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For House & Dominion: Civil War (54)

http://houseanddominion.wikia.com/wiki/House_%26_Dominion_Complete_Archive
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive.html?tags=Dominion+quest

https://twitter.com/ThatSlowTypingG


You are Sonia Reynard, Viscount of Rioja and a member of House Jerik-Dremine. You and your House continue to gain in power and prestige thanks to recent victories. While still small numerically the other Houses of the greater Dominion have begun to take notice of your strength and influence.

The civil war that has consumed the Dominion continues to rage as the Major Houses struggle for position and dominance. While an ally of the current Ruling House you have increasingly voiced support for House Ber'helum as their replacement.
If things go according to plan they may be able to stage a peaceful transition of power at a later time. For now the two are allies of convenience against more pressing threats.

Houses Nasidum, Xygen and Bonrah form the core of the opposition. The two sides have been roughly in a stalemate for much of the civil war.

Forces in South Reach continue to face off in regional conflicts of increasing intensity. The remaining Warlords of the South Reach League have been offering their services as mercenaries and privateers to both sides of the civil war. In the process they've been working to eliminate super heavy shipyards under Dominion control in the hopes of establishing a post war monopoly. Only rarely will other Factions will sell the colossal warships to the Dominion, leaving few options for buyers.

In the Centri Cluster you've been assigned as the House military attache to House Ber'helum as they lead the offensive. Thanks to your knowledge of the J-D fleet's capabilities you've been able to help direct the Barons leading your forces to where they're needed most. Barons Doedra Dremine and Desh Xisoth lead fleets aiding in the conquest of Talos, Sulos and eventually Bonrah space. Baron Stanni Jor'ron supported them with a reserve fleet and is now assisting in occupation efforts.

In the current campaign of the war Barons Alexander Palaiologos, Myrish Avun and Knight Commander Katherine Drake are helping with the invasion of Nasidum space. In the process House Medel has been liberated. This despite requests to use Medel as a decoy to draw off Nasidum fleets.
The J-D fleet has scored a number of impressive victories and Drake is showing herself fully capable of leading the forces from Rioja. Invasion forces are pressing deeper into Nasidum territory every day.
The Super Heavy Cruiser Forbearance, along with the Heavy Carriers Righteous Intent and Majestic continue to prove their worth.

Shipyard responsible for the production of Talos Heavy Carriers have begun to be captured. With these new heavy carriers are being added to the allied fleets seemingly every day, allowing easier logistics and repairs in the field. It is badly needed.
>>
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On the other front Operation Bulwark is not doing so well. Your allies are being driven back and fighting is drawing perilously close to the Jerik-Dremine homeworlds. Baron Archivald is leading most of the home fleet in nearby House Feron space in an attempt to stave off the fall of your neighbours territory. They are the last thing standing between the enemy and your key worlds.

Things are bad elsewhere on that front too. A major Ruling House shipyard responsible for production of their Cardinal class Heavy Cruisers, as well as super heavy refit facilities, is currently under siege. If the siege is not lifted the local Ruling House commanders will make use of the Veckron torpedoes they have stockpiled at the base.

This would be bad as it may incite the use of such weapons on a larger scale by both sides of the civil war. Forbearance and Righteous Intent are especially vulnerable to such weapons and it could have lasting repercussions for FTL travel where used.

Ber'helum and others have assembled a relief fleet from reserves, though many are inexperienced. You've decided to take your ship, the Great Devourer, and lead a small group of the relief force.

Fourteen other commanders are going with you, with the Ber'helum Admiral commanding two heavy cruisers that have been pulled out of refit early, an Ascendancy and a Chining. They're missing a few minor weapon emplacements but are otherwise fit for battle.

After your arrival in Ruling House space near the front you've been reinforced with additional ships. Captain Fuuar Nilium has brought along the J-D SW-Heron and 3 attack wings. That will give you some experienced personnel to work with.

Current strength:
1x Great Devourer (custom Battlecruiser)
2x Excalibur Battlecruiser
2x Attack Wing (144 attack corvette II)
1x Assault Corvette Half Wing (36x assault corvette)
1x Battleship Squadron (12 Dominion Fast Battleships)
1x Eminence II - Afterburner

SW-Heron [Captain Fuuar Nilium]
3x Attack Wings (~200 attack corvette II + 12 Dusk II's)


Shipyard defenders and RH line units are a mix of Ascendancy, Cardinal and the occasional Zeus class Heavy. Most of the ships being used on either side are attack corvettes with assault corvettes making up 10% or more of the mix.
The enemy has a higher proportion of assault corvettes.

From the intel reports it looks like the defenders and forces laying siege are deployed in a similar strength, Nasidum just keeping them pinned. There is an EX Mega operation in the region, occasionally showing up to help the mediums and heavies conducting the bombardment.

The Allied admirals want to weaken the enemy forces along the nearby front lines and surrounding systems before going for the yard itself.

Captain Nilium wants to punch through with smaller forces and either remove the raiders and skirmishing forces, or try to target larger enemy ships. Many of them appear to waiting in reserve to attack the shipyard when it weakens, or to respond to fighting on the front.
>>
Two plans proposed last time.

>>1592445
>The allied admirals are right on this one.
>Weaken the surrounding enemy front lines and draw away reserves that they are attempting to gather for the assault. If we can draw away and destroy these reserves, all the better.

>>1592492
>searching & raiding to bait in the heavies and big ships. Then we slam them with intent to disable like we did with our previous raiding.
>That should force the enemy to be less mobile and defend them as they undergo repairs. Whilst they're distracted repairing the heavy vessels, we punch through and relieve some of the pressure on the siege.

[ ] Weaken the front lines
[ ] Hit their raiders, then Heavies
[ ] Other
>>
>>1612347
If most of the enemies' heavy assets are busy besieging the shipyard, and their fleet is mainly corvettes, wouldn't it make sense to go after their carriers?

>SW-Heron
What's that? The wiki only lists the regular Heron.
>>
>>1612275
FOR HOUSE AND DOMINION
>>
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>>1612367
Storm Crow.
http://houseanddominion.wikia.com/wiki/EX-Republic_Medium_Command_Ships
And apparently I'd forgotten which shipyard made the thing. It should have been SC-Heron. Don't know why I misremembered it like that.
>>
>>1612367
>wouldn't it make sense to go after their carriers?
Try to go straight for their carriers and avoid the raiders?
>>
>>1612432
When you phrase it like that, it doesn't sound very smart.

>>1612347
>[x] Hit their raiders, then Heavies
>>
>>1612471
>When you phrase it like that, it doesn't sound very smart.
You could make a run for them and try to disable them before the other raiders caught up with you. It would just be harder to get away after.

Any other votes or suggestions?
>>
>>1612601
>Any other votes or suggestions?
I don't mind waiting for a bit. Say, did the medics manage to save the guy who got shot up by mercs? Back when we helped the Helios forces in the small galaxy.
>>
[X] Hit their raiders, then Heavies
>>
>>1612347
Poop I forgot this was going live today. Anonkun be distracting.
[ ] Hit their raiders, then Heavies
Sonia smash
>>
>>1612648
>Say, did the medics manage to save the guy who got shot up by mercs? Back when we helped the Helios forces in the small galaxy.
I'm having trouble figuring out which guy you mean given that it was several /qst/ length threads spent doing that.


Given your experience with raider tactics, and the overall mobility of most of the available forces, you propose a variation of Captain Nilium's plan. If carried out properly targeting the raiders should be simple enough that even your green pilots could manage. It's once things spiral into a larger battle that you'll start to have more trouble and the enemy will gain the advantage.

A number of Barons have conducted assessments of their forces while en route and support your plan. The reserves provided by the larger Houses are too inexperienced for large scale battles. The only exception are the assault corvette crews who are mostly kids that have grown up flying them in simulators.

Admirals in command of the larger ships state their intention to hang back near the fighting on the front. They'll provide support to allied units in trouble or jump in to assist the counter-raider forces when called for.

Did you want to split up the rookies and pair them up with experienced J-D crews? This will help keep them alive longer but it will also mean your veterans won't be able to go all out.

[ ] Keep current units
[ ] Split them up
>>
>>1612980
>I'm having trouble figuring out which guy you mean given that it was several /qst/ length threads spent doing that.
Sorry. We were supposed to capture him for Helios intel. Sonia tried to kidnap him but he got shot by trigger happy mercs in a restaurant instead. We decided to put him in stasis in the hope the medics back on our fleet would save him.

>>1612980
>[x] Split them up
We need to preserve our forces as much as possible.
>>
[X] Split them up
>>
Once the general plan has been decided upon you look to organising your own forces. Too many rookies to risk letting them operate on their own, you have them reassigned to stick with the veterans. There are a few complaints but mostly from the squadron level commanders. It seems they'd rather not be saddled with replacements without two or three days to work with them.

That sort of time is not a luxury you can afford right now.

"I think most of you veterans should know the drill. Hit them hard and fast, don't stick around for them to call in reinforcements. Our heavier ships will be standing by as close as possible to jump in if you run into trouble.
We'll have allies operating nearby on similar missions. While we will try to coordinate with them as much as possible, it's not out of the question that allied ships may jump in out of nowhere. Check your IFF's on new arrivals.
Keep the rookies alive long enough for them to pick up the basics. Let's do this."

Roll 9d20 First five are the important ones.
>>
Rolled 17, 15, 6, 7, 9, 19, 7, 4, 6 = 90 (9d20)

>>1613156
For House and Dominion! Fight the Powa!
>>
Rolled 2, 1, 5, 5, 18, 8, 19, 1, 17 = 76 (9d20)

>>1613156
>Roll 9d20 First five are the important ones.
Shark school!
>>
>>1613156
>>1613169
>>1613173

We need one more batter at the plate. Who wants to take a swing?
>>
Rolled 15, 15, 14, 14, 14, 8, 10, 4, 12 = 106 (9d20)

>>1613156
>>1613266
Sure. I suck at football though.
>>
Rolled 11, 4, 12, 19, 2, 13, 5, 9, 5 = 80 (9d20)

>>1613156
>>
>>1613273
Solid across the board though.
>>
>17, 15, 14, 14, 18, 19, 19, 4, 17
Pretty decent although whoever gets the eigth roll will probably need some help.

>>1612980
Found the thread:
http://suptg.thisisnotatrueending.com/qstarchive/1336381/
I think he was never mentioned again after we handed him off to the doctors.
>>
>>1613273
And you said you suck at soccer ball, looks okay to me.
>>
Each of the fleets jump out headed behind the lines. The fact that so many enemy raiding units are still needed are a good indication that these sectors are not under control yet.

Three of the allied fleets soon find themselves under attack as response forces are vectored in to deal with them. Other friendlies move to help and your command squad and Battleships jump in to briefly assist as well. Your battleship flank attack disrupts a formation of enemy ships long enough for a few allies to reorganise their unit and escape.

Veterans who know what they're doing make all the difference in the short but intense fights that have been shaping up. Knowing when to press and when to retreat is just as important as the skills of the individual pilots, if not more so.

Within hours your side has significantly reduced the strength of the enemy forces operating behind their lines, and are threatening their logistics in the process. With potentially vulnerable enemy convoys in the region it starts to become difficult to keep everyone on task with clearing raiders and locating their carriers.

While responding to an allied unit in need of assistance your fleet's Eminence II is struck by an SP Torpedo which blows out half of its afterburner system. Quick action on the part of Captain Nilium helps the damaged ship jump out to friendly lines. It will take the better part of a day to rip out the damaged drive system and patch it sufficiently to return to combat. It will take close to two weeks to conduct the full refit necessary to use afterburners again.

Talking to the other commanders and comparing data it looks like you've managed to locate a few enemy heavy carriers or larger support craft.
More problematic is that the enemy seems to be responding a little too quickly to allied fleet movements. They must have a high power sensor array deployed somewhere in the region and are diverting forces as necessary in response to your actions.

Maybourne gets your attention. "Sir, we're receiving a distress signal from the shipyards. They say the enemy are increasing their attacks on the defense platforms nearest to the station. They're requesting immediate reinforcement."

"If we send reinforcements the enemy will know about it almost immediately." Tes'us points out. "We could be walking into a trap."

You have a good shot at their carriers now with their rough location, though it's just as likely they'll see you coming as well.

>Your orders?
>>
>>1613650
Is there a way to avoid detection or fool the array? Does the drive flare trick helios ised require extensive modifications?
>>
>>1613650
I think it best we take out those carriers, but at the same time if this isn't a trap we need to send ships to reinforce the shipyards. If it were at all possible to spoof those sensors into thinking the majority of our fleet or nearby allied fleets were moving on the carriers they would be forced to fall back and reinforce them. Or commit to their trap and not support the carriers.

Is there anyway at all to work with other allied fleets in the region to help triangulate the position of those carriers? To make sure we have a better then rough idea of their location?

Or a means to have our allies work together with us to destroy whatever trap may be sprung? So that their trap fleet gets caught between two fleets working to crush it?
>>
>>1613650
This is the point where I'd have our cloaked assets hunt the array.

Since we don't have one can we attempt to locate it and its proximity to the nearest heavy target? I figure we can try and pull off a double raid to take out both targets.
>>
>>1613729
>Does the drive flare trick helios ised require extensive modifications?
>>1613742
>If it were at all possible to spoof those sensors into thinking the majority of our fleet or nearby allied fleets were moving on the carriers

There are some FTL decoy craft available, though few in number. Engineers could tweak the drive flares of regular ships to appear larger. You wouldn't be able to replicate the actual numbers of a large fleet, but it might trick them into thinking several units were traveling in close formation. At least for awhile.

>>1613764
The Ruling House does have a cloaked frigate in the region. Given the importance of the shipyard I'm sure they could be convinced to reassign it. The Ber'helum Admiral also has an old Rovinar Silent Hunter. It's in rough shape having recently been salvaged from a Faction Wars battle site.
>>
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>>1613764
Suspected locations of enemy carrier groups indicated by red dots. They've narrowed it down to within a few hundred AU, so probably the nearest systems to them.

As for the sensor array it's most likely in one of the two yellow circled regions. Or even both, though that seems less likely given time to deploy an array that powerful.
>>
Lightning storm getting close. May have to stop for a bit.
>>
>>1613864
I would like to assault the Carrier just south of the shipyard.

This gives us the option to have forces search for the sensor and potentially swing around behind the enemy siege forces for a surprise maneuver if the situation becomes truly dire.
>>
Fuck you wunderground for getting rid of storm tracks.

>>1613898
Your allies would prefer to hit all or most of the carriers simultaneously.

1) Sensor arrays
1a) Send Cloaked ships to hunt for the arrays
1b) Small attack units try to hunt for the arrays

2) Decoys
2a) Send decoy fleet towards carriers
2b) Send decoy fleet towards shipyard
2) None / don't waste time on it

There's a third question but that has been largely unintelligible every time I've tried to write it. Basically summed up, are you trying to kill the carriers, lift the siege or destroy the trap?
>>
>>1614272

>1a) Send Cloaked ships to hunt for the arrays

2b) Send decoy fleet towards shipyard (with caviate that we call in extra allied ships to jump in to help hammer the trappers home once the trap is sprung so that for 3 below)

3) Destroy/ capture enemy carriers, to force them to either pull back or lift the siege.
>>
>>1614272
>[x] 1a

>[x] 2b

>[x] Lift the siege
>>
The cloaked ships are sent out to hunt for the sensor arrays, but it's expected that it will take some time to find what they're looking for.

Next you join the discussions on launching a relief fleet towards the shipyard. An Admiral from House Tujen says that no fleet should be sent until the sensor arrays have been located and destroyed. Ber'helum personnel have little desire to go either but have resigned themselves to a hard fight if needed to aid the Ruling House base.

You add your voice to the discussion.
"It's a trap, they want us to rush to the aid of the shipyard. Let's send a decoy force along the route it would make the most sense for us to follow. The decoys will trigger their trap leaving the rest of our fleet to act."

The question them becomes what to do after sending the decoys. Kill the carriers, lift the siege or destroy the trap? It seems there's no good answer.

Ber'helum makes the call to destroy the Carriers since that will weaken the front. With the carriers threatened there is also a chance Nasidum will pull their fleet away from the shipyard, lifting the siege.
It's not a perfect plan, but it is a plan.

The decoy force will still need regular ships to fill in the needed numbers.
The J-D fleet includes a squadron of Dusk II's which can be quickly fitted with afterburners. Did you want to volunteer them to help with the decoy force? Or would you rather assign the Ber'helum assault corvettes on loan to you?
>>
>>1614725

Ask for volunteers from the commanders. If none speak up, use a little of both.
>>
>>1614725
Gonna vote the BH Corvettes since we'll probably need the heavier firepower of the Dusk's to take on the carrier.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>1614738
1
>>1614772
2
>>
You assign the Ber'helum assault corvettes to the duty of helping the decoy force. Their Commanding officer isn't remendously hopefully of their odds. All ships are reduced to 3 man skeleton crews. With the emergency teleporters they'll probably make it.

Did you want to assign them any SP Torpedoes to give them a better chance of surviving the trap?
Or save them for taking down carriers?

Roll 8d100
>>
Rolled 72, 61, 66, 89, 91, 91, 35, 46 = 551 (8d100)

>>1614905

Give them some SP torps to improve their odds I say.

Time to hunt for the Red October.
>>
Stopping here for tonight. Planning to resume tomorrow. Hopefully before noon if an appointment doesn't run too long.
>>
Rolled 60, 54, 66, 11, 13, 75, 71, 4 = 354 (8d100)

>>1614905
[x] Assign SP Torpedoes

Bones.
>>1614973
Good luck!
>>
Rolled 36, 4, 45, 73, 71, 32, 71, 87 = 419 (8d100)

>>1614905
Gibe those poor bastards some SP's
>>
72, 61, 66, 89, 91, 91, 71, 87

breddy gud
>>
>>1614905
>Did you want to assign them any SP Torpedoes to give them a better chance of surviving the trap?
They're the ones risking their lives, so we should provide whatever support we can. Would it be possible to send one or two carries filled with drones along? They could launch the drones to provide cover to the corvettes and jump out again. If any of the unmanned craft survive long enough to run out of ammo the local RH facilities should be able to rearm and use them.
>>
>>1615715
>Would it be possible to send one or two carries filled with drones along?
They'll pack a few transports and escort carriers full of drones.

Question I forgot to ask, did you want the Eminence II back in action ASAP or sent for longer term repairs?
>>
>>1615911
We need the fire power, if we can't get it fixed soon enough to fit AB's on it. Then stick it closer to the slower units and get it back on the field.
>>
>>1615911
ASAP. Can't afford to let it rest when we need it now
>>
>>1615911
It is still a solid firepower platform, and we have experience bringing in non-afterburner Mediums for raids.

ASAP.
>>
>>1615911
ASAP
>>
>>1615911
We can't really afford to wait 2 weeks to have the cruiser fixed. ASAP.
>>
https://clyp.it/bdvybeba
Patton - A Change of Weather


Your fleet and another head for one of the suspected carrier locations. Once you find it both will vector in to help deal with it.

It isn't long after the decoy fleet launches that you get word communications with the shipyard have been cut off. While it's not good there is no reason to believe they've been forced to start using their veckron weapons yet. It just probably means the enemy doesn't want the relief fleet knowing where they're repositioning their ships to.

According to reports read after the fact, the Carrier your fleet has been targeting turns out to be the most difficult target to catch. A former Ruling House Ascendancy, the ship is making frequent micro jumps to avoid being pinned down. Fortunately for you most of their assault corvettes have been called away by the time you catch up with it.

Both fleets pick away at its escort, and hammer her shields over the course of several hours. Their crew are careful to protect the engines, instead suffering damage to the external docking and repair pads. Armored covers intended to protect docked ships act as an effective layer of standoff armor, making it more difficult to inflict serious damage.

You continue to unload fire into the Heavy until you've exhausted the plasma cannon reserves. The Battleships, Nilium's Storm Crow and the Dusk II's also run out of ammunition for their main guns. Despite your best efforts to turn the heavy carrier into a smoking wreck it's still able to jump. Your allies alert you to incoming enemy forces rushing to the aid of the carrier group and suggest retreating to friendly lines to rearm.

You still have plenty of firepower, but without plasma weapons it's severely reduced. With too many incoming ships to handle you run for friendly territory. It seems this one has gotten away.

Fleets going after the other carriers were more successful. Two were captured and two others left in such a state that your forces should be able to salvage them later before the enemy can risk it. Others were driven off, badly damaged or near crippled, retreating towards shipyards for more serious repairs.

Three of the assault corvettes you sent with the decoy force survived long enough to escape the enemy trap. 18 other ships managed to get out, though a number of those may need to be scrapped.
The enemy was not only laying in wait with a powerful force, but had a gravity well generator they activated after the fleet's arrival. It was one reported missing nearly a year ago and intel had been having difficulty locating since.

You doubt they would have been able to destroy the entire fleet if you'd gone straight for the shipyard, but you wouldn't have been helping them any time soon.

Now deprived of carrier support the enemy advance in the region will soon begin to stall.
>>
It will take several hours to resupply your fleet, and most of a day for the repairs to be completed.

