STGOD2 Main Story thread

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-11-12 10:13pm

"TBD Normad, thanks for the scan and certification. We'll spread the good word and remember this. We'll proceed on exit vector five and jump to trading station East Indies. Fair winds, Nomad."

And with that, RMS Curious Cat exited the scanning zone (already filling up with captains desperate to get an "all-clear" card) and made the jump to lightspeed and beyond. The trip ended up taking four hours at their cruising hyperdrive speed. The station, as was expected, was rather large with external docking ports for ships to dock by.

"RMS Curious Cat this is East Indies control. Do not approach the station unless you have valid clearence. We have you on our scopes and will engage if you do not comply."

"East Indies control this is Curious Cat. We have certification that we are clean from TBD Nomad and are transmitting now. We wish to dock with your station and purchase some arms. Over."

"RMS Curious Cat you are clear to proceed via navigation channel A., docking pad C23."

Some minutes later the crew docked at the station and the head of the onboard marines, Neils Bohrmann, went out for negotiations. In particular, these new stabilized thermal detonators were intriguing. He could have saved a lot of men over the years if it weren't for unstable dets that blew up their their users' face..."

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2003-11-12 11:15pm

Bohrmann was whisked to the Azef Explosives offices by a turbolift. The place was modest but more then sufficient for the companies needs. A young secretary looked up at him. Before he could say a word she spoke, "Mr. Sener can see you at once in his office." He entered. A large Beaver sat behind a desk, clipping his fingernails. He hastily shoved the clippers into a drawer. The Beaver then regained its composure "Greetings Mr. Bohrmann, please sit, I have been expecting you, now what is it Azef Explosives and Demolitions can supply you with?"

SirNitram · Post by **SirNitram** » 2003-11-12 11:21pm

The Black Alliance vessels had left the Union's former space when the outbreak appeared, and had been patiently searching their ships for signs of infection. Confirmation had come when a fully mature Xeno had been Displaced into the void. The massive communications arrays of the Long Haul's had powered up, as more Xenos were hunted in the cavernous halls.

Attention, Aquarian Resistance.

While we had decided to deign ourselves to assist you in what seemed your hour of need, your ill-advised actions have released an ancient plague upon the Galaxy. Already, reports come from our homeworlds of potential infestation. This action cannot, will not be tolerated. As of immediately, all official and unofficial trade with your people is over, and our agreements to reduce piracy in your sectors are voided. Swim, little fishes. Swim as far as your fins can take you. For this action, you will be hunted.

Andrews.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-11-12 11:49pm

Attention, Aquarian Resistance.

From: AUR
To: Black Alliance
Re: Dont worry about the xenos...

While we had decided to deign ourselves to assist you in what seemed your hour of need, your ill-advised actions have released an ancient plague upon the Galaxy. Already, reports come from our homeworlds of potential infestation. This action cannot, will not be tolerated. As of immediately, all official and unofficial trade with your people is over, and our agreements to reduce piracy in your sectors are voided. Swim, little fishes. Swim as far as your fins can take you. For this action, you will be hunted.

Such reports are the result of paranoia. If your worlds are infested, they are not infested with any of ours. Considering we have altered their genes and physiology to allow them to speak, and communicate telepathically. Such would become readily apparant.

Those xenos who do not follow their orders, just like any person in the armed forces, is a criminal, and we will help you hunt them down... They understand the risks.

Besides, if a new queen was spawned, and they are required for infestation, we would know it. Telepathic link between the queens being a central comonent(OOC: We do have control over the xenos... It isnt as If an infestation could actually spread)

Considerng the fact that our nation is, thanks to our Azgert friends, no longer sovereign, desperate times call for desperate measures, and using our special forces hardly counts as anything immoral.

We would have hoped that you of all groups would be able to look past the differences in physiology inherent in all species, and realize that the Xenomorphs who have enlisted in our aid are just as valid as the rest of us as sentient beings. These particular xenomorphs have minds... ANd they believe in this cause.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-11-12 11:52pm

Pablo Sanchez wrote:ooc: Xenomorphs reproduce by ramming the ovipositor down the victim's throat and forcibly implanting eggs into the thoracic cavity--usually throwing the victim into a coma. The embryonic xenomorph then grows rapidly in the chest of the host, feeding off of his blood. Finally, it bursts from his chest in a spray of blood and endtrails and bone fragments (this process is excruciatingly painful by all accounts). The adult xenomorph eats sentient creatures and exists solely to facillitate the infection of further host organisms.

