Prydean Military History - A Kats Eyes View

good luck to the straykats! theyre going to find a hard galaxy out there...

that was a fun read... are the straykats good? they sound nice but you never know what lurks beneath the exterior...

Brilliant, as always. Edu-tainment of the best kind. Or, if you prefer, enter-cation.

Are the s'kra next? =P

Are the s'kra next? =P

Only if the Torians ever die off. I am past my two years of work and play at that other place, so story writing may continue

I hope....

W/R
Suralle Straykat
Kat Lord @ Large

Any more stories or contiuations??im getting withdrawl symptoms..

A Kats Eye View, Part 2

Interpretation provided by Che-Rene,
Kat Lady @ Large,
Mate to Suralle,
Primary Keeper of the Kat Faith

The natural rock bridge towered proudly over the lazy stream. For time past remembrance the bridge had looked down on the feline mammals that inhabited this in stony quietness as the felines gazed up on high at the wonder that stood before them, older than the dawn sat the bridge, as high as the heavens, solid and steadfast. Much like the love and relationship of the current feline couple gazing in admiration at each other perched quietly on a rocky outcropping just to the left of the small falls to the west of the bridge.

In another time, the caves and caverns surrounding the cliffs and hills in the area had been used for shelter, war, and sometimes even nefarious activities. Today however, Anue and Liz-Anne Gats-Ton were exploring one of the larger caverns. Once in ancient times these had been water-filled cavities. Drained now though, narrow passageways and water-sculpted rooms open up to deposits of lime and manganese in multi-hues of different colors and light. Wonderful brilliant cave deposits in orange, red, yellow and green adorned miniature castles of both stalactite and stalagmite formations. Some had completed their journey and grew no more. Others though, were still forming and being formed, some even still wet to the touch.

Liz-Anne had inherited this natural wonder from her mother, who had inherited from her mother and son on from time gone past. One of the few family trees that actually followed the female lineage for inheritance, although the reasoning was always misconstrued in that only the females could guarantee that the child was theirs, the actual reason was much more easy to understand. At one time all the males in the clan had been killed off in a raid so only females were left to manage, therefore, things had to change, and being survivors Liz-Anne’s family coped and adapted also.

After pausing to admire a ghost-like shape for the third time and a third completely different angular view Anue glanced briefly at his mate and simple stated that it was time to head back to the hunting lodge and pack. Tomorrow was fast approaching and the response they had to give to the Kat Lord Council and more importantly to the Straykats themselves was required. To give up all of this though, turning it over to the council for something no one had seen, no one had touched, no one had loved was deep in both of their minds.

To leave meant new growth, to stay stagnant. Anue and Liz-Anne both knew that growth is vital to any couple, but the immenseness, the utter uncertainty of this growth was beyond anything ever proposed in Pryde history. Should they stay or should they go now, if they stayed it could mean trouble, no future, if they go it could be double. Not just for them but the other castes, technicians, lords, ladies, and their families.
The couples, families and even solitary members of the clan began to arrive at the stone bridge, the light from the sun having dimmed, the other lights from the heavens starting to twinkle overhead. The lighting technicians under Master Electroncist Wood Smith were done with their tasks, Master Smith was standing next to the breakers. This perhaps was the last time the clan would gather here in whole, Liz-Anne nodded, the breaker was closed and to the beautiful accompaniment of music the living rock of the bridge was displayed as never seen before by naked eye, a moving drama of sensational creationism. The last lights all directed skyward from a point on the ground, touching the very peaks of the stone bridge to a small bright point in the heavens known to Anue and Liz-Anne as the Pernicious Reflection Nebula. Looking at each other, than at the light in the sky, their decision made, now only futures, new growth and new lives to unfold.


(The real Drama of Creation can be viewed in the Commonwealth of Virginia, at of course Natural Bridge. A glimpse of the wonderful and astounding beauty of this natural wonder can be found at www.naturalbridgeva.com)

W/R
Suralle Straykat
Kat Lord @ Large

A Kats Eye View, Part 3

Interpretation provided by Che-Rene,
Kat Lady @ Large,
Mate to Suralle,
Primary Keeper of the Kat Faith

With a flick of her ears in acknowledgement Spec Tech 2nd Class De-Vero pawed the selector mouse over to bring up the combat information window screen in the CINC’s (Commander in Chief’s) war room.

Kat Lord Suralle Straykat, CINCKATFLT2 and newly appointed Kat Lord Anue Gats-Ton were watching a replay of the space battle between Task Force 2.12 and a very disciplined group of pirates in the Kilia Star System. At one point Anue said stop, and pointed at one of the fleeing pirate ships. “There, there it is, a pod, droid, or drone was sent off, was that tracked?”

De-Vero answered up, “Yes, sir, there was no sign of humanoid life on board so a tracking number was assigned, but according to the ships logs and the onsite Commanders Standing Orders (CSO) that was all that was done.”

“Where did it go, what star systems lie within the possible range of such a craft?” asked Anue.

Kat Lord Suralle replied, “Given the intensity of the fight and adding in the probability of a hastily performed navigational waypoint entry, it is logical to assume that the pod was a pretty straight forward were under attack and here is the data pertaining to the attack. So we shouldn’t have to look far off the calculated course to see what and where the possible destinations were.”

De-Vero purred at both of them, “Having already anticipated your questions, I had the Fleet Combat Systems Officer and Fleet Navigation Officer pool their resources and I present to you the one logical choice of location.” De-Vero clicked the mouse and the combat screen changed again to a long distance view of a star system.

Suralle’s ears flicked forward and Anue shouted, “But that’s the star system that we are staffing up to send the PDS Kat Land to!”

