Author Topic: The Battles for 61 Cygni  (Read 1407 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline IanD

  • Moderator
  • Commodore
  • *****
  • Posts: 615
  • Thanked: 8 times
The Battles for 61 Cygni
« on: July 13, 2011, 02:50:35 AM »
WARNING POSSIBLE SPOILERS WITHIN!!

The Annals of the Terran Defence League III.

 
The 61 Cygni Incursions: The First Battle of 61 Cygni.


 
Part 1: By Our Blood!

7th November 59 of the New Calendar. 61 Cygni.
It was an unprepossessing patch of space, nothing out of the ordinary or different to billions of other patches of space in the 61 Cygni system. This particular patch was on a bearing of 117 degrees and a distance of 422 million kilometres from the star and 525.2 million kilometres from the League planet of Terra Nova. If any one had been observing this patch of space with the correct instruments they would have noticed the gradual forming of small gravitational eddies. These eddies began to merge into larger and larger eddies. The eddies continued to increase in strength until there was a sudden gout of released energy and the gravitational currents stabilised. This unassuming patch of space changed from insignificant to a potential harbinger of death for all on Terra Nova.
Terra Nova was a quiet planet, discovered in 42. The population now numbered 32.67 millions, mostly engaged in the large agricultural sector, but there was a small industrial sector as well as two military installations. One military installation was the Hanger where twenty-three near obsolete A-7A Firestorms armed with SIM-4 Rapiers and forty very obsolete A-6A Star Slayers armed with the even more obsolete SIM-1 Rapier missiles resided. The Star Slayers looked good as they carried out a fly-past on Victory Day, but as weapons of war they were sadly lacking. The other installation was the Skywatch tracking station that monitored system-wide traffic in 61 Cygni. The head of Operations on Terra Nova was a quiet posting since the influx of colonists petered out; they now mostly went to Grace in V577 Monoceri. For those about to retire the Terra Nova Skywatch posting was a cushy number.  Lieutenant Commander Dustan was contemplating his future, should he take the return to Earth ticket and a retirement package that would provide his necessities but not a lot more or stay on Terra Nova, cashing in his Earth Return benefits, which could provide a comfortable but rustic and provincial setting to pass away his sunset years? His reverie was cut short by a shout from the system scan station. “Sir! Gravitational anomaly building in Sector 7*, energy spike incoming!” As lieutenant Vincent uttered the last the sensor array crashed with an angry beeping. A few seconds later a chime indicated a successful reboot of the array. Lieutenant Commander Dustan was intently studying the readouts when the scan made it superfluous. There was now an angry looking stable wormhole sitting in Sector 7. The colour draining from his face Lieutenant Commander Dustan picked up the red handset that connected directly to the Governor, the decision on his retirement made for him.

When the news reached Earth some nine hours forty-five minutes later Operations went into emergency planning mode. The attack craft in 61 Cygni were recognised for what they were; great for making the civies feel good but hopeless as weapons of war against the Darkness. Battle Group #3 was still in refit after the last round of modernisations. Battle Group #2 was still awaiting refit. Battle Group #1 was the only fully refitted Task Group available along with Battle Group Canopus which consisted of the three assault jump carriers but no other vessels, ‘Yard capacity having gone into refits rather than new construction. The disposition of the Battle Groups was decided, Battle Group #1 would be based at Terra Nova while Battle Group Canopus would be stationed at the jump gate to Barnard’s Star. The fleet scout Resolution would keep the system under active surveillance. 

* Each system is divided into sectors radiating out from the central star in 18o increments in the orbital plane such that Sector 1 starts at 0o, thus every system is divided into twenty sectors.

16th November 59. 61 Cygni.
Battle Group Canopus arrived in 61 Cygni, and held position at the jump point.

20th November 59. 61 Cygni.
Battle Group #1 arrived at Terra Nova. The population took great heart from this; some of the population were of the belief that they would be abandoned, for it was written in the Book of Thinking “better to cut off your hand than allow the canker to spread.”

26 November 59. 61 Cygni.
Fort Victoria reached Terra Nova with a consignment of missiles for the planet-based attack squadrons. The Red Devil’s squadrons rearmed with the proven SIM-4 Rapier. Stocks of SIM-1 Rapiers on the planet were scrapped. 

21st February 60. 61 Cygni.
The Eye (wormhole) was observed to move to 577.4 million kilometres, 127o from the star, and was now in Sector 8

9th May 60. 61 Cygni.
CVJ Swiftsure delivered thirteen A-7B Firestorms to Terra Nova to bolster the defences of Terra Nova. They will form the Diamond Cutters squadron.

14th December 60. 61 Cygni.
Battle Group #3 replaced Battle Group #1 at Terra Nova in 61 Cygni which returned to Earth for overhaul. At this point the defences of 61 Cygni were Battle Group #3 consisting of the CVJ Swiftsure, CV Anzio, CV Austerlitz, SC Searcher, ES Afghan, Amazon and Amerind, FG Black Prince, Destroyer, Defence and Warrior, AK/O Neumark and Sudmark and the AE Fort Sumner and Fort Widley, Battle Group Canopus consisting of the CVJA Canopus, Altair and Rigel and the Terra Nova PDC equipped with 13 A-7B Firestorms, 23 A-7A Firestorms and 40 A-6A Star Slayers.

29th February 61. 61 Cygni.
The Eye (wormhole) changed position to 623 million kilometres 127o, sector 7 from star.

25th March 61. 61 Cygni.
The Eye (wormhole) once more changed position to 609 million kilometres 163o from the central star, Sector 9

13th August 61. 61 Cygni.
Alarms shrilled, the expected incursion by the Greater forces of Darkness was upon 61 Cygni. Flight crews on carriers and on planet rushed for their craft as the reports came in. The padres assigned to each ship and installation began to drone the prayer before battle.

13th August 61 09:44:54,61 Cygni, Hostile Ship Contact!  Contact ID: Hextor 035 (New), Hextor 037 (New), Hextor 039 (New), Class ID: Hextor, Race ID: Greater Force of Darkness, TCS 1280  Thermal: 12800 (New)

13th August 61 09:44:54,61 Cygni, Hostile Ship Contact!  Contact ID: Malagard 011 (New), Malagard 013 (New), Malagard 015 (New),Class ID: Malagard, Race ID: Greater Force of Darkness, TCS 2500  Thermal: 16000 (New)

13th August 61 09:44:54,61 Cygni, Hostile Ship Contact!  Contact ID: Serpent 021 (New), Serpent 023 (New), Serpent 025 (New), Class ID: Serpent, Race ID: Greater Force of Darkness, TCS 120  Thermal: 960 (New)

13th August 61 09:44:54,61 Cygni, Hostile Ship Contact!  Contact ID: Vhaeraun 066 (New),Vhaeraun 068 (New), Class ID: Vhaeraun, Race ID: Greater Force of Darkness, TCS 256  Thermal: 2560 (New)

13th August 61 09:44:54,61 Cygni, Hostile Ship Contact!  Contact ID: Tiamat 008 (New), Tiamat 010 (New), and Tiamat 012 (New), Class ID: Tiamat, Race ID: Greater Force of Darkness, TCS 512  Thermal: 5120 (New)


Battle Group #3 launched her strike fighters and as they raced away from the planet the Battle Group moved out into sector 13 to perform a dogleg manoeuvre away from the planet using the lure of the Searcher’s active array, Commodore Vincent hoped to guide the alien ships onto the squadrons of Battle Group Canopus which would be approaching from the jump point. However, the weakness of the failure to concentrate forces was readily evident and to cap it all Commodore Vincent found to his consternation that his tankers were not the Mk Vs. he had thought they were but the slower MkIVs, which meant the Darkness dreadnoughts had an advantage of approximately 900k/s over his Battle Group. The planet-based fighters also launched, but apart from the few A-7Bs were left trailing in the wake of the carrier-borne squadrons.

15:22:54
The Eightballers in their new A-7C craft were the first to lock on with their extended range fire controls and launched at the large cruiser Tiamat 008, 120 SIM-5 rapiers leapt from their rails towards the enemy as the squadron turned away.

15:24:24
Two minutes later A-7B Firestorm 274 of the Red Rippers squadron, fully laden, dissolved into a million pieces as nine of the Darkness’s torpedoes swept it from existence.

15:25:44
The two fleet carrier A-7B Firestorm squadrons and the PDC-based Diamond Cutters squadron reached their firing position and let loose four hundred and eighty SIM-5 Rapiers and seventy-eight SIM-4 Rapiers.  The targets were Hextor 035, Hextor 037 and Vhaeraun 066.

15:28:15
The first missiles reached their target, ten being swept away by point defence fire, the rest detonated around the target, whose shields were speckled with burn-throughs and Taimat 008 began to lose atmosphere but while damaged and slowed it was still in the fight. 15:28:59. A-7B Firestorm 261 exploded as 7 torpedoes found it.

15:29:54
The deluge of missiles swarmed in, the conflagration momentarily outshone the system’s star, but the results were disappointing, Vhaeraun 066 burst apart under the assault, but both dreadnoughts appeared to have survived, Hextor 035 was leaking atmosphere and visibly slowed but Hextor 037 was charging on as if unaffected.  The enemy dreadnoughts appeared harder to crack this time around.

15:31:44
A-7B 202 exploded as three torpedoes blasted it out of space.

15:35:04
The retreating squadrons were still being hammered by enemy fire; A-7B Firestorm 207 evaporated as ten strength 10 torpedoes exploded on top of the craft.

15:41:24
A-7B Firestorm 210 was the next attack craft destroyed as the Diamond Cutters were singled out as they raced to clear the enemies’ engagement envelope.

15:45
The fighters finally cleared the range at which the Darkness could target them heading for their carriers or Terra Nova to rearm.

16:33:09
Next in the line of fire were the Yellowjackets, 23 Firestorm A-7As armed with SIM-4 Rapiers. They targeted the damaged dreadnaught Hextor 037
A-7A Firestorm 81 was hit before it could launch by four torpedoes, but as they were at the end of their run did no damage. Thirty seconds later the 23 fighters launched their missiles.

16:33:34
A-7A Firestorm 82 and 83 exploded amidst a welter of torpedo detonations as thirteen strength-2 and sixteen strength-10 torpedoes reached them. To the League crews it was evident that the enemy were using the large anti-ship torpedoes in the anti-fighter role, which meant a single hit could obliterate a fighter, when several detonated around the same target it simply ceased to exist.

16:37:39
A-7A Firestorm 81 and 84 burst asunder as another thirteen strength-2 and sixteen strength-10 torpedoes found them as they struggled to reorient their craft towards home and safety. The SIM-4 Rapiers smacked into Hextor 037, detonations generating sun-hot plasma to burn into the shields and armour alike and while there was evidence of further damage it was not sufficient to destroy it or even slow it down.

16:40:54
The litany of distress call filled the radio channels as the A-7As showed their age.
A-7A Firestorm 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91 and 92 of the Yellowjacket’s squadron were picked off over the next ten minutes over half the squadron falling to enemy fire. Then between 16:55:59  and 17:01:09, as the squadron cleared the enemy engagement envelope A-7A Firestorm 93 was struck by two salvos of  28 and 25  torpedoes at the end of their run and survived with only the paint scorched. The Yellowjackets squadron had survived this sortie, but worse was to follow.

18:44:45
Now it was the Red Devils turn, all the crews realised it was a suicide mission, once they were in range of the enemies weapons they were just not fast enough to escape with a top speed of 9896 k/s compared to that of the Darkness’s ships of 10,000 k/s. The best they could do was head for Battle Group #3 and hope to draw the GFD fleet away from Terra Nova. As the Star Slayers endeavoured to reach their launch position A-6A 001 exploded as the first of the enemy weapons found the squadron. The squadron targeted Vhaeraun 0068 and Tiamat 010 in the hope of actually destroying some of the alien vessels. The really bad news was they had to close to 10.62 million kilometres before they could lock-on. At 18:17:49 A-6A Star Slayer 002 was destroyed, the final one before the squadron could fire their missiles. The First 15 A-6A launched seventy-five SIM-4 Rapiers at the remaining Vhaeraun class vessel which had taken such a vicious toll of the attacking fighters at 18:18:15. The remaining attack craft got their missiles away without further loss twenty seconds later launching 175 SIM-4 Rapiers at Tiamat 010
The squadron’s torment began at 18:20:00 as A-6A 003 blew up. Then as monotonous as clockwork every few minutes the passing of another Star Slayer was marked by a plasma-fuelled funeral pyre. The succession of exploding fighters was briefly interrupted at 18:23 as the Rapiers hit their targets but once more results were disappointing, no alien ship was destroyed and many more crew would die as a result of the failure to eliminate Vhaeraun 068. By 20:16 A-6A Star Slayer 55 was all that was left of the 40-strong local defence squadron, the four man crew knew they were next and only one or two would escape the doomed craft, but every minute they deflected the forces of Darkness from Terra Nova was valuable in their eyes. Then three minutes later the inevitable occurred and the demons’ torpedoes found the little craft, two crew managed to escape the wreckage. Many would later argue that this sacrifice was uncalled for and unnecessary. Others noted though that at this stage of the battle while most enemy ships had been damaged only one had been destroyed.   

