RAW SOURCE: Maf: Starfleet Battles — First Viachon War

URL: https://perryjones.medium.com/maf-starfleet-battles-first-viachon-war-69ea4f0591a4 Published: Jul 9, 2022

Content (close paraphrase, unfiltered)

Dr. Roland Hardaway of the Jonesboro Academy of Science remarks that "empty space is beginning to fill up" as word arrives of signals detected from a fleet of ships moving in formation in deep space — the fifth confirmed alien-life indication Helvatica (the only nation with spaceships at this point) has observed. Helvatica doesn't share intelligence or science readily, but does inform officials of the city-state of Jonesboro (over 7,000 miles away) once a discovery is confirmed.

Helvatica Space Command (forerunner to Starfleet) sends four of its most capable battlecruisers to investigate. Four months pass before the cruisers are close enough for accurate identification.

A 3-ship Viachon Empire patrol, commanded by Captain An'Kasal, detects warp signatures of 4 unknown ships closing fast. Neither side can identify the other. An'Kasal orders battle stations, eager for a fight. The Helvatica lead ship, the Nagarris (Captain Peter Smith), raises shields and charges weapons; Communications Officer Lt. Patrina Harris detects intelligent but undecipherable radio signals on a side band.

The two groups close from a million miles apart. An'Kasal orders half speed, weapons at half charge. At 20 genashon (297,000 miles) Helvatica closes to 4 genashon and holds. The Viachon ships stop at 148,500 miles; Helvatica reduces to 2/3 speed, closes to 30,000 miles, and stops.

A blue "querosol beam" strikes the Nagarris from the lead Viachon ship at half strength — Weapons Officer Lt. Commander Sa Targ notes they should have easily absorbed a full-strength hit, implying it hit harder than expected. Shields absorb most of the blow but the hull is scorched. Captain Smith orders evasive maneuvers and return fire; the Helvatica ships scatter in different directions firing orange beams. An'Kasal orders "Attack Formation Das'ental, fire at will."

Orange beams from the Helvatica ship Genghis Khan break through an enemy shield, destroying one Viachon ship in a burst of white light — a small victory cheer from Communications Officer Harris. Moments later Harris reports lost contact with the Patriot and the Genghis Khan — both destroyed. Captain Smith orders a full warp retreat (Alpha X, then Alpha T maneuvers) for the two survivors, the Nagarris and the Pride of Space. Less than three minutes have passed since the first shot.

Nearly 400 crew died aboard the Patriot and Genghis Khan; 40 injured aboard the Nagarris (3 critically). The article closes: "The first Viachon War was over, two more, each many times deadlier than its predecessor, would come."