“Than we need to start working on a battle plan and a new set of standing orders for this mission, I expect them on my desk by close of business, at the end of this week”, stated Suralle, looking pointedly at De-Vero and Anue.

“Yes Sir”, yelped both.

“This brief is concluded than, you both have your orders, use the resources of KATFLT2 and whatever and whomever else you need, but get this done so we can present it to the Kat Lord Council. I intend to take the fleet with us on this one and we may need to shift PDS Kat Land over to ferry troops also, so this is being assigned priority over all other operational requirements.”

As the two other Kats left, Suralle had to smile. De-Vero needs to be promoted; she handles the staff officers much like a senior commander does. Making a mental note to add her to the promotion list that was due to the council for approval, Suralle decided all in all it had been a good day and tomorrow was looking sharp as well.

W/R
Suralle Straykat
Kat Lord @ Large

A Kats Eye View, Part 4

Interpretation provided by Che-Rene Straykat,
Kat Lady @ Large
Mate to Suralle
Primary Keeper of the Faith

Kat Lord Straykat,

Effective immediately, you are authorized to proceed with the following units to the Pernicious Reflection Nebula.
Long lives the Keeper!
Glory to the Pryde!
W/R
The Kat Lord Council


Naval Order of Battle – Pernicious Colony Expedition

Prydean Defense Forces Central Command / 2nd Fleet
1) PDF Command Star Cruiser 705 “Stray Kat” – Commander In Chief, Pernicious Expedition – Kat Lord Suralle Straykat, Commander
2) PDF Star Vessel 2 “Kat Land” – Modified to hold colonists and marines.

Star Cruiser Squadron 20 / Battle Force 2nd Fleet (SCF-20)
1) PDF Star Cruiser 690 “Fixated” – Commander Pernicious Colony Action Group – Lady Reba Ah-Stare, Commander
Space Task Force 20.1 (STF-20.1)
1) PDF Star Cruiser 666 “Devil Kat”
2) PDF Star Frigate 35 “Spring”
3) PDF Star Frigate 32 “Raving”
4) PDF Star Defender 78 “Tom”
5) PDF Star Defender 69 “Rapture”
6) PDF Star Scout 18 “Ring Tone”

Star Cruiser Squadron 21 / Battle Force 2nd Fleet (SCF-21)
1) PDF Command Star Cruiser 709 “Nepatal” – Commander Kats Eye Star System Action Group – Kat Lord Anue Gats-Ton, Commander
Space Task Force 21.1 (STF-21.1)
1) PDF Star Frigate 31 “Stark”
2) PDF Star Corvette 40 “Morris”
3) PDF Star Interceptor 51 “Swift”
4) PDF Star Interceptor 52 “Fast Break”
5) PDF Star Interceptor 55 “Not So”
6) PDF Star Scout 22 “Spotter”

Kat Fleet Starship Records (Confidential)
Command Star Cruiser: Codename “Tak-Lath”
Primary Weapons: (2) Fourth Generation “Klawsburg” Mk 4 Dual Firing Rail Guns
Secondary Systems: (4) Second Generation “Katsklaw” Mk3 LASER Cannons
Crew: (25) 1 – Senior Officer in Charge (SOIC), 2 – Commanders, 2 - Pilots, 2 - Navigation Officers, 4 - Weapons Specialists, and 14 - ABCM

Star Cruiser: Codename “Ra-Lath”
Primary Weapons: (2) Fourth Generation “Klawsburg” Mk 3 Single Fire Rail Guns
Secondary Weapons: (2) Second Generation “Katsklaw” Mk3 LASER Cannons
Crew: (19) 1 OIC, 1 Commander, 1 Pilot, 1 Navigation Officer, 3 Weapons Specialists, and 12 ABCM

Star Frigate: Codename “Kam-Rani”
Primary Weapons: (1) Third Generation “Klaswburg” Mk 4 Dual Firing Rail Gun
Secondary Weapons: (2) Drop Down, Fuselage Mounted, Second Generation Mk3 LASER Cannons
Crew: (9) 1 OIC, 1 Pilot, 1 Navigation Officer, 1 Weapons Specialist, and 5 - ABCM

Star Corvette: Codename “Kam-Ekh”
Primary Weapons: (2) Under-wing mounted, Second Generation “Katsklaw” Mk 3 LASER Cannons
Secondary Systems: (1) Drop Down, Fuselage Mounted, Fourth Generation “Klawsburg” Mk 3 Single Fire Rail Gun
Crew: (8) 1 OIC, 1 Pilot, 1 Navigation Officer, 1 Weapons Specialist, and 4 ABCM

Star Interceptor: Codename “Hh-Riss”
Primary Weapons: (2) Under-wing mounted, Fourth Generation “Klawsburg” Mk3 Single Fire Rail Guns
Secondary Weapons: (1) Fuselage mounted, Second Generation Mk3 LASER Cannon
Crew: (4) 1 Pilot, 1 Weapons Specialist, and 2 ABCM

Star Defender: Codename “Ki-Rah”
Primary Weapons: (2) Fuselage mounted, Second Generation “Katsklaw” Mk3 LASER Cannon
Secondary Weapons: None noted
Crew: (4) 1 Pilot, 1 Weapons Specialist, and 2 ABCM

Star Scout: Modified Kat Industries “Drak-Lir” Scout Class Extended Range Heavy Fighter
Primary Weapons: (2) Fuselage mounted “Klawsburg” Mk-2 Rail Singe Fire Rail Guns
Secondary Weapons: (2) Under-wing mounted Katsklaw Mk-3 Laser Cannon
Crew Complement: (15) 1 OIC, 2 Pilots, 2 Weapons Specialists, 8 ABCM, and 2 Trainees

