Marshal Murat
01-18-2007, 04:20
Location:Hades Super System, 100 light years wide
Stars:Binary Red Giants
Planets:16 planets, 4 asteroid belts
The war had been going on for nearly a year. The system was the link between the Ming Empire and the European Colonist Federation, the Federals. The system was rich with metals and organic planets, the Tantalus Planet providing a heavy industrial base for the entire system. The system was the midpoint system between the Ming system of Juan, and the Federal system of Cracow. The star patterns were arranged in such a way that it was like an hourglass, all trade funneled through the Hades Super System.
The Ming had jumped in, launching a blitzkrieg of naval power, smashing local forces with their carrier and battleship fleets. They sought to expand, get the poor and beggars out of the slums of Beijing, Hong Kong, Canton, and the other major planet systems of their empire. The Federal expanse was moderate, with ethnically similar colonies, the Germans settling with Germans, Poles with Poles, French with French, and Spanish with Spanish.
The Hades System was given the nickname "Cremation" because of the hellish fire that burned the entire population of Tantalus, forcing the war beyond diplomacy. The system was massive in size, an astronomical oddity where god had allowed a massive system to form.
As Commodore Henryk Pratushki, you were assigned to the logisitical nightmare of Cracow, the massive base that supplied the Federal fleet in Hades. The logisitcal problems were that the fleet elements were thrown in pell-mell, and when it was finished, the ball of disorder began to order itself. Taking no small part, you were able to order the missile and rail-gun stockpiles, allowing everything from the superdreadnought Antipov to the destroyer EFS 11-32. One day, your e-mail box was cleared, save for one letter from Fleet Headquarters.
Reporting to Grand European Federal Fleet Headquarters (GrEuFeHQ) in Nova Cracow, you weave your way through the compound until you reach it. The office of Fleet Admiral Daumont. You sit down in your dark blue uniform and red braid, dressed for perfection, polished and shined.
"Commdore Pratushki, do you know of the situation in Hades?"
"Yes sir."
"Care to expound upon that?" Daumont spoke softly, and you feel gnawing suspicion and fear.
"The situation has descended into deadlock. If we sally forth, then we'll bloody the Ming, but they'll bloody us back. We can't take their side of the system, and they can't take ours." Your report lights up the Admiral's face, a rare event.
"Very good Commodore. That is why we have decided to create Task Force 1.5, your command. We are building ships faster than crews, all paid for by the Parliament. As such, we have decided to create task forces of light carriers, cruiser, and destroyers to prick the Ming, as it were. Strike their supply bases, their logistical support, and their transports. Commerce raid if the task force is called to do so. Yours is the first, with two more to be created in a couple months."
"Thank you, sir." You feel the suspicion and fear drop away at such a commission. A free reign over a task force.
"Report to Hades, and your crews will be awaiting you."
"Yes sir." You reply, standing and saluting. Making you way out, you pick up the information packets, and that evening, the military transports carried you and a company of Marines to Hades and Cremation.
In Hades System, you go over the list of your ships.
1st Federal Fleet, Task Force 5 (1.5)
Heavy Cruisers
Helvetii-3 heavy railguns, 2 light rail-guns, 8 rocket tubes
Sequani-2 heavy railguns, 4 light rail-guns, 6 rocket tubes
Light Cruisers
Aquitani-3 light rail-guns, 8 rocket tubes, flak-datalink (slaves all AA weapondry to a central server that provides cover for 10 ships)
Light Carrier
Marengo+70 fighter/bombers
Destroyers
11-02, 10-23, 09-34, 09-56-2=light rail-guns, 6 rocket tubes
A total of 9,500 service-men and women.
Your first orders are as such.
GrEuFeHQ TF 1.5 Orders
1.To destroy any major Ming Logisitical Depots
2. Disrupt flow of supplies to Ming Front Lines
3. Contribute to major fleet actions, if the need or situation arises
Pacing the deck of the Marengo, your flagship, you identify the three areas of attack.
First is the Western Wing. This is located on the western end of the system, with Ming entrance point being North. It is sparsley populated, with only a few planets. The Fleet had engaged the Ming fleet there, and it resulted in a decisive Federal victory, cutting back on the Ming assaults in the western area. It would be good hunting ground for intelligence, but the area is populated by Fleet and Ming mine fields, and since it isn't a major combat area, the possibilty of hitting either Ming depots or convoys is small.
The second is in the center of the system. The Ming and Federal fleets were able to create a signifiant dead-zone, with mines and sensor bouys deployed across the area. A signifigant task force of the Federal Fleet sits there, mirrored by a Ming fleet. If your ships punched through there, you would be able to call in signifigant Fleet forces, possibly creating a major battle that would allow your ships to disappear into space and then swing around and hit the depots and convoys.
The third area is the Eastern Salient. The Ming had conquered a section of the belt which stretched across, and fortified it so well that the Fleet was unable to break through. This fortress of asteroids has thrust into your lines, and has been the source of much Federal consternation. If you punch through with a Federal covering action, you could hit the convoys that supply the asteroid fortresses, and allow the Fleet to come in later and destroy the asteroids piecemeal and at minimal losses. Or you could join the first Federal ships in the Salient, floating amongst the wreckage of the second wave, and the third, and fourth.
