HTL CAMPAIGN, PHASE III : NEPHELE ARC ( 44 chapters total )

: “ Scraps of Honour, ” Part 1 of 15 : Clouds on the Horizon  [   INTERLUDE   ]  Written by Nick “Chaeronea” Deane (  runs parallel to the "Reaping the Whirlwind" chapter and the jump into Nephele  ) The Scrappers, a UBW reserve unit, are ordered to join an escort carrier task force headed for the Nifelheim System. Their first carrier deployment doesn’t quite go as planned, however.

: “ The Road to Hell, ” Part 1 of 4 : A Few Good Men  [   INTERLUDE   ]  Written by James Andrew “JAG” Greenhow About the same time, a Confed reserve unit is also on the way to the Nifelheim System. The reserve pilots pilots take out a group of pirates, and rescue the crew of a stricken freighter.

: “ Lurking in the Shadows ” Written by Shaun “Iceman” Rashid Set just after the jump into Nephele. The TCS Endeavour’s Battle Group Aurora (CVEBG-A) group begins its patrol. Meanwhile, the crew tries to track down a traitor.

: “ New Fears ” Written by Paul “Raven” Taylor & Shaun “Iceman” Rashid The TCS Endeavour’s WC tries to deal with the guilt of losing so many pilots. Meanwhile, the hunt for the traitor presses on.

: “ The Fallen, ” Part 1 of 3 Written by James Andrew “JAG” Greenhow About the same time. The TCS Bunker Hill’s (CV-52) patrol zone is being jammed by the Nephilim. While looking for the jamming source, the Bunker Hill pilots run into an Alien Orca-class destroyer.

: “ The Fallen, ” Part 2 of 3 Written by James Andrew “JAG” Greenhow The jammer has been taken out, but the Bunker Hill comes under attack from a Nephilim Leviathan-class carrier. The attack is beaten off by the Confeds, but a counterstrike on the Alien group fails to destroy the enemy carrier.

: “ The Fallen, ” Part 3 of 3 Written by James Andrew “JAG” Greenhow The TCS Bunker Hill finds herself trapped between the enemy carrier and a second battle group. The 'Hill pilots fight back bravely, taking out one of the attacking carriers, but are ultimately overwhelmed in the end.

: “ Fell on Black Days ” Written by Mikhael “Seeker ” Beattie The Valkyries bury their dead and reconcile on the battles to come. Late in the day, they receive the distress call from the Bunker Hill.

: “ Retribution, ” Part 1 of 3 Written by Rajan “Raptor” Ragupathy The Valkyries try to figure out what happened to the TCS Bunker Hill, and prepare for a counterstrike. They rescue two pilots who escaped from the 'Hill, and learn that some of the crew may have been captured.

: “ Retribution, ” Part 2 of 3 Written by Rajan “Raptor” Ragupathy The Valkyries manage to find the captives, though at the cost of an entire flight of recon pilots. They link up with the BWS Littenia group before launching a combined strike and rescue operation.

: “ Retribution, ” Part 3 of 3 Written by Rajan “Raptor” Ragupathy The Border Worlders attack and wipe out the Nephilim group responsible for the Bunker Hill. Border Worlder Marines assault the enemy flagship and rescue the captives.

: “ Scraps of Honour, ” Part 2 of 15 : The Calm Before the Storm  [   INTERLUDE   ] Written by Nick “Chaeronea” Deane Elsewhere, about the same time. In the Lennox System, the Scrappers begin adjusting to life aboard a carrier. A third CVE joins the task force as it prepares to head for Nifelheim. Meanwhile, Tanfen finds its resources being hijacked yet again...

: “ The Road to Hell, ” Part 2 of 4 : Traveler’s Tales  [   INTERLUDE   ]  Written by James Andrew “JAG” Greenhow The Confed escort carrier force passes through Torgo as it heads to Nifelheim to backstop the main fleet. The reserve pilots learn more about the enemy from an unlikely source and realize their superiors have been withholding information from them.

: “ Apocrypha, ” Chapter I of III    [    THE APOCRYPHA TRILOGY    ] Written by Brandon “Avatarr” Alspaugh On the planet Obsidian IV a group of religious fanatics decide that the Nephilim aliens are an impotent threat. Meanwhile, the Kilrathi also try to come to grips with their Prophecy of Sivar. The first chapter of a multi-storyline crossover.

: “ Der Entrichtete Peis Ist Loyalitaet, ” Part 1 of 2 Written by Kevin “Leeloo” Tan Young Maximilian Gan and the Tanfen sector fleet help evacuate the civilian population of Tyr VII.

: “ Swan Song ” Written by Alan “Wolf” Cardoso & Andrew “Neo” Modeen The TCS Valley Forge’s flight wing buries its dead from the Tyr Campaign. While on patrol early on the 8th, a group of Forge pilots encounter some unusual enemy activity.

