The Trident Revolutionary War

The Trident Revolutionary War was a large regional conflict and civil war that took place between mid-2423 and late 2424.

Description
The Revolutionary War was a highly destructive civil war between forces loyal to Trident Foundries' President Boris Tusk, and rebels who allied with the former Commander of the Trident military Jake Lancia and his trusted friend P1-az.

Catalyst
The seeds of revolution were initially planted in early 2420, not long after Boris Tusk came into power. Tusk's unusually authoritarian governing style caused many citizens and business leaders to scale back or halt their operations, out of fear of being closed down. The Vergesso system saw multiple fragmentations in political leadership and manufacturing power then, due to abuse from laws and legislations that had been removed by the new leadership to promote new industry development.

A major splintering of manufacturing occured during the 2420 financial collapse. Multiple new shipyards, including Angel Works, City-Gate Project, Infinite Fleetworks, Raven Starfighter Company and Starcore Mining were formed as independent entities. Political tension regarding these actions caused major arguments into the stability of the new government. Further financial stress from Trident leadership caused the shipyards to seek new clients outside the Union of Interstellar States for commerce, putting further pressure on the leadership.

In mid-2421, the TRV Independent was recalled to Vergesso in response to the sabotage of Vergesso Driveyards facilities while a Formidan battlegroup was in orbit, and the death of over 3000 civilians; an incident in which Formidan involvement was heavily suspected. President Tusk ordered C-I-C Jake Lancia to prepare the military for war with the Formidans, but instead Lancia ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Driveyards bombing. Lancia used Independent as a base from which he conducted his investigation, allowing only trusted personnel to assist his efforts. Lancia uncovered evidence of a terrorist cell within Trident that was responsible for the bombings, as well as evidence linking the terrorists to someone in the highest echelons of Trident leadership, though it was unknown who exactly. Not long after Lancia had gathered the evidence, President Tusk declared martial law, and recalled all military vessels and personnel to Vergesso to be stood down, so Lancia was unable to act on the evidence. Lancia grew increasingly uneasy in the political environment, and reached out to P1-az for a secret plan.

In mid-2422, a massive explosion occured in the southern continental region of Vergesso, as the test site for the joint Aethi Imperium and PlazWorks Zero-Point reactor overloaded, making an explosion that shattered all windows over every building in the southern hemisphere of Vergesso; luckily no civilian casualties occurred apart from the science teams on site at the time. The discovery of the Zero-Point particle was made.

The rights for the particle pattern were exclusive to PlazWorks as the Aethi science team were dead, and PlazWorks were assigned as the successor to the technology. It was immediately classified and worked on in the deep core Aqua Vault construction yards in Vergesso’s southern ocean. Jake Lancia unofficially started to commision P1-az to design and build a new fleet of ships to begin a political coup over the Vergesso government, using this new particle to give them an edge over current designs. Lancia also started to gather and slowly build up a loyalist force to him in secret.

PlazWorks quickly completed its first prototype of a destroyer sized vessel equipped with a Zero-Point catalyst drive. The Monarch-class remained sealed away in the Aqua Vault construction yards, away from public and government view. P1-az and Jake Lancia both christened the ship in secret and ordered a fleet of ships mixed in different roles to be made with the new technology; a further 21 of the Monarch-class were ordered for construction. PlazWorks also reached out to Angel Works for assistance in a design for a support ship to assist the Monarch, plans for a Venice-class support vessel were made and all information on the design existing were erased.

From February 2423, the Formidans commited forces to major UIS systems, including Vergesso, on an enforced trade blockade, in an attempt to force the pacifist UIS movement to join them in further escalating the Odium cold war.

President Tusk had had his daughter kidnapped by unbranded forces and was believed captured by the Formidans as leverage for their warmongering. All Vergesso Defence Corps forces were ordered to stand down and not pursue a rescue attempt as a political solution was discussed.

The shipyard companies began putting pressure on Trident leadership, excluding PlazWorks, as a way to increase profits from wartime action.