21:15:00
But by now the A-7B squadrons had completed rearming and launched. The Eightballers squadron was once more the first into the fray. They targeted Tiamat 010 and launched 120 missiles. Inexplicably, although a synchronous launch was achieved 42 missiles drives stuttered, leaving them fifteen seconds behind the leading wave. At 22:20:30 the first wave ploughed into Tiamat 010, bringing down the shield and burning into the vessel’s armour, crippling it’s drives, Fifteen seconds later it took just fifteen missiles to destroy it, although another sixteen were taken out by point defence.

22:22:15
The A-7B Firestorm Squadrons, the Red Rippers and the Fist of the Fleet were approaching their mark when A-7B Firestorm 249 suddenly exploded; they were now in range of the remaining alien vessels. 22:22:41 The 77 A-7B Firestorms of the fleet carrier squadrons launched their missiles, 60 of the attack craft aiming at the undamaged Hextor 039, the remainder at Hextor 037. During the retirement the Darkness continued to take its toll, A-7B Firestorm 257 and 236 exploded as enemy torpedoes sought them out. At the same time as A-7B Firestorm 236 blew up Hextor 039 and Hextor 037 were subjected to a blizzard of incoming missiles. The star field was speckled with the detonating warheads as the Rapiers found the mark. The alien’s shields were pocked with black patches growing ever larger. There was a massive internal explosion aboard Hextor 039 and it disintegrated.
But the remaining Hextor , Taimat and Vhaeraun class warships still took their toll as A-7B Firestorms 237, 238 and 239 were destroyed, until the squadron finally moved out of engagement range Then it was back to the carriers, rearm and launch again.

14th August 61. 02:54. 61 Cygni.
The GFD vessels had split into two groups, one consisting of Hextor 035 and Tiamat 008, the most severely damaged pair, were heading vaguely towards Terra Nova, every so often distracted by passing attack squadrons. The other consisted of Hextor 037, Tiamat 012 and a trailing Vhaeraun 068.
Battle Group #3’s strike fighters were once more rearmed and returned to the attack. The Diamond Cutters and the Yellowjacket’s were much slower in doing so due to the longer distances involved for them, the enemy fleet having been effectively distracted to chase the beacon of the Searcher’s active sensor.
Intending to skirt the nearest lose group consisting of Hextor 037, Tiamat 012 and Vhaeraun 068, the Eightballer’s squadron did not realise it had strayed into range of the enemy torpedoes until A-7C Firestorm 067 exploded, Commander Kia McKenzie ordered the squadron to lock on to Tiamat 012 and  fifteen seconds later the missiles leapt from their rails. Five and a half minutes after that the results were unexpectedly gratifying as the big alien cruiser exploded. Before they could complete their extraction from the engagement envelope the Eightballers fell into weapons range again and A-7C Firestorm 072 paid the price.

The fleet carrier squadrons were now also approaching the GFD vessels, at 03:14:41, the Fist of the Fleet salvoed all its missiles at Hextor 037.  The enemies’ attention was turned to the Red Rippers as on approach A-7B Firestorm 295 was destroyed. The Red Rippers squadron attacked Vhaeraun 068, Hextor 035 and Tiamat 008 by the section, Hextor 035 receiving the attention of two sections. The first section targeted Vhaeraun 068 and at 03:30 they released their 54 SIM-5 Rapiers and made their escape. Four minutes later Vhaeraun 068 was obliterated in a nuclear furnace.
Sections two and three of Red Rippers squadron made their attack on Hextor 035. 108 SIM-5 Rapiers armed with 16 kiloton warheads drove in upon their victim, some few were lost to point defence but sufficient survived to burn deep into the stricken dreadnought’s vitals and it finally perished as at 04:54 an internal explosion tore it apart. But these successes were not without cost.  A-7B Firestorm 222, 273 and 229 failed to survive this encounter with the enemy.

05:23
The fourth section of Red Rippers made their run on target, all strike craft got their birds away without further loss. At 05:28 Tiamat 008 dissolved into a cloud of debris, so died the last GFD warship in the system at present.

Battle Group #3 released Afghan, Amazon and Amerind to go after the non-combatants. The125,000 ton non-combatant Malagard class were the nearest targets. The impromptu close action group closed Malagard 015 at 11:18 and opened fire. It took only five minutes to reduce Malagard 015 to a wreck compared to half-an-hour with only the old 10cm lasers in V577 Monoceri. The new 15cm lasers proved their worth and the speed of the escorts was now such that they controlled the range of the engagement and the three Malagard class vessels only achieved one ramming attempt between them. It had taken only minutes for them to be reduced to scrap, but half-a-day to chase them down. The Diamond Cutters helped by salvoing their missiles at Malagard 011, reducing its survival time under the lasers to a few tens of seconds. 

15th August 61 20:35. 61 Cygni.
Serpent 025 was the next candidate and it wilted under the assault, being destroyed in a mere fifteen seconds.

16th August 61. 61 Cygni.
15:45 Serpent 021 made a direct approach to the combined force of Battle Group #3 and Battle Group Canopus. Unfortunately the escorts Afghan, Amazon and Amerind were still returning from destroying Serpent 025. Commodore Vincent, conscious of the difficulty in replacing expended missiles decided not to use the missile frigates SIM-4 Javelin missiles. That left the fleet scout Searcher as the only beam armed vessel in the combined Battle Group. Nevertheless the Darkness scout was allowed to close until it was within range of the twin 15cm laser turret mounted by the Searcher, when she commenced fire. The turret crew of the Searcher had only fitfully drilled with their weapon, as they didn’t ever expect to use it in anger. Gunnery Sergeant Turnbull briefed the gun crew as the alien vessel approached. “Remember lads, treat it as just a drill, it can’t hurt us, it will be just like a practice shoot.” Many of the turret crew grinned at that remembering what a hash the weapons officer had made of the last practice shoot. Then as the enemy ship entered range the turret trained and the weapons officer in the centralised control room pressed the button to sound the fire gongs in the turret and the capacitors discharged their torrent of energy into the lasing chambers of the twin mount with a loud crack! Twin spears of photons receded at light speed into the distance. On the bridge Captain Hill, commander of the Searcher was offering a wager to his Exec as to when the first hit on the enemy would be scored, his Exec countered on whether a hit would be achieved before the Afghan, Amazon and Amerind returned to the fleet. Both knew Lieutenant Brooks, the weapons officer rarely practiced with the targeting system for the lasers, which required a modicum of skill to hit a target at many tens of thousands of kilometres let alone a few hundred thousand. He had always assured his commanding officer that it was just like a video game and there was nothing to it. He was now to find out it wasn’t that easy! The enemy vessel closed to 50,000 kilometres before he managed to score a hit, netting Captain Hill a tidy sum off his Exec, but losing most of it to his navigating officer. In the turret the crew had little to do other than monitor the capacitors and power feeds; the incessant crack every five seconds was monotonous and irritating. Many wondered why they were there; they would have little to do unless the Searcher took damage.
Lieutenant Brooks sweated over the targeting comp lining up shot after shot, often resulting in a clean miss even at almost point blank range. Then, when he finally hit Serpent 021 sufficiently to cause internal damage he had to compensate for the opening range until lieutenant Doberson, the Searcher’s Pilot, could reduce Searchers velocity to bring the target once more within the lasers sweet spot. Finally eighteen-and-a–half minutes later the lasers caused the alien ship to lose structural integrity and come apart at the seams, spilling machinery into vacuum, but never life pods.

20th  August 61. 61Cygni.
17:31 The last GFD vessel in system, Serpent 023, was destroyed by Afghan, Amazon and Amerind after a 90 second laser barrage as they closed on the unfortunate vessel. 61 Cygni was finally clear of GFD ships.

Postscript
The enquiry into the Battle of 61 Cygni revealed a weakness in the initial deployment and a fatal flaw in the equipping of local planetary defence squadrons. It was also recognised that the A-7B Firestorm was approaching obsolescence and could no longer be regarded as a first line attack craft. The decision to be made was whether to purchase the A-7D Firestorm or wait until the new SCAM engine was ready in the middle of 62. If delayed then there was a window for new construction. In the end the new construction won out, the equivalent of a fourth Battle Group being laid down in addition to three new fleet scouts. The new build would be used to reinforce existing formations rather than form a new Battle Group. The margin of victory had become slimmer in the battle for 61 Cygni. Once the A-7E Firestorm and RA-8B Vigilante were ready for series production the A-7B would be used to re-equip local defence squadrons.
 
Annex A

Appendix A – Ships of the Terran League.

Code: [Select]
Star class Assault Jump Carrier    27,500 tons     2151 Crew     10099.2 BP      TCS 550  TH 1451.52  EM 2160
10996 km/s    JR 5-500     Armour 3-81     Shields 72-300     Sensors 54/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 80     PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 151%    IFR: 2.1%    Maint Capacity 10181 MSP    Max Repair 1444 MSP    Est Time: 2.55 Years
Hangar Deck Capacity 6000 tons     Magazine 540   

J27500(5-500) Military Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 27500 tons    Distance 500k km     Squadron Size 5
Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (36)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 450,000 Litres    Range 53.6 billion km   (56 days at full power)
Theta R300/20 Shields (18)   Total Fuel Cost  360 Litres per day

CIWS-320 (3x10)    Range 1000 km     TS: 32000 km/s     ROF 5       Base 50% To Hit
SIM-5 Rapier (180)  Speed: 46,900 km/s   End: 8.6m    Range: 24.2m km   WH: 16    Size: 3    TH: 516 / 309 / 154

Active Search Sensor MR193-R20 (1)     GPS 4800     Range 193.2m km    Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH3-54 (1)     Sensitivity 54     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  54m km

ECM 40

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

Strike Group
20x A-7C Firestorm Fighter  Speed: 20200 km/s    Size: 5
4x RA-8A Vigilante class Fighter Speed: 20200 km/s    Size: 5

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Canopus, Altair, Rigel.

Code: [Select]
Agincourt Mk IV class Carrier    27,500 tons     1730 Crew     9159.6 BP      TCS 550  TH 1572.48  EM 1560
11912 km/s     Armour 1-81     Shields 52-300     Sensors 54/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 58     PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 336%    IFR: 4.7%    Maint Capacity 4747 MSP    Max Repair 240 MSP    Est Time: 2.96 Years
Hangar Deck Capacity 10000 tons     Magazine 726   

Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (39)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 595,000 Litres    Range 70.8 billion km   (68 days at full power)
Theta R300/20 Shields (13)   Total Fuel Cost  260 Litres per day

CIWS-320 (3x10)    Range 1000 km     TS: 32000 km/s     ROF 5       Base 50% To Hit
SIM-5 Rapier (242)  Speed: 46,900 km/s   End: 8.6m    Range: 24.2m km   WH: 16    Size: 3    TH: 516 / 309 / 154

Active Search Sensor MR193-R20 (1)     GPS 4800     Range 193.2m km    Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH3-54 (1)     Sensitivity 54     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  54m km

ECM 40

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

Strike Group
40x A-7B Firestorm Fighter  Speed: 20200 km/s    Size: 5

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Agincourt, Aisne, Armada, Anzio, Austerlitz, Waterloo.

Code: [Select]
Vanguard Mk IV class Jump Carrier    27,500 tons     2218 Crew     10536.2 BP      TCS 550  TH 1572.48  EM 2280
11912 km/s    JR 5-500     Armour 3-81     Shields 76-300     Sensors 54/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 81     PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 147%    IFR: 2%    Maint Capacity 10818 MSP    Max Repair 1444 MSP    Est Time: 2.69 Years
Hangar Deck Capacity 5000 tons     Magazine 540   

J27500(5-500) Military Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 27500 tons    Distance 500k km     Squadron Size 5
Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (39)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 505,000 Litres    Range 60.1 billion km   (58 days at full power)
Theta R300/20 Shields (19)   Total Fuel Cost  380 Litres per day

CIWS-320 (3x10)    Range 1000 km     TS: 32000 km/s     ROF 5       Base 50% To Hit
SIM-5 Rapier (180)  Speed: 46,900 km/s   End: 8.6m    Range: 24.2m km   WH: 16    Size: 3    TH: 516 / 309 / 154

Active Search Sensor MR193-R20 (1)     GPS 4800     Range 193.2m km    Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH3-54 (1)     Sensitivity 54     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  54m km

ECM 40

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

Strike Group
20x A-7B Firestorm Fighter  Speed: 20200 km/s    Size: 5

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Vanguard, Swiftsure, Warspite.

