Fwurg

[Mercury]

120

Two Mandalorian Fleets, 634 Takisir Adenn and 637 Dral Tracyn have entered sector 7 -6, moving straight for the Hiocan homeworld. Intercepting these fleets are UDF RIG 1 and UDF RIPI 3. The fleets have engaged one another as the Union is attempting to prevent the Mandalorian fleets from reaching the My'enru system. Currently the fleets appear to be in balance.

((OOC: Special condition: due to the current conflict in sector 7 -6, all transportation of goods through the sector has been blocked. This means the Hiocan Society cannot sell goods on the open market, nor send or receive goods through trade fleets or the holonet while the battle lasts. This condition will be lifted when the Union Fleets cause the Mandalorian Fleets to retreat from the sector.

Fortunately, there is a method of allowing trade to proceed safely: military fleets in the sector can be assigned to provide escorts, lifting the limitation. A military fleet can protect [up to 2 trade fleets] OR [up to 2 holonet relays (i.e. 1000 (:holonet-capacity) ) and all Open Market trade]. More fleets can be assigned to cover more trade capacity, so three fleets could for example escort 4 trade fleets and protect 2 holonet relays and all Open market trade. If a fleet is assigned to escort duty, they cannot participate in the battle with the Mandalorian Fleets in the sector.

Fleets that are on escort duty must have the Defensive status or higher. They do not count as being in combat, but can be attacked if there are unengaged Mandalorian Fleets in the sector.

Note that this condition goes two ways: both outgoing Hiocan fleets and incoming foreign Fleets need protection to be able to deliver or receive goods.))

[Mercury]

121

The Mandalorian and Union Fleets continue to battle one another in the sector. So far neither appears to have the advantage, but trade through the sector is seriously threatened.

[Mercury]

((OOC: I made a mistake. I accidentally listed the fleets here as 718 Brokar Aaray and 719 Abiik Nynir, but they should have been 634 Takisir Adenn and 637 Dral Tracyn. I have edited all posts in this thread to fix the mistake.))

[Mercury]

122

Mandalorian and Union forces have entered a cat and mouse game where both sides keep one another in balance - Takisir Adenn (MF 634) has lost one effectiveness level in the continued exchange, but the UDF RIPI 3 has also lost several key vessels, resulting in a loss of one effectiveness level.

All trade through the sector remains impossible.

[Mercury]

123

Forces on both sides continue their dance with minor losses on both sides. Union forces made a notable victory conquering a heavily defended asteroid from the Mandalorians, but were disappointed to find that the asteroid contained little of value, the Mandalorians having apparently evacuated whatever advantage they hoped to gain from it already.

Mandalorian Forces meanwhile made an attack run on the My'enru system. A small number of Mandalorian dropships and two corvettes managed to break through the systems defences, going as far as to land successfully on Erau. Local ground forces found the dropships and one of the corvettes and neutralized them, though the second corvette has gone missing in the Erau swamps. It is suggested perhaps the swamp swallowed the vessel and Hiocan ground forces continue to be vigilant.

Neither side suffered losses significant enough to reduce their effectiveness.

[Mercury]

124

UDF RIPI 3 took some significant hits from the Mandalorians this turn, losing two effectiveness levels. However, the fleets vessels did not give up their lives cheaply and damaged many a Mandalorian battlecruiser, reducing the effectiveness of both Mandalorian fleets by one level. Trade through the sector remains impossible.

[Mercury]

125

The battle on both sides is intensifying, with Mandalorian forces pushing hard on the offence, swapping territory with Union forces in a series of skirmishes. UDF RIG 1 and the Dral Tracyn (MF 637) face off in a major battle over a gas cloud, with both sides suffering losses and losing a level of effectiveness.

[Mercury]

126

A lull has formed in the fighting as both sides carry out emergency repairs. Minimal skirmishes between fighter patrols result in low casualties on both sides. Trade through the sector remains impossible.

[Mercury]

127

The lull in the fighting did not hold as Mandalorian forces began a big push towards the My'enru system.

Takisir Adenn (MF 634) and Dral Tracyn (MF 637) both lost an effectiveness level as Union forces rallied to stop them, but both the UDF RIG 1 and UDF RIPI 3 took hits in the battle, both also losing an effectiveness level.

Union Analists made an additional observation: the Mandalorians would not make such a push unless they were expecting to receive backup.

