Fwurg

[Mercury]

120

Two Mandalorian Fleets, 718 Brokar Aaray and 719 Abiik Nynir have entered sector 7 -4, moving straight for the Astrian homeworld. Intercepting these fleets are UDF RIPI 1 and UDF RIPI 2. The fleets have engaged one another as the Union is attempting to prevent the Mandalorian fleets from reaching the Novelia system. Currently the fleets appear to be in a balanced battle.

((OOC: Special condition: due to the current conflict in sector 7 -4, all transportation of goods through the sector has been blocked. This means the Astrian Colonial Authority 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 Stellarian fleets and incoming foreign Fleets need protection to be able to deliver or receive goods.))

[Unified Republic of Darya]

The Daryan expeditionary forces arrived in the sector this turn and double checked there supply lines with the 4th Daryan tradefleet.

After consulting the stellarmaps of the region they went and joined battle with 718 Brokar Aaray and assist the unionfleet fighting them.

((OOC: using the Join-Combat action to engage 718 Brokar Aaray and assist the unionfleet that is fighting them))

[Astrian Colonial Authority]

The Astrian Colonial Navy First Fleet moved to guard the ACA holonet relay in the sector. To allow holonet trade to continue unhindered.

[Mercury]

121

Daryan Forces joined the Union fleet in attacking 718 Brokar Aaray, moving in from a flanking position to give the union fleet an advantage. Though not on the level of the Mandalorian fleet, the unexpected flanking manoeuvre allowed them to get in some solid hits, causing significant damage to the Mandalorian fleet! (1 effectiveness level lost)

Meanwhile, the Astrian Colonial Navy First Fleet successfully protected the ACA Holonet Relays from Mandalorian assaults, destroying several vessels in the process, but nothing that seriously affects the Mandalorians.

[Mercury]

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

[Unified Republic of Darya]

Knowing that on there own they could do very little to the Mandalorian fleet they went of the harassment strategy.

The Daryan Expeditionary Forces poured big capital ship salvo's in to the Mandalorian fleet to prevent them from dodging shots made by the union fleet. Many angry red energy bolts of capital ship fire streaked there way trough the flight-path's of the Mandalorian ships daring the Mandalorians to make one navigation error.

In between the big salvo's the normal operations of bombing and dogfighting kept going. It was clear that the Daryans would not stop until the Mandalorians ran like cowards or were blasted to atoms.

((OOC: i forgot to mention my formation for the battle. I will use switch fro mstadard formation to barrage formation. http://www.fwurg.net/dokuwiki/rules:battle_formations))

[Astrian Colonial Authority]

The Astrian Colonial Navy First Fleet held their position and kept defending the Holonet relay operations.

[Mercury]

122

Union forces in the sector continue to barrage the Mandalorians, with Daryan forces bringing on the pain, further damaging Brokar Aaray (MF 718) with another effectiveness level lost.

The Daryan assault however has not gone unnoticed, resulting in a focused fire campaign by the other Mandalorian fleet, damaging key vessels in the Daryan forces and causing their fleet to also lose an effectiveness level.

The Astrian Colonial Authority has managed to keep the sectors holonet systems operational, but other trade is still impossible.

[Astrian Colonial Authority]

The Astrian Colonial Navy First Fleet continues it's guard duty, while the Colonial Navy Second Fleet has taken up defensive positions in the Novalia System.

[Unified Republic of Darya]

After the pounding the Daryans took form the other Mandalorian fleet a encrypted message went to form the Daryan Expeditionary forces to UDF RIPI 1 and UDF RIPI 2.

Comerads, now we have there attention feel free to pound them when there not expecting it. We can take a few more hits like this so shoot them to bits while we keep them busy.

Seeing that the heat got a bit to much for the fleet to comfortably handle The Daryan Expeditionary forces went back to a more defensive formation. Besides this action the Daryans seemed not interested in running and kept up there harassment on the Mandalorians. They tried to make sure that the Mandalorian took as much damage as possible from UDF RIPI 1 and UDF RIPI 2.

((OOC: change formation back to standard formation. still trying to take away advantage actions on the madalorians.))

[Mercury]

123

The Astrian Colonial Navy First Fleet continued guarding the sectors holonet relay stations while the Second Fleet protected the homeworld from any Mandalorian raids. Fortunately, none of these appeared.

Meanwhile the Daryan forces continued their harassment of the Mandalorian fleets, staying more defensive this time in an effort to distract, something the Union forces gladly took advantage of. The Mandalorians were a bit more careful now though, seemingly regrouping and rethinking their current strategies. As a result, neither side suffered any damage this turn.

[Astrian Colonial Authority]

The Astrian Colonial Fleets switched position using a well planned strategy that never left the Novalia System or the sectors holonet relay unguarded.

The Colonial Navy First Fleet was now guarding the Novalia System, while the Second Fleet Guarded the relay.

[Unified Republic of Darya]

The daryans tried everything they could with keeping the attention of the Mandalorians split.

They did there best to coordinate with the union forces. Lending there fire power to join in on a barrage of capital ship fire here a bombing run there and fighter harras in a different place. They were every where trying to be that little irritant that just might make it a little to hot for the mandalorians to fully commit and give an advantage to the union forces fighting on there side.

[Mercury]

124

The Daryans noble willingness to sacrifice for the Union was beginning to take its toll on the Daryan vessels as they lost another level of effectiveness. The sacrifice was not in vain however, as Union fleets were spared and managed to cause some crucial losses to the Abiik Nynir fleet (MF 719), resulting in a loss of one effectiveness level.

The Astrian switcharoo was successful in defending the Novelia system and keeping the Holonet safe.

