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For House & Dominion: Civil War: The Final Days (55)

http://houseanddominion.wikia.com/wiki/House_%26_Dominion_Complete_Archive
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Dominion+quest

https://twitter.com/ThatSlowTypingG


You are Sonia Reynard, Viscount of Rioja and a member of House Jerik-Dremine. You and your House have gained power and prestige thanks to victories over the past few years. While still small numerically the other Houses of the greater Dominion have begun to take notice of your strength and influence.

The civil war that has consumed the Dominion seems to be drawing to a close. A cease fire between the Nasidum aligned Houses and those allied with the Ruling House is now in effect.

In the Centri Cluster House Bonrah has been occupied by you and your allies, while the once mighty House Nasidum is reeling from the loss of their most important shipyard. The home territories of House Xygen remain untouched but the same can not be said of their fleets. Vital elements off their military have been crippled or destroyed, though the cost to your side has also been high.

House Jerik-Dremine has survived the onslaught faced on their side of the galaxy, helping House Feron persevere in the process. From what you have heard it has been a desperate struggle and so far your House has not yet told you how heavy their losses were.

In South Reach the former pirate Warlords have begun to withdraw back to their territory, but many mercenaries and privateers on either side are still conducting skirmishing between minor Houses that haven’t yet agreed to the cease fire.

Some territories in South Reach, having lost their homeworlds in the Centri cluster to occupations by either side, have decided to break away from their former Houses. Your own leadership might have once worried of similar events but Winifred has reaffirmed her commitment to the House. The J-D South Reach territories were ready to accept refugees and fleets from the homeworlds if necessary until such time as the House could be fully restored.
>>
Not all of the news is good. While things seem to be nearing a conclusion in some areas in others they are worsening.
House Kharbos has had a change of government and the recently deposed opposition has fled their capital, taking refuge in the territories nearer to J-D space. House Che'len seemed to be gearing up to take advantage of Kharbos weakened state, to potentially take back territory they'd lost early in the civil war.

That all changed when a combined fleet from both Houses crossed the border into Ruling House territory, headed straight for the capital. While they're not stopping to capture systems or establish forward bases to maintain their advance, smaller forces are conducting attacks on installations along the way.

Made up primarily of a mix of Dominion, Aries and Iratar hardware, the fleet seems to be fielding several new ship classes. Some are simply old Supers Che'len has finally finished upgrading, but others are far more worrying.
Iratar Milli class mobile docks, new Kharbos Bellerophon class heavy cruisers, and an Aries super heavy carrier are surprises but ones you'll get over.

A number of battlecruiser sized ships looking like a curved metallic shell are far more alien. Able to split apart into two halves, a ball of fusion plasma seems to be contained between them. It can then direct a beam of plasma from the sphere to hit targets. This is not Dominion or Faction technology, nor is is Neeran.

Alliance Intel believes the ship to be using an open type fusion reactor identical to one you saw used by terrorists attacking Rioja but scaled up. That attack was determined to be the work of the Kythera, a society theorized to be entirely composed of machines or AIs. They have advanced nanite tech far beyond what the Factions can produce.
It was considered dangerous enough that the Alliance removed nanite samples you had at Rioja rather than risk them falling into Nasidum hands. In hindsight that might have been a good thing.

You've done your part to warn Duke Ber'helum to the danger they could pose.

Between the intelligence reports and other warnings House Helios has decided to initiate AI War protocol across the entire Dominion. Vulnerable lines of communications are being cut and every available fleet within range is now rushing to aid the defense of the Dominion's Capital.

Even with the high bandwidth com relays going offline the capital's communications infrastructure is extensive. It was intended to be powerful enough for the leaders of every House to maintain ties with their homeworlds while visiting the capital. The current dynasty has rarely had the unity necessary to call for a mass gathering of the leaders of every House, but the option has been there. The hundreds of embassies alone would strain the com capacity of most worlds.
>>
Putting a few backup plans into motion you managed to contact Foss before communications were cut. The Mercenary leader will rush his Super Heavy to House Feron space where it will be outfitted with phased siege weaponry. It will take 10 days for them to arrive. With luck this whole thing will have been decided one way or another by then.

"Really? That's... unbelievably bad.
Think of how much people will be willing to pay us for the extra fire support! Yeah sure we'll get to House Feron space. Just make sure they know we're coming and are going to need those guns."

Additional emergency measures have been put into place regarding your family and RSS. Your financial portfolio is also protected with hard copies should the bank archives on Dremine be turned into giant inert blocks.

Baron Alexander Palaiologos will be joining the Ber'helum led force you are currently part of shortly before you reach the capital. With him is Forbearance and his entire fleet. You'll need the firepower of a big ship like that in the fighting about to take place.

"Alert, the following is an emergency transmission for all Dominion Houses and personnel.
AI War protocol is now in effect. All Houses are encouraged to follow AI War protocols for the protection of military and civilian infrastructure.
High bandwidth communications arrays have been disabled. Please restrict FTL communications to essential traffic only.
This message will repeat every 30 minutes."

Several of the more nervous officers and command staff aboard your new ship double check their sidearms. You'd guess one in ten have previously familiarised themselves with the hidden setting on their energy weapons before now. It would probably have been far less if not for your insistence that the House more actively train for its use. It was getting to the point where only handfuls of the old veterans even knew how to set their weapons for it properly.

People of your parent's generation didn't have ready access to powerful anti-tank weapons like the House now does. They were forced to improvise, putting phase rifles on AI war settings then overloading them to disable vehicles. Crews will need to be careful not to accidentally disable the ship with their small arms if you're boarded.

"Sir, Intel is getting reports of combat in Xygen space." Maybourne informs you.

"Figures. Did they break the cease fire?"

"No, they're actually recalling most of their front line fleets towards their core territories to repel an attack taking place there. Intel thinks someone is trying to take out their R&D labs."

That can't be a coincidence.
>>
>>1682679
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION

AI WAR EDITION
>>
>>1682679
FOR SONIA & SALVAGE
>>
>>1682695
That's oddly specific.


The fleet you've been slowly assembling at the Ber'helum capital is largely crewed by personnel recovered through prisoner exchanges. New recruits brought in from Rioja or on loan from Ber'helum help to fill in the gaps.

>J-D Reserve Fleet (Sonia Reynard)
Quattro medium cruiser refit (Command ship)
Eminence II - Afterburner
Lance - RSS refit

>Command Squad
1x Great Devourer (custom Battlecruiser)
2x Excalibur Battlecruiser
4x Athena Battleships

1x Battleship Squadron (12x Dominion Fast Battleships)
2x Assault Corvette Wing (144x assault corvettes)
2x Mixed Wings (144x ships)
4x Escort Carriers (Attached to mixed wings)

1x Carrier Group (50% drone fighters)

Before your fleet set out there was enough time to upgrade either 1 large ship, a small number of Battleships, the Carrier group, or an attack squadron. Your choice will receive the best tech the Dominion can produce.

[ ] Upgrade a Medium
[ ] Upgrade Athena Battleships
[ ] Upgrade Dominion Battleships
[ ] Carrier Group
[ ] Assault Corvette squadron
[ ] Mixed Squadron
>>
>>1682754
>[x] Upgrade Athena Battleships
They seem to be the min-max choice. The Athena is to most battle ships what the Shallan medium is to regular mediums. And the class comes with all those nice upgrade slots.

>>1682692
>Kythera
Do these guys qualify for decent treatment under the factions treaty? If they're individual AIs, maybe some would be willing to surrender if they're promised decent treatment as POWs.
>>
>>1682754
>[x] Upgrade Athena Battleships
I have a feeling we'll be needing them to potentially counter those Splitter ships.
>>
>>1682754
[X] Upgrade Athena Battleships

They'll be slow, but hopefully an effective anchor for the fleet battle.
>>
>>1682754
>[x] Upgrade Athena Battleships
I'll be honest, I know jack shit about how ships size up against each other, but it looks like other anons know, so supporting Athena Battleships I guess.
>>
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You check over the commmand squad escorting your new medium. The Athena class battleships have been outfitted with a variation of the LD Plasma Cannon Module B. This one adds plasma cannon turrets as well as a light torpedo battery in each module. It doesn't seem to have been mass produced yet, only being available in small numbers.

A steady stream of incoming reports show the enemy advance and your own fleet's progress across allied space. Having such a large crew on the command deck has its advantages at a time like this. With much of the command processes now isolated from communications the crew has its work cut out for it updating the fleet command displays.

>>1682761
>Do these guys qualify for decent treatment under the factions treaty? If they're individual AIs, maybe some would be willing to surrender if they're promised decent treatment as POWs.

You bring this up to some of the other fleet leaders and it doesn't take long for Duke Ber'helum to comment.
"It will depend entirely on the ability of the Alliance to contain them. We lack the equipment to do so safely. The research facility where we were studying captured samples was just attacked. The samples became active and the base staff were forced to trigger their self destruct to prevent a containment breach.
We are not going to repeat that mistake."

"FRY THE CLANKERS!" is one Baron's uncouth response to this news.

Alex manages to link up with the allied fleets, engines operating at full burn. Forbearance slows enough to conduct underway replenishment to get her fuel reserves back to battle ready status. They've been running the afterburners and FTL at the highest levels the engineers could risk. Some ships from Helios and high speed units from other fronts have arrived as well.

The main Helios reserve fleet is still a day out. They have enough siege weaponry to potentially turn the tide but their FTL doesn't seem to be the newest.

Your fleets arrive at the edges of the system shortly after the Kharbos and Che'len fleets do. It seems the Duke has sent a small advanced force ahead without telling anyone. They've used a gravity well generator to drag most of the enemy fleet out of FTL, preventing them from a straight shot to the capital.
Some elements have made it through and are engaging defense platforms and PDF starfighters.

A large Ruling House fleet will soon arrive in system but even with them your forces remain outnumbered. You'll have to make use of the orbital defenses to even the odds.

