Doc Shadow

Timeline of the Union of Solar Planets . 1969 --- Man walks on the Moon. Apollo 11 transports astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Mike Collins to the moon where Armstrong and Aldrin touch down on the lunar surface on July 20th. 1981 --- The Space Shuttle Orbiter is operational. 1986 --- Challenger Disaster, NASA is brought under intense scrutiny. 1987 --- NASA is dismantled and replaced with a cabinet level agency: the Department of Space Exploration and Development 1989 --- Civil unrest in China sparks the Sino-Russian War. Panic at the possibility of a nuclear exchange grips the world. 1990 --- The Sino-Russian war ends with the Soviet Union’s capture of two northern Chinese provinces. Nuclear weapons have not been used. 1993 --- DSED completes construction of Freedom, the world’s first permanent manned space station with a crew of 25 Astronaut/Scientists. 1995 --- The first American Laser Star defense satellite is operational. 1996 --- OPEC collapses when Professor Hiro Ozikawa develops a safe and inexpensive Hydrox Turbine engine. 1999 --- First Powersat comes on line. 2001 --- The Soviet Union constructs Breznev Station on the moon. 2003 --- USSR secretly arms Breznev Station with Surface-to-Orbit Missiles (SOM). 2004 --- DSED and the European Space Agency jointly construct Goddard City on the moon, a large-scale Scientific/Industrial Complex manned by 2,000 Scientists, Engineers, and Support Personnel. 2005 --- The U.S. Space Defense System is fully operational. However, designed to defend the U.S. from an Earth-launched attack, the system is ill prepared for what the Soviets have planned. 2006 --- USSR begins arming Breznev Station with Luna-to-Earth Nuclear Missiles. --- The U.S. begins to dismantle the majority of its nuclear arsenal. 2007 --- The U.S. opens the Clavius mines. --- USSR secretly constructs Stalin Station a large Military Complex at the Lunar north pole, defended by 20 SOM batteries and equipped with Luna-to-Earth Missile launchers. 500 Nuclear Missiles are stockpiled. 2011 --- The American Nuclear Arsenal consists of a mere 100 ICBMs onboard 5 Trident Missile submarines. 2012 --- The USSR begins the Third World War with a first strike from Breznev Station which destroys the U.S. Space Defense System. The American retaliation destroys what the U.S. believes to be the remaining Russian nuclear missile force. China fires her nuclear arsenal at Soviet military bases along the Sino-Russian border. NATO looses medium and intermediate range ballistic missiles at large troop concentrations in Western Russia and the Warsaw Pact. The USSR launches retaliatory strikes from Stalin Station against China, NATO, and the U.S., over 600 million are killed in the attacks, within 6 months the death toll will reach over 2 billion. --- Soviet troops from Breznev Station occupy the Lunar bases, however sabotage puts the nuclear missile launchers out of action, for this all the lunar security personnel are executed. --- Germany is overrun by Pact forces. The Articles of Alliance are signed between the U.S., England, Ireland, France, Canada, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Australia, China, Japan, and Austria. The Alliance of Free States (AFS) vow to fight the Soviets together. It is the beginning of a long and costly war. 2013 --- Using the war against Russia and the Warsaw Pact as an excuse, old enemies tear at each other with renewed fury. Civil war breaks out in India as the Sikhs strive for dominance. Holy war erupts in the Middle East as Arab nations attack Israel. Argentina attacks Brazil igniting a war that will sweep through all of South and Central America. Race war breaks out in South Africa, and general fighting erupts in Southeast Asia. --- The AFS launches a fleet of 30 Trans Lunar Space Vessels with a full battalion of elite troops aboard in an attempt to capture Stalin Station. However the station’s surface-to-orbit missile batteries destroy it before it lands. --- Pact forces thrust deep into France capturing and then destroying Paris with a nuclear warhead. Stalin Station's missile launchers are once again operational. 294 nuclear missiles remain in the station's stockpile. 2014 --- A large force of Japanese and Chinese troops attack along the Soviet southeastern border. It is obliterated by 3 missiles from Stalin Station. --- The US re-commissions 3 old Polaris missile submarines. --- The colony ship Neil Armstrong operated by a skeleton crew is crashed into Stalin Station. The Soviet nuclear force is eliminated. Alliance armies strike with renewed zeal and retake France. --- Throughout the world the war slows down into a war of attrition. 2015 --- Soviet Hunter/Killer groups track down and destroy the US Polaris Force. --- AFS armies thrust into Romania. 2016 --- Alliance armies from France and Romania converge on and liberate western Germany. --- Race war in South Africa ends with the Treaty of Johannesburg. 2017 --- A biological weapon unleashed during the Arab-Israeli Holy War sweeps across the Middle East. Millions are infected and die horribly. Each side blames the other and launches retaliatory attacks that merely spread the plague faster. --- Spain, under Soviet pressure, attacks France. French, Greek, and Italian forces are withdrawn from Germany to repulse the Spanish. --- A Chinese/Japanese assault from the Southeast forces the Soviets to re-deploy forces from the Western front to meet the new threat. 2018 --- A strong Australian army lands in the Soviet eastern province of Yakutsk and links up with the Sino-Japanese armies in the south. --- In America, the Brazilians and their allies defeat an Argentine army group in a major campaign, and then pour forces through the gap in the Argentine defenses. --- Eastern Germany comes under Alliance control. --- As the plague begins to spread across the globe the nuclear powers have no choice but to use nuclear weapons to destroy it. The Middle East is effectively rendered a radioactive wasteland. 2019 --- Argentina surrenders to Brazil ending the war in South and Central America. --- The Lunar base inhabitants successfully revolt against their Soviet captors, then attack and capture Breznev Station. The Soviet battalion at the Clavius Mines escape into deep space in several refurbished Interplanetary Space Vessels. --- Alliance armies with a joint British/Irish spearhead thrust through Poland and into Western Russia. --- India, backed into a corner, uses her only two remaining nuclear bombs to destroy the major Sikh forces as they gather for a final assault ending the Indian Civil War. 2020 --- Spain surrenders to the French, Italian, and Greek forces. --- Alliance army groups from the southeast roll through the Soviet eastern provinces. Meanwhile AFS forces from Europe continue to thrust toward Moscow. --- A joint U.S./Canadian Invasion force lands in the Soviet northern provinces capturing the Oil fields in Kola and Siberia. --- The USSR surrenders unconditionally to the Alliance of Free States ending the Third World War. This long, hard struggle has had devastating results: the Earth is in ruins, there is widespread starvation and disease, an incalculable amount of knowledge and resources have been lost, radioactive hot spots have poisoned large tracts of land, and over two-thirds of the Earth's population is dead. 2021 --- Mankind is unified with the ratification of the United Earth Declaration. Planet wide vote elects the first United Earth Council. War is declared illegal as a means of resolving disputes. Individual nations retain control over their internal concerns, international matters however are completely the jurisdiction of the United Earth Council and the World Grand Assembly. --- The Soviet Union opts for a Constitutional Monarchy as it's new government. Paul Romanov becomes the Czar Paul; his ascendance is greeted favorably by the Russian Peoples and the World at large. 