Did you want to head out again right away after reloading to take advantage of the weakened enemy state?
Hold off until repairs are completed?
Or wait until the cloaked ships have dealt with the sensor arrays?
>>
>>1615990

I say continue repairs until the cloaked ship deals with the sensors. Then we go out and hurt them. Do as much damage control/ repair as possible while awaiting word from the cloaked ship. Then lead out and take the fight to the enemy and wreck some face.
>>
>>1615996
>Hold off until repairs are completed?
This seems prudent. Are any of the local fleets able to take advantage of the enemy's losses yet?
>>
>>1615996
We've inflicted damage that the enemy will need far longer to repair, right?

Get our ships repaired, and form ad-hock attack forces where undamaged/lightly damaged ships can be formed into wings. Have them jump in to support friendly units under fire to build momentum?
>>
>>1615990
I'd say repair and rearm. We need breathing room to recover and so do the enemy. They however have a schedule to hold and we just need to stall them as best we can while the main push fucks over them back home.
>>
>>1616001
>Are any of the local fleets able to take advantage of the enemy's losses yet?
There hasn't been an immediate change in front line fighting but that is likely to change soon.

You order your fleet in for full repairs. If necessary they can halt damage control efforts should anything change on the front. Over the next day Nasidum halts their offensive operations in the region, even pulling fleets back that had started preparation for planetary assaults.

Sensing momentary weakness the Ruling House forces in the region launch a counteroffensive. In response Nasidum begins a quick but orderly withdrawal from the hardest pressed areas.

It isn't long after that you get the call. One of the cloaked ships has found and crippled the sensor array with an SP torpedo attack. The Admirals want to launch the relief fleets to lift the siege on the shipyard now, before the enemy can get replacement sensors online.

Units are to split up and penetrate the line in different areas to reduce the risk of all of them being detected.

"Are they sure they got all of them?" Maybourne wonders.

"Not entirely, but the Ber'helum Silent Hunter took down a number of secondary arrays that should have been watching final approach to the yards."

Did you want to suggest any changes to the plan?
Delay for smaller recon and raider flights into the region to be sure?
>>
>>1616035
Could we pull the "fake fleet" thing again to see how the enemy reacts, then have them stop and come back before they're engaged? Or were too many ships destroyed in the last attack to do that?
>>
>>1616035
I can't help but think this is one giant trap. That Well is still not accounted for.

We should have screening forces head in before the main fleet to scout and destroy enemy resistance as we advance. Perhaps use a path that is not the clear choice.
>>
>>1616041
You'll have to delay a couple hours and get one of the fleet commanders to volunteer as bait with their entire force.
Like say, the one who suggested it.

One way or another it certainly would indicate if they had another powerful sensor array online in the region. Either by attacking or avoiding it.

>>1616053
This would also delay your arrival at the yards but at the same time give you a good chance of spotting any traps.
>>
>>1616035
>Delay for smaller recon and raider flights into the region to be sure?
This is a good idea. With the sensor array down, we might be able to figure out what trap they have waiting for us before it can hit us. Scouting with the cloaked ships would help with that.
>>
>>1616035

Maybe our lighter assets should deploy as raiders to distract/pin enemy forces, and act as hunter-killers if they detect enemy active sensors? (They have to be using active sensors for the ranges involved? Or are passive arrays in play?)

Sort of like space chaff that also wrecks your shit?
>>
>>1616035
See if we can hunt down the Grav Well Generator first.

There's still a Super Heavy in the region, folks. We might just yet have to ram it with a captured carrier.
>>
>>1616035
>Did you want to suggest any changes to the plan?
Make the grav well generator a priority target.
We managed to win a lot of engagements in the past because the enemy ignored these ships when they still had the chance to destroy or at least damage them, and then got their fleet annihiltaed when they couldn't retreat properly.
>>
>>1615996
I want that grav well generator. We have so many afterburner equipped forces!
>>
You suggest sending out smaller fleet elements to scout ahead and act as a screen for any traps. At the same time some of the fleets could try to hunt down the gravity well generator.

The Ber'helum Admiral agrees that elements of your plan have merit, though many of the others consider the main threat to have been dealt with. They're in favour of making the run to the yard as quickly as possible, counting on dispersed fleet elements to ensure most of them reach their destination.

"It's not a bad idea Viscount. Now that we know about it the Ruling House has retasked their cloaked ship to search for the Gravity Well. For now we can't afford to dedicate too much of our fleet to searching for a single ship. If our scout forces happen to encounter it while we advance it will of course become a priority target."

Well that's that.

With the day spent on repairs the unit commanders have had time to do a bit of training with their rookie attack crews. One of the wings have seen a dramatic improvement while the others have seen a slight increase in their coordination.

Roll 8d20 for a cautious advance towards the shipyard.
>>
Rolled 2, 8, 15, 18, 2, 8, 12, 14 = 79 (8d20)

>>1616122

Caution is our middle name! (No it isn't, our middle name is Salvage.)
>>
Rolled 13, 9, 1, 10, 7, 13, 11, 19 = 83 (8d20)

>>1616122
>>
Rolled 5, 11, 12, 10, 11, 13, 4, 15 = 81 (8d20)

>>1616122
Bones.
>>
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Rolled 7, 18, 11, 12, 19, 15, 17, 13 = 112 (8d20)

>>1616122
>Roll 8d20 for a cautious advance towards the shipyard.
Salvage, Ho!

>though many of the others consider the main threat to have been dealt with
>>
Rolled 5, 3, 12, 10, 19, 20, 11, 10 = 90 (8d20)

>>1616122
>>
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>>1616142
A third of the fleet commanders probably would have walked into that gravity well trap.
>>
>>1616183
Ahh it's been a long time since we've had some good LoGH shitposting in an H&D thread.
>>
>>1616183
. . . . Well to be fair most of them haven't had to face us. But we know what we're like, namely a sneaky bitch that fights dirty and mean, so it's no surprise we're more cautious of the enemy being like that too.

We should probably come up with a dedicated Grav Well killing group. High speed single heavy SP torpedo single volley cloaked ships.
>>
>>1616213

Or maybe cause the singularity reactor or whatever generates the gravity well to be breached and cause the ship to collapse upon itself as its sucked/ crushed by the weight of its own self generated gravity?
>>
When does Sonia get best of four sets of rolls? Does she need a seemingly inactive trinket from the Dyson sphere?
>>
>>1616215
I wonder if Helios would be willing to let anyone have that kind of detailed knowledge about it.

It could easily turn on us.

I wonder if we could develop a gravity well "wave" weapon though that generates differential gravity waves that would tear apart ships. Like how neutron stars shred things that come too close?

I mean image the shear force that would be applied if gravity was twice as strong on part of a ship vs. The rest of it. Or if suddenly shifted rapidly so the ships couldn't compensate fast enough.
>>
>>1616270
>I wonder if we could develop a gravity well "wave" weapon though that generates differential gravity waves that would tear apart ships.
Already a weapon. They're used as part of the Storm cannons we bought.
>>
>>1616269
Best of 3 is already too in our favour IMO. Best is a d100 using DC with modifiers, and three rolls. 0 passes = bad failure, 1 pass = failure, 2 pass = success, 3 passes = great success and crits counting as double pass or double failures.

But that's more complicated since you have to work out the DC and I feel like TSTG is probably spreadsheeted out.
>>
>>1616280
But like a massive AOE one. Link to wiki for me?
>>
>>1616288
Crazy Ideas page, 'Gravity Weapons' section
>>
Heading behind the lines you have the attack units spread out to better scout while engaging enemy units.

There is an obvious difference in performance among units that have been able to improve their rookies teamwork. While they do need to call for help, they don't find themselves in need of it nearly as often as the others do.

The battleships and medium cruisers are kept busy, rushing to respond to calls for assistance, or simply to help overpower enemy units.

Maybourne has to admit that she needs to take back any negative remarks she'd made about Nilium. His Medium backed up with the 3 surviving assault corvettes are the fastest to respond to units in trouble, bailing out those from your fleet as well as other friendly forces.

By the time the fleets are closing in on the shipyards you haven't seen any sign of the gravity well generator. Nasidum fleets conducting the siege have taken the time to shift their forces away from the gas giants natural gravity well, focusing their forces on one front as they prepare to withdraw as a group. In the process they've all but destroyed one of the defense platforms, but it's clear to the defenders that the enemy are pulling back.

The arrival of 6 smaller fleets in system triggers the final Nasidum evacuation. Across this region of the front they're retreating in good order back to positions they've had time to reinforce.

The shipyard is relieved, though its defenders are obviously less so.
"I hope this isn't your idea of timely reinforcement!" Complains the Ruling House Count in command of the defending fleet.

"No, it's our idea of a sustainable reinforcement." fire's back the Ber'helum Admiral.

The command frequency momentarily turns into an inter-house rivalry shouting match. This isn't helped by comments over changing the shipyards ownership if it needs to be reinforced again.

Finally subordinates on either side acting as the responsible adults calm things down.

Within a day of the siege being lifted the once trapped forces begin to deploy to the shifting front to assist the other fleets. The reserves remain on site conducting training exercises until additional ships and personnel from the Ruling House can arrive a week later. They aren't as numerous but they should be able to hold now.

The big defense platform that was damaged is reinforced with a number of smaller Exodus models to assist until it can be rebuilt.

As for the enemy gravity well generator scouts and intel eventaully spot it again much deeper behind enemy lines, deploying to another area. Cloaked ships will try to keep track of it and wait for a good chance at damaging it. That might take awhile.

For now you and the other commanders need to start making plans to head back to the Ber'helum capital. Most of the forces brought with you will remain at the shipyard.
>>
Nilium is conflicted over returning to the occupation forces where his unit is officially assigned, or trying to help with the fighting in the J-D homeworlds.

[ ] Go where is your unit is assigned.
[ ] Ask your boss.
[ ] Where do you think you're needed most?
>>
>>1616343

How are our forces doing on Operation Bulwark? Hopefully they're managing well enough for now. As for Nilium, I would say go where he thinks he is needed most. But if we're so close to the home front, maybe his commander will be able to give him clearance to go assist the house defense fleet. So...

[x] Ask your boss.
>>
>>1616343
> [ ] Ask your boss.

House first. We aren't going to lose those occupied houses without him, although they might not be as stable after the war.

But we HAVE to prioritize our home worlds.
>>
>>1616343
>[X] Ask your boss.
What's the situation for the House anyway?
>>
>>1616343
Task him with returning JD salvage to the homeworlds before returning to occupation forces?

Gives him an excuse to report in to JD command and possibly assist homeworlds, and command a chance to send him back
>>
>>1616365
>How are our forces doing on Operation Bulwark? Hopefully they're managing well enough for now.
About that level.
Kharbos continues to send more forces to help their allied Houses hold their territory, though they're beginning to face increasing political trouble at home. Infighting could prevent much in the way of additional forces from being sent.

>>1616374
Losses among the elite units remains light fortunately. They're inflicting disproportionate losses on the enemy and preventing them from capturing any major facilities. Minor bases and outposts in Feron and J-D space are being hit by increasing numbers of attacks and many may soon need to be abandoned.

An attempted assault on the Feron capital has recently been repulsed, with both attackers and defenders rumored to have taken heavy losses. House Feron has moved their seat of government to a base near the J-D border.

Most major trade lanes between the two Houses are being mined, though they won't be activated until needed.

Mike's heavily modified Dusk attack cruiser has been lost while drawing away an enemy elite unit. He baited them into a duel buying time for a small fleet of troop transports to escape. His ship was disabled and boarded after supposedly surrendering.
Despite this he was still able to lead his crew in a counter boarding action killing most of the crew of an enemy ship and escaping with a captured Dragoon.

He's been given a light reprimand for faking a surrender.
>>
>>1616507
>He's been given a light reprimand for faking a surrender.
Shame about his ship, but I'm glad the old Troika has maintained a healthy contempt for war crime laws.
>>
>>1616507
>though they're beginning to face increasing political trouble at home
Anything we can do to help? Do they think they're not getting a fair share of the conquests while holding the line?
>>
>>1616532
>Anything we can do to help?
Not right now, though if you had any suggestions for you PR team throw them out there.

>Do they think they're not getting a fair share of the conquests while holding the line?
That's the most obvious cause.
Most of it is probably the result of rival political factions since the current leadership has only been in power for half a decade.
>>
>>1616593
>Not right now, though if you had any suggestions for you PR team throw them out there.
Send our not-Krath to help them out.
>>
>>1616593
>>1616612
Seconding.

Also a political donation is always a good investment.
>>
>kharbos duct tape designs are modelled on their political unity

Ha!
>>
You and the other fleet commanders are welcomed on your return to the Ber'helum capital with some fanfare. Thanked for helping to prevent a situation from getting out of control.

Once the congratulations have ended everyone gets back to work. The fleets continue to advance into Nasidum space and are drawing steadily closer to the mobile fortress shipyards. Resistance is increasing giving the more mobile forces on the flank time to catch up.

The J-D fleet has been performing well and there have been requests that they be shifted away from their position on the outer flank, facing off against Xygen forces. Instead they would be transferred to the central fleet groups and join the forces making a direct line for the shipyards.

Experienced but battered forces would assume responsibility for defense of the sectors they've been operating in.
House Medel has requested that some J-D units remain posted in or near their space as they don't entirely trust some of the proposed replacements.

1) Do you approve the transfer for the J-D fleet to the central group?
>Y/N?

2) Will some J-D units remain in Medel space, or would you rather they keep as strength at the front as possible?
2a) Keep some in Medel space
2b) Keep the fleet together
>>
>>1616762
1 Yes

2
Can we do a 2-1 fleet rotation? Or something similar?
>>
>>1616773
>Can we do a 2-1 fleet rotation? Or something similar?
Keep a third of your fleet in Medel space? Possible, though that might be excessive.

A few wings or training units might be enough so that there's someone nearby they trust.
>>
>>1616593
>Not right now, though if you had any suggestions for you PR team throw them out there.
It shouldn't be too hard to convince people Kharbos current leadership is great, at least among small and medium Houses. They're currently fighting in a galaxy they have almost no territory in, went along with a plan that could potentially leave them at a severe disadvantage compared to the other major Houses for the good of the Dominion, and they're helping that House that was lost for centuries. It's pretty hard not to like them at the moment.

We could also try to turn all the older weird Kharbos ship designs into a toy line. There must be tons of crazy in their archives and people always like the strange prototypes.

>1) Do you approve the transfer for the J-D fleet to the central group?
Yes. It will give the battered units time to rebuild.

>2) Will some J-D units remain in Medel space, or would you rather they keep as strength at the front as possible?
>2a) Keep some in Medel space
We should base wings that undergo training or refits there if possible.
>>
>>1616762

1) Do you approve the transfer for the J-D fleet to the central group?
>Yes

2) Will some J-D units remain in Medel space, or would you rather they keep as strength at the front as possible?
>2a) Keep some in Medel space
>>
You approve the transfer of the J-D fleets to the central group. They need all the help they can get there.

The House commanders have continued to build their collection of salvage while you've been away. Avun has at last managed to capture one of the new enemy fast Mediums. It's undergoing repairs and reverse engineering study at the moment.
Alex with the Forbearance has managed to cripple or badly damage 4 heavy cruisers forcing them off the lines.
Drake was able to successfully clear out multiple bases being used to stage raids against convoys. She's been selling most of the salvage to other Houses that have taken losses. Looks like she invested in a few refit yards in Medel space to ensure she makes some money off of those transactions as well.

You just hope the three of them have built up an adequate reserve of extra ships for the heavy fighting.

Ber'helum and others are building up additional reserves to make up for those you helped lead to assist the RH shipyard. J-D personnel recently received through prisoner exchanges are available and can be transferred to you or Baron Jor'ron in the occupation zone. Most shipping routes to J-D space are becoming too hazardous to risk sending crews aboard transports so they can no longer be sent directly home.

Did you want to build up a J-D reserve fleet at the Ber'helum capital?

Also lots of thunder may have to stop here for a bit.
>>
>>1616936
>Did you want to build up a J-D reserve fleet at the Ber'helum capital?
I'd like to have them help with training our allies in this galaxy.
>>
>>1616936
It wouldn't hurt to have one ready and on hand. You never know when you might need to send in reinforcements to the front or to support Bullwark. So I vote for getting a reserve fleet ready, just in case.
>>
>>1616936
I support doing so.
>>
Testing.

Great all the mobile networks are down.

Oh fuck brownout. Back later.
>>
>>1616936

Reserve fleet at the Ber'helum capital.

Training for allied rookies, hoooo!
>>
>>1616936
Sonia's simulator school? Yaasas

Top Run is a go.

> Build up JD Fleet in BH Capital.
>>
Are there any Black hole star systems nearby we can raid? If there's one thing I've learned playing Starsector it's that you can find the best weapons when you hit up those Black Hole research bases.
>>
You're decided to follow through with the creation of a "Capital reserve and training force" posted in Ber'helum space as your personal fleet. You'll mostly be using it as a training unit to get recruits from Ber'helum and other Houses up to speed.

1) Select a Medium / Command ship
Your budget is enough to allow for the acquisition of a medium cruiser for your reserve force. (That damaged Eminence II was left behind to help guard the shipyards.) While this would normally be used as a command ship, you're free to keep using the Great Devourer in that role if you want.

You could also request the return of the Outer Heaven and provide Drake a replacement flagship.

>New
Alliance Medium Escort
Eclipse II
Eminence II
Shukhant Mk.7
Sledge

>Salvaged
Eminence (I)
Heron
Illustrious
Shukhant Mk.6
Misc. salvaged / experimental ship (AKA THE MYSTERY BOX) Even I don't know what's in this one!

2) More battleships from your personal guard remaining at Rioja can be sent if you wish. Do you want them to get over here?

3) I realise you're getting a little low on cash, but did you want to provide some funding to help the arriving J-D personnel better afford top of the line equipment?
>>
>>1617482
If we forego the medium, can we use that money instead to help the house forces arriving here?
>>
>>1617482
>Illustrious
How does that ship compare to the Eminence I/II?
>>
>>1617482
1)
[x] Eclipse II
Since we spent so long trying to get the blueprints for it from the Shallan.
[x] Mystery Box
I can't not vote for this either.

2)
Keep them at Rioja for now. With Drake on the front line we don't want to provide an even greater target.

3)
[x] Yes
>>
>>1617482
1. Eclipse II or Mystery Box
2. Nah
3. They can salvage what they need like we used to. Can't go around coddling the newbies too badly.
>>
>>1617487
I guess?

>>1617496
Still in testing.
Its sublight performance without afterburners seems to be higher, and it has integrated plasma weapons. As long as the entire ship doesn't run out of fuel it can keep firing its main weapons.
Close range damage is estimated to be a bit higher thanks to twin linked phase cannons.
It's an all rounder that can't be further specialised like the Eminence II can.

>>1617528
>They can salvage what they need like we used to.
To do that they will need to leave their currently non-combat post at the Ber'helum capital.
>>
>>1617482
> Shukant mk 7

> MYSTERY BOX.
>>
>>1617547
Thanks.

>>1617482
I think we should go with a salvaged ship to keep the cost down. The Heron gets my vote.

>2) More battleships from your personal guard remaining at Rioja can be sent if you wish. Do you want them to get over here?
Have them help Baron Jor'ron instead.

3)
I guess we can help a bit.
>>
Planning to run tomorrow since I don't seem to have any courses scheduled. See you then.

Current top picks for Medium cruiser.

MYSTERY BOX (Salvage)
Eclipse II
Shukhant Mk.7
Heron (Salvage)
None
>>
>>1617700
>MYSTERY BOX (Salvage)
Will we roll for it?
Hoping for a Republic Raven so we can take it apart and figure out its weaknesses.
>>
>>1617700
>>MYSTERY BOX (Salvage)
pls gib Neeran Cityship
>>
>>1617700
>MYSTERY BOX (Salvage)
This isn't even a choice. When given the choice the mystery box will always win.
>>
>>1617700
>Shukhant Mk.7
>>
Rolled 42 (1d100)

>>1617724
>>
>>1617700
> Mystery box.
>>
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>>1617700
I'm still on team Heron! Although I guess the MYSTERY BOX is okay too. The Eclipse II seems like a waste, it's a great ship and production is pretty limited at the moment, so all of them will be needed with fleets that see action.

>>1616593
>if you had any suggestions
Give them the Deci. It's not like we're doing anything with the license anyway.
>>
>>1617482
1)
Eclipse II
A bit disappointed with mystery box votes, but I guess it could be anything. Even an Eclipse II?

2)
No.

3)
Yes. This is the kind of stuff that I wanted a cash reserve for in the first place. It is technically an investment in our greatest asset: elite pilots!


>>1618269
I mean, I don't see why they would turn down a free license/design, but how does diverting production capacity to a kavarian design help Kharbos politically against their internal rivals?
>>
>>1618275
>how does diverting production capacity to a kavarian design help
It helped J-D when they started building and using Kavarian designs :^)
>>
>>1618283
Still ignoring the important bit
:v)
>>
>>1618269
>>1618275
>>1618283
>>1618295

Oh damn, wait.

