by Don Foxe
“Copy,” Elie replied. “Hit, hurt, repeat, and engines are priority one.”
If you have ever seen a smaller bird harass a larger predatory bird, keeping it away from its nest, and protecting the young, then you have a picture of the ensuing three hours. Add a perpetual night sky, lit up with bursts from rail-guns, laser fire in multiple directions, torpedoes fired from tubes, and others blown from the sky, to paint the backdrop.
Angel 7, and Demon took multiple hits. Their sonic shields held. It was still like getting shot with an old-style bullet, when wearing an ancient kevlar vest. The vest stopped the bullet from penetrating, but it still knocked your ass onto the ground, and left a nasty bruise.
Even undermanned (under-womanned?), Demon fought the two Primary spaceships to a stand still. She had them turning in circles. It required less than one fly-by for her to understand what the intel from Storm meant, when it said the Zenge fight in two dimensions. As the battle extended, Elie and Mags took turns piloting the ship. They eventually gave up on staffing com-tac, and relied on Storm to inform them if anything changed tactically, or strategically.
Storm split-screened Angel’s com-tac monitor to allow her to watch readouts, scans, hits, and misses for both fighters. She only spoke to give a warning, or make a suggestion based on changing tides.
Besides hammering the Primary trying to get to the Star Gazer, Angel had taken down over two dozen torpedoes fired either at them or the cruise ship. It became obvious the Zenge no longer cared if they captured the Star Gazer whole.
Several laser bursts made it though to the huge cruise ship, but the extra padding provided by the upgraded shield system stopped most of them. Two laser bursts, landing one on top of the other, singed the hull, but nothing breached the ship’s exterior hull.
Coop and Sky continued to one-two punch the Zenge Primary, and a little less than two hours into the battle, an entire section of the ship’s stern quarter crumpled. The vessel’s interior was fully exposed to space, and the ship began to drift. The Zenge began firing lasers and torpedoes in the general direction of Angel 7. They were panicked, and fighting scared.
Realizing his target sat dead in space, Coop coordinated with Elie on her two. She continued to engaged both with short, quick forays. While they concentrated on her, Sky peppered their engine sectors. By the time they turned their attention to Angel 7, Coop had bugged out to reengage his original target.
The pulse cannons were quiet. They must receive their power from the engines, and not the dynamo. Without engine power, the Zenge became desperate, and angry. They began firing available laser cannons at the Star Gazer. If they were not stopped soon, the number of bursts would start damaging the bigger ship, and potentially opening the hull to space.
Coop brought Angel 7 around at incredible speed, flew the ship directly beneath the Primary, and hit the breaks. He came to a dead stop, directly under the ship. He began a firing sequence: a nymph, followed by a projectile rod, as fast as the railgun could switch loads and fire. The first nymph took out a section of the remaining forcefield. Two following nymphs and three rods penetrated the gap in the forcefield, ripping the larger ship down the center line, effectively splitting the hull in two.
Internal implosions, followed swiftly by explosions, finished the ship. Angel sped to assist Demon.
“Time, plus three-seven-five,” Storm called absently.
The Earth ships were winning, but they were also getting battered. The decades of experience as fighter pilots, test pilots, as well as time in their current ships, made Coop and Elie the best flyers in this dogfight. They were overmatched by size and armaments. The Zenge were confused by the speed and tactics of the Earth ships.
Thirty minutes later, Demon set the pick, and Angel slammed the ball home. A nymph and projectile combination from Angel’s railgun took out a section of hull. Implosive forces completed the eradication of the warship. Metal and biological pieces scattered into the void, swept across the expanse by the shock waves.
Demon received a broadside of laser fire from the remaining Primary. Angel 7 moved in to provide a shield, allowing the sister ship time to recover.
Elie, opting for a front to rear attack, pulled an Immelmann turn. An Immelmann trades airspeed for altitude during a 180-degree change in direction. The aircraft performs the first half of a loop, and when completely inverted, rolls to the upright position. A good offensive maneuver for setting up a high-side guns pass against a lower altitude, slow moving opponent, going in an opposite direction. A poor defensive maneuver, turning the attacker into a slow moving target, when done in atmosphere.
