Dameo

[font=Arial]The trumpets sounded, the soldiers stood their ranks and saluted, as the procession exited from the private chambers of the Emporer's accords, and marched out torwards the balconey, where the excited throng of civilians, military personnel, and diplomats alike awaited. They reached the podium, and the most senior of the officers arose to speak. Some in the crowd gasped in suprise. It was Vincent Harker who took the stand, but instead of wearing his normal uniform, he instead wore a new uniform signifying the rank of a Fleet Admiral. He tapped the microphone twice to call for silence. [/font]
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[font=Arial]"Citizens and Soldiers alike of Dameo, I have come before you here today to make an announcement of grave importance. This concerns our new neighbors, the Galactic Coalition. Some time ago, after the peace treaty signed by the last war, another treaty was ratified. This one effectivley closed off our borders, with the existance of a neutral zone, leaving us isolated, like we wanted. But instead, unbeknowst to us, this treaty was cast aside by the returning Prime Minister of the Coalition. He then, using the sword of his diplomats, invaded our space, and took several of the planets under our sphere of influence." said the Admiral, with the murmurs and angry voices rising.[/font]
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[font=Arial]"In addition to this, records from the planet of Tynna had revealed to us that the Coalition has developed a new battlefleet of vessels as well, the Imperials finding to their misfortune that these are very capable vessels. Mind you, such vessels don't stand a chance against the might of Dameo, but these occurances are very troubling to us. New planets within our realm, a new battlefleet, a very aggressive Prime Minister. I tell you, Dameo wants but one thing, peace. But in this case, I fear nothing short of war will bring about this peace. But I do tell you the good news. We will give the Coalition a peaceful chance to withdraw, a seventy two hour ultinatum. Go now, brave warriors, and confront the threat of these vermin entering your household." said Admiral Harker as he stepped down from the podium and exited from the area. [/font]
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[font=Arial]The grand battlefleet of the Black Dragon Empire, having been assembled by elements from the Farfalen Sector, the Centrality, the Tion Division, and more, cranked up their engines, cast away the moorings from the orbiting space stations and tenders, and began to form up as they moved away from Dameo and torwards the planet that was Teth. The armada was still forming up when the entourage of shuttles bearing the all important officers reached the flagship of the whole operation, the Tion class Star Destroyer Dragon's Fang. The Admiral nodded to his subordinates once they had reached the bridge of the great vessel, at which time the armada had finished forming up. At that time, the fleet entered hyperspace, bound for the destination of Teth. [/font]
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[font=Arial]Five minutes to reversion over Teth
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[font=Arial]"Admiral, five minutes until reversion to realspace." said the chief navigator. [/font]

[font=Arial]"Very well then. Execute the plan. Task Forces Beta, Epsilon, Gamma, drop out of hyperspace and maintain your position, await for further instructions." ordered the Admiral. [/font]

[font=Arial]With that three of the four sections of the grand fleet dropped out of hyperspace, just short of the planet, but within the planetery system. The rest of the vanguard continued inwards torwards Teth. [/font]

[font=Arial]"T minus ten, nine, eight.." called out the navigator.[/font]

[font=Arial]"Remember people, we have only a faint idea of what were up against here. Stay sharp, and focused. Remember the plan." said the Admiral.[/font]

[font=Arial]"Three, two, one, reverting." said the navigator. [/font]

[font=Arial]The long lines of stars falling past reverted to their normal dotted form, and the battlecruiser was out of hyperspace, followed by the rest of the armada. Teth floated in front of them, their destination. The fleet quickly configured into their planned battle formation. [/font]

[font=Arial]"Pickets, Gunships to the rear, Star Destroyers to the front. Battlecruiser, maintain central formation. Deploy the fighters. Sensors, sweep the system. Where is the enemy?" demanded the Admiral. [/font]

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Earlier that day

Captain Panacka had looked down on the world of Teth from his place on the Quadratic with a sigh. Teth was a world that had seen greatness, darkness, glory, shame, and most notably war for a good deal of it's history. It seemed entirely possible it would be seeing some more very soon.

To look at, the captain wasn't much. His features were a little gaunt for his age, his hair was black and tended to stick out from under his officer's hat. He looked all in all like a regular man who' suffered more stress than his age warrented.

Panacka had been called to be one of the representatives of the Eastern Province at Regrad's top-level security meeting in the Unknown regions. His service to the Coalition so far had been exemplary, although Panacka also had a feeling that some of his favour came from sympathy from Regrad, who understood the pain Panacka had to deal with after seeing the effects of the Empire on worlds up-close. It was something hard to deal with, on some days.

