Star Crusader: Battle Fleet Victorious

by Thomas, Michael G.

  They have to be stopped.

  He held down the trigger, firing one shot after another into the group. He was sure he caused damage, but then the turrets opened up again. One ship was bad enough, but as they all opened up, he could see the flashes of light coming his way. He used every trick he knew and kept firing even as the rounds slammed into his drone. Incredibly, he lasted a full five seconds before the turrets tore him apart.

  “Nate?”

  He blinked twice and to his surprise found Private Valentine looking into his face. The smoked cylinder was up, and several of his friends were also shaking their heads in surprise. Being pulled out of the drone control so rapidly was painful and left him feeling nauseous.

  “Are you with me?”

  Nate breathed quickly and then tried to rise, but the straps held him in tightly.

  “Yeah, I’m here. What’s going on?”

  She leaned in closer over the sound of shouting.

  “The mission is a disaster. Four Jackals are down. I think we should call it off.”

  “What? No!”

  Nate looked down and ripped of the straps. He was instantly thrown from the seat and spun around in the weightless interior before being caught by Valentine and an angry looking Valdis.

  “We can’t go back.”

  He didn’t need to say more, as the firm voice of Spartan returned inside the craft.

  “All drones converge on the landing grounds. Buy me time. We’re going in.”

  Nate looked to the others.

  “We?”

  Private Valentine hung onto the nearest wall and grabbed at a sealed unit on the wall. It swung open and reveal a weapons locker. She took one of the carbines and held it out to Valdis. The young female Byotai took it from her without question.

  “Yeah,” said Valentine, “We.”

  She pointed ahead to where the cockpit lay.

  “Now it’s time for…”

  The Jackal spun about, and anybody not strapped in crashed into the walls or each other. It was a confusing mess, and Nate was forced to cover his face before it settled. When he moved his hand, the hatch to the front of the craft was open, and a bloodied and battered looking crewman looked back.

  “Pilot’s dead, and I can’t move my arm. Any of you fly?”

  Nate nodded without thinking.

  “Yeah, I can.”

  “Get in here then, stat!”

  Arms tugged and pulled at him, and in a few more seconds, he was drifting into the pilot’s position alongside the wounded co-pilot. The body of the dead pilot remained in the engineering seat, his body strapped in and unmoving. Nate felt a shiver through his body and tried to avoid looking at the dead man. He had more pressing things to worry about. The hatch began to shut, and he glanced back as Valdis gave him a grim smile.

  “Get us down in one piece, or I’m coming back for you.”

  “Promise?”

  She smiled as it shut, and when Nate looked back the co-pilot groaned. He pointed ahead, and as Nate looked through the virtual glass, he gasped. Directly ahead was the interior of the station, and there were even more internal gun systems. Many of them fired, sending small projectiles and tracer fire into his path. Jackals moved back and forth as they tried to fight their way inside, but the station was well protected, and the single remaining set of huge dock doors was already starting to close. Large turrets on towers at each side blasted anything coming in close.

  “Pull up!” yelled the co-pilot.

  Nate tugged on the controls and pulled away just as the massive guns opened up. Three drones and a Jackal were obliterated in the blast, and another six veered away to avoid the same fate. Spartan’s voice returned.

  “Get inside now, or get back. I’m running out of ships and people!”

  Nate rubbed at his forehead, scraping the sweat from his eyes.

  What can we do?

  Then it came to him.

  The drones.

  He looked at his status indicator and found they were down to forty-nine, with only thirty or so anywhere near where he was. The rest were busily entangled in a losing battle with the deadly T1 Heavy Fighters.

  “X1s, I need everything you have. Open this thing wide and get us inside.”

  Lieutenant Commander Holder replied, and Nate was pleased to see she was still airborne and leading the ragged space battle.

  “Nate, are you sure?”

  Nate nodded feverishly.

  “Just give me tactical control over the nearest fighters. I’ll find a way inside.”

  Nate tagged the doors and then pulled away to give the drones the opening they needed. It took nearly thirty seconds, but finally they came, one after the other while more Jackals moved in to begin their final approach. They opened fire, hammering the dock gates as they came, and then detonated as those that made it through crashed into the structure. In less than a minute a full twenty-six drones slammed into the doors, opening up a hole big enough for a small transport ship to use.

  “Great job,” said Major Spartan, “Follow Jackal Six inside the station and stay close. Anybody not inside the station inner perimeter, turn back and withdraw to the rendezvous.”

  Nate licked his lips and then hit the engines.

  “Okay. Everybody hold on. We’re going in fast, and we’re going in hard.”

  There were few direct ways inside, but Nate chose to pass between two large turrets, and the shattered docking gate that was now broken apart. Nate had never flown a Jackal before, but to his surprise the controls were almost identical to the Mauler. After a few movements, it was clear the spacecraft was substantially more manoeuvrable, and he managed to avoid several bursts of fire before the first bullets struck home.

  “Guns?”

  The co-pilot nodded and then hit controls in front of him. Flank turrets roared and scattered bullets into the shipyard. Then the missiles whooshed away from the racks along the top of the dropship, slamming into the top of what remained of the doors and tearing them apart.

