Expeditions of the Mantis

by Jim Henderson

  Not 30 minutes later they all got a frantic, relayed distress call.

  “Mayday, mayday, mayday. Anyone that can help, this is the freighter Grendel. We are under attack. Repeat. We are under attack. Brulane 6, 139.09, 234.73 ATQ, heading 093. Over.”

  Ximon radioed back in the clear and at high power, “Roger, Grendel. This is system defense boat Mantis enroute to your position. Fighters enroute to you at top speed. Come about to heading 270 to intercept fighters. Send data on attacker. Over.”

  The Grendel’s captain was clearly worried, “Hurry Mantis. Attacker appears sizable and well-armed. We’re taking hits from laser cannons at present. Out”

  Doyle looked at Ximon quizzically about the message Ximon had just sent. Ximon responded to the non-verbal inquiry, “Hey, it might make the bad guys think twice if they think we’re bigger and more numerous than we really are.”

  Ximon then radioed Tif20 on their secure channel, “Tif20, you got the call. What’s your ETA to intercept at top speed?”

  Casim responded, “15 minutes at their current heading. Perhaps 12 if they come to our heading.”

  “Make all speed. Get us good imagery as soon as they’re in sight. Once you intercept the freighter, draw the bogie this way. We’re heading that way, but we’ll be a while.”

  “Roger. Out.”

  As Ximon pushed the Mantis to full thrust and spun to the new heading, the crew were all crushed into their acceleration couches. Luckily Mantis had alerted everyone to strap in at the first radio call.

  Ximon then told Talos to head to the same area at flank speed. They were too far from Tif20 and the freighter to have any chance of being on time, but they could be backup.

  Ximon also reported the conflict to Brulane Station so they could warn any other ships in the area of BruGas. He swiftly switched between secure and non-secure channels, being careful about what he said in the open to keep the bogey in the dark.

  Mantis reported, “We received a few shots from long-range sensors just before the distress call. It appears the ‘bogey’ came out from behind the smallest moon at speed and rapidly closed with Grendel. The images are poor, but I estimate mass at 500-600 tons.”

  A few minutes later they got another frantic call, “Mayday, mayday, mayday. We are under attack and are taking damage. Brulane 6, 132.65, 231.45 ATQ, heading 270. See data. Help! Over.”

  Casim replied to them with far more bravado than reality called for, “Roger, Grendel. Fighter group coming your way at flank speed. Keep running fast this way and firing what you’ve got. We’ll smoke ‘em when we get there.”

  Ximon looked for the data Grendel had mentioned. Indeed, they had sent a packet of sensor and imagery data. Mantis displayed it and narrated, “Captain, you’ll note the Grendel was refueling with two shuttles when attacked by this other ship. Grendel had some velocity and was able to continue thrust this way. One shuttle dived deep into the atmosphere and he disappears from imagery. The other shuttle is trying to follow Grendel but is falling behind. Neither shuttle appears armed. Grendel has fired both chaff and flares and took out a missile with a laser cannon. It appears the bogey has several light laser cannons and at least one missile launcher.”

  Ximon radioed the data to Cassius and Tif20.

  A moment later Jenna from Tif20 reported, “Cresting the horizon, visual and direct sensors now.”

  After a brief pause, she added breathlessly, “Grendel burning hard direct toward us, bogey is behind and gaining ground. He just launched 2 missiles – estimated impact in 6 minutes. Our intercept time is 3 minutes. Sending you imagery.”

  Casim added, “Mantis, we’ll make a close pass and try to help with the missiles.”

  Grendel cut in with a yell, “Help! We’ve taken significant damage and are barely holding the engine together. Shuttle 2 has been hit and we can’t raise it. Missiles on our tail. Help!”

  Ximon watched anxiously on the delayed feed he got from Tif20. They were heading almost straight for Grendel, which meant also straight for the bogey, at full speed. Both Grendel and Tif20 occasionally fired but Grendel wasn’t having much luck and Tif20 was too far away to do much. Mantis was approaching the area but still about 20 minutes out, Cassius probably several hours.

  Tif20, Grendel, the bogey, and the missiles were all closing on Ximon’s screen. As they got close, Mantis could hear Tif20’s internal radio chatter.

  Casim grunted through the Gs, “45 seconds, check your solution. Prepare for hard right.”

