[Azatol]

Chapter 9 – Homeward Bound


To: All Military Personnel


Introducing the Oradea anti-engine specialty light cruiser. This ship is designed to shut down enemy engines using the massive ionic disperser, as it was recently named. The ship also includes many other innovations such as shielding, advanced sensors, and ECM equipment.

Introducing the Zimnicea light cruiser. This ship uses the same cannons of the Turnu Magurele but also includes shielding, sensors and ECM.

***

The fleet was underway to the Butukret system following the Mizil’s report of three colonies and a light cruiser in system. The Mizil stopped sending messages after that, and so it seems the Amon’krie have destroyed another of our recon ships.

The Turnu Magurele has more point defense and more ammo storage than either of the new ships, so we won’t be retroffiting as of yet. Nonetheless the Zimnicea and Oradea are impressive advancements in the state of the art, although the shield rating on their ships hardly seems worth the space that the generators take up. Perhaps someday generators will be more powerful.

No one knows how useful the combat sensors and ECM will be, combat sensors can track the enemy more successfully in theory, removing some of the need for manual mode firing. The fleet also needs a greater operational range, or else they need to build a resupply station in Ashadra.

Comm traffic has been high in the Nizzarum system as the administrators there are proceeding with the colonization of the system, which contains a large number of methane planets suitable to the Amon’krie people. Some rumors say that the Amon’krie will be assigned all methane planets in the Kingdom and the King’s people may take all of the Oxygen planets, thus reducing the need for domed colonies.

***

Entering the Ashadra system, it was clear the Amon’krie were still a modest power, as they had recolonized one planet in the system and a light cruiser was spotted in the system. This time we had the Tarnaveni, so the colony could be taken over and turned into a military base serving the forward fleet.

But first we engaged the light cruiser, which had no chance against our large fleet. I was eager to use the cannons for the first time, and the Admiral allowed the cannon ships to take out the light cruiser to get some practice in, and find out just how reliable the cannons were. No Zimnicea nor Oradeas had been built, but the Admiral asked the administration on the Amon’krie homeworld to build at least one Oradea, to test out the engine destroyer. For this battle, it was cannonry’s turn however.

Onboard the Magurele 003, cannon #2 was ready and waiting to fire.

“Estimate we will be in range in five minutes, be ready cannon teams,” the captain ordered.

“One quarter thrust, ready firing solutions on my mark.”

The enemy display showed the Amon’krie vessel at 9000 kilometers. The captain was trying to get off the first shot at maximum range and avoid taking damage from the enemy.

“The Admiral has ordered all cannon ships to close in and fire all cannons, hopefully destroying the enemy before he has time to react. Full thrust.”

“Colonel, the sensor AI is finding a targetting solution. 50% completion...locked!” Pai said.

“Fire!” I shouted in response.

With the cannon mounted outside, I could not hear it firing, but the ship shook in brief spasms as all four cannons fired, each pushing the ship backwards a bit from the intense momentum created on the cannonballs.

“We missed,” Pai responded, “damn computer system.”

“5 hits out of 16 attempts fleet wise, not so hot,” the captain said on COMM.

“Light Cruiser is firing,” the Sensors chief said, “Turnu Magurele 001 has one point defense cannon destroyed sir. Light structural damage.”

“Fire at will!”

“Targetting solution acquired Dorn...and lost. The Medias hit with most of its smaller cannons and destroyed the enemy vessel.”

***

“Entering orbit of Ashadra VI, colony of the Amon’krie. General Adram requests a sweep of all planetary defenses and satellites.”

“This is the Targul Ocna 001, We pick up no satellites and no planetary defenses. Ground invasion is ready.”

“Switch to Marines Comm frequency, hold positions. Good luck general.”

“I want one King’s division supervising each three of the Amon’krie volunteer divisions, make sure the Amon’krie don’t turn against us...”

“Yes general. Tarnaveni inbound...”

“Hatch opening...drop pods released...”

“Entering atmosphere...”

“Touchdown, corps form up, isolate resistance, prepare for enemy militia groups...”

“Isolated militia response, colonial capital taken...”

“First Corp begin administrative and peacekeeping operations. The rest of you prepare for extraction.”

***

It only took six hours and less than a dozen casualties to take out the small colony. The colony was localized around a small set of habitation domes, and few had the resources to fight back, especially against 146 divisions, many of them formed of volunteer elements of their own kind.

Now the fleet waited while General Adram managed the logistics of building fleet resupply facilities on the colony.

***

To: All Military Personnel


A Mizil class scouting vessel operating in undiscovered territory through the Welshrak far side wormhole has discovered another civilization. Diplomatic contact has not yet been established, but homeworld will be building a reserve fleet to guard against possible hostile actions of this power.

A quick end to Amon’krie resistance is preferred if possible, in case this civilization is a large threat. All efforts will be made to assure at least temporary peace with the power.

***

Finally on 2408::03::25 we set off again in search of Amon’krie colonies, and glad to be fully supplied. The Butukret system actually contained four colonies, and we set to conquering them one by one.

In the meantime we awaited word on the new alien presence, but received none. Our recent campaigns would demonstrate to potential applicants that the first operation of the Space Marines was a flux, as losses in each operation after that one were laughably low. We still had not encountered anything but militia groups, but on the Amon’krie homeworld they were powerful, on the colonies they were not numerous enough to threaten us.

The fleet contained relics from the beginning of the war, but as of yet, none of the newest ships. The new fleet orbitting homeworld was to have two Oradeas and four Zimniceas once they were completed.

The General left five divisions on each conquered colony to maintain order as we fought a war oddly similar to island hopping campaigns of our past. Unlike those campaigns, the enemy hardly fought at all. The main thing keeping the Amon’krie state alive was its rabid colonialism. Every time we tracked down some colonies, we found that the Amon’krie had expanded elsewhere.