Code: [Select]
Resolution Mk IV class Scout    10,000 tons     991 Crew     5985.2 BP      TCS 200  TH 564.48  EM 1080
11760 km/s     Armour 3-41     Shields 36-300     Sensors 54/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 31     PPV 12
Annual Failure Rate: 72%    IFR: 1%    Maint Capacity 6115 MSP    Max Repair 2400 MSP    Est Time: 2.17 Years

Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (14)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 165,000 Litres    Range 54.0 billion km   (53 days at full power)
Theta R300/20 Shields (9)   Total Fuel Cost  180 Litres per day

Twin 15cm C6 X-Ray Laser Turret (1x2)    Range 192,000km     TS: 40000 km/s     Power 12-12     RM 7    ROF 5        6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 4 4
Fire Control S12 96-16000 (1)    Max Range: 192,000 km   TS: 16000 km/s     95 90 84 79 74 69 64 58 53 48
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (1)     Total Power Output 1.6    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (1)     Total Power Output 3.2    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (1)     Total Power Output 8    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Active Search Sensor MR4320-R100 (1)     GPS 240000     Range 4,320.0m km    Resolution 100
Active Search Sensor MR8-R1 (1)     GPS 48     Range 8.6m km    Resolution 1
Thermal Sensor TH3-54 (1)     Sensitivity 54     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  54m km

ECM 50

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Resolution, Searcher, Sentinel.

Code: [Select]
Tribal Mk IV class Escort    10,650 tons     1076 Crew     7198.4 BP      TCS 213  TH 604.8  EM 1080
11830 km/s     Armour 3-43     Shields 36-300     Sensors 54/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 27     PPV 38
Annual Failure Rate: 129%    IFR: 1.8%    Maint Capacity 2957 MSP    Max Repair 1080 MSP    Est Time: 1.56 Years
Magazine 344   

Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (15)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 165,000 Litres    Range 50.7 billion km   (49 days at full power)
Theta R300/20 Shields (9)   Total Fuel Cost  180 Litres per day

Twin 15cm C6 X-Ray Laser Turret (1x2)    Range 420,000km     TS: 40000 km/s     Power 12-12     RM 7    ROF 5        6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 4 4
Twin 10cm C3 X-Ray Laser Turret (2x2)    Range 210,000km     TS: 40000 km/s     Power 6-6     RM 7    ROF 5        3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2
Fire Control S12 225-32000 (3)    Max Range: 450,000 km   TS: 32000 km/s     98 96 93 91 89 87 84 82 80 78
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (3)     Total Power Output 24    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Size 1 Missile Launcher (8)    Missile Size 1    Rate of Fire 5
Missile Fire Control FC7-R1 (2)     Range 7.8m km    Resolution 1
AMM-4 Dagger (344)  Speed: 49,700 km/s   End: 3.2m    Range: 9.7m km   WH: 1    Size: 1    TH: 1010 / 606 / 303

Active Search Sensor MR8-R1 (1)     GPS 48     Range 8.6m km    Resolution 1
Active Search Sensor MR77-R20 (1)     GPS 1920     Range 77.3m km    Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH3-54 (1)     Sensitivity 54     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  54m km

ECM 30

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Afghan, Amazon, Amerind, Afridi, Cossack, Ghurkha, Mohawk, Tartar, Zulu.

Code: [Select]
Victory Mk V class Missile Frigate    10,000 tons     625 Crew     4056.6 BP      TCS 200  TH 564.48  EM 1800
11760 km/s     Armour 4-41     Shields 60-300     Sensors 54/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 25     PPV 69
Annual Failure Rate: 160%    IFR: 2.2%    Maint Capacity 1268 MSP    Max Repair 168 MSP    Est Time: 2.57 Years
Magazine 460   

Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (14)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 210,000 Litres    Range 68.7 billion km   (67 days at full power)
Theta R300/20 Shields (15)   Total Fuel Cost  300 Litres per day

Size 4 Box Launcher (115)    Missile Size 4    Hangar Reload 30 minutes    MF Reload 5 hours
Missile Fire Control FC115-R20 (3)     Range 115.9m km    Resolution 20
SIM-4 Javelin (115)  Speed: 46,900 km/s   End: 27.8m    Range: 78.3m km   WH: 11    Size: 4    TH: 375 / 225 / 112

Active Search Sensor MR115-R20 (1)     GPS 2880     Range 115.9m km    Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH3-54 (1)     Sensitivity 54     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  54m km

ECCM-5 (3)         ECM 40

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Black Prince, Bonadventure, Defence, Destroyer, Diadem, Leopard, Lion, Lynx, Minotaur, Superb, Tiger, Warrior.

Code: [Select]
Fort Mk II class Collier    12,500 tons     761 Crew     3983.3 BP      TCS 250  TH 604.8  EM 1200
10080 km/s     Armour 3-47     Shields 40-300     Sensors 18/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 27     PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 178%    IFR: 2.5%    Maint Capacity 1394 MSP    Max Repair 168 MSP    Est Time: 2.55 Years
Magazine 2016   

Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (15)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 205,000 Litres    Range 53.7 billion km   (61 days at full power)
Theta R300/20 Shields (10)   Total Fuel Cost  200 Litres per day

CIWS-320 (2x10)    Range 1000 km     TS: 32000 km/s     ROF 5       Base 50% To Hit
Active Search Sensor MR86-R100 (1)     GPS 4800     Range 86.4m km    Resolution 100
Thermal Sensor TH1-18 (1)     Sensitivity 18     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  18m km

ECM 30

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Fort Purbrook, Fort Sumner, Fort Widley, Fort Worth, Fort Victoria.


Code: [Select]
Nordmark Mk IV class Support Vessel    12,000 tons     347 Crew     1687.5 BP      TCS 240  TH 525.12  EM 0
9116 km/s     Armour 1-46     Shields 0-0     Sensors 5/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
Maint Capacity 3088 MSP    Max Repair 156 MSP

Magnetic Confinement Fusion Drive E0.5 (7)    Power 312.5    Fuel Use 5%    Signature 75    Armour 0    Exp 1%
Fuel Capacity 2,075,000 Litres    Range 6224.5 billion km   (7902 days at full power)

Active Search Sensor MR39-R100 (1)     GPS 3600     Range 39.6m km    Resolution 100
Thermal Sensor TH1-5 (1)     Sensitivity 5     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  5m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Neumark and Sudmark


Appendix B – Attack Craft of The Terran League.

Code: [Select]
A-6A Star Slayer class Fighter    243 tons     4 Crew     64.25 BP      TCS 4.85  TH 16.8  EM 0
9896 km/s     Armour 1-3     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 2.25
Annual Failure Rate: 4%    IFR: 0.1%    Maint Capacity 17 MSP    Max Repair 18 MSP    Est Time: 5.85 Years
Magazine 15   

FTR Magneto-plasma Drive E600 (1)    Power 48    Fuel Use 6000%    Signature 16.8    Armour 0    Exp 25%
Fuel Capacity 30,000 Litres    Range 3.7 billion km   (4 days at full power)

Size 3 Box Launcher (5)    Missile Size 3    Hangar Reload 22.5 minutes    MF Reload 3.7 hours
Missile Fire Control FC26-R20 (1)     Range 26.6m km    Resolution 20
SIM-1 Rapier (5)  Speed: 26,000 km/s   End: 16.5m    Range: 25.7m km   WH: 7    Size: 3    TH: 86 / 52 / 26

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes

Code: [Select]
A-7A Firestorm class Fighter    250 tons     4 Crew     74.4 BP      TCS 5  TH 18  EM 0
15000 km/s     Armour 1-3     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 2.7
Annual Failure Rate: 5%    IFR: 0.1%    Maint Capacity 19 MSP    Max Repair 25 MSP    Est Time: 5.03 Years
Magazine 18   

FTR Magnetic Confinement Fusion Drive E500 (1)    Power 75    Fuel Use 5000%    Signature 18    Armour 0    Exp 25%
Fuel Capacity 30,000 Litres    Range 4.3 billion km   (3 days at full power)

Size 3 Box Launcher (6)    Missile Size 3    Hangar Reload 22.5 minutes    MF Reload 3.7 hours
Missile Fire Control FC34-R20 (1)     Range 34.8m km    Resolution 20
SIM-2 Rapier (6)  Speed: 34,700 km/s   End: 12m    Range: 25m km   WH: 9    Size: 3    TH: 219 / 131 / 65

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes
Note SIM-2 Rapier was never produced.

Code: [Select]
A-7B Firestorm class Fighter    250 tons     4 Crew     83.4 BP      TCS 5  TH 24.24  EM 0
20200 km/s     Armour 1-3     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 2.7
Annual Failure Rate: 5%    IFR: 0.1%    Maint Capacity 21 MSP    Max Repair 34 MSP    Est Time: 4.47 Years
Magazine 18   

FTR Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E550 (1)    Power 100.8    Fuel Use 5500%    Signature 24.192    Armour 0    Exp 35%
Fuel Capacity 30,000 Litres    Range 3.9 billion km   (54 hours at full power)

Size 3 Box Launcher (6)    Missile Size 3    Hangar Reload 22.5 minutes    MF Reload 3.7 hours
Missile Fire Control FC34-R20 (1)     Range 34.8m km    Resolution 20
SIM-5 Rapier (6)  Speed: 46,900 km/s   End: 8.6m    Range: 24.2m km   WH: 16    Size: 3    TH: 516 / 309 / 154

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes

Code: [Select]
A-7C Firestorm class Fighter    250 tons     4 Crew     87 BP      TCS 5  TH 24.24  EM 0
20200 km/s     Armour 1-3     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 2.7
Annual Failure Rate: 5%    IFR: 0.1%    Maint Capacity 22 MSP    Max Repair 34 MSP    Est Time: 4.59 Years
Magazine 18   

FTR Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E550 (1)    Power 100.8    Fuel Use 5500%    Signature 24.192    Armour 0    Exp 35%
Fuel Capacity 25,000 Litres    Range 3.3 billion km   (45 hours at full power)

Size 3 Box Launcher (6)    Missile Size 3    Hangar Reload 22.5 minutes    MF Reload 3.7 hours
Missile Fire Control FC46-R20 (1)     Range 46.4m km    Resolution 20
SIM-5 Rapier (6)  Speed: 46,900 km/s   End: 8.6m    Range: 24.2m km   WH: 16    Size: 3    TH: 516 / 309 / 154

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes

Code: [Select]
RA-8A Vigilante class Fighter    250 tons     5 Crew     123.1 BP      TCS 5  TH 24.24  EM 0
20200 km/s     Armour 1-3     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 1.8
Annual Failure Rate: 5%    IFR: 0.1%    Maint Capacity 31 MSP    Max Repair 48 MSP    Est Time: 4.58 Years
Magazine 12   

FTR Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E550 (1)    Power 100.8    Fuel Use 5500%    Signature 24.192    Armour 0    Exp 35%
Fuel Capacity 25,000 Litres    Range 3.3 billion km   (45 hours at full power)

Size 3 Box Launcher (4)    Missile Size 3    Hangar Reload 22.5 minutes    MF Reload 3.7 hours
Missile Fire Control FC34-R20 (1)     Range 34.8m km    Resolution 20
SIM-5 Rapier (4)  Speed: 46,900 km/s   End: 8.6m    Range: 24.2m km   WH: 16    Size: 3    TH: 516 / 309 / 154

Active Search Sensor MR38-R20 (1)     GPS 960     Range 38.6m km    Resolution 20

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes


Appendix C – Missiles of the Terran League.{/b]

Code: [Select]
SIM-4 Rapier
Missile Size: 3 MSP  (0.15 HS)     Warhead: 11    Armour: 0     Manoeuvre Rating: 28
Speed: 45,800 km/s    Endurance: 9.6 minutes   Range: 26.4m km
Thermal Sensor Strength: 0.1085    Detect Sig Strength 1000:  70,000 km
Cost Per Missile: 5.6002
Chance to Hit:   3k km/s 427%   5k km/s 256%   10k km/s 128%

Code: [Select]
SIM-5 Rapier
Missile Size: 3 MSP  (0.15 HS)     Warhead: 16    Armour: 0     Manoeuvre Rating: 33
Speed: 46,900 km/s    Endurance: 11 minutes   Range: 30.2m km
Thermal Sensor Strength: 0.144    Detect Sig Strength 1000:  144,000 km
Cost Per Missile: 7.0657
Chance to Hit:  3k km/s 495%   5k km/s 309.5%   10k km/s 154.8%

Code: [Select]
SIM-4 Javelin
Missile Size: 4 MSP  (0.2 HS)     Warhead: 11    Armour: 0     Manoeuvre Rating: 24
Speed: 46,900 km/s    Endurance: 27.8 minutes   Range: 78.3m km
Thermal Sensor Strength: 0.1085    Detect Sig Strength 1000:  70,000 km
Cost Per Missile: 6.295
Chance to Hit: 3k km/s 375%   5k km/s 225%   10k km/s 112%

Code: [Select]
AMM-4 Dagger
Missile Size: 1 MSP  (0.05 HS)     Warhead: 1    Armour: 0     Manoeuvre Rating: 61
Speed: 49,700 km/s    Endurance: 3.2 minutes   Range: 9.7m km
Thermal Sensor Strength: 0.056    Detect Sig Strength 1000:  40,000 km
Cost Per Missile: 2.4102
Chance to Hit: 3k km/s 1010%   5k km/s 606%   10k km/s 303%
IanD
 

Offline IanD

  • Moderator
  • Commodore
  • *****
  • Posts: 615
  • Thanked: 8 times
Re: The Battles for 61 Cygni
« Reply #1 on: July 13, 2011, 02:57:01 AM »
 
The 61 Cygni Incursions: The Second Battle of 61 Cygni.


