Snyder looked up at me suddenly. “The Commodore doesn’t have a task group, Sir. He’s currently assigned command of a squadron of Cruisers,” she said.
“He does now,” I replied impassively.
“Yes, Sir. Any new orders for the Commodore?” she asked, the barest hint of trepidation in her voice but her question was the logical conclusion of what I was doing.
“The Commodore is to assess his assigned forces and prepare for a surgical strike. His target is the engines of those enemy Battleships,” I said.
“If the Glorious Fleet Detachment turns on our lighter forces, we could sustain massive losses. Just the lighter units alone could be enough to stop our ships from reaching their engines. If the losses on either side are proportional…” she trailed off.
“Can we afford to trade ships with anything even approaching equal numbers?” I answered the silent question and shook my head. “If we can cut out a few of their Battleships we can force them to either leave their cripples behind or turn and fight. Either way, Central will be avenged.”
“I thought we were here to win, not for vengeance, Sir,” Snyder said primly.
“We can’t win if all we do is run from the enemy or let the enemy run from us after attacking our capitol, Lieutenant Commander. Pass the order,” I reproved lightly because after all she was right.
“Aye, Sir,” she acknowledged and minutes later Commodore Laurent was on my private screen.
“I take it from my orders you want me to poke the raging bear, Admiral?” Laurent asked, giving me a straight look.
“I’d like you to take the Phoenix and as many other of our lighter warships as you think necessary for the task and cripple the engines of as many Battleships as you can,” I replied.
“You realize that if they turn to engage us we might not be able to get even one without sacrificing most of the screen,” he said evenly.
“If the Battleships turn, even just a squadron or more of them, you’ll have done your duty, so feel free to pull back at that point and let our heavies deal with them,” I said confidently.
“I’ll take you at your word and won’t wait around then,” Laurent replied, “you’re aware that I’m keeping a copy of this holo-conference for the record, I hope?”
“I am now,” I said lifting an eyebrow.
“This isn’t the wild frontier anymore, ‘Grand Admiral’,” he said, making a point with the use of my new title, “we’re attached to higher authority now and the Sector Capitol just so happened to find itself attacked and subjugated on our watch. They will expect reports, accountability and, above all, everything filled out in triplicate.”
“Be that as it may,” I temporized, “the matter at hand is to destroy or drive the Glorious Fleet from this star system. Preferably destroy. This is not a finger-pointing-of-the-paperwork situation.”
Laurent nodded. “We’ll do what we can, Admiral. You can count on us,” he said.
I nodded in return and the channel terminated.
Over the next several minutes I watched as the light forces both those front, back and to the sides of the main body continued forward while the Battleships gradually fell behind. Then not five minutes into the separation the screen started to reassemble itself into a series of coin-shaped sub-groups.
As soon as they completed assembly in their new formation the light forces, now under the command of Commodore Laurent, increased speed easily leaving their more powerful sister Battleships in their wake.
Over the next half hour Laurent and the screen gradually overtook the Glorious Fleet detachment and their Imperial allies.
“New change in Glorious Fleet of Liberation formation,” reported Sensors, as if anything the Battleships seemed to increase their speed while their lighter forces fell back until they were interposed between the First Fleet of the Spine and their heavy hitters.
Even with their lighter units facing ours we had the advantage in numbers. Now all we had to do was wait.
“Enemy light forces will be within range of the main fleet within five minutes, Admiral,” reported Chief of Staff Fritters.
“That just about tears it doesn’t it, Commodore?” said the Front Admiral said tightly.
“We still have options, Willard,” replied Fritters.
The Front Admiral glowered at the screen. “The fact is I got too cute. This upcoming engagement is solely on me and not the rest of you. Once I refused to abandon the troop transports to their fate this confrontation became…inevitable,” replied Admiral Featherby.
“Twenty Seven thousand lives, Sir! How could you in good conscience abandon so many more to death?” asked the Commodore.
The Front Admiral glared at him. “I got soft. It’s been too long since I’ve been in the harness and had to make the tough calls. Soldiers and Marines are infinitely more replaceable than Battleships. I fooled myself thinking we could pull away without the locals bringing us to battle once they’d arrived in this star system. Now we don’t just risk losing the stuffed troop transports but the rest of the fleet as well,” he said, shaking his head.
“How could you have known the local fleet would show up and having shown up insist on a battle…” Fritters trailed off.
“We just overwhelmed and conquered their Sector Capitol, the same capitol which has been doing double duty as their new multi-Sector Capitol. Even if only for a day. Of course they had to fight,” said the Front Admiral, “I was deluding myself to think that they wouldn’t risk crippling their fleet in a random engagement that didn’t involve our main force.”
“In retrospect, either our conquest of their capitol or the chance to defeat a portion of the Glorious Fleet of Liberation in detail would have been too tempting to pass up,” agreed Commodore Fritters.
“I had thought they would not risk their lighter ships in the face of our combined heavy, light and medium units, or at least hesitated until it was too late. Like I said: I should have abandoned the transports,” said the Front Admiral.
“We could still leave them behind or perhaps set them to a separate course,” muttered the Chief of Staff.
