(by Steve Bishop)
Early 1895
Tensions rise in Yukon cluster
Kif begin commerce raiding
"This is no longer just piracy." Said the military expert Annie Lyctical. "Heavy Cruisers are attacking and destroying Trilar commercial ships.
Meanwhile the Black Forest mobilized in its Yukon area and ordered a partial mobilization in the North.
"They are ratcheting up the pressure but nobody really knows what they want." Said Lyctical. "Reliable sources report the Trilar have made several peace offers."
The Trilar have equipped their merchantmen with guns and armor and begun to escort them in convoys.
Several fierce skirmishes have resulted.
"Public opinion in Kif is fighting mad." Reported Flack Flarrigan on the scene. "The Domicrator might lose her job if she didn't respond to this."
As usual the Black Forest was silent. Sources who were interviewed off the record indicated that the Queen feels that the Kif must be accommodated in this manner since they are the Black Forest's only ally.
Shrike said to be attacking Kif settlements
Move seen are entirely opportunistic.
Trilar begins full mobilization
Measure seen as due to the Kif and Black Forest
Several more battles occur over convoys in Yukon.
"We are talking about heavy equipment said Annie Lyctical. "Battleship squarons on both sides. Really a state of war exists between them.
Most of this is between Kif and Trilar however. Black Forests units have been deplayed in the North within striking distance of Trilar.
Both sides kill each others' ambassadors!!!
Trilar council orders Kif and Black Forest diplomats executed
Kif retaliate by Defenestration of Trilar envoys
Both sides began to move forces toward their respective borders and all three ordered General Mobilization.
Id declares war on the Trilar
AKT joins in declaration
AKT urges Dual Empire to join
The AKT government once again underwent a reshuffle as the Faustians and the Ridenow government join the coalition.
"We will act not only to support Id in the North but also against their settlement in the Expanse" explained one War ministry official off the record.
The Privy Council: Black Forest. Early 1895
Robert the Brute
The council was smaller and had some new faces reflected Robert as he entered.
The Dragon was absent still dealing with the famine in Dragonia. The Bear was commanding the Kif expeditionary force.
Some faces were constant. The Spider was present seated at the right of the Queen. Facing him was the Mongoose who as intelligence minister would deliver part of today's briefing. The Arrow's oldest son attended representing his father.
New to the body was a growing power in the Kingdom: The War Hammer.
He had risen despite two generations of woe for his family. His grandfather was a drunk and spendthrift. His father was a sluggard and gambler. A generation ago the Queen and Pope had jointly removed most of their counties from them.
But Thor Hadrata had first made a fortune for himself and then had proved among the most capable of the Commanders in the last war. The Queen had assigned him several dozen counties in the Yukon Cluster.
He went over first to the Spider who was now his father in law. The shook hands and then Robert walked over to the lectern to start the presentation.
"The numbers are deceiving. This war will not be a pushover.
"During the last generation the Trilar have improved their Technology and built a strong fleet of Dreadnaught squadrons. They began by purchasing technology from the EIC."
"Just like we have." Remarked the War Hammer.
"The EIC will sell to anybody in the North. They have no territory here. They just want the money." Remarked the Spider.
"Since then the Trilar have produced three upgrades. Their Golan technicians and developers are evidently at the top of the line. Their Mark three issued ten years ago is as good or better than anything in known space.
"They have eighteen squadrons of mark three and 36 squadrons of Mark two. There are 36 more of the old Mark ones and the balance of their reserves are battleship Squadrons of various grades and age."
"How many Reserves?" asked the War Hammer.
"Around 126 in three class grades. The first tier is already almost fully mobilized," answered Robert. "By compassion I would remind you we have 17 Dreadnaught and 13 'Heavy Battle ship' squadrons. They are elite units to be sure but look at the numbers. We have 60 regular units. They are equipped with our newest version of Battle ship. We then have three tiers of reserves, entirely Battleships, of 70 each. The first tier is almost entirely mobilized."
"So we start the war once again with lower technology but bigger numbers." Said the Spider.
"Yes, but we have to hold back a good sized proportion of our forces to guard against an opportunistic attack by Luna and the Republic." Robert reminded them.
