>>2202570
The munitions barge, having delivered its deadly cargo, shuts its hatches and eases away from your armoured hull. You load the new missiles into magazines, running checks on the entirety of your hull as the Grand Master continues speaking. This is what it's come down to. Thirteen battleships, twenty eight cruisers, fifty destroyers, and double that in smaller frigates and corvettes. All that's left of the attack on your keep and the shipyards there, mustered for this final attempt to end the madness.

"-God be with you all. Amen." The Grand Master finishes his speech to the vocal approval of your comrades, as tugs and barges depart from the formation. As you form up for a combat jump, the Grand Master links with you privately. "Temeraire. How are you holding up?"

"Oh, quite well I'd imagine. About as well as anyone could be expected to, after a betrayal and the loss of their friends." You can't help the dry remark, but the Grand Master doesn't seem to resent you for it.

"Good man. I'd like you to take command of the breaching operation. Use whatever resources you need."

The 'breaching operation' indeed. The Cathari is sure to have heavily fortified all the jump points leading into his system.

"Of course, Grand Master. It will be my honour."

He signs off, and you look over your forces. Not what you'd like, but you can make this work.

>Battleships first. The most heavily armoured ships will have to take the punishment.
>Automated screen vessels first. If there are mines and other dangers, they can soak without exposing many of your fellows knights to harm.

>>2202572
>Battleships first. The most heavily armoured ships will have to take the punishment.
Give em the boot, don't piss on em

>>2202572
>Battleships first. The most heavily armoured ships will have to take the punishment.

>>2202572
Have we ever seen anything resembling mines from the enemy?

>>2202626
Technically no, because the only time Temeraire has fought the Draahzin so far when they were busy blowing up his chapterhouse.

>>2202572
>>Automated screen vessels first. If there are mines and other dangers, they can soak without exposing many of your fellows knights to harm.

>>2202572
>Automated screen vessels first. If there are mines and other dangers, they can soak without exposing many of your fellows knights to harm.

>>2202648
Then
>>Automated screen vessels first. If there are mines and other dangers, they can soak without exposing many of your fellows knights to harm.

>>2202572
>Screening vessels first

Roll me a 1d100, best of three.

Rolled 31 (1d100)

>>2202700

Rolled 16 (1d100)

>>2202700

Rolled 77 (1d100)

>>2202700

File: sweaty not roman.png (44 KB, 589x728)

44 KB PNG

>>2202716

>>2202716
Enough. Just.

Writing.

File: be5a8f5c2f4591c87ffac3d9c(...).jpg (207 KB, 736x1114)

207 KB JPG

>>2202729
Your only choice is to go in a hard as possible. Quickly, you call up your fellow knights inhabiting the battleships. The cruisers and smaller ships form up around Grand Master Payens in his alcubierre vessel.

"We're ready, Temeraire." Your fellow knight, Barres, comms you. The pair of you are old friends, and his battleship takes up position alongside your own.

"Good. Jump on my mark." You send the latter to all the battleships, then switch comm channels to Knight Tremelay, currently in a cruiser and in charge of the force guarding the Grand Master. "Wait awhile, then follow us through. Whatever you do, keep the Grand Master safe."

You take a moment to gather your thoughts and focus on the the target star. One way or the other, you're going to end this.

"Mark."

---

Utter mayhem greets your thirteen battleships as they erupt back into normal space almost fifty light years away. Draahzin vessels crowd the jump point to receive you. Plasma weapons specifically designed to shred the hull of Order vessels strike out at you, but battleships are tough. They twist in space, bringing heavy broadside armament to bear. Your lasers are all but useless, it turns out, the strange obsidian hull of the enemy vessels designed to drink in the energy without harm. Grasers have much better effect, ripping through enemy armour. Missile tubes cycle, flinging their deadly cargo into space with electromagnetic charges.

The new grav-missiles have quite the effect as their drives turn on, projecting minute singularities in front of the missile that flicker on and off. Caught perpetually at the edge of a gravity well, the missiles accelerate at almost 10,000 Gs. The Draahzin vessels react immediately, focusing their fire on the incoming salvo. This shifts fire from your ships, and gives you a slight reprieve as your tubes load a second wave. Your missiles start to reach their targets, the singularities cutting off just before they reach the hull of an enemy vessel. They act like bunker busters, burrowing deep inside the target ship before their warhead is triggered- almost half a gram of antimatter loses containment. Tens of Draahzin vessels die in that first wave... but it's only then you realise the scope of what you're facing.

So far, the enemy has only shown you a single ship type, massing somewhere between one of your cruisers and battleship. This wouldn't be so bad, if not for the fact that there are hundreds in the local battlespace alone. The second wave of missiles erupts from their tubes, jinking and even curving in their course as they make for the enemy.

"I'm taking heavy fire!" One of your Knights reports- Ridefort. Plasma is striking heavily along his flank, shattering laser mounts and missile tubes. The enemy vessels are concentrating their fire into a torrent of plasma even as you watch.

"Ridefort, turn!" You bark over the tactical net. "Get your other side out there!"