Would it be a political "fuck you" to offer a modified Kavarian design to Kharbos due to their association with the Kryptah/Kavarian Battlecruiser?
Was Kharbos the RH that conquered and then lost the Kavarians as subjects, as well?
>>
>>1618295
To be honest, that's their job to figure out. What they get a free license. Everything else is up to them. If they decided to actually use it to build ships right now because the ship would have a role in their fleets or if they simply tell people they got a nice gift from a random House because they're current leadership is appreciated really doesn't matter. They don't have to build them if it isn't beneficial right now. However, gifting them a license definitely won't make things worse for them.
>>
The Mystery Box aka any Kavarian ship
>>
>>1617724
>Will we roll for it?
If you did only the first roll would be counted since higher doesn't mean better in this case, just different.
>>
Rolled 6 (1d10)

Let's see what's in the mystery box.
>>
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>>1618434
>Rolled 6 (1d10)
In b4 it's a really slow carrier ship.
>>
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>>1618434
Panic?
>>
>>1618438
I'm willing to bet it's an early second Faction war Lance class that got salvaged from a SRL pirate. That's pretty much as bad as a usable medium can get.
>>
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It is a fully armed and operational Quattro!

This ship has been extensively rebuilt and as a result can switch out its Neeran weaponry for a number of different Faction models. The two armored corvette turrets can be replaced with Aries heavy torpedo batteries.
Likewise the main guns can be exchanged for Dominion (or Republic) medium plasma cannons, featuring expanded fuel reserves. Or if you're looking for something different, multiple spinal mount heavy phase cannons.

If you want you can try your luck once more, but it will lock out this ship and 1 other.

[ ] Take it
[ ] Try your luck
>>
>>1618459
>Quattro Class Medium
Oh. My. God.

[ ] Take it
[ ] Take it
[ ] Take it
[ ] Take it
[ ] Take it
[ ] Take it
>>
>>1618459
[x] Take it

Oh man, something is going to have a bad day when we drop this on it.
>>
[X] Take it
>>
>>1618459
>[ ] Take it
What would Winifred say about Sonia salvaging this?
>>
>>1618459
>[x] Try your luck
>>
>>1618467
She'd say you didn't salvage it, someone else did.
>>
>>1618474
Semantics. Sonia gave her the ships she needed to do it. Or is this from something else?
>>
>>1618459
>[X] Take it
Yes!
>This ship has been extensively rebuilt
We should find out who did that.
>>
>>1618467
Implying she even gets a headache from am mere Medium Cruiser being salvaged. Now when ever we salvage a Heavy she get's that old familiar throb
>>
>>1618459
Was there any particular roll you were hoping for? 1 = Vieona?
>>
>>1618478
>We should find out who did that.
One of the middle Houses allied to Kharbos.

>>1618493
10 would have been a coin flip between an Odyssey or a holographics Daedalus.
2 would have been a cannon equipped EBON variant.
>>
>>1618505
Oooooh. Those would have been nice as well.

>>1618459
How fast is that crusier? Does it have a hueg commander center like Outer Heaven?
>>
>>1618517
>Neeran ship
>Is it hueg
>>
>>1618459
I wonder if we could install cooling lasers on the neeran plasma cannons to really push that DPS.
I'd switch the corvette turrets for torpedo batteries to give it some additional capability against smaller ships.
>>
>>1618522
It could be built by and for one of their client races. Just like the Corsair that's designed for Shallans.
>>
Your Capital reserve and training force is slowly being assembled. You're providing a little bit of financial assistance to the J-D personnel posted here to help fund a few ship upgrades. Only a few of them have the funds to get back into attack cruisers at the moment.

The rated assault corvette crews are spending their time training Ber'helum personnel or recruits from other Houses while they wait for convoys from the Run to bring newly built ships. Most brought in are being sold to your allies but the House has approved funding to rebuid few of the squadrons.
With the Major Houses providing some resources to build up the reserve fleets you should have a respectable group stationed here in a few weeks.

>>1618517
>How fast is that crusier?
The Quattro unfortunately isn't as fast as the outer heaven, it's a bit too massive. It will still out run most escort ships like the Kilo, Monitor or AME. Roughly comparable to the new Shukhant.

It's big guns don't have the penetration of republic medium plasma cannons, though overall they do more damage. Most fast battleships wouldn't stand a chance against them.
>Does it have a hueg commander center like Outer Heaven?
There is a bridge aboard intended for use by Neeran crew, so yes. It could be given a remodel to resemble the command center aboard the Outer Heaven.

>>1618525
>I wonder if we could install cooling lasers on the neeran plasma cannons to really push that DPS.
Currently incompatible. Helios has been working mainly on developing the cooling system for faction designed and produced weapon systems.
>>
>>1618530
>Helios has been working mainly on developing the cooling system for faction designed and produced weapon systems.
Have any of the other factions shown interest in them yet? Have they bought any prototype units? I want to keep them locked down to Dominion production only at the moment, at least until the other factions start sharing their SP/Plasma weapon secrets.

Just reading through the wiki, the Republic is mentioned as first contacting the Centri cluster in 3580, and the Shallan being new as well. Does that mean Humans, Dro'all, Rovinar, Kavarians, and Krath aren't native to this universe thanks to the exodus?
>>
>>1618561
That would be correct.

Fighting in Nasidum space continues to intensify as more Bonrah forces weigh in. The addition of more carriers to the Allied fleets and the remaining Ceres asteroid forts keeps momentum up. At this rate the fleets might reach the shipyards in another 2-3 weeks. Xygen has begun to transfer heavy cruisers and other forces to reinforce the yards.

Roll 6d100 for J-D front line forces
>>
Rolled 61, 86, 44, 96, 87, 27 = 401 (6d100)

>>1618563
ForbearanceLife.
>>
Rolled 48, 43, 97, 1, 48, 26 = 263 (6d100)

>>1618530
>It could be given a remodel to resemble the command center aboard the Outer Heaven.
The one on OH worked well, so it's probably a decent idea.

Slightly related - is Tes'us eligible for another promotion at this point? Is her House doing okay?

>>1618563
>>
Rolled 88, 33, 75, 23, 54, 20 = 293 (6d100)

>>1618563

rolling
>>
88,86,97,96,87,27
I feel bad for the last guy.
>>
>>1618567
>>1618569
>>1618571

>88, 86, 97, 96, 87, 27

Whoever that last roll was for, didn't get good salvage.
>>
88, 86, 97, 96, 87, 27

Nice, hopefully the good rolls make up for that last one.
>>
The good news is that the Carriers and Forbearance have all either been keeping out of trouble or completely wrecking anything that goes against them. Alex in particular has been trashing the opposition, able to use his ranged and mass fire tactics to their fullest against the increasing opposition.
Avun is also doing well, still managing to rake in salvage.

Drake's fleet has run into more serious trouble. Over extended they were cut off from support by a larger enemy presence trying to surround and destroy them. Alex was able to call in help from the nearest Ber'helum and Helios fleets and all of them rushed to assist Drake, bailing them out before it was too late.

As a result of the fighting the Rioja fleet has taken some serious damage. It will take several days to rotate in additional reserves Drake had set aside. The most badly damaged units will transfer to Medel space to be rebuilt with the remaining stockpiles of salvage she hadn't sold yet. Despite these losses the fleet is still keeping ahead financially.

Majestic remains untouched so while they've been reduced in number they're far from being taken out of action. Other allied fleets have already filled in the gap.
Exact casualty figures will be unavailable until more of the teleport capsules are recovered.
>>
>>1618605
Win some, lose some.
>>
>>1618605
Katherine 'Unable to catch a break' Drake
>>
>>1618624
That is both unprofessional and (imo) uncalled for thought.

We already let one wing commander get branded as a jinx. Let's not brand a knight commander with majestic in heavy combat as one ourselves.

Especially someone from our original command that went thru that gauntlet operation with us
>>
>>1618660
Calm down.
>>
>>1618660
Katherine "Why does this keep happening to me?" Drake then?
>>
>>1618671
Positive thoughts only for mini Winnie
>>
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Fighting closer to the shipyards is intense and units are being ground down so quickly in some places that Carriers are needing to operate in close support to help with battlefield salvage. The Talos Carriers are proving their worth in this case. Even when the enemy manages to get SP torpedo attacks through, their tough armor and construction can shrug off most hits.

Avun is keeping her ship near Alex's group, while Drake keeps Majestic closer to one of the Ceres asteroid forts.
All three have rolled out the up-armored assault corvettes and other ships they've been keeping in reserve.

With fighting anticipated to enter the system the enemy shipyard is in within days those of you who prepared emergency planning to destroy it are wondering if they can be repurposed. There are special forces, cloaked ships and other assistance standing by. If employed properly they could be used to weaken the shipyard defenses, or those around the Nasidum Capital.

There are also the J-D special forces with the fleets to consider.

1) Do you want to use the special shipyard attack team to weaken its defenses, target the capital, or continue to hold them in reserve for any other surprises?
1A) Weaken yard defenses
1B) Weaken capital defenses
1C) Hold in reserve

2) Use the House special forces to assist in the assault on the yards / mobile forts?
2A) Use them for assault
2B) Hold in reserve or for fleet defense

3) Anything else you wanted to get for your people at the last minute?
>>
>>1618679
>1A) Weaken yard defenses
Yard is what we want. We take it and we can force a peace treaty down Nasidums throat.

However do we have any info about the capital HQ? I am assuming the Nasidum Duke and his command staff is directing the war from there. I mean elsewise we could send in a few recon teams to assassinate him and do what they tried to do back at the Ber'Helum command.

2A) Use them for assault

3. Krath Mercenaries for the infiltration. They owe us after all. Also do the Rovinar still owe us? Cause then I'd say call in that as well.

Besides those two I don't think there is much left we CAN do.
>>
>>1618679
>1A) Weaken yard defenses
>2A) Use them for assault
>3)
Krath assistance in insertion? iirc they said they could spare a ship to drop the teams in.
>>
>>1618679
>1A) Weaken yard defenses
This is what we're here for, after all.

>2B) Hold in reserve or for fleet defense
I'm sure the enemy might try something as well. Let's keep these guys around to watch the fleets.

>3) Anything else you wanted to get for your people at the last minute?
Can we get that Neeran who can predict siege cannon shots?
>>
Also! I forgot to ask! Is it possible for the stolen Well to make it down from the Bulwark front and arrive in the system in time to join the battle? Cause if so then my paranoia is going to increase tenfold.
>>
>>1618691
>do the Rovinar still owe us?
No. They've made a point of making sure that they won't owe you anything if at all possible. Any trades will be paid off in cash not favours. You'd have to put in a lot of effort to get them to owe you anything again.

>>1618692
>Krath assistance in insertion? iirc they said they could spare a ship to drop the teams in.
Your Krath assistance was set aside specifically to help with the destruction of the shipyards. In this case you'd be voting for them to weaken its defenses.

>>1618695
>Can we get that Neeran who can predict siege cannon shots?
No, but good thinking.

>>1618699
Possible, though it was headed for other locations on the Bulwark front at last sighting.
>>
>>1618679
1A) Weaken yard defenses
2A) Use them for assault
>>
>>1618679
>1A) Weaken yard defenses
>2B) Hold in reserve or for fleet defense

I feel like committing all of them after we recruited them to be a contingency plan would be putting all of our eggs in one basket. I mean, I mostly went for the plan in case the offensive went disastrously wrong, so taking some of them off the plan is fine, but we're too close to the goal to get impatient and throw caution to the wind like the commanders at the RH yard who wanted to walk into a trap.

>3) Anything else you wanted to get for your people at the last minute?
Get in contact with everyone we know who's going to be in the attack? Wishing good luck and stuff like that.
>>
>>1618679
>3) Anything else you wanted to get for your people at the last minute?
Allow Drake to use the upgraded cannons on OH.
>>
>>1618679
>1A

>2B (assuming these are SF besides the contingency ones)

>3:
Krath


>>1618769
seconding.
>>
With the planning in place for operations specifically inside Nasidum space you and a majority of those who worked to develop the plan move to help weaken the defenses. Four of the largest contributors to it have Houses now on the front lines and are eager to see an end to the civil war. At the very least if the yard is captured and held it will probably bring about a cease fire for negotiations. Or that is the current hope.

Leadership from the major Houses are informed of the operation and details worked out to ensure everything kicks off at the right moment.

>Get in contact with everyone we know who's going to be in the attack? Wishing good luck and stuff like that.
This takes the better part of a day given that many are rotating in and out of combat operations. Despite the difficulties you see it through.

Avun seems confident, as does Alex despite some nagging worries about Forbearance becoming a target in a large capital ship fight.

>Allow Drake to use the upgraded cannons on OH.
She's happy to hear that.
"We're going to need the extra firepower. I had as many extra salvaged ships brought in as possible so we can switch crews out or get them back into the fight from the teleport receiver ships. Good luck on your end sir."

You promise to try not to trip over the dozens of support officers increasingly crowding the war room.

Roll 3d100 for Infiltration teams and Krath assistance
>>
Rolled 21, 47, 70 = 138 (3d100)

>>1618837
>>
Rolled 27, 77, 6 = 110 (3d100)

>>1618837
>All that salvage we won't get
>>
Rolled 32, 83, 64 = 179 (3d100)

>>1618837
>>
Is youtube loading slow for anyone else?

Having a hard time getting some good music together.
>>
>>1618853
>>1618855
>>1618857
>32, 83, 70

Number on is in for a rough time. I hope others are able to help some.
>>
>>1618865
>Is youtube loading slow for anyone else?
It's working well for me.
>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPA2UxiaMs8
Cowboy Bebop - 7minutes

Waiting is a thing you seem to spend too much time doing. Not just here, out in the field it always used to be a problem too. You expected you'd be too busy to worry about it as much, what with keeping an eye on all three of the J-D fleets and your reserve force.

The reserves have been shaped up into a small but effective fighting force. They're ready to move with an hour's notice should anything happen up at the front. You really hope they won't be needed.

Some of the best equipped and trained special forces teams in the Dominion are being sent out. Their insertion vehicles hitching a ride with some Krath ships. That Krath special assistance you'd asked for finally being used probably has their government relieved. Who knows what their response would have been if you'd asked for their assistance in committing a war crime. They might have carried through with it for all you know.

As the front line fleets prepare for the assault on the shipyard you watch for reports from intel on the status of the infiltration.

The first in shows that there have been explosions disabling long range sensors and communications for the facility. Other allied ships should be targeting main com hubs in the surrounding oversector.

Volume of conversation around the war room increases after reports come in of exploding fuel depots near the yard. That was not part of the plan, they should have just been targeting the defensive systems.

A few minutes later it looks like half of the big defense platforms around the station have gone offline. Recon ships estimate they'll be down for at least a day. That's a big enough window for the main fleets to begin their jump.

"Infiltration team two reports mission accomplished. They are beginning extraction. No communication from team one."
>>
>>1619013
... fuuuck
>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDOiQDvjuuc
LOGH music of your choice here.


Three Ceres Mobile Asteroid Forts are jumped into the system, one of them on the verge of falling apart. With them are a dozen super heavy cruisers eighty heavy cruisers and carriers of different designs and a staggering number of smaller ships.
You can't even get an accurate count at how many thousand are taking part. The Jerik-Dremine contingent alone is more than three thousand ships.

The opening barrage targets the remaining defense platforms as the fleets orient on the stations in system. Multiple asteroid belts, the remains of a late protoplanetary disk, choke much of the system and have been providing material for the shipyards. They also act as cover for the defenders.

Two enemy mobile forts are already present having anticipated the attack, and are moving to defend the shipyard. Though outnumbered it looks like they've sent for reinforcements and more enemy ships begin to arrive by the time the fleet has crippled two of the remaining platforms.

"It seems like the attacks on the communications infrastructure didn't help very much." comments Vanderwal watching the battle in progress.

Nasidum reinforcements are being brought in from all directions to help cover for the lost defense platforms. Even from their capital defense fleet. Intel has spotted what they believe to be 2 more mobile forts on the way.

With your side committing so many of their super heavy cruisers they seem determined to make this the climactic battle of the civil war. Their allies look to be on the same page. House Xygen alone brings in two dozen Zeus class ships, and nearly a hundred allied Barons with their fleets. Elements from House Bonrah take up positions in the shadows of the destroyed or crippled platforms.

It isn't long before the only clear areas in the fighting are the gaps between the big ships on either side exchanging siege weapon fire. Even there, some of the more foolhardy assault corvette pilots are using fire trajectory analysis programs to dodge around the shots, using them for cover to approach the other sides fleet.

Avun has been keeping her fleet out towards the flank, protecting it against enemy reinforcements. Drake is moving to target repair and production facilities in the system supporting Aries assault corvettes. Some are being flown straight out of the shipyards and into battle.
>>
>>1619226
>The Jerik-Dremine contingent alone is more than three thousand ships.
Hotdamn, the greatest expression of our house's rise in fortunes.
>>
>>1619226
Now then, if we didn't have to save our forces for operation Bulwark, imagine just how many ships we could have out there. Although, better that we don't have all our forces at this battle. Should things go tits up. At least we still have a fleet to fall back on that is a part of Bulwark.
>>
>>1619267
shit family thing afk.
>>
>>1619226
Oh boy, here we go.

We need a surprise Helios moment where the Array shows up and blasts some poor ships again.
>>
>>1618660
That overreaction lmao
>>
>>1619307
That would be great, just out of no where, suddenly CANNON! And it starts blasting holes in those forts.
>>
>>1619347
At this point I think I'd welcome any kind of surprise superweapon that isn't Veckron torps.
>>
I'm having trouble getting going again.

If you have any in mind would you post some battle music please?
>>
>>1619711
Battle music for a possible super weapon climactic brawl?
This comes to mind:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rpnza8u3jjA
>>
>>1619711
A few things to listen too.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbEZJVa75MM [Most Epic Battle Music Ever: Into A Dark Dawn]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnlHNXCPuPQ [The Final Battle - Epic Orchestral Music]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pfl5yuSXL_4 [Agent Tex - Instrumental - Revelation OST]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMe8nMDEXdo [01 warhammer 40000 dawn of war II retribution - relentless war]
>>
>>1619711
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWtG3EkvSJg
>>
With the numbers involved the battle spreads out across the entire system, though much of it remains focused on the existing stations and platforms. It's been awhile since you've seen a fight this big.

Checking closer to the J-D fleets you recognise the forces from a few Houses present. A number of battleships hanging around a newly upgraded Ber'helum super are from House Veritas. Even some of their Willow class sublight ships are present. It seems the two must have worked out a deal.

Some of the weapons fire from the big ships on your side is occasionally drawn away by incoming contacts. It looks like Nasidum has rigged up some of the local asteroids as kinetic kill vehicles. Only rarely do any of them make it through, occasionally impacting the larger forts.

The most damaged Ceres Fort eventually needs to be abandoned as much of its structure has fractured. Heavy tugs and Helios mediums are evacuated and the remaining hulk directed on a slow intercept course with the shipyard. Attempts are made to reinforce it with shield platforms those efforts are soon abandoned. It still serves to act as a suitably distracting target drawing some of the enemy's fire for the rest of the day.

The few times you're able to talk to Alex he reports that Forbearance is unable to maneuver very well due to the need to stay near the center of the fleet group and the other supers. Despite this he'd taken to swinging his formation out wider to help other allied units when possible.

Crazy attempts by engineering forces on either side prove to be an entertaining distraction. The defenders try to use some of their solar collectors and mirrors to focus on a few individual ships. You've seen pirates attempt this and know they don't have nearly enough for the trick to work. Especially against heavier warships.
Antimatter weapons are used to destroy the solar arrays before Nasidum attempt more tests.

Helios engineers attempt to rig a primitive siege array system using the ships evacuated from the asteroid fort. While they are able to fire an impressive streamer of plasma it doesn't have the range of a full sized Kavarian array. They do destroy a few smaller ships with it, but less than they might have firing normally. The mediums are soon after retasked to resume normal gun duty.
>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GSbJkU9Lmw

Drakes fleet are forced back to rearm and repair several times trying to get to the assault corvette yards. Facing pilot losses she transfers her flag to her Vengeance Type Custom to help escort the Outer Heaven in an attack on the smaller yard. It seems she's been keeping it up to date with the latest tech over the years, trading notes with Verilis.

Gathering up help from several other Houses and as many of the faster cruisers she can get her hands on, she punches through enemy lines using mixed tactics. Not slowing down to dog fight with more maneuverable assault corvettes, they keep on pushing, using forward firepower to its fullest. Aided by several Eminence II's mounting afterburners, few enemy commanders are inclined to give chase and have their faces melted off by drive exhaust.
You are glad this is not an inhabited system she's pulling this stunt in.

The Storm cannons on the Outer Heaven prove to be devastatingly effective. Assault corvettes are good tough ships but it seems they're slightly vulnerable to resonance repulsor weaponry. Storm Cannons are so much worse.

Drake's Vengeance type is hanging back just far enough to give covering fire and stay out of the firing arc of the storm cannons.

Watching the remote feeds live you're more than a little concerned about the fate of your ship. Your helmsman does know how to get the most out of it but they're cutting it awfully close. Even using the ramming prow to smash through smaller debris rather than take heavier weapons hits.

"Don't wreck my ship Eko."

"I don't think they can hear you sir." Rufaro helpfully points out.

[ ] "I can change that."
[ ] Hold onto your butts
>>
File: amazing.gif (4.06 MB, 294x220)
4.06 MB
4.06 MB GIF
>>1620104
>Crazy attempts by engineering forces on either side prove to be an entertaining distraction.