 
Part 2: We Stand Firm!


1st January 62. 61 Cgyni.
Battle Group #1 had recently replaced Battle Group #3 which would not see deployment again until its strike wing had been rebuilt and tankers refitted to the Mk V specification. Battle Group #1 was capable of 10,080 k/s, the limiting factor being the Fort Mk II class munitions ship. Battle Group Canopus was still on station, concentrated with Battle Group #1, and was nearly 1000 k/s faster than most GFD vessels seen to date. But at the moment the two Battle Groups were swinging round a blue and green Terra Nova, crews at duty stations or idly occupying their free time. There had been no shore leave since the beginning of the emergency, except for a couple of weeks after the conclusion of the first incursion. This was causing some unrest below decks. The Execs of the various vessels within the fleet were busy organising intra and inter-ship competitions to keep the crews occupied.

Battle Group #1
Agincourt Mk IV Fleet Carriers: Agincourt, Anzio.
Vanguard Mk IV Jump Carrier: Vanguard
Resolution Mk V Fleet Scout: Sentry.
Tribal Mk IV Escorts: Afridi, Cossack,  Zulu.
Victory Mk V Missile Frigates: Lynx, Minotaur, Superb, Tiger.
Nordmark Mk V Fleet Tankers: Nordmark, Ostmark.
Fort Mk II Colliers: Fort Worth

Battle Group Canopus
Star Mk I Assault Jump Carriers: Canopus, Altair, Rigel.
Resolution Mk IV Fleet Scout: Resolution.
Nordmark Mk V Fleet Tankers: Reichmark, Rentenmark
Fort Mk II Colliers: Fort Victoria

3rd January 62, 22:08. 61 Cygni.
Klaxons sounded the alert once more. Another GFD incursion was underway. The ships of the fleet scrambled to recover crew members visiting other vessels, crews made ready for the combat to come. The combined fleet under Commodore Emily Hughes again boosted away from Terra Nova into Sector 14 to decoy the intruders away from the near defenceless planet with the active sensor of its fleet scout as bait. The seven ships of Salvor Task Group, which were in the process of salving the wreckage of a Tiamat cruiser, were the nearest ships to the Eye, at just over 300 million kilometres. Commodore Hughes ordered them back to Terra Nova, but their top speed was only 5737 k/s.

The intelligence reports came in:

3rd January 62 22:08:08,61 Cygni, Hostile Ship Contact!  Contact ID: Tiamat 020 (New), Tiamat 022 (New), Tiamat 024 (New), Class ID: Tiamat, Race ID: Greater Force of Darkness, TCS 512  Thermal: 5120 (New).

3rd January 62 22:08:08,61 Cygni, Hostile Ship Contact!  Contact ID: Hextor 050 (New), Hextor 052 (New), Hextor 054 (New), Class ID: Hextor, Race ID: Greater Force of Darkness, TCS 1280  Thermal: 12800 (New).

3rd January 62 22:08:08,61 Cygni, Hostile Ship Contact!  Contact ID: Serpent 031 (New), Class ID: Serpent, Race ID: Greater Force of Darkness, TCS 120  Thermal: 960 (New).

 
3rd January 62 22:28:08,61 Cygni, Active Sensor Contact!  Contact ID: Tiamat 020, Class ID: Tiamat, Race ID: Greater Force of Darkness, Shield Strength 750  Active Sensor S288/R100 (New)

3rd January 62 22:28:08,61 Cygni, Active Sensor Contact!  Contact ID: Hextor 050, Class ID: Hextor, Race ID: Greater Force of Darkness, Shield Strength 1500  Active Sensor S288/R4 (New)  Active Sensor S576/R100 (New)

3rd January 62 22:28:08,61 Cygni, Active Sensor Contact!  Contact ID: Hextor 052, Class ID: Hextor, Race ID: Greater Force of Darkness, Shield Strength 1500  Active Sensor S288/R4 (New)  Active Sensor S576/R100 (New)


Three Hextor class dreadnoughts accompanied by three Tiamat class cruisers appeared at the wormhole, escorting a single Serpent survey vessel. The shrill of alarms echoed aboard ships and PDC alike. The PDC squadrons were sadly depleted with the Red Devils squadron having been completely wiped out. However, the Battle Groups were concentrated this time to more than make up for the short fall. As the squadrons launched there was the inevitable SNAFU. A-7B Firestorm 014 of the Black Falcons squadron based on the CVJ Vanguard had just launched when her engine self-destructed. The squadron commander was all for waiting until it was recovered, but eventually had to abandon the unfortunate attack craft as the carriers moved away at flank speed*. The PDC squadrons were also delayed as they cleared atmosphere, traffic control holding them until the fleet had cleared Terra Nova orbit.  However the fleet carrier squadrons, The Eagles (40 A-7Bs) and Rooster-Tails (40 A-7Bs) with the assault squadrons Diamondbacks (20 A-7Cs, 4 RA-8As), Eyes of the Eagle (20 A-7Cs, 4 RA-8As) and Sundowners (20 A-7Cs, 4 RA-8As) boosted to intercept the alien vessels. The Black Falcons (19 A-7Bs) out of the CVJ Vanguard and the Diamond Cutters (11 A-7Bs) from the Terra Nova Hanger formed a second wave with the eleven surviving A-7As of the Yellowjackets trailing them.
*Firestorm A-7B 014 was recovered after the engagement and successfully repaired.

It occurred to Commodore Hughes that Salvor Group may be the first target of the advancing enemy rather than the active sensor of the Sentry, as the former were reckoned to be within the active scan range of the Darkness fleet. Thus Commodore Hughes ordered the combined Battle Groups to close the enemy and so shorten the flight time of the carrier squadrons for re-arming and subsequent strikes.

4th January 62, 04:35. 61 Cygni.
The crew of A-7C Firestorm 018 was shocked as intense bursts of light surrounded the attack fighter as 32 plasma torpedoes burst around it. But the GFD torpedoes were at the end of their run and the only damage was scorched paintwork.

04:35:08
The leading squadrons closed on the alien fleet, which was loosely arranged in three groups, the dreadnoughts Hextor 52 and 54 leading the main body of a further dreadnought, Hextor 050, and three cruisers, Tiamat 020, 022 and 024 followed by the lone survey vessel, Serpent 031. Three minutes later A-7B 061 was the subject of the enemy’s light show.  The A-7Cs of the Eyes of the Eagle squadron managed to lock-on to their target, Tiamat 020, and the squadron commander, Captain Ellis Bartlett, (recently transferred from a CVJ squadron) initiated the firing sequence. As the missiles left their rails a call from his illuminator section reminded Captain Bartlett that the RA-8As fire control did not have the range of the A-7Cs. He initially decided that the RA-8As should press on alone. There then followed an acerbic exchange with the Wing Commander, Captain Reece Rhodes,  who eventually ruled it was unsafe for the RA-8As to continue on approach unsupported and they should return to the carrier and rejoin their squadron. The remaining assault squadrons waited holding their fire until the A-7Bs of the fleet carrier squadrons could achieve a lock-on. Then the real fight began as A-7B Firestorm 062 of the Rooster-Tails ceased to exist as sixteen strength-3 torpedoes found her. She was followed into oblivion by A-7B Firestorm 063. Then with the warble of a successful target lock in their headsets the four squadrons commenced launching their Rapiers. The squadrons did not manage time on target synchronisation but each squadron managed to concentrate its salvo for maximum effect with only twenty seconds between the first and last salvo. But the enemy fire did not slacken and Firestorms A-7B 061 and A-7C 028 were destroyed as they tried to escape, both overwhelmed by massive torpedo salvos that would have taxed any League vessel to the death.

04:45:28
The Eyes of the Eagle squadron’s salvo reached its target, the next five seconds would decide Captain Bartlett’s future career prospects. Space erupted as the sixteen kiloton warheads burst, Tiamat 020’s shield showed signs of failing, black blotches spreading over it. The vessel was rent by a massive internal explosion and it became a loosely associated collection of debris. There had been only a handful of missiles lost to point defence, the Eye of the Eagle’s early launch had paid dividends, Captain Bartlett’s career was safe until the next cock-up.
A minute later the lead dreadnoughts were attacked as the missile storm broke over them, 760 SIM-5 Rapiers bent on their destruction. Many were lost to point defence fire, but even more took their place, less than a tenth of the total being destroyed. Shields failed, armour boiled off causing great clouds of vaporised material to surround each vessel like a nimbus as warheads burst in contact with the very hulls. The end surely could not be long delayed, and seconds later as nuclear fire consumed the internal mechanisms of the great ships each was riven by stupendous internal explosions (strength 750). Unlike the previous engagement these dreadnoughts had proved remarkably easy to kill, and internal explosions continued to rip them apart. The squadrons had thought themselves safe once they turned for home but then six strength-2 torpedoes homed in on A-7B Firestorm 021 and snuffed it out like a candle flame.
It had taken 427 Rapiers to destroy two dreadnoughts. This left 274 SIM-5 Rapiers still looking for a target. The seeker heads in these weapons though expensive were simplistic in the extreme and the just homed in on the hottest object within 144,000 kilometres. That object happened to be Hextor 050. This time the expense was to be fully vindicated as the remains of the storm blew itself out crashing over Hextor 050. A nuclear powered maelstrom enveloped the dreadnought. The vessel tried in vain to stem the tide with point defence fire as the missiles made their final attack run, but there were just too many targets. Eighteen perished but there were more than sufficient to bring the dreadnought’s shield down and once more armour vaporised and internal components fused until another massive internal detonation split the vast hull, and there were still 69 Rapiers looking for a target.
The alien cruisers tried to take out the remaining missiles, but 54 succeeded in homing onto Tiamat 024 bursting around the vessel, although without visible effect the hope was that the cruiser’s armour had at least  been weakened.

05:17
The Black Falcons (19 A-7Bs) and the Diamond Cutters (11 A-7Bs) now made their attack run. The two squadrons were going to attempt a double kill not withstanding the fact that the Diamond Cutters had only SIM-4 Rapiers with eleven kiloton warheads. By 05:24 the missiles were away without loss. However the attempt failed, both cruisers surviving, but Tiamat 022 was now only capable of 6250 k/s and both cruisers were losing atmosphere.
Then it was the turn of the Yellowjackets squadron (11 A-7As). They targeted Tiamat 024 in an effort to slow it down. All missiles were released without loss by 06:52, the squadron retiring safely. Five minutes later Tiamat 024 was hit by 54 SIM-4 Rapiers, but although it lost atmosphere it did not slow down.
Commodore Hughes was well aware by this stage that the outcome of the Second Battle of 61 Cygni was not in doubt, her missile frigates could take care of the remaining cruisers handily if required.

08:29:59
Eyes of the Eagle and Diamondbacks launched from the CVJAs Canopus and Altair to finish off the two damaged cruisers. At 09:33 Eyes of the Eagle squadron loosed its missiles at Tiamat 024 to find it required but thirty missiles to destroy big warship.  The Diamondbacks pressed on to their target, Tiamat 022. At 09:55 the first section of the Diamondbacks, nine A-7Cs, launched against it. The enemy vessel was wreathed in nuclear fire that burnt the abomination, removing it as a threat to all League citizens in 61 Cygni. For the cost of five attack fighters an enemy fleet had been utterly destroyed.

10:00
Afridi, Cossack and Zulu were detached from Battle Group #1 to hunt down Serpent 031. The escorts eventually closed to point blank and devastated their target in a mere four salvos, taking all of twenty seconds. All were much impressed with the 15cm lasers.
Commodore Hughes was well pleased with the days work and joined in the hymns at the thanksgiving service with gusto. Shore leave was authorised on return to Terra Nova for a quarter of the ships company at a time.

7th March 62. 61 Cygni.
The Eye once again changed position, moving closer to the A component of 61 Cygni at 309.5 million kilometres and returning to Sector 7.  All shore leave was cancelled, all ships ordered to top off missile stores and be ready to boost at a minutes notice.
 
22nd March 62. 61Cygni.
The wormhole moved once again. To its most threatening position yet just outside of the orbit of 61 Cygni-A V in Sector 6 and only 150 million kilometres from 61 Cygni-A, which at Terra Nova’s closest approach would put it a mere 49 million kilometres from the planet.
 
 
Annex A

 
Appendix A – Ships of the Terran League.

