STGOD 4 Game Thread

[Spyder]

To All Nations of Known Space

Hence, the bill:
1) The undersigned nation agrees to respect the safety and inviolability of Unity Station, such that no military or covert action shall be launched against the station or any delegate aboard it, regardless of any state of war or tension that many exist between nations having representatives there.
2) Pursuant to article 1, the undersigned further agrees that the integrity and neutrality of the Republic of New Tortuga, political and territorial, shall be respected in perpetuity, barring intolerable provocation.

Signed,
Duke Claude Peipus, on behalf of King Casimir the Demon, Blood King, Ruler of All Vampires.

To Be Distributed via Unity Station Communications

The Minmatar support this agreement.

[Thirdfain]

To All Nations of Known Space

Hence, the bill:
1) The undersigned nation agrees to respect the safety and inviolability of Unity Station, such that no military or covert action shall be launched against the station or any delegate aboard it, regardless of any state of war or tension that many exist between nations having representatives there.
2) Pursuant to article 1, the undersigned further agrees that the integrity and neutrality of the Republic of New Tortuga, political and territorial, shall be respected in perpetuity, barring intolerable provocation.

Signed,
Duke Claude Peipus, on behalf of King Casimir the Demon, Blood King, Ruler of All Vampires.

To Be Distributed via Unity Station Communications

<< The Hajr gladly sign this bill.>>

[Hotfoot]

To All Nations of Known Space

I put forward to a two-part bill, hopefully to be agreed upon by all nations who recieve this message in good faith. We regard the promise of Unity Station as a foundation from which to build a galactic diplomacy as unsullied by this war; war being an inevitable result of relations between competing states, we can hardly expect the presence of this station to prevent it. However, it remains possible for Unity to serve the key and useful purpose of a forum for diplomacy between all the nations, so that if it cannot prevent war than it can at least help us to moderate the occurrence, extent, and effects of the unpreventable violence.

Hence, the bill:
1) The undersigned nation agrees to respect the safety and inviolability of Unity Station, such that no military or covert action shall be launched against the station or any delegate aboard it, regardless of any state of war or tension that many exist between nations having representatives there.
2) Pursuant to article 1, the undersigned further agrees that the integrity and neutrality of the Republic of New Tortuga, political and territorial, shall be respected in perpetuity, barring intolerable provocation.

Signed,
Duke Claude Peipus, on behalf of King Casimir the Demon, Blood King, Ruler of All Vampires.

To Be Distributed via Unity Station Communications

From: Office of the Director
To: <Reply All>
Subject: Unity Station Peace Treaty

The Ravenlock Consortium supports this bill, and gladly signs it.

[Marcao]

To All Nations of Known Space

I put forward to a two-part bill, hopefully to be agreed upon by all nations who recieve this message in good faith. We regard the promise of Unity Station as a foundation from which to build a galactic diplomacy as unsullied by this war; war being an inevitable result of relations between competing states, we can hardly expect the presence of this station to prevent it. However, it remains possible for Unity to serve the key and useful purpose of a forum for diplomacy between all the nations, so that if it cannot prevent war than it can at least help us to moderate the occurrence, extent, and effects of the unpreventable violence.

Hence, the bill:
1) The undersigned nation agrees to respect the safety and inviolability of Unity Station, such that no military or covert action shall be launched against the station or any delegate aboard it, regardless of any state of war or tension that many exist between nations having representatives there.
2) Pursuant to article 1, the undersigned further agrees that the integrity and neutrality of the Republic of New Tortuga, political and territorial, shall be respected in perpetuity, barring intolerable provocation.

Signed,
Duke Claude Peipus, on behalf of King Casimir the Demon, Blood King, Ruler of All Vampires.

To Be Distributed via Unity Station Communications

To: <Reply All>
From: Veithan Diplomatic Office
Re: Unity Station Peace Treaty

The Veithan Empire supports this bill and readily signs it.

[InnocentBystander]

To All Nations of Known Space

I put forward to a two-part bill, hopefully to be agreed upon by all nations who recieve this message in good faith. We regard the promise of Unity Station as a foundation from which to build a galactic diplomacy as unsullied by this war; war being an inevitable result of relations between competing states, we can hardly expect the presence of this station to prevent it. However, it remains possible for Unity to serve the key and useful purpose of a forum for diplomacy between all the nations, so that if it cannot prevent war than it can at least help us to moderate the occurrence, extent, and effects of the unpreventable violence.