[Unified Republic of Darya]

The Daryan fleet had taken some severe beatings but it seemed that they did not want to give up quite yet.

Comrades, we will do one more attack run on the Mandalorians and then we will probably have to disengage if our estimates are correct. It was an honour fighting by your side and we hope we have helped you enough.

After this message was sent to the Union fleets the Daryans waited for the opportune moment and then poured all there fire into the cluster of ships they believed held the command vessel of the Brokar Aaray fleet.

[Astrian Colonial Authority]

The Astrian Colonial Navy Second Fleet continued their guard duty, while the First Fleet started to get ready for combat. The Astrian Colonial Navy First Fleet would join the fight next turn.

[Mercury]

125

The Daryan forces were strongly inclined to sell their hide at a high price, sending out full power blasts into the Brokar Aaray fleet, and causing it to lose yet another effectiveness level. But they did not come out of that fire unscathed as a raid by Mandalorian fighters put a heavy dent in the Daryan forces, and they too lost another level of effectiveness.

[Lady-Fleet Admiral Lythia Nethorius]

The Union and Daryan fleets received a message from the Novalia System.

"Union and Daryan fleets, check your fire, friendlies in bound. Sorry we're late to the party."

Moments later the Astrian Colonial Navy First Fleet dropped out of hyperspace. The Daryan fleet received another message.

"Daryan fleet this is Lady-Fleet Admiral Lythia Nethorius, we'll cover your retreat. Thanks for helping."

The First Fleet moved to cover the daryans as they retreated and opened fire with the same goal in mind.

Meanwhile the guarding the Holonet relay, the Astrian Colonial Navy Second Fleet started preparing for combat and started evacuating the personnel on the relay.

[Unified Republic of Darya]

Good you are just in time to take over then. Good luck and good fight. was the reply form the Daryans.

The Daryans began to disengage with fighter wings coming in close to there carriers and non hyper capable ships docking with the vessels that brought them. Whilst they were doing that some vessels were also dropping mines to make it harder for the Mandelorians to follow the Daryans and finish them off.

[Mercury]

126

The new Astrian arrivals covered the Daryan retreat, beating off a Mandalorian raid with the aid of Daryan mines before taking their place at the front. Besides the raids, things turned remarkably quiet at the front, as if the enemy was preparing for a large offensive...

One unfortunate effect of the Astrian repositioning was the disruption of Holonet services: Mandalorian jamming droids, no longer held at bay by the Second Fleet, disrupted the majority of traffic, destroying the last trade connections the Astrian Colonial Authorities had managed to hold up.

[Lady-Fleet Admiral Lythia Nethorius]

"Union Fleet, we'll provide defensive and support fire. Feel free to blow the enemy to bits with heavy barrage." The Astrian Colonial Navy First Fleet took up position to defend the much more powerful fleets of the Union so they could concentrate on offence while their smaller, lesser fleet guarded them from surprise attacks.

Meanwhile the Second Fleet started to move towards the Hiocan sector to aid the Union Fleets there.

[Mercury]

127

The big offensive that Union forces feared would come arrived this turn as Mandalorian vessels began pushing straight for the Novelia system!

Union Forces would not allow them to head there easily however, and the Abiik Nynir (MF 719) lost in effectiveness, for the price of the Astrian Colonial Navy First Fleet also losing a level.

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

[Lady-Fleet Admiral Lythia Nethorius]

When it became clear the Mandalorians where making a push for Novalia the Astrian Colonial Navy First Fleet dug it's heels into the proverbial ground. They where not going to let the enemy just waltz into their home.

Even though they where outnumbered and outgunned they where determined to stop the Mandalorians before they could reach the Novalia System, or at least buy as much time as possible to give Novalia time to prepare.

"Union Fleets, hold your ground with us or pull back to the Novalia System. I leave the choice up to you."

A channel was opened to all friendly ships still there.

"This is Lady-Fleet Admiral Lythia Nethorius to all ships. I'm not going to sugar coat it, we're playing against the odds here. No matter how this ends we will lose people. We all signed on knowing this. Our job is to make sure the enemy pays the highest possible price for every life they take. Our job is to make sure that for every ship we lose the enemy loses three. Our job is to make sure that even if the ACA is destroyed those Mandalorian bastards won't even have enough people to attack the rest of the Union.

We are the first and last line of defence and I can't think of any way I'dd rather have it. We are the ACN First Fleet, Goddesses help the enemy that think they can take us."

((OOC: Since it wasn't specified the Mandalorians already reached the Novalia System I'm assuming they haven't yet and can (theoretically) be stopped from doing so.))

[Storyteller (Elmer)]

((OOC: As discussed in this thread, a fleet engaged in battle is not allowed to move the battle to another location. Though it might be that Mercury is/was not aware of this. (I asked it after he made these posts).))

[Mercury]

((OOC: I would argue these fleets are not actually moving the location of the battle - it was in Sector 7 -4 and remains there. I understand this is a bit iffy as some battles are in a specific system and others generally in a sector. Regardless, I envision the push to the Novelia system as local tactical manoeuvring, similar to jumping onto a rock while fighting in a plain.

The action they took can indeed be intercepted, as you have done.))

128

The ACN First Fleet kept their position, Union vessels standing with them. Fighting for every lightyear, the battle was tense and the heroic defence managed to prevent the Mandalorians from reaching the Novalia system this turn.

There was no doubt that they would arrive there next turn however - scans quickly revealed a large number of Mandalorian vessels moving in to support the current attack.

((OOC: The following fleets have arrived in Sector 7 -4:

• Ori Naast (MF 279)
• Kote Ka'rase (MF 26)
• Ne'tra Hettir (MF 315)
• Mir'Shupur Vod (MF 1389)

))