Robert nodded. "The Kif fleet is about the same size as the Trilar fleet but of technology lower than ours. The Domicrator has one dreadnaught squadron as her personal guard with the balance of the 179 being equipped with battleships. Moreover each of the realms in the Kif union build and supply their own forces. The best come from Albion and worst from the Kif tribes. In between are the Chanur and Paha units."
"None the less all of the Kif forces can be used against the Trilar."
"What about war production?" asked the Spider.
" In terms of Battleships we are still tops. Our dreadnaught production is slow. The Kif production is very slow but they do have stockpiles of older ships they can draw on. The Trilar Mark Threes will be hard to replace. Most of them are produced on a craft basis. They have very good manufacturing capacity for Mark ones and patchy for Mark twos. Their battleship production is robust."
"Could we out-produce them?" asked the Spider.
"Without question."
"What about Kruger?"
"I'll let The Mongoose handle the political end. Kriuger has an upfront force of some 30 squadrons of the Dual Empire's Gladstone class dreadnaughts."
"I am not familiar with that class." Stated the War Hammer.
"Limited range and speed but heavily armored and gunned." Replied Robert.
"Then we have the AKT and Id alliance. The AKT force is fully equipped with Lunar Technology and is all Dreadnaughts. Most of its standing force are veterans. It has 20 regular and 80 Reserves. " he said.
"Id has maybe five Dreadnaught squadrons and three times that number of Battleship squadrons. Most of the equipment are captured or refitted scrap. They do have a huge amount of heavy cruisers and a fantastic logistical network. However, Id and the AKT refuse to cooperate with us. They have their own plans. So even though they are anti-Trilar ..."
"We're almost done." Said Robert flashing a smile.
"Next we have The Nottingham group. It has ten squadrons of Emstar designed Dreadnaughts and twenty squadrons of regular Battleship squadrons with the balance of one hundred in reserves. To that we need to add thirty dreadnaught squadrons from Triania. Triania has few reserves but has spent lavishly on its navy. Finally, Champaign has 8 Dreadnaught squadrons twenty regular Battle ship squadrons and 50 reserve Battleship squadrons."
"Will they be operating under our command?" asked the Spider.
"Uncertain." Replied Robert.
++++
The Bear was not a military man per se. Oh, of course like all of the nobility he had gone to the Military academy and he had done quite well. Rather it was that he was a munitions industrialist and logistical wizard.
So he had accepted command of the Expeditionary force with a bit of reluctance. He knew his limitations.
So he had commandeered a protégé of the Dragon to command the tactical side of the operation. That individual, known as The Boar, was the commander that had smashed the Republic's fleet in the opening round of the last war. Most reckoned him as the Kingdom's best fighting admiral.
The Bear had handled the logistics. The mobilized reserves had been brought up to the border before the war. The engineers of the siege trains had been commandeered and used to build a fortified camp and fueling station right at the border. Other camps were built along the route from the Black Forest to the Kif-Trilar border. He had brought up ammunition and other supplies and was building repair facilities in the main camp. Thus he had 130 squadrons ready to go with the ability to rapidly repair any damage in the first battle.
Back at home his munitions factories had laid on extra shifts and were working 24/7 to produce more equipment. In the northern region he had called began to train a new trench of reserves.
Where he abstained was in command of the fleet. He didn't second-guess the Boar. It was his belief that in battle there can only be one commander.
+++
The absence of any elite units bothered the Boar, though he understood the logic of the decision. Luna and the Republic might strike at the homeland while the war against the Trilar occurred. The homeland came first.
He had suggested to the Kif command that the two nation's fleets should act together and the Kif commander had readily agreed.
The problem was that the Kif fleet should have been here by now. He had dispatched scouts as soon as the Kif were late. Now he awaited their reports back.
+++
Kif fleet ambushed and decimated by Trilar force!
A Kif force under the command of Shakespeare Longclaw was ambushed in K-space while on the way to join the Black Forest fleet. The estimated size of the Trilar force was 90 squadrons.
"They had Dreadnaughts and we had not." Said one survivor.
The attack targeted the Kif-led and crewed reserve units. These squadrons are typically the less least competent of the Kif force.
"The Kif have a morale problem. Their society is based on deference to strong force. This becomes a problem when they start losing badly." Said one analysis.
As the relentless attack persisted many Kif units were routed while the rest 'retreated'.
Units in the Albion Legion and from there Paha and Chanur regions didn't break, though after the Kif units routed they covered the retreat of the 'orderly' Kif units and then retreated themselves.