W/R
Suralle Straykat
Kat Lord @ Large

A Kats Eye View, Part 5

Interpretation provided by Che-Rene Straykat,
Kat Lady @ Large
Mate to Suralle
Primary Keeper of the Faith

The loading of PDF Kat Land was proceeding as well as could be expected under short notice. Some of the Pryde were a bit resistant about climbing inside the aluminum spheres, and frankly as Reba Ah-Stare, Commander of the Pernicious Colony Action Group, watched the launch of the latest group in line from terminal 3 she could see why. No light, no air flow, no nothing as soon as the hatch was shut, until it opened 30 minutes later. She had been on the upper receiving platform earlier that day and could see the instant relief from even the bravest of the brave, the Star Ship Troopers. Felines trained from birth in the warrior caste to be better than the rest, better, stronger, faster, and fearless… That was until they were launched through the atmosphere of Prydelan into a cold and uninviting space inside a tin ball roughly 1242 miles from their starting point.

The Prydelan Mass Utility Transit Station was 30 miles from nowhere; no one besides the workers ever took the tram back to Scot-ton, the nearest preserve and the end point of the return tramline. The transit station never shut down, well not entirely, every so often one of the three vertical pellet streams would need to be shut down, some superconductor needing changed, but it was rare. This building, a feline spaceport, was designed with Terran specifications with even tighter more prideful Kat engineering standards and controls. After all, the laborers, technicians, engineers and program managers were the first felines to launch after the upper receiving station had been floated upward toward the starry skies above.

The steady “pellet” stream was necessary to not only support the towering launch bores without burning excessive (and expensive) chemical fuels. In theory as the respective pellet traveled upwards through the atmosphere, they were actually slowed by friction and attached electromagnetic drag devices that extracted the kinetic energy from the up going pellet and stowed it in the upper half of the pellets magnetic coils. Finally as the projectiles reached the station at the top of the tower the remaining upward momentum exerted a lifting force helping to keep the structure in orbit in space. Gravity supplied the downward momentum of the projectiles return trip. As the pellet stream entered the return tube each projectile was bent 90 degrees, the magnetic loop inductor aboard would be discharged back into the launch stations huge power grid, supplying approximately 90% of the power for the next projectile launch.

Commander Ah-Stare realized the importance of the facility, in that there was simply no easy way of transporting almost 300M Felines and 200M Star Ship Troopers, in so little of time, especially given the tight restraints imposed on her by the Straykats. Kat Lord Suralle being the mission commander, his mate Kat Lady Che-Rene, the senior ruling member of the Kat Faith. “Give me a starship and a point in the heavens to guide her by anytime.” thought the commander. Looking pointedly at her new aide; one Lieutenant Junior Grade De-Vero, she asked “Statistically, where are we at in the load, De-Vero?”

LTJG. Suz-Anne De-Vero smartly snapped the figures out, “66% completed with the loading of the port side of Kat Land and just under 50% complete with the starboard side, commander.”

Narrowing her eyes to slits the commander lightly tapped her communicator and in her earpiece she heard the response from Kat Lord Suralle as he picked up. “Yes Commander, I am aware of you, report updated status.”

“Lord Suralle, request permission to use the Star Troopers that have already been assigned a storage station on the recently converted port side to assist on the Kat Land in settling the rest of the… riders.” Asked Reba.

“Negative, lets not start of panic up there. Efficiency is a great plan, but in practice rarely works as well as anticipated. We are ahead of the power curve based on the estimates I am receiving from your new aides upload. The speed at which your engineers and cargo masters reloaded the port side of the Kat Land has earned us more than enough time to get the mission off without a hitch. We want felines to be apprehensive, yes, and thereby follow directives, but we do not want to crush any spark of adventure that maybe at the bottom of the civilian felines exploring what was most likely going to be their new home for the next few years.” Responded the Kat Lord.

“How is your new aide working out?” asked Suralle.

“Fine, she is fast and good with the troops, handles the senior NCOs (non commissioned officers) with kit gloves and actually is already making her name spread for herself by her organized problem solving approach to given situation among the officer corp.” replied Reba. “You were right, she has a lot of promise, if this all goes well my intention is to give her the PDF Ring Tone to command on the voyage to the nebula. The pilot there is exceptional and the two of them should get along well.”

“Excellent, stay on it. Suralle out.”

Flicking her tail over at LTJG De-Vero the commander remarked “Lets get on the tramline back, nothing else to see or do here, conditions as expected.”

“Aye-aye” responded Suz-Anne following into step with her new commander but just a portion of a pace back, showing the proper respect to her senior. “Its going to be an interesting, new beginning for the Pryde in space she thought.”


Submitted W/R,
Suralle Straykat
Kat Lord @ Large

A Kats Eye View, Part 6

Interpretation provided by Che-Rene Straykat,
Kat Lady @ Large
Mate to Suralle
Primary Keeper of the Faith

The lighting in the room was somewhat subdued, the seats barely comfortable. The felines present all were the top military aides and commanders of Kat Fleet Two, and all were looking somewhat expectantly down towards a small stage and waiting patiently for their commanders to make their appearance and start the briefing for the colonization of the Pernicious Star System. Behind the off-centered podium on the stage were two seats, the one on the left being currently filled by the lemon-wedged chocolate furred Captain Reba Ah-Stare, Commander of the Pernicious Colony Action Group, the seat on the right was presumably reserved for the non-speaking briefing officer, either Kat Lord Suralle Straykat, Commander in Chief, Kat Fleet Two, or his direct subordinate, Vice Kat Lord Anue Gats-Ton, Commander of the Kats Eye Action Group.

