Turn
2
A new Omega
destroyer arrived to bolster Earthforce's fleet. The Crimson
Blade, a brand new Octurion battleship came to reinforce the
Centauri. And two wings of Vorlon fighters emerged from
hyperspace.
The Shadows made
the first move to take Jump Gate Alpha and the Earth Alliance
attempted to stop them. In a battle to the bitter end the
Shadows superior maneuverability and resistance to damage proved
to be too great for the Earth fighters and the ancients cut the
two Earth ships in two.
The Centauri fleet
declared its intention to seize Miranda shipyards:
"From Lord Admiral Sarta to the
Commander of the Earth fleet
The Centauri Republic thanks the Earth
Alliance for securing the Miranda shipyards for them and
will now take possession.
Please vacate the area or face the
consequences.................."
The
Alliance would not comply.
"From Commander Earth Fleet to the
Centauri Republic Fleet.
"The Miranda shipyards are the property of the Earth
Alliance. Disengage and leave this area now. I will not warn you
again. Any further action on your part will be met with lethal
force."
Attempting to stop vital supplies
getting through, the Centauri attacked incoming convoys but the
Earthforce defenders destroyed enough of the attackers that
further convoys got through unhindered.
Meanwhile, the
Vorlons, seeing the Centauri engaged with Earthforce, changed
their chosen target from the shipyards:
"The Earther lickspittles will not
create any of their hybrid abominations in this system, by Crikey!
(Old Vorlon saying, don'tcha know.)"
and instead decided that
they would take advantage of the bickering 'Shadow lackeys' and
try to take jump gate beta. A brutal battle for control of
space around the jump gate resulted in a significant loss
of ships and life on both sides, but superior Centauri manoeuvring
held the gate at the last minute.
The ISA, intent on
stopping to Vorlon interference in the affairs of younger races,
did not respond to Vorlon overtures of peace. Instead two
allied Vree saucers were dispatched to Miranda colony. The
saucers ambushed a single patrolling Vorlon transport and opened a
hole in the planet's defenses, allowing the Interstellar Alliance
to liberate the people of Miranda.
Battles
Shadows vs. Earth for
Jump gate alpha; annihilation; 3 point battle; Shadows win.
Centauri vs. Earth
for the shipyards; convoy duty; raid; Earth won.
Vorlons vs.
Centauri for jump gate beta; space superiority; 6 point battle;
Centauri wins.
ISA vs. Vorlons
for Miranda Colony; ambush; patrol; ISA wins.
Results
Vorlons 10 -15 (losing a
target) = 0
Shadows 10 +10 (gaining
target) +5 (winning battle) +5 (gate) =30
Centauri 10+5(winning
battle)+5(gate)=20
Earth Alliance 10+5(winning
battle)+3(shipyard) =18
ISA 10+10(gaining
target)+5(winning battle)+10(industrial world)+1(water world)=36
Running totals
Vorlons 15
Shadows 40
Centauri 23
Earth 26 (+5 for
reinforcements)
.The battle at the
secondary jump point in the Miranda system has been discussed on a
number of occasions. Transcripts have shown that the Lord Admiral
knew that almost the whole of the immensely powerful Vorlon fleet
had departed the colony and was heading in his direction. He had
already dispatched lighter elements of his fleet to harass the
systems space docks, which had been claimed by Earth Alliance.
So when it became clear that the ancient
warships were approaching his position, his obvious choice was to
run or fight. In typical Centauri fashion he tried both, withdrawing
powerful elements of his fleet, including his flagship, Lion
and the brand new Vengeance, a Liati Class Cruiser.
His movement out of the system, "to allow him to react to
either victory at the Docks or defeat at the Jump Gate" has
been hailed and condemned in equal measure by military minds
analysing the battles of this period.
Centauri historians have also noted that
the defence of the Jump Gate was placed in the hands of his brother
in law, who commanded the Avenger, a Balvarix Class
Strike Carrier. They note that his ambitious new relation had
disputed his every move since entering the system and the Admirals
general disapproval of the marriage to his favourite sister.
Whatever the motivations of the key
players, and who can fathom the bizarre tactical move by the Vorlons
in leaving the colony unguarded, it is agreed by all that the
arrival of the Crimson Blade, an Octurion Class
Battleship shortly before the battle, made the forces nearly
equal
From The Lion at bay - the
wars of the later Centauri Republic by Professor Daniel Starky,
Trafalgar Publications, August 20th 3054,
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