[Senator Danar Tassar]

the holo channel started to be a chaos of panicking officers as the Mandalorians broke through:

"This ... UDF-RIPI3, our ships ... several hull breaches ... We're ...enting atmosphere ... "
"...Ship down, repeat ship down"
"We can't hold much longaaAAAAHHH!! ...... *noice*"
"... They're breaking through ..."
"Where the hell are our reinforcements?!"

Suddenly, several ship dropped out of hyperspace. A whole fleet of ships still shining new with no signs of battle.

"This is Admiral Nas'tro of UDF-AUX2. We heard you needed help. UDF-RIPI3, you can direct all power to engines and shields, we cover your retreat."

"Thi...is UDF-RIPI3, Nas'tro ... you. We ... disengage."

UDF-RIPI3, now incapacitated, diverted all power to engines and shield and started to disengage.

((OOC: UDF-RIPI3 disengages, UDF-AUX2 engages the battle))

[Astrian Colonial Authority]

"Union Fleets, be advised. Friendlies inbound, check your fire." This message was sent on a secure channel to the Union Fleets from the Novalia system.

The Astrian Colonial Navy Second Fleet took up positions with the Union Fleets and provided support for whatever the Union Fleets where doing.

[Mercury]

128

As the UDF-RIPI3 was forced to withdraw from battle, this left the UDF-AUX2 and the ACN Second Fleet on their own to defend against the Mandalorian attack which pushed itself to the edge of the My'enru system.

As the first Mandalorian vessel pierced the Heliosphere, sensors showed a large number of Mandalorian vessels moving in to support the attack.

((OOC: The following fleets have arrived in Sector 7 -6:

• Haran Ibi'tuur (MF 134)
• Tal Vhett (MF 178)
• Ne'tarang (MF 1376)

))

[Hiocan Society]

((OOC: Are they now attacking the planets? I have planetary defense grids, so let me know when they get into action.))

[Mercury]

((OOC: They are currently at the edge of the system, and will be moving in. You can use your planetary defence grids to devastating effect!))

[Hiocan Society]

With the first side of Mandalorian in the My'enry system battle stations of both planetary defenses grids are taken. All systems are doubled checked and made ready to fire. This will be their first use. The planetary defense grid of Hio Yel-gluvayek prepares its long range torpedo's while Erau's Nas-Yel loads the laser beams. The Hiocans let the Mandalorian fleets first close in a bit so they will be trapped between the defense grids and the Union fleets coming in from behind.

After they have cleared the asteroid field and passed Yel the Hiocans do a coordinated attack on the front fleet of the Mandalorians the Haran Ibi'tuur (MF 134). The torpedo's are aiming the cruisers while the lasers are firing on the capital ships.

[Astrian Colonial Authority]

The Astrian Colonial Navy Second Fleet flanked the Mandalorian fleets and launched a barrage of capitol ship fire trying to catch them in a crossfire with either the Union fleets or Hio's defence grid.

[Mercury]

129

The Mandalorian fleets pushed into the My'enru system with force, hitting the fleets in the system and being hit hard by the Hiocan defences.

With their large numbers, the Mandalorians definitely held the advantage, but the Hiocan defences gave them some pause and all they were able to do was damage the UDF RIG 1 and dropping it an effectiveness level before being forced to focus on defences.

Regardless, with the rest of the Union fleets arriving, the battle for My'enru had begun!

[Astrian Colonial Authority]

The ACN Second Fleet knew a task force with jedi would soon be arriving in system and move for Erau. They fired massive barrages in an attempt to clear a path for the task force. leaving the rest of the Mandalorians to the Union Fleets and Hio's defence grid for the moment.

[Senator Danar Tassar]

"This is admiral Nas'tro, UDF RIPI 3, why haven't you retreated yet?"

"The Manda...rians hit us hard ... multiple engine failures ... We ... entering hyperspace shortly."

The moment UDF RIPI 3 retreated from the scene, a large amount of Union fleets entered the My'enru system. 4 Union fleets dropped out of hyperspace and started to open fire on the Mandalorian ships, trying to prevent the Mandalorians from reaching the homeworlds of the Hiocans.

[Mercury]

((OOC: The current battle involves the following fleets on each side, according to my best knowledge, not counting planetary defences.

