In Time, or too late? (SH247)

## In Time, or Too Late?Part of Andromedan Invasion

The Andromedan Invasion began in a rush in Y188. At that time, the bulk of the Inter-Stellar Concordium’s “Pacification Forces”, i.e., its military, was deployed in a relatively thin cordon between the other various empires. This cordon extended from Concordium space to just short of the zone of conflict between the Vudar Enclave and the Hydran Kingdom (into which the Concordium was preparing to expand its cordon).

While there were major forces deployed along the borders with the Romulan Star Empire and the Confederation of the Gorn, there was little more than screening forces deployed along the rest of the Concordium’s borders looking for possible other hostile neighbors. Other than police forces there was little within the Concordium itself to repel an attack.

This was further exacerbated by the Concordium’s history of peace, and the certainty of its leadership that there was no possibility of any of the “insane empires” mounting an attack deep within the Concordium’s space. This certainty led to the construction of defenses outside of the capital zone, but virtually none within it.

The Andromedans rudely disabused the Concordium government of its sense of immunity from attack in a series of smashing attacks within its space commencing in Y189. Losses in the Concordium’s police forces were staggering as they vainly strove to protect their charges. All new production was ordered to remain at and defend the shipyard, but it was obvious to the Concordium’s leadership that if the other capital planets fell, the shipyard would be doomed in any case. The Concordium leadership attempted to recall its Pacification fleets, only to find that most of them had also sustained heavy losses and were being driven into smaller defensive zones (later dubbed “cantonments”) just to survive. Some forces would be able to make it back to Concordium space, but there was no knowing if they would be in time. Only the Andromedans knew when they would strike the capital planets.

The planner of the Concordium’s pacification effort saw only one hope. The Echelon of Judgment was at the edge of Klingon space just the other side of the Tholian Holdfast. If it went to maximum warp, and stopped only for fuel (not even delaying for minimal repairs), it could reach the capital zone before other major Concordium combat units. There was grave risk to the maneuver, but the planners saw no other choice.

The Echelon of Judgment made the transit in record time (albeit because there was no previous record for such a movement).

The Andromedans had made their first strike on one of the capital planets, that of the Korlivilar. While they had withdrawn without scoring major damage on the population or industrial centers, they had destroyed most of the civilian craft and orbiting commercial systems, and almost all of the military craft that had opposed them. (A few PFs had survived.) What civilian craft remained fled the threat of renewed attack, and virtually all remaining government transports (skiffs, cutters, etc.) had departed, evacuating vital records, materials, and personnel. All the defenders had left was a single weakened planetary defense battalion, whose fighters were literally hastily rearmed trainers that had been used by the local flight academy.

The Echelon of Judgment arrived at Korlivala just in time to interpose itself between a new Andromedan assault and the planet.

## Aftermath

Korlivala was saved, the two Dominators retreating after losing most of their satellite ships and the engine damaged Concordium ships finding themselves unable to pursue. The Echelon of Judgment ceased to exist after this battle except as a name, the surviving components being used to shore up defenses elsewhere and as the centerpieces of other task forces. They were never reunited as one command.