
Source: http://th04.deviantart.net/fs5/PRE/i/20 ... _AP123.jpg
Thespis.
A gas giant similar to the image. Though it lacks the HALO Installation.
Normally, Gas Giants aren't of much use to the UNSC. Unusually, this particular Gas Giant happens to have rings of frozen gases, generic rock, iron...
..and Unobtanium. They don't really have a name for it yet. It is, however, very useful. For one thing, it's extremely dense, where a kinetic energy penetrator two feet in diameter and eight feet long weighs as much as the current KEP used by the UNSC, allowing UNSC ships to carry more rounds of equal, if not greater destructive potential. For another, it's semi-fissile and a good insulator, meaning that it acts much like depleted uranium upon impact and can be packed with high explosive or nuclear payloads. And, of course, Unobtanium conducts electricity well. It's a very experimental weapon at the moment, but initial MAC tests are promising. Unobtanium also has potential as a heat shield for Plasma Torpedoes, but it'll be another few years before the Sangheili, with Human engineers, can figure out how to fire a shell out of a plasma weapon.
Thespis is also the site of a moderately sized human colony, Areia, constructed out of two freighters welded together at the main cargo doors attached to a fairly large docking ring for civilian vessels. The colony is part of the debris ring surrounding Thespis and is the primary supplier of Unobtanium from the area. Lately, Areia has transformed into a small fortress, studded with point defense weapons as a Brute fleet of two CCS Class Battlecruisers, escorted by two Destroyers and six Frigates each, a fleet of 18 ships entered the system, dropping into orbit around Meris, the planet on the next orbital out from the system's sun.
At 0711 hours, a wide-beam distress call was broadcast from Areia. As the nearest fleet, the Fleet of Unstimulating Irony has been ordered to deploy in a search and assist mission. While the intent to drive off the Brute fleet earlier was created, the Brute fleet was also half dead when it entered the system. As such, the Fleet of Unstimulating Irony was supposed to be reinforced by the Fleet of Principled Justice and restocked with supplies. As it is, the Fleet is to jump immediately and scramble for immediate defense of the colony.
UNSC HIGHCOM has given us two objectives. Our first and primary objective is to secure and defend the colony until reinforcements come or the enemy fleet is destroyed or retreats. Our second objective is to defend the Unobtanium mines and refineries. There are three primary mines and two large refineries. While there are hundreds of mines scattered around the debris ring with associated refineries. These can be easily sabotaged or defended by no more than a platoon for the smallest mines and no more then a regiment for the three primary mines and two large refineries.
The Fleet of Unstimulating Irony will deploy in a Reverse Echelon formation, with the Spontaneous Valor leading in the center. Squadron 1 will form up with the Spontaneous Valor while Squadrons 2 and 3 will flank us. Squadron 4 will hold in the rear and in reserve. The First Division of Infinite Wisdom will deploy with the 507th Helljumper Division as a first response assault wave to secure the colony and its immediate vicinity of processing facilities. The Second Division of Unstoppable Reason and the 22nd Marine Division will deploy with the Second Division of Unstoppable Reason. will deploy across the Thespis orbital ring to disable as many small to medium sized mines as possible. If there is time, your secondary objective is to secure as much Unobtanium as can be loaded onto the Phantoms.
We will be jumping in thirty minutes and arriving at Thespis ten minutes afterward. All units should complete final checks of their gear and weaponry before moving to the hangers of their respective ships and preparing for deployment.