Because there is no drag in space, Demon lost no speed. Magpie fired nymph shells followed by kinetic projectiles. The combos rained up on the Primary from nose to tail.
The enemy ship began to fall apart. Internal explosions destroyed decks, killed enemy combatants, and blew holes through the hull.
“The bigger they are, the bigger they blow,” Magpie said aloud.
“Time, plus four-zero-five,” Storm called. The space debris field more than doubled in size.
“Demon, report,” Coop ordered via the secure channel.
“All good,” Mags replied, taking control of the stick, while Elie took a moment to rest. “We took a bunch of hits, but no structural damage. The inside of the ship looks like the after party for a rock and roll concert. Our com-tac station got shaken badly. Not sure if I can get the monitor up and working. And Storm was fantastic. It was like we had a third on board.”
“Thank you, “ Storm said, over the live feed. “It has been my pleasure to give back to these Zenge.” She caught Coop’s eye and mouthed “Rock and Roll?”
Coop smiled, and said aloud, ”Later.”
“I have six projectiles left,” Cooper said. “You have twenty, according to my com-tac officer. We have three bogies left, and no idea what they have, or when they will decide to engage.”
“If you hesitate you lose,” Sky said, learning Earth tactics on the go.
“True that,” Mags agreed.
“Okay. We take thirty to rest. Sky, please take over pilot. I need a break. Storm, eyes shut. Rest them. Magpie and Loba, take a quick break. In thirty we take it to them.”
“You’re Flag,” Mags replied. “Demon, out.”
“Sky, check on Star Gazer, and get updates. I’m back in ten, and you can take a break.”
“You should take longer. You’ve been in your seat for seven hours.”
“Damn,” Coop said. “I didn’t realize. It feels like we only left the Star Gazer a short while ago. We need a short R and R. When we go after the remaining Zenge ships, we’ll put Angel on autopilot. That should give us an extra thirty minutes or so.” He left Angel 7 in the capable control of his co-pilot.
Chapter 41
Coop returned to the cockpit, passing Storm, who looked asleep in the com-tac chair, with her harness on.
“Grab a bunk, and get a couple of minutes,” he said as he took his seat.
Sky sat serenely watching debris float in space. Occasional lights flared as electrical systems shorted, or gases ignited. “On Fell, there is a saying. Revenge is a quiet meal. Sitting here, quietly, I am highly satisfied.”
“I spoke with Poonch,” Sky said, leaving her introspection. “The Star Gazer has about a half-dozen places where there is a potential for a hull rupture. They’ve moved people out, and closed the sections, so if something does break, it will not effect anything.
“Poonch also informed me the Star Gazer, ‘being the finest cruise ship ever built, and known throughout the galaxy for the extraordinary views provided its guests’, has been feeding video of the battle to every monitor and screen on board.
“I quote: ‘When you destroyed the two Zenge ships, the roar from 240,000 people was so loud, the ship felt as if it had a heartbeat. But when Demon suddenly appeared, and shot down the torpedoes heading for them, the noise became so great the entire ship, both spheres shuddered.’”
“Not sure if streaming the fight is a good thing,” Cooper said. “We’ve been winning, but if it goes the other way, those people are going to see fate coming for them in high definition.”
Sky unharnessed, and stood up. “Poonch also said they have been streaming the video to the space station in orbit over the fourth planet. With the time delay for distance, they should have started receiving the feed about two hours ago.”
With her update completed, she left the Captain alone in the cockpit. Seated and strapped in, he keyed his mike for a private communication with Demon.
“Elie?”
“Hey, Coop. Calm before the storm, huh? Man, in the thirty years I have known you, I’ve seen you get knee deep in pretty tough places, but you have outdone yourself this time.”
“Funny. Twelve people make it through the Space Ranger Project, and two end up on the edge of space accomplishing the vision.” Cooper watched the stars from his front row seat. Somehow he knew Elie was doing the exact same thing. “Seems right somehow. We wanted to go into space, discover unknown worlds, and meet aliens so badly, we allowed our insides ripped out and rebuild.”
