The warships of the Black Forest entered the One Star State system at 9 au from it's primary.
After dressing it's ranks it micro-jumped to emerge near the Earthlike 'twin planets' where it attacked the Republic's First Frontier fleet.
+++
Jen Trout-Smith didn't like the bridge. She preferred to monitor from her ready room. None the less she made trips to the bridge for morale purposes.
She stepped from her ready room right back of the bridge onto the bridge.
"Admiral on the bridge." Declared a marine.
Sticklers for such things all the bridge crew stood and saluted. Those who had active stations sat down immediately.
"At ease. Commence work Gentlepeople." She said.
They all did.
"Captain Raushart how long til we can enter normal space?"
She knew the answer but she wanted to build up to an order without starting everybody.
"Two minutes Ma'am before we reach needle point."
"I want to try something different Captain. I want to do the unexpected and I want to train for a new tactic I hope to use later."
"What Ma'am?" asked the captain.
"Instead of entering the system in the 5 to 9 AU orbit I'd like to enter at the 1 to 2 AU range."
"May I speak freely?" asked the Captain.
"Of course Captain. Always question me in such circumstances out of battle. I may not have taken all considerations into account and there is no need for speed."
"That area will be thick with asteroids, Comets and shiping."
"Yes it will. I had the tactic run through simulations exhaustively and found the rate of collision was 1 in 781."
"Did try a exercise with drones?" asked the Captain.
She nodded. "I know I should have you more notice of it gentlemen......"
"If it is reasonable risk ma'am it avoid trap doors as well as help deplying closer to any battle near a plan." He said.
"Exactly. Shall we try it then?"
++++
The Boar had prepared what military tacticians called a trap door. There was usually one or two 'ideal spots' in a system where fleets emerged. One was always set aside for Military use.
The Trap door was usually used when a unaware enemy fleet entering a friendly system occurred. The base was seized, mined and Mobil batteries were moved up. When the fleet emerged it was ambushed and forced to take causalities before the battle even began. If it was a small enough force it might be annihilated.
After a force took out the station freighters rolled off Gordon missile Batteries and stationed them ready to fire.
+++
The Royal Fleet consisted of twenty five squadrons, Each squadron was led with two 20 point Battle ship and had three 14 point Heavy Cruisers and numerous light cruisers (10 point) and destroyers (7 point).
The royal fleet was joined by three 'elite' reserve squadrons maintained by The Brute, The Dragon and the Spider.
It had been decided by those three lords that informing others might spoil the surprise.
The first frontier by contrast had seven squadrons with one of the squadrons having a 28 point Dreadnaught.
But the Blackforest had planned the attack on the Republics weekly 'day of free time." So the ships crews were operating at 80% and most of those missing were senior well seasoned soldiers. Intelligence had also gleaned which of the ships had weaknesses and assigned in those cases the first salvos for them.
The Republic commander at once realized he was badly outnumbered and had no chance of escape. He decided to fight to create as much damages as he could. He knew that the Home fleet was coming and that if he did damage a weakened Black Forest fleet might lose the next battle.
The battle was brutally brief. The Black forest fleet was three times the Republics garrison. Ship by Ship the Republican ships were better but the numbers told.
+++
"All crews on battle alert. Prepare for zero gravity and everyone in a pressure suit." Said Jen to all crews.
She preferred to do this herself rather than a 'canned' announcement. This was a leftover from her Commonwealth days where the commanding officer on the bridge was required to do this personally.
The Republic home fleet emerged just an AU from the battle.
It had had ten of the new 'super squadrons that Jen had introduced during the build up. They were also called 1,2,3 squadrons since they each had a dreadnaught, 2 battleships and three heavy cruisers (with accompanying other ships) in their line up.
"Ma'am we have an engagement near the twin planets. Our fleet there are being attacked by some twenty Black Forest squadrons."
Jumping into that mess with a micro hump was asking for a collision.
"Accelerate, Prepare all ships for battle."
"We should arrive in ten minutes Ma'am"
"Too late for the first frontier but we'll catch them before they can re- group." Said Jen grimly.