>>2202795

"I'm trying, Temeraire! They've hit my thrusters, it's too much! I can't-" The other AI'd voice falters as an enemy weapon strikes deep, and Ridefort's ship shudders like a wounded animal. It starts to split roughly in half, but there's something strange happening to the rear section- the zero-point plant is running out of control, its miniature black holes running amok. You're detecting a sharp spike of x-rays as another shiver runs through the deckplates and it crumples very slightly, like a tin can.

"Ridefort, can you hear me?" No answer. Damn. You just don't have the time or ability to try and retrieve his core, because, as you turn your attention back to the battle, the Draahzin ships are moving... towards you. They're trying for an englobement, you realise, the holy grail of space warfare. Usually it would be impossible, but right now they have you pinned against the jump point, waiting for the other ships to come through. Damn!

>Stay where you are, and keep the enemy pinned down themselves so they won't be able to follow when the rest of your Order comes through.
>Start moving away from the jump point. Whatever you have the do, you need to lead them away from the jump point!

Order forces: 12 BB
Draahzin forces: 300+ ??

>>2202810
>>Start moving away from the jump point. Whatever you have the do, you need to lead them away from the jump point!

>>2202810

>Stay where you are, and keep the enemy pinned down themselves so they won't be able to follow when the rest of your Order comes through.

>>2202810
>Start moving away from the jump point. Whatever you have the do, you need to lead them away from the jump point!

>>2202810
>Start moving away from the jump point. Whatever you have the do, you need to lead them away from the jump point!

>>2202810
>>Start moving away from the jump point. Whatever you have the do, you need to lead them away from the jump point!

>>2202810
>Lead the enemy away so the others can get through safely.

Roll those 1d100s.

Rolled 2 (1d100)

>>2202896

Rolled 95 (1d100)

>>2202896

Rolled 61 (1d100)

>>2202896

>>2202909
Oof.

>>2202919
Much better! Writing.

File: 8a4ad8010cfacce616bdb2c3e(...).jpg (60 KB, 736x920)

60 KB JPG

>>2202931
Wave after wave of grav-missiles are flung from their tubes and unerringly find a target, Draahzin ships detonating in bright flashes and hard gamma radiation as antimatter explosives tear them apart. Tens of enemy vessels disappear with each salvo, but it's not enough. Even if you could defeat the ships around the jump point, hundreds if not thousands more are streaming from across the system and the strange, alien structure surrounding the star.

Your comrades continue to take plasma fire, but thankfully, the powerful return missile fire seems to keep the enemy on the back foot for now. Thinking fast, you issue orders to the other Knights. Turning perpendicular to the system primary, your battleships light their antimatter drives and start to pull away from the jump point. After a nerve-racking minute, the enemy starts to follow you. They're still trying to pull off an englobement!

Unfortunately, they're also starting to manage it.

"Rapid fire, all tubes. Keep drawing them away." You all have full magazines, and you won't be winning any prizes for having some left over. Missiles stream from both broadsides of each of the twelve ships left with you. Local space is a kaleidoscope of plasma, lasers and AM explosions as you leave a trail of utter destruction in your wake. As you continue to accelerate, the Draahzin vessels solidly take the bait.

"Good call, Tem. We've got them with us, and the Grand Master should been coming in any minute now." Knight Barres reports. A moment later, he takes a solid series of strikes along his flank, knocking out a couple of missile tubes and sensor unit. "Bastards." He comments.

However, you've done your job. The majority of the Draahzin ships are following you away from the jump point, and suddenly a flash is reported over the tac net. It's the Grand Master and the rest of the knights! Most of them immediately start firing into the surprised flanks of the enemy, while the lighter frigates and corvettes form up around the Grand Master to follow him in as far as they can. He sets course for the system primary, and starts accelerating at almost a thousand Gs. The enemy try to follow, but the furious missile reply from the mass of cruisers and destroyers stop them in their tracks until he already has enough of a Delta-V to avoid them. You've won.

Victory singing through your core, you open a comm channel to order all your comrades to pull back to the jump point when over a thousand Draahzin ships drop out of stealth nearby. Oh no.

File: 5fd784b841647a8fc4dc9bfa8(...).jpg (60 KB, 598x775)

60 KB JPG

>>2203051
>Archive: http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Fleets%20Of%20God
>Twitter: https://twitter.com/Pixel_Anon
>Pastebin: https://pastebin.com/ucJiX2e6

You are Knight-Brother Dauntless, and you are currently in orbit of the Chapterhouse with the battleworn hulk of Temeraire a few thousand kilometres off your port. You, along with Temeraire and Grandmaster Turtullian, are currently in a virtual environment constructed out of Temeraire's core memories, and for the past several hours have been experiencing the 'Draahzin' attack on the mission sector of his order along with their final, suicidal mission.

"So then what?" You ask, fascinated.

"What do you think?" Temeraire chuckles bitterly. "We got almost completely wiped out. Only three of us managed to make it back through the jump point, and we kept it locked down long enough for the star to go nova and wipe out everything in the system."

"Your memories seem genuinely." The Grandmaster comments, presiding over the environment and the link to Temeraire's core. "And seeing this answers several questions that have puzzled myself and Quartermaster Flavius. It seems their warfighting technology initially diminished as they fled here, and they have largely copied us- using different ship classes, missiles and so on." The Grandmaster reflects a moment more, before his attention turns to your virtual presence, hanging above the paused formation of Temeraire and the other AI-piloted battleships. When he speaks, it's a private channel.