2022 --- Jonathan Kidde of the United Kingdom is elected the first President of the United Earth Council. --- A study by the World Science League shows conclusively that the Earth is not capable of supporting mankind's population of 2 billion. 2023 --- President Kidde signs the Space Colonization Act (Sometimes called the Abandon Ship Act) into law. This diverts nearly 70% of the GWP into the space colony programs. 2027 --- Goddard City expansion has reached out across large tracts of the lunar surface. Population reaches 4 million. 2029 --- 4 O'Niell-type Space Colonies are operational, each houses 150,000. 2034 --- Heartland, a massive space colony devoted exclusively to agriculture, becomes operational, it provides fully 12% of the food for the hungry of Earth. 2038 --- The Martian Terraforming Project begins. 2041 --- The first 100,000 colonists arrive on Mars. 2046 --- Colonization of the Asteroid Belt begins. 2049 --- Heartland II is operational. 2050 --- Space census 280 million+ now reside in space. 2052 --- Asteropolis, the capital city of the Asteroid Belt is founded on Ceres. 2056 --- The Martian Terraforming Project is completed. 2057 --- The colonization of the outer planets begins with the founding of the Callisto Agri-Colony. 2064 --- Professor Gideon Lawrence makes a major breakthrough that results in a reactionless drive: the Gravitic Thruster Plate, this is an incredible boon to mankind that opens the stars to humanity. 2069 --- Mankind marks the 100th anniversary of the first lunar landing. 2071 --- Pirating begins to occur in the outer system. 2073 --- Fifty years after the Space Colonization Act was signed 1.4 billion reside in space. Government is re-organized granting autonomy to all proven successful colonies. The Union of Solar Planets is formed, led by the Union Council and the Solar Assembly, and defended by the Solar Union Space Navy and the Union Army. 2074 --- The Venus Terraforming Project begins. 2076 --- The Mercury Mining Colony is founded. 2080 --- The Solar Patrol is formed to combat increased pirate activity in the outer system. 2083 --- The Earth Reclamation Project begins. 2084 --- Dr. Harley Jenner publishes a dissertation on Tachyon-induced Faster-than-Light Drives. The Union Council authorizes the expenditure of 20 billion in Research and Development. 2087 --- The Venus Terraforming Project is abandoned as impractical. This fiasco has cost the Solar Union over 80 billion. 2089 --- The Solar Patrol crushes the pirate cartel formed by the descendants of the Soviets who fled from the Clavius Mines in 2019, and based out of Ariel. 2092 --- The Pluto outpost is established. 2093 --- The Union Army is disbanded in favor of the Solar Corps of Marines, this is a cost-cutting measure originating in the Solar Assembly. 2095 --- The first Tachyon faster-than-light Space Drive is introduced. The Defense Council advises that a new fleet should be built, designed for the new FTL Drive. However the Solar Assembly only appropriates enough money to upgrade the existing ships. 2097 --- Nova Guns, which fire a burst of tachyon-related energy, are introduced. Again only refit money is approved. 2098 --- In a compromise measure The Union Council and Solar Assembly approves the design of new ships utilizing all of the latest technology. However of them only 15 Discovery class Explorers are authorized for construction. 2099 --- Prototypes of the other vessels are authorized. King George VI class Battlestarship, Prometheus class Starcarrier, Horizon class Battle Starcruiser, Vanguard class Heavy Starcruiser, Constellation class Light Starcruiser, Excalibur class Starcorvette, Patton class Stardestroyer, and Paladin class Torpedo Boat. 2101 --- Money is authorized for 8 more Starcarriers. 2104 --- Union Navy Explorers begin to probe the Interstellar void. 2105 --- Exploration missions to five star systems are approved. --- The Union Star Ship Discovery heads for Tau Ceti. 2106 --- The Discovery is destroyed on arrival at Tau Ceti. --- The Vrel Entente invades the Solar Union starting the Sol-Ceti War. Orion's Spear The Sol-Ceti War of 2106-2110 2106 March 2106 --- The Union Space Navy deep star explorer USS Discovery contacts the Vrel a race from the Tau Ceti system. They are immediately fired upon by Vrel warships. The survey vessel barely has time to dispatch a message drone back to Earth before being destroyed. The Vrel are unable to destroy the drone but use it's course to probe the origin of the "enemy invaders". April 2106 --- The Solar Union Defense Council orders an investigation into the warning and institutes a pre-mobilization alert. The Vrel Star Navy's 3rd, 7th, and 9th Battlefleets prepare for the invasion of the "enemy home system". May 2106 --- 3rd and 7th Vrel Battlefleets attack. Solar Union's 14th Patrol Squadron is all but obliterated. Units of the 2nd Planetary Assault Fleet land 6 Vrel Infantry and 2 Armored battle forces on Pluto. The 4th Solar Fleet counter-attacks but is driven back to the Neptune orbit. June 2106 --- The Vrel's 9th Battlefleet and the rest of the 2nd Planetary Assault Fleet arrive and land 10 Mobile Infantry and 3 Armored Cavalry battle forces. 3 Union Marine Armored Cavalry regiments are landed on Pluto to re-inforce the 4th Corps Mobile Infantry. 7th Solar Fleet sets up a defensive line at Pluto's Moon. July 2106 --- Plan: Liberty is put into effect by the Solar Union. 3rd, 5th, and 7th Earth Defense Fleets undertake a major counter-offensive isolating a portion of the Vrel invasion force. The Union ships, however, are so heavily outclassed by the Vrel that the results are inconclusive. Raw courage on the part of the Union crews inflict major losses on the Vrel but the cost is equally high. The Vrel mount a major offensive against the Union Marine forces on Pluto. August 2106 --- The Vrel offensive eliminates 73% of the Marine garrison on Pluto at a cost of 5 battle forces. 