Chapter 1 - Hiigara
Fleet Intelligence Personal Log
It is said that dreams are worth dying for. When two dreams collide, the bloodshed can be immense.
Three times the Taiidan Imperialists have invaded, twice reaching Hiigara. This is the fourth time, including the first battle to take Hiigara, that we have fought above the blue bauble we now call home.
The Kuun-Lan has emerged from Hyperspace outside the field of combat. We immediately alerted the Veer-Rak to update our intelligence and find out where we could be most useful with the limited firepower at our disposal.
*Tactical Officer: Tactical Officer online. We need to contact the Veer-Rak to update our Intelligence
Fleet Command: Understood Tactical. Attention Carrier Veer-Rak. This is Kiith Somtaaw mining vessel Kuun-Lan. We have arrived in sector 112 and request targeting data.
Veer-Rak: Good to have you, Kuun-Lan. We've got a strike fleet needing cover in sector 109. Can you assist?
Fleet Command: We'll send everything we've got. But be advised we are a mining vessel. It would be best if we do not have to move directly into the main battle.
Veer-Rak: A strike wing of Firelance frigates are under attack from Taiidani Bombers at this position.
Tactical Officer: Without fighter support the frigates will be destroyed and that flank will collapse. Send out a squad of Acolyte fighters ASAP to assist the frigates.
Jaana soon after dragged me away from Tactical. I must admit, I'm annoyed by Colonel Sareni's tendency to state the obvious. While many of the Somtaaw were Sleepers in the journey to Hiigara, I think everyone knows that Ion frigates are ineffective against fighters and bombers.
Recons were sent on a circular path around the Kuun-Lan while a flight of nine Acolytes were put into production, along with an additional two Workers. The two Workers that accompanied us to Hiigara were sent to begin harvesting a local patch of asteroids.
The first Worker and five Acolytes were finished (and launched) when we detected a flight of Taiidan Interceptors (through the sensor reports of the Veer-Rak, which was providing support for the battle group involved in an intense conflict with a Taiidan Heavy Cruiser, a pair of Destroyers and three Ion frigates, as well as assorted fighters).
The Interceptors immediately broke off from combat and started at full speed toward the Kuun-Lan. They were apparently investigating our hyperspace signature and to assertain what threat we would be. (Tactical echoed this theory as well, which shows that even if she's a tad distant and has a problem stating the obvious, she does have potential.)
Captain Sjaar immediately moved the Kuun-Lan closer to the Workers and the patch of meteors that they were harvesting. The Kuun-Lan is well-armed, and easily a match for even a sizeable fighter swarm. Our Acolytes, while a tad faster and more maneuverable than Taiidani Interceptors, are outgunned and have thinner armor than their foes. (Fortunately, the Somtaaw are more likely to encounter Turanic Raiders, whose fighter craft is weaker than the Acolyte, than Taiidan Imperialists.)
Nine Acolytes were built by the time the Taiidan arrived. They immediately engaged the Interceptors, who ignored the Kuun-Lan and Acolytes in order to attack our Workers. The Acolytes focused their firepower on one Interceptor at a time; in under a minute, all five Taiidani fighters were space dust. One Worker had suffered light armor depletion but nothing serious.
Work on a Processor started soon after, along with five additional Acolytes. Alpha Squadron was dispatched to assist the endangered Ion frigates. (Yes, I know. The name doesn't catch the imagination, as did Wraith Squadron or Hammer Squadron... but the Somtaaw are not warriors. They're engineers and miners. They would be happy if the Taiidan never attacked us again. Still, Alpha Squadron? I'll have to talk to Captain Sjaar after all this is through... giving our fighter Squadrons interesting names helps build a sense of pride that helps the fighters work together and stay alive in the field.)
