Knight Captain Katherine Drake is your fleet's Wing Commander. She is busy commanding your more mobile assets. Along with Mike they're chasing down cloaked ships with a special detection array while also trying to combat enemy raiding units and harass their few fixed positions. They're stretched too thin but won't have to be for long you hope.

Knight Captain Kim Yu Chung led the minelayer units in the recent battle. They've exhausted most of their stockpiles and will need time to rebuild them. For now he plans to re-equip his cloaked battleships to carry their heavy torpedo launchers.

Uyi Rna is the General of your Army.

Wiremu Tama is the admiral of your Fleet.

Fadila Saqqaf is your leading diplomatic adviser.

C.F. Vanderwal is a former House Erid noble now serving with your intelligence division as part of his parole.

Chide Dlam'ard, the Governor of Rioja has been preparing Rioja for a potential siege.

>>48244459
For house and dominion

For House and Dominion!

Finished catching up on about two years worth of threads last night, my thoughts: Viola Davis plays Winifred in the movie adaptation. Foss is a better husbando than Darrow. You guys got played real hard when you recalled the raiding fleet a few weeks back. Considering slagging the two disabled Megas to show them we mean business.

File: NAV_DRH_01_RELAY4033_Z05.gif (66 KB, 2064x1162)

66 KB GIF

The recent fleet battle made use of minefields, House Ber'helum's artificial gravity well and an enourmous siege array built from the remains of three Mega class super heavies. With these and the mobilization of nearly all ship reserves in the Relay you and your allies trapped and encircled half of the enemy forces brought into the region.

While they were eventually able to fight their way clear and retreat to the bastion being established above the colony world Csontos, their losses were heavy. They still have numerical superiority in total number of ships but it is much closer now and you have more infrastructure to draw on. Shipyards are operating at full capacity despite preparations being made to abandon some of them.

It isn't long after their retreat that the enemy begin moving again. Their Avalanche Class Mobile Fortress along with a fleet you currently lack the numbers to directly counter deploy to the main trade lane.
Rather than following it until the point closest to the recent battle to contest your salvage efforts they've continued on past it and are heading farther along the lane.

>We have to prevent them from linking up with the (Bonrah) planet bound forces.
>Put Rioja's military on full alert, pull our shipyards out of the area if possible and pull fixed defenses from minor bases and outposts to reinforce.
>Important run infrastructure brace for impact.
These were some suggestions last week.

Did you want to begin a pursuit of the advancing enemy fleet, divert your forces to other locations to assist in their defense, or reinforce Drake's skirmishing forces?
Other options are certain possible.

>>48245197
How heavy are Rioja's defenses? I think we should slice off a decently sized chunk of our fleet to shadow and harrass them if the opportunity arises.

>>48245197
I don't think we can afford to let them take a free shot at Rioja or any of the other key infrastructure along the trade lane.

At the same time we can't take on the Avalanche without a solid plan and all of our heavy duty assets.

I think we should have our faster available ships try to beat them to Rioja and the Forebearance station or any other major installations in their path while our other major assets pursue. The goal should be to skirmish and harass and pick away at their numbers in an effort to convince them to turn back to Csontos before they can do major damage. Avoid getting into a direct confrontation with the Avalanche until Forebearance and more of our other ships are repaired and Foss gets his new guns installed.

>>48245197
Are the larger stations covered by alliance shield platforms? How well did they work in the last battle?

What's Tama's opinion on the effectiveness of our starfighters?

You didn't enjoy the last thread too much, right?

>>48245197
>*certainly possible

>>48245329
>How heavy are Rioja's defenses?
Planetary shields have full coverage.
Both stations have full shield upgrades and are protected by Medium and Range boosted LD plasma gun platforms. Torpedo batteries, starfighters and some phase cannon based light defense platforms round out Rioja's close defense.
The small moon with the plasma facility is equipped with many plasma weapons and other weapon systems, but none of them could be considered true siege weapons.

The platforms guarding the entrance to the Run and the Rioja system have similar limitations. Against most Medium cruisers and smaller they're very capable and could hold out for some time, but are simply outclassed by Supers. They've been augmented with orbiting plasma gun platforms which should boost overall firepower.

>>48245442
>Are the larger stations covered by alliance shield platforms?
The ones above Magdalena are, Rioja's are not. Instead their basic station shields been upgraded to levels similar to a light military fortress. They're strong but lack the same level of redundancy.

>How well did they work in the last battle?
They protected both of the heavy cruisers they were assigned to well enough that they took no damage. However they were hanging back a bit.

>You didn't enjoy the last thread too much, right?
I had very bad writer's block the whole time so not so much.


>>48245427
>and Foss gets his new guns installed.
"The guns are loaded for transport. I need my Mega away from the fighting for 12 hours to get them fitted and operational."

>have our faster available ships try to beat them to Rioja and the Forebearance station or any other major installations
>skirmish and harass and pick away at their numbers in an effort to convince them to turn back to Csontos before they can do major damage. Avoid getting into a direct confrontation with the Avalanche
Do this? Or plan something else?

>>48245627
>Or plan something else?
How many ships are in the new fleet? Which of the heavier assets are escorting the fortress?

>>48245197
>>48245427
>>48245329

Perhaps we could simple discourage them from approaching Rioja the Run at all. After the last ambush and the losses they suffer, they will be on their guard against that kin of ambush. We could make it appear like there is another ambush waiting for them.

I forgot what did we know about the admiral leading their fleet?

>>48245683
>How many ships are in the new fleet?
+10,000

2/3 of your fleet are in need of repairs, fuel and munitions. You could field 4k right now, though they'll be low on torpedoes and missiles unless you delay an hour.

>Which of the heavier assets are escorting the fortress?
1x Fortress
2x Talos H Carrier
2x Ascendency (1x mixed carrier/1x all combat)
1x Ceres/Bonrah Heavy Tug/Carrier

Many more Medium cruisers.

>>48245754
>I forgot what did we know about the admiral leading their fleet?
With leaders of the major enemy Houses having declared themselves Arch or Grand Dukes, the leadership of this attack force is supposed to be comprised of a triumvirate of slightly lesser nobles. They've declared themselves "The Three Dukes" and are believed to have been working together for months now to prevent inter-house rivalry from becoming an issue while their fleets are on the attack.

After the battle in the Centri Cluster the rank and file of your allied Houses started calling them the Dukes of Hazard.
Some of your pilots are already coming up with new nicknames inspired by the recent victory.

>>48246020
I would suggest we try to get alliance shield platforms to cover the Forbearance shipyard, and Rioja's plasma moon.

>>48246020
Yeah harassing/delaying action as above. We can't even remotely take them in a straight fight.

>soufflé is not a pie, captcha

>>48246020

>>48246020
>triumvirate of slightly lesser nobles.
>to prevent inter-house rivalry from becoming an issue

We could can exploit this, if it would be posible to target or exclude a single house among the ships we will be harassing. We could be piling more pressure on this triumvirate.

>>48246020
Harrass, delay

>>48246020
>unless you delay an hour
How fast is our enemy? And how much time does it take for them to cross one hexagon?

>>48246020
>>48246065
Also, sending fast ships ahead to beat them there is probably worth it for morale purposes even if they are short on torpedoes

Rolled 8 (1d10)

>>48246239
>How fast is our enemy? And how much time does it take for them to cross one hexagon?
On the trade lane its more a question of how fast they can realign for subsequent jumps.

Due to a break in the lane it would take them longer to reach the two bases you've constructed in the Spit, the small isolated J-D territory.

Time for the Fortress could reach the following targets
Ruling House regional capital: 15-20 min
Entrance to the Run: 20-30 min
Nearest J-D Base in the Spit: 40-50 min

Fast ships that have good nav data and navigators familiar with the region can cross roughly 1 hex every 5 minutes off the trade lanes. Most navigators cant keep up that pace for very long simply due to the number of jumps that need to be taken when going "off road."

>>48246020
From the bits of the last battle it seems we're not using our medium cruisers very effectively. We had part of one shaved off by a siege cannon because it was too close to forbearance, for example.

Are there any officers who have suggestions how to use them more effectively?

>>48246020
Fuck. Something has been bugging me all day. I just knew there was SOMETHING I had forgotten!

I suggest we shuffle what ammo and fuel we can to the good ships and return back to harassing the enemy forces while the rest recover. If they want to destroy Rioja or the RH capital in the region there isn't much we can do to stop them at this time in any case. Not until we've reformed at lest.

>>48246492
Is there a way to predict where the fleet will drop out of FTL to realign?

>>48246492
I'd guess they are most likely heading for the regional capital first and we probably can't stop them from fucking it up pretty good. We should focus on preventing them from breaking into the run for as long as possible.

>>48245442
>What's Tama's opinion on the effectiveness of our starfighters?
Missed this.
As he'd worried the heavy drones are vulnerable at closer ranges. Newer Nasidum built starfighters seem to have an edge in dogfighting. Their construction also seems to favour better atmospheric performance.

In several engagements the drone squadron commanders were forced to use the smaller cheaper drones to tie up enemy fighters so that the heavier ones could use their long range weapons more effectively. As a result the former Aries drones and knockoffs rebuilt with the new processors took above average losses.
Fortunately most of the Carriers remained well protected. Escort frigates were able to block nearly all of the SP weapons fired at them.


>>48246525
>We had part of one shaved off by a siege cannon because it was too close to forbearance, for example.
They were dedicated escort ships helping to soak off damage that might have otherwise overwhelmed Forbearance's shields. You have the industrial capacity to build replacement mediums. The same can't be said for your Supers.

>>48246744
Yes. There are known realignment points where it is necessary to revert, though there is some margin for error.

>>48246583
Ammo will be transferred.

>return back to harassing the enemy forces while the rest recover. If they want to destroy Rioja or the RH capital in the region there isn't much we can do to stop them at this time in any case. Not until we've reformed at lest.

[ ] Focus good forces on harassing Fortress fleet
[ ] Focus on harassing enemy skirmishing units & Bastion
[ ] Split forces between both

>>48246831
>[ ] Focus on harassing enemy skirmishing units & Bastion

Although we should probably consult the other commanders about this.

>>48246831
>[ ] Focus good forces on harassing Fortress fleet

>>48246831
[X] Focus on harassing enemy skirmishing units & Bastion

>>48246831
[ ] Focus on harassing enemy skirmishing units & Bastion
We can't stand up to that fortress but we can make life hard for their only logistics base.

>>48246870
>Although we should probably consult the other commanders about this.

Earl Tarse-enic of Ber'helum is of the opinion that efforts should be focused on harassing the enemy beachhead and wiping out their skirmishing forces.
"With their skirmishing forces taken care of we'll be able to conduct hit and fade with less fear of their elite units."

