[NMX] Universe At War - Operation Falling Halo

[Wes]

Command Center, XSS Tiamat, Chiharu-class Flagship

"Lord Sprufnikkamazzar, Operation Falling Halo is now underway. Carbleaudex and the others have their ships ready for the surge on Elysia and we are in position as well, hidden by the black holes. Reports from the old regions indicate the SMX territories have been regained with little resistance. There have been 8 new uninhabited systems also colonized, and and additional two in Nepleslian space, leaving Nepleslia with only their core worlds. We have also learned that the SMX shipyard at Sbuhfaba is not only still there, but in full operational condition, based on reports from our listening post ships."

Sprufnikkamazzar hovered at rear center of the command center, listening the report from his hybrid Mishhu/Neko adviser. "At least plans are going well for now, but I do not expect things to be easier in the future. No...this war will get much more intense before it calms down. We are already burning ship numbers fast...the key thing right now is to destroy the enemy infrastructure and establish our own. The shipyard is a priority. See to it that a group is sent to retake it."

"Yes, my lord," the adviser nodded, tucking her data pad under one arm of her gold-colored jacket. "I look forward to eliminating our enemy resistance."

 

[Nashoba]

Re: [NMX] Universe At War - Prelude to Operation Falling Halo

Legati-Chalybsel stood on the bridge of the Cassotis the Crataeis-class Command Ship from which he commanded the Alitheia Fleet. He was looking at the Volumetric Projections the Mnemosyne organic computer system was supplying. One showed the progress of the new war, the other showed the Veritas system and the position of every ship in his fleet. By the Great Creator what have the Valkyrja called down upon them. It is obvious that this is a great test of the faithful and a personal test for me. Chalybsel had no great love for the Valkyrja having fought them several times in the past, and his Kleos had suffered each time. The reports that he read seemed to indicate that some of what was going on with these Neo-Mishhu could actually be some form of civil war breaking out; reports of zombies, and spies reeked of political smoke screens.

He was torn as to what action to take from the vague information that came to him from the High Command. “Unconfirmed reports suggest a probability that the Mishhu may attempt to take the Veritas system.” His initial impulse was to dismiss it, but his sacred duty to the Great Creator was to protect the faithful in this system. He opened a channel and signaled the Prefectii, “All groups assume an increased defense readiness condition. Report any suspicious activity. Ensure any vessel entering has the proper authentication codes.” Until he had more definitive information on which to act upon, this was all he was willing to do.

 

[Nashoba]

Re: [NMX] Universe At War - Prelude to Operation Falling Halo

Chalybsel was in his cabin aboard the Cassotis. He was studying the Veritas system on the display and looking at how the Alitheia Fleet was dispersed. Over the past several days he noticed a trend that would not be apparent to someone without his clearance. There was an increase in leaves being granted. There is no religious event to account for the rise in granted leaves. Obviously someone is taking these warnings about attack seriously. he thought. He pondered how best to use the forces at his disposal to mount an attack. A large share of the ships were older models a factor that could become critical.

Chalybsel divided the system into three arcs and split the forces of the fleet into three groups. He put his most trusted Prefectii in charge of the groups. His group was composed of the Lilaea-class Gunships, Thantros-class Destroyers, and a third of the Concordia-class Scouts. It gave him a attack group that had considerable firepower and speed. If the Veritas system came under attack, he would need those traits to defend the system. The Planetary Defense Satellites and Planetary Defense Drone would remain by the shipyard as a last line of defense.

 

[Revolver]

Re: [NMX] Universe At War - Prelude to Operation Falling Halo

Command Bridge, XSS Oubliette

The gargantuan, ten meter tall crab-type Neo Mishhuvurthyar that was in command of the vessel sat upon his throne, staring at the display before him. The Great General was not pleased. His fleet had recently succeed in taking another planet, but despite the victory, Carbleaudex was unable to relish in it for long, his ships having been called upon to help in the assault on Elysian systems. And this was what displeased him. Greatly.

"ENOUGH WAITING!" he roared to his bridge crew. "I HAVE WAITED FOR TOO LONG. MY TIME IS BEING WASTED. ORDER ALL MY SHIPS TO ATTACK! IF I NEED TO BE THE VANGUARD, AN EXAMPLE TO MY BRETHREN, THEN SO BE IT. DESTROY EVERYTHING BEFORE ME!"

