March 15, 11,989 CE
Space Station Yosemite-3, in orbit around Jarban Major, Jarban Major System, Hellespont Sector, Earth Cluster...
Director Lovelace of the Union's Space Colonial Administration (SCA) put down the datapad on which she had read about the slowing progress of underground urbanization on Ka-Sabar Prime in the Daraa Sector, and given her reply.
The datapad join others on her desk about stellar electromagnetic disruptions on Rogachevo V, and asteroid mining outputs in the Jhala System. There were so many reports that these days Lovelace often needed to keep tabs on multiple subjects open at the same time.
The communicator on her desk rang, and Lovelace glanced at the caller before answering. "Serov! It has been awhile... I take it you wanted to ask me about our colonial expansion."
"Yes, indeed," Director Serov replied rather stiffly, as his hologram was projected out of the communicator. "Intelligence has noticed that expansion of new colonies in the Artemis Tau has ground to a halt. Not only that, but it seems our expansion in the Zakopane, Unukalhai, and Scythian Sectors has not been up to schedule. Might I ask what's up with that?"
"A spike in Batarian pirate activity in Artemis Tau and the frontier sectors has been partly responsible," Director Lovelace replied, "I imagine you've heard too that they're been led by the infamous pirate lord, Eluam Ran'perah. But it's more than that. In terms of worlds per sector, expansion has slowed all across the front, but that's in large part due to the increasing number of settlement sectors.
As you well know, after colonizing the sectors immediately around the primary relay of entry, we expand out into an increasing volume of space in all directions, so expansion per sector naturally decreases. Our resources are stretched thin on all fronts- after all, we can't just explore, we build infrastructure, sensors, deep space outposts- and patrol with whatever military forces we can scrounge up. The Navy hasn't, uh, always been the most cooperative."
"It's only natural the the Navy needs to station the bulk of their forces in the border regions," Serov replied smoothly.
"Not exactly helpful with dealing with Batarian piracy..." Lovelace muttered. "Attacks by the Blue Stars pirates have also risen. Rumor is they've coalesced most of the surviving bands of Red Druid splinters. But of course, that isn't what you've called about, is it? Out with it, now."
"Well, I want to complete the occupation of frontier worlds in the Daraa and Scythan Sectors, at least a small presence, for reconnaissance and as a buffer zone..."
"And you want the SCA to expend resources on that?" Lovelace exclaimed heatedly. "Our colonies and settlements are not your cannon fodder! If you want planets simply garrisoned, might as well ask the Marines and YoRHa to occupy them!" She took a sharp breath. "We simply can't increase the production of new Androids this quickly. Our methods require that each Android have minor aesthetic design variatons and need to be registered under Union law... they're not freaking Von Neumann probes! Isn't that something you Intelligence spooks can take care of?"
"Fine, fine!" Director Serov held up his hands defensively. "I suppose this is a good opportunity to test out Project Spore in action..."
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October 26, 11,989 CE
Union Geneva-class cruiser, UEASN Hyderabad I, entering orbit of Alsages, Sparta System, Conrad Sector, Artemis Tau...
Captain Meissner-5 stared, riveted at the viewport of her bridge as she waited tensely for the news.
"Captain, the probes imagery is in! We have confirmation- 99.3% match with the Batarian frigate Tunerron!"
"Excellent! Looks like our little stakeout has paid off!"
For months now, the notorious Batarian pirate Eluam Ran'perah had launched a surprisingly-successfully asymmetrical guerrilla campaign against Union settlements and shipping in the Artemis Tau cluster. With the Union Navy monitoring all major Mass Relays, and based on sporadic intercepted communications, Intelligence determined Ran'perah recieved relatively-little support from Hegemony space, extrapolating instead that he had set up a forward base. After triangulating the locations of attacks, it was estimated that his base was located somewhere in the Conrad Sector- but that was still hundreds of potential systems.
After Union outposts on Alsages and Altaaya issued several reports of mysterious, unidentified ships transiting through the Sparta System, a few weeks ago, the frigate UEASN Aegis Fate arrived to investigate. Sure enough, after extensive planetary scans, the Aegis Fate discovered signs of excavation and unpaved trails on the planet's southern hemisphere. Drone reconnaissance from the ground, careful to keep their distance, suggested a rather sophisticated network of underground bases right under the Union's nose.