Code: [Select]
Star class Assault Jump Carrier    27,500 tons     2151 Crew     10099.2 BP      TCS 550  TH 1451.52  EM 2160
10996 km/s    JR 5-500     Armour 3-81     Shields 72-300     Sensors 54/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 80     PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 151%    IFR: 2.1%    Maint Capacity 10181 MSP    Max Repair 1444 MSP    Est Time: 2.55 Years
Hangar Deck Capacity 6000 tons     Magazine 540   

J27500(5-500) Military Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 27500 tons    Distance 500k km     Squadron Size 5
Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (36)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 450,000 Litres    Range 53.6 billion km   (56 days at full power)
Theta R300/20 Shields (18)   Total Fuel Cost  360 Litres per day

CIWS-320 (3x10)    Range 1000 km     TS: 32000 km/s     ROF 5       Base 50% To Hit
SIM-5 Rapier (180)  Speed: 46,900 km/s   End: 8.6m    Range: 24.2m km   WH: 16    Size: 3    TH: 516 / 309 / 154

Active Search Sensor MR193-R20 (1)     GPS 4800     Range 193.2m km    Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH3-54 (1)     Sensitivity 54     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  54m km

ECM 40

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

Strike Group
20x A-7C Firestorm Fighter  Speed: 20200 km/s    Size: 5
4x RA-8A Vigilante class Fighter Speed: 20200 km/s    Size: 5


This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Canopus, Altair, Rigel.

Code: [Select]
Agincourt Mk IV class Carrier    27,500 tons     1730 Crew     9159.6 BP      TCS 550  TH 1572.48  EM 1560
11912 km/s     Armour 1-81     Shields 52-300     Sensors 54/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 58     PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 336%    IFR: 4.7%    Maint Capacity 4747 MSP    Max Repair 240 MSP    Est Time: 2.96 Years
Hangar Deck Capacity 10000 tons     Magazine 726   

Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (39)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 595,000 Litres    Range 70.8 billion km   (68 days at full power)
Theta R300/20 Shields (13)   Total Fuel Cost  260 Litres per day

CIWS-320 (3x10)    Range 1000 km     TS: 32000 km/s     ROF 5       Base 50% To Hit
SIM-5 Rapier (242)  Speed: 46,900 km/s   End: 8.6m    Range: 24.2m km   WH: 16    Size: 3    TH: 516 / 309 / 154

Active Search Sensor MR193-R20 (1)     GPS 4800     Range 193.2m km    Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH3-54 (1)     Sensitivity 54     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  54m km

ECM 40

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

Strike Group
40x A-7B Firestorm Fighter  Speed: 20200 km/s    Size: 5

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Agincourt, Aisne, Armada, Anzio, Austerlitz, Waterloo.

Code: [Select]
Vanguard Mk IV class Jump Carrier    27,500 tons     2218 Crew     10536.2 BP      TCS 550  TH 1572.48  EM 2280
11912 km/s    JR 5-500     Armour 3-81     Shields 76-300     Sensors 54/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 81     PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 147%    IFR: 2%    Maint Capacity 10818 MSP    Max Repair 1444 MSP    Est Time: 2.69 Years
Hangar Deck Capacity 5000 tons     Magazine 540   

J27500(5-500) Military Jump Drive     Max Ship Size 27500 tons    Distance 500k km     Squadron Size 5
Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (39)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 505,000 Litres    Range 60.1 billion km   (58 days at full power)
Theta R300/20 Shields (19)   Total Fuel Cost  380 Litres per day

CIWS-320 (3x10)    Range 1000 km     TS: 32000 km/s     ROF 5       Base 50% To Hit
SIM-5 Rapier (180)  Speed: 46,900 km/s   End: 8.6m    Range: 24.2m km   WH: 16    Size: 3    TH: 516 / 309 / 154

Active Search Sensor MR193-R20 (1)     GPS 4800     Range 193.2m km    Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH3-54 (1)     Sensitivity 54     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  54m km

ECM 40

Strike Group
20x A-7B Firestorm Fighter  Speed: 20200 km/s    Size: 5


Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Vanguard, Swiftsure, Warspite.

Code: [Select]
Resolution Mk IV class Scout    10,000 tons     991 Crew     5985.2 BP      TCS 200  TH 564.48  EM 1080
11760 km/s     Armour 3-41     Shields 36-300     Sensors 54/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 31     PPV 12
Annual Failure Rate: 72%    IFR: 1%    Maint Capacity 6115 MSP    Max Repair 2400 MSP    Est Time: 2.17 Years

Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (14)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 165,000 Litres    Range 54.0 billion km   (53 days at full power)
Theta R300/20 Shields (9)   Total Fuel Cost  180 Litres per day

Twin 15cm C6 X-Ray Laser Turret (1x2)    Range 192,000km     TS: 40000 km/s     Power 12-12     RM 7    ROF 5        6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 4 4
Fire Control S12 96-16000 (1)    Max Range: 192,000 km   TS: 16000 km/s     95 90 84 79 74 69 64 58 53 48
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (1)     Total Power Output 1.6    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (1)     Total Power Output 3.2    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (1)     Total Power Output 8    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Active Search Sensor MR4320-R100 (1)     GPS 240000     Range 4,320.0m km    Resolution 100
Active Search Sensor MR8-R1 (1)     GPS 48     Range 8.6m km    Resolution 1
Thermal Sensor TH3-54 (1)     Sensitivity 54     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  54m km

ECM 50

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Resolution, Searcher, Sentinel.

Code: [Select]
Resolution Mk V class Scout    10,000 tons     1028 Crew     6843.8 BP      TCS 200  TH 564.48  EM 1920
11760 km/s     Armour 5-41     Shields 64-240     Sensors 54/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 36     PPV 12
Annual Failure Rate: 50%    IFR: 0.7%    Maint Capacity 6844 MSP    Max Repair 2160 MSP    Est Time: 3.08 Years

Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (14)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 160,000 Litres    Range 52.4 billion km   (51 days at full power)
Theta R240/16 Shields (16)   Total Fuel Cost  256 Litres per day

Twin 15cm C6 X-Ray Laser Turret (1x2)    Range 420,000km     TS: 40000 km/s     Power 12-12     RM 7    ROF 5        6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 4 4
Fire Control S12 225-32000 (1)    Max Range: 450,000 km   TS: 32000 km/s     98 96 93 91 89 87 84 82 80 78
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (1)     Total Power Output 8    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (1)     Total Power Output 3.2    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (1)     Total Power Output 1.6    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Active Search Sensor MR5052-R95 (1)     GPS 205200     Range 5,052.7m km    Resolution 95
Active Search Sensor MR8-R1 (1)     GPS 48     Range 8.6m km    Resolution 1
Thermal Sensor TH3-54 (1)     Sensitivity 54     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  54m km

ECM 50

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Sentry, Guardian, Watchman.

Code: [Select]
Tribal Mk IV class Escort    10,650 tons     1076 Crew     7198.4 BP      TCS 213  TH 604.8  EM 1080
11830 km/s     Armour 3-43     Shields 36-300     Sensors 54/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 27     PPV 38
Annual Failure Rate: 129%    IFR: 1.8%    Maint Capacity 2957 MSP    Max Repair 1080 MSP    Est Time: 1.56 Years
Magazine 344   

Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (15)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 165,000 Litres    Range 50.7 billion km   (49 days at full power)
Theta R300/20 Shields (9)   Total Fuel Cost  180 Litres per day

Twin 15cm C6 X-Ray Laser Turret (1x2)    Range 420,000km     TS: 40000 km/s     Power 12-12     RM 7    ROF 5        6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 4 4
Twin 10cm C3 X-Ray Laser Turret (2x2)    Range 210,000km     TS: 40000 km/s     Power 6-6     RM 7    ROF 5        3 3 3 3 3 3 3 2 2 2
Fire Control S12 225-32000 (3)    Max Range: 450,000 km   TS: 32000 km/s     98 96 93 91 89 87 84 82 80 78
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (3)     Total Power Output 24    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Size 1 Missile Launcher (8)    Missile Size 1    Rate of Fire 5
Missile Fire Control FC7-R1 (2)     Range 7.8m km    Resolution 1
AMM-4 Dagger (344)  Speed: 49,700 km/s   End: 3.2m    Range: 9.7m km   WH: 1    Size: 1    TH: 1010 / 606 / 303

Active Search Sensor MR8-R1 (1)     GPS 48     Range 8.6m km    Resolution 1
Active Search Sensor MR77-R20 (1)     GPS 1920     Range 77.3m km    Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH3-54 (1)     Sensitivity 54     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  54m km

ECM 30

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Afghan, Amazon, Amerind, Afridi, Cossack, Ghurkha, Mohawk, Tartar, Zulu.

Code: [Select]
Victory Mk V class Missile Frigate    10,000 tons     625 Crew     4056.6 BP      TCS 200  TH 564.48  EM 1800
11760 km/s     Armour 4-41     Shields 60-300     Sensors 54/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 25     PPV 69
Annual Failure Rate: 160%    IFR: 2.2%    Maint Capacity 1268 MSP    Max Repair 168 MSP    Est Time: 2.57 Years
Magazine 460   

Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (14)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 210,000 Litres    Range 68.7 billion km   (67 days at full power)
Theta R300/20 Shields (15)   Total Fuel Cost  300 Litres per day

Size 4 Box Launcher (115)    Missile Size 4    Hangar Reload 30 minutes    MF Reload 5 hours
Missile Fire Control FC115-R20 (3)     Range 115.9m km    Resolution 20
SIM-4 Javelin (115)  Speed: 46,900 km/s   End: 27.8m    Range: 78.3m km   WH: 11    Size: 4    TH: 375 / 225 / 112

Active Search Sensor MR115-R20 (1)     GPS 2880     Range 115.9m km    Resolution 20
Thermal Sensor TH3-54 (1)     Sensitivity 54     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  54m km

ECCM-5 (3)         ECM 40

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Black Prince, Bonadventure, Defence, Destroyer, Diadem, Leopard, Lion, Lynx, Minotaur, Superb, Tiger, Warrior.


Code: [Select]
Fort Mk II class Collier    12,500 tons     761 Crew     3983.3 BP      TCS 250  TH 604.8  EM 1200
10080 km/s     Armour 3-47     Shields 40-300     Sensors 18/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 27     PPV 0
Annual Failure Rate: 178%    IFR: 2.5%    Maint Capacity 1394 MSP    Max Repair 168 MSP    Est Time: 2.55 Years
Magazine 2016   

Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E5.5 Military (15)    Power 168    Fuel Use 55%    Signature 40.32    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 205,000 Litres    Range 53.7 billion km   (61 days at full power)
Theta R300/20 Shields (10)   Total Fuel Cost  200 Litres per day

CIWS-320 (2x10)    Range 1000 km     TS: 32000 km/s     ROF 5       Base 50% To Hit
Active Search Sensor MR86-R100 (1)     GPS 4800     Range 86.4m km    Resolution 100
Thermal Sensor TH1-18 (1)     Sensitivity 18     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  18m km

ECM 30

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Fort Purbrook, Fort Sumner, Fort Widley, Fort Worth, Fort Victoria.

Code: [Select]
Nordmark Mk V class Support Vessel    12,500 tons     369 Crew     2165.6 BP      TCS 250  TH 705.6  EM 0
11760 km/s     Armour 1-47     Shields 0-0     Sensors 18/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
Maint Capacity 4108 MSP    Max Repair 210 MSP

Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E0.55 Commercial (7)    Power 420    Fuel Use 5.5%    Signature 100.8    Armour 0    Exp 1%
Fuel Capacity 2,335,000 Litres    Range 6113.5 billion km   (6016 days at full power)

Active Search Sensor MR86-R100 (1)     GPS 4800     Range 86.4m km    Resolution 100
Thermal Sensor TH1-18 (1)     Sensitivity 18     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  18m km

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes
Ships in class: Altmark, Neumark, Nordmark, Ostmark, Sudmark,Westmark.


Code: [Select]
Salvor Mk II class Salvager    54,900 tons     667 Crew     3727.5 BP      TCS 1098  TH 1512  EM 0
5737 km/s     Armour 1-128     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 1     PPV 0
Maint Capacity 42 MSP    Max Repair 250 MSP
Cargo 25000    Cargo Handling Multiplier 10   
Salvager: 1 module(s) capable of salvaging 1000 tons per day

Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E0.55 Commercial (15)    Power 420    Fuel Use 5.5%    Signature 100.8    Armour 0    Exp 1%
Fuel Capacity 285,000 Litres    Range 169.9 billion km   (342 days at full power)

This design is classed as a Commercial Vessel for maintenance purposes

 
Appendix B – Attack Craft of The Terran League.

Code: [Select]
A-7A Firestorm class Fighter    250 tons     4 Crew     74.4 BP      TCS 5  TH 18  EM 0
15000 km/s     Armour 1-3     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 2.7
Annual Failure Rate: 5%    IFR: 0.1%    Maint Capacity 19 MSP    Max Repair 25 MSP    Est Time: 5.03 Years
Magazine 18   

FTR Magnetic Confinement Fusion Drive E500 (1)    Power 75    Fuel Use 5000%    Signature 18    Armour 0    Exp 25%
Fuel Capacity 30,000 Litres    Range 4.3 billion km   (3 days at full power)

Size 3 Box Launcher (6)    Missile Size 3    Hangar Reload 22.5 minutes    MF Reload 3.7 hours
Missile Fire Control FC34-R20 (1)     Range 34.8m km    Resolution 20
SIM-2 Rapier (6)  Speed: 34,700 km/s   End: 12m    Range: 25m km   WH: 9    Size: 3    TH: 219 / 131 / 65

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes
Note SIM-2 Rapier was never produced.