It wasn't going to be any easier in those to come.

"So we're all set for the fleet maneavuers to cover our departure?" said Panacka, looking away from the stars to fellow Captain Sheila Clarack - or Clacks. She nodded to him.

She held none of the stress on Panacka on her appearance - it looked like it would take nothing less than a sledge-hammer to break her cold, sculpted features. Her hair was blond, and came out smoothly from her officer's hat, and those who didn't know her well might go so far as to say she was beautiful. Panacka did know her, however, and after a while the unisex uniforms of the Coalition navy wore down any infatuated thoughts.

"Good. You'll be in command until I return. Things have been edgy since that Black Dragon force travelled through the area earlier, so the fleet maneauvers will help let the troops stretch their legs. Did those mines I ordered arrive?"

"Just a few hours ago, sir. They're still packed in the orbital yards, but I think we should be able to get the minelayers out soon enough."

You don't have to call me sir, we're the same rank - is what Panacka thought of saying, but didn't. There was a clearly defined command structure for each region, but it more or less ended at captain - captains reported directly to fleet brass and from them received their commands, including who was in charge. It seemed as though Panacka was leading every effort in the East, so people had taken to calling him sir. Although he felt a little guilty, he secretly enjoyed it.

"I'll be leaving the Quadratic in your hands. We've got mostly Dominators and the S-class fighters around here, so a few faster ships wouldn't go amiss. Be careful with it, okay? The crew is still on edge after it's last tour near the Commonwealth."

Another curt nod. Panacka nodded back. "I'll be leaving in a few hours, so as of now, I defer command of the Eastern Fleet to you. Best of luck."

She finally smiled. "Thank you, Panacka. Enjoy your trip."

With that, he turned smartly on his heel and left the bridge. Clacks looked out the window on to Teth, a rushing feeling of power and responsibility flowing through her. It was as she was grinning to this thought that an attention-grabbing throat-clearing sound announced the presence of someone else on the bridge. She turned.

"Ah." with less enthusiasm "Sergant Cy. I see they haven't promoted you yet."

The woman leaning in the door-frame was much more plain than the officer before her. She had tried to offset this with some ornamentation, but the only thing that went with Marine armour were kill-markers and maybe a playing card on the helmet, which did little to improve her look. To compensate, she fostered a private hatred of women like Clacks.

"I don't think this is a social call, so what are you doing on Panacka's ship?" she said in a cool tone.

"Don't worry, I don't go in for men like Panacka. Just showing up for a little promotion, that's all."

Cy scowled, and said "What are you talking about?"

"Oh? He didn't tell you? Well, you are just a sergant after all. Panacka will be leaving the Quadratic to meet the Prime Minister at some top-level summit. That means I'm in command of the Eastern fleet until his return, so you can start adding the preffix or suffix 'ma'm' to your sentances from now on, is that clear?"

"Yes ma'm." said Cy, whose voice had now dropped a number of degrees down to cold. "Permission to be dismissed?"

"Granted - as in, go away."

Alone again, Clacks chuckled at her small victory over Cy. It probably wasn't nice, but then again, Cy would probably do the same thing in her situation. She turned back to the window.

Present

A few of the officers and crew had turned up to see Panacka off at his shuttle. The atmosphere was light, as bridge crew offered such helpful criticism as "Don't turn your back on the Prime Minister, or he'll forget you're there and step on you!" or "If you can't get drinks in, find the Minister of Ethics - he's always good for a pint." Panacka smiled and was in the middle of giving the last waves good-bye when an alarm began blaring throughout the hangar bay. Red lights spun and klaxons wailed, and instantly Panacka knew there was only one thing it could be.

"Attack!" he bellowed, and leapt off the shuttle. "We're under attack! To stations!" and the officers scrambled.

As he took stairs up and out of the hangar bay three at a time, Panacka fumbled with his comm "Bridge, what's going on?!"

"Black Dragon, sir! Lots of them! They're bearing down right into our fleet maneauvers!"

"What maneauver are we doing?"

"Diamon defence, sir!"

Diamond defence - the new crews of the Dominators were still practicing and repracticing the maneauvers best suited to their new warships, and this one involved the hardy Dominators waiting in a spearhead. At least that was a stroke of luck.

"Launch fighters, then raise shields, arm weapons - the whole lot! Send off a comm to command - " Damn, the meeting, they'd be out " - and anyone in the area that we're under attack! And whatever you do, don't..."

Panacka reached the bridge, and stopped as he set his eyes on the battlefleet before them. "Don't... panic."

"Most are still far out, sir." said a lieutenant on the bridge. "But a quarter of their force are coming this way - right up close."