The Duke is considering engaging from long range, forcing the enemy to run a gauntlet to reach the planet. It won't stop all of them, but will inflict losses and might slow them down. Others are suggesting a classic hammer and anvil, with the fleets jumping behind the enemy acting as the hammer and the PDF as the anvil.

>Suggestions?
>>
>>1682866
Have the other Houses sent their demands yet?

>the PDF as the anvil
If we allow that fleet to get that close to the planet, what will stop them from simply dropping nanites and taking over what can easily be turned into the largest computer in the Dominion?

>orbital defenses
How powerful are the 6 major stations? Also, why not 7? It would make for nice symbology.
>>
>>1682894
>Also, why not 7?
I knew I forgot something.
>>
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This time with the picture.

>>1682894
>what will stop them from simply dropping nanites and taking over what can easily be turned into the largest computer in the Dominion?
The Planetary shields will be able to hold for a time. Then again SP Torpedoes could be repurposed as nanite warheads...

>How powerful are the 6 major stations?
Each is made of a pair of fortress type stations back to back, ringed by civilian station sections. The other sections won't last long, but the central fortress sections are far tougher. They'll need to devote the equivalent of a super heavy or two to bring each down. Some have also been equipped with additional shield platforms.

They're also surrounded by smaller platforms. Older star forts, plasma and phase cannon platforms, Starfighter grade gunsats.
>>
I have to leave for work in another half hour so there's going to be plenty of time to discuss options.
>>
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>>1682913
Would the engines on the stations be powerful enough to allow for a modified orbit like this one? It would allow us to use the stations before the enemy gets close to the planet.
>>
>>1682951
The cruiser sized platforms and smaller could be moved. The big ones are stuck with their current orbits.
>>
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How about this:

We split the fleets into multiple groups.
-1 This group is made up of long range fire support ships like super heavies or the various medium siege cannon platforms.
-2 Heavy cruisers, slower mediums, battleships, escort carriers. Everything that can take hits and is decent at medium to close ranges. Bombard frigates and similar ships would probably fit there as well.
-3 Strike and skirmish craft. Various corvette types, Scarabs, corvettes, attack cruisers.
-4 Independent long range harassment detachments. Small units built around long range ships.

See the animated gif for a rough battle plan:
Phase 1:
Long range ships form up at the planet to give fire support and use the stations as cover. Group 2 forms a defensive line away from the planet to slow down the enemy and allow group 3 to conduct skirmishes. Group for takes advantage of the design of the Kharbos heavy which focuses all long range fire power to the front by engaging at extreme ranges from the sides and rear. If the enemy reacts the jump out of the system to reangage from another posotion.

Phase 2-3:
Group 2 retreats slowly towards the planet.

Phase 4:
Group 1 splits up to engage from the sides and to maintain distance from the enemy fleet. Damaged elements from group 1 and 3 retreat with group 1 to provide cover and for repairs.

Phase 5:
Group 1 and 3 engage from the sides, while group 2 tries to keep the enemy away from the planet. Group 4 keeps up the pressure from the rear.
>>
>>1683204
I like this plan, Anon.

I especially like the retreating defensive line.
I was going to suggest something similar but nothing as in-depth as this.

Form the long range ships around as a rearguard, support the defensive line that slowly moves back. We keep the Gravity Well generator this way.
>>
>>1683243
We also need to send some fast ships to help the ships already engaging the enemy close to the planet. I really don't want these civilian sections infected with nanites.
>>
>>1683356
That's a fair point. I don't think in a conflict this large they'd use Nanites as a direct weapon but it's always a threat.

Is there anyone on the Kharbos/Che'len side that we know and can attempt to get them to switch sides? I can't imagine -everyone- would be happy fighting on the same side as an unknown AI.
>>
>I can't imagine -everyone- would be happy fighting on the same side as an unknown AI.
The opposition has been awfully quiet so far. I'm worried things aren't quite as they seem.
>>
Would you guys rather have Jerik-Dremine or the Dominion as a whole as a faction in Starsector?

I tested the upper bounds and an appropriately sized Shallan Medium in the game really, really lags it. It uses more turrets than about 10 'battleships' in the game,
>>
>>1682913
>>1683204
Dammit, the image was so large I didn't notice I'd left in that area on the right side with the white star.
>>
>>1683456
>Is there anyone on the Kharbos/Che'len side that we know and can attempt to get them to switch sides?
>>1683498
>The opposition has been awfully quiet so far. I'm worried things aren't quite as they seem.
Helios is trying with Che'len since they're just about the only reliable means of diplomatic communications.

The Kharbos opposition party is forming up their fleets and are preparing a relief force to assist in defense of the capital. They're still setting up new IFF's to differentiate them from the forces attacking the capital. It will take 2-3 days for them to arrive.
Some units wanting to help more quickly have temporarily joined the fleets of other Houses allied with Ber'helum and the Ruling House.
>>
>>1683204
You lay out this plan of attack as an alternative to others being proposed.
Several of the higher ranked nobles are against it as this will put the slower ships in a much more dangerous position. If they fail to pull back quickly enough they could be overwhelmed and annihilated.

The Duke makes a few modifications to the plan. The long range forces will stay slightly closer to the front line fighting than proposed, and will position themselves to better establish a cross fire more quickly.

There are also few ships considered ideal for the long range harassment detachments that fleet commanders wouldn't want helping the main long range units.
Alex has some ships that would be perfect for it. Mercenaries and Houses fielding slightly older craft seem to have ships with the best fit for it. They won't have large numbers.

[ ] Deploy them as group 4
[ ] Keep them supporting group 1
>>
>>1684678
Deploy thema as group 4. Mercs should be perfectly suited to that kind of engagement.
>>
>>1683904
In that case imo just trying out the fighters, corvettes, and attack cruisers first and balancing them for fighter~destroyer specs would be okay? If we're bringing mediums from the get go the game would likely struggle even on high spec machines(like that star wars mod in the distant past).
>>
>>1684678
>[x] Deploy them as group 4
>>
>>1684678
>[X] Deploy them as group 4
>>
The Mercenary units seem fine with the idea of conducting ranged harassment and their commanders very much don't want to get in close in this fight.

Fleets jump in close to where the Duke had originally intended, though more spread out. Heavier craft open fire with their siege weapons and Carriers begin to disgorge clouds of starfighters.

Most of your units will be part of Group 3; the highly mobile strike forces that will conduct hit and run attacks. Most of Alex's fleet will be in Group 1 staying close to Forbearance, though elements will be elsewhere.

Both lighter Mediums in your unit are fast enough to assist group 3 to some extent. Your command ship is not quite so quick.
The Quattro isn't as fast as the outer heaven, it's a bit too massive. It will still out run most escort ships like the Kilo, Monitor or AME. Roughly comparable to the new Shukhant.
It's big guns don't have the penetration of republic medium plasma cannons, though overall they do more damage. Their effective range isn't good enough to be considered truly long ranged like siege weapons. Gunnery crews report that they might be able to boost their range at the cost of reduced damage output.

Will your command ship be part of Group 2's slower heavier ships, or Group 1's long range fire support?

[ ] Group 1 (You'll be sitting back dealing less damage but you'll be safer)
[ ] Group 2 (Closer to the action, much heavier fighting)
>>
>>1682679
FOR HOUSE AND - Oh God there are AI everywhere.

Man after this is over, the Dominion really would be in a horrible position due to the amount of losses taken from this.

>>1685237
>[ ] Group 2 (Closer to the action, much heavier fighting)
>>
>>1685237
[X] Group 2 (Closer to the action, much heavier fighting)
>>
>>1685237
>[ ] Group 2 (Closer to the action, much heavier fighting)

It's where we excel.


Also, we are possibly good bait.
>>
>>1685237
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKgNMiy2p5Q

Let's get stuck in.
>>
I'll be running for a few hours tomorrow. Haven't decided if I'll be attending a Hazardous Materials Information course in that morning so that could cut into available time.
>>
>>1685481
Looking forward to it!
>>
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>>1682754
>Lance - RSS refit
Which RSS refit? The one they do for Ber'helum or the one that's more balanced? Does either come with the shiva upgrade?

>>1682866
>We are not going to repeat that mistake
Simply put them into stasis and unfreeze them in a place like the old Terran AI research system Sonia visited? You've gotta think with stasis dude.

>>1683904
Maybe limit the mod to the early ships listed on the wiki? Everything up to classic battleships should be fine and you'd avoid most of the crazy stuff that will break the engine.

>>1685237
>[x] Group 2 (Closer to the action, much heavier fighting)
We can't afford to sit back. Also, do we have any performance data on the guns on the Che'len heavies by now?
>>
>>1685481
>Hazardous Materials Information cours
How appropriate.

>>1685237
>[x] Group 2 (Closer to the action, much heavier fighting)
I remember that time on one of our Neeran tours. It went something like "Sonia, there's a new Neeran gunship designed specifically to fuck you in close range,"
Then Sonia went into close range to kill it and almost lost three mediums.

>>1686115
>Maybe limit the mod to the early ships listed on the wiki?
Sounds like a good idea.
I already have a few unique mechanics planned I hope you'll enjoy. Some of the Dominion ships that still have Drive Plates will cost zero fuel to move in hyperspace. I'm debating whether to make corvettes fighters or not, but I think I'm going to stick with actual pilotable ships for now, just with really, really low supply/crew/fuel use.
>>
>>1686118
>I remember that time on one of our Neeran tours. It went something like "Sonia, there's a new Neeran gunship designed specifically to fuck you in close range,"
>Then Sonia went into close range to kill it and almost lost three mediums.
What? Did something like that happen?
>>
>>1686209
I think it was more likely that we nearly lost the flight of battleships/battlecruisers we had at the time?

That said, we should certainly use this thing as intended and use the main guns to swat enemy battleships/battlecruisers as primary targets.
>>
>>1686209
I specifically remember it happening and why I've wanted a Quattro for a while. I've been going through the archives but over the years the ones with word search functionality have been lost.

