Stygian Lurker said:
Can we expect an update of this LP soon?
Sorry for the wait, the dreaded RL caught up with me, here is the update.
Thanks for your interest, and the bump.
Ravenous
The astrocrafts of Velhar 'the raven' Kraszyek's militia reflected the history of the central sectors.
They didn't have assaulters or proper battlecruisers, but what was called a superclass, an heavy astrocraft more massive than an assaulter, developed during the time of the war between sectors it was designed for planetary defense and interplanetary travel.
As defense used limited force shields, not as powerful as a battlecruiser ones, but still effective.
While its principal weapons were nuclear torpedoes, electro plasma bombs and a special type of pulse cannon that focused five different impulses on a single point, quite effective even against the most heavy armor.
However, instead of hypervelocity guns, it still mounted anachronistic drill launchers, cannons that fired piercing projectiles against their objective, an effective weapon at close distance with heavy astrocrafts, but almost useless against the lighter ones.
For this, the other militias composing the battle group provided a plethora of light astrocrafts which exact purpose was to hunt down other light astrocrafts, smaller than other similar ships of the Green Company, each of them with their own version of a pulse cannon.
In that moment the battle group had already took position in presiding the strategic points of the central sectors when Jonar Eryxhian, lieutenant of Velhar Kraszyek's militia, and assigned battle group, received a private convocation from the field commander.
He had been Kraszyek's military mentor back in the days, even if what there was between them couldn't be called affection he still was the closest person to Velhar outside of his family.
"Did you want to see me Velhar?"
Asked Eryxhian entering Kraszyek's quarters.
He was greeted by the commander seated at his desk.
"I need your insight Jonar."
Kraszyek looked at him straight in the eyes.
"What do you think of the Marshall' strategy?"
A little surprised Eryxhian answered:
"Seems a plan devised more for defending the sectors, while maintaining the balance of power between them, than an offensive against the Jehnizars."
"And why is so, in your opinion?"
Inquired Kraszyek.
"Politics."
Replied the lieutenant with a shrug.
"Maybe has something to do with the recent rumors of a declaration of full preeminence by the Directorate."
"And if those weren't just rumors?"
Asked the commander with a strange look.
"Velhar, you know that my loyalty to you, your family and the directorate is unquestionable, enough with this charade."
"All right."
Said Kraszyek reclining against the seat.
"You are well aware of the current situation, I think."
"After decades that the Commonwealth has thrived under the Directorate's rule people have grown conceited, and begun to ask for more 'freedom', a freedom that until this moment has been guaranteed by the Directorate."
"And they asked for more and more concessions, until the travesty called Representativity has been instituted."
"Fools, all fools."
When saying this Kraszyek's face contorted in disgust.
"What they can understand about these questions?"
"Especially people like Zhenar Xhan."
"Even if he is a pragmatic man he still is an idealist, he couldn't understand the burning passion that power entails and his lure, he's too rational."
"His dear Representativity it's nothing else that the instrument of various interest groups that joined the Directorate along the years, their way to take over the Commonwealth on the pretense of 'liberating' it."
At this point the 'raven' closed his eyes with a sigh.
"Our own weakness is to blame for this, years of compromises lead to this situation, we allowed amongst us, the older families that created the Directorate, cowards who thought that money was all what they needed to prove their worth."
"Now, the same people that owe us all, point the fingers against us, claiming that we are holding back the development of the Commonwealth, that we stifle people's rights."
"They are just spreading sedition for achieving that power that we have denied to them."
"A power without obligations or constraints because is 'freely' chosen by the people, the worst tyranny draped in liberty rags."
The 'raven' opened his eyes and looked at the ceiling of his room.
"So, we tried to put an end to this."
Eryxhian felt a little uneasy at this admission from the commander.
"But it was too late."
Continued Kraszyek.
"We were completely isolated, old friends changed sides out of convenience and even some of the most important figures inside the Directorate revealed themselves as traitors."