Hence, the bill:
1) The undersigned nation agrees to respect the safety and inviolability of Unity Station, such that no military or covert action shall be launched against the station or any delegate aboard it, regardless of any state of war or tension that many exist between nations having representatives there.
2) Pursuant to article 1, the undersigned further agrees that the integrity and neutrality of the Republic of New Tortuga, political and territorial, shall be respected in perpetuity, barring intolerable provocation.

Signed,
Duke Claude Peipus, on behalf of King Casimir the Demon, Blood King, Ruler of All Vampires.

To Be Distributed via Unity Station Communications

Reply

The Baeloaren Commonwealth accepts the terms of this document as law.

[Rogue 9]

To All Nations of Known Space

Hence, the bill:
1) The undersigned nation agrees to respect the safety and inviolability of Unity Station, such that no military or covert action shall be launched against the station or any delegate aboard it, regardless of any state of war or tension that many exist between nations having representatives there.
2) Pursuant to article 1, the undersigned further agrees that the integrity and neutrality of the Republic of New Tortuga, political and territorial, shall be respected in perpetuity, barring intolerable provocation.

Signed,
Duke Claude Peipus, on behalf of King Casimir the Demon, Blood King, Ruler of All Vampires.

To Be Distributed via Unity Station Communications

After some deliberation, the Nashtari Senate has agreed to endorse this treaty.

[Spyder]

Unity - Operations

"Captain, have you heard? Downstairs they're signing a treaty saying no one gets to grease us."

"Man, this assignment is going to get boring fast." The tactical officer sighed.

"I'm sure we can find plenty for you to do." The Captain smiled. "By the way, I take it you've all looked over the upcoming plans for the station enhancements?"

"You mean the defenses Captain? I thought the techs were just about finished installing those."

"Not just that, I'm talking about the new modules that are being built out of Abydos." The Captain pressed a button bring up the holographic display. "Those."

The officers glanced at the projection. "That does seem a little bigger then what I was expecting sir."

"It's twice as big as the original projections commander. On the way are three new modules, a habitation dome big enough to fit at least 300,000 people, a commercial hub featuring a promenade and a public amenities facility. Our people are pushing for this station to become not just a diplomatic meeting area but a major hub in international relations and commerce. Needless to say that when this station starts taking on residents we're looking at the possibility of thousands of individuals all from different species trying to coexist under the same dome. Trust me, you'll have your work cut out for you."

(OOC: Added location)

[Dahak]

To All Nations of Known Space

I put forward to a two-part bill, hopefully to be agreed upon by all nations who recieve this message in good faith. We regard the promise of Unity Station as a foundation from which to build a galactic diplomacy as unsullied by this war; war being an inevitable result of relations between competing states, we can hardly expect the presence of this station to prevent it. However, it remains possible for Unity to serve the key and useful purpose of a forum for diplomacy between all the nations, so that if it cannot prevent war than it can at least help us to moderate the occurrence, extent, and effects of the unpreventable violence.

Hence, the bill:
1) The undersigned nation agrees to respect the safety and inviolability of Unity Station, such that no military or covert action shall be launched against the station or any delegate aboard it, regardless of any state of war or tension that many exist between nations having representatives there.
2) Pursuant to article 1, the undersigned further agrees that the integrity and neutrality of the Republic of New Tortuga, political and territorial, shall be respected in perpetuity, barring intolerable provocation.

Signed,
Duke Claude Peipus, on behalf of King Casimir the Demon, Blood King, Ruler of All Vampires.

To Be Distributed via Unity Station Communications

The Grand Empire supports this bill.

[Murazor]

Talathrant

The dogs of war had been unleashed and the chains that had tied the Breaker of Chains to the world broken. White Sun dreadnoughts were "though s.o.b.s" according to the few members of the military of the CoG that had survived an encounter with one of them... But they certainly weren't designed to withstand alpha strikes from behind by all the capital ships of an Ouster War Cluster.

The vessels that had followed the Breaker of Chains hadn't been very lucky either. Of the twenty five torpedo frigates, fourteen had been destroyed or damaged before the remaining could complete the turn. They were about to buy time for the retreat of what was left of the fleet the only way they could. Strategical torpedoes were launched, as were standard missiles and even a couple of hunter killers from a frigate where the captain had ordered to reload. Following their projectiles, the frigates launched themselves against the incoming Hajr vessels at their top speed in an attempt to take down some of the Ouster craft.

