User blog comment:USS Enterprise CVN-65/The New (And Improved) Official Roleplay Room/@comment-12161342-20151205042241/@comment-14850713-20151217032313

IC:

The AFOH admiral aboard the battle carrier Terrible stares at the command screen filled with almost countless dots representing the massive Dragonfire - PCV fleet. His task force, which warped more than a thousand kilometers away, has been reinforced and now has 20 Dismal Regard and 20 Desecration heavy battleships, 30 Venator carriers (with 2,160 Cobra II and 720 Durandal), 30 Devastation battle carriers (with 2,700 Vautour FB-10DS), 90 Toxin heavy and 120 Scimitar light escorts, and 600 Paladin heavy fighters. It is probably the largest and strongest aerospace force ever fielded by AFOH in Tenelapis, but still it is dwarfed by the Axis. Somewhere on the other side of this vastness are the UAC, EAF, AIF and Gallian fleets, all trying to snipe away while the defenses of the Fissure far below crumbles.

Officer: "Do you think it will work, Sir?"

Admiral: "We'll know soon enough. Carriers launch."

From the AFOH carriers, 1,080 Cobras escorted by 360 Durandals and 600 Vautours take off. But as the strike force forms up everyone in the command center are still focused on the screen. Suddenly, the familiar ping of the Tiger Arc sensing movement in slip space is heard. The admiral's face tightens. The Dragonfire detectors would've picked it up a minute or too earlier given the distance, he thinks to himself. Anytime now.

A thousand kilometers away, the Dragonfire fleet is alerted and gets ready for an expected turkey shoot. In the midst of this swirling dervish, a lone Scipion battle carrier emerges. But it's long flight decks are empty, it's guns in muted silence. Then there's a bright flash, and a massive explosion tears it apart, sending huge chunks of hull and armor hurtling in all directions. Several of the lighter combatants (Storms and Ragnaroks) in close proximity are destroyed, and some of the bigger ships are heavily damaged.

The Tiger Arc detects a ripple in the Dragonfire formation as ships adjust their positions to avoid the debris. The admiral turns to his subordinate and orders, "Proceed". The strike craft lunge toward the Dragonfire fleet. Then the Paladins launch 1,200 FBW-N hypersonic missiles. Overtaking the aerospace squadrons, these slam into the screen of light Dragonfire ships, destroying and crippling many more despite suffering a 30% attrition rate. The strike craft now arrive. While the Durandals and Vatours engage the interceptors, the Cobras brave intense defensive fire and heavy losses to attack the heavier Ragnarok IIs and Crucibles, causing considerable damage as they hurl their aerial mines with deadly precision. Many of the cripples are also finished off.

The AFOH fleet moves back to put more distance between them and the enemy fleet, while the escorts close up to prepare for the counter strike that is sure to come. An urgent, secure message is sent to the Coalition fleets:

"Our attack has determined that the Sith disruption field does not cover the length and breadth of the combined Axis fleets. It may be, as we have seen, that only a few units are responsible for this barrier. Instead of attacking them head on, suggest we whittle away at the their flanks until we are able to pinpoint these units and bring about their destruction."

- AFOH 3ASF