Estimates of casualties vary but it is assumed by all analysts they were not below 10%.
"In any case this puts the Kif out of action for this year of the war." Said Annie Lyctical.
+++
The scouts reported a battle in progress some 7hours away from his base. The Boar had decided he had to support the Kif and launched immediately.
Everything had gone smoothly and his units moved swiftly toward the battle.
Then they ran into the minefield.
+++
Black Forest fleet engages Trilar fleet and is forced to retreat.
"Evidently the Trilar had accurately predicted the Black Forest reaction to the attack on the Kif." Said one expert. "They laid a mine field and positioned some reserve units nearby.
As the Black Forest Fleet slowed to allow light units to clear mines the reserve units who had knowledge of clear paths harassed them and further slowed Progress.
This gave time for the main Trilar force to move up to engage.
While both sides fought well, the Trilar with their superior equipment got the better of it. The Black Forest forces made a slow retreat back to their base. As they neared that base the Trilar force broke contact and retreated.
+++
Admiral Riechart was a cautious man. He had chosen carefully a target not likely to be heavily defended but still important enough to matter.
The Pathogen's capitol was also its major industrial center. He achieved initial surprise and destroyed a fair amount of orbital factories. Then he pulled out and headed back to Id.
Then things went wrong.
+++
AKT fleet defeated near Id
The 35 squadrons had just completed a raid on the Pathogen's capitol and were just approaching their base when the Main Trilar fleet intercepted them.
"it was near thing." Said one observer. "The Trilar fleet evidently rushed from it's battles with the Black Forest and the Kif to meet the AKT-Id force. Only a few more hours and they have missed them."
While many Trilar units showed damage the number were unequal and only proximity to Id allowed the survival of AKT-Id squadrons.
A force of Id's home squadrons sallied forth immediately to cover the retreat. As soon as Id's formidable fortification weaponry came within range the Trilar force retreated.
+++
(by Rick Davis)
IMPORTANT NEWS FLASH!!
(Dateline, Trilar, 1895; by Fox Populi News Service.) Following the relative success of Trilar arms, as described in recent headlines throughout the Expanse, the Trilin (the Trilarian parliament) voted to recommend to the Fargin McFluger that a peace overture be offered to Trilar's enemies. Subsequently, the Fargin McFluger decided unequivocally (by his usual [6-sided] decision process) to accept the recommendation.
As a result, three high-level Trilar commissions, each consisting of a senior Illian, Golan and (disgruntled) Drago, have been dispatched and have requested entry into the capitals of the Kif, the Black Forest, and Id for the purpose of discussing an end to hostilities. The commission to Id has also asked to meet simultaneously with the AKT plenipotentiaries on Id.
Trilar's peace offering has been published throughout the human expanse and proposes a return to status quo ante bellum and a ceasefire while talks are underway. There are otherwise no conditions for talks suggested.
In a separate (similarly derived at) decision, the Fargin McFluger directed the Trilin to return the remains of the Black Forest and Kif ambassadors as gestures of good faith. A Trilin spokesman indicated this direction will be followed as soon as possible, although he regretted to admit that the Black Forest ambassador's remains have been mixed irretrievably with those of several members of his embassy staff. Also, the Kif ambassador's head, inexplicably, can no longer be found. Nevertheless, the spokesman hoped the gesture would be received in the Black Forest and by the Kif in the spirit in which it is intended.
+++
In separate news from the AKT, Chancellor Palin accepted the spirit of the Trilar offer. But, Lorna Looselips, her mini-skirted spokeschick, added, "We are willing to talk at any time with anyone to reduce bloodshed. However, we entered this war to support our friends in Id until a clear decision is reached." Ms. Looselips then added, "Clearly, a decision in the conflict has not yet been reached." The understanding was that AKT would work firmly in concert with their Idian allies.
AKT's Faustian faction was outraged by the Chancellor's waffling on the question. Speaking for the faction at a press conference, family member Karl Faust demanded that the war be "prosecuted to the bitter end! Until Trilar is crushed and their crimes are punished!" He did not specify to which crimes he referred. However, in response to a question he opined that the missing Kif ambassador's head "should be replaced by Palin's."
+++
(by Steve Bishop)
The Bear entered the conference room. The officers rose from their chairs and stood until he sat.