Jaana had been rather quiet. I now know she had another of her visions, though I must admit to having been distracted and not recognizing the symptoms. Captain Sjaar must have noticed, however, for she spoke briefly to him and he immediately started work on a Heavy Tug. The Heavy Tug (or as the crews piloting them like to call them, Ramming Frigates) is an older design, from back on Kharak. The Somtaaw have modified it with improved technologies and adding a cutting laser to the bow. It's primarily used to push asteroids out of thick clusters of asteroids where Workers cannot safely work. However, some brazen souls, finding themselves under attack by Turanic Raiders and not wanting to lose the valuable asteroids they had discovered, found that they are also quite useful in destroying enemy corvettes, as well as pushing smaller frigates around. Jaana dragged me off the bridge and let me know that we were taking command of the Ramming Frigate.
Maybe I should rephrase that. She was captaining the frigate. I got to go along for the ride and stop annoying the bridge crew.
What happened next is amusing, but quite in character with my wife. As soon as we launched, she immediately set course for the inner proximity sensor belt, where no enemy ships were located.
Tactical Officer: Major Jaana, you are moving out of position. Please return to the Kuun-Lan until we need you.
Major Jaana: Sorry, Tactical, I cannot comply with that order. Pilot, remain on course for the sensor grid. We'll be needed there.
Tactical Officer: Jaana, you are not needed there. There are two wings of fighters currently patrolling that sector, and no sign of enemy action. Return to the Kuun-Lan. Now.
Major Jaana: Sorry, Sareni. I'm telling you, we're needed there. If I wait until you realize that, it'll be too late.
Tactical Officer: Damn it Jaana! Colonel Kaalal. Make your wife turn that ship around right now. She's relieved of command.
Colonel Kaalal: Colonel Sareni, I have no more control over my wife than you do. You should realize that considering how often she turned my life over on my ear on the journey to Hiigara.
Tactical Officer: By Sajuuk's Sword! Jaana! Turn around now! Pilot Joyren, I order you to turn that ship around right now.
Fleet Command: Belay that order. Major Jaana is in command of the the frigate Vision Quest. If she feels we are needed out there, then she can go out there.
Tactical Officer: But...
Fleet Command: That's an order, Sareni. We have more important things to deal with right now. Jaana knows what she's doing.
I reviewed the tapes of what happened after we returned (eventually) to the Kuun-Lan. Alpha Squadron had reached the Firelance frigates, and Captain Sjaar ordered them to concentrate their fire on the trio of Interceptors providing fighter cover (apparently the remaining Interceptors had been destroyed when they initially destroyed the fighters protecting the Strike wing). Again, by focusing firepower, they were able to destroy the Interceptors without suffering any damage. The remaining bombers (around a dozen) were scattered, not attacking in formation or concentrating their attacks on any particular ship; I suspect the Taiidani were doing this more to torment the crews of the frigates than any other reason.
But then, I've always said the Taiidani are insane. Though the Taiidani Republic is fortunately less extreme (and also not trying to destroy us every few years).
As Alpha Squadron tracked down and killed every last Taiidani bomber, the Veer-Rak contacted the Kuun-Lan and requested some additional aid.
Veer-Rak: Attention KUUN-LAN. The first Imperialist attack wiped out our sensor grid. We need you to scout enemy positions with your Recon ships. We are planning a counterattack.
Alpha Squadron and Beta Squadron started toward the region indicated to provide backup for the Recons in case they found anything. Meanwhile, our three Recons started toward the sensor shadow. Within a minute, we discovered Taiidani ships.
Tactical Officer: We have picked up a convoy of enemy Resourcers with escorts in this area. They must be re-supplying the Imperialist attack fleet. Engage and destroy them.
The Recons remained outside the sensor range of the enemy mining ships; there were a trio of enemy Defenders located there. (In recent years the Defenders have become quite potent, with an increase in firepower and armor. While they are still slower than sand slugs and easily targetted even by Ion frigates, they are pure death to other fighters.) Alpha and Beta Squadrons went in on an attack vector, focusing firepower on one Defender at a time. Beta Squadron suffered moderate damage while Alpha Squadron suffered only light damage from the Defenders on the first pass.
Unfortunately, Fleet Command misjudged one of the explosions, which left the third Defender damaged but still a threat. Three Acolytes were severely damaged before the Acolytes managed to turn and destroy the remaining fighter.
