The Battle for Bizzet.

The Setup.

6 colonies located in the south, guarded by a defense fleet of
3 heavy cruisers, 6 destroyers and some frigates.

For a long time, this system has seen nothing but suicide colony ships, and a few
satelite layer ships in vain attempts to challenge my fleet sitting on the warp point.

The beginning.

With some new technology, I decide to pull back 1 heavy cruiser, most of the destroyers and some of the frigates, to refit them with ripper beams, and better shields.

A few turns later, I am attacked, as usual I expect nothing serious here, but boy am I wrong.

A hostile fleet arrives out of the warp point, and assembles, whats left of my defence fleet rally to attack it.

The Enemy.

1 light carrier, 2 light cruisers, several destroyers and frigate escorts.

I didn't think the AI would be capable to use such fleets against me, as the game so far had been pretty dull.

The Combat.

With my ships having no point defence whatsoever, his fighters rip into me, and a slaughter ensues, the heavy cruiser is crippled and the rest is shot to pieces in less than 2 minutes.

My ships are unable to fire a shot.

However, my 2 other heavy cruisers and destroyers are ready , and I quickly send them into the fray, a second combat ensues.

This time I am able to shoot down his first wave of fighters, and make my way towards his main fleet. His fleet turns away from me, and attempts to flee, a quick meal I think.
As I close in to contact, fire is exchanged between my cruisers and his light cruisers, and to my horror, a single salvo from his ship sends my lines reeling.

Loosing both heavy cruisers, I am only able to damage his cruisers, and shoot down 2 destroyers.

The aftermath.

His ships now sweep trough the system, 4 of the 6 colonies are utterly destroyed, including the shipyards.

However, I manage to rally 6 heavy cruisers that was earlier sendt on patrol further north, they move with a light escort in, luckily for me, these ships are older, and actually have point defense.

The endgame.

Enemy forces, numbers now, 1 light carrier, 3 light cruisers and two dozen smaller ships.
My forces is 6 heavy cruisers, and several destroyers.

This time, I am able to brush aside his fighters, these older ships designed for long range combat, is able to keep outside his light cruisers deadly short range, and I am able to destroy his entire taskforce, with the loss of a few ships.

Conclusion.

A dull game in general, but this is the stuff one lives for, the single battle that makes it all so fun. I lost much more than the computer in this battle, even if he lost his taskforce, my empire is only 3 systems big, so the loss is very crippling, I don't know if I will survive this.

With regards

Janster