Displayed along the starboard side of the theatre in digitally enhanced glass-wall was an artists’ rendition of the Pernicious Reflection Nebula. The horrific gas cloud that formed the nebula had recently; in geospatial terms spawned a new solar system.
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7956/3077/1600/BG-Nebula.png

The star system commonly referred to now as the Kats Eye system, allegedly supported a planet that could be colonized. As military commanders though they had to wonder why all the fleet activity was called for, surely a small escort of say a corvette squadron should be all that was necessary for a colony ship, why the sudden change in the load out of the PDF Kat Land from 500M kin to 300M kin and 200M Marine Star Troopers? Hopefully, their answers would not open more questions that were typical at briefings of this type, taking an hour long brief out to four or more hours sometimes.

“Attention on Deck!” shouted Captain Ah-Stare as she popped tall, announcing the arrival of the two Kat Lords. “At ease, everyone, please be seated.” Announced the taller of the two, as CINCKATFLT2 Lord Suralle Straykat was an extremely busy feline and only stood on formality when he was forced to in front of the Kat Lord Council. As Suralle took the center of the stage, he looked up at the assembled commanders and top military aides and smiled a tooth grin. “Kin! Tomorrow brings us to a monumental day in Kat history, a day that can only be likened to the rejoining of the east and west felines of our great worlds centuries ago. Tomorrow we establish our first space colonies and join the rest of the major races as a prime player in galactic policy and set forth a new chapter in the proud tradition of the Pryde!”

“I will briefly go over the goals and present you all with the newest recon telescopic-photos of the star system Kats Eye.”
http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7956/3077/1600/Sun-protoplanetary-disk.0.png

“As you have all noted there have been recent changes to the initial plans in regards to the colonization of this star system, not the slightest has been, intelligence gathered about pirate activity, but as you can see in your briefing photos a second planet capable of supporting feline life has been found!”

“In addition to the two planetary masses that can support life, we have been able to determine that there are substantial resources on the first planets moon ripe for the taking, and some abnormal gaseous readings noted around the second planet that maybe prove intriguing for our scholarly types. No other information about the rest of the system can be further ascertained. I am however, determined to get the jump on the other major races here in this quadrant. Yes, there will be military action, enough to further perpetuate the substantial record that the 2nd fleet has garnered for themselves. We will not let this opportunity pass us by like so many other races have. We will take charge of our future, we will ensure our kittens future and their kits after.”

"Lord Gats-Ton and Captain Ah-Stare have included in your briefings the strategic goals and order of battle that has been determined, to be the best combat and civilian formation of our fleet. Remember, we expect resistance, if any, to be slight, given the results of the piratical confrontation of last month. However, you can rest assured that one can assume the standard navigation hazards exist, asteroid fields, comet-like bodies screaming in from every angle. Ensure to download the newest star chart of the anomalies and charted obstructions prior to the commencement of the mission.”

“I will not detain you any longer, questions can be referred to Lord Gats-Ton and Captain Ah-Stare at their perspective KatFlt addresses.”

“Thank you all, good hunting and good fortune be granted to us all this day and in perpetuity.”

“Attention on Deck!” shouted Captain Ah-Stare as the Kat Lords departed. “You all have your mission orders and statements, the jump starts at precisely 094526JUN25 SLT.


Submitted W/R,
Suralle Straykat
Kat Lord @ Large

this is turning into a book!

Have enjoyed reading

Thank you! Standby for part 7. "De-Veros Orders"

As someone said before, are them kitties good or does that purr mean something entirely different than, pet me, scratch my money maker.

W/R
Suralle Straykat

Interpretation provided by Che-Rene Straykat,
Kat Lady @ Large
Mate to Suralle
Primary Keeper of the Faith

Star Scout 18 “Ring Tone” was in perfect relationship with the other craft off her starboard bow, she hung there in space, assigned a position relative to her command module and just ahead of and to the left of the PDF Central Command Unit aboard the Star Cruiser “Stray Kat”. Ring Tones four large beryllium balls had all “floated” gracefully under the engineers guidance and were currently fluidly spinning at 2690 revolutions per second, held in place by fourteen electromagnetic plates. Although she could not actually see the insides of the ships inertial guidance system that allowed all spacecraft to achieve the inertia field prior to entering hyperspace, Commander Suz-Anne De-Vero had faith in the visual reproduction being offered on her command screen. She had asked her engineers specifically why there was a wobble in the gigantic balls when they had begun spinning up the gyro units minutes before.

The engineer explained that each beryllium ball, although as perfectly engineered and made to extremely tight specifications, appeared perfect, there was intrinsic flaws that were found to be the cause of many earlier attempts at space flight faster than the speed of light. It was assumed that the first space crafts that had made perfect inertia had at sometime right after the crude hyper warp coils and drives had come on line had simply disappeared. Later after some of the top scientists and engineers in the Terran Federation had approached the problem they realized that simply put the pure beryllium balls were not perfect, tiny imperfections that could not be calculated for caused the sudden disintegration of the balls the moment motion had to be calculated for. As such each ball now contained an imbedded thread of tantalum wire. The beryllium balls spin was now not perfect, but this imperfection could be calculated for down to the pica-fraction of a hairs breadth. The huge magnetic plates did the rest. Nodding the commander smiled at the engineers and “electroncists” that were explaining the theory to her and having a good mental chuckle at their expense, pushed the “I BELIEVE” button.

“Incoming hyperlink communications transmission from the CSC “Stray Kat” and SC “Fixated” Ma’am” stated the communications technician.

“Split screen, conference style, please” stated De-Vero. Appearing before her on the main glass-wall combat screen were Kat Lord Suralle Straykat, Commander in Chief, Pernicious Expedition and Captain Reba Ah-Stare, Commander Pernicious Colonies Action Group (CAG).