Count Nirium along with Baron Kelly believe that it is essential to delay enemy attacks on major infrastructure, or at least buy time to prevent their capture.
"Harassing the Fortress fleet would be essential in buying us time."

Barons Usela and Darrow want to force the enemy to stage invasions of planets to slow down their advance.
"Evacuate any remaining industry to the planets surface if they're under threat. Or pull them back to more remote locations and place decoys. We have some holographics. Once they're stuck defending planets hostile to them our mobile forces will have more freedom of movement."

>>48247282
>Barons Usela and Darrow want to force the enemy to stage invasions of planets to slow down their advance.

That's a pretty good idea, and it wouldn't prevent us from carrying out either of the plans.

>>48247282
I think a combination of 1 and three will work best for now. Limit enemy damage to infrastructure, spread them out, then pounce.

>>48247282
Wipe out their skirmishers and force them to invade planets. They have a limited amount of soldiers where as we can recruit more and bring in PDF soldiers should we need to from a good many words.

You set your forces to focus on harassing enemy skirmishing units & their Bastion.

It doesn't take long for scouts to report back that the Fortress fleet is headed for Rioja and the Run. Teams are trying to get as much equipment to the surface of the planet as possible.

Rioja is set up to defend against a siege but aside from the capital the major cities are not heavily fortified against ground assault. Mons Abyla base should be able to repel nearly any assaults provided they don't perform a sustained surface bombardment. Fortunately the planets atmosphere is now just habitable enough to be clearly within the bounds of the Factions treaty.

Maybourne informs you there's a high priority message for you from Rioja. It's the officer in charge of the nanite quarantine and research zone.

"What is it Colonel?"

"Sir, the Alliance is stealing all of our quarantined Nanite tech! Most of it has already been jumped out of the system.

[ ] Let them
[ ] Stop them
[ ] Deal with it as you see fit
[ ] Other

>>48248016
Let loose the Lawyers of War. Then Settle for a large shipment of SP torpedoes from the nearby base that we will use to blow up the enemy.

>>48248016
Contact the alliance. Are we 100% sure these guys are FA?

>>48248016
Okay, remain calm. Way I see it is this. The Alliances sees that Rioja is about to become a warzone and the risk of the Nanites ending up in the wrong hands is fairly large then. We don't want Nasidum or Bonrah gaining a hold of it.

Still we can still play our cards right. They are going to give every scrap of that back, with compensation on top of that for unlawfully seizing our property or they will regret it. However that can wait until the Relay is more secure.

>>48248127
This. Get an explanation for why they are stealing our stuff.

They better be intending to give it back or they can permanently kiss any support from us bye bye.

>>48248016
>[ ] Let them

But only if we can get someone we trust in Alliance brass to confirm that this is a legit Alliance action.

>>48248016
>[x] Stop them

>>48248127
>>48248178
>>48248188
You contact the Alliance and make some indirect threats that they'd better have someone tell you what's going on right away. Or else.

A human Commander by the name of Leiter is the one to respond. His Alliance uniform has the markings for special operations.
"We're evacuating potentially dangerous assets out of what is about to become an extremely hazardous area. I'm sorry that there wasn't time to confer with you, it would have taken too long to get permission and cut through the red tape.
All materials will be evacuated to our nearby base where we're enacting an exclusion zone. It is essential that they not fall into the hands of House Nasidum or their allies. Whatever can't be evacuated is being destroyed with antimatter charges."

"WHAT? Isn't that a little extreme?"

"Your communications protocols are not secure enough to tell you any more than that. I'm sorry Viscount. Do not attempt to retake the materials from our station while the exclusion zone is in place. We have been authorized to use deadly force.
You'll be sent confirmation of the validity of my teams orders from the Alliance Admiralty within the hour."


[ ] I expect compensation
[ ] I expect compensation (SP Torpedoes)
[ ] I expect that technology back
[ ] Other

>>48248774
>[x] Other

Call him several unkind names and hang up, then call back and say that we expect compensation.

>>48248774
>It is essential that they not fall into the hands of House Nasidum or their allies
So they're either breaking the FA treaty that demands they only act against external threats, or they know Nasidum and their allies are collaborating with the Neeran.

>[ ] Other
0. Help them evacuate the material to their base.
1. We get the technology back once the civil war is over.
2. This is going to cost them. A lot.
3. Since they've already abandoned any pretense of neutrality, when can we expect totally not FA forces to arrive and help us throw the invaders out of our relay.
4. We get to punch this guy in the face once the fighting in DRH 1 is over. And everybody else involved in the decision.

>>48248774
>I'm sorry that there wasn't time to confer with you, it would have taken too long to get permission and cut through the red tape.
U fukin wat m8?

>Whatever can't be evacuated is being destroyed with antimatter charges."
U FUKIN wat m8?

> Do not attempt to retake the materials from our station while the exclusion zone is in place. We have been authorized to use deadly force.
U FUKIN WAT M8!?

First the steal our stuff because calling us is such a huge bother for them. Then they destroy what they can't take without telling us and possibly risking the lives of our people. THEN they have the audacity, the god damned audacity to threaten us if we try to take it back.

People are going to bloody hang for this. I'll see this branch of the Alliance burned and purged from Dominion space.

Assuming they can't give us all the things.

[X] Hang up on this cunt after we growl at them. Then send a list of demands.
We want SP torpedoes.
A nice technology pack.
ALL the things they STOLE from us without expection.
Cash repayment for lost research time and destroyed goods belonging to us.

If this is not meet we will assume the Alliance has completely and entirely abandoned it's so called neutrality and treat this as if it was the actions of a hostile faction.

>>48248941
>People are going to bloody hang for this. I'll see this branch of the Alliance burned and purged from Dominion space.
There's no need to be this upset...

>[X] Hang up on this cunt after we growl at them
Well, unless you want to make Sonia look like a complete moron, of course.

>>48248883
>1. We get the technology back once the civil war is over.
We get it back once Nasidum and Bonrah has been eliminated from the Relay

>>48248831
>>48248883
>>48248941
I would just like to add to these that we should also demand that any data on the nanites that they have gained thanks to us or the things the stole from us be shared. Both now and in the future.

>>48248774
>] I expect compensatio

>>48248774
[x] "At least you didn't get the really dangerous items."

Just to mess with him.

>>48249066
what_could_possibly_go_wrong.gif

>>48248774
>[ ] Other
>Your communications protocols are not secure enough to tell you any more than that

Have him meet us in person in that case.

>>48248831
>compensation.
>>48248883
>0. Help them evacuate the material to their base.
>1. We get the technology back once the civil war is over.
>2. This is going to cost them. A lot.
>3. Since they've already abandoned any pretense of neutrality, when can we expect totally not FA forces to arrive and help us throw the invaders out of our relay.
>4. We get to punch this guy in the face once the fighting in DRH 1 is over. And everybody else involved in the decision.
>>48248941
>We want SP torpedoes.
>A nice technology pack.
>ALL the things they STOLE from us without expection.
>Cash repayment for lost research time and destroyed goods belonging to us.

>>48249008
>we should also demand that any data on the nanites that they have gained thanks to us or the things the stole from us be shared. Both now and in the future.
>>48249056
>compensation

Compensation including technology and money first and foremost. Possibly SP Torpedoes, and other concessions if at all possible.

You may or may not have your intelligence network find out where this officer is stationed in the future and punch him. A lot.

>>48249066
Anyone else for this?

>>48249360
>Anyone else for this?
Anyone that helps us fuck with this guy.
Also we need to send Alliance high command something along the lines of -50 Relation with Houser JD or some sort.

>>48249360
>Anyone else for this?
No, not particularly. Although it's probably time for another Sonia is temporarily retarded episode.

>>48249360
I definitely want the technology back when the Relay is secured, along with ALL alliance discoveries from what we provided.

>>48249360
I think yelling at them is not going to help at all, and we've got more important things to do at the moment.

>Do not attempt to retake the materials from our station while the exclusion zone is in place. We have been authorized to use deadly force.
Hmmm, that worked so incredibly well the last time some ragtag force decided to steal their SP torps.

>"Sir, the Alliance is stealing all of our quarantined Nanite tech! Most of it has already been jumped out of the system.
How exactly did that happen?

>>48249360
No, just he polite, get as much as we can out of the negotiatiojs

>>48248941
>I'll see this branch of the Alliance burned and purged from Dominion space.
That's probably doable if you can win control of the Relay. Really they'd just be asked by the Major Houses to pack up and leave the region.

After closing out communication with the Alliance you switch back to the Colonel who confirms House J-D, Ber'helum and Alliance personnel have all been evacuated from the quarantine facility. The remaining equipment is destroyed by self destruct mechanisms designed to prevent quarantine from being broken if there was an escape.

"Was there anything else?" you ask, wanting to be sure this is finished with for now.

"I've been talking with some of our scientists. Before we lost control of our own systems one of our people overheard an Alliance officer say that something wasn't Faction or Neeran tech. It may have been related to the AI interface. We're not absolutely certain."

You start to lose the connection from coms interference.

"The enemy fleet has arrived. We're evacuating the science team to location codename iceberg."

Iceberg should be a hidden underwater base on the night side of Merah colony. It should be quiet enough to escape detection.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVZxwW-U-zc

Despite the jamming some data is able to get through. Corvettes are already engaging the outer defenses when the main fleet jumps in at the entrance to the Run.

The defense platforms were designed to hold off attacks by medium cruisers, not siege weapon fire. It also isn't helped by the enemy having many more mediums than there are platforms. Plasma weapon fire from the gun platforms is heavy enough that the skirmishing forces are pull back to let the heavier ships move up and deal with them.

It seems the engineers have been busy, having fit one of the platforms with a triple barrel cannon prototype similar to the pair on the Sam Bellamy. Even with the range boosting it lacks the effective range to cause serious damage to the fortress. It's more than suited to scattering battlecruiser units though.

Siege weapon fire from the fortress seems to be spread out, hitting all of the platforms instead of simply focusing them down one at a time.
Heavy phase cannon fire from the larger ships eventually clear out many of the LD plasma weapons allowing some of the fleet to move in closer.

Two each of the new model Shukhant move in towards your Medium platforms, barely weathering the incoming fire. Drawing close enough you're concerned they'll ram, the Crescent class ships change course at the last moment, clearing the way for boarding craft that had been following in their wake.

New model Razors outfitted for boarding assaults rapidly decelerate and ram the platforms. One still strikes the shields hard enough that it simply explodes. Others impact at more safe velocities and attempt to match shields. A second ship is destroyed by station guns before it can get through. The remainder manage to penetrate the shields and latch onto the hulls of the platforms. Detaching LST's move to board the inner sections while the Battlecruisers use their own boarding tubes to melt through the hull and put teams aboard.