Code: [Select]
A-7B Firestorm class Fighter    250 tons     4 Crew     83.4 BP      TCS 5  TH 24.24  EM 0
20200 km/s     Armour 1-3     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 2.7
Annual Failure Rate: 5%    IFR: 0.1%    Maint Capacity 21 MSP    Max Repair 34 MSP    Est Time: 4.47 Years
Magazine 18   

FTR Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E550 (1)    Power 100.8    Fuel Use 5500%    Signature 24.192    Armour 0    Exp 35%
Fuel Capacity 30,000 Litres    Range 3.9 billion km   (54 hours at full power)

Size 3 Box Launcher (6)    Missile Size 3    Hangar Reload 22.5 minutes    MF Reload 3.7 hours
Missile Fire Control FC34-R20 (1)     Range 34.8m km    Resolution 20
SIM-5 Rapier (6)  Speed: 46,900 km/s   End: 8.6m    Range: 24.2m km   WH: 16    Size: 3    TH: 516 / 309 / 154

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes

Code: [Select]
A-7C Firestorm class Fighter    250 tons     4 Crew     87 BP      TCS 5  TH 24.24  EM 0
20200 km/s     Armour 1-3     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 2.7
Annual Failure Rate: 5%    IFR: 0.1%    Maint Capacity 22 MSP    Max Repair 34 MSP    Est Time: 4.59 Years
Magazine 18   

FTR Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E550 (1)    Power 100.8    Fuel Use 5500%    Signature 24.192    Armour 0    Exp 35%
Fuel Capacity 25,000 Litres    Range 3.3 billion km   (45 hours at full power)

Size 3 Box Launcher (6)    Missile Size 3    Hangar Reload 22.5 minutes    MF Reload 3.7 hours
Missile Fire Control FC46-R20 (1)     Range 46.4m km    Resolution 20
SIM-5 Rapier (6)  Speed: 46,900 km/s   End: 8.6m    Range: 24.2m km   WH: 16    Size: 3    TH: 516 / 309 / 154

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes

Code: [Select]
RA-8A Vigilante class Fighter    250 tons     5 Crew     123.1 BP      TCS 5  TH 24.24  EM 0
20200 km/s     Armour 1-3     Shields 0-0     Sensors 1/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 0     PPV 1.8
Annual Failure Rate: 5%    IFR: 0.1%    Maint Capacity 31 MSP    Max Repair 48 MSP    Est Time: 4.58 Years
Magazine 12   

FTR Inertial Confinement Fusion Drive E550 (1)    Power 100.8    Fuel Use 5500%    Signature 24.192    Armour 0    Exp 35%
Fuel Capacity 25,000 Litres    Range 3.3 billion km   (45 hours at full power)

Size 3 Box Launcher (4)    Missile Size 3    Hangar Reload 22.5 minutes    MF Reload 3.7 hours
Missile Fire Control FC34-R20 (1)     Range 34.8m km    Resolution 20
SIM-5 Rapier (4)  Speed: 46,900 km/s   End: 8.6m    Range: 24.2m km   WH: 16    Size: 3    TH: 516 / 309 / 154

Active Search Sensor MR38-R20 (1)     GPS 960     Range 38.6m km    Resolution 20

Missile to hit chances are vs targets moving at 3000 km/s, 5000 km/s and 10,000 km/s

This design is classed as a Fighter for production, combat and maintenance purposes




Appendix C – Missiles of The Terran League. {/b]


Code: [Select]
SIM-4 Rapier
Missile Size: 3 MSP  (0.15 HS)     Warhead: 11    Armour: 0     Manoeuvre Rating: 28
Speed: 45,800 km/s    Endurance: 9.6 minutes   Range: 26.4m km
Thermal Sensor Strength: 0.1085    Detect Sig Strength 1000:  70,000 km
Cost Per Missile: 5.6002
Chance to Hit:   3k km/s 427%   5k km/s 256%   10k km/s 128%

Code: [Select]
SIM-5 Rapier
Missile Size: 3 MSP  (0.15 HS)     Warhead: 16    Armour: 0     Manoeuvre Rating: 33
Speed: 46,900 km/s    Endurance: 11 minutes   Range: 30.2m km
Thermal Sensor Strength: 0.144    Detect Sig Strength 1000:  144,000 km
Cost Per Missile: 7.0657
Chance to Hit:  3k km/s 495%   5k km/s 309.5%   10k km/s 154.8%

Code: [Select]
SIM-4 Javelin
Missile Size: 4 MSP  (0.2 HS)     Warhead: 11    Armour: 0     Manoeuvre Rating: 24
Speed: 46,900 km/s    Endurance: 27.8 minutes   Range: 78.3m km
Thermal Sensor Strength: 0.1085    Detect Sig Strength 1000:  70,000 km
Cost Per Missile: 6.295
Chance to Hit: 3k km/s 375%   5k km/s 225%   10k km/s 112%

Code: [Select]
AMM-4 Dagger
Missile Size: 1 MSP  (0.05 HS)     Warhead: 1    Armour: 0     Manoeuvre Rating: 61
Speed: 49,700 km/s    Endurance: 3.2 minutes   Range: 9.7m km
Thermal Sensor Strength: 0.056    Detect Sig Strength 1000:  40,000 km
Cost Per Missile: 2.4102
Chance to Hit: 3k km/s 1010%   5k km/s 606%   10k km/s 303%


IanD
 

Offline IanD

  • Moderator
  • Commodore
  • *****
  • Posts: 615
  • Thanked: 8 times
Re: The Battles for 61 Cygni
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2011, 10:00:16 AM »
WARNING SPOILERS WITHIN!!

The Annals of the Terran Defence League IV.

 
The 61 Cygni Incursions: A Skirmish in 61 Cygni.


April 62. Sol.

The chancellor could not help rubbing his hands together, when he heard of the recent victory in 61 Cygni, the destruction of another three Hextor class dreadnoughts meant three more wrecks to salvage, yielding up to 1400 billion per wreck when the salvaged drive units were sold off for scrap. This windfall income would provide a useful addition as the reserves rebuilt after the recent rush of construction. While the chancellor did not want to tempt providence, a few more victories like that would do the League economy no end of good.

September 63.  Sol.

The chancellor stared at the spreadsheet before him. If it hadn’t been blasphemous he would have prayed for another incursion by the Greater Darkness. But while the Eye of the Enemy had moved around no new incursion had been forthcoming in 61 Cygni.

The salvage of the enemy dreadnoughts had been all that had provided the economic boost to the economy enabling the increase in the carrier fleet. The scrappage value of the fusion engines had comfortably kept the economy afloat. Reserves were now down to 3000 billion and falling fast with the retooling of the Northrop Grumman ‘Yard for the Sword class beam combatants and the addition of new construction bays to the Bethlehem Fairfield ‘Yard to expedite reconstruction and expansion of the troop transport fleet, not to mention the replacement of the fighter complement of the fleet carriers.  There was no alternative but to suspend the construction of additional bays at the Bethlehem Fairfield ‘Yard, which would give a small surplus until the financial stimulus package finally kicked in, about October 65, two years away. Until then it was financial stringency all the way. He had to deliver a presentation to the War Cabinet in December and it was not going to make happy reading. The last chancellor to deliver such a depressing statement did not long survive in office.

Vice Admiral Mitchell Farmer, CIC Navy, was conducted into a laboratory filled with a cacophony of noise, the gabbling of geese, the whistling of whales, the chattering of sparrows and the stridulations of insects as well as supersonic and subsonic harmonics that were felt rather than heard. Chief weapons scientist Professor Cameron Flynn began his explanation. “Professor Elsie Curtis inspecting the wreckage from a Darkness dreadnought had this idea that this piece of flotsam might be a communications system of some kind, but what it appears to be was a means of eavesdropping on just about every sentient race in the Galaxy! We can’t interpret any yet but we think we are making some little progress. However that’s not what you wanted to see. Here are the specs for the Weapon class warship utilizing the systems recovered from the Greater Darkness wrecks” he said as he led the admiral into a room beyond the noise filled laboratory. Within was a smart screen occupying almost the whole wall with the schematics of a hybrid League/Darkness warship displayed on it.

Weapon class Strike Cruiser    27,500 tons     2716 Crew     12280.1 BP      TCS 550  TH 907.2  EM 3840
10309 km/s     Armour 10-81     Shields 128-240     Sensors 54/1/0/0     Damage Control Rating 53     PPV 250
Annual Failure Rate: 183%    IFR: 2.5%    Maint Capacity 9210 MSP    Max Repair 1080 MSP    Est Time: 2.55 Years

SCAM Military Drive E4.4  (27)    Power 210    Fuel Use 44%    Signature 33.6    Armour 0    Exp 7%
Fuel Capacity 315,000 Litres    Range 46.9 billion km   (52 days at full power)
Theta R240/16 Shields (32)   Total Fuel Cost  512 Litres per day

Triple 15cm C6 X-Ray Laser Turret (1x3)    Range 420,000km     TS: 40000 km/s     Power 18-18     RM 7    ROF 5        6 6 6 6 6 6 6 5 4 4
Fire Control S12 225-32000 (1)    Max Range: 450,000 km   TS: 32000 km/s     98 96 93 91 89 87 84 82 80 78
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (1)     Total Power Output 3.2    Armour 0    Exp 5%
Solid-core Anti-matter Power Plant Technology PB-1 AR-0 (1)     Total Power Output 16    Armour 0    Exp 5%

Size 4 Plasma Torpedo (10)     Warhead 4     Speed 80,000 km/s     Max Range 2.8m km     Rate of Fire 25 seconds
Size 32 Plasma Torpedo (6)     Warhead 32     Speed 80,000 km/s     Max Range 22.4m km     Rate of Fire 195 seconds
Anti-Fighter Tracking System (2)     Range 138.2m km    Resolution 4
AM Torp Fire Control (2)     Range 34.6m km    Resolution 1


Active Search Sensor MR193-R20 (1)     GPS 4800     Range 193.2m km    Resolution 20
Active Search Sensor MR8-R1 (1)     GPS 48     Range 8.6m km    Resolution 1
Thermal Sensor TH3-54 (1)     Sensitivity 54     Detect Sig Strength 1000:  54m km

Compact ECCM-5 (3)     ECCM-6 (2)         ECM 60

This design is classed as a Military Vessel for maintenance purposes

“We have enough recovered plasma torpedo launchers and fire controls to equip about five of these cruisers. The rate of fire of the big launchers stinks, but it’s made up for by the small ones. It’s also marginally faster than the Darkness’s main combat ships and outranges the lasers on the Sword class; all we need now is the blessing of the Church to build it using the salvaged components.” The Admiral replied “I will be seeing the Prelate this afternoon, it would certainly help bridge the gap between fighter launched missiles and the Sword class beam combatants which won’t come out of the bays until the first quarter of 66. However it will be the chancellor who has the final say and that’s unlikely to be before the Deschelde ‘Yard has completed retooling for the Vanguard Mk V jump carrier.” 

The Palace stood in what had once been Southern England; the Palace was old, not just the few hundred years, since His Coming but really old. The former UK had fallen far down the league of nations by the time of the Final War, more or less toothless, nothing much of strategic interest to anyone. Probably less than a dozen warheads had fallen on the country, Scotland had suffered at least six big missile strikes and had been almost depopulated thanks to its strategically valuable position, but there were areas of England that had escaped, it had no longer been a threat to anyone. However mainland Europe, India, China, Brazil, Russia and North America had been really hammered, and after all the nuclear winter and residual radiation drifting over from Europe would have eventually taken care of any lingering problems, and they had killed millions. When He Returned it was to one of the more untouched areas of the planet, and an easy starting point for planetary reclamation. Within the Palace grounds there is reputed to be the imprint of His Feet burnt into the soil in a glassed area about two metres square. As a direct result of His initial manifestation in the British Isles, Albion was now the administration centre of the League.

The Prelate considered the question as Vice Admiral Farmer sipped his cup of black tea contemplating the caffeine rich beverage as he sat on the edge of a comfortable armchair facing the Prelate who sat in a similar chair in a small cosy drawing room, there was a log fire already burning in the grate to keep off the autumn chill. It had been a time of celebration when tea bushes had been found unharmed by the Final War, camomile or blackberry leaf tea could finally be consigned to the history books – vile stuff! Tea was still expensive, large areas where it used to grow still unfit due to glassed soil or changed weather patterns in addition to a lack of field hands to harvest it. The Prelate of course had only the best quality tea, specially grown on one of the Church Estates, one of the small pleasures of an audience with his Holiness. The Prelate broke the silence.
“My son, recount what has happened with other recovered salvage from the wrecks of the abomination?”
Admiral Farmer replied. “Your Holiness, we have scrapped material we had no use for, such as the drive units which our science now handily surpasses, this has provided a means of financing the expanding fleet. Other pieces we have dismantled and used to advance our knowledge of the Enemy and his systems the better to combat him and improve our own weapons.”
“It is good that the Darkness provides the means to defeat itself, and it is written in His scripture: ‘Strength becomes the righteous, make your enemies strength your own, they care not for the poor.’ Thus I can see no wrong in using the Darkness’s own weapons against it; the Navy may use them with the blessing of the Church. I will issue a Church edict to that effect to the clergy to still any argument.”
Admiral Farmer’s face almost broke in to a quite smile. “Thank you your Holiness, It will provide a much needed capability for the fleet in our fight against the Darkness.” Inwardly, as he took his leave of the Prelate after a blessing, he knew that it was finance that would now decide when the vessels entered service.