  Jenna responded, also struggling through the Gs, “Solution. Bambams, Wasp, Laser ready.”

  It took Ximon a moment to recall that the Bambams were Tif20’s small, anti-missile missiles, while the Wasp was its single anti-ship missile.

  Casim yelled, “Intercept Grendel, turning to heading 2-7-0. Juking.”

  This meant he had to make a hard-right turn and the bogey would have to choose between him and Grendel. Ximon watched breathlessly as Tif20 raced past Grendel perilously close and headed directly for the bogey, then turned violently toward the right. Ximon knew that it would take quite a bit of time and space before Tif20 could change its vector of movement so that it was actually moving back toward Mantis. The evasive “juking” Casim was doing would be hard on he and Jenna but made them harder to hit.

  Jenna groaned and breathed heavily as the Gs hit in another direction, “Bambam 1 at inbound 1 away … Bambam 2 at 2 away. Oh, shit, we’re taking fire.”

  The video from Tif20 showed two laser blasts pass dangerously close to her.

  Jenna, “Bambam 1 approaching, 2 on course.”

  The video showed Tif20 fire a laser blast back at the bogey, but the erratic maneuvering made them miss too.

  Jenna let out a woop, “Scratch inbound 1.”

  Moments later the screen showed an explosion as the bogey’s first missile was destroyed. Moments later it showed the other destroyed just as Jenna said, “Scratch 2.”

  Casim radioed to Ximon, “Bogey is continuing course after the Grendel. We’re doing a real wide U-turn.”

  Jenna cut in, “Firing Wasp. Oh crap, Bogey just put 2 more missiles in the air. Locked on us. Prepping Bambam.”

  Ximon could see that the bogey was flying straight after the Grendel but fired a few shots and a couple missiles at Tif20 to kill or drive her off. Mantis continued on an intercept course for Grendel and soon reported, “We’ve crested the horizon and have visual.”

  Ximon, “Doyle, start firing as soon as we have range even if a hit’s unlikely.”

  Doyle, “Roger, weapons hot.”

  Jenna said, “Bambam 3 at inbound 1 away …. Bambam 4 at inbound 2. Wasp on target to bogey.”

  Ximon watched as everyone kept moving. The Grendel was now headed straight for Mantis, with the bogey continuing to gain ground behind. Grendel fired periodically and got a few hits, but to little effect. Grendel was also furiously ejecting chaff, but the bogey got a few more minor hits on her.

  Ximon signaled Grendel, “Grendel, Mantis. Keep running and firing, starting turn now.”

  Mantis wasn’t going to wait until it passed Grendel to start its turn or the bogey could run down Grendel while Tif20 and Mantis were making their wide turns. So, Ximon started a U-turn to the left. Again, this would take a lot of time and space. At that same time Doyle opened up with Mantis’ lasers, getting a few minor hits on the bogey.

  Ximon then signaled the bogey, “UI Vessel, this is System Defense Boat Mantis on intercept. Your actions constitute piracy under Kremniy Republic law. Cease firing and prepare to be boarded.”

  The bogey’s captain responded with a strange accent, “SDB my arse, Mantis. You’re nothing but a fly. Clear off before we smash you.”

  Jenna, “Bambam 3 approaching, 4 on course.”

  A minute later, Jenna exclaimed, “Scratch inbound 1 … and … Oh, crap, Bambam 4 missed. Maneuver, maneuver, maneuver. Firing flares.”

  Ximon watched Tif20’s relayed video intensely as Tif20 maneuvered like mad and popped o
ut a stream of flares as the missile continued inexorably toward them. Moments later the missile exploded. It seemed to be right on Tif20, but they soon flew out of the explosion. It had been a near miss.

  Ximon, “Tif20 Report!”

  Casim responded, “Near miss. We’ve taken damage. Assessing. Jenna, are you ok?”

  Jenna responded quietly, “Breathing, but I’ve been better.”

  Mantis then reported, “The bogey has used its lasers to destroy Tif20’s Wasp missile. Bogey continues intercept course to Grendel. Time for us to intercept 15 minutes at current velocity and acceleration.”

  Ximon, “Roger, Mantis. How close are they getting to our missile packs?”

  “Missile pack 1 will be in range in 10 minutes. I am working a solution for Missile 1, but the others will have to achieve their own lock.” The Mantis’ fire control computer was not able to simultaneously control many missiles.