“And you know how well that would work out, Commodore,” the Front Admiral reproved.
“No, the die is cast and now all that remains is to see it through,” he said.
“We might lose some of our heavies to engine damage but they might be satisfied with that alone and leave the greater portion of the Task Force able to reach the hyper limit,” advised the Commodore.
The Front Admiral shook his head. “An untenable solution. I fear we will have to go the opposite instead,” said Featherby.
“A full on frontal attack? If we get bogged down that’s tantamount to suicide,” retorted Commodore Fritters looking exasperated, “please reconsider, Sir. We have something on the order of eighty warships now; they easily outnumber us three to one.”
“We compare much more favorably when it comes to heavies. I’d put our sixteen Battleships up against their twenty five any day of the year,” Front Admiral Featherby said seriously before cracking a smile, “but please keep in mind that I do have a plan to get most of us out of here, old friend. It may or may not work but we’re certainly not dead yet.”
“That gives me confidence,” the Commodore said seriously, “however I think there is one alternative you haven’t yet considered.”
The Front Admiral raised a brow.
“A forlorn hope,” Fritters continued, deadly serious.
The Front Admiral’s brow lowered thunderously.
“Detach one...maybe two squadrons of Battleships and a number of the Destroyers to cover them and set them on a slightly divergent course. If the enemy splits their fleet we’d have the chance to strike them while they divided and turn the tables. Defeating them in detail,” Fritters said pointedly, “if they don’t, well…at least part of the fleet would escape.”
“And our forlorn hope would be entirely annihilated,” the Front Admiral growled. “No. I don’t like it,” he said with f
inality.
“Consider,” Fritters said looking slightly ill as he raised a finger to halt the Front Admiral, “that according to yourself it was the refusal to sacrifice a portion to save the whole that got us in this situation in the first place.”
“You would turn my own words on me would you, Commodore? Sad that I don’t remember you passing on this sort of advice at the beginning of the engagement,” snapped the Front Admiral.
“I’m just taking the lead from my superior. And I would be remiss if I failed to point out what you yourself had not a minute ago considered a failing in our previous thinking,” Fritters said evenly, although the beads of sweat that were gathering on his forehead gave the lie to his composure, “however I’ll understand if you think I’m uncommitted or simply determined to save my own skin, and formally volunteer to command the forlorn hope with the intent to hold back the enemy long enough for the rest of you to get away.”
The Front Admiral paused. “You’re a decent staff officer and could probably handle a Destroyer on scout duty or a Cruiser on a random patrol, but you’re not Command material. I’m afraid I’m going to have to keep you with me for a while longer, my old friend,” the Front Admiral decided, “No. Live or die, rise or fall, we’ll cross that line together, just like when we first served together.”
“Aye-aye, Sir,” the Commodore said, turning away. Relief only showing after he turned away from the Front Admiral.
The Front Admiral leaned forward to open a channel. “Flag Captain Weathers!” he barked.
“Aye aye, Admiral,” the Flag Captain said, jerking around to look at his screen, “what are your orders, Sir?”
“You are to prepare to bring the flagship around on my signal, Captain. Prepare your helmsmen for sudden and tight maneuvers,” he ordered.
The Flag Captain looked perplexed. “Tight maneuvers on a Battleship, Sir?” he asked before giving himself a shake. “I mean, of course. I’ll pass it on to my Helm immediately if not sooner.”
“Good man,” said the Front Admiral turning to look back at the battle plot with anticipation. “This will be our finest hour,” he muttered.
Just when it looked Laurent and his screening forces were going to have a perfect series of up the kilt shots at the enemy fleet, as expected they began to turn. However it took several seconds to realize that it wasn’t just the lighter units that had flared their engines and maneuvering jets to turn side on to face us it was the Battleships as well.
“Hades take them,” said Snyder.
“We must each to our duty go,” I said.
“Their duty was to us. Us. Not the Empire.” she said severely.
“You won’t hear any disagreement from me,” I concurred, “but clearly they disagree. It wouldn’t surprise me to find that they believe their duty is to the heartland sectors, the ‘real’ sectors that make up the Confederation.”
Snyder looked disgusted but silently agreed.
Then there was no more time for small talk and literally nothing we could do that the commanders on the scene, the ship captains and commodore Laurent, couldn’t do faster and better. Sometimes it really sucked to be in a slow, relatively ponderous moving Battleship.
With the Furious Phoenix in the lead of a formation of Cruisers flat facing turned toward the enemy, with two more coin like formations comprised also of cruisers to match them, the other coin formations turned edge toward the enemy using the cruisers as cover. Engines flared and virtually at the same time the enemy warships turned to present their broadsides our leading three coin formations turned to match and lasers flew.
With our Destroyers, Corvettes and the remaining Cruisers mostly screened from enemy fire by the lead ships, the front three coin-shaped groups continued forward unmolested. However, Laurent’s lead forces were raked with multiple broadsides one after another as soon as they entered attack range.
Return fire was offered by the front three coins, but despite their willingness the combined weight of three squadrons of Cruisers couldn’t compare to the full force and fury of the enemy fleet.
