by T J Bryan
Ana double checked her position for Ragnarök as she orbited Borneo. Ragnarök would remain obscured by the second planet of Cranmore for another two weeks. As standing procedure called for, she loaded 12 of her tubes with 'K's and the 12 others with casters. She knew that her SARs would load a similar mix on their four tubes. In addition, the SARs were only a short distance, from and directly behind the entry point, and with some manoeuvring their plasma cannons might be brought to bear as well.
The hours passed. The OCN usually sent passive probes through a portal two hours before entry. This allowed their ships to ping the probes upon entry and immediately receive a systems status report without having to wait an hour for a scan to tell them what was in system. Megra at Wu seemed to have waited six hours and then some. Why they might wait longer she did not know, but she was prepared for their entry at any moment. However with the two SARs well placed behind the portals they quickly took out the Megra probes. Let the Megra enter blind thought Ana.
Ana had gone to a split screen on her vids. One for Osaka and one for Pope Leo. The visuals were relayed from a station she had posted on the far side of Borneo and the image was rather clear and precise. Additionally passive probes at both portals provided an excellent view of any entry, that is until the mines began to detonate. Along side the visuals on the vid screen were a list of statistics or each portal including a mine count.
Ana sat in her Captain's chair and again found herself chewing the inside of her cheek. Silly me, she thought. And then without warning the portal at Osaka flickered and then flashed a brilliant white.
"Incoming Osaka, Dumbbell." called out Lydia Kárason on defense. "She seems to have hit the minefield. Fully destroyed."
Ana stopped chewing her cheek and looked at the status board for Osaka. The sudden energy output indicated the destruction of the incoming ship. The mines seemed to have caught the Megra unaware or uncaring. Ana did not know which, but within the hour she knew quiet well.
She called for a replay of the destruction of the Megra ship as it entered the minefield. The ship was a dumbbell and one of the older unreinforced variety encountered prior to the Fourth Battle of Wu. Upon entry the dumbbell applied maximum speed and accelerated directly into the mine field. There was no way they could not have seen destruction lying immediately before them. Ana actually saw, in the relay from the portal monitor, the front sphere impact several mines which immediately detonated. A small chain reaction followed as nearby mines felt the plasma wave and followed with detonations. The entire foreword sphere of the dumbbell simply fragmented and as momentum carried the rear engine sphere forward it too hit several mines, and as the engines lost their containment the entire ship was engulfed in plasma. Ana looked at the mine count on her status board. The Megra had traded one dumbbell for 32 mines. There were 468 mines left at the portal.
Within ten minutes another brilliant flash occurred at Osaka and another dumbbell was reduced to plasma and dust. The doomed ship took out 44 mines. This was followed moments later by a third and then a fourth explosion which together eliminated 102 mines. Ana knew that when ships traveled in line though a tunnel there was no way to notify the following ships that danger awaited at the entry point. Nothing happened in the tunnel, and only when you exited into normal space would you know that those who preceded you were safe or dead. But in this case the Megra seemed not to care. The Megra had clearly learned of OCN mines at the Fourth Battle of Wu and here at Cranmore they were barreling through regardless of the price. Ana realized this was going to be a major Megra fleet invasion.
Ana kept an eye on the Pope Leo portal. Simultaneous fleet actions were very hard to coordinate, and in space almost impossible. If the Megra had assumed they might exit both portals at the same time they were in for a shock as the universe rarely allowed for exact timing.
No less than seven dumbbells sacrificed themselves on clearing a path through the minefield before the Osaka portal. With a clear path, and the seeker mines fully expended, the eighth dumbbell passed successfully through the cloud of debris and wreckage of its' fellows.
Brynhildr immediately put two 'K's into the propulsion end of the ship and she staggered. Eight seconds later another two 'K's slammed into the connector and the ship separated and began a slow dance of death. Ana noted that the connectors were of the older thin and more vulnerable design. Takes time to upgrade a fleet she thought. Brynhildr began to move closer the portal to bring its' plasma cannons to bear.
