Once More, With Feeling

[Vinyl]

IIRC we did a time skip or two because everyone was waiting for things to happen. IMO we're probably closing on the second year.

[cats]

Novan/Alliance Rendezvous

"I will accept your gift on behalf of the Alliance." The admiral said.

The linguist translated in a heavy western Mundeshi accent, lingering on the previous syllable.

He motioned for him to cut the channel and turned to speak with the rest of the bridge crew, "A generous offer, no doubt. We will take the ship to be dissected."

===========================

Butik/NR skirmish point

Edrenthanis glanced at the comm officer, who nodded and began a damage report. "Captain Lashan Hakal's fleet, 0034 Gnash, was almost completely eradicated save three FTL-capable Kaal-III-class corvettes, two badly damaged; a light Hadn-class runner, minimal damage; and one Neroh-class destroyer, non-critical damage. Twelve total of the Gnash fleet were destroyed. Six before the missile strike, six during. Four were able to partially evacuate. The newest ship is the Hadn-class, all others were no less than fifty years old. Most were scheduled for decommission. Of the Guardian's eighteen, we suffered two losses from the nuclear barrage: the destroyers Ec'Batiel and Utik'Batiel, lost with all hands. We also have two with internal damaged and three with superficial damage.

"Send word to Butik command, include the exit vectors of the enemy ships, they may be able to track. Contact a salvage fleet to clean up-" several explosions around the combat sphere interrupted the admiral. "... The mess."

"We aren't going to pursue, admiral?"

"No. Our force is needed at the periphery. Order the remaining Gnash ships to accompany us; we need replacements."

"Aye."

[Professor Fenway]

-Anklon Research Installation-

-Rivia Prime-

Lights flickered to life on the massive machine as power was slowly fled through it. The center pulsed and the containment shield engaged. Soon afterwards, the large titanium plate in the center of it- scorched and marked by an impact- lifted off the bottom and began hovering in the center of the chamber. Lasers began criss-crossing it as Gordon Alieon poked through the data feed and directed the lasers. He typed several commands on the console directly next to him, changing the output of the lasers, while several assistants in red and white coats looked at smaller samples. One of the monitors blinked.

"Interesting," Gordon muttered. He looked at the data feed on the monitor and fed it to a secondary computer bank. "These scorch marks indicate plasma burns- but the impact itself is a kinetic one." He turned to another console behind him and inputted multiple data points and entries into a simulator program. Plasma shield. Kinetic weapon, 0.1c. Titanium plating. He ran the simulation. The screen began calculating. "They appear to be using kinetics," he mumbled, "Plasma shields are designed to stop those specifically." He paused. The simulation completed calculations and played- the round was shown slamming into the shield, gathering a large amount of plasma around it. As intended. But then it kept going at a fraction of the speed, and hit the ship plating, still covered in plasma, still being vaporized. "But the plasma field is only amplifying the effect. Because the round is moving so fast it slams the shield into the ship itself." He pushed away from the console and looked back at the plating, still floating in the center.

He turned back to the console after a thought struck him. He raised the radius of the shield- same effect. It still punched through. He raised it further, no change. He then angled it slightly-turning the shield into a wedge more than a sphere that followed the ship's contours. Which produced an effect- deflection. While still punching through, the angled shield knocked it off the original course somewhat. Which decreased impact size. He reduced the radius and angled the shield further until he produced a satisfactory result: 10% simulated deflection. Some shots would simply bounce off the shield rather than punch through. Like a skipping stone, in a way. Assuming they hit the right way. He had no way of knowing how effective it would be.

He pushed the changes off to command with a short message- Modified plasma shield configuration: lowered radius, increased angle relative to spacecraft. Enhances kinetic deflection: further testing is needed.

He turned away from the console when another one, previously untouched, began blinking. He rolled over to it and looked at the report. An analysis one. They had come to call the enemy the Valius, based on reports on architectural style and weapon types. It seemed the Valius' (Butik)shields were now giving off signatures more akin to human EM generators, but this was a wild guess. But they had increased in raw power output since the first engagement.