7th Solar Fleet covers the evacuation of Pluto and retreats to Neptune. Vrel Strike Groups begin softening up attacks on the Triton Forward Fleet Base. September 2106 --- Union Carrier Groups move up and engage Vrel Strike Groups. When Vrel forces are forced to retreat the High Command orders the 3rd, 5th, and 6th Attack Carrier Fleets to Sol. 9th and 14th Union Carrier Groups are decimated in battle. A raiding force of 5 Vrel Infantry battle forces land on Triton. October 2106 --- The 5th and 6th Corps of the Union Marines ( 9 regiments each ) are ordered to Triton. Vrel raiding force is destroyed. The Vrel land 12 Mobile Infantry and 4 Armored battle forces on Ariel in a surprise attack, the 2 regiment Marine Garrison is taken completely by surprise. November 2106 --- Ariel captured by Vrel forces, 3rd Battlefleet enters orbit around Ariel. The Vrel launch the second invasion of Triton with forces from Pluto and Ariel. Union forces abandon Triton and form the 4th and 7th Solar Fleets, 12th Union Carrier Group, and 5th and 7th Earth Defense Fleets into a single strong defensive line at Saturn. December 2106 --- Vrel BattleGroups attack the Saturn line but are driven off. A stalemate develops as the Vrel High Command cannot launch another major offensive for awhile and the Union Defense Council can't risk its few Space Fleets. An intense military build-up begins in the Solar Union as the new modern starships begin to come off the ways in increasing numbers, and further Vrel forces are ordered to Sol. 2107 January 2107 --- The military build-up continues, the Vrel establish a base on Miranda and begin preparations for an assault on Hyperion. The Union 3rd and 10th Carrier groups are operational using the new designs, as are the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Task Groups. February 2107 --- The Vrel 5th and 8th Battlefleets arrive at Triton. The Solar Union's 7th, 8th, and 9th Battle Groups and the 1st Union Fleet are operational. The Vrel 4th Planetary Assault Fleet, and 3rd and 8th Battlefleets mount an assault on Hyperion. March 2107 --- A Vrel major offensive succeeds in breaking through the Saturn Defense Line with heavy losses on both sides. 9 Vrel Mobile Infantry and 1 Armored Cavalry battle forces are landed on Hyperion, the Union garrison is wiped out in a lightning attack, the Vrell gain control over Hyperion. The Solar Union Defense Council decides not to commit the Union Fleets to the war until a sufficiently large force has been built up, the Navy must hold the line without them. April 2107 --- The Vrel 1st, 2nd, and 8th Fast Carrier Strike Groups begin a softening up bombing of Rhea. Union 12th and 14th Strike Groups are operational, Union 9th Corps of Armored Cavalry ( 9 regiments ) is sent to Rhea in anticipation of a Vrel landing. Solar Union Attack Squadrons begin to decimate Vrel Supply Convoys. May 2107 --- Union 3rd Battle Group engages the Vrel 8th Fast Carrier Strike Group forcing it to retreat, however major losses are inflicted on both sides. The Vrel High Command launches an immediate counter-offensive, 7th and 3rd Battlefleets attack and destroy the Union 1st and 3rd Task Groups. June 2107 --- The Vrel land 12 Mobile Infantry, 3 Armored, and 1 Armored Cavalry battle forces on Rhea. Heavy Vrel losses are suffered in the initial landings none the less a strong beachhead is established. The Vrel respond to the Union Attack Squadrons by deploying stealth equipped Hunter Squadrons. July 2107 --- The Vrel landing force is re-inforced by 9 Infantry, 3 Armored Cavalry, and 2 Rocket Artillery battle forces. 5 Union Infantry and 4 Armored Cavalry regiments are wiped out. The Vrel 7th and 8th Battlefleets blockade Rhea, cutting off Union troops. August 2107 --- The Union 3rd Carrier Group and 7th and 8th Battle Groups break through the blockade long enough to evacuate the Union garrison. The Vrel take control of Rhea. The Vrel High Command immediately begins to put Operation: ThunderPunch (Op:TP) into assembly, this major offensive will be the capture of the Titan Main Fleet Base and will require massive naval and ground operations. September 2107 --- The Vrel 3rd and 4th Sub-Armies of Infantry ( 16 battle forces each ) are ordered to Triton to prepare for Op:TP as are the 2nd, 11th, and 15th Battlefleets and the 9th Planetary Assault Fleet. Union 7th and 8th Battle Groups enter spacedock, the 12th and 14th Strike Groups and the 9th Solar Fleet are ordered to Titan. October 2107 --- The Vrel High Command orders the 4th and 7th Attack Carrier Fleets, 9th, 14th, and 15th Cruiser Strike Groups, and the 7th Sub-Army of Armored Cavalry ( 8 battle forces ) to Rhea. Union Defense Council re-inforces the Titan Garrison with 9 Infantry and 3 Armored regiments. November 2107 --- The Vrel 2nd, 7th, 11th, and 15th Battlefleets engage the 4th, 7th, and 9th Solar Fleets the results are inconclusive but losses on both sides are heavy. The Vrel 9th, 14th, and 15th Cruiser Strike Groups move in against the 9th Solar Fleet inflicting extremely high losses. The 4th and 7th Attack Carrier Fleets mount a round-the-clock bombing of Titan. December 2107 --- The Union 12th and 14th Strike Groups mount major raids on on Rhea and Hyperion their efforts delay the invasion of Titan, however the 12th Strike Group is destroyed over Rhea. The bombing continues. 2108 January 2108 --- The Union 10th Carrier Group attacks the Vrel 9th Cruiser Strike Group inflicting substantial casualties. The Vrel 4th and 9th Planetary Assault Fleets and 7th and 11th Battlefleets launch Op:TP. 9 Mobile Infantry, 6 Armored, 2 Armored Cavalry, and 2 Rocket Artillery battle forces are landed on Titan. Losses on both Union and Vrel forces are heavy. February 2108 --- The Vrel 4th Sub-Army of Infantry ( 15 battle forces ) lands on Titan. 3 Union Armored Cavalry regiments are sent to Titan. Union losses number 10 regiments. The Vrel 11th Battlefleet mounts a heavy bombardment of the Titan Main Fleet Base; major losses are inflicted on units of the 3rd and 12th Carrier Groups. March 2108 --- The Vrel 7th Sub-Army Armored Cavalry ( 12 battle forces ) are landed on Titan. The Vrel 7th and 11th Battlefleets, 7th Attack Carrier Fleet, and 9th, 14th, and 15th, Cruiser Strike Groups mount a massive bombing of all Union positions on Titan. Union casualties number almost 80 % of all Titan forces including the 10th Carrier Group and 14th Strike Group. April 2108 --- Titan is abandoned by the Solar Union, the 7th, 8th, and 9th Battle Groups and the remaining units of the 3rd and 12th Carrier Groups evacuate all remaining Union forces. The Vrel gain control over Titan. The Solar Union sets up a massive stronghold at Callisto to be protected by the newly operational 11th, 12th, and 13th Heavy Battle Groups, the 14th and 15th Carrier Groups, and the Third Union Army ( 27 regiments ). In effect the Solar Union has drawn a line in the sand of Callisto saying " This far, and no further! ", the Navy, Army, and Marines vow that Callisto will not be taken. May 2108 --- The Vrel 14th and 18th Battlefleets arrive at Europa and land a small sub-army sized garrison. Plans are made in the Vrel High Command for Operation: Groin-Kick ( Op:GK ), the taking of the massive hydroponics farms on Callisto which supply 60 % of the Solar Union's food. The 2nd Union Fleet is operational, the 4th, 5th, and 7th Corps ( 10 regiments each ) of the Union Marines prepare for a counter-offensive. June 2108 --- The Vrel 18th and 19th Battlefleets arrive at Titan as well as 18 Mobile Infantry, 27 Armored Cavalry, and 4 Rocket Artillery battle forces, bringing their ground force up to near over-army strength. The Solar Union's 14th and 15th Heavy Battle Groups are operational, the Second Union Army ( 29 regiments ) is sent to Callisto. July 2108 --- The Vrel send 16 battle forces of Mobile Infantry to Rhea. The Union 1st Assault Fleet is operational. The Solar Union Defense Council drafts the four phase Operation: Alpha-Omega ( OP:Ά-Ώ ). Phase One - The Stand begins assembly on Callisto. The 3rd Union Fleet becomes operational. Union Cruiser Squadrons take up position orbiting Callisto. August 2108 --- The Vrel launch Op:GK, the 14th, 18th, and 19th Battlefleets move into Callisto orbit meeting resistance that is lighter than expected. The Vrel land a large sub-army strength force of 24 Infantry, 18 Mobile Infantry, 21 