Fate Can Be Cruel (Part One)

[2ndAcr]

8 February 2786
Terra (Terran Hegemony)

 It took a full day for Jerome Blake to be located and returned to Director General Amanda Cameron. Once he was led into her office, she said "Mr Blake, sorry to call for your immediate return, but I need your expertise."

 "Always ready to serve Director General Cameron. How may I be of service today?" Jerome Blake said

 "I need a way to communicate without actually linking into a HPG grid. Covertly I should say. I remembered reading about such a device from my extensive reading about some of the advanced tech the Star League developed. Do you know of such a device?" Amanda asked

 "It was long before my time Director General, but I do remember learning of such a device. The program was cancelled and all devices destroyed." Jerome Blake replied

 "I did some heavy reading last night. It seems the Department of Communications did not destroy them all. They actually kept playing with them and even made improvements. The SLDF Special Forces Command was actually looking at the improvements made before the Coup for use by their troops. I can call up the relevant information to refresh your memory if you would like." Amanda said

 "No need Director General Cameron. I know of what you speak. It was a black project. It ceased when the Coup happened and was never restarted, just too much other things to do. We have 6 of the improved devices in storage. The original version had a range of 100LY and a speed of 10LY per day. The new version can transmit 10 pages of text at a speed of 50LY per day and a range of 200LY. A substantial improvement over the original. But they are not secure by any description. all transmissions would have to be encoded before sending the message, which decreases the size of any message sent to about 2 pages of text. Using the best encryption routines we have in current use, only then can they be deemed secure. It would be a clumsy and time consuming method, our HPG's auto encrypt as you type in the message, these devices do not. Typing an encoded message would probably drive the person typing the gobbly goop crazy after a few messages. A single typo would render the message useless more than likely." Jerome Blake replied

 "I need those 6 devices and the operation instructions for them. This is time sensitive so I need them yesterday." Amanda said

 "I will have them located and brought to you without delay." Jerome Blakes said

Al Nair (Terran Hegemony)

 Tai-Sho Sadao Araki, commander 1st Dieron Regulars, exited his Dropship and looked around for a few seconds. The HAF/SLDF Aerospace fighters had managed to bring down 4 Dropships before being forced back by his escorting Aerospace fighters. He knew he faced a full Division which was almost an even fight, Battlemech wise anyway. He vastly outnumbered them in conventional forces, but he also had to worry about garrisoning everything they captured, where the defenders did not. That would eat into his advantage quickly. He ordered the 8th Dieron Regulars to push out and find the defenders lines.

  Major General Terrance Carmichael, commander 184th Mechanized Infantry Division, watched the map display change in his Mobile HP as his scouts reported the Combine movements. He watched and waited for the opportunity to strike. He had fought a long war to liberate his beloved Hegemony and now, years later, he was fighting to defend the Hegemony. Almost his entire career had been filled with war, from the Periphery Uprising as a Lance Commander to a Brigade Commander by the liberation of Terra. Now he commanded the Division he had served his entire career in, his former Division commander had departed with General Kerensky. He had elected to remain and joined Major General Lauren Hayes' force. When Director General Amanda Cameron had returned, he had been elated. The flood of equipment once reserved only for the Royal commands into the regular units by order of General Mitchell had been a god send. Now he planned to put the advanced equipment, his own experience and the skills of his hardened veterans to use in making the Combine forces pay dearly for the mistake of invading the Hegemony. He just needed the opening.

Nashira (Terran Hegemony)

 Major General Sylvia "Silky" Akaei, commander 213th Battlemech Division did not wait long for her opening, for no sooner had the Combine forces made their landing did she order an attack on the Combine landing zone. Six Regiments of Battlemechs advanced on the Combine landing zone forcing the Combine units to literally deploy directly from their Dropships into lines of battle. Evem though taking losses from the grounded Dropships, the 213th Battlemech Division continued to push into the Combine landing zone. Not only were the Combine Regiments outnumbered, but they could not match the more experienced troops of the 213th Battlemech Division.

 Individual lances from the 213th Battlemech Division would run up the ramps of grounded Dropships and fire their weapons into the lightly protected vital's of Dropships, sometimes to their own demise as the Dropships exploded. Swarms of DCMS Infantry would bring down HAF/SLDF Battlemechs and then be destroyed by a lance mate of the downed Battlemech. For 5 hours the Combine landing zone was a swirl of death and destruction, but by nightfall, some Combine Dropships had boosted for orbit, many were captured, destroyed or seriously damaged. The Hegemony held the landing zone and the Combine's supplies, but at least half the Combine invasion force had fled into the surrounding countryside. Major General Akaei had lost at least 2 Regiments of Battlemechs during the chaotic battle.

Murchison (Terran Hegemony)

 Tai-Sho Kuroda Kiyotaka, commander 10th Dieron Regulars, had grouned his invasion force at the planet's space port and quickly seized control of the planet's capital city. The 14th Dieron Regulars was sweeping the surrounding area in an attempt to locate the planet's defending force.

Inglesmond (Terran Hegemony)

 The arrival of SLS Diamond and SLS Gemstone, Essex II Destroyers into orbit had allowed Colonel Edith Gambrel and the 114th Hussar Regiment to pound the over extended 5th Arkab Legion with almost precision orbital bombardment. While not completely destroying the Combine command, it had allowed the 114th Hussar Regiment some breathing room in addition to showing the Combine forces that the Hegemony would not go down without a fight.

 In the capital city of Novas Brasilia, the planets militia had been fighting a brutal street by street battle with the more numerous Combine conventional forces. So far the Combine forces had only managed to take roughly 12% of the city and faced near constant counter attacks from the well equipped militia forces.

[cawest]

some one just open a can of WA on the DC.   >:D

[richard3116]

 :flame:

"It was long before my time Director General, but I do remember learning of such a device. The program was cancelled and all devices destroyed." Jerome Blake replied

Then immediately Oh yes I have some and know all about them.

Lying little toe rag

[Iron Grenadier]

Yeah got to wonder what Blake is playing at. I mean we know what happened in canon, but things are a little different this time around.

[Artifex]

Blake and Toyama playing at their cultist wet dreams ...  ???

[Daryk]

Nashira went well at least, and it looks like there's hope for Al Nair and Inglesmond.  Murchison looks screwed, though...  :-\

[DEZOAT]

 ::) Man I like to know what game that Blake playing here. I wonder when they going to find out about Toyama? what he have been doing to. I wonder what the  other Houses are going to do when they find out about House Kurita having no HPG or loss of HPG Comm ?

[Shadow_Wraith]

Finally got the time to read this story and its been great!  Looking forward to the next update. How well will recruitment be for the TH Armed Forces be after the underhanded attack by DCMS?  Also will TH share the info to the LC and FS on how the DCMS used merchant dropships to get past orbital defenses?

[2ndAcr]

Just a quick word.....work is picking up again so next update will probably be tomorrow night or Saturday folks.

[idea weenie]

  Just a quick word.....work is picking up again so next update will probably be tomorrow night or Saturday folks. 

Update will happen when it happens, we'll have fun speculating in the meantime.

Hope you don't get too many crazies at work

[Daryk]

We'll be here!  :thumbsup:

[2ndAcr]

14 February 2786
Thazi (Terran Hegemony)

 General Heinrich Rommel had expanded the training centers on getting the "war alert" from General Rita Mitchell. He had ordered establishment of additional Armor and Infantry Training Schools on False Dawn in the Traders Province and Alchnoly in the Onverwacht Province. Recruitment was increased to fill the new schools. The Brigade Combat Teams, formed from the former Outworlds Alliance commands had proven themselves as capable defensive units in almost constant wargames. It was his intention to form an additional 12 Brigade Combat Teams and station them along the Hegemony border with the Outworlds Alliance. This would allow him to free up the Divisions for possible offensive operations if called upon instead of frontline garrison duties. Once the new schools were fully operational, he planned to activate 2 additional Armor Divisions, the 324th and 325th, to assist in the advanced training of new graduates before frontline postings.

 The Mechwarrior School was now on a steady pace to graduate 300 Mechwarriors per year, enough to field just over 8 Battalions. To meet the constant need of officers, he had instituted orders for veteran NCO's to rotate to a new Officer Training School. Joining them would be newly graduated recruits selected by their instructors for Officer training. He was personally going to teach at least one class per day at the Officer Training School.

 The civilian Jumpship yards at Onverwacht were slowly coming online at a very slow production pace, which was to be expected since 90% of the workers were still technically learning their jobs. But progress was progress and he refused to rush the process. The HPG network was now at 90% restored with only several stations left to be completed. This had allowed him to release DoME Teams to boosting terraforming on the many systems that could not survive without outside shipping. He had authorized the 2.5M ton shipyard at Thazi to produce 3 more Builder Class Yardships. This was done to improve their overall recovery assets, but also to increase construction of much needed mining stations in the many asteroid belts but also to slowly increase construction on Recharge Stations.

 On Quines, civilian construction companies assisted by SLDF, he could not get used to the HAF designation, engineers had completed housing for 280,000 people with a goal of 1 million by years end. Though he did not know exactly what was inbound, he had a pretty good idea. For he and Rita had some very long discussions before she and Amanda had departed. She had clearly stated that she was going to do come "cherry" picking of potential industry leaders to move out here. Mitchell Vehicles had been first and foremost in her plans.

 Hegemony Industries had reverse engineered the Helepolis Battlemech and then improved it. They added a Endo Steel chassis which allowed them to upgrade the engine to a GM 240 Fusion to increase it's speed. The added a single ton of Sniper ammo and removed the SRM6 and LRM10 from the Battlemech, instead they added an additional 2 medium lasers and maxed out the Battlemechs armor to use up the additional space. Now able to keep up with most of the Heavy Battlemech's in use by the Hegemony, the plan is to equip each Independent Regiment with a full Company consisting of 6 Helepolis Artillery, 2 Daedalus GTX2A forming the 2 firing lances with a Command Lance of bodyguard Battlemechs.

Terra (Terran Hegemony)

 Rear Admiral Trishia Delvaney had spent a month pouring over reports detailing the status of every warship in HAF service. With an actual shooting war now underway, her task was made harder as she tried to prepare for repairing battle damage. During her extensive reading of reports on anything and everything that might be of use to her and her mission, she had discovered that Krester's Ship Construction over Mars had 3 complete Jump Core assemblies for Texas Class Battleships in storage. Two of these had been removed from ships that had departed with General Kerensky. Though they had many miles on them, they were fully functional. With Krester's shipyards out of condition for several years, she had ordered Krester to make use of 3 of Blue Nose Clipperships yards. She had to do some arm twisting and even a few threats to make it happen, but construction had finally started on 3 Texas Class Battleships. She had detailed every functional factory to provide support to this effort. If they could hold out for a year, all 3 Texas Battleships should be completed.

 The only changes she had ordered made to the original design was each Texas Battleship would include LF Batteries and a Mobile HPG. Though mainly minor changes, they would greatly effect each ships potential, able to rapidly converge on a trouble spot. She had then pushed her luck further by convincing Director General Cameron and General Mitchell to get Mitchell Vehicles to delay breaking down their existing yards in order to put the Luxor Heavy Cruiser back into production. With the destruction of most of Mitchell Vehicles supporting factories, mainly the Jump Core factories, she had pleaded and begged to get the fully functional Titan Yards to suspend standard Jump Core production in order to manufacturer the cores for Mitchell Vehicles. They would then be remote jumped to Graham IV for installation.

 Mitchell Vehicles had deemed 6 of their Shipyards fully capable of production and had placed 6 Luxor Heavy Cruisers into construction. In a year, the HAF would be able to field a very powerful force of modern warships capable of rapid reaction to any threat to the Hegemony.

New Avalon (Federated Suns)

 The war between the Draconis Combine and Terran Hegemony had not gone unnoticed by First Prince John Davion and the Armed Forces of the Federated Suns. The Combine attack on the Terran Hegemony had caught the AFFS intel by surprise which had brought down the wrath of First Prince John Davion. He had wasted no time in ordering a massive review of every intel report coming from the Combine. He had then ordered the Department of the Line to shift half of the Rimward Fleet to the Combine border to bolster the Spinward Fleet along the Combine border. Every mothballed warship was now mobilized and in service, giving the AFFS 184 active warships. The cost of enormous, but it was a cost they had to bear.

 The interdiction of HPG communications inside the Draconis Combine made for a very interesting development. Though it hampered the Federated Suns ability to gather intel easily, it also prevented the Combine from responding or coordinating an assault on the Federated Suns. This had brought a huge sigh of relief from the AFFS High Command.

[Daryk]

I hope they can hold out for that year!  3 Battleships and 6 Cruisers will be VERY helpful!

[Artifex]

Ah, good old Federated Suns, always first and foremost the supporter for the SLDF and the Hegemony.  :thumbsup:

[DEZOAT]

 The only thing that worry me is Marik if they start attacking the TH . I myself would like alot more AS fighter and pilots . They have good number of combat dropships they could use more. Oh question when do you think MV and their people get to the Forgotten Corp Space or 2nd TH?

[Kyryst]

In 1 year’s time, except 2 Lola’s and a Cameron (done 3-6 months after that), everything should be repaired except the wrecks and any new battle damage (if my math is right.). That should be a respectable Navy.

For the artillery, nice change to the Helepolis, except for artillery ammunition, having only MLs gives them close in punch while snipers due for long range. So that would give each regiment a command company, an artillery company, and an air defense company? That would bring the independent regiments to a 4 battalion battlemech force, right? So independent regiments would need 4 Overlords to reduce collars for transport, unless you are doing something else?

Like what I am reading, nobody has an idiot ball unless there is cultural inertia behind it.

[2ndAcr]

 Helepolis still has the ER Large Laser. Only dropped the missile launchers and added an extra ton of Sniper rounds. Besides boosting speed to 4/6 to better enable them to keep pace with an advance and boosting armor also. They have 3 tons of Sniper ammo.

 Each Independent Regiment is planned to have basically a Command Battalion. Command Company, Artillery Company and AA Company. That's the plan anyway.

 DEZOAT, convoy will be arriving at Bastrop extremely soon. Then arrival at Quines around May/June 2786.

[Kyryst]

Will there be any Kerensky interludes? The Prinz Eugene Mutiny has passed, is everything still canon for the Exodus Fleet?

[2ndAcr]

Yes, canon for Kerensky.

[cawest]

oh man I was hoping that Prinz Eugene, and a few other ships would be able to break contact with General K's Fleet.  I would have been nice to see them back with the THiE. 

[ThePW]

That might still happen... assuming that Wolverines survive enough to come back...

[Daryk]

2ndACR is pretty thorough at planning these things out... I'm just happy to see how they unfold!  :thumbsup:

[2ndAcr]

24 February 2786
New Avalon (Federated Suns)

 First Prince John Davion read the message from Director General Amanda Cameron with a small amount of surprise and disbelief. He had been tracking the large convoy as it advanced across Federated Suns space, even providing logistical support. But what he read, well, it was a surprise and a little disconcerting.

 To: First Prince John Davion
 From: Director General Amanda Cameron

 Forgive me for sending a normal HPG message, but have been a little busy. My convoy is fast approaching Kilborne, the planet selected to house Thompson Shipyards new complex. The rapid return of the Dropships would be greatly appreciated. I am also notifying you that to assist Thompson Shipyards in rebuilding, very soon, one of my Yardships will be arriving, along with a small warship escort. They are no threat, but I must protect my Yardship, they are precious items of late.

 You have probably guessed the area my other convoy is heading. I will not divulge the actual location, but know that the Terran Hegemony will never be a threat to the Federated Suns. You have my word, that for all time, the Federated Suns will have a secure border in that region of space.

 Best Wishes, You Friend

 Amanda Cameron

 He laid the message down on his desk. So, the Terran Hegemony has possible warships in their semi hidden holdings out in the Periphery, he thought to himself. But so far, Amanda Cameron was being very upfront with him on matters of mutual concern, so he would take her at her word. He then turned his attention back to reviewing troop movements to reinforce his borders.

 He had accepted the Screaming Eagles departure to return to Hegemony service with a heavy heart. He had been forced to rush AFFS troops to take over garrison of the 5 systems the Screaming Eagles were leaving. He knew a flurry of HPG messages had been sent to Terra and been received by the Screaming Eagles. So he was not surprised when the Screaming Eagles asked for AFFS transport to link up with HAF/SLDF transports. But he had been surprised at their requested destination, Mara. He had expected them to head right for the front lines. He could not help but wonder why they were being sent to Mara. But he made the arrangements for AFFS transports dropping off the new AFFS garrison't to pick up the Screaming Eagles and take them to Mara.

 As he looked over the map of the Federated Suns and the AFFS deployments, he made a snap decision, one that he hoped would not come back to bite him in the ass. He pulled out a message pad and wrote the message to be taken by courier for transmission. He placed a priority stamp on the sealed envelope and called for a courier.

Terra (Terran Hegemony)

 Director General Amanda Cameron watched as General Rita Mitchell read the message they had received from First Prince John Davion. She watched her Aunt Rita chew her lower lip as she read the message, it was a habit she had when she was mulling over a decision she did not really like.

 To: Director General Amanda Cameron
 From: First Prince John Davion

 Received your message about Kilborne. Thank you for being honest and upfront about arrival of warships. Even though that answers a very huge question I have had about that region of space since your return. I have made AFFS transports available to transport Screaming Eagles to Mara for link up with your transports. I also am notifying you that your convoy stopped at Colchester for resupply and soon after their departure we received transportation requests from the refugee's there. I have made as many transports as I can spare at current time for them. So far, our count of the 185 million Hegemony refugee's there, it looks as though over 60 million are requesting transport assistance to Bastrop region. You might want to get some transports ready for them. I am told that it will take a while and will be moving them in groups of 3 million.

 I am going to infer that your have military forces, in numbers in excess than I expect, in the region. I take this from your promise of a secure border in that region in previous message. I have a request, that if your current fight with the Combine prevent, I understand, but I feel the need to ask. I would like to shift several of my commands to the Combine border from the region, I ask if you would be willing to set up a liason command with my AFFS and possibly assisting me with securing the region there. I am willing to provide ample supply and even transportation needs. The mission will be simply defensive in nature.

 As I said, if you are unable to agree due to the conflict with the Combine I understand.

 Your friend

 John Davion

 Amanda Cameron almost screamed but held her control as she watched her Aunt Rita pull up a map of the Federated Suns and zero in on the Bastrop region of space. She pulled up the known AFFS garrison locations for the region and made some notes on a pad next to her. Finally, Amanda could not take it any longer.

 "Aunt Rita, I swear if you do not tell me what your thinking I am going to have a damned hissy fit." Amanda said

 "I am not sure I like the idea. But, John Davion is someone I would like to keep on friendly terms. I count roughly 8 AFFS commands that we could free up. I will issue orders for General Rommel to deploy 8 Conventional RCT's to assume garrison duties on the 8 AFFS systems. In addition, I will have him deploy 2 commands of his choosing to act as a response force. I won't have our troops out there unsupported. It might not be quite what First Prince John Davion expects, but it will be enough to do the job." General Rita Mitchell replied

 "Thank you Aunt Rita. If this helps us keep at least one border completely secure, it is worth it." Amanda said

 "I just hate the fact that it reveals more than I want to the AFFS. This is a risky move on our part. I just pray that First Prince John Davion continues to be honorable and not try to take advantage of us." General Mitchell said

 "I think John Davion is the only House Lord we can trust Aunt Rita. When do we launch the counter attack?" Amanda said

 "Tomorrow. It is going to be bloody and I just hope it works. If it does, it might just rock the Combine back on it's heels, if it fails, well we might have to pack our bags." General Mitchell said

[Artifex]

Yeah, like I said earlier in this thread, I reckon the relationship between the Feddies and the Hegemony is probably the best out of all 5 successor states.

One thing I'm extremely looking forwards to is how things will look like when the traitors return from their temporary exile...  8)

[ThePW]

Yeah, like I said earlier in this thread, I reckon the relationship between the Feddies and the Hegemony is probably the best out of all 5 successor states.

One thing I'm extremely looking forwards to is how things will look like when the traitors return from their temporary exile...  8)

2784 to 3005 not temporary... Expectations are.  ::)

[Shadow_Wraith]

Nice update!  I wonder if the LIC has picked up on the DCMS attacks On the TH?  Will the LCAF do anything?

[Artifex]

2784 to 3005 not temporary... Expectations are.  ::)

well considering that Big K wanted them to be gone from the IS for at least 1k years... :D

[Dragon Cat]

tagged time to catch up

[2ndAcr]

28 February 2786
Inglesmond (Terran Hegemony)

 Vice Admiral Grant Baker, commander 66th Escort Squadron, opened his eyes to find himself strapped in a medical bed aboard a ship not his own. He closed his eyes and commanded his pounding head to focus it's thoughts as he tried to recall what had happened. Slowly, he began to recall the terrible fight that had occured. Since the Combine invasion, he and his 66th Escort Squadron had played a very dangerous game with the much larger Combine fleet. Whent he Combine fleet had finally advanced on Inglesmond proper, he had been forced to abandon orbit to them. But not without a fight, losing SLS Diamond, Essex Destroyer in exchange for DCS Aogumo, Baron Destroyer.

 They had fled to a pirate point and jumped to the Nadir Jump Point on 23 February. There they had engaged the DCMS warships guarding the captured shipyard complex. During the 9 hour fight, they had managed to force the DCS Maya, Aegis Cruiser to surrender after inflicting severe damage on her and destroy the DCS Hanazuki and DCS Kiyotsuki, Essex I Destroyer. They had then boarded the many facilities of the shipyard complex with every Marine they had. But the fight had not been without loss, his Flagship, SLS Anchorage, Congress Frigate had suffered crippling damage in the fight with the DCS Maya, Aegis Cruiser. SLS Topaz and SLS Gemstone, Essex II Destroyer had been destroyed.

 On 25 February, the Combine had jumped to the Nadir Jump Point with almost every warship they had and his 66th Escort Squadron had once again played a deadly game of tag with the Combine fleet. But it was a losing game. That is until the 14th Battlecruiser Squadron and 15th Escort Squadron had jumped in from Dieron. Aboard the badly damaged SLS Anchorage, Congress Frigate, he had watched his ships plot try to keep track of the massive amount of Aerospace Fighters launching from both the SLDF/Hegemony Fleet and the Combine Fleet.

 As both massive Fleet's began entering range of each other, from the SLDF/Hegemony Fleet, a massive volley of Nuclear equipped missiles had been launched, both from warships and 12 Mule Pocket Warships armed with Nuclear missiles. Detonations across the Combine warships savaged their numbers, but not enough to prevent the Combine Fleet from merging with the 14th Battlecruiser Sqaudron and 15th Escort Squadron. Both Fleet's blasted away at each other at near point blank range. The 2 DCMS Monsoon Battleshps wreaked havoc on the lighter SLDF/Hegemony warships. Destroying 2 Essex II Destroyers in a matter of minutes. But the 3 Riga Frigates pummeled the DCS Kongo, Monsoon Battleship until it was powerless and adrift. But SLS Albany, Riga Frigate was destroyed in the exchange. The other 2 Riga Frigates were heavily damaged in the fight and just as Vice Admiral Connor Shick, commander 14th Battlecruiser Squadron was about to order his combined forces to pull back, incoming jump signatures were detected. He knew he had lost the battle.

 Fleet Admiral Joan Brandt barely noticed the jump effects after all her years in space. Her eyes were focused on the ships plot as the sensors came online and began painting a picture of the siwrling battle barely 10,000 kilometers away. Once she was sure her bridge crew were alert, she gave the order "Helm full ahead and get us in the fight. Launch all Dropships and fighters. Sound General Quarters. Weps, aim us right for the Combine Monsoon and start pounding her the second she is in range. Comm, tell SLS Tirpitz our intentions and that I expect him to help us with the Monsoon."

 Vice Admiral Grant Baker had watched from SLS Anchorage as Fleet Admiral Joan Brandt aboard SLS Thunderer, Monsoon Battleship had engaged the DCS Hiei, Monsoon Battleship and DCS Atago, Riga Frigate at the same time. While hammering away at both Combine warships, SLS Thunderer had launched a almost constant stream of Nuclear White Shark into the Combine Fleet. In less than an hour, DCS Hiei was venting atmosphere from almost every facing, her armor paper thin in many places and a stream of SLDF shuttles delivering Marines aboard her. DCS Atago, Riga Frigate had been destroyed by SLS Tirpitz, BLack Lion Battlecruiser during the fight.

 With Fleet Admiral Joan Brandt leading, the SLDF/Hegemony Fleet had turned back into the Combine Fleet's and over the course of 6 hours forced the survivors to flee for the Zenith Jump Point. But the fight had been brutal for both sides.

 SLDF/Hegemony Forces

 SLS Thunderer, Monsoon Battleship (Fleet Flagship) - Heavy Damage
 SLS Tirpitz, Black Lion Battlecruiser - Heavy Damage

 66th Escort Squadron (Vice Admiral Grant Baker)

 SLS Anchorage, Congress Frigate - Severe Damage
 SLS Fairbanks, Congress Frigate - Destroyed
 SLS Ivory, New Samarkand Carrier - Heavy Damage
 SLS Emerald, Essex Destroyer - Severe Damage
 SLS Topaz, Essex Destroyer - Destroyed
 SLS Hammerstrike, Essex Destroyer - Severe Damage
 SLS Gemstone, Essex Destroyer - Destroyed
 SLS Diamond, Essex Destroyer - Destroyed

 14th Battlecruiser Squadron (Vice Admiral Connor Shick)

 SLS Yosemite, Riga Frigate - Heavy Damage
 SLS Albany, Riga Frigate - Destroyed
 SLS Yankee, Riga Frigate - Heavy Damage
 SLS Wasp, New Samarkand Carrier - Moderate Damage
 SLS Starlight, Essex Destroyer - Destroyed
 SLS Resilience, Vincent Corvette - Severe Damage
 SLS Determination, Vincent Corvette - Severe Damage
 SLS Audacious, Vincent Corvette - Severe Damage
 SLS Porter, Vincent Corvette - Destroyed

 15th Escort Squadron (Vice Admiral Lorraine Hofmann)

 SLS Admiral Perry, Congress Frigate - Heavy Damage   
 SLS Rickover, Congress Frigate - Destroyed
 SLS Patrick Henry, Aegis Cruiser - Severe Damage
 SLS Phelps, Carson Destroyer - Destroyed
 SLS Clark, Carson Destroyer - Severe Damage
 SLS Moffett, Carson Destroyer - Severe Damage
 SLS Balch, Carson Destroyer - Destroyed
 SLS Carver, Vincent Corvette - Destroyed
 SLS Blitz, Vincent Corvette - Destroyed

 Combine Combined Forces

 Third Fleet (Benjamin District)

 DCS Hagiwawa, Samarkand Carrier Blk II (Flagship) - Destroyed
 DCS Akagi, Samarkand Carrier Blk II - Severe Damage
 DCS Hiei, Monsoon Battleship - Severe Damage (Captured)
 DCS Haruna, Aegis Cruiser - Destroyed
 DCS Myoko, Aegis Cruiser - Heavy Damage
 DCS Atago, Riga Frigate - Destroyed
 DCS Akizuki, Essex I Destroyer - Destroyed
 DCS Teruzuki, Essex I Destroyer - Destroyed
 DCS Suzutsuki, Essex I Destroyer - Heavy Damage
 DCS Hatsuzuki, Essex I Destroyer - Heavy Damage
 DCS Niizuki, Essex I Destroyer - Destroyed
 DCS Wakatsuki, Essex I Destroyer - Destroyed
 DCS Shimotsuki, Essex I Destroyer - Severe Damage (Captured)
 DCS Fuyutsuki, Baron Destroyer - Heavy Damage
 DCS Harutsuki, Baron Destroyer - Heavy Damage
 DCS Yoizuki, Baron Destroyer - Severe Damage (Captured)
 DCS Natsuzuki, Baron Destroyer - Destroyed
 DCS Michitsuki, Baron Destroyer - Destroyed
 
 Fourth Fleet (Benjamin District)

 DCS Benjamin, Samarkand Carrier Blk II (Flagship) - Heavy Damage (Captured)
 DCS Taiho, Samarkand Carrier Blk II - Destroyed
 DCS Kongo, Monsoon Battleship - Severe Damage (Captured)
 DCS Chokai, Aegis Cruiser - Destroyed
 DCS Maya, Aegis Cruiser - Severe Damage (Captured)
 DCS Hanazuki, Essex I Destroyer - Destroyed
 DCS Kiyotsuki, Essex I Destroyer - Destroyed
 DCS Ōtsuki, Essex I Destroyer - Destroyed
 DCS Hazuki, Essex I Destroyer - Destroyed
 DCS Yamazuki, Essex I Destroyer - Destroyed
 DCS Urazuki, Baron Destroyer - Severe Damage (Captured)
 DCS Aogumo, Baron Destroyer - Destroyed
 DCS Benigumo, Baron Destroyer - Heavy Damage
 DCS Harugumo, Baron Destroyer - Destroyed
 DCS Amagumo, Baron Destroyer - Destroyed
 DCS Yaegumo, Baron Destroyer - Heavy Damage
 DCS Fuyugumo, Baron Destroyer - Destroyed
 DCS Yukigumo, Baron Destroyer - Destroyed

 He finally opened his eyes again when he heard a voice nearby, he focused on Fleet Admiral Joan Brandt, her arm in a sling. "Glad you arrived when you did Admiral, things were looking a little grim."

 "Glad I got here when I did. Of course I will probably be court martialed when I get back to Terra. I was expressly ordered NOT to leave the Terran system. But i just had to rude to the sound of the guns one last time." Admiral Brandt replied

 "What is out status right now?" Admiral Baker asked

 "I have 2 Newgrange Yardships heading this way. The 359th Battlemech Division is in system and 3 days from Inglesmond. They will take care of the DCMS force on the surface. We are beat to hell, but captured 7 Combine warships. The shipyards took about 40% damage. The remaining Combine warships are still heading for the Zenith Jump Point and I have a few Titan Dropships and fighters keeping an eye on them. You ship is beat to a pulp and I had you and your wounded transfered to my Flagship while repair parties repair some of those gaping holes in your hull."

[cawest]

wow..  that is going to make the DC think twice.