Panacka bounded over the command chair and landed in it, taking up immeadiet status. He was in a Claymore battlecruiser, and was part of the small detatcment of 'fast' ships in this fleet. Most were of the newer, heavier variety like the Dominator, and he adapted his orders to fit that.

"If they want to meet us this close on, let them." He said firmly. "No parley - fire at will! Send them back to hell, lieutenant."

The order went out.

The Dominator's strength was all-forwards, and it showed it. The first wave of torpedoes, missiles, and batteries launched in a concentrated barrage, blunting the nose of the enemy advance - such was the danger of not commiting your whole force to an advance into your enemy's nose. As civilians scattered and fled orbit, a briliant lightshow took place as the heavies advanced the Diamon formation to a position of strength, shielding the more fragile ships behind it.

Stations armed weapons or were quickly abandoned, but on the surface something different was playing out. Wielding emergency powers, the general on the ground had declared a lockdown and had in turn awoken the weapons of war on Teth that'd laid dormant since their time as an Empire. Huge batteries that dotted the planet awoke, and a massive installation that served as the centerpiece of the military complex powered up, covering the planet in a protective planetary shield.

Panacka felt his grim resolve set in as the two fleets began to clash. They would not take Teth lightly.

In the outer system area of Teth, aboard the Battleship Dragon's Fang

[font=Arial]"Sir, enemy fleet in close proximity! I count five, ten, more enemy captial ships, all large profiles, of unknown variety. Wait a minute..., recent telementry data borrowed from the Empire suggests some of the enemy ships are of what the Coalition calls Claymore class Battlecruisers, but the others are of a unknown variety, and match our own Tion class ships in size." reported the sensors officer. [/font]
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[font=Arial]"Damn, either the enemy fleet was really lucky, or we were sold out by enemy spies. Send a message to the other three taskforces, order them to hold off for the moment, and send a message along to the High Inquisiroate office informing them of the situation. This should give them time to investigate. In the meantime, let's hope that they think we have come in peace." said the Admiral.[/font]
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[font=Arial]"No such luck sir, incoming enemy fire. Torpedo and Particle spreads incoming." yelled this time the sensors officer. [/font]
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[font=Arial]"Starfighters, intercept incoming missiles. Wyvern cannons, open fire, and brace for impact!" ordered the Admiral. [/font]
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[font=Arial]Although it placed his own flagship at risk, there was a very good reason for the Admiral having ordered the Tion class ships up front. They were much more advanced and newer vessels than the other ships of the advance force, and they demonstrated just why that was in this incident. Fighter coordination and command facilites went into action, picking out enemy torpedo targets to be interdicted by the starfighter screen and defense cannons. Fire filled the surronding space as hundreds of torpedoes detonated, but still more came on. First to reach the ships were the Particle Cannon shots, tearing into the mutli-layered shields before detonating. But thanks to the design and integration of a multi-layered shield system aboard the destroyers, no damage was done by this sucker blow. The torpedoes and missiles arrived a moment later, and the second part of the one two punch connected. This time, three star destroyers were damaged by the explosions, small impact craters appearing on their bows. The admiral was not happy to have his vanguard force bloodied this early in the engagement, but managed to keep his calm and compsure none-the-less. [/font]
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[font=Arial]"Trading punches for punches. Weapons, order the battlecruisers to empty their torpedo octects. All star destroyers, prepare to target the points of impact with your PIM launchers. Main target are those heavy enemy battleships. Target the front eight ships. Execute." ordered the Admiral. First thousands of blooms of light emanated from behind the formation of BDE battleships as the battlecruisers opened up with their proton torpedo launchers, sending volley after volley torwards the enemy battleships which had first fired upon his formation. As soon as the wall of proton torpedoes were past the star destroyers, the PIM launchers emptied their own racks of the deadly PIM missiles. In a similar fashion as to how the Dragons had protected their own ships, many of their own proton torpedoes were shot down by either picket and patrolling starfighters or by the onboard weaponry of the ships that were being targeted. However, the sheer number of torpedoes fired ensured that many would get through, exploding against the shields, weakening them drastically. Then, mere moments later, the PIMs arrived, their ionic fields disrupting the shields, allowed the warheads to pass through to the hull beneath them, detonating, wreaking havoc with the ship's systems. This counter-attack saw six of the enemy battlecruisers seventy-five percent disabled according to estimates by the observers. [/font]
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[font=Arial]"Now it's time to take the initiative. All star destroyers, open fire with your turbolasers. Concentrate on the enemy battlecruiser formation. All ships, target and destroy one vessel at a time. Starfighters, defence cannons, be on alert for assault from enemy starfighter formations or for more attacks from the enemy missile stations." ordered the Admiral. Sheets of green turbolaser fire lanced out from the HD-7 Cannons, reaching across space to punch into the first of the Claymore class Battlecruisers, damaging their shields. Having completed their duty of interdiciting the first enemy missile strike, the starfighters remained in formation, ready for any more threats. [/font]
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Indeed - the Black Dragon observers sat comfortably sure in their technological superiority. The Diamond formation was engulfed in clouds of debries and smoke, invisible in the aftermath of the opening bombardment. Surely nothing could have survived...