  Casim reported, “Mantis, we have some hull damage and we’re working a problem with the laser. Jenna was shaken up by the blast but is OK.”

  Ximon, “Roger. Good to see you’re still flying.”

  Over the next several minutes, the bogey continued closing on the Grendel and was doing substantial damage. Mantis continued charging toward them and got some minor hits on the bogey, but it wasn’t slowing down. Tif20 had stopped firing, though it was hard to tell whether that was due to range or the hit they’d taken.

  A couple minutes later Casim reported, “We’re far enough out. Executing flip and burn.”

  This meant that Tif20 was far enough off to the left of the bogey that she wasn’t in easy range so Casim flipped the ship around 180 degrees and continued thrust back toward the Grendel. This would cost them quite a bit of speed, but it would get them heading in the right direction much sooner. Ximon was planning to do the same when Mantis got a way farther to the left.

  Doyle reported, “Bogey has 2 more missiles in the air. Checking target.” Then moments later, “They’re on us. Repeat, targeted on Mantis. Intercept 4 minutes.”

  A moment later Doyle added, “Readying flares and SDAC.”

  Ximon, “Keep firing at the bogey. It would be great if you could knock out his weapons or something.”

  The bogey kept closing on Grendel and hitting her with its laser while Tif20 came about on its left and Mantis on its right.

  Grendel reported, “Mayday. We’ve been hit. Rapidly losing thrust. Breaches in several areas. Do something!”

  Doyle got in one more hit on the bogey and seemed to do some damage. The bogey kept coming, but their rate of fire slowed down.

  Mantis helpfully counted down the missile’s path to destroy Mantis, “Intercept 3 minutes … 2 minutes.”

  Doyle shouted, “Firing flares” and a series of flares popped out both sides of the ship.

  The ship then shuddered as Doyle opened up with the ship defense auto-cannon (SDAC).

  One of the missiles veered off after a flare and exploded far from Mantis. The other stayed on course, but Doyle got it with the SDAC, the missile exploding dangerously close. The ship reverberated from the explosion.

  Ximon, “Elsbeth, damage report!”

  Elsbeth, “I don’t see any breaches. No indication of engine damage, all other systems show green.”

  A minute later she added, “We’ve lost some fuel … and I lost my lunch with all these Gs.”

  Ximon, “Mantis, what’s the range on the missile pack?”

  Mantis, “60 seconds, solution ready.”

  The bogey was still closing on the Grendel and Grendel wasn’t faring well. It got a good hit on the bogey, but then its guns fell silent. Its engines had ceased putting out effective thrust, so it was still going fast, but wasn’t accelerating, while the bogey was.

  The bogey fired 2 more missiles at Grendel.

  Doyle noted, “Bogey has fired 2 more missiles, targeted at Grendel. Permission to target lasers on those?”

  Ximon, “Roger.”

  Mantis almost simultaneously said, “Missile pack 1 ready.”

  Ximon, “Fire it.”

  Mantis fired the missile pack and it was an impressive sight. Six missiles fired off in rapid succession, all streaking past Mantis toward the bogey from slightly to the Grendel’s left.

  The Grendel, still on an open channel, were clearly surprised by the unexpected missiles. They chimed in with a scream, “Aagh, what the hell?” But then the missiles flew on past Grendel and toward the bogey.

  Now THIS the bogey apparently hadn’t accounted for. It veered hard to its right in a wild attempt to avoid destruction.

  Ximon watched as missiles closed on the Grendel and on the Bogey, while Tif20 neared its firing range.

  As the missiles neared Grendel, Doyle got one of them with the Mantis’ lasers. The other was distracted by Grendel’s flares shortly before it exploded.

  The bogey was now running for its life. Two of the missiles hadn’t acquired it and appeared to be flying off blindly. However, the other 4 streaked toward it. The bogey got one with a laser blast and fired flares, but the missiles didn’t take the bait. First one, then two, then three missiles hit the bogey. Each caused a sizeable explosion and its engines quickly went off line – it was now gliding at high speed.

  Ximon continued Mantis’ turn toward the now clearly damaged bogey.

  Ximon, “Mantis, get me a damage assessment. Doyle, keep firing until we know something.”

  Doyle got in another hit on the bogey and more sparks flew.

