by Kocho
“Yes sir.”
While the ships captains communicated and planned the hundred and sixty space fighters, four air wings in total moved towards the incoming seraphines.
Jacobs looked at his wing mates. They were flying in formation and closing in on the seraphines. They were all experienced fighter pilots, and he and several others already had an experience in fighting their opponents in the first battle on Earth. Then they managed to win flying in F-22, raptors and F-18. The fighters they had were generations ahead of those. The vipers were excellent small fighters heavily armed and they had huge power. He smiled as he noticed the six pelican drop ships. They were flying in formation. And they were the real nasty heavy hitters in the formation. With their armament and armor they were more than capable of taking on the alien fighters.
He looked at the distance. It was time. Each fighter was armed with six missiles. They were converted AMRAM missiles designed for use in space.
“Lock and load people. It’s time to give them another taste.”
He got confirmations from every pilot. In several moments he could hear their voices announcing the firing. In just a moment hundred and sixty missiles raced ahead. They were followed by a second salvo and a third.
As the missiles accelerated the enemy fighters started evasive movements and opened fire. They managed to hit about half but still almost three hundred missiles found their target. Tiny explosions marked the death of the alien fighters. Some received three missiles. The final count showed hundred and ten seraphines destroyed. After that the alien fighters accelerated at full speed
“Here they come. Watch for your wing mates. Remember your training and everything will be ok.”
The two groups of fighters intermingled. Explosions appeared everywhere as pilots on both sides died. Jacobs could hear the screams of his pilots when they were hit.
“CAG watch for your six.”
Jacobs suddenly turned the fighter and the alien shots and a fighter raced pass him.
He immediately fired after it and was pleased with its explosion.
“Thanks Halo I owe you one.”
“You are welc…”
The voice cut out in midair and he saw that Halo’s viper disappeared from his sensors. They showed that forty three human fighters died so far. Twice that number enemies were dead. But they were still outnumbered. But as he watched the pelicans equaled the odds. The drop ships expended their missile loads before, and now they were using their guns.
The two M61A2 twenty millimeter cannons and the four Dillon M204 thirty millimeter guns were seeding death all around them. As the seraphines fired at them they met with strong enough armor to deflect their shots and were surprised by the agility of the large ship. He noticed that they are concentrating on the drop ships.
“Protect the drop ships.”
“Let us be the anvil CAG and you can be the hammer.”
“OK Fly. That is ago. Ok boys let’s draw them in.”
The vipers spread out and engulfed the larger and less agile alien fighters. The smaller more maneuverable fighters surprised and outpaced the seraphines. Slowly the seraphines found themself surrounded.
Hogar watched as his air wing was being decimated. His sensors showed that they destroyed sixty eight fighters, but they lost four times that number. The enemy fighters had no more missiles those cursed things that surprised them at the beginning of the battle. But they were smaller and faster. He was a proud pilot but also a realistic one. Before now he believed in the story, not just believe but knew it for a fact that the seraphine was one of the best space fighters in the known galaxy. It was superior. But what he was seeing now was a fighter that outmatched them at every step. He knew that the pilots that were his opponents were great also. They were far more than good. But the fighter was something else. It moved faster, rotated better, it could turn on its own axis it was just simply superior.
He signaled the retreat.
As Kerak watched the unfolding battle between the two fighter formations he was getting worried. The results were clear. For every enemy fighter that the seraphines destroyed they lost four of their own. The real result in close combat was two to one but it was obvious that they were facing a new superior design. The confidence and arrogance he felt before was slowly evaporating.
He didn’t object when the fighter wings retreated.
A little more time and his ships were going to get in to range. Then he planned to show this enemy the real power of a dacarian ship of war.
“They are a worthy adversaries my Lord.”
He turned as he heard the voice of Sod, his loyal companion. They were members of the same clan and were at similar age. Sod was his second in command and always there to offer a good advice when he needed it.
“They are out passing us at every step so far Sod. Their technology is more primitive, but their design and the way they use it… I just hope that the fleet that went through the warp point didn’t encounter them.”
Sod looked at his friend. He could notice that Kerak was angry. But he was also worried. He felt that same anger inside him as well.
The losses so far were hard. What started as a simple chasing of a single ship was slowly turning in to a battle of attrition. And it was a battle they were losing. But so far there was no fleet battle. He was sure that the Dacarian ships are superior. The enemy was reluctant to offer a battle so far but it was clear that they were finally ready to do that. As he watched the way they positioned them self he remembered the death of Ahia and his squadron.
“We are dealing with an excellent tactician on the other side. Whoever commands that fleet is one hell of a captain or admiral.”
Kerak turned towards the holographic image that showed the enemy fleet. In two arns his fleet was going to be able to open fire. He knew that they could open fire already. They had a slight advantage considering that they were using projectile weapons. His scans were still being blocked and he couldn’t get a clear reading of their capabilities. It frustrated him.
But he already came to the same conclusion.