Jake Lancia and P1-az both used the opportunity to test the Monarch-class and used it to rescue the President's daughter. No gunfire was exchanged but the ships presence and smooth talking for Lancia managed to hand over the President’s daughter, but the discovery of the Monarch’s existence was questioned by Trident leadership.

The trade blockade was eventually disbanded after UIS intervention; Nova Fleet rejoined the UIS and sided with the pacifist movement of the UIS.

An official investigation into PlazWorks was then commissioned by President Tusk in suspicion of harbouring a private military.

P1-az moved the current fleet of 31 ships mixed sizes to the outer asteroid belt of the Vergesso system, with assistance from Jake’s loyalists providing a distraction. Construction continued at an abandoned mining base in the outer system.

Trident leadership started piling up pressure on PlazWorks with official military searches and resource inspections being the norm for them. The investigation was a failure thus far, not turning up any conclusive evidence.

The commissioned fleet was eventually finished by PlazWorks, consisting of 57 ships code named Task Force Arkis. The fleet, Jake Lancia’s loyalists, as well as other recruited and trained personnel started to gather in the outer system and Oort cloud. Increasing activity was scheduled by Lancia to cover any suspicious activities.

The investigation eventually found evidence at the Aqua Vault construction yards of blueprints and prototype ammunition tests for a new class of ships, as well as construction orders. Trident leadership declared that Jake Lancia begin a search of the Vergesso system for the new ships. Jake Lancia began the search everywhere but the key staging location for the new fleet. However, his supporters wer ebeginning to be discovered by Tusk's loyalists, and it was only a matter of time before one of the captured officers cracked and revealed who was behind the acts.

UIS ambassadors relayed the current Political status of Trident and the UIS began to take steps into formal action to stabilize Trident, including enforced blockades, trade embargoes and possible military assistance to Tusk's government.

The War Begins
Jake Lancia's forces started an organised rebellion in mid-2423, as his loyalist forces began to be discovered by the rest of the military who supported the current Trident leadership. A fleet wide skirmish had begun on the VDC as Jake’s loyalists tried to gain control of as many ships as possible. After 2 days of fighting in shipboard fights, a total of 43 ships including the TRV Independent were secured. Jake Lancia and his forces were branded as a Terrorist Cell and Trident leadership moved to vote on a new fleet commander.

Jake Lancia fell back to the abandoned mining post, now holding a 100 strong fleet, fully manned, and the station itself reinforced with fortress-level defensive technologies.

Political chaos started in Trident command with a vote of no confidence in the President himself, riots and mass rebellion began across Vergesso and VDC forces worked tirelessly to secure the population. The vote of no confidence was just saved by several votes and P1-az and the other shipyards did their best to delay and scramble the vote for the new fleet commander of Trident forces.

The UIS voted on an official occupation of Vergesso and takeover of Trident leadership to salvage the faction as it was deemed “on a path to self destruction” by the council, the UIS began preparations into organising an occupation force.

Jake Lancia made a speech that was forcibly covered on every electronic device on Vergesso (courtesy of P1-az); Lancia tried to win the population over to his side under the New Trident State, convincing them to let go of the antiquated political system that has failed them and rise up to create a Faction worthy of its name.

Vergesso was kicked into full internal conflict, the population of the planet was split fighting one another and more new revolutionaries began to crop up in the political loyalist fleets, causing orbital battles and skirmishes to rage. No fleet commander had been selected. Ship after ship began to defect to or be seized by the rebels, including the TRV Implacable, one of only three Independent-class ships in existence at the time.

The Revolutionary War was officially declared in mid-2423.

UIS forces attempted to enter the Vergesso system and stabilize the region in August, with Nova Fleet leading the charge. The UIS forces were blockaded by Formidan forces seeking to let the war rage on without UIS support. Attempting to avoid further destabilization of the UIS, no hostile intentions were displayed but the Nova Fleet task force held position outside the Vergesso system.

