Chapter 2: Preparations
Reach, Sword Base
March 25, 2652/ 18 BBY
9 hours after first contact with the Empire.
Fleet Admiral Alexander Vermont was not having a good day. Reports have been flooding into his office for the past several hours about a developing situation that was occurring in the outermost region of the western frontier. He look at the data pad he was holding as his AI secretary organized the reports into short bullet points. As he read each one, the situation that was happening was getting worse and worse, and the more he read, the frown that he had on his face, depends.
"Unknown ships entered the star system Othssr near the colony of Outland."
"Unknown fleet consists of 10 ships from 100 meter long to 700 meters long: two 700 meters, three 500 meters, four 300 meters, two 100 meters long.
"Outland defense fleet (5 Paris class frigates, 1 Halcyon class cruiser, 1 Iroquois class destroyer) move to contact"
"Unknown ships sends a message identifying themselves from a galactic empire, demanding the surrender of the colony."
"Outland defense fleet refuses to acknowledged the message and moves to engage the Imperial fleet."
"The following battle lasted less than an hour, with the defense fleet losing 3 frigate destroyed outright and another frigate along with the destroyer were damage to the point where they were abandoned. With the others ships suffering moderate to light damage. All Imperial ships are destroyed except one of the Corvette class ship that managed to escape the star system by using an unknown form FTL travel".
"Immediately after the battle, the commander of the Outland defence force contacts HIGHCOM and initiates Harvest and Cole protocol. Affectedly locking down the star system.
" HIGHCOM acknowledges Harvest and Cole Protocol and moves to place the entire western frontier under DEFCON 2 and places all colonies within a 1000 light year radius of Outland under DEFCON 1.
"HIGHCOM has order the mobilization of the 16th and 17th fleets, as well as orders all battle groups and strike forces within the western frontier to make best possible speed to Outland."
"What have we gotten ourselves into?" The admiral thinks to himself as he places the tablet down on his desk. He sigh as gets off the chair he has been sitting on and walks over to a window. As he looks out the window, he thinks of all the things that has lead up to him being here. Fleet Alexander Vermont, a man in his early 50s, at 6ft 4 was a very imposing man. Born and raised on the colony world of Arcadia III, his North American heritage showed in his accent. He comes from a very long line of navy officers. His grandfather and great grandfather fought in the Great War. He wanted to make his family proud when he joined the navy more than 30 years ago. His level headed nest and him having a good understanding of military politics helped him to rise through the ranks and he became a captain at an early age. He wanted to emulate his hero, Admiral Cole. That's why, when he became a fleet admiral, it was the proudest moment of his navy career. At least it should have been. He is the fleet admiral of all UNSC forces in the Western frontier. Well that s what its says on his deck anyway. He is a desk admiral, who fills out paperwork, rather leads ships. It's not the job he wanted, but he was not about to complain. Especially now.
He thought about who their new enemy was. They called themselves the Galactic Empire. He wondered what that meant exactly. If the skirmish between the fleets was anything to go by, than the UNSC not going to have too hard of a time. But that was just one engagement, something in his gut told him that the UNSC hasn't seen everything this Empire can dish out. That was a prospect he was not looking forward to. Then he thought about the Empire themselves. The fact that they were human was only mildly surprising. After everything that happened to the UNSC with, the flood, the halos, the Ark, the forerunners, Requiem, the shield world of Trevelyan. The fact that there are more humans in this galaxy really didn't come to a shocked him.
When this whole mess started, he was in a meeting with a few other officers. By the time he was done and was informed what was going on, HIGHCOM already had issued Cole and Harvest protocol, but situation was far from under control. He was going to have a meeting with his counterpart Fleet Admiral Lin Sycon, the Admiral in charge of the western frontier on the field. Her fleet is stationed on the UNSC fortress world of Stronghold IV, one of only twelve fortress worlds the UNSC have in the Western Frontier.
They are going to go over the UNSC contingency plan and how to effectively move the fleets into defending the colonies that are in immediate danger.
The admiral got off his chair and headed towards the door. He was about to walk out of his office, when his personal AI, appeared on his desk and yelled for him.
"Admiral, we have a problem!"
"What now?" he said under his breath, as he look at the AI Sophia.
Sophia's avatar was that of a World War one nurse. With her hair in a bun, hands holding a clipboard, and a look she gave him was one that meant business
"Sir, Long range probes outside the Othssr system has pick up a large group of objects heading towards the system. The probe could not get a good look at them, but based on the sizes and the triangular shapes, it's safe to assume who they are". She said is a serious tone.
The admiral frowned even more as he made his way back to his desk.
"How many?" He ask as he sat back down.
"79".
The admiral was slightly surprise at the number. He, along with every member of HIGHCOM, knew that a follow up attack was inevitable, and he wasn't surprise of the it took the Imperials this long to send a second fleet. But 79?
"How long until they enter the system?" He ask the AI.
"Based on the info from the probes, an hour at most" Sophia stated in a matter-of-fact tone.
"What about our forces ". After the Imperial fleet was beating, nearby patrol groups were sent to reinforce the weakened defense fleet. The five surviving vessels along with three patrols now made for 21 ships defending Outland. In addition, the nearby colony of New Zanzibar sent 3 New Berlin class destroyers. What makes the Berlin class different than others is that this class doesn't have MAC guns, instead relying on a combination of Archer missiles, pulse laser turrets, and plasma torpedoes. These new ships have never seen any real combat, now is a good time as any the Admiral thought.
"The 24 ship fleet is holding a defensive position over the second moon over planet Outland. Thankfully most of the civilians have been evacuated and UNSC ground forces are dug in and are prepared for combat." Sophia told the Admiral.
"What about the strike forces and battle groups that were re-deployed into the Western Frontier". He ask while trying to find the answer on his table.
"Admiral Sycon already had order the fleets to move into emergency defensive positions around key colonies, and for a fleet to be assembled to reinforce Outland, however she's was waiting for her meeting with you to have them approved. Her ship's AI have sent me her plans when the probe spotted the Imperial fleet. I'm sending you a full description on her movements now." Sophia stated as the Admiral's tables suddenly showed new information.
The admiral read her plan thoroughly but quickly. He got off his chair again and made his way to the door as he gave Sophia orders.
"Tell Sycon she has permission to move the fleets at her discretion. But she is to focus on assembling a fleet to reinforce Outland before she does anything else.". He said as he was walking out. But before he left he look back at his AI to tell her one more thing.
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"Also tell Lin that I'm going to try to get as many fleets mobilized as possible. Until then however she is to make do with what she gas and that she MUST hold the line at all cost." And with that he left to go straight to the Director of Naval Operations, and to prepare the UNSC for War.
Authors note: This is my first fanfic and I hope to make it a good one. I've had this idea for a story now for a long time but never had the time to do it. The last chapter was just a info dump and this one sets up for the upcoming battle. If you have an suggestions or comments fell free to tell me because like I said, this is my first story so please be nice.