Butukret II was the first planet in the system to defend itself, with satellites and missile silos in operation. We relished the task of wiping out the satellites, so much as to cause problems. Medias went in alone against the satellite cluster, which could have destroyed the ship quickly, except that the Medias was just outside of the firing range of the enemy’s cannons.

The first test of point defense went well, with most shots from the defense cannons disabling a missile. Unfortunately the limited salvo of missiles intended to knock out planetary defenses, knocked out the whole colony, leaving the general nothing to conquer.

Turnu Magurele 002 finally showed up to help the Medias wipe out the satellites, and demonstrated that point defense is more effective than cannonry for that purpose.

Because of the fleet’s overkill in conquering Butukret II, for Butukret VII, the last Amon’krie colony in system, we sent only two missile ships against the colony which was defended by a number of missile silos. The plan was to unleash just enough but not too much devastation, because the General wanted to established a shipwrighting yard somewhere in system. The other colonies where already working on a resupply center and space port, respectively. The King’s glory was indeed rising to previously unheard of levels.

And now, with Butukret under the general’s control, once again the question of whether the Amon’krie had anymore colonies came to the forefront. Butukret’s neighboring systems would have to be explored to get an answer, but it seemed to some captains in the fleet that perhaps the Amon’krie empire was conquered after all those years.

***

To: All Military Personnel


Recent advancements in building stations in space have culminated in the Peshkopi battle station. Weighing in at 1500 kilotons, it far surpasses all previous size records, but its contents are more interesting. The Peshkopi contains shipwrighting and repair facilities like the Alba Lulia, but it is much more. Designed as a last stand defensive base, the Peshkopi is a fully military facility.

The heaviest cannonry ever is mounted on this battle station in four gigantic cannons. The battle station is designed with superior tracking, such that it has a maximum range of 8000 kilometers on its main cannons. The Peshkopi also features an upscaled engine destroyer that can fire from that same range, and immobilize almost any enemy vessel. In addition the station has shielding with a combined rating of 500 megatons. It also has 5 point defense cannons.

The Peshkopi will enter construction once the reserve fleet construction is completed.

***

“After we explore the surrounding systems, assuming we find no traces of Amon’krie, we will be returning home for a victory celebration. I believe many of the older ships will be scrapped to make way for the new designs.

The Shipwrighters on homeworld are busy working on the Peshkopi, but they also promise a 500 kt hull size for ships within another two months. Even thought it’s a station, not a ship, a lot of captains are seeking the lead position on Peshkopi, because of how impressive its weapons are, or perhaps many of us are tired of being away so long because of the war.

But on to the personal, you have a real leadership ability, you’ve taken a team of missile bay operators and made each of them worthy of their own cannon command. I’m giving 2nd Lieutenant Pai your position.

It’s a lot of responsibility, and I hope you live up to the position, but welcome to the command ranks, Lieutenant Commander Dorn. I am making you Weaponry commander onboard this ship, in charge of all weapon systems and crewmembers.”

“Thank you, sir. I will do my best to serve.”

***

With two neighboring systems being unoccupied by the Amon’krie and third being a dangerous spacial rupture, the fleet declared the Amon’krie defeated, and we began our long trek home.

***

To: All Military Personnel


The Sighisoara cruiser contains four large cannons, three point defense cannons, 100 megatons of shielding and extra ammo and fuel storage for prolonged tour of duty.

***

The crew of all thirty fleet vessels landed at the Space Operations Center, just outside of the capital city. The King sent a representative asking us to line up by rank, and march into the city, following the designated parade route. Even just outside the Space Operations Center, crowds were lined up cheering us on as we marched military style all the way into the city. The King had a box set up where the senators would be announcing our arrival, and supposedly they had a few other surprises in store as well.

The roar of the crowd became much larger as we turned right to enter the large cul de sac where the King’s box was. The crowds surrounded us in throngs as the King’s senator announced our entrance.

“First we have the thirteen captains of the Toltayan fleet, these men used their wits and resolve to defeat the Amon’krie menace, give them a big round of applause.”

And the crowd did.

“Following behind them we have the Commanders and Lieutenant Commanders who implement the captain’s decisions and command the crews.”

All of the commanders including myself saluted and stopped marching in front of the King’s box, just as the captains had done.

“Here come the officers who lead their men in operating the great warships of the fleet.”

“And now the ensigns and specialists of the fleet, who form its backbone.”

“Finally, we have a special treat for you, the 201st Space Marines division, just commisioned. Here are the soldiers of the future. And now, the shipwrighting guild would like to share a special announcement with the crew of the fleet and with the public at large.”

The senator turned over the mic to another man who began speaking. “On behalf of the Shipwrighting guild, I would like to announce the pinnacle of our achievements to date, surpassing all previous efforts.

With the King’s permission we name this the Aya!”

Holosystems had been set up before the parade it seemed, because in the air hovered a gigantic holographic space station.

“We call this hull size the Starbase, it is quite simply the largest structurally sound object that could ever be constructed in space. Scientists with the guild estimate that any larger object would have problems with structural stability. Therefore the Aya is quite simply the pinnacle of object design, as the largest station ever.

The Aya has 1000 megatons of shielding, an incredible NINE cannons, which are each substantially larger than those on the Peshkopi, and each cannon has an incredible firing range of 11000 kilometers, surpassing even missiles. The Aya also has two engine destroyers, one massive with a firing range of 12000, and one smaller with a 6000 kilometer range. Finally the Aya has eight point defense cannons. The Aya even has a vacation home inside for the King and his staff.

The Aya will be continously retrofitted as better equipment is discovered to ensure it remains the premier representation of the mighty power of the King! ”