As she awaited yet another dumbbell's destruction at the Osaka portal, the first ship entered from Pope Leo. The destruction was the same. The ship hit the minefield without concern for it's survival and five more followed all ending in fiery death. As much as Ana wanted to feel good she knew that such a waste of ships could only mean one thing. The Megra had more than enough ships to waste in order to capture Cranmore.
Brynhildr continued to destroy incoming Dumbbells from Osaka with a regularity that seemed to be nothing less than an automated meat grinder. A dumbbell would enter at a dead stop and before any speed could be obtained Brynhildr began pumping 'K's into the aft portion of the ship where its' engines provided little protection. Ana was simply at a loss for words at the carnage visited upon the Megra fleet. Much the same occurred at the Pope Leo exit as Hilda hammered each ship as they entered. One ship that Brynhildr had hit somehow managed to move forward, but Brynhildr wishing to preserve 'K's, unleashed her plasma cannon from a distance which was insufficient to cause destruction, however the ship was weakened by the prior 'K' hit and when the weak plasma stream danced across the ship it simply vaporized and then a brilliant white flash followed and the vid screens attenuated. One of the dumbbell's anti mater torpedoes must have detonated and as the vid screen recovered full vision Ana could see that Brynhildr has sustained damage. She was venting plasma from one of her engines. Brynhildr had stayed well away from the kill zone of a torpedo, but in her enthusiasm to save 'K's and use her plasma cannons she had ventured inside the damage zone of a Megra torpedo.
Eirik Njall, recently promoted to Captain of Brynhildr from the Greenland defence position, notified Ana that they had lost one engine, but that the damage was contained and they were fully battle worthy. Ana was relieved, but battle damage was never simple and often in the intensity of a fight problems were missed or ignored. She noticed Brynhildr pull a bit farther away from the portal as the next doomed ship entered.
An hour had passed and twenty two dumbbells had been sent to their doom. Ana thought to herself this could not continue. Either the Megra would deplete their ships or some other stratagem would reveal itself in some unexpected way. And it did.
At Osaka one of the modified dumbbells entered and although Brynhildr hit her connector repeatedly with 'K's the dumbbell continued forward. She was venting some plasma from her engine sphere, but Ana knew she was still battle capable. She was followed by a second and then a third of the modified ships. Brynhildr hammered each ship upon entry but her previous success was prevented by the new more heavily armored ships of the Megra. The three modified dumbbells paused and turned toward Brynhildr and fired missiles. Once again they were the slow missiles with a very slow cycle time, but the three ships presented a real danger to Brynhildr. One of the dumbbells began streaming mines which Ana suspected were of the swarming type. Ana watched as Brynhildr disengaged and began to run away from the portal. This was in accordance with the pre plan for the defence of Cranmore. Brynhildr would, Ana knew, move laterally on GWP, perhaps outrunning the slow missiles, and within six hours return to stage for further attacks from the far side of Borneo. As Ana watched she knew that Brynhildr's run would be close. As the streaming mines began to coalesce Brynhildr fired two 'K's and two casters at the forming cluster of mines. The casters were a bit too close to inflict major damage but the impact resulted in a horrific explosion as a chain reaction among the swarming mines took place. The more heavily armored dumbbell which had unleashed the mines was engulfed in the explosion and although
still intact the dumbbell veered off and appeared to have lost flight control. Upon closer examination Ana noticed an enormous breach in her frontal armor that for a moment streamed atmosphere. The streaming atmosphere slowly diminished, not from damage control Ana realized, but from being completely vented. She was certain the crew was dead or dying as the ship simply drifted off into the void.
Without waiting she saw Hilda take the same course of action as she fled away from the emerging and better armored dumbbells.
Ana was pleased at the damage done, but she knew there was far, far more to come. This was a do or die assault by the Megra and they would certainly fight to their death or to the death of the OCN.
"How long till Brynhildr and Hilda can join us here behind Prince?" Ana asked Lydia Kárason.
Lydia worked her station board. "We can expect Brynhildr in about six hours 24 minuets at her best speed. Hilda only 12 minutes behind."
Ana sat back in her chair. "Half watch. Two hour intervals. Get some food folks. This is going to be a long fight."