This life cycle has a tendency to color perceptions of them.

OOC: Of course it does. THough there are ways of getting around that little issue. Firstly, they are predators, it is in their nature to eat anything that is an easy target. However, these are sentient, and we have reached an understanding with them... but more on that later.

Post by **Beowulf** » 2003-11-13 01:59am

PRC Politburo:

"I call this meeting to order. First, let us deal with any unexpected news on the foreign front."

"The Azegart (ooc: no e at the end) have been attacked with a biological weapon. Current intelligence places the blame upon the Aquarian Resistance. It appears that will will be forced to quaratine all Azegart ships until they can be searched for xenomorphs."

"And expected news on the foreign front?"

"The TSC stabbed us collectively in the back. They rather foolishly told the whole galaxy that it was an Aquarian bioweapon attack. Several other nations have begun to mobilize against the Azegart as well."

"Will we be forced to abandon the Azegart to the wolves?"

"I believe that some of them will fold if we make a sudden decisive strike against their capital worlds. As for the others... we will perhaps be forced to crush them... We should probably begin contingency plan blue."

"Are there any opposed to us doing so?"

"..."

"Then we will proceed."

----

Former Aquarian Space:

Code: Select all

FLASH FLASH FLASH

FROM: CINCFLT
TO: 1FLT, 3FLT
CONTIGENCY PLAN BLUE IS GO.
OFFENSIVE OPERATIONS TO RENEW IN 24 REPEAT TWENTY FOUR HOURS. PLANETARY BOMBARDMENT SHIPS EN ROUTE TO OBJECTIVE ALPHA.

BY ORDER OF THE CHAIRMAN

MESSAGE ENDS

"Due to continued belligerence past your government's surrender, it has been decided to leave you to your fate against the pirates, minor dictators, and general riff raff of the galaxy."

Every defensive station in Aquarian space controlled by the PRC exploded in flames as all equipment inside was irretrievably damaged. Shuttles were collected, and the 1st and 3rd fleets folded out.

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2003-11-13 05:45am

Avalon Prime, Stuart Plaza

"Admiral Tehellis reported back from the meeting point. They are in position to strike. Just waiting for the other fleets to be ready."
"Let's just hope this all turns out right."
"So do I, Jocelyn," the Fleet President sighed. "And just in case some 'friends' of the Azegarte decided to strike against us, though we're a bit far off, Atmospheric and Orbital Defense Directorates have been placed on high alert, and the fleets are ready to strike anywhere anytime in our territory."
"Well, I doubt they'd come out here all the way, but you never know..."

Kyle · Post by **Kyle** » 2003-11-13 01:11pm

Code: Select all

General Broadcast
From: UTR Department of State, FSA Ministery of State and IWF Political Division

  The governments of the United Terran Republic, Free Star Alliance, and the Independent Worlds Federation all universally condemn the use of biological weapons by the Aquarian Union and it's allies. We also condemn the actions of the Azegert and there allies, due to the conditions of this war the UTR will not be getting involved in this conflict, we condemn the actions taken by both sides in this war and can not consider either side to be truly civilized.

 Due to these action we will not be allowing any traffic from the Aquarian Union, Three Suns Commonwealth, Nyfitsar Hegemony, Peoples Republic of Corneria, Krytos Star Empire, Stuart Corporation, and Azegert Empire to enter our space, nor will we honor any trade agreements or treaties with these nations. The UTR will be enacting a complete ban on all commerce and traffic with those nations.

 We ask that other civilized nations join us in this and help us try to restore civilization to the galaxy.

OOC: I hope I didn't miss any nations involved in the war. If you're involved and not listed just pretend you are.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-11-13 02:07pm

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
STAR KINGDOM OF SERENITY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

"The Star Kingdom of Serenity is announcing that a complete and total embargo on trade originating from the Three Suns Commonwealth and the Aquarian Union will take effect no later than 0000 GST following this general broadcast. Any ships flagged by the Commonwealth or Union will be ordered to leave Star Kingdom space as soon as feasable and all ships flagged by those nations will be denied clearence into Star Kingdom space. Failure to comply will result in seizure of destruction of noncomplying vessels.