However, Navy Command had ordered that the bases not be engaged but monitored, as Ran'perah's flagship, the Batarian frigate Tunerron, was nowhere to be seen.
So began the stakeout- a number of different light Union warships would alternatively travel to Altaaya, Edolus, and Tremanre in shifts, keeping a low profile. Small monitoring drones, difficult to detect, were scattered in the system's asteroid belt and the moons of Ontamalca.
However, up to now, only small vessels had been spotted- modified freighters, starfighters, shuttles, gunships, corvettes. Until now.
"Captain!" The tactical officer, Lieutenant Gorter-11, reported. "It seems they've detected us- we have multiple contacts scrambling from the surface! Two groups, one on approach, one heading for the relay!"
"What about the frigate?!" Captain Meissner demanded.
"It's in the outbound group!"
"Then ignore the incoming forces and pursue the Tunerron!" Meissner ordered. "Leave the defense to the GARDIAN turrets! Ensign Sithon, begin a wide-spectrum broadcast with Batarian translators on!"
"Understood, ma'am!"
"This is the cruiser Hyderabad of the Artemis Tau Authority!" Captain Meissner declared into her mic. "Batarian pirates, you are outgunned! Surrender now or face annhilation! Do not attempt to flee!"
"Two gunships and a fighter are breaking off and headed for us! Weapons are hot!"
"Trying to distract us, huh?" Captain Meissner scoffed. "Destroy them with Archer missiles, but fire a barrage of Javelin torpedoes at the frigate! It's clear they have no intention of surrendering."
Disruptor torpedoes impacted the Batarian's kinetic shields.
"Damn, it's tough- it's some military-grade equipment..." Meissner muttered, narrowing her eyes. "We can't let them get away! Reload missile and torpedo pods! Then target the frigate with our mass accelerator cannon! Ten-ton round!"
"But, ma'am, our orders-"
"Our orders are to try and capture if possible," Meissner reminded. "But we're free to destroy them if they're about to escape."
"Understood! MAC at full charge!"
"Fire Archers and Javelins!"
A combined barrage of missiles and disruptor torpedoes pounded the kinetic barriers of the Batarian ship, pushing its static defenses to the limit.
"Fire the MAC!"
A ten-ton projectile, launched at over 100,000 km an hour relative to its launch position on the Hyderabad, rocketed toward the Tunerron, and impacted into the frigate's engines.
An explosion tore the Tunerron apart, and sent the vessel into a violent spiral. The smaller ships around it dispersed and fled the debris field, but an unlucky corvette slammed into the Tunerron's hull.
The Hyderabad's turrets gunned down any of the remaining pirate ships foolish enough to continue engaging it.
"Cease pursuit, there are no more worthy targets," Meissner ordered, as she saw the remaining pirate ships disperse in various directions. "If they keep causing trouble, I'm sure the Ninth Fleet's hunter-killer squadrons will deal with them swiftly. Scan the debris for survivors- though I'm not expecting any."
She looked over to her Executive Officer, Commander Sampson-23. "Commander, I trust you to take over now. It seems I must report our situation to Sector Command."
"Understood, ma'am."
With that, Meissner departed for her quarters, where she accessed her holoterminal. "This is Hyderabad to Command, do you read me?"
The image of her superior, Commodore Fermi-142, appeared. "Loud and clear, Captain. What do you have to report?"
"Commodore, we have engaged and destroyed the Batarian frigate Tunerron, as per your orders. Unfortunately, capturing the vessel was not an option under the circumstances. We are examining the debris, but we do not expect survivors. MAC rounds... usually don't leave many. I'm sending the battle data now."
"Excellent work, Captain! I'm inform our ground teams that they can storm the pirate bases. Perhaps there are still pirates left alive down there. Let's hope our Marines aren't too trigger-happy- I, for one, would like some prisoners. Now, Captain, I want to rendevzous with the Sector Flotilla at the earliest opportunity."
"Of course, sir!"
