Starbase Assault Phase Two

 I end up fighting in only one engagement accompanying the Victory, in which our group sees off three Federation cruisers, all heavily damaged. At this point I receive new orders: to report to the D7C Demonslayer with the rank of Commodore. I will be in charge of a Battlecruiser flotilla for the next series of combats, although I am beginning to wonder how many that will in fact be: the attrition on both sets of forces is incredible. Now I am not in command of my own ship, but two D5W Heavy War Cruisers as well.

We are assigned to mask the base while the remainder of the fleet engages the Federation ships. I deploy my formation with the two D5Ws in front of the Demonslayer due to their superior shielding. We advance to just outside overload range of the station and perform the dance of death, a manoeuvre in which our ships do not move closer but instead use tactical moves to change shield facings. This inevitably gradually reduces the shields on our ships and I order the first of the two D5Ws to disengage after it has no front shields left - better to retire to fight another day. By the time our fleet is given the withdrawal order, the other D5 is degraded by about two-thirds of its shielding. The first has taken only superficial damage, which is easily repaired in time for us to go in again.

Attrition has taken an enormous toll on our attack force, but there remains enough for one last throw of the dice. We go in again and this time my flotilla s stationed on the port wing of the formation, together with a D6 Battlecruiser squadron that includes a D6D Drone Cruiser. Facing us are two Federation New Light Cruiser squadrons and a light flotilla. They make their relative superiority work for them by crippling all three of the D6s. We are left to hold them off while the rest of the fleet tries its best elsewhere, but it is no use. Although our unit does the most damage in the entire battle, crippling all three enemy light ships (two Frigates and a War Destroyer), one of our D5Ws is crippled and then we receive the orders to retire completely.

The offensive has not succeeded in its objective, although many fine and honorable combats have occurred. 

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