Table of Contents: Genesis

• Prologue (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 1: Acquaintances (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 2: Explorers (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 3: Looking Forward (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 4: Touch and Go (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 5: Echoes of Beasts (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 6: The First Whispers (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 7: After Action (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 8: Hit the Fan (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 9: Escalation (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 10: Test of Metal (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 11: Trials Unknown (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 12: Boxed In (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 13: Avengers Assemble (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 14: Counterstrikes (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 15: Homeward Bound (FFN | AO3)
• Chapter 16: Bearing Signs (FFN | AO3)
• Epilogue: In the Wings (FFN | AO3)

(Genesis) Epilogue

Pride: Genesis

Epilogue (In the Wings)

(Genesis) Chapter 16

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 16

Bearing Signs

(Genesis) Chapter 15

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 15

Homeward Bound

(Genesis) Chapter 14

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 14

Counterstrikes

(Genesis) Chapter 13

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 13

Avengers Assemble

(Genesis) Chapter 12

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 12

Boxed In

(Genesis) Chapter 11

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 11

Trials Unknown

(Genesis) Chapter 10

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 10

Test of Metal

Incident Report: Skovos

DATE: 6/4/2416

FROM: Colonel Sk'tarth, Skovos Garrison

TO: General Verdris Matheson, Rim Command

ATTN: Intel Division Galra Task Force

SUBJECT: After Action Report

This report details the 6/2/2416 defensive combat operation by the Skovos Research and Development Facility's garrison and local forces against incursion by the Galra.

Participating Units:

Skovos Garrison

  AWS Blinkwall (destroyer, Lastor) - LOST

  AWS Hurricane Fault (cruiser, Richter)

  AWS Starlight Sentry (destroyer, Lastor) - LOST

  Skovos R&D Security (marine company) - LIGHT CASUALTIES

Skovos Local Militia

  SBV Mazano Jav (frigate, Ya'ri)

  SBV Mazano Sper (frigate, Ya'ri)

Skovos Test Cadre

  AEV Emperor-5 (unique test chassis)

  ASV Skovos-11 Scan (aerospace, Perceiver) - LOST

  ASV Skovos-12 Scan (aerospace, Perceiver) - LOST

  ASV Skovos-13 Scan (aerospace, Perceiver) - LOST

Unknown Galra Military Formation

  Unknown Vessel (light battleship, unknown class) - CAPTURED

  Multiple fighters (unknown class) - HEAVY CASUALTIES

Incident

-At 0529 local time 6/4/2416, orbital emplacements in the Skovos system detected a massive energy spike in the vicinity of Skovos Prime¹. Three Perceiver-class monitoring vessels from the Skovos Test Cadre were dispatched to the location with the Blinkwall to investigate. An unidentified vessel was discovered at the site. Intruding vessel matched 6 of 7 standard criteria for identifying Galra warships. Upon being hailed the Galra vessel opened fire on the Blinkwall, dealing critical damage. The Blinkwall called for backup and shortly thereafter went out of contact. 
-By the time reinforcements arrived, the Blinkwall and the Perceivers had been destroyed and several Galra fighters had been launched.

-Per standard protocol, the Starlight Sentry engaged from distance while the Hurricane Fault closed with the intruder at speed. The Galra vessel fired on the Starlight Sentry with its main weapon, destroying the bridge. It raised shields when the Hurricane Fault came close after missing several times with its main weapon, and ceased fire. No fire from the Fault was ever able to penetrate these shields. The Galra fighter contingent was able to deal significant damage to the cruiser in exchange for suffering heavy casualties.

-Colonel Sk'tarth authorized deployment of the Emperor-5 test vessel, carrying three experimental electromagnetic pulsar cannons. The Mazano Jav and Mazano Sper were dispatched as escorts. Upon sighting the Emperor-5 the Galra vessel seemingly attempted to flee. After turning it lowered its shields and generated an energy spike similar to the one detected earlier. Fire from the Hurricane Fault and Mazano Sper forced it to redeploy its shields and the energy spike dissipated. 
-At this point the Emperor-5 fired all weapons, fully dispelling the intruder's shields and apparently disabling all systems.

-Marines from the R&D spacedock were delivered to the disabled Galra vessel. After establishing an initial foothold in a docking bay, the marine unit reported no further combat. All further Galra crew were found dead, apparently self-inflicted. Most consoles were destroyed and several small fires had to be extinguished. Some systems may have remained partially intact.

¹Energy signature and scan details attached as Supplement A.

Analysis

-After-action analysis could not match the Galra vessel to either currently extant reporting name. Observed combat capabilities of the vessel include heavy charge beams capable of disabling a Lastor-class destroyer in a single shot, full envelopment physical shielding able to be deployed at will, and moderate carrier capacity. It was highly vulnerable to EMP disruption. No point defenses or capital missiles were apparent. Movement capability could not be determined. Full battle recording data is included with this report².

-Observed FTL capabilities indicate no gravitational limitations, but susceptibility to combat disruption. Standard combat scanners were sufficient to detect the vessel's FTL signature. Galra shields may prevent their FTL systems from activating.

-Minimal conclusions could be drawn about Galra boarding defense tactics. The loss of the crew was consistent with the previously observed policy of self-destructing disabled vessels.

²Attached as Supplement B.

Concluding Actions

-Skovos Garrison formally requests a salvage and recovery crew to investigate the captured vessel at the earliest possible opportunity.