October 63. Sol.

“Admiral Farmer how good of you to take time out of your busy schedule to discuss the funding of the Navy’s new ships” said the chancellor as he ushered the admiral into his spacious office. “Please sit down; my secretary will bring us tea shortly.” The pair had only just settled down when the secretary, a striking girl, came bustling in bearing a tray with a pot of tea , cups and three digestive biscuits. There then followed the tea pouring ceremony, “milk? Sugar? A biscuit?”  Ten minutes later the Admiral was able to begin outlining the Navy’s need for the new cruisers, to which predictably the chancellor replied “I would just love to provide funding for this project, but the economy is going through a bad patch and as you know the League is fully committed to the defence of Terra Nova and establishing colonies on Grace, Hard Scrabble and Junction to contemplate further capital expenditure. After all we have just funded five Sword class cruisers.” Farmer contemplated his tea for half-a-minute, (not a patch in the Prelate’s), and then started to speak. “ The Navy has several thousand Javelin SIM-1 missiles which have lain in storage for the past sixty years, they are completely obsolescent, and have as much utility as the old Rapier SIM-1 with a similar lack of ability to hit a target. I am led to believe that these missiles may serve the Navy better if scrapped, freeing up warehousing and yielding a significant cash return. I am prepared to release this ordnance if the Navy receives the lion’s share of the proceeds.” A light began to gleam in the chancellor’s eye “I think there is a way we can reach a mutually beneficial agreement” he said as he snaffled the last digestive.

December 63. Sol.

The chancellor was completing his delivery to the War Cabinet. “So the scrapping of the obsolete Javelin SIM-1 missiles has provided us with not only a mineral windfall and the finance to finish the refitting of the Wellington class troop transports but also complete the new construction bay at the Bethlehem Fairfield ‘Yard and the retooling of the BAE Systems ‘Yard for the new Weapon class cruiser ahead of  schedule.”  The Prime Minister of Earth, Ashley Franklin and the League President, one Nathan Hicks both made appreciative noises on receiving this unexpected news. It didn’t stop the industry minister trying to hijack some of the bonanza to fund much needed industrial expansion on Mars, but that was a calculation the chancellor had already factored in.

00:34, 4th June 64. 61 Cygni.
It had been over two years since the last incursion and the defences were the strongest ever. The Terra Nova PDC operated a squadron of 75 A-7B Firestorms each armed with six of the proven Rapier SIM-4 while the bulk of the Terran League Navy was in orbit. Task Group 2 and Task Group 3 lazily orbited Terra Nova over the nearly completed fleet maintenance base. Together they embarked another 200 A-7B Firestorms armed with the superlative Rapier SIM-5, only just supplanted by the latest SIM-6 version. 

Task Group 2
Agincourt Mk IV Fleet Carriers: Armada, Waterloo.
Vanguard Mk IV Jump Carrier: Warspite
Resolution Mk V Fleet Scout: Guardian.
Tribal Mk IV Escorts: Bedouin, Ghurkha, Mohawk, Tartar.
Victory Mk V Missile Frigates: Bonadventure, Diadem, Imperieuse, Leopard, Lion, Téméraire.                                   
Nordmark Mk V Fleet Tankers: Altmark, Westmark.
Fort Mk II Colliers: Fort George, Fort Purbrook.

Task Group 3
Agincourt Mk IV Fleet Carriers: Aisne, Austerlitz.
Vanguard Mk IV Jump Carrier: Swiftsure.
Resolution Mk V Fleet Scout: Watchman.
Tribal Mk IV Escorts: Afghan, Amazon, Amerind, Apache.
Victory Mk V Missile Frigates: Aurora, Black Prince, Defence, Destroyer, Warrior, Zealous.
Nordmark Mk V Fleet Tankers: Neumark, Sudmark.
Fort Mk II Colliers: Fort Sumner, Fort Widley.

The plan was to replace the two Task Groups currently on station with Task Group 1 which had an extra fleet carrier and embarked the latest A-7E Firestorms once the maintenance base was completed. However the completion of the base was delayed due to a lack of freighters, the civilian market not taking off and the little there was were refusing contracts which took them into a war zone. But another few weeks would see the end of it.  At the moment, however it was a dream posting, one Task Group on standby, the other stood down and a planet of 43 million grateful people to dote on the crews given planetside leave.

00:33, 4th June 64, 61 Cygni
Rear Admiral Cartwright was in his day cabin inspecting the readiness reports from Task Group 2, his Group having been unlucky to get the alter-day shift. The reports weren’t bad but what could you expect for a fleet that had been on station for eighteen months with no action, the crews were becoming complacent. Task Group 3 was not a lot better having been on station for over ten months. An unfamiliar sound echoed around the cabin. It took the Admiral a few seconds to place it; it was the call to action stations. Cartwright bolted out of his cabin into the operations centre just down the companionway and as he entered demanded “status!” The ensign at the sensor plot responded. “Darkness incursion, two vessels, positive ID; Serpent class scout vessels, sector 9 sir!” “No escort?” “No sir!” The information streamed across the screens surrounding the plot. Within the holotank two bright crimson dots were overlaid on the magenta dot of the wormhole.

4th June 64 00:34:19,61 Cygni, New Thermal Contact!  Contact ID: Serpent 033 (New), Class ID: Serpent, Race ID: Greater Force of Darkness, Strength 960
4th June 64 00:34:19,61 Cygni, New Thermal Contact!  Contact ID: Serpent 034 (New), Class ID: Serpent, Race ID: Greater Force of Darkness, Strength 960

4th June 64 00:34:19,61 Cygni, Two new ships of the Serpent class from the Greater Force of Darkness have been detected in 61 Cygni. Our intelligence service has designated the new ships as the Serpent 033 and Serpent 034.


The Admiral put both Task Groups fighter squadrons on alert although it would take time to recall those of Task Group 3’s fighter crews given planetside leave. He then detached the escorts Bedouin, Ghurkha, Mohawk and Tartar from Task Group 2 to intercept and destroy the enemy scouts.

00:00 5th June 64. 61 Cygni.
Rear Admiral Cartwright looked at the plot. The escorts were closing on the Darkness scouts, but the scouts had not moved off the wormhole. It was as if they were waiting for something. The Admiral hoped he had not just made a terrible mistake. But then as the Terran escorts drew near the enemy scouts scattered, with a pair of escorts in hot pursuit of each one. The experienced pairing of Mohawk and Tartar pursuing Serpent 034 while Ghurkha in company with the inexperienced Bedouin chased Serpent 033.

07:21
Mohawk and Tartar brought the first alien vessel to bay and within a minute with a dozen volleys of laser fire made a swift end of it.

08:33
Ghurkha and Bedouin finally ran down their quarry, but took over two-and-a-half minutes to destroy it largely due to the inexperience of Bedouin’s crew for whom this was their first real combat shoot.
Rear Admiral Cartwright stood down the Task Groups fighters, this time they were not required. He was satisfied that ship drills would be practised more assiduously from now on, at least for a while.

10th February 65. Sol, BAE Systems Corp ‘Yard Viewing Gallery.
Vice Admiral Farmer watched the prolate spheroid form of the large strike cruiser, as big as a fleet carrier, emerge from the construction bay. Thrusters dotted around the hull flared. Six large blisters interspersed with ten smaller ones marked the equatorial line, the snouts of the plasma torpedo launch tubes poking out. Towards the stern of the vessel was a ring encircling the hull where the drive units were located. With more strike cruisers ready to be laid down, the Sword class assault ships and new carrier production scheduled it was at last time for the League to start expanding once again, having finally recovered from the paralysis induced by the Greater Darkness incursions. Junction in DX Cancri would become a new fleet base and the five unexplored jump points in that system would start the expansion in early 66.

8th September 65. Sol.
The meeting was chaired by the League President Nathan Hicks, on his right was Ashley Franklin, Prime Minister of Earth, on his left was The Prelate himself. Further to Hicks right was Admiral of the Fleet Mitchell Farmer, CIC Navy. The rest of the space at the table was taken up by chief weapons scientist Professor Cameron Flynn and chief sensor scientist Professor Elsie Curtis,
“I would like to welcome you all and thank you for attending this meeting.” President Hicks said. “I would now like to introduce the League chief sensor scientist, who is known to most of you here and let her tell you of her recent discovery.”
“Thank you Mr President, I will make this presentation as brief as possible. We have all had wreckage of the Darkness warships to reverse engineer. An unpromising piece of wreckage turned up at my lab complex and was given to a bright young post doc to investigate. His initial findings indicated it was a communications intercept device which can pick up any communications routed through the jump gate network - anywhere. Fortunately for us our comms are all encoded, but sufficient computing power could still probably break into them. So my first recommendation is to increase the security of all interstellar communications.” Professor Curtis paused for breath “We have been able to pick up communications of several, say about two dozen or so other jump gate using races in our local galactic arm.” At this there were expressions of consternation, particularly from Admiral Farmer. Professor Curtis continued “we have managed to gain some understanding of one race we call the Dorfa Star Empire. We have decoded some pictures transmitted to an ally of an assailant that has attacked the Dorfa; the ships depicted are Darkness warships. They are being particularly hard pressed by the Darkness which has some nine cruisers in their home system. While they are holding out for now it can only be a matter of time before they fall. I have brought this to the attention of yourselves in case there is anything we, as a sentient species should do to help others afflicted by the Darkness?”
The first to speak was the Prelate “His guidance was to seek our allies carefully, but He did not categorically rule out helping other races, just that we should be careful in who we choose. There is so little to go on, just extra solar communications. Is there any cultural material?” Professor Curtis answered, “there is a limited amount of video we have managed to decode, but no mass communications, after all the League does not regularly use jump gate comms for much below the essential and urgent.” Prime Minister Franklin, a believer in the innate good of all sentients and if they’re fighting the Darkness they must be on our side school of thought, was next. “What can we do to aid them, anything? Is the Navy strong enough to go to their aid, where did you say they were, how do we find them?” Professor Cutis had to admit that while he was fairly certain of the location of the star system as the communications intercept device was to some extent directional and the most promising candidate star was 47 Arietis an F5-IV star, there was no indication of how many jumps they were from League space or in which direction.” Admiral Farmer interjected that’s in the constellation Aries, over a hundred light-years distant; it will be like looking for a needle in a haystack. More importantly while the Navy is capable of the mission it has other vital duties to perform such as maintaining the security of League space, particularly Sol and 61 Cygni. The re-equipping of the fleet carriers with the A-7E is still many months from completion and the assault ships and missile frigates intended for Task Group 4 which will operate in support of the exploration groups will not leave the ways until the end of February 66! I will not weaken the defence of Sol by stripping away the only other Task Group up to strength to go off on a wild goose chase!” President Hicks managed to calm things down and the discussion continued. The resulting conclusions from the meeting were not unexpected. Jump gate communications would henceforth start using the most complex ciphers. The Navy would not be rushing off to the alien’s rescue anytime soon. Next March was the earliest time a new jump point would be explored, still starting from DX Cancri. The Prelate would examine His Hidden Books in case there was anything relevant on those venerable tomes. Meanwhile research on the communications intercept device would continue and intercepts from the Dorfa Star Empire sent to President Hicks and Admiral Farmer.

11th September 65. Sol.
Admiral Farmer read the latest report forwarded from the Communications Intercept Service on the Dorfa Star Empire. Their defences were crumbling, their mobile fleet had been savaged and now the remaining six Darkness cruisers were engaging the orbital defences of the homeworld. It was the next few hours would decide the immediate fate of the Dorfa. The Dorfa seemed to be appealing for help to a neighbouring race, but it was one the CIS thought had gone silent some months previously.

12th September 65. Sol.
Admiral Farmer brought up the days in-tray on his monitor. There was amongst the routine correspondence such as the retooling of the BSEC  ‘Yard and Engineering Orbital for the new Mk III survey vessel, the scrapping of the old outdated Beagle Mk II survey craft, was another bulletin from the CIS. The Dorfa, against expectations, had managed to defeat the Darkness cruisers and save their homeworld. However the stay of execution may not be for long, two Darkness dreadnoughts had just entered the system.

