(On the Hunt) Chapter 7

Pride: On the Hunt

Chapter 7

Sugar and Space

(On the Hunt) Chapter 6

Pride: On the Hunt

Chapter 6

Explorers Again

Tech Report: ACS Jupiter's Bolt

ACS Jupiter's Hammer Bolt

Model: CM-383-LR Vagrant

Manufacturer: Cerox-Masterson Spacefaring

Construction: 2298

Configuration: Blended wing body

Length: 417'

Height: 74'

Width (Fuselage): 247'

Decks: 4

Wingspan: 466'

Wing Sweep: 40°

Takeoff: Horizontal

Landing: Horizontal

Gravity: Internal field (inertial phase converter)

Range Classification: Standard interstellar

Engines: Aerojet Maelstrom Class 5 (4)

Directional Thrusters: RRA FlareShift Suite (16)

Hyperspace Thrusters: Delta Atomics DS274 (2)

Breach Drive: Kearney-Fushida BT2550

Backup Power: GravSol Voltaic X9

Shield Generator: Blackwood Anomaly

Armaments:

22 Dynamic Fire M71 Vulcan cannons (point defense, paired)

8 Swiftlight Complex laser turrets (point defense)

4 GA Interceptor BVRAAM launch systems

4 GA Wolfpack BVRAAM launch systems*

1 custom electromagnetic pulsar disruptor cannon*

*Not standard to ship class

Alliance History, part 3: Galaxy Alliance

Negotiations between the Alliance of Five Powers and United Alliance were swift and intense. Each side could see the importance of the other to their survival. Ultimately, the Galaxy Alliance was first formed as something of a framework to be filled in later: the Drules were an immediate concern, trade and settlement agreements much less so. AFP forces flooded into human space, reinforcing the main manufacturing worlds. A science council was formed to begin transitioning some shipyards to integrate new technology, but as a first step, simply being able to replenish their numbers was seen as the priority.

Like the Alliance of Five Powers, the name Galaxy Alliance had more than one layer: the original proposal had used the Glis word galik-sah, translating roughly to 'good fortune'. Human negotiators immediately noted the linguistic coincidence.

Most Earthlings, especially those on colonies hit hard by the collapse of supply lines, celebrated the GA's formation. A vocal few on worlds far from the front lines questioned why humanity should give up its hard-earned resources to strange aliens who hadn't even been able to save their own civilizations. Human authorities moved quickly to stifle these complaints, but only a successful campaign would truly silence the criticism. Eager for a true victory and recognizing the tactical benefits, the other races agreed when the Earthlings proposed an ambitious new goal: to push all Drule forces out of the Atlantis Sector entirely.

The GA was formed in the year 2151, by the human calendar. For the next two years they would maintain a stalemate with the Fourth Kingdom. Many of the recently designed Earthling cruisers, dubbed the Atlantis-class, began to make their way into defensive fleets. But the real key to the war effort was being quietly constructed in Earth's own shipyards. In the early days of 2154, the GA's first cooperative battleship was launched: the AWS Avatar of Alliance. Dubbed the Avenger-class, the descendents of this vessel remain one of the Alliance's most iconic warships to this day.

With the launch of the new ship came the official beginning of Operation Entente. All involved knew it would be a tall order. Though the resource and production gap had lessened, the Drules still had long-established infrastructure and supply lines that the Alliance was scrambling to build. High Command determined they had only two strategic advantages: firstly, the Fourth Kingdom did not know how far Earthling space extended, and might believe the resource gap to be even more closed than it really was. Secondly, and most crucially, the Alliance did not need to win. They only had to convince the enemy they weren't worth the losses to conquer.

(On the Hunt) Chapter 5

Pride: On the Hunt

Chapter 5

Expect the Unexpected