by C. M. Kane
Tae immediately fired all breaking thrusters, but she knew straight away that it wouldn’t be enough. Thinking quickly she began to fire the starboard maneuvering thrusters on full. She knew they were still going to hit, it was now a matter of trying to limit the damage of what was about to happen.
Brightmoon herself had no time to help Tae; she was now busy trying to sort through vast amounts of information that were coming to her from the nanites on the enemy’s ships. Tae got the distinct impression that, even for Brightmoon, it was almost overwhelming.
In the meantime Hyperion’s ship– the Eos- was looming large in her sensors. She could see Hyperion had obviously got over the shock of their sudden appearance, as he too was now using his thrusters to try to maneuver his ship out of the way, but it was too little too late. Tae rolled Brightmoon onto her side, presenting her hull to the Eos. She switched the maneuvering thrusters in sequence so they moved with Brightmoon from her starboard side to her hull as she began her roll, this way they continued to push her slowly away as she continued to rapidly close on the other ship.
In the mean time Dolath had opened a narrow beam channel and sent all the information they had on the enemy fleet, and exactly where they were, straight through to Zeus and the waiting armada. He then quickly opened a channel to the Eos, before nodding to a waiting Vulcan.
Vulcan could see what was about to happen, his mind worked swiftly as he tried to think of everything he wished to say to his nemesis in one simple sentence. Unfortunately, by by the time Hyperion’s shocked and enraged face came on the view-screen he had time for only three words.
With a wide grin splitting his face he said; ‘Guess who, arsehole,’ and then they hit.
Great sheets of power arced from both ships force fields back onto the ships they were supposed to be protecting as they came into contact with each other. Although each force field was capable of deflecting small meteors and most space debris, neither one had a hope against a ship of similar size. The Eos’s was the first to fail, it immediately allowed the Brightmoons now blackened shield to start gouging a massive rent in the side of the ship, a full two seconds later the Brightmoons hull shielding also failed.
Tae was momentarily surprised that she didn’t feel the pain of what had just happened. She soon realized the Brightmoon had cut that connection between them. Although Tae could still hear Brightmoons screams echoing though her mind as her hull was ripped open, she could still continue concentrating on what she was doing. The tearing sound seemed to echo throughout the ship before finally, they were passed. Tae continued to break heavily, while at the same time turning Brightmoon towards her enemy.
Loki in the meantime had not let any opportunity slip by. He had opened fire with all of the pulse cannons as soon as they hit, just before a massive back surge of energy from their own force field knocked out the forward array. As their hull shielding failed he opened fire with the stern rail gun, the huge explosive shells hammered into the Eos causing massive explosions as they went.
Claysal, who stood beside Loki, was also busy with her own plan; knowing that Brightmoons missiles would likely do just as much damage to them as they would to the Eos if fired at this close a range, she immediately launched every buzz bomb that was in the missile launchers. By the time Brightmoon was past the small missiles were beginning to make their way passed a storm of small laser fire that was only now opening up. Although the Eos’s lasers batteries took out just under half of the buzz bombs, enough of them had managed to reach their major pulse cannon arrays, both fore and aft, along with most of the weapons arrays on their port side, where they now started to impact.
Unfortunately for Brightmoon the Eos hadn’t been quiet while she closed in on it. After the initial shock of seeing them; Hyperion had immediately launched several dozen breaching pods that he’d obviously had on stand-by for the coming war with the gods. He then opened fire with everything that was still workable; although he was now severely limited in what he could use on his badly damaged port side. Even as the small buzz bombs began hitting the larger dreadnaught, Brightmoon was taking serious weapons fire from the Eos.
Tae finally managed to bring Brightmoon around fully so that only her upper body - with its still viable force field - now faced the larger ship; but even now it was starting to turn a cherry red from the fire it was taking. Fortunately for them, Hyperion hadn’t launched missiles, obviously he, too, realized that he would end up inflicting just as much damage on himself as he did his enemy at this distance.