The most severly damaged Acolytes started to return to the Kuun-Lan, while the remaining Acolytes started attack runs on the Taiidan mining ships. Each ship was briefly attacked to disrupt harvesting efforts (and ensure that more resources would be left to our own Workers, which were enroute to the meteor belt), before the Acolytes focused their fire on the mining ship closest to them.
During this time, a second Taiidani squadron attacked our Workers. The Processor did a fine job of providing covering fire, and managed to destroy three of the Taiidan Interceptors. The remaining two were taken out by the returning Beta Squadron.
The Somtaaw do not have corvette-class ships. The primary reason for this is there is insufficient room in the hanger bay to store corvette class ships. However, for the past few months the Somtaaw have (off and on) been researching a way to link the Acolytes together, which would result in a small turretless corvette. The initial design for the Acolyte was created with the view of eventually upgrading the fighters so they can link in the field, without having to dock with the Kuun-Lan. Final research on this was resumed and would soon be complete.
Alpha Squadron succeeded in destroying two mining ships before they detected a Taiidani Carrier in the area. The remaining mining ships fled toward it for repairs. At least 12 Defenders were surrounding the Carrier (which by itself would likely tear apart our fighter wings). Alpha Squadron remained out of range of the Carrier and waited for the mining ships to emerge again.
I'm not sure why the Taiidani did not send out extra fighters to deal with our Acolytes. They did not even send any of their Defender escorts. Instead, the mining ships were sent out and each was destroyed in turn. More proof that the Taiidani are insane.
The Engineering teams just finished the final research as the Acolytes were taking out the last Taiidani mining ships. Beta Squadron underwent a refit allowing them to link together, and an additional Acolyte and two new ACVs (Acolyte Corvette Vessels) were built. Initial tests were starting when a new threat appeared, one that Jaana had forseen.
A pair of Taiidani Multigun corvettes and two Squadrons of Interceptors were detected by the sensor web separating Hiigara from the conflict. Tactical immediately sent out a message to all Somtaaw ships. Fortunately, (due to Jaana) we were in position to deal with the threat.
Tactical Officer: Warning! The proximity sensor net is under attack in sector 110. If the net fails, the Taiidan force can run their entire fleet through the hole. We must defend the net immediately.
Jaana immediately ordered us to engage the enemy corvettes, while the two Hiigaran Interceptor Squadrons raced up to attack the enemy fighters. Beta Squadron also scrambled, moving at full speed to assist us, while Alpha Squadron returned to the Kuun-Lan (which was being repositioning to decrease the time needed for Alpha Squadron to dock and undergo repairs and refits).
While the Ramming Frigate may lack in effective weapondry (having only an arc-laser for cutting into asteroids or enemy ships), the front of the frigate is heavily armored and reinforced. The first Multigun corvette didn't know what it it; it is doubtful that even if the Taiidani used ejection systems (which they don't in a foolish belief that their warriors will fight harder even when the ship's almost dead because they cannot escape) that anyone would have survived impact with the Vision Quest.
The second corvette and a Squadron of Taiidani Interceptors immediately turned their guns on us, while the remaining squadron finished off a second Proximity Sensor. Fortunately, the two patrolling Hiigaran squadrons reached our position and started firing upon the second Squadron; while this left the Spirit Quest alone to face the remaining Taiidani fighters, the sensor web is a higher priority (during this battle at least) than a lone frigate. Also, it is doubtful that the Interceptors realized the lack of weapondry on the Vision Quest.
We succeeded in destroying the second Multigun corvette and immediately started retreating from the battlefield (toward the approaching Beta Squadron). The Taiidani Interceptors followed us initially, but then returned to the battlefield where the Hiigaran squadrons were starting to get the upper hand. Jaana and I briefly considered going back, but damage reports showed a couple of fires that were just now being brought under control, and engine efficiency had dropped 12%. Armor depletion was at 62%.
Beta Squadron continued past us and was able to to catch the Taiidan from behind. Unfortunately, the Hiigaran fighters still suffered massive losses, and only had a total of 3 fighters left, all badly damaged.
