<div dir="ltr"><div class="inbox-inbox-gj inbox-inbox-s2" style="margin:0px;padding:0px"><div tabindex="0" class="inbox-inbox-ap inbox-inbox-s2" style="border-top:1px solid rgb(224,224,224);outline:none;word-wrap:break-word"><div class="inbox-inbox-pA inbox-inbox-s2" style="overflow:hidden"><div class="inbox-inbox-he inbox-inbox-s2" style="margin:0px 20px 16px 80px"><div class="inbox-inbox-b5 inbox-inbox-xJNT8d" style="overflow-x:auto;overflow-y:hidden;padding-left:10px;margin-right:60px"><div class="inbox-inbox-uyb8Gf"><div class="inbox-inbox-F3hlO"><div dir="ltr"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><i><u><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Lyran Front:</span></u></i><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Convoy Raid
#564  </span></b></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">After incoming warp
field signatures matching Lyran waveforms were picked up by a deep space
listening post, Cheeth-Sub-Admiral dispatched a task force to intercept the
hostiles and defend shipping in that border sector.  Unfortunately, the
site of trouble was so remote, and the threatening ships so near, that only our
destroyers had the strategic speed to reach the area in time to organize and
protect a convoy.  </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">These are the <i>ancient
enemies.  </i>Of course, we sent every destroyer we had.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Three Lyran war
destroyers accompanied by a war cruiser-scout pounced from the black. 
They sprinted towards the convoy as if it were a herd of prey beasts, warp
nacelles glowing with radiated heat.  Five defending Kzinti destroyers,
including a scout, were ordered to General Quarters by the commodore on
the war destroyer leader <i>Pursues Movement.  </i>Both fleets
were at Weapon Status III - but the Kzinti were accelerating from a sluggish speed 6 from their station alongside the ungainly freighters, while the Lyrans
streaked down upon them at speed 30.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">[In the compact bridge
of the war destroyer leader <i>Pursues
Movement</i>, the Kzinti command crew crouch in a low, red light, their pupils
dilated, faces illuminated from below by monochrome displays]</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">SENSOR OFFICER: Conn
sensors, contacts Serval One and Alley Cats Two, Three, and Four at 20 standard
distance units bearing just off our bow, closing at max speed.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">COMMS OFFICER:
Freighters report breaking off as ordered, Speed 9.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">COMMODORE: All ships: scatterpacks
launch!  Helm, Speed 10 until we recover
the empty shuttles, then accelerate to 16. 
Keep us between the enemy and the freighters.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">HELM OFFICER:  Course laid in.  But they’re triple our velocity, sir, they’ll
flank -</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">COMMODORE: Drones
launch.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">WEAPONS OFFICER:
[Perking ears, paws hovering over arrays of illuminated keys] Conn weps,
confirmation: how many, from which ships, sir?</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">COMMODORE: [Roars,
gouging claws in the metal of his chair] <i>All
of them!!</i> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">Tactical displays bloomed with a dozen drone
tracks radiating out from the Kzinti ships, then two dozen.  The Lyrans banked to course D, laying T-bombs
to one side and cutting behind them, taking out 9 drones from the seeking cloud.  Waveguides crackled with the Lyran scout
cruiser’s breaking lock-ons for half a dozen more seekers, but the scatterpack
shuttles resisted its jamming and blossomed to add another 25 drones to be followed
in towards their targets by the accelerating Kzinti destroyers.  The lead Lyran ship, war destroyer <i>Fang</i>, activated an ESG to counter
incoming drones, but one of them burst as a multi-warhead just before impact,
consuming most of the field’s strength.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">As the Lyrans sweep around the Kzinti into
direction E, the freighters madly zig-zagged in directions F and A to evade as they
built up speed.  The Kzinti warships
managed to keep themselves interposed between the faster Lyran pursuers and
their prey, heading C and D towards intercept, until the distance closed to
10-15 hexes by mid-turn.  With 30 drones
in space and Kzinti racks ready to fire more, as well as 7 ESG’s still charged
and ready to activate, the two sides were impulses away from mayhem that would
cost both sides far more than the freighter cargoes were worth.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">SENSOR OFFICER: Conn sensors, contacts are
turning to course D. They’ve . . . disengaged into high warp!</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">COMMS OFFICER: Lyrans are broadcasting – that they’ve
completed their recon patrol of <i>their</i>
territory.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">COMMODORE: [Smiles toothily] Comms, send them
our fondest wishes for a dangerous journey home and that we’re looking forward
to the next visit from our ancient enemies. </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">COMMS OFFICER: Aye, sir.</span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">COMMODORE: [Considers, licking his paw] And tell
the freighters to get back into convoy formation at once.  This won’t be the last we see of those ships.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><b><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">(Encounter
resolved.  Territorial Marking Fleet victory by Lyran disengagement)</span></b><br></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom:0.0001pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"></span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> </span></p>

<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top:12pt;line-height:normal;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-size:initial;background-repeat:initial;background-origin:initial;background-clip:initial"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif"> <br></span></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>