Week 7 Planetary Conquest Mission - A Catskinner's Chance in Hell

Alpha Cat Bravo banked to the side of the blockade. They had been given strict orders to keep the cloaked EEF Gunships safe. But once they reached the atmosphere, they had to pull away or risk giving away the Gunships positions.

So they waited and watched.

And while they watched they saw the strangest thing. A pack of 100 Stilletos disable two Blackheart Starfighters. Knowing they were outmatched 10 to 1 the Catskinners kept hidden and followed the Stilletos across a few Shadows jumps designed to throw off pursuit.

The Stilletos were succesful escaping and the Catskinners found themselves left behind in an unknown sector of space. Finally getting their bearings they found they were deep within the Brethren expanse.

They were floating in orbit above an Eden-class planet where a rebel Heavy Frigate was fighting off a pack of five IR Gunship Light Frigates and 250 IR Gunpod Starfighters. The rebel Frigates crew has open mayday on all non-Iron Republic frequencies.

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Players in this mission have two choices , do they save the rebel frigate, and do they try and conquer the planet. It is currently unclaimed.


This mission is open to All Fort Lendill and Free Systems players. Any other Player who has 1 or less actual planets (moon bases don't count as planets) may join the battle for this planet as well.

Post your plan to this mission on either the defenders or attacker's side here on this thread only. First person to post gets a single extra repost later to launch secret attacks, ambushes etc. All other players get one post only. This thread will be locked at 11pm E.S.T. on Friday July 1st (we have included extra time this week to account for the live events at Origins Convention) (three week RT = 1 Week GT this week only)

Only actions listed on this mission thread will count as locked in for player actions.

You are encouraged to set up threads in your own factions to discuss this matter.

As his fleet moved onward through space, their destination SUARM controlled territories, Mor'aye'ahn was distracted by matters with family as well as with promises he made. He would need time, resources, and more importantly people to give him a break! Sitting at his chair on the bridge he was letting his mind lapse into several different trains of thought when one of the bridge officers tapped him on the shoulder. "Sir, we have recieved a distress signal from the Bretheren Expanse. It appears that a Heavy Frigate is in a skirmish with Iron Republic Forces."
The officer, a female Kumfei whose name temporarily escaped the commander, had Mor'aye'ahn's attention. "What is the full status?"
"Broad Mayday call so far sir, all we can gather is that they're outnumbered above an unclaimed planet."
Unclaimed she said, it provoked opportunities. "I want all vessels to change course... we're taking a bit of a detour."
At his command the kumfei went back to her chair and put on her headset relaying orders to all ships.
His tactical officer, an Earther male whose name didn't escape Mor'aye'ahn, went over their current stock of weapons. As they had done very little combat their stock was generally untouched. "Crewman Izzik I want the majority of our EMP charges converted into missiles. I don't plan on shooting down the Iron Republic while we still haven't made them want to outright attack us. I want to disable the aggressors and have that frigate towed out of there as soon as possible."
"Aye S--" was all that Izzik could get out before the K'ias started to speak again.
"Also I want all vessels capable to scan the planet. If it is uninhabited and matches all criteria we need I want a NESA ready to run it's programming. We are going to see if we can finally make a Factory World."

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Mor'aye'ahn is going to assist the Heavy Frigate with every ship at his disposal.
All vessels able to augment weaponry on the fly will be switching to EMP rounds as they do not want to start an incident.
If the ship is otherwise un-tow-able Gelpors will be flown in to board and evac as many as possible.

Alco analyzed the situation quickly, knowing that there was no way it's small squad would have a chance against the IR fleet amassed there. It sent an encrypted burst message with all pertinent data to FtL Command while remaining out of range of the battle. In short time Alco received a reply.

*****HEM*****
Observe, but do not engage, Dragon's Teeth and Chameleon's Grace en route, with Rosethorn and Willowwhip joining them. Captains V'zon and V'lpec commanding. Shadow jumping to your coordinates.
*****End HEM*****

Upon arrival, Rosethorn and Willowwhip will deploy their compliment of variable fighters and as well as Alpha Cat Squads Delta and Gamma. AC Squads Bravo, Delta, and Gamma will surround the freighter in a shielding defense grid, while the variables will use EMP to disable the attacking vessels. If the freighter cannot move, the Grace will assist in towing or evacuation proceedings as needed. Rosethorn and Willowwhip will hold action and defer to Commander Mor'aye'ahn for further instructions. ((OOC: Drat you Mor for beating me to first post, lmao))

while still aboard mor'aye'ahn's ship and outside the command room i overhear the trouble of what the rebels are going thru. i walk upto mor'aye'ahn and tell him "cousin, my fighters will be in reserve just in case the IR decides to attack us for assisting the rebels. we could use another planet for research and production. let me know if you need any assistance. if the rebels dont have enough men to fly that ship when this is over, that ship could be the ship you owe me." i walk back outside the command room with a huge sinister look and smile.

A smile crept across his lips as he heard the distress call.
Over the comm system Captain Fleshstealers voice crackled. "To squarons 1 thru 4 you are to dispatch to assist the rebal ship. Offer full aid when area is secure.
Wing 1 will be on hand for support. I want that planet."
-Squads 1 thru 4 consist of 50 stilettos, 10 Cudgels and 15 Machetes each. Wing 1 consists of 40 Pirate Recycler ships.

Upon arrival in system will transmit a stand down and announce my protection of the frigate. If combat is persued actions as follows.

Squad 1 and 2 will take a defensive position around the frigate with half of wing 1. Squads 3 and 4 plus the remainder of wing 1 will take offensive steps to end the confrontation quickly. Machetes providing cover for the recyclers as they make a b line for the light frigate. Stilettos on hunter kill pattern. with the cudgels running rear guard with mop up duty.

After the battle priority is given to recovery of personnel then aid the frigate then salvage of all ships. if they are in repairable condition skeleton crews sent and flown back to base if not recyclers will recycler them and and debris availible.

Sitting aboard the Dragons teeth Mor'aye'ahn awaited the results of the scans when a warning klaxon sounded the arrival of a new fleet in the area. "Now what?!" was beginning to be the song of the K'ias commanders existance lately.
"Sir perimeter scanners are picking up signs of a fleet. We are beginning to get word that they are Pirate vessels."
"Just gr--" As the shape-shifter thought briefly they began to receive word of the actions of the fleet and he began to wonder who the captain might be.
"They seem to be focusing their efforts on the Iron Republic vessels sir, orders?"
"Very well. Crewman Hollister signal our combined fleets, advise to aid the pirates as well as the freighter."
He then began to think once more. There must be more than one reason to do this than simply piss off the iron republic, and he wasn't sure that Pirates helped ships in distress out of the goodness of their own heart. "Oh hell, they probably want the planet."

It just wasn't his year, it wasn't. First being attacked by unknown mercenaries, Admiral Yr annoying him, and then the Battle City event that lost him half of a planet. "Send word to the NESA bay, tell them to stand down and put the missiles back into storage... we may not be getting our prototype but we are definitely getting a piece of that rock even if we have to share!"

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All ships of the fleet will focus on aiding Captain Fleshstealer in his defense of the ship against the Iron Republic forces.

Whats more the Dragons Teeth will be attempting to scramble all Iron Republic communications.