We were docking the Vision Quest with the Kuun-Lan when the Veer-Rak contacted us again:
Veer-Rak: Our forces have taken the upper hand. The Imperials are pulling back. One of their damaged Cruisers is in this area.
Tactical Officer: Track it down and make sure it never threatens Hiigara again.
Unfortunately, while we were doing well against the Taiidan, several of the other kiith's ships were badly damaged. While the Kuun-Lan had a nice reserve of resources available, the Veer-Rak was out of resources and unable to build additional bombers to deal with the burning Cruiser.
All Acolytes linked together to form two flights of ACVs, while additional ACVs were built, up to the maximum that the computers of the Kuun-Lan could effectively handle. The Vision Quest underwent emergency repairs in the main hanger bay while the Kuun-Lan approached the battle where the Veer-Rak was located (and the Heavy Cruiser had last been seen). Recons went ahead and located the Cruiser, which had eight Defenders providing fighter cover.
The Vision Quest launched and the two flights of reinforced ACVs formed up to escort her. We continued on an intercept course with the Taiidan Cruiser (which appears to have had damaged its hyperdrive engines in the fight, as it was trying to escape using its fusion drive instead of hyperspacing out).
As we approached the Taiidan Cruiser, Alpha and Beta Squadrons went ahead and engaged the Defenders. With the added mass of the second Acolyte giving them more support, the ACVs proved a bit more resilient to enemy fire, and the Defenders were soon destroyed. However, the Cruiser would prove to be more dangerous.
The Cruiser was armed with the new energy cannons, an innovation born of the plasma bombs used in bombers and Assault frigates. While the energy cannons are slower than traditional mass drivers, they can accurately track their target, including fighters. Several ACVs were struck by cannon fire from the Cruiser, and had to retreat out of range, and wait for the Vision Quest to arrive.
We approached from behind and rammed near the rear turret. The arc-laser proved quite effective against the hull of the Cruiser, and we must have damaged the energy cannon system as they did not fire upon our ACVs when they came closer to add their fire to the mix. The Taiidan cruiser died soon after; fortunately, the front blast shield that the Vision Quest uses to ram asteroids or ships protected us from the shockwave, though several ACVs suffered moderate damage from the explosion.
The Vision Quest joined the Hiigaran fleet in attacking the remaining Taiidani Destroyers while the ACVs underwent repairs. We did not score any additional kills; the Taiidan Imperialists finally activated their hyperdrives and fled from Hiigaran space.
All that was left was cleaning up. Sadly, close to 200 Hiigarans died in this conflict.
Finally, as all of the kiith started rescuing survivors, identifying where the dead were, and salvaged those ships that could still be repaired, the Veer-Rak broadcast their thanks.
Veer-Rak: Attention Hiigaran Ships! We have thrown back the Imperial attack fleet. Hiigara should be safe once again. Kiith Naabal would like to thank our brothers and sisters from Kiith Manaan, S'jet and Kaalel for their aid in battle. Hiigara is in their debt, as are we.
Needless to say, some on the Kuun-Lan were... less than happy at our anomynity. I stayed in our quarters in the Hanger until the Somtaaw cooled down a bit. While I might be the husband of their "Oracle", I've never been a part of the Somtaaw in their eyes. Many of my kiithmates in Kalaal act the same way. Except for Jaana and the children... even the Soban have each other. Sometimes I wish I could just gather those who did not Sleep to Hiigara and form our own kiith. All of us are, in one way or another, outsiders in our own kiith.
Jaana just told me that the Maanan have a favor to ask of us. Seems they are missing a Destroyer, the Bushen-Ra. The Kuun-Lan is going to track it down and render aid. Or confirm her destruction. Jaana shows no sign of wanting to return to Hiigara just yet... and the children are all busy at school right now. There's nothing for me on Hiigara right now. And Jaana needs me to keep her out of trouble.
And who knows? Maybe I can get Colonel Sareni to actually relax and start anticipating instead of reacting to situations around her. Now if only I can get her to stop stating the obvious...