Armored Cavalry, 4 Rocket Artillery, and 2 Airborne Assault battle forces. Union Armored Cavalry regiments attack and fallback along a pre-arranged route, slowly, carefully herding the Vrel forces toward "The Stand". September 2108 --- The Second and Third Union Armies, and 4th, 5th, and 7th Corps of the Union Marines ( 86 regiments strong ) make a three-pronged attack on the Vrel landing force which is completely wiped out. In orbit the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Union Fleets move in and engage the Vrel 14th, 18th, and 19th Battlefleets. The Vrel 18th Battlefleet is obliterated, the 14th, 19th, and the re-inforcing 20th Battlefleets are badly mauled. Over 70 Vrel warships are destroyed in the Battle of Callisto. The Vrel forces retreat to Europa. October 2108 --- The 1st Union Fleet, 14th and 15th Carrier Groups, and 12th, 13th, and 15th Heavy Battle Groups mount a bombardment of Vrel positions on Europa. The First Union Army ( 30 regiments ) is landed, Europa is taken in a matter of days, almost all Vrel forces are captured. November 2108 --- The Vrel High Command launches Operation: Save-Face. The Vrel 7th and 11th Battlefleets, 4th and 7th Attack Carrier Fleets, and 9th, 14th, and 15th Cruiser Strike Groups try to mount a bombardment of the Callisto hydroponics farms. However they are intercepted near Ganymede by the 2nd and 3rd Union Fleets and destroyed. Phase One completed. December 2108 --- OP:Ά-Ώ Phase Two - The Mark begins assembly. The Fourth Union Army ( 30 regiments ) and 1st Assault Fleet are sent to Callisto. The Union's 11th, 12th, and 13th Carrier Groups are operational. The Vrel High Command orders the utmost vigilance at Titan, Rhea, and Hyperion marking them as the Union's most likely targets. 2109 January 2109 --- The Union 11th and 12th Heavy Battle Groups mount a feinting assault on Ariel. The Vrel High Command transfers the 4th Sub-Army Infantry and 7th Sub-Army Armored Cavalry from Titan to Ariel. The Union Battle Groups withdraw from Ariel. February 2109 --- The 1st Assault Fleet launches a major offensive at Titan, the Fourth Union Army is landed. The 13th, 14th and 15th Union Carrier Groups mount a heavy bombing of Vrel positions on Titan. The Vrel 9th Planetary Assault Fleet ( returning the 4th and 7th Sub-Armies to Titan ) is intercepted by the 41st, 73rd, 88th, 102nd, and 139th Attack Squadrons and destroyed. The Titan Main Fleet Base is back in Union hands. March 2109 --- The Vrel resistance collapses, Solar Union gains control of Titan. The 2nd Union Fleet, 3rd and 12th Carrier Groups, and 15th and 17th Heavy Battle Groups mount a massive bombardment of the Vrel forces on Rhea. The Vrel High Command orders Rhea and Hyperion abandoned. 18 Infantry and 9 Armored Cavalry battle forces are transferred to Ariel. Union forces take control of Rhea and Hyperion. Phase Two completed. April 2109 --- OP:Ά-Ώ Phase Three - The Push begins assembly. The 4th Union Fleet is operational. The 1st and 3rd Union Fleets prepare for an assault on Miranda and Ariel. The Vrel 21st and 22nd Battlefleets, 9th Attack Carrier Fleet, and 17th, 18th, and 19th Cruiser Strike Groups arrive at Pluto. May 2109 --- The Vrel 9th Attack Carrier Fleet mounts a raid on Europa. The Union 15th Heavy Battle Group meets it and heavy losses are inflicted on both sides until the 2nd Union Fleet moves in and obliterates the 9th Attack Carrier Fleet. June 2109 --- The 1st and 3rd Union Fleets mount simultaneous assaults on Miranda and Ariel. The 1st Assault Fleet lands the Fourth Union Army on Ariel; heavy losses are suffered by the Union landing force. 9th, 10th and 11th Assault Task Forces land 15 Infantry, 9 Armored Cavalry, and 1 Airborne Assault regiments on Miranda. The Vrel garrison surrenders and Miranda comes under Union control. Union 2nd Assault Fleet operational, July 2109 --- The 5th, 6th, and 7th Corps ( 10 regiments each ) of Union Marines re-inforce the Fourth Union Army on Ariel. 3rd Union Fleet blockades Ariel while the 12th and 15th Heavy Battle Groups mount an intensive bombardment of all Vrel positions. The Vrel forces are wiped out by crack Union troops, Ariel is back in Union hands. August 2109 --- the retreating Vrel forces abandon Triton. The Vrel 21st and 22nd Battlefleets, 4th Planetary Assault Fleet, 10th and 11th Light Strike Groups, and 17th, 18th, and 19th Cruiser Strike Groups form a defensive perimeter at Pluto. The Vrel battle forces at Pluto dig in for a prolonged campaign. Triton under Union control. September 2109 --- The Solar Union's Triton Forward Fleet Base is fully operational as are the 10th and 11th Solar Fleets, 1st Earth Defense Fleet, and 3rd Assault Fleet. The 4th Corps of Union Marines ( 9 regiments ) garrison the Triton complex. The 13th, 14th, and 15th Carrier Groups mount a major raid on Pluto they are able to destroy the Vrel 17th and 19th Cruiser Strike Groups on the ground, however the 21st and 22nd Battlefleets severely maul the 13th Carrier Group. October 2109 --- The 3rd Union Fleet, 10th and 11th Solar Fleets, and 12th Heavy Battle Group mount a massive attack on Pluto. The 21st and 22nd Vrel Battlefleets are smashed as is the 4th Planetary Assault Fleet. The 12th, 14th, and 15th Carrier Groups move up and mount an intense 72 hour bombing of all Vrel forces. The 1st and 2nd Assault Fleets land the Second and Fourth Union Armies. Blasted out of their prepared positions and caught in a pincer attack the Vrel surrender. November 2109 --- The 5th Union Fleet is operational. Phase Three completed. OP:Ά-Ώ Phase Four - The Cetian Finale begins assembly. December 2109 --- The 4th Assault Fleet is operational. The Solar Union Defense Council begins to assemble the UNION ARMADA; the mightiest war fleet ever built or even conceived by the mind of man. 2110 January 2110 --- Consisting of 5 Union Fleets, 5 Carrier Groups, 12 Battle Groups, and 2 Assault Fleets carrying 2 Union Armies ( 70 regiments ), the UNION ARMADA warps out for Tau Ceti. March 2110 --- Coming in from high over the ellipse of the system the UNION ARMADA is able to bypass the bulk of the Vrel defenses. Smashing their way through the inner defenses to Tau Ceti A III, the Vrel Homeworld, the ARMADA mounts a massive, but surgically precise bombardment of all Vrel military installations followed by a landing of the 1st and 3rd Union Armies. As the Armies mop-up pockets of resistance the ARMADA turns it's guns outward holding off the remainder of the Vrel Star Navy, While a Solar Union negotiating team goes to work on the Vrel Government. April 2110 --- Cut off from their Navy and faced with the ARMADA over their heads, the Vrel High Command surrenders unconditionally to the Union of Solar Planets. As the word goes out weary soldiers lay down their arms. May 2110 --- The Entente's military leaders are removed from power and younger, less militant, more sensible men are installed in office. These new leaders help to pave the way to an end to the wartime hostility and the beginning of peaceful relations between the Solar Union and the new Vrel Republic. June 2110 --- As an accounting of forces is made it is discovered that a substantial portion of the Vrel Home Fleet did not surrender but instead warped out into deep space. There is little doubt that these renegades will be causing trouble in the future. 2118 Postscript May 2118 --- The last Union Occupation Troops leave Tau Ceti.