"Gentlepeople the Republics fate lies in our hands. I know all of you will give your all to your country!"
+++
The Boar had hoped for a trap door attrition on his foe but had not assumed that it would work. He saw the republic super squadrons bearing down on his forces with grim satisfaction.
He still had numerical superiority and a new trap door was being set up in K space even now.
+++
Jen considered running to keep the 'fleet in being' but that wasn't something she was inclined to. Neither the Republic or the Commonwealth used such a strategic doctrine and she planned on winning or inflicting enough causalities to make the victory a pyrrhic victory for the black forest.
+++
Four of his squadrons were unable to continue and the Boar considered having them run but decided to use them elsewhere.
"General Sir Theodora Stork you may begin to land your forces now. We are still operating on the same plan."
"Squadrons 5,8,9 and 12 you are assigned to the command of General Stork."
In some navies assigning a general to command a fleet would have created problems but all Black Force nobles were part of a single force and transfer between specialized forces were common.
Stork had made her reputation first in the Northman evacuation commanding a Heavy Cruiser and then as the protégé of the Mongoose in the occupation of Cabernet commanding a hunt and destroy task force.
It would n't be long the Boar reflected before someone would get around to financing a sobriquet for her.
"Hell, it might even be me." Thought the Boar.
+++
The remaining 21 Black Forest units had deployed centered around a line of 42 battleships. Facing them was a line of ten Dreadnaughts and twenty battleships.
Both sides had formed their heavy ships in a line surrounded by a cloud of smaller ships. (Squadrons are used only when travaling.Each BF squadron has a throw weight of 82 in capitol and HC. Total throw- weight of 1722. Each Republic squadron has a throw weight of 110 and the ten Squadrons had a throw weight of 1100.)
There was no subtlety to the battle. It was a gun battle at close range. The heavier guns of the Dreadnaughts were deadly often knocking out a ship with one salvo. But the Black forest had more ships and in the end this was decided the battle.
In the end Jen was forced to surrender. Her crews had already began to destroy their own ships to prevent them from falling into the hands of the Black forest. Ten great balls of nuclear destruction blazed as the Dreadnaughts were destroyed.
The boar knew what this meant.
"Admiral Trout if you surrender now and stop the destruction of you ships I can offer you terms that allow you to be exchanged as soon as possible. Other wise You have no quarter."
Jen Trout wanted to save her crews-and yes herself. The dreadnuaghts were gone. That was the important thing."
"All crews cease operation destruct. Lower you screens and surrender." She sent a message to her fleet.
"I have done as you have asked Black Forest Commander. As a lord I think I can trust your word."
Flattering Black Forest nobles was a good tactic. They loved it.
"I am the Boar. I observe your compliance. I will send a shuttle to you ship. You are to be my guest."
Guest was of course a euphemism for hostage for ransom.
+++
The shuttle picked her up. She stayed still in her pressure gear but made sure her emblems of rank were displayed clearly.
When the shuttle docked there was an honor guard and the Boar himself greeted her.
"Welcome Admiral Sir Jenifer Trout. I have always wanted to meet you. You fought you battle well. I admit it was my throw weight not my tactics that won the battle."
She was to be treated as an noble. That was good.
"Thank you Boar. I am concerned about the status of my crew above all other concerns. I wish them to have the highest status possible."
"I understand and that is admirable. They will receive decent conditions and you may choose your staff officers and say twenty more as retainers. They will be unarmed of course. I have full surrender agreement for you perusal in my conference room. Shall we go there?"
She was more attractive then her photos indicated thought the Boar. She was clearly a noble person. He had probed her with his mental powers and found a robust natural defense. That probably indicated some aptitude to telepathy and other mental powers.
Not really surprising he thought. Most officers were chosen for such abilities. The genes had been woven into most populations to resist the shrike centuries ago.
Still her mind seemed more robust in mental powers then most.
+++
the news of the victory resounded through Known space. Most of the Republics fleet had been destroyed and two of it's six states (One star and Red Tide) had been invaded.
The damage done to the Black Forest fleet was unknown but it was clear the Republic was no longer a military power.
