Battle of Dawn

Battle Report of the Battle of Dawn.

Introduction

The Battle of Dawn was fought on New Years Eve of year 2006. It featured most of the Roudland, Friendly Alien and Super Roman space fleet against the Alpha Empire Scout Ship Starscream.

Space

Admiral Praxia had been ordered to lead the surprise attack from the Onyx on the Alpha Empire ship that had threatened her nation. She was only a child during the time of Exodus and she had heard from the Perto Clan refugees great tales of bravery during the Battle of Teal Arch and also of the fearful accuracy and cold nature of the Alpha Empire. She was well aware of what she was about to face, a small ship but never the less the most dangerous she will likely encounter in her life time.

From the evidence gathered by the Faal-Corum, the Ragnerok Class Scout ship hadn't changed since the Exile. It was still a ship barely 30 metres long, armed with nano torpedoes and protected by Null Shielding. The pilot would be heading straight towards the Alliance ignoring everything in their path until they find signs of the Friendly Aliens and destroy them.

Admiral Praxia pondered this on the command hub of the Onyx whilst looking at the confident faces of the crew around her. She sat strapped down into her chair in the centre of the command hub, watching crew float past preparing for battle.

"Open a channel to the Unity please I'll take it here"

Praxia reached down and grabbed a slim wired telephone from a receptical on her chair.

"This is Onyx Actual, is your fleet ready commander?"

a murmured reply could be heard from the microphone...

"Excellent, remember to polarise your hull plating if you take any hits from the nano torpedoes, they will chew away your armour in no time otherwise. Onyx Actual out."

Praxia breathed a small sigh of relief, the Super Roman ships were very important for the trap and it was important they were ready as soon as possible just encase the Starscream increased its speed whilst it got closer to the Alliance.

"Same again for the Conciliator please"

"Aye this is Onyx Actual... I see well as long as the Big D and Big V are ready that will suffice. Don't take this personnely but your fleet isn't planned to destroy the Starscream."

A crackling reply could be heard from the Conciliator captain.

"Oh really, I will have to take you up on that offer Vice Admiral Owen... ha ha indeed ask him, Onyx Actual out." Praxia returned the telephone to her chair and smiled just a little.

"What happened Admiral?" asked the ships XO (Executive Officer) Tyru.

"Oh I think we have a little bet going now."

"At this time. Playing with fate if you ask me."

"Aye, but its worth looking forward to winning a bet. Do we know the location of the Starscream?"

"Negative, but we predict it will take another 20 minutes before it comes in visual range."

"I see well keep an eye out anyway."

...

"Big D and Big V's volleys were ineffective Admiral. The Starscream has released both Trisault pods and started firing nano torpedoes into the fleet," reported Tyru.

"Wave SMART missile defence and the Defence Forces to fire at the incoming pods. Broadcast to the entire fleet to fire everything they have towards the Starscream and not the pods."

...

"Give me a report Tyru," demanded Praxia.

"We have lost twenty ships Admiral including the Kri, Proton, Yamato and the Rebok. Also we have lost the Big D and the Super Roman Meteor, Phalanx, Sovereign and the Invincible. All have had to polarise their hull plating and are drifting. The Starscream has begun to retreat!"

"No the Starscream cannot escape!"

Little known to the Alliance fleet the twisted intelligence of the "pilot" that was linked to the machine foresaw defeat in this conflict, the massive bolts of thunder from the larger ships in this "resistance" was severely draining power, enough to leave it vulnerable. Best leave and bring back others who deal with this sort of "resistance" on a more regular basis.

With the Starscream attempting to escape it began to stop its evasive moves in an attempt to charge its engines for a fast burn out of the system, no need to go slow and scan now. However this was a dreadful mistake. With the slight decrease in speed the Super Roman AI's aboard their ships were finally able to make reliable firing solutions into the heart of the attacker.