The cruisers hadn't been the primary target, luckily and only two, already damaged in the initial skirmish, had been disabled. The SubAdmiral had taken command of the fleet inmediately after the destruction of the dreadnought and his escort carrier and the neighbouring escorts had already started to move, heading for the rendezvous point with the mothership in the other side of the planet, where a transpace portal for inmediate retreat had been opened.

The fact that Talathrant's northern Death Star had survived was a testimony of the skill of the builders of the estructure and the power of its shields. Its point defense disruptors had reduced the number of impacts, but being smaller than the shipyards the density of the bombardment had been higher. Its deflector screen generator had exploded during the most intense point of the bombardment and the gravitic field had almost disappeared. It was regenerating, but it would need time to heal its bounds. Time that they didn't have.

"The fleet is retreating, Commander"

"I don't blame them for this defeat now. They were outnumbered two to one. And while splitting the fleet was foolish, I will grant the voidworms something. Even if they are vermin, they know how to fight. Well. Must I suppose that this means that no reinforcements are coming our way?"

"I fear that the answer is yes, Commander. Another Ouster War Cluster has appeared in Bohica. You know what this does mean."

"The next stage of the Armaggedon protocols must start. So be it. Open a channel with the planet and send a message to the Ousters telling them to wait for a minute. We have something important to tell them."

[Murazor]

Open message.

From: Office of the Planetary Government of Fervestria.
To: All Known Space nations.

In the present day, units from the navy of the Diaspora of the Unbound fought in this very system against the 5th fleet of the White Sun Confederation navy, which was swiftly defeated and retreated from this system minutes ago, leaving us alone with the enemy that had defeated them.

Hajr forces have also appeared in the Bohica system, demanding the surrender of the planet. The 4th fleet of the White Sun, which should have been protecting the system, was recalled to the core worlds of the Confederation when the presence of a second Unbound fleet moving towards their position was reported.

The planetary governments of the Talathrant, Bohica, Fertiakas, T'Vears and Fervestria declare themselves since the broadcast of this message independent from the White Sun Confederation. We are no longer subjects of the White Sun under the yoke of the Ethereal oligarchy, but free citizens of the Commonwealth of the Five Stars.

This declaration that many will call treason to our nation has not been written without previous ponderation. The retreat of the fleets to the core worlds has left our five systems without protection against the Diaspora of the Unbound and as representatives of our planets chosen by the population of our worlds it is our primary duty to ensure the safety of them. This duty cannot be fulfilled under the rule of a goverment unable and unwilling to protect us.

The Ethereals have been the "de facto" rulers of the Confederation since its creation, in spite of the supposed equality of the four member races. While their rule was benign in the past and we owe them a great deal of gratitude for their efforts to make the Confederation safe from external agression, it is our opinion that their handling of the situation that started this war was lousy. We consider the Ouster demands that followed their unsupported acusations after the Hudson incident to have been unreasonables, but the Ethereal refusal of even attempting a negotiation made this war almost inevitable.

We proclaim ourselves neutral in the present conflict and our space as off-limits for both sides. Only non-military craft will be allowed to enter and all present warships must leave our space within the next twelve standard Monacoran hours. Given our current lack of a navy, we ask the help of the Veithan Accord as last major faction still not involved in thispointless conflict for the enforcement of this declaration of neutrality. We offer the opening of diplomatic relations with those interested. We offer the Hajr our full and inmediate cooperation in the investigation of the truth behind the terrorist attack against the Hudson trade station. If their theory is proved to be right we will inmediately hand the guilty over to international authorities and open negotiations about reparations for the devastation on the Hudson system.

Terixtik ik Drika'tek.
Interim chairperson of the provisional government of the Commonwealth of the Five Stars.

Home

"Talathrant has taught us many valuable lessons, albeit at a high price. Now that the second stage of the protocol has been activated, I think that it is time to speak about treacherous scum" said Verilon with undeniable amusement in his voice.

Open message.

From: Council of Races of the White Sun Confederation.
To: All Known Space nations.

The so called "Commonwealth of the Five Stars" doesn't exist. Those worlds belong to the White Sun Confederation and any nation opening diplomatic relation with that treacherous scum will be considered hostile towards our nation.

Councilor Verilon, spokesbeing of the Council of Races.