"See you around then. Fermi out."
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Sector Command on Icarus Base, in orbit around Conrad's Point, Conrad System, Conrad Sector, Artemis Tau, Union Outer Colonies...
Commodore Fermi-142 sighed and made a three-way holo-call to his superiors, Admiral Bulatsel-2 of the Ninth Combined Fleet, and Governor-General Sjorgen of the Artemis Tau Authority.
"Admiral, Governor-General, I apologize for bothering you, but our operation against the Turrenon was successful. I've reviewed the battle data- the ship was destroyed by a MAC round, and there are likely no survivors. Many smaller pirate vessels did manage to escape, however."
"That was expected," Admiral Bulatsel dismissed nonchalantly. "Beneficial even, if those ships return to Hegemony space. Word about the destruction of the Turrenon will send a message to the Batarian Hegemony just how we feel about their piracy- especially to a certain Warlord Dretor. Do you catch my drift, Commodore?"
Fermi frowned. "Dretor, was it? He's... one of the Hegemony's most powerful warlords, right? The one ruling their outer colonies?"
"That's right," Governor-General Sjorgen nodded sagely. "Warlord Dretor is a relatively-new and ambitious upstart in Batarian politics. He has unified several warlord holdings at the fringes of Batarian space, and seeks to further expand his influence. For some time now, Dretor has funded armed forays into Union space, but Ran'perah is different from your average hired thug- he's someone with political ties to Dretor."
"Yeah, but what do their raids serve?" Fermi questioned. "I get he probably gets some of the proceeds off these raids, but it must cost him quite a bit to fund them. Are these probing attacks? Or is Dretor not as strategic as I might have imagined?"
"It's... a bit more complicated than that," Admiral Bulatsel explained. "Warlord Dretor has enough force to maintain a grip on his usual holdings, but not enough to feed his expansionist ambitions, which is why he needs Hegemony resources. However, the major nations of Khar'shan have been caught up in a series of border conflicts and proxy wars, while their inner colonies have been embroiled in combating a republican and escaped slave insurgency. Union Intel says it's not actually all that effective, but the Batarians are worried it could inspire the disgruntled, downtrodden lower classes and slaves to revolt. Dretor doesn't have that many slaves- he usually sells them off- and most of his men tend to be vetted Hegemony patriots, so his concerns are somewhat different. In all likelihood, he probably doesn't have a clue what the Union truly is, but he wants to provoke a stronger foreign response, which in turn will attract greater Hegemony attention and resources. In other words, he wants a cassus belli that can persuade the Hegemony to back a war of expansion on his part."
"I take it Intelligence has been acquiring this information from… elsewhere? I doubt the Galactic Extranet has this info lying around. I seem to recall the Batarians strictly control information flow in and out of Hegemony territory."
Governor-General Sjorgen chuckled a bit. "Of course. Let's just say some of our Batarian prisoners have proven… vulnerable, and cooperative. Thanks to them, we've been able to gain access to some Batarian military communications. Very limited, but enough to get a little idea of the situation."
"But is it wise to 'sending him a message'? Are we indulging him, sir? Wouldn't that be playing into his hands?"
"Well, we can't let these insults go unanswered, can we?" Bulatsel responded aggressively, punching one hand with the other fist, but Bulatsel's eyes belied the doubt behind her bravado. "Don't tell me you're afraid of some alien scum, are you?"
"No, of course not, Admiral. I'm sure the Union can certainly take on the Batarian Hegemony if push comes to shove- but the Hegemony is a member state of the Council, is it not? What if they drag in the rest of the Council?"
Bulatsel looked troubled as well, but did her best to maintain composure. "I'll… be sure to bring this up with the High Admiral… Rumor is, she's planning a major strategic withdrawal all along the fringes of Batarian space. Whether this is part of some calculated de-escalation, I cannot say. I, for one, have serious reservations about this- from what we know of the Batarians, they will view this as a sign of weakness. Withdrawal will only encourage their aggression. But, whatever Command decides to do, however, we have to obey them. Orders are orders."
"Of course, Admiral."
"Good. Bulatsel out."
"Good luck, Commodore. Sjorgen out."
