I've been a little out of it these last couple of days folks, sorry about that!  Work has been chaotic, but I hope to have my next post up in the next 24 hours or so!  Time for some cap ship to cap ship carnage!

And Trick, as soon as i work out an angle for the coming battle I'll be contacting ye about a ship to trash!

Things have slowed down a bit lately, but this happens to every story.  Things will pick up soon enough and we can really get this one-sided hammering of our forces battle underway!

Always remember, folks, that even if you don't have any ideas for your own character, that NPC posts are totally fine!  Here's some ideas that I think may be interesting.  Feel free to have a try at these or any other NPC ideas you may have!

1) A Verpine slave of the Imperial Dominion.  The ID are using these poor fools to co-ordinate their battle, and are ensuring their co-operation by intimidating their hive queen.  How do the Verpine feel about this?  They are insectoids after all, and may have a totally strange and unique perspective on their situation.  Do they have any opinions about it, or is 'dont upset the Dominion soldier with a gun to my head' simply on their day's to-do list along with 'pick up groceries' and 'order that new holovid'?

2) A recently freed slave of the Imperial Dominion.  It was made clear in earlier posts that the base on Gwodd LK Nale was built using alien slaves.  Were any of these left behind when the VE took the place?  If so, how have they reacted?  Has the VE liberated them, or kept them incarcerated in case there are spies and double-agents hidden in their midst?  Do the slaves see the VE as heroes, or do they believe the VE to be just as bad as the Dominion?

3) Dominion naval personel.  Always bears repeating that, in a story like this, our enemies are merely reflections of us.  The Dominion wear our uniforms, pilot ships like ours, and even have similar medals.  Keep this in mind when writing for them.  Why are they with the ID and not us?  What really separates us?  Do they truly see us as the enemy, or are they would-be VE personnel but for being on the wrong ship when the Empire fragmented?  Aside from our pro-alien stance, there is not much difference!

Okay, that's just a few ideas for people.  Have a think and get posting!

Aaaand I'm back! Yay!

Got some fighting going, though Grent's fighter is in a bad way. Will he survive? Find out next time on Counterpunch: DEATH!

(Spoiler Alert: He doesn't die.)

Glad you liked my suggestions, Trick!  And good to see you and Gur getting right back into things after your Leaves.

Now, alas, it is my turn to be on Leave.  I got up my 21st post just now (just a short one, but its something) and now I must take a break to sort stuff in RL.  See you all in a week or so!

I plan to have a nice length post up soon from the POV of CR90 Defiance.

She's going to sustain injuries, but limp back to the fleet safely. Is the plan, at least ....

Gonna be returning tomorrow c:

Oh Tryk you cruel cruel being ....

I should have my post up later today. I am, however, off to get myself kitted out for motorbiking, so no promises.

Introducing the Defiance, one of the 2nd fleet's CR90 corvettes, designed for anti-starfighter and patrol duty. Here, we see her barely escape from the combat to a nearby asteroid field, sustaining damage in the process. The CO attempts to maintain order and return fire against the fighters and bomber sent to finish them off.

Only the beginning part of the Defiance's story. I will write more about her struggle later. She is now separated (partially) from the rest of the fleet. Will she make it? Will she retreat to hyperspace before the ID destroy her?

I am back from the grave. Goodness. I feel like I've been gone for ages.

Got a post up from Thatcher's POV. Nobody has really written about friendly fire yet and this battle calls for it. I left the info about which Strill peep was hit unspecified so that anyone can jump in with their take on it. My next post should be from Makenna's POV.

Sorry for the terribly long gap between posts. XD I know I apologize too much about stuff like that but I feel like it anyway.

Another one!  Let's try to wrap up this battle ASAP, folks, so we can move on in the storyline.  Get a couple combat posts up - even short ones - and then we'll transition to the last stage.

Oooh.  That was my 150th career story post. 

Now I get to decide which of my characters gets injured and when... I'll see about another post either today or tomorrow. Gurlanin, don't forget we need posts for Strill too

*blinks rapidly*
i have no idea what is happening.

Hey, Cabby.    Short(ish) version: We invaded the Sollamens Asteroids, and landed troops to take the big main asteroid base, Gwodd LK nale.  There was surprisingly little resistance from Dominion forces.  So, we landed a bunch of troops at the base, along with three squadrons (Strill included), while Second Fleet set out deeper into the asteroid field to force a confrontation with the ID fleet.

Then, the pulsar in the system went into its "active" period of its regular cycle, spitting out a ton of EM radiation, scrambling communications and sensors.  Blind, mute, and deaf, Second Fleet is now being attacked by the remaining strength of the Dominion Navy.

So, write about how horrible/surprising it is to fight in those circumstances, and eventually, either realize the Fleet wants to retreat, or else just make the decision to return to the Adjudicator yourself.  When we've been sufficiently bloodied, we'll retreat, temporarily leaving our people on Gwodd LK nale alone to face counterinvasion.  Clear? 

  Temporarily!  It's for the drama factor!

And my 10th post is up, again from the Defiance's POV. I've left the actual ships that make up the ID task force mentioned in my post out, mainly because I'm not sure what ships the ID have, and also to let someone else write about them if they have certain ships in mind.

I will get a Strill/Grent POV post up soon, but I'm rather enjoying writing the Defiance story ... maybe I became a starfighter pilot to hastily? :P