The Battles of Kirin and Michaun Starsystems

Recap

Recall that the first two decades of Terran involvement in the Naplian wars was a time of random though brutal starfleet engagements along the border regions of Terra proper and the Great Desert Rift

In 2693, Grand Alliance Command ordered Admiral Ubomo to retire from her strong position in the shoulder of the Diaga to cover the flank of the Terran withdrawal from the Great Desert Rift. Ubomo’s rearguard failed to slow the enemy’s pursuit at Pilava starsystem in May 2693. This forced the Terrans to fall back and readjust their dispositions so that by the end of the year, Ubomo’s defensive line ran from Lavanoe starsystem to the Livorno drift.

Word of Ubomo’s retreat reached Montoc and having been heavily reinforced, she assumed the offensive. Debouching from her positions around Kirin in June 2694, Montoc drove off an then pursued the outnumbered Reittians. Montoc caught her retreating enemy at Budalo starsystem in September 2694. The ensuing battle was a gross mismatch as Montoc’s forces had to do little but pass through the meager 8000 Reittian starships of Admiral Stolayevich’s fleet as they were run down by Montoc’s massive force. Most of the Reittian survivors were captured by Montoc’s vigorous pursuit to Lavanoe, which was reached in 2695.

 

Delay

While Montoc engaged Stolayevich, Admiral Ubomo remained at the Livorno Drift until April 2695. In late January 2695, she had received orders to move north and cut the Naplian line of communications in cooperation with Lokovat’s attempts to capture the critical foldgate at New-Linz. However, Ubomo delayed at Livorno Drift for many months until it was impossible for her to carry out these orders due to Naplian Admiral Befrell’s overwhelming victory against Admiral Chester at the Triel starsystem, which virtually severed the Terran southwestern strategic flank. If Ubomo had moved north as soon as ordered, she would have arrived in time to reinforce Chester and possibly defeat Befrell. Instead, she recalled Jeca’s task force to Grezzi starsystem where they would unite together to defeat Genau.

Disaster

As Jeca was preparing to transit to Grezzi, he was caught at Michaun starsystem by Admiral Troshi’s vanguard. Since he had no screening cruisers, Jeca’s departure was delayed as part of his main force held off Troshi. When Genau’s main force arrived in December 2695, Jecca was forced to deploy and fight a hopeless engagement against the combined might of Troshi and Genau.

As Troshi’s vanguard squadrons were savaging Jeca, in May 2695, Ubomo arrived in Grezzi and found herself firmly between the two separate enemy task forces which comprised Genau’s fleet. Informed of this by her screening squadrons, Ubomo chose to wait for Jeca’s command. Had she acted immediately against one of the two task forces, Ubomo would have secured a decisive victory and perhaps saved Jeca. Instead of reinforcements, Ubomo received the pitiful survivors of Jeca’s Command.

Next...Battle of Bara Starcluster

Artwork by Camilo Aldana and Dmitry Borodin.

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