Task Force Arkis was dispatched to rally and take over Vergessian outer mining facilities and planets, Starcore Mining Co, City-Gate Project, and Angel Works were secured and Loyalist forces were pushed back after their already fragmented fleet was faced with the new advanced warships in Task Force Arkis.

Jake Lancia, now in control of multiple outposts and trade stations in the outer Vergesso system, prepared to attack and take control of a major fuel refinery post in the system, orbiting the only gas giant in the Vergesso system. Controlling the planet would severely hinder the Loyalists' ability to refuel and operate, being limited to the dangerous alternative of Vergesso's star. At the same time, P1-az dispatched the Implacable to the Sirius system, to rally the people of Sirius II and III to their cause.

P1-az contacted Captain June Rider, by now in command of the recovered TRV Solaris, in RedEagle space. P1-az updated the crew on the current task and called in a favour from June to gather a RedEagle force that could assist the New Trident State in the now closely looming final battle. June accepted, and began to negotiate with Emperor Jonty for a fleet.

GY 2424
Jake Lancia made his move on the day of the new year of 2424 with a famed pincer maneuver he favours in fleet combat, first he started with outer skirmishes to eliminate all ships around the planet and fuel refinery station; those that could be salvaged were boarded and liberated by the New Trident State. After several hours of sweeping, the Loyalist forces had reinforced and fortified the station. His attack would work but would also incur heavy casualties and he decided to hold. P1-az decided to use a piece of large debris as a boarding craft to get a strike team on the station and attempt to disable whatever they could. Jake agreed and an elite 5 man strike team including P1-az were used to perform the task.

The debris plan worked, as the loyalist fleet completely ignored it, they used the chance to EVA to the station as they passed and began to sabotage the station. The 4 manned team continued to follow the hull and placed explosive charges around the Shield pylon network as to disable the stations shielding, making it vulnerable to attacks and simple debris. P1-az worked his way inside the station to overload the reactor.

The team was successful and the stations shielding and reactor were critical. Jake sprung the trap and threw the Loyalist fleet off guard and into a frenzy. What ships remained eventually retreated and the battle was won. The station was saved and repaired for NTS use.

With the recent loss of Vergesso’s only major fuel supply, the loyalists were feeling the pressure. Though having a larger force, they only had the lunar fuel reserve and the extremely dangerous solar orbit to refuel. Boris Tusk started to set up walled cities for captured rebels and their supporters, unwilling to give up his seat of power. Most rioting was put to an end, and thousands lay dead in the wake of the uprising; the rest were left interned in the walled cities, locked down in a manageable area. His Loyalist forces begin to formally fragment, slowly splitting into more tribal sects and often fighting over fuel supplies and ammunition, claiming territories on Vergesso and resources of their own. Boris Tusk’s forces still outnumbered the NTS 5-1 but still lacked any proper leadership.

Jake Lancia blockaded the inner system from all trade and relief efforts for the UIS as to push the final nail in the coffin for Boris Tusk’s leadership. Concerned about the civilian population's safety, several ships were retrofitted into fast blockade runners to run supply flybys over critical starved regions to help reduce casualties of war. The opportunity was also used to smuggle P1-az and assasination teams onto Vergesso to form an organised militia force.

P1-az set up a militia force and began to capture small areas of territory. Assasination attempts were also made on Loyalist military sects that still have not converted over.

Jake Lancia kept the attack raging on, small skirmishes and attacks slowly pushed in to the inner system as the Loyalist forces slowly started to lose control due to lack of resources. The fighting slowed and more forces began to join the now strengthening NTS force.

With the fuel crisis becoming critical, Boris Tusk started ordering ships to make fuel runs around the Vergessian star in a desperate attempt to replenish his dwindling reserve. In mid-2424, 20 ships were sent to gather as much fuel as they can, the ships were carefully selected to root out potential non-Loyalist forces due to the high risk rate of the mission. Seven ships returned and had enough fuel to last several weeks for the fleet. This continued on using whatever ships the Loyalists could spare, until the end of the war.

