News from the Front

[Drakon]

*for the purpose of disguishing between NPCs and Players, note that the later will be identified as an "ace" and/or by callsign - obviously, an allied flight of fighters is actually just one player unless otherwise specified*

Afternoon of March 23rd, 2749


Well there’s no rest for the weary, comrades. Intel. from Independent Operators’ Consortium reports increased CSF activity in the Sigma region of Sirius. Acting on this information, and orders from Maj. Ancalagon, I instructed an Alliance patrol to make a sweep of Sigma-19. Karak fighters of the 105th flew out from Tegaki’s Base, keeping a low profile as they transversed Chugoku and hit the jump hole to Sigma-13. This system still is loyal to the ASF. No resistance was encountered until the front lines were crossed.

Five CSF fighters were shot down while crossing Honshu, before they could make any effort to raise the alarm. It appears that the main body of the local garrison is composed of Legionnaire scouts and heavier, Stiletto fighters. Expected capital ship and destroyer picket encounters did not occur, suggesting that reinforcements from behind the lines in Kusari are not yet as entrenched as originally anticipated. At any rate, the ASF formation was able to punch through to Sigma-19 without further incident.

The Karaks came in under the cover of the Hiryu Cloud. No enemy activity was reported in the vicinity of the local gas miners. Luxury liner Hawaii is still in orbit around Planet Hiran, and appears to have gone unmolested by Confederate raiders. Significant enemy activity was encountered inside of the Gikka Dust Cloud, however. Here was found a backdoor entrance leading to ASF-held Sigma-17. Measures were taken promptly to deplete enemy presence there. Nineteen Legionnaires were dispatched - some of these with the help of loyalist pilots of the Bounty Hunters Guild. Also, the wreck of Menorca was discovered with several tons of alien artifacts aboard. The loot was destroyed despite attempts by the Corsairs to defend the site. Things took a turn for the worse when an Outcast runner was able to escape our forces and sound off to the local bases. Little time was left at this point. The CSF would be mobilizing a response any minute.

At about this time it became clear that a trade route running through this jump hole was being used to ship war materials from Omicron Beta to the front. Four smugglers were destroyed, as were their light escorts. Others were able to slip away into Sigma-17. ASF forces did not pursue an attack on the base of origin within Outcast space due to the massive radiation readings coming from Donryu Cloud. The Karaks instead turned back and used a jump hole to return to CSF-occupied Kusari. Word of the raid had already reached New Tokyo, and the fighters were met with a succession of enemy interceptors. Twelve bandits had to be shot down before an escape could be made.

Flying from the Chuyu to Hiryo Cloud was no cakewalk. Reconnaissance craft continually spotted for inbound reinforcements. Three more Legionnaires were destroyed, but a pair of drakes was too fast to run down. Fortune did smile one more time on the mission, however. A Hogosha freighter on its way to the front was stumbled upon and swiftly disabled. Construction equipment and silver were pilfered from its smoldering hold before CSF forces could arrive. No additional contacts were encountered before jumping into the Sigma-13 System. Cover from the Crow Nebula and volatile patches of gas meant a safe and uneventful passage to Gas Miner Naha. Naturally, the GMG gladly took over custody of the captured goods and nearly fifty CSF operatives. Paperwork is being done as we speak to transfer these to ASF authorities at New Berlin.

The skirmish was rated a success. Not only did the flight take out enemy depots and harass shipping, but more importantly was able to draw a clear and undisputable link between the Hogosha crime syndicate and the Confederate war machine. In the days to come I intend upon orchestrating a series of additional raids - a series of swift attacks aimed at creating havoc and discord amongst criminal detachments working at the behest of the CSF. Targeting their known bases within Kusari will inflict desirable results. The isolation of criminal safe-havens will work in our favor, making the fortification of CSF positions in the outlying reaches of debris fields and gas clouds difficult.

In other parts of Sirius, it is worth mentioning that the enemy remains at large within Alliance space. Earlier today the transport Ghostproof was destroyed in Tohoku by the “Grim Reaper,” just a few seconds from jumping into Chugoku. Also, Blood Guard ace “Spiky” has eliminated a convoy of experienced, K-41 smugglers that were trying to use a minefield to mask their transit through Custodian. It is presumed that such agents are adamant upon funneling illicitly-procured goods into the CSF strongholds of Kusari and Bretonia. All ASF officers should be on the lookout for such activity, and are strongly urged to keep their superiors apprised and up-to-date.

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ATTENTION ALLIANCE STAR FLEET PILOTS! PURCHASE WAR BONDS AT
YOUR LOCAL ASF RECRUITMENT CENTER TO HELP WIN THE WAR!