“Wasn’t all bad, Coop,” Elie replied. “The five years after, we had a good ride. We progressed from Navy pilots, to space ship test pilots, to having our own ships. Every time you made a step, I stepped into your footprints and followed. It makes perfect sense I would follow you into an intergalactic conflict.”
“I didn’t have the time before, so thanks to you, and Mags for showing up. You saved a lot of lives. I know what it must have taken to get Demon ready to fly.”
“You’ll have to say thanks to Patterson for Demon. She brow beat a hundred workers to get the ship space-ready. Mags and I were sitting on a beach near Galveston. They hauled our asses up to EMS2, strapped us in, literally pushed us off the dock, and pointed us in this direction.
“By the way, Gregory, and his Marines are aboard the 109. In [she looked at her chronometer] eight hours, three Space Rangers present to complete the job.”
“Before this mission, I would have said Marines would be a waste of time in space,” Coop finished the comment with, “but we may need to use them.”
“Assuming there’s someone here to explain in simple, one syllable words what it is they need to do,” Elie joked.
“I hate to interrupt,” Storm interrupted. It was a private, secure channel, so, of course the Fellen communication savant heard every word. “The two Mischene ships are pulling away from the mothership.”
“Storm, get Sky. She needs to strap in. Elie, you and Mags take the battlecruiser on our left. We’ll take right. Storm, can you continue to keep up as com-tac for both ships?”
“No problem. You should see the video games we play on Fell. And, Coop, what did you and Elie ride for five years?”
“You shouldn’t listen in on private conversation, AStermalanlan. Co-pilot is in, and strapped. Loba?”
“Loba and Magpie, set to go. Storm, the answer is ‘each other’. Demon, out.”
Demon banked left, then jumped to 100,000mph. Angel 7 nudged a bit right, and matched speed. The Mischene battlecruisers approached at over 100,000mph, and were within range to fire weapons.
Demon headed for a battlecruiser with four torpedoes tubes, and currently firing a missile every five-seconds for twenty-seconds. Sixteen ship-killers were headed her way.
Angel 7’s target continued to hold position, presumably to assess the results, before determining its attack plan.
Mags took out the first four torpedoes. Their speed flew them into the succeeding twelve. Elie weaved through them, and overflew the battlecruiser. Since she was there anyway, she started popping NNEMP shells along the top of the ship. The com-tac computer, though no longer programmable, maintained the original firing solution Mags had entered earlier, making sure bursts of laser fire followed the railgun loads at the proper intervals.
Storm assessed damage. “You hit them, and you took off a layer of skin, but the ship has a double-hull. No atmosphere escaping. When you made your pass off the stern, they sent another twelve torpedoes at you. First twelve are reacquiring. You now have twenty-four missiles, with various loads, looking for you.”
“Copy,” came the terse reply from Demon.
While that conflict happened, the second Mischene ship flew by Angel 7, ignoring her completely. It increased speed. Their target was the Star Gazer. The Zenge had decided capture was no longer an option. They intended to deal a killing blow, taking revenge for the ships already destroyed.
“Loba,” Coop keyed the mike so everyone could hear. “Space-fold Demon, and get between that cruiser and Star Gazer. I can’t. We did multiple folds prior to your arrival. Another fold now would probably kill Sky or Storm. I’ll take the missiles. When they lose you, it will give us extra time to take them down.”
“Copy,” and before the echo died, Demon pivoted, and jumped into space-fold.
The Zenge missiles came to a drift, targeting computers having lost Demon. Coop took Angel 7 directly into them, and Sky played the joy sticks like a world-class gamer.
By the time the missile tracking-packages could redirect, only six remained. They acquired Angel 7, fired thrusters, and flew toward the fighter. Coop reversed, and then spun the ship. He outpaced the in-coming rockets, while Sky finished the last six, using the rear-facing laser cannons.
“Forward cannon nearing redline,” Storm informed them. “That was a lot of heat in a short time, even rotating the cannons. We need ten, maybe fifteen minutes, or you risk losing them. Rear facing cannon perfect. Swivel lasers good to go. Rail gun optimal.”
