Alex Douglas

Alex Douglas
Character Profile
Rank Admiral

Alex Douglas was given command of Task Force CRONUS from Operation SCOUR.[1]

History[edit]

Titan[edit]

The remaining three ships of the Ice Storm Star were assigned to Task Force CRONUS during the planning for the assault on Terra itself and were joined by the Conqueror-class carrier CSR Ark Royal; CRONUS was a predominantly-Clan naval force consisting of fourteen assorted WarShips[2] under the overall command of Admiral Alex Douglas, and was charged with the neutralization of the Blakists' Titan Yards. While viewed by many as a relatively easy precursor for the heavy fighting to come, Titan was the seat of the Word's WarShip and aerospace production and maintenance facilities in the Terran system, and was equipped with a fully functional Caspar II Drone network and a number of the deadly "Dragon's Breath" Multiple Capital Missile Launch Systems.[1]

Jumping into a Pirate Point near the yards, with the Lyran and Draconis Combine WarShips serving as reserve command ships and the Clan forces split into two naval "Stars," one consisting of the Ghost Bears and Ravens, the other the Jade Falcons and Wolves, the Coalition forces came under attack almost immediately. Initially facing waves of manned and drone aerospace fighters and long-range missile attacks, the Coalition ships soon came under fire from a horde of manned and drone Pocket WarShips, as well as the Essex-class destroyer WoBS Deathblow, the Dante-class frigate WoBS Narbonne, and the Suffren-class destroyer WoBS Manchester—three Com Guard WarShips salvaged by the Blakists from unsuccessful Case WHITE attack on Terra.[1]

The Blue Quest and the Congress-class CJF Green Lantern were destroyed during the height of the initial Caspar drone assault, but the Coalition forces were able to steadily advance on the shipyard's facilities, with the Tatsumaki-class destroyer DCS Lair of Mighty Wyrms and the Ghost Bear Dominion Leviathan II-class battleship CGB Great Bear able to get their fighters within striking distance of the main Aerospace docks. Unfortunately, what appeared to be the crippled remains of an ore processing facility was in fact the Blakists' attempt to take their Q-Ship concept to the next level, with a "Dragon's Breath" multi-missile station unleashing multiple waves of nuclear-tipped and ECM-equipped Peacemaker missiles at virtually point-blank range, overwhelming and destroying the mighty Great Bear in moments. With the Coalition continuing its assault, the Sovetskii Soyuz-class heavy cruiser CJF Hawker fell prey to another hidden station, while the Corvidae and the Black Lion-class battlecruiser CWS Stealthy Kill succumbed to continued Caspar drone group attacks.[1][3]

Whilst ultimately successful and providing valuable experience for the assault around Terra, Task Force CRONUS paid a heavy price. The battle for the Titan yards lasted a little over four hours and at least half a dozen ships were destroyed with the survivors all having suffered heavy damage. Hopes were totally dashed that ships of the CRONUS task force would be able to assist those of Task Force EARTHBOUND for the assault on Terra.[1]

Notes[edit]

It is unknown under what nation Alex Douglas trained or served prior to the Jihad. Douglas is not a known Clan Bloodname, so he is likely not of Clan stock.

References[edit]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, pp. 97–99
  2. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 95: "Classified: Eyes Only - Top Secret"
  3. Jihad Hot Spots: Terra, p. 97: "Highest Honor"

Bibliography[edit]