Kalidasa System
The 'Verse
May 3100
With several new ship designs filling the IDF's ranks, they prepared to move on the Kalidasa system, and bring an end to the Black Sun cartel once and for all. The initial attack would be an assault on the worlds of Newhall, Beylix, and Oberon, turning the Penglai protostar and it's worlds and moons into a beachhead in the system. The attacks would occur simultaneously on all three worlds.
Each taskforce comprised of a single Totem, two Demagogues, three Shamans, and ten Spears. Each had a full complement of fighters and ground forces, however since they were using the new K-F technology absent in the system until now, none of the dropships other than the Tribe's native ones were suitable, so the mammoths and mules were divided between the task force and sent along. Further support took the slot route between system, and would arrive the next month.
The Newhall task force arrived and took the planet without issue, dropping the full contingent of infantry and mechs onto the planet's surface, it was pacified within hours of arrival in orbit. Mostly rural communities, often with animal drawn vehicles, and simple technology, it would serve as a food basket for the invasion.
The Beylix task force went similarly without issue. A minor industrial center for the Kalidasa system, it was primarily a thriving spaceport, and reports had indicated that it was a major hub of activity for smuggling and slave operations in The 'Verse. The task force arrived and secured the space port first. Sending a signal indicating anything that tried to take off would be destroyed. Deployment began, and the task force spread across the planet. Spear frigates chased down ships that tried to escape. The task force's Demagogues and Shamans moved to secure the planet's moons and orbiting stations and satellites. The flagship of the taskforce moved over the planet's capital and deployed troops to the surface.
The capital attempted to resit by launching a nuclear warhead at the totem, however it failed to break through that ship's shields. A swift barrage of capital weapons fire put a stop to any further attempts to attack the ship, and deployment continued. On the surface, standing militia, angry ship captains, and criminal elements all seemed to organize together to resist the occupation. Despite this none were prepared to deal with the sheer volume of troops the Totem was deploying. Remnants of the Star Empire's forces tried to intervene as well, and for the first time the IDF fought their former comrades.
Displaying the superiority of the Tribe's technology, the defenders were quickly overwhelmed by the forces of the task force. A few ships escaped into deep space between planets, and presumably will get word to the rest of the system of Beylix's fall.
Of the three worlds, Oberon was the most difficult to take. Containing one of Kalidasa's most prominent shipyards, the task force was under orders to take it intact, rather than destroying it out right. The Tribe not only wanted to deny it's use to the Black Sun cartel, but they wanted to turn it against them, and use it as a primary repair hub for the invasion of the system. From a great distance the Oberon task force's Shaman missile destroyers began launching capital missiles, designed to make crippling strikes at ground targets with fixed positions. This would keep the defenders busy stopping the missile attacks rather than fully preparing to deal with the approaching task force.
The Spears stayed in front of the formation, joined by the two Demagogue's fighter complements. Once the task force came within range of the defending forces, they opened fire. Possessing much greater range than the defending ships, the fight was a slaughter. More than 30 capital ships fell in only a few short minutes. Unfortunately that all changed when the Shipyards opened their own bays and launched ships that had only barely finished production. With eighteen construction berths, and the new technology incorporated into them the sudden onslaught was a surprise that almost cost the IDF the battle.
Barrages of Naval Autocannon fire broke the spine of two of the Spears, and Naval Laser and PPC fire brought down one of the Demagogues in the opening salvo. Soon though it was clear that these weren't truly new designs, instead new weapons had been bolted onto a hodgepodge of ships as best and as quickly as they could be. Malfunctions ran rampant through the new defender's ships, and after a few minutes the surprise of the attack wore off and the more experienced commanders in purpose built ships took control of the battle once again. Pulling back, the Shamans unleashed waves of capital missiles that crippled any defenders they encountered, while the remaining Demagogue retreated. The Totem moved closer and docked with the station directly, disgorging it's massive army into the halls and across it's surface to cut their way into it. Too close to risk targeting, the enemy forces ignored it. The remaining Spears dove into the enemy fleet and unleashed waves of destructive energy in all directions. The aerospace fighters flew into point blank range with the enemy fleet, hugging hulls and unleashing electronic warfare missiles into them.
Two more Spears were crippled and all sustained heavy damage, but the battle only lasted a few short minutes longer. The Shamans and Demagogue moved into orbit around Oberon and deployed their own troops the secure the surface, but with the lose of the defending fleet, the forces on the surface quickly surrendered.
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Topic: Empire Falls (Read 4826 times)