Meanwhile, Demon returned to natural space and began circling the battlecruiser, hitting it repeatedly with combined railgun and laser fire. Elie stayed so close to the enemy ship, its cannons were useless.
“This son-of-a-bitch must have the toughest hull, and the strongest forcefield generator in the universe,” Mags said to Elie. (Storm, of course, hacked the coms systems. She could hear the conversations inside Demon, as if on board.)
Unable to depress cannons enough to fire on Demon, the Zenge fired twenty-four torpedoes at the Star Gazer. The torpedoes were larger, and carried heavier loads than missiles. They did not possess advanced homing packages, but they did not need them when aimed at a target the size of the Osperantue cruise ship.
Storm spoke to Elie and Mags: “The first twelve are nuclear tipped. The following twelve have hardened tips, and carry high explosives. They have figured out an EMP will temporarily shut down a forcefield. We’ve been using the same tactic against them for the last eight hours. It must have sunk in. They can do the same against Star Gazer, using nuclear explosions, instead of NNEMP rounds, to create a gap in their forcefield.”
Elie curled Demon up, and raced after the torpedoes. Her ship actually upside-down, but in space, no one cared, or noticed.
As soon as Elie abandoned the battlecruiser to chase the torpedoes, multiple laser-cannons’ fire filled the blackness in pursuit. At the speed Elie put on to overtake and pass the torpedoes, Demon left the lasers wasted in the void.
“Storm, tell the Star Gazer to warn everyone on board to brace for impacts. We may stop the first twelve, but we will not, repeat, will not stop everything in the second salvo.” Elie spoke with urgency, no panic in her tone.
Storm, already aware of the math, and the problem, made the call.
“Star Gazer, you are about to get hit by as many as twelve high-explosive torpedoes with hardened tips. Hull penetration is a high probability. I have estimated which torpedoes in the second salvo will arrive first, and have informed your shield computers where to pad for the first four. I have sent most-probable target coordinates for the other eight. You have less than five minutes to clear those sections and close them before impact. Do you copy?”
“We’re clearing sections as fast as we can,” Poonch replied. “Thank you Angel 7. Good luck, Demon.”
“Damn, that girl is good,” Mags said aloud. “Bu
t so are we.”
Demon climbed into a side-slide flight pattern, which would take her in front of, and parallel to the first salvo of torpedoes. Not waiting on com-tac, Mags and Elie manually aimed off their heads-up displays, taking out the first twelve torpedoes. They slipped around the last exploding torpedo. All they could do was watch, as the twelve remaining collided with the Star Gazer.
Angel 7 had backed off to allow cannons to cool. Storm was able to concentrate on the Star Gazer attack. She provided a running account and assessment of the bombardment.
“First four torpedoes have hit with no appreciative damage. Number five; same. The forcefield still able to react. Six through Twelve are hits with hull penetrations. We have explosions and breaches in seven location. Casualty reports coming. Interfacing with Star Gazer coms . . . four sections fully cleared. Three partially cleared. Decks 408 - 410, 363 - 368 and 279 - 286 were closed without being fully cleared. Any sections open to space are sealed off. All hits occurred on the larger sphere. No way to assess the exact number of casualties. The ship itself is completely operational. No vital systems are damaged,” she concluded.
“Demon, you just saved over 200,000 lives.”
Demon’s crew did not reply. They were mad, and they were on the hunt for the battlecruiser.
“You said Decks 279 - 286 weren’t fully cleared,” Coop said to Storm.
“Correct, Captain. Problem?”
Cooper did not respond.
Angel 7’s cannons had cooled sufficiently, and Coop was about to reengage the Zenge, when Sky reached out a hand, and placed it on his arm. “Wait a minute,” she said, then called Storm to the cockpit.
“The aft section of the Mischene battlecruisers is shaped like a U. Two trailing hulls, which displace heat, gases, and other vapors from the engines, with the main hangar in the center.” Sky looked to Storm for confirmation. Storm nodded. “The hangar has double doors that open from the center to the sides. It is about 1,500-feet deep, and ends at a bulkhead. That bulkhead is shared with generators and engine compartments. It’s the dynamo generators from up top, now deep inside the ship for protection.”