-Skovos Garrison formally requests reinforcements due to losses incurred in this operation.

-Skovos Test Cadre formally requests replenishment due to losses incurred in this operation.

-Skovos Test Cadre will submit a full performance report of the Emperor-5 to R&D Command once a thorough analysis is complete.

Command Notes

-Vessel was investigated and analyzed. Reporting name 'Ripsaw' issued for new vessel class.

-Vessel could not be moved from the system. Skovos R&D will take over technological analysis.

-AWS Blue Steel (Lastor) assigned to Skovos Garrison.

-Three new Perceivers assigned to Skovos Test Cadre.

-73rd Rapid Response Team deployed to Skovos.

-Recovered data offered possible leads to Galra motives. Explorer Team 686 formed to investigate.

-Incident closed.

(Genesis) Chapter 9

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 9

Escalation

(Genesis) Chapter 8

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 8

Hit the Fan

(Genesis) Chapter 7

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 7

After Action

(Genesis) Chapter 6

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 6

The First Whispers

(Genesis) Chapter 5

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 5

Echoes of Beasts

(Genesis) Chapter 4

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 4

Touch and Go

Starmap - Points of Interest, Genesis

Mission note, Explorer Team 686: due to centuries of psychological studies and first-hand observation displaying that crews are most likely to get complacent on the trip home, Alliance policy for multiple-destination missions is to visit the most distant first and work backwards, when applicable.

(Genesis) Chapter 3

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 3

Looking Forward

Tech Report: CES Firecrown

CES Firecrown

Model: E5C-14 Endeavor

Manufacturer: Voronin Interstellar Enterprises

Construction: 2355

Configuration: Conventional aerodyne

Length: 175'

Height: 46'

Width (Fuselage): 30'

Wingspan: 180' at minimum wing sweep

Wing Sweep: Variable, 32.5-65°

Decks: 2

Takeoff: Horizontal

Landing: Horizontal

Gravity: Internal field (graviton deck plating)

Range Classification: Short interstellar

Engines: Aerojet Flash Class 8 (4)

Directional Thrusters: Aerojet Spark Class 3 (8)

Hyperspace Thrusters: None

Breach Drive: Kearney-Fushida BT2750

Backup Power: GravSol Pulse X3

Shield Generator: GravSol Harmonics S-41

Armaments:

8 Dynamic Fire M81 Vulcan turrets (point defense)

12 Sibereal Optics Scatterlight laser turrets (point defense)

2 GA Shrieker WVRAAM launch systems

Model History:

In 2071, Clearwater Aeronautics launched the E4 Aquila spaceplane, Earth's first single-stage-to-orbit vessel. The SSTO breakthrough took the industry by storm, with Clearwater at the forefront; they quickly set about consolidating this advantage. As a research craft, the Aquila had modest but well-rounded capabilities. This made it relatively easy to adapt into the commercial E5C-1 Aquila model, which was released in 2074 and dominated space operations for the next twenty years.

Between the departure of the AES Frontier in 2092 and its arrival at Proxima Centauri in 2097, the Aquila's supremacy abruptly collapsed. With Earth's sights now set on extrasolar travel, the system-bound Aquila was no longer on the cutting edge, and the days of spaceplanes seemed to be waning in favor of the large spacedocked vessels which could handle several-year interstellar voyages. Clearwater Aeronautics was bought out by Voronin Interstellar Enterprises in 2105, and Aquila production ceased soon after.

Then came the 2115 development of the hyperdrive. Almost overnight, spaceplanes were back in vogue: given faster-than-light capability, they would once again become a much more efficient spacefaring option than the hulking stellar cruisers. Voronin aggressively pursued a contract with Kearney Labs, and in 2118 the first commercial hyperspace vessel entered production: the E5C-10 Endeavor, essentially an Aquila with a hyperdrive.

(Urban legend claims the Endeavor traces its name to the HMS Endeavour, a common namesake in Earth's spacefaring history, and Voronin is just the latest of a long line of organizations to use the incorrect spelling. In actuality, Kearney Labs' hyperspace research had always been conducted under the name Project Endeavor. The spelling was specifically used to differentiate from the AES Endeavour, the colonization ship which had recently launched for Alpha Centauri.)

The Endeavor never quite recaptured the Aquila's market dominance, as Voronin's contract with Kearney was not exclusive. Still, it was popular enough that a later model, the E5C-12, would be the first commercial vessel to carry a modern breach drive. Later efforts to add hyperspace thrusters proved unsuccessful, given the vessel's small size, but the E5C-13 would be the smallest ship of its time to carry graviton deck plating.

Despite its remarkable pedigree, the current incarnation of the Endeavor is looked upon unfavorably by aerospace enthusiasts. For a class defined by groundbreaking new technology, the E5C-14's general system updates were seen as a letdown at best and an insult at worst; many went so far as to argue that an Endeavor that makes no new strides is no Endeavor at all. Even those who favor the design's merits acknowledge it as fairly uninspired. Voronin shows no interest in these criticisms. The modern Endeavor—versatile, reliable, and affordable—is thus expected to remain a quietly practical workhorse for quite some time to come.

CES Firecrown (E5C-14 Endeavor), main (upper) deck

CES Firecrown (E5C-14 Endeavor), systems (lower) deck

(Genesis) Chapter 2

Pride: Genesis

Chapter 2

Explorers