Turn 126 - Water Song
You are en-route to Calliope for the 3056 Olympics when you receive word that the Black Steel has counterattacked in the Baddorando system. The local detachment from Home Fleet moved to engage as planned, and succeeded in blunting the attack enough so that the Black Steel retreated when the Expeditionary Fleet arrived. They did so, however, at grievous cost, with the entire local detachment being destroyed. The planetary defense craft were able to prevent damage to the orbiting shipyards, thankfully, and rescued survivors from the corvettes and raiders which were lost.
Only ten
Battle-class destroyers from the Expeditionary Fleet were written off due to damage in the brief skirmishing that preceded the Black Steel’s retreat. However, one of the fleet’s
Jean Bart-class Battlecruisers disappeared, appearing to have misjumped in some manner as it never arrived in the Baddorando system. An anomaly investigation is under way to attempt to determine what happened
The data you review shows that the Black Steel did suffer fairly heavy casualties in their raid, but withdrew in good order. In terms of total tonnage, losses were about equal. Since the Black Steel retreated before getting in range of the planet, the
Artemis-class SDBs were never tested. Overall, it appears that the Home Fleet defensive doctrine is working, at least enough to prevent defeat in this case.
When you arrive at Calliope you get some more bad news, the economic situation on Grand View is far below expectations following a local investment bubble bursting. Tourist revenues are way down and, unfortunately, the local economy was heavily dependent on that trade rather than manufacturing or standard commerce. Large numbers of unemployed citizens are taking advantage of the various relocation subsidies to move to other systems in pursuit of employment and the local economy has taken a substantial hit to GDP growth this year.
On the other hand you also get some excellent economic news, the Awha system is experiencing an unexpected economic boom due to growth in the local export trade, as markets in the NRR or evidently purchasing large amounts of goods straight from Awha. Apparently nordic-themed snowmobiles are a thing, and a profitable one if the numbers are to be believed. You personally don’t see the appeal of the styling, but then again you also aren’t the target market so that makes sense.
The opening ceremonies for the Olympics are extremely impressive, both for the sheer artistry as well as the scale of the event. The entertainment for the ceremony is clearly based on a somewhat fanciful and artistic depiction of the history of the Calliope system, and the various dinosaurs of Calliope III are prominently featured. You are a bit puzzled at first, as while the various herbivores and raptors are prominently featured there is no sign of any of the Rexes.
Until the very end, when a pair of rexes enter the stadium with the Olympic torch held in a special harness. The two massive beasts take separate paths, passing off the torch as they pass each other. Then the larger of the two halts in the very center of the stadium before roaring a deafening challenge. Signs light up, encouraging spectators to roar back, but the initial response is quite tepid. The rex waits a moment, taps one claw on the ground, manages to look very disappointed, then roars again, even louder. This time the crowd gets into it, roaring back, although the rex still shakes his head before gathering himself and letting loose an ear-shattering roar that probably registers on the seismic scale. The crowd roars back, now fully into the moment. This goes back and forth for several minutes as the massive predator revs up the crowd to a fever pitch before, with one final roar, sprinting towards the massive staircase now rising towards the empty cauldron for the flame. At the top the rex turns again, letting out one final roar and getting one final thunderous response, before triggering the harness to send the flame into the cauldron, lighting up the night.
You are not too proud to admit that you got fully into the moment, along with the grandkids who are with you. At the very least you’ll never forget this particular moment. Future Olympics are going to have to work
hard to even match this.
You are still rather pumped up when you get a memo from Admiral Fisher. The Admiralty would like your approval for plans for a rapid follow-up strike against the Black Steel in the Shwartzstahlfriedhof system. The oplan, dubbed Operation: Silent Cormorant, is for a series of raids, no serious invasions of the system, with the intent of disrupting and attriting the Black Steel. As such only the Expeditionary and Strike Fleets will be involved, while the Grand Fleet continues to build up strength for the eventual full bore punch at the system.
[] | Action |
[] | Approve Operation: Silent Cormorant |
[] | Deny Operation: Silent Cormorant |