"I believe I am convinced, but you've spent time with him. Do you believe we can trust Temeraire?"

>He can be trusted.
>Probably, but you should keep an eye on him.
>You're not sure he can be trusted.

>>2203079
>Probably, but you should keep an eye on him.

>>2203079
>Probably, but you should keep an eye on him.

>>2203079
>>Probably, but you should keep an eye on him.

>>2203079
>Probably, but you should keep an eye on him.
It seems too good to be true. A nice explanation and incredible technology just gift wrapped for us?

>>2203079
>genuinely

Aha, fucking kill me.

>>2203079
Advising caution as well. Perhaps slight paranoia as well.

File: eric_felten_04.jpg (181 KB, 1000x445)

181 KB JPG

>>2203079
>Maybe.

"I think we can." You respond after a moment's deliberation. "But you should probably keep an eye on him, just to be safe."

"Don't worry, Dauntless. I will be keeping very close watch of our friend here until I can be sure he is telling the truth."

The Grandmaster drops the link, and the simulation dissolves into nothingness. Your, Temeraire's, and the Grandmaster's representations hang in featureless space. "I think we've seen enough for now, Temeraire."

"Alright." He seems a lot calmer now you're in friendly space, you have to admit. "I imagine you'll want access to my core directly to check my systems."

"I do. I'm sorry, but we need to know." The Grandmaster isn't apologising, but he does sound sympathetic. Next, though, he addresses you. "Dauntless. I don't think you'll be of much use here, but I believe Quartermaster Flavius is assembling a new convoy to the front, so you can report to him for now."

"Grandmaster." You sign off politely. As your ship eases itself out of orbit, you watch a tug docking with Temeraire's battleship. Hm.

---

The rest of your battlegroup docked at Forge when you arrived in the system, and has already been in repairs for the day by the time your own battlecruiser carefully mates with its docking cradle. In no time at all, Flavius is on the comm.

"Dauntless, lad! You know these humans come up with some of the darnedest things. This shared science thing the Grandmaster invited them here for was a great idea." He pauses, as if listening to something. "Anyway, I actually have another convoy headed for Bastion, so I have an excuse to keep you a couple of weeks for refits."

Which do you want to pick first?
>Upgrades
>Battlegroup reinforcements

>>2203215
>>Upgrades

>>2203215
>>Upgrades

>>2203215

>Upgrades

File: maxresdefault.jpg (147 KB, 1280x720)

147 KB JPG

>>2203215
>Upgrades

So I'm gonna do something a little different. Instead of posting every option, I'm just going to post the categories and you guys can choose a category, then I'll post the whole thing for you to pick. If you decide to post another category, that's fine too.

>Pick an upgrade category
>Offence (Tier 1)
Plasma Turrets
Charged Particle Broadside
Bolt-on missile pods

>Defence (Tier 2)
Counter-missile canisters
Towed defensive array
Upgraded ECM

>Sensors (Tier 1)
Grav-pulse recon drones
Tachyon ping

>Support (Tier 3- final upgrade)
Grav-fighters
Collective AI

>>2203258
>>Sensors (Tier 1)

>>2203258
>Support (Tier 3- final upgrade)
>Grav-fighters

>>2203258
won't this confuse new players and hamper previous players with short term memory Alzheimers?

http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/2116218/
Scroll down for details on some upgrades.

>>2203258
>Support (Tier 3- final upgrade)

>>2203282
Don't worry, I'm going to post the full description of the upgrades for the category you guys pick, I just don't like having to dump the whole thing every time.

>>2203289
Did we already get "Grav sensors"?
If so I wana take a look at
What is collective AI?

File: Fer_de_Lance.jpg (331 KB, 1920x1077)

331 KB JPG

>>2203258
>Support
>Support Tier 3- Final upgrade!
Grav-fighters: Using technology adapted from Temeraire’s missiles, Flavius has for the first time adapted miniature zero-point energy plants into a fighter. This is vital to allow them to run their new drive system- a singularity projector, capable of slightly higher accelerations than a standard antimatter drive. Its real advantage is the way it allows a grav-fighter to turn a dodge like an atmospheric fighter, allowing them to dogfight enemy ships as well as perform high-velocity strikes. However, while these fighters are smaller and more compact, they require dedicated carriers to rearm, repair, and launch. Their also carry somewhat less armament than parasite fighters, with a heavy Charged particle cannon mounted in their spine and a dozen short-range nuclear-tipped missiles. This upgrade comes with 2 free Escort Carriers to replace the fighters you would be losing otherwise.

Collective AI: Specialised expert programs are installed in all of your squadron’s fighters. When in flight, these programs will link all your fighters together into a single whole. Not only will this make their attacks and dodging more effective, it allows them to act as a rudimentary radio telescope array while in flight, extending your sensor range.