[Thirdfain]

Bohica

Atja read the most recent Freecast from the Fortress Asteroid. It seemed the Confederation backstabbers had no interest in coming out to play, and would even throw their children to the wolves in a blatant attempt to avoid having to spread their fleet defenses over the endangered worlds. He smiled- at this point in the conflict, it didn't matter.

"Open fire on the Bohica shipyards. Annihilate them. Order the 4.4 and 4.5th Cruiser Swarms to destroy the early warning sensor nets. We'll blind the system, destroy the shipyards, and commence the next phase."

Sharp gestures of acknowledgement filled the command deck as his officers went to work. In minutes, the job would be done, and the fleet would be able to continue.

Atja watched the strategic map. Jerac's fleet over Talathrant was doing the same thing- finishing off the orbiting battlestations, demolishing the enemy sensor nets, and preparing to move on. Blitzkreig was lightning war, and these worlds held little of interest. There would be time for them later.

<< If the systems off the so-called Five Stars Confederation are so interested in neutrality and reliance on foreign garrison, we grant their wish. We will eliminate their war-making capacity, which should prove no problem should they be honest about their intentions of neutrality.>>

[Spyder]

"Colony pods away. Ok folks, that's a wrap."

Colonial life has changed much over the years. Some time ago it meant eeking out a living in a hospitial land, making use of limited resources while the pioneers forged new lives for themselves. In the modern age its not quite like that. With state sponsored colonial expansion you've got regular supply convoys, pre-fabricated trade outposts, construction droids, you name it. That's not to say that colonial life isn't difficult, given the right conditions many a colonial endevour can become a complete failure if not for some foresight in the planning. Of course a hundred years or so of trial and error does help to improve the odds. As such twelve brand new Minmatar colonies, now conveniently placed trade outposts, are begining to take shape as the work crews and droids get to work on their respective worlds. The fact that the Minmatar now had solid borders with their neighbors was officially an added bonus, promoting an increase of trade and commerce.

[Thirdfain]

FROM: Bondman President Johan Sung of the Free Floater Republic of Inisha
TO: Chancellor Spyder of the Minmatar Freehold
SUBJ: Industrial Colonization Agreement

-::-

The Unbound of Known Space are enjoying a renaissance. Under the auspices of the Krytos Star Empire, the Republic of Nashtar, and the Diaspora of the Unbound, we have found succor and protection; and are finding that our century-long collapse into obscurity and fear is at last coming to an end. With such great Clusters as Shiva and Inisha finding themselves once more capable of self-rule and stability, we are turning once again to the old ways. A resurgent Free Floater Republics, such as that which stood a century ago, is still a dream of the future for my benighted people. Never the less, if we can survive this horrific war, we may find that a new age of peace and unity can be made for our people.

Then old Free Floater Republics stood upon three pillars- the Freecaster network which united us in common voice, the Womb and common culture which gave us purpose, and the Peace of the Void, which bound us to keep the spaceways free of violent pirates and allowed us to coexsist with the assorted nations of Known Space. The Genocide Wars demolished all of these pillars. The Freecaster network was torn asunder, the Womb at Kharam destroyed, and the Peace of the Void violated as our Clusters were shattered and our people were forced into a nomadic life which lead, in some tragic cases, to piracy and violations of the laws we once held dear.

Now, despite the juggernaut of war, we seek to hold hope for the future. We seek to rebuild the pillars of our people, and provide the Peace of the Void once more.

In the time of the Golden Age of Zarathrustra, the Free Floater Republics worked peaceably with the Minmatar Freehold in the Free Trade Alliance. We wish to once again build some of those ancient ties of co-operation, friendship, and mutual respect.

For that, we present this offer. In the times of old, newly colonised systems often included fledgeling Clusters. The Unbound would assist the colonists by more rapidly exploiting and supplying the system's void-based resources, while the colonists would provide the Clusters with food and other biologicals until proper food-factories could be developed.

We propose this old agreement in your newly-colonised systems. We will dispatch Cluster-fragments to each of the worlds, with populations in the hundreds or low thousands, unarmed except for small defense forces of marines and basic point defense, to rapidly develope the system's mineral resources and gas giant fuels. A hefty percentage of the resources would go to the colonies and the Minmatar Freehold, and in exchange, the people of the colonies would send food to the Clusters.

The days of the Peace of the Void and the Free Trade Alliance were halcyon. Let us take this small, unified step to return to them.