The embargo from freighters originating from the Azgert will remain in effect until the xenomorph infestation is declared contained.

The Kingdom also wishes to convey its displeasure at the highly aggressive actions undertaken by the belligerants in the recent war. Such actions are nonconductive to the general stability of the galaxy and will only serve to hinder the general rebuilding of the galaxy. As such, traffic from any belligerant power not under embargo will undergo mandetory search, scan and escort once inside Star Kingdom space. Furthermore, we will not allow any warships within our territorial borders."

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2003-11-13 02:43pm

FROM: Chef-Admiral Andreson (CNV Morrigan, Aquarain home system)
TO: Azegart Occupational Command (Aquarian Homeworld)
SUBJ: Surrender

-::-

All vessels in system are to stand down immediatly. You are to lower the planetary shields, and accept unconditional surrender. Your soldiers will be treated fairly, and your civilian administration personelle will be protected.

This is your last warning. Failure to immediatly comply will result in the usage of deadly force.

-: ENDTRANSMISSION :-

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-11-13 06:02pm

From AUR and KSE joint fleet.
To: Azgert homworld of Valeth
RE: Surrender

We, the people of the Aquarian Union demand your complete and unconditional surrendur... Your civilians will be treated fairly, and you will maintain as much sovereign power as possible under the circumstances, and we will withraw of NeoXeno commandos from your homeworld.

<End Transmission>

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-11-13 06:26pm

Official AUR Statement Regarding Xenomorphs... Released to the press.

Reports have reached us at the Aquarian Union Resistance, that most of the nown galaxy views our use of xenomorphs as a biological terror attck.

This is a sentiment that we, as an organization, and as a people, reject completly.

Several years ago, a top secret research project was begun. We wanted to study the xenomorphs in their natural habitat, and evaluate their species for our uplifiting projects. This project, under the leadership of Dr. Mephistaphales took place over the course of two years. in that time, we determined that the xenomorphs, despite their predatory nature, and unsavory lifecycle, were of sufficient intelligence to be uplifted.

And so, we captured a queen and several drones and took them to our lab. A gastric implanter managed to get inside the transprts landing gear, and that little bit is history.

However, the project was a success*insert footage of first peaceful contact with xenomorph queen named "sarah"*

We had succeded in uplifting the Xenomorphs to a level of intelligence on par with an adult human, and made significant inroads with them them prior to the Azgert attacks on our homeworld.

Naturally, the scientists fled, and so dd the xenomorphs, who, wanting to help their new friends, enlisted in the special operations dvision of the newly formed Aquarian Union Resistance.

Yes, we did use them to strike at our enemies, but the danger of contamination by a sentient Xenomorph hive is abolutly nil. As a species, they cannot reproduce wthout a queen, and the queens choose whether they spawn another queen, and due to a telepthic link between the queens, and some of our lead scientists(we have same random chance for telepahy among our people as any other race). Several drones may not follow their orders, and may go AWOL, but ther is no danger of infestation from them.

What our intentions are, and what their intentions are, is to become fully ntegrated into galactic life. Once our worlds are liberated, full citizenship will be extended to them* footage of a xenomorph working in an office building* and we shall use technology or herd animals to get around their... unique... lifecycle.*insert footage of a Xenomorph drone burstng out of a Nerfs' chest*

We urge the rest of the galaxy to give these NeoXenomorphs a chance. They are a cunning, industreous and hard-working people, and will not let you down.

Pablo Sanchez · Post by **Pablo Sanchez** » 2003-11-13 06:47pm

From the Patriarch of all the Kzin
For Release to the Commonwealth News Network

It is declared that the so-called "xeno-morph" scourge is classified as a viral outbreak and will remain so for the forseeable future. Whether or not the prattlings of the kshat fishmeat technicians regarding sentience is true, they fit the scientific characteristics of such a disease. Let the international community be reminded that sentience does not confer status of equality to honorless slavering beasts.

