Duel Kopperian Fury: The Desolation of Umwat

[Boris Petrovi Yroslavov]

Upon entering hyperspace once the fleet assembled and began moving, Fleet Admiral Boris took his time, lingering in his office before inevitably taking the elevator to the bridge. When he arrived, he found ISB Major General Ivana waiting for him. The two stood in silence following the exchanging of formalities. However, while in Hyperspace, one of his officers reported receiving a transmission from the KIF Mochalivi, claiming that it needed assistance.
"Very well. Have us stop at their position first."

"Yes, Your Excellency!" The officer replied as the fleet soon after exited to find the ship torn in half, the lights on the rear section of the hull blinking on and off in distress.

BBori's eyes widened in surprise before hardening his fists. "Urgh, order one of our shuttles to evacuate the crew." He commanded before narrowing his eyes. "Someone will suffer for this."

After the shuttle returned, he and Ivana were surprised to find they had prisoners with them, two humans wearing only pants, chests bare and covered in tattoos. Pirates or cultists, he couldn't have been sure. But regardless, he awaited for the commander of the ship to briefly him while his officers made note of the wreckage so it could be towed and rebuilt later.

 

[Dimitri Yaroslavov]

Dimitri Sergeievich Yaroslavov swiftly exited the shuttle once it returned to the rack, the dozen or so meter thick blastdoor sealing behind him as the ship's gravity hoist latched onto their shuttle before pulling it into the ready rack.

As the air bay became pressurized, he marched to the door where he met a couple drones from the ISB's security detail. Their red eyes locked onto him while his crew was escorted out.
"Difficult day, Senior Lieutenant?"

"You could say that." He answered in reply, sighing. "I know you have questions and I will answer them. But for now, I would like to get some rest."

"Very well. Go get your rest. But, before you do. Would you mind handing over the log?" The Drone inquired, gesturing to the tablet in his hand.

Dimitri nodded before giving it to him, the ISB agents saluting him before departing as he followed behind them. However, as he did, felt the slight shift as the vessel entered hyperspace. "Wait, where are we going?"

The two security officers turned to him. "I'm surprised you haven't guessed. Considering it was you who placed us in this position. We are going to the Omwat sector."

 

[Boris Petrovi Yroslavov]

The fleet again entered hyperspace, the 6 Krova Class cruisers and 10 Kosta Class frigates with him, even if unseen. Yet, as they were going through, a darkness, something unnamed came over them. Boris could feel his core quiver, yet he remained firmly in control. Besides, with what KIF Mochalivi reported prior to its incident, he could only imagine it was this "Dark Crusade" who were responsible.

Not long after, they arrived, the ship's leaping out of hyperspace in formation.

Boris's eyes widened at he stared at the large spiky black hulks in the distance dueling it out with a significantly smaller fleet of strange ships pianted with orange stripes. "Open the comm channel and launch fighters. I don't think it's difficult to assume the black ships are this: Dark Crusade we were warned about."
He commanded.

However, as the officers set about their tasks, the bridge doors opened to reveal two ISB security officers with an Aerospace Officer in tow. "What is the meaning of this?" Ivana demanded with narrowed suspicion as both she and Boris turned to them.

All saluted before one ISB officer gestured to the Aerospace officer next to him. "This is Senior Lieutenant Dmitri Sergeievich Yaroslavov, Commander of the KIF Mochalivi. He claims to-" The ISB officer began, only for Dimitri to rush to the console and point at the black ships.

"That's them! The one's who destroyed my ship! They're the one's the Republic needed help against!" He shouted, wings outstretched in rage.

Boris nodded. "Belay the Comms and target a signal at the closest orange vessel. Tell them help has arrived, and order our ships to engage!" He commanded before marching up to the internal speaker: "Engage the cloest enemy ship!"