Now he looked at his lieutenant.
"They have turned us in convenient scapegoats, they call us tyrants, but our decisions are routinely put down, call this a military dictatorships, but the best weapons are diverted to the troops loyal to them."
"The Directorate has all but become an empty husk."
"The only things that are holding them back are the right opportunity, and the militias commanded by me, that are still loyal to the families that made the Commonwealth great."
And he added with a smirk:
"And the Green Company, isn't it funny that an institution that has alway been seen as a safeguard against the dictatorial aims of the Directorate is now its best defense?"
"Velhar, you know that I am just an old soldier,I was never involved in this intrigues, why are you telling me this?"
"Because I need your opinion, and your discretion, on a very delicate matter."
Answered the 'raven' with a grim look.
"What do you think is the principal weakness of the current strategy?"
Jonar was a bit surprised with this abrupt return to the previous questions, but answered:
"Apart from the fact that is aimed more to avoid sectors' infighting than confronting the enemy I would say the only blind spot is the border of the Fringe with the central sectors, but this is purely academic, the Jehnizars don't have astrocrafts capable to launch an offensive from there."
"What if someone gave such astrocrafts to them?"
Was the incredible reply of the commander.
Jonar Eryxhian stared at the 'raven' in disbelief.
"Who could do something like that?"
Then the sudden realization struck the Lieutenant.
"YOU, Velhar, if everyone else would have said this to me I would have killed him on spot.Explain yourself."
"There is nothing to explain."
Answered Velhar Kraszyek with arrogance.
"We have always been in contact with the Jehnizars to impede any kind of agreement between them and the factions inside the Commonwealth that are hostile to us."
"So, for obtaining the new battlecruisers, a decisive weapon, that we knew would have been denied to us, we made the Jehnizars build them for our purposes."
"But when we were ready to use them for the declaration of preeminence all contacts have ceased, considering that we have been very cautious in avoiding to transfer any kind of expertise or technology, apart what was strictly needed, to operate the battlecruisers a crew from the Commonwealth is needed, so we suspect that they have struck a deal with some of our enemies inside the Directorate and the Representativity."
Jonar Eryxhian was still in stupor at that revelation and asked with a whisper:
"How many, how many there are?"
"Three"
Was the dry answer.
Now the Lieutenant was trembling with rage, but tried to hold his voice firm.
"Do you have any idea how they want to use them?"
The 'raven' seemed more like his namesake than ever when he answered.
"Almost certainly a devastating attack against the central sectors, for the Jehnizars this would mean that they could hope to sign a peace deal with ample concessions, for a part of the directorate instead this could be the occasion to put the blame on the Representativity for the fact that the enemy is using astrocrafts developed with their collaboration, or the Representativity itself to show how inept the actual Directorate is."
"All depends on the strength and purposes of whom is controlling the astrocrafts, people will believe whatever suits them best, many sectors will just blame the Directorate irregardless of any other considerations."
"But for sure, the actual, almost powerless, Directorate, meaning me, my family and our allies, will be disposed of, in a way or another, being some ambitious faction inside the Directorate or the Representativity or some combination of the two is irrelevant for now."
"In this moment we can only rely on people that ha always been loyal to us."
For a moment the 'raven' seemed completely lost.
"What should I do Jonar?"
For a moment the lieutenant had the impression to have in front of him the same kid of old with his arrogance and his vulnerabilities, a kid of which he recognized the courage and nobility, very different from the ruthless schemer caught up in his own machinations, that had begun to show the signs of fear.
A)Strengthen the defense of the possible civilians targets to avoid possible heavy casualties and the subsequent political backlash that could end with a take over of the Commonwealth.
B)Strengthen your defenses, whatever happens a solid military force is fundamental for thwarting any take over and preventing further troubles.
C)Who dares wins, direct your fleet towards the border with the fringe sector, in this way you can try to intercept any possible attack, however this could just mean to play in the hands of your enemies.