Dahak · Post by **Dahak** » 2003-11-13 08:11pm

To: UTR
From: Stuart Corporation
Subject: Embargo

We are deeply saddened that you are enforcing such a embargo. We Stuartians stand by our strong believe that religions are dangerous and are not allowed to govern the states.

Since our emergence into this galaxy's political life not long ago, you can be assured that your pitiful embargo will not hurt us in the least.
As our gesture, all UTR ships and people will be ordered to leave Stuartian space immediately and will recall our ambassador after delivery of this note.

Yours Sincerly,
CEO Gladstone

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2003-11-13 08:18pm

The Baden Class Heavy Cruiser Gerald Dukhais exited hyperspace at the edge of an major Aquarian System. Ship scrap was floating slowly towards the sun, moons, or planets. Upon closer inspection one said Azegart. There appeared to be no occupation force at all. Why not? This was a vital system.

"Commander, Earl of Darwin, we are detecting what appears to be an SKS ship and another military grade ship."

"Thank you, sensor command. Comm center, patch me in to find out what the Hell is going on here. Also, give me a line to Dunlap or Fleet Command."

To SKS Ship: "This is the House of Dunlap assistance ccupation force. Where is the Azegart Fleet? Any news on current events; we've just been on an extensive diplomatic trip."

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2003-11-13 08:22pm

FROM CORPORATE SECTOR INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Corporate Sector Board of Directors has decided that the Corporate Sector will remain neutral toward the Azegart/Aquarian conflict, and neutral toward any other involved powers. Previous standing traffic bans on vessels from Azegart or Aquarian space will remain in effect until further notice.

The various shipyards in the Corporate Sector will remain open for business, as with all other exporting companies.

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-11-13 08:24pm

This is the Teuthis Class Cruiser Anemone Our homeworld has been liberated from Azgert Oppression, and the rest of our former worlds restored.

We request that you power down weapons and sields, then declare your intentions in this system.

Raptor 597 · Post by **Raptor 597** » 2003-11-13 08:47pm

Alyrium Denryle wrote:This is the Teuthis Class Cruiser Anemone Our homeworld has been liberated from Azgert Oppression, and the rest of our former worlds restored.

We request that you power down weapons and sields, then declare your intentions in this system.

"Accepted. We are powering down now. This small taskforce from Dunlap has come to assist in restoring order. If you would like to leave we can, but please let us first receive trnsmissions from Home Command."

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-11-13 09:01pm

Order still needs to be restored... I would presume you are mercenaries, and if that is the case, we could use you to help us patrol our systems as we get everything back up and running...

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-11-13 09:04pm

*edited at stormbringers request so we have to bombard*

Earlier that day...

A KSE and AU joint fleet jumped into the Azgert home system. And broadst their ultimatum... And were met by gunfire.

A massive fleet had assembled itself, hundeds of ships, dozens of heavy vessls.

Azgert, AU and KSE vessles duked it out in a massive dance of death in the skies over Valeth. Capialships traded broadside affter broadside.

If one thing could be said about the Azgert, it would be that they are bad-assed motherfuckers. The attacking fleet had to fight for every meterof space. When a ship became crippled, it was scuttled, when a ship was disarmed, it was used as a giant multi-megaton ram.

But the skill and firepower of the combined fleets was simply to great, and the Attacking fleet prevailed, cleansing the system of azgert combatants.

The AU lost all its Nautilus class vessels, 75 Mako, and 10 Teuthis, the carriers had stayed out of the battle.

(I cant speak for KSE losses... that will have to be done in a news broadcast or something)

THey stood out of range of the planets defenes, and waited for the Xenomorphs to get their job done, as Transporter capable transport ships jumped in...

(on planet)

Battle raged, between NeoXenomorph, and human, granades exploded, laser rifles burst as the armed populace fought tooth and nail against the "Shifter Demons", and the Xenos had one goal... to disable the planets shields. And the extensive sewer network provided their means of attack. Even a heavily defended military compound needed drainage... and the Xenos succeeded in their task. The shields were completely disabled, and brought down... Then the xenos were transported out.

(in the system)

"Shields are down"

"Fire"

Out of Azgert weapons range, every ship in the fleet opened up with a missle barrage aimed at destroying thier defensive implacements and allowing for a safer pacification of the world... The inerceptors were soon overloaded by simple voume of missiles, and it was not long before they were destroyed.