After getting past the initial pleasantries of how was she doing, how was the Ring Tone, and how was the crew reacting to their new commander the CAG and CinC got to the gist of the matter, Ring Tone was to depart immediately for the cloud region of the Kats Eye Star System, or about 100,000 AU away from the Kats Eyes sun. Upon arrival passive scan to locate and classify all sources of electronic spectrum communications, spoofing signals, and report all signal intelligence “SIGINT”, communications intelligence “COMINT” and last but not least “ELINT” or electronic emanations intelligence. Voicing her agreement to acceptance of the orders, the “Fixated’s” commander signed off.

Kat Lord Suralle though gave her one last look and commented, “Communications Officers, Go Secure.” Once the comlink registered a light orange, he looked directly at De-Vero and stated “Suz-Anne, you cannot measure how vital this mission your crew has been given. The newly discovered second planet is up for grabs as far as the United Planet (UP) ruling council would state. The residents of the primary planet though could be construed as having a claim if they pushed it in front of a few members of the ruling body. But, a loop hole in that the race had never stepped foot or addressed a major or recognized minor race, publically, is going to allow us to stop thier piratical activity so to speak before being they can be claimed to be a major or minor race, recognized by the UP council. Therefore because we know they are pirates, and I know that you know the history behind our “discovery” of this system, you know what we are going to have to do to take this system. Your real job is to make damn sure that no one else outside the system is going to know what we did once we are in system to gain both planets once we get there.”

“Aye-Aye, Commander” stated Suz-Anne, “Ring Tone and her crew acknowledge receipt of orders and are formally closing all unnecessary comlinks upon our jump to hyperspace.”

The closing remark from the Kat Lord was in the clear to the entire Ring Tone crew, “The crew of Ring Tone has been selected to be the lead ship in the colonization of the Kats Eye Star System, you will be the first true “Kats in Space” in the sense that you all will be the first to show our flag on another planets soil. Your commander has all of my faith and is the keeper of such. Good Hunting and Good Luck.”

“Good Hunting and Good Luck, yourself, sir” shouted the crew as one. The communications technician signaled to her commander that the signal had ended.

“Prepare for inertia jump drive!” shouted De-Vero over the 1MC. “Pilot you have the conn, I retain the deck.”

“On my mark” stated the pilot, “3…2…1… MARK”. The sickening lurch accompanied by the increased noticeable hum of the gigantic manifolds that created the bubble around the spacecraft increased to a near inaudible pitch, drowning out all normal communications for just a split second… or was it an eternity… than, “Successful inertial bubble created, warp drives online, on my mark engage…3…2…1… ENGAGE!” and gravity was restored. From engineering reports began to flood in on the specific formations of acceleration in regards to the inertial measurement units as reading all in the green bands. Almost anything that could be monitored was being monitored in the accelerometers, pitch, yaw, roll, heading, attitude; anything that could effect the warp kinematical equation and thereby ruining the data being fed into and out of the Kalmin Filter was being taken into account.

“Set Patrol Quiet throughout all decks!” stated Commander De-Vero to all kats over the 1MC. “Senior Officer meeting in 30 minutes in my ready room”.

Even as the crew and technicians were removing the webbing that held them in place at their stations, Commander De-Vero had a vision that left a feeling that everything was all right, the last piece of the puzzle had clicked, and she was doing what she was meant to do. Everything was all right…

W/R
Suralle Straykat
Kat Lord @ Large

A Kats Eye View, Part 8 “The Battle for Kat’s Eyes”

Interpretation provided by Che-Rene Straykat,
Kat Lady @ Large
Mate to Suralle
Primary Keeper of the Faith

“Firing Point Procedures, Master 2, formerly Echo 124”, announced newly appointed Kat Lord Anue Gats-Ton.

“Secondary Fire Control, Shoot!” shouted the Kat Lord.

“Shoot, Secondary Fire Control Aye!” responded the Weapons Specialist aboard the PDF Command Star Cruiser “Nepatal” (CSC-709).

“Fire, secondary batteries, Master 2, Echo 124.” The specialist announced over the ships 1MC.

Echoed over the fire control master communications circuit came the response, “Fire, secondary batteries, Master 2, Echo 124, Aye!”

Long had the Terran Federation known of the fact that the initial nanosecond of contact between LASER systems against shielded targets also was the time of the most damage done. Shields and Force Fields tended to strengthen at the point of intersection as energies were given and reflected back off into space. Subsequent surges in deflectors and shields literally caused damage to become minimal at that point. Hence was the Terran need for having a wingman for all required combat.

Not so for the Prydean Defense Force. The Command Star Cruiser “Nepatal” was the latest in the “Stray Kat” Class Cruisers, built specifically for war. The Pryde had access to nearly flawless laser emitter crystals grown in space-based micro-gravity chambers. Combined with their superior knowledge of electromagnetism and fast time constant inductive battery discharge. The second generation MK3 “Katsklaw” Laser Cannons were fully controlled pulsed laser cannon. Firing short nanosecond bursts in rapid sequential discharges the laser peeled back deflectors and modern combat ships shields like an experienced chef was able to micro-plane fish filets. Once the laser cannon reached the hull and limited armor of a ship, that portion of the ship to its nearest space-tight integrity boundary was rendered ineffectual, in essence becoming just more floating debris for scientific dissection later.

Above Anues command chair, the glass-wall command fire control board showed a new contact being transmitted by PDF Ring Tone (SS-18), which was on loan to the SAG (Star Action Group) from Captain Ah-Stare of the CAG (Colonies Action Group). “Ring Tone” and her counterpart SS-22 “Spotter” had taken out-of-the-ecliptic orbits along the Kats Eye Stars northern and southern poles providing 360 degree total electronics coverage for the entire star system.