It was definitely something to that effect though, I remember one big ship getting chewed up by it before we were able to take it down. Maybe TSTG remembers?
>>
>>1686283
I do recall you guys having trouble with a Quattro and possibly ignoring the briefing warning they were designed to quickly kill battleships.
>>
>>1686285
Did we ever actually meet one? I remember a Sledge getting cored by a Quattro but I don't remember ever actually fighting one.
>>
>>1686286
We met them twice iirc.

The first time was when we'd just been given command of a few mediums and tried CQCing it.

The second was in a fleet engagement with a Neeran Heavy Carrier whilst we were commanding Majestic. There were a few of them in that fight though and we dealt with them at range.
>>
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>>1686115
>Which RSS refit?
The normal most produced one. Terran / RSS Refit on the wiki. Less than a handful of the Shiva versions have been completed and they're all in South Reach.

>>1686286
>Did we ever actually meet one?
Yes. I know at least one was assisting a heavy cruiser that you mobbed during the Maelstrom campaign.


Your command squad will be joining Group 2 where you'll be able deal the most damage with the weapons on your new medium cruiser. As the big guns on your command ship fire you feel a dull vibration through the hull with each shot.

Attack wings flash past headed for the forward most Ber'helum fleet elements in an attempt to save them. The gravity well generator has ceased operations and is now retreating towards the planet at full burn. Their crew are probably glad to be manning a Mark 1 with it's greater engine power as they might stand a chance at escaping.

Some carriers are launching prototype starfighters. Manned versions of the Z6 heavy drone fighters, mounting small turrets instead of the larger spinal mount particle beams. Only a few units are risking launching drones and most of those are acting as wingmen for manned craft.

A Ruling House Admiral broadcasts to the fleet. "All ships, hold off on SP Torpedo attacks until the enemy fleet are closer to the planet or we have a clear shot at their Supers. They'll have anti-missile systems so don't waste them."

Weapons fire between the two fleets increases as the distance scrolls down. The Ruling House fleet as arrived towards the other side of the planet, their long ranged craft adding their fire to that of Group 1. All of their more mobile forces break off and engage enemy units trying to close with the stations.
Group 1 likewise lends some fire from their starboard batteries to assist the nearest stations.

Ships from Group 3 reach the gravity well force just after enemy afterburner equipped squadrons do. It looks like they'll be able to help cover their withdrawal. As group 2 moves up some parts of Group 1 are able to begin making runs at the enemy main fleet in support of the starfightrers.

The main enemy fleet, forced into a concave formation as a result of being dragged out of FTL, are using the new shape to their advantage. Leading elements are catching your side's units in a cross fire, especially the less nimble ones protecting the gravity well.

You can see Group 4 on sensors beginning to harass the enemy rear. For the moment they're being largely ignored.
>>
>>1686386
I wonder if we could envelop their left concave as it stretches forward. Catch it between Group 1 and 2 and just squish it before pulling back. Like taking a bite out of their formation.
>>
>>1686410
Linking up Group 4 and 2 to smash that side of the formation would be an interesting idea
>>
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>>1686420
Unfortunately there are very few ships in group 4. They're just spread out over a wide area.


Shields light up from impacts as your group begins to take more and more fire. Bright flashes of antimatter weapon impacts are a little unsettling. Only a few ships besides Forbearance had point defense dedicated to shooting down heavy torpedoes.
Those beam weapons on the Che'len Supers also seem to be throwing out antimatter. Fire from other energy weapons are causing them to scatter somewhat but that's just resulting in a spray of antiparticles being thrown everywhere. Your forces, especially the starfighters, don't have sensors tuned properly to help evade them. Enemy drones are being careful to stay out of areas where antimatter is being used.

The grav well generator is now close enough that supporting from from the heavy cruisers can drive off some of the attackers trying to cripple it.

Your helmsman and those aboard the other big ships reverse engines to match velocity with the incoming fleet. One of the problems of the Quattro and its spinal mount weapons is keeping the ship pointed at targets while conducting a flighting retreat. Most of the older heavy cruisers don't have as as much difficult in that regard with their weapons spread out on many facings.

While watching developments you send off a message to the Duke's command ship about possibly trapping the enemy's flank between Groups 1 and 2 once they get closer to the planet.

Maybourne points out enemy ship movements. They're relocating their new heavy cruisers out to the wings of either flank. This is giving some of them an easier time returning fire on Group 1.
>>
>>1686502
>Those beam weapons on the Che'len Supers also seem to be throwing out antimatter. Fire from other energy weapons are causing them to scatter somewhat but that's just resulting in a spray of antiparticles being thrown everywhere.
I like it. When do we get our own anti matter cannon?

>They're relocating their new heavy cruisers out to the wings of either flank
So strike now and we can potential take out several Heavy Cruisers if we manage to pin and shatter their flank formation?
>>
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>>1686502
Whoever that lone blue dot is, I want them to have a really fancy medal if they manage to survive.
>>
Oh man I really hope Helios shows up with the unexpected superweapons they've been saving up.
>>
>>1686502
>antimatter weaponry on enemy supers

Oh man, those will probably explode nicely if V-torps are thrown around.

Aren't those Che'len antimatter weapons supposedly positrons? is the 'scatter' effect due to annihilation reactions from crossed beams?
>>
>>1686578
Don't cross the streams!
>>
At the rate I'm going I'm not going to finish another story post before I have to leave for work.

>>1686578
>Oh man, those will probably explode nicely if V-torps are thrown around.
Yes. If only this wasn't the capital people would be less reluctant to start launching them.

>Aren't those Che'len antimatter weapons supposedly positrons?
Yes.
>is the 'scatter' effect due to annihilation reactions from crossed beams?
The powerful electromagnetic fields of the other energy weapons are altering their trajectory.

>>1686525
>So strike now and we can potential take out several Heavy Cruisers if we manage to pin and shatter their flank formation?
Did you guys want to try and pincer the left flank of the enemy fleet? It will require bringing group 1 into closer quarters where they're not as suited.

Or keep pulling group 2 back to prevent the enemy from doing the same to it.
>>
>>1686604
Let's stick to the initial plan.
>>
>>1686604
Well it's probably better to pull back and hope Helios is bringing the pain
>>
Will be back around 9PM EST.
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>>1686663
Take care!
Stay safe!
>>
What's the betting Kharbos/Che'len crew have been melted down into organic ship components?
>>
>>1686816
I'm imagining them looking like Cerberus troops looked from ME 3.
>>
>>1686816
++Initiate jump++
//Jump Initiated //
...
...
...
//Jump disrupted//
++Divulge++
//Undocumented gravity well//
++Divulge++
//Artifical made gravity well//
//Hostile forces detected//
//Hostile forces engaging//
//Formation disrupted//
//Disengage?//
++Recalculating++
...
...
...
++New parameters++
++Engage++
//Engaging//
...
...
...
//Additional hostile forces detected//
++Divulge++
//Numerical superiority maintained//
//Tactical superiority disrupted//
//Strategic superiority lost//
++Calculating++
++Mission success maintained++
++Engage++
//Engaging//
>>
Back a bit later than I planned.

Will resume as soon as I'm able.
>>
I've always wondered, what would it take to create EvE-like smartbombs?
>>
My headaches are making it difficult at best to focus so I'll have to resume whenever I manage to get them to stop. It looks like I have Sunday off so I'll try to run the whole day.

>>1687979
I don't even know how eve smartbombs keep from damaging their own ship.

If I had to guess for H&D I'd say Stun pulse grenades scaled up to starship sizes and put all over the hull.
>>
>>1688021
Take your time man. Self care is important.
>>
>>1686604
On the antimatter note, didn't you mention once that shields counts-as/are matter for the purpose of antimatter hitting them? If shields cause beam weapons to lose focus, doesn't this force those ships to drop at least part of their shields to fire the positron weapons to avoid self-destruction?

This might give our forces an interesting method of harassment or close-in attack on those weapons.
>>
>>1688181
From what I remember, shields consist of cone shaped micro-structures with the wide end pointing outward and the pointed end inward so that shots can 'slip' through.
>>
>>1688841
That sounds about right, but I recall that someone once asked if shields + antimatter = boom as well, and got a yes?

For a normal beam, the 'slip' just causes them to lose focus over range. If your beam is anti-matter and shields are matter, that 'slip' could turn into a big badda boom for the wrong people.
>>
>>1689001
The other possibility in my head is that they have figured out a way to create a very localized shield disruption, allowing their antimatter weapon to have a perfectly clear path thru the shield. We would clearly want to loot this and apply it to our general phase cannons to have both shields active and that neat 'dropped shields, no beam scatter' range bonus.
>>
>>1686816
Reminder that AIs only want the best for you.
To be honest, it seems like a pretty inefficient way to crew Dominion ships which are designed for larger crews because Dro'all are supposed to breed like yellow amphibian rabbits.
>>
>>1689565
>Reminder that AIs only want the best for you.
Frakking
TOASTERS
>>
Any speculation on what the AI wants this time?

It seems really dumb and willing to go along with any plan. I bet some Kharbos dissident is using it to try and become the ruling house.
>>
>>1691113
Pretty sure they're looking at the Dominion as a good subject that they can force to fight the Imperial Neeran.
>>
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>>1691113
>Any speculation on what the AI wants this time?
I don't think it's a big skynet type AI. It doesn't really make sense with the backstory of the Kythera.

>It seems really dumb and willing to go along with any plan.
Maybe the original race screwed around with the upload parameters for AIs created in exile, and it was a rush job because the Neeran were already glassing their planets? They overemphasized the desire to fight whatever the organic person saw as a threat before the upload, assuming it would most likely be the Neeran. That would explain why all the AIs created from faction species seem to go after whoever they disliked the most in their previous lives.
>>
RIP TSTG
>>
>>1697976
Abducted by Terran black-ops.
>>
>>1698200
It was the AI!
>>
>>1698373
The last 3 days have certainly felt like silica pathways to the brain.
>>
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Crews are reporting that many of the Aries built assault corvettes are maneuvering oddly in their dogfights. They're proving difficult to hit as a result of wild evasive maneuvers. There is an up side to this their fuel usage must be through the roof.
Logistics estimates they must also be wearing out parts for their high maneuver drives faster.

