Mar'Katrach Raid

The Mar'Katrach Raid is was an armed engagement that took place at a Kintark Supply Base in the Mar'Katrach Nebula in Chapter 63 between the Invictus on behalf of the Terran Federation and Kintark Empire. The Terran victory in the Battle of Port Medea during Chapter 33 and the arrival of Invictus during Chapter 62 in Iota Leonis was instrumental in enabling the raid to occur.

## Background

At 0800 Terran Standard Time, during the events of Chapter 61, the Terran Federation formally declared war on the Kintark Empire. The subsequent arrival of John Blake on Invictus in Iota Leonis to speak with Vincent Buckingham in Chapter 62 was therefore met with caution by the Terran Fleet present in the system. Following the establishment of contact between John and Eriko Sasaki, they were hailed by Gabrielle Lynton. Due to Buckingham's whereabouts within Kintark space, Lynton needed authorization to disclose his location. Invictus' arrival presented Lynton an opportunity to exploit intelligence regarding a lightly defended Kintark Supply Base extracted from Prelate Jarganth. Unable to commit a large force to act on the intelligence herself, Lynton requested John and the crew of Invictus to destroy the supply base within the Mar'Katrach Nebula, behind Kintark lines.

## Deployment and Order of Battle

The Kintark fleet, commanded by High Prelate Vraktrin consisted of one Battleship (Merlan'tok), two Carriers (Tivash'toh and another unnamed carrier), four Cruisers (Lissen'tor, Zarkin'tor, Jerman'tor, and Jernak'tor), 12 Destroyers, and dozens of Troop Transports believed by the crew of the Invictus to carry at least one hundred thousand embarked soldiers. The Kintark fleet, unaware of the presence of Invictus was in the process of leaving the system to resume its hunt for Terran fleets. Calara Fernandez's tactical and strategic analysis indicated that the Troop Transports, the Carriers, Battleship, and supply base itself were the targets of highest strategic value.

The Raptor—piloted by Jade—was to engage the Troop Transports and supply base itself, while Invictus—piloted by Alyssa Marant, with Calara Fernandez and Faye operating the weapons—was to ambush the fleet itself, starting with the Battleship, Merlan'tok—which did not have its shields raised at the time of battle—in order to buy time for Jade to successfully meet her objectives. Irillith Valaden was to hack into Kintark ships to disrupt their response to the raid.

## Battle

As the Cruiser Jernak'tor completed an Interdiction Drill as ordered by Khardas, Invictus launched its ambush, quickly destroying Merlan'tok, killing Vorgrax onboard. Capitalizing on the slow reaction time of the Lissen'tor to the attack, Invictus tore it asunder using its Mass Drivers and Beam Lasers to reduce the cruiser to a desolate hulk. Irillith seized control of Zarkin'tor, pitting it against Jerman'tor and unleashing the combined power of the vessel's Plasma Cannons and the Beam Lasers of Invictus. Once Jerman'tor was destroyed, Invictus rapidly destroyed all 12 escorting Destroyers, then gave chase to the Carrier Tivash'toh while Irillith turned the Zarkin'tor on Jernak'tor. The first volley of Beam Lasers overpowered Tivash'toh's shields. While Invictus dueled with Tivash'toh, Vorgrax ordered Khardas to retreat from battle to warn the Emperor about the danger Invictus posed. Jerman'tor broke contact with Zarkin'tor—which subsequently suffered a power core meltdown at Irillith's intervention— and began to flee the system, abandoning the Troop Transports and remaining Carrier.

While Invictus engaged the Kintark fleet, the Raptor engaged the undefended stations, utilizing the distraction caused by the Ambush. Following the destruction of Tivash'toh and the launch of strike craft and fighters, the Raptor was supported by screening fire by Invictus, protecting it from being engaged. A second attempt by the only remaining Carrier to launch strike craft was ended by Irillith hacking into it and closing the launch bays, resulting in the detonation of the strike crafts' armed torpedoes, and destroying the Carrier itself. With the fleet destroyed, Invictus disabled the now unprotected Troop Transports while the Raptor finished destroying the base.

## Aftermath

The success of the raid was a significant setback for the Kintark's invasion plans. The Kintark Empire no longer had a base so close to the front where it could rearm and resupply its ships for battle, and hundreds of thousands of Kintark troops were left trapped in disabled ships, tying Kintark assets up with rescue operations for some time.