Orion's Spear The Future is what you make it someone once said. This then is the story of a future that I have made. It began as something to do when I was working as a security guard, a brief and entirely forgettable period of my life some 35+ years ago. My presence was completely unnecessary and I was only there to get the company's insurance rates lowered. There was absolutely nothing for me to do so I just sat unobtrusively at my desk, took out my notebook and started to write. I wrote about quite a number of things, most of them totally forgettable, but there were two stories that took on a life of there own so to speak. Both were written in the form of a timeline of important events, one was the monthly history of the worlds first lunar mining operation. That history found its way into one of my old Champions characters background where it fit quite well. The other was the story of the first war fought in space against alien invaders. That war was heavily influenced by the "island-hopping" campaign used by the US in the Pacific during the Second World War. Intellectually I realize the major mistake that I made in having the planets line up in a nice and "relatively" straight line between Earth and the enemy home system. I could go back and change it but you know I've grown rather fond of the story the way it is. And in spite of it's imperfections I think it holds together quite well. As time went by I went to work on other things including a nice timeline setting for a system-based sci-fi campaign I wanted to run. The campaign never got off the ground but I liked the history enough to write a bridge linking it to the start of my old war history, thereby creating a much longer storyline. In fact I was so engaged when the news of the Challenger Disaster broke, but that's another story. I was quite taken with that story and put quite a bit into it. Even going so far as to design the starships and trying to build a game out of it. I wasn't able to do anything with it and eventually it was set aside. Put into a folder in a game box and all but forgotten. Years followed and I found myself in another game group playing in an extremely well run Champions campaign. This was the world in which you would find the character of Centurion, some of whose exploits I had written about in another thread and the write-up for whom is somewhere in the Champions forum. I had a yen to try my hand at running again, I hadn't in a number of years, and asked our Champions GM if I could link the history of his campaign world to my future history. He thought this was a fine idea and I set about it straight away. Well to make a long story short, this campaign also fizzled. One player torpedoed it, the same one who torpedoed everything I came up with until I finally had had enough and said the hell with this and walked out years ago. Leaving in the middle of a session never to return. Eventually even the GM left, he got sick of two know-it-alls telling him how to run his game so he packed up his stuff and left. But that's neither here nor there. The point is that I had wonderful campaign background just waiting for a game to use it with. Several years later I found the game, at least as far as a tactical ship to ship combat was concerned. I'm still looking for a good ground combat game based around the regiment as the smallest unit. That ship to ship game was FULL THRUST. What follows is the campaign that I came up with. It tells the story of the Sol - Ceti War of 2106 - 2110. This story has been more than 20 years in the making, I hope you enjoy it. The rules for Full Thrust are a free download at the game's website here's the link