The Bear was a big heavy-set man running a bit to fat. But his shoulders were broad and his arms thick from his workouts. If he hadn't been such a hearty eater he would easily won the battle of the bulge.
He was dressed in tan uniform with his long hair tied behind his head in a pony tail. Like all of the warrior caste of the Black Forest he wore a ceremonial sword and firearm when in public.
"I just received a communication from my brother indicating that we have retrofitted a large number of three points as minesweepers. They are on their way here by Q space." (An older star drive that is faster but incapable of being used by anything larger then a 3 point.)
"He also reports that ship production is already up 30% and replacement troops are being trained to replace reserves already called up." He continued.
"Can he get me mines." Said the Boar.
"It's an obsolete technology or at least it was considered so, so it's going to take awhile."
"Then how come the Trilar have them?'" demanded the Boar.
"Because until recently all they had was an obsolete navy." Replied the Bear.
The Boar grumbled but then fell silent.
Clearly he was still upset that the Trilar were not fighting in the manner he was used to.
The Bear turned to his chief engineer.
"How is the repair work coming along?"
"Some hitch's as usual but were are moving into high gear. About 7% of the equipment is not worth repairing. Most of the rest is going to be simple to repair."
His intelligence officer spoke up. "I got the figures you wanted on their war production. They are all estimates since it is hard for humans to operate where they stand out so. Our attempts to suborn Trilar have so far been unsuccessful.
The Bear nodded and began to skim through the report. He would read it in detail later.
"Admiral, do you have a evaluation of the battle and what our next move will be." The Bear asked the Boar.
"The thing that was different and took us by surprise was that the battle was fought in the wilderness known as K-space. Most battles center around planets and bases and aim to clear an enemy fleet so a siege or blockade can be imposed. The Trilar's exact aim is unknown but the way they operated was to intercept or ambush forces on the way to a planet or base. What was unusual was the place." Said the Boar.
"Battles have been fought in K-space before." Noted the intelligence officer. "A good deal of piracy occurs in K-space."
"Yes but the wars you refer to where fought centuries ago and because of the limited utility of radar and sonar finding the other fleet is difficult." Replied the Boar.
"Then how did they find us?" said an officer down a couple of chairs.
"I suspected treachery at firsts." Said the Boar.
The Bear sighed. While it was possible of course it was unlikely that anything powerful enough to inform the Trilar could be 'slipped' onto a warship. Such suspicions usually just lowered morale.
"We considered a new technology." Said the Intelligence officer and reviewed all the raw data but found nothing. "Well nothing in terms of new technology but we did find something."
He inserted a disk into the computer and on everyone's screen some pictures appeared.
"Small ships almost un-noticeable hung around our fleet from the moment we left our base." Said the Intelligence officer.
"They must be no larger than fighters." Exclaimed one of the officers.
"Probably maintained by a carrier."
"Carriers and fighters are obsolete!" exclaimed the Boar.
"As fighting platforms perhaps, but here they shadowed our fleet. No doubt as the information came in it was sent by courier to the Trilar command."
"Any evidence of the carriers?" asked the Boar.
"No , that is just speculation."
"It makes sense from their perspective." Said the Bear. "They have no territorial ambitions as far as we know. It is we who have to seize things to win the war. All they have to do is scupper our efforts."
He inserted his own disc.
"I looked up those wars you referred to ." said the Bear. "I remembered a bit of it from Dr. Smith's military history course but had forgotten most of it."
"It was during the Shrike-EIC war in 15th century. The Shrike used K-space both for transport and for attacks. Characteristically they spread out groups of skirmisher in front their fleet and swept the most obvious pathways their enemy could use. Once spotted the fleet was pulled together and a battle was fought."
He called up a tactical display of a typical maneuver.
"Do you think the Shrike influenced the Trilar?" asked an officer.
"No, I think that unlikely. I think the Trilar thought of this one alone. My point is that such tactics might be used today. Oh yes, drifting minefields were a favorite of the Shrike."
"Why was the practice abandoned" asked the Boar.
"Larger, tougher ships and better armor. Also the EIC was winning anyway so the Shrike sought to fight on the EIC's terms. Most experts assumed the tactic had passed it's time."
"So what can we do then." Asked one the officers. "We can't improve our armor or the size of our ships overnight."
"True, but we can send out our own scouts and adapt the Shrike tactic of skirmishers, both to spot any force for the purpose of both finding them and spotting them before they are ready."
