Dragonia's Hanwan

A planet dies.

The distress call is picked up by a monitor upon a far trade gate, from a remote planet in the outskirts of the Dragonian empire. Hanwan III has reported attacks by hordes of zombies from the neighbouring star empire of the undead Nosferatu. The report filtered through the Dragonian hierarchy. Often such reports are ignored, for the empire is large, but there were pictures of strange ships floating around in the system, and all contact from the planet has since been lost. To make matters more complicated, the trade gate situated in the system has been reporting severe malfunctions and loss of boosted goods.

Eventually the Dragonian King sees the report, and immediately dispatches several vessels, some untested, to the remote region to investigate the strange ships hovering in the system and ease the panic gripping the nearby industrial world of Hanwan IV... most likely a routine policing action.

The following are the vid feeds from the planet and they prove it was anything but routine.

Go 8480

Transmission restored, captain of flagship codename Y4 reporting. Construction of new trade gate seems to have been enough to break through whatever had been jamming the video feed. The rest of the fleet is now jumping in as we speak, but due to malfunctions in homing beacons the ships have appeared scattered. So far none of the alien vessels have showed up on sensors so I am ordering all ships to lay down a beholder field while trying to regroup.

What seems to be an alien trade gate is reported on the other side of system as well as numerous strange life signs coming from Hanwan 3. Something is definitely out there and we're going to find it sooner or later.

Go 8481

Success! We have identified the alien vessel Vlad 4.14, ship of the undead from the Nosferatu empire. I am now assuming all the aliens in this system shall probably also be Nosferatu.

Hanwan III is now also populated by hordes of undead, so it seems both of us are fighting for the same thing... a suitable world to house our citizens, and it's our job to make sure we get it. Tortoise is engaging the Vlad 4.14 as all other ships begin to converge on their coordinates. Long range sensors also seem to indicate more ships possibly hiding in the depths of darkness here, so more searching will have to be done. The rest of the fleet has also arrived and also ordered to start heading towards the Vlad.

Go 8482

Reports coming in that it is a direct hit, however the Vlad is well armoured and all damage has been absorbed by the outer armour. Now suspicious of what else may be lurking in the depths, the tortoise fires off a beholder as it retreats from possible counter fire. Bomber is also lighting up an area around it, if this is to be a two pronged battle, it will be important to know it ASAP.

My suspicions have proven to be true, the Tortoise’s new beholder has revealed two new ships, the Bat 4.1.7 and Bat 4.1.4 along side the Vlad.

Tortoise is also reporting an attack drone that is about to hit and could be under heavy fire very soon if all three of the enemy open fire. Turtle, the Tortoise's sister ship, is now in range and beginning to open fire on the Vlad. The Bomber reports no ships sighted at it's location which brings a sigh of relief to all on board. The Turret now begins to close up that side with a thick mine field. The Tortoise is also opening fire on the Vlad in a further attempt to cripple it.

Go 8483

Tortoise reporting heavy amounts of deadly attack nano striking several areas of the ship, it seems the new concept of decentralized systems may prove to have both weaknesses and strengths, as most systems are in danger of being destroyed before it evens begins to truly fight. It is ordered to begin retreating with an EMP to minimize damage, as our ship and the serpent speed towards the scrambler field about to be put down. If we are to get in range on time, the slower ships must start using spindizzies where possible.

The Turtle, still undamaged, begins to fire upon the bats in the hope of doing more lasting damage. The Bomber, running around the gravwell to check on the status of Hanwan III and IV, is nearing the planets and ready to report in next tide. The Turret also begins to open fire on the Bat, should it decide to turn around.

Go 8484

The Vlad has dropped from sensors! This turn of events cannot bode well, especially with one of the bats now seemingly going out of the system. A sigh of relief however as the EMP move proves to be a success as it saves the tortoise from further punishment... at the cost of some feedback EMP damage, easily repaired compared to armour and systems lost in the last volley. The EMP has unfortunately disabled one of the Tortoise's holds, preventing it from beginning self repairs, instead it is ordered to provide further scrambler field support for the Y4 as it continues to converge on it's coordinates.

