Star Crusader: Hero of the Alliance

by Michael G. Thomas

  One of those places is mine!

  He took a deep breath, and then checked the navigation orb just below the forward view. Though the contest was to decide his own particular fate, he was also well aware the simulation could not be a success without working together. On his own, he could do little to turn the tide of battle. This was no minor skirmish. It was the final battle of the Biomech War, and both sides had marshalled every resource to win it. The rest of Hornet Squadron was necessary for his own safety, as well as to provide the firepower to create any realistic change in the fight. Ultimately, only the heavy capital ships could win this fight, and if his squadron did their part, it was all possible.

  We won this battle in 2463 AD, and I can do it again. I just need to keep my head, and make sure the capital ships can do their job.

  Even as Nate considered the ultimate goal, it reminded him that there was one major threat to the Alliance ships, the dreaded Biomantas. These massive cruiser class ships were fast, tough, and built specifically to engage and destroy ships of their class and larger. The mission scenario was relatively vague, but the briefing had been very clear about the danger posed by these powerful cruisers. His squadron had been specifically tasked with keeping them occupied, and the only reason why the fighters still carried their torpedoes.

  "This is it Hornet Squadron. Stay close and follow me."

  Nate pointed the nose of his heavy fighter at the swirling maelstrom directly ahead, a terrifying tear in space-time known as the Black Rift. It was a wormhole that connected directly to the home world of the invincible Biomechs. The ancient race had been dormant for so long that most had thought them little more than a myth. Now their armadas of ships and millions of warriors were running amok, burning cities, and overrunning world after world. A prophecy had told how this was the beginning of the end, but Nate refused to believe that. He focussed his attention on the groups of ships coming through the tear in space-time and made his plans.

  We can win this. I know we can.

  For the first time in living memory, it was open, and the Biomechs were surging through to bring an end to the devastating Biomech War that the alliance of races was losing, and losing badly. If they won, the Biomechanical monsters would take the worlds of the Helions, and then spread out to conquer every one of their neighbours. It would be the beginning of the end for all life in the known galaxy. The dawn of a new Dark Age, and there was no way Nate would let that happen.

  This is it.

  Every ship near the Black Rift lay smashed and burning, and still the enemy came through. The Biomechs advanced so callously through the Rift that they smashed their way through friend and foe alike, no matter the risks to their own craft. There was only so much space at the Black Rift, and anything that got in their way was paying the ultimate price.

  He activated his primary weapons and then flipped off the safety on his guns. Compared to the enemy, his fighter seemed puny, but he had a job to do, and like his wingmen, he was not going to stop until they were victorious.

  "Watch for hostiles. The next wave will come through any moment now. Get ready."

  There had been twelve of them at the start of the battle, but the first wave of Biomech fighters had taken their toll. At their flanks moved two more squadrons of the lighter twin-engine Lightning interceptors.

  Another burst of bright blue lightning crackled through the Rift, and from the centre of the whirlpool emerged the nose of a single massive ship. The vessel was as big as a mountain and moved through slowly, while dozens of smaller capital ships hung close to its flanks.

  "I've got contacts. Looks like a Rift Engine and escorts," said Nate.

  Reports had already arrived of the massive ship, but this was the first time in the battle that one had appeared. According to the brief, the Rift Engine was a construction designed to stabilise the Rift back to the enemy's homeworld. Once its work was complete, there would be no way to hold back the limitless resources of the enemy. Only half of the vessel emerged, with the remainder on the other side of space, deep inside the enemy's territory.

  "Hornet Squadron, this is Hornet Leader. We have our targets. Let's clear a path for the heavies."

  The fighter-bombers were optimised to attack small to medium ships, but with such numbers, they had just enough firepower to deal with one or two of the larger ships. While the Lightning fighters took on the enemy fighters, they would do their part to help the capital ships do theirs. A quick movement of his retina selected a pair of the mighty Biomanta cruiser class warships. Though short in length, their wingspan gave them the appearance of the large cartilaginous fishes known as Manta Rays on Earth. The Biomechanical hulls made them almost impossible to scan, and they moved as quickly as frigates.

