by David Nash
The Kernel is not stupid; it only took dead punisher for our enemy to avoid the bow of our ship. They began to concentrate on our “spines," our destroyers were taking the brunt of the punishment while our fighters took out their smaller prey. It was at that point Sgt. Major Provo approached.
“Sir, permission to take the shuttles out for a spin?”
“This is a bad time for a joyride Sergeant Major!”
“Yes Sir. That is a very astute observation sir! A few dozers and I want to make a spacewalk, it’s getting loud in here with all the banging. We figure while we are out we can place a few SADMs on those Punishers.”
“Permission grants, but you have to stay here with me. If I can’t go, I can’t let you have all the fun. Take the Rams as backup, if the nukes don’t take out the ship let the ram fire a couple nuke penetrators into the holes. Make sure thy go slow enough to stay cloaked. Those shuttles are not designed as fighters.”
“Yes Sir!”
With that the Smage strode out of the room. If I know him, he already has the teams on board.
The ship shook, I started to ask for a report, when a corporal at the damage control station yelled “Sir, one of the assault ships took a hit, it broke in half.”
I was about to issue orders when the 1MC blared out its klaxon whistle. “Away Fire and Rescue Assault Ship Two. Away Fire and Rescue Assault Ship Two.” Then after a momentary pause the pipe sounded again. “All assault ships away. All Assault Ships away.”
Technically that call should have been mine, but the Captain is fighting the ship, so I let it go. In all actuality I should have given the order for the assault ships to back out of the fight myself, and maybe Assault Ship 2 would not be destroyed.
It was chaos, Cold Vengeance was firing torpedoes out like corn popping in the stove, our destroyers were fighting, but we were outnumbered and we were taking losses. 6 of our 10 destroyers were destroyed or not mission capable by the time our fighters finished with the saucers.
The battle turned, the aggressive tactics of the small fighters was a sight to see. They lost 30 fighters in the first phase of the battle, now they broke off into three groups. Each group targeted a single Punishment ship and swarmed it like African Army Ants. Our 2 man fighters swamped the punishers and fired the rail guns designed to be used against guardian ships. The fighters took enormous casualties, but in doing so they killed their targets. The Kernel battleships could not withstand 75 repeated hits from our fighter’s rail guns, especially when some of them contained nuclear munitions inside.
Sergeant Major Provo took the liberty of modifying his orders as well; he kicked most of the legionaries off the shuttles and used the shuttles to help recover soldiers from the broken assault ship. His rams stayed in the battle though, as a group of four silent predators they approached one of the more aggressive Punishment Ships. While it was focused on firing at RPS Cold Vengeance it did not notice a Wolfpack angling for its rear. When all four buses fired a series of a normal rail gun rounds followed by a nuclear munition the last third of the ship disintegrated from 8 well placed shots. The bus team repeated a similar performance one more and the space above Sangren was firmly under human hands.
Only 131 of the original 320 fighters remained operable, but those that were took up screaming positions as the motherships formed a protective cage around the remains of Assault ship 2. Sgt. Major Provo lead Dozer’s in EVA operations to rescue the legionaries from the Volunteer Brigade that were trapped in damaged drop ships or floating in space.
Our only saving grace is that we knew we were going into battle, so all the Legionaries were in combat suits. Most of the conscious were able to self-rescue, however they stayed to use their boarding paste to cut through and reach their brothers trapped in the mangled drop ships. All told we lost 50 infantry, nearly a full company.
While the Captain focused on the rescue, I have all destroyers and assault shops begin orbital bombardment. We focused on the areas with high Kernel communications traffic, but we did not stop there. From a high geosynchronous orbit, the Legion walked kinetic strikes across the landscape to ensure that no kernel pretense remained. When we were done the Planet of Sangren was not fit for occupation. It will take a couple years for the debris kicked into the atmosphere to totally settle and allow rebuilding to begin.
We are not going to wait that long. Per our plan, as soon as the battle was over and our rescue operations secured, I sent a modified fighter back to Earth. It contained out battle damage reports and a signal for President Eastman to send a team to begin to claim Sangren.
After seeding the orbit of Sangren with Kernel detection satellites and setting up a communications relay network, we jumped to Cecrops as our plan stated.
39
Orbit over Cecrops: RPS Cold Vengeance Briefing Room
…”After the battle we sent down a command team to assist the Barkun recover, but instead of requesting help they requested to join the Legion in order to bring retribution to the Kernel.
I had a hyperspace fighter take a message to you and President Eastman, as that decision is out of my pay-grade. What we have been doing is harvesting the mass from all the derelict ships in orbit. Of course we have been very careful to ensure no live programming came in contact with our ships. No one would want to lose our Fortress the same way we got them.” Commander Baumgarter stated.
“No Captain, they would not.” I said, looking for a response from the seconds ago former Commander. “How far are you from completion of Operation Blue Harvest?”
“As mercenary as it sounds, the battle actually helped us; we had almost reached the limit of conversion using the mass we had on hand. I was searching for methods to covertly mine for more mass. Now that we have a close supply of material, we are actually ahead of schedule. Our internal modifications are complete on all 6 fortresses. All we lack is the external remodeling, namely cladding over the existing armor with gravity plates and its armored covering. If we were able to use the manpower present in the two battle cruisers, we could conceivably be done in two months.”