Ana left the bridge and returned to her tiny quarters and lay down in her bunk. She stared at the status board and vids that hung above the bunk and reviewed in her mind the actions to date. At this point they had taken out 24 dumbbells and heavily damaged another three of the older type. They had even damaged three of the new more heavily armored dumbbells, but they had only put one out of action.
And to this moment the Megra had not used their primary offensive weapon, the anti-matter torpedo. But with a fleet of the size Ana feared she would eventually face the probability that they would finally unleash the powerful weapons was almost a certainty. If they separated and approached her ships from many different directions then casters would be of little help. Only time will tell thought Ana.
As Ana thought through the action to date she found herself pleased that she still retained her advantage. None of her ships had revealed the presence of their few anti-matter torpedoes. And with those torpedoes she knew that victory or defeat would hang in the balance.
Ana remained lying in her bunk for over two hours. She really wanted to be on the bridge, but all the information she really needed was displayed above her bunk. She wanted her crew to get some rest and if they saw her on the bridge they would also remain. So she chose to pretend to get some sleep.
After another half hour she re-entered the bridge. The crew seemed to have ignored the half watch instruction and all were present.
"How many ships have entered," she asked. Ana already knew the answer from watching the status monitor above her bunk, but it seemed appropriate to ask. After all she had been 'sleeping.'
Lydia responded, "We have six of the new ones out of Pope Leo and another seven out of Osaka. They seem to be proceeding at a rather slow pace and it looks like they are forming a combined fleet. The total fleet count is now 31 ships. 17 of the new more heavily armored type and 14 of the older. Six ships, three of the older and three of the newer, the damaged ones that is, appear to have formed a small group and remained close to the New Holland exit portal."
Ana asked, "If those damaged ships try to run for New Holland how long to make the portal."
"They are not moving at this time and estimating their speed with the damage they have taken is difficult. Each ship is different but most were hit by 'K's in their engine spheres. But if I assume they were not damaged at all, then it would take them about six hours to make New Holland. Now we know the new ships are slower with all that armor therefore we might see them make the portal in considerably longer time frame. But really that is only a guess."
Thirty one ships remained alive in system, but only 25 appeared combat ready.
"Any of those Giant Maws?"
"No." replied Lydia.
Ana knew that in any organized fleet of this size there must be a command ship and she also knew that an Admiral's ego demanded a huge ship. It was only a matter of time before one of the 'Great Maw of the Eating Dragon' would appear in Cranmore space.
She did not have to wait long.
"Incoming. Pope Leo. It's big. Must be a Great Maw." called out Lydia.
"And the rest of the undamaged fleet?" asked Ana.
"They seem to have formed a tight formation and have stopped moving inward as if they are awaiting the Great Maw."
Ana smiled for the first time in hours. The Megra were waiting and consolidating.
"How long for the Great Maw to reach the combined fleet?"
Lydia performed some calculations. "At her current speed at least eight hours. That big thing is moving rather slowly."
"Give me an 'M' scan on that big mouth."
A few moments later Lydia responded, "Scan complete."
Ana asked, "How many dirty Hitti engines on the big mouth?"
Lydia looked down at her station board. "Eighteen. I count sixteen."
"Are your sure?" asked Ana realizing too late that asking such a question might be an insult to Lydia.
"Yes mam. I'm positive."
Ana found herself speaking out loud without intending to. "Well that tub must fly as fast as an olive in aspic. She has the mass of nine dumbbells and only the engines of three or four."
"Indeed sir," replied Lydia.
Ana thought a moment. "And if they wait for the big mouth and then proceed inward toward Cranmore at the big mouth's best speed how long before they reach us?"
Lydia did some calculations before responding. "At least 49 hours plus or minus two."
And a fleet sails only as fast as its' slowest ship Ana thought. Here was their advantage. If the Megra chose to approach Cranmore slowly and in a dense formation Ana might have a chance at striking a killing blow. If the Megra separated and approached her three ships from separate directions her ships were doomed. Time to stand down the crew for rest she thought. This was going to be a long fight.
