Battle for Bremen

[Marshal Murat]

Bremen System 23:43
"Captain we have a sensor hit."
"Dammit. Fire of the signal to Commodore"
"Yes sir."
The Brandenburg was a light cruiser, armed with four railguns, two rocket pods, and eighteen flak cannons. It was an Elector class cruiser, built before the Ming War. The long gray and blue ship could deal with destroyers, rocket boats, and light cruisers. Deployed in the Bremen System, the cruiser was assigned to patrol the system, along with Task Force 2.3. The Commodore kept a tighter eliptical orbit around the two habitable planets.
"Captain, I have two destroyers and a light cruiser." The tech officer Hovany reported from his Energy Emission Readout Center (EERC), his dark gray uniformed back turned to Captain Prynitz, but his voice rang out clear in the silent cruiser bridge.
"Captain, the Commodore has acknowladged the order, and it pulling out of the system, ETA 4 hours."
"Very good Hovany." Captain Pryntiz settled into his seat, looking at the trio of Ming warships orienting themselves away from the population centers. The classic tactic. Pryntiz had seen it before. They hoped that the commanders were cautious. The tactic forced the covering force to either halt and see if there were any more ships were going to jump in. If they followed the attacking ships, then they would expand the distance that the reinforcements had to cover before they reached the attacking warships.
"Helmsman, come about to 200 degrees and engage the flank engines. I want to cut the distance to the Commodore by an hour at least, so that we can pursue the Chinamen as they come about. Execute."
"Aye captain." the helmsman replied from his station, using thrusters and the magnetic rudder to curve the engine thrust, turning the Brandenburg smoothly around to 220 degrees, heading into the system.


"Commodore, we have the Ming ships on our sensors." Captain Pryntiz reported, looking at the screen with the three dots, heading in from 350 degrees.
"Very good captain. Engage."
Captain Pryntiz cut off the inter-ship mic and ordered "Execute" to everyone in the bridge, and they jumped to their duties. Two days before, the Ming had entered the system. So far, they were keeping out of the system. Luckily, the Ming had left an emissions trail a mile wide, the expression still in use despite the size of a mile compared to a light year. Now the light cruiser and the Louis XVI, a new battle-cruiser, with six railguns of the 20 cm caliber, with four rocket pods, and enough flak cannons to clear a path through an asteroid field.
Now the two cruisers were going to drive the Ming into the arms of the light carrier Rivoli and her two escort cruisers, and the four destroyers. The Ming couldn't have seen them yet, since the Ming seemed to be adverse to the use of Forward Heat Seeking Packets(FHSP). That yielded a decided advantage in defense and attack to the European Federal Union. The Ming had plenty of tricks, but all reports from combat theatres from Hades to Danzig, far behind the lines, are still pointing out that the Ming just walk into traps, or think they are hidden when the FHSP can identify the number of people on the ship.
Unfortunately, the Ming had plenty of ships that margins of error, even into 10%, could be covered by reserve fleets, stacked up in armories outside of Beijing, Hong Kong, Canton, and in secret repositories around the Ming empire.

The two Federal cruisers opened their flank engines, providing a power boost, driving into the Ming formation. They replied as expected, throwing open their flank engines. The Ming had the advantage in engine technology, being able to outrun and Federal cruiser for a good distance. It was negated by Federal rockets. They were top of the line weapondry, and the Ming warships were going to face the power of the Antimatter (AM) warheads.
"Firing rocket pods 1 and 2." the weapon officer reported from his station. Two thin green lance streaked from the Brandenburg, heading right for the Ming cruiser. The Ming ship shuttered as the thrusters and magnetic rudder began function, twisting and turning the Ming ship, trying to avoid the AM rockets. The Louis XVI fired two of her four rockets, headed for the Ming cruiser. Another series of shudders and jerks from the Ming cruiser allowed one of the two warheads to streak past. The other struck the rear railgun turret. With a bright blue and white flash, the armor of the Ming warship was seared away. The two railgun barrels were twisted and warped, making it unusable.
"Captain, one Ming destroyer is pulling away." Hovany reported from the EERC.
"Do we know where?" Captain Prynitz replied, looking at the plot. The two remaining Ming warships were still heading for the Commodore and his task force. The destroyer was turning, back to the two Federal cruisers.
"Reload all rocket pods, alert the Louis XVI to contiune to trail the Ming warships. Bring railguns on-line, alert flak crews to stand by for incoming rounds. Execute." Captain Prynitz felt the Ming commanders plight. Followed by two cruisers with the firepower to destroy his ships from long range, he had to either contiune to be pummeled, or give up a sacrifice to survive with his more economic and powerful drives. It was tough, but the Ming Captain knew his ships were expendable, all for the Glorious Emperor.