  “Yes!”

  The firepower was impressive, and sparks churned the ground all around as they raced through the outer barriers, inside the magnetically sealed shielding, and into the vast dome protecting a city sized shipyard. More Jackals came in behind, spotting his breach in the defences. Any trying to stop them were quickly gunned down. Nate didn’t stop, though. He rolled to the right and continued on further inside the station.

  We made it!

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  Alliance Assault Carrier 'ANS Victorious', Orbiting Ctenosaura Primus

  28 December 2472

  The fleet of five Alliance warships fired their forward retro thrusters once more, decreasing speed and lowering their altitude for the fifth time in a row. It was a calculated move, but one intended to increase the closing time between the two forces, thus buying them time, and also giving Spartan and his raiding party a few extra minutes. The Star Empire fleet was just minutes away from contact now, and both sides manoeuvred for the inevitable clash.

  “Report,” said Colonel Gun.

  “We’ll be fully visible in three minutes,” said Captain Delatorre, “After that, we’ll be in range of their direct-fire guns.”

  “Good. Target the smaller ships first. I want their numbers reduced before they can overwhelm us. I want maximum damage caused as quickly as possible. Keep the transports back for air-defence only. But do not keep them out of the fight.”

  The Captain hesitated, but not for long. Few made that mistake around the Colonel.

  “Yes, Sir. Weapon systems are ready.”

  General Honorius was not as easy to placate, though.

  “Colonel, is that wise? Transports against warships?”

  Gun called out more orders before returning to the General.

  “These are no ordinary transports, General. We designed them to use the same hulls, armour, and systems as these warships. All they lack are the ship-to-ship weapon systems. They are just as tough, and carry even more troops.�
��

  He then gave the General a disarming grin.

  “Trust me.”

  The small cadre of officers ran through their diagnostics one last time, but all Commander Higgins could do was look at his part of the battle, and try not to break down. As he looked at his fighter management screens, he groaned. He’d never been responsible for such a major piece of air support before, and now he could see his best plans falling apart. Scores of drones were gone, and the Jackals had burned on the way into the facility. Soon the ground battle would begin, and what little remained of his fighters were busily involved in a losing battle against the new and deadly fighters, nicknamed Phantoms by some of the pilots.

  “Commander, are my people on the station?”

  He looked to the metal clad giant and nodded.

  “Yes, Colonel. Ground forces are inside, and my remaining drones are keeping the fighters busy.”

  “Good, very good. Keep at it, Commander. Soon we will have our own problems.”

  “Colonel,” Captain Delatorre said, “The lead elements of the enemy force are now in range, four Anicinàbe Wildfire Class cruisers. The remainder are moving around their flagship. It’s…”

  “Well?”

  General Honorius, who’d been silent until now pointed at the unknown vessel.

  “That is not one of ours. I’ve never seen a ship like it.”

  Gun snorted, and Captain Delatorre sensed indecision.

  “Sir, should we attack, or wait for the other ships to come into range?”

  Gun grinned.

  “No waiting. Target their cruisers and open fire. Do what you can, as quickly as you can.”

  First to fire were the battery of four forward facing 255mm particle cannons. Unlike earlier generation particle weapons, they fired in pulses, spreading out shots and exploding their targets with a volley of energy. The bursts travelled at the speed of light and smashed into the first three cruisers. The effect was instantaneous, with repeated explosions tearing the first of the formation apart. Then the heavy mass drivers opened fire. These Byotai derived guns were simplistic and hurled great warheads of solid metal at the ships. Though slower, they were able to smash deep into the light armoured hulls, causing untold damage.

  “Now comes the reply,” whispered Commander Higgins, more to himself than for anybody else. Captain Delatorre lifted the old fashioned intercom and spoke to the entire crew on his ship and the other four. At the same time, the emergency warning indicators activated, announcing the imminent arrival of stealthy warheads.

  “Incoming missiles. Brace for impact!”

  Moments before they struck, all five ships opened up with their myriad of point defence turrets. The fleet vanished inside a cloud of guns, shrapnel, flames, and debris. Before it cleared, Gun pointed at the rest of the fleet.

  “Engines full, take us in.”

  The ship shuddered as the massive secondary engines activated. Unlike other warships, these vessels made use of their Interstellar Drives to travel between planets and star systems. It was unusual for them to travel any other way, apart from when dropping troops into battle, or engaging ships like this.

  “Colonel. Can your ships manage this?” General Honorius asked.

  Gun looked to the aged General and beamed.

  “We designed these ships to fight on their own, and to win.”

  The General didn’t look convinced.

  “You’re outnumbered and overmatched. I recommend you withdraw.”

  Colonel Gun took a step towards the reptilian officer and licked his lips. Commander Higgins saw what was happening and suspected he was about to see something unpleasant. But to his surprise, and probably the General’s, the Colonel merely smiled. He then pointed to the screen on the left that showed an overview of the battle, the ship engagement on the right, and the battle for the station on the left.

  “We will keep fighting until Spartan finishes his mission. Until then the battle continues.”

  He then looked to his bridge crew.

  “Ready the Grunts, it’s time for a little boarding action!”

