Private The Joint Experience Exercise

[Alex Stern]

Spoiler: Fleet

ORR Sec
Valiant Frigate (7) 1,400 m
Venturous Cruiser (3) 3,000 m
Nimix Heavy Cruiser (1) 625 m
Total 5,025 m

The Joint Experience Exercise was simply that. A friendly skirmish between the ORR Sec fleet and the Tingle Arm Coalition. But to Alex Stern, new Company Director, it was more. A chance to test his men, yes, but also an opportunity to promote the company, its products, and ships. Thus they had to give a good showing without embarrassing the other side overmuch. Looking out the remote viewscreen of the Nimix Heavy Cruiser, he didn’t think that would be a problem.

Across the expanse from them, in high orbit of the Capital, was the CNS Vigilance, an immense battlecruiser that alone surpassed his fleet. They might have matched in overall length, but there was the square cube law to take into account, as his engineers were prone to reminding him. Some preliminary calculations by his people estimated that the single ship had his fleet matched for firepower and possibly outdone in squadron count. He had far more ships though, and that was what he and the Commodore were hoping to leverage in this mock battle. Also in orbit, but not participating, drifted a small flotilla of GR-90 Transports, ready to act as fleet tenders and supply ships after the exercises.

Reviewing the status boards of the fleet one last time, Director Stern nodded to the communications officer. “Single our readiness to begin. Commodore, you have the command.” Formalities dismissed, he took his seat to watch the unfolding battle as the aged and experienced man in charge started giving out the orders that set the fleet into motion.

The ORR Sec order of battle was a deceptively simple one. The three Venturous carriers formed a delta shape with rough ‘altitude’ variations to open up their lines of defensive fire. Ahead of them, the Nimix surrounded itself with the Valiants, forming an anti-fighter screen. At the start of the simulated combat, each of the ships launched their full compliments of fighters and gunships totaling twenty-eight squads of ORR’s Outback X-Wings, and ten squadrons of Revelation-Class Gunships. These too moved up to form around the frigate screen as the whole fleet waited for their opponent’s opening move.
Col Thaine

 

[Col Thaine]

Spoiler: Fleet Compliment

The CNS Vigilance:

• Hull: 100% | Shields: 100%.

Squadron Count:

• T-85 X-Wing Starfighters: 20x squadrons.
• A/SF-01 B-Wing Starfighters: 10x Squadrons.
• RZ-2 A-Wing Interceptors: 15x Squadrons.
• UT-60D U-Wing Starfighter/Support Craft: 5x squadrons.

"Admiral on deck!"

The command cut through the steady hum of the CNS Vigilance's bridge, snapping the attention of the crew as the doors of the turbo-lift slid open. Stepping into view was Col Thaine, the commanding officer of the Coalition's newest and most formidable battlecruiser. The bridge stretched before him, gleaming with the precision of advanced technology, while officers, already stationed at their posts, straightened in silent acknowledgment. Thaine's presence was commanding but measured, his steps deliberate as he made his way past the crew. His eyes swept over the various stations, ensuring that everything was in order as the Vigilance quietly glided through the dark expanse of space.

"At ease, crewmen," Thaine's voice, calm and composed, carried a quiet authority that instantly set the crew back into motion. The tension that came with the admiral's entrance dissipated as officers resumed their tasks, hands moving confidently over control panels, checking readouts, and adjusting settings. Thaine's stride took him toward the center of the bridge, but his attention shifted to Master Chief Petty Officer June Warren, who stood ready at the communications station.

"Warren, open ship-wide comms," he instructed, his voice direct yet composed. "I want to address the crew before we start the exercise."

"Aye, Sir," Warren replied with crisp efficiency, her fingers swiftly dancing over the controls. Within moments, she nodded to confirm that the comms were open.

"Attention all crew," Thaine's voice resonated through the ship's internal speakers, reaching every corner of the vessel. His words carried weight and a sense of purpose. "This is Captain Col Thaine speaking from the bridge. We're about to put the CNS Vigilance through its paces in its first combat scenario. Yes, it's a training exercise, but that doesn't lessen my expectations. I want nothing less than your best—total focus and top performance from each of you. I know you're capable of giving everything you've got, and as you do, I promise to give you the same in return."

He paused, allowing his words to sink in. Across the ship's decks, hundreds of crew members listened intently, the gravity of his message settling on them like the quiet before a storm.

"Our simulated enemy today is an ally of the Tingel Arm Coalition. They've agreed to help us test the Vigilance's full capabilities. While no real munitions will be used, the simulated artillery and turbolaser fire will be as close to actual combat as we can get."

Thaine's voice carried a reminder that even a simulation required absolute precision and readiness. He didn't need to raise his voice to command the attention and respect of his crew. His promise—to lead with the same dedication they gave—was a vow that rallied the crew to meet the challenge ahead.

"Today, we take our first step in service to the people of the Tingel Arm. Regardless of the outcome of this exercise, hold your heads high. From this moment on, your service reflects the integrity of the Coalition and the hopes of democracy across the Outer Rim. That's something to be proud of. That is all."

As the comms went silent, Thaine shifted his attention back to the bridge, his focus now on the mission at hand.

"Take us to the rendezvous, Mr. Callum," Thaine commanded, his voice calm but firm. The helmsman nodded and engaged the sublight engines, the thrusters of the massive warship firing as the Vigilance picked up speed, cutting through the vastness of space toward the designated coordinates where the training exercise was set to begin.

Alex Stern​

 

[Alex Stern]

Spoiler: Fleet

ORR Sec
Valiant Frigate (7) 1,400 m
Venturous Cruiser (3) 3,000 m
Nimix Heavy Cruiser (1) 625 m

Outback X-wings 28 Squads
Revelation Gunships 10 Squads

"Well at least we can't miss her." Alex joked as they watched the CNS Vigilance move into position with the beginning of the exercise. At the Commodore's orders, his own fleet increased speed to match the Nimix's max. The Venturous carriers, now empty of fighters, began to lag behind before splitting off and taking up holding positions out of range of turbolaser fire. Ahead of them, the rest of the fleet continued picking up speed as they closed in for an attack run.

The remaining eight ships and their escorts angled in for a slashing attack along the flank of the large dreadnought. The ORR Sec fighters rushing ahead to the edge of the Frigates' anti-fighter envelope to intercept any that the Vigilance managed to launch before the fly-by. The capital ships had orders to target the hangers, guns, and shield generators as they were marked out. Before circling into the rear of the huge ship and into the 'safe' area of the engines, which they would then attack.

It was a bold maneuver for the much smaller ships and relied on their speed and agility, hopefully blowing past the battle Cruiser's guns before they could get proper tracking and rotating the damaged ships to the far side of the formation for 'fresh' ones. Then they had to score numerous laser and point defense kills on enemy fighters, maybe get them with turbolaser fire as they launched to even the score for their own fighter jockeys. Even then, Alex knew they were going to lose ships, he just hoped it wasn't a painful amount.

Their heavy guns were The Nimix and torpedoes the X-wings carried, while the frigates just added their turbolasers to the Nimix's weight of fire. As for the Heavy Cruiser, it'd be firing all guns and missiles into the Battle Cruiser's flank, raining down ion torpedoes, intruder missiles, and even proton bombs and concussion missiles. That would last until the fighter screens met, but the ORR Sec fighters had orders to push on through instead of being drawn into protracted fights under the Vigilance's point defense. Instead they'd try to disrupt them, and then push through with ORR Sec's own PD and the gunships hanging back inside the formation of Valiants and the Nimix command ship.

Col Thaine