  "Break and engage, I repeat. Break and engage."

  The large formation of fighter-bombers split apart into two smaller groups, just as more flashes appeared around them. Scores more Alliance ships arrived nearby, as the last group of warships arrived from throughout the sector. Nate spotted dozens of heavy cruisers, destroyers, and even a mixture of alien ships. There were newer designs such as the Crusader and Liberty ships, as well as much older pre-Uprising ships that had been hastily pressed into service. It was a mighty armada, but as he looked back at the Black Rift, he wondered if it could ever be enough.

  This is gonna be a close run thing.

  The communication indicator flickered, and the voice of Tiger Leader came through loud and clear. The squadron was positioned less than three kilometres to their flank, yet in such confusion it was almost impossible for Nate to find them.

  "Hornet Leader, we have bogies launching from the carrier. I repeat; we have bogies at the Black Rift and launching from the carriers. We are moving to attack. Watch your back."

  Nate licked his upper lip as he listened. Tiger Squadron was led by one of his fellow cadets, but right now he had little interest in trying to surpass him. None of them would be going through at this rate. He could worry about the specifics later. He had a ship to kill. Nate connected to the rest of his squadron and selected the new targets.

  There they are.

  His gut told him to turn from the Rift, increase power, and maintain a safe distance while the Lightning fighters dealt with the enemy. Normally, that would have made sense. His fighters were slower, less nimble, and larger targets for the enemy to hit. None of that mattered today, though, as all that did was time. Every second they delayed battle was more time for the Biomechs to bring in reinforcements. Either they fought now, or they lost the battle and with it, the war.

  "Hornet Squadron. Activate your atomics and engage the enemy. Nuke 'em!"

  Nate blipped the burners on his heavy fighter and began accelerating towards the Black Rift. The swirling patterns were mesmerising, and as the shapes shifted about, yet more enemy craft came through. The largest were the Cephalon command ships and the equally massive Ravager battleships. Around them swarmed large numbers of Biomanta cruisers, vessels that had proven their worth in a dozen battles already.

  Here we go.

  He led the formation of four Thunderbolts, while the other three moved off to attack their own targets. The nearest Biomanta must have spotted the fighters because its myriad of defensive turrets had opened fire. The capital ship was covered in turrets, each more than capable of tearing a fighter apart. Standard Naval doctrine was to keep out of range of defence turrets, especially due to their high-tracking speeds. Nate selected more than a dozen waypoints for his fighters and then moved in close to the nearest command ship. The fighter-bombers were forced to keep making adjustments to avoid hitting the myriad of gantries and pylons jutting out from the ship's vast superstructure.

  "Stay close. Activate your atomics."

  The command ship concentrated most of its fire on an approaching Alliance Conqueror class battlecruiser, and instead the nearest Biomech cruiser opened fire on them. At this speed they were hard to hit, and hundreds of rounds overshot and struck the command ship instead. By t
he time they'd covered half the length of the ship's hull, Nate sent the command.

  "Now!"

  As one the formation of four fighter-bombers lurched out from the shelter offered by the command ship and bore down on the cruiser. Multiple shots penetrated the left wing of Nate's spacecraft, but he ignored it and targeted the underside of the Biomanta.

  "Fire!"

  Each of the four craft launched the remainder of their missiles while simultaneously holding down the triggers on their secondary guns. All of this was for show, though, and the real prize was the single tungsten reinforced torpedo sitting under the belly of each of them. It was the most powerful weapon that could be carried by a single fighter, and now four of them were heading towards the Biomantas.

  "Split and create openings."