"They are in sensor range Commodore." the tech officer spoke up from his plot on the Rivoli's bridge. Commodore Bredford grunted his approval. The Task forces two beaters were driving the Ming into the arms of the Federal warships. Two cruisers, four destroyers, and the Rivoli, and the 70 fighters, bombers, and rocketfighters that were stacked up in the carriers hangars.
"Order the engineers to equip the bombers with Antimatter Fire and Home Bombs (AFHB), and rocketfighters with Antimatter Fire and Forget Rockets (AFFR). They don't have fighter cover, so they can drop them to hangar 1." Commodore Bredford knew that the fighters would be useless, targets for teh flak cannons. The bombers and rocketfighters were equipped with Electronic Counter Measure (ECM) packets, allowing them to juke computer systems. It didn't mean the flak that would be fired wouldn't be able to strike them, it just meant it was harder to do so.
"Aye captain." The flight crew officer replied from his console, and the speakers blared with the flight crew's orders, resounding thoughout the ship.


"Captain Prynitz, we have the targeting computers tracking." Gunnery officer Groebing spoke from his console. The railgun turrets fired a 10 cm round, either AP or HE, both deadly to warships.
"Order turrets 1 and 2 to open fire," Captain Pryntiz hoped the dual cannons on turret one would score a hit, and turning the warship to bring all three guns to bear would be better, but it would present a better target for the four rocket pods on a Ming destroyer.
"Aye sir." The gunnery officer replied. A few minutes later, the cruiser was firing AP and HE rounds through space. The quiet was interupted by whoops by the crew and officers as the Ming destroyer was struck by the railgun rounds. The Ming destroyer fired a round back, a round that struck a glancing blow to the cruisers hull. It was going to be an interesting fight.
Twenty minutes later the two warships were dancing and twisting through space, firing away, the Ming drawin the Federal cruiser away from his compatriots.
The Ming destroyer wasn't firing her rockets, and that worried Captain Prynitz. He either hit both pods in his initial salvo, destroying the rockets in their pods or crippling the opening to fire them through. The speed of the Ming destroyer would have allowed it to fire two rockets up the cruisers engines, but the chances the Ming destroyer got, he didn't take. It was manouvering around, using superior speed to evade the salvos and any launched rockets. However, the targeting computers were able to track the Ming destroyer with ease, and the two had spiraled away from the chase, trading blows. Luckily that was about to change, when the destroyer would see his friends blown apart.

"Commodore, they are inside our envelope." The tech officer spoke up, and the two red dots had indeed entered the pale green circle that surrounded the task force. The Brandenburg and
"Launch" Commodore Bredford replied, plotting out the two attack groups. The strategic view afforded Bredford the right to send his bombers and rocketfighters into the maelstrom however he saw fit. This included a pincer movement, while the escort cruisers would turn on their reactors and move in to blunt the cruiser and destroyer with their 20cm railguns. It was a masterpiece, one that would hopefully boost Commodore Bredford to the eyes of his commanders, and maybe get promoted to the cat-and-mouse games in Hades System.
The bombers went first, rocketing off, the magnetic slingshots working magnificently, firing two off at a time. The carrier had managed to put nearly twenty bombers and rocketfighters into space before the Ming registered shock or recongition of the spacecraft.
Speeding on with all haste, the two pincers broke off, beneath them the cruisers moving in, firing off their rocket pods, down the Ming forces throats.



"Commodore, we lost about eight bombers, four rocketships. A hundred dead on the cruisers, but they are still counting. Louis XVI is pulling away to follow the Brandenburg. The destroyers are moving in to salvage the Ming and take them to Bremen so the Federal Navy can look at the computer read-outs."
"Very good, very good." Commodore Bredford nodded from the council room chair, knowin that his warships could have done better. The pincer movement struck at two seperate times, and the AM rockets had broken the back of the destroyer, but she still operated, and thrust herself close to the cruiser. The target was large, but so was the flakpower that she could throw into space. That was when four bombers and three of the rocketships were lost. The cruisers suffered the most when they got into railgun range, as the Ming cruiser was able to hit the forward dual gun turret on one of the escort cruisers. That cut down the firepower signifigantly, and the Ming had even tried to escape. A few AM rockets put an end to that. Now the Bremen system had to deal with a rogue destroyer. It had kept a chase with the Brandenburg tight. Captain Pryntiz had thrown himself onto the destroyer, pummeling it with all he had. AM rockets, the railguns, even the flak cannons. The Ming destroyer kept on puffing along. It had scored a couple hits, but the Brandenburg had shrugged them off. Now, the two combatants were at the end of their ammunition supplies. Conserving them for dead on shots. It was a tight match, but with the Louis XVI moving in, and then the Rivoli and two destroyers, the match was about to end.