>>48249982
[ ] Send the order to self destruct the stations.
[ ] We'll just have to retake them later.

>>48249994
Can we destroy the weapons and shield generators on the stations?

>>48249982
>[ ] Send the order to self destruct the stations.
Deny the enemy all assets that we can. We can rebuild them at a later date.

Also why the hell would they target Rioja? It's like the least interesting or valuable planet in the entire Relay. There are at lest a dozen colonies between it and the captured RH colony. I just don't get it.

>>48250062
Yes, that's an option.

>>48250073
>Also why the hell would they target Rioja?
They aren't, I think.

>>48250078
Let's do that.

>>48250073
>Send the order to self destruct the stations.

>>48250243
>destroy the weapons and shield generators on the stations

>>48250078
Do this. I mean we are taking about full on stations here.

>>48249982
I wouldn't mind destroying the weapons and shields on the station as>>48250062 suggested

Looks like the crews are being ordered to destroy vital systems.

Roll 5d100 to see how quick they're able to act vs the boarding teams.

Rolled 26 (1d100)

>>48250598
>Roll 5d100
1

Rolled 89 (1d100)

>>48250620
2

Rolled 94 (1d100)

>>48250628
3

Rolled 53, 57, 59, 94, 60 = 323 (5d100)

>>48250598

Rolled 80 (1d100)

>>48250642
4

Rolled 55, 46, 1, 49, 24 = 175 (5d100)

>>48250598
go go legendary JD boarding squads

Rolled 37 (1d100)

>>48250663
5

>Unrelated suggestion
Have people considered using modified power cell armor for rescue services? Firefighters could find armor resistant to high temperatures and able to remove debris easily useful.

>>48250694
Some governments use light powered exoskeletons for emergency services work. It's rare to see military grade ones used in that role but not impossible.

>>48250598
55, 89, 94, 94, 60.

Not to bad

Long range sensors show heat spikes from the plasma weapons mounted on the stations followed by the launch of escape pods. Explosions follow a few seconds later when the weapon fuel cells meltdown.

Secondary explosions on all but one of the platforms eventually follow and their shields fail. Those on the final platform are lowered minutes later when Frigates are brought in to land additional troops.

A force of eight medium cruisers escorting a Talos class and their Ascendancy Heavy break off from the rest of the fleet after they've secured the entrance to the Run. Several wings of attack cruisers and other ships accompany them, some jumping farther along the Run's main route in advance of them.

The Fortress and the bulk of their main fleet jumps in system and launches an attack on Rioja's moon. A few blockade runners carrying fuel cells make a last minute escape before attack squadrons can cut them off.

Sitting outside the range of the moons main weapons the fortress gunnery crews don't go easy this time, hammering the shields as quickly as possible. Under such heavy fire even the moon base defenses can't hold up for long. Both sides continue to fire until long after siege weapon shots have started to get through the shields, slagging most of the emplacements on the North Pole.

A trio of Eminence class ships micro jump in from above the North Pole and close with the surface as quickly as possible. One still takes hull damage from the remaining Medium plasma cannons on the surface before they've reached the blind spot and deploy troop shuttles.

You now have a difficult decision to make. The plasma weapon and fuel cell manufacturing is incredibly valuable and will not be easy for anyone to quickly rebuild if destroyed.

[ ] Destroy Lunar defenses
[ ] Destroy manufacturing
[ ] Destroy manufacturing & Defenses
[ ] Surrender it
[ ] Surrender it (sabotage equipment to allow later recapture)

>>48251361
>[ ] Destroy manufacturing & Defenses
We can rebuild. Deny the enemy assets.

>>48251361
Could we blow the shaft so they have to take forever to excavate it?

>>48251361
What are our starfighters doing? Because those Mediums seem awfully exposed to a fighter run

>>48251593
The south Station also looks intact. They should be able to lob Torpedoes at the eminences in an orbital pattern. Combine that with a fighter strike and we should be able to take out the three mediums.

>>48251593
>What are our starfighters doing?
The Governor had any based on the moon pulled back towards the planet during the barrage due to its intensity. Those based in orbit have been launching torpedoes at the main enemy fleet.
>Because those Mediums seem awfully exposed to a fighter run
The base commander has something special in mind for them.

>>48251540
>Could we blow the shaft so they have to take forever to excavate it?
Possible. There is a danger that the resulting explosions could damage the industrial and habitat blocks.
The moon also isn't that big. It could probably be cleared inside of a week, though that wouldn't fix all of the damage.
Blow the connecting shaft?

>>48251361
>[ ] Destroy manufacturing & Defenses
Level the whole moon if we have too ~!

>>48251778
>Blow the connecting shaft?
Yes. Blow + sabotage. If they still have a solid hold of Rioja in a few Weeks I'lll be surprised.

>>48251778
>The base commander has something special in mind for them.
Well, as long as its suitably Nasty.
Blow + sabatoge.

>>48251778
Oh, I recall that there was a nebula just past Rioja where we had set up a few hidden bases for raiding units. Have we activated those?

>House and Dominion: The only place on 4chan where "blowing the shaft" involves explosives, not dicks.

>>48251361
>[x] Surrender it (sabotage equipment to allow later recapture)

What happened to the 'build a massive plasma weapon inside the moon as a last resort'?

If this is the result of some kind of penalty we get because the Houses in the relay have a completely incompetent officer corps I'm not really sure what to do.

Nobody in the house has noticed that static targets are going to be in a shitty situation if a fleet with a mobile fortress and siege cannons comes rolling in. Or at least nobody has said anything. Daska spent an entire deployment trying to capture transports with these guns and then nobody got the idea to consistently protect important ships and installations with shield platforms until some anon mentioned it a few posts before the first big battle.

>>48252256
Ideally, you have mobile units reinforce the defenses. They hit Rioja because in 48 hours, they could bring everything they have left to the party and they wouldn't be able to take it.

>>48251938
You hadn't. You guys instead set up a base for the Knights Errant over in the former Bonrah territories. It'll take time to reactivate the old PMC base there but could act as a good fallback point for damaged ships.

>>48252256
I did offer you guys more options for shield platforms for defense of major station platforms and people seemed very opposed to it. The modified platforms for Magdalena were only barely approved, and even then only because they were outside of the Run's defenses.

The thinking and pre-planning seemed to be to prepare more for a mobile engagement of the enemy fleet to trap them or kite them.

[2] Destroy manufacturing & Defenses
[1] Surrender it (sabotage equipment to allow later recapture)
[2] Blow + sabatoge.
Anyone else?

>>48252330
I understand the whole situation is supposed to be challenging but right now everybody on our side just looks incompetent.

>>48252405
>[2] Blow + sabatoge.

>>48252405
It just feels like nobody on Sonia's side put any effort into this.

>actually letting them get the plasma moon

what the fucking fuck

we built this thing SUPER fucking deep to withstand sieges and standoffs

this was literally mentioned when we were planning rioja.

>>48252603
¯\_(ツ)_/¯

>>48252603
It could have held off 2 of those EX Megas with minimal difficulty.

The southern moon base continues to pose a hazard to any enemies within range. Missile and torpedo batteries meanwhile keep hitting the trio of Medium cruisers on the north pole. As enemy troops manage to open the main cargo doors the station crews wait until one of the enemy ships have moved into position above it then open the inner doors.

Nine medium plasma cannons parked in the cargo shaft fire up through the open doors and hit the less heavily shielded aft of one cruiser. The shields barely flicker before failing and the combined shot nearly cores through the ship.

A fireball engulfs the north pole of the moon from the Medium exploding.

"We've lost communications with Rioja's moon base. There was enough time that your last orders should have made it through."

"What about the rest of the Run?"

"We're beginning to lose communications. I think they may have ships trying to disrupt the major com relays outside of the Run."

Every available ship in your fleet is now working to beat back the enemy skirmishing forces, driving them back towards their bastion. They could use some more help.

Do you want to use your command squad to assist, or pull back to a position closer to the Run where you can access its com relay more effectively? Yes you can just get reports relayed by other ships it will just take longer.

[ ] Help with the skirmishing units & Bastion
[ ] Pull back to coms range
[ ] Relay coms with damaged ships, stay near the salvage site

See you in the morning!

>>48252937
Can we move Forebearance Station. I'm not worried about them sieging Rioja. After war reparations are a thing. And if we lose the war, reparations are the least of our concerns.

Assist the forces hitting the bastion. Hell bring the array. I want to demolish the fleet there so we only have to deal with the Avalanche later and not fight a two front campaign (lol how in the fuck did that happen) in the short term, before they open a third front in the long run with the force circling arpund., and a possible 4th front from DRH2.

>>48253121
Add to that, Sonia should delegate more to subordinates who are experienced in defending. We've never had to conduct an operation around defending fixed positions and have always been more reliant on mobile tactics.

If it won't cause to much chaos, canwe quickly restructure our command chain and have Sonia go back to her roots and conduct hit and runs, running battles and wide flanking maneuvers.

This entire campaign is a mess IMO from a command stand point since we put a person renowned for mobile warfare with no experience in entrenched campaigns in overall command of defending several vital fixed installations.

After this whole thing, I want to pour a fortune on officer schooling based on merit and not bloodlines. That way we candraw from a larger talent pool to cover more bases

Page 9 bump.

Bumping

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It goes bump I'm the night

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>>48253240
>This entire campaign is a mess IMO from a command stand point since we put a person renowned for mobile warfare with no experience in entrenched campaigns in overall command of defending several vital fixed installations.

In my opinion, it's mostly a mess because Sonia does stupid things if they get enough votes, and doesn't do sensible stuff if not enough people vote for it. We used to have Kavos who said something if things got too stupid or we players missed something obvious, and people usually listened but that's not happening any more.

Not including the CP cost for things that aren't mobile assets in the list of things Sonia could buy for the defence of the relay is also likely to have contributed to the current situation, at least in my opinion. People simply forgot about it because it was not mentioned by anybody.

That none of the NPCs on Sonia's side ever bothered to say anything while the other side is competent just makes me worried we've made a wrong decision we didn't notice related to our officers.

Also, the array is super disappointing so far, and I don't understand why we haven't been throwing stealthed SP torps at the engines of the fortress or the enemy's siege cannons in general. That's like one of the main ideas why ships with the advanced cloak were supposed to be so scary.

>>48253240
Why? We've won a significant victory so far. Evening the odds in our favor with minimal damage to our own forces.