-Bondman President Johan Sung, Elected Spokesman of the Free Floater Republic of Inisha, Ravenloft System, Ark Sector

-::-

[Murazor]

<< If the systems off the so-called Five Stars Confederation are so interested in neutrality and reliance on foreign garrison, we grant their wish. We will eliminate their war-making capacity, which should prove no problem should they be honest about their intentions of neutrality.>>

Home

"We should have seen this coming"

"Stations, shipyards and sensor networks we can rebuild. Lives and planets, we cannot. With this step, we ensure that at least an small part of the Confederation won't die in this war."

"Nonetheless, the resources we have lost in those stations..."

"The Hajr will pay for them. They will pay soon."

From: Office of the Planetary Government of Fervestria.
To: Ouster forces in the Talathrant and Bohica systems.

We are sincere when we say that we want to keep our worlds safe from this war and we know that you have to power to kill every sentient in our planets. Your power gives you the chance to do as you wish with us, but the day when you find yourselves in our situation may arrive in the future. We don't demand, we don't ask, we beg you a half an hour ceasefire to evacuate the orbital stations that you are attacking in this moment. Scan at your convenience the evacuation transports if you wish so, for there is no duplicity in our words. We beg you.

Terixtik ik Drika'tek.
Interim chairperson of the provisional government of the Commonwealth of the Five Stars.

[Thirdfain]

<< Your offer is denied. Time is not an option. The populations of your military shipyards are not civilian, and will be lent no succor. After all, your own allies launched an attempt on our own systems aimed to destroy our military shipyards.>>

Wave-motion cannon discharged, licking across the shields of the shipayards. They fell rapidly under concentrated fire, and soon collapsed. Antimatter bolts ripped the remains into clouds of debris and hard gamma radiation- little would fall on the worlds below. It was a small mercy.

The Hajr fleets turned from their work, formed up, and lept out. The blinded early warning nets could not accurately work out their heading or destination.

[Rogue 9]

Praetor, Nashtar Star Cluster

Third Fleet was done rallying. Two of it's three battle groups would go to hyperspace and thence to war in minutes.

Admiral Lansing looked out over his bridge on the Excelsior at the assembling ships. The Defiance was forming up off his carrier's starboard side, and Broadsword and Katana took up escorting position on either side of the fleet carriers. Pasteur, Da Vinci, Plato, and Socrates loosely ringed the larger ships, and Conqueror and Duke went inside that ring to hover slightly below the two larger carriers, while Maul and Club. Ten light carriers, eight missile destroyers, two fleet tenders and three Interdictors formed up behind them as a cloud of destroyers and frigates picketed off the larger ships.

"Fleet reports ready and in position, sir."

"Prepare to enter hyperspace on my mark."

"Aye sir. Engine room reports ready."

"Mark."

The warships enlongated, blurred, flashed forward, and disappeared. Vice Admiral Reinard on the Indomitable looked out of the viewscreens of his own carrier, wishing his commander and the fleet best of luck and Godspeed, before turning back to his bridge crew to arrange defenses for Praetor.

Mintar, Nashtar Star Cluster

Third wouldn't be alone today. Fourth Fleet, fresh from exercises with the former Ronoghan navy, now being integrated into the RSC, was also moving some of its strength.

"All ships report ready, sir. NAF units are formed up with the fleet."

"Make the jump," ordered Admiral Kimmel. At his word, the ships enlongated, blurred, flashed forward, and vanished. In an unusual move, there would be no stopping to transit at Pinnacle. There was no time for the usual protocols now.

Joyous Gard, Nashtar Republic, one day earlier

Commodore Drayson's task force was already up to speed and thus got moving much faster.

"All ships standing by, sir."

Drayson looked out at the Descartes, floating protectively alongside his carrier, Baron. Light carriers formed up around the two larger ships, inside the defensive screen of destroyers and frigates. His one missile destroyer took up position between his carrier and the cruiser. They were joined by a pair of Binder class interdictors.

"Make the jump."

"Aye, sir."

Second Battle Group, Sixth Fleet similarly enlongated, blurred, and flashed forward, vanishing in an eyeblink. More groups would follow.

[speaker-to-trolls]

To All Nations of Known Space

I put forward to a two-part bill, hopefully to be agreed upon by all nations who recieve this message in good faith. We regard the promise of Unity Station as a foundation from which to build a galactic diplomacy as unsullied by this war; war being an inevitable result of relations between competing states, we can hardly expect the presence of this station to prevent it. However, it remains possible for Unity to serve the key and useful purpose of a forum for diplomacy between all the nations, so that if it cannot prevent war than it can at least help us to moderate the occurrence, extent, and effects of the unpreventable violence.