>Nasidium solar death ray
>Helios plasma streamer

This would make a great entertainment show if it weren't for the civil war. Two sides desperately trying to kill each other that they're attempting to scrap together anything possible.
>>
>>1620116
>[x] Hold onto your butts
>>
>>1620116
>[x] Hold onto your butts

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKK4KmDlj8U [Jurassic Park - Hold Onto Your Butts]
>>
>>1620116
>[X] Hold onto your butts

truly we have grown much older and wiser; we have learned not to yell at pilots steering incredibly expensive ships through some of the heaviest fighting in the Dominion in years.
>>
>>1620116
>[x] Hold onto your butts
>>
>>1620116
>[ ] Hold onto your butts

The perils of command
>>
>>1620116
Is that the bittenfeld she transferred to? Good to know she's still keeping it in good shape
>>
>>1620644
No, it's a Vengeance Type C. The Bittenfeld is at Rioja I believe.

I was hoping to keep posting through the day today but there's been a change of plans. I'll still try to make a few most from a different location but cant promise how many that will be.
>>
>>1620676
It's cool bro. We busted nuts pretty well this thread so far so no pressure.
>>
I wonder how many millions of lives have been lost to the civil war and I wonder how many hundreds of thousands will die in this one battle.
>>
>>1620989
It's kind of a big loss in terms of people but it's a necessary event. The Dominion will be stronger after this.
>>
>>1620995
Yeah, but still. I remember that one battle against the Neerans where we defended a colony while it evacuated. Neeran War 2nd Tour #10. A battle with some 30 wings, 6 squadrons of BC's, 8 Mediums and 5 Supers.

That battle alone ended up with hundreds of thousands of dead on our side. And here we got a battle that spans an entire system with the better part of the Dominions might brawling it out.
>>
>>1621021
I'm still just hoping nobody starts firing v-torps. It's a bloodbath now but if things escalate the Dominion could lose 50 heavies and supers in a few hours, since I'm pretty sure both sides brought a pretty big chunk of their arsenal.
>>
>>1621027
In a few hours? Try a few minutes. The moment V-Torps go out in one front they will go out everywhere. Both on the Nassidium Super Yards and on the Bulwark frontlines.
>>
>>1621032
Better hope that Helios Anti-veckron Anti-matter torp testing worked out.

>>1621021
At least we can rebuild after this though.
>>
>>1621027
If vtorps are to be used, this is the engagement for it.
>>
>>1621032
Might as well go full war crimes then and . . . . What happens if you V-torp a gravity well anyways?

Or use a gravity generator too close to a planet?
>>
>>1621270
I bet Ber'helum is going to turn off the safeties on one of the Gravity Well Generators and fling it at the Nasidium forces and we'll get to find out all the fun stuff that happens.
>>
>>1621303
. . . . Off?

Also I wonder what happens if you use gravitational weapons in sub-space. Or pump gravity into sub-space.
>>
>>1621310
Probably rips everything apart. I remember something similar when we talked to Linda once, something something terrifying idea.
>>
>>1621343
Veckron Beams?
>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwhSQI97AlA [Dawn Of War III Trailer Soundtrack]

Despite being on a planet far from the fighting you find yourself hanging on for dear life, watching and waiting to see how Drake does.

The movement of her fleet is disrupting the battlefield on that flank, letting other allied fleets take advantage of the chaos. Contacts are blurring together and combined with jamming by both sides it is increasingly difficult to tell what's going on.

You get your staff working on it to see if they can get any more data. They don't have any better luck than you. The next real indication you get of where Drake's fleet is located is when the assault corvette yard begins to explode.

Several detonations read as antimatter reactions, which doesn't entirely clear up the picture of what's going on. It does indicate that whatever is happening the enemy won't be repairing it in a hurry.

The loss of the assault corvette production facility causes the enemy to begin pulling back from that part of the system. It isn't worth defending wreckage and debris with no immediate value to the larger battle at this stage. They do launch a counter assault in other places, recovering damaged ships that will be easier to repair.

On the other flank, Avun's forces are now a bit more bloodied and have begun to act as a reaction force. They're helping front line units in trouble or that have been cut off. Overall it's shifting the fighting closer and closer to the main yard.

Arguments in the war room are beginning to intensify. Helios wants the fleets big ships to halt their advance at their current range where they're better able to maneuver and take advantage of their larger numbers of siege weapons. Ber'helum wants to push for the yard to end the battle more quickly, especially given signs that an incomplete mobile fort is preparing to launch.

"If we catch them before they get clear of the yard they won't be able to bring their weaponry to bear. We can't give them that advantage."

"Our heavy fleet elements will be too close! Our supers are going to take damage, possibly even losses at that range."

Forbearance is going to be one of the ships put in danger either way. Which plan do you support?
>>
>>1622296

Well we cant really see if Alex is okay with getting in close. So... I hope he and his crew have been practicing evasive maneuvers. Wait... if they get in close the enemy might use Vekrons in the hope of nailing all the Supers at once. Or at least several of them at once.

So for now I say distance might be best for the moment. To avoid giving them a better reason to use Vekrons.
>>
>>1622111
I remember posting an idea for V-Beams once and getting told it would make the Navigators Guild very angry and also kill everyone within 100 meters of firing it.

>>1622296
[x] Helios

Are the Nasidium forces getting desperate yet? If we begin charging VT weapons, would it be possible to force a surrender?
>>
>>1622328
>Are the Nasidium forces getting desperate yet?
Enough that they're preparing to launch an incomplete mobile fort with only half its (potential) weapons compliment, and still missing tons of armor.

>If we begin charging VT weapons, would it be possible to force a surrender?
It would increase the odds of a veckron weapons exchange to nearly 100%.
You can only charge those weapons so much before they have to be launched away from the ship, and once you've charged it it can't be undone.

Dominion knowledge of their use is still roughly about what the Terrans had back in the mid faction wars. Sometimes you won't know if you've charged it enough until you're well past the point of no return.
It's like winding a clock with no way of releasing the tension on the spring.

>I'm looking at you old clock my grandparents never said how much is safe to wind it.
"Yah, don't wind it too much!"
"How much is too much?"
"You'll figure it out."
>>
>>1622296

Time-on-target siege cannon focus fire on the launching fort?

Do we have enough siege weapon advantage to start coordinating siege cannon alpha volleys at enemy Zeus/Heavies/Supers for crippling blows?
>>
>>1622514
>>1622296

Eh, screw it. I'm with B'H on this one. Assaulting will leave our heavier ships vulnerable, but prolonging the battle is going to grind the smaller elements of our collective fleet down.

Heavy warship losses will suck, but capturing the super yard means the ability to repair and replace them.

Longer range means everyone can dodge, and more time for additional forces to join the battle from both sides.

[x] Ber'Helum - Assault
>>
>>1622571
Remember how we handled the situation in the Run though. The enemy had a bigger, heavier mass fleet than us with the supers and the mobile fort.

We had to grind them down slowly over multiple engagements until we could begin the big assault.
Until we can take our their biggest heavy hitters I think we should wait and siege them, something we picked Alex for Forbearance command specifically.

If we get closer we're going to have less time to react if those forts decide to ram.
>>
>>1622296
> Get in close

We'll have a yard to fix those supers in *if we win fast enough*.

Does Helios want a mobile Fort or not?
>>
>>1622328
So you`re saying we need a ship with a 100 meter automated empty firing bay
>>
>>1622296
>Which plan do you support?
Getting supers into a brawl doesn't seem like an great idea. If they they want to push in, I'd say they should do it with the heavy cruisers, most of them are actually built for mid or close range engagements. I'm tentatively going with Helios, although an alternative plan would be preferable.

Wouldn't that incomplete fort be a great target for our remaining special forces?
>>
>>1623281
>If they they want to push in, I'd say they should do it with the heavy cruisers
That is an option. The Dominion is building a variety of heavy cruisers more easily than supers.

>Wouldn't that incomplete fort be a great target for our remaining special forces?
It could if one of your fleets got into boarding range, which would mean bring in the fleets in closer like Ber'helum suggested.

Would anyone want to support the plan of sacrificing the heavy cruisers to inflict damage while keeping the super alive?
>>
>>1623558
I'll support sending in the heavies and keeping the supers back. It isn't the ideal tactical move, but we have to keep the long game in mind. Also slightly worried about potential desperation moves from the enemy if we put our most valuable ships into ramming/fireship range.
>>
>>1623558
>>1623594

Would this sacrifice be to end the battle, or just cripple some stuff?

It doesn't make sense to sacrifice heavies for just crippling the new fort, especially considering the Zeus heavies the other side has.
>>
To end the battle more quickly. That was the whole point behind moving the supers in closer, so its the same for sending the heavies in.
>>
>>1623670
Not thrilled with it, but if it breaks a tie I'll support it.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>1623558
>>1623670

If we do put in our heavies, I guess we lose the right to complain at Drake for damaging the OH.

I'm not thrilled either way. But sending in the heavies might be a better choice than sending in the supers and likely making the enemy panic enough to start firing Vekrons.

1 Send them in/ support B'H plan but with heavies
2 Hold forces at a distance/ Helios plan.
>>
You bring your suggestion to the attention of the bickering leadership.

"That would be an acceptable compromise." Ber'helum admits.

"I can't help but notice that your House does not have any Heavy Cruisers to contribute to such a plan." The Ruling House rep points out, looking in your direction.
"While it would keep your House's sole super out of danger while supporting the Ber'helum plan. You do realise that your allies in the Run Alliance will likely lose their only heavy warships as a result of it do you not?"

"And I'm sure we can find ways to suitably compensate the smaller Houses after the civil war." The Duke interjects.

>What say?
>>
>>1623670
Still for Helios's plan. I don't give a fuck what happens to the super yards since our house wouldn't benefit from their survival.
>>
>>1623716
"Your assessment is certainly correct. However, the main reason for my suggestion was the Dominion's current inability to replace lost super heavy cruisers. In addition to that, many heavy cruiser types are designed for closer combat ranges than our super heavy cruisers and sport better armour and greater structural stability. Despite the recent advances and upgrades super heavy cruisers are still mainly long range platforms for siege platforms."
>>
>>1623716
This whole Civil War has been a god damn shit show. We're aware of the fact if we send in just the Heavies we are likely to lose them. So that means if anyone decides not to put in their one hundred percent and just hang back and let the others do the dying so that they have the strength to claim leadership afterwards. Is just a dick move. (Looking at you current RH) Holding the Supers back means we're not gonna set off a requirement for Vekrons because of massing all the Supers so close together. And most of our Heavies are currently helping at operation Bulwark, or has the current RH rep forgotten that? If he is thinking to pressure us with negative views from our Run Alliance he should know better.

We're well aware of the negative view/ responses we'll get from our allies in the Run Alliance if we sacrifice their heavies here. But they aren't the only ones doing so. So are the countless other minor houses with maybe one Heavy in this battle. If they were afraid we were going to waste their gains with no hope getting any repayment or reward, they would not have helped or joined us to begin with.

If any of our allies lose their heavies here, WE, SONIA, will help them recover/ repair/ rebuild their heavies. And THEY the major houses better think of a good means to compensate these houses for their losses, both in life and fire power.

"We are well aware of this, (insert persons name here from RH), if they weren't aware of the fact they would likely lose their heavies here they wouldn't have sent them."
>>
>>1623757
This is good, supporting.
>>
>>1623757
Yeah, this is a good way to respond. It's a shame to see the Ruling House mad at us, but I guess it was kind of inevitable, and as long as Helios and BH think highly of us the RH is of secondary concern.
>>
I wouldn't say that a heavy has better armor or structural stability compared to a super. We just have a lot more production capability for heavies.
>>
>>1623822
>I wouldn't say that a heavy has better armor or structural stability compared to a super.
A normal super has roughly the same volume as an Ascendancy, only that it's been stretched into a thin 20km long wafer. I really doubt any kind of scientific can make that as structually stable as the brick an Ascendancy is.

Give me a sec to find the image tstg posted that puts an Ascendancy next to a super.
>>
We could send the Forbearance in with the heavies, if we cared what the ruling house thinks.
>>
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>>1623874
The buttom part isn't from TSTG, the rest is.
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>>1623907
It has always bothered me how thin Kavarian SHCs are.
>>
>>1623907
>>1623952
Which is why most factions including the Dominion have built them up with super structures mounting heavier weaponry.
>>
"Your assessment is certainly correct. However, the main reason for my suggestion was the Dominion's current inability to replace lost super heavy cruisers. In addition to that, many heavy cruiser types are designed for closer combat ranges than our super heavy cruisers and sport better armour and greater structural stability. Despite the recent advances and upgrades super heavy cruisers are still mainly long range platforms for siege operations."

The Ruling House rep sighs in exasperation. "Very well then. As long as we all know what we're getting into."

The Duke draws attention to the big holographic display of the battle.
"Our left flank is still advancing but they won't be able to keep that up forever. We'll strike shortly before they can begin to push back. It should sow enough confusion to let the right flank continue as well. Helios can continue to direct the long range fire in support of the heavy cruiser charge."

You return to J-D station of the war room where your advisors are waiting.
"He did have a point." Says Fadila. "Our allies may be... annoyed by this plan of attack."

"If they weren't aware of the fact they would likely lose their heavies here they wouldn't have sent them."

You prepare a message to be sent to London. RSS will offer to assist in salvage and recovery of Heavy Cruisers crippled here if at all possible. That's going to be expensive but you should have enough money before long. You'll have to hold off on sending the message until after the battle in case of interception.

Several of the heavy cruisers are loaded up with LST's to deploy once they get in closer. A few risk taking along HLV's and Frigates rigged for boarding actions. As many Shukhant class ships as can be spared are sent with them. Their tough armor should help out in the heavy fighting.

>Cont.
>>
>>1623959
>As long as we all know what we're getting into.
Make sure the people on these ships know what's going to happen. Reduce crews to a minimum and make sure to get the Barons or Counts off these ships.
Despite suggesting it I'm not comfortable with this either.
>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1goE6aHyw0 [DS9 - Loop De Loop]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45oFGT7i4xo [Guns N' Roses - Civil War]


The mass of drive flames from engines across the fleet makes it obvious to anyone when the charge begins. A wave of drone starfighters are sent out, launching all of their torpedoes and missiles to help clear the way.

There's no shortage of SP torpedo decoys being used, even by ships and fighters launching conventional torps. Probably to try and exhaust any interceptor missile stores.

Nasidum forts shift their siege weapon fire to the heavies, trying to deal with them before they can get in too close. A Cardinal is struck by so much fire it's nearly washed away. An Archaster and the House Binil Chining are next to go, slowly worn down by fire until they're both crippled and left burning.

"Into the valley of death." muses Vanderwal.

He isn't far off. Most of the medium cruisers are able to evade heavy weapons fire from the big ships, but when it does hit they're lucky if their shields can shrug off a single shot.

Your sides supporting Supers are inflicting plenty of damage on their own with the Heavies drawing much of the enemy's attention. It's hard to tell just how much.

"One of the enemy forts have lost a main gun mount. Some of our fire is getting through." reports an aid.


>And I have to stop here to get ready for work!
Will post more when I get back.
>>
>>1624060
Oh you can't stop there! I just got here and things are about to reach it's climax!
>>
>>1624060
If it makes sense, have the supers follow up at a distance. That way they'll be able to maintain their firing distance and provider S&R for damaged ships left behind during the charge.
>>
Boy I sure hope making this difficult and controversial command decision and sending tens of thousands of people to their deaths doesn't have any negative impact on Sonia's mental state.
>>
>>1624081
Sonia didn't get to roll, so she's not responsible.
>>
>>1624081
>>1624092
I think we all know what Sonia will be doing soon...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kAJOSCyTB0
>>
>>1624104
Yell at whoever had the idea to give all the captured Neeran shrouds away? One or two of these could have made that charge a lot more effective.
>>
>>1624151
We don't have a Neeran to operate them, though.
iirc, even the Krath that boogeyman into Neeran can't operate them properly, and break them?

Side Quest Unlocked: Gain a Neeran follower
>>
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I can barely imagine how smug Che'len will be after this shit show becomes public.

>>1624060
>A Cardinal is struck by so much fire it's nearly washed away. An Archaster and the House Binil Chining are next to go, slowly worn down by fire until they're both crippled and left burning.
Keep dodging!
Form a shield wall, they're not going to miss you anyway.
>>
>>1624582
>shield wall

This worked pretty well for the Run invasion forces due to our limited firepower but they have multiple siege weapons so I think clustering all our heavies together for a shield wall would let them do big dick plays and that would not be a good thing.
>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNQRXCFXfkU [The Winter Soldier - Into The Fray]

Nasidum is starting to get a bit more desperate as the wave of heavy cruisers close in on them. Crews on the shipyard begin to blow off docking and construction arms that are taking too long to retract, or are otherwise delaying the launch.

A few more Heavies take enough damage that they're forced to break off. Some of the Mediums help to soak off damage with additional shields. Several of the oldest Shukhants look to be disintegrating, shedding armor and hull additions they've been fitted with over the years, reducing them to much smaller craft.

An Ascendancy fitted with additional shield generators and what is probably an extra shield platform punches through the debris cloud. Unlike most of the others it is still accelerating. An Archaster and a Cardinal stay close to it trying to further reinforce its shields while using it for cover.
The two nearest Zeus seem intent on emptying their magazines covering the trio.

You really hope they're not planning a suicide run.

Both forts closest to the yard seem to not want to risk it and shift all of their fire towards them. It looks to be a bit too late, as with the range scrolling down their largest weapons are having trouble tracking fast enough to hit them. Worst yet any shots that miss have a good chance of striking ships on their own side.

Far too late the Ascendancy crew reverses engines, still hurtling towards the yard at an unhealthy speed. Both escorts try to decelerate as well, with the Cardinal coming about entirely before engaging their drives.
A shield bubble extends itself out ahead of them shortly before collision with the station shield. Both shields light up from the kinetic impact and something on the bow of the Ascendancy explodes. There's a second impact a few milliseconds later and part of the station shields fail.

Maneuvering while still decelerating, the Ascendancy slams into the gap between the yard and the partially completed Mobile Fort. Station sections and starship hulls are crushed and torn open, the old Dominion Heavy screeching to a halt. Despite its size the impact forces the Fort into the opposite side of its slipway, crushing docking arms and driving station sections into its incomplete armor. Neither ship is going anywhere.
Sitting in the internal bay of the Ascendancy protected by the forward shutter, HLVs and LSTs are untouched by the carnage. They quickly unload and begin boarding operations to take both the yard and the fort they've just rammed.

The Archaster and Cardinal shift their course enough to barely miss the shipyard. Sailing past it, both ships find themselves facing the unshielded side of a nearby enemy Super. Their fire takes out two of the siege weapon mounts before the enemy can fully react. This draws more fire away from the other incoming heavy cruisers. The rest use time bought by the distraction to get in close.
>>
This sort of situation is not what the Avalanche was built for. The enormous siege platforms soon begin to maneuver in an attempt to keep some distance from the wave of ships that soon envelope them. The Nasidum and Xygen formation loses cohesion as each of the big ships are seemingly isolated. Despite the chaos the enemy fleet is being throw into the compliment of medium plasma cannons on the forts are still capable of inflicting extensive damage on your side.

"Enemy left flank is withdrawing to regroup with center. Sections are believed to be in full retreat."

"Ber'helum command to heavy cruiser group, prepare to open holes in your formation at timed intervals for focused siege cannon barrage. First barrage in 30 seconds."

You watch the insect like swarms which don't seem to be reacting. The operation counter hits zero and the allied Supers and forts open fire. The Heavy Cruisers and most of the mediums from your side get out of the way in time. The occasional smaller ship does not. Fire hits the Avalanche at the center of the enemy fleet, much of it striking their shields, but at least 8 shots penetrating to strike the hull and disable weapons.

Avun and the other fleet commanders on the left flank are going full out, trying to take advantage of the enemy withdrawal.

You finally manage to get a solid signal from Drake's fleet.
"This is Knight Commander Drake to command. Our fleet and attached allied units are taking a lot of ship losses but we're going to keep pushing. It looks like they're starting to rout."

It looks like most of her crippled ships have been slowly making their way out of the fighting and back to the Majestic.

>Any message you want to get through to Drake?
>>
>>1625727
>>Any message you want to get through to Drake?
Ask if she can spare some of the damaged ships that aren't easy to repair for search and rescue operations, every second counts. And thank her for sparing us the fate of having to tell Winifred she got herself killed.

>1 complete heavy cruiser loss
>3 crippled
>x heavily damaged
That wasn't as bad as it could have been.
>>
>>1625727

Don't make any unnecessary sacrifices. I can't promote you if you're dead.
>>
>>1625727

"Keep up the good work and stay alert, Drake."

Never bring up girlfriends/boyfriends, pineapple salad, notes home, or upcoming birthdays before/during combat operations.

Shit will get you killed.
Sonia has probably done it and lived, resulting in some random bastard across the galaxy getting a piano dropped on them
>>
>>1625727
You're doing a good job, Drake.

Good job, everyone. Good job.
Especially the Ascendancy. What house did it belong to?

I think we should light the Afterburners on all the supers that have them and ram them in.
>>
Have another post mostly done. Will put it up in the morning.

I'll try to resume around 7PM tomorrow.
>>
>>1625795
>>1625727

Seconding.
>>
>>1626051
Since ill be gone all weekend, just want to wish you a happy leafday tstg, and beware the day of the rake
>>
Oh hey it's asteroid day! What a coincidence.

"Don't make any unnecessary sacrifices. Otherwise just keep up the good work and stay alert, Drake."

You get an acknowledgement that the message was received but it isn't worth sending a full response over in the middle of the battle.

Much of the fighting is collapsing back towards the general area of the main shipyard. Smaller scale skirmishing is still taking place through much of the system with either side using the ever present dust to their advantage.