As soon as the order was given, all fighters onboard were deployed in short order, forming a screen around Presledov and the rest of the ships as the Korvas and Kostas advanced to complete the wedge. As soon as the Presledov's weapons trained on the first black ship approaching their position, the massive railguns opened fire with EMP/Kenetic rounds in an attempt to damage their shields while the VLS cells on either side of the superstructure began launching their weapons.

The Krovas meanwhile did the same while targeting the second closest ship while retaining their largest missiles for the moment, their 9 large, but slightly less impressive firing rapidly with EMP rounds broke the shields. All the while, dozens of small missiles launched from their bays.

The Kostas stayed beside the Krovas, adding their own railguns and missiles to the mix.

At the same time, the Presledov maneuvered itself to face the enemy, the frontal super heavy blast doors folding aside as it's primary Shipbreaker Cannon revealed itself.

 

[Yuri Yaroslavov]

In the hanger of the Presledov, Colonel Yuri Kirillich Yaroslavov leapt into the cockpit of his SK-80K fighter, already loaded up with its standard load out. Buckling himself in and giving the aircraft a quick check, the magnetic lift picked up his aircraft along with 5 others before driving them to the open hanger doors, and dropping them into vacuum. Once out, he ordere"d a roll call for all his pilots as he linked up with his wingdrone. His fellow pilots called in, all 20 present as their loyal wingmen linked to their huds. As usual, he had 3 under his direct command. The robotic fighters targeting fed directly into his.

As the ships fired off their salvos, he ordered the Ai driven fighters to launch their external EMP mounted missiles as many of his fellow pilots did the same before taking their positions surrounding the Krovas and Kostas. At the same time, the first enemy fighters began appearing.
"All wings, form up and fire back!"
He ordered, the fighters swiftly turning to face the enemy, firing off their Interceptors before dashing away to stay out of enemy gun range as Yuri himself did a corkscrew around the tower of a Krova. Even if he knew no one was inside, that wouldn't stop him from having fun as he defended. Using the cover of the ships. Before recommiting and firing his remaining four missiles at seperate targets as the Ai fighters followed his lead, each targeting seperate vessels.

 

[Desmundor Alcademon]

We are taking heavy fire!

They are coming around! Hold G7!​

What the-

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH​

The void caught fire. The blazing of the thrusters pushed the crimson hulls of the Athysian Raider Fleet onwards, as the mighty host emerged from the defiled clutches of the Netherworld, an anomaly in its own right to Realspace. Each of the mighty warships an emblem of Defiance, branded from bow to stern with blasphemous symbols of the Dark Gods that held sway over mind and soul of each and every one of the dying kin that gave will to the infernal engines....

"Lord Hegemon, the Republic Fleet is converging ahead."

The man stood in silence. His eyes fixated on the holoprojection before him, demonstrating the unfolding assault against what seemed to be a prepared enemy fleet. He was not worried. His eyes burning like sockets of pyre, craving for the victory to come.

Victory....

Oh, there was no way but forward, now. It was this point when he proved, for the second time, he was the rightful Exalted of the Gods. The capturing of Darth Fauste was the first of a trail of achievements he had in store, to show the Sith exactly how capable the Athysian Raider Fleet was...
Omwat had held for four years of blockades, sieges and raids of nearby systems, refusing to yield to the Dark Crusade's hordes, making it a shinning beackon of resistance against the will of the Gods. Desmundor Alcademon planned on changing that, in a single mighty strike, making use of the horrifying, no matter how archaic, weapon of Athysia.



"Begin the assault. Signal the Belerephon to commence their charge. Bring us about."

It had been long since the Athysian fleets had engaged a sizeable force. Back in the Battle with Fauste, he had lost the pride of the Athysian Fleet in a battle that was made legend. Now, he planned to do the exact same, yet without sacrificing so many an asset.

The operators around him, on the bridge, performed well-practiced motions, their manual systems pushed to function as the Athysian Armada accelerated, forming up in attack formations.

The Belerephon was one of the eight massive warships that formed the vanguard, each brandishing yet another cursed sigil to signify their allegience to the Athysian Hegenika that gave power to these dreaded beasts of war.