Hence, the bill:
1) The undersigned nation agrees to respect the safety and inviolability of Unity Station, such that no military or covert action shall be launched against the station or any delegate aboard it, regardless of any state of war or tension that many exist between nations having representatives there.
2) Pursuant to article 1, the undersigned further agrees that the integrity and neutrality of the Republic of New Tortuga, political and territorial, shall be respected in perpetuity, barring intolerable provocation.

Signed,
Duke Claude Peipus, on behalf of King Casimir the Demon, Blood King, Ruler of All Vampires.

To Be Distributed via Unity Station Communications

From: Itsil state department.
To: All nations
Subject: Unity Bill.
The sovereighn confederacy of Itsil wholeheartedly supports this bill.

[Thirdfain]

HISTORICAL DOCUMENT
FILE b/992 Known Space Datanet and Research Exchange
"Lord Andre Svalbard’s Military Operations of the Asgard Stellar Empire"

--
“Concerning Floater Clusters: An Overview of the Battles of First and Third Mohaim”

“The battles on and around the capital of the United Floater Republics, the Cluster of Mohaim, are some of the bloodiest and hardest-fought of the genocide wars. While eventual victory came to the Emperor’s forces, it is inarguable that the staunch defense mounted by the Republican forces bled heavily the Empire’s military, and resulted in a number of tactical defeats which helped prevent the total strategic victory of the New Beijing Alliance.

The Battle of First Mohaim was lauched as part of what is now called the “Revolving Door Offensive” of early 2602. Ordino Accord fleets, spearheaded by the Krytos Star Emnpire and the Pan-Slavic Republic struck deep into Asgard space while a heavy Asgard counterattack struck back into the core-worlds of the Ordino Accord’s most powerful members.

The commander of the Asgard fleet at the Battle of Mohaim, opposed by only a small fleet of Republican naval vessels, expected swift victory. Still operating under rules of civility, the Admiral expected to rapidly smash the defensive fleet and launch an invasion force to subdue and conquer the Cluster. The space battle ended quickly; as the Republican defense hinged on a series of armed Military Clusters, defense platforms situated on tethers hundreds of kilometers from the mass of the Cluster. These were easily destroyed without extensive damage to the Cluster itself, and the Republican vessels present, being older models, were rapidly destroyed. This is another example of the superiority of Asgard warships to 1st generation Republican vessels, both in design and utilization.

The attack on Mohaim itself marks the beginning of true military disaster for the Asgard commander. Having engaged Floater forces before in the famous Akalabeth campaign, he expected to find that Floater troops were as they had been on Aklabeth’s surface- quite sub-par once deprived of orbital fire support and transportation. Reinforcing this was the knowledge that the Floater forces defeated at Aklabeth had been the best ground troops available, veterans of the Battle of Earth and Monacoran-trained. To allow for his quick strike and to cut down on supply needs, the Asgard commander brought only five divisions of Imperial Marines for the attack. With the defenses largely destroyed, the Imperial troops landed across the Cluster, cutting through the hull and boarding at five distinct beachheads which had been pre-cleared with EMP bombing.

The lethality of Floater troops in large-scale zero-G combat had been theorized but never tested. It was proved then, as three of the landing points were almost instantly taken back. The floater defenders were available in large quantities, and were extremely dangerous fighters on their home turf. Casualties are estimated to have been on the order of four Asgard soldiers killed per Floater marine lost. Due to the widespread opening of the hull, wounded troops often died of explosive decompression. It is theorized that the Floaters used an elastic, multiple-layer defense which kept the preliminary bombardment from being overly effective.

After three days of fighting, the Asgard forces had suffered well over 50% casualties. It was then that relief forces, consisting off Slavic warships and a contingent of modern Republican vessels, which were far more capable than their 1st generation predecessors, arrived and forced the Asgard strike fleet into retreat. The battle was pitched, resulting in massive losses for both fleets.

The Battle of Second Mohaim is hardly worth mentioning, as it was a well-known and total defeat of NBA Chinese vessels by a numerically superior Ordino Accord fleet equipped with combat interdictors. The Cluster itself played little role in the cut-and-dried battle which helped push the Chinese into a subsidiary role within the alliance.