_______________________________________
The Planet Cracker is nearing completion ahead of schedule.

[Vinyl]

With CNBCm seeing success, especially after the release of the UIS, the network is being spread across the ME and the stations serialized.

[Error]

'Recalled why?'

The comms officer shrugged helplessly. 'Something about the corps trying to go independent. Violently.'

Mathias' irritation showed through. 'We get sent here to be diplomatic and help this lot in their strike operations, and then get recalled? Bloody hell. Set course for Novus. Charge ISD. And somebody get on the link to the Alliance and inform them of our departure and reason for.'

- - -
Message to the Alliance group, from carrier Hades
-Apologies for suddem departure. Recalled to conflict in the Commonwealth. This vessel will return to aid you in operations after conflict is resolved there.

-Commander Mathias Surel
- - -

[ACH0225]

Strigiforme forces have taken 2 additional separatist systems. These systems, important in the separatist supply chain, represent a major blow to their ability to produce or purchase ships. Their tactics have shifted from the limited fleet engagements earlier, using modified civilian ships and captured military ships to almost entirely guerrilla tactics. Strigiforme fleet elements have begun moving towards the enemy's provisional capital of Kyytraviis, renamed Aurelium by the separatist.

[Ivan2006]

[meta]Macaian scientists have managed to complete a prototype for a Psionic "tractor beam"-device. First concepts of weaponizing the technology by focusing a large ammount of energy output on a small spot are being evaluated. Designs for psionic thrusters are being more detailed and prototyping will likely start soon.[/meta]

The prototype of the Egriea-class strike ship has been completed and is undergoing trials.
3 more Ray-class attack crafts, 2 frigates and one destroyer have been commissioned. (updated ship roster table)

With access to both a large number of resources through the mining contract with Hexalan and a large number of potential crew in comparison to other factions, the ME is constructing additional shipyards and naval training centers to grow their fleet faster.

[Archduke Daynel, PhD]

Rebel forces keep growing stronger, and are feared to soon outnumber actual military forces. The rebels appear to be avoiding collateral damage and loss of civilian lives. This has been taken into consideration by the strategies employed by the Technotronic military, as they doubt the need to worry about loss of transport lines.

Due to rebel attacks on multiple scientific facilities, the planned research on artificial gravity generators using technology based on the gravitational repulse drives has been slowed down.

[Error]

--High Orbit of Elysium, 13:55 Local Time--
--2192/06/20--

Commander Lorne Kassaan gripped the tactical display as the ship cleared interspace.

'Contact. Contact. Twenty-four, repeat two-four, hostiles. Six frigate weight, remainder corvette. Moving to intercept us.' the XO reported coolly.

Picking up the comms handset, Lorne connected to the flight control deck. 'Launch standby fighters. Ready reserve fighters.' Handing up the phone, he turned to his executive. 'Bring main and defensive weapons online. Have both battlecarriers orient to engage.'

The massive ships rotated in space, fighters firing from launch tubes along their hangars. Broadsides coming to bear, their guns warmed and point-defenses spat streams of metal to intercept icnoming missiles.

'Range three hundred klicks. Fighters engaging.'

Lorne watched the displays as enemy contacy indicators began vanishing rapidly. He frowned.

'This isn't a fight. What is it, a distraction?' his executive voiced his thoughts. 'Tactical, long-range sweep.'

'No contacts except what we've already seen, sir.'

Lorne raised an eyebrow. Seriously?
- - -
'Jammer, Pathfinder; how many torps left?'

'Pathfinder, Jammer; two. Target?'

'Target alpha-two-one. Engage at your discretion.'

'Engaging. Locked. Birds away.'