"Are all of their ships AI controlled?"

"Intel thinks only some of them are. The Kharbos Modular Assault Corvettes are performing normally. So are most of the larger ships."

Some of the newer ships you don't have much data to compare to. For now you'll just have to hope that not the entire fleet has been taken over.

"Enemy fleet elements are accelerating. They're moving to overtake Group 2."

Forces on the flanks especially have picked up the pace. Group 1 is still pouring on the fire into one side of the enemy fleet so you'll still have a way out in a worst case scenario.

Fleet leadership instructs all forces to increase speed enough to stay ahead of them if possible. You're closing in on the edges of defense platforms maximum weapons range. There won't be many places to run for long.

Enemy assault corvette units are switching out, keeping group 3 on the defensive so that they can't strike at the main fleet. You could try to drive them off allowing group 3 to better resume their own hit and fade attacks. Doing so might leave you dangerously overextended.

[ ] Keep pulling back to the defense platforms
[ ] Counterattack to give group 3 breathing room
>>
Also holy shit I am momentarily feeling good all of a sudden.
>>
>>1698772
[X] Keep pulling back to the defense platforms

We should counter-attack once we've brought them into the defense platforms' fire envelopes, so we have every force multiplier available. Not while we're lacking a major force multiplier.
>>
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>>1698772
Have group two and three pull back asap and reform while the RH fleet pulls up to support their flank.

Have group one fuck over the enemy flank by Veckroing the larger enemy ships there. If we do not deal with those right now then they are going to either encircle or cut our forces in two not to mention have a shoot at the planet with all standing in their way being a lone station.

[ ] Keep pulling back to the defense platforms
Back you fools!
>>
>>1698772
>Fighting AI controlled corvettes
Interesting tactic with the high logistics usage.

The more of the corvettes we kill the longer the remaining forces will be able to operate. Perhaps switching to targeting enemy logistics vessels would be a priority?

>>1698772
>[x] Counterattack to give group 3 breathing room

Need to start thinking of Non-Sonia plans, the AI probably has our psyche profile and is running the most likely tactics that will be employed.
>>
>>1698814
Oh, also did you guys want to support use of Veckron weapons now?
>>
>>1698956
If things have gotten that desperate enough...? I don't think they have, have they?
>>
>>1698956
Yes
>>
You have your fleet speed up their rate of retreat to keep ahead of the advancing armada. A counterattack can wait until you're within range of the defense platforms.

Keeping ahead is proving to be difficult. The new heavy cruisers sitting on the enemy flanks have powerful sublight drives. Group 2 is increasingly taking fire from nearly 180 degrees.

Group 1 is changing their formation, starting to swing in on the side of the enemy fleet. It looks like they've largely dealt with the smaller enemy fleet unit. Nearby allied ships and fighters are moving to reinforce Group 1 so they'll stand a better chance if the enemy turns towards them.

Things on the right flank are looking bad. The Ruling House fleet there isn't anywhere near the size of Group 1. They should be able to hang on for a bit if they're cut off from you.

Antimatter torpedoes detonate near group 2 with increasing regularity. Plasma beams from a pair of Kythera ships cut one of your fast battleship in two. The shields of an Athena escort fail from a barrage of heavy phase cannon fire. Its engines are hit before friendlies can move to assist.

"If we're going to use Veckron torpedoes now might be a good time sir!" Suggests one of the House Knights.

Most of group 2 is within range of the defense platforms. They're providing some support against enemy skirmishing forces harassing your larger ships.

It seems the Duke is reluctant to fire Veckron weapons but now might be the best time before the fleets intermingle as a result of a counterattack. The Ruling House was given Veckron warheads by your House. They would be inclined to listen if you demanded their use.
The Run Alliance would follow your lead if you were to endorse their use now.
Likewise Ber'helum would probably pay attention if your political block voted for it.

On the other hand, waiting until both sides are in close combat might serve as a distraction keeping them from reacting quickly to your side readying Veckron Torps.

[ ] Contact Ruling House, launch torpedoes
[ ] Encourage Ber'helum to launch
[ ] Wait until they're distracted by the battle
>>
>>1699191
>[x] Wait until they're distracted by the battle

I think this fight is where Sonia is going to have to learn to love the Veckron.
>>
>>1699191
[x]Wait until they're distracted by the battle


"For [the?] Dominion."

We can not allow the enemy to take and potentially infest the Capital.
>>
[x]Wait until they're distracted by the battle
>>
>>1699191

Well fuck...

Tell Ber'helum to launch. Someone will notice us launching anyways.
>>
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You send a message to the Duke suggesting they wait to use Veckron weaponry until the enemy fleet has been engaged. They may not notice as quickly and it will certainly be harder for them to react.
Ultimately even heavy jamming won't be able to keep them from seeing the weapon charging but slowing their response even by seconds could make all the difference.

"Reynard to Alex, if you haven't already get ready to dump your remaining antimatter stores."

"Already working on it. We kept enough just for maneuvering. We're about to swing in your flank. Be ready for a crazy fight before we reach you."

You believe it. The amount of fire from the bands of smaller defense platforms filling space between the larger ones is steadily increasing. Even antiquated Star Forts can still throw out a respectable level of heavy phase cannon fire. It's probably the only thing keeping morale afloat as you face down a wall of enemy ships surrounding you on nearly all sides.

Groups 2 and 3 have effectively merged. Corvettes and starfighters are dueling in close proximity to your larger ships. Your backs are to the wall.

Duke Ber'helum orders the fleets to counterattack and pincer the left side of the enemy formation. Not everyone from group 2 is in position to do so, some now being much closer to the Ruling House forces.

From your position you could help pincer the enemy flank with Group 1, or punch through to target enemy logistics ships in the center. Getting out again will be a struggle.

[ ] Pincer left flank
[ ] Punch through to logistics ships
>>
>>1699490
[ ] Pincer left flank

Save our available ships for now and pincer no need to waste resources now.
>>
>>1699490
[X] Pincer left flank

Hopefully this will expose their logistics ships better than a potentially suicidal push.
>>
[X] Pincer left flank
>>
>>1699490
> [ ] Punch through to logistics ships

Cut their processing power. Stall their attack.
>>
The headaches being gone was nice while it lasted.

I will try to resume tomorrow!
>>
>>1699670
Get some sleep and feel better bro.
>>
>>1698956
How many can we fire without ruining this area of space?
>>
>>1700541
Considering that the neeran cityship nuking where hundreds were fired didn't instantly cook subspace and that the terrans didn't figure out the negative side effects for decades despite throwing them at all problems it's pretty safe to say that even if we used every single V-torp JD gave to the ruling house it would take decades at the minimum for space to turn upside down here.
>>
>>1700541
>>1700548

Looking up the archive, 20 V-torp launching ships, 3 full volleys, 1 partial volley (4 torps), total of 64 V-torps fired by a single formation.
300 ships from the Republic, Terrans, and Dominion sacrificed to take out that Neeran command ship. Damn.

>the bit after the battle write up

Kavos enters the station command center and punches up a clock to be appended to the main display. It begins counting down, 18 years.

"When the clock runs out the main Shallan shipyard and everything within fifty lightyears will be inaccessible for the next five centuries."

"Other than by sublight slowboat that is" Adds Jaro.

Enright does some quick calculation. "That's the second most heavily industrialised area in Shallan space. We need to relocate thirty billion people and their industry in the middle of a war."

>end copy&paste

So assuming we fire 64 V-torps, 18 years should be plenty of time to evac/relocate, or set up a few of those accelerator things from the Run.
>>
>>1700689
Seems like I remembered wrong by an order of magnitude. Thanks for facts.
>>
>>1700689
The Smugglers Run nav hazards were created by 1200 VT explosions too.
>>
>>1700696
The battle write-up did have a bit of scale jumping, so I needed to read it twice five times before I got the same V-torp count twice.
Need more coffee, and to remember that third volley.

>>1700704
True, but that is certainly a more vague count over a large area! I'd hope. I'd imagine 1200 V-torps in one battle area might implode something.
Clearly this should be tested via drone V-torp launching ships over the Neeran homeworld
>>
>>1700548
>>1700689
It's good to know ftl wouldn't useless within hours but it doesn't answer my question. There's got to be a low number where we can lunch torps and avoid shitting up the Dominion's capital.

>>1699490
How much time before we can expect reinforcements arrive?

Also, there are probably embassies on that planet, right? Given the whole AI war thing, could we convince the Rovinar and Krath ambassadors to get whatever ships they have lurking around in the area to help?
>>
>>1699490
Are we losing?
>>
You direct the J-D fleet to attack towards the left flank. Most of the allied ships towards that side of the fleet do the same.

Most of formations in groups 2 and 3 seemingly descend into chaos as you punch through the forefront of the enemy fleet. It's here at closer ranges where your new command ship really begins to shine. The big guns destroy one battleship and cripple two others in quick succession. A fourth wisely retreats.

Turrets cut an engine off of a passing assault corvette sending it spiraling out of control. Your escorts don't let up for a moment, putting out a steady stream of phase cannon, plasma and torpedo fire.

The mixed wings lure pursuit into range of your main guns. When they wisely evade shots from the larger weapons they find themselves worn down by fire from your command squad.

A nearby allied heavy cruiser is on fire, taking hits from a Super, shields flickering in and out of usefulness. Another heavy to port isn't looking too good either.

"Two enemy formations ahead. We either need to punch through one of the new Kharbos Heavies or a Che'len Super."

[ ] Target the Heavy
[ ] Target the Super

I will be back later in the afternoon/early evening.
>>
>>1700925
>[x] Target the Super
>>
>>1700925
[ ] Target the Super

Go big or go home. Time to put Che'len to shame and make them regret siding with Iratar/ Areis and AI.
>>
>>1700925
>[ ] Target the Heavy
I think/hope going through the heavy will be easier. The Kharbos heavies seem equipped for long range frontal firepower, while Che'len supers come with antimatter-throwers which I assume get more dangerous at close range as there will be less time to evade and who knows if they can't just switch these to a wider spread when long range cohesion doesn't matter.
>>
>>1700925
[x] Target the Super

Use the fact that their antimatter weapons are bending/scattering when they hit our phase cannon streams to our advantage, and suppress their heavy weapons. They'll hopefully either stop firing them or risk scattering their antimatter weapons into their own defensive fleet/fighters.

