Two years later
The Atherish Sector continued to develop. The Terran Alliance in this sector was pondering whether it was worthwhile to trade with the Drengin in this sector.
After all, the two civilizations were not actually at war. There was actually no specific treaty stipulation that said that the Drengin were to be confined to their homeworld after the war.
It’s just that no one foresaw the development of slipstreams opening up far flung parts of the Milky Way Galaxy. Instead, for a hundred years, the major powers had operated in the Orion sector and all the useful planets had long been claimed. Now that other sectors were available, the Drengin were, technically, free to expand.
However, there was concern about the Drengin’s military spending which had recently jumped. What were they planning?
Moreover, it was becoming obvious that the Drengin were now far ahead in developing this sector.
The decision was made to prepare for war in this sector. We were far from Earth and we were under no illusions that we were not on our own.
To that end, the Ann Arbor class Destroyer was created:
And to go with it a Gibraltar class Frigate.
This day was inevitable
One problem both sides would have is to deal with the Pacifier Sentinels.
Long ago, for reasons unknown, the Precursors set up various automated devices that detect warships and attack them to try to “keep the peace”. The Drengin long noticed these and since, for centuries, could not overcome them, relied on their shocktroops to simply take over worlds.
Of course, today, our fleets can actually defeat these if enough effort is directed at it. But they remain a significant issue for the civilization that wants to sacrifice precious lives to deal with them first.
In each case, the Terran industrial complex is always willing to let us know what weapon equivalent they have (and will sell to the government) that is roughly equivalent to what they have.
To deal with the Sentinels Task Force Kanga, led by the TAS Gibraltar and the TAS Monroe would be sent in.
Even the T.A.S. Hobbes, handling exploratory duties was tasked with helping clear the path.
These Precursor drones used to be the terror of the galaxy. It is refreshing to see our ships able to take them out one on one.
However, the Drengin fleet approachin, led by the infamous Master Murthon, was significantly more powerful than Taskforce Kanga.
It was for that reason we sent Task Force Berlin in.
Unfortunately, the Gibraltar class ships, while heavily equipped with powerful short-range weapons, were not able to get into range to use their weapons.
The TAS Jackson, a Destroyer class ship did better.
In Phase 23 we can see the issue. The TAS Jackson scored a full hit with its powerful particle beam array only to have the Drengin’s armor absorb it.
Their secret is the Gigamass Plating which is a technology unknown to us. The Titanium plating on the Jackson is helpful but just not enough.
Eventually, it is only the Jackson left against the others.
Taskforce “Uther” was assigned to soften them up with Kanga to finish them off. But after seeing Uther wiped out, Kanga fell back to a safe distance.
In the meantime, a bomber was designed, the B-5 Pursuer with a Neutrino lancer installed to hopefully give the Gibraltars more time to close the distance.
The pursuer was only 23 meters long, fairly tiny for a ship equipped with hyperdrive. But it packed a punch.
Meanwhile, Kanga situated itself near Ivan’s Star, where a hyperlane was discovered.
But the Drenign Horde was approaching. It was time to make them go somewhere else..
And so off to some other part of the galaxy they were sent. But there was no doubt, we were losing the war.
And the Drengin knew it.
To be continued. . .