Around the Belerephon Squadron, twenty Quadrent Destroyers swarmed, manned by numerous lost souls of pirates, corsairs and outlaws brought to the decks of the Athysian corsair fleet to man the largest pirate fleet of Athysian origin, and pride of the Hemstagon Hegenika. Though perpetually at odds, the Hemstagons had pledged a sizeable fleet to the Hegemon's campaign.

Behind the vanguard, thirteen more foul behemoths of the void roared forth, each of them with yet another nightmarish design of bronze spikes, blood red overlapping hulls and numerous cannon barrels, predominantly along the broadsides, hinting to the deadly intent with which they moved onwards.

"Signal the Hemstagons." the Hegemon ordered then. "Let the fire burn."

 

[Murnuri Hemstagon]

Faith unwavering.

Lust unmatched.​

Bane of Life

Knight of Death, yet Defiant still.​

Blood dripped from the chains hanging over the onyx chamber, supported by the heptagonal columns marked by glyphs of origin so twisted and antiquate, they had long become symbols of the Athysian occult. The muscles of the legs twitched, still latching to the shards of life yet remaining within the defiled carrion, one of many hooked and hung above by the chains to provide the tormented bloodletting required by the sorcerers beneath.

The onyx floor was marked by a heptagram, made of white onyx, which contrasted the black dressed floor. There, her thin fabric dress caressed where her naked feet stepped on, stained by the blood coalgulating after untold time in decay. The scent of the burning embers shrouded the chamber with hallucinogenic sensation, opening the gate she had walked through so many years ago. The white hair flowed down her pale skin like a waterfall frozen on time; The dark shadow of her emptied eye sockets draining to the dark marks of tears perpetualized on her corrupted face.

There, Murnuri extended her thin arms; Nails long and curved, thin enough to allow the ever so dim light caused by the embers to cast shadows through.

Shadow and Flame

Death and Rebirth​

In a field of Void​

The Eyerhea performed gentle motions while standing in the very center of the heptagram, as if dancing to soundless music in manner most exotic. The Force around her twisting and turning, the Dark Side screeching cries of insanity that would drive many a soul deranged, and yet, Murnuri continued the foul ritual. She could not be taken by thoughts like such; The Dark Side had little sway over her mind, hollow and chained long now to the will of entities despicable and demanding, she had grown to be a vessel of their will, and so her own will had become theirs...

"Echoes, in the Void, Death awaits the Feast"

Her soft voice sung, causing an echo in the chamber.

"Hear my call, Lord of Fear, lend thine Host thy Wings"

 

[Aola Cliyerslan Vilbolra]

"All hands, battle stations! We hold them here!" the Captain exclaimed in the comms. His hands shaking, the very knowledge of what the scanners showed filled him with dread.

"We got over thirty enemy ships inbound!" the operator reported. "We see nothing in the hyperspace scans! They are coming from nowhere!"

The Captain shook his head. His blue eyes fixated to the view beyond the transparesteel of the bridge. His fleet consisted of three Valor-Class Cruisers and a dozen Thranta corvettes, at least those were capable of offering any resistance to the enemy armada. It was a matter of time before Omwat would be overran, yet he could not accept that in this case, they were not even given the time to prepare proper defences.

However this armada came to the system, the Republic scanners could not detect. And now, it was a race against time...

"We need to hold them here until the planetary shields go live. Signal the General on the ground. We need her quickly!"

The republic ships accelerated, some of them not yet fully prepared to deploy in an active engagement, for the alarm had not reached them in time.

One after the other, they moved into position, making final preparations to received the enemy's onslaught. The sheer numerical advantage and the size of the capital ships alone made any prolonged engagement a suicide... And yet, what worried the Captain more was the possibility of enemy vessels breaking through the Republic fleet and entering Omwat....

This would be a major catastrophe.

And then... it happened...