"Leiutenant, status report." said Captain Clarack.

"Ion shields holding, madame."

"Excellent - god bless Dondana and his rampant military spendings. Prepare to advance in layered formation - we'll meet them gun for gun, if they want to play so badly."

The Coalition Dominators emerged unscathed from the clouds, their Ion shields flickering and stabalizing as it brushed away the last of the enemy's missiles. The formation had changed, however, and now the Dominators were stacked one over another in an advancing wall two ships tall. Where fire-arcs crossed, the heavy guns reduced everything to ashes.

Panacka's faster ships stayed tightly behind this wall, staying out of the fight for now. Like a stampede the Dominators ground into the vanguard force, doing what they did best. The Dragons had split their forces, and the division before them wasn't nearly large enough to stand up to the barrage. It was soon driven from before the Coalition to regroup with the rest of the Dragon forces bearing down on them.

A few bridge officers cheered, but Clacks quickly silenced them. "This is no time for celebrating - the bulk of the enemy's coming this way. Prepare to lock horns with them, I want all reserve power to shields and all gunnery positions to be reloaded! We'll meet them head-on."

The Coalition wall continued it's press to the Dragon lines, and all the while Panacka kept a reign on his forces behind the wall, waiting for the moment to strike.

"Sir, are you sure we shouldn't advance?" said a lieutenant tentatively. Panacka raised an eyebrow.

"Into that fire? We'd be cut to pieces instantly. We'll hold our position here for now, don't worry - there'll be a hole in their lines soon enough." With that, he turned to his comm and said "Sergant Cy, this is Panacka."

The voice on the other end crackled to life "Awaiting your orders, sir."

"Prepare your troops for launch at any moment, all torpedoes facing dead ahead. Close-combat gear and high-explosives reccomended."

"Will do, sir."

"And Cy?" said Panacka, who paused "Good luck."

She smiled. "Thank you, sir." and flicked her comm off. "All right you lazy body-bags on legs! Double-time to the torpedoe tubes! We're going to get a taste."

The ranks of variable soldiers, in various alien tongues, spoke together in a massive roar of "Hoo-rah" before flowing to the launch areas. Times like this was what mindless bravado sayings and chants were all about.

Aboard the Dragon's Fang

[font=Arial]"Sir, orders?" asked the Admiral's personal aide. [/font]

[font=Arial]"Okay then. Plan A, using massed firepower to simply barge our way in, is not working. Obviously the enemy has developed an effective counter in his shield systems for that plan. So, we move to Plan B. Alert Task Forces Beta and Epsilon of the changed plans. Task Force Gamma is to remain in reserve for the time being. Execute." ordered the Admiral.[/font]

[font=Arial]By this time the Tion class Star Destroyers, which had been whittled down and driven backwards into the Cental Force of Shoto class Battlecruisers, now surged forwards again. Two of the Tion class ships, crippled, remained behind, their crews evacuating, their self-destruct mechanisms activating, ensuring the motto of the ship-class that no Tion would ever be captured. The remaining Tion class Star Destroyers, along with the Shoto class Battlecruisers, and the Cutter class Gunships and Kessel class Pickets, roared right down the throats of the enemies's battleline. The gunships, pickets, and starfighter screen slammed into the enemy's formation first, ignoring the threat of the larger battleships and battlecruisers to go after the enemy starfighters. Caught with a double assault of large well armed ships and smaller, faster, and manueverable craft, many of the enemy's starfighters were destroyed. [/font]

