Merill's Gap

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Battle map layout animation

The Battle

LKF forces were tasked to recover the black box aboard the Sky Mortar, A Kraftstof class auxilary vessel that had been the victim of TFKs 'first strike'. Since it had drifted into TFK space, an entire fleet was sent. TFK saw the opportunity to strike a crippling first strike on LKF forces, and as soon as they began salvaging the Sky Mortar The entire fleet engaged.

LKF with advanced radar began getting the fleet into formation, the Starhammer was positioned in the centre of the formation, with the Javelin on the port side and the Verona to its starboard side. the 3 Vulcans were positioned close together to use wolfpack tactics. All fighters were launched and postioned into 2 squadrons, each using 3 Alto fighters to protect an Oberon bomber.

TFK had positioned the 3 Beralter cruisers so that there was one in the center, and one on either side of the fleet, with the Arbagasts between them, the Morgen boats were up front along with all 9 fighters.

As TFK approached, the Morgen's opened up, firing 12 torpedos in total, 2 slammed into the Starhammer, disabling her enormous dorsal cannon.

As soon as the turrets were in range, the larger vessels slowed down and began slugging it out, tearing eachother apart, the fighters engaged and began fighting for space superiority over the battlefield. The Javelin frigate engaged both Morgen boats with the 3 Vulcans engaged the 2 Arbagast freighters. 1 Beralter cruiser sat back, helping screen against fighters as the remaining 2 cruisers engaged the Starhammer.

As the 2 Beralters approached, they split, taking one flank each of the Starhammer, however as they reached the sides, the Starhammer revealed her party piece, her devastating broad side. At once all 16 of her broad side rocket pods opened fire. The Beralter to the Starhammers port side took a fatal hit to her jump drive and exploded, her wreck being absolutely shredded. The beralter on the Starboard side took 7 direct rocket hits, managing to shoot down the rest, immediately retreating.

As the Javelin frigate pursued the Morgen boats, one of the boats peeled off, and re appeared directly behind the Javelin, however most of the Javelin's firepower is located here and the boat was shredded, her gyros failed but she managed to get off 3 torpedos before slamming into an asteroid. 1 torpedo struck the Javelin taking out her large hydrogen thrusters, the Morgen in front flipped and fired all her guns and struck the Javelin with 3 more torpedos, then a final nuclear torpedo, destroying the Javelin frigate.

1 LKF fighter squadron was completely destroyed, and TFK had lost 3 interceptors. The verona class corvette had moved in and began screening TFK fighters.

The three Vulcan gunships were in formation, strafing the Arbagast freighters, however the damaged being dealt was minimal, and the Arbagast's were seriously damaging the Vulcans, one had lost its main hydrogen tank, another down to one gatling turret. Just as one of the Vulcans exploded, criticallt damaging the other 2, the Starhammer moved in, smashing the Arbagast's with another broad side, along with all her turrets. The Arbagasts were too slow to retreat and got severely damaged before they could escape.

The remaining, fully operational Beralter moved in on the Verona. A direct 1 to 1 engagement began as fighters swarmed around them. Eventually the Verona took a hit to her reactor and exploded. There was silence for a second. Then the Beralters point defence system opened up, shredding all but 1 Alto.

There was a pause in the battle as both fleets attempted to re organise. TFK had 4 Strahl interceptors , 1 Beralter cruiser and 1 morgen boat fully operational, LKF had the Starhammer, 1 Vulcan and 1 Alto operational.

The final forces class, with TFK focusing on the Starhammer's bridge. Destroying the final Alto, they had fighter superiority. However the Starhammer's defence grid was extremely strong and none could get through. The morgen and Beralter engaged the Starhammer as the fighters managed to destroy the Vulcan.

The Starhammer now stood alone, all guns blazing, she was not cracking, the Morgen suffered a hit to her hydrogen tanks and was disabled. Fighter's were being shot down rapidly, only 3 remained after a bridge run. The last 3 fighters were in no shape to go back into the Starhammers point defence grid and had to retreat. The Beralter was left with the Starhammer, and decided that if they could take out a Starhammer, it might scare the LKF away from them. Despite being smaller and having way less firepower, the Beralter prepared for a final attack.

As she headed in, she fired all her guns directly ahead, aiming for the Starhammer's bridge. Gatling turrets and point defense cannons began pounding the Beralter's external armour, however the bridge was destroyed and the Starhammer was forced to retreat.

The final Beralter returned, being named 'Brutus' for its amazing show of strength against the Starhammer.