I look at Admirals Stephens and Morse. “Both nod. Morse looks at Stephens and says, “Sir, besides the bridge crews and the damage control teams repairing our own damage, we stand ready to load the Captain as many of our crew as he needs.”
The Expeditionary Force Commanders Rear Admiral’s Sohn and Bradley also volunteered their troops. Sohn came from the South Korean Marines and was a notoriously stringent commander. He volunteered that the Legionaries in Fleet Expeditionary Force 2 would love the challenge of the constant EVA exercise.
I doubt they would LOVE the challenge, but I knew they would rise to it.
Orbit over Cecrops: RPS George Washington Briefing Room
One standard Earth month later I had transferred my flag to the Orbital Fort that Captain Baumgarter used as his command post. As a reward I not only promoted him, but I sent him back to Earth to debrief and then head to Sedna to help put on that operation.
I have been having fun creating the naming scheme for our Legion ships. I have been naming the Battle Cruisers after the Movies of John Wayne, mostly because I like them, but also he shot at least 78 movies, and only died in 7. When we run out of John Wayne, I may go with Clint Eastwood, although there is a rumor that I may use Keanu Reeves movie titles. I know that as a young private I would have fought to serve on “the Excellent Adventure”.
Joking aside, I decided to name the Battle Stars after famous revolutionaries, commies not included. Of the 6 we have the first, my flagship and the home to the fighting 1st Division. I believe it is named appropriately as it christened the RPS George Washington. Followed in order is the upcoming Battle Stars are to be named:
•RPS William Wallace
•RPS Yuanzhang
•RPS Spartacus
•RPS Simón Bolívar
•RPS Boudica
The Battle for Cecrops was pretty devastating, since we locked out weapons from their replicators; they were for
ced to attack the ridden Barkun with hand tools and teeth. It was a revolution similar to what happened in the Warsaw Ghetto in WWII. A Barkun used a weapon the ambush a ridden. They earned a better weapon and turned the original back to the resistance.
That worked in the limited confines of a human occupation force, but with the Kernel it was suicide. Of the Barkun on their Home-world, only 3 million survived the occupation and subsequent bombardment.
Since the Battle Stars have berthing for an occupation force consisting of 2 additional divisions, it was decided to cram all the surviving Barkun into our ships and, for all intents and purposes, abandon the planet. Just as we did for McCall and New Aubagne, like those ‘strategic abandonments’, we did leave a small detachment of Engineers and supported infantry to burrow into the planet’s crust and build defenses, much like I did on New Aubagne. We were coming back, but if we were to take on Kernel Prime we couldn’t to divide our forces to protect multiple worlds.
The Barkun were packed on all the battle stars except 1 and three and sent back to Earth.
Battle Star one would protect Earth. 4 would sit at the Dome Port and await its two supporting Battle Cruiser Groups.
Five and Six would do the same at the Oort cloud, except five would stay on to protect our secret logistics base.
Within a two year window, we would have two Battle Star Groups protecting Earth, and four available to attack Kernel Prime. If estimates prove accurate Sedna will also be 80% mission capable and able to replace the two Battle Star groups over Earth, allowing a full blockade of Kernel Prime. Once we look down the Kernels, the Biologics can return to their planets and commence the process of rebuilding.
For that to happen though, Battle Star Group one, and Battle Star three will begin the process of liberating the Barkun planets that were relatively uninvolved in the plot against Earth. We figure that all the exiled Enforcer planets are fully ridden due to their high percentage of implanted individuals. We will orbitally bombard them just as we did the Planet Sangren.
40
Transit to Paopeus: RPS George Washington, TOC Briefing Room
Alright commanders, we are about to liberate the former Barkun world of Paopeus. It has had a rough occupation, as there was no-one there to prevent a full Kernel assault. Intel says that there is a resistance, but it is losing ground quickly.
We are going to hit hard, fast, and strike the 3 Hive minds we have identified from Orbit and rescue the remaining free willed Barkun.
Any Questions?”
I look around the room at the assembled brass. Rear Admiral Upper Half Whitemoore is standing to my left, The Rear Admirals commanding the two Battle Stars, RPS George Washington and RPS Yuanzhang are joining us via screens, as they were on the Bridge of their respective ships. The two Cruiser Force commanders, Rear Admirals Morse and Hunter, CAGs, as well as the Infantry FEF and Brigade Commanders were all seated around the briefing table before me.
I see no questions so I finessing the meeting on a positive.
“Gentlemen, this is the most powerful armada humanity has ever possessed. I do not expect light resistance; however, we have faced much greater odds and achieved victory. We want to save any surviving Barkun, but I do not want anyone to take unnecessary chanced. The Big Bad is still out there, and we need to preserve out men and machines as much as possible. Understood?”
“Yes Sir!” echoed around the room.
“Good, now go out and motivate your troops and leads them to victory!”