[font=Arial]In the meantime, the capital ships of the Black Dragons met those of the Galatic Coalition in close quarter combat as the two formations passed through one another. The Tion class Star Destroyers and the Shoto class Battlecruisers unleashed their full broadsides, focusing solely on the enemy battleships. The Tion's unleashed first their DMB's, the waves of electro-magnetic energy sweeping across the hulls of the battleships, destroying circuitry on the surface of their hulls, namely those belonging to shields, bridge, communications, and sensors equipment. Having done so the destroyers unleashed the full might of their Fusion Beam Cannons and HD-7 Turbolasers, quickly whittling down what remaining shield strength the large ships have, their projectors no longer able to provide reinforcing shield energy. With that the Tion class ships had shot their bolt, and now in turn took the fury of the enemy's counter-attack, two more of their number being destroyed outright, three more badly damaged and unable to manuever properly. The remaining Tion class ships, including the now damaged Dragon's Fang, having passed through the enemy formation, turned to port and starboard. The Shoto class Battlecruiser, following the Tions, also made their runs, their turbolaser and wyvern cannons concentrating on the rear of the enemy battleships, wrecking their drive engines. With that the Pickets, Gunships, and Battlecruisers surged ahead, heading for the planet, leaving the battered formation of Tion class ships behind. [/font]

[font=Arial]However, before the enemy could get any dis-illusions about the apparent changing of the situation to their favour, the second part of Plan B went into effect. Task Force Beta, consisting of a number of other Black Dragon Empire class ships not included in the original force, reverted from hyperspace in the now vacated space of the original force. These included a number of Tion class Dragon Claws, Akorec class Strike Cruisers, and a number more of Cutter class Gunships. Not only that, but Task Force Epsilon reverted from hyperspace on the other side and to port of the Coalition fleet. This force consisted of a number more of Tion DragonClaws, Warlord class Dropships, and one mammoth Tion class Star Dragon. All of the new arrivals powered up shields, deployed their starfighters, and were on alert for an enemy counter-attack. [/font]

[font=Arial]The remaning Battlecruisers, Gunships, and Pickets of the original force formed up as escorts for Task Force Epsilon, which continued now torwards the unprotected planet. The enemy battlefleet, the engines of their dreadnoughts disabled, their battlecruisers bottled up, were now trapped between the Tion class Star Destroyers and the now arrived Task Force Gamma. The Admiral and his staff now watched as the pounding began. [/font]

As the smaller, faster ships made their first thrust into the Coalition lines (this being the attack described by Vincent) Clacks didn't even bother giving an order. Instead, she listened as the gunnery commander shouted coordinates into his comm.

"Such a waste..." she said with a sigh, as the guns all along the dominator locked on to their targets. "Fire."

The Black Dragon Empire had clearly made some strategic errors, thought Clacks, as she watched the entirety of the enemy's pickets, gunships, and battlecruisers be wiped out (utterly) as they tried to move through the swampy morass of gunfire laid down by the dominators and ignoring it. They had just walked into a wall - literally - and were no more.

As a smoking wreck of a picket floated past the bridge, she shook her head "Such a stupid waste. Oh well - prepare to engage their capitol vessels. Without their lighter support, this is Panacka's chance so keep your eyes open for his forces."

The enemy, having made that critical error, was now robbed of it's faster support and of the Tion destroyers. When the two lines of capitol vessels met, therefore, the Coalition was the one laying down the damage. Too confident were the Dragons in the superiority of their technology, and without the cover of pickets and the like their hulls were the playthings of Sabre assault bombers. Explosions rippled acrosst their surfaces and crumpled away as the two formations passed through.

Clacks gripped the rail as her ship shook, but the Dominators were tough - they were meant to be beaten like this, and so no one volley would ever bring them down, especially only from other capitol vessels.

Finally, the two formations passed through each other. The Dragons had, however, made another mistake - or maybe they just hadn't noticed Panacka and his forces behind the wall. Those that had passed through suddenly suffered the beating of a volley of Projector shots, tearing up armor and crushing vital systems.

"All speed ahead full, lieutenant!" shouted Panacka as he leapt up from his seat "Get us the hell out of here!"

He watched with white-knuckled dread as the Quadratic and accompanying ships raced after the Dominators, passing over the Dragon formation which was blessedly unable to fire - why, you ask? Because they were exploding.

After having walked straight through a formation of slugging warships, suffered the full attention of wings of bombers, and then flown right into the great cannonades of Projector shots, the enemy formation was ruined. Ships exploded and imploded all around, there was nothing left.

Panacka felt a sudden stirring of enthusiasm and optimism - he'd done it! They'd done it! How?! They had!

He punched the air as the command crew cheered, almost laughing with relief, when all of a sudden an alert light whirlled into activity.

"Sir!" shouted the sensors officer "More enemy ships! Another wave, inbound!"

"Location!" bellowed Panacka, suddenly filled with a mix of despair and fury "Damn it, where are they?!"

Clacks knew. She was looking them in the face.

"Give me that comm." she snapped, grabbing one from the hands of a lieutenant on the bridge. She quickly adjusted it, and said to the fleet "Hold formation - godsdamn it, hold formation! Fall back to the planet in wall formation, now!"

