Author's Note: This chapter took me forever... Btw, I decided to completely restructure these world building chapters to allow for more 1st person perspective, so it'll take a bit longer in between chapters. Apologies for the inconvenience! Also, I'm not very happy with how past me decided to write and structure these world building chapters, hence all the rewrites, restructuring, etc. Enjoy enjoy! (More notes and vocab/definitions at the bottom)
Disclaimer: This story contains profanity, violence, bloodshed, death and many modern world issues. These harsh and complex topics are covered in a fictional sense. This story contains only original characters. Any resemblance to any real person, alive or deceased is a coincidence.
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Summary: The shadow falls upon Langley, and the USNC reaps what they had sown years before...
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In 2152, Langley's orbit path took it behind the moon. This period is commonly referred to as the "Dark Period", as the moon prevented any communications via radio or laser, and as such, all contact was lost. As per USNC regulations, the frigate SCV Lunares Celeri was dispatched by Side 6, Castell, two days later. All contact was lost after the USNC Observations and Monitoring Web detected plasma discharges and railgun slug detonations, along with a final transmission from the Lunares Celeri.
This incident was named the Lunares Celeri disappearance, and the USNC Security Council authorised the USNCCF (United Space Nations Council Combined Forces) to launch Task Force Bulchide. Composed of vessels from Side 1, 2, 4 and 5, the Task Force was carrying USNC ERF (Emergency Response Force) volunteers and workers. While en route to Langley, the fleet was attacked by a smaller force of two cruisers and a battleship. A melee ensued, resulting in the Task Force losing a cruiser.
Admiral Leslie Namara's log stated: "Three unmarked vessels... were detected at 19:50 by the destroyer Alcazar...classified as a battleship and two cruisers, the vessels fired missiles and railgun slugs at the cruiser Laitan Tiempo. Tiempo took a hit to the bridge and stern...resulting in the destruction of the reactor and... subsequent disabling of the vessel. The battleship Moria Punisher and cruiser Tarlsen... fired torpedoes which sank one of the enemy destroyers and crippled the battleship. Tiempo's crew evacuated to the Punisher and she was scuttled. ...several ERF workers were killed."
Two hours later, a squadron of aircraft was detected by the Alcazar, which engaged with CDRF guns and destroyed two aircraft. Admiral Namara was killed after one of the aircraft strafed the bridge of the flagship carrier Chulani. The Chulani launched four fighters to intercept the enemy force before being sunk after a direct torpedo strike on the armory. The USNC security council declared a state of emergency and deployed Task Force Curin, consisting of the battle carrier Leyla Curin and cruiser Proteus to assist. Before TF Curin (Task Force) was able to reach TF Bulchide, an enemy fleet intercepted the two vessels.
Captain Gerald Countinheim of the Curin sent a transmission to USNCCF command: "This is Leyla Curin! Enemy fleet has intercepted and sunk the Proteus. We are crippled and will not be able to assist TF Bulchide. All enemy vessels are flagged under Langley forces. We will do our best to hold out, but our chances are slim. Godspeed to all."
. . .
"Captain, we've detected four vessels, all of which are flagged under Langley."
Countinheim grimaced as the Curin's CDRF guns lit up the cosmos with tracer rounds. Railgun slugs zipped by the bridge while the weapons systems officers struggled to return fire. "ID?" The first officer replied: "Two battleships, two missile cruisers."
"Damn it. Get me a-" The bridge was rocked as the front turret exploded, flames licked the windows before subsiding as the superstructure creaked, slowly caving in from the constant battering. The first officer swore and grabbed a radio: "Get me a damage report now. I want all our fire concentrated on the missile cruisers and scramble all our remaining fighters for a strike on the battleships."
Countinheim ran towards the windows and looked outside as a cascade of CDRF rounds ricocheted off of Curin's bow armor. A set of plasma rounds sailed towards the enemy as Curin's plasma casters let loose another salvo. The superstructure creaked again, metal groaning with a sickening screech as more rounds slammed into her, tearing through each layer of armor. An officer yelled: "Compartments 6A bow and 2B armory have been breached! Hull doors are sealed!"
Another yelled back: "We're out of missiles! Generators are straining to produce energy for the plasma casters! We're also running low on railgun slugs!"
The first officer yelled: "We've lost power to the stern! Rear turret is down!" More rounds rocked the giant ship as the rear turret ceased fire. Countinheim sighed and looked at his hands. They were shaking more and more as he departed on each deployment. He was too old for this. Walking over to a console, he grabbed a headset and dialed the whole vessel: "This is Captain Countinheim. All crew abandon ship. I repeat, all crew abandon ship."