“You are right Sod. He is good. He is an adversary that deserves respect and admiration, and an honorable death.”
Sod just nodded with his head.
“My lord we can open fire in one arn.”
“Order all ships to open fire as soon as we enter it. Tell them to fire everything.”
He turned towards Sod.
“It will begin soon.”
“Yes. May I suggest that you send a third of the fleet ahead. Just in case there is a second mine field. Order the other ships to slow down.”
Kerak thought for a moment. He was well aware that there might be a second field out there.
“Get me N’tak.”
As the legionaries carried out his order the hologram of an older Dacarian dressed in armor appeared.
“You summoned me my lord.”
“N’tac I want you to take your squadron and three frigates of Cral’s squadron and race ahead of the rest of the fleet when we enter in to firing range.”
“Yes my lord.”
The hologram disappeared. N’tac’s squadron had one light cruiser, one destroyer, six corvettes and one frigate. With the three frigates he was going to have more than enough firepower to be on even ground with the enemy ships even if there was no mine field. And if there was, those ships didn’t represent a significant loss in firepower.
Jennings watched as the enemy ships closed in. He waited a moment and gave the order to fire.
A moment later it looked as if the eleven human ships exploded. Hundreds of projectiles and missiles launched from them towards the dacarian ships. In just under thirty seconds the ships fired forty rounds from the MAC guns. The rail guns also engaged and missiles were continuously launched from the launchers.
The dacarians responded in kind.
Plasma beams passed the distance between the ships and impacted the shields of the human fleet. Lasers fired as well and the graviton gu
ns engaged as well.
At the speeds they were moving the beams and the projectiles reached their targets almost instantly.
Two of the dacarian corvettes exploded as they were hit by the MAC rounds. A destroyer and one cruiser drifted away as they were hit by several MAC rounds. The cruiser exploded seconds later as two of the MAC rounds hit its side. The kinetic energy that was released as a MAC round impacted was enormous. It literally tore the ship apart. But the duel wasn’t one sided.
The Chien was the first human ship to die as it was hit by several Plasma beams and lasers and later by the graviton guns. The ship was holed in several places and as it drifted away internal explosions could be seen. Life pods started launching from it but not all made it as two more beams hit the ship as it turned its belly to the enemy fleet. They tore the ship in two and moments later as the reactor overloaded it exploded.
The Nebraska soon followed as she was holed by a graviton gun that hit her right after several plasma beams impacted its nose. By that time three more Dacarian ships drifted away holed on several places and littered with internal explosions that tore them apart.
After this all ships started evasive action, and scrambled to all sides. The fight turned in to a hit and run as the human ships started slowly to retreat and run watching not to be engaged by several enemy ships.
The dacarians smelled blood as one more of the human ships started losing speed. It was the Farragut. One of the plasma hits managed to damage its engines and the ship slowed down.
Kirkpatrick watched as his ship started slowing down.
“Give me damage report.”
“Engine two is down sir. It was a lucky hit a small plasma bolt caught it.”
The ship rocked as several more energy bolts found its mark.
“Turn us around. We can’t take any more hits like that. We are staying here. And inform the admiral about our situation.”
The young ensign carried the order immediately. She just as everyone on board understood what this meant. The enemy fleet was closing in fast smelling blood. The Farragut was now the new bait that was drawing them towards their death.
The ships sensors showed damage to several sectors but with the exception of the engines nothing was serious. The hull polarization was at forty percent.
“Take evasive action and find us a target. How much more till the capacitors for the MAC gun recharge.”
“One minute sir, we are at eighty three percent.”
“Find me a target ensign.”
“Yes sir.”
As Kirkpatrick spoke to the engineer asking about the chances of repair of the engine, the Farragut lined up with one enemy destroyer.
Kerak watched as the enemy ships started retreating after the initial exchange of fire. The short stand of gave him the needed information.
The smallest enemy ships were obviously the easiest targets. The other two types were far harder to crack. One of them was starting to slow down as it got hit in the engines while it turned, but it shrugged the powerful plasma beams. He could see places where the armor was melting but it was obvious that the ships were well armored against this kind of firepower. As the battle developed he was getting more sure and sure that although they looked primitive they were far from that.
The powerful projectile weapons were causing him problems. The readings indicated that they were ranging from ten to forty tons and moving at speeds ranging from hundred and fifty to two hundred and sixty kilometers per second. They were ship killers. The ships that were left behind were proof enough for that. He knew that he has the upper hand and he planned to use it. The fleet accelerated trying to gain on the retreating ships before their reinforcements arrive.
And as they did they fell right in to the next trap.
Jennings watched impassively as the second battle started.
Elisabeth was standing. She looked at the readings. Two more minutes and her squadron was going to act. At full power it would take her squadron five minutes to reach maximum firing distance. It was time she couldn’t allow. That is why the forty fighters armed with nukes raced ahead. She launched the air wing of Prince Royal hours ago. They were about to engage just as she was going to go to full power. Considering the results of the battle so far she fully expected the enemy ships to be vaporized.