P1-az and his militia managed to recapture the Aqua Vault construction yards, and in doing so could build and reactivate prototype wargear and weapons for the cause, some of which were the B12 mech suits which are fast and agile battle suits that can wield anti tank weapons on a light frame. Other things like tanks and juggernaut armor were now available to the militia, as well as a stable base of operations.

By this time, the Loyalist forces had basically broken down due to lack of resources available to them at the time, the 500 ship fleet had now splintered into 15 tribal factions and 4 of the sects had decided to raid what reserves they could and flee Trident territories entirely. The fleet size had been mauled down by fighting, poor maintenance, and lack of resources to 350 - 400 functional ships. The NTS force led by Jake Lancia now balanced out at 200 ships strong, and 50 or so in advanced design from PlazWorks' original rebellion construction order.

The UIS called a formal summit with all faction leaders to attend regarding the current state of the Trident empire, Jake Lancia was formally requested instead of Boris Tusk by choice of the council, as to hear the perspective of the “liberators of Trident and the plan afterwards”

Plaz’s militia had caused major havoc on Vergesso's surface and had a grand plan to sabotage the lunar fuel reserve and end the war, planning and preparation continued.

Formidan forces withdrew from key UIS systems and attended the summit. Jake Lancia pitched his plan in a speech, to raise the Trident faction from the politicial shitstorm it had decended into and rebuild the faction into a beacon of industrial superiority and exploratory vision. A rebuilt empire that would push the boundaries of what humanity and the UIS stands for. The UIS summit was won over by Jake Lancia, despite opposition from Formidan politicians trying to sow the seeds of doubt in the council, and Nova Fleet being hesitant to let the same mistake happen again. Jake Lancia returned to the Vergesso system with guaranteed assurance that the UIS would leave Trident to finish the fight without disturbance.

End of the War
P1-az’s militia managed to destroy the lunar fuel reserve which was the final nail in the coffin for the Loyalist fleets, with only a week or so of fuel supplies left inside the ships in orbit, all out war ensued between the Loyalist tribes and unfiltered battle covered the orbit around Vergesso.

The sabotage of the fuel depot caused Vergesso’s moon to destabilize the inner mantle, causing it to rip apart a large section of the moon. Massive planetary damage from the tidal shifts, which revealed the Aqua Vault shipyards from the ocean, occurred and Vergesso had a new lunar belt around it.

Jake Lancia lined up his final assault; the plan was to inspire a final run of defeats in the orbiting fleet and end the conflict with as little fighting as possible. A RedEagle fleet of 215 ships strong lead by the TRV Solaris entered the system, and joined the fleet lineup. The RedEagle forces were pumped with the promise of bloody conflict and glorious battle. The fleet entered Vergesso's orbit with the remaining ships standing down as they passed. Mass landing of joint forces on the planet's surface as well as relief efforts from blockade runners commenced. The ground forces patrolled the streets as worn out and tired Loyalist forces stood down without a fight.

P1-az and Jake Lancia linked up with an elite commando team from the Independent and stormed the Capitol building, met with little resistance and only droid guards defending the President. The President was located and refused to be arrested, the refusal caused him to be decapitated by P1-az with a nanoblade, after he tried to kill Jake Lancia. From the Capitol building, Lancia and P1-az opened a Trident-wide communication declaring Boris Tusk dead and the Revolutionary War to be over.

Legacy
With Boris Tusk dead, P1-az again temporarily assumed executive power while elections were quickly held for a new leader. The liberating NTS forces took over the duties from the former Tusk loyalists.

The war left the Vergesso system devastated, with the planet itself suffering catastrophic damage due to the loss of the moon, as well as the surface covered in wreckage and ruins. P1-az estimated that it would take ten years or more to clean up the surface and adapt to the loss of the moon.

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