The only thing weird here is why they would target Rioja to begin with. It's not very important considering it has a population of just 80 million or so. It just barley has a working atmosphere. It may be booming in just about everything right now but that hardly counts as a important military target when one is in Nasidums position. A position where they just barley have control of one planet in the entire relay and decide to take most of their fleet to attack a backwater planet of all things with somewhat good defenses.

Deceivingly odd considering there are much richer, industrialized and less defended worlds closer to their already captured territory.

Or maybe I am just a bit salty.

[ ] Help with the skirmishing units & Bastion
Focus on the planet. Take out their fast elements and then we can wear down their big fleet

>>48257169
Probably going for the gut reaction of us defending our capital. Maybe leaving behind assassination squads to try and get us after they withdraw.

Whatever. They're the ones that have to take and keep territory, let's just fight them as hard as we can wherever they attack and keep them from being able to rearm and repair and eventually run them ragged. Sooner rather than later, the way things are going.

The problem they've made is that they've clearly gambled on being able to capture enough material from us to keep going but we've already massively damaged them. So now they're on the clock.

We should be focusing on denying assets to them and keeping up the pressure, Vietnam style. Laying traps and such, striking at holding forces left behind.

Honestly

>>48257169
>The only thing weird here is why they would target Rioja to begin with.

I'd assume it has something to do with being able to loot or destroy the major center for plasma cannon production in the relay.

There's also our advanced torpedo and medium cruiser rapid construction facility nearby but hey, what's the chance of them just jumping in and burning down everything?

:^)

>>48253121
>Can we move Forebearance Station.
It has weak sublight capability. Did you want it moved farther away from the jump in point?

>>48257169
>[ ] Help with the skirmishing units & Bastion
>Focus on the planet. Take out their fast elements and then we can wear down their big fleet

Since there have been no other votes in the time provided we're going with this one.

>>48257714
I like that plan.

I think that their reasoning for going after Rioja immediately is to bait us into throwing our fleet at them. After they've been there for a while and we don't bite they'll either have to get serious about laying siege to the planet or go somewhere else, which is when we should throw our fleet at them.

So yes in the meantime we should keep hitting their other units and our supers should be undergoing maintenance, but we don't want to get too stuck in here yet.

https://youtu.be/NLqSF8B0UB4?t=3m1s
The best time or worst time for Sonia to have a not quite mid-life crisis and want to go back to raiding?

You need every available ship that can fight inflicting damage on the enemy right now. Your command ship and escorts are powerful in their own right and not using them now would be a waste that can't be afforded.

"Coordinate with Drake. Find us an enemy unit to hit."
"Aye sir!"

According to Drake the enemy are increasing the number of skirmishing and raiding units deployed in the surrounding systems as more of their fleet is repaired. It's not reducing the defensive capabilities of their Bastion as much as you'd like but should give you a good chance to engage them in smaller battles.

Many of their better units have begun moving into position to try and take down Drake's elites even as they pull back to other systems. Enough reinforcements from your main fleets have already arrived to prevent them from being overwhelmed. The added confusion is letting your subordinate make the best use of her people.

"We've spotted an enemy elite attack unit that we think have SP Torpedoes. The armor on your larger ships should be able to shrug off more damage than my smaller ships. There are a few other targets you might like to hit instead sir."

A friendly unit could use fire support dealing with assault corvettes.

There are some fast mediums trying to engage those belonging to Drake.

Then there's the Bastion's outer mine screens that your point defense could help with.

[ ] Elite Attack Cruisers with SP's
[ ] Fire support VS Assault Corvettes
[ ] Fast Mediums
[ ] Bastion PD

>>48257955
Fast mediums

>>48257955
>[ ] Fast Mediums
Going up against Elite units is never fun. Especially if they are packing SP's. Dealing with a Medium seems more fun in comparison.

>>48257955
> [ ] Elite Attack Cruisers with SP's

Take out there elites early on, while they're exposed. Fighting elites sucks bit losing them is worse. We have a chance to hit them with overwhelming force when they can't retreat or be supported by rank and file.

>>48258034
So you would rather we take larger losses to them? Drake could probably kite those other fast mediums for a while and is a very experienced commander, and she pretty much told us we were better specc'd to take on the Elites.

We just finished biyching about not having enough commander input.

>>48257955
>[ ] Elite Attack Cruisers with SP's
Elites are always a problem. More so with SP's. Therefore they should be priority targets so they wont be a bother later.

Tie breaker anyone?

I need to go drop off a delivery. Back in just a little bit I hope.

>>48257955
[x] Elite Attack Cruisers with SP's

>>48258373
What do the other admirals think about dropping one of the Ascendancy heavies on the dueling mediums? I think that force is unlikely to split its fleet to come chasing after a heavy unit after what happened last time, so we can operate one of them fairly aggressively.

"We're going after those attack cruisers."

There is some grumbling from a few of your captains but no outright complaints.
"They just don't like getting hit by SP Weapons sir."

"Nobody does." you reply.

>>48258491
>What do the other admirals think about dropping one of the Ascendancy heavies on the dueling mediums?
They're both seeing a lot of use repairing smaller ships right now.
Your Supers are also seeing a lot of rear line duty right now with docking pads on Forbearance fixing ships and the Sam Bellamy trying to fit the new guns.

Earl Tarse-enic says that they'll take the Shallan Medium and some of the newer Shukant and try to drop the hammer on them.

Whoops, let's get some rolls.

Roll 6d20 for Sonia & Escort

Rolled 15, 16, 17, 8, 12, 12 = 80 (6d20)

>>48258905

Rolled 16, 5, 7, 18, 9, 13 = 68 (6d20)

>>48258905
I am positive so far. Sure the lose of the orbital infrastructure around Rioja less then ideal but we are making good progress. A little more work and we can really teach them why they shouldn't have invaded us.

Rolled 13, 11, 16, 10, 1, 3 = 54 (6d20)

>>48258905
>Roll 6d20 for Sonia & Escort

Rolled 16, 12, 15, 20, 8, 3 = 74 (6d20)

>>48258905

>>48258971
Too bad we can't sneak an AM bomb onto a ship they'll capture. I guess they were maybe going for the Nanites given how the FA evacuated the fuck out of it despite not having authorization.

So maybe we can lay a tempting target with faux Neeran tech that could "implicate" us. We do have some pretty sweet commando teams. Get them to emergency teleport out, blow the ship.

>>48259065
Single roller, where are you in our time of neeeeeed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LX1x_rZ-T8

Local sensor ships locate the unit Drake needs taken care of and with their help you guide in your unit to intercept them. It certainly requires a lot of course corrections and micro jumps.

"They're moving to cut off one of our friendly mixed wings. Bring us out of FTL within weapons range once they've engaged."

Your navigator isn't certain you'll be able to catch them in time with the number of realignments necessary. The Helmsman nearly red lines the engines a few times making sure the corrections are done quickly enough.

"Allied unit has been engaged." reports Maybourne.

It's close but you arrive just in time to assist. Gunners don't wait for the order to fire, opening up the moment they have targeting locks. The Outer Heaven's pilot uses emergency thrusters to bring the bow around letting both it and the Devourer score kill shots with the medium plasma cannons in the opening barrage.

Dragoon class ships come about firing LD plasma cannons and SP Torpedoes. More than a few of them immediately try to focus fire on the Outer Heaven. Your missile batteries launch a covering barrage, the explosions breaking line of sight as the ECM cranks up to full.

Part of you wants nothing more than to take the controls of one of your ships right now. Despite hanging back from most engagements of late your ship's helmsman still seems to be getting enough practice in. Rolling to the side he manages to avoid most of the second volley of enemy return fire.

"Torpedoes incoming!" warns Maybourne.

Point defense swats down a dozen SP's meant for your command ship. Four of them connect, striking the bow, port side hull and starboard equipment racks.

"Minimal damage."

>Cont.

>>48259779
Your Neeran plasma weapons are able to cut through the shields of several enemy ships, heavily damaging or disabling them. LD cannons are battering down shields but with the enemy now going evasive your command ship can no longer land hits with the spinal mount guns.

Between the fire from your heavier ships and the somewhat chewed up allied attack squadrons you're quickly beating down the enemy elites.

They realise this as well and the remaining ships break off and micro jump out.

They'll be able to outrun most of your larger ships but you could still get some shots in over the next jump or two before they completely outpace you.

[ ] Pursuit
[ ] Try to hit other elite units
[ ] Nearest targets of opprtunity

>>48259814
>[ ] Try to hit other elite units
Running after elite units is asking for them to lead us into a ambush. Catch their other elite units instead and bring them pain. The sight of several elite units returning to base with many loses and damaged ships as they flee from us should help to demoralize the enemy forces as well by showing them that our forces are the better ones.

>>48259814
>[x] Try to hit other elite units

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At this rate I'm gonna die from this humidity before it even gets really hot today.

>>48259814
>[ ] Try to hit other elite units

>>48259814
> [ ] Try to hit other elite units

We are going all out with SP torpedoes and such, yes?

>>48260006
Nah. This is to attrit them

>>48260006
Not SP's so far. They're mainly being held in reserve for big targets.
Do you guys want to make use of some?

>>48260116
nah

Still think we should do an enemy commander assassination strike with Eldal.

>>48260116
I would. I consider Elite troops to be worth it. Especially if none come back.

Besides it makes then wonder just how many SP we have.

We should really push getting some from the FA for stealing our nanites.

>>48260116
Not unless the situation looks bad, as usual. We will see after we've managed to salvage the enemies own SP's.

SP production capabilities when?

>>48260154
Personally, I want to whip up a Virus that will mirror image IFF, then have him sneak aboard a major warship and infect it and its associated ships with a "Software Update"

>Try to hit other elite units
Let's get another set of rolls then.

6d20 once again please.

Rolled 10, 17, 11, 13, 4, 14 = 69 (6d20)

>>48260328

Rolled 7, 10, 16, 4, 20, 5 = 62 (6d20)

>>48260328
ALL 20s

Rolled 8 (1d20)

>>48260328
1

Rolled 15 (1d20)

>>48260328
2

Rolled 10 (1d20)

>>48260328
3

Rolled 15, 7, 2, 17, 15, 16 = 72 (6d20)

>>48260328

Rolled 7, 1, 18 = 26 (3d20)

>>48260328
4, 5, 6 duck single rolling is too much for me.

Sorry, had to stop and deal with some shit for a half hour.

Intel shows that the nearest enemy elite unit is comprised of assault corvettes. Not your first choice to go up against but knocking them out should be a significant blow.

"Provide long range support to our allies. Don't get in too close."

Your arrival takes them by surprise and disrupts the enemy squadrons long enough for your allies to take full advantage. You and the allied force are now blocking the easiest routes of escape.