: “ Common Heroes, ” Part 4 of 4 Written by Greg “Sandman” Sands The 15th and 18th Destroyer Squadrons link up with the 1st Torpedo Boat Squadron to wipe out a Nephilim cruiser group and its destroyer escorts. Meanwhile, Commodore Colby fights his own battle against an unexpected enemy : alcoholism.

: “ On the Brink, ” Part 1 of 2 Written by Nick Mazzuca, Justin Chrystel, & Randy Houle The TCS Yorktown group confronts two powerful groups of enemy warships. The Yorktown’s Vampire and Shrike squadrons, backed up by the heavy cruiser Agincourt, attacks and destroys one of the enemy groups.

: “ On the Brink, ” Part 2 of 2 Written by Rajan “Raptor” Ragupathy & Dan “Death” Poore Meanwhile, the Yorktown Battle Group is at risk of being overwhelmed by the second group of warships, but is rescued by the 6th UBW Corvette Squadron. In the process, those in Confed and the Border Worlders continue gaining a better understanding of each other.

: “ Scraps of Honour, ” Part 3 of 15 : Crossing the Rubicon Written by Nick “Chaeronea” Deane The Border Worlds reserve pilots are joined by a Tanfen squadron, but the Tanfenners may have an ulterior motive. The Scrappers get their hands on some new fighters, and the reserve battle group passes the point of no return on its journey to Nifelheim.

: “ The Road to Hell, ” Part 3 of 4 : In the name of God Written by James Andrew “JAG” Greenhow The Confed reserve pilots pass through the Elohim System on their way to Nifelheim. The pilots speculate on the nature of their enemy, and what they could face in Nifelheim. Later, they receive word of the Bunker Hill’s demise.

: “ Der Entrichtete Peis Ist Loyalitaet, ” Part 2 of 2 Written by Sebastian “Flashpak” Laubinger & Kevin “Leeloo” Tan Meanwhile, the Tanfen Corporation and Porhen Industries intensify their private war, attacking each other commercially, legally, and through espionage.

: “ Need and Suspicion ” Written by Brandon “Darksabre” McKown Kicking off the Combined Fleet’s efforts on the 9th of February, a new group of pilots join the TCS Endeavour as she continues her patrol of the Nephele System. Meanwhile, suspicions about the traitor are rife among the ship's crew...

: “ Not Exactly as Planned ” Written by Shaun “Iceman” Rashid The TCS Endeavour has to beat off a Nephilim attack, losing several of her pilots in the battle. Meanwhile, the traitor has been found... or has he?

: “ The Long Hard Road out of Hell, ” Part 1 of 2 Written by Andrew “Neo” Modeen The TCS Valley Forge confronts a massive Nephilim carrier battle group that has been shadowing them since leaving Tyr. The pilots and escorts of the Forge's own battle group engage the enemy, but the Captain seems to be fast losing his grip.

: “ The Long Hard Road out of Hell, ” Part 2 of 2 Written by Andrew “Neo” Modeen The Forge manages to take out the enemy group, but at a horrific cost - over thirty pilots, half the Marines in her detachment, and two of her escorts.

: “ Scraps of Honour, ” Part 4 of 15 : Thunder in the Mountains Written by Nick “Chaeronea” Deane As the reserve force transits Seggalion, the Border Worlders, and Tanfen pilots are at each others' throats, as well as fighting amongst themselves. A routine training flight turns into a rescue mission.

: “ Scraps of Honour, ” Part 5 of 15 : Lightning Strikes Twice Written by Nick “Chaeronea” Deane The Border Worlders and Tanfen pilots go to the rescue of a convoy under attack by pirates, and encounter some old "friends." The pirates are wiped out following an ensuing massive dogfight.

: “ Summon the Guard, ” Part 1 of 2 Written by Kevin “Leeloo” Tan & Sebastian “Flashpak” Laubinger Maximilian Gan tries to adjust to being in sole command of the Tanfen fleet carrying the Tyr refugees. Meanwhile, the “Corp War” between Tanfen and Porhen Industries rages on, heating up even further.

: “ Summon the Guard,” Part 2 of 2 Written by Kevin “Leeloo” Tan & Sebastian “Flashpak” Laubinger Tanfen launches an all out assault on a Porhen base on the Meiwan Archipelago. Losses are heavy all around.

: “ The Downward Spiral ( Coma White ), ” Part 1 of 6 Written by Jason “Dundradal” McHale, Andrew “Neo” Modeen, Daniel “Bugfix” Klette, & Nathan “Monolith” Johnson The TCS Valley Forge group has been devastated by its losses on but only the previous day. Morale is at rock bottom and the crew can no longer trust their captain. Meanwhile, a down-on-their-luck Border Worlds Space Force unit known as the VF-14 “Talons” joins the Valley Forge.

