“You should talk. Oh…here comes the shuttle. I’ll catch you later.”
“Art?”
“Yes”
“I love you”
“Thanks honey. I love you too. See you, blossom.”
“See you.”
Chapter 19. Hermes 1400, 23 May.
First Hermes and then the Washington blasted off. Ten minutes later they joined the Sydney and began their patrol in arrowhead formation. Lateral separation was 10km between adjacent ships. Vertical separation was 1 km. The Washington on the left was the highest and the Sydney on the right was the lowest.
They were doing an anti-clockwise sweep of the western arm of the belt. This would take them past two of their sensor arrays. Then they would loop back past Klaster crossing over in figure eight fashion and do a clockwise sweep of the eastern arm back past K203 where the enemy sensor had been. With each figure eight circuit Warner would offset the track a few degrees. Warner preferred this easy eight circuit to the standard oval racetrack as it was a little less predictable.
1600 came and went and they were into their second loop heading back to Klaster from K203. Tension was pretty high in the command centre aboard the Hermes. Aubrey had the watch. It was now just after 1730. She was alert but her self-discipline controlled her natural urge to stay focussed on the battle display. She would do her own circuit of the terminals, deliberately checking on one item at each. At Ivan’s terminal she glanced down at the spectrum analyser just as a spike occurred. She flashed to the main display but there was nothing. She moved to Crystal’s battle systems display. Again nothing. Then she returned to Ivan and asked “What do you reckon that was?”
“Don’t know” said Ivan. “Intense gamma emission but it looks like it came from Klaster.”
That attracted Warner’s attention “From Klaster?”
“Yes Sir” replied Ivan.
“Switch to the Klaster Control channel” instructed Warner. It was full of static. That was not good. “Pilot, buster to Klaster. Ivan advise Sydney and Washington.”
“Another spike. It’s coming from Klaster again” called out Ivan.
Everyone felt the surge as the pilot, Sgt James Rao, gunned the thrusters to maximum. He would hold them there for the twenty minutes it would take to reach Klaster but this would consume a significant amount of their fuel.
The spikes were occurring every minute but after five minutes they stopped.
“Hermes this is Klaster Control. Come in.”
“Hermes here. What has happened?” asked Warner.
“We lost comms. Some gamma surge that interfered with transmissions. It appears to have emanated from that enemy sensor you brought in. Apparently the techs took to it with a sledge hammer.”
“Roger that. Make sure it stays out of action. Destroy it if you have to. Either way it doesn’t bode well. Raise alert status to level 2.”
“Understood.”
“Hermes out.” Warner turned to the bridge “Pilot, bank right and vector back to K203 and don’t spare the horses.”
“Bustering to K203” confirmed James.
Halfway into the turn the alarms on Crystal’s terminal began firing. “Light craft, bogey 1 coming out of warp, range 19,000 K”
“Blast” said Warner “they used that gamma emission to lure us away from their arrival location.”
Aubrey was looking to Warner to see if he wanted to react or continue with the current manoeuvre. Warner read her mind and shook his head. “Time to optimum intercept range?” asked Warner. This would be when they were within range of their short range Movon missiles, around 10,000kms.
Crystal responded “Three minutes and 20 seconds….Light craft, bogey 2 arriving same loc, range now 18,500 K”
“Active radar detected from bogeys 1 and 2” called out Ivan.
“Priority target bogey 1. Missiles engage bogey 1 at first intercept. 3 for 1 all ships.”
“Bogey’s 1 and 2 turning to face and accelerating” called out Crystal.
“Accelerating?” queried Warner.
“Yes accelerating.”
“They are either very cocky or very stupid … or they have more buddies coming. Pilot break left and wheel 180.”
“Roger Sir” called out James.
“Capital ship, bogey 3 arriving same loc range 18,000 K.”
“Shit” called out Warner. “Any other arrivals?”
“No” called out Crystal. “Bogey 3 turning to face and accelerating. Bogeys 1 closing. Intercept in 60 seconds. Bogey 2 in 90 seconds.”
“Ivan advise base force to go to 2 minutes standby.”
“Affirmative.”