  The four fighter-bombers broke formation, each approaching the cruiser from a slightly different heading. Most of their missiles were either destroyed by turret fire, or struck the thick plating of the cruiser's armour. Nate wasn't concerned, though. All he wanted to know was that they had opened up breaches in the hull. They were so close now he could see the tall markings written in garish colours along the ship. All of his secondary guns, including the multiple turrets, now opened fired, each one opening up tiny gaps in the thick Biomechanical plating.

  "And...withdraw!"

  The countdown clock on his cockpit had reached the marker, and as the torpedoes hit, he realised he'd made it past the marker. There were Biomech fighters all around him, and the fighter-bombers’ turrets tracked and fired almost continually. It was a brutal firefight as shells struck both sides. Biomech fighters exploded; Alliance fighters were cut to pieces.

  "Bank right."

  A quick roll to the right, and once again Nate managed to avoid a pair of radar tracking missiles. That was the point at which the salvo of torpedoes from Hornet Squadron finally reached their target. White flashes marked the destruction of the first few torpedoes, but two made it through the defensive fire and slammed into the already weakened armour before detonating. One by one, they sent the energy of their low-yield tactical warheads deep inside the vessel, literally burning the ship from the inside out.

  "Yes!"

  He was so excited that he didn't see the pair of tiny Biomech fighters coming right at him. Both put a hail of armour piercing slugs into his cockpit with such a ferocity that they chewed through armour, fuel lines, and electronics with ease.

  "No...not now!"

  Two of his supporting fighters tried to move away, but one rolled too quickly and clipped the other. The wreckage of the two spun past him, and he was forced to go above them, right into the path of a second Biomanta cruiser. The ship had been hit by the second squadron of fighter-bombers and was already shattered.

  "I've got fighters. Coming in on..."

  It was the sound of Tiger Squadron. Before Nate even worked out where they were, the last few were destroyed. The whole Biomech fleet was now in position and the cold void of space full of ships, each desperately trying to attack another while keeping themselves safe. A constant twinkling, like that of stars at night, marked the death of one fighter after another. It was a bloodbath.

  "Break and follow Hornet..."

  A short burst of gunfire struck the nose of the fighter-bomber and knocked out the guns, as well as the communications and radar system. One engine ripped apart, and Nate quickly diverted power to the other engines. More shots came in, and he was forced to break from his current position and move in close towards the nearest capital ship. He used every trick he knew, pushing the Thunderbolt to its limits, desperate to shake off his foes. Although crippled, the turrets across the surface of the ship continued to fire at him. Nate managed to get close enough that the enemy fighters were unable to get a clear shot. They gave pursuit and just as they reached him, a massive flash erupted from the heart of the second cruiser. Nate's fighter, as well as the group of Biomech fighters were instantly was torn apart in the inferno.

  His visor went dark, and for the briefest of moments, he thought he'd actually died. It was a painful, worrying experience that faded as quickly as it had arrived.

  What?

  Without even directly intervening, the visor lifted up, and he was greeted by the increasing brightness of the simulation hall. He blinked twice in an attempt to get rid of the blurriness. Hundreds of people were cheering, yet all he could see were bright shapes. His eyes had become so accustomed to the interior of the fighter that he found it hard to focus for a few seconds. Willing hands lifted him from the seat, and somebody nearby removed his helmet.

  "Great work, cadet."

  It was a man's voice, slightly gruff and completely unfamiliar. He shook his head and found the view already clearing up. There were people nearby, but he was on a stage with the Principal of the Academy right next to him. Directly opposite were five other cadets, each in the uniform and colours of the own institution. The man looked away from him and signalled for Nate to join the other five. He took a step and nearly stumbled. A waiting hand helped him, and soon he was standing alongside the most beautiful cadet he'd ever seen. Her long straight, blond hair ran down past her shoulders, and her eyes were wide open, as though something had surprised her.

  "Hi. I'm Nathaniel Lewis."

  She shook her head and sighed.

  "Yes, we know. All of us do."

  Nate was hardly surprised; this was the usual response he'd found with girls in the Academy. His attention turned to the Principal who now moved in front of the group.