Transmission:

YOur shields are down, your defenses disarmed, YOu cannot win this battle, please, we ask if you to surrender, we do not want to cause any more civilian casualties than we have already...

"any response?"

"yes sir, they rsponded with a salvo of space capable ballistic missiles... they have them hidden in silos planet wide..."

"Shit, I dont want to bombard this world..."

"well, the international community will not condemn us if the entire planet is combatant... "

Commence Base Delta Zero...

Kyle · Post by **Kyle** » 2003-11-13 09:26pm

Dahak wrote:To: UTR
From: Stuart Corporation
Subject: Embargo

We are deeply saddened that you are enforcing such a embargo. We Stuartians stand by our strong believe that religions are dangerous and are not allowed to govern the states.

Since our emergence into this galaxy's political life not long ago, you can be assured that your pitiful embargo will not hurt us in the least.
As our gesture, all UTR ships and people will be ordered to leave Stuartian space immediately and will recall our ambassador after delivery of this note.

Yours Sincerly,
CEO Gladstone

From: UTR State Department
To: CEO Gladstone

You justify the use of biological weapons and the deaths of hundreds of billions of people because a nation people choose to follow there own religion and create a government that suited themselves? We as a people find this deplorable and one of the most ridicolous things we have ever heard. We can not stand by and even tacitly appear to support it.

As all of your embassy staffs have already been declared persona non grata, all tourists and businessman in our space have also been expelled and our embassies and staffs have been recalled your pitiful attempt at retalition is noted and ignored.

[/i]

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2003-11-13 09:51pm

-: Over the Aquarian homeworld :-

The Azgarte forces over the Aquarian homeworld seemed so pitiful in comparison to the attacking fleets- Only a fifth of the Azegart Navy had been deployed to occupy the conquered Aquarian territory. Meanwhile, almost half of the Commonwealth's fleet had been deployed to Aquarian space, and most of the major combatants of Poseidon Fleet were present.

The majority of the Tyrant Battlegroup's lighter escorts were tied up fighting pirates across occupied Aquarian territory, and few had had time to return to stop the Commonwealth sneak attack. Tyrant Battlegroup was understrength, with too few escorts.

Four Commonwealth Heavy Response task forces hurled themselves at the Azgart fleet- Four Commonwealth Dreadnoughts, and two Fleet Carriers, with fifteen Adrastea Armored Cruisers guarding their flanks. Each capital ship was ringed by squadrons of Escort Frigates, each one a potent point defense platform in it's own right.

The squadrons began to pour missile fire into the center of the Azgart formation. Seven hundred fast attack craft poured from the launch bays of the fleet carriers Freya and Ameratsu, hurling themselves on the Azgart fleet right on the tails of the missile barrage.

Without fighter support, and lacking proper escort coverage, the Azgart formation took heavy casualties- Eight cruisers and two battlecruisers fell out formation, gouting flame and atmosphere. Small squadrons of Strike Frigates hung outside of weapons range, waiting for opportunities to pounce on the stricken warships.

The Azgart counterblow was weak- the Azgart vessels carried limited missile armament, firing small numbers of large, easily targettable missiles. The return volley contained only slightly over a hundred missiles, most of which were shot down by point defense and the thick screen of interceptors the Commonwealth carriers had thrown up. Two Adrasteas were caught by the heavy torpedoes, and fell out of formation.

The ships closed to battery range, and all hell broke loose. Though outnumbered, the Azegart were well-trained, brutal fighters.

The Morrigan and the Panthesilea, along with a half-dozen Adrasteas and a swarm of light cruisers and destroyers, focused their fire on the Tyrant herself.

The massive particle beam cannon and turbolasers smashed into the Tyrant again and again. Her ability to stand up to such punishment was a testament to the quality of Azegart ship construction, but the volume of fire was more than even a vessel of her quality could handle. Her sheilds flickered, and then fell. The killing blow was struck when a squadron of Strike Frigates sliced her reactors open with their spinal-mounted lasers.
Venting atmosphere, unable to power her systems, the Tyrant fell to peices under the brutal bombardment.

The battle ended slowly- the Azegart fanatics fought to the last. When the last destroyer succumed to Commonwealth fire, the troop transports began to lower themselves over the Aquarian homeworld. Three months of occupation would soon come to an end.