“Maintain engagement priority on bogey 1. Missiles engage at first intercept. 5 for 1 all ships” called out Warner. He was banking on knocking out this lead enemy before it could receive mutual support from its sister ships.
The three frigates had bottomed out of their turn and were now extending back to Klaster. “Pilot ease off a little. Let bogey 1 get within intercept range. Once we have launched our salvo accelerate away and bank left.”
“Roger that. Decelerating.”
All eyes in the command centre were on the main display. They were focused on the overlapping range rings of the three frigates and bogey 1 as it vectored to intercept. Warner waited till all three rings overlapped bogey 1. “Fire missiles.”
“Missiles 1 to 15 away” called out Crystal. The Hermes accelerated and James began his bank to the left.
Warner had anticipated at this stage to see enemy missiles being launched but none were evident. “Enemy runners?” queried Warner.
“None Sir” cried out Crystal.
“They might not have the range” suggested Chase.
“Bogey 1 vectoring to intercept. Bogey 2 and 3 vectoring as well”
Still no enemy missile tracks. The friendly tracks were now only 600 K away from their intended target and at Mach 50 they would impact in under 15 seconds with the oncoming bogey 1.
“Runners 1 to 5 targeting missiles 1 to 5” called Crystal. After a short pause she added “Runners 6 to 10 targeting missiles 6 to 10.” Again another pause. Runners 11 to 15 targeting missiles 11 to 15.”
“Looks like they can only fire in salvoes of five” called out Aubrey.
“Noted. Thanks” responded Warner.
“Missiles 2, 3 and 5 destroyed. Missiles 6, 7 and 10 destroyed. Missiles 11, 12, 13 and 14 destroyed.”
“Missile hits against bogey 1: one, two, three, four, five. Five hits. Bogey 1 decelerating.”
“Bogey 2 closing to intercept range in 30 seconds. No, bogey 2 vectoring left and away. Bogey 3 accelerating.”
Aubrey called out “Looks like bogey 2 is dropping into formation with bogey 3.”
“Yeh that’s what I’d do too. So they aren’t dumb and they have some degree of autonomy to break off a manoeuvre”.
“Bogey 3 looks dead in the water Sir” called out Chase. “Maybe he can’t warp away.”
“Noted.” Options were running through his mind. He dearly wanted to board that vessel and take control of it. It would provide vital intel. But he had a capital ship bearing down on him and didn’t know what it was capable of. “Time to intercept?”
“70 seconds” responded Crystal.
“OK everyone” called out Warner “we’re going to use our missile range advantage to engage bogey 3 and maintain a standoff distance.”
“Priority target bogey 3. Missiles engage bogey 3 at first intercept. 5 for 1 all ships. Pilot, as soon as missiles are away, bank right and roll to vector 90 degrees. On my order accelerate away.”
“Roger that” confirmed James.
“Bogey 3 decelerating and vectoring to bogey 1” called out Crystal.
“Looks like he was just seeing us off and now is going to cover his injured buddy” commented Warner. “Alright, he’s not going to play with us on our terms so we have to take the party to him. Pilot, bank left, vector to bogey 1 and accelerate. Engage bogey 3 at first interc
ept, 5 for 1 all ships. Pilot bank left again on release and accelerate away.”
“Affirmative” responded James.
The three frigates banked in unison and accelerated back towards bogey 1.
“Bogey 3 vectoring to face. And accelerating fast…very fast… Intercept in 20 secs, maybe less. Bogey 2 vectoring to face. Intercept in 30 secs” called out Crystal.
Now the pressure was on. Both flotillas were in a headlong charge towards each other.
“Intercept in 10” said Crystal.
“Missiles away.”
“Banking left” called out James.
“Bogey 3 launching missiles. Runners 1, 2, 10, 20, 25 repeat 25 runners targeting Hermes.”
“Sydney Missiles engage Runners 1 to 25, 1 for 1. Washington and Hermes Missiles engage bogey 3, 25 for 1” That would in effect send 50 missiles at the enemy capital ship.