Once again the room was filled with muted oorahs, hooahs, hooyahs, yut-yuts, and all other manner of nonsense words military minds created to build comradery and esprit de corps. I admit, I don’t bark much, but I do prefer a good old USMC oorah to all other made up phrases.
Now dismissed, the officers break into groups as they finish any last minute discussions and head back to their assigned ships.
I am left in my briefing room just outside of my TOC. Admiral Whitemoore remained. Alan is standing unobtrusively in the corner.
“General, may I have a word?” The Admiral requests
“Of course, Reginald, what do you need?”
“As this is our first engagement together, what role do you expect of me during the battle?”
“Ah, never one to mince words I see. I will return the question. Whose ship is this?”
“Yours, sir?”
“Hell Admiral, they are all mine. I gave you the Battle Star, and its group. Doctrine suggests that a commodore runs the fleet, and lets the captain of the ship fight their ship, even if the commodore has moved its flag to the ship. That’s how it is on the Cruiser forces is it not?”
“Yes sir, but this is not a cruiser force.”
“No, it is not. As I see it, Doctrine is done this way to free the Commodore from having to maneuver his ship, thus freeing him up to fight the larger battle. However, I don’t see a monster the size of a Battle Star being used in Maneuver warfare; it’s more of a fort that can jump into battle. A Battle Star is the anvil; your Cruiser Forces are hammers. Can you fight the ship and manage your two Cruiser Force Commanders at the same time?”
“Yes sir, I believe I can.”
“Well then, consider me a VIP onboard then. Fight the battle according to your best judgement to get me what I want. That frees me up to play infantry soldier if the need arises.”
“Yes General!” Admiral Whitemoore salutes and leaves my briefing room.
He is a great administrator and a good man, but I think he lacks a little killer instinct. The battle will tell.
I turn toward Alan. “You have been quiet, I know it has been busy lately, and we are about to go into battle, but I want to build a relationship with you as I had with our father. I know you are not him, but I miss him very much.”
“I would like that as well, but our relationship is not the reason why we have not spoken. My processors have been busy calculating. Our success is not logical. We should have faced heavier resistance. The advantages brought by breaking the Kernel carrier signal are too obvious for the Kernel not to have reasoned they are compromised.”
“So, what do you suggest Alan?”
“General Davis, I would suggest caution. I do not have enough data to extrapolate likely Kernel actions, but I conclude that we are not seeing the entire picture.”
“Very well Alan, Please keep me apprised of your calculations. I consider your work to be of the highest priority.”
Great, I think to myself, my gut feelings just kicked into overdrive. However, it is better the Commander get an ulcer, than a legionnaire getting a body bag.
With that thought the Klaxon sounded, the lights went red, and my Battle Star Commander’s voice piped through the main channel intercom. “General Quarters, General Quarters, We will be transiting directly into battle in 2 minutes. All hands prepare for Battle!”
My thoughts heavy, I leave the Briefing room and head into the Tactical Operations Center.
I watch on the screens as we leave hyperspace. The void above Paopeus was clear, with no visual indication of Kernel warships. The planet looked very similar to Earth from space; it had great expanses of blue oceans with two huge continents bringing some green into the wide blue orb. The beauty was deceiving, as I knew Kernel ships were there, they were just cloaked as we were.
It took discipline to stand silent and observe my Admiral running the show. I forced myself to stand immobile with a neutral expression plastered in cement over my features. It would do no good for the crew to see me as anything other than 100% supportive of their Commander.
“Sensors, give me numbers and plots! Locate those cloaked Kernels!” Admiral Whitemoore ordered.
“On screen now sir. We have 10 punishers and 50 saucers in orbit, the rest of the system scans show clear.”
To the Cruiser force commanders, the Admiral ordered” Cruisers target those punishers, let’s clear out the system before hitting the planet.”
To the Commander of his Battle Star Air Group he said
“Commander, Keep half your birds in reserve on ready one status in case we have a surprise, but launch the rest and remove those fighters!”
Whitemoore’s crew were well trained, he had worked drills with them until the ran like clockwork. You could feel the tension and excitement, but they kept their emotions in check as they followed his orders exactly.
The battle was anticlimactic, a single cruiser group had won against larger forces, add two and two battle stars, and it was a done deal. The orbital bombardment also was text book. Nothing survives a kinetic strike from something as large as a battle star. We could have destroyed the planet if we had desired.
The only bad thing was the number of survivors. Only 250,000 Barkun survived from a former planetary population of nearly 6 billion.
Upon debriefing the survivors, we learned that the Kernel took many of the ridden and the majority of their fleet away from this system, but obviously no one knew where. I think we need another command meeting, this time with the lab coats. Alan is on to something, I just can’t see what the problem is, which, is new for me. Up to this point the Legion has always been fully aware of the playing field; we just needed to find the solution. It has been our key to success. Frankly I am concerned.
41
Colony Ship
“Brace for impact!” Comms yells to the Bridge Crew.
I try to get a warning broadcast ship wide, but there was no time, we jumped right into a collection of space debris.
A ship comes out of Hyperspace at the velocity it enters, which was out only saving grace. At any speed the collisions with what we later determined to be former Kernel Ships would have been disastrous. As it was the colony ship still took massive damage.