The Battle of Third Mohaim, known amongst modern Floaters as the Sundering of the Pillar, was perhaps the second-hardest fought battle of the war after the famed Stand at Krytos. An attack in overwhelming numbers, it swept aside the defending Outworlder and Monacoran fleet and immediately began an assault on the Cluster with over a two hundred divisions of Marines. The Floaters had learned since the first battle, and had relocated their point defenses to the interior of the Cluster itself. These weapons were easy to disguise amongst the assorted equipment on the cluster’s exterior, and did not reveal their position by opening fire until the waves of Asgard troopships were at knife-fight range. The initial wave of Asgard transports was ravaged, and the fighter strikes which destroyed the point defenses took massive casaualties.

The Asgard landing itself now happened at nearly a hundred separate beachheads, with other breaches being blown as decoys. The skill and co-ordination with which the Floater defenders held the Cluster was a true testament of will and military excellence. After a week of fighting, only a fifth of the Cluster had been secured. Much of the fighting took place in hard vacuum, with strike teams of Floater marines moving across the outside of the Cluster to attack areas already secured. Asgard troops would find themselves cut off by boobytraps and slaughtered.

After another week of bloody stalemate, with the NBA fleet assembling to strike Krytos, the Asgard High Command made an executive decision. Unable to continue the attack, as many troops were evacuated as possible, and the Cluster of Mohaim was demolished with sustained Fleet fire. Casualties amongst the defenders reached nearly 100%.

Though an eventual victory for the NBA, the Battle of Third Mohaim is considered by many to be a true strategic defeat. The tie-up of the Asgard fleet allowed time for the Ordino Accord to concentrate it’s forces in the Krytos system, turning what was meant to be the breaking of the Accord into a bloody standoff which resulted in the demolition of the Republican fleet, the Slavic navy, and the shattering of the NBA’s offensive power. This brought about an end to the war without complete NBA victory.”

--
ENDFILE

[Alyrium Denryle]

To All Nations of Known Space

Hence, the bill:
1) The undersigned nation agrees to respect the safety and inviolability of Unity Station, such that no military or covert action shall be launched against the station or any delegate aboard it, regardless of any state of war or tension that many exist between nations having representatives there.
2) Pursuant to article 1, the undersigned further agrees that the integrity and neutrality of the Republic of New Tortuga, political and territorial, shall be respected in perpetuity, barring intolerable provocation.

Signed,
Duke Claude Peipus, on behalf of King Casimir the Demon, Blood King, Ruler of All Vampires.

To Be Distributed via Unity Station Communications

The Minmatar support this agreement.

The Draconis Republic also supports this treaty

[Captain tycho]

To All Nations of Known Space

I put forward to a two-part bill, hopefully to be agreed upon by all nations who recieve this message in good faith. We regard the promise of Unity Station as a foundation from which to build a galactic diplomacy as unsullied by this war; war being an inevitable result of relations between competing states, we can hardly expect the presence of this station to prevent it. However, it remains possible for Unity to serve the key and useful purpose of a forum for diplomacy between all the nations, so that if it cannot prevent war than it can at least help us to moderate the occurrence, extent, and effects of the unpreventable violence.

Hence, the bill:
1) The undersigned nation agrees to respect the safety and inviolability of Unity Station, such that no military or covert action shall be launched against the station or any delegate aboard it, regardless of any state of war or tension that many exist between nations having representatives there.
2) Pursuant to article 1, the undersigned further agrees that the integrity and neutrality of the Republic of New Tortuga, political and territorial, shall be respected in perpetuity, barring intolerable provocation.

Signed,
Duke Claude Peipus, on behalf of King Casimir the Demon, Blood King, Ruler of All Vampires.

To Be Distributed via Unity Station Communications

The Star Kingdom of Manticore hearby agrees to abide by this treaty.

[Murazor]

WSN scout frigate Teraxista
Edges of the Edean March.

The Ousters didn't have the monopoly in usage of automated probes. The Confederation had a long history of using them for the control of the many systems within the Cluster that could house pirate activity and where it was too expensive to send fleet units.

The Council had decided ten days before the public exposition of the results of the Veithan investigation that it would be good to keep an eye on the Ouster controlled neighbouring territories, but with all the evacuation activity going on no transpace capable ship had been avalaible for the mission and the 5th fleet had dispatched the Teraxista. The frigate had needed eight of those days to reach the borders of the Edean march with orders of launching FTL capable automated probes that would spy on the Ouster systems. Other frigates had been sent to the Jormungandr March and, from what he had heard, even the Hudson march. The captain wished the crew of that ship luck for their three weeks long trek.