Loki in the meantime continued to fire the working pulse cannons on the Brightmoons stern, along with the rail gun that continued to pound its explosive tipped shells onto the partially erect force field on the bow of the other ship as it, too, maneuvered around to hide its collapsed shielding.
Tae was the first to see them, although Loki had programmed the smaller lasers into a close random firing pattern, one surviving breaching pod had made its way passed the gap in their force field and was now heading towards the massive tear in their hull.
‘We have a breaching pod coming in,’ she said loudly.
‘Where?’ asked Loki quickly
‘Section seven, they seem to be moving towards engineering,’ said Tae as she scanned the sensors and took closer note of the small crab like ships heading.
Loki looked over at Vulcan quickly. ‘I’m on it!’ he said as he drew a massive sword. He raised his com-watch to his lips and immediately contacted Brohan, telling him to meet him in engineering with every man he had, along with all the tore that were onboard.
Then he was gone.
Chapter 35
‘My Lord,’ said the warrior stationed at the communications console as he looked towards Zeus. ‘We have a heavily encrypted incoming message from Brightmoon.
‘Send it to Tannans station,’ said Zeus as he strode toward to where Tannan was standing in front of a large screen, a message automatically began playing. Tannans eyes widened noticeably as they had their first glimpse of the Titan fleet. Zeus heard a few quickly muffled intakes of breath at the site of the dreadnaughts, but that was it; his bridge crew were all seasoned warriors and knew how to suppress their fears. He kept his own face impassive, even when he eventually saw the behemoth that was undoubtedly Hyperion’s flag ship the Eos. The only sign of his internal shock and rage was the slight tensing of his body. As he took in the co-ordinates of the incoming fleet he started to channel his anger into determination with-in himself. Every warrior instinct within him wanted to lash out and begin killing this threat to his people, but he forced his mind to calm as he considered the information he now had, and what Brightmoon was about to do.
After seeing firsthand the armada that was coming for them, he realized just how slim their chances of victory were. He frowned in thought; we need something more, something unexpected, especially if Brightmoon is engaging the Eos as this very moment. He signaled to Tannan to come and speak with him, because he had an idea.
‘If Brightmoon is engaging the Eos as we speak, then the ships that were nearing the portal could turn around and attack her in an effort to help Hyperion. We can’t allow that, we need her controlling those other ships; we’re going to need to take a risk. I’m about to send a message across to the other older, unaffected ships, asking for them to join with us. I know it’s a huge gamble, but if they answer the way I’m hoping they will, we’ll all be heading through the portal. Either way, we need to distract them, and if that means our lives, then so be it.’
Tannans brow furrowed in thought before he quickly answered. ‘I agree, My Lord, if they know they are being used as cannon fodder, which given your races intelligence they will, then it’s entirely feasible that, given the chance, they just might switch allegiances. We have a tremendous amount to gain if they do. As you say, it’s a risk, but perhaps they might realize that they finally have a chance at something better if you can show them what they’re missing,’ he said.
Zeus turned quickly to his communicatio
ns officer. ‘Open up a channel to all ships in the armada, and be ready to send a wide beam communication message through the portal to the co-ordinates Tannan is now sending you.’
The Elven warrior at the main communications com-panel turned and hit several controls, he then turned back to Zeus. ‘It is done, My Lord.’
Zeus knew what he was about to do was a huge gamble that could backfire against them spectacularly; but the implications of losing Brightmoon, and of his own forces having to face that many dreadnaughts straight after a battle against the older ships …, well the odds weren’t good. He turned to his com-panel knowing he was now addressing all the ships in gathered their armada; he then quickly explained to them what he was about to do. He knew that some would not be happy about his new plans, so he also sent them the information he’d just received about the incoming fleet, then he signed off and nodded to his communications officer, he was ready.