Chapter One Hundred Eleven
Wu System - Holgata Station - Year 3248 October 13 ET 04:41
Toni Hamilton had had a miserable nights' sleep. Her arm was in excruciating pain, and even after removing the prosthetic appendage of titanium and servos, the arm still hurt. A ghost pain for a ghost arm she thought. Unable to sleep she rose early, showered, reattached the prosthetic, and walked the short distance from her small quarters to her larger office just off the bridge of Holgata Station.
Lars Ulf was sitting at his post on defence and Paul Sanofi was on weapons. As Toni entered the bridge she took a look at the status board. All was quiet.
The SAR Eir had spent the evening laying more mines at the entry from Hsi and was headed back toward her assigned patrol position above and behind the entry portal from Severan. The Crusher New Kara with Silvi Karrlson had only recently undocked from Holgata Station following a short shore leave. Toni looked at the status board's other ship dispersal information. Hirst with Tom Baxter as Captain was already at the Severan portal and had been there for days. Hildeberg with Buddy Brunner was currently docked at Wu Station and taking on supplies. And one of the recently repaired SARs from Jamon, the Gunnr, with her green crew, but seasoned captain in 'Old Man' Marx had arrive two days before. Toni was glad to see OM Marx had been given a new ship, and equally happy that he had accepted the assignment. Missing was the Destructor Ragnarök which Abel had sent to Cranmore. She had been worried that Abel might dispatch the Crusher New Kara on the Cranmore assignment but her worries had proven unnecessary, however she did feel the loss of Ragnarök. Kata Park with Göndul had left four weeks ago on a patrol of the New Carthago knot line and was due to return any moment.
The status board looked good, but Toni knew she simply did not have enough resources to defend Wu system should the Megra launch the kind of attack that had happened at Xitang. Her greatest concern was of the new dreadnought class ship the Xitang had called the 'Great Maw of the Eating Dragon.' A ship of that size and its' unusual configuration was not built just to satisfy an Admiral's desire for the biggest ship in the fleet. There must be a reason for its' size and t
hat reason must be deadly.
Toni fetched a cup of coffee and sat at her desk. Her arm was really beginning to hurt. Toni did not believe in premonitions, but somehow the ghost pain in the ghost arm was always worst when the Megra were near. She quickly dismissed the thought, but the pain remained.
Greenland had been due for a short stop on her return from Cranmore before venturing home, and she was already three days overdue, but Toni was not worried. The Cranmore construction project had included a lot of flexibility in its' schedule and she would not begin to be concerned until Greenland was more than two weeks out. Besides she realized this was Abel's problem. As Area Commander of the Wu System Toni had become, in the last few months, intensely focused on her small part of human space.
Toni's one calming thought was that she now had twenty powerful anti-matter torpedoes in system. She had kept only two on board Holgata. The station was immobile and while she might fare well in an initial attack, any sustained attack by a mobile fleet would spell the orbital station's doom. Two other torpedoes she had assigned to Wu Station itself. Captain Smilot was delighted at the receipt of the two torpedoes. The remainder of 16 went on to her flotilla. Two each to her six SARs and ten to the Crusher New Kara. However before the transfer she had insisted that each captain fully understand that the torpedoes were only to be used in desperation. The Megra did not know that the OCN had such weapons, and that if their availability was known by the Megra they might well change tactics. The greatest hope Toni had was that the Megra, when they attacked, and she knew they would, might well fall into a formation that allowed a few well placed anti-matter torpedoes to take the entire fleet out.
Toni finished her coffee and stood. She was considering taking a pill for the pain, however ghost pain never responded to medication, so she simply went for more coffee.
Given the time of morning and nothing much to do she began to read local dispatches from her ships. She quickly glanced at the report from Eir on its' mine laying assignment from the night patrol. The Hsi portal was already heavily mined but Eir had successfully placed another 80 seeker mines bringing the total up to 380. The probability of an attack by Megra from that portal was very small, but they had already placed more than a thousand mines at Severan, and as more mines were delivered from Jamon they simply shuffled them into whatever remaining space they had. All mined portal entrances now had full warning beacons as the Megra certainly knew the portals were mined, but some new system seeking trade or contact for the first time might well be surprised.
