“On my command Bravo Team pull back to the rear doors. Everyone else cover fire. Bravo Team pull back now.”
The eight members of Bravo Team crouched as low as they could and began to propel themselves rearwards. Jake saw two of them cut down and another was hit but carried on. They scurried back past him and hit the ground.
“On my command, Guard open the doors. Alpