The Nova Cats were wanting more battles i think they are going to get their wish. ;D
Tends to happen... especially when you go looking
Nadir Jump-point
Glory System, Clan Space
Kerensky Cluster
5th April 3074 The Nova Cat WarShips Bond, Chronicle and Path of Honour, all Aegis-class Heavy Cruisers, jumped into the Glory system of the Kerensky Cluster, a system only populated by Jade Falcons and Wolves the first targets of the Nova Cat’s revenge. “This is Oathmaster Zane Carns, of Clan Nova Cat, you came to our den uninvited. Now we come to yours. Prepare yourselves. We are ready for your challenges; an unanswered call will signal to us you wish to be targeted.” Zane said looking at the commander of the Path of Glory, his command ship for this operation, at least until his landing on the planet with the rest of Alpha Galaxy.
“Nova Cat forces, you leave the Homeworlds to find new pastures then you come back here thinking that you should have sole possession of a world? The Clans have shared worlds and space since our inception by the Founder, we refute your claim, I bid both my defending WarShips there will be no Batchall.” The reply from the defending Jade Falcon WarShips came loud and clear, Zane had known that this mission would be deadly and costly his visions had said so, but he hadn’t expected the Jade Falcons to fight without honour.
“Nova Cat Alpha Galaxy, Path of Glory continue to target. Chronicle and Bond have you covered.” Star Commodore Sel Bavros, commander of the Chronicle announced, he was the most senior of the WarShip commanders and so took tactical control over the situation. Both vessels turned towards the defending Jade Falcons, already launching fighters and DropShips, Zane could see they were another Aegis-class Heavy Cruiser and a Black Lion-class Battle-cruiser, a significantly bigger and better armed vessel.
Though technically under Zane’s command the Oathmaster had already cleared them to make decisions, he knew nothing about naval combat, even with this lack of naval tactics knowledge Zane did know one thing the two Aegis-class Heavy Cruisers would be hard pressed to take on a Jade Falcon Aegis and a Black Lion-class Battle-cruiser.
“Commodore, dispatch the Second Nova Cat Titans and both our assault DropShips to support Chronicle and Bond.” Zane said looking at Star Commodore Annabel Leroux, the Path of Honour’s commander.
“That will leave us open to attack.”
“Yes, but intelligence points to there being no more WarShips in system and sensors are equally blind. The other WarShips are outgunned, we can help and the Jade Falcons have chosen to ignore the duelling rules of the Clans, once the DropShips and fighters are in transit, set a course for the planet, direct Alpha Galaxy to follow us and for all JumpShips to clear the system.” Zane said assuming command, with the Khan and saKhan both attending to duties in and around the Nova Cat’s Den he’d taken over as commander in running Nova Cat business in the Homeworlds something that helped when faced with a combat situation.
As the Nova Cat ground forces cleared the way Sel Bavros noticed the Second Nova Cat Titans and some Assault DropShips still remained, he quickly suppressed the smile, ‘trust the Oathmaster’ was all he thought. “Chronicle, Bond”
“Go ahead.” Star Commodore Allan Lankenau replied from the Bond’s command room.
“Follow deployment Delta take the Second and make sure you keep the Hazen busy we have the Aerie.”
“Understood, good luck Chronicle” Lankenau said cutting the link, Delta would put the Chronicle up against a vessel far larger than itself, even supported by fighters and DropShips they would be hard pressed to match the vessel.
“Weapons target the White Aerie, full salvos, contact the DropShips ensure they stay out of our firing solution and to move to position Omega. Alpha Protocol.” He said looking over at the communication officer who nodded their understanding, passing on the orders.
The Chronicle headed right for the White Aerie the two ships exchange capital missile and autocannon fire as they approached each other while DropShips and fighters engaged in a no holds bared dogfight between the two capital ships. In the centre of the fight a Vanguard and a Raven DropShip escorted by a star of fighters broke through the battle lines of the Jade Falcons the Raven taking hits for the larger Vanguard protecting it. As the Chronicle and White Aerie moved alongside each other showing their Broadsides the DropShips were on the far side of the Jade Falcon vessel deploying ProtoMechs and Battle Armour, while ProtoMechs burned the armour the Battle Armour were tasked with boarding and capturing the vessel. The White Aerie ignored them opening fire with a broadside of Naval Autocannons, although a few missed their target most hit the Chronicle and soon the Aegis was consumed by an expanding fireball. Just as the Heavy Cruiser was destroyed Nova Cat ProtoMechs and Battle Armour were boarding the Jade Falcon WarShip, though their command ship was gone their fight was far from over. The White Aerie turned its guns on the remaining Nova Cat DropShips hoping to destroy them before they Nova Cat assault troops took over. Already the ProtoMechs and Elementals were burning through the hull.
In the other battle the Bond was running off the Janice Hazen the superior Nova Cat gunners and fighter pilots, with the two Capital ships matching each other’s firepower it was down to the crews and the Jade Falcon crews were just no match for the Nova Cats. Soon the Janice Hazen was following the same fate as the Nova Cat’s Chronicle, like the Jade Falcon’s White Aerie the Nova Cat gunners turned on the Jade Falcon fighters and DropShips.
Onboard the White Aerie the Nova Cat Armoured Elementals had no issues with the Jade Falcon crew despite the close confines of the Black Lion-class vessel their lasers and anti-personnel weapons were making quick work. Less than an hour later the vessel was in Nova Cat hands, battered but intact, though the loss of the Chronicle had hurt the Nova Cats the capture of the White Aerie made up it and the Path of Honour was still burning towards Glory with Alpha Galaxy.
Path of Honour, Near Orbit
Glory, Kerensky Cluster
Clan Homeworlds
7th April 3074 The rest of the Nova Cat invasion force continued in system, the Path of Honour escorting them the entire way. As they closed on the planet Glory one last surprise met them the Clan Wolf WarShip Nature’s Wrath, a Lola III-class Destroyer, although seventy thousand tons lighter than the Aegis it was faster and carried an array of long range heavy naval lasers capable of tearing open the Path of Honour’s armoured hide.
While Alpha Galaxy headed for the planet Star Commodore Annabel Leroux brought her vessel closer to the Nature’s Wrath brining its Naval missiles into play. As the ships traded Naval lasers and missile the distance separating them began to close the Naval Autocannons on Path of Honour into play. The two WarShips continued to close until finally they reached broadside distance where the Path of Honour’s heavy Naval autocannons severely outclassed the Nature’s Wrath’s lighter autocannons. The heavier cannons tore through the thin armour and internal structure of the Lola III destroying the vessel and all crew though the Path of Honour was badly damaged it was still operational and Alpha Galaxy now had a clear run to Glory.
Sticking to the plan the Nova Cats landed directly between the Wolves and Jade Falcons landing on a firebase that had been abandoned since the early days of the Clans. In the centuries since the base had become overgrown and decayed, none of the buildings still had a roof and one of the main base walls had fallen, it did still have two major things going for it however. Firstly the ferrocrete landing zone inside the base was still in flawless condition as was the landing strip that ran alongside the base. And secondly neither Clan Wolf or Jade Falcon had anything based in the area for seven kilometres in all directions, the perfect safe landing zone. By now both Clans would know the Nova Cats were in system and that they had engaged the local Naval forces eliminating them.
“To Clan Jade Falcon and Clan Wolf, I am Zane Carns Oathmaster of Clan Nova Cat and commander of Alpha Galaxy. We possess Zulu Command Base on the South West Peninsula, we will conduct all operations from this base. If you plan on refuting our claim we are ready to answer your trials.” Zane announced minutes after landing on the world to a wide spectrum radio, anyone who wanted to hear would hear.
“Clan Nova Cat, you are not welcome on this world, I Galaxy Commander Nowa Vickers of Clan Wolf refute your presence on this world and bid my entire Tau Galaxy against you.” Came a reply from the Clan Wolf defenders on planet, Zane expected it.
“Clan Nova Cat, we will also refute your presence on this world, Clan Jade Falcon’s Iota Provisional Galaxy will fight you until our last breath.” The Jade Falcon commander said there was no name or wish for any terms, just as Zane had expected everything was going as he had foreseen. Neither Clan it appeared wanted to initiate Batchalls or conduct trials.
“We hit the Wolves and then turn on the Jade Falcons, quickly and surgically. We know what we want and we know where it is.” Zane said turning to the other Star Colonels around him, the 449th Assault Cluster and the Shiva Keshik would be attacking the Wolves while the First Nova Cat Guards Cluster and the 450th Assault Cluster remained defending Zulu Command Base and Alpha Galaxy’s DropShips. All the Nova Cats would be outnumbered but given none of the defences would be expecting them to hit everyone at once.
Leading the Shiva Keshik and the 449th Assault Cluster forward Oathmaster Zane Carns’ Arctic Cheetah began detecting Wolf forces ahead of him. First on the list was a Clan Wolf (in-Exile) manufactured Pack Hunter. Zane almost smiled the Wolves outwardly disdained anything to do with the other half of their Clan, the side that had gone over to the Inner Sphere, but in reality they needed anything they could get to keep their garrison forces fully stocked and ready for the fight. “Nova Cats, they set the tone of this trial by using stravag equipment, and ignoring the rules of Zellbrigen all warriors fire at will!” He ordered, though it was not a breach of honour using Clan Wolf (in-Exile) equipment or even using Inner Sphere equipment, the 449th Assault Cluster fielded an Atlas II in its ranks unmodified since the time of the original Star League, it was hypocritical to then use it in combat and that Zane could not stand by. "Stick to Zellbrigen until they break it.” He added before one of his broke the rules in a free for all there was no guarantees about the victor.
The Pack Hunter was the same tonnage as the Arctic Cheetah but it was a regular BattleMech not an advanced OmniMech like Zane’s ride meaning it could not change weapons from fight to fight it was also a one weapon Mech, a single torso mounted Extended-Range Large Laser dominating the weapons of the light Mech. Though powerful enough to rip an arm or leg cleanly from the Arctic Cheetah’s body they had to actually hit the target and Zane planned on making that very difficult striking out first with his own Mech’s arm mounted Extended-Range Large Laser missing but putting the Wolf warrior off step. At the same time Zane struck his OmniMechs Jump Jets into life sending the light Mech flying over one hundred metres in the opposite direction, a man-made lightning bolt from the Pack Hunter’s PPC flew straight through the location where Zane Mech’s centre torso had been. As the Arctic Fox landed Zane pressed the primary trigger again sending another laser blast down the range, the Arctic Fox’s cockpit filled with excess heat from the laser blast, however Zane was rewarded as he saw the laser blast strike the Wolf Mech dead centre. The power of the beam burning away all the armour and cutting into the torso, something inside exploded and the Mech went down like a ton of bricks crushing the cockpit and the pilot in a flash. “One down” Zane said dispassionately looking for his next target.
An hour later the combined elements of the Shiva Keshik and the 449th Assault Cluster were battered but victorious. The Wolves had surrendered the field, an OmniMech factory two kilometres inside their territory, before the Nova Cats completely overrun their garrison galaxy. Although this was an important factory they knew the Nova Cats could never hold the world however unbeknown to the Wolves that was never even a part of the Nova Cats planning - instead they seized five working copies of the Lycurgus Assault OmniMech and plans to manufacture more before retreating back to their DropShips their prize secured.
An hour following the return of the Shiva Keshik and the 449th Assault Cluster the First Nova Cat Guards and the 450th Assault Clusters left the landing zone heading for Clan Jade Falcon’s claimed territory. The two clusters combined commander Star Colonel Kalvin Rosse, of the First Nova Cat Guards, had picked an Overlord-class Transport DropShip full of brand-new Mechs as their target. Leading from the centre of the formation was Star Colonel Kalvin Rosse’s Warhawk Assault OmniMech, alongside him was a Nova Cat Heavy OmniMech and a Supernova Assault BattleMech. Behind them were a pair of SM-1 Tank Destroyers and a pair of Shoden Heavy Tanks though vehicles were not a strong as BattleMechs they still formed an integral part of the combat unit, especially within the new Nova Cat Touman. “Guards Actual to Alpha Star begin assault, engage at will” he said into the communication suite “maintain Zellbrigen until they break it.” He said again though they were outgunned and combining fire would probably help the Nova Cats to victory quicker it was the Clans way to maintain duelling rules during a Trial.
“Gamma One to Guards Actual, we have a pair Jade Falcon lights combining fire on the western flank.” One of the Star Commanders reported within moments, Kalvin had expected it to last longer before they broke the duelling rules.
“Understood, all forces step back strategy, find your targets and eliminate.” Kalvin ordered. In concert the Warhawk, Supernova and Nova Cat all engaged targets at long range with their full weapons. Kalvin’s Mech and both other Mechs also fired full salvos, the heat in each Mech began to rush upwards, “continue firing” he ordered forcing the heat higher Kalvin noticed fluctuations in his targeting suite. “One, Two and Three, step back” he ordered all three Mechs stepped back opening a hole in the Nova Cat formation as a pair of heavy Jade Falcon Mechs rushed into the gap in the lines they were met by the paired SM1s and Shodens, the first Jade Falcon Mech took an assault barrage from the lead SM1 followed up by twenty-seven high-explosive advanced-tactical-missiles while the second took missiles then an assault autocannon barrage gunning down both Jade Falcon heavies in moments. All along the Nova Cat line Jade Falcons were being hit by the ‘step back’ strategy and though Nova Cat Mechs were falling to Jade Falcon guns they were acceptable losses, the Nova Cats were closing on their prize every minute.
Twenty minutes later the Nova Cats were in positions all around the Overlord making sure that they did not strike the craft, to do so would invite their gunners to become involved in the battle. “Nova Cat Guards Actual to Overlord Actual” Kalvin said “we have secured the ground under your ship. I take your ship, crew and cargo as Isorla for Clan Nova Cat. Prepare to receive boarders.”
“We are Jade Falcon, not Nova Cat, we will defend ourselves with our weapons if you plan to board.”
“If you wish to further dishonour your Clan by involving your DropShip in a ground battle I will end the threat you possess to my forces now by calling in support from my orbiting WarShip, the Path of Honour, an Aegis-class Heavy Cruiser.” Kalvin warned, he wasn’t sure if the WarShip was in position but if it was he didn’t really want to use it, an empty threat if there ever was one he wanted the Mechs.
“Involving a WarShip in ground combat is a great dishonour.”
“It is but this attack is for revenge, not for possessions, those are bonuses. If I am required to I will destroy your craft.” He said coldly, deadly.
“Understood commander, we surrender to you, our loading bays will open soon.” After a few moments the loading bays opened allowing Nova Cat Elementals to enter the craft.
“Claw One to Guards Actual, we hit the mother load commander the bays full of Turkina OmniMechs.” Kalvin’s Elemental commander reported moments later, they’d checked the inventory and found Watch reports were spot on.
“Understood, A prize crew is en route to secure the prize. The First Guards and the Assault Guards are in control of the field.” Kalvin reported, the Jade Falcons were in retreat on most of the fronts the Nova Cat Mechs, Elementals and vehicles were easily holding their own. Within three hours the Nova Cats were fully in command of the vessel, its crew and cargo. With their prizes secured Alpha Galaxy and its prizes were ready to leave Glory returning to the Path of Honour in orbit, the WarShip then escorted them back to the other Nova Cat WarShips at the Nadir Jump Points. From there they would return to Barcella, their revenge and prizes secure.