OOC:This is a related story to my sig. What do you think? To technical, or very wooden and flat.

[Marshal Murat]

Bremen System 12:40

Captain Pryntiz watched the AM rocket hurtle through space. The shot had to be very accurate. It was. The green lance on his plot stabbed into the red dot. The Ming destroyer had tried to hide in the asteroid belt that ringed Bremen. They still failed to realize what a force the FSHP contained, and what advantage it confered.
The Ming destroyer burst apart, the pieces thrown about space as the AM missile struck the destroyers armory. The limited reserves in both ship's ammunition lockers meant that every shot had to count. It also meant that the Ming had enough ammunition in their locker to blow the destroyers hull apart.

"Rivoli, this is Brandenburg. We have eliminated the final Ming destroyer."
"Very good Rivoli. Return to Bremen for re-fit and rest." Commodore Bredford spoke from across the light years in his light carrier, the Rivoli. Tracking across the Bremen System, the ships had played an intense game of hide and seek. A dangerously intense game. Many of the men crumpled from exhaustion, working on repairs, the rail-guns, reloading the rocket pods, and the hundreds of other tasks that are required to run the Brandenburg. Now it was over.




Bremen I, Bremen System, 4:30
"What happened Ju?" The tall Japanese man named "Kaku" was scrunched up in his booth. He wore a black coat over his plaid waistcoat and white shirt. The rainy climate of Bremen I hadn't dampened industry on the planet. If anything it made people work harder to avoid being drowned.
Now, sitting in a Chinese restraunt, the darkness encapsulated both occupants. The store was closed, and the door locked. However, in the farthest back of the building the two talked. It was the only place in Bremen I.
Ju was a stocky, balding Chinese immigrant, who had flabbing pounches of fat falling from his chin and his brow. He had the distinguished position of a servant of the Emperor, Glorious Father of the Ming, Golden Flower, High Admiral, His Excellency Jin-Ju.
"The Federal ships in the system, they were higher in total than I expected. The Brandenburg was identified at the entry zone, and then the Rivoli, and two destroyers. I had informed the Naval Office of this, and they said they would handle it. Now all the weapons for the revolt are sitting in the asteroids! Guns, mortars, ammunition galore! Out there. I'm not to be held responsible for Naval Office results. I told them what I knew."
"Yes, well I'm sure I don't need to tell you what I think of this mess. At least now you can tell those boulders in the Naval Office of the real Federal naval strenght."
Ju sat back, sipping on the cup of green tea.
"Now what can we do! The rebels are waiting for their weapons. Hopefully te Federals don't know about us. What can I do!" Ju complained, sipping from the cup again.
"That is why Mitsony has decided to intervene on behalf of the Ming."
"Excuse me?" Ju splattered from his sip. Mitsony was a powerhouse of the Japanese-Korean Prosperity Union (Bakufu in common terminology), a dual consulship, one Korean Emperor, the other Japanese Emperor. The economic might was unrivaled, but split about five ways. The Mitsony Corporation was one of the five, mining asteroids and planets for all it's worth. It had a heavy Ming leaning, as did another one of Bakufu corporations, Hu-Kim-Lo Mining. The other three were either neutral or Federal leaning. The underground funding cut a signifigant portion of the companies budgets, but as soon as one looked to go under, the four wouldn't hesitate to jump on the falling behemoth, and claim whatever spoils came their way. The gamble was dangerous, but profitable if it worked.
"The Mitsony Corporation has sought to take this system from the Polish Mining Corporation for two or three years. Now with the war, we can arrange something with the Ming Emperor." Kaku spoke quietly. He had been the man who had talked to Ju about joining the Ming spy network. A labor union leader, he had influence in the mining engineering sector, as well as processing. That is what attracted Kaku to Ju, and made them important spies on Bremen. Bremen was only a warp space jump from Cracow, the logistical naval center for the Hades Theater of War. Bremen was strategic, and also connected to several independent systems with signifigant Mitsony investments.
"We are going to be placing 5,000 rifles, 200 mortars, 1,000 shoulder mounted rockets, 6,000 grenades, and ammunition for all of it. The Ming were to optimistic, thinking they would incite the two planets into open rebellion. Half the population of both is Polish, then of the other half, a third are Russian, a third are German, and the last third are Chinese. With Ming securing this planet, we would take over economic and total control. You just have to make life intolerable under the Federal boot."
"When are these shipments going to be getting here?"
"Two days, Ju. All five freighters will come from Juno system, and then you'll have all the weapons you need for a brigade of soldiers."
"Good deal, Kaku, good deal."