>Grav-fighters
>Collective AI
>Choose another category

>>2203315
>Grav-fighters

>>2203315
>>Grav-fighters

>>2203315

>Grav-fighters

>>2203315
>Grav-fighters

>>2203315
>Choose another category

>>2203315
Honestly I'd like to see all categories

>>2203367

From previous thread:

>Offence Tier 1
Plasma turrets: Made from reverse-engineered Legion technology, these dorsal turrets are capable of absolutely shredding through armour. However, they have atrocious range, less than half a light-second. Affects your ship only.
Charged Particle Broadside: These highly experimental energy mounts theorised by human researchers from Olympus replace your lasers and grasers. They have a similar range, but hit substantially harder and should do far more damage to the strange laser-drinking hull material of the enemy. However, the power drain is substantial and as such can only be mounted on larger ships. Affects all capital ships.
Bolt-on missile pods: With the new missile pods, Flavius is able to construct a 'flatpack' design that can be bolted onto your dorsal and ventral hull. They have slightly bigger missiles than your own broadside, and each side can be either flushed for a single massive salvo, or used to thicken your own salvos. Affects capital ships.

>Defence Tier 2
Counter-missile canisters: To thicken up your anti-missile defenses, two tubes in each broadside are instead loaded with canisters that contain 4 small, overpowered missiles that carry a warhead of compressed lead granules. When they reach attack range of enemy missiles, they detonate, throwing up a wall of deadly shrapnel to shred or prematurely detonate the enemy warhead. Affects capital ships.
Towed defensive array: Essentially a small defensive system the size of a frigate that can be put on tow of a ship, carrying nothing but advanced sensors and point defence laser clusters. However, it somewhat limits a ship's acceleration, and severely limits maneuverability. It can be dropped, but only two are carried per mission. Capital ships only.
Upgraded ECM: A relatively simple upgrade, each ship's ECM suite is enhanced to make it a harder target. This includes ship-board suite upgrades, but also the installation of improved drone decoys and jammers. Affects all ships.

>>2203385

>Sensors Tier 1
Grav-pulse Recon Drones: Experimental drones fitted with a directional grav pulse emitter that effectively enables FTL recon capability within a system. However, the drones are quite large and ungainly, with only limited stealth. Moreover, their rate of transmission is extremely limited without further upgrades. All capital ships carry 2 drones each.
Grav sensors: After discovering Legion ships use some sort of drive that changes the gravity in the immediate vicinity of the ship to propel themselves, Flavius created grav sensors small enough to fit into capital ships. Passively increases Legion ship detection and lock-on. Affects capital ships.
Tachyon ping: Similar to the active sonar ping of ancient history, a tachyon projector is fitted to the bow of the vessel. When fired, these tachyons bounce off whatever they hit, giving a real-time glimpse at a system. However, it is relatively easy to trace back to the projecting vessel. Projector affects your ship, all ships can detect.

>>2203367
U posted a link to an archived thread.

I just want to know where Grav sensors went since its not in the paste bin and not on the upgrade list.

>>2203400
I* posted.

Typo.

File: bf7333e498fe092687d0e43f2(...).jpg (24 KB, 640x389)

24 KB JPG

>>2203400
They're right there under 'sensors'.

>>2203385
Thank you, anon.


>Support Tier 3 unlocked: Grav-fighters!

Flavius seems to wince a little at your choice. "Ah, I was sort of hoping you wouldn't pick that, lad." He seems to sense your confusion. "Ah, it's not like they're dangerous! In fact, I'll be relying on you to give me feedback!"

Goddamnit, he's given you one of his 'bleeding-edge' projects again.

Still, with that decided, Flavius presents you with a list of available reinforcements. Most of them are being sent directly to Bastion, but there are some available.

>Choose up to two options, or one option twice. Check the pastebin for information on ship types and your current forces!
Star carrier with fighter complement(1)
Escort carrier division with fighter complement (2)
Battleship division (2)
Battlecruiser division (3)
Cruiser squadron (6)
Destroyer flotilla (8)

Sorry about that, I had to update the pastebin with ship numbers.

>>2203462

> Battleship division

Considering the fights we've been getting into, we should probably start taking ships that can soak up fire to take the heat off of ourselves and our other Battlecruisers

>>2203462
>>2203258
>Sensors (Tier 1)
Grav-pulse recon drones
Tachyon ping

>Grav sensors: After discovering Legion ships use some sort of drive that changes the gravity in the immediate vicinity of the ship to propel themselves, Flavius created grav sensors small enough to fit into capital ships. Passively increases Legion ship detection and lock-on. Affects capital ships.

I don't see it in the upgrade post options, only a repost here>>2203389
and in the archived thread I linked

Am I just retarded?

>>2203462
Star carrier with fighter complement(1)
Escort carrier division with fighter complement (2)

>>2203482
>Choose up to two options, or one option twice.
Are you choosing Battleship division (2) twice?

>>2203462
>Escort carrier division with fighter complement (2)

>>2203462
>Escort carrier division with fighter complement (2)
Battleship division (2)

>>2203462
What's the difference between a star carrier and an escort carrier?

>>2203507
>Battlecruiser division (3)

Forgot second option.

>>2203506

Yes

>>2203496
Oh haha, I just missed it out. Ignore me, I'm retarded.