Most of the fire from the Outer Heaven's weapons miss their quickly evading targets but they do help to restrict the moments of enemy ships. Your other escorts do manage to get some fire on target, taking down a few ships here and there.

With the added fire support ace pilots from Houses Phobos and Binil begin to rack up some impressive kill totals. It cant last forever and soon an SP torpedo salvo opens up a path for escape.

Your helmsman focuses on keeping the ship out of the path of SP weapons over trying for hits with spinal mount weapons fire.

"Thank you for the assist Baron! We'll send you a few of the SP torpedoes once the salvage teams have had a chance to look over the site."

Maybourne brings your attention to a status report.
"There was some minor damage to the shield power systems when we took those torpedo hits earlier sir. The engineers would like to take the main shields offline for 20 minutes for repairs."

That shouldn't be too long.

Before you can consider the next set of targets you get an update from Magdalena. They've received a delivery of high density armor from Ferrigold the Fat along with equipment from Baron Dante.

Blockade runners have been able to get enough shipments through Bonrah held space for now. Each of you now have stockpiles of armor and equipment to last a few months. The equipment turns out to be a set of Dante class gunship MP Types.

A short message from the Baron is included with the gunships, encrypted so that only you should be able to read it.

"I've heard that the Nirium fleet is supposed to have a contingent of jump capable walkers included in their ground forces. These are more dangerous than vehicles like the Skull or light mobile artillery you've encountered before. They're designed as a scaled up version of the Matryoshka jump jet power armor.
The mobility and simulated toughness of a prototype they tested here are high enough that they may be more dangerous to engage than Heavy quad walkers. I would be very interested in any live fire combat data you could acquire showing my designs effectiveness against theirs."

>Do you have any return message you'd like to send at this time? Or hold off for now?

>>48261244
"Viscount, and you're welcome"

>>48261441
Tell him we'll do our best to grab a couple for him.

>>48261441
We should probably keep quiet for now, considering his house is sitting pretty deep in bonrah territory at the moment.

>>48261441
Nirium as in the Ruling House?

>>48261623
Thanks.

>>48261441
>"I've heard that the NASIDUM fleet is supposed to have a contingent of jump capable walkers included in their ground forces.

>>48261717
I still stand behind grabbing one of those from them. Should be easier now that they're our enemies.

Tobia Arronax did it, so we can.

Boiling alive here. Going to take a bit to relocate to somewhere that has air conditioning.

>>48261847
Trade you. It's raining here. Goddamn frozen north.

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Got air conditioning, having some difficulty getting a computer to work here.

>>48262378
>Goddamn frozen north.
I would take snow over this.

The attacks on the enemy skirmishing forces basing out of Csontos are having an effect. They're being driven back which is overwhelming their repair capacity. Your allies are getting fixed up as quickly as possible at colonies and bases outside the Run. For now at least you're able to get ships back into the field much more quickly than the enemy.

While much of the minefield at Forbearance station was taken down some remained. It's helped to slow down the assault on the station by enemy heavy cruisers.
Remaining defense fleets in the Run are performing hit and run on the assaulting fleet almost continuously.
It looks like they're trying to take the station with as little damage as possible.

Enemy units have begun to launch probning attacks on the platforms guarding the other entrance to the Run. For now they haven't launched a full attack on them but its clear they'll become a target once the shipyard is secured.

The Barons of the Run Alliance are increasingly wanting to disengage from fighting on the front to aid in the defense of their colonies and shipyards.

You admit that things do seem bad.

[ ] Let their fleets break off
[ ] Stress the importance of unity

Any inspirational words for your fellows?

>>48262849
>[ ] Stress the importance of unity
We can NOT have everyone split up and do their own thing! The only way we can handle this is if we present a united front against the enemy main fleet.

"We are winning. The enemy is slowly drained of their will and ability to fight. Now is not the time to be on the defensive. Now is the time to lead the charge. To hit them again and again and again until they shatter against our superior forces! If they take Forbearance station they will be able to rest and recover their forces. They will gain time. Time we can not afford to give them. We. Must. Push. On"

>>48262849
What about Avobarrac? That should have required a full deployment of their fortress to deal with unless they wanted to take massive casualties.

>>48262849
Is house Helios still sitting on the sidelines? The deployment of their fleet in the Run Should be enough to stall the enemy until we've completely repaired ourselves.

>>48262849
I think we should be sensible about this. Sending random parts of our fleet back to the run just because they're from a local house doesn't make sense on any strategic level.

Medium cruisers and smaller ships would make sense as they're easier to repair and mobile enough to avoid really unfavourable confrontations.

Sending back one of our heavies, however, wouldn't make much sense as the ship would simply get jumped by the heavier elements in the area.

Just see which of our ships aren't really suited to the current engagements against the bastion, and have those fall back to the run.

>>48262607
I'm seriously Calgarian. Your heat would probably kill me. Especially with humidity.

>>48262849
How many ships are at Csontos and in the Run?
How many ships do we have ready for combat including Helios.
Excluding Helios?
Can we get a map update?

>>48262849
We can save the run only together. Don't discount the effect your forces are having combined. Any losses sustained can be rebuilt, or reimbursed after the war. But only if we win. And lords and ladies, we ARE winning.

We bloodied their nose when they first poked it into the Reach. We crushed them in our first battle as they eagerly chased after us to retaliate. Now we are bleeding them dry. Already they've lost the ability to make a constant push into our territory and despite being the attackers they are now of their back foot.

We must press on. Prevent them from getting a foothold to rearm and repair. From hooking up with planet bound assets so recently abandoned.

I see here only heroes who have strode with me towards victory, none who would run and leave us to be picked apart at leisure.

I'll pretend I never heard this talk of leaving. Any who are worried about not being treated fairly when the time comes to seek compensation for the grievous and heinous assault of our foes can be assured that I at least will forget none who stood and fought.

> Time to bank on how important reputation is in feudal societies.

>>48262997
>Is house Helios still sitting on the sidelines?
Yes. They're promising help soon if you can hang on just a bit longer.
"How soon?" you ask Fadila.
"Within the month? They're not saying directly."

Intel is reporting additional activity in the next relay. It looks like Bonrah is bringing in ships from the Pandora Cluster.

>>48262941
>What about Avoubic?
So far there has been little in the way of movement against the Forts there. A Monitor class ship and a pair of Shukhant are nearing completion. The yard crews are trying to have them fitted out as quickly as possible. They may be completed lacking long jump capability but can be refit fairly easily later.

>>48263562
>Intel is reporting additional activity in the next relay. It looks like Bonrah is bringing in ships from the Pandora Cluster.

Did we get an answer from the Republic and Neeran yet?

>>48263562
>Yes. They're promising help soon if you can hang on just a bit longer.
With the damage to Centri cluster communications, how tight does their schedule have to be? I doubt the Guild is in any mood to pass Nasidium Comunications through to the cluster. I'd have to run some numbers, but we could probably increase the Com Lag to a month if we pulled some shenanigans.

>>48263600
>Did we get an answer from the Republic and Neeran yet?
Link me that post again please? I can't find it atm.

>>48263652

>>47858022
>>>47857660
>>Can we ask the Republic and isolationist Neeran for some low-key support? We stopped that city ship from crashing into their capital, after all.
>Discreet inquiries will be made.

Thanks.
>Did we get an answer from the Republic and Neeran yet?
They can`t get supplies directly to DRH-1 as your enemies are watching shipments coming from Republic space.
What they can do is send it to Winifred or Daska through connections in South Reach. Tourta would work too.

Proposed arms shipment:
20x Medium plasma cannons
72x Light plasma cannons
2x Shipments of SP Missiles
64x mothballed Transcendent class (No armaments)

You could press them for more but it would piss them off since this is all material desperately needed to fight the Neeran.

>>48263642
>how tight does their schedule have to be?
As close as possible to prevent either their fleet or Winifred's fleet from being massacred.

>>48263835
Fair enough.

>>48263835
>Proposed arms shipment:
That's great. Do the light plasma cannons and light cruisers make sense for us?

Would it be possible to ask for Ballista carriers instead? So we can start dragging Veritas' STL craft around.

Hopefully this post will be easy to find with a word search later.

>>48263095
>How many ships are at Csontos and in the Run?
Exact numbers are difficult to nail down but I'll try to work it out.

The enemy brought in 24k to 28k ships to the Relay.
They sent out a fleet of twelve to thirteen thousand ships (12k to 13k)
4.8k to 5.2k of those came back.

Current total estimated strength (before skirmishing losses)
16.8k to 20.2k

They've split their forces again to attack the Run.
Enemy Run strength approximately 10k (before losses surtained fighting the defenses)
Enemy Csontos strength approx. 6.8 to 10k

Debris from previous ships lost fighting around Csontos is making identification difficult. Intel believes total enemy strength on the Csontos front to be 8k or less.
Many damaged ships make up part of this fleet, though they were apparently operational enough to jump out and escape.

>You
>fourteen thousand (before battle)
Your fleet has taken approximately 30% crippled or lost in the major fleet battle.
9.8k are the number of ships you have that can be repaired to operational status within the week, but logistics requirements mean you're only back up to 4k to 5k effective strength now.


>How many ships do we have ready for combat including Helios.
Helios and their allies should have about 1500 ships in the Relay. Unless this contradicts numbers I gave in a previous thread that isn't showing up in searches easily.

>>48263835
Neat. I bet Winifred will be happy that we are taking care of her from another galaxy.

>>48263950
>Do the light plasma cannons and light cruisers make sense for us?
The cannons can be used for any number of different things.

Light cruisers are rather lacking in mobility and available power reserves. They're not the best for mobile fighting but would be useful in a larger fleet battle. Provided they were supported that is. There's a reason the Republic has mostly retired them.
Not just because they're an iconic ship of their civil war.

>Would it be possible to ask for Ballista carriers instead?
You might be able to get similar numbers of them but they would be very old models in need of refit to their FTL and other systems. RSS would have to do some work on them.

[ ] Light cruisers (Low performance)
[ ] Ballista carriers (Needs refit)

>>48264407
Okay those numbers are making this look kind of bleak. But we can work with this. Just starve them for parts and raid them a lot and we win.

Still.... I think, like anon proposed earlier, that we should consider assassinating the Dukes. We do have Recon teams do we not? And cloaked ships capable of getting them almost anywhere.

>>48264451
[ ] Light cruisers

>>48264407
>Helios and their allies should have about 1500 ships in the Relay. Unless this contradicts numbers I gave in a previous thread that isn't showing up in searches easily.

From >>47416042
>Helios allies have an additional 35 wings plus others so about 2,600 ships.