He stood in front of Tannans com-panel and began. ‘This is Fleet Commander Zeus of the free titans to incoming battle fleet. I am giving you a onetime offer to join us, to leave the dictator Hyperion and his band of destroyers and become part of something else, something better. I am asking you to cast off your shackles and choose freedom.’
He paused as he considered his next words, and exactly who he was speaking to. ‘Come my brothers and sisters, you know I am right, surely you cannot wish to die for the glory of a megalomaniacal dictator such as Hyperion? If you want to die so badly then at least die fighting his tyranny, free and with honor, instead of like slaves to the slaughter,’ he continued.
Two faces from his long ago past flickered onto his view-screen. ‘And what guarantee do we have that you are any better should we choose to follow you?’ asked Asteria, a one time rival to Zeus’ job as squadron commander in Cronus’s fleet.
Boreas her lover then interjected. ‘You couldn’t even be bothered to tell us of your plans, or give us the opportunity to join you if we so chose, you simply left us to rot under Hyperion’s rule! So tell us, Zeus, why in all the seven hells should we give any loyalty to you?’
‘Because nothing could be worse than the way you are forced to live!’ Zeus said passionately. ‘The constant killing, the hatred, the mistrust in your brothers and sisters; look at our crew, Boreas,’ he said standing back and allowing a view of the Olympus’s bridge crew to beam to them. ‘Can’t you see? We have created more than just a comfortable life for ourselves; we have created new life! Yes we still have battles, Hera was recently killed in one,’ he said honestly. ‘We are not perfect, but we have art, literature, music, love. We have a good life here; don’t your hearts yearn for more than what you have?’
‘You always did have the mindset for leadership, Zeus;’ said Asteria with a half smile, ‘and fortunately for you, your right. If I’m going to die than I’ll damn well die as a free titan! I refuse to die under the yoke of that over weaning tyrant.’ She raised an eyebrow at something she was obviously watching off-screen. ‘I gather that’s one of your ships he’s engaged in battle with at the moment? It seems we have just received orders to turn around and engage the enemy ship, orders we will now disobey, but only on the condition. You must show us equal faith. You want our allegiance, Zeus? Then join us, on this side of the portal, where we can continue our … discussions.’
Zeus nodded. ‘As you wish, Asteria.’ He signaled to his Captain, and the Olympus got underway. Tannan nodded at the helmsman for the portal to be opened, and as the other ships looked on in trepidation, the Olympus slipped through.
Zeus surveyed the vast fleet as he entered the realms of the Titans. He was on edge, and not just because of the massive fleet of ships he was now facing, already his own sensors had picked up the fight that was occurring near a small planet. Blasts of energy and brilliant explosions were lighting up the darkness of space, that even at this distance were still visible. He thought the combatants were at least a good hour away at top speed. He was about to ask how Asteria and Boreas would like to proceed when his sensor operator announced an incoming wave of missiles heading directly for them. One of the Khopesh class destroyers had just opened fire.
He’d gambled and lost, he’d walked into a trap like a lamb to the slaughter. Before he could begin to return fire the smaller ship was attacked by two other Orion class ships. At the first sign of a missile launch they had immediately released a large amount of interceptors and chaff, and then started to pound the smaller vessel to pieces. That was when all hell broke loose.
Several other ships not willing to take the deal opened fire on Zeus and the two Orion class warships that had destroyed the Khopesh class ship. Zeus felt the Olympus’ shields hit hard a half a dozen times as he was targeted by several of the attackers. He was about to start returning fire when an Orion class battle cruiser moved in front of the remaining missiles that were heading for them. As it began taking the hits on its shielding a new face appeared on his view-screen.
‘Stay out of this while we tidy up our ranks a bit will you, we don’t want you accidently killed while we’re have a little family spat,’ said Phobos as gave Zeus a long considering look. Then his ship moved away, opening fire directly on three battle cruisers that were trying to out flank him.