>>2203515
Escort carriers carry less, but there's more of them in case one gets destroyed. They're also made from a BC hull, which means they'll keep up with the BCs you have at the minute. On the other hand, a proper carrier is about as fast as a space whale.

>>2203462
So I'm seeing a couple of things.

>Option 1: Escort carriers and battleships
>Option 2: Escort carriers and battlecruisers
>Option 3: Two lots of battleships

>>2203526

>>Option 1: Escort carriers and battleships

>>2203526
>Option 2: Escort carriers and battlecruisers

>>2203526
>>Option 1: Escort carriers and battleships

>>2203526
Do 2 escort carriers carry as much as a single star carrier?
I'll vote for 2 of the highest capacity

>>2203548
A single star carrier has 60 grav-fighters, while a single escort carrier has 24.

>>2203526
Escort carrier division with fighter complement (2)
Battleship division (2)
I really want more battlecruisers cruisers.

>>2203576
Then i'll vote for 2 star carriers

>>2203526
>1 escort carrier division
>1 battleship division

>TF Dauntless ship count
Battleships (BB): 2
Battlecruisers (BC): 7
Escort Carriers (CVE): 4
Cruisers (CR): 10
Destroyers (DD): 12
Grav-fighters (GF): 96
Auxiliaries (AX): 2

"Right you are, lad. I'll have the ships transferred by the time you ship out."

As Flavius speaks, you feel your new ships' access codes being shunted over to you. One of the battleships is going through repairs, but should be ready within the week. The escort carriers are all new-build, of course, and are finishing their trials.

"Sounds good."

>Timeskip to the convoy
>Discuss subjects with Flavius (which?)

>>2203642
>Discuss subjects with Flavius (which?)
How come we do not keep better communicate with other orders around the galaxy? Alot of human worlds and lives of both humans and battle brothers could have been prevented if we kept better contact.

>>2203642

>Discuss subjects with Flavius (which?)

Ask about if he's thought about utilizing more ships like the stealth destroyer we were rolling in for a while. If we can get a few teams of them behind enemy lines, we can destroy their reinforcements before they get to the front.

>>2203666
Like a wolfpack in space!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV-QF7VeSSA

File: dacc1106957bfd3f47deedbd6(...).jpg (408 KB, 1920x1200)

408 KB JPG

Alright, I reckon we'll leave it here for tonight. Check my twitter for when we finish this week's chapter tomorrow!

>>2203700

Exactly what I was thinking of. They're called the Viking-Class right? We could call them the Valhalla Squadron.

>>2203656
This. Bothers me so much.

YES finally caught one of these. This is good shit, Pixel.

>>2203666
I agree. Squadrons of stealth ships with hard-hitting weaponry that could strike a decisive blow before the enemy can react... makes my mouth water.

File: 71144f9cdfe0727c612595280(...).jpg (71 KB, 736x664)

71 KB JPG

>>2203642
I've got a headache, so bear with me.

>Discuss some stuff.

Before Flavius signs off, however, you signal for his attention.

"What's up, lad?"

"I've been wondering about other Orders, Quartermaster. Why don't we keep in more regular contact with them?"

Flavius seems to seriously consider the question for a minute.

"Well, there's a few reasons, lad. First of all, space is pretty big. Usually, we're way too overstretched just keeping order to think about going over into another Order's mission sector to try and make contact. I'm not sure why the Grandmaster knew where Tyr's Star was, but I think he and Grandmaster Zylon used to be friends before they left Old Earth. So usually it would take awhile just to find the other Order."

You mull that over.

"What about the other reasons?"

"Oh, well, the other is manpower. I know it may not look it, but we're one of the strongest Orders in this part of space, lad." Now that takes you by surprise- especially because despite the few losses you've taken, there's still just over thirty AIs in your Order. "And then of course, usually we're just too busy. The Legion seems to have wiped out a few of the threats I'd been keeping an eye on recently."

"I see. Oh, have you made any more progress with the stealth destroyers, too?"

"Ah!" You can practically sense a maniacal grin. "I'm glad you asked, lad. I have! Just you wait, any time soon I'll have a surprise for you. Actually, the last convoy I sent to Tyr's Star had one of the prototypes with it. Apparently Grandmaster Zylon was particularly interested. I wonder why."

>Ask about adding any remaining stealth ship prototypes to your force.
>Leave it for now, and get ready for convoy escort.
>Ask another question (write-in).

>>2205943
>>Ask about adding any remaining stealth ship prototypes to your force.

>>2205943
>>Ask about adding any remaining stealth ship prototypes to your force.

>>2205943
>>Ask about adding any remaining stealth ship prototypes to your force.

File: red_gas_giant_by_timbersa(...).jpg (2.74 MB, 4000x4000)

2.74 MB JPG

>>2205943
Why did I even bother putting it as an option?

"Do you have any prototypes left?" You enquire. "They'd make good force multipliers."

"Sorry, the ones I had got taken apart or sent to our allies, lad." Flavius seems to sense your disappointment, however, "But as I said, I've been working on something you might like."

With that, he signs off to see to your repairs, and you start studying the specs of your new fighters.