"Captain, sir!" one of the operators shouted.

"What is it?" he asked

"I am detecting numerous masses coming from hyperspace sir. Its... its, sixteen distinct sightings, moving in formation."

"It cannot be." the Captain shook his head in disbelief. Whoever this new fleet approaching was, it would effectivelly flank the Republic position. As the new fleet emerged from Hyperspace, the scanners showed clearly them entering attack formation. Whoever this was, was not coming as a witness.

"Uhm... sir?" the operator turned to him. "They are attempting contact with us. They are offering assistance!"

The Captain's eyes widened.

"Assistance!?" he said in shock.

---

A single transmission attempt is made by the Republic Fleet, towards the Copper ships approaching.

"This is Captain Yolan Koren, Republic 51st Fleet. We need your support to hold the enemy off until the planetary shields are online! We cannot allow them planetfall!"

 

[Boris Petrovi Yroslavov]

As the KIF Presledov turned to engage its main cannon, one of the officers turned to address the Admiral. "Your Excellency, we have received a signal from one of the friendly ships!" The Razborka drone shouted.

Boris nodded. "Very well. Put us through." He replied as the Officer saluted before doing as instructed.

"This is Captain Yolan Koren, Republic 51st Fleet. We need your support to hold the enemy off until the planetary shields are online! We cannot allow them planetfall!"

Boris puzzled briefly at the mention of a planetary shield, but shook his head before clearing his throat. It had been a long time since he'd studied the language. But he was confident he could maintain his clarity. "This is Fleet Admiral Boris Petrovich Yaroslavov of the Kopperian Aerospace Forces and Commander of the 9th fleet. One of my Junior Officers reported that he contacted you prior to the Interception of his ship." He stated before again examining the fleet composition of both sides, and quickly understood he was vastly outnumbered, even if potentially not outgunned. Even with their help, it wouldn't amount to much. "I am afraid this force was all I had on such short notice. While we shall see what we can do, I will not sacrifice my subordinates for the sake of holding something which cannot be held."

 

[Desmundor Alcademon]

The void over Omwat burst alight, as the first beams of plasma blazed between the Athysian vanguard and the Republic fleet. Republic Liberator Starfighters took off from the Valor Cruisers, while the Thranta corvettes pushed forth, in an attempt to focus fire towards the leading enemy warship, the Belerephon. The Republic flagship, Faith Karala, launched a proton torpedo salvo, followed by twelve bombers, quickly closing the distance to engage the massive enemy hulk.

As the Copper navy emerged from hyperspace, some six Quadrent-Class Destroyers turned in almost choreographed synchrony and headed towards the newly emerged enemy. Each of them following yet another unreasonably unstable pattern of maneuvers, as their quadriple plasma cannons protruding out the bow begun charging, readying for the coming clash.


Onboard the hangars of the Belerephon, chaos reigned. Multiple fighters were brought up, warming their deafening engines, while engineers rushed left and right commencing last minute checks and repairs, fuel hoses spread like serpents across the hangar bay and pilots rushing on their designated crafts. War cries called on irregular intervals, as one after the other, swarms of Buzzard Fighters took off, vomited out the belly of the Belerephon with deadly intent.

Three distinct swarms of Buzzards emerged from within the Raider Fleet, escorted by numerous Quadrent Destroyers, presenting the first wave against the Republic navy...

---

Back in the Republic flagship, the captain stared at the screens.

"All ships, power to shields. Prepare point-defence batteries."

Weapons systems energized into action, as the numerous tinny turrets mounted on the hulls of the ships started rotating, the artificial intelligence intergraded within already tracking the coming hostiles.

"I understand" the Captain spoke in the comms channel with the Copper Navy.

"We will hold them off as long as we can. If you may, please, get as many people as you can from planetside off system. I am dispatching all my available shuttles to aid the effort. Our duty is to die here. They have suffered enough."

