TAZ35

==Chapter 35 - The Absolute Zero==
Lyons Star System
Lyran Commonwealth
 March 30th, 3159
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It turned out that waiting wasn't going to take that long.
Clan Ghost Bear was in the system, rolling out of jump with a Leviathan class Dreadnought, two Cameron-C cruisers, four Essex Class destroyers...  The Ghost Bear ships that had collars, were releasing Republic made Castrum class pocket warships as they shook out their formation, along with a cloud of OmniFighters.
"And a goddam partridge in a pear tree." Vice Admiral Emily Falcone spat. 
"Mum, we're getting a send from the Ghost Bears."
"Put it up." ordered Falcone
"Greetings, I am Star Admiral Wilson Bourjon and this is my command, the Valkyrie Galaxy Beta."
"Hi Wilson. I'm Vice Admiral Emily Falcone, commanding the LCS Hermann Steiner battlegroup.  Why have you brought a fleet into Lyran Commonwealth territory and why is that fleet arraying for battle?"
She gave a hand signal, and crewmen started donning helmets as the battle alert went through the fleet vessels in the system.
"I come on behalf of my nation to declare sovereign right to control this star system.  What forces do you have to defend your claim?"
"Ohmigod! You're issuing a Batchall??" Emily scoffed as the pressure in the ship began dropping, to mitigate shock damage and fires.  "Wil, This is the Lyran Commonwealth Navy, we don't play games.  Are you fully cognizant of what you're getting into?"
Black Box signals went out, recalling Cutters from patrols and noting the disposition of the incoming fleet.
"I am aware of your tactics against the mongol falcons. Be rest assured, we are not them."
"If we start this, it's not stopping here. You do understand that, right?  I mean, seriously? Are you sure you want to take that course?  Once you start shooting, it becomes war. The Lyran Commonwealth becomes one of the belligerents. Your colleagues are not doing that hot against the Combine, and we have a bigger navy than they do.  Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Why are you trying to stall, are you afraid??" he scoffed at her.
"No, I just don't want to kill you. Which I will be duty bound to do if you insist on this.  We don't play around, Wil, we use nuclear warheads, massed fire, and a lot of other techniques. We do not operate with limited rules of engagement.  Recharge your drives, turn around and get your orders clarified. Find out if your nation really wants to go to war with us.  If the answer really is yes, then you have to understand we don't practice war. We don't do the kind of limited war that ground on for three centuries. It will be damned hard to stop once it gets started.  Ask the Jade Falcons what 'Lyran Restraint' looks like.  I do not want to kill you and your men, you and your men do not want to be dead...but if you start this, you will be dead, and maybe millions more.  Think about this very carefully."''
"Missile fire from one of the Camerons, Mum, Ninety seconds to intercept."
"Battle Plan gray one Delta." she said, and tabbed the transmit to the Ghost Bear fleet, "I am truly sorry for you, Star Admiral." and cut the communication.
Welp...we're at war now. She thought
==Order of Battle==
[Overview: the Battle of Lyons (first battle)]
Aggressor forces
Clan Ghost Bear Valkyrie Galaxy (Alpha group)
GBS Rasalhague, Leviathan II (updated) Dreadnought.
GBS San Francisco, Cameron (clantech) updated Battle Cruiser
GBS Advance Guard, Cameron (Clantech) updated Battle Cruiser
GBS David R. Ray, Essex II, updated
GBS Englund, Essex II updated
GBS David Torrance, Essex II updated
GBS Saunders Rowe, Essex II updated
GBS Robbins, Essex II updated
Full fighter complements are present, and every drop-collar in the formation is carrying a Castrum.
Defending Forces
Lyran Commonwealth Navy: LCN Battlegroup 2 (of 16)
BB-002: LCS Hermann Steiner (Flag vessel, Fredrick Steiner class Battleship)
Fregatteschwer 5/CB 205: LCS Sudeten (Marsden II class Cruiser)
Zerstorer Gruppe 5: (Landmark Class Destroyers)
DE 2501A: LCS Praetoria Valley
DE 2501B: LCS Orombo Rocks
DE 2501C: LCS Cosler's Glacier
DE 2501D: LCS Rigby's Rift
Fregatteschwer 6/CB 206: LCS Timehri
Zerstorer Gruppe 6:(Landmark Class Destroyers)
DE 2601A: LCS Golden Lake
DE 2601B: LCS Minsky's Folly
DE 2601C: LCS Mary's Escarpment
DE 2601D: LCS Franz Gap
Fregatteschwer 7/CB 207: LCS Mandoaarau (Marsden II class Cruiser)
Zerstorer Gruppe 7: (Landmark Class Destroyers)
DE 2701A: LCS Mandaoaaru Cay
DE 2702A: LCS Sydney Bay
DE 2703A: LCS Archon's Land Bluff
DE 2704A: LCS Camranh Estuary
Fregatteschwer 8/CB 208: LCS Anembo (Marsden II class Cruiser)
Zerstorer Gruppe 8: (Landmark Class Destroyers)
DE 2801A: LCS Calabrazas Mountain
DE 2802A: LCS Ortega's Lament
DE 2803A: LCS New Saigon Peninsula
DE 2804A: LCS Mount Nevermind
3 Squadrons from Cutter Division 21 (36 Sampan Mk IV Cutters)
*Note from the Author : No, I do NOT want to go through naming each of the cutters.  Suffice to say that this is not really a balanced battle. Addendum: the Landmark class is a whole-cloth invention for this setting and has a couple of tricks built into it that don't model well in the canon construction rules. They're 350,000 ton ships capable of firing a 'broadside' from any angle, but they're heat-limited ships because the system that permits that significantly broader 'broadside' is completely incompatible with double strength heat sinks. the ships themselves have excellent mobility and a heavy investment in targeting systems and naval command equipment.  Their weapons fitment allows them to hit like ships 3-4 times their mass when concentrating fire, but because of the nature of their setting-specific layout, this leaves them vulnerable on other arcs when firing a full broadside (though the AMS does help there...a bit.)  Landmarks work in concert with other ships and fight in formation pairs to cover that temporary vulnerability, and destroyer pairs work in concert with Sampan IV cutters to help with coverage and provide additional missile and naval laser fire. 
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Cameron Class Battlecruiser (Delranes Fighting Ships 3061 - Matt Plog).jpg|Cameron Class Battlecruiser
Essex Class Destroyer (Matt Plog).jpg|Essex Class Destroyer
Sampan III Class Cutter - Full Thrust (Ngoverse).jpg|Sampan Class Cutters
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