[Marshal Murat]

Commodore Jacobson held his breath, watching eight Ming freighters pass above him, his ships concealed in one of the many asteroid belts that circled the binary red giants. Three weeks of commerce raiding with his modest task force had brought down the wrath of the Ming more than once. His total? Eight Ming cruisers, ten destroyers, a light carrier, and twenty-two freighters. He had been called the "Shark of Hades" by both sides, shutting down many combat operations against the Federation by his combination of two pocket battleships, a re-supply ship, and a light carrier. All four had provided him with the tools to exploit any opportunities that arose. While he contented himself with combat in Hades, while others sought greater treasures beyond the Hades Theatre, it was a badge of honor for Commodore Jacobson

"Commodore?" Captain Renault looked from his plot to the commodore.
"Launch the fighters and bombers. Have the pocket battleships commence fire on these two freighters." Commodore Jacobson pointed to two of the freighters, the leading and trailing freighters. The bombers would strike the others.
"Aye Commodore!" Captain Renault snapped out his orders.
The pocket battleships opened up with their 11-inch rail-guns. The shells, almost a foot wide, flew with blazing speed, smashing into the engine compartments. The bombers then swooped overhead, their black delta shaped forms hurtling through space. With a sudden burst, several AM rockets were fired, and their trails sent them straight into the hulls of two more freighters. Another pair of freighters were blown apart by a trio of 500 kg AM warheads.
The last two freighters turned on their flank engines.
And their 10-inch rail guns. A pair of shells flew into the asteroid field, blowing apart some large chunks of rocks.
"Fire, fire on the enemy Q-ships. Open fire!" Commodore Jacobson roared, and he was answered by two of the pocket battleship's rail-guns. Hurtling through space, they smashed apart one of the freighters turrets.
"Sir, we have two destroyers approaching!"
"Have the bombers take out the two enemy battleships. Turn the Poltava back to deal with the destroyers.
It was getting out of hand and quickly.



Floating in space, Hu-Jing hated the feeling. The weightless feeling, it made his stomach churn. Around him, war was going on. A large thrust from the East Salient, a line of asteroid fortresses that stuck in the flank of the Federal forces, had encountered similar thrust of two battleships, a dreadnought, a pair of light carriers, and four cruisers. Damned odds. The Federals had caught his task forc heading in system, to be followed by a re-supply ship and two pocket battleships. The piecemeal fashion didn't help or hurt the Emperor's Navy.
It so happened that Hu was on the light carrier, replacing the AM rockets wit two 250 kg AM bombs. Then eight 11-inch shells, a pair of 9-inch shells, and a 5-inch shell had ripped apart the hangar and the hull of the carrier. Luckily, he had his vac-suit on. Now he was drifting amongst the Ming fleet. Two Federal ships were hit and bleeding atmosphere, and the carrier of the Ming was bleeding atmosphere as well. The trailing debris from both included human figures.
Now, the two Ming pocket battleships entered the fray, firing their main rocket pods. Twisting and diving, one hit the enemy cruiser. Shells flew by, rockets trailed smoke and fire, bomber formations flew by. The Federal fleet was slightly above him, but they had to lower themselves to ensure a true-hit.
Then, with a sudden burst, a Ming battleship burst from the protective line they held before the carrier. It's flank engines were burning white hot as it withdrew.
Two squadrons of Federal bombers followed. They swooped and fell like hawks, dropping AM bombs onto the heavy plating of the battleship. Scorched and twisted, the intense heat warping the titanium, ceramic, and steel armored layers of a battleship.

[Marshal Murat]

Hades System 10:34
Captain Pryntiz noticed a few things entering Hades.
The warp entrance to Federal Space was guarded by four barges, loaded with AM rocket pods and flak cannons. Then the massive shipyards sitting nearby. Far away, they were massive structures, filled with glimmering blue lights as anything from dreadnoughts to destroyers were repaired. The Ming jump around the system, going through neutral systems and into Federal space. The Federal ships do the same.
The battle-cruiser Geneva led the replacement ships, a skeleton crew ensuring the replacement battleships, carriers, cruisers, and every other ship was replaced at the front. Nearly 300 warships were employed by both sides, a good 200 in the Task Force 1, preserved for a counterstroke that would hopefully erase the Ming from the system. The Ming had a similar force, that while larger, was mostly conscripted crews, and couldn't hold a candle to the veteran Federal forces.
Speeding into the system, Captain Prynitz noted the task force returning into the system. Two light carriers, a pocket battleship, and a re-supply ship. Atmosphere left almost imperceptable trails, but the sensors picked them up.
"What task force is that?" Captain Prynitz asked, looking as the Federal ships moved closer.
"Task force 4.3, Commodore Jacobson in command."

Jacobson was a stealthy warrior. However, he met his match when two Ming battleships, four cruisers, and three destroyers. The Commodore had to leave a pocket battleship behind, and the captain and crew were all awarded the Golden Oak Leaf.