  "Ladies and Gentlemen. May I present the six winners of the Interstellar Tournament! They will now go on to represent the Academy schools of the Alliance in the goodwill tour of our neighbours."

  Nate couldn't believe it. By luck or judgement, he'd managed to beat hundreds, perhaps even thousands, to join this group of elite cadets. They would now travel far from home, visiting alien races and competing in friendly contests, all in the name of promoting the Alliance. As the audience clapped, the man moved along the line, calling out their names. Each barely registered with him until he reached the girl right next to him. He turned and looked at her as the Principal spoke.

  "Cadet Cassandra Hurley, of Terra Nova!"

  She must have noticed him watching her and glanced sideways, giving him the faintest of smiles. It wasn't much, but it finished off the day as perhaps the best Nate had ever had. He looked out to the crowd and imagined what adventures were to come.

  This is going to be...epic.

  CHAPTER ONE

  Our armed forces are the guardians of the peace and freedom that our citizens enjoy. It is the duty of the Alliance Navy to protect our interests throughout the galaxy, from keeping shipping lanes clear through to transporting Alliance ground forces directly into action. The hardworking crews of the Alliance Navy Auxiliary support the warships of the fleet. While the Navy secures the shipping lanes, ground combat remains the role the Alliance Marine Corps. The Corps takes recruits from throughout the Alliance, from the hardy people of Earth to the monstrous synthetic warriors known as Jötnar. This elite force is supported by the planet bound reserve Marine Corps units, classified as part of the Colonial Guard forces. There is no greater role a citizen can play than to offer up their life and liberty to defend the ideals of the Alliance.

  Naval Cadet’s Handbook

  October, 2472 A.D.

  Starbase ‘Mognathus 7’, 3rd Quadrant, Byotai Empire

  Six months later

  Nate and his friends had never seen death until the bloodbath on the Mognathus Starbase. Future historians would know the events as the Mognathus Mutiny, but for them, it started like any other day at the Academy. While they sat at their desks and continued their assessment, a momentous event was gathering pace around them. It was to be the day the social cohesion of the Byotai finally cracked, and after years of growing resentment, they turned on their leadership caste and began a bloody purge that seemed to never end.

  What started at Mognathus would spread
from planet to planet until the entire Empire and its immediate neighbours were engulfed in turmoil. All it took for this terrible revolution to begin was a single symbolic act. There was no general call to arms over the public network, no great blast of sound or music. In later years, this single act would become the focus of propaganda on all sides. But few could argue that it was that day, in October 2472 when the Byoti state crumbled, and it began with a mutiny in the heart of the sprawling Imperial shipyard of Mognathus.

  The firing on the Imperial patrol ship, Plethodon, marked the infamous event. The vessel was small, little bigger than an interplanetary shuttle, and crewed by thirteen Byotai sailors. Plethodon was designed to conduct searches, check cargos, and ward off the occasional pirate or corsair attack in the immediate vicinity of the shipyard. It was not a ship of the line, and this far from the frontier; it was fair to assume there was little chance of any action. The small ship orbited the space station just as it did every day. According to the training manual, it should use a different route each day. The Byotai were no different to any other race in this regard, and routine quickly settled into something easy to follow. Without any indication something was happening. This far into Byotai space the crew were relaxed, and never suspected what was about to occur. When the guns opened fire, she never had a chance.

  Waiting just inside the two massive docking arms of the station was the large black shape of the Sword of Mognathus, a Byotai heavy cruiser and would ever be remembered as the ship that started the mutiny. Like all ships in the Empire, this one was designed to look like a living creature. The long hull was broken up into bulbous segments, and massive masts extended out with micro-fine wings attached, giving the impression of a dragonfly or other equally massive insect. The motorised armour plates moved aside to reveal the barrels of large calibre guns. One by one the guns fired, and the heavy energy blasts struck Plethodon's flank and punched massive holes in her hull. The vessel depressurised before her crew had any idea what had happened.