Five MAC rounds swooped towards the Starscream, four just stop limp in space but one manages to smash through the Null Shielding! It carves through the outer hull of the ship just missing the black prism of its main hull. However this hit is sufficient and the Starscream enters an uncontrollable spin, the pilot of the Starscream screams in pain and is stunned long enough to not stop the torrent of missiles that is heading towards its crippled shape. Missile thud against the hull of the Starscream uninterrupted, detonations pepper the reinforced hull but it is not enough to stop the barrage, hull fragments scatter and hits finally land on the black core of the ship, it is finished.

"Target destroyed Admiral... who do you think won the bet?"

"I...I would call it a tie" Replied Praxia. She was troubled, an entire fleet to destroy a scout!

"I hope the guard on the ground are ok."

"The guard on the ground are the best we have, lets focus on getting the downed ships some help, signal the Nebula for support."

Atmosphere

The Starscream had lauched two Trisault Pods towards Planetfall City, the SMART anti-ballistic missile system kicked into action firing swift missiles into the path of the Trisault Pods. Explosions of fire shook the air sending the pods into confused fightpaths but the pods corrected themselves with tiny engine thrusts. The two pods still came screaming down into the heart of Friendly Aliens. But then in a stroke of pure luck two missiles exploded near one of the pods sending it into an uncontrollable spin. During this spin the pod reveiled its large flat side and more missiles launched from the ground managed to get a clean impact and the pod exploded into a burst of flames.

However this left one pod still shooting into the ground, Sundancers which had broken from their Orions tried to support the missiles in their attempt to shoot this last pod down.

Unfortunatly the pod was too fast and too hardy. It came too close to Planetfall for further attempts to be shot down and thus the SMART system stood down. It had managed to double the odds of the soldiers on the ground and the LADF hoped that the guards were ready for what they were about to face.

Ground

The surviving pod managed to aim with increadible accuracy towards the Government District of Planetfall, it almost seemed like it was heading straight for the Sovereign Tower which stood dwarfing all the other towers in the district. The ground forces moved into the District to protect BazZeRg and the Council began to fire on the pod in a last ditch attempt to bring it down. General Armour walkers started firing furiously with everything they had towards the sky, fortunatly the pod only 200 metres or so from the Sovereign Tower began to slow. Fire began to slowly catch up with the falling pod until the side of it was peppered with ARC cannon rounds and Sabots. The limited Null Shielding of the pod managed to protect it from the first few hits but then they began to fail until one sabot managed to make a glancing hit. The hit had manage to effect the controlled dissent of the pod and it was knocked off course.

Metres from the ground, fire ceased as the pod crash landed into the neighbouring Environmental Bureau Tower which was just next the Sovereign Tower.

Silence fell on the guards. What was the fate of the dreaded Spies?

The Predator Dog Squad was incharge of the main defence of the stairs leading up to the Sovereign Tower (the last true defendable area before BazZeRg). They had 30 Eldars with them, about 100 GIGA Vets, 5 Walkers and numerous support personnel. Unfortunatly the guard was spread quite thin with guards posted at all important areas like Military HQ. No one could predict what move the Alpha Empire would make.

The Dog Squad was not convinced a crash would kill the Spies. Unknown to the guard around them they were communicating between each other discussing with each other what action they should take. Once they had come to a decision it was obvious by the quick relax in posture that they had done so.

They had decided that the stairs was the only real way to enter the tower from the ground and the Spies would know this. Unknown to most the outer surface of the Tower was studded with electrified barbs to prevent any climbing along the outside. Thus Dog Squad members began to communicate to all the Doyens of the guard around them organising suitable firing positions. All that could be heard is the chatter of the unmasked GIGA vets and support personnel and the numerous stomps of the walkers getting into position. It was obvious now that the Spies were heading for Sovereign Tower and BazZeRg, guard from all around the other positions in the Government District began to slowly gravitate towards the crash site in the Environmental Bureau, it would be their task to flush the Spies out of the Bureau.

With soldiers slowly pouring into the Bureau; tension began to rise among the guard. Then reports came in that the pod had been located but it was empty! Then seconds later gun fire could be heard, reports came in of sightings of the trio.