Forbearance's siege weapons should make that scatter issue even worse.
>>
>>1700925
>[ ] Target the Super

I think it's time to Veckron the shit out of everything. We are taking a beating here.
>>
And I'm back. It looks like we're going after the Super.
Did you want to use the last of your remaining SP Torpedoes?
>>
We have a fleet from Helios inbound that's going to arrive in less than 24 hours, and fleets from several other factions in addition to that. Wouldn't it make sense to simply fall back to the planetary defences and hold out until they arrive? At the moment, we're kinda fighting this battle like we have to win with the forces currently present instead of just playing for time until our reinforcements arrive.
>>
>>1701475
Sure, increase our chances of damaging the thing or forcing it back? Yes please.
>>
>>1701475
Use everything.
>>
>>1701475
God yes. Anything at this point.
>>
>>1701475
Let's keep one SP torp per squad leader if possible but aside from that I'm fine with using them now.
>>
>>1701475

Fire everything.

Deploy any/all drones in kamikaze mode?
>>
>>1701551
I'm against the idea unless we can stop them from receiving all commands after launching to stop them from being hacked.
>>
>>1701561

They should, so long as we don't want to recover them or change their target.

Or there is the 'put a timed bomb and fuel in it and kamikaze it into something' suicide option I asked about last thread.
>>
I guess if there's one thing to take away from this battle though, it's that Dominion Antimatter technology #1
>>
Just curious... how much Anitmatter would we need to destroy a small planetoid... Maybe create a Dominion based WMD made of Anti-Matter. Blows up moon bases, asteroid bases and Supers all without the nasty after effect of messing up FTL.
>>
"Target the Super. Anyone with House owned SP Torpedoes get ready to fire them now. Ready additional decoys if possible."

Your Fleet group loses in on the Super, the larger ship throwing out sheets of phase cannon fire. The main guns on your command ship manage to take down another battleship but the rest are staying well away from you. It's at least providing some breathing room. A few smaller ships are outright destroyed by glancing hits.

"All ships reporting SP Torps ready." says Maybourne.

"Launch some of the decoys a second or two early to saturate their point defense."

"Already prepped sir."

Siege cannon fire cuts through the fighting narrowly missing your group.

"Reynard to Carriers. Have your crews reprogram the smaller drones for basic kamikaze attacks. Make sure they can't be hijacked. Launch them once we're close to their Super."

J-D ships and those from two other Houses bear down on the Super. Most of their weapons fire is being drawn off by the two closest heavy cruisers. Once you get close enough more of their weapons begin to change targets.

"Launch torpedoes."

A wave of warheads flies towards the capital ship, joined soon after by SP's launched by your allies. Even with the decoys their point defense weapons manage to intercept more than half of your warheads. Combined with your allies, roughly 60 torpedoes strike home.

It's easy to tell which parts of the ship were upgraded with newer armor and which were not. Outer less important sections of the hull erupt from internal explosions, damaging nearby systems. It takes multiple hits to the same side of a super heavy turret before much gets through but it seems to have been worth it. The forward dorsal turret erupts in a bright explosion as its antimatter stores go up.

While much of the blast is directed up and away from the rest of the ship, the blast plus other damage takes out much of the forward shields.

[ ] Strafing run to finish crippling it
[ ] Fire as you bear, keep moving towards Group 1
>>
>>1701701
Keep moving.
>>
>>1701701
[ ] Fire as you bear, keep moving towards Group 1
>>
>>1701701
[X] Fire as you bear, keep moving towards Group 1

Don't stop our momentum in the middle of their formation.

We have plenty of munitions to lob at the vulnerable area as we pass
>>
>>1701701
>[x] Fire as you bear, keep moving towards Group 1
>>
>>1701701
>[ ] Fire as you bear, keep moving towards Group 1
>>
>>1701701
>[x] Fire as you bear, keep moving towards Group 1
>>
"Fire as you bear. Helm, keep us moving towards Group 1."

Your gunners manage to get in a few hits against the Super's bow while its shields are down. Turret and torpedo battery fire crater the upper hull of the ship as your fleet passes by. Small numbers of drones launch from the escort carriers and streak towards the largest enemy like guided missiles.

A few allied ships move in close after you finish. Corvettes flying in beneath the shields before they can be reestablished. Twin linked phase cannon fire cuts long tears in the hull, knocking out secondary weapons. A pair of assault corvettes swing in close to the other top side main turret and begin hammering its guns and armor.

Enemy drone corvettes soon arrive and jump those still attacking the burning Super. They cripple one of the allied attack corvettes, whose crew decides to ram the turret with their remaining power. Antimatter stores are set off by the bow of the ramming ship, the blast taking out the turret much like the torpedoes had done earlier.
Four drone corvettes are hit by escaping antimatter and themselves are ripped apart.

"Looks like the damaged super is dumping the remainder of their antimatter stores.” Maybourne informs you. “All of their main guns are offline."

"Good. Let's link up with the Forbearance before they get their act together."

Group 2 has lost cohesion and is more or less just a series of independent fleets, some off which happen to be moving the same way. Much of the enemy formation on the left are quickly approaching a similar status. The same can’t be said for their drone forces. They’re remaining steady and coordinated.

Orbital defenses are racking up kills but the fighting is now taking place among their outer rings. Gunsats and the smaller platforms are rapidly exhausting their missile stores.

In the direction of Group 4 you start to see increasing numbers of enemy ships being wiped out. Way more than they should be capable of.

“What’s going on back there?”
“We’re having trouble getting readings through the ECM sir.” reports sensors.
Maybourne sends a query to group 4 and manages to get you better data.

Nearly three squadrons Krath battlecruisers have arrived and are cutting through enemy ships like they’re make of paper. Their heavier E-beams look to be doing far more damage than their Rovinar equivalents. Each ship is downing an enemy with almost every volley.

The nearest Kythera ships rush to counter them and soon destroy two of the Krath ships with plasma cannon fire.

"Powerful but can't take many hits it seems." you muse.

“It looks like the Krath fleet is starting to back off sir.”
>>
>>1701867
>In the direction of Group 4 you start to see increasing numbers of enemy ships being wiped out. Way more than they should be capable of.
For a moment I had hope Helios had finally arrived. But I guess I can settle for Krath.

Why are the Krath such bros?
>>
>>1701883
It's in their sneaky nature to be friendly with everyone. You don't look as closely at the actions of a known friend.
>>
>>1701883
Probably because they are continually operating nearly undetectable cloaked warships inside Dominion space...

That said, ensure someone in group 4 gets them the proper frequencies/tac net info. The krath need to know when we fire things
>>
>>1701867
I feel like Sonia is going to have to piece together a Factions backed organisation dedicated to fighting these nanofucks.
>>
>>1701938
How did that one Baron put it? FRY THE CLANKERS!
>>
>>1701904
"Coms, make sure our Krath friends are given a good welcome. Make sure they have our com frequencies if they don't already."

Things are about is confused as they’re going to get. Ber’helum and the Ruling House should be launching their Veckron torpedo attacks soon.

Tucked in safely among Group 1 an old torpedo cruiser lights up. A ball of blue-green light the colour of subspace seeming begins to bleed out of its hull. Patterns of the light swirl around the launcher, some clockwise, others counterclockwise, while growing in intensity.
You can only hope that if the Ruling House is conducting a strike of their own that they do it now.

Roll 4d100


https://youtu.be/P4LaR1C6Xds?t=15m27s
“Boy in gaming companies have decided if you’re gonna show the spirit world it better be teal. I don’t know how many games I’ve seen this in. [...] But yeah, hope you like teal.” -Ross

Yeah kind of weird how everybody including me does the whole spirit world/subspace in a bluish-greenish/Teal whatever.
>>
Rolled 10 (1d100)

>>1702019
>Yeah kind of weird how everybody including me does the whole spirit world/subspace in a bluish-greenish/Teal whatever.

It's just how it is. Just like how enemies are always red.

Also roll for disaster.
>>
Rolled 8, 83, 44 = 135 (3d100)

>>1702037
Can't even roll that right. I am tired.
>>
Rolled 59, 26, 41, 55 = 181 (4d100)

>>1702019

God help us all.
>>
Rolled 35, 17, 49, 1 = 102 (4d100)

>>1702019
If there was any time for Sonia to use a lucky charm.
>>
>>1702037
>>1702040
>>1702043
>>1702072

59, 26, 83, 55

The Alliance must have given us some old or bad V-Torps in that exchange for those nano-bot samples. That along with a lot of people likely not wanting to fuck up the homeworld of the Dominoin.
>>
>>1702096
We're probably launching at least 1 v-torp with a partial charge and a 3 digit production number
>>
>>1702167
Then probably an early launch, if their ship was under heavy fire. Captain probably thought it best to get it out half cooked then to fuck over our side. Which I would think would be a wise course of action.
>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDOiQDvjuuc [LOGH - Dvořák; Symphony No. 9 in E minor]


You see the V-Torp cruiser successfully launch it’s warhead. It’s the only one it will get to fire in this battle. A trio of stealth coated Aries attack cruisers appear nearby and open fire on it. While they don’t last long under the guns of the nearby ships they still manage to destroy the fragile cruiser.
You hope the Ruling House fleet has better luck defending theirs.

Numerous Antimatter weapons and any ship storing large quantities of it along the weapon’s flight path explode. You see three Aries torpedo battleships go up.

“Sensors, is it working against the stasis warheads?” you ask.

“Not immediately. It may take time for the stasis fields to be overwhelmed.”

So good news, bad news.

The targeted super is already ejecting their antimatter pods by the time the torpedo reaches them. A swarm of interceptor missiles try to block the heavy warhead but it sweeps through them like they’re not even there. A Kilo maneuvers into it’s path, and while the warhead passes through it barely slowing down it may have had an effect.

