seventy one. The Ousters were about to learn that they weren't the only ones with the mathematical knowledge to calculate courses. The Swift Retribution was about to become an enormous projectile fired at the very heart of the Ouster War Cluster, the inmense Fleet Tender.

The third of its volume devoted to holds had been filled with raw iron ore that would ensure an ammount of kinetic energy more than enough to shatter the shields of the Ouster mammoth ship. The operation had been carefully coordinated through the Sharing by the Ethereals onboard the Confederation ships. While the War Cluster was concentrated in a relatively close formation, there were large gaps between the warships through which the small cargo ship would be able to cross the enemy lines to reach its target. In the side of the planet hidden from the Ouster sensors, the Swift Retribution activated its engines and after reaching the orbit and speed that would allow it to escape Talathrant's gravity in the chosen direction without further course corrections the cloak was activated and all other systems but life support were inmediately cut out, still far away from the point where the planet wouldn't hide it anymore from Ouster sensors.

The voidworms seemed to be slightly worried about the fact that the 5th fleet hadn't done anything to stop them from turning the shipyards into swiss cheese with their long range attack. They had modified their position twice over the last minutes and the 5th had mirrored their movements just to keep them focused in something but the planet below. The last change forced the Swift Retribution to reactivate for some seconds its engines to correct its course, but the simultaneous movement of the closest battle station would mask this from any Known Space sensor technology from a position as distant and with such a poor perspective as that from where the War Cluster fired its torpedoes againt the shipyards.

A reduced group of voluntaries crewed the ship which using Talathrant's gravity as an slingshot was launched towards the unaware enemy fleet. Approaching their target with an speed of a two hundred kilometers per second, they knew that their lives were about to end but that they had a chance of taking with them thousands of void barbarians. The Ouster sensors had nothing to track: there was no maneuvering, no visual contact, no energy signature powerful enough to appear in the Ouster screens.

The course had been correctly calculated and the ship would cross the first Ouster line undetected, albeit unnervingly close to a Cataphract. And then, they would get their first close view of the Fleet Tender, intimidating in its inmensity. And a second later all would end...

But even the best laid plans have hidden flaws and the Swift Retribution was part of a not so well laid plan. Its biggest flaw was a pretty obvious one: warships aren't static targets, not even one as massive as an Ouster Fleet Tender. And over the several minutes long journey of the Swift Retribution, the Ouster fleet had changed twice its position. Retribution wouldn't take place with the wannabe ramship missing the Fleet Tender by hundreds of kilometers. There was a last chance, but it was a remote one.

The suicide crew runned calculations and when it reached the point of its trajectory closest to the Fleet Tender, the Swift Retribution reactivated its engines and every erg of energy produced was used to modify its course. It was a risky move, for the gravitic distortion revealed its position to the Ousters.

Now, all they needed to do was to slip through the layers of escorts protecting the Tender. Only a weapon capable of total matter desintegration could save now the Tender. Even if the cargo ship was reduced to a molten bolt of metal, it would keep its energy and momentum. The Tender was too big and slow and there was too little time for evasive maneuvers... And then, the thoughts of glory of the Captain of the ship were interrupted by a little piece of information that he had forgotten until now.

The Hajr used AM cannons. Cannons that could desintegrate matter.

"Shit!" said him nanoseconds before the first Ouster escort opened fire against the freighter that had suddenly appeared in its screens and the bodies of the crew were turned in plasma.

The cloaking device destroyed, the damaged cargo vessel was now clearly visible for anybody who might want to see it. It was several seconds away from the Tender and the escorts belonged to an elite unit of the Hajr warmachine. They had more than enough time to destroy the ship and the little scraps of hull that somehow reached the Fleet Tender-s shields just caused an small weakening that inmediately started to regenerate.

Bridge of the Breaker of Chains
Talathrant system

"So much for secret weapons!" said the Fleet Admiral with the Sixtra equivalent of an sardonic smile when the result of the suicide attack appeared in the screens of the bridge. Among the military there was a growing hostility towards the "brilliant minds" from the Bureau of War Science who played with the lives of soldiers in their little experiments with little or no gain for the war effort. The problem was even worse because the Bureau had had the support of the Council in several recent conflicts, the most notable one being the development and production of a large number of deathtraps called Striker class frigates.

For several minutes, the fleet had allowed the Ousters to focus their fire on the shipyards with almost complete impunity, having been ordered not to risk the Swift Retribution with a counter attack. The distance had prevented them from using hunter-killer torpedoes and the few long-range fragmentation missiles that the torpedo frigates had launched had been at best an small nuisance for some of the Hajr escorts. Now, the plan had failed in a most spectacular way and it was time to fight the voidworms with conventional and realistic means. If he survived the battle, he would ensure that the Bureau would never again risk the lives of his men in stupid and ill conceived plans.