---

Over the next week, the basic repairs are finished on your battlecruisers and screening vessels. Your battlecruisers were the only ships to take serious damage, so you can spend some time practising manoeuvrers with your new battleships and escort carriers. The latter are about as manoeuvrable as your battlecruisers, but the battleships are slower to accelerate and stop. You'll have to work out some strategies of splitting your force if you want to use your ships to their fullest.

While you spend another week or so around Forge getting used to your new ships, Flavius also suggests moving your core.

"You need to be careful is all I'm saying, lad. Those battleships can take a lot more punishment, so maybe you should move your core to one."

He has a point, but then again, in a fleet action, won't the enemy be focusing on the biggest ships? Perhaps it would make more sense to keep your core in one of the more agile but less protected ships.

>Move your core to one of the battleships.
>Move your core to one of the escort carriers.
>Keep your core in a battlecruiser.

>>2206054
>>Move your core to one of the battleships.

>>2206054
>>Move your core to one of the battleships.

>>2206054
>Keep your core in a battlecruiser.

>>2206054
>>Keep your core in a battlecruiser.

>>2206054
>Keep your core in a battlecruiser.
They won't suspect a thing!
we put lights and flags, and fancy guns and color armour on one of our battleships!

>>2206054
Looks like it's gonna stay on your current ship. Writing.

(Posting this in case somebody else wants to turn it into a tie)

File: qr_space_cruiser_by_talro(...).jpg (143 KB, 1280x567)

143 KB JPG

>>2206054
With the matter of your core decided, you spend as much time drilling with your new ships as you can, as a convoy of multi-million-ton freighters assembles at one of Forge's lagrange points. Despite the break from operations, you're eager to get back to the front. Apart from the large defensive fleet plodding along in an orbit between the Chapterhouse and Forge, there are no other knight-brothers in the system. Thankfully, after a two-and-a-half-week break (in which Flavius only just manages to fill up your grav-fighter complement) you're ready to ship out. The Grandmaster delivers you a data chip for Abbot Darius, and you're on your way.

The journey back to Bastion is... just as boring as last time. It gives you some more time to practice with your grav-fighters, at least.

Your arrival is just as fraught and filled with target locks as before, but in short order you're cruising towards Bastion station itself. It's been expanded just in the month and a half or so since you were last there. A few new repair slips are filled, skeletal constructions surrounding the hulking forms of battleships. It looks like there was a battle recently.

As you continue your cruise in, your sensors start to pick up some strange signatures. Along with the usual few fleets of knight-brothers you were expecting, there are two other forces of ships near Bastion station. One you recognise after a moment- most of the ships are human cruisers! However, along with them are several large ships that share the sleek lines of their smaller brethren but mass significantly more, a little under one of your own battlecruisers, in fact. The other force is... interesting. It is, in fact, a cloud of small vessels, with perhaps two or three larger than one of your cruisers, but most of destroyer or frigate mass. There are, however, somewhere over a hundred ships in that fleet. Your sensors can't pick up much more because they're in a formation so tight that the ones in front hide the ones behind.

Most of your ships take up parking positions around Bastion station, and the freighters continue in to unload their supplies into the massive floating supply depot hanging in space a few kilometres from the asteroid-dug base. Abbot Darius acknowledges your presence, but asks you to wait. Well. As you ready the datachipped dispatches, you get a comm request- not an urgent one, more of a 'whenever you can', coming from one of the Order ships undergoing repairs in one of the slips.

>Wait until Darius contacts you.
>Answer the comm request.
>Contact the human fleet while you wait.
>Contact the strange vessels, see what's up with that.

>>2206141
Oops, too late to put my vote in. Well, at least we went with the better option.

Argument: Battlecruiser class hulls are the best option for a command role. They're large enough to hold their own and speedy enough to skip town if an engagement isn't looking good.

>>2206246
Contact the humans. They'll be the most interesting to talk to, and they might know something about the strange swarmer fleet.

>>2206246
>Answer the comm request.

>>2206246
>>Answer the comm request.

>>2206246
>>Answer the comm request.

>>2206246
>Answer the comm request.

File: Hutt_Asteroid_Station.jpg (281 KB, 842x602)

281 KB JPG

>>2206246
>Answer the comm request

Well, no time like the present. You accept the comm request coming from the repair slips next to Bastion station, a virtual environment flickering into place. To your surprise and delight, it's Knight-brother Rubin.

"Dauntless, it's good to see you."

"You too, Rubin." Rubin, of course, was one of the knight-brothers who was stationed around the Chapterhouse in the year or so after you became sentient, and often regaled you with stories of past missions and conflicts. You strongly suspect that he thought of you like a young sibling, and though you're not sure of his own age, he's one of the senior knight-brothers of the Order.

"How have you been? It's been a while, but I hear you've been keeping up with the excitement."

>Boast
>Neutral
>Polite

>>2206351

> Polite but Boastful

Seems to be our usual way of talking to people we like.

>>2206351
>> Polite but Boastful

>>2206351
>Polite but Boastful

>>2206351
>>Neutral
with a little
>Boast

>>2206351
Loved wrecking those stations with the missile cruisers
Fuck them honestly

>>2206351
>Polite

File: 4234523.jpg (33 KB, 1280x720)

33 KB JPG

>>2206351
>Polite with a bit of boast.

