“Not good enough Mr. River-Fork!” snapped the Captain as the Imperial warships dodged to the side and flipped their ship end over end.
“I’m trying, Sir!” exclaimed the Helmsman as he followed suit and burst after the Imperial Destroyer engines and thrusters flaring.
“This is practically suicide. We can’t hardly see!” cried the Sensor Warrant. “We could crash into them at any moment and a collision at these speeds could destroy both warships.”
“Ramming speed, Mr. River-Fork,” Captain Ivan ordered.
The Crazy Ivan’s engines flared brightly as the Destroyers engines went full out to match the maneuvers of the Imperial warship and close the distance.
Several tense seconds passed as the Imperial warships continued to fire single aimed shots at the Crazy Ivan whenever its gunners could line up a decent shot and then the Imperial warships zigged 18 degrees to port when it should have zagged to starboard, and the Ivan was on her.
Shields flared causing cascade failures and sending the starboard shield generators on the Crazy Ivan into emergency shutdown.
“Now!” shouted Tactical into his dedicated line down to gunnery and the shields on both warships collapsed while the Ivan approached dangerously close to the Imperial’s hull.
As the helmsman desperately tried to compensate and keep an actual ramming event from happening the gunnery section which had been watching in frustration as their ship took hit after hit unanswered finally saw their chance and unloaded at point blank range.
“Sweet Murphy!” shouted the Sensor Warrant as gunnery punched through the Imperial Destroyer’s hull, causing massive out-gassing that scorched the Ivan’s hull, causing his section to lose an array.
The Ivan’s hull was hit by flames from a severed plasma line as well as several enemy crew members that didn’t survive the experience, quickly followed by several cubic tons of oxygen that bled from the Ivan with enough force to leave burn marks on the hull.
Things did not go entirely the Ivan’s way though as at least three enemy lasers took advantage of the MSP Destroyer’s own lack of shields to land its own strikes but it was nothing compared to the crippling broadside that had just landed on the Imperial warship.
Almost instinctively, the helmsman of the Crazy Ivan turned the ship away from the Imperial Destroyer, gaining enough separation that they didn’t accidentally crash together.
“She’s still there. Prepare for another pass!” ordered Captain Ivan, causing his ship to come about toward the Imperial Destroyer.
“Enemy warship is returning fire,” reported Shields, “port shielding now down below 25%!”
“Roll to starboard, that will help spread out the load,” the Captain barked back his eyes never wavering from the main-screen.
“The load has already been spread out as much as possible with multiple smaller shield nodes and load balancing system. We’ll get some but…” the Operator finished hesitantly.
“Understood,” Ivan said curtly as the Imperial Destroyer went into a series of increasingly difficult maneuvers.
Both warships exchanged fire lasers lancing back and forth as the screen showing the two ships maneuvers fuzzed and jumped around due to interference.
“We just lost a laser mount,” reported Tactical.
“And two shield nodes,” reported the Shield Operator.
Dimitri Ivan nodded standing with both hands clasped behind his back.
“Sir you might want to consider sitting back down,” advised the First Officer as the ship underwent a particularly violent maneuver, one strong enough to cause even the Crazy Ivan’s gravity system to give a slight gut rolling flutter.
“I’m fine,” said the Captain.
“Enemy warship coming back around for a head to head pass!” reported Tactical.
“Gunnery is standing by,” reported and assistant Tactical Officer.
There was a stir in the sensor pit.
“Report,” snapped the Captain.
“There’s a fluctuation in the—” Jannice started enthusiastically but the warrant cut her off with a sharp look and a no-nonsense gesture back toward her sensor console.
“It’s hard to say for sure,” the Warrant reported looking pale faced but determined as he overrode his tech, “but it's possible,” he stressed, “that the Imperial Destroyer is having some kind of trouble with its fusion generator. The power reading are all over the place. But again that could just be from the jamming field.”
The Captain’s eyes gleamed.
“Keep up the pressure. Tactical, fire as she bears. Helm stick on them closer than a tick on a mule,” he instructed.
“For the next half minute, the two Destroyers swirled around one another, each one determined to pummel the other into submission.
“Two more nodal shield generators down. The Starboard broadside is down to half its effectiveness. The forward crew quarters are uninhabitable. Backup power system are degraded. It looks like they aimed for where the main power system used to run before the yard reworked things,” Engineering reported the litany of things damaged or destroyed while the rest of the bridge fought their ship.
“Another hit!” crowed Tactical right before a series of laser strike knocked down their starboard shield and slammed into the hull of the ship.
“Out-gassing,” reported Damage Control, “emergency bulkheads have deployed and are holding.”
“How much more can that ship take,” growled the First Officer.
“Not more than the Crazy Ivan,” the Captain said confidently, “steady, lads, we’ve got them on the ropes.”
A quick look at the damage control report showed that the Ivan had taken more damage than the enemy ship was estimated to have received but no one contradicted the Captain on his own bridge.
“Enemy warship coming around and…!” the Sensor Warrant paused and then continued in a rising voice, “her grav-system is fluctuating and her speed just temporarily slowed.”
