[Azatol]

The First Battle of Imperial Polaris

2415.9

The Empire has finished the design of the Badlands Cruiser, the first Imperial ship to have significant shielding. The Badlands also had superior targetting and ECM technologies as well as the Empire's signature lasers. It has only just begun construction just as the combined allied forces have set off to attack the Imperial presense in Polaris. The Collective will make the first assault, if there fleet falls, or the result is indecisive within the first month, then the Monarchy will attack.

The Monarchy have put into production the Agrimensor, a destroyer with a new weapon for them, the torpedo. No ships of this design will make it to the first battles with the Empire, but they will be ready for use as reinforcements for the attack on the Imperial home system, provide that Polaris can be captured.

Between the two allied fleets there are seventy ships, with about sixteen of those being fueling ships. The Monarchy has six troop transports, nine carriers, eight warships and two missile defense ships in addition to fuelers. The Collective has thirty missile warships and two troop transports likewise.

The Empire has 21 Warships, Two troop transports and two Carriers at Polaris as well as two warships in the Calatius system.

The Ala class represents a new kind of ship for the Monarchy, with a few torpedos as well as boarding parties, this ship can knock down the shields and then capture an enemy vessel. It is a Heavy Destroyer, a hull size which was the result of recent efforts to develop special carrier hulls. This specific goal has not yet been achieved but larger warship hulls have been one gain.

2416.6

The Imperial fleet is rapidly swelling in ranks as both homeworlds produce Badlands cruisers as quickly as they can. The allies' fleets are due to arrive in another few months. Very soon Palpatine will have still larger hulls available to him.

The Collective was about to get some results out of its missile research program after years of nothing but theoretical gains. The specialization of Collective and Monarchy technologies ensured the Empire would have to defend against two very different kinds of fleets.

2416.8

The Empire drops 2000 infantry units from the fleet onto Polaris VI. Even with Monarchical superiority in ground combat, this represents a very substantial ground forces power.

2416.9
The Imperial Heavy Cruiser Banthar is the first with heavy mounted lasers and has more shielding than any of the smaller vessels. Construction began just as the attack came from the Collective.

The allies make an agreement that if the Imperial fleet above Polaris IV is destroyed, the Monarchy will make the first troop invasion, because of their special capability in that area. If they succeed in defeating the sizeable ground forces the planet is under their custody, otherwise the Collective will make a second ground assault and take custody themselves.

Collective vs. Empire

The battle began in chaos as there was confusion as to how to organize both sides' fleets with so many ships. Some ships of each side had crossed close to other ships of the enemy while the main lines were distant. The whole situation was cluttered as best.

To the Empire's advantage several warships that had been unable to form up in the main battle line were within firing range of Collective warships. The Empire got its first shots off as both sides recognized what had happened.

An Imperial troop transport was actually behind the Collective battle line, having been running a simulation for whatever reason with the Collective so close.

Two Badlands ships were behind the enemy lines as well. The chaos served the empire as good missile fire and range required a structured line.

Unfortunately while many Imperial ships were far forward of its own line, Collective ships that went astray were far behind.

The latest laser technology gave the empire excellent range for a beam weapon as several Collective ships exploded from concentrated fire.

The fighters deployed by the Empire were the first able to keep up with the rest of the fleet, but point defense heavily damaged many squadrons when they closed in to an Omega class.

The Collective fleet called general retreat to form a new battle line and fire missiles evenly against as many targets as possible.

The Badlands ships which were close to the enemy line used what missile defense they could to knock out the missiles coming towards them and continued firing on the collective ships of the main line. Their ability to quickly alternate targets was very helpful.

Then the missiles came, streaking all over the place, they hit many of the forward targets, and others were heading for the main battle line of the empire. Anterab class ships that were hit were heavily damaged, while the Badlands ships had enough shielding to absorb one salvo of missiles. The Collective had lost a number of ships but the Empire did not have enough missile defense to prevent much of their main line from being decimated.

The forward forces of the Empire have been hit several times with missiles but are holding up, at least until the next Salvo. On the other hand, the right flank of the main battle line has been decimated as the missiles targetted those ships finally arrive causing much destruction. The Forward ships have done some damage, but without their presence, this battle would have been an overwhelming defeat for the Empire.

The only chance for the Empire is to charge forward to try to get into laser range. Easier said than done against a retreating Collective force.

On the plus side for the Empire, the one remaining Badlands destroyed one of the collective Troop transports, improving the chances that the allies will not have enough troops to win the ground campaign.

The second missile volley of the main battle line, which is finally forming up as stragglers arrive fires upon the left flank this time, as well as the forward elements. Only crippled ships remain anywhere near the collective fleet.

Imperial ships explode in rapid succession from missile hits while the limited point defense available preserves a portion of the battle lines of the Empire.

Hulks, and heavily damaged ships with limited movement are everywhere behind the Imperial battle line which is increasingly looking like an arrowpoint instead. Fighters are slightly ahead of the main line and one straggling missile warship was destroyed by three Imperial ships.

The Collective is running out of room as the Empire continues to press forward despite its losses. The next volley is likely the last safe one after which any surviving Imperial warships would be able to fire back.

There are no healthy warships left in the Imperial fleet as the last salvo before the Empire comes in range damages the remaining ships of the advance. The losses are huge as two fleets will be available to sweep into the Imperial home system. But first Polaris IV must be captured to allow for refueling. That job will be turned over to the D'Anconian Army chief and his troops.

For now, the Collective navy has clean up duty, destroying the fighting force and the wrecks left floating adrift above Polaris.