Ring Tone and her class of converted heavy scout fighters were equipped with state-of-the-art radiometers, spectrometers, electromagnetic anomaly detectors (MAD), and the newest tele-photodiode controlled Identification Friend or Foe recognition software not to mention the Terrans newest Long Range Sensor and Jamming system capable of limiting the effectiveness of all known communications, detections gear and targeting systems.

Directing the primary Weapons Specialists attention to the incoming targeting data, designated Charlie 356, Anue announced, “Designate Charlie 356, Master 3, feed all targeting data to primary weapons systems.”

“Designate Charlie 356 as Master 3, Primary Fire Control Aye”, responded that weapons combat system operator. Moments, which seemed like an eternity, later the primary weapons specialist concluded and stated, “We have a closing solution, recommend firing point procedures Master 3.”

Verifying that identification friend or foe was satisfied and that the target was indeed closing for combat the Kat Lord again announced, “Firing point procedures, Master 3, formally Charlie 356!”

“Primary Fire Control, Shoot!”

“Shoot, Primary Fire Control Aye!” responded the Weapons Specialist.

“Fire, primary batteries, Master 3, Charlie 356.” The weapons specialist announced over the ships 1MC.

Echoed over the fire control master communications circuit came the response, “Fire, primary batteries, Master 3, Charlie 356, Aye!”

In less than a flick of a tail, the scrape of the claw on the selector switch, much faster even than Anue could glance over at the weapons screen, the target formerly known as Master 3, Charlie 356, simple ceased to be. The Kat Lord briefly remembered the classes he had attended back in engineering preparation school, on the deadly effectiveness of the Fourth Generation “Klawsburg” Mk 4 Dual Firing Rail Guns. 15 M amps of cold blue electric energy lanced up one side of the rail and down the second rail inducing a purpled tinged magnetic field across the armature. In the blink of a slotted kats eye, the rail guns inertial guidance contacts closed and the projectiles were launched from the guns at hyper-warp speeds.

Next thought Anue… as the battle for dominance over the Kats Eye Star System had barely begun.

W/R
Suralle Straykat
Kat Lord @ Large

This part of my writing is dedicated to the crews of the United States Submarine Force, of all their daring deeds past, present and future and to all of my brothers who still proudly wear their dolphins insignia and continue to do the mission despite losses of family, life, and luxury, I salute you all.

In special remembrance to my time aboard “USS HYMAN G RICKOVER” SSN 709.

A Kats Eye View, Part 8.1 “The Battle for Kat’s Eyes”

Interpretation provided by Che-Rene Straykat,
Kat Lady @ Large
Mate to Suralle
Primary Keeper of the Faith

“What in the blazing hinges of naval gunfire was that?” muttered Master Gunner O’tauny.

“Just keep your paws near the triggering sequence keys for the fountain gun and comments, well, low enough where I am the only one that can hear them.” I piped.

In truth Pryde Space Marine Major Roalnd O’tooles really had no freaking idea what the strange lights were. In the officers briefing earlier in the week the commanders had mentioned no planetary defense that was detectible, so landing should not be an issue, although he was quickly realizing that like most other operations, planning got you to the point the navy wanted you be at, after that, the flying was over and the dying shortly began. Nothing better than 3 and ¼ inches of HY-130 Duranthium Steel between you and your targets in this kats opinion.

Besides the dozen anti-personnel lasers fitted on the M-201, this model of assault vehicle was almost as big as a Terran football field stadium from the early 20th century. It came with the new but yet untried, battleground fountain gun, essentially a much smaller version of the same system that had shot them all into orbit just over a month ago on Prydelan. Unlike that enormously long tube though, this fountain gun was circular, running over 20 times in a circumference format spinning around the inner and outer walls of the “kat tank”. As the pellet was released from the vehicles cannon like protrusion in what could only be described as hotter than blazing sun disposal on the receiving end when the projectile entered into another tank, building or structure. It wasn’t the round that killed you, it was the energy impacted by the round. The instant heat seared away the flesh or melted away internal components as if they were being exposed to the gigantic mirrors used in disposal of radioactive materials back on their home world. The engineers and scientists who trained the master gunner and him on the system told them both that living, organic, cells never felt the heat, never saw their deaths coming, so intense was the flash and so fast that the target simply ceased to be. Better them than me thought Roalnd. Lets get this landing over and let the civilians come down and clean up the mess.

The last thing any of them heard before the landing alarms blared to life was the commanders soft prayer to the Keepers that they all arrive intact and bring more fame to the glory of the Kats 2nd fleet, their caste, clans, and family.

“Target acquired!” shouted the gunners’ mate.

“Threat contact, designated Echo 1” stated the countermeasures officer over the vehicles combat MC.

The major heard next “Crap, its got a lock on us, initiating jam sequence, we better freaking fire soon.” stated the electro-countermeasures operator.

The major smiled a toothy grin at the master gunner, “Key it, the target is locked”. A small shutter ran through the vehicle and as anti-personnel laser fire opened up all around them and their vehicle as their detachment of debarking space marines aquired combat targets of their own, a column of flame reached out from the target almost 300 feet tall indicating a direct hit.

“Next target, now!” stated the major, as he had thought, the real combat has just begun…

W/R
Suralle Straykat
Kat Lord @ Large

A Kats Eye View, Part 8.2 “The Battle for Kat’s Eyes”

Interpretation provided by Che-Rene Straykat,
Kat Lady @ Large
Mate to Suralle
Primary Keeper of the Faith

Each M-201 came equipped with standard battlefield anti-personnel lasers and what has already been determined as the primary battleground weapon, the newly designed and installed fountain gun. But what good was a super-tank without the marines to defend it. You could not have control of the ground without troops to police and hold the area you just took. You cannot have troops on the ground, undefended from the sky above. Therefore, each M-201 was built with internal web seating to house 200,000 Prydean Space Marines with rollout for armored vehicles and an upper deck hatch that supported the aerospace wing of jump jets. Major Roalnd O’tooles, commander of this particular M-201 muttered aloud, “Yeap, the come standard with everything you need to see new worlds, one bullet at a time.”