 

[Nashoba]

Legati-Chalybsel was jolted out of his meditation by the battle stations klaxons sounding. He left his cabin at a run and soon arrived at the bridge of the Cassotis. "Situation report!" He called out as he walked through the doors.

"Sir, Distortion and Subspace sensors are detecting massive activity. A large force of unidentified vessels are about to enter the Veritas system. I alerted all battle groups to assume battle ready status. The Lokhagi and Duplicari of the fleet are reporting their ships are ready to engage" The Semeai on duty reported.

Chalbysel watched the tactical display as his forces moved to position themselves to attack. The Heavens suddenly were a glow with the discharge of hundreds of ships exiting FTL.

A quick glance at the screen gave him reason to think, Heavenly Father preserve your children we are out numbered 3 to 1. "All ships engage the enemy and make them rue the day they entered Elysian space."

 

[Nashoba]

The Alitheia Fleet at Veritas engaging the Mishhu invaders was besieged and on the verge of being overwhelmed. The sheer magnituded of the attack force was bad enough with adding the myriad number of attack drones the Mishhu vessels launched upon entering space.

Legati-Chalybsel ordered his fleets into a phalanx formation and to begin to slowly draw back towards the planet. He needed to carefully draw the enemy into range of the Planetary Defense Satellites and Rampart Fortresses. Chalybsel hoped that the additional fire power of those two additional forces would help turn then tide of battle. As they moved towards the Fortresses 24,000 Velcior Shuttles streaked to engage the drones attacking the main ships.

 

[Nashoba]

The battle for the Veritas system was not going well at all for the Alitheia Fleet, even with the fighters helping with the drones, they were too little too late. It also did not help that more ships had entered the system to join the the battle against the Elysian forces.

Legati-Chalybsel continued to bring his forces closer to the shipyards. He had already received word that they were starting a general evacuation of the facility. His forces now were having to buy time for those people. As some of the forces moved closer, a troubling event occurred. The Elysian Planetary Defense Satellite and their Defense Drone counterparts opened fire on the defenders. They also refused to respond to hails.

Chalybsel was forced to order his vessels to destroy those satellites lest they open fire on the fleeing vessels. The Cassotis and the Lilaea-class Gunships, Thantros-class Destroyers in his group where holding their own. Providing infield cover for each vessel leaving the embattled station, their job was to clear the departure path far enough for them to punch through and jump as soon as clear as the anti-FTL fields.

The Elysian crews of the fleet knew all to well what as at stake here and they continued to use everything at their disposal. Even when their ships were crippled and could no longer fire their weapons, they crews turned the ships themselves into weapons. As demonstrated when two Concordia-class scouts slammed into a pair of NMX Destroyers and exploded destroying the enemy.

 

[Wes]

As the floating cities over Veritas were consumed by fire and began to come apart, the NMX ships began to withdraw, disappearing in groups in hyperspace flashes.

Veritas was lost. There was nothing left here to save or fight over.

 

[Nashoba]

Legati-Chalybsel on board the Cassotis, watched as Veritas vanished before his eyes. The death toll on the station would be high, he sincerely doubted that they would ever get a full accounting of the dead today.

The Legati activated the comm system, while he instructed the Cassotis to stand down from tactical, and effect repairs. He hailed the surviving ships of the fleet and requested their status.

Looking at the data screens, he surveyed what remained of the Alitheia Fleet. Most of the ships were reporting heavy damage and casualties. He ordered the worst of them to be scuttled, and the crew transferred to the surviving ships. He did not want to tarry, just because the enemy appeared to be leaving did not mean they would not return to attack the fleet amidst search and rescue. The members of the fleet worked quickly and from the bridge he watched the explosions as each scuttled ship exploded into a ball of expanding gases and debris.

He took stock what what vessels remained. Out of 250 ships that entered the battle, only 38 were space worthy and salvageable. The breakdown of ships was:

2 El-B1-1a Crataeis-class Command Ship, the Cassotis and her sister-ship the Contego.
5 El-D2-1a Thantros-class Destroyers
12 El-E1-1a Concordia-class Scouts
2 Nariel Assault Battlecruiser
15 El-L1-1a Lanethron-class Cargo Ship
2 El-S1-1 Lilaea-class Gunship

"Legati-Chalybsel to all surviving Elysian ships. Form up on the Cassotis and prepare to get underway. We may have lost this battle, but the War against the Mishhuvurthyar has just begun. Lay in a course for New Elysia."

On his command the surviving vessels jumped into hyperdrive.

The Alithia fleet was broken.