The Turtle continues to open fire on the Bat, driving it further away from the battle fleet, as the Bomber now reports in... All Dragon life signs have ceased upon Hanwan III, in their place a thriving planet of zombie hordes. The loss of life shall be sorely grieved... However now the Bomber needs to continue rounding the planet to join the fray with the Tortoise, it's larger drone racks are badly needed. Elsewhere in the system the Turret fires up it’s drone racks to launch an attack drone of it's own, a welcomed distraction from it's current activity of mine laying.

Go 8485

All enemy ships have now disappeared from view... obviously wishing to fight us in the darkness rather then the light, Typical of beings that thrive in darkness. However this has also given us a chance to begin much needed repairs on the Tortoise, as the Turret's attack drone continues to give away their location.

On the other side the Bomber has returned from it's voyage to enter the fray, as the serpent once against powers up it's spindizzies for 1 final push into another scrambler field... hopefully close enough to open fire next time.

Go 8486

Still no new sightings of the undead... it seems my theory has proven true that they like their dark corners more then the light, however repairs are continuing nicely, and our ships are still mostly far away... so they can have their extra turn of hiding if they so wish, as it makes little difference.

Go 8487

Basic repairs have now finished on the Tortoise, making it combat ready again, though some of the armour is still missing.

Using the Turrets attack drone as a guide, we can now continue this fight as I order a beholder launched to light up their ships. They won't be able to hide in the dark for much longer. However a new mine near the tortoise may mean the Vlad is more willing to fight then the bats... next tide may prove to be more interesting still.

Go 8488

We have target lock once again! Though it would be hard to miss the Vlad as it seems to be wanting to be found as it strays too close to the other half of our force. All ships open fire to take it down, as we continue to attempt to repair the Tortoise a bit more.

Go 8489

Sensors show several direct hits on the Vlad, meaning it's going to have it's hands full on something other then just hiding, but all ships fire once again to make sure it won't forget that you don't take dragons that lightly! A few more repairs to the Tortoise and it should be ready for another assault.

Go 8490

So the undead show their true colours! Though it makes little difference, the Vlad has retreated far enough to get out of range of the last wave of drones, but right into range of both our ship and the Tortoise, allowing us to finally take some revenge. It will have to be fast though as it seems the bats intend to mine us.

Elsewhere in the system, the Turret continues it's lonely operation of mine laying...

Go 8491

A sudden explosion temporarily interrupts transmission, connection is re-established within seconds. It seems one of the mines had a bit more time to activate then I thought, it has hit the engines and threatens to destroy half the ship if left unchecked, luckily we've prepared for this and began preventive repairs, to save the ship, but this will have to keep on going until the attack nano dies out...

It seems they want to hide right in front of us once again, but a beholder from the Bomber should put a stop to that, as well as a mine to a likely location of theirs. All other ships are either continuing to advance or repairing.

Go 8492

The beholder was a complete success! All three ships are clearly lit up for all to see. The Serpent and Bomber have been ordered to open fire as the Tortoise destroys an incoming attack drone with an EMP, and the Turtle advances silently. Once again their dark tactics have proven ineffective for the fleet.

Go 8493

A secondary explosion has just further crippled the ship... though if we can manage to keep them out of the hab close by still remains to be seen...

The rest of the fleet has started to run into similar bad luck. The Turtle has run into another of Nosferatu's mines, but vengeance will be ours! The Serpent and Turtle have already started to open fire once again on the Vlad. The Bomber, aware of a mine right in front of it, circles around to begin attacking as well, as the Tortoise lays down a defensive mine should we need it.

Go 8494

More bad luck, the Bomber was unaware of the other mine sighted nearby and ran right into it. Luckily it was low powered and so the Bomber doesn't have much to worry about for now. The aliens, however, seem to beg to differ as they once again fall back, this time around their trade gate. It appears as though they could be trying to repair the Vlad, if that's the case, then we'll have to get closer once more to stop them once and for all.