  The aged warrior clenched his fists.

  “And get my bodyguard ready. It’s time for some blade work.”

  Commander Higgins looked on in stunned amazement. Never before had he seen a man so keen to get to grips with the enemy. Here they were, outmanned, outnumbered, and outgunned. And now all he wanted to do was get to the enemy and fight them man to man.

  He is exactly how I imagined he’d be.

  That was the moment he spotted the flashing light far off into the distance. For an inexperienced civilian, it might have been the twinkling of star. But as a Naval officer and pilot, he knew exactly what it was. Any officer with more than a single tour of duty could recognise a gunnery volley at distance.

  Here it comes.

  For a second he thought they’d avoided it, but then the shell hit, and the ships took damage. Warnings sounded, but the crew remained calm. As he watched, everything seemed to slow down. Flashes of light marked impact on the other ships, and in the middle of it the armoured giant barking orders. Even when a piece of ceiling bulkhead snapped off and struck his chest, he merely roared and ordered another volley. Higgins looked back to his screen and sent updated waypoints for his drone operators commanding the X1 fighters from close proximity inside the Jackals. More casualties popped up, but then he spotted those that had made it inside.

  Come on, guys. Finish the job and get out of there!

  * * *

  Inside Beithir Primus Orbital Station

  According to the computer, they’d entered the facility nearly two kilometres from the location of the derelict. And more important, they were double that distance from the incomplete weapon system. Nate was a little confused that it was hidden, but the Byotai were famous for their movable armour technology, and on this station the perfect way to hide equipment and parts of the facility from attack.

  The first ship under construction was a huge transport vessel, or perhaps a liner. It lay straight ahead, its gigantic hull covered in gantries and supports. Wheeled transport vehicles moved underneath it, while hundreds of marines toiled amidst its bulkheads. The place was an advanced production line, unlike anything Nate had seen before. He adjusted his position and then flew under what appeared to be the ship’s incomplete bow. As he moved past, he glanced to the left and looked inside the city-sized vessel. They looked big when they were in space, but at this distance they were truly vast.

  “We’re behind you, Nate,” said Spartan, “Keep moving.”

  The formation of Jackals and the few remaining X1 drones now raced through the superstructure, shooting at anything that could be a threat. Far off to left side was a tall wall marking the side of the shipyard part of the facility, and Nate wondered what secrets lay beyond it. The place was so complex it was impossible to see past the ship and the yellow cranes hanging from the ceiling, massive pillars that rose from the floor, and the vast number of platforms at different heights. It was like a metal jungle, and demanded extra skill from him and the others just to navigate inside.

  “We’ve got ground forces moving in throughout the shipyard,” said Spartan, “We need to hit that target, and fast. Find a way through.”

  “Yes, Sir.”

  Nate pulled to the left and dropped down behind a thick pillar and then between two smaller ships under construction. So thick were the gantries and cranes at this point that the ambient light levels dropped off. He hit the exterior light controls, and the flood lamps bathed the nearby area in dull light.

  Okay, keep going.

  Nate scanned the multiple dry docks, many of which contained partially completed ships. As he raced on, he could see people looking up at him, and some were armed. Rifle fire lashed at the Jackal, and he jinked to avoid being shot down.

  “Put us down,” moaned the co-pilot.

  Nate shook his head.

  “No, we have a mission. We need to get the derelict.”

  He
looked to the left, but there was nothing more interesting than a trio of large transports under construction. He then looked to the right and spotted a massive structure. It was covered in gantries and scaffolding beyond the next two transports. Two large beams penetrated its flanks, literally combining the ship’s structure with the station itself. Clearly, there was little or no intention of letting the thing return to space anytime soon. There were even huge sections that had been detached from the hull and separated to the side of the main vessel. The computer immediately confirmed it matched the details on file and sent the location to every Jackal still flying. Nate hit the transmit button and accidentally ended up speaking to the entire fleet.

  “There’s the derelict, behind the transports.”

  Four more Jackals made it through, along with three drones that slammed into the ground in a mighty blast, sending metal and flame in all directions. Spartan interrupted him.

  “Okay. Landing ground will be the dry dock platforms to the right and above the derelict. Get in fast and set your charges.”

  Nate opened his mouth, but Spartan kept on talking.

  “Jackal Six, give me one more pass for the jettison, and then keep on moving. Take Seven and Ten once unloaded and locate the weapon system. It should be less than a kilometre away. When you have it, report back.”

  “Sir.”

  Nate pulled to the right and circled over the derelict.

  “In position.”

  Without warning, the Jackal rocked gently as though buffeted by strong winds. Nate rolled to the right and spotted shapes dropping down from the launch tubes built into the underside of the dropship. At first they looked like bombs, but when they landed, they lifted up, pointed weapons, and then moved into battle.

  “Good work, Jackal Six. Continue your mission.”

  Nate nodded and hit the engine controls. The four engines glowed with power, and he dropped down lower along the other side of the derelict. Rifle fire struck nearby, but the thick hide of the Jackal proved more than capable of deflecting the projectiles. He skated over a deep trench and along a wide track that ran for nearly four hundred metres. He looked back and checked the other two Jackals were on his flanks.