Just finished watching Where Eagles Dare for like the 20th time. I swear Ingrid Pitt gets more beautiful every time I watch it.

I do hope you aren't planning to leave this hanging, Hermit. BTW do you have the characters written up for Champions? If so It would be nice to have a look at them. Not here obviously, but maybe a thread in the Champions forum.

Not yet. As I predicted the lawsuits have begun. http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/latest-clyburn-blasts-fcc-net-neutrality-repeal-51792629

Just because someone is a nerd doesn't mean they like all things nerdish. I hate both Tolkien and Harry Potter, and have no intention of ever seeing the 3rd Star Wars trilogy.

Even the Lich King fears facing Hulk!

Nick Diamond had a lot of Robert B. Parker's Spenser in him. His dad Sam Diamond was based on Tony Rome from Lady in Cement, while his grandfather Blake Diamond was a mis-mash of many different PI characters ( he was originally a JI character). Nick Diamond Val Char Cost Roll Notes 15 STR 5 12- Lift 200.0kg; 3d6 [1] 17 DEX 21 12- OCV: 6/DCV: 6 16 CON 12 12- 16 BODY 12 12- 13 INT 3 12- PER Roll 13- 13 EGO 6 12- ECV: 4 15 PRE 5 12- PRE Attack: 3d6 14 COM 2 12- 5 PD 2 Total: 5 PD (0 rPD) 3 ED 0 Total: 3 ED (0 rED) 3 SPD 3 Phases: 4, 8, 12 7 REC 2 35 END 2 35 STUN 3 Total Characteristic Cost: 80 Movement: Running: 7"/14" Leaping: 3"/6" Swimming: 2"/4" Cost Powers END 3 Observant: +1 PER with all Sense Groups 3 Quick Healing: heals at twice normal rate Martial Arts: The Sweet Art of Street Boxing 3 Right Cross +1 +0 6d6 Strike 5 Left Jab +1 +3 4d6 Strike 5 Kick in the Nuts +1 -2 8d6 Strike 4 The trick is not -- +5 Dodge, Affects All Attacks, Abort to let them tag you 4 +1 HTH Damage Class(es) Perks 7 Money: Wealthy 6 Contact: Lenny Seltzer - bookie (Contact has significant Contacts of his own, Contact has useful Skills or resources, Very Good relationship with Contact) 11- 4 Contact: Race Witherspoon - gay fashion photographer (Contact has access to major institutions, Good relationship with Contact) 11- 1 Reputation: Tough Guy (A small to medium sized group) 14-, +1/+1d6 20 Lincoln Monk: Follower (30 Active Points); Activation Roll 14- (-1/2) Talents 5 Eidetic Memory 6 Combat Luck (3 PD/3 ED) Skills 3 Acting 12- 5 AK: Hudson City 14- 4 AK: Greater Miami 13- 4 AK: Mid Atlantic Coast 13- 3 Combat Driving 12- 2 Computer Programming (Personal Computers) 12- 3 Conversation * 12- 5 Criminology * 13- 3 Deduction * 12- 3 Fast Draw 12- 2 Gambling (Horse Racing) 12- 3 High Society 12- 2 KS: Current Affairs - Sports 11- 2 KS: Police Etiquette and Procedures 11- 0 Language: English (idiomatic) (4 Active Points) 3 Language: Spanish (completely fluent) 3 Lockpicking 12- 2 PS: Finance 11- 2 PS: Photography 11- 5 PS: Private Investigator * 14- 2 SS: Psychology 11- 3 Shadowing * 12- 3 Stealth 12- 3 Streetwise * 12- 3 WF: Small Arms, Blades 8 +1 with All Combat 3 +1 with Pistols 10 Detective Skills: +2 with a * Total Powers & Skill Cost: 171 Total Cost: 250 150+ Disadvantages 5 Dependent NPC: Dr. Vivian Tylo, MD - girlfriend 8- (Normal; Useful Noncombat Position or Skills) 10 Dependent NPC: Kit Diamond - mom 8- (Normal) 10 Hunted: Guy he sent to jail 8- (As Pow, Harshly Punish) 5 Physical Limitation: Addicted to tobacco (Infrequently, Slightly Impairing) 5 Physical Limitation: Slow Riser -1 to all skills until after he's had his morning coffee (Infrequently, Slightly Impairing) 10 Psychological Limitation: Code of Honor - Private Eye's (Common, Moderate) 10 Psychological Limitation: Sense of Duty to clients (Common, Moderate) 10 Psychological Limitation: Stubborn (Common, Moderate) 10 Psychological Limitation: Overconfident (Common, Moderate) 10 Reputation: Honest, 11- 5 Rivalry: Professional (Sgt Harry Dane - ex-partner; Rival is As Powerful; Seek to Outdo, Embarrass, or Humiliate Rival; Rival Aware of Rivalry) 5 Social Limitation: Bad rep with cops - fired from the State Police for being a "bush-league f**king hot dog". (Occasionally, Minor) 5 Unluck: 1d6 - plays the horses but usually loses Total Disadvantage Points: 100 Background/History: Nick Diamond is a 3rd generation private eye. His grandfather, Blake Diamond, operated in Chicago during the mid to late 20s before moving to San Francisco in 1930. He married his secretary, Jessica Lord, in 1928 and they had one child in 1931. Sam Diamond followed in his father's footsteps after getting out of the Army in 1955. Sam operated in the Greater Miami area throughout the 50s, 60s and 70s. In 1967 he married millionairess Kit Forester, Nick was born three years later. In 1982 Sam was murdered by Paul Mungar, an ex-con that he had put away 20 years earlier. Blake came out of retirement to bring Mungar in aided by Sam's friend Waldo "The Horse" Gronsky. Blake and Jessica moved to Florida and helped Kit raise Nick who grew up on his grandfather's stories of Chicago during Prohibition and Frisco in the 30s. Blake and Jess died just weeks apart in 1988. They say that Blake died of a broken heart after he lost Jessica, but Nick isn't so sure. In 1992 Nick graduated from Hudson City University with a degree in Criminology. He joined the State Police shortly after. Nick got considerable practical experience while working out of the Stewart County D.A.’s office, but the States were a bad fit for him and he felt too pressured to conform. He was a good investigator but his constant tendency to throw the book away led to his being fired in 1998 for being “a bush-league f**king hot-dog.” But, by that time, Nick figured that he’d already gotten what he needed from the job. In 1998 Nick opened the latest version of Diamond Investigations. Currently he works out of an office above the Hudson City Five Cents Savings Bank at the corner of Beaufort Ave. and N. Adams Street. Business has been decent but could be better, a lot of it is routine – serving of court papers, insurance investigations, and background checks – but a few times a year a case comes in the door that reminds him that the Hollywood myth about private eyes does have some basis in reality. Nick’s dodged his share of bullets over the years and even had a couple dug out of his flesh but, as his assailants have found out, Nick Diamond is a hard man