Mandalorians

• Haran Ibi'tuur (MF 134) -- 1 effectiveness level lost (-0)
• Tal Vhett (MF 178) -- No effectiveness lost
• Takisir Adenn (MF 634) -- 3 effectiveness levels lost (-1)
• Dral Tracyn (MF 637) -- 3 effectiveness level lost (-1)
• Ne'tarang (MF 1376) -- 1 effectiveness level lost (-0)

Union

• UDF RIG 1 -- 2 effectiveness levels lost (-1)
• UDF AUX2 -- No effectiveness lost
• UDF CORPI 1 -- 2 effectiveness levels lost (-1)
• UDF RIG 2 -- 1 effectiveness level lost (-0)
• UDF RIG 3 -- 2 effectiveness levels lost (-1)
• UDF CORE 1 -- No effectiveness lost
• Astrian Colonial Navy Second Fleet -- No effectiveness lost

))

130

With the Union fleets engaging in the battle, the fight got loose in full fierceness! The Union forces held a slight overhand, in no small part thanks to the Hiocan planetary defences, that the Union forces used to maximum advantage.

Both sides suffered mayor damage in the battle: The Haran Ibi'tuur, Tal Vhett, Dral Tracyn and Ne'tarang each lost an effectiveness level, taking the Dral Tracyn out of the fight. On the Union side, the UDF RIG 1, UDF AUX2, UDF RIG 3 and Astrian Colonial Navy Second Fleet each lost an effectiveness level.

[Hiocan Society]

The Hiocans sudden get a mail with detailed information on the Mandalorians from the minister of defence. It showed their weakness. This seems as a good opportunity to test the long range canons and make a coordinated attack. A secured encrypted holonet communication line is set up between Yel-gluvayek and Nas-Yel. The two planetary grids synchronize their systems and pinpoint the weakness of the Haran Ibi'tuur (MF 134). Together their open fire on the Mandalorian fleet, with precise shots the cruisers are disabled and the capital ships are weakened.

[Astrian Colonial Authority]

The ACN Second Fleet also received the intelligence and decided to use it to the fullest. They made a slingshot manoeuvre around the gas giant Yel, or at least that's what it seemed like at first.

While hidden behind the planet, the majority of the capitol ships entered the gas giant's atmosphere. Hiding beneath the clouds preparing for a surprise attack, counting on the radiation and the electromagnetic radiation from lightning storms common to gas giants to hide them.

Meanwhile the remaining capitol ships came back from behind the planet with the carriers and corvettes, launching a massive fighter attack against the reported weak points of the Mandalorians. Getting up close and personal to the enemy ships.

((OOC: According to my data UDF RIG1 had lost 3 effectiveness levels last turn (documentation: here). In my tables for this turn I took the 2 levels what you put up as correct as you can see here. If you made a mistake please notify me so I can correct the tables.))

[Senator Danar Tassar]

The moment the commanders of the Union fleets received the intel about the Mandalorian ships, they immediately relayed the orders to the rest of the fleets: "Alright guys, time to shine! We've gotten some juice intel, so we're hitting them, and we're going to hit them hard!"

All bomber wings were send in to strike the vital parts of the Mandalorian ships, while the fighter wings were providing cover. The destroyers and smaller capital ships recalibrated their guns and aimed at the weak spots of the Mandalorian ships. The entirety of the Union ships used the intelligence of the ministry to its fullest for maximum damage to the Mandalorian ships, while it lasted.

[Mercury]

((OOC: The UDF RIG 1 has indeed lost 3 effectiveness levels))

131

The Hiocan planetary defence grids were blasting through Mandalorians as if it was a duck-hunt, raining death onto the Mandalorian forces with seeming impunity! The Haran Ibi'tuur suffered massive losses, dropping two effectiveness levels and disabling it effectively.

The rest of the Mandalorian fleets fared little better. The combined might of the Union vessels, plus the surprise of the raised intelligence caused massive losses and all Mandalorian fleets lost an effectiveness level except the Dral Tracyn which was too busy withdrawing - as it was already disabled, it mattered little.

The damage inflicted did not come without a price. UDF RIG 1, UDF CORE 1 and UDF AUX2 each lost a level of effectiveness. Amazingly, the Hiocan planetary defences held with minimal damage, even if not from a lack of effort by the Mandalorians.

Seeing the destruction, the Mandalorian forces had little choice. Falling back into a defensive line, the ships withdrew from the My'enru system!

((OOC: The enemy is disengaging and will be out of the sector next turn. They are heading for Sector 6 -6. You can give chase if you wish, but be sure to coordinate - if you are the only fleet giving chase, the Mandalorians are sure to wipe you out for the hell of it.))

[Hiocan Society]

The Hiocan defense grid switch to their long range weapons. They are making coordinated focused attacks on the engines of the big vessels as to slow them down.