It's becoming more difficult to open clear fire lanes through to the heaviest enemy ships. Damage is still being done, and one of the enemy forts have lost a third of their weapons. Given the time it will take to relocate House Ceres has elected to begin moving their two remaining asteroid forts in closer now. Most of the supers will continue to hang back a bit. Alex takes his fleet out increasingly wide to help provide covering fire to the Ceres forces.

As the asteroid forts draw closer to the fighting discussions at the upper levels now seem to be focusing on whether or not to power up gravity well generators.

A few minutes later sensor reports indicate that a gravity well generator has gone active, though it's closer to the shipyard than any of yours should be.
"Could that be the enemy gravity well we encountered before?" you wonder.

"It shouldn't be sir. Intel tracked it to a location near Feron space, and this one is showing an allied IFF."

Despite this it seems to be the consensus in the war room that it definitely is not yours. Or that seems to be what you're hearing shortly before it slams into one of the Ceres Forts at high speed.

The forward third of the asteroid disappears inward, with the surface of the entire planetoid deforming. It's isn't right to say that it exploded out of the other side of the rock. Instead the opposite side folded inwards towards the tiny singularity, which emerged shortly after. For a brief moment the asteroid was left looking much like a doughnut.

Then all of the rock that had been accelerated by the singularity but not drawn in slammed into itself at high speed. The kinetic energy released by the collision was enough to blow the remainder to pieces. To those watching without the aid of high speed footage it looked like the rock simply exploded, scattering debris along the same vector as the dissipating singularity.

>See you later I'm late for work!
>>
>>1626363
Ouch, did any of the detachable ships manage to escape the destruction of the fort?
>>
>>1626363
I never thought that a policy of "shoot the strange "friendly" IFF on a high speed collision course" would need to be spelled out.

>>1626370
Doesn't sound like it.
>>
>>1626363
Well then. I do not even know to respond to this sudden lose of an incredible large amount of firepower. RIP Fortress.

Now I want to find out if they used their Well to do this, and how. Or if this is a new weapon based upon that. Because if it is then this would be an increadible way to ruin the day of Neeran Commandship
>>
>>1626363
Did they just capture one of our own and ram it? Or is this an older gravity well generator that was thought lost? Either way that's sorta what I had thought would happen if one of them was destroyed while active. Now if we can just weaponize that in missile form, we can have something just as dangerous as a Vekron without the radiation.

Oh, uh, reaction right. Maybe make sure our forces around the grav generators are keeping them safe? And make sure the enemy doesnt have anymore of those things left in waiting hopefully.
>>
>>1626363
ARM VECKRONS
>>
>>1626376
Looks like they took used Well as a fire ship, spinning up the singularity at the last moment.

Rather expensive, but may be cost-effective against mobile fortresses and Neeran city-ships.

Actually, this remind me of my own idea - combine a singularity generator with super-heavy accelerator array.

Finding sweet spot (singularity big enough to not evaporate in mid-flight, small enough to get a decent velocity) would be hard, and it is likely that array itself will need massive structural reinforcement plus integral gravitic control equipment to prevent tidal forces from ripping it apart; But end result would be amazing, as we already witnessed.
>>
>>1626430
>Rather expensive
True. I mean we got offered our first for 500 Million and everyone else for the full price of... Was it 1 Billion? Still, with those kinds of price they are totally worth it as munition if it means crippling a Neeran Command ship. However I AM curious about just how it got through the shield of the Fortress however and if it can be replicated against the Neeran shields.

Also, collective Ber'Helim groaning at this unorthodox use of Gravity Well ships.
>>
This does raise an interesting question. Do Grav well generators actually generate a blackhole with the mass of a planet or do they "simply" somehow stop gravity from bleeding into extra dimensions increasing the perceived amount of gravity a given amount of mass exerts on normal spacetime? The first one breaks some really fundamental laws of physics that would lead to infinite power generation so I'm inclined to believe it's the second possibility.
>>
>>1626453
The ones from the Dominion are supposed to actually generate a singularity. The Terrans are supposed to work on something like the second one you suggested.
>>
>>1626363
Well, uh, at least it wasn't veckrons? Yeah this is real bad news. If they have many more, I wouldn't anticipate many asteroid forts surviving the war, and if the Dominion can't figure out a counter to 'ram it with a grav ship' the value of the forts is going to become much lower.

>>1626437
>>1626430
That is the upside I guess. The Dominion should have a near-monopoly on grav ships for the moment, and I bet the Alliance is going to be ecstatic to have a counter to Neeran cityships other than a million v-torps.
>>
>>1626370
3 of the outer most ones have been thrown clear managing to survive the destruction of the asteroid. They're in rough shape.
Hulls from 2 more may be salvageable.

>>1626380
>Did they just capture one of our own and ram it? Or is this an older gravity well generator that was thought lost?
Unknown, intel is attempting to verify at this time.

>>1626376
>>1626437
>Also, collective Ber'Helim groaning at this unorthodox use of Gravity Well ships.
This tactic had been suggested by a few players.
In setting certain experts in the Dominion had looked at it as a possibility before the start of the civil war.
Having previously written stuff set in the Star Wars NJO era I am somewhat familiar with weaponized gravity wells.

>>1626430
>combine a singularity generator with super-heavy accelerator array.
This has a number of problems that I feel would be difficult -though not impossible- to overcome.
Void Quest had what I see to be the simplest solution: Singularity Torpedoes.
>>
>>1627645
Void Quest also had FTL energy guns with dial-a-yield and dial-a-penetration.

FTL energy guns when?
>>
>>1626363
These nerds always using our crazy plans before we can.
>>
>>1626437
>However I AM curious about just how it got through the shield of the Fortress however
The shield was hit by a mass greater than that of Saturn.

>and if it can be replicated against the Neeran shields.
You can bet someone will test it.

>>1627719
Better start saving up favours with the Rovinar.
>>
After the destruction of the Ceres Fortress the War Room is thrown into chaos. Ships on your side desperately move out of the way to avoid debris from the explosion, and the dwindling singularity.
Fortunately, the J-D contingent is far enough away that they're not forced to go evasive.

You order Alex to make sure that the allied gravity well generators are secure and that enemy teams can't hijack them. He's quick to acknowledge and has Forbearance loop back to a position that gives him a clear line of fire on the main battle and most of the Abyssal Class ships.

Nasidum forces near the center use the distraction to attempt a rally. It's partially successful, helping to build up defenses around the least damaged Avalanche. It doesn't do much to help the shipyard or the rest of their fleet but it's a start, and one they probably hope to expand upon.
They're increasingly able to provide support to their allies among the confused brawl like fight taking place around them.

Your side does it's best to damage or disable as many of the enemy's heavy warships as possible before the rest of their fleet can rally. Both flanks are still collapsing so there remains a good chance of the battle resolving in your favour.

Intel is uncertain if the gravity well generator used in the last attack was a captured ship or one the enemy built as an attempt to copy the technology. If it's the latter then who knows how many more they might have.

House Ceres announces they've begun to evacuate the remaining asteroid and it isn't long before the Helios mediums detach. Each of them pulls back but remains within the asteroid's shield envelope for protection. SRL Fast Battleships, escort carriers and transport craft soon begin to depart, many carrying escape pods on their hulls.

Ceres then uses their now largely evacuated fort to crash through the enemy fleet groups that had formed up, taking the brunt of the incoming fire. The Avalanche is able to evade with repulsors but two Zeus attempting to provide cover fail to do so.
Ceres ships following in the asteroid's wake punch through to the interior of the formation hitting support ships and that that were attempting to take cover for repairs. The enemy center once more begins to disintegrate.

Fire from your sides super heavies manage to cripple one of the more badly damaged forts, further weakening enemy morale. Duke Ber'helum orders the activation of all gravity well generators not wanting to waste time debating over it.

As soon as the wells power up one surrounded fleet group on the right flank quickly begins to broadcast surrender signals. Those on the left flank and many from the center have a more direct path of retreat and sections start to desert.

"House Xygen fleet is disengaging. Repeat House Xygen fleet elements are disengaging."

[ ] Pursue
[ ] Let them go
>>
>>1628131
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyDKezDLGTM [Sergei Prokofiev - Battle On The Ice]
>>
>>1628123
Well... it wasn't Jupiter scale?

>>1628131
Have some ships in reserve follow to make sure they don't double back and spring an ambush? Basically just escort them away at a safe distance.
>>
>>1628131
Let 'em go. It will make the negotiations a much bigher headache for the major houses, and they really deserve that.
>>
>>1628168
>Well... it wasn't Jupiter scale?
It might not have reached full power.
>>
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>>1628183
Joy.
Can't wait until some crazy fuck makes building them cheaper and everyone's just throwing these around willy nilly anytime a Super shows up.
>>
>>1628131
[x] Send them a message
See if we can cut a deal with them? If they change sides the consequences will be lessened for their house, and there might not be a need for us to crusade straight through their space.
>>
>>1628131

[x] Pursue

At the very least, they need to be harassed off the field.

Ideally, they need to be harassed in their withdrawal to Xygen space, or at least far enough that they can't rally and rejoin the fight.
>>
>>1628193
Now you know how the Terrans feel.
>>
>>1628131
>[ ] Pursue
Don't toss half the fleet at them, but send enough to make their defeat sting a little more. I think this battle has decided the war in our favor, now we can start kicking them while they're down. The harder we hit them today, the better our position will be during negotiations.

Also still a little shook from the grav ram. Honestly it sort of seems like being a counter to any super is more useful than their actual intended role.
>>
>>1628292
Haha just wait until five years from now, when we find out that grav ships do atrocious damage to subspace.
>>
>>1628131
[x] Pursue

salvage.
>>
>>1628131
Let them go.
>>
>>1628368
Oh I would laff
>>
>>1628131
>[X] Pursue
>>
>>1628196
You do not have the authority to cut such a deal, and they are unlikely to suddenly turn on Nasidum and risk losing more ships. At least not without lengthy negotiations with your side first. Those will take days.

Xygen at this point seems inclined to a ceasefire.

Getting a ceasefire at this point would be better for them in the long term. They don't lose any more big fleets and have a reasonably good negotiating position. It also allows you to focus your efforts on Nasidum.

Pursuing them would weaken them and give your side a much better bargaining position in post war negotiations. It would also get millions more on your side killed.
>>
You order Avun to Pursue the nearest fleeing Xygen fleet elements.

Roll 3d100
>>
>>1628461

Are they ceasing combat operations and broadcasting cease fire offers?

Or making a fighting withdrawal?
>>
>>1628490
That that are under fire are conducting a fighting withdrawal.
Those not in immediate danger have ceased fire and are recovering fighters. Most are changing course in preparation to jump out system.
>>
Rolled 86, 7, 64 = 157 (3d100)

>>1628484
Let's hope she doesn't get some of that Drake luck.
>>
Rolled 78, 30, 92 = 200 (3d100)

>>1628504

If they aren't broadcasting surrender/cease fire, fire at will.
>>
Rolled 39, 24, 56 = 119 (3d100)

>>
>>1628509
>>1628521
>>1628534
>86,30,92
Whoever is middle is going to have a bad day.
>>
>>1628549
One can only hope they don't have to bad a day.
>>
>>1628588
If you find yourself alone, riding in green fields with the sun on your face, do not be troubled

Avun's fleet continues to pursue the retreating Xygen forces with several allied fleets aiding her. Nearly a third of the forces on that flank are soon in pursuit while the rest continue to help with the fighting against Nasidum.

The Xygen heavy cruisers come about unleashing a barrage of siege cannon and torpedo fire to help cover the other retreating units. It slows the pursuit forces momentarily and disrupts their formations, but does little damage against the more valuable ships.

The heavier warships resume their retreat now that the units of smaller craft have been given time to reform into coherent groups. Still the heavies keep firing their torpedo batteries as though trying to shed excess mass to make their escape easier.
When the pursuing allied units catch up they find themselves clashing with better prepared opponents than what panicking Nasidum pilots were offering.

It becomes clear very quickly which J-D pilots and officers are the best of the best, and which ones are not. Elite Xygen units tear through the lesser skilled pilots with ease. The top rated veterans hold their own or in some cases out perform. The losses aren't something your people can take for long.

Avun makes the decision to strip most of the defense squadrons from her carrier and sends them to their aid. It's enough to save the flagging units buying them time to break off an retreat. It also keeps the enemy elites distracted while your allies engage other units, some not as well disciplined.

It's a messy costly affair but Xygen is taking losses they cant afford either. Allied squadrons break through and mange to attack several of the heavy cruisers with antimatter warheads. You spot a few detonations a bit too close to your side once the enemy begins to focus fire on the torpedo carriers.

Half of the Xygen heavy assets are disabled or forced to surrender by the time the bulk of their fleet begins to jump. It looks like most of their drone carriers escaped. Some of their elite units, partially depleted, also manage to get away.

You get a message from Avun.
"I hope it was worth it."
>>
>>1628957
That was me.

Got Saturday and Sunday off, but don't know what my family has planned. So who knows what my posting schedule is.
>>
>>1628957
Same Avun. Same.
>>
>>1628960
Aight. Thanks for running! Nice epic fighting here going on.
>>
>>1628957
I too hope it was Worth it. Hopefully the war will now be over and we can take some time to recover.
>>
>>1628957
>"I hope it was worth it."
Ouch, yeah, maybe got a little carried away. There's another one for Sonia's sleepless nights.
>>
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>>1628957
>"I hope it was worth it."
>>
>>1628957
'Punished Sonia' time
>>
>>1628957

We can only hope that these losses prevented the Xygen fleet from conducting an orderly withdrawal and possibly inflicting damage to our logistics/rear forces as they withdrew to their own space.

Losses suck, but hopefully we've managed to save lives elsewhere by inflicting these losses against Xygen.
>>
>>1629406
The looses suffered here and now will in all likelyhood put an end to the war. Nasidum have lost most of their mobile forts and the yard producing them along with their capital AND god knows how many other ships during the route.

Xygen have hit moral rock bottom and have lost countless heavies to the point that they wont be able to keep up a proper offense to drive out our invading forces.

Before they would most likely have been able to maintain a defense and negotiated a more favorable peace treaty. Now we stand to gain more from their weakness in a peace that will come all the faster.

I hope.
>>
>>1629420
Didn't we have a talk with our father about rationalizing the people we've ordered to their deaths? Either way, there is always the Tom Hanks rationalization path:

You see, when... when you end up killing one of your men, you see, you tell yourself it happened so you could save the lives of two or three or ten others. Maybe a hundred others. Do you know how many men I've lost under my command?
> How many?
Ninety-four. But that means I've saved the lives of ten times that many, doesn't it? Maybe even 20, right? Twenty times as many? And that's how simple it is. That's how you... that's how you rationalize making the choice between the mission and the man.


Twenty... twenty sounds good for space ship combat, right? M-maybe even fifty?
Oh god why is my hand shaking?
>>
Drake and her fleet have broken off from the fighting on the right flank and withdraw for rest and repairs. Some new units have been formed using reserve ships and pilots recovered via teleport receiver ships. They're now helping to deal with isolated enemy units and those trying to escape.

Parts of the Nasidum fleet try to damage the shipyard while withdrawing. It forces more fleet assets from your side to disengage to help protect it. It make little difference overall to the course of the battle. Supers from your side are moving up as areas are secured. Pockets of resistance are surrendering, worsening the panic among the remaining enemies.

By now most of the heavy cruisers that had been sent into close combat by your side have been disabled or are too badly damage to contribute much. They're increasingly acting as defense platforms, limping their way towards the yards.

Despite so much going wrong for them the Nasidum fleet still manages to cover the retreat of one of their mobile forts. One damaged Super and a number of heavy cruisers and carrier go with them. The Bonrah fleet self destructs some of their Ceres and Talos Carriers that are unable to retreat before they flee the battle as well. Not all of them are headed in the same direction. Most go for Xygen space, others for the Naidum capital and more still look like they're headed out of the galaxy.

Alex brings his fleet in close enough to the shipyard and crippled mobile forts to assist with boarding operations. Forbearance soon becomes a forward hub for recovery operations near the yard.

Skirmishing looks like it will continue for the rest of the next day as individual units still attempt to escape on their own. They have plenty of cover with the amount of debris in system.

Things are still tense. Nasidum forces pulled from other fronts could still arrive and attempt a counterattack against the allied fleets here. If it happens within the next day you could be in serious trouble. Undamaged heavy carriers and some of the Supers are deployed to the surrounding systems.

Xygen has supposedly begun negotiations for a cease fire within the next day or two and have halted their advance on other fronts. On that note, House Feron has managed to hold their ground, although just barely. Some larger scale attacks pressed as far as Torun in J-D space but were unable to do more than conduct bombardment raids.

The special RTS mercenary detachment stationed in orbit of Dremine was getting a little worried at times. Squadron strength raids against J-D worlds were starting to become an issue and they were concerned they might find themselves drafted.
Also those assigned to recovery of your mother in the event of an evacuation were not looking forward to that. They'd been made aware of her phobia of space travel and were anticipating as much of a fight as you might put up.
Intimidating to say the least.
>>
The cease fire with Xygen is confirmed while fighting continues with House Nasidum. They've reinforced the positions around their capital while trying to draw up strength for a counter assault on the shipyard. Even with all their might that isn't going to be possible without allies. The pace of negotiations have increased.

Intel remains worried Xygen may resume fighting if things turn in their favour. Their recent losses at the shipyard makes that seem unlikely in the short term. That doesn't mean they're sitting idle.

Once things calm down you notice a message from Christina Pozzi in your inbox.
Her people have secured a former Aries testing facility. This one was found with the help of allied interrogation of Bonrah personnel rather than the GE contact.

It seems they were testing unmanned Hades class assault corvettes. Rather than their usual drone control systems these were more advanced due to the need to update secure orders in space away from carriers that could offer physical connections for a secure upload.

"It seems to match up with other drone control programs we were seeing worked on at some of the isolated network secure facilities. Bonrah seized the shipyard here and was trying to complete the corvette portion of the program without the necessary pieces still being worked on near Che'len space. It sounds like they still weren't performing properly by the time the invasion neared the area so the program was shut down and left for later recovery or activation."

>What say?
>>
I will be running tomorrow. (Sunday)
>>
>>1631669
Do we have enough pieces of the puzzle to get further than they did? Either way that's good work.
>>
>>1631669
"Excellent work. Aries probably had a good reason for storing the data that way, so I would suggest only handing it over in person and keeping it away from any kind of networked database. Besides that, how are things for you and your unit in Bonrah space?"

>>1631519
>On that note, House Feron has managed to hold their ground, although just barely.
Great! Did the new turrets prove useful?

>Skirmishing looks like it will continue for the rest of the next day as individual units still attempt to escape on their own.
We should consider offering a limited amnesty to those who surrender instead of making things difficult for us.
>>
>>1631669
'Good job, keep up the great work.'
>>
>>1632331
>amnesty

For Dominion forces it probably won't be needed. Lawful combatants and all.

We could probably offer favorable conditional surrender terms to merc forces, though.
>>
>>1631669
>pozzi's find

Oh shit. Maybe enact anti-AI measures on all of that data/information. And disconnect all of the drone cores physically.

There could be shit lurking in the code that could cause an AI or rogue drone incident.

If the facility can't be salvaged entirely, maybe blow it up after stealing all the data cores?
Paranoia may be called for with a facility like this.
>>
>>1632331
>Great! Did the new turrets prove useful?
Yes. Even though they have reduced firepower over the final planned version their longer range made it difficult for enemy ships to conduct a siege.

With the cease fire in place their engineers can now resume development rather than hurriedly pumping out an inferior version. They should have a prototype of the final version ready in another 5 weeks.

You contact Pozzi to talk over her latest findings.

"How are things for you and your unit in Bonrah space?" you ask first.

"Doing well. We've only had a few isolated attacks on us by enemy resistance groups and raiders that are still holding out. A think your civilian salvage teams aren't liking it so much but for the rest of the escort fleet it's being treated like a vacation with the occasional bout of combat."

Homefully you don't have to deal with a whole bunch of PTSD claims from company personnel after this. The start up cost of the fleet was a bit of an annoyance but by the looks of things they've made back that money with a little extra thanks to salvage operations.

"Do we have enough pieces of the puzzle to get further than Bonrah did with those Aries projects? Either way that's good work."

"Thank you sir. According to our techs it should be a simple matter of taking parts designed by the other labs and plugging them into these modded assault corvettes."

>>1632415
>>1632331
You start to get the smallest feeling of paranoia the more you think about what they've found.

"Aries probably had a good reason for storing the data that way, so I would suggest only handing it over in person and keeping it away from any kind of networked database. Maybe enact anti-AI measures on all of that data/information. And disconnect all of the drone cores physically."

“Uh... sir we connected a few of the labs to more quickly upload captured data to the Ruling House and Ber’helum. Even you did that with at least one of them.”

Was that a weapons development lab your team found that you’d done that for? It didn’t seem like much of a risk at the time.
“Well tell them to change it. Better late then never.”

“Yes sir.”
>>
>>1632511
>“Yes sir.”
On the off chance that it's already too late, they should try talking to it first before trying to shut everything down. If the Aries project is already sentient, it's the right thing to do. And it might react violently otherwise.
>>
>>1632520
I'd imagine an AI likely would have reacted to Pozzi's force already, since they'd have hostile IFFs from its point of view.
>>
>>1632543
If they're finding parts of one and putting them together in a lab somewhere, I'd imagine it would take some time for it to emerge as it wouldn't start at full capabilities.
>>
>>1632511
With AI, you never know what they will turn out to be like. Maybe if there is a chance for an AI to appear out of all of this. Maybe talk to the Terrans? Since they're the only ones who deal with creating AI. They would also be more likely to spot the signs of an AI being created?