  Mantis reported, “Imagery and sensors suggest substantial damage to its engineering section and near its bridge. Some hull breaches appear certain. Their active sensors appear to have gone off line.”

  Ximon hailed them, “UI Vessel, this is Mantis. Surrender or we will keep firing.”

  The Tif20, now at long range, fired a shot and hit the bogey, followed shortly by another from Doyle.

  Ximon called Cassius, “Talos, change course to intercept the Grendel. She’s lost thrust and may have lost maneuver.”

  The bogey fired one short range laser at Mantis, but without active sensors it missed horribly. Doyle soon hit her again as Mantis approached her. As they neared, they could see several large wounds in the ship’s side.

  Ximon hailed her again, “UI Vessel. Surrender or we will keep firing.”

  After receiving no answer, Ximon nodded to Doyle to keep firing.

  This time Ximon heard the rattle of the SDAC. They were close enough to strafe the bogey with that, each round doing a small amount of damage.

  Moments later Mantis received a weak call, “Mantis, this is the XO of the Devil’s Strumpet. We surrender. Cease fire, cease fire!”

  Ximon, “Roger, Strumpet. We will cease fire. Take NO aggressive action and prepare to be boarded. If you attempt any aggressive action, you WILL Be destroyed. Do you copy?”

  “We copy and will comply.”

  “What’s your status? How many crew onboard? How many injured? Is your life support stable?”

  “Mantis, crew of 10, 2 dead, 5 injured. We have life support in the core areas.”

  “Roger, Strumpet, we are going to dock to your port airlock. Have 4 personnel in the airlock and ensure all your people are unarmed or we will not hesitate to fire.”

  Ximon let out a big sigh of relief and signaled his whole team, “Team, the bogey has surrendered. Cassius, help the Grendel. Tif20, see if you can find any sign of Grendel’s shuttles.”

  Ximon then signaled Grendel, “Grendel, this is Mantis. The pirate vessel has surrendered. Please report your status.”

  The Grendel’s captain was obviously relieved, “Roger, thanks Mantis. We thought we were goners. We’ve got some breaches, but we have it contained. Both our jump and maneuver drives are off line, as are our weapons. We’ve got some casualties.”

  Ximon, “Roger, Grendel. Shuttle Cassius is enroute to assist. Suggest attempting deceleration or turning about if you can.”

  “Roger, will attempt.”

&nbs
p; Ximon nodded again to Doyle, “Great shooting there. You saved their butts and ours.”

  Ximon matched course and heading with the Strumpet and told his crew, “Everyone suit up. We’ve got to board her and I’m not sure I trust her life support or their report of it. I’ll dock her and then be prepared to rip the end of their ship off if they try anything.”

  Ximon, “Mantis, go with – I want you to document and send me a video feed.”

  Elsbeth, Doyle, Raiza, and Peter all got into vacc suits and grabbed weapons. Raiza wasn’t much good with weapons, but she could lay down fire in one direction. Peter was even worse, but he looked intimidating while carrying a large rifle.

  Ximon docked without incident and Elsbeth confirmed that there were 4 people in the air lock. She hit their comms, “Hands up and turn around. No one do anything stupid or you’re going to experience space close up.”

  Then she opened the airlock. The 4 pirates looked a little ragged and 2 were wounded. No weapons were in view.

  Doyle tied the hands of the uninjured while Raiza examined the injured.

  She pointed to an injured woman and said, “I’ll need to treat this one soon.”

  Doyle and Peter then led the prisoners to the airlock on the other side of the Mantis and put them in there. There’s nothing that says, “Don’t cause trouble” better than knowing that one push of a button could eject you into space.

  Elsbeth radioed the Strumpet, “Ok, next 4, same deal.”

  The Strumpet’s XO responded, “Mantis, I’ll be in the airlock, but we’ve got 2 too injured to move.”

  “OK, let’s go.”

  They got the one uninjured, the XO, and took him to join the others in the airlock.

  Then they went into the strumpet to find the rest. Doyle and Peter checked every room while Elsbeth and Raiza went to the wounded. They tied up the one accompanying and checked the other two.

  As soon as most of the crew had been accounted for Ximon suited up and joined them on the other ship. Meanwhile Doyle and Peter accompanied Raiza to take all the wounded to be cared for in one of the staterooms. Then Peter rejoined Elsbeth and Ximon.