The Boar nodded. "Good idea but where are you going to get scouts and skirmishers at such short notice?"
"Leave it to me, admiral." Said the Bear.
"What you need to worry about is their next innovation not their last one." The Bear added.
"Fair point." Conceded the Boar.
+++
The two men walked together after the meeting.
"I hear that the Trilar have proposed a peace. What do you think we are going to do?" asked the Boar.
"I am not in the confidence of the Queen these days."
"Nor am I." said the Boar and chuckled.
"Again it makes sense you know. They tried to hammer out a bargain several times but the Kif refused each offer." Said the Bear. "That's why they way they fought this year was so effective." said the Bear.
+++
(by Steve Bishop)
Kruger raids Nottingham!
"The Kif are clearly barbarians" declares Regabot
War escalates
Kruger sent three of it s eleven squadrons to raid Nottingham where a fleet was gathering to move to attack the Trilar. It's aim was the destruction of fueling stations needed to move the fleet. Three such stations were damaged though Nottingham refused to reveal how serious the damage was.
The Trianian King Henry who was present with a fleet was publicly furious.
"We'll get hem for this!"
Analysts say that that Kruger sent only three fleets because the bulk of it's fleet has a limited range.
"The design is a Dual Empire one designed for war in the Expanse." Said Flack Flarrigan. "It is an older design as well."
The presumption is that Kruger's lack of tankers limited the number of ships sent.
Black Forest and AKT sign alliance!!!
Treaty agrees to attack Trilar in Expanse
The treaty came as surprise to many since the two powers were enemies in the last Northern War. Both however had protested Trilar moving in the Expanse last year and both were at war with Trilar.
None the less the treaty is of limited duration with the sole aim of defeating the Trilar in the Expanse and occupying its territory there.
Alarm in Luna and Republic over AKT actions.
While the governments said nothing news blogs and flimsies in both country's speculated that the AKT would stay with the Black Forest after the Trilar war in the process changing the Balance of Power in the North.
"Rank opportunism!" fumed Maria Smith in the Republic.
Her husband RKO Smith also added his voice to debate.
"It was very clever of the Black Forest to offer to assist in the central (expanse) system. The AKT was vehement last year when the Trilar moved in. The question of course here at home (The North) is if Id can stomach an alliance here with the Black Forest."
Luna proposes an Expanse wide pact to Emstar
Two powers would enforce an Piracy free zone in the expanse.
Offer asks that 'tentative Belligerents agree'
"90% of Luna's trade come in between the North and the Expanse. Luna is trying to limit collateral damage by the belligerents in this conflict." Said Flack Flarrigan.
Emstar rejects proposal
While the reaction of the Empress was positive at first there was widespread opposition in her own party and allied parties.
The new Emerald Vision Movement was opposed to the move. Its leader Specter who gains insight from form a mystical specter that supposedly resides in a scepter. (dubbed Specters scepters specter by one wag)
"The spirit warns against this move." Warned the Emerald Vision leader. He then offered a less mystical critique of the proposal that basically said the Empire didn't want to go anywhere close to this war and if it did it would want to stop it.
In the end the Empress Miranda announced she would reject the proposal.
AKT launches two Attacks!
Invades Kruger in North and Trilar in the Expanse
With Kruger weakened by the dispatch of forces to attack Nottingham, the AKT and Id invaded Kruger aiming at taking out Trilar's only ally.
In another move a joint AKT-Black Forest fleet attacked Trilar's possessions in the Expanse.
"We will eject these barbarians!" exclaimed the Barbarians. "Yet another power has succumbed to Barbarian. I am gravely disappointed by the behavior of the AKT. It is clear that this Palin is a brainless dupe of the Barbarians!"
The Trilar government had no comments to make at the time of publication.
Kruger throws back Invaders
The AKT-Id invasion ran into problems almost immediately. Kruger being paranoid had every bit of its territory fortified. Kruger forces as they retreated from the border destroyed what they couldn't take.
Once the forces was drawn in and their supply line extended a flanking maneuver by the Kruger 9th Guard fleet led by Commissar Zukbot broke through and swung behind the advancing AKT-Id line. The attack crumbled at that point with the invaders rapidly withdrawing.
Trilar Province in Expanse invaded and occupied.