to kill. Yeah, he knows that somewhere out there is the bullet that really does have his name on it, but he figures that it’ll get to him when it gets to him, so there’s no point in worrying about it. Nick lives on 7th Avenue near the Kurtland Blvd. overpass in the same apartment that he occupied when he was a student at HCU. He keeps himself in shape by jogging three times a week and pumping iron at the HCU weight room. Over the years he’s developed a strong friendship with Lincoln Monk, a freelance leg-breaker who once saved his neck when he was a cop. Another of Nick’s friends is Lieutenant Frank Mallory of the HCPD Homicide Squad, although Mallory has no great love for Nick, he knows that Nick is both a good investigator and honest, and that counts for a lot, even if he is a pain in the ass sometimes. The most important person in Nick’s life remains his mother, Kit, who now lives in West Palm Beach, he's no mama's boy it's just that Kit is the only family he has left. Nick has recently begun a relationship with Dr. Vivian Tylo, an ophthalmologic surgeon at HCU Hospital, that is showing a lot of promise. Personality/Motivation: Nick Diamond is tough, cynical, world-weary, and a smartass. He will frequent espouse "Diamond's Rules", most of which he makes up as he goes along. He enjoys needling people, mainly thugs and pompous idiots, whom he figures deserve it. But sometimes he'll be a pain in the ass just cause he's in a rotten mood. He always figures that his clients are hiding something or lying to him about something. Deep inside Nick longs for the kind of life his grandfather led in the thirties. Life may have been tough and there was a lot of crime, but there were also a lot of genuinely nice folks that needed help. Something that he feels is in extremely short supply in Hudson City. In spite of his cynicism, in a very real sense Nick is still a kid at heart, who believes in right and wrong. But his profession has forced him to accept the fact - albeit grudgingly - that sometimes the best you can do, is to do what you can, not what you should. Quote: Honey, I'm too damned old to listen to bullshit. Tell me what your problem really is and maybe I can help you. Otherwise stop wasting my time. You're a sporting man, Lou, so I'll make you a bet. In fact I'll make you two. One - you won't kill me because you want to know what I know and there's no point in killing me without finding out why. And Two - if your pet dobie over there tries to hassle me I'll take his piece away from him and knock his teeth out with it. Even money. Nick: Viv, we should be on that plane. Heading for someplace sunny and warm. I don't know why I stay here sometimes, I really don't. The weather stinks, the cops are a pain in the ass and nine times out of ten my clients have lied to me about something. I mean it's not like I need the money. Vivian: People are people, Nick, and lying is almost a part of the human condition. Particularly in Hudson City. Nick: That's the point. I could do this somewhere else so why do I stay here? Vivian: Because nowhere else can you make as much of a difference as you do in Hudson City. What you won't admit is that you'd like to be the Lone Ranger but you were born a hundred years too late. Nick: A hundred and thirty years. Does that mean you consider Lincoln Monk to be Tonto? Vivian: Maybe. Nick: I’m gonna tell him you said that. Powers/Tactics: Nick Diamond is armed with .357 magnum Colt King Cobra. Although most everyone has switched over to semi-autos by this time, Nick prefers the power and simplicity of the wheel-gun, which he normally loads with hot .38 Specials rather than full magnum loads. He sometimes carries a .38 caliber snub-nosed Taurus 617 revolver in an ankle holster as a back up. If he needs really heavy firepower he’ll load up his Mossberg 500, 12 gauge shotgun. Although skilled with firearms, Nick prefers to avoid a shooting confrontation by using his fists instead. A skilled brawler, he has been known to needle thugs into a fistfight, which he invariably wins, just to see what happens. This ties into Diamond's rule # 7 - When the investigation's stagnant, punch out a bad guy to get it moving again. Personal Habits: Nick smokes unfiltered Camel cigarettes. Although he’s been trying to quit he has yet to manage it. He has cut his intake down to about a pack a week. Like his father and grandfather Nick likes to play the horses. Lenny Seltzer, an old timer who operates out of a booth at the Patriot Tavern in Bayside, is his bookie. Lenny is also an occasional source of information if a case involves gambling. Nick’s alcoholic beverage of choice is draft Guinness beer, but he has been known to drink neat Wild Turkey bourbon when stressed, and also has an appreciation for Moet et Chandon champagne. When it comes to non-alcoholic drinks Nick goes with coffee – usually Dunkin Donuts or instant Nescafe; or Coca-Cola. Nick drives a Ford Mustang GT that he bought new in 1998. Although he likes the car the powerful V-8 is getting expensive to operate as gas prices continue to climb. He’s considering trading the car in on something a bit more fuel efficient. Appearance: Nick rarely wears a tie although he does have several. His customary dress is casual – jeans or dockers, a jersey, a jacket or coat and loafers or athletic shoes. Although he looks good in a suit, he dislikes wearing one and will only do it if he has to. Both Monk and Frank Mallory have been known to needle him about clothes once in a while. Almost unbelievably, Nick owns a tux, which he has worn exactly three times. Diamond's Rules: #1 Your client is lying to you. #2 That doesn't mean you can lie back to him. #3 Nor does it mean you have to tell him everything. #4 Don't drink coffee when following someone. It goes right through you and there's nothing more embarrassing than losing someone cause you had to take a wicked piss. Sip water instead. #5 When you're breaking and entering, act like you're just a workman doing a job. #6 Follow the money. #7 When the investigation's stagnant, punch out a bad guy to get it moving again. #8 If there's no bad guy to punch out, follow a suspect. #9 If there's no bad guy and no suspects, investigate your client he's lying to you.