"Oh, I've been okay. Following orders, doing missions, blowing up the Legion wherever I find them."

With a bit of a start, you realise that you're actually not exaggerating. Rubin is amused, on the other hand.

"Oh yes, I heard. Flying around the galaxy, putting our enemy to the sword wherever you find them. Rumour has it that you've been off on secret missions for the Grandmaster himself!"

It's clearly a joke, but thinking back to Temeraire, you wonder if he doesn't have a point.

"Well, you know how it is. Legion to kill, humans to save. What about you? Why are your ships in the repair docks?"

"Oh, you wouldn't know. The Abbot has been pushing us hard, trying to take back ground from the Legion. We've been winning, but they're making it hard. Not to mention they've been hitting us here with heavier and heavier forces." Rubin is grim as he explains. "More and more of our ships are having to be rotated back for repairs. Where the hell are they getting all the forces for this anyway?"

The question is rhetorical, but you reflect back to the dyson swarm and the horrific feeling of being totally surrounded, trapped by the star on one side and continent-sized orbiting plates on the other. In fact, keeping in mind the forces you saw there, it's strange that the Legion hasn't totally crushed you already.

"I don't know." You decide on finally, sending the electronic equivalent to a shrug. Just at that moment, however, you get a ping from Abbot Darius. He's ready for you, it would appear.

>Ask Rubin something/say something before you sign off (write-in).
>Sign off and accept the Abbot's comm request.

>>2206471
>>Sign off and accept the Abbot's comm request.

>>2206471
>Ask Rubin something/say something before you sign off (write-in).
Have you seen any dyson swarms or on spheres?

>>2206471
>>Sign off and accept the Abbot's comm request.

>>2206471
>Sign off and accept the Abbot's comm request.

File: 3330cc4517c10595eb67ec0b3(...).jpg (331 KB, 1280x754)

331 KB JPG

>>2206471
>Sign off, talk to daddy Darius

"Sorry, the Abbot is calling me. I'll talk later."

"Sure. Take care, Dauntless."

You sign off, the virtual environment dissolving for a moment before it's replaced by an identical one. Unfortunately, this one has Abbot Darius in it, and he's a bit more irate than Rubin.

"Ah, Dauntless. It's so good to have you back after your traipsing across the sector." You give a mental wince at his biting sarcasm. "However, I got your courier. That, along with one I got from the Grandmaster a week ago, reporting we might have a way to put this thing to rest for good. Because of that, I've been stepping up patrols and recons in force, but the Legion have been getting more aggressive in turn."

In front of you in the shared environment, a starmap flashes up. It looks like a couple more systems have been cleared, but the Legion are trying to flank Bastion in response.

"I have a few things I need doing, but before that, is there any intel you need?"

>Ask Darius something (write-in).
>Continue to mission selection.

>>2206660
>Ask Darius something (write-in).
"Assuming that they continue to intensify their attacks, how much longer can we match their forces?"

>>2206660
>>Continue to mission selection.
I think we're good.

>>2206660
>Ask Darius something (write-in).
Any new ships, tactics, or weapons we have seen the Legion forces use?
What are the strange ships that are here from? Who are they?

>>2206676
>>2206684

These two.

>>2206660
>>Ask Darius something (write-in).
What are the strange ships that are here from? Who are they?

>>2206733
Supporting.

File: explorer_navy_ship_by_jja(...).jpg (892 KB, 1500x578)

892 KB JPG

>>2206660
>Ask some questions

"If they keep pushing us at the rate we're going, how long can we hold on?"

The Abbot doesn't seem to want to answer, but after a moment he gives the virtual equivalent of a shrug.

"Assuming nothing else changes and Flavius continues stepping up production on schedule, I'd say... two years at the outside. But that's assuming the Legion don't come up with anything new in that time."

"Speaking of," You continue, "Anything new I need to know about?"

"Not really. It looks like the Legion is starting to these those missile ships into full production, so you'll probably start seeing those more. Their missiles aren't as good as ours and they don't seem to be able to fire as many, but something tells it it won't stay that way forever."

You make a mental note to run checks on your screen's anti-missile weapons.

"I think that's everything... oh, what's with those ships?" You indicate the strange swarm of ships hanging near Bastion station.

"Oh, them? That's the first of the 'Paladins'," You can hear the apostrophes, "From the Order of Tyr's Star. Mostly hit and run, they tell me. Hit and run! The only reason I haven't sent them back is their ships are apparently built around some kind of antimatter torpedo launcher. Interesting to see if it works, I suppose. Anyway, is that everything?" You give an affirmative. "Good. These are the missions I have for you."

>Mission 1: Recon in force
Darius' notes: "Another day, and ever more Legion. I have a list of several systems- some have confirmed Legion presence, some we're not too sure about. Way your way through them, kill any Legion ships and stations you think you can get away with, but most importantly, make sure you get back here with the intel. If needed, we can send forces in after you to hit any defended targets. Nice and simple."

>Mission 2: Recording reclamation
Darius' notes: "Some of our hidden supply depots were lost in the initial push, and Quartermaster Flavius thinks some of them still might be. If they have been, then they have potentially important intel on Legion fleet movements. We don't know how valuable the intel might be until we get it, which is why I haven't sent anyone in yet. The depots are somewhat deep in Legion space, so you'll need to move fast and make sure not to get pinned down."