[Drakon]

Morning of March 24th, 2749


Alerted by increased CSF activity in the region, the Gas Miners Guild has stepped up its patrols here in the Sigma-13 System. Pending confirmation that no enemy aces were underway today, the 105th was spared a defensive assignment and instead sent on a mission to Kusari itself. The objectives were much the same as before, but with any luck a success here would mean a CSF fleet more reluctant to transfer resources away from their populated planets and vital space installations.

Dragon Corps Lt. “Paladin” led his flight of Karaks to the Honshu System without incident. Three Legionnaires were dispatched on the far side of the jump hole, but no distress calls could be transmitted due to the scrambling qualities of the Hiryo Cloud. The effect was so pronounced that two other scouts did not even notice the presence of the force, continuing on with their assignments unaware. ASF command reports that the wreck of Malaga nearby was being used as a dump point for cardamine. Regrettably, the 105th was unable to find a stash there to destroy. Carrying on, the coordinates of several suspicious containers at Osaka Storage Facility were observed.

It was difficult to avoid Confederate patrol routes. Along the way to the next waypoint three Dragons were destroyed. They were the heavier, red-painted variants with better loadouts than Sigma-19’s Stiletto squadrons. They still proved to be manageable, but it should be noted that the Blood Dragons have taken over day-to-day operations in Kusari. Entering another gas cloud near a weapons testing facility granted access to a concealed jump hole to the New Tokyo System. The jump leads to the exhausted Chiba Field, where the 105th began a four-point sweep of the area. Five Hogosha CSVs were hunted down. What these were up to is anyone’s guess. Also, additional containers were sighted at the adjacent Narita Outpost.

On the way back two more Dragons and five Drakes were encountered. Asteroids and heavy concentrations of dust saw to it that their calls back to base never got through. After these targets were dispatched, the Karaks jumped back to Honshu. Bagging more CSVs would have been nice, but the Drake pilots were able to maneuver and use their short-range missiles very effectively. A lot of time was wasted engaging them, and staying any longer would have jeopardized the operation’s secrecy.

Back in Honshu that cover was blown. Three more Drakes were dealt with quickly, but four Dragons encountered near Osaka Storage Facility had plenty of time to call in for support. By sheer luck ASF intentions were not realized, however. With the Karaks so far off course the enemy did not realize that their next stop was Sigma-13. This allowed the Alliance force to slip back into Hiryo cloud while the enemy rushed off in the opposite direction - converging their fighters instead at a position near the New Tokyo Jump Gate. Taking out another four Legionnaires inside the nebula cleared the path home, and within minutes the 105th was setting down on Gas Miner Naha.

In conclusion, it would appear to be another upbeat day. The mission was a success. Not only did the ASF bag thirty kills, but was able to attain valuable intelligence regarding CSF operations in Kusari without letting New Tokyo discover our base of operations. Acting on this new information, the GMG intends to coordinate with our commanders on possible strike options against the newfound supply installations latter in the campaign. On a darker note, Confederate reconnaissance missions have painted a clear picture of Tohoku for the enemy. Remnants of the Kusari fleet and the Dragon Corps interceptor squadrons near Tekagi’s have not been able to keep all of these spies at bay. Pilots are urged to kill Molly operatives of the CSF on sight - especially when they venture near our bases. That is all for today, thanks for your attention.

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ATTENTION ALLIANCE STAR FLEET PILOTS! PURCHASE VICTORY BONDS AT
YOUR LOCAL ASF RECRUITMENT CENTER TO HELP WIN THE WAR!

[Drakon]

Evening of March 24th, 2749


It would appear that big plans around here are kept very quiet amongst the brass. Was surprised to hear just hours ago that ASF squadrons smashed through the lines and engaged the enemy at Gas Miner Ogashawa in the Sigma-19 System. Rumor has it that forces under the command of CSF officers “Lucy” and “Huor” were caught by surprise and boxed in rather stiffly there. No word yet on the number of ships destroyed, but the 105th reported back that they had been deployed off to the side and saw very little action. Despite this, they were fortunate enough to track down and kill six Confederate pilots as they attempted to flee the system in their Stilettos. Sirius Federal Police units and PX mercenaries must have gotten into quite the scrap - this will be gone over in greater detail as (or if, rather) battle assessments reach my desk by the end of the week.