17th September 65. Sol.
The note from CIS to Admiral Farmer was bleak.
CIS Intercept. Darkness Fleet in 47 Arietis now reinforced by four escorts and six frigates. Darkness fleet still enroute to Dorfa Prime from a distant jump point. Note no evidence of an “Eye” in system from intercepts, assault appears to be via normal jump point!

8th October 65. Sol.
Admiral Farmer read the latest report from the CIS. The Dorfa were down to their five orbital missile forts around Dorfa Prime facing a fleet of twelve Darkness warships. The end was inevitable but the messages going out were still defiant.

10th October 65. Sol.
The final CIS report made sombre reading. The Dorfa had started transmitting video in clear from an orbiting satellite showing plasma torpedoes from the Darkness fleet raining down on a blue planet, smashing cities, industrial centres and billions of sentient beings. Kilometre high towers crashed to the ground, factories and refineries turned into pools of molten slag as the planet was scoured of life. The transmission was cut off suddenly in mid-stream, nothing more was heard from the Dorfa. Another voice in the night silenced forever. It was easy to replace Dorfa Prime with an image of Earth in the minds eye and the fate that awaits it should the Navy fail to hold back the Darkness.
IanD
 

Offline IanD

  • Moderator
  • Commodore
  • *****
  • Posts: 615
  • Thanked: 8 times
Re: The Battles for 61 Cygni
« Reply #3 on: March 26, 2012, 08:55:06 AM »
WARNING SPOILERS WITHIN!!

The Annals of the Terran Defence League IV.


New Frontiers, Old Enemies.


3rd March 66. Sol.
Four task Groups broke orbit from Earth, setting out for DX Cancri, their mission was to investigate the unexplored jump points of DX Cancri. The long awaited expansion of the League was underway.

Task Group Canopus, Commodore Billy Vincent.
Assault Jump Carrier: Canopus, 20 A-7E, 4 RA-8B.
Escort: Sikh
Scout: Resolution
Strike Cruiser: Battleaxe, Crossbow.

Task Group Altair, Commodore William Parker.
Assault Jump Carrier: Altair, 20 A-7E, 4 RA-8B.
Escort:  Mashona
Scout: Sentinel
Strike Cruiser: Carbine, Grenade.

Task Group Rigel, Commodore Eleanor Cameron.
Assault Jump Carrier: Rigel, 20 A-7E, 4 RA-8B.
Escort: Nubian
Scout: Searcher
Assault Ship: Claymore, Foil.

Task Group 4, Commodore Emily Hughes.
Fleet Carrier: Armada, Waterloo, 80 A-7E.
Strike Cruiser: Warhammer.
Assault Ship: Broadsword, Cutlass, Falchion
Missile Frigate: Bellerophon, Dido, Euryalus, Neptune, Phoebe, Polyphemus
Tanker: Reichmark, Rentenmark
Colliers: Fort William Henry, Fort Victoria

14:28, 10th March 66. DX Cancri.
The assault jump carrier Altair was poised at jump point 2. This was the first unexplored jump point to be entered in over twenty years. Since nothing nasty or even anything at all had come out of the jump point in all that time the accepted view was there was nothing hostile on the other side, however just to be on the cautious side the Altair was accompanied by the escort Mashona, the scout Sentinel and the strike cruisers Carbine and Grenade. The jump engine on the Altair wound up and discharged, opening the jump point. The fleet moved forward as one, to emerge 200,000 kilometres from the jump point in a new system. Navigation were swiftly able to identify the star as Gamma-1 Caeli. A K2-III orange giant approximately 185 ly from Sol with four planets circling it. Gamma-1 Caeli-A III had a habitability index of 1.9, which made it a promising terraforming candidate.
At jump points #3 and #4 Task Groups Canopus and Rigel were performing the identical task.

Task Group Rigel found Psi Cassiopeiae, an orange K0-III Star 193.1 light-years from Earth. It had a well developed solar system, but no good terraforming prospects. After a fast pass on the inner system the Task Group headed back to DX Cancri and jump point 6.

Task Group Canopus located 2 Centauri, an M5-III red giant star with an extensive solar system. The jump point was just 30m k from the surface of the photosphere! But the system was vast, with a diameter of over 487 billion k. Task Group Canopus only had fuel to visit a few of the inner planets.

2 Centauri was the only system without wrecks present, Gamma-1 Caeli had one, Psi Cassiopeiae had four. Gamma-1 Caeli-A III was the only good terraforming prospect found so far.

14:30 21st March 66. Gamma-1 Caeli.
Task Group Altair entered orbit around Gamma-1 Caeli, providing company for the forlorn wreck in a geostationary orbit about the planet. No sooner had the ships settled into stable orbits when the threat board lit up with a dozen hostile mines which had been sheltering near the wreck hiding from sensors. Sixteen missiles launched themselves upon the fleet as the fleet’s lasers and Mashona’s missiles took out ten of the mines seconds too late, eight falling to Mashona’s missiles, two to Sentinel’s 15cm lasers, the rest were still prepping their weapons. The strike cruisers Carbine and Grenade used their lasers to take out three of the incoming missiles; Mashona’s missiles and lasers took out eight more, the remaining four slammed into Sentinel’s armour, the four six kiloton detonations pitting the scout’s armour. Five seconds later the remaining two mines were blasted out of existence. The event put a damper on the success of the mission. Sentinel would need ‘Yard attention to repair the gouges in her armour. If two of the missiles had hit in the same place her armour would have been penetrated, shields never having had the time to be raised. Later analysis showed the missiles to be the same as those encountered in Tau Ceti back in 42.

28th March 66. Delta Arae.
Task Group Rigel transited jump point #6 and found itself in Delta Arae, a blue-white B-type star, 187 light-years from Sol. It possessed an extensive, well developed planetary system, ten planets and 80 moons, the outermost planet being 936 billion kilometres from the system primary. Delta Arae-A III had an HI of 2.13. A brief flypast of Delta area-A III revealed no obvious threats.
 
5th May 66. 65 Aurigae.
Task Group Rigel discovered 65 Aurigae out of the last unexplored jump point in DX Cancri. 65 Aurigae was a K0-III star with but two planets accompanied by one moon circling it approx 230 ly from Sol. 65 Aurigae-A II had a habitability index of  1.9. The Task Group made a close pass of 65 Aurigae-A II before returning to DX Cancri but found nothing of note.

6th May 66.Gamma-1 Ceti.
It was not a real surprise when the survey group assigned to Gamma-1 Caeli found a partially intact colony on Gamma-1 Caeli-A III. This follows the precedent set in Tau Ceti, so far that when a planet is found defended by orbital mines there are the remains of previous inhabitants. If the Tau Ceti precedent is followed the mines will be tech levels above that of the planetary settlement. Investigation of this latest find will have to await the construction of jump gates.

The Admiralty was surprised by the distance the jump points out of DX Cancri covered, all accessing systems well in excess of 170 light-years distant. The lack of a jump carrier and scout integral with the covering force, Task Group 4, were short-comings which could have potentially disastrous consequences. In addition the exploration Task Groups required their own integral tankers, or in large planetary systems the outer worlds had to be left unexplored. Until further jump carriers, scouts and tankers were available the Lords of the Admiralty decreed that one exploration group should in future remain with Task Group 4.

18:36 24th July 66. 61 Cygni.
Task Group 1 had been enjoying their posting to Terra Nova. Since the appearance of two Darkness scouts over two years ago there had been no further activity. However the Eye of Darkness had moved of late and now resided in Sector 8, 134 million kilometers from the primary and only 30 million kilometers from the orbit of Terra Nova at its closest approach. With the planet just 54 million kilometers from the Eye, the Darkness chose to make another appearance. Alarms throughout the Task Group sounded, calling crew to Battle Stations. On Terra Nova in all public places the fleet recall went out over public address systems sending crew on shore leave scurrying for the shuttle port.

Onboard the Task Group flagship, the fleet carrier Jutland, Rear Admiral Kyle Chan hurried to the operations room, the alarm having interrupted his evening meal. There was a  single crimson icon near the Eye, but with an unfamiliar designations, Tarterus 001, estimated tonnage 12,800 tons, the same as that for the Vhaeraun class seen more than a dozen times at Luyten’s Star, but only twice in 61 Cygni. For some reason Intelligence were giving this vessel a new designation.  Admiral Chan slipped into his position and activated his data terminal. He reviewed the assets available, the Task Group was still awaiting its Sword class assault ships, then his eye lit upon the FG Centurion, he had six of these vessels in the task Group, they were equipped with what were now obsolete Javelin SIM-4 missiles and there were stocks of these missiles on the planet below. The only good thing about the Eye being so close was that it was within the engagement range of his missile frigates. He made his decision, “Lieutenant Gamage instruct the Centurion to fire on the hostile, the Vhaeraun class only required 76 missiles, so that should be sufficient.” Lieutenant Andrew Gamage, the Admirals flag lieutenant opened a laser com link. “Flag to Centurion. Captain Humphreys, engage target Tarterus 001 with 76 Javelins with all dispatch.” Commander Kate Humphreys was struggling into her harness when the orders came through, she thought “what a precise number” but instantly dismissed the thought as she concentrated on getting settled in her station and obeying the order. “Weapons engage target Tarterus 001 with tubes 40 through 115. Fire!” The under officer manning the weapons console had only to plug in the targeting data, the three fire controls were set up with fire con 1 slaved to tubes 1 through 39, fire con 2 to tubes 40 through 77 and fire con 3 to tubes 78 to 115. This was fortunate as Lieutenant Desmond the ships Weapons Officer, was on shore leave and would not rejoin the frigate before the action was over. The under officer began to read out aloud the inputs, “range 53.39 million k, thermal 2560, fire cons 2 and 3 locked on, activating launch sequence.” As the seconds counted down more data reached the weapons console, “Target has 330 strength shields, active sensors estimated as S48R100 and S144R1. Target heading 180o from Task Group, velocity 10,000 k/s.” Aboard the flagship Admiral Chan noted the course of the Darkness ship, diametrically away from the Task Group and planet! It was unusual for the Darkness to refuse combat. He was quick to order pursuit. On the Centurion the unfortunate Weapons under officer was struggling, his fingers seemed twice their normal size, selecting the correct data off the touch screen was proving difficult, twenty-five seconds after the order to launch was given he suddenly realized he had not updated the missiles’ seekers, fortunately he lost no more than a further five seconds as the order came from the flagship to pursue the enemy. The ship shuddered as the missiles left the launch tubes, the under officer almost collapsed across his console, relieved to have completed the task without obvious censure.
In the holotank the situation changed rapidly as though the movement of the Task Group towards it had served to bring it to the notice of Tarterus 001, it reversed course through 180o and aimed itself directly at the Task Group, unfortunately for it 76 Javelin SIM-4 missiles were bearing down on it. The missiles hurtled themselves at the alien warship, fire stabbed out from the beleaguered vessel, four missiles broke up as hyper velocity slugs tore them apart. Then shining brighter than the sun for an instant, 72 eleven kiloton warheads detonated, the alien shields buckled and failed under the onslaught, hull plates vaporized, internal machinery melted under the touch of nuclear fire, absorption shield capacitors failed releasing more energy into the wounded hull shattering its integrity. 61 Cygni was cleansed once more by atomic fire.

25th July 66. Sol.
The engagement in 61 Cygni didn’t even make headlines; it was relegated to a short paragraph towards the bottom of the News sites, the headlines being grabbed by the news that the Church’s Inquisitors had found a cult of Darkness worshipers who had managed to significantly delay the construction of two new orbital ‘Yards. Dozens had been detained and the cult leaders were facing the death penalty, after their confessions of course.


The End


The above took approximately three months real time to play through. The Invaders were just too prolific explorers and their encounters slowed things down to unplayable.
IanD
 

 

Sitemap 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 
http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=3823.msg48049
aurora2.pentarch.org
crawl=CC-MAIN-2019-13
185290
application/http; msgtype=response
sha1:CEZHWSW6OXGLC2Z3DCGBX4QMGKWLNPQ2
<urn:uuid:8e04b94e-d65a-45f6-a1b4-cab6821a0619>
2019-03-25T16:15:49Z
172.81.118.239
application/xhtml+xml
sha1:JEEVPY245NMMSYQ4UMSG674Q3E2ZX4ZT
<urn:uuid:9d62fcb2-a65c-47e9-9f5b-8c0d8c5f4be7>
http://aurora2.pentarch.org/index.php?topic=3823.msg48049
response
<urn:uuid:96fd73d4-0145-4a19-917a-e5d70cafcaf4>
isPartOf: CC-MAIN-2019-13
publisher: Common Crawl
description: Wide crawl of the web for March 2019
operator: Common Crawl Admin (info@commoncrawl.org)
hostname: ip-10-33-242-24.ec2.internal
software: Apache Nutch 1.15 (modified, https://github.com/commoncrawl/nutch/)
robots: checked via crawler-commons 0.11-SNAPSHOT (https://github.com/crawler-commons/crawler-commons)
format: WARC File Format 1.1
conformsTo: http://iipc.github.io/warc-specifications/specifications/warc-format/warc-1.1/