The wall of Dominators, finding themselves facing a fierce enemy before them, held formation and immeadeitly reversed full speed back towards the planet - doing their best to stay out of firing range. Panacka realized that the Dominators wouldn't be nearly fast enough to escape the enemy forces before they got into firing range, and so gave a few orders of his own.

"Move our forces into the Dominator Wall formation. It looks like we'll have to cover their retreat..."

Why retreat, you ask? And where to? On Teth, weapons have always been a fixture of the landscape since the time of the Iron Fist Empire. Finally powered up, these massive guns were prepared to lend their support to the conflict. If the Dragons could be brought within range of those guns, it could tip the tide.

There was another tide-tipping revelation in the works, however. Unknown to both sides, someone was rushing to the aide of Coalition forces. An old acquaintance of Panacka's wasn't about to see Teth fall.

(Status of battle: -The pickets, gunships, and the like were wiped out when they were sent against the Dominator wall, because they lacked heavy support to protect them.

-The destroyers and the like were wiped out when they locked horns with the Dominators, because without their lighter support they were unprotected from the bombers and other ordnance vessels, and you forgot about Panacka's forces, allowing them to fire at will right into your advance.

-The second wave of your forces is approaching, and the Coalition forces are quickly falling back before them towards the planet, which is arming it's planetary weapons.

-Reinforcements are inbound.)

Bridge of the Dragon's Fang

[font=Arial]"Status Report?" asked the Admiral as the bridge lights dimmed once more before coming back up. [/font]

[font=Arial]"Sir, the enemy fleet turned most of their firepower upon the pickets and gunships when they made their attacks upon the enemy starfighter formations. Seventy Five percent of our support forces have been destroyed, most of them in the central areas, along with many of our star destroyers and battlecruisers in that area. However, there is some good news Admiral. The enemy flagship, perhaps having seen the amount of destruction happening in that area, has now reversed course to go after our planetery assault forces, leaving our remaining forces and task force Gamma alone for the moment." said the aide, closing her eyes while recounting what had happened. [/font]

[font=Arial]The admiral too remembered. Because of the way the ships had been spaced out, the fastest ships in the rear, the battlecruisers in the central section, the star destroyers up front, when the line had advanced, they had met into a single line by the time they had hit the enemy fleet. Perhaps wanting to distribute damage evenly over the fleet, or save their own starfighters, the Admiral did not know, but the enemy had concentrated their firepower on the gunships and pickets first, destroying about half of them with their heavy weapons, since small ships could easily evade many of the larger weapons. But then the anti-starfighter weapons and cluster bombs had opened up, destroying more of our own ships, but at least in addition, their own starfighters as well, caught in the crossfire while screening their ships. Then the two walls had met, and seperated. Seventy-five percent of the enemy starfighters and bombers had been destroyed in this one pass, facing both the pickets and the starfighters. Our remaining one half vessels were largely decimated by the projector cannons on board the enemy battlecruisers as they emerged, leaving only five percent of the beginning forces, and many of those damaged too. [/font]

[font=Arial]The battlecruiser and star destroyers, in the meantime, had waded into the enemy fleet, taking little or no damage, the enemy's fire diverted to the smaller craft. The enemy battleships tried to crank their guns back up after dealing with the smaller ships, but they were slow in doing so. None-the-less, the already damaged Tion class Star Destroyers did bear heavy damage, even with their backup shields coming online and disabling much of the enemy firepower. But the enemy finally sustained casualites, as their destroyers bore the brunt of the Tion's full complement of weapons, and their engines were disabled. This left half of the enemies's battleships and all of their battlecruisers intact as they came about and went after the invasion force, which had reverted from hyperspace, leaving the other task force at their backs, completley oblivious to their presence. [/font]

[font=Arial]"Recall the battlecruisers and remaining pickets and gunships. Order Task Force Epsilon to abort their run on the planet. Prepare all forces for withdrawal. This operation is over." ordered the Admiral. [/font]

[font=Arial]"Precise orders?" asked the aide. [/font]

[font=Arial]"Have Task Force Epsilon head out to nav point Orion before heading back to the rendezvous point. Call in Task Force Gamma. They will provide for us the confusion in which to aide us in our withdrawal. But before we go, we will take as many of the enemy with us that we can." said the Admiral. [/font]

[font=Arial]With that, Task Force Epsilon reversed course, and headed out away from the planet and the oncoming remaining enemy fleet. The weapons on the planet opened fire, and for the most part they missed, still being out of range. Task Force Beta joined in with the remnants of Task Force Alpha to pound the crippled enemy battleships. Task Force Gamma in the meantime reverted from hyperspace within the midst of the enemy fleet. This force consisted of one Zen-class Command Cruiser, and fifty Ghost-MkII class Stealth Assault Ships. [/font]