Helen watched her wing mates. They were almost at the target. Of the forty fighters ten carried nukes the other thirty had mission to engage the enemy fighters that were guarding the five ships.
“Ok Eagles. We all know what we should do. Let’s rock and roll.”
She got confirmation from all thirty nine fighters.
A minute later each fighter fired three missiles at its targets. Most were going for the seraphines but one third was going for the five ships.
It took almost a minute before the sensors of the enemy ships and fighters registered the stinger missiles that were heading towards them. And by then it was already too late. The ships engaged with their point defense. As they did the fighters scrambled and spread their formation trying to present a smaller target. At the same time the Dacarian ships registered the power signatures of sixteen ships that somehow managed to sneak in to their rear.
More than half of the missiles were knocked down by the point defense. But still of the twenty fighters only eleven remained. Twenty stingers slipped and managed to reach their targets. One of the corvettes received ten of them before she could fully charge her shields. Explosions littered her side as the stingers delivered their payload. At least one must have hit something vital because a large explosion erupted just seconds later and tore a piece of the hull. The corvette drifted out of formation. The other two and the destroyer grouped around the carrier trying to shield it. The seraphines tried to engage the vipers but outnumbered and outmatched they were quickly routed and destroyed. After this the vipers regrouped for a second run. Eight vipers were missing two of them with nukes.
“Follow my lead and protect the packages.”
“Copy that Troy.”
“Nice one Fin. Hope you watch your ass.”
“Don’t have to worry about me skipper I have flyboy here to keep me safe.”
The small chatter continued as they made their run. But soon it was replaced with swearing ad screaming as vipers got hit.
Far in the distance Elisabeth felt the pain in her chest as she watched the vipers make their run and her pilots die. She knew that this was the risk and that it would happen. But it was a safe way to destroy the enemy before he could react. And as the battle unfolded it was obvious that the dacarians were caught with their pants down.
“Get in to their blind side Eagles. Let’s finish this.”
The small fighters spread out and allowed the seven remaining packages to enter the blind side of the enemy and deliver their missiles. As they did that all fighters spread out trying to put as much distance between them and the now doomed ships.
The radiological alarm sounded the moment the small fighter formation was detected. When the fighters scrambled the five ships knew they are doomed. They tried to turn their hulls in order to acquire the missiles but didn’t manage to get a lock. One of the reasons for that failure was the impact of the remaining stinger missiles and the plasma and rail gun rounds before the nuclear warheads hit. They caused minimal damage but it was enough to prevent the point defense to react in time.
A minute later seven nuclear missiles found their targets. Each corvette was targeted by one. The destroyer and the carrier received two.
The warheads were fifty megatons. It was the standard yield of the warheads that were found on board the alien cruiser that was captured on Earth.
When they hit huge explosions engulfed the ships. The corvettes were vaporized immediately. So was the carrier. The destroyer’s shields managed to hold of the first explosion. But the first warhead depleted the shield. The second literally tore it in half. Several seconds later the parts exploded as the munitions ignited.
The mission was accompl
ished.
As the fighter wing retreated toward the Prince Royal Helen looked at the readings. Twenty two vipers were destroyed.
But she shut the pain she felt for their deaths. There would be time for morning later. The battle wasn’t over yet. Her friends died but she couldn’t cry yet.
Kerak jumped with anger as he saw the destruction of his rear guard and the new sixteen ships that appeared in his rear.
This was a trap. They were leading him all the time drawing him away from the warp point. He looked at the image of the ships. He didn’t know how but somehow he knew that his opponents were humans. And he knew that the fleet surely encountered resistance on the other side.
“We planned this mission thinking that they wouldn’t be able to challenge us in space Sod. We were wrong.”
The tribune looked at him. He knew that Kerak is right. The destruction of the ships at the warp point proved it. The other sixteen ships that just appeared were clear proof that this was a trap from the start.
“Do you remember all those stories we heard when we were young about the great wars, about the Alterans? Do you Sod?”
“Yes my lord. Our ancestors called them demons. But they also respected them.
“We are fighting their descendants Sod. We have humans on those ships. I don’t know how but they are clearly way ahead of the level of technology we thought they were.”
The tribune kept quiet. He was watching the representation and the disposition of the fleets. Kerak looked at it also. As he watched he noticed the human ships turning. In two arns the other twelve ships would join them. He still outnumbered them and his ships had stronger shields and fire power.
“We have to destroy this force before the others get here.”
“Yes.”
He turned towards the communications officer.
“Tell all ships to accelerate and force them in to battle. Close the distance.
Jennings watched the reaction of the Dacarian fleet after the destruction of the five ships at the warp point.”
His plan was unfolding perfectly. He was still in position when he had to hold until the Squadron under Elisabeth’s command arrived but he knew that he won this battle.