When it strikes the target the torpedo explodes only slightly inside the ship. Its following explosion is still large enough to nearly cut the Super in two. All four main turrets explode a fraction of a second later followed by the ejected antimatter pods.
Plenty of big bangs leaving the ship crippled, but nothing that will prevent the hull from being salvaged and rebuilt later.

You’re somewhat startled by a much larger explosion on the other side of the battlefield. There a Super looks to have gone up in a far more spectacular fashion.

“We’re evening the odds you tin cans and traitors.”

Your fleet has linked up with leading elements of Group 1. Turning towards the planet you can now help annihilate the mostly encircled pocket of enemy ships. It’s hard to say how effective the actual encirclement is proving with one flank being made up of orbital defenses the enemy are intent on breaching.

"How long until our reinforcements arrive?"

Maybourne estimates a few more hours.
"I don't think we're going to be able to stop them from getting through the shield before then."

"Sir, there's an incoming message from the Helios fleet. Text only."
You gesture for the officer to hurry. "Come on, what does it say?"
"We are bringing special weapons. Surface defenders must hold the Helios embassy until our arrival."

You do have Marines, special forces, Knights with their own armor that they've bought replacements for. That's just in your fleet. Alex still has a lot of his own House special forces.

[ ] We have to win this in space. (Keep troops for boarding and counter-boarding actions)
[ ] We need boots on the ground. (Deploy landing craft to safe shield entry points)
>>
>>1702399
[x] We need boots on the ground. (Deploy landing craft to safe shield entry points)

Helios better make it worth it. Send troops to the ground and get to reinforcing key points. More so then they already have been. Salvage later.

Oh god what has this war come to?!
>>
>>1702399
If we can make sure that the enemy doesn't notice us dropping ground troops I'm all up to it
.
>[ ] We need boots on the ground. (Deploy landing craft to safe shield entry points)
>>
>>1702399
>[x] We need boots on the ground. (Deploy landing craft to safe shield entry points)

If possible, can we split the troops up and do both? Our men are one of the few forces that were warned ahead of time about the Nanite plague and possibly trained for it. Maybe we can requisition troops from other houses and have our troops lead them instead.
>>
Do not compromise the forbearance internal security by taking any Marines from her on board compliment or any she is transporting.
>>
>>1702399
>>1702521

Addendum to my vote, lets not send troops away from the Forbearance.
>>
>>1702476
>can we split the troops up and do both?
You can split the troops up and do a half-assed job of both.

>>1702521
>>1702535
Alex's army and planetary assault forces are separate from the troops that defend Forbearance.

And I'm stopping here for now because I need to brush up on my job interview skills.
>>
>>1702566
Okay and good luck with your interview, TSTG. Assuming you've got one soon.
>>
>>1702566
Remember that while funny dead baby jokes and claims of jewish plots of world domination are not acceptable in a professional setting.
>>
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>>>1701883
>Why are the Krath such bros?
The just want to hug you r DNA

>>1702399
>[ ] We need boots on the ground. (Deploy landing craft to safe shield entry points)
I'd keep something like 5-10% of the available troops on high profile targets like Forbearance.

>>1702566
Good luck.

>>1702834
>claims of jewish plots of world domination are not acceptable in a professional setting
He could be applying for a position at a company from Saudi-Arabia.
>>
>>1702399
>[x] We need boots on the ground. (Deploy landing craft to safe shield entry points)

Boarding actions are WAY too risky with the whole AI issue.
>>
>>1702399
>We are bringing special weapons.
Anyone else a level beyond hype for some big fat Helios dick to fuck the traitors with?
>>
>>1705817
I am just wating for the post war executions on state TV. This is a whole new level of treason and they'll get no sympathy from me.
>>
>>1705845
>executions on state TV.
Now this is entertainment.
>>
>>1705845
>This is a whole new level of treason
To be clear Houses fighting other Houses, even the Ruling House, isn't strictly treason. It's just the usual inter house conflicts that happen and are later negotiated. Usually they don't get to the point where an entire major House is completely occupied.

Betraying the entire Dominion however is something that most Houses would see as Treason. Or the equivalent of High Treason.
>>
>>1706282

So wouldn't siding with AI and foreign nationals such as Iratar/ Areis be seen as betraying the Dominion? At this point I'd think it should count for all the head ache they've given us and all the time and lives wasted.
>>
>>1706300
Iratar/Aries is a tenuous one but directly involving themselves with an Alien AI is definitely up there.
>>
>>1706300
>So wouldn't siding with AI and foreign nationals such as Iratar/ Areis be seen as betraying the Dominion?
Yes, which is why Nasidum and Co played their operations off as defeating Aries and chaining their Dominion assets to a new House.

Unlike Aries and GE, Iratar hasn't done anything strictly illegal, merely selling production licenses for medium cruisers and other smaller designs. Yes they sold Che'len weapons for awhile but stopped the instant the Terrans and other factions started to enacted a weapons embargo.

>>1706313
>but directly involving themselves with an Alien AI is definitely up there.
That.
>>
>>1706313
>>1706336

Alright, so from what I understand then. Che'len and Kharbos are going to have a major change of command. If we survive this mess.

But houses such as Nassidum and Co. While they will experience some form of punishment for stiring up this Civil War, wont experience as harsh a punishment as Che'len/ and Kharbos?
>>
>>1706378
>Che'len and Kharbos are going to have a major change of command.
Che'len potentially, or maybe not at all.

We don't know the situation yet in any capacity. The original leadership of Kharbos has been mentioned as having escape, with loyal fleets en-route to this fight.
The Che'len battlegroup, for all we know, was sent in to Kharbos space to pacify any potential instability. All the crews could have been forcibly nano-uploaded and forced to fight against us.

Nasidium, Bonrah, and Xygen will lose some territory, have to pay reparations for a while I imagine, etc etc.
>>
Got called into work so I wasn't able to resume this afternoon. Looks like the majority support sending troops to the planet's surface.

So the big question is, will Sonia stay in space? Or head for the surface, handing over command of the J-D fleet to Alex?
>>
>>1706449
Will us going down to the ground make any difference? Does Alex think he can handle the JD Fleet in space without us providing additional command?

Yes, having to experienced commanders in space at the same time who are basically the same pay grade and ability may be a waste. But we work well together and if we had Mike with us we would make a dangerous trio of our own.

I vote to stay in space.
>>
>>1706449
Before I make a decision -
What is the current status of the JD fleet?
Alex is most experienced at siege warfare, correct?
Is there anyone present who can command our close-in assets like the Quattro and Corvette forces whilst Alex focuses on long range?
Do we have a Dante with us?
>>
>>1706464
>Will us going down to the ground make any difference?
That is up for you to decide for Sonia.

>>1706492
>What is the current status of the JD fleet?
J-D units that went with Groups 2 and 3 have lost 20% of their forces. Alex has been using his Group 1 forces cautiously and has taken only superficial losses.
>Alex is most experienced at siege warfare, correct?
Yes. If he's not the best at it in your House he is certainly in the top 3.

>Is there anyone present who can command our close-in assets like the Quattro and Corvette forces whilst Alex focuses on long range?
If I was at home I would have a much more comprehensive list of characters available. And I can't look at the dramatis personae page on the wiki because this computer can't handle the page load.

Alex presumably has experienced wing commanders under his command.
Tes'us is the CO of your command squad and Captain of the Devourer. She would know how to handle the Quattro.

>Do we have a Dante with us?
You have the one aboard the Devourer and the one from the Forbearance fleet.
>>
>>1706587
Thanks for the reply.

In this case I'd like for Sonia to command from space.
I feel that acting as a pre-emptive force to neutralise any attempted landings would have a greater effect on ground fight.

The only way I think Sonia could contribute reasonably on the ground would be piloting a Dante or using the Convertor to try and affect any nanites, and that only has a short range.

I'm all for sending both Dantes down as well.
>>
>>1706587
If there are going to be ground landings... I can just imagine nanite enhanced troops with those micro fusion reactors. Who from past experinces already hate us. Unless that was just because they were buffing up those people from before as a 'test' for their tech and didn't care for the ultimate goal so much as causing mayham and destruction and if they killed an important person all the better for them.

Shit, just thinking of the possibility of nanite enhanced troops with those reactors gives me chills. And if they take to much damage they could just act like mini-kamikaze's and nuke whole city blocks.

My vote will remain to stay in space. Thank you for the info TSTG. Also send down the Dante's to help ground forces. If they can get there without being intercepted.
>>
>>1706651
>nuke whole city blocks.
It's a good thing Dominion construction tends to be rather sturdy.
Building codes especially in the Imperial city are no joke.
>>
>>1706449
I say we go down with the Troops. Honestly we have people I know we can trust with the fleet up here meanwhile I think we equally need someone to lead everything from ground side which I honestly think should be us.

That is my two cents at least.
>>
>>1706449
Changed my mind. >>1706619

I'll vote to go down with the troops too. We're one of the few who have encountered these things.
>>
>>1706738
That... is a good point. It would make sense to go down and be ground commander of JD forces.

Okay, I change my vote to ground command. As much as I think we'll be facing mini-nukes powered by nanites.
>>
>>1706449

Deploy to the surface.

We have our top-end gifted Dante, presumably a wingman in the form of the Forbearance's Dante (plus whatever HAGs are around), and if we're making the Helios Embassy into the Alamo we can have both of our power armors (and a small armory's worth of weapons) deployed there.
Dante>Medium lightning gun armor>Recon Armor as each takes critical damage!

Actually, how many HAGs do we have? It might be interesting to turn them into an improvised anti-HLV/Frigate AA battery. Especially if we deploy an HLV or landing frigate to give them their own shield envelope.

Is it technically against the Factions Treaty to boobytrap 'disabled' vehicles that may have a critical fusion reactor failure like that shuttle did during the Helios mission that went to hell? Or just the spirit of it? IEDs could buy us valuable time and slow enemy advances if the embassy is in an urban environment.
>>
I'll try to resume a little bit after noon tomorrow.

