1 July 3067
Sterope
Precentor Manfred von Ruffenul had been pissed when he learned of the attack on both Dicullas and Sterope. He had brought his squadron over from Comstar years ago and been assigned to safeguard the WoB forces in the Taurian Concordat. His squadron had been patrolling near Taurus itself when the word arrived about the assaults. Lacking LF batteries, his squadron had been forced to recharge after every jump but now they had finally made the jump to Sterope.
Shaking the effects of the jump off, he wished he was back at Taurus. His first glance at the ships plot board told him he had jumped his squadron right into the middle of a massive fleet. His squadron, though outnumbered, was still a powerful force to be reckoned with.
WoBS Hollings York - Congress-class
WoBS Avenging Sword - Aegis-class
WoBS Deathblow - Essex-class
WoBS Brandenburg Crusader - Essex-class
WoBS Determination - Vincent-class
He did not have to give the order for battle stations because his ship, WoBS Hollings York had already fired a broadside into a enemy Corvette, heavily damaging the smaller warship. It was obvious that their emergence wave had warned the enemy fleet of their arrival, for as he watched the non-warships made leaps from the Nadir Jump Point. There were no real decisions to be made, for every ship in his squadron was already in action.
WoBS Brandenburg, Essex Destroyer maneuvered wildly as it was pummeled by fire from several larger warships. It was struck repeatedly by heavy naval autocannons as it tried to give as good as it received. It raked an enemy Destroyer with everything it had, but it's target also raked it to much more devastating effect. Venting massive amounts of atmosphere, her captain ordered maximum speed and for the crew to abandon ship as he piloted the critically damaged Destroyer right into an enemy Corvette unlucky enough to be passing right in front of it, destroying both vessels.
WoBS Determination, Vincent Corvette never had a chance, materializing only 450km from a massive warship. Targeted immediately by the massive warship, the Vincent Corvette literally came apart from several sections as the massive warship unleashed an ungodly amount of fire at the much smaller vessel that had suddenly appeared so close to it.
WoBS Deathblow, Essex Destroyer, materialized close to a Nimitz II Carrier, which was launching fighters at a furious pace and raked the massive ship with it's FRS and RBS naval autocannons which ripped sheets of armor from the massive Carrier, but the return fire from the massive warship tore into the Essex Destroyer. A second volley from the Essex caused more damage but now the Carriers escorts and fighters were tearing into the Essex Destroyer. As the massive Destroyer shook repeatedly from enemy hits, the sudden call that they were being boarded sent shudders down everyone's spine. So cluttered were the ships display's, that no one had seen the incoming shuttles launched from the Carrier. Reports of enemy troops entering the engine room and then the sudden power loss signaled the end for all aboard.
WoBS Avenging Sword, Aegis Cruiser, had it slightly better, materializing outside of the main enemy force and the chaos erupting within at the sudden appearance of enemy warships right in their midst. Only she did have LF batteries and they were fully charged. Her captain ordered emergency jump procedures and calculations be made for the Zenith Jump point. He wanted to get the enemy transports. As his navigators made their calculations as fast as they could, he watched several enemy warships begin heading towards his ship, but they were still several thousand KM away. It would be a race.
WoBS Hollings York, Congress Frigate was coming apart at the seams under the relentless pounding from what seemed to be a never ending number of enemy warships targeting her. In desperation, she launched her full compliment of nuclear tipped White Sharks and Killer Whales at several enemy warships. One nuclear White Shark slammed into an enemy Corvette and detonated destroying the small warship, another was swatted down by enemy AMS, one Killer Whale detonated against the hull of what appeared to be an enemy Destroyer destroying it.
Finally, after what seemed like forever, power was lost all over the ship as the ships engine room was exposed to atmosphere and the ships reactors scrammed.
The race was almost over for the WoBS Avenging Sword as 4 enemy Corvettes entered range and began pelting the larger warship with naval laser fire. Then suddenly, the massive warship made it's jump and re-materialized at the Zenith Jump Point. Shouting a yell of victory, her captain ordered her to maximum thrust to rapidly close on the enemies transports 27,000km away.
The sudden jump of the WoB Aegis Cruiser was unexpected, but the transports and newly arrived Support Squadron were not alone. Ships from the 2nd Battle Squadron, 4th AFFC Fleet had been preparing to make a jump for the Nadir Jump Point when the enemy Aegis Cruiser jumped into the Zenith Jump Point. Quickly cancelling the jump, the 2nd Battle Squadron moved to intercept the enemy warship. The carriers launching their fighters as fast as they could.
At 9,000km, the AFFC Aerospace fighters started ripping the WoBS Avenging Sword to pieces. Without proper anti fighter defenses the Aegis Cruiser was at a severe disadvantage as hundreds of enemy fighters ripped into it. When it finally reached range, the WoBS Avenging Sword launched it's nuclear pay load on the enemy warships just starting to fire on it. Nuclear tipped White Sharks leaped from their launch tubes and quickly spanned the distance. Only 1 nuclear White Shark managed to get thru the storm of AMS fire and slammed into the FCS Baltimore, Victory II Cruiser and mangled the ships entire forward section. The Avenging Sword never had a chance to launch another volley as the AFFC warships and fighters tore the Aegis Cruiser apart until the ship finally surrendered.
Hours later, aboard the MDF Mackolla, Duke Scott Mitchell was horrified at the damage inflicted on his fleet.
MDF Calloway, Nimitz II Carrier - light damage
MDF Hamlin, Tortuga Destroyer - moderate damage
MDF William C. Lawe, Buford II Corvette - serious damage
MDF William R. Rush, Buford II Corvette - destroyed by ramming
MDF Laboon, Halsey II Destroyer - heavy damage
MDF James E. Kyes, Buford II Corvette - destroyed by nuclear
MDF Longbow, Arrow Destroyer - destroyed by nuclear
FCS Baltimore, Victory II Cruiser - serious damage nuclear
They had managed to capture or destroy:
WoBS Hollings York - Congress-class - captured, serious damage
WoBS Avenging Sword - Aegis-class - captured, severe damage
WoBS Deathblow - Essex-class - captured, severe damage
WoBS Brandenburg Crusader - Essex-class - destroyed ramming
WoBS Determination - Vincent-class - destroyed
Early damage estimates said it would require several months before some ships were battle ready again. It was a major setback.