Having orders of not listening standad communication channels, there was no confirmation, but the Ethereal on board his ship had reported that the fighting had already started -and that it was going bad for their side. It was a temptation to turn his ship and return home, but a light frigate would change nothing, even if they arrived in time (something that was doubtful).

Perhaps the information that they and their comrades sent to spy the other Ouster territories may gather would make the difference. It was a faint hope, but the best they had at the moment. At any rate, over the next few hours the probes would reach the Ouster systems and report whatever changes might have happened since the scouting missions that had taken place shortly before the official end of the Isolation.

[Darksider]

:::::Krytosian assault on united protectorates, Outlying UP colony:::::


The KSN's third fleet continued dispensing massive amounts of firepower on any space borne military target it could find.


"Where the hell are there reinforcements?"

"Mabye they're not sending them?"

"Move in and prepare to hit the orbital stations, then we'll move to the next target"

[Captain tycho]

The Manticoran 1st Expeditionary Battle Squadron departed without fanfare, setting a course to rendevous with the Krytos fleet.

[admiral_danielsben]

To All Nations of Known Space

Hence, the bill:
1) The undersigned nation agrees to respect the safety and inviolability of Unity Station, such that no military or covert action shall be launched against the station or any delegate aboard it, regardless of any state of war or tension that many exist between nations having representatives there.
2) Pursuant to article 1, the undersigned further agrees that the integrity and neutrality of the Republic of New Tortuga, political and territorial, shall be respected in perpetuity, barring intolerable provocation.

Signed,
Duke Claude Peipus, on behalf of King Casimir the Demon, Blood King, Ruler of All Vampires.

To Be Distributed via Unity Station Communications

The Minmatar support this agreement.

The Draconis Republic also supports this treaty

In case I haven't said so, the Union also supports this treaty.

[Rogue 9]

Newport, United Protectorates

The mining colony's battlestation was firing valiantly at the Krytosian invaders, so recently considered trusted allies, while the mining colony's fighter and bomber squadrons swarmed into battle, firing antiship missiles as they went. It couldn't hold out for long. Fortunately, it didn't have to.

Shining Shield, United Protectorates. A few minutes after detection of the Krytosian fleet

Shining Shield was the outer base of the Protectorates' Navy, the counterpart to the Republic's Joyous Gard. Only Shining Shield housed a full battlefleet, and a large chunk of that fleet was moving. Interdictor support was also released for fleet use.

[Placeholder], United Protectorates. A few minutes after detection of the Krytosian fleet

Portions of Third Fleet were also to reinforce the colonies, and units started moving from [Placeholder] soon after the distress call went out.
_____________________________________________________________________

Third Fleet, based at [Placeholder]:

3 Rebecca class carriers
2 Kincaid class dreadnoughts
3 Moshe class Battle Cruisers
3 Aaron class Heavy Cruisers
5 David class Light Cruisers
6 Ruth class Light Carriers
31 Luke class Missile Frigates
31 John class Gun Frigates
37 Mark class Destroyers

Units Sent:

1 Rebecca class carrier
2 Kincaid class dreadnoughts
1 Moshe class Battle Cruiser
2 Aaron class Heavy Cruisers
3 David class Light Cruisers
3 Ruth class Light Carriers
15 Luke class Missile Frigates
15 John class Gun Frigates
20 Mark class Destroyers

Fourth Fleet, based at Shining Shield:

3 Rebecca class carriers
2 Kincaid class dreadnoughts
3 Moshe class Battle Cruisers
3 Aaron class Heavy Cruisers
5 David class Light Cruisers
6 Ruth class Light Carriers
31 Luke class Missile Frigates
31 John class Gun Frigates
37 Mark class Destroyers

Units sent to Newport:

2 Rebecca class carriers
1 Kincaid class dreadnought
2 Moshe class Battle Cruisers
1 Aaron class Heavy Cruiser
2 David class Light Cruisers
3 Ruth class Light Carriers
15 Luke class Missile Frigates
15 John class Gun Frigates
20 Mark class Destroyers

Total Forces Sent:

3 Rebecca class carrier
3 Kincaid class dreadnoughts
3 Moshe class Battle Cruiser
3 Aaron class Heavy Cruisers
5 David class Light Cruisers
6 Ruth class Light Carriers
30 Luke class Missile Frigates
30 John class Gun Frigates
40 Mark class Destroyers
4 interdictors