Zeus laughed. ‘He hadn’t forgotten Phobos, to have him come down on their side was a huge boost to their chances, even for a titan he was considered strange. He was both honorable and fearless, he also had a look that could give even the bravest of titans a moment’s pause, yet he remained reclusive and secretive. He’d had a large following before they had left, mainly because he seemed to hold everyone in contempt, he was afraid of nothing. Zeus had never been able to work out what might be going on inside the dark titans head. He was an enigma.
Just as he’d hoped, immediately Phobos came down on the side of Zeus, over a third of the uncommitted ships joined him. In between Asteria and Boreas’s forces, and now Phobos, they had more than three quarters of the first fleet. They quickly arranged battle lines between them and those still loyal to Hyperion. Zeus watched in awe as massive barrages of missiles were thrown by both sides at each other. Plasma cannons and smaller laser batteries continued to fire relentlessly, as slowly but surely the enemies’ ships were destroyed.
Zeus breathed deeply, trying desperately to hold in check his own, now raging, battle lust. But he knew he could not join in or help, this was not his fight, it was theirs. Unlike the battles he was now used to, in this one there were no enemy survivors. This more than anything else, served to remind him exactly who he was now dealing with. These people may be his race, but they were definitely unlike him and the others beyond the portal. He was now dealing with ruthless warriors who would stop at nothing to achieve ultimate victory. He was now dealing with Titans.
The broken remains of fifty two mixed class ships now floated around them in a large cloud of debris. Reports began coming in from the repair crews onboard the Olympus. She taken some minor damage to the forward pulse cannon array on the port side, it was nothing that couldn’t be repaired quickly.
Zeus looked at Tannan, his eyes ablaze and his fangs now fully extended. ‘Now we do the unexpected,’ he said. At Tannans questioning look he smiled coldly before nodding to his communications officer. A channel was once more opened to the surrounding ships.
‘I’ll be damned if I’m going to stay here like a frightened child while I rely on Loki to take out Hyperion. I’m here, decide now, either join me and let me bring my fleet through, or kill me now and destroy all of your dreams, because one way or another, I’m going to take that bastard out!’
He looked out at the ships surrounding him. Some he noticed were badly damaged and venting atmosphere, but he knew that wouldn’t stop them if they wanted to fight. ‘So are you with me, do we join together and finally put an end to this once and for all? Decide, because I’m calling my fleet through now.’
He then turned back to Tannan and nodded. Tannan turned around quickly and sent the message through the por
tal, not long after it opened again, and one by one, Orion and Khopesh class ships began to enter the realms of the titans. As the armada began to enter Zeus opened up his com-channel to everyone.
‘Now we take the fight to Hyperion and all those who follow him! Now we take back what is ours. Never again will his ilk darken our realms. Today we all become free Titans!’ He roared.
He vaguely heard a chorus of half forgotten war cries echoing over the com-panels and heating his blood anew as he strode back to his seat.
Tannan watched him in awe, for the first time in a thousand years he realized that he had never really known his god at all. He had never seen the sheer ferocity, nor did he know about the fangs which his god was now showing.
But Tae had, he realized with a start. Tae had recognized the real warrior within Zeus. She had appealed to him, and now, thank the gods, he had replied. For the first time since this all began, Tannan pitied Hyperion.
Chapter 36
Tae was continuing to keep what was left of Brightmoons force field angled towards the still firing Eos. The trouble was, every time she tried, the Eos would match her moves and keep Brightmoon in its firing solution. She was frustrated, the buzz bombs had worked as intended, the Eos was now basically crippled on her port side, but Tae couldn’t get there, and her remaining shields were now turning a dark brown, and unfortunately the shields of the Eos weren’t any darker than Brightmoons. Once again it was coming down to a race, but this time Tae knew she’d lose. Brightmoon was taking a serious battering from the much more heavily armed Eos. The only thing that had saved her so far was the extra power from the purple crystals that was being funneled into the shields, but even that was draining away quickly; she had to think of something.