Final casualties:

5 Adrastea Armored Cruisers
3 Orphne Light Cruisers
7 Alcyone Destroyers
9 Escort Frigates
29 Strike Frigates

The Panthesilea is badly damaged, and will be heading to drydock for the next month.

Keep in mind the vast superiority in numbers of the Commonwealth fleet over their enemies, and the fact that the Azegart had few escorts and no interceptors to defend their capital ships against Commonwealth missile and fighter strikes.

-: Endreport :-

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2003-11-13 10:10pm

The people of Aquarius had overrun and taken control of the Orbital stations moments before the TSC fleet had entered system, and the shield systems defended by the technicians that maintained them. Even the Azgerthad a hard time taking them down on ther own turf... but they failed and the shields were destroyed.

The Aquarians retaking the orbital stations were a little more successful, agents laced n strategic locations hacked into the computer systems and prevented the Azgert from destroying the stations before they were killed.

On the ground, Aquarian joined COmmonwealth marine in retaking the homeworld.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2003-11-13 10:56pm

News from Quaynar Industries:

Quaynar Industries will soon be releasing their updated Complete Catalog for 6501 CE.

phongn · Post by **phongn** » 2003-11-13 11:08pm

OPERATION WINTER FURY

The opening phase of battle had already been decided by the invaders. Long-range missile duels had finally reduced the orbital stations to scrap: clever maneuvering by incoming missiles had taken advantage of local gravity wells to accelerate and conserve fuel. The marauding starships then began jumping in closer to their objective, smashing up what few defense systems remained.

Some fighters remained for the defenders, old Space Guard and Home Guard units whose craft still proudly wore the Crescent Moon. Those ships bravely attacked with everything they had; heavy torpedos firing from absurdly short ranges. The Guards had a tendancy to "avoid" normal procurement cycles and paperwork. They bought anything and everything from various third-parties (except perhaps from the Alliance: they learned the hard way not to trust them even in trade). A pair of fighters had somehow survived the hailstorm of incoming fire and each unleashed a pair of capital-grade EMP torpedos.

All of them impact their intended targets: two were delivered to the battleship pounding the planetary shield with its heavy guns; the other two each at a large cruiser. The ionization effect wreaked chaos with their sensors for but a brief moment, but it allowed more fighters to slip through and attack. Hypermatter-cored plasma bombs rained down in the classic 'scissors' attack by obsolete dive bombers. Those small craft were quickly destroyed, but their damage was telling. Huge renting holes in their armor were apparent; their most powerful guns knocked out for the moment.

But it wasn't enough for the defenders. They damaged and harrassed, but couldn't take them out. Planetary shields were up, yes, but they too were under constant bombardment and couldn't hold forever. And the attackers were beginning to accelerate huge asteroids right on top of the shields. Conservation of momentum took over and some generators smashed straight through bedrock.

The landing ships came next in nicely staggered order to clear enough room for the regular army formations to land. That battle was bloody, incredibly bloody. No quarter was given or asked of, and when the regular ground pounders finally made it through they too had a tough time winning without heavy orbital and air fire support. They too were victorious, but at a huge price. Onboard the flagship's CIC, casualty estimates listed up as well as repair times and then --

"Simulation Concluded. Fleet Excercise analyses as follows..." The onboard Cray-Pauli-Mizuno analytical supercomputer was churning out information, and it wasn't too good. Oh, they were about on par with their expected enemies, but that wasn't good enough. Not when the Armed Forces had so much territory to cover.

But it had only been a week and a half since the CNO's message went out. This fleet excercise involving an augmented Fleet Division was staged to see where they were at, and what it'd take to get to the demanded needs. Greater coordination in particular was required - the Fleet was not used to large-scale engagements anymore. Oh, there was the experience but it was centuries-old and no longer fresh in the minds of officers. These days, small taskforces and individual ships were the preferred actions. That would have to change.

The bright spot in all of this mess was the performance of the Space Guard and Home Guard, which was quite excellent all things told. Outnumbered and outarmed they had inflicted serious damage on the fleet flagship and several other major capital ships. But they couldn't rest on their laurals; they too would have to improve along with everybody else.