Should I put a survey up for the deployment?
>>
>>1707067
Probably wouldn't hurt, though I think most of us changed to deploying to the ground. But its been a while since we've had a survey.
>>
>>1707067
Sure.

Did we ever get that Dante melee kit worked out?
>>
SURVEY!!

surveymonkey com /r/ L7R6V79

Link will be posted on the wiki and twitter shortly. Surveymonkey has changed things again so let me know if there are problems.
>>
>>1706336
>That.
"Muh AI!" aside, why? At least in this engagement Kythera ships seem to be acting the same way regular mercs tend to do.
>>
Is there anything in the data Pozzi recovered from the Aries sites that might let them counter the AI corvettes?
>>
>>1707273
"Muh AI" is kind of a big fucking point.

Like if someone in Israel brought in Ex-Nazis to murder off the Palestinians originally living there.
>>
>>1707548
It's more like they brought an Ex-Nazi to come in and kill off their political rivals.
>>
>>1707273
Every house has its own sub-factions.
Maybe one that opposed the Kharbos involvement in the civil war was subtly infected by nanites and then when they realised their potential, they figured it was possible for them to take over the Dominion?

Last thread:
>Kharbos continues to send more forces to help their allied Houses hold their territory, though they're beginning to face increasing political trouble at home. Infighting could prevent much in the way of additional forces from being sent.

>Duke Ber'helum: "The problem is that Kharbos tries to think big. Always looking for something that will elevate the Dominion above the other Factions and put them in power once again. Trying to emulate their ancestors when they began the Tenth dynasty. Most people don't realise how many graves that dynasty was built on top of."

You can piece together a reasonable timeline of events.
>>
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“We need boots on the ground. Ready the LST’s and prepare special forces for deployment to the surface.”

You contact Alex and inform him of your plans to reinforce the surface defenders. He’ll prepare his army for deployment minus troops needed to protect the fleet from boarding.

“I’m taking my personal guard and going down there with them. You’ll be in overall command of the fleet. I’d recommend placing Tes’us in command of my Battleships and Quattro.”

Alex sighs. “ I suppose there’s no point talking you out of it. I’ll make sure to send down additional boarding shields. They’re similar to the heavier repulsor rifle and grenade equipped ones some of your guard uses but I’ve had them refit with pulse pistols. My engineers have been making sure they’re rigged for AI War settings.”

After handing over command, you make sure your bodyguards will transfer all of your fancy equipment to the surface with the landing forces. If you need to leave your Gunship and swap out armor it will be available.


You are capable of wearing your Recon Armor while flying your Dante Gunship, and there is enough room for some small arms in the cockpit. You can select up to 2 Rifle or heavy weapons, and 2 pistol class weapons.

* = Has AI War Setting
+ = Can fire splinter ammo
"Recon" Light Power Armor
Armored pilot’s suit

Phased Plasma Channel Discharge Gauntlet (Lighning gun) (Left arm)
Energy Converter (Reveals cloaked enemies) (Left arm)

>Heavy Weapons
Plasma Anti-tank Gun
RH Variable Plasma Gun
Shallan Fusion Gun
Shallan Heavy Fusion Gun (Improved range)
4 barrel Box Missile launcher
Heavy MG

>Rifle
X-Ray laser+GL
Sniper Rifle+ (20mm)
Mass Driver Rifle / Reynard Custom+
Reynard Rifle M+ (Mass production RSS Mass driver Rifle)
Reynard Rifle L+ (Cheap stripped down version)
SRL Mass Driver Rifle
Plasma Blaster
Phase rifle *
Silenced Carbine+
Shotgun+ (Grenades, AP Slug, Flechettes, Incendiaries, other)

>Pistol
Mk 7 Plasma Pistol
Mk 1 Plasma Pistol
Phase pistol *
Forearm MG+
Forearm GL
Collapsible Repulsor Rilfe

>Grenades
High explosives
Frag grenades
Stunpulse grenades *
Flashbangs
Half moon (Breaching charge)
Claymore mines
GP mine
Plasma Grenade

>Melee
HF-Blade
Mono Hawk BL (Scaled down Neeran weapon)
Holo sword - Lethal output upgrade

>Utility
Rovinar search drone
Medical stasis field
Smart Grapple
Folding Shield (Left arm)
>>
>>1708624
Quick question -

When we went cave exploring on Dreminth we found that old rebel bunker with the designs for some kind of old electro ammo (I'd check but I can't get any archive to load), would it fare any better against AI targets?
>>
>>1708624
>Rifle
Reynard Special
Phase rifle

>Pistol
Mk 7 Plasma
Forearm GL (Can that even be used with Recon?)

>Grenades
Stunpulse grenades
Flashbangs
Halfmoons

>Melee
HF-Blade

>Utility
Smart Grapple
Folding Shield
>>
>>1708624

>Sniper Rifle+ (20mm)
>Phase rifle *

>Mk 7 Plasma Pistol
>Phase pistol *

>Stunpulse grenades *

>HF-Holo sword - Lethal output upgrade

>Folding Shield (Left arm)
>Smart Grapple
>>
>>1708624
>Phased Plasma Channel Discharge Gauntlet (Lighning gun) (Left arm)

>Mass Driver Rifle / Reynard Custom+
>Phase rifle *

>Mk 1 Plasma Pistol
>Phase pistol *

>Stunpulse grenades *

>Medical stasis field
>Smart Grapple
>Folding Shield (Left arm)
>>
>>1708629
They fired Explosively formed penetrator rounds if I recall.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Explosively_formed_penetrator

There might have been other stun rounds there as well, I don't know. You can get stun rounds for projectile weapons, they just cost far more than charging up a pulse pistol so they're not as popular.
>>
>>1708652
Ah, thanks.

>>1708624
>Recon Armor

>PPCDG
>Reynard Custom (+Fusion rounds if we have them yet.)

>Mk7 Plasma Pistol
>Mk1 Plasma Pistol

Can we put the converter on the dashboard of the Dante? It was mentioned that it would have kept us safe from the Open Reactor radiation.
>>
Current Loadout

Recon Armor with Smart Grapple and Folding Shield (Left arm)

Mass Driver Rifle / Reynard Custom+ (1 mag Fusion rounds, 1 mag plasma rounds, 1 mag AP, 1 mag API)
Phase rifle

Mk 7 Plasma Pistol
Phase pistol

4x Stunpulse grenades
1x Halfmoon

HF-Blade
Medical stasis field

Your Dante has been given a fairly standard loadout. Engineers inform you that if they secure a large repair bay on the surface they may be able to refit the main particle beams with large HF blades for melee use.

Roll 2d100 for avoiding delays getting to the surface.
>>
>a large enough repair bay
>>
Rolled 41, 93 = 134 (2d100)

>>1708792
**Not bringing the lighting gauntlet**
>Roll 2d100 for avoiding delays getting to the surface.
Rolling.
>>
Rolled 77, 87 = 164 (2d100)

>>1708792

I want to imagine we're doing a hot drop through space/ atmo in our Dante. As if it were a scene out of a Gundam anime.
>>
Rolled 68, 8 = 76 (2d100)

>>1708792
Here we go.
>>
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There is a slight delay transferring to the Gunship, but you launch soon enough to catch up with the other landing forces from the fleet. HAG’s and LST’s with your personal guard aboard follow closely.

Most of the heaviest fighting is focused on the fleet and the two main defense platforms closest to the enemy fleet. Some ships are operating away from the main groups but your approach puts the troop ships well inside the protection of the untouched defenses. Ships making runs at your group are forced off by heavy fire.

The J-D transports enter a gap in the shield slightly ahead of those from Ber’helum. You have a straight shot at the capital city and arrive before the skies become choked with reinforcements or enemy craft. So far they haven’t penetrated the shields but that’s only a matter of time.

Closing in on the city you spot the main spire of the Imperial Palace and the meeting Chamber of the Royal Houses jutting upwards through the clouds. Seven smaller mountain like arcologies surround it forming a ring many kilometers across. Subsequent rings feature smaller and smaller structures the farther they’re located from the center. It’s difficult to make out details from this distance and by the time you get closer there will be too much to take in.

Some of your ships move towards the Jerik-Dremine embassy arcology to begin setting up starfighter support facilities and additional shields. It’s much too small to support the operations of your army however. The expansion of your House hasn’t yet been reflected by a change to a larger embassy deeper inside the city.

Parking space seems to be first come first serve, with your early arrival putting you towards the front of the line. There are landing bays available at each of the seven major arcologies. Where do you plan to base your ground forces?

Rough map. This will be improved.

Ber’helum - Plenty of friendly forces. It will be well protected.
Helios - Better position to help protect it, but your forces will have little to no reprieve if it becomes a target.
Kharbos - The forces here are supposedly on your side. Best to keep troops there to ensure it stays that way. Will probably be a major target.
Che’len - There seems to be fighting taking place here. If it can be secured for your own use it will make the enemy assault harder. If you fail to take it in time your army will be without a main base.

Xygen - They seem to be busy fighting someone in their home territory. Best to make sure their long range coms are not captured. Might need extra security to ensure they don’t back stab you.
Nasidum - Your diplomats might be able to play to their patriotism, but best to not turn your back on them.
Bonrah - Their territory is already occupied. This will just be adding insult to injury. Might need extra security to ensure they don’t back stab you.
>>
>>1709032

B'H since it is most likely to be the next Ruling House, once this Civil War is over is likely going to be a major target. However, Helios is who informed us to hold their embassy until they arrive. I want to say reinforce Helios since they are supposedly bring in a secret weapon that needs their comms in order to operate. So, lets go there and make sure their super secret weapon arrives and then get back the B'H.