Go 8495

Screams are heard in the background until they suddenly all stop. It appears our luck ran out, the attack nano managed to follow some lines straight into the hab, killing everyone in it, they will be sorely missed as again the aliens back into their corners of hiding. And what's worse, all the retreating now makes our own beholders work against us! But not for long, a quick EMP here and a new beholder should put things back as they were. However until then not much can be done as they still hide in their seemingly favourite shadows.

Elsewhere in the system, Turret continues it's lonely operation of mine laying more and more mines.

Go 8496

So that's where they were bringing us to! At last we have found what we hope to be the last of their ships, the Tepes, same makeup as the Vlad, hopefully just as easily broken.

However that is too little too late for the Turtle, as several warheads impact her hull, eating away armour and systems alike. Once again the added armour proves to be quite useful! This must be taken into account on future ships. As for the aliens, their ships are exposed once more, and the Serpent, Turtle, and Bomber open fire to welcome the Tepes with a new wave of attack drones all for it.

Go 8497

At last, the nano aboard has been completely taken care of, and after a few more turns of repairing, we can get back into the fray as well!

The turtle however is not as lucky, as a new gravstar begins to open up, beginning to slow down our attack drones, but not all of them, they will not get away completely unscathed, a drone managed to escape the gravwell and is still on course.

The turtle is heading back for repairs as the Tortoise and Bomber begin to send fresh, new attack drones upon the Tepes. The serpent is also finally almost in range, and starts final preparations to begin it's own assault upon the alien invaders.

Go 8498

I am sensing this gravstar may become a pain very quickly... instead of hoping it goes away soon I have ordered the Bomber to saturate the area with an EMP that will hopefully destroy the gravstar and leave the beholder for us to go by. A few more well placed attacks should help bring this fight to an end.

The serpent has finally also been able to open fire as well, but not without taking a hit of it's own, and with another one headed for it, the Serpent has decided to attempt to lure the drone into the gravwell of Hanwan IV.

Go 8499

The EMP was too overpowered... it destroyed it's target but also took out the beholder as well, meaning the aliens have their precious darkness back. But that will matter little now, since repairs have completed on our ship and we can resume the fight.

All is going as planned with the attack drone and repairs have started on the Turtle, the aliens may have some respite, but I'll make sure it's not for long.

Go 8500

Alarms are sounding as an explosion rocks the ship. It appears we under estimated the power of their dark ways! Just as we began to move we collided with another of their accursed mines, meaning even more turns to keep the ship intact, we have completely lost visual on the enemy, however a new beholder should clear that up. The Serpent ship was just as unlucky as the drone follows its wake and finds it's target, and with it's factory gone it will be limping for some time.

However we shall never give up as long as we have ships to shed light on their dark ways! Elsewhere, the Turret continues to lay down mines as it limps along its determined path.

Go 8501

The beholder reveals some rather grim news, by spreading our fire between the Vlad and the Tepes we have not severly damaged either.

Our Serpent is now starting to become damaged, and limps back to help as the Turtle, Tortoise and Bomber all release another fresh salvo of drones on the Tepes.

Go 8502

The Serpent continues to silently repair, concentrating this time on the factories, with nano threatening to destroy us for good should it hit in the right spot.

Our only comfort for now shall be that the Tepes shall also soon feel the pain of losing those closest to them as we push them further from their maze of mines, our drone swarm hot on their heels.

Maximillion Suspire

Epilogue

A long standing battle between Dragons and Zombies, obviously the Dragonians have managed to get the upper hand for most of the fight. But is this the beginning of the end for the undead?

Shall the Turret ever get to the actual fight? Shall the dragonian captain survive his last hit or will he have to flee the combat early to save the ship? Who will win the fight for the planet as both sides wage war with ships flying across the whole system?

Many very good questions remain as this battle, like many others, wage on for rule over the system. Eventually one side must give way to the other, as is the way of the universe, but who shall give to the other, no one can yet see as the conflict continues to turn, for thus is the way of time. Thus is the way, of Ripspace.

 

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