Embarrassed at missing an opportunity to directly command my units in battle, I turned my attention to Sovetskaya. Surely problems needed addressing, and Nikolas Krushenkov was kind enough to assist me in this. He expressed concerns over the SFP activities in the Sigma region. As a bartender and long-standing officer in the navy, he had noted that the numbers of police patrols near the jump gates had diminished in recent days due to the war. Evidently this has opened up the heart of Altair to intrusion by CSF marauders. Wanting to do my part, I offered to personally assist in the interception and destruction of some hostile contacts picked up on the long-range scanners.

Regrettably, these turned out to be traitors to the Alliance from the Bretonian Armed Forces. There were two flights of heavy fighters, both entangled in a dogfight with Sabers on CAP duty when I arrived. More fighters formed up the rear of the hostile force - these were Titans with heavier ordinance. They were exceptionally difficult to bring down but would have posed a threat to CNS Gorlovka if left unconfronted. Joint Alliance-Coalition forces were victorious in the end, and a destroyer arrived afterwards to pull in 21 escape pods. Several of our own had also ejected and got badly banged up. Four even got fried by Salamanca fire. My own Salin took its fair share of hits while Kropotkin, a friend from the carrier’s lounge, lost an engine to a swatter mine. While the defense was not entirely a success given the losses, SFP authorities were pleased with the outcome.

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ATTENTION ALLIANCE STAR FLEET PILOTS! PURCHASE VICTORY BONDS AT
YOUR LOCAL ASF RECRUITMENT CENTER TO HELP WIN THE WAR!

[Drakon]

As a sidenote, I'm seriously creeped out by some of these campaign posters (it's not just you!), but now that I have a theme going so I'm sort of stuck with it. I keep missing the big battles so I may as well do something around here. Grats for the good RP this week everyone and keep up the good work. That said, I'm going to power-nap now. ^^

[lucy in the sky]

Cool thread, but lemme add that your intel seems to be lacking or you wouldn't have to come running to me for the hard facts, hehehe
On a side note: Why not post this on SWAT?

[Daywalker]

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+++ Incoming Transmission from ASF Fleet Command +++
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Fleet Commander Kermit to the Inhabitants of Sigma-19.

Yesterdays Battle for the Liberation of Sigma-19 was a giant Success for the Alliance.

In a cruel Battle with superior Forces the ASF managed to take an advantage in this important Economic System.

Intelligence reported that the CSF will be low in HFuel if they lose the System, that might not be a problem because they announced that they don´t like the System.

With Destroyer support and the new Coalition Class Lagg the ASF first (when Forces was even) regrouped at a secret spot to clash in with as many Fighters as possible. When more Pilots was involved, ASF Fleet Command was ordering a fire at will which took over 3 Hours.

The Bravery of the outnumbered CSF Pilots made this to a frag happening when the CSF Command after an offer to retreat said:

No retreat no surrender!

Final Score in Sigma-19: ASF 46 CSF 22

VGF to especialy two Fighters who was in Fact resurrecting all the time.

Anyone some Screenshots from this Battle?

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Let´s keep it here for the moment please - we all are on a cool gaming way - on Swat it could become to serious, personal i am kinda entusiastic and i realy hope that we will be able to give a revenge in 13 or 17 or 19 aswell soon. Shame that the CSF is so low in Players atm. perhaps we should discuss a Merc Role for the Mercs in another Thread to keep the sides balanced.

On a sidenote: This result could be a good way to get some SMG, LP and Fallen pilots back in an urgent Call for help on their Frums

[Ancalagon]

Well done to all involved, a good result for the ASF and a brave defence by th CSF.

I was not able to engage in the action myself as we out numbered CSF but I did monitor the battle. Very good performance all round

[Drakon]

lucy in the sky Wrote:Cool thread, but lemme add that your intel seems to be lacking or you wouldn't have to come running to me for the hard facts, hehehe
On a side note: Why not post this on SWAT?

Yes, it would appear to be lacking from time to time - for whatever reason it was difficult for me to get much information about the fighting yesterday. Someone appeared to be trying to shoot a movie and didn't want people to be chatting for a bit, and this began and stopped without warning often. Ancalagon had arrived too late as I had to join in, and the other pilots were a tad busy and wouldn't respond. Rather odd circumstances, but it was alright though because you graciously helped. ^^

As for SWAT, I do not post these - CSF and/or otherwise - there anymore because the last two occasions that I've made them I was asked to stop doing so. Was told that these belong on the ASF or CSF sites and that doing otherwse could generate RP-triggered flaming and squabbling on SWAT (which used to be a bigger problem than it is now). This has all probably changed by now but I'm not going to copy the posts over unless OP's alright with it. :)

[lucy in the sky]