At the order of the Fleet Admiral, Sixtra torpedo frigates, Cluster strike cruisers and the Masterslayer class dreadnought engaged their warp drives to reappear in realspace in front and within missile range of the Ouster fleet, but still outside the effective range of the lethal laser lances. A hundred hunter killer were launched in a single barrage against the War Cluster. Their targets were the most powerful and dangerous ships in the Ouster fleet: cataphracts, attack carriers and strike cruisers with some sent for good measure against the interdiction field generators.

As soon as the fleet launched its barrage, it started to move away from the Ousters. The voidworms would most certainly answer the attack in kind and the Admiral wanted a distance as big as possible between them and his ship.

OOC: It isn't as massive as a Fleet Tender. It was smaller than a frigate in fact. In other point, now the ship moved a lot faster and the shipyards haven't been destroyed, yet. Is this more agreeable?

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2004-09-09 09:46am

Talathrant

The White Suns counterblow was hardly unexpected, and frankly, they were vastly outgunned. A single dreadnought and a handful of cruisers and destroyers lacked the missile throw weight, especially when equipped with FTL torpedoes which suffered from much of the same throw-weight problems the Ouster Kincaid weapons suffered from. Such weapons were optimized for bombarding planetary targets or sniping out single ships from inside tight point defense, not for firing general, spread-out bombardments like the White Suns had just fired.

Explosions rippled among the Ouster fleet, and shields flared on a number of vessels- but the White Suns vessels were shooting from the hip against the massed EW of the Ouster fleet. Space was full of decoys, and many missiles went wide in the snapshot strike. A single Strike Cruiser's shields nearly dropped, and shield-leakage damaged two others, but the centerpeices of the fleet survived with only minor drains to their shields.

The War Cluster fired one last volley of bombardment missiles,. every tube in the fleet luanching against the northern defense station. Bereft of the additional cover of a part of the defending fleet, it would take heavy damage if it survived at all.

Immediately on the heels of the launch, the Ouster War Cluster jumped to Kincaid in unison. The 3rd's expereince from months of hard fighting allowed them to carry out the maneuver with aplomb. The vessels dropped from Kincaid in gun range- And opened fire into the rears of the retreating White Suns vessels.

Space ripped in a dozen places as the Fleet's spinal-mount Wave Motion Guns discharged as one into the enemy Dreadnought's aft. It was unlikely the vessel could survive such a hit.

Lighter weapons, HEL lances, swept over enemy torpedo escorts. Anywhere a vessel's shields began to flicker and die, AM streams licked out to scour unprotected hulls. The crystalline meesh which did so well in repelling laser attacks was far less effective against the ravening matter reaction of the Antimatter cannons and the heat and kinetic impact of Wave-Motion cannon hits.

With a greater than 2-1 advantage in numbers, the Hajr fleet had the N^2 law on it's side. They'd take only moderate casualties in sweeping the White Suns fleet aside, and with the bulk of the White Sun's fleet facing away from their attack, they'd get to unleash precious seconds of firepower before the enemy vessels would be able to turn and present armaments.

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2004-09-09 09:54am

Gladsheim Prime, Imperial Plaza

Empress Elana watched the news that had spread from the Hajr world throughout the galaxy like wildfire. The primitive transmission form has been adapted for Datanet usage, and she just went through it.
<<Intriguing...>> She said as she watched bodies float through space. <<And there I thought they were fighting for a good and noble cause?>>
<<Might as well be a blunder. And in all fairness, it is noones fault that the Ouster tend to integrate civilian and industrian affairs quite a lot.>> Silas Orvold answered.
<<It is still a viable solution. Deriving them of labour force is hurting them,>> Admiral Farshaw said. <<I wonder what else we're going to see in this war.>>
<<Whatever it will be, it certainly has all the possibilities of being entertaining.>>
<<Surely, your majesty. Whoever will win, will stand on the ruins of civilizations.>>
<<Indeed,>> she answered. <<Anyway, I have to leave now. My dear son has yet another cloud surfing championship. He insisted on my physical presence. Ah well, children...>>

***

Unity Station

Duke Nethington chuckled. "What was this ancient saying? Sometimes you have to break some eggs to get an omlette? Certainly no one expected this war to be without losses? And when valid targets double as civilian ones it's tragic. Though in the end it is just a loss of industry and housing, the other casualties are replenishable."