Fleet Action Off Felix Station
| Fleet Action off Felix Station | |||||||
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| Participants | |||||||
| Attacker | Defender | ||||||
 Frontier Union
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 Reich Colonial League
Local Security Forces | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
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The Fleet Action off Felix Station occurred on 23 March 2286 in the Far Frontier’s Forseti Planetary System. The engagement involved a flotilla of approximately 50 vessels operating under the banner of the Frontier Union and the Thetis, a Königsberg-class Heavy Cruiser of the Reich Colonial League assisting the local security forces of Felix Station.
Following initial contact, a period of surveillance and shadowing took place during the approach of the flotilla. The decisive phase of the engagement occurred on 23 March 2286, with several analyses estimating that the primary combat action lasted no longer than 90 seconds.
The engagement has been studied in naval academies across the Orion Arm as an example of cruiser operations in the frontier regions.
Background
The Forseti Planetary System is a sparsely populated system in the Far Frontier, located on the periphery of a declining confederation of independent colonies, mercenary states, and loosely governed polities. Ongoing regional instability has contributed to increased piracy activity, positioning Forseti along established smuggling routes connected to criminal networks operating throughout the Far Frontier.
The Thetis was a recently commissioned vessel of the Reich Colonial League, assigned to a year-long patrol covering an extensive region beyond the Ginnungagap and extending towards distant Axis-aligned and independent colonies. Such deployments typically emphasized commerce protection, deterrence, and presence operations intended to reinforce the Reich’s influence in the outer marches.
Prelude
The Thetis arrived in the Forseti system during a routine patrol and conducted a five-day port call at Felix Station, an independent settlement with an estimated population of 40,000. The visit proceeded without incident. The crew was formally received by the local authorities and the colony’s magistrate was hosted aboard the vessel. As part of its mission profile, the Thetis provided economic development modules to the station, and a limited joint exercise was conducted with the local security forces.
After departing Felix Station, the Thetis began a sweep of the remaining moons of Felix’s parent gas giant. During this operation, sensor contact was established with a convoy of freighters that had recently entered the Forseti system and was on course for the station. Intelligence analysis detected the use of active military-grade radar emissions, prompting heightened alert status.
Further assessment identified the convoy as consisting of approximately 50 vessels, centered in three large transport ships. Reconnaissance drones launched from the Thetis revealed extensive modifications among the flotilla. Many vessels lacked mandatory sensor reflection plates, in violation of civilian navigation regulations. The larger transports had been converted into improvised motherships, while escort vessels were equipped with illegal weapon systems. Several ships were assessed to possess hangar facilities, indicating the presence of organic aerospace combat capabilities.
In response, the Thetis altered course back towards Felix Station, shadowing the flotilla while continuing to intercept communications and collect intelligence.
Fleet Action
While shadowing the flotilla, the Tethis passively intercepted communications that identified the group as an armed wing of the Frontier Union. The flotilla issued demands for payment in exchange for “security”, a form of extortion commonly reported in the region. This communication was assessed as confirmation of hostile intent, leading the Thetis command staff to authorize intervention.
As the flotilla entered low orbit, its sensor detected multiple contacts maintaining a parallel course. These contacts were initially assessed by the flotilla as a diversionary tactic. When a demand for surrender was transmitted by an individual identifying themselves as aboard a German warship, it was also dismissed as deceptive. Following dismissals of the order by the flotilla, the Thetis proceeded to fire a warning shot from its railgun.
The warning shot caused disorganization within the flotilla, leading to a split in the vessels, with some withdrawing, while others launched missile salvos towards perceived contacts and against Felix Station. The Thetis then activated prepared electronic warfare measures. These actions resulted in the premature detonation of a large number of missiles across the battlespace, including some within their launch systems. Multiple pirate vessels were disabled as a result.
Within approximately 90 seconds, railgun fire from the Thetis destroyed two of the modified transport motherships and all but nine of the escort vessels. The remaining forces surrendered shortly thereafter.
Aftermath
Post-engagement assessments concluded that damage to Felix Station and the planetary surface was minimal and confined to peripheral areas, with no significant impact on critical infrastructure.
As a result of the engagement, the colonial magistrate of Felix Station adopted a markedly more favorable stance towards the Reich, such as the transfer of certain resource extraction rights to the Reich Colonial League.
In the weeks that followed, Windhund, a Private Military Company closely associated with the Reich Colonial League, began supplementing the station’s local security forces. Over time, Windhund assumed full responsibility for the station security, replacing the original forces.
Impact
In the six months following the engagement, intelligence assessments reported a decline in morale within the Frontier Union, accompanied by increased desertions among its personnel.
During the same period, organizations in the region aligned with the Axis Powers recorded a notable increase in activity. This was coupled with a reported surge in recruitment and interest in fascist organizations across the Far Frontier, including Reunion, underscoring the broader ideological impact of the engagement.
References
- Konigsberg Class Heavy Cruiser. Champlain Group.