 

[Boris Petrovi Yroslavov]

Boris felt surprised as he watched the opening stages of the engagement unfold. Only the six destroyers breaking off from the main opposing fleet, seemingly uncaring of his opening barrage against the closest large ship. Regardless, it didn't take a genius to order a change in target. "Have our other ships engage the destroyers. Power to weapons!" He commanded before hearing as the comms buzzed with the response from the Republic.

"We will hold them off as long as we can. If you may, please, get as many people as you can from planetside off system. I am dispatching all my available shuttles to aid the effort. Our duty is to die here. They have suffered enough."

The Admiral smirked despite himself as he observed the enemy's actions. Perhaps there was something he could do as he watched the largest of the enemy ships push into the Republic Forces. "Perhaps I was mistaken. I presumed the enemy would engage us immediately with their largest vessels. However, it seems they are more interested in finishing you off." He replied before turning to his navigator. "Aim the Presledov at the lead ship heading towards the Republic fleet. Focus the railguns on it. Once their shields are done, follow up with the Shipbreaker!"

As the destroyers closed in, they were met with concentrated fire from the fast firing railguns of the Krova Class cruisers and Kosta Class frigates, hitting them with emp and Kenetic rounds, followed up by explosive rounds once the shields were down.

Meanwhile, the fighters swiftly returned to Presledov for re-arming before again being launched and adding their EMP missiles to the fight against the destroyers. Hoping to destroy them before they ever got close enough to fire back.

Meanwhile, the only Slava Class Battleship in the 9th fleet aimed it's weapons at Belerephon, opening fire with all eight heavy railguns loaded with EMP followed up with the Shipbreaker.

 

[Vladimir Katlinchuk]

Not far from the bridge of the Presledov, several figures dressed in priestly garments knelt in quiet prayer inside an ornately decorated room, their voices focused, acting almost as one as they had since even before arrival:

"-Holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. Praise be unto him now and forever.
In memory of Thy Great mercy O' Lord, we thank Thee.
Deliver us from this surrounding darkness.
Deliver us from the hands of our enemies.
Have Mercy, O' Lord, have mercy.
Amen."

When the prayer concluded, the wooden doors opened as several crew entered, their florescent eyes seeking until they came upon him, Patriarch Vladimir Borisovich Katlinchuk. "What is it that you seek, my children?" He questioned, voice gentle as the crew took off their helmets and caps.

"We wanted to recieve blessings before the enemy begins to engage!" Replied the lead one.

The old drone nodded, a hand stroking his grey beard. "Have you the faith to believe only God can save you?" He questioned.

"Yes Father!" They replied without hesitation.

The Patriarch nodded. "Then come. Let us commune together." He replied before walking to the alter, fetching his cross and ointments before returning to the crew and placing his olive oil dipped hands on their heads as his fellow priests bore witness. When he concluded, he stood before them. "In the name of the Father and Son, I bless you, with the power of His Holy Priesthood. Be bold, my sons. The Lord is with us. This darkness shall not infest our halls. Amen."


As the Athysian fleet approached the Kopperians, they could feel a pressure in the force. Not darkness, nor even light, but a gentle radiance pushing against them like a wave. Something was there. Something that shouldn't have been. Resistance.

But not the pitiful resistance of the Lightside, even if there were similarities. No, this pushed back, like a shield that expanded to encompass them.

 

[Yuri Yaroslavov]

As Yuri and his fellow pilots again engaged the enemy with their missiles, he watched as the enemy fighters closed in with a smirk. "All pilots, hostile craft incoming. Don't let them reach the Krovas and Kostas, but stay within range of their SAMs and point defense!" He commanded as he fired his Interceptors once he locked onto the closest enemy fighter. "This is where the fun begins!" The Colonel cried as he maneuvered into position, pressing a button on his console, an electric guitar blaring out as he maneuvered into position alongside his wingdrone and his section of Ai fighters. Firing the rest of his missiles at various craft as they got closer as the others did the same. The more they killed before they got into dogfighting range, the better.