+++
Catherine O'Beal known as 'The Jackal' in the Black Forest arrived at Id with a Haven fleet.
Id had a triple layer of defense. The first was a large immobile 'fort' located in K space situation to command control of any entry in the system. The second was a large fleet of small ships within the system. The third layer was a fortification that protected the home planet.
Near the the K space force was a fleet gathered together to assist in defense. Most of this was not crewed by Id soldiers.
Part of this was because Id had no capitol ship building capacity. Her largest ships were Heavy cruisers. Rather then buy capitol ships she hired Mercenaries and accepted the help of allies.
Six squadrons were thus deployed.
Two were Mixed units headed each by two AKT Dreadnaughts with the balance supplied by Id smaller ships crewed by Mercenaries hired in the Hegemony.
The AKT was Id's trading partner and while it had no territory in the north cluster it had helped defend Id before. At great expense it had sent the four dreadnaughts all the way from the Expanse cluster.
Two of the squadrons were 'regular' Republic squadrons with a dreadnaught and some heavy cruisers.
The final two were 'the best mercenaries money could buy'. They were owned by the EIC based Draco Wulf who was present and commanding them. They each had two twenty points four heavy cruisers and light ships.
It wasn't a bad line up thought Draco. Six dreadnaughts, four Battlships and 12 Heavy cruisers.
Since the fleet could operate with the range of the forts guns any enemy would have a formidable task in breaking though.
+++
Catherine known as the Jackal and as wife of Greyeye Duchess of Haven was in command of Havens forces. She had only eight squadrons with eight Dreadnaughts and twenty battle ships but her siege traion was far more impressive. She stopped well clear of the gun range of the fort and began to set up a series of small forts that would link together to form a single shield around the station and therefore around the area where ships could enter Id's system.
Her fleet deployed to protect the workers setting up the 'wall'. Then a second wall was built and the fleet and the rest of the siege train was moved between, Another smaller but more solid wall was built around the fleet and train.
Within the two walls were based siege guns designed to shot at both the fleet and the fort.
It wasn't dramatic thought The Jackal but I don't imagine they are expecting it.
Indeed they were not.
Carlyle Blackmoor cursed his intelligence people and rolled about the floor in fury.
Draco was pleased either. He could probably break out at this point but it would destroy his record of reliability.
As the news came in of the battle of One State the Commander of the Republic fleet realized his ships were was all that was left of the Republics 1st class squadrons.
None of the commanders wanted to leave without Id's permission but none of them relished being shot to pieces without fighting a battle.
They all applied to Blackmoor to give them permission to break out who after another Rage (conducted away from the military men) agreed.
"It looks like they are going to try to break out." Mused the Jackal. "Order the Gordon Missile batteries to fire only when they are almost at the fort screen."
The six squadrons accelerated all at one showing they had done some training together. The smaller ships were in front and absorbed most of the missile fire. The heavy ships emerged from within the wall and after a skirmish with the Haven Fleet fled.
+++
"Here is the situation gentlepeople," said Teddy.
He looked haggard and tired. His eyes were red and his usual brisk jump manner was absent.
"We had 20 squadrons three days ago. We lost 17 in the battle of One Star. We have two stationed in Id. Hopefully Id will release them. That leaves us with one squadron here in the Vega system. We have also lost of our high command and all of our best soldiers."
"I can pull old equipment out of storage and begin refitting and crewing them. At minimum that's going to take six weeks. The EIC stuff will be delivered in two months."
"What you are saying Teddy is that we have no fleet for six weeks and even then it will a under gunned green fleet." Said President Hanna.
"The EIC delivered stuff is not so green since we sent crews to be trained on how to use EIC technology. With then included we will have 3 squadrons."
'What about defense? What happened in One Star and Crimson Tide?" asked Secretary of state.
"State Governments build and pay for defense as you know. The One Star Government assumed I think that with the frontier fleet there they didn't need to spend that much, They had only one force field wall and many of the guns were obsolete. The Black Forest forces punched through. There were not many troops either. A nasty guerrilla war is going on."
"What about Red Tide?"