Sorry but Bazza just pushes my berserk button. So, also, do people venturing an opinion on a subject that they admit to being completely ignorant of. Putting both together and you get an explosive combination. Usually I'm able to ignore it, but not always. In game terms: modifiers increased my berserk roll to a 16- and I blew the roll.

If you don't know either, then SHUT THE F( UP!

Ohio class SSBN always beats an Iowa class BB from half an ocean away no less. Dessert showdown: Pineapple upsidedown cake vs baked alaska

Get ready for higher fuel prices real soon. There are a cluster of oil refineries right in the path of hurricane Harvey. You know they're going to sustain damage. This winter is gonna suck

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Yeah, this is going to bite 'em in the @$$ big-time.

Apple 3 Shades of Apple Pie: Classic Apple vs. Lattice-top Apple vs. Apple Crumb aka Dutch Apple

Colorado, it's one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Back to the Battle of the Pies: Cherry vs. Blueberry

Neither. I'm a civilian, I don't need or want military weapons. Remington 870 Marine Magnum 19th century revolvers: Colt Peacemaker vs. Schofield

Last I heard there were 35 injured and 3 dead. A hideous tragedy for America. This is what intolerance and hatred leads to.

Watched The Phantom again. Loved it back in the 90s, still love it now.

Worth a shot. But I doubt 45 will even consider it. He really wants to use those nukes. At his security briefs back in December he kept asking why can't he use the nukes. Given an excuse to launch them, he will.

I'm sorry but as things spiral out of control I'm getting more, and more pessimistic. For the first time in my life I'm not sure if I'm going to see my next birthday. My next birthday is 33 days away.

Did Jim Jones's followers think about getting in the lifeboats? No! Trump's are exactly the same. Maybe not all of them but his hardcore base, absolutely!

Doom! Always go with the original, Vader was a knock-off. Royal Rumble: Elizabeth I vs. Elizabeth II

Maybe, but the indications are he was up to his neck in Trump's shenanigans. He'll probably jump at the chance to avoid charges, especially if it comes with a billion dollar golden parachute.

We'll try, Boss. But it's hard. What would clearly be hyperbole with anyone else is pretty close to just accuracy in this situation. And to be honest I'm scared.