And if Areis is creating its own AI, it might be worth having the Terrans aware and on the look out incase Areis really is making AI.
>>
>>1632660
I think it would be worth shelling out to hire a few Terran AI experts once the ceasfire is firmly in place to evaluate the risk. Or ask Versa, we haven't spoken with her in a while.
>>
Pozzi is able to get the connections to the Aries labs shut down without much difficulty. Most data has already been copied so there’s little point in keeping them open.

Fighting at the front hasn’t still hasn’t ceased but it is slowly winding down. Nasidum is attempting probing assaults to determine the strength of the allied fleet still at the shipyard but most of them are intercepted before they get within sensor range.

After these failures Nasidum finally requests a cease fire to discuss terms. They clearly want to hang on to their two remaining mobile forts if possible, and that’s not going to happen if fighting doesn’t cease.

Xygen is reporting desertions among their fleet. A number of ships are leaving with elements from surviving House Bonrah forces. It isn’t immediately obvious where they’re headed as the long range sensors needed to track them are still held by Nasidum allies.

On Rioja reporters have uncovered a plot to assassinate a number of elected officials. It seems their plan was to stir up unrest among the terran refugee population, acting as a screen for work by Shallan extremists. Several have been arrested and others suspects are now under surveillance.
The Shallan military government has asked that this incident be used to crack down on Shallan exiles that are campaigning for a return of civilian government to power. They can try to find ways to make it worth your while.

[ ] Begin crack down
[ ] Put such groups under surveillance
[ ] Refuse
[ ] Refuse & reveal their request
>>
>>1632694
The Terrans might be more willing to send AI exlerts before letting Versa poke into possible code for creating an AI. Thats the last the Tereans need, self replicating AI. Although... it would be quite funny to see the Terrans over run by tbeor own creations. But then the Dominion would be drawn in as well and a whole new AI wars would begin again!
>>
>>1632704
Err... what did the Shallan extremists plan? Fucking up Rioja's stability in order to...?

It sounds like something that we'd have to consider for this response.
>>
>>1632704
>The Shallan military government has asked that this incident be used to crack down on Shallan exiles that are campaigning for a return of civilian government to power.
So they want us to an attempt on our elected officials to crack down on people who want elected officials of their own? This sounds like a PR nightmare. What does our Shallan on Rioja think about this?
>>
>>1632704
The Dominion is already a mess, killing Dominion officials is not going to help. If they want to reinstate the Shallan civillian government they should be fighting the Neeran, not assassinating people.
>>
Assistant Planetary Governor Tamoren Balle has been investigating shallan groups smuggling weapons onto Rioja. Your people caught a Nai smuggler trying to move weapons for them. Their acitivies on Rioja have drawn enough attention that Balle has been personally looking into halting smuggling between shallan groups in J-D space.

It seems these groups are not just common smugglers. They may be recruiting among the refugee population to set up a resistance against the current military government on their homeworlds.

They were aware that Balle’s investigation was getting close to uncovering their network on Rioja. (And in fact already had.) So they hoped to divert attention away from them onto Terran rights groups.
This plot was uncovered by two Terran reporters. The Governor and your people on planet then conducted a series of arrests of the confirmed Shallan extremist groups.

With the confirmation of rebellious elements in J-D space the Shallan military government wants you to crack down on peaceful protest groups on Rioja that continue to be a threat to their government in the long term. Thanks to the extremists it would be a simple matter of extending arrests to these other groups as well. They are willing to pay your to do this.
>>
>>1632767
Is this the same smuggler we returned to his own government? If so why did they not keep a tighter leash on him?

No slap on the hand or returning to his government for discipline. Put him in prison properly this time.

As for the Shallan Government, I say decline. Peacefull protesters are fine, but the more extreme groups need to be dealt with.
>>
>>1632767
>They are willing to pay your to do this.
How much are we talking? My natural inclination is not to fuck with the civil rights of the people on our planet, so they'll have to make an extremely convincing offer.
>>
>>1632767
>peaceful protest groups on Rioja that continue to be a threat to their government in the long term
Wasn't the long term plan to return to a civilian government? I wouldn't be opposed to make things a bit harder for them with annoying but legal means but locking them up seems a bit extreme.
>>
>>1632796
Also not necessarily the most effective. We could sell use of our intelligence services instead, spy on ringleaders and try to discredit them. COINTELPRO shit, try to turn the movement against itself and make them suspicious of each other and shit.

It would be good practice for our intelligence guys.
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>>1632776
>Is this the same smuggler we returned to his own government? If so why did they not keep a tighter leash on him?
The 1 (one) Nai smuggler caught so far was released to the custody of the Nai exile population in return for several million in gene mod services. It is highly unlikely they will ever be a problem again.

Their handler must have realised they were unsuccessful and bolted before they could be caught as well.
Information obtained from the Nai smuggler helped to kick start Balle's investigation.

>No slap on the hand or returning to his government for discipline. Put him in prison properly this time.
The only people under arrest at this time are suspected shallan extremists.

>>1632796
Not everyone in the shallan military are on the same page when it comes to that. A substantial portion do wish to return to civilian government post war. Those who have contacted you do not.
>>
>>1632704
>>1632767

So they were going to murder elected officials (terrans?), incite the terran refugees into some form of violence, and use the distraction to recruit?

Well fuck these specific shallans.

That said, the Shallan 'Government' is both a junta and probably keeping the Neeran at bay. We can't exactly risk undermining them and the front lines by revealing their request.

[x] Refuse
[x] Make it clear that we will not suffer people exploiting Terran Refugees on Rioja.

Maybe we should give those reporters a not-Presidential Medal of Freedom?
>>
>>1632767
For starters I'd like to award the reporter some kind of Dominion medal for stability and peacekeeping actions.
Appeasing the Terrans is a decent policy.

Then I'd like to place the Shallan extremists under intense surveillance.

We know from Mezan the military government isn't great, and something she has little faith in. That doesn't mean it's not required however, and I think until such time that invading forces have been displaced it shouldn't be actively subverted.

There's nothing wrong with openly protesting the positions and actions of the milgov, but outright illegal acts should of course result in criminal proceedings.
>>
>>1632812
>Their handler must have realised they were unsuccessful and bolted before they could be caught as well.
>Information obtained from the Nai smuggler helped to kick start Balle's investigation.

Almost sounds like what happened on Surekah. 3:1 odds that it was someone working for a Governor we used to we know?
>>
>>1632812
Okay. While I don't agree with their offer I can understand that we need to keep these people in power. At least until we're done with the war against the Neeran.

I'd be okay with:
>>1632704
>[ ] Put such groups under surveillance
In addition to that, put the usual Dominion shenanigans in place. Website problems, slightly more thorough investigations from the space IRS etc.
>>
>>1632839

>[x] Refuse
>[x] Make it clear that we will not suffer people exploiting Terran Refugees on Rioja.

These sound like fine ideas
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>>1632839
>and use the distraction to recruit?
More like escape. They've been recruiting about as steadily as most [insert present day extremist group here] does.

>>1632857
>3:1 odds that it was someone working for a Governor we used to we know?
According to Count Jerik no nobles from the House have been intentionally doing anything to disrupt the stability of Rioja this year.
>>
>>1632704
Put them under surveillance
>>
While you refuse to arrest peaceful protest groups you do have them placed under surveillance just in case some of them have ties to more extremist groups.

Both reporters are to be awarded for their efforts. Suitable civilian medals are found among the Dominion’s lengthy catalogue of such things, and presented by the Governor with your blessing.
At the same time you send a message that you and the government will not suffer people exploiting Terran Refugees on Rioja.

One of the reporters, fearing reprisal by shallan groups, requests secure transport off the planet. The governor takes care of it without incident.
>>
I have another post written up but decided to deal with this first.

There are some preliminary discussions taking place regarding captured Aries technology and how much of it should be used by the Dominion once the Civil War is officially over. Use of potential Drone corvettes in addition to clones could reduce losses in a protracted war with the Neeran.

You and several others that are heavily involved in R&D are present. A larger meeting than the informal one held with the Duke shortly after your arrival.

Did you want to propose sending the Terrans a request for AI experts to look over the Aries data you've recovered so far?
>>
>>1633183
>Did you want to propose sending the Terrans a request for AI experts to look over the Aries data you've recovered so far?
I think FA experts would be a request we can sell more easily. Even if they're Terran specialists, we could request to have them mind wiped by the FA afterwards to ensure confidentiality.

>Use of potential Drone corvettes
Would it be possible to repurpose these systems for scarabs?
>>
>>1633183
Yes. Obviously this gives the Terrans huge amounts of information on our upcoming corvette drone program, but I think the benefits outweigh that downside for a few reasons. The Terrans either have the information already or will get access to it eventually if they really want it, they'll see the capabilities of drone corvettes in action against the Neeran anyway. The risk of accidentally an AI make it worth it.

>>1632885
>this year.
Fucking nobles
>>
>>1633198
>>1633195
Double post, but instantly changing my vote to getting FA experts. They'll probably be just as competent, and a little less explicitly spying for the Terrans.
>>
>>1633195
>>1633205
Changed to FA instead of Terran AI specialists.

Anyone else?
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>>1633183
I am for requesting possible AI specialist to be sent. So as to prevent any potential AI creation and any backlash that would create.
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>>1633264
FA sounds better
>>
>>1633264
mind wipe possible?
>>
>>1633264
FA for me
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>>1633333
I'm not sure that would be necessary. There's got to be mechanisms in place for the FA to work on secret Factions technology without compromising the projects.
>>
And I got distracted watching asteroid day videos.

At the meeting you point out some of the Aries R&D would tend to indicate they may have been working on development of AI or related systems. If true that could turn out to be as problem later, especially if House Aries and those allied with them still retains that data.

You suggest that the Alliance be asked to send AI specialists to look over the data and facilities captured so far to determine how much of a threat Aries still poses.

One of the Barrons that were not present last time speaks up.
“Why not ask the Terrans, they’re the experts.”

They’re immediately shouted down by a majority of those present.
Duke Ber’helum calls for everyone to quiet down.

“It’s true that the Alliance may not have the same level of expertise as the Terrans but at the same time they’re bound by treaty not to share sensitive data with the other Factions research teams unless we give permission. I think we can all agree here that the Terrans have enough of an advantage over us as it is in that department. We shouldn’t be directly handing them this tech.

There are some additional concerns related to AI development that some of you here are aware of. Because of that it would be best to have the Alliance evaluate this threat before finalising a treaty that will include House Aries. If they’re threatening the Dominion with their work they should be held responsible for it.
Objections?”

Two object to any delay in the treaty. One other in involving the Alliance, still seeing them as a security risk.

There are advantages to sharing the information with the Alliance. It could get them interested in buying new equipment from the Dominion if they’re impressed with what they see.

A majority support asking the Alliance to send specialists. As quickly as possible would seem to be the preference.
>>
>>1632812
>in return for several million in gene mod services
I've had a stupid idea - could we use this to turn warrels into decent guard animals or pets for the noble who's really worried about security?
>>
>>1633618
That would violate the import ban for starters so you'd have to do it in PCCG space.
Research in recent years indicates they also seem to have been bred to respond to Neeran commands on some level. Messing around with that might be a good, or equally bad idea.
>>
>>1633612
>“Why not ask the Terrans, they’re the experts.”
"If things go bad or the help from the Alliance cannot offer the necessary insights, we can still ask the Terrans for help later."

>>1633638
>you'd have to do it in PCCG space
Doesn't one of the J-D knights run a safari company specializing in warrel hunts on some planet? That could make a decent location for a research station.
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>>1633183

I'm against anything but rare, specialized usage of full ship drones.

It will potentially make us vulnerable to that AI foe, and/or the Terrans in the future. If this was some sort of native-born tech, I'd just worry about the Neeran-foe-AI things, but Aries is Terran tech and we should assume some form of vulnerability to those Terran seeker viruses and actual military AI assault.
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>>1633612
>I think we can all agree here that the Terrans have enough of an advantage over us as it is in that department.
We should have a meeting with the Duke to discuss that interesting Diamond production data we picked up several years ago.
After taking the necessary precautions of course. Dose him with adrenaline to be doubly sure.
>>
>>1633612
Can we use this technology to reduce crew requirements of Assault corvettes instead of full replacement?

Also, can it be adapted to Standards and their derivatives (Dagger and Attack II)?
>>
>>1633612
Are we bound by any treaties that say we can't tell them about the machine race?

I think we should drop that bomb on them now, get houses to stock up on Anti-computer weapons in the event of a worst case scenario.
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>>1633793
No. To expand on that - even if we somehow avoid getting ruined it would probably upset whatever balance exists between the factions. Which would probably result in the Terrans trying to come up with something even crazier. Maybe we'll get to see those veckron beams people want, they're besties with the rovinar, right?
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>>1633812
It's all part of the long game. The Terrans would hopefully destroy space again and everyone would have to evacuate to an even newer universe where we can get some real Dominion superiority established.
>Sonia rolling best of 3 for Dominion rebuild
Just imagine it.
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>>1633793
While it would be nice to bring in someone else. Keeping it between us and Winifred is more than enough. And to use a little meta gaming, Winifred did give our younger brother a diamond, which helped him to get into geology, so something is likely going on there, that we dont know about because mom told us ot was one of our guards and not Winifred , if the Terrans caught wind of us or anyone making SP torps we will get wrecked.
>>
>>1633833
>And to use a little meta gaming, Winifred did give our younger brother a diamond
If by meta gaming you mean making up stuff that didn't happen, then sure.

Most other Aries technologies discussed are increasingly under production in different forms in the Dominion. Some of the current designs will remain in production but many want Dominion alternatives in the long term, to not be reliant upon what is seen as Terran technology. Joint projects will be set up to better reverse engineer and adapt their tech combining it with Dominion models to develop superior replacements.

Or that’s the hope.

“Surface shields,” pulse cannon arrays, advanced armor systems, Next Gen torpedoes, drone fighters, stealth materials. All will see further development.

Drone starship tech could be adapted to allow reduced crew compliments aboard a wider variety of ship classes. For now any real work on it will be held off until the Alliance have had a look.

With the necessary post war reconstruction a few have the idea to set up dedicated R&D Houses. Small Houses focusing on the latest technology, but militarily somewhat weaker.

Would you support such a plan?
>>
>>1633848
I could have sworn I read that somewhere, I will just have to go back into the archive and find it. But I retract my statement, I dont want to give out wrongful info.

Back to the opic of R&D, I think making R&D houses sounds like a good idea. But it would be to easy to either bully them into supporting someone else other than who they were intended to help. Also they could end up being bought out or taken over easily by outsode forces like Aries.
>>
>>1633848
It's an interesting idea, and it would no doubt have various benefits, but dedicating houses specifically would kind of paint a target on them wouldn't it? They'd probably need a Patron House who they're closely affiliated, but at that point wouldn't it be better to have them just be a part of a bigger house?

As much as it would be a bonus, I think more than anything the Dominion just needs to get its shit in order for R&D. If you compare it with other factions then yeah, they're just playing catch-up, but the Dominion as a whole has made massive progress since the start of the Pirate Raids.
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>>1633848
>Would you support such a plan?
I guess it could work? I'm not exactly sure if it would provide an advantage but I wouldn't mind investigating the idea. Maybe start a handful of these houses and see how it goes?

>Joint projects will be set up to better reverse engineer and adapt their tech combining it with Dominion models to develop superior replacements.
Hasn't the Dominion been happily using the aries attack cruiser for centuries? Just saying that developing something like a not-athena only to avoid fielding in aries design seems pretty wasteful when there's a large scale war going on.
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>>1633870
If she were to send such a gift it would be when he was older and had proven if he was tactful enough to keep a secret.

>>1633808
>Are we bound by any treaties that say we can't tell them about the machine race?
Not especially.

>"There are some additional concerns related to AI development that some of you here are aware of."
If the Duke planned to share it with everyone he probably would have done so right there.
You can still prove Sonia's continuing lack of political skill by blurting it out if you want. I know I'd get a laugh out of it.
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>>1633897
>Hasn't the Dominion been happily using the aries attack cruiser for centuries?
Yes. And as soon as they realised attack cruisers were needed on a larger scale the Dominion went and developed a bunch of their own.

>Just saying that developing something like a not-athena only to avoid fielding in aries design seems pretty wasteful when there's a large scale war going on.
The current Fast Battleship and LRBS II are seen by most as suitable competitors. But you're right, the Athena will probably continue in production for a very long time.
>>
>>1633848
Is this an opportunity for House Reynard?
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>>1633848
>Small Houses focusing on the latest technology, but militarily somewhat weaker.
So basically a Minor House version of Helios?

Seems like it would inevitably end up with them either controlling all of the technology and basically holding it ransom, thus weakening the Dominion as a whole, or with another House controlling them and using it to weaken their enemies, which would also weaken the Dominion. It's better than each House going on their own for the most part.

What about sort of Ruling House implemented research pseudo-Houses? All the Houses get to pick who they're going to form their pseudo-House with, and then all those are connected in some way to each other to share information (not like a House, then it'd probably just form a Major House.) Each little alliance can police one another to make sure everyone's pulling their weight, a lot more new tech is going to trickle down to the smaller Houses, and a House can keep any research they /really/ don't want getting to their enemies protected. Any House that opts to not help form one of the research Houses won't get access to the shared information. To incentive everyone to take part and help.

I don't really know if I'm getting my idea out coherently. Sorry if it isn't..
>>
>>1633934
I think I've thought of a way to say it.

The Houses contribute to the research of their pseudo-House, and the pseudo-Houses share it between one another, and anything new they get from one another is shared with the Houses that formed it. I think that makes sense.
>>
>>1633929
>>1633934
More like a minor House version of J-D with a mandate to not go out and conquer tons of territory.
>>1633870
>>1633893
>>1633897
There is interest in the idea but it has its problems. Too easy for big Houses to overthrow or influence. Too easy for them to try and keep their knowledge secret.

>>1633934
>>1633944
This sounds like it has potential, but I think I’m going to need a diagram to be 100% certain I’m following you.
>>
>>1633963
I'll try to make one. Gimme like half an hour.
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>>1633963
>There is interest in the idea but it has its problems. Too easy for big Houses to overthrow or influence
What if these were to work like the various knight errants chapters did? While those were sponsored by bigger houses, they still maintained their independence somehow.
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>>1633991
Research and development houses/zones that are effectively neutral in the Dominion's frequent infighting?
For some reason I'm immediately reminded of Garden from Final Fantasy 8.
>>
File: Pseudo-House Diagram.png (44 KB, 1366x768)
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>>1633963
I think this should describe it.

The lines are the flow of information/tech and the squares are the Houses. I think it describes my idea well enough.
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>>1634028
Yes. It might not end up as the greatest place to conduct purely military research but it would give Dominion researchers and thinkers a chance to exchange ideas in a neutral environment. And considering how little work seems to have been done on stuff like Dro'all healthcare for example, it seems like a necessary step.
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File: Pseudo-House Diagram.png (52 KB, 1366x768)
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>>1634072
I think I messed up a little bit. Now, Secret Research is stuff they don't mind their ally Houses having, and Super Secret Research is stuff they don't want anyone else to have. Like our data on SP torpedoes.
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>>1634072
So each group/alliance would be able to keep their own research separate from other groups.
Certain research would be shared with everybody, though the Ruling House might possibly have a say in what.

Lot of interesting ideas.
>>
You and others suggest alternatives to dedicated R&D Houses, or options on how to keep them from simply being undermined by larger more powerful Houses. It seems it will result in ongoing discussions to be resolved after a Ruling House is decided upon.

Operations in the war room are winding down but still there is activity to monitor. There is discussion over the potential for a campaign in South Reach to deal with issues there. The South Reach League has begun to withdraw back to their territory, but many mercenaries and privateers on either side are still conducting skirmishing between minor Houses that haven’t yet agreed to the cease fire.

Some territories in South Reach, having lost their homeworlds in the Centri cluster to occupations by either side, have decided to break away from their former Houses. Your House might have once worried of similar events but Winifred has reaffirmed her commitment to the House. The J-D South Reach territories were ready to accept refugees and fleets from the homeworlds if necessary until such time as the House could be fully restored.

You’re in the war room checking on the status of fleet repair operations when you find out House Kharbos has had a change of government. Their current representative in the Ber’helum capital is informed that they’ve been ordered to return home immediately.

Portions of their fleet currently in the field initially refuse to acknowledge the new government. A few hours later you learn that the recently deposed opposition has fled the Kharbos capital. They’re headed for the territories they helped defend against Xygen where much of the fleet loyal to them are located. Many of those siding with the new government are heading for home.

Fortunately Xygen is in no shape to take advantage of this situation.

As if things weren’t bad enough reports have started to come in about fleet movements in House Che’len space. It’s enough to start people worrying since most of the major Houses don’t currently have fleets in position to deal with them. Most recent defense plans were based around forming a united front with the help of House Kharbos and those are now compromised.
Aside from a few super heavies your fleets in Nasidum space are currently unable to relocate. Alex could pull his fleet on short notice but Avun and Drake are still helping with salvage and recovery operations.

