Day in the Life: Second Battle of Triton

[Ray of Meep]

Spring, 2321

High Triton Orbit, Sol System

The Soyuz dreadnaught KOS-091m Polak and its accompanying flotilla roared into a circular orbit around Triton, their engines burning at 1-g deceleration. Triton was a large moon and home to numerous gas refinery headquarters from all the superstates, monitoring fusion fuel collection from the ice giant. It had a vibrant in situ resource collection industry of its own, giving rise to a locally born population, which spawned a cult-like organization called the Neptunian Colonial Assembly, fanatics of cryosleep technology. More importantly to the superstates, they had generational expertise of fusion fuel collection, and thus were able to maintain a comfortable degree of autonomy, outsourcing their human resources.

Neither the GDW nor the Soyuz dare harm this neutral party, nor the AU or HFR for that matter, in fear of expanding the conflict. Thus, when the GDW made the first move in the war, they used every non-lethal method possible to take control of the Soyuz command centers on the moon. The plans were decades in the making, and they worked, at the cost of allowing nearly the entire Soyuz fleet and their personnel to escape to low Neptunian orbit. Now two weeks into the conflict, Soyuz reinforcements have arrived, forcing the GDW to make a decision: stay in low Triton orbit with the anti-orbital surface guns in range, and take on both Soyuz fleets at once, or deal with one at a time, leaving the safety that the moon provided.

"The Commonwealth Neptunian Fleet have left their positions to meet us head on." Admiral Alagh Yid's communications officer informed her, looking over a radar map on the bridge of the Polak. She then named the ships outloud:

• Two Zeus-class cruisers, the command-configured Hera and the battle-configured Dionysus.
• Three Berlin-class frigates, the artillery-configured Stuttgart, the EW-configured Heidelberg, and the assault-configured Lubeck.
• Five Baudry-class corvettes, the picket-configured M'Par and Karabair, the missile-configured Baluchi, and the EW-configured Vlaamperd and Gidran

In comparison, the fleet under Admiral Alagh Yid was outfitted with the following vessels:

• The KOS-015m Polak, dreadnaught sized, general mothership with onboard facilities for weapon refits and ship repairs.
• The KOS-031c Bolormaa, a cruiser sized carrier that carried 10 OPI's, optionally piloted interceptors that were equipped with fixed coilguns and four missiles each.
• The KOS-024z and KOS-056z, two frigates, both designed for general defense against of variety of attacks.

 

[Ray of Meep]

"Encrypted message from our Neptunian forces." The officer added, "While they've been out of range, they've deployed their cruise missiles against the Commonwealth forces. Expected time of impact... 97 minutes."

The Admiral looked at the zones of effective range on her own ships. "But we can't engage until 91 minutes." She called upon the rest of the fleet. "This is Admiral Alagh Yid. Our forces are outnumbered, but they've sent cruise missiles to strike our adversaries behind their backs. Once engagement commences, we'll need to occupy their attention for 6 minutes. Bolormaa, take KOS-024z and flank the GDW from anti-moonward side. Don't let them shoot down those cruise missiles."

 

[steinOS]

“015m Polak, this is Counter Admiral Konstantin Shurov of the 031c Bolormaa. Orders understood. Permission to send 3 piloted Staya craft to your dock for encounter support.” A blond uniformed man hovered his fingers over a display visualising the OPIs currently in dock, the other hand idly curled his thick mustache. The respective pilots stood at the ready down below. One hurriedly gathered an old deck of cards they’ve purchased back on Earth to play during the trip, a lucky charm he didn’t want to leave on board.

Shurov switched to another channel while the one with 015m was open. “024z, this is 031c Bolormaa,” he called out while forwarding a command line for the frigate’s Captain and pilots. “Apply proportionate specification for radial burn, confirm data receipt.”

 

[Piston1937]

“Confirmed data received, adjusting thrust vector.” Captain Aleksandr Kozevnikov replied and began giving out commands to what crew he had. The dirty blonde mess of hair floated in the zero g as the ship began to reorient itself.

 

[Ray of Meep]

15 Minutes Before Effective Combat Range

The Commonwealth fleet divided itself into two groups, while the Lubeck returned to the surface, being a marine transport and thus having no business in a major space engagement. The Hera, Stuttgart, M'Par, Vlaamperd and Baluchi flew to meet 015m Polak and 056z, while the other vessels, the Dionysus, Heidelberg, Karabair, and Gidran adjusted their burns to meet the 031c Bolormaa and 024z.

The Dionysus launched a dozen missiles to fly in front of the battlegroup, while the Heildelberg and Gidran started interference on the targeting suites of the CCM vessels. The exact locations and velocities of the GDW ships turned into dots in the middle of error bars on the consoles. Meanwhile, the Karabair flew ahead of the formation, just behind the missiles.

 

[steinOS]

“Comrade Counter Admiral, velocity fluctuations detected in GDW group. Potential missile release,” a tactical officer announced on the bridge of the Bolormaa. “Targeting scramblers at work, too,” a technician followed up. Shurov hung his head dramatically. “Well ladies and gentlemen, it looks like they have us beat. I am beside myself. Our comrades on the engineering deck are already singing farewell hymns.” A deep sigh from the flag officer, a laugh from the crew.

Shurov cleared his throat, pushing a button on the interface in front of him. “Pilots of hangar 2 and 3, deploy remote supervision on 024z. Pilot of hangar 6, deploy external guard.” The intercom rang out down below on the hangar deck; two pilots each climbed into a spherical device within an armored internal canopy of their hangar bay, encapsulating their bodies. Within, the pilots donned mesh-like helmets, their bodies being secured to their seats with metallic rods that interacted with their cybernetic implants. Almost immediately, two Stayas engaged their engines, the docking locks being released with the craft being gone from the Bolormaa in the next second. Their wings unfolded, pivoting acutely and pushing a burn to place them into lateral escort for the 024z.

“Captain Kozevnikov, expect missiles on current approach. I’ve deployed 2 Stayas to assist you in intercepting them as you take point. I advise the deployment of spam data projection towards their last known position, since they're so afraid of our weapons. Let's give them some latency.” Shurov announced in a transmission to the frigate near them.