"Also weak screen but also something more disturbing. It seems the State Government surrendered without a shot being fired. The Black Forest as a result agreed not to land troops but took over the fort screen and are busy strengthening it."
"Treason!" said Mark Hanna.
"Exactly" said Teddy.
"Something else" said Secretary of public works James Farley, "I don't want to be too political but the Governor and assembly there were solidly Sacred Banner."
"You are right that is bad news. Can you contact the opposition and propose a unity government?" Hanna asked Public Works.
The Secretary of Public Works was the Parties campaign manager. In some ways James Farley was more influential then the President.
"I can but what do we offer them?" asked Farley.
"Ask what they want. We will use their list as the start of negotiations. "
+++
"How much did we lose." Asked The Brute of the Dragon.
The Dragon looked to the Boar.
"Not as many as we feared," replied the Boar. "Their dreadnaughts were very effective and the badly mauled or destroyed some ten of our 20 points, 15 others were damaged and will need repairs. That leaves that leaves us with 17 Battleships right now but 12 of those ships will be out of repair in seven weeks and at that time the class two reserves will be mobized. Luna if it chooses to enter can prevent us from taking more territory but can't recapture anything."
"May I address a question to the Mongoose?" asked the Boar.
The Queen nodded.
"Was the surrender of Red Tide arranged by your department." Asked the Boar.
"I am sad to say it wasn't" said the Mongoose. "As near as I can make out the local population are extreme nativists and unsatisfied with the Republic immigration policy, MY analysts are trying to figure out how to use the situation. Taking their surrender on such favorable to them was a masterstroke. I congratulate you."
+++
"OH hell." Said Owen. "Now we have to support them."
The privy council sat around a table looking relaxed. Here they could set aside the posturing. Issues still remained but civility ruled.
"I am not trying to blame here but I wish we had mobilized earlier. In any case I don't think anyone disagrees we must now mobilize and go to war?" Said Earl Jane Grey.
No one dissented.
"Diplomatic repercussions, Wilfox?" asked Innskeep.
"The K'koff (Kif) will side with the Black Forest in the North system. They have indicated they are not interested in taking the offensive in the South or East where they have settlements. The AKT has indicated it is will to coordinate efforts with us. No word from the Dual Empire,"
"What about the EIC?" asked Monte Christo.
"They have declared a total cessation of sales to the Black Forest and it's allies. They have indicated to Republic they will them equipment on long term credit." Answered Wilfox.
"As I suspected" sighed Owen. "This is going to get worse."
A quick "Who's Who":
The Boar- A loyal Protégé of the Dragon. Given coomand of the Black Forest fleet, Defeats the Republic fleets in detail
Jenifer Trout-Smith- Commander of the Republics grand fleet. Former wife of RKO Smith
Hank Rutherford- Elected Secretary of State in the Republic
Teddy Rose- Elected Secretary of War in the Republic.
Mark Hanna- President of the Republic.
Jack Farley- Secretary of Public Works in the Republic. Campaign manager of the Sacred Banner party.
Wilfox- A great Lunar Lord of very old linage. An ally of John and Monte Christo. Serves as foreign minister. Looks like a r2d2 robot
Damien- A new but Powerful lord. Looks like Pan or a devil
Earl Jane Grey- Of old linage and great power Looks like a giant Valkerie
Mary Owen- Lunar lord looks like a human woman. Hates Wilfox and John.
Monte Christo- a new lord with his own duchy. An ally of John
Draco Wulf- A well know high class Mercenary that operates out of EIC. Currently employed by Id,
Carlyle Blackmoor- acting Leader of Id in the absence of Murgatroid.
Other
There are six states of the Republic: Vega, Dominion, Maple Leaf, Red Tide, One Star and Bear Flag.
Its important cabinet officers are elected by popular vote. The President can veto via counter signature but can't tell them what to do.
They are secretaries of State, War, Public Works, Justice,
The President is chief legislator and holds the purse strings. He can only be vetoed by a unicameral congress elected by popular vote.
The President and Secretaries serve four-year terms, Congress is elect from single member districts for two year terms. There are no term limits.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