“Press her!” ordered the Captain causing the helm to flare engines shortening the distance.
“I’m reading a power spike!” reported the Warrant moments before something was ejected from the hull of the Destroyer.
“Power drop off!” cried Sensors. “The Imperial ship has slowed to 20% of main speed and her shields have stopped recovering.”
“She’s turning to run,” reported Tactical.
“Enemy warship's signal is flickering. She’s trying to go back into stealth but we’ve still got her,” reported Sensors.
“Helm, bring us in alongside them. Tactical, refrain from individual fire and sink another broadside into their hull. Coms, as soon as Gunnery has fired you are to immediately demand their surrender on pain of instant and even immediate destruction,” crowed the Captain bringing a clenched fist from around behind his back and giving a small fist pump as the Imperial ship continued to try to run away using only her back up power generator.
Less than a minute later the Crazy Ivan pulled up alongside and launched another devastating broadside that annihilated the other Destroyers shields and did additional damage to the ship’s hull.
“Unidentified Imperial warship, you have just been warned. This is your last chance: surrender or be destroyed,” the Com-Operator said in a deep and forceful voice.
The Captain looked over in surprise but the Officer in charge of the com-section just grinned. Clearly he felt that the operator's voice was much more threatening than his own.
Less than a minute later the Imperial Destroyer struck its shields and shuttles filled with Lancers were on the way to the other Destroyer.
Lancers had taken control of key portions of the Imperial warship and had just transferred over the first group of high value prisoners for the Crazy Ivan’s small brig when another warship arrived.
The Crazy Ivan was hailed.
“Captain Ivan,” the Captain of the Fighting Badger glowered at the MSP Captain dourly, “it seems you don’t listen very well to instructions.”
“How do you figure this?” demanded the captain of the Fighting Badger.
“My Admiral ordered me to intercept stealthed Imperial warships scouting out this system by any means necessary, and that’s exactly what I’ve done,” said the Commander.
The Captain of the Fighting Badger shook his head the faintest hints of a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth before his brow lowered thunderously and he glared at the MSP Captain.
“On behalf of my government, I officially protest your lack of coordination with our system control,” he declared.
“Of course you do,” Dimitri Ivan said with a respectful nod, “but surely any protests are better delivered in person. Say, my cabin in one hour? I’ll provide the drinks.”
“You!” the Badger’s Captain shook his head angrily.
“Feel free to bring senior officers if you like,” Captain Ivan said with a cocky smile.
“I suppose you’ll be providing more of that liquid fire you call Vodka,” the SDF Captain sneered.
“Is real man’s drink,” Ivan said stoutly.
“No! This time I bring you a specialty from my home world: spiced pumpkin brandy. I just got a case from my brother and it’ll put that vodka of yours to shame in two swallows I guarantee it,” the Badger Captain said with certainty.
“Impossible,” Ivan sneered.
“Unless you’re too afraid to try our home world’s best liquor?” the other Captain asked with a twinkle in his eye.
“I’ll try this pumpkin drink of yours,” Ivan rolled his eyes, “but there’s no way it can compare to a real man’s drink like Vodka!”
“Bah! You’ll swear off your potato wine forever the moment you try this one,” shot back the other Captain.
“You’re on!” said Ivan.
Chapter 26: Bad News from Easy Haven
“Sir, system defense is reporting that a pair of freighters have just arrived in system,” reported Communication.
“This is important why?” I asked turning to the Com-Section.
“They’re squawking MSP Easy Haven ID’s, Admiral,” replied the Com-Officer.
“Interesting. I wonder why they’re here,” I said curiously and then shrugged, “report back when you have more.”
“Sir.” The Officer nodded and turned back to his console.
I turned back to my chief of staff.
“What’s our latest status throughout the fleet?” I asked.
“The last of the conscientious objectors and Old Confederation loyalists have been transferred off ship. As soon as we’ve finished unloading the new recruits from Tracto and the Border Alliance the freighters we’re giving them will have their computers wiped, except for basic navigational data, and we’ll hand over the command-key’s. They should be gone as soon as two days from now,” she reported.
“I’m sure we could do that faster,” I said feeling the urge to get out of Central and get going, “let’s aim to have the last of them settled by tomorrow and then send them off. The sooner they’re gone the better for the rest of our fleet. It’s no good for the people who are staying to be constantly reminded of the holes in their personnel. Some of those people had been with us for years.”
“Sitting around here with reporters hounding our people for comment and the politicians changing their minds every other day hasn’t helped,” Lisa Steiner said helplessly.
“Sir, I have that information for you,” the Com-Officer said.
I spun my chair around. “Alright, hit me with it,” I said with a smirk, “what has Easy Haven decided to send us that was so important it couldn’t wait yet at the same time had to be sent via freighters? And, more importantly, do we have any idea why they didn’t notify us beforehand that they were on the way?”
The Com-Officer looked shaken.
“The Freighters report that they’re full of defectors, Sir,” the Communications Officer said tonelessly.
I instantly straightened, all levity leaving my features while on the inside it felt like a stone had just dropped in my stomach.