>>48264451
>Choice
Let Winifred and Daska decide. They have a better idea what's needed.

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>>48264469
>those numbers are making this look kind of bleak.
You still have Avun who hasn't had a decent opportunity to switch sides. If you think they still plan to do so.
There is also the pressing need for fuel that everyone will be starting to feel soon.

>We do have Recon teams do we not?
Yes you do.
>And cloaked ships capable of getting them almost anywhere.
Almost.
You also have a number of captured ships.

>>48264481
Thank you.

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>Updated map
Best I can do here.

Speech is typed up mostly except for this part.

>>48262920
>If they take Forbearance station they will be able to rest and recover their forces. They will gain time. Time we can not afford to give them.
In this part it sounds like you're advocating that they break off fighting on the Csontos front and rush back to the Run.

This is quite the opposite of a united front since the other nobles from Ber'helum and the Ruling House are now very much for winning against the enemy Bastion.

>>48265106
I'm all for using the forbearance station to tie them down.

We could always blow it up if it looks like we'll lose it.

>>48265106
I think what he is trying to get at is that by focusing on Bastion we can close this threat down faster and that the faster we do so the faster we can move out forces back toward the Run.

>>48264715
Now we just need to nail down where Avun is. It would be great is they just happen to be "Guarding" Bastion as it would be an excuse to not be apart of the main Fortress Fleet, but i'm not sure if we are that lucky.

Back.

Pulling back for minor repairs you try to establish coms to the Barons, especially those of the Run Alliance.

"Sending random parts of our fleet back to the run just because you're from a local house doesn't make sense on any strategic level.

We can save the run only together. Don't discount the effect your forces are having combined. Any losses sustained can be rebuilt, or reimbursed after the war.

But only if we win!

And lords and ladies we are winning. We crushed them in our first battle as they eagerly chased after us to retaliate. Now we are bleeding them dry.

The enemy is slowly drained of their will and ability to fight. Now is not the time to be on the defensive. Now is the time to lead the charge. To hit them again and again and again until they shatter against our superior forces.

We. Must. Push. On."

That seems to help motivate your allies, or at least convince them to cut back on agitating for fleet redeployment.

Count Nirium launches a quick raid into the Csontos system with their Helios in an attempt to disrupt repair operations. It doesn't last long as torpedoes are quickly vectored towards them, but long enough to get two shots off before jumping out.

>>48265909
>Now we just need to nail down where Avun is.
Avun's Carrier was confirmed as being part of the Fortress fleet. It's unclear if it was part of the fleet sent to capture the Forbearance yard, though it seems likely.

>>48265267
>I'm all for using the forbearance station to tie them down.
Any ideas?
>We could always blow it up if it looks like we'll lose it.
The crew will certainly destroy the torpedo production lines before they can be captured.

Yo let's send the array to Count Nirium's control so he can siege Csontos effectively. I think it's disappointing because we're using it wrong. We're trying to use it more like a towed gun than a giant great big hammer to knock enemy forces around.

>>48266680
Worth a shot. Foss needs another few hours to finish fitting the big guns so his Super will be unable to escort it. The Heavy Cruisers with their shield platforms should be able to though.

The enemy are advancing through the Run. Meanwhile your own forces are pressing in towards Csontos and the Nav station. The station's refit docks have been occupied and seem to be responsible for an increasing number of enemy ships being fielded.

Did you want to press your attack on Csontos, the Nav station, both at the same time, or keep up elevated skirmishing to wipe them out through small unit attrition?

[ ] Attack Csontos
[ ] Attack Nav station
[ ] Both at the same time
[ ] Defeat in detail

>>48264407
>The enemy brought in 24k to 28k ships to the Relay.
Okay, remind me to smack our intel guys around, because their force estimates keep getting higher whenever we start winning.

>http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/47390229/#p47416042
>Nasidum and Xygen are believed to have committed 20,000 ships but intel has had trouble determining the accuracy of these numbers due to recent losses and salvage efforts. As many as 8000 may have been crippled or destroyed in the last major battle and Bonrah brought reinforcements to replace them. Numbers may actually be as high as 25,000 but this seems unlikely.


>You
>fourteen thousand (before battle)
This is wrong.
>http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/archive/47390229/#p47416042
>The Run Alliance, Ruling House, Berhelum and all allied Houses save for Helios have approximately 209 wings worth of attack craft and battleships for a total of 15,048 ships.
We brought 14 thousand to the actual battle, and lost 30% of those dead or crippled. There were and additional 1000 ships that weren't brought to the battle. So we should have 10.8k ships, not 9.8k.

>>48266979
>[ ] Attack Nav station

>>48267126
>There were and additional 1000 ships that weren't brought to the battle.
Right. There are still some ships back guarding the Bonrah colonies where ships are trapped. Some of them were freed up by deploying minefields there.
There should also be a small force guarding the other nav station.

The 14k was the number of ships participating in the big battle.

>So we should have 10.8k ships
Sounds good.

Do you guys want to rotate more of those up to the fighting and replace the guard ships with ones that are a bit more battle worn in need of repairs?

>>48267254
Where possible, yes.

While we're waiting for more votes on >>48266979

Let's get some rolls for how quickly the fleets are advancing.
Roll 6d100

Rolled 11, 17, 61, 50, 60, 84 = 283 (6d100)

>>48267622

Rolled 54, 96, 27, 36, 18, 70 = 301 (6d100)

>>48266979
[X] Attack Nav station

If they are shifting more repairs to the nav station just to keep up then cutting them off from it would be a hard blow with them already haven't trouble keeping up repairs as is and if we can keep the Nav station we might be able to use those very same repair stations.

>>48267622
Rollin THunder

>>48267900
There are two other Nav Stations. I bet we could get Helios to foot the bill for renting space.

>>48267622
As
>>48267900
Said, isolate Csontos, bleed repair convoys

Rolled 14, 51, 33, 45, 69, 64 = 276 (6d100)

>>48267622
>>48268038
Oops

Its really hard for the navigators guild to claim their station is neutral now that's its been appropriated as a repair yard.

Say sorry, but it's now a war target and we should be able to go weapons free on it, at least on the repair arms. There's a few old stations in the nav hazards, maybe we can salvage those later to speed up the Nav stations rebuilding, when we win.

>>48268033
>There are two other Nav Stations. I bet we could get Helios to foot the bill for renting space.
The first officer of the station leading to Terran space tells you "Fuck off, we're full." before his superior relieves him.

The station commander apologizes for the outburst but the Guild is understandably on edge after Nasidum fired on the other station and their subsequent occupation of it.
"We understand if the station they've captured has become a military target, we're just reluctant to come under fire ourselves."

You explain that you need to make use of their repair bays and unlike Nasidum would be willing to pay for their use at normal civilian rates.
"We'll evacuate our forces if the enemy approach your station."

They were probably prepared to turn you down before the offer of payment came up. Even the Rovinar base commander might be swayed by that.

"We... we won't conduct repairs on weapon systems. Only the hulls and power systems."

Would this be acceptable? Y/N?

>>48268636
Yes

>>48268636
I'm tempted to politely ask them what the best locations for using V torps are in this relay. Just to see their reaction.
And take the deal.

>>48268636
Yes, that would speed things up greatly.

>>48268887
>I'm tempted to politely ask them what the best locations for using V torps are in this relay. Just to see their reaction.
Count Nirium apologises for not having included you but the Ruling House has been in secret talks with the Guild on that matter. At present they're still supposed to be ongoing.

The Dro'all commander of the other Navigator station lacks any moral qualms to you making use of their repair facilities. Quite the opposite when the money is offered.

It looks like the enemy lines are starting to crumble more quickly near Csontos. That only convinces you more that the Nav station needs to be dealt with and quickly.

Count Nirium, Earl Tarse-enic and Baron Kadnil pull a good portion of their units off the line once your reinforcements arrive from the blockade worlds. Their Heavy and Medium Cruisers will help guard the Array as it's brought into position.

"We'll keep the Gravity well generator nearby. If it looks like the enemy fleet is going to try to jump us we'll activate it dragging them out of FTL early."

Foss says that he'll be late to the party. "Once we're operational we'll move into a position where we can jump in to support as needed."

Forbearance will be doing much the same as work continues on field repairs of its drive section.

What will you be doing as a part of this operation?

[ ] Keep up with the skirmishing
[ ] Make use of Fast Mediums to board nav station when ready
[ ] Other

See you tomorrow.
Will resume closer to 12PM EST due to class early AM. Will need to run to work around 4PM EST then resume around 9.

>>48269672
Skirmish near the station, act as hammer and break up any large enemy formations that are forming up. When the space around the station is secure enough for safe boarding, then pull us off the line to assist.

Also keep up any long range bombardment of the Bastion. Just cause were changing focus to the Nav Station, dosnt mean we should let up on Csontos. If we can set up timely out of system kkvs that interrupt their operations or staging space on Csontos.

I mean that big engagement must have left alot of Corvette hulks or something. Find ones that still have basic navigation capabilities and sling em at em. Like the Corvette KKV's they attempted on the Ruling House Supply Base in the run

P10 bump

>>48269672
>[x] Keep up with the skirmishing
We should be careful not to waste our marines on the nav station. We'll have to secure much more important installations in the future.

>>48269672
>[ ] Keep up with the skirmishing

>>48269672
>[X] Keep up with the skirmishing

Keep up the pressure even as the Nav station assault happens. We should see a very real effect during the assault and after.

>>48269672
>[ ] Keep up with the skirmishing

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Page 9 bump!

Random quest. Back when we did our hostile takeover on Rioja you mentioned we got the best land on the planet. Land good for farming. Does this mean that the Dominion does not make use of massive multilevel greenhouses? I mean the only reason we aren't using them currently is that we lack the energy to do so efficiently.

>>48274345
We aren't as densely settled as others, so there isn't much need

>>48274345
Also, terraforming probably is seen as preferable to this. Planetwide transportation seems to be pretty cheap, so you would have to balance the cost of having exotic foods grown en masse (which would rob them of much of their value from being exotic) vs. just importing them.

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>>48274345
>Does this mean that the Dominion does not make use of massive multilevel greenhouses?
It can and I'm sure there are worlds that do. There are a number of crops that aren't a ideal for use by greenhouse or hydroponics. You could probably establish some to grow crops that wouldn't grow as well on Rioja.

There are also lots of locations for potential cities on your land too, and plenty of rivers for fresh water sources.

>the only reason we aren't using them currently is that we lack the energy to do so efficiently.
That can also be a concern. If EMP attacks knock out power to the colony it would be good if their major food stocks don't crash.