He hit a button and all the lights turned red, and a klaxon began to sound. He quietly removed his headset and saluted the bridge: "Bridge crew, at ease!"
Everyone on the bridge nodded and saluted back with a collective thump as magnetic boots met the metal deck. "Dismissed!"
The crew filed out of the doors, quickly making their way to the escape pods. More explosions rocked the ship as the red lights flickered, and the klaxon stopped; for a moment. Countinheim sighed again. The Leyla Curin was a beautiful vessel, a dream posting for a junior captain. He'd been sailing on her for 23 long years now. Grimacing as more rounds slammed into the hull, he walked over to the radio and picked it up. "This is Leyla Curin! Enemy fleet has intercepted and sunk the Proteus. We are crippled and will not be able to assist TF Bulchide. All enemy vessels are flagged-"
. . .
The grey room seemed to get smaller and smaller each second. The flickering lights create mirages, people, animals, things appearing out of nowhere as the clock ticks each second by. The door opens, the recently oiled hinges making no sound as a well dressed man walks in. He gently shuts the door and draws a pistol. "Kerr. Ready to talk?"
A ragged man wearing blue overalls and a name tag is leaning against the wall. His eyes are blank, mouth twitching and drooling. He slowly turns his head: "Yeah. Yeah I'm ready to bloody talk. Let's talk."
. . .
President Johnson declared unconditional war on the USNC two days later. In his declaration, he stated: "The USNC's oppressive rule is over. The people of Langley have had enough. We will unite the colonies into one. We will smite the USNC. We will cripple you and bring you into our rule. People of Langley, we are the resisters!"
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More notes: I have more views here compared to Wattpad lol... Also, the naming is kinda bad, and I forgot to change it, so yeah... Next chapter will be released ASAP! Until then! -Genpatz4
P.S I still suck at formatting ;;;;;;;;
P.P.S I might post some lore chapters, so people aren't completely overwhelmed by the definitions... That's the nerd I am!
Vocab and Definitions:
-Dark Period: The period of time when a colony's orbit path goes behind the moon, hindering all communications between the USNC and the Side.
-Laser Communication: A new method of communication developed by the USNC for rapid response over long distances. A computer encodes the message into laser script, and the laser is fired into space. A satellite or buoy then intercepts and redirects the laser towards the next satellite or buoy to then be redirected to the destination. The only weakness is that it can be easily intercepted by another entity.
-SCV Lunares Celeri: (SCV stands for Side Castell Vessel) The Lunares Celeri is a Bastion Class frigate, designed for mobility and firepower. Equipped with two 5 inch AUC Railguns located in turrets mounted on port and starboard, a guided plasma caster mounted on the bow, and two 80mm quad barrel rotary cannons mounted on the stern. 16 Trident ASMs are set behind the bridge and 18 CDRF (Close Defence Rapid Fire) turrets are spread around the ship.
-USNC Observations and Monitoring Web: A network of pulsar, radar, sonar and energy sensors, designed to pick up disturbances in the Earth sphere. This network is managed by the USNC Security Council.
-USNCCF: United Space Nations Council Combined Force. The official force that integrates forces of the Sides to conduct operations and protect the Earth Sphere.
-Task Force Bulchide: Consisting of 4 battleships, 8 cruisers, 3 carriers, 10 destroyers and 4 frigates, Task Force Bulchide was commissioned by the USNCCF to carry USNC ERF workers to Side 7 and assist with any situation if required. Carriers: Chulani, Marghava, Lestarn. Battleships: Moria Punisher, Kanava, Earlwhit, Sulan Kin. Cruisers: Laitan Tiempo, Tarlsen, Cotmarl, Keelsans, Daelcovin, (Missile Cruisers: Heetzin, Mawsonia, Cervus Max). Destroyers: Alcazar, Kanthard, Kholhard, Petzlvand, Gurlitz, Weeryakin, Stormeister, Prosaso, Semana, Ullard.
-Task Force Curin: Consisting of the battle carrier Leyla Curin and the missile cruiser Proteus, Task Force Curin was formed to assist TF Bulchide after the loss of the carrier Chulani and the cruiser Laitan Tiempo. Both the Curin and the Proteus were lost.
-CDRF Turrets: A turret that integrates its own battle computer with detection monitors, such as pulsar, radar, thermal imaging, etc. The main weapon is a 35mm GRUB rotating barrel rapid fire autocannon. The gun varies on different vessels.
-Strafed: "Attack repeatedly with bombs or machine gun fire from low-flying aircraft." -Oxford Languages
Next Time...
War is declared and Langley attacks! Ensuing devastation and confusion erupt as the USNC struggles to put together a response, in: CHAPTER V: The Battle for Almara.