Captain Raul 'Pathfinder' DeMarco grinned as the torpedoes blew yet another 'corp-vette' (as the younger pilots called them) into a mass of scrap and burning gasses. Brining his fighter arounds, he locked on to a frigate that was half-heartedly spraying flak at his squadron.

'Pathfinder. Birds away on alpha-two.'

Blam.

'All squadrons, Pegasus. Return to base, battlecarriers will engage remaining targets. Launching Raptor Squadron for CAP.'

'Pegasus, Pathfinder. Copy, wilco. All fighters, come on home.'

Pathfinder raised an eyebrow as space lit up with the arrival of the CSN's three carriers.

'Late to the party, lads?' he muttered, careful not to activate the comm unit.

'Pathfinder, Jammer.'

'Jammer, Pathfinder. Go.'

'The hell are we gonna find paint for all these kills?'

[Vinyl]

Production of ships is drastically increasing, with a dozen ships expected to be operational at month's end, and will gradually increase as production warms up a bit. There has yet been no word for when the presses will cease. Also coming online in earnest soon is arms and vehicle manufacture. Surplus will start mounting, it is expected, by year's end.

Recruitment is up 10% from last quarter, most predictions expecting it only to rise.

At first hardly noticeable, it seems several million Hexalani have moved their place of residence to their growing neighborhoods in the ME.

Following the wild success of the UIS, several modules are being rolled out to make interface with Macaian hardware smoother and higher quality. UIS-minded formats of Hexalani and Mavaian media and data are also being introduced as well.

After receiving a spotlight on a foreign news site, CNBC is receiving heavy criticism for its portrayal of Novan characters. They've responded that their portrayal is actually "very accurate" and that their implied mental deficiencies are "wholly intended".

There have been many allegations of secret meetings being held between the ME and Hexalan, though neither nation has yet made a comment regarding them.

Having loudly voiced their concerns of the "Hexa-fication" of the Macaians, a group regarded as radical and extremists has garnered great attention. Neither nation has issued a statement yet.

[Ivan2006]

The ME announces that aside from regular diplomacy and buiseness negotiations, there have been no official meetings between ME and Hexalan representatives.
The controversy on the portrayal of Novans by CNBC has caused heated discussion among the Macaian people and media. Government-funded media and the government itself are staying neutral in the debate as of now.
The MAcaian government has also announced that despite the large wave of Hexalani immigrants, the "Hexa-fication" of Macai is not a threat, as the Hexalani are not interfering with Macaian culture.

[Error]

A group within Novan space referring to itself as the Elysium State has released part of a press release, claiming their alliance of corporation has broken away from the Commonwealth.

Cut off at the source, however, and a CSN broadcast has sent out the details of their attempted breakaway, with a note that a government statement would follow.

Novan reporting group Telescope News has replied to the Hexalani 'insults' to their people with the following:

"They have every right to make fun of anyone they wish. That said, they're hardly entitled to complain if we base some of our own satire on them. We at TN aren't sure what everyone is so worked up about."

[Archduke Daynel, PhD]

Technotronic authorities report that rebels have taken over multiple research facilities. It is feared that the majority of scientists at the locations have been killed by the very violent and dangerous rebels. However, the military is still holding against the rebellion, and still has the rebels outnumbered.

[meta]
Rebel forces have taken over the majority of Technotronic research facilities. All scientists who swear loyalty to the new authorities have been allowed to keep their jobs and keep on with their projects with an increased pay, while those who have denied the offer have been fired and will be considered traitors until the end of the rebellion.

Thanks to the aid from the Macaians, the rebels are standing strong against the Technotronic military, and are now outnumbering them 10 to 8.
[/meta]

[Vinyl]

[meta]Hexalani freighters have begun covertly dispatching unmarked (noncolored, logos removed, etc) armor and weaponry to the rebels in the TTI.[/meta]

[Ivan2006]

The ME has announced a project to create a new weapon specifically tailored to Macaian robot infantry. Although not officially confirmed yet, it is said that there is Hexalani involvement in the research process.