[font=Arial]Task Force Alpha, Beta[/font]

[font=Arial]The Admiral watched as the two fleets pounded upon the crippled enemy star destroyers. The Shoto class Battlecruisers fired off their remaining reloaded Proton Torpedo Launchers, the remaining Tion class ships unloaded with their fusion beam cannons into their unprotected rears, and the newly arrived reinforcements bore the brunt of their counter-attack with fresh shields and determination. In short order the enemy battleships had been dispatched, completley overwhelmed, their shield generators useless without the use of their projectors, their communications arrays disabled, unable to call for help from the remaining enemy forces, now rushing torwards the planet to save it from an enemy task force now outbound. With the enemy fleet destroyed, the Black Dragon ships began to withdraw. With an order from the Admiral, Task Force Beta was dissolved, and her ships formed into Task Force Alpha. Fighters were recovered, crippled ships were scuttled, crews were rescued. [/font]

[font=Arial]Task Force Epsilon[/font]

[font=Arial]"Prepare for combat." ordered the ships Admiral. [/font]

[font=Arial]Although filled to the brink with combat soldiers and assault tanks, the task force was not unarmed. Hundreds of deathgliders were deployed, and the ships were armed to the brink with weaponry, ready to go. The most vulnerable ships, the Espos class Transports, were sent up front, placing the ships better suited to space combat behind them. Now the Dragons awaited to see if the Coalition would assault a fleeing taskforce filled to the brink with soldiers and tanks, pratically civilians in this case. [/font]

[font=Arial]Task Force Gamma[/font]

[font=Arial]The fleet reverted, and immediatley went into action. The Zen class Command Cruiser opened up with her weaponry. One of her most prized weapons, activated upon the Task Force's initial reversion into the Teth system, was the Devastator Mark III Missile. The Missile shot out of the hangar bay of the Command Cruiser, and went into the tightest formation of vessels, detonating squarely in between a pair of Claymore class Battlecruisers, obliterating them, the shockwave buffeting the wall formation, causing other ships to collide with one another, the Kyric's Pride herselft being slammed aside. And into the sudden confusion, came the the stealthy Ghost class ships. Then the choas began. [/font]
[font=Arial][/font]
[font=Arial]Corrected Status of the Battle, due to some mis-interpetation:[/font]
[font=Arial]95% of the Cutter Gunships, Kessel class Pickets, and Tion Deathgliders in Task Force Alpha were destroyed by combined Assaults of Dominators, Claymores, and enemy Kris Fighters. [/font]
50% of the Tion class Star Destroyers were destroyed, arriving at the same time as the pickets and small craft, which as per your orders were being assault by the entire fleet, did not take as much damage.
25% of the Battlecruisers, having not taken any damage earlier, and being subjected to very little in the way of fire from this post, were destroyed.

You have lost:
75% of your starfighter sceen
50% of your Dominators.
5% of your Claymores. (or 2%, something like that)

And these are losses, for the entire battle.
Ok, you have reinforcements incoming
Task Force Epsilon, closest to the planet, but still a good distance out, is withdrawing to the left, with your fleet heading torwards the planet.
Task Force Gamma is admist your suddenly confused fleet.
Task Force Alpha, consisting of combined Task Forces Alpha and Beta, are beginning to head outbound as well, heading down, away and out.

As the missile whooshed towards the Battlecruisers, Panacka rammed the red button on his command chair. "I hope this works..."

Quite suddenly, his ships were protected by a layer of blue haze. The missile met the field, stuttered, and redirected upwards through empty space. The missile flew farther and farther away until it exploded above both fleets, creating a blinding sphere of fire that for a moment drew all attention upwards. Panacka finally exhaled - he'd once laughed at the concept of the pulse shields on capitol vessels, but no longer. The field had just saved his entire formation from the chop.

With the enemy having expected a kaboom - which they were denied - the enemy ghosts charged into what was still a solid formation. To make matters worse for them, the Graviton sensors were meant to discover stealth ships, and without even the cover that a raging battle or huge explosion would bring, Panacka's cover had the advantage.

"Sir!" said an officer to Panacka's left "Enemy stealth ships coming in - they're going to hit the rear of formation. We're getting a clear signal - they've got some sort of gravity distortion devices, but these just make them stand out."

Panacka nodded "We're within range, time to turn around."