Drakon Wrote:As for SWAT, I do not post these - CSF and/or otherwise - there anymore because the last two occasions that I've made them I was asked to stop doing so. Was told that these belong on the ASF or CSF sites and that doing otherwse could generate RP-triggered flaming and squabbling on SWAT (which used to be a bigger problem than it is now). This has all probably changed by now but I'm not going to copy the posts over unless OP's alright with it.

holy crap... i'm speechless (yanno, that doesn't happen too often)

*walks out again rolling her eyes and muttering*

[Drakon]

@Lucy - things have changed around here a bit since I was last active in the battles. ASF-CSF has been going on and off for years, and so I'm just acting on what happened at the time. If people want me to copy these onto SWAT let me know what thread you want them in and I will do so.
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Afternoon of March 25th, 2749


A startling turn of events today! Six squadrons of veteran CSF pilots made a gambit for seizing Sigma-13. Fortunately, a large portion of our fleet had remained there acting as reserve following yesterday’s attack. Confederate ships poured in from both the Chugoku and New Berlin jump holes. The local GMG operation and our own picket lines could not contain this sort of a security breach, thus the Alliance’s 16th, 43rd, 71st, 105th, and 129th squadrons were committed to the battle. They were reinforced by a dreadnaught battlegroup and Falcons dispatched from Gas Miner Naha. Commodore Gaspod presided over the defending force.

To deny the enemy choice of the battleground, our fleet mistakenly moved to Yanagi. Anticipating a CSF victory had led the Junkers to grow restless, much to our surprise, and rebel. ASF forces were met with sixty CSV craft, eight Centurions, and a pair of Stilettos. Invading fighter formations were led most notably by the TRF and SMG aces “Heat Seaker,” “Wolfgang,” “Lucy,” and Capt. Capra, who converged at the allied fleet’s position. In the opening minutes of battle the centerpiece of the battlegroup, ANS Freedom, sustained moderate damage. A few destroyers were lost outright. Our strategists are still trying to uncover the cause of this. As Laggs are not renowned for carrying ASW loadouts, it is assumed that Confederate Saracens were to blame.

In retaliation for the untimely uprising, Alliance fighters made strafing runs at Yanagi before relocating to the Chugoku jump hole. At about this time an hour-long turkey-shoot ensued. Fighters would jump into ASF space and be met with a cascading hail of fire. Enemy support from outposts in New Berlin was minimal by that point. By and large, the Alliance blockade prevented the enemy from maneuvering or regrouping in Sigma-13, safeguarding allied, GMG and ALG assets there. Pilot “Crysis” went on a rampage at this time - rallying morale as the battle wore on by leading the Alliance’s 16th into the fray and downing a staggering number of Confederate fighters. He and some of his wingmen will be eligible for decoration for their courageous conduct at the campaign’s conclusion.

Fatigue did set in, however, as CSF resolve was slow to break. Wave upon wave of fighters fell upon our defensive positions. For hours Chugoku sent flights of reinforcements into Sigma-13. Given lack of additional reserves, our own fighters could not be afforded the luxury oftentimes of returning to base and re-arming. Losses steepened as ordinance began to run low. The blockade did hold, and all told only forty-seven ASF vessels were lost. These were flown mostly by BG, DC, IOC, PX, and SFP pilots. Ninety-nine Confederate fighters were dispatched, in addition to the seventy lighter ones contributed by the Junkers, Corsairs, and Outcasts. GMG authorities report no losses and only nominal disturbances to their mining activities. Remnants of the Confederates’ strike force retreated back into Chugoku and Honshu Systems.

While enemy officers appear more skilled and desperate than our own on average, the sheer scale of our fleet carried the day. By most accounts it is safe to say that the ASF defense of Sigma-13 was an overwhelming success. For me personally it is bittersweet, however. The 105th was annihilated in battle - the Karaks already known to be a poor counter to light fighters. A couple of the pilots ejected safely and are awaiting new ships. In the meanwhile, my focus turns to another angle of the front. Under my command, warships like the frigate Kharovoy will be crossing into Shikoku shortly, having left their posts in Galileo. Many fine men died today, and by war’s end they shall have been avenged.

Amended Notice: Be on the lookout for notorious, Lost Prophets ace “Maruader.” He was last sighted in Sigma-13 on reconnaissance and may have been compiling a battle assessment report. He is wanted alive by ASF Command for interrogation. That is all.

________________________________________________________________________________​__________

ATTENTION ALLIANCE STAR FLEET PILOTS! PURCHASE VICTORY BONDS AT
YOUR LOCAL ASF RECRUITMENT CENTER TO HELP WIN THE WAR!