: “ The Downward Spiral ( Coma White ), ” Part 2 of 6 Written by Nathan “Monolith” Johnson, Andrew “Neo” Modeen, & Daniel “Bugfix” Klette The Talons begin adapting to life aboard a Confed carrier. Meanwhile, the Valley Forge group receives orders to evacuate a group of civilian monks who are still on Nephele II.

: “ The Downward Spiral ( Coma White ), ” Part 3 of 6 Written by Daniel “Bugfix” Klette, Jeremy “Hollywood” Johnson, & Andrew “Neo” Modeen The Valley Forge pilots begin scouting the area around Nephele II, and their Marines hit the ground. Meanwhile, Captain Vandermann continues to lose his grip on reality.

: “ The Downward Spiral ( Coma Black ), ” Part 4 of 6 Written by Andrew “Neo” Modeen, Alan “Wolf” Cardoso, Nathan “Monolith” Johnson, & Jason “Dundradal” McHale The Marines of the 97th Assault Detachment encounter heavy resistance as they try to rescue the monks. Half the monks are saved, but the remaining monks and several Marines are lost to the Nephilim.

: “ The Downward Spiral ( Coma Black ), ” Part 5 of 6 Written by Kevin “Leeloo” Tan, Alan “Wolf” Cardoso, Andrew “Neo” Modeen, & Nathan “Monolith” Johnson Meanwhile, the Confed and Border Worlder pilots fighting the Nephilim in orbit are nearly overwhelmed, but are rescued by a group of Kilrathi. As part of "Operation Scour," a tactical nuclear strike wipes out the remaining Nephilim on the ground.

: “ The Downward Spiral ( Coma Black ), ” Part 6 of 6 Written by Andrew “Neo” Modeen, Jason “Dundradal” McHale, Alan “Wolf” Cardoso, & Nathan “Monolith” Johnson The Kilrathi join the Valley Forge group (now entitled CVBG-A, Carrier Battle Group Auriga), and the human fleet begins pulling back towards the Loki jump point. The mystery of Captain Vandermann's past deepens. Is he a monster now as well as a madman?

: “ Scraps of Honour, ” Part 6 of 15 : A Hard Day’s Night ( 1 / 2 ) Written by Nick “Chaeronea” Deane The Scrappers deal with the aftermath of their battle with the pirates. Some pilots have to deal with the effects of being in battle for the first time, while others have to confront the ghosts of the past.

: “ Scraps of Honour, ” Part 6 of 15 : A Hard Day’s Night ( 2 / 2 ) Written by Nick “Chaeronea” Deane The Border Worlders learn just why the pirates were so eager to capture the convoy: it was carrying 72 top-notch fighters. Late on the 10th of February, the task force jumps into Nifelheim.

: “ The Road to Hell, ” Part 4 of 4 : End of the Road Written by James Andrew “JAG” Greenhow The Confed reserves try to deal with the news of the Bunker Hill's destruction as they prepare to jump into Nifelheim. A training mission goes badly wrong.

: “ Hades Rising ” Written by Andrew “Neo” Modeen & Peter “WCAGuru” Birdsall Back in Sol the Confederation Senate and military command continue wrangling about what to do about the Nephilim, and continue to withhold the four powerful Inner Worlds Fleets. Meanwhile, the captain of the TCS Hades (the prototype "testbed" Hades-class quick strike cruiser), Commodore Garrison Murdoch, formerly of of the TCS Frontrunner & veteran hero of the Hell in a Handbasket Campaign as well as the King of the Mountain Campaign, is getting impatient at the restrictions and sanctions placed on his ship.

: “ Dreams of the Dead, ” Part 1 of 2 Written by Kevin “Leeloo” Tan The Tanfen merchant fleet commanded by Lord Maximilian Gan finishes unloading the last of the Tyr refugees in the Masa System. The Tanfen ships then head for the Sector Base at Kohlingen...

: “ Dreams of the Dead, ” Part 2 of 2 Written by Kevin “Leeloo” Tan ... But the base at Kohlingen has been wiped out by a Nephilim raiding force, a sign that the defensive line established by the two battered human fleets is beginning to fray.

: “ Preparations & Reflections, ” Part 1 of 2 Written by Rajan “Raptor” Ragupathy The human Combined Fleet begins to regroup at the Nephele-Loki jump point. The Valkyries bury their dead from the Nephele Campaign, reflect on what has happened, and prepare for what lies ahead.

: “ Preparations & Reflections, ” Part 2 of 2 Written by Rajan “Raptor” Ragupathy Final business conducted in the Nephele System, Admiral Hanton leads the Combined Fleet into the Loki System. Nephilim forces in hot pursuit, the Loki leg of the campaign begins from this point on.

 

 

NOTE  :  All chapters have likely been minorly corrected regarding punctuation, spelling, continuity, & comprehension. If the writer(s) or reader of these chapters have any problem(s) with these pages, please E-mail Andrew "Neo" Modeen and/or Brandon "Darksabre" McKown.