“Missiles away. Bogey 3 launching missiles. Runners…26 to 50 targeting…a mix of Washington and Hermes missiles…launching again….runners 51 to 75 targeting remainder of Washington and Hermes missiles.…Bogey 3 banking right….bogey 2 banking right”
Now it was a race as both sets of ships attempted to bank away, while each other’s missiles ploughed ahead. At this stage the fleets were actually closing one bank into the other.
“Beam attack from bogey 3 on Sydney” cried out Crystal.
“Shit” said Warner. “Sydney this is Sunray”
“Sunray this is Sydney. We’ve just been beamed. It’s raked our starboard hull….losing power. Yes, thrusters down to 30 percent. Hull integrity maintained.”
“Break off and RTB” said Warner.
“Roger Sir. Good luck.”
“Ivan advise base force to go to one minute standby.”
“Affirmative.”
“Washington this is Sunray.”
“Yes Sir” came back the unflappable Reina. She was certainly composed under fire thought Warner.
“Sydney is RTB. I want bogey 1. We will go around again for another pass.”
“Roger Sir.”
“We have five leakers heading to Hermes. Impact in 10.”
“Main batteries engage leakers. Prepare for impacts.” The roar of the main guns echoed through the command centre. They’d be hearing the same thing on the Washington as its batteries were tied in mutual support.
“Hits on bogey 3… 15…18 hits” called out an excited Crystal.
The railing of the close in pulse guns stopped all other focus. Then thud as one enemy missile struck the starboard hull aft. Warning lights flashed over the damage control display and Aubrey cried out “Hit on starboard hull. Hull integrity good. Shields down 20 percent. Damage Control to compartments Romeo 35 and 36. Thrusters undamaged” and triumphantly “We’re good to go Sir.”
“Noted” acknowledged Warner. “Crystal what’s happening to bogey 3?”
“It’s slowed Sir but maintaining vector to bogey 1. Bogey 2 is in formation.”
“Available missiles?”
“Twenty on each ship” called out Chase. “Bogey 3’s firing salvoes of 25. It let lose 75 missiles in that pass. We can’t handle those numbers again Sir.”
All eyes were now on Warner and they were all thinking the same thing. Will he risk another run? The lives of 130 crew and marines were at stake. If only he knew how many missiles the enemy carried. To retire at this stage would leave the enemy in control of the battlefield. They could bombard Klaster, even nuke it. And they would definitely recover bogey 1.
“We’re going in again everyone. This time we will come in at a glancing angle just within standoff range, fire off the remaining missiles and barrel roll away. Chase plot us a route. Change formation to column, Hermes leading.”
“Roger Sir” responded Chase. His mind now shut out all other distractions as he worked the angles dragging the flight path to achieve his Captain’s orders. He double checked the intercept ranges and was confident he had it right. “It’s uploading to Washington now.”
“Washington this is Sunray.”
“Washington.”
“Lock in profile….”
“23” called out Chase.
“23 and slot in behind us. We’re doing a glancing run in, firing off our missiles and barrelling out. Don’t get too close to bogey 3. Understood?”
“Affirmative, Sir.” Replied Reina and then in a different tone she added “We have your back!”
“Thank you Reina. Good luck!”
“Thank you Sir.”
“Alright everyone. Here we go. Pilot activate profile 23.”
“Activating” said James and the Hermes rolled away to port, climbed and after a minute rolled again to port and started to dive.
“Intercept in 40” called out Crystal.
“Hermes Missiles engage bogey 3 on first intercept, 19 for 1. Sydney Missiles engage enemy runners on detection, 1 for 1.”
“Intercept in 10.”
“Missiles away” and a few seconds later Crystal added “Bogey 3 firing missiles. Runners ….1 to 15 targeting our missiles. Runners 16 to 25 targeting Hermes. Washington missiles 1 to 10 away. Bogey 2 breaking formation and vectoring to face.”
“Pilot, roll away now.”
“Rolling now” affirmed James.
“Washington missiles 11 to 14 away targeting two leakers. Nine of our missiles are through. Impact in three. Hits! 5 hits. Bogey 3 powering to warp away. One leaker. Impact in 10.”
“Main batteries engage. Prepare for impact” called out Warner.