In a a move of unknown consequences Trilar and Black Forest forces esily defeated the Trilar squadron in the expanse and followed this by overwhelming it's fortifcations and landing troops.
Under Prior agreement the AKT commanded the operation and supplied the invading troops. They will occupy the territory.
"They are heathens unacceptable to the One God." Explained the Black Forest commander The Arrow.
The Black Forest's share of spoils was to receive all the ships captured by the naval victory. There were immediately towed back to Bradyglen (The BF's possession in the Expanse) for refurbishing and no doubt examination by Technicians .
"I also suspect assigning the occupation to the AKT had several non-religious purposes." Said Annie Lyctical. "The Black Forest is courting the AKT hoping to separate them from the Republic for one thing. The other is simply that occupation is a messy job the Black Forest didn't want."
+++
(by Rick Davis)
Dateline: Trilar. Fox Populi News Service
Gordon Charles, Fox Populi's field correspondent in the North, reports from Trilar that the Trilin leadership was universally stunned by loss of their holdings in the Expanse. Although he was unable to talk directly with any of the Arches, he did interview BUTTOCK Large Oftenused, Golan ADC to the Arch-Illian. "But we're a peaceable people," BUTTOCK complained. "Why are they doing this to us?" He closed his comments with a high-pitched voice and a frantic wave from his wrists.
Charles noted in his report he felt almost sorry for the blithering heathen, although he recognized the victory was a great and just one for the Allied cause. He further reported that, even though Trilar itself this year once again fought off massive attacks by Black Forest, the Nottingham Group and the Kif, the results were a close-run thing. Informed sources indicated key leaders within Trilar are worried they may not have as much fortune in the next year's campaign. Worse, their peace overtures have come for naught; and it appears they are running out of options.
There was no note of Kruger's several efforts on Trilar's behalf. The sense was that other results had been so catastrophic that Kruger's campaign and successful defense against AKT-Id seemed almost irrelevant.
In separate news on AKT, Chancellor Palin declared a national holiday for the victory over Trilar in the Expanse. A large parade and black tie dinner feted AK Admiral Wy Nau, who had commanded the victorious forces.
Government sources indicated they would occupy the Trilar territory "as long as necessary."
Meanwhile, at the Capitol offices of Fox Populi itself, officials in the Human Resources department announced they had summarily fired Correspondent Gordon Charles for feeling empathy, a dirty word amongst Faustians, for the enemy. Once he returns to AKT, he will be ceremonially detained and his brain thoroughly examined to discover the nature of his errant reasoning.
+++
(by Steve Bishop)
Yukon: savage Barbarities by both sides
Kif and Trilar atrocities against each other abound
Both sides agree that the Kif 'started it' by wiping out Trilar outposts and commercial fueling stations. The Trilar responded in kind.
Then the Kif sought out larger settlements and bombarded them or when they could raided them.
Then units of the Trilar navy, aided by Shrike scouts, found and whipped out an entire 'flotilla' of Kif home ships.
Direct Shrike raids followed setting off tribal warfare far beyond the war zone.
"The thing is the Kif government has no real power here. The tribes have gone on the rampage. To be fair the Kif government isn't trying to stop it." Said Imperial Star reporter Kim Kinock.
Along the Kif-Trilar border
The Kif were dirty, undisciplined and rowdy reflected the Col. Austin Sharptooth.
Austin had been placed in command of the skirmishers because of his-and his species- huge size and ferocity.
He was a hexapod with four legs and a human like body and two arms in front. He stood five feet at the shoulders of his lower trunk and towered five more feet to his head. His four feet each had razor sharp claws and his jaw was power and filled with the sharp teeth of a carnivore.
The Chanur had hooked up with the last Domicrator and had decided to declare him their supreme Warlord with the power to arbitrate between their squabbling prides. The arrangement had worked splendidly for both sides. The Domicrator got a force of fierce warriors willing to obey orders and the Chanur had been able to enlist in the Regiments of the Domicrator. Further rewards followed as it was decided to locate most of the Realm's industrial plant in Chanur.
Austin and his regiment had been assigned to control two squadrons of three point 'frigates'.
There task was to surround the Kif fleet (and therefore the Black Forest fleet) with scouts to prevent ambush and to report on the activities of the Trilar fleet. Their job was also to clear way Trilar scouts.