1,2,3
Stars:Binary Red Giants
Planets:16 planets, 4 asteroid belts
The war had been going on for nearly a year. The system was the link between the Ming Empire and the European Colonist Federation, the Federals. The system was rich with metals and organic planets, the Tantalus Planet providing a heavy industrial base for the entire system. The system was the midpoint system between the Ming system of Juan, and the Federal system of Cracow. The star patterns were arranged in such a way that it was like an hourglass, all trade funneled through the Hades Super System.
The Ming had jumped in, launching a blitzkrieg of naval power, smashing local forces with their carrier and battleship fleets. They sought to expand, get the poor and beggars out of the slums of Beijing, Hong Kong, Canton, and the other major planet systems of their empire. The Federal expanse was moderate, with ethnically similar colonies, the Germans settling with Germans, Poles with Poles, French with French, and Spanish with Spanish.
The Hades System was given the nickname "Cremation" because of the hellish fire that burned the entire population of Tantalus, forcing the war beyond diplomacy. The system was massive in size, an astronomical oddity where god had allowed a massive system to form.
As Commodore Henryk Pratushki, you were assigned to the logisitical nightmare of Cracow, the massive base that supplied the Federal fleet in Hades. The logisitcal problems were that the fleet elements were thrown in pell-mell, and when it was finished, the ball of disorder began to order itself. Taking no small part, you were able to order the missile and rail-gun stockpiles, allowing everything from the superdreadnought Antipov to the destroyer EFS 11-32. One day, your e-mail box was cleared, save for one letter from Fleet Headquarters.
Reporting to Grand European Federal Fleet Headquarters (GrEuFeHQ) in Nova Cracow, you weave your way through the compound until you reach it. The office of Fleet Admiral Daumont. You sit down in your dark blue uniform and red braid, dressed for perfection, polished and shined.
"Commdore Pratushki, do you know of the situation in Hades?"
"Yes sir."
"Care to expound upon that?" Daumont spoke softly, and you feel gnawing suspicion and fear.
"The situation has descended into deadlock. If we sally forth, then we'll bloody the Ming, but they'll bloody us back. We can't take their side of the system, and they can't take ours." Your report lights up the Admiral's face, a rare event.
"Very good Commodore. That is why we have decided to create Task Force 1.5, your command. We are building ships faster than crews, all paid for by the Parliament. As such, we have decided to create task forces of light carriers, cruiser, and destroyers to prick the Ming, as it were. Strike their supply bases, their logistical support, and their transports. Commerce raid if the task force is called to do so. Yours is the first, with two more to be created in a couple months."
"Thank you, sir." You feel the suspicion and fear drop away at such a commission. A free reign over a task force.
"Report to Hades, and your crews will be awaiting you."
"Yes sir." You reply, standing and saluting. Making you way out, you pick up the information packets, and that evening, the military transports carried you and a company of Marines to Hades and Cremation.
In Hades System, you go over the list of your ships.
1st Federal Fleet, Task Force 5 (1.5)
Heavy Cruisers
Helvetii-3 heavy railguns, 2 light rail-guns, 8 rocket tubes
Sequani-2 heavy railguns, 4 light rail-guns, 6 rocket tubes
Light Cruisers
Aquitani-3 light rail-guns, 8 rocket tubes, flak-datalink (slaves all AA weapondry to a central server that provides cover for 10 ships)
Light Carrier
Marengo+70 fighter/bombers
Destroyers
11-02, 10-23, 09-34, 09-56-2=light rail-guns, 6 rocket tubes
A total of 9,500 service-men and women.
Your first orders are as such.
GrEuFeHQ TF 1.5 Orders
1.To destroy any major Ming Logisitical Depots
2. Disrupt flow of supplies to Ming Front Lines
3. Contribute to major fleet actions, if the need or situation arises
Pacing the deck of the Marengo, your flagship, you identify the three areas of attack.
First is the Western Wing. This is located on the western end of the system, with Ming entrance point being North. It is sparsley populated, with only a few planets. The Fleet had engaged the Ming fleet there, and it resulted in a decisive Federal victory, cutting back on the Ming assaults in the western area. It would be good hunting ground for intelligence, but the area is populated by Fleet and Ming mine fields, and since it isn't a major combat area, the possibilty of hitting either Ming depots or convoys is small.
The second is in the center of the system. The Ming and Federal fleets were able to create a signifiant dead-zone, with mines and sensor bouys deployed across the area. A signifigant task force of the Federal Fleet sits there, mirrored by a Ming fleet. If your ships punched through there, you would be able to call in signifigant Fleet forces, possibly creating a major battle that would allow your ships to disappear into space and then swing around and hit the depots and convoys.
The third area is the Eastern Salient. The Ming had conquered a section of the belt which stretched across, and fortified it so well that the Fleet was unable to break through. This fortress of asteroids has thrust into your lines, and has been the source of much Federal consternation. If you punch through with a Federal covering action, you could hit the convoys that supply the asteroid fortresses, and allow the Fleet to come in later and destroy the asteroids piecemeal and at minimal losses. Or you could join the first Federal ships in the Salient, floating amongst the wreckage of the second wave, and the third, and fourth.
1,2,3