"You know what this means Brother and Sisters!"

The guard started to form up and they all did a final critical check of their weaponry.

Then a massive crash could be heard, the guard to look up to find a table had been thrown through a window on the sixth floor of the tower. Following with it some GIGA defenders, they could be heard screaming as they fell to their deaths. It was obvious that the spies were to blame, all the guard raised their weapons towards the broken window and waited in anticipation.

Seconds later three black figures proceded to jump out of the window, and displayed extraordinary feats of finesse as they fell until they ultimatly landed perfectly on their feet! Such abilities temporarily shocked the guard. They had fell with such force cracks were left in the concrete on which they landed!

The trio stared at the guard with calculation and made the first move, in a flash they all threw a "Korak" (a deadly Alpha Empire throwing weapon) each and began to run at the gated entrance of the Sovereign Tower. In return the guard began to open fire. Bullets, shells, grenades and even Sabots began to fly towards the Spies. Without much luck even rounds that made contact with the Spies simply halted in mid air and did absolutly no damage. The Spies were not so unlucky, the Koraks continued to fly uninterrupted towards the walkers, and in one swift swoop they were able to slice a leg off a walker each. The walkers began to tip slowly and they fell onto any of the guards who were in their path.

With resistance proving ineffective, Dog Squad began to adapt, in a desparate attempt to stop at least one spy they co ordinated and focused fire on the leading spy running towards them. The Spies were currently rethrowing their Koraks toward more walkers. A few members of Dog Squad quickly grabbed a few Micro Mines and threw them down in front of the path of the Spy whilst the others loaded grenades into the ARC SMGS. A walker already informed of the Dog Squad plan prepared also. With the Spy just a few feet from the Micro Mines the Dog Squad members exploded them, the Spy saw this coming and proceded to shield itself with its arm just incase the Null Shield did fail from this attack.

The Spy came out of the attack unscathed. However its Null Shielding was depleted with the attack, the obvious sign being the crackles of energy running along the Spy's suit. The Spy didn't have the oppertunity to attempt an evasive move before the next attack and as the rest of Dog Squad fired their grenades it was the end of the Spy, they started to exploded around the Spy's feet and legs. Shards of shrapnel severely damaged the Spy as it fell on the floor unable to move. Its chest and face armour being reinforced was hardly damaged after the attack but Spy was defeated. The other Spies saw and obviously 'felt' their comrade fall each giving a loud hiss but being no where near their objective they continued. The rest of the guard were unable to stop the other two Spies as they finally entered the lobby of the Sovereign Tower. Persuit continued but the guard eventually lost track of their targets.

The Dog Squad stood surrounding the crippled Spy. A member came forward and drew her ARC SMG intending to finish it off. As the soldier drew closer the Spy whipped out its Vibroblade and attempted to slice at the member. Luckily the soldier quickly pounced backwards, and in retaliation she fired into the thin, armoured arms of the Spy. The Spy shuddered as it released its weapon and the soldier kicked it away, the soldier leaned over the Spy and kicked it with her reinforced boot in the head, the kick left a slight crack of the face armour of the Spy and hissing could be heard. The soldier then proceded to pick the Spy up with one arm, the Spy was lighter than it looked. She gave a deep stare into the face of the spy, looking into the face of the true enemy. She then swiftly head butted the Spy and threw it on the floor. She gestured at the walker that accompanied the squad, it then finished the Spy with a quick stomp... no chances could be taken with these living weapons.

Dog Squad reported in their limited success to Tzeentch who, along with a few dozen other Super Mutants (including Radiants) and Jaguar and Bear Squad were guarding BazZeRg in the Penthouse of Sovereign Tower.

"Copy that Dog Squad, put someone in charge of incinerating the body of that Spy and make your way up here." You see the receiver light on the Communicator attached to Super Mutant's head blink off.