“Eh, what was that?” shouted Master Gunner Kim O’Tauney.

“Nothing, nothing, don’t worry about it.” stated the major. O’Tauney was probably still near deaf in both ears every since that errant old fashioned ARPG had actually penetrated a hatch directly aft of them in the kat tank. To tell you the truth every time the combat MC crackled just right with a contact or damage assessment report to him his ears rang a bit too. Still the air wing seemed intact and his platoon sergeants were reporting in that he still had just over ¾’s of his space marines in fighting condition. Far better than over 90% of the other combat expeditionary units that had landed. After beating back a savage counterattack by the pirate forces near section 4-01A the unit was approximately 10 klicks from the spaceport and last bastion of resistance on Kat’s Eye One. Not bad for less than 48 hours of fighting, course, most of the continents native inhabitants were in hiding, leaving only the droids that were the locals keepers in place to fight. The platoons and squads of marines had been ordered to leave the locals alone and only proceed with powered combat if any resistance was being given first at them or when faced with no other choice. Of course, the seven articles of the use of deadly force were authorized against any armed foe, and frankly, the reason we are doing so well was the majors and master gunners assessment that any building standing that could fire at their marines was the next building of opportunity for the fountain gun.

At that time the MAC (Marine Air Commander) came leaping up near the both of them. “All squadrons refueled and rearmed for ground support, besides Alpha, which will be flying air cover during port ops.”

“Aye” snapped the major, “Have all your crews stand down and get some rest, we have about 2 hours until dawn and from the ramblings on the “SPANET” we can expect the final assault to begin then if the pirates fail to lower their flag at the port. Fools thought the major, they were fighting fools, well what could you expect, they were machines, droids really, intelligent programming but not sentient. Programmed to enslave, support and hold this planet for someone else. Well not for much longer thought Roalnd, even if these local folks were going to have to be accustomed to working and living with larger than life like predators who purred at least its going to be a damn site better than enslavement to robots.

“Moving out as soon as the stars begin to fade and the Kat’s Eyes rise gunner.” Shouted the major to O’Tauney, “Get some down time.” Strange how no matter what degree of deafness a trooper professed to have thought Roalnd, they always understand “Down Time.” Rolling over on his command couch, speaking of, so do I.

W/R
Suralle Straykat
Kat Lord @ Large

A Kats Eye View, Part 8.3 “The Battle for Kat’s Eyes”

Interpretation provided by Che-Rene Straykat,
Kat Lady @ Large
Mate to Suralle
Primary Keeper of the Faith

The end-round maneuver came just as expected and completely as reported to Lady Reba Ah-Stare (CAG) by her newest commander and still aide Commander Suz-Anne De-Vero aboard the PDF “Ring Tone” SS-18. The combat on the ground and the duels in space had gotten much easier once PDF “Raving” SFF-32 had detonated the unknown satellite in orbit just about 1.5 AU out from Kat’s Eyes sun. So predictable that she had known that an end-round attack was going to have to happen and had warned both scout ships to be on the look out for it. She had given orders to both pilot commanders of her two Star Cruisers and their escort Star Defenders and when the pirate’s maneuver came, all main guns were already firing and pirate craft were disintegrating even faster than they could warp in. All in all, totally predictable. “Its over, now” Reba thought to herself.

Tapping her command screen, Kat Lord Suralle Straykat (CINC) turned his head over and greeted her. “Yes, Captain?” stated the Kat Lord.

“Suralle, its over. That was the last textbook maneuver; these crews are like the crews we inspected and salvaged after the freighter attack a couple of months back. They fight well if not faced with tactically superior opponents, but nothing concrete to throw against a trained military.”

“Yes, my intelligence sources also have been briefing me on exactly that same thought. I expect if you send in a MEU into the spaceport you will find that none of the buildings besides those housing or interning the local population have any thing moving or left alive. Commence colonial landings on Kat’s Eyes Two. Commence colonial landings on the western half of the main continent and the two secondary continents on Kat’s Eyes One. Place a no kat zone east of the major river running north/south at coordinates section 17-01B and ensure MEBs are in place to keep the locals from interfering. You and your team are to descend immediately to the spaceport and address whoever presents themselves as leader of the locals and explain to them in brief the “Benefits” of cooperation with the Pryde. Suralle out.” Replied the Kat Lord.

Well that sums that up thought Lady Reba, from Fleet Captain to planetary governor all in the blink of a slotted kats eye. Still the benefits of being the top kat on the planet were instant promotion to Kat Lady, increased hunting preserves, and normally granted “Command” of the Prydes most current or newest Command Star Cruiser plus a voting position of the Kat Council. I can live with that that, thought Reba, out loud she stated, “You heard that Kat, lets roll kats, move out.”

Punching up her command hypercom link to her fleet commanders, she issued them their orders, including the star defenders to begin orbital insertion on both worlds, while ordering her star interceptors to report to Kat Lord Gats-Ton for follow on tasking. She would keep her Star Frigates though, nothing like waving the flag and setting the tone to civilians, both feline and well, whatever humanoids lived on the planet below. Hell, promotions all around!