It took several seconds for the majority of ships in this detachment of the Glorious Fleet to range on our warships, but when they did one of our Medium Cruisers was sent reeling out of formation streaming air and smoke while the others began to roll immediately after firing their broadside. But that was nothing compared to what happened when the further forward Battleships of the enemy finally ranged on the three coin shaped formations covering the rest of the light units like a shield.
Fortunately seconds before the Battleships opened fire Laurent’s entire formation dissolved into seeming chaos and scattered.
A number of Spineward Cruisers were struck anyway, but even more turbo-lasers slashed through the space Laurent’s lead cruisers had been occupying missing his formation completely. Two unlucky Destroyers hiding behind the forward most cruisers were slow off the mark and a numerous turbo and heavy lasers slashed into their hulls, setting off a series of internal explosions that completely destroyed one ship and broke the back of the other.
A handful of escape pods started exiting the broken Destroyer but not a single crew member survived to get off the MSP Harpy Strike.
Seeing our light forces fleeing in all directions the enemy screening force immediately gave chase. The Glorious Fleet Battleships on the other hand flared their maneuvering thrusters and turned back around to burn for the hyper limit at maximum speed. While the lighter units the Destroyers and Cruisers of the Glorious Fleet went for up the kilt engine shots on our warships. The back and forth was furious, Spineward warships fighting back while trying to protect their vulnerable engines at the same time. Despite our best efforts, half a dozen Destroyers and one Cruiser lost some form of engine function.
However, no sooner had the Battleships turned away than did the majority of Laurent’s Task Group immediately round on their pursuers and reengage. This included the now damaged MSP Cruisers and Destroyers, eager to get some of their own back before damaged engines and reduced top speeds took them inevitably out of the fight.
Engines flared and within seconds the hunted became the hunters.
Outnumbered more than three to one and once again facing their enemy head on the Destroyers and cruisers of the Glorious Fleet immediately knew they were in trouble and reacted. Twelve of the more than fifty warships of the enemy screen broke rank, scattering and fleeing in all directions, except toward the Battleships of the First Fleet—but the others were made of sterner stuff and fought back.
Warships rolled and Destroyers went every which way as the majority of the enemy tried to regain squadron formation in order to defend themselves while they escaped into the protective arms of their Battleships laser range.
Laurent’s forces appeared determined not to let up for so much as an instant and except a few warships that seemed to have lost their way the more than two hundred escort warships turned their lasers on the less than fifty enemy survivors.
Seeing the plight of their escorts, the main body of the enemy fleet again turned back toward the crazy scramble, once again slowing their escape from the star system.
While they were still turning but before the Battleships could bring more than a handful of lasers bear Laurent’s two hundred warships once again broke formation. Every warship maneuvered for itself as they flew away from Glorious Fleet Battleships before they could range on our faster but less heavily armored and shielded warships.
The Destroyers and Cruisers of the Glorious Fleet didn’t rise to the bait a second time and instead of chasing after Laurent’s forces a second time they tucked themselves up close to the Battleships.
A group of twenty Cruisers and a mixed force of mainly Destroyers with a few Light Cruisers, totaling 49 warships, made harassing runs while the rest of the screen waited behind them ready to pounce.
The enemy resisted the chance to engage and doggedly ran for the hyper limit.
When it became clear that the enemy had no intention of breaking
off Laurent once again assembled his forces into coin formations. Cruisers to the front the flat facing the enemy fleet with the remainder tucked in close behind edge toward the enemy and behind the shield that was the cruisers.
Seeing the Spineward Sectors light forces about to attack again the enemy waited until the last moment before turning. However this time the Battleships didn’t just turn broadside on toward the light units they kept coming around, formations changing as multiple Battleship and Cruiser squadrons interpenetrated until finally they were all facing point toward Laurent’s coin formations.
The screen fuzzed.
“We experienced some temporary interference there, Captain. It looks like the bad guys were trying to jam our sensors but we’ve compensated, it won’t happen again,” the Sensor Officer said with certainty.
“See that it doesn’t,” Snyder said primly moments before the enemy engaged their engines at maximum burn, “and they’re not the ‘bad guys’, they’re the Glorious Fleet and the enemy, don’t’ forget that!”
“Aye aye, Sir,” replied the Officer.
“Is Commodore Laurent going to meet them head on?” First Officer Snyder asked with alarm as our lead Cruisers, instead of turning aside, opened fire. Every ship in the forward three shielding coin formations was turned toward the Battleships and all eighteen of them focused fire on one Battleship.
Enough heavy and turbo-lasers were used to break the Battleships shields and punch through its hull in several places. Ignoring their companion Battleship taking it in the nose, the rest of the enemy Battleships grimly continued forward, even while behind them the troop transports and two squadrons of damaged Cruisers separated from the rest of the fleet. There was another split second burst of sensor scrambling static before the screen cleared again. It didn’t look like the enemy had done anything in that time except adjust formation as their transports and cripples continued to labor away from the rest of the Glorious Fleet as fast as they could manage while maintaining their original course toward the hyper limit.
Admiral's Nemesis Part II Page 34