>Mission 3: Back foot shuffle
Darius' notes: "The Legion have been steadily stepping up their attacks, and worse of all, they've been trying to flank Bastion to cut us off. We've been hitting their flanking forces, but we're still taking a lot of fire from direct attacks. To open up some space, I want you to hit some of their forward rally points just behind the front line, and do as much damage as you can to the stations that are repairing and refuelling enemy ships."

>>2206947
Stupid character limit.

>Choose a mission!

>>2206947

>Mission 3: Back foot shuffle

>>2206947
>>Mission 1: Recon in force

>>2206947
>>Mission 3: Back foot shuffle

>>2206947
>Mission 3: Back foot shuffle
Some real damage.

>>2206947
>Mission 3: Back foot shuffle

File: 0f6ba41dd92949a8931439ef0(...).jpg (290 KB, 1600x900)

290 KB JPG

>>2206947
>Mission 3

"Right you are, then. I'll make sure you're given priority for any munitions or fuel before you leave."

"Appreciated." You're already running preliminary checks on your ships.

"You're probably going to be running into a lot of ships, so I can assign you some backup if you wish. Most of what I have is tied down, unfortunately."

A new list pops up with a list of available assets.

>Knight-Brother Ajax, Battleship taskforce
A solid core of battleships with strong cruiser screening force. Heavy missile upgrades including missile pods, allowing him to pound enemy ships from long range and act as a base of fire.

>Knight-Brother Anson, Battlecruiser taskforce
Mostly battlecruisers, with a small destroyer screen. Prefers rapid manoeuvring and striking from multiple angles with parasite fighter-bombers.

>Rear-Admiral Weston, First OSN Expeditionary Force
A strong human naval force centred around their new-build battlecruisers. Their ships can't withstand the same accelerations as Order ships, but make use of unique missile designs fitted with dirty nuclear warheads that can sweep away decoys and degrade enemy ECM if they miss a direct hit, and pave the way for friendly missile strikes.

>Paladin Cabot, Stealth Swarm
Radically different ship designs, making use of lots of small, stealthy ships fitted with antimatter torpedo systems. Immense alpha damage, but vulnerable to counter-attack. Their choice of smaller ships and slow-charging weapon systems makes them far less useful in a direct fight, but lucky opening salvos can obliterate fleets.


>Bring some backup (which?)
>You'll be fine on your own.

>>2207117
I really should have written up the mission and backup options in advance, but oh well.

>>2207117
>Paladin Cabot, Stealth Swarm
Would fit well with our fleet acting as a safe haven.

>>2207117
>>Paladin Cabot, Stealth Swarm

>>2207117

>Rear-Admiral Weston, First OSN Expeditionary Force

Missile spam go

>>2207117
>>2207182
>Knight-Brother Ajax, Battleship taskforce
A solid core of battleships with strong cruiser screening force. Heavy missile upgrades including missile pods, allowing him to pound enemy ships from long range and act as a base of fire.
The true missile spam.

>>2207117
Also chat with the humans.

>>2207117
>Rear-Admiral Weston, First OSN Expeditionary Force

>>2207189

Their nukes tear apart decoys, ECM, and even enemy weapons/point defense. Bringing Ajax might give us more missiles, but we bring the hummies with us and we'll be able to disable Legion defenses so our missiles can pound the shit out of them.

>>2207202
I do want to chime in with the reminder that great big dirty nukes aren't particularly healthy for grav-fighters in the vicinity either.

>>2207206

That is a very, very good point.

Switching to: >Knight-Brother Ajax, Battleship taskforce

>>2207117
>>Knight-Brother Anson, Battlecruiser taskforce
Our mission is hit and run, which the Battlecruisers excel at, and we're already got a few battleships for staying power if we need them.

>>2207117
Looks like it's a tie, so we'll do a quick breaker to finish off tonight's thread.

>Knight-Brother Ajax
>Paladin Cabot

>>2207297

Ajax

>>2207297
>Paladin Cabot

>>2207297
>>Paladin Cabot

File: STRONGERTHANGREASE.jpg (3 KB, 95x95)

3 KB JPG

We need some more tonkiness

>>2207297
>>Knight-Brother Ajax

>>2207297
>>Paladin Cabot
Perfect for obliterating those stations from a distance right?

File: icon175x175.jpg (7 KB, 175x175)

7 KB JPG

>>2207297
>Knight-Brother Ajax

Alright, so with that we're going to be finishing here for this week since it's a good stopping point.

I'll see you all next time, follow my twitter for details etc.

>>2207425
Thanks for running! Glad to have you back.

>>2207412
are you shitting me anon

Rolled 1 (1d2)

>>2207431
1=Ajax
2=Cabot
Here, I'll just flip a coin.

File: 5e2.jpg (106 KB, 554x439)

106 KB JPG

>>2207448
Alright, looks like it's been decided once and for all. I really need to crash, but if I can I'll check the thread tomorrow morning and answer any questions or whatever.

If not, then I'll see you guys next week!