"Leader the foe approaches." Came the hissing sound of his Kif deputy. "Our outer scouts have marked them."
"They have seen their capitol ships? They may try to fool us with a cloud of skirmishers."
"No leader the units reporting managed to come withing sight of the main fleet. They withdrew and transmitted to us images."
"Good, lets see them and then transmit them to the Generalissimo."
+++
The title was actually Commanding Admiral. The Boar and his staff looked over the images.
"They are heading directly for us." Observed The Belicrator (and Domicrator's brother) Shakespeare Longclaw. "The question is if they know we know."
"All of the ships have been put on combat status and are ready to move, Shall we put them in motion?" Asked the Shark.
"No let us maintain our position. If we can make them believe we are to be surprised again might be an advantage." Replied the Boar.
"should I send a message to the area Warmaster." Asked the Shark.
The boar shook his head. "Let not bother him. He has given us the tools let us use them."
++++
Indeed thought the Boar the tools had been supplied. The damage from the last round been repaired and new formations brought up from the the Black Forest. In conjunction with the Kif a cloud of scour-skirmishers had been supplied.
No more ambushes.
He hoped
He had great respect for the Draco and their Commander. He conceded that he had underestimated them last year. They had out thought and outfought his own forces. He had no illusions that this year wouldn't be just as tough. The enemy had brought up it's own reserves and was stronger then ever.
"You don't have to win you just don't to lose." The Bear had told him. "Our intelligence indicates that they have maybe one more year before our production completely overcomes their advantages."
Attrition then thought the Boar. The kind of war soldiers hate. Our aim is to inflict more casualties then then they inflict. Maybe just the most possible casualties period.
It left a sour taste in his mouth. He yearned for a clear victory.
He was however a realist. Even with the merger of the Kif and Black Forest fleet had given him a slight numerical the foe had a Qualitative advantage over his own.
They had dreadnoughts and he had not He thought sourly. This was the third war he had faced that problem and it was getting old. The time had come to correct that problem so when the next war occurred the Black Forest could fight evenly on a qualitative level.
+++
The Bear was indeed not worried about the Boar's problems. He had recruited the Boar because he was the most successful Admiral of the last war. He had every confidence in the man.
His own concern was production. The new reserves he was training would not be on line for another year and the last of ready reserves would be coming in on the next campaign. There would be a six month gap before new forces could be brought up.
The production schedule was excellent! The equipment for six more squadrons was ready and an accelerated program of refurbishing older battle ships would allow him to equip two thirds of the squadrons with a second battleship. That could well close the gap between their squadrons and the dreadnought squadrons of the Trilar.
His main worry was politics. He rival The Brute was plotting against him and hoping for his failure. Already he could see this in the units being held back to meet the Republic threat. The best units were being kept at home!
They were ignorant perhaps at how competent the Trilar were and still thought the Republic the greater threat. In his opinion the Trilar were the most formidable foe the Black Forest had faced since the wars with Legena and the Emstar.
He had a hunch they would emerge stronger from this war.
+++
Black Forest-Kif force defeated near Pathogen
Heavy causalities on both sides
The two fleets met just as the allied fleet came near the Pathogen 'gate'. The Trilar fleet approached and attacked the fleet from the west having evidently just arrived in the region.
There was no surprise for either side.
At first the Trilar concentrated on the right wing where the Kif force was but when the Kif didn't break and the BF forces began their own move to flank the Kif switched to the center.
The Trilar force fought their way to the gate where a Pathogen force emerged. The allied fleet then made a systematic withdrawal and pulled back to their base.
"There was from the reports I've looked at no great difference in the amount of the casualties." Remarked Flack Flarrigan. "But it seems Kif light forces concentrated on mass attacks on dreadnoughts."
"This is uncharacteristic of Kif forces. They must have a very strong set of leaders." Remarked another commentator.
Nottingham alliance Fleet fights engagement with Trilar
The engagement could not be called a great victory for either side but large parts of the Nottingham supply train were destroyed forcing it to put to port until new supplies could be put together.
"The Trilar force was much smaller and built for speed. It ambushed the Nottingham alliance's supply division and destroyed most of it before the main fleet could intervene.
"Its a different kind of war out here then we are used to." Remarked Andre Lucverde, the commander of the Champaign contingent. "The distances are greater, there are no sieges yet and the enemy chooses to fight almost exclusively in K space."
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