There was a roar and a rail but this time no thud. Everyone looked relieved but Warner was already focussed on his prize. “Pilot, vector to bogey 1. Washington missiles engage bogey 2 all remaining.”
“Washington missiles 1 to 6 away.”
Bogey 2 was making a diversionary charge to buy time for the enemy capital to warp away. It had still a way to go before it got within range of its shorter ranged missiles. When it saw the oncoming missiles it thought better and banked sharply.
“Bogey 2 powering to warp”
But the missiles were bearing down fast now. Its defensive pulse cannons took out two but four struck and this time bogey 2 exploded.
“Scratch bogey 2” cried out a jubilant Crystal and a loud cheer went up throughout the ship. “Bogey 3 has warped away” and another cheer erupted.
“Quiet everyone” demanded Warner. “Pilot, take us to stand off range of bogey 1 and hold.”
“Roger Sir” said James steading himself.
“Washington this is Sunray.”
“Sir?”
“Good shooting Commander. Looks like the Washington has the first kill of this war.”
“Thank you Sir.”
“I plan to advance to within stand off and put my last remaining missile across her bow. I’m counting on the fact that they will think we still have more remaining and I’m hoping that they will put up the white flag. In which case, I plan to board and take control of her. If the vessel can’t be repaired, then we’ll transfer its crew to our brigs and leave a party to secure her here.”
“And if they don’t surrender Sir.”
“Then we will take her by force. In which case I want your two warthogs loaded with marines and ready to join ours for action. You’ll breach forward and we’ll go in aft.”
“Understood Sir.”
“Chase, advise Klaster Control of sitrep.
“Affirmative Sir.”
“Chief Shavez prepare two teams for boarding.”
“Roger Sir.”
“Ivan, grab your kit and be ready to lead the boarding party.”
“Yes Sir.”
“And Ivan…”
“Sir”
“Get control of that vessel.”
“Will do Sir” Ivan glanced around taking in the faces looking at him. He then charged off. When he arrived at his cabin, he grabbed his kit and made a quick check of his rifle. He turned to leave but in the doorway was Sherri. Known as a bit of a hard case Sherri lo
oked anything but. Ivan could see the worry on her face. He hugged her but when he tried to separate she held him tightly.
“You’ll come back to me won’t you Ivan?” She relaxed her grip on the back of his neck and he pulled his head back to look into her eyes. He saw her tears and gently kissed her forehead.
“Oh - ma Sherri I will always be with you” said Ivan.
She kissed him on the lips and Ivan kissed back but only briefly before he pulled back. “I have to go.”
“I love you Ivan.”
“And I you.” He grabbed his kit from the floor and ran off to the dock. Sherri fell back into the wall one part overjoyed at his declaration and the other part full of dread at what could come.
The Hermes was slowing to a halt. “We’re at stand-off range Sir” advised Aubrey.
“Missiles engage bogey 1 offset 1km forward, 1 for 1”
“Missile away.”
It took just over 9 minutes to cover the 8,000 kms to bogey 1.
“…objective in 10.”
The missile sailed past the enemy ship’s bow and there was silence as everyone waited for some sign. But none came. Warner waited a full three minutes more, but still nothing. Damm it thought Warner.
“Ivan, are you ready.”
“Yes Sir.”
“Washington, are you ready?”
“Affirmative.”
“Pilot close to 100km. Washington form line to our left.”
It was a tense time. The enemy could still be able to launch its own missiles. But none came.
“Main batteries engage bogey 1 offset 1km forward”
The big guns roared.
“Cease Fire.”
Another minute passed. Finally Warner asked “Aubrey, any emissions at all?”
“No Sir. Not a dot.”
“Pilot close to 30kms”
“Closing.”
They repeated the same process at 30K but received no response.
Chapter 20. Hermes 1800, 23 May.
“Whisky away” ordered Warner.
“Launching now” replied Parinya in Whisky 1. Ivan was right behind her. He was tense but excited in a way. Here he was leading the first boarding of this war. He just hoped it wouldn’t be the last. Buster Williams, now Sgt, was next to him. He was helping Dai Shu with the magnetic breaching charges.
The Awakening: Book 1 of Warner's World Page 27