W/R
Suralle Straykat
Kat Lord @ Large

A Kats Eye View, Part 8.4 "Death of a Kat Lord"

Interpretation provided by Che-Rene Straykat,
Kat Lady @ Large
Mate to Suralle
Primary Keeper of the Faith

Space is a terrible empty void, sure there are races that believe that a something extra lives beyond the here and now. Some races even practice the concept to a "next" level to the point of "recycling" component parts such as the Yor and even other races find the consumption of their loved ones (whether slavelings or ancestors) to be perfectly acceptable.

The Kat Lords though remember, that memory is passed on from generation to generation at the time of birth, fragmented pictures and memories about situations from the past all jumbled up in heriditary almost madness. The passing on of memory helps the Kat Lords reinforce their caste based system, as technicians remember electrical and electronic wizardry and Lords remember both statistical and statesmen like conduct.

Therefore when any Kat passes on, without an heir, a wealth of data and memories simply cease to exist. Truly the most horrific thought any Kat could have is dying with no kit to pass on their legacy.

For the briefest of moments, the thoughts printed above rang clearly like an alarm klaxon through newly appointed Kat Lord Anue Gats-tons mind as the Command Star Cruiser “Nepatal” came under direct piratical fire from four seperate quadrant points. The machines were learning. As the Nepatal came out of hyperspace to answer a distress call from a Prydean Mining colony in the Staval system into a yawning mouth of fire, one could begin to actually imagine what hells' blazing inferno must actually look like.

The leading edge of the Nepetals' advance force shield went rapidly through the color spectrum from green to violet and blue flairing away in a crimson blood display of hued red.

Main Batteries on computer control automatically opened fire at the closest pirate craft as the Nepatal screamed past CPA (Closes Point of Approach) of two other inert space craft dealing what the machines at their controls felt was a critical blow to the Nepatals nose cones fire control system.

Possibly, but unlikely, there could have been a shorter space battle in known history as restless knives of energy flashed out in angry stabs attempting to shear off engineering spaces, life support systems and command, communications and computer control areas.

Unlike smaller vessels though what the Nepatal lacked in manueverability, she packed in defense and weaponry. Slow by some races standards and ungainly in turns, Nepatal carried an impressive array of primary and secondary batteries of armament and after her latest refit a new pair of fourth generation “Klawsburg” Mk 4 Dual Firing Rail Guns mounted longitudinally amidships. As the lead aggressor pirate pushed up his power output striving to overcome the command cruiser, the only result was an increased show of pyrotechnics, whle the Nepatal's forward Katsklaw Laser Cannons began spewing lightning flashes of their own.

Metallic clicks sounded throughout the ships as huge silver-lined copper bus bars supplied gigawatts of energy to the rail guns and the two pirates amidships equipt to fight a laser battle suddenly found themselves free floating in space as air, energy, and matter fought the immense vacuum of nothing.

"Never bring a single knife to a Kat fight", thought Kat Lord Anue, a Kat brings ten of them.

The fourth raider seeing how easy the lead and support pirates were handled poured maximum power to escape the banking command cruiser intent on bringing her primary weapons to bear. Squirting forward and juking side to side did by the pirate a few precious moments, a few was all the Nepatal needed and with the port rail gun already having spit out electric-blue nodes of metallic jacketed death the forward laser cannons finished the ship in a brilliant cascade of violent violet death.

W/R
Suralle Straykat
Kat Lord @ Large

A Kats Eye View, Part 8.4.1 "Death of a Kat Lord"

Interpretation provided by Che-Rene Straykat,
Kat Lady @ Large
Mate to Suralle
Primary Keeper of the Faith

Four to beam down, thought Kat Lord Anue. Hah, if it was only that easy, as the pilot manuevered the tiny shuttle through the terrain of blue ice cliffs and the navigator kept complaining about shifting masses of water ice and new plumes of semi-frozen nitrogen on the way to the small mining colony. Autopilot would be nice, but since coming out of hyperspace and the subsequent space battle, there was no drone signal, or IFF (Identification, Friend or Foe) beacon either for that matter. Not even a formal or informal challenge sent in the green.

Still, the shuttle pilot was an adept at her job, and even allowed some casual bantar amongst the passengers on her primary channel. That all came to a silent screech though when the navigator reported that they only had to round one more writhing fountain of liquid and the main (well only) shuttle port would come into sight.

Mentally reviewing the last data packet submitted by the small miner colony had showed some inconsistencies in the standard report, not to mention an almost irritation at having to report thought Anue, nothing he could put a klaw on, but something not quite right. Nothing like going there, seeing for oneself, before buying the t-shirt report made by some other 'troncist (Electronics Scientist).

Manuervering thrusters bounced all of the Kats against their restraints as the pilot made one small correction on final approach to the small, unlit space dock. No service 'droids muttered the navigator, no approach vectors, no nothing. Landing on manual, great, thought the pilot, at least I can have my proficency signed off on this one.

Landing complete, reported the pilot, standby for deguass and soft dock. A few moments in which the hair literally stood atop folicles on all of the kats the pilot reported that a hard dock was completed and that the shuttle had been properly grounded to the same electromagnetic signature of the mining colony. Good news thought Anue, no life taking shocks from residual eddy currents in the hull being transfered through their suits between the craft and the mining station.

So far, so good. "Pilot, well done, report to the number one for signature of your proficency in manual landings for this quarter, stay alert and keep emanation from the shuttle to a minimum, I want passive scans only and minimal inter-craft communications with the Nepatal while were here, no need to alert anything or anyone that we are here more than the approach did.

Very well sir, standing down all systems and running maintenance subroutines only, reported the pilot.

"Lets be off kats, stated Anue, lets see what has become of this small piece of rock and ice."

W/R
Suralle Straykat
Kat Lord @ Large

Welcome back Suralle, and thanks for the stories. The Kzinti Empire salutes their distant cousins the Kat Lords!   

Sentient species taste better...