Allegedly Che’len is moving their fleets in response to the uncertain state of House Kharbos. That could mean anything, even plans to retake vassal Houses that Kharbos captured early in the war.

Helios is calling for calm and trying to use their influence with Che’len to keep things from spiraling out of control.
>>
>>1634142
Yeah. I think the biggest problem with the Dominion is that everyone's out for themselves and want to keep everyone else as weak as possible, so giving incentive to sharing research would be the best way to mitigate that.
>>
>>1634205
Let's round up a peacekeeping and pacification and just slam it at Kharbos. I'm assuming the new government is suitable evil, though.
>>
>>1634205
Oh boy! Just when the end of the Civil War was in sight. Something like this had to happen.

Who wants to bet this was something either Areis or Nassidium had a hand in? Helping to place the new government in place so as to screw over our chances of winning this war at last? I have a feeling someone helped to change the government, this is just to perfectly timed.
>>
>>1634232
>Let's round up a peacekeeping and pacification [fleet] and just slam it at Kharbos.
While there isn't any official call to send fleets yet, Forbearance is the fastest Super in your alliance. You could ask Alex to pull his fleet now and head for Ruling House/Ber'helum space. This might take 4-5 days due to the time needed to get away from the front.
>>
>>1634205
>where much of the fleet loyal to them are located
How did fleets split between the two sides?

>the territories they helped defend against Xygen
Shouldn't pretty much every house in that area back the old government?

>Helios is calling for calm and trying to use their influence with Che’len to keep things from spiraling out of control.
We should ask if we can do anything to help them.

>>1634250
It's probably just the usual reasons that have kept the Dominion from being relevant for the last few centuries.
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>>1634253
I think getting Alex to prep Forbearance is a safe starting point.
I guess the point now is if we want to get involved in the conflict? I can't imagine the new Kharbos government is going to want to oppose us because they'll get rolled, but it does leave a bad taste if we just let them take over. The old government was all-in on the civil war and they've been stabbed in the back.
Ah, fuck it, let's propose we send Forbearance and a voluntary peace-keeping force to mediate the situation. Maybe we can get the old government to hear out their grievances and the new one to step down.
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>>1634275
>How did fleets split between the two sides?
Different Barons and their crews were backers of different political groups within the House.

>Shouldn't pretty much every house in that area back the old government?
Yes, which is why they're fleeing there. If they have to form a new House they'll have lots of potential allies around them. At the moment the minor Houses there also don't want to get involved since neither side are shooting at them. At least not yet.

>We should ask if we can do anything to help them.
They're uncertain at the moment. They'd appreciate political support from your House government and allies in backing any negotiations they try to start.
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>>1634394
Are there any political demands that, if fulfilled, could convince the new government to give the one they replaced another chance?
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>>1634394
I am for supporting their old government to get them back in and get Kharbos back into the alliance before Nassidium and co, take advantage of this.
>>
And I should probably stop here because I have work early.
I'll try to resume tomorrow afternoon.
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>>1634394
I'm all for supporting Helios in a push for opening negotiations to find out exactly what the sitation is and how to resolve it so we don't loose out on the front we just got done fighting on.

I think getting the Forbearance ready just in case they are needed, but we should hold back for a bit before shoving ourselves into inner house politics of a major house.
>>
>>1634450
See you tomorrow TSTG.
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>>1634459
Holding back definitely seems wise. This is internal Great House politics, we're out of our depth in almost every single way in this arena. Wait to see what Helios and Ber'Helum are planning, then act.
>>
>>1634469
We are out of our depth here. But we need to get Kharbos back in the fight before our near victory turns into us losing ground against Nassidium and co.
>>
>>1634469
I know we try to be neutral at almost all points, but Kharbos is a key ally of J-D, sold us LRBS II's at a decent price, and cooperate heavily on anything assault corvette.

Letting them be coup'd like this is a big slap in the face for them.
>>
>>1634205

So is this the opposition that lost the research facilities on Gessaur to SRL coming back into power? Oh boy.
I hope that frozen jackass we let go isn't a major player

We should certainly back Helios mediation efforts and recall Forbearance as a precaution.

Maybe offer the Kharbos representative to Ber'helum asylum or suggest B'H do it, if he wasn't politically aligned with the coup people? Might be getting recalled to be executed.
>>
>>1634525
>>1634552
Those are good points. We could get a direct line to Count Jerik instead? He seems decisive, we trust him, and obviously he'll consider the whole picture better than we can.
>>
>>1634699
It would probably be worth giving him a call to see what he wants us to do. And give him our thoughts on the matter and then proceed once we get his input?
>>
>>1634717
Sounds prudent.
>>
You have Alex prep Forbearance and his group for immediate departure, but to hold off until it's certain they're needed.
Next you contact Count Jerik. Secure communication has been restored. While you hadn't lost coms with the homeworld their status was becoming increasingly questionable due to frequent raider attacks.

He approves your suggestion to support peace initiatives by Helios and will contact them personally to make sure.
"We don't know how the situation will unfold. Keeping Baron Palaiologos and his fleet on standby seems like a prudent measure. We still have a number of LRBS II's that can be quickly sent to assist. Engineers are checking them for additional system weaknesses Kharbos may have built into them should they be used against them. It's unlikely but we're not taking any chances."

You hope they aren't needed.

"As do I. With luck this situation will be resolved or be confined to an internal dispute within House Kharbos. The problem is that Kharbos tries to think big. Always looking for something that will elevate the Dominion above the other Factions and put them in power once again. Trying to emulate their ancestors when they began the Tenth dynasty.
Most people don't realise how many graves that dynasty was built on top of."
>>
>>1634616
>So is this the opposition that lost the research facilities on Gessaur to SRL coming back into power?
Presumably.

>Maybe offer the Kharbos representative to Ber'helum asylum or suggest B'H do it, if he wasn't politically aligned with the coup people?
It seems the Duke has gone a step further.
He's announced that House Ber'helum will not accept a change of ambassador and representatives until such time as the upheaval in Kharbos space has resolved itself. He's also granting temporary asylum to Kharbos citizens who fear for their lives under the new government.

House Kharbos has not responded positively to this. Fortunately they're not doing anything that can't be undone later if relations improve.

Ber'helum is quickly but quietly trying to transfer as many small fleets as possible into position to help counter House Kharbos if possible. It will probably be weeks before serious numbers can be pulled from the Nasidum space, and many of those fleets still need to be rebuilt.

"It seems the Duke is preparing for short term pain in return for long term gain." is Fadila's assessment.
>>
>>1636028
Yeah, best not to act hastily until the situation has developed more. We should be ready for things to escalate, but be careful not to escalate them ourselves. Best case scenario is Helios and Ber'Helum negotiating a truce that delays the Kharbos civil war long enough to conclude the actual civil war.

Worst case scenario, the New Kharbos Government sides with the Nasidum alliance, the Loyalists side with us, Che'len exploits the weakness and moves in for the kill, and Nasidum and Xygen use the opportunity to recover their strength.

Even worse case scenario, the issue drives a wedge between Helios and BH, the Ruling House gets uppity, our alliance falls apart, Count Jerik chooses to side with the Ruling House and we're politically fucked, and the Civil War turns into a massive clusterfuck that drags on for a decade.
>>
Two hours later Vanderwal reads off an intel update.

"Civilian communications from Kharbos, Che'len and everyone caught between them have started to go dark. It looks to me like they're engaged in information warfare. Trying to limit what their enemies can gain from them or through neutral Houses.
No signs of fighting yet."

Alex has reported in that the Ruling House has pulled any Super heavy cruisers they had left in Nasidum space which are now headed for the capital. Considering they share a direct border with Kharbos it's probably a wise precaution.

Later in the day you're called to the war room. Recon elements deployed near Kharbos territory have detected multiple inbound Che'len fleets. They'll be in Kharbos space within the hour.

Do you want Alex and his fleet to remain where they are, or jump to Ruling House or Ber'helum space?
They can change course mid flight if necessary but it will take them 2 days to get there.
>>
>>1636293
Fucking STAY

We need at least one credible Super there at the yards, now that RH has pulled theirs away. The Civil War is still on and Nassidium is just waiting for us to pull all our strength away.
>>
>>1636293
Any word from the deposed Kharbos government about Che'len? I'd hate to have the RH or Ber'helum intervene without asking first when there's a chance they have a deal with Che'len to remove the new government?

It would make some sense to offer a number of the lost vassals back to Che'len in exchange for military help.
>>
>>1636304
Yeah, and I'd recommend issuing a very strong warning to anyone who wants to stick a fleet into Kharbos space.

Remember all those Kharbos ships defecting to Xygen? We should treat the new government as on the other side of the civil war, assuming anything else could put our forces into a trap.
>>
>>1636304
Ber'helum and Helios are still keeping their Supers at the yard.

>>1636307
>Any word from the deposed Kharbos government about Che'len?
Apparently Che'len isn't talking to them at this time.
>>
>>1636344
>Apparently Che'len isn't talking to them at this time.
Are they talking to any of the major houses?
>>
>>1636344
Oh, I thought they pulled theirs out. The lets make sure Alex and co are on high alert and ready for redeployment just in case things come to blows. If talks with Helios and Che'len have trully broken down and Che'len has decided to rejoin the civil war back on the side of Nassidium, then we need our ships to be ready.
>>
>>1636341
>Remember all those Kharbos ships defecting to Xygen?
I do remember their opposition retreating to the territories they defended against Xygen.

A lot of Bonrah ships went to Kharbos space.

>>1636366
>Are they talking to any of the major houses?
Helios and to a more limited extent the Ruing House. Intel believes Che'len may now be in talks with Xygen, though they don't have any solid data on that.
>>
>>1636293
We should coordinate any additional force movements with Ber'helum.

If they feel that another Super is best moved from the yard to potentially combat Che'len, give them the option of tapping ours due to its speed.

Allies are most effective when they coordinate, not just inform each other of what they're doing.
>>
>>1636293
>Do you want Alex and his fleet to remain where they are, or jump to Ruling House or Ber'helum space?
I think they should stay alert but remain where they are for now. What they should transfer to RH territory are the J-D special forces.
>>
>>1636397
>Che’len
Let's slam Forbearance into Che'len and break out the Victory Torpedoes.
>>
>>1636409
>What they should transfer to RH territory are the J-D special forces.
You do have a spare Nocturn now that Medel space is liberated. They can take 2 LST's with special forces there ASAP.

>>1636406
>We should coordinate any additional force movements with Ber'helum.
They'd prefer if Alex's fleet hold position for now. They're worried that Xygen may still try something and he could respond more quickly to a variety of threats from there.

Follow their suggestion then?
>>
>>1636493
Very well... if B'H is sure about having him stay there as a first responder then I guess that's okay. But I still say have Alex and fleet stay on alert until this thing with Kharbos and Che'len is done.
>>
>>1636493
Sounds good
>>
>>1636493
Yeah, hold them in place on high alert.
>>
PTSD Alert for Afghan/Iraq vets
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpMu3xgio9o

"What is it now!?" You wonder, roused from sleep by fleet scramble alerts.

Rufaro knocks before entering.
"Ruling House territory is under attack."

You rush to the war room along with the many other House representatives still on planet. Checking the displays you see markers for a number of fleets advancing deep into Ruling House territory. It doesn't look like they're stopping to capture systems or establish forward bases to maintain their advance. Smaller forces are conducting attacks on installations along the way.

Most of the ships are the usual assortment of Faction built craft, ships bearing Kharbos and Che'len IFF's. The latter House seems to have a ton of Iratar hardware by the looks of things. They've upgraded what supers they were able to hang onto, now sporting sets of small but ominous looking weaponry where yours would mount siege cannons.

Intel begins to upload data on the new ships in their fleet.
>1/4
Milli class mobile docks are helping to support their Frigates and assault corvettes. You've seen some data on them before but didn't realise anyone in the Dominion was using it yet. Che'len must have bought production rights for it before Iratar cut them off.
>>
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>2/4
The Kharbos fleet seems to be fielding a new Heavy Cruiser with Dominion ID's designating it the Bellerophon class. It looks a bit like a bulked up version of their old Dreadnought packing more light siege arrays. In some ways it seems like they may have borrowed elements from the Quattro.
With its larger frame they've found room to add some repair berths for assault corvettes.

You realise the resemblance to their old Dreadnought isn't just a passing one. A worn but patched up Heavy in their fleet is broadcasting its IFF as the Adamant.
>>
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Along with them are various unknown vessels lacking solid ID's.

>3/4
One of the unknowns is clearly a Faction built Super Heavy, though you're not familiar with the design. Intel is tentatively pegging it as an Aries super heavy carrier. The name "Hephaestus?" appears on your displays after a few minutes.
>>
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>4/4
Last is a battlecruiser sized ship looking like a curved metallic shell. It's armor has a silvery sheen. At first it doesn't appear to be armed until a series of still images are received showing it firing its weapon.

It splits apart into two halves revealing a ball of fusion plasma that seems to be contained between them. It then directs a beam of plasma from the sphere to hit targets. This is not Dominion or Faction technology, nor is is Neeran.

A bounty is now up for any useful speculation on the new craft.
>>
oh fuck
>>
>>1636721
It's the goddamn Forrunners, they're working with the enemy! Quick, tell the nearest black guy to watch out for small flying robots that look like eyes!
>>
>>1636727
I laughed.
>>
>>1636721

Well fuuuuuuck
>>
>>1636705

Well, it looks like Kharbos and Che'len are going for a decapitation strike to cripple the Ruling House.

How the hell did anyone manage to secretly build a SHC in the Dominion, though?

>battlecruiser

Alert the Factions Alliance. This thing could be a sign that we've got additional crazy AI, or even formerly captured Neeran 'helping' read as: starting an AI clusterfuck in Kharbos or Che'len.

This metallic avacado ship probably has pesky super-dense armor, but if that turns out to be true, it likely is vulnerable when it opens to fire. I'd imagine it has to use repulsors and tractors to split and maintain the firing configuration unless physical mechanisms are [not pictured], so they might be vulnerable to munitions being pulled into the tractors keeping it together.
I'd imagine they have a ton of fuel stores on them, as well to maintain the plasma ball.


The only real suggestion that I've got for the Ruling House is "fire everything", because I'm betting that at least 1 of those Supers is going to turn that 'small but ominous looking weaponry' loose on their capital.

Incoming warcrimes?
>>
>>1636721
Sonia stands up and shouts in the middle of the room that it's the nanite AI menace.
>>
>>1636823
Warcrimes ho!

>>1636709
And Terrans are gonna sit by and let Areis go creating SH like this thing and not step in and bitch slap Areis for doing this shit?
>>
Duke Ber'helum finshes short conversation with members of the other Major Houses then speaks over the intercom.

"The Ruling House is under attack by House Kharbos and Che'len. We don't know why. What we do know is that they're headed for the capital. While the offensive operations of our Alliance have been directed from here in the Ber'helum captial, much of the secure communications infrastructure in the Dominion is routed through the Ruling House capital. If the capital is lost it will significantly impede our ability to coordinate our forces.

Aside from that we also have a duty to aid an ally in time of need. I'm requesting any and all forces that can be sent without compromising positions in Nasidum space be moved immediately. That includes our capital defense force.
I will be relocating to my command ship in orbit in 3 hours. Any who wish to join me are welcome to do so."

Areas of Ruling House space on the map begin to dim slightly. Sensor and communications coverage of those regions are being been cut off as the fleet advances.

[ ] Order Alex to head for the capital
[ ] Order Alex to link up with the Ber'helum fleet
>>
>>1636869
Unfortunately Super heavy development and production is not a crime. It sort of was but even the restrictions against Iratar have been repealed to help deal with the Neeran.

>>1636823
>I'd imagine it has to use repulsors and tractors to split and maintain the firing configuration
That is the current working theory.

>Alert the Factions Alliance.
>>1636865
>Sonia stands up and shouts in the middle of the room that it's the nanite AI menace.

Presumably if this is the Kythera you'll want to talk to the Duke first. Especially since there's a bounty on information.

[ ] Send the Duke a message ASAP
[ ] Quietly inform the Duke
[ ] Stand up and shout in the middle of the room that it's the nanite AI menace.
>>
>>1636878

If we cant go then I think we should send Alex to go with.
[x] Order Alex to link up with the Ber'helum fleet

>>1636915

[ ] Quietly inform the Duke
That we have a possible theory on the origin of this ship.
>>
>>1636878
>[X] Order Alex to link up with the Ber'helum fleet

>>1636915
>[X] Stand up and shout in the middle of the room that it's the nanite AI menace.
>Everyone simultaneously says "Oh, she's one of THOSE crazies."

>[X] Quietly inform the Duke
Make sure to stress it's just a theory though.
>>
>>1636915
>[x] Send the Duke a message ASAP

Can the neeran powerball tell if someone is nanites? It can detect cloak, maybe Sonia can cast detect nanite too, since it might be worth using it in the room, just to be sure.
>>
>>1636878
>>1636915

[x] Order Alex to link up with the Ber'helum fleet

[X] Send the Duke a message ASAP

If this is Kythera influence/tech, we could be looking at a ticking clock.

As for Alex, it is better to have him link up with whatever friendly forces we know can be mustered.

Any and all available Nocturnes should attempt to head to the capital, though. They're best suited to recon enemy repair ships/fleets and give us targets to destroy when we arrive.
>>
I know Che'len is packing Iratar hardware because they had some kind of Aries-like deal with them but it's really not too far-fetched to think Kharbos has potentially been couped by a Nanite assisted, or controlled faction.

Reasoning:
>Communication blackout
Sure, it was pretty bad during the civil war but we've had a link going with Rioja for the whole time. The magnitude and effectivity of their blackout suggests a powerful electronic warfare capacity.

>Faction/Aries built Super Heavy
It's possible that they just captured the data in a raid like we did with some Aries facilities but Nanite infiltrators making off with the production data could be possible

>Mystery ship
Straight up even stated it's not Dominion, Faction, or Neeran technology. The only time we've come across something that's not any of the big three or even a similar sentence is with the Nanite attack on Rioja. iirc a silvery sheen was mentioned when the attack happened as well.
Could be an old Lanican technology they found but then it would just be older Factions derivatives.

>Kharbos itself
Even Count Jerik agrees with this.
"The problem is that Kharbos tries to think big. Always looking for something that will elevate the Dominion above the other Factions and put them in power once again"
One could very easily put together a timeline from this implication alone. Infiltrators approach the leadership opposition, infect the right people, an underground network is built to effectively sever the leadership of Kharbos at the right time.

I think we should announce this in public and alert all our fleets to prepare for AI-War protocols.
>>
>>1636938
>neeran powerball tell if someone is nanites?
I don't think so?

>It can detect cloak
It can detect stuff a cloak is sending out. Which may seem like a minor difference.

We've got 2 votes for quietly informing the duke, 2 for sending a message and sort of 2 for standing up and telling everybody.

Tie breaker anyone?
>>
>>1637045
Oh, if you're counting me as one of the stand up people, don't. I didn't mean to put the X in the option and hoped no one would point out I messed up my joke.
>>
Rolled 2 (1d2)

>>1637045
>I don't think so?
Oh, I thought it had some spooky interaction with them when we tested it once.

Swapping from >>1636938
to:
1) Quietly
2) Stand up
>>
>>1636878
>[ ] Order Alex to link up with the Ber'helum fleet
[ ] Quietly inform the Duke
>>
>>1637045

>>1636965
here.

I'll swap to whatever is needed to avoid 'stand up' winning.
>>
>>1636878
>[X] Order Alex to link up with the Ber'helum fleet

>>1636915
[X] Quietly inform the Duke
>>
>>1637045
Quietly inform him, no standing pls.

>>1637016
These are good and frightening points as well. Try to get some FA perspective on this as well?
>>
My computer locked up and crashed 20 minutes ago and I've lost my entire post in the process. So I'll probably be posting again in the morning.

Will continue tomorrow until I need to go to work for 4.
>>
>>1636705
>>1636708
>>1636709
>>1636721
Time to get those salvaging dice ready boys.
>>
>>1637277
Fucking AI hacked you too
>>
>>1637320
That was in fact my first reaction. Fuck I'm being hacked, cut the hard line! ...but that's usually my reaction to anything going wrong with my PC.

First you contact Alex.
"Get here and link up with the Ber'helum fleet as soon as possible. It's worse than I thought."

Next you get the attention of an aid and inform them you need to talk to the Duke ASAP about the strange ship type that's been spotted.

"After another big bounty sir?"
"GO."
If eyes were lasers...

A few minutes later one of the Duke's body guards motiones you over. In a side office you lay out your theories on the ships and potential infiltration of House Kharbos. The Duke packs various ornamented weapons and sensitive equipment into cases while listening.

"So you think it's the Kythera."
It's a statement not a question.
"It would seem the best fit with what we know of them. One of my research heads made a similar suggestion. Unfortunately they're rather out of touch with reality at times. He suggested we simply board one and then we would know for sure."

You try not to wince.

"If you're right about this being the work of an AI they'll be trying to take control of the communications infrastructure in the capital. We'll need to enact AI War protocol, but if we do that it will mean blocking off our own access to nearly all High bandwith communications in the Dominion. It could greatly hinder our ability to coordinate the fleets."

The Duke sighs. "I need to make a call. If you need any data transferred or messages sent I suggest you so so quickly."