Ha! Just had an idea for a big airborne grain harvester based off the Scarab or maybe LST that would use repulsors to stay off the ground and harvest wide swaths of fields.
Warning sensors to watch out for people in the fields of course.

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>>48275827
Like pic related?

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>>48276136
I guess?

The Ruling House fleet jumps in escorting the array and begins to bombard the Nav station with long range fire. The station's own heavy phase cannon arrays return it and ships begin to launch from the repair bays.

Fire that might prove a threat to the array is blocked by the shield platforms while the heavy cruisers soak off the remainder with their own.

It doesn't take long for the enemy to vector nearby assets into the fight to try and get the jump on the array fleet from the flanks. They're not alone. Your sides skirmishing fleets pursue them, forcing some to break off and micro jump out.

Friendly attack units are warned to try and stay outside of the range of the gravity well. It would be best if they weren't forced to stay in the system due to being trapped in the well.

Some of Ber'helum's ships that have been upgraded with mass driver point defense are positioned around the array, shooting down most incoming SP weapons. Battleships and damged corvettes try to block any others that get through.

The first shot from the array is just to get their attention, striking shields on the ring before tracking towards its edge to reduce serious damage if it were to penetrate.

"Large formations of enemy ships are preparing to leave the station. The first group looks like they're trying to get out before the array can charge for another shot."

Set for a wide scattering beam this time the Count orders the array to fire early. A group above the plane of the station and a smaller one below the ring are both struck before they can jump. While it didn't do as much damage as a full power shot could have most of the fleeing ships were already damaged.

More that weren't ready yet form up to launch in the direction opposite the Array fleet using the station for cover.

"Reynard, could your fleet break up that group? We'll watch our fire."

[ ] Jump them once they get far enough from the station
[ ] Follow them to their reversion point instead
[ ] Other

Roll 4d20

Rolled 8, 14, 17, 16 = 55 (4d20)

>>48276550
Jerik-Dremine is currently approaching Middle House status, right? With all that we've been doing (and by extension the house itself), it seems weird to still be in the Small House range.

Nasidium better be fucking dead in the water after we repulse their fleet, and salvage literally everything. How are things looking for each of the Great Houses at the moment?

[ ] Jump them once they get far enough from the station

Rolled 8, 4, 11, 11 = 34 (4d20)

>>48276550
>[ ] Jump them once they get far enough from the station

I like jumping enemies.

>>48276595
If I recall, they were pushing back in the area just outside the Run, fighting of the RH & Berhlum.

House Helios has just been sitting to the sides saying "Not yet, not yet!" fucking useless faggot cunts. Seriously what the hell are they waiting for.

>>48276601
>>48276595

With the amount of times we ambush enemies in transit, they're going to start taking precautions about this.

Or having nervous breakdowns if they can't think of anything.

Rolled 7 (1d20)

>>48276550
1

Rolled 20, 19, 10, 7 = 56 (4d20)

>>48276550
Dice

Rolled 3 (1d20)

>>48276550
2

Rolled 9, 10, 10, 8 = 37 (4d20)

>>48276550
[X] Jump em

Rolled 18, 15 = 33 (2d20)

>>48276696
>>48276714

File: 1465116773571.jpg (93 KB, 600x435)

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>20, 19, 17, 16

YEEEEEEESSSSSSSS

>>48277215
> 8, 14, 18, 15

Single rolling.

>>48277251
No it's best of three so 20, 19, 18, 15

>>48277334
>>48277251

This post here
>>48276696
Single rolled before the one with the 20 here
>>48276708

These are the dangers of single rolling.

If were were to count only that first single roll and then the post after it then it would look something like this.

8 20 19 16

>>48277386
I didn't mean to leave it half-way, just I was posting on my phone and then work got in the way.

>>48277164
Finished it off for me though.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmYXjL_ACmk

Your unit jumps in fairly close to the fleeing enemy formation as they begin to accelerate for their jump. The damaged ones need more time giving you an opening.

Battleships and battlecruisers fire in every direction, scoring hits on damaged ships. Diving into the the center of their formation, you're close enough in to use PPC Guns. Cones of lightning blast outwards from the top and bottom of your ship.

Enemies scatter, losing what little unit cohesion they once had. Those already able to do so immediately jump out.

You and your escorts continue to pour out fire. Nearly every weapon system can score a hit on an enemy. It's enough to make even Tes'us comment about this being a target rich environment.

Collision arms sound just before you're struck by a damaged corvette. A Moli in the process of launching escape pods follows a few seconds later. Its reactors must have been on overload because it goes up with a tremendous explosion, dropping your main shield.

Secondary shields hold up fine against fire from any ships that can get a shot off.

More ships continue to jump every second while others begin to broadcast surrender signals. There are still some that haven't made up their mind one way or the other when an enemy assault corvette wing jumps in and fires torpedoes. They jump back out almost immediately when it looks like the array is preparing to fire again.

A few SP Torpedoes directed your way manage to make it through, one of them damaging the dorsal electronic warfare systems.

[ ] Recover surrendered ships and fall back for repairs
[ ] Continue pursuit of fleeing ships

>>48277781
[X] Continue pursuit

>>48277781
[ ] Continue pursuit of fleeing ships

We are not that badly damaged yet. We've only suffered minor torpedo damage to the armor and to the dorsal ECM. We can keep up the fighting and save the repair spot for someone that really needs it.

>>48277781
>[ ] Recover surrendered ships and fall back for repairs

I'm skeptical about how easily they broke. I'm good for now.

>>48277781
>[ ] Continue pursuit of fleeing ships

You'll link up with some of Drake's people for the pursuit, then loop back to help support the station assault.

Sound good?

Roll 6d20

Rolled 16, 11, 1, 3, 20, 7 = 58 (6d20)

>>48277931
dice+6d20

Rolled 18, 12, 11, 4, 5, 6 = 56 (6d20)

>>48277931
Fingers crossed.

Rolled 4, 3, 5, 17, 1, 17 = 47 (6d20)

>>48277931
Whelp.

>>48278170
>>48278110
>>48278006

> 18, 12, 11, 17, 20, 17

'Salright, 'salright.

Can't finish the post in time, see you after work!

>>48278437
It's all good little nigga.

I think it's worth pointing out that we haven't seen a single enemy tanker or logistics ship. They must have brought some with them at least.

Maybe they've miscalculated the fuel situation in our little pocket and realised it can't sustain anything beyond a minimal fleet?

Either way, I think we should seize this opportunity and deploy our Recon/commando teams on the cloaked ships to capture and overtake any isolated enemy tankers to assist in our own fuel problem, and deprive them.

>>48279139
Or they planned on coming in with enough force to take the supplies, or to hook up with their abandoned and sieged worlds for supplies, or TSTG just figured they weren't worth mentioning as a separate support fleet and their presence was implied.

>>48279239
...you know...they are going through our territory pretty fast so what if the tankers are apart of the fleet that is going around and they plan to link up to refuel and restock their supplies?

>>48279432
It IS something to think about, that's for sure.

>>48279139
>>48279239
>>48279432
You guys do have a point there. Taking out their tankers and fuel supply would force them to go looking for it. That would mean we would dictate their tactic.

And if we can deny them from gaining more then we would disable their entire fleet once they run out of stored fuel.

>>48279711
Well, putting more logistical pressure on them can't be a bad thing.

We're currently counter-hunting their stealth ships with ours though, no?

>>48279711
>Taking out their tankers and fuel supply would force them to go looking for it. That would mean we would dictate their tactic.
Worth noting that we can drain the captured megas of fuel along with the other wrecks. That should support our operations for a bit.

Maybe we've been thinking about this completely wrong - maybe this is a supply war instead of a conflict war?

>>48280325
No, that's what we've been doing all along. That's why we were talking about letting them tie down some forces grabbing planets so they couldn't bring everything to bear. That's why we engaged in such a costly battle to alpha strike them and cripple their ability to project force. That's why we've been keeping up constant pressure, because we can repair and rearm faster than they can.

It's been mentioned several times in the thread,

>>48278437
Can we get an estimate on the feasibility of moving one of the crippled Megas to serve as a makeshift foritification?

>>48279239
I feel compelled to point out that a moli transport just rammed us.

>>48279139
>I think it's worth pointing out that we haven't seen a single enemy tanker or logistics ship.
How often are they shown in LOGH except when they're acting as the plot point of the day?

Logistics ships are present with the Fortress at all times. Some were accompanying the Mega class ships and the Heavy Carriers. They are usually protected by escorts.
A good number of them are taking cover within the Bastion.

Combat Fuel Tankers, a design that came about as part of the Alliance's escort carrier and escort cruiser program, are present. They're fast for tankers and tough enough to take a few hits. While they cant carry as much fuel as normal stasis compressed tanker designs their suitability more than makes up for it.
Scout ships have sighted some of them attempting to refuel at gas giants whenever skirmishing is far enough away from them.
Special operations are considering them as a possible entry vector for infiltration teams.

I had planned to mention these tankers but the opportunity didn't come up.

Just thought it should be said, but I'm disappointed no one mentioned making EMP rounds for the Rifle after the Nanite incident.

>>48282221
Phase rifles more expedient.

You don't want to plan for getting into a gunfight with nanobots. If you are planning on getting into a fight and think that the other guy might bring nanobots, you find a different fight.

>>48282292
>Phase rifles more expedient.
As demonstrated by the actual nanite fight, they're decent but struggle to penetrate. Combi splinter-EMP a best.

As your reorganise your escort the engineers send off a report of equipment they'll need for repairs. Basic fixes can be done anywhere but certain equipment just isn't built in quantity.

"Will we be good for supplies and repairs with Rioja cut off?"
"Mostly. It looked like one of our missile batteries had jammed but the engineers have fixed it. The ECM is the only thing we'll have trouble with."

Jumping out in pursuit you catch up with the group of damaged ships as two under strength attack wings converge on them. It looks like it's going to be one of the usual mop-up actions until more enemy attack units show up in an attempt to drive you off.

Both of the allied wings break off to engage the new arrivals letting you and your escorts concentrate on the escaping ships.
Your heavier and higher penetration weapons serve well in this case, punshing through shields to strike engines and cripple drive sections.

Some still get away but you've helped to whittle down the enemy numbers just a bit more.

"Lets get back to help the station assault."

By the time you get back the remaining enemies holding the station have begun to get desperate. They advise the Array fleet to cease fire or they'll be putting civilian lives aboard the station in danger.

You're seeing little sign that the Count is prepared to cease fire.
"Viscount Reynard, we're about to send in fast ships with LST's and HLV's to board the station. Your Medium would be ideal to help but you may want to have your Battlecruisers and Battleships hang back."

