Steel Justice
The Meinhoff mine is a complex network of interconnected underground tunnels, with rails running inside for transporting ore and personnel via maglev mine cars. Miner's lamps and air composition detectors are embedded in the mine walls, and ventilation ducts bring outside air into the mine.
Here, the hum of the fan is as constant as the sound of an electric drill.
Just as the red light on the observation platform flashed, an alarm sounded inside the mine, a sharp and piercing metallic scraping sound that was enough to give anyone goosebumps.
"Grab your pickaxes and hoes and assemble at the nearest foreman. All mine supervisors, remain at your posts." A mechanical voice echoed through the mine, "The Terrans Fleets is approaching Meinhoff, but we will repel them!"
Swann wanted to retrieve his toolbox, but after a moment's thought, he opted for the lunchbox and then climbed onto his mining robot with sturdy steps.
The miners in the mine weren't very densely packed, and Swann had to drive his robot to the next mine to see other miners. But considering that this observation post was the family's most prized possession, Swann decided to stay in front of it. Of course, another reason was that he really wanted to know the battle situation on the synchronous orbit.
The Holographic Projection on the observation platform flickered again, and two green warships representing our own forces appeared— Hephaestus-class Kel-Morian Behemoth-class Battlecruiser, comparable to the Terran Confederacy's behemoth-class battlecruisers.
These two-thousand-foot-long giant warships are modeled after the Confederacy's warships, and are therefore extremely similar in appearance and bridge location. The biggest difference lies in the addition of more electromagnetic railgun turrets, more laser cannons, and more missile and space torpedo launchers. Some warships are also equipped with electromagnetic interference weapons.
But like other weapons and warships in Kel-Morian, Kel-Morian warships also show signs of stitching, and the materials and grades of armor vary.
In Swann's eyes, he even thought these warships were directly modified from the Titan-class transport ships of the Kalanis Transport Guild in the Starport's shipyard, but that didn't stop him from being proud of these warships.
The actual scene of the Fleets battle could not be seen from the old observation platform, but Swann could imagine the scene: warships opening their docks, and swarms of Hellhound and Sky Wolf pouring out, their opponents being the Terrans Avenger and the latest Wraith.
Battleships opened fire on each other, the orange-yellow laser beams and the flashes of exploding missiles igniting deep space.
Like his other family members, Swann was an impatient man. Swann had little patience for anything other than machinery and technology, and he was worried about his Fleets. His inner turmoil and anxiety were fully reflected in his restless hands.
Kel-Morian's Fleets was at a significant disadvantage, while the Terran Confederacy possessed seven Behemoth-class and four Leviathan battlecruisers, giving the enemy an overwhelming advantage.
The observation post's outdated database could only resolve the names of its own warships and two Leviathan -class battlecruisers, which had participated in the military parade in the capital of the Terran Confederacy more than a decade ago.
The people of Meinhoff had not anticipated that the war would affect this mining planet with a population of only a few million, and Meinhoff was also close enough to the home planet Moria compared to other planets in Kel-Morian. The Terran Confederacy Fleets would never have been able to appear in the heart of the Kel-Morian Combine's territory before today.
Unless Kel-Morian is in retreat, unless the Fleets is no longer able to control the distant star systems.
Due to severe interference, the Holographic Projection on the observation platform appeared and disappeared intermittently, exhibiting extreme instability. The broadcast rang more than ten times in a row, but Swann remained seated in the driver's seat of the mining robot, watching everything unfold.
The first ship to be ejected from the battlefield was a battleship belonging to the Kel-Morian. After a series of flickering gibberish, it shattered into several pieces. Part of the wreckage was pulled toward the ground by the planet's gravity, flying toward the edge of the observation platform like an eggshell exploding in slow motion.
How many people will die?
Swann thought of this question in his grief. A capital ship usually carried one to three thousand Fleets soldiers, most of whom were Moria soldiers, but he still felt sorrow for them.
The other Kel-Morian battlecruiser appeared to be damaged. Swann recognized the ship's name and knew it intimately. It was forged at the Meinhoff starport and was the only battleship built on this planet during the war. Most of its personnel were recruited directly from Meinhoff, including mechanics from the Swann Family.
Driven by desperation and a burning belief in defending their homeland, the warship attempted to ram the flagship of the Terran Confederacy Fleets. It was indeed a last resort, but in reality, it was a difficult feat. This was not the sea; space was a three-dimensional battlefield.
Kel-Morian warships are slower than the earliest Leviathan -class battlecruisers of the Terran Confederacy. Both Kel-Morian and Umojan warships have engines that are at least one generation behind those of the Terran Confederacy, which was the first to enter space.
No miracle occurred; the remaining warship ceased moving before even approaching the enemy vessel. In the Holographic Projection, Confederacy fighters and boarding ships surrounded the motionless steel behemoth like flies on a corpse.
It's all over.
The Meinhoff lacks orbital defense platforms and anti-aircraft gun clusters capable of shooting down enemy ships in low Earth orbit; these two warships and their accompanying Fleets are the planet's only defensive force in outer space.
Under Swann's sorrowful gaze, the three Behemoth-class Battlecruiser broke away from their Mothership and sped toward Meinhoff. Although Swann didn't know much about military affairs and strategy, he could almost imagine what these warships would do next.
The planet's few remaining military fortresses will be destroyed by nuclear missiles falling from high orbit before the Terrans landing forces can reach the ground, after which the Terran Marines will land in various cities.
Occupying Meinhoff is more advantageous to the Terran Confederacy than completely destroying it, so they won't destroy everything. The Terrans ' target is the mining companies on the planet and the Ardien Crystal piled up in the pits and ports.
Swann felt fear and worry for his family and friends in the New Apollowen Community.
In the propaganda of the union representatives, the Terrans were undoubtedly wicked, the most greedy people in the entire Koprulu Sector. Workers in the Terran Confederacy were always exploited and oppressed, while the interests of the Kel-Morian working class were protected by the union.
This is indeed true.
Over the past decade or so, mines established in the Edge World far from Moria have been seized by the Terran Confederacy. In recent years, the increasingly audacious Terrans have even prepared to annex the mining industry within the territory of the Kel-Morian Combine.
If the Kel-Morian Combine chooses to remain silent, within a few years, their sphere of influence will slowly retreat back to their home planet Moria as the Terran Confederacy gradually encroaches upon them.
To all Kel-Morian, the Kel-Morian Combine was forced into declaring war. They were fighting entirely to protect the unions and mining companies oppressed by the Terran Confederacy. Almost everyone was a member of a union, and they were certainly fighting for themselves as well.
The three deep blue battlecruisers Meinhoff, drew closer. Tiny specks of light, like shimmering dust, fell from the ships and into the planet— Terrans airborne troops and landing craft full of marines.
After updating the observation database, Swann saw the name of one of the Confederacy battlecruisers.
Steel Justice.
The third watch has ended.
Thanks to Tomorrow Will Cure Procrastination, B and Z, CommandIICHE, Lazy Reader, Glory to the Firstborn, Qi Xingping, XMD01, Archbishop Artanis of the Protoss, and Maple Leaf Full of Words for their monthly votes.
Thanks to Eden-class Worldship, Blackwatch Senior Commander, Protoss Archbishop Artanis, CommandIICHE, Big Cat Afraid of Water, Ah, Tragedy, and Eden-class Worldship for their donations.