“So they were having issues with loyalists too,” I said seriously, “well I guess it’s good that they sent them here ‘before’ our freighters full of objectors left for old Confederation space. Have them give us their manifests and number of transferees and we’ll get them settled for the long trip back to heartland space.”
The Com-Officer looked ill. “I’m sorry I wasn’t clear, Sir,” said the Com-Officer, “but the defectors aren’t here to join the objectors, they’re here to join us the MSP.”
I froze as my mind raced, working through the implications of that little statement.
“Ah,” I said carefully as I mulled things over. “How many are there?”
“Several thousand, many of them officers,” he reported and then added a belated, “Sir.”
I sucked in a breath and my face carefully blank I slowly nodded.
“Well we’ll need to verify their loyalty but, considering our recent defections, I’m sure we’ll be able to use them,” I said and then looked over, “I take it from the arrival of these…defectors that Easy Haven has declared for the Confederated Empire?”
This was a shock, to say the least.
Under LeGodat Easy Haven had been like a rock. There had been a few minor issues concerning the chain of command in the beginning but after a heart to heart with the Old Confederation reservist Easy Haven and the MSP had been inseparable.
Well it looked like with LeGodat dead Easy Haven was under new management.
I looked back up to confirm this with the Com-Officer.
“Negative, Sir,” he said in reply.
I looked at him questioningly. “Apparently Easy Haven is being abandoned by Acting Commodore McCruise even as we speak and they’re planning a return to the Confederation, rather than choosing to join forces with the Grand Fleet of Liberation and fight against the MSP,” he reported.
“So...at least they weren’t willing to fight with us directly. I guess that’s something,” I said, feeling a moment of crushing disappointment and anger.
“It looks that way, Sir,” said the other man.
“Well this a fine kettle of fish. Thank you, Coms,” I said with a nod.
“Grand Admiral,” the Com-Officer said, carefully turning back to his console.
After all the sacrifices to keep Easy Have free and independent of the Empire, I couldn’t help feeling bitter at the betrayal. The blood, bodies and treasure we had expended and they just abandoned the place?
In some ways that was even worse than turning on me, or against us, the MSP.
“Steiner, what do you think?” I asked turning to the former com-officer.
“Just a second, Sir. We just got a personnel manifest,” she replied.
“Okay,” I replied.
Several minutes passed as she rapidly scanned through things.
“After a brief overview and utilizing the smart programs… I’d say there will be chaos in the fleet as new arrivals are slotted, but most of the holes we have from losing the sleepers and other objectors will be filled in,” she finally replied with a helpless shrug.
“That’s better than nothing,” I said shortly, not in the mood to thank the galaxy for small favors right at the moment.
“Between them and the several thousand new recruits we’re not just holding even, we’re actually better than when we started, Sir,” said my Chief of Staff.
“Thank you, Lieutenant. Suddenly I feel the need for a walk,” I said in dismissal, “in the meantime, accelerate the departure of the fleet. As soon as we’ve slotted in the defectors and sent away our own loyalists and objectors, we’re leaving Central.”
I thought that maybe I’d go to my quarters and speak with my wife if she was present. She had a decent enough perspective on the political angle of things and at least there I would be free to show my anger and hit something if nec
essary.
For all the silver linings this was a blow.
Chapter 27: Sallying the Fleet
It had taken fifteen hours longer than I'd hoped but we were finally ready.
The Multi-Sector Patrol Fleet was ready for war—and we weren’t alone.
In addition to the warships from Multi-Sector Patrol Fleet, a large number of ships from all across the Sector and beyond had gathered in Central, with more arriving every day. Thanks to a new resolution passed by the Grand Assembly, they were calling themselves the Grand Fleet of the Spine.
Nominally everything was under my command, both the MSP and the Grand Fleet of the Spine, but it seemed that my Vice-Marshal and Vice-Grand Admiral had already appointed most of the commanders of the Grand Fleet of the Spine and had those appointments confirmed by the Grand Assembly.
Not that I particularly cared. We were leaving Central in an attempt to force a battle at Easy Haven or one of the Core Worlds, and if one of those appointees stepped out of line I was their official commander—and I had more than enough Lancers to ensure a speedy transition of power. Anything short of outright mutiny I could handle with them. An actual mutiny…
I smiled slowly. If the Royal Rage and my Battleships weren’t enough, that’s what I had Spalding and the Lucky Clover for. I was done playing nice.
“Sir, The Fleet signals its readiness for point-transfer. Our course is locked in and all calculations have been performed,” reported Lieutenant Steiner.
“Give the order. Begin charging engines,” I instructed.
“Aye aye, Sir,” she say relaying the order to the rest of the fleet.
We were on our way to Hart's World.
Chapter 28: Imperial Maneuvers
“New reports just in from our spies in the Spine, Praetor,” an unassuming civilian staffer reported with relish.
“Very good. What do our sources in the Spineward Sectors new Grand Assembly have to tell us?” the Senator spun his chair around.
“Their fleet just left what passes for their current center of government. What Sector 25 unimaginatively calls, Central Star System,” reported the Spy Master.
Admiral's Nemesis Part II Page 28