[ ] Fast ships & Command ship
[ ] Everyone (Fast ships, Command ship & Escorts)
[ ] Call in the afterburner equipped Mediums instead

>>48283009
>[ ] Fast ships & Command ship

>>48283009
>[x] Call in the afterburner equipped Mediums instead

Unless that'll take too much time or resources away from where they're needed more. Then I'd go for option one.

>>48283009
>[X] Fast ships & Command ship

>>48283009
>[x] Fast ships & Command ship

Just fast ships and your command ship. You and a few assault transports will be carrying the larger HLVs, while smaller afterburner equipped ships being in LSTs.

"Power to engines and shields."

Listening in on coms you hear the enemy base commander trying to threaten the Count into breaking off the attack.

Instead the array fires again, this time with a much more widely dispersed beam. Shields on the station are knocked out and the outer hull of the station takes damage to the entire side facing it. There are only a few places where it actually penetrates the hull having been too weak to get through the stations thick outer armor.

It does manage to knock out some of the weapons and sensors, giving your team a blind spot to micro jump into.

Afterburner equipped ships speed ahead to get beneath the shield before it can be raised again. Remaining weapon emplacements begin to track as they recover and soon open fire on you. By then your helmsman is already decelerating to bring you into the open area behind the station ring.

"HLV's detaching!"

The Frigate sized ships zip off towards the docking bays lining the inner surface of the ring. LST's mainly dock along the station arms connecting to the core using bays for repairing Medium cruisers. They'll be headed for the station interior to sieze the command center.

Troops have taken control of most of the station by the time you get word the Sam Bellamy is operational again. There are still pockets of resistance but the important parts are under your control.

Vanderwal sends you a message.
"You know I've had an idea. Or perhaps more of an observation really. This station isn't really much use to the Guild at the moment. With its power systems we could mount a few more planetary shields on it. That would make it hard for anyone to retake it. Maybe even force Nasidum to bring in their Fortress where we could be waiting for it."

>What say?

>>48284388
"All under the guise of 'protecting' neutral investments, then?"

>>48284388
That's a very delightful idea Vanderwal, do you happen to know the location of the nearest planetary shields? We're only trying to help protect Guild assets, you know.

Please remind me to pay you double after we're finished with this business.

Was up early so I'm fading out. See you in the morning!

>>48284635
>Please remind me to pay you double after we're finished with this business.
Nah, we have a gorillion things to pay for after this is all done, let's not add any more unnecessary expenses to that number.

>>48284669
But Vanderwal is the best nigga and he'll shank us one day with his expert intelligence and planning. skills if we don't keep him happy.

>>48284388
"You know....that isn't a half bad idea. With what is happening with Bastion at the moment it might force the Fortress or other parts of their fleet to backtrack to ensure it doesn't become overwhelmed. Not to mention they still need refit & repair capabilities."

I will say I am surprised though. I would have thought they wouldn't have allowed us to get this far with Sieging Bastion forces like this. Unless they are trying to repair some of their heavier assets are are slowly picking the other half of their fleet apart.

>>48284684
We should probably just let him off his probation after this business in the run is over. Dude was retired and only back in the game for one last job after all.

>>48285148
>We should probably just let him off his probation
Yeah, that's a good idea I think.

We should definitely see what he wants to do, he's been quite helpful.

We should trying roping him in to our Dyson sphere raid team to help track down all the other parts to the map/unlock key.

>>48285340
Sonia's dyson sphere team:
Sonia (age 29, probably feels like 120+ right now)
Svidur (age 800+)
Admiral Chen ( 60+)
Kavos (60+, that's like 150 in froggy years)
Vanderwal (60+)
Linda (30-ish? probably feels like she's at least 100 under stress)

Any suggestions who else to drag out of a retirement home for this?

>>48285969
Bewari
The cool neeran who made our lightning gun work for us

Do Dro'all have a tadpole development stage?

>>48287963
Possession of pictures of Dro'all at this stage is highly illegal and seen as morally deviant.

>>48284647
IT'S MORNING. YOU SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN 8 HOURS OF SLEEP AND BEEN UP FOR TWO HOURS BY NOW.

WHAT UP.

I jokes.

>>48285969
> Not having Winifred run the comms and off-site base. Mostly so she has to listen to us call up and go "So, uh, here's the thing . . . ." or "Just how MUCH smuggling space do we have exactly, and how far away are any observers"

>>48269917
>I mean that big engagement must have left alot of Corvette hulks or something.
It would have left more if you hadn't used antimatter weapons.

>>48288923
>WHAT UP.
Check my twitter.

>>48285969
A potential love interest who can make a heroic sacrifice causing Sonia to guilt trip for the rest of her years?

>>48282292
>If you are planning on getting into a fight and think that the other guy might bring [ _____ ], you find a different fight.
nanobots
nukes (if on foot)
bio weapons
What else?

"All under the guise of 'protecting' neutral investments, then?"

"Something like that. Really I just don't care for the Navigators much. It's probably just some irrational dislike held over from my younger days."

"Do you happen to know the location of the nearest planetary shields? We're only trying to help protect Guild assets, you know."
"I don't, but you have a lot of well paid people who do."

One of Ber'helum's allies has a small stockpile of planetary shields. Another House has a few more but they haven't contributed to defense of the Run so far. They're the most likely to switch support to Nasidum when it looks like they can do so without you wiping them out.

Talking to Tama about it he points out that the station is rather immobile.
"It's at the farthest edge of the Relay. They could ignore it and avoid engaging it in the future, instead targeting the other colonies."

>>48289130
Sun lasers. Giant mirrors that hang out in near sun orbit and focus the light into intense beams for smelting down large asteroids into component materials. The mirrors themselves are very large, and very fragile, and very cheap so there's a shit ton. Combined with their ability to redirect terrifying amounts of energy from the sun as focused beams, and the fact that at best you're just going to be punching holes in them, they make for an incredibly dangerous installation to attack.

But I don't think we really have the industrial capacity for that sort of thing in setting. Then again, you already put up a Dyson sphere. One of the main reasons to create a Dyson sphere is to be able to utilize 100% of the radiant energy from a star, so it could have terrifyingly powerful energy weapons or a near limitless energy source depending.

Uh.

>>48289370
Can we use some of the equipment from the scanning platforms produced in the relay to speed up the repairs on the navigator station?

>>48289370
I didn't realize we had someone that blatantly disloyal left.

>>48289370
We should send Bonrah a message, "We're not trapped in here with you, you're trapped in here with us."

Also I say we take the shields from the less contributing house. Get it while we can.

>>48289422
Or Avun could split her fleet off and help them "change sides."

>>48289444
We don't have a way to talk to her.

>>48289404
The sensor arrays? I suppose that should be possible.

>>48289422
>Also I say we take the shields from the less contributing house. Get it while we can.
The nearest stationed Baron asks that they help contribute to the defense of the relay either in the form of planetary shields or their somewhat minimal fleet assets.

It doesn't take them long to get the idea that "No" won't be taken for an answer and they soon hand over the shields.

The Commanders and Governors in the Run are doing what they can to force the enemy into performing planetary assaults in order to secure the manufacturing assets they need. Smugglers are helping to evacuate supplies and equipment before each planet is cut off.

Half of the colonies in the Run are under attack or under threat of invasion.

Roll 7d100 for colony resistance.

Rolled 43, 79, 71, 8, 74, 51, 1 = 327 (7d100)

>>48289788
NASIDIUM GET OUT
REEE

Rolled 70, 97, 43, 4, 56, 90, 72 = 432 (7d100)

>>48289788
Crush them.

Rolled 50, 99, 30, 28, 58, 83, 83 = 431 (7d100)

>>48289788
Wooooooo

>>48289820
>>48289855
>>48289857

70, 99, 71, 28, 74, 90, 83

Not terrible I guess. Looks like we lost one though.

>>48289820
>>48289855
>>48289857
70 99 71 28 74 90 83
One colony didn't do well, everything else is pretty bad for them.

>>48289788
Is this a straight 0 - 100 or do different colonies have different modifiers to resistance? Like Colony 1 needs a 70 to fight them off, colony 2 needs a 30 because it's hardened etc?

>>48289886
>or do different colonies have different modifiers to resistance?
A bit, but not a huge difference

Troops have landed on Rioja, taking the main spaceports in Rioja City and Strymon. Much of the urban areas surrounding the ports have been taken with special emphasis being placed on securing the manufacturing areas. Resistance from the PDF is preventing them from expanding their beachhead there.
It seems additional HLV drops outside the population areas were initially abandoned due to poor weather and atmospheric conditions. With the exception of the cities and their industry Rioja is being looked at as a place not worth putting up a huge fight over.
No attempt was made to assault the Capital or Mons Abyla with their heavier defenses, though their shields were bombarded.

Merah was briefly invaded and occupied by a small force but they abandoned it due to so much of the population being armed. It is a farming colony after all. That didn't stop them from making off with food stockpiles at the spaceports.

Most other colonies are resisting heavily, especially those belonging to House Pantaq, where the enemy has failed to breach the shields. The defenses at the other end of the Run in Pantaq space have fallen but there are no signs that this has hurt the morale of the colonists.

The regional capital of House Kadnil has largely fallen, though substantial pockets of resistance remain. Nasidum is claiming they've won a complete victory over the planet and are willing to negotiate with Baron Ull'ek Kadnil for the surrender of their fleet, though they would also accept them switching sides.

Ull'ek has refused. Their people are already drawing up plans for liberation of the planet using the remaining strongholds as a beachhead when the opportunity presents itself.

Between the loss of the Navigator station and the constant attacks by your entire fleet the enemy forces at Csontos are weakening.
They're not dead yet and resistance is stiffening. Some units are launching hit and fade attacks on the navigator station and nearby colonies.
Count Nirium has pulled the array back to keep it from harm.

Drake contacts you.
"There may be smaller field repair ships operating with raiding groups in the ares south of the nav station. We're not seeing as many of them going back to Csontos for repairs."

You may need to drive them out.

Roll 6d100 for clearing out the more isolated areas.

Rolled 10, 51, 74, 99, 49, 95 = 378 (6d100)

>>48290522

>>48290384
Damn. We gotta send Ull'ek a gift or something.

Sadly, this sort of thing tying down their forces is exactly what we need.

All your maps are jpeg as fuuuuck son. I can't read any the the detail on the bottom left.

So, uh, what does Kadnil falling mean strategically? With the strong resistance could we do a massive raid to draw off their space forces and organize a supply drop to help out? Or would doing so pull us too far out of position?

What kind of support is Ull'ek asking for?

Rolled 48, 90, 38, 100, 45, 90 = 411 (6d100)

>>48290522
Unhf get fucked trying to out raid us niggas.