Unless the Duke of B'H asks for as to assist in the defense of their embassy I vote:

Helios - Better position to help protect it, but your forces will have little to no reprieve if it becomes a target.
>>
>>1709032
Do we have enough HAGs to destroy or partially collapse the Che'len Arcology?
>>
>>1709032
>Kharbos
They're located between Helios and Ber'helum, so we'll be in a good position for reinforcements and locations to fall back to.
>>
>>1709070
>Do we have enough HAGs to destroy or partially collapse the Che'len Arcology?
Short answer: No.
>>
>>1709032
[x] Helios

It's what we're here for, and we can go smash on Kharbos and Xygen if they get uppity.
>>
>>1709032
>Seven smaller mountain like arcologies
What do the different arcologies look like? IDo the major Houses spend way too much money to ensure theirs looks suitably unique?
>>
>>1709032
Che’len definitely. If there is already fighting there we need to crush enemy forces fighting so they can't use it to establish a beachhead.
>>
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>>1709242
They're all built off a base cone shaped arcology. After that Houses can customize them as they wish. Structures, spires and modifications can be added to it, changing the look considerably.

Some Houses prefer a more high tech look, while others would rather their embassy look like it has been there for awhile. A few use holographics to change the look if they're not planning to be to be there very long.
>>
>>1709377
Huh, that's surprisingly sensible. I was expecting richer houses to tear them down and build new ones when their leader changes and similar wasteful stuff or extravagant designs.
>>
>>1709410
They can do that too if they want, but then it's harder to take it with you if your House status increases. Or worst case, decreases.
The Ruling House is committed to at least providing a basic agreed upon framework for a House Embassy. If the House refuses the option, fine, but they're footing the bill themselves.
>>
While tempted to head for the Kharbos or Che’len Embassies you ultimately decide that Helios needs the most defense. They said to hold it, and you’re among the first here so that’s what you’ll do.

“Contact the Helios Embassy garrison. Ask them where they want our troops and tanks. Prioritize getting shields and air defenses up, then covering the approaches from potential enemy LZ’s.”

Circling the Helios embassy you can see the locals setting up heavy weapon emplacements. Vehicles, including heavy walkers with shields are starting to take up positions around the main entrances.

HLV’s and assault transports begin to deploy tanks. Many of the available landing zones your allies will have to make use of are on levels stepped down from those connecting the major embassies to the Palace. There may be difficulties moving tanks between them as needed without the use of shuttles. For now there’s time for them to drive to scattered vehicle ramps but those will become choke points in time.

Crews report that there are 2 bays now available for servicing HAG’s and your Gunship. Did you want to get the melee mods equipped to your Gunship now, or have them refit spares so you can swap out more quickly later?
>>
>>1709542
What is our Dante equipped with now? As fun as punching enemy armor and troops in the face is. Having an actual melee weapon would be nice too.
>>
>>1709559
>What is our Dante equipped with now?
2x upgraded Particle Beam,
6x Micro Phase Cannon,
4x Shard Missile racks,
4x AI War setting phase rifle turrets (In place of your point defense lasers)
>>
>>1709542
Spares for now.

I'm actually curious as to what the enemy will land. If it's nanite equipped boarding troops then I don't really want to get in close range so I'll vote for just the spares so we can swap out for melee later if needed.
>>
>>1709542
>>1709607

Keep what we got for now and swap spares later as needed. And as >>1709620 said, I'd rather not get in melee with more nanite enhanced troops. Especially if they all come with their own mini-fusion reactor that can blow up like a nuke.
>>
>>1709542

Have the melee mods prepared as refits.
>>
The melee mods will be refit to the spares. If things get to the point where you need to replace your main guns, it might be getting desperate enough to require melee weapons.

As your troops help dig in more transports arrive over the capital. Some assist with the fighting around the Che’len Embassy while the majority are split between the Ber’helum and Helios structures. You do spot smaller forces approaching the other Embassies. Hopefully there are no incidents.

The sky dims as weapons fire strikes the planetary shields.

Around the capital defense weapons are being raised into position. Missile launchers and more point defense guns than you could hope to count. Starship grade particle beam cannons are pointed skyward as well. They’ll use repulsors to punch a hole through the atmosphere shortly before firing.
A bit of a grey area as far as the Factions Treaty is concerned but you doubt people will be complaining in this instance.

You and your wingman set down on the edge of landing pads towards the top of the Helios upper spires and wait, watching the shields dim repeatedly with successive impacts.

"We haven't been stuck on the receiving end of these planetary assaults before." comments Rufaro over your private channel. "It's a bit like waiting for someone to break down your door."

To the Ruling House's credit the shields seem to be taking a tremendous beating. If there were any planets you'd expect to survive multiple Scorcher attacks this is it. Sensors show several objects penetrate the shields and enter the atmosphere. Interceptor missiles launch from points around the city and soon you spot explosions in the upper atmosphere. Several more are much closer.

Aside from missile trails and explosions the sky has turned as dark as night.

And I have to stop here and do more last minute prep for my job interview tomorrow morning!
>>
>>1709988
Good luck TSTG!
>>
>>1709988
Oh man, it's happening. Sonia in her Armored Core is going to be a rapid reaction unit I suppose?

Good luck with the interview!
>>
>>1709988
Thanks for the amazing stuff as always TSTG and good luck!
>>
>>1709988
GLHF
>>
I was thinking it might be wise to have Valeri/Rufaro train up with the Lightning glove. That way we can pack our plasma pistols and still have it used.
>>
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>>1701701
>House owned SP Torpedoes

>>1709988
Good luck!
>>
I'm planning to run before work tomorrow barring interruptions, and it looks like I have Saturday off.
>>
>>1714045
Might need to make a new thread for that chief.

How'd the interview go?
>>
Might as well load up most of the Matrix Revolutions soundtrack.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZf6A1hxvGM [Niobe's Run]


Vanderwal breaks in on your channel.
"We're detecting smaller air bursts above the city, not just explosions. It looks like some of the incoming warheads are either disintegrating or dispersing aerosol."

It doesn't take people on the ground long to figure out how to respond. Every EM pulse rigged phase weapon that can see sky opens fire. Your gunner activates the top two point defense weapons on your Dante as well. Waves of energy fire upward washing over the descending nanites.

"Planetary shield is penetrated!" reports the pilot of the other Dante.

Some of the fire is getting through to strike the shields closer to the city as a hole opens in the high altitude defenses. Aries drones pour through the gap followed by assault transports and Kharbos Frigates configured for planetary assault.
The big planetary defense guns around the city open fire and explosions begin to blossom just below the opening.

Descending ships and starfighters are coming in at well past terminal velocity, using repulsors or shields to keep the atmosphere from burning them to a crisp. Despite them spreading out the big guns continue to focus on ships coming through the hole, in an effort to score as many hits as possible.

The occasional shot of siege weapon fire hits the transports from above as well. The fleet must be doing what they can to help contest the landing.

"Situation in orbit?"

"Not doing too well, but there is some good news. The two larger stations that are under attack have been boarded but they're still holding despite damage. What's left of the Krath fleet are using their Veckron warheads as heavy SP Torpedoes. An allied fleet has managed to board and mostly capture a Kharbos Heavy."

"How is Forbearance?"
"Taking some hits and she's been holed in a few places. Still alive though."
>>
As enemy transports close in on the city the Che'len embassy pulses it's shield. Eleven years ago that trick would have knocked out all of the shields protecting the capital. For now it just weakens the defenses above them and leaves their arcology defenseless against your allies for a few minutes.
Unsurprisingly the closes transports focus their fire on the weakest section of the shield. Two tough looking assault transports disgorge their fighters and vehicles then slam down into the weak section. Both ships crumple from the impact before exploding, causing a localieed area of the defenses to flicker and fail. The wreckage falls through the failing shield, striking the sloped walls of the Che'len arcology and rolling downwards into the surrounding allied troops.

Several ships follow through the new opening, several of the big defense guns now swiveling to target them. You shift your Gunship slightly and open fire with particle beams, enemy ships staggering under the weight of fire being thrown against them.
Three Frigates and a transport make barely controlled landings, belching fire hundreds of holes as guns big and small breach their hulls. Three other transports set down in better shape behind the Che'len arcology, their shields lasting just long enough to reach the ground.

Vanderwal speaks up again.
"Reports of fighting in the Kharbos embassy. It looks like they have it mostly under control but I can't say if it will stay that way."

[ ] Get to the Kharbos embassy
[ ] Hold position, keep firing at Che'len
[ ] Get closer to fighting around the Che'len embassy, help contain them
>>
>>1715888
Either these guys are all suicidal or the AI's are in more control than first believed. I mean who in their right mind would crash their tranports into a shield? Unless the ship was AI controlled.

>[ ] Get closer to fighting around the Che'len embassy, help contain them
Can't let them establish a proper beachhead without contesting them.
>>
>>1715888
Help out at rhe che'len arcology, we're fast enough to play fire brigade.
>>
>>1715910
>I mean who in their right mind would crash their tranports into a shield?
Who in their right mind would want to crew an assault ship against a target this hardened?

"You've been targeted by their Anti-ship guns. Crash your transport into the shield or ten more are going to die along with you."
"Abandon ship! Crews to escape capsules. Fighters and vehicles, emergency launch." /meta
>>
>>1715888
>[X] Get closer to fighting around the Che'len embassy, help contain them

The only way to deal with landings is to crush them quickly and without mercy.

At the very least, we have to bleed their first wave(s) to force the following ones to delay their objectives.
>>
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>>1715956
>>1715910
Wouldn't Che'len also have been able to stockpile clones for months in preparation for a battle like this? It shouldn't be too hard to find somebody who'd volunteer for something like this if you have several billion soldiers to pick from.
>>
Helping out with the battle around the Che'len embassy.

Roll 2d20

And if the thread is still up I will see you later!
>>
Rolled 14, 13 = 27 (2d20)

>>1716047
>>
Rolled 6, 4 = 10 (2d20)

>>1716047
>>
Rolled 6, 19 = 25 (2d20)

>>1716047
>Roll 2d20
>>
Rolled 20, 15 = 35 (2d20)

>>1716047
>>
>>1716855
Oh, I'm a little late.
>>
I was about to resume typing and then this happened.

>>>/tg/54578358
>>
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>>1717302
Oh fuck.




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