The Dominators and the lighter vessels turned, again forming the wall - only this time with a looser formation. The Ghosts' captains either realized that they had been seen or quickly became the newest addition to Teth's growing scrap-heap.

So Gamma found itself once again facing a Coalition wall - and something else entirely.

Panacka's comm flickered to life. "Panacka? This is General Max, awaiting your orders to fire."

"General? Fire at will."

The guns on the planet roared to life, from mountains to military outposts to flatlands the sky became a lightshow as massive cannons blunted Kyric's pride, both the ship and the man. The sheer volume of fire was too much, and the Black Dragons - which had simply split it's forces far too much - were pushed back and broken. Gamma was overwhelmed.

The comm to Panacka's right crackled "Sir! Requesting permission to pursue!"

"Negative, Clacks. We hold here."

"But sir-"

"That's an order, Captain. You are staying here within firing range of the guns where it's safe."

All Black Dragon forces were moving away. What was there left to do? Panacka suddenly felt a dangerous idea form - but one with great potential. "You're staying here, we're going, however!"

The speedy contingent of Coalition vessels raced after the last ship in the Black Dragon formation - the Pride of Kyric. With their projectors thrumming, the Claymores and Longswords fired off a volley and quickly turned back before enemy pursuit could be mounted. The Pride, still damaged from it's earlier tangle, took the volley right to the thrusters. The ship was soon crippled in space, drifting without control of it's engines.

The Coalition made no further move to attack it or go close to it, but to turn around and assist might provoke them - a difficult choice for the enemy commander.

Panacka began weighing the battle in his head quickly - what had happened?

The enemy had sent their attacks poorly, for they lacked support - for this reason, the first phase of the battle saw almost no Coalition casualties, while the Dragons suffered many. The lesson was that no force stands alone and certainly splitting your forces is deadly.

Then they had attempted a pursuit with stealth ships and a command vessel, but they had never tested their stealth against Coalition technology before, and so once again the Coalition suffered little while the Dragons suffered much.

The only time they'd ever taken a serious beating was between these two times, when the Coalition fell back to the protection of the planet and the Dragons had pursued.

He finally allowed himself to breath normally - he hadn't screwed up, he hadn't made mistakes, his troops had come out alive. Thank the gods. "Hold here, everyone - let's be sure they're retreating."

All enemy forces were leaving the area, heading away from the planet. The only things remaining besides the Coalition forces was the crippled Pride and a handful of Coalition ships disabled during the retreat to the planet. Panacka sighed - almost all of his troops had come out alive.

(Results: -Many of the casualties you were to inflict (the Claymores, most of the fighter losses, and half the Dominators) were deflected by the use of Pulse shielding to counter your super-missile.

-Graviton Detectors robbed your stealth ships of surprise and made them easier to defeat, along with support from ground guns.

-A single vessel, even a command vessel, attacking alone and without fighter support is going to take a beating, so it was either run or blow up.

25% of Dominators lost. Mostly while retreating from advance of 'second wave' back towards planet, since any other time they were simply shooting fish in a barrel.

No Claymores lost, since there were perhaps three and they were never really in a position to be fired upon (go pulse shielding!).

25% of fighters lost. Mostly during the suicidal charge of your pickets and the like right into a destroyer formation.

Casualties were low to reflect the fact that your tactics generally resulted in you sending in your forces piecmeal and unsupported. The only time you got in good hits was when Alpha and Beta teamed up, since they were attacking us when we weren't in formation and managed to pick off a few in the retreat.)

Panacka watched as the Black Dragons retreated. The battle was over. He could feel his hand shaking, although from anger or fear he didn't know. The comm crackled to life and the voice of Clacks broke into the bridge. "Sir? Panacka? We need orders, sir."

Hers was the only voice as the bridge officers fell silent and looked out into space. My gods though Panacka It's full of death...

He hadn't noticed it in the battle except perhaps as an obstacle, but now... looking out on it all...

Why was it always like this? At Thispias where he'd seen the carnage and the horror of Imperial Occupation. In the Unknown regions where he'd seen the cruel treatment of not one but two races under the yoke of an Imperial despot. Always, even if they won, it ended like this.

Before them all, he could see the smoking wrecks of Coalition and Dragon warships. Some were little more than frames, while others still stumbled feebly through space, shaking and groaning from pressure and damage. Everywhere, between the debries, there were bodies. Frozen. Frozen even in time. Forever.

"Sir? Are you all right?"

Panacka woke up. "Orders... have all ships put on emergency rescue, our primary concern is the recovery of stranded allied vessels and survivors. I'll make further calls for support and relief as soon as possible."

He sighed deeply, it always ended like this, but it hadn't ended yet.