"Most likely cloaked by now wouldn't you say BazZeRg Sir?" he suggested to BazZeRg who stood next to him.

"Definatly, they wouldn't want to risk another encounter with guards before reaching me... I'm so suprised the Starscream would find me the most important target to attack, then again we don't know where the other pod was heading."

"True Sir but you must admit you have lead us since we landed on this planet, life could have been alot different without you leading us. They must see you as valuable to us."

"I am honoured by your comment Tzeentch, lets hope my sovereignty doesn't end this day. Jaguar and Bear squad I want you to use your visors and keep a look out through as many visual spectra as possible, they will have shifting cloak."

Jaguar and Bear squad saluted BazZeRg and spread out, looking all directions.

Reports came in from guards lower down in the tower. Nothing conclusive but with reports coming in from guards gradually going up the tower it was obvious that the Spies were making progress.

Then a member of Bear squad carefully searching around the ceiling caught sight of something crawling on the tall ceiling of the Penthouse. He rose his ARC SMG and opened fire. Almost in unison with thier comrade the entire Bear Squad opened fire on the same location. Bullets peppered the ceiling taking chunks of out of it but most shots were halted and sparks were made, then the unshielded armour of the Spy failed. Cracks could be seen in the camoflage and dark blood poured from these cracks. The camoflage failed with the Spy slowly falling down from the ceiling it landed in a pool of it's own blood.

By this time the attention of the entire guard was already drawn but after the body of the second Spy fell to the floor another loud hiss could be heard in another area of the ceiling. The guard look to find the last Spy, it had learn from the mistake of it's comrade and already deactivated its camoflage in favour of Null Shielding. Tzeentch started opening fire at this new threat with his ARC rifle 'Sting', but with the Null Shielding activated it did nothing to the Spy.

The Spy with its target in sight grabbed his Korak, let go of the ceiling and threw it towards BazZeRg as he made his descent. The Korak would surely mean the end for BazZeRg and his guard knew this, whilst Bear and Jaguar Squad concentrated on the final Spy the Super Mutants surrounding BazZeRg tried everything they could to stop this object before it hit their leader. But any attempt was fruitless; the Korak evaded or went through anything in it's path.

Then with the Korak a couple of feet away from BazZeRg, his suit began to activate with light flowing through strips along its length. Inches away from BazZeRg's chest the Korak halted and it kept on spinning silently trying to make the kill. BazZeRg exhaled deeply, he didn't know his suit would activate after all this time. In one swift motion BazZeRg drew his Viblades and sliced the Korak in half before the very eyes of his guards, who looked in awe at what they saw, especially those who had never seen a Guardian Null Suit activate before. But this was temporary as the guards drew their attention back to the final Spy who was being fired apon by Bear and Jaguar Squad.

With the entire guard focused on only a single Spy the firepower brought down on it was fierce. The null shielding of the Spy which had already been weakened by the fire from the Predators eventually fell as the Spy reached the hoard of Super Mutants surrounding BazZeRg. As the shielding fell the Spy started getting wounded with repeated hits from all the powerful weaponry of the Super Mutants it faced before it. The Spy began to tumble as it reached the guard and in preparation for attack it drew it's Viblade.

Fire ceased as a Radiant stepped forward from the guard with his thunder hammer drew back, he lunged towards the Spy and tripped him with a crack from his tactical shield into the 'knees' of the Spy. As the Spy fell the Radiant pulled his hammer up and brought it down on the armoured rear of the Spy. A loud cracking could be heard as armour was shattered and a sharp hiss was heard from the Spy. Paralysed before the guard the Spy looked helplessly at the soldiers gathering around it. Another mutant kicked away the lethal Viblade of the Spy as BazZeRg and Tzeentch walked up to it.

Tzeentch looked at BazZeRg, BazZeRg nodded in agreement. Tzeentch picked up the Viblade off the floor and proceded to finish off the Spy with a quick slash to the neck. Tzeentch drew his hand flamer and ignited the corpse and ordered the thorough disposal of all the enemy bodies.