Any calls you want to make? Messages or orders sent to Rioja, or your fleet in Nasidum space?
>>
>>1637361

Inform the Count to prep for another possible AI War, and its countermeasure, quietly. As well as to our fleets under our command. Get our forces ready for the off chance we might have to deal with AI.

Also if this truly IS another AI War. The FA CANNOT stand aside, this is more then just a Civil War. This is an outside force using an FA member to test bed new weapons and threatening the lively hood of not only said member, but also the whole FA as well. They need to get in before this gets more out of hand. They don't even need to take a side. They just need to crack the hell down on companies like Iratar and Areis who are producing these weapons and interfering in an FA members internal politics.

Treaties be damned, they need to act, those companies are blatantly showing off their new weapons. The only thing they aren't doing is openly saying that they're trying to control all of the Dominion.
>>
>>1637390
This sounds like the right move. Christ, this situation is fucked. It looked like we were that fucking close to ending the war.
>>
>>1637361
"Outside interference detected in Dominion civil war. Initiate AI War Protocals. Gods be with us."

Fuck fuck fuck fuck I was so sure the war would be over with this and we could go back to the fight that really matters. We are so fucked right now.

Okay, this is no longer just a Dominion problem but a Faction wide problem, if it really is a AI war. We need to notify everyone in the Centri Cluster about this. Especially the Rovinar and the Terrans. This needs to be meet with overwhelming force right the fuck now before it can be allowed to spread to such a degree that we have to pull forces away from the Neeran front.

Also like >>1637390 said. We need to pressure the others to crack down on company interferance like the righteous hammer of god. If not then why even have the FA around if not to protect the integrity of the Factions from outside threats?

I think I am panicking. Someone please hold me.
>>
>>1637509
>Someone please hold me.
Don't think about all the bad things that are going to happen. Don't think about the Dominion tearing itself apart as the AI picks up the pieces. Don't think about JD collapsing and Rioja being glassed and every ship Sonia owns getting destroyed or suborned or salvaged. Especially don't think about Sonia's father and sister being killed in the fighting or her mother and brother blasted out of space after evacuating what used to be JD territory. She was right to be afraid of space travel.
>>
FRY THE CLANKERS
AI WAR NOW
>>
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>>1636709
Goddamit Pozzi, you had one job. Just one job! Where's my super Pozzi?

>>1637361
>Any calls you want to make?
-Didn't the FA say they'd prepare small fleets at evey nav station to counter potential AI shenanigans? It's probably the right time to call those.
-Call our Count and request he starts taking the AI war rifles out of long term storage.
-Request all data on the Kythera from the FA. Send an image of those strange ships along to make sure they take the request seriously.
-Ask Helios if that heavy cruiser design they showed us a year (?) ago has entered production. It would be really helpful right now.
-Can somebody get us detailed information on the RH defenses?
-Have our Bank on Petras prepare to have a copy of who owes Sonia what to be sent to Rioja and Bekka. Make sure our parents get a print copy.

>Messages or orders sent to Rioja
-Have them contact the local FA base.
-Would it make sense to produce a limited run of Feron siege turrets (emergency variant) and put them on Foss's super?
-Have the two guys who survived the last nanite outbreak begin training the local marine forces.

>your fleet in Nasidum space
Issue phase rifles and modified stun grenades to the units who are normally equipped with mass drivers.

>>1636705
>Checking the displays you see markers for a number of fleets advancing deep into Ruling House territory. It doesn't look like they're stopping to capture systems or establish forward bases to maintain their advance
If this was an all out AI takeover, they'd simply dump nanites on faction planets and convert those delicious super sturdy Dominion structures into death bots and ships. There's probably a reason why that's not happening. Either Che'len and Kharbos are still in charge or we're not dealing with a completely hostile AI. The Kythera seem to drop their spaghetti whenever it comes to diplomacy, maybe they're trying to do something other than ending all flesh?

>>1637390
>>1637509
>>1637702
Remember to take deep breaths.
>>
>>1637361
One to Rioja, and to the leading force in charge of the Run Alliance.

Let them know that until future contact, they're in command, and to immediately unseal the book that says 'open in case of AI war'

Maybe give Count Jerik a heads up too, and send Alex all the relevant data needed for Forbearance to be suitably prepped for a conflict of this level.
>>
>>1638084
>-Didn't the FA say they'd prepare small fleets at evey nav station to counter potential AI shenanigans?
Yes. It will take a few days for them to arrive.
>It's probably the right time to call those.
Indeed.

>Would it make sense to produce a limited run of Feron siege turrets (emergency variant) and put them on Foss's super?
I suppose it's an option. It will take 10 days for them to reach Feron space.

Anyone else up for Foss relocating his Super to the Centri Cluster?
>>
>>1638195
>Anyone else up for Foss relocating his Super to the Centri Cluster?
What's the current status of the Run looking like? All quiet?

If yes, then let's get Foss up here.
>>
>>1638201
>What's the current status of the Run looking like? All quiet?
For now. Minimal piracy.
The shipyards have been busy supplying the fighting in the Centri cluster, but they've still managed to build up a reserve.

Oh the engineers finally got that mobile heavy cruiser repair system working properly. Mostly. It's been sent to Nasidum space to help with with repair operations for the main fleet.
>>
>>1638195
I'd talk to B'H and whomever is acting as top dog of the Run (Baron Kelly?) about transferring Foss. B'H have a Super under repair at the yard he is defending, right? If Foss can be spared, his force would be a great help.

Then again, Foss and his people might not like being thrown into this... so we should probably give full disclosure of what we're asking him to get into.

Foss and his people have zero obligation to clean up the Dominion's shit if this is an AI event, and even less obligation to lay down their lives trying to clean it up.
>>
>>1638195
>Anyone else up for Foss relocating his Super to the Centri Cluster?

Yes. It will be more useful in the Centri cluster if anything.
>>
>>1638225
>B'H have a Super under repair at the yard he is defending, right?
Actually they finished refitting it in time to participate in the Nasidum shipyard battle. It's going to be a few weeks until they get another Super in so they're doing structural improvements to the yard itself right now.

>so we should probably give full disclosure of what we're asking him to get into.
>Foss and his people have zero obligation to clean up the Dominion's shit if this is an AI event, and even less obligation to lay down their lives trying to clean it up.
"Really? That's... unbelievably bad.
Think of how much people will be willing to pay us for the extra fire support! Yeah sure we'll get to House Feron space. Just make sure they know we're coming and are going to need those guns."

That taken care of you make sure everyone in your House is getting ready to fight Nanites if necessary. Ber'helum will take sure of calls to the Alliance.

On Dreminth you have your mother and younger brother get ready to relocate to the lodge on short notice. It's remote and has its own defenses including a shield generator. If there is an attack they'll be isolated from major targets like cities.

"We just finished unpacking after the fighting stopped. Tell me this is going to end soon Sonia."
You can't make any promises on that.

The bank has short forms of hard copy data printed out and sent to your company offices. RSS has begun closing down their networks.

You've gotten that much done when the broadcast begins. It looks like House Helios is transmitting on nearly all Dominion channels.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHIhsTWxsKE [Volume warning]

A dispassionate automated voice begins to play.
"Alert, the following is an emergency transmission for all Dominion Houses and personnel.
AI War protocol is now in effect.
All Houses are encouraged to follow AI War protocols for the protection of military and civilian infrastructure.
High bandwidth communications arrays connecting to Faction space will be disabled in 30 minutes and 28 seconds."
The message repeats several times, counting down.

"Why wait 30 minutes? Why not right away?" you ask.

Vanderwal is the first to respond. "Time for us to call for help and for people to figure out how best to cut the coms. I'm sure in a few cases they'll need to manually shut down communications or disable them with explosives."
>>
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>>1638264
It's happening.
Imagine if it isn't AI though.

This is all because Sonia didn't take the job with the Nanite FA hunters, right?
>>
>>1638293
>Imagine if it isn't AI though.

I am honestly thinking about this possibility. If it really isn't AI/ nanobots. Then it will be our heads for giving false info to B'H and cause so much unnecessary damage to Dominion infrastructure.
>>
>>1638300
>Then it will be our heads for giving false info to B'H
Where did we give false information to Ber'helum?
>>
>>1638301
If it turns out it isn't AI/ nano bots. Is what I'm worried about now. But I do think it is AI/ Nano Bots.
>>
If your warnings weren't being heeded before they are now.

The Alliance specialists being sent to look over the captured Aries data will be arriving at the Ber'helum capital in an hour. They're being briefed but this is not exactly what they'd been brought in for. They'll do what they can to assist intel.

>>1638084
>-Ask Helios if that heavy cruiser design they showed us a year (?) ago has entered production. It would be really helpful right now.
It remains incomplete. The Prototype is under construction but won't be ready for 2 more months.

>>1637509
>this is no longer just a Dominion problem but a Faction wide problem, if it really is a AI war
>>1637390
>The FA CANNOT stand aside, this is more then just a Civil War. This is an outside force using an FA member to test bed new weapons and threatening the lively hood of not only said member, but also the whole FA as well. They need to get in before this gets more out of hand.

With AI War protocol declared the Alliance and other Factions are sure to be scrambling everything they have, but it could take as long as 6 days to assemble a full fleet and get it here.

>>1638084
>-Request all data on the Kythera from the FA. Send an image of those strange ships along to make sure they take the request seriously.
You're not sure if they'll be able to get back to you before the main communications are cut, but you do get a response at the last minute. Alliance Intel believes the ship to be using an open type fusion reactor identical to what you saw at Rioja but scaled up.
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>>1638306
We offered our opinion and gave an explanation how we reached that conclusion. After that the major Houses decided what to do. Nothing of that qualifies as false information and nobody would enact these measures just because Sonia's screaming about the nanite menace without any other evidence.
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>>1638310
>open type fusion reactor identical to what you saw at Rioja but scaled up.
Allahua akbar
Begin the Butlerian Jihad
>>
Crews aboard the Devourer and the rest of your ships are busy modifying phase rifles and stun pulse grenades for use against Nanites.
Phase cannons are being tuned slightly in the hopes of making them more effective.

Your Neeran built Quattro still has its more heavily armored corvette turrets equipped. Their phased plasma weapons should be quite effective. It's a shame you don't have the Outer Heaven here with its storm cannons. Drake certainly seemed to put them to good use though, so you can't really fault the decision of lending it to her.

The Escort Carriers the fleet has picked up are equipped with a mix of manned fighters and some newer Drones. While Ruling House built drones shouldn't be vulnerable to remote hijacking because of how they receive orders some of your allies consider it too great a risk.

Do you want the J-D fleet to make use of their Drones, and if so how?
>>
>>1638310
>Alliance Intel believes the ship to be using an open type fusion reactor identical to what you saw at Rioja but scaled up.
Make sure to request the relief fleet brings anti radition drugs. Lots of them. If some House specializes in making these for Dro'all and Humans have them run the factories 24/7.

>>1638318
Why would you want to bully Versa, Anon?

>>1638326
>Do you want the J-D fleet to make use of their Drones, and if so how?
It's probably best to leave the Aries drones and the derived Dominion version behind until we know what we're dealing with. RH drones should be fine in limited amounts.

> While Ruling House built drones shouldn't be vulnerable to remote hijacking because of how they receive orders
I'd imagine clounds of nanites could be a potential vector to hijack them.
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>>1638326
>Do you want the J-D fleet to make use of their Drones, and if so how?
Nope, not worth risking it.

How bad were the previous AI wars?
Was it a "Don't copy any AI designs because they'll spontaneously start replicating AI copies due to a defect the human mind couldn't possibly have conceived of."
Or more of a "They're replicating faster than we can handle."
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>>1638326
Let the commanders decide if the risks out weigh the rewards when it comes to drone fighters. Have them be made available, but it's up to the commanders if they want to use them.

And as >>1638334 said a cloud of nanites could certainly be a potential vector for taking over the drone fighters.
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>>1638326
Can we prepare a briefing on the Nanite menace for all the barons and commanders present? Might be worth it just to get everyone up to speed.
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>>1638336
It's questionable how advanced the AI really were for most of the Dominion's old AI war. It started out when a spy from a rival House sabotaged a drone weapons lab and production facility. They just wanted the drones to destroy the facility and generally cause trouble for their rival.

Things didn't go quite as planned. They didn't destroy factories, just repurposed them, and managed to wipe out the populations of several Houses. By the later stages of the war they had advanced to the point of true AI. If there were attempts to copy their AI designs it probably went badly since there are not many records.

>>1638357
You bring up recordings of the incident at Rioja and give a quick briefing on the capabilities and effectiveness of Kythera nanites. If they weren't before everyone who saw the briefing is carrying a phase pistol by the time it ends.

While you don't intend to make use of Drones yourself, you tell your people that they'll be made available if they want to risk using them.

Duke Ber'helum has relocated to orbit and many others are doing so as well. Some to the Duke's command ship to help coordinate their House forces, others to their own reserve fleets.

So the big question, are you going to personally lead the J-D fleet?
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>>1638399
>So the big question, are you going to personally lead the J-D fleet?
Well, it's really tempting not to go. Every important person will be gone to fight for the Dominion. Meanwhile, Sonia gets to laze around on the Ber'helum throne in her underwear all day...


Yes, although I wouldn't mind transferring overall command to Alex when he arrives. He seems to have real talent when it comes to large scale combat operations. Sonia can handle the fast elements of the fleet.
>>
>>1638399

Can we rig the drones as expensive bombs with my previous drone fire ship suggestion?

Load them up with fuel/anti-matter, timed detonators and kamikazi run them?

If the drones are THAT vulnerable to nanites burrowing into their core and taking over, we'll have to worry about any warhead with a computer being hacked and at least disarmed by those same swarms.
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>>1638422
>Load them up with fuel/anti-matter, timed detonators and kamikazi run them?
I don't see why not.
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>>1638399
I wouldn't mind going out there to join in the salvaging of that Iratar Super. I already know FA is gonna call dibs on that AI/ Nanite ship so we call dibs on that Super.
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>>1638399
>So the big question, are you going to personally lead the J-D fleet?
Heckin yes.

Would it be a horrible idea to threaten the AI with potentially contacting the BadNeeran for help?
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>>1638399
>and managed to wipe out the populations of several Houses
And fortunately, it doesn't seem like a repeat of that. So it's probably best to dial down the crazy a bit.
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We should cripple the AI just enough that it tries to launch attacks and harvest it for advanced technology whilst quarantining the space it occupies.
Reynard Brand Cruelty-Free Spaceship Farming.
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>>1638475
We should try to get Kharbos or Che'len to ask the AIs to sign the factions treaty. If they agree to those basic rules, it would take a lot of the more worrisome scenarios out of the equation.
Reminder that those guys have probably genocided less races than the Republic.
>>
I completely forgot, we're using the Quattro as Sonia's command ship right? Or stick with the Great Devourer?
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>>1638538

If we got that Neeran command bridge modified like the Outer Heaven's, use the Quattro.

Though if it came from a Kharbos-aligned House, be sure to verify the ship's systems.
>>
>>1638538
Whichever has the better CIC/Flag Bridge arrangements. Would be nice to swap the Quattro for the OH if we find ourselves within a reasonable distance of Drake anytime soon.
>>
"Communications restrictions are in effect. Network isolation in progress." reports Maybourne as you enter the bridge of your new command ship.

Crews are checking over the entire ship to be certain there's nothing wrong with it. You're a little worried since an ally of Kharbos conducted the rebuild. It might have even been a testbed for systems in their new Heavy Cruiser.

The J-D fleet is ready soon after your arrival and all of you pull out of orbit with the other fleets.

Duke Ber'helum and a number of other leaders have shuttled up to their command ship, a modified Ascendancy sporting additional sensor and communications arrays. The central docking bay also seems to have been modified with more heavily armored doors.

A mix of new and old ships, the combined reserve fleet assembles a safe distance outside the gravity well, then begins a mass jump. It takes the better part of a day to reach the capital, and watching the reports the arrival might be cutting it close.

The old Mega class Supers Che'len has upgraded seem to be fitted with what may be positron beam cannons. Pozzi had found evidence Aries had been working on development of such weapons, but the labs had been cleared out before her people found them. According to intel House Aries had lost all of this data but it seems Che'len salvaged and completed it.

The Ber'helum fleet has Veckron weaponry, and the Ruling House is rushing some of theirs back to the Capital. Most had been deployed for use against Nasidum.

"We may need to use V-Torps within range of the capital in order to save it."

The Duke is not looking forward to this. "I had hoped that one day all the Houses of the Dominion might gather here again and that we might be leading them. My distant ancestors once made the mistake of destroying the capital of the Dominion to protect it. I hope we're not forced to do so again."

Do you advocate trying to hold on with conventional weapons until Helios and Factions Alliance reinforcements arrive?
Or using Veckron Torpedoes to try and end the fighting as quickly as possible?
>>
And I have to leave for work!

I'll try to resume tomorrow.
>>
>>1638585

Hold out as best we can for reinforcements. If it looks like the capital is going to fall to AI/ Nanites then Victory Torps away. As at that point shit will be fucked already is my belief.
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>>1638585
>Do you advocate trying to hold on with conventional weapons until Helios and Factions Alliance reinforcements arrive?
Try to hold without resorting to v-torps. If things go bad, start shooting overloaded grav well generators instead.

>positron beam cannons
Okay... what do they do?

What do Che'len and Kharbos say about this?

>>1638586
Thanks for the thread TSTG.
>>
>>1638264
I don't like this. I don't like this. Panic. Panic. Panic. Why is this happening to us?

>>1638585
Hold off for now. Like always they are weapons of last resort. Should the capital fall and our navy seemingly face destruction then there will be no choice but to unload every torpedo we can into this abomination of salvage.
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>>1638599
Positrons are anti-electrons, so I'd hazard a guess that we're looking at an antimatter phase/siege cannon. I don't know if the gamma radiation produced from electron-positron annihilation is also in all matter/anti annihilation, though.

We're probably looking at the complete loss of a number of Supers and heavy assets if those things are siege weapon grade.


I'd suggest we V-torp the Supers in order to prevent massive losses of life due to those weapons.

With luck, a handful of V-torps will have minimal impact on subspace but devastating effects upon the enemy fleet.
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>>1638692
Would want to get intel's assessment on the likelihood of these guys also having veckron weaponry. Maybe have somebody politely ask the Terrans if Aries was into that sort of thing.
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>>1638585
>positron beam cannons.
Good thing we already know the answer to these.

Probably during mid Smuggler's Run campaign I asked why we didn't see anti-proton or positron beams, using the generator systems from afterburners to make the main weapon. At the time it was said that they were too low power to have the range, something that's obviously been fixed, but also that shields could be charged to significantly deflect and scatter the incoming particles.

So on that note, maybe getting a few shield platforms with positively charged shields to scatter the siege weapons would be prudent.

>Veckron torpedoes
Fuck, let's just pop them off and fire.
>>
Three threads from deletion.
Thanks for running, TSTG.

Looks like we've finally finished the Civil War.
For House and Dominion: AI War next?
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>>1639763
Well in case the thread isn't here, see you next time!
>>
Maybe we can ransom SP torpedo production technology from the Alliance this time, in exchange for larger nanite samples.

Imagine the panic in the other factions though.
>Look at those Dominion retards fighting each other again, good thing they'll never be too powerful
>Oh fuck
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>>1638585
>Do you advocate trying to hold on with conventional weapons until Helios and Factions Alliance reinforcements arrive?
We really need to be careful here. Let's try to avoid the veckron torpedoes if possible.
>>
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>>1639103
Phase cannons are less energy intensive for equivalent levels of damage. Creating antimatter takes a lot of power, hence why ideally it would be made at dedicated facilities, or aboard ship when not in combat, and stored until needed.
AM Storage is vulnerable to Veckron weaponry so people stopped doing that for a long time.

There was some debate starting last year when people asked about shields, and there were questions about how antimatter would interact with them. If it didn't explode when contacting energy shields then that would be another way of developing storage systems.

Eventually I did have to rule that antimatter did react to contact with energy shields, dealing damage. If it didn't antimatter weapons would be something of a joke otherwise. Though I suppose warheads would still work if they carried an equal amount of mass.

Huh, positron beams in SOTS don't do any damage against shields. Interesting.

>maybe getting a few shield platforms with positively charged shields to scatter the siege weapons would be prudent.
>The positron has an electric charge of +1 e, a spin of 1/2 (same as electron), and has the same mass as an electron. -wikipedia
I do wonder how well protons would repel positrons moving at a percentage of light speed. They won't annihilate unless they hit an electron.

Geez, the problems of theoretical physics with sci-fi tech that isn't fully understood.
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>>1640613
>I do wonder how well protons would repel positrons moving at a percentage of light speed. They won't annihilate unless they hit an electron.
iirc, positrons and anti-protons are quite easy to redirect and they're used in certain medical applications.

>antimatter contact with shields
I figure what made them so deadly was the large AoE. I imagined the weapon impacting the shiel and the antimatter spreading out in clumps of gas and arcing out to other nearby targets, especially after it was mentioned during the Run invasion that nearly all the corvette salvage was pulped from AM overuse.

The positron beams are to shoot down Veckron weapons aren't they? Can you charge the shell of a VT too?
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>>1640629
Antineutron might be better for a weapon in that case.

Even with the ability to deflect it, having positrons flying around everywhere will certainly make the battlefield more dangerous.
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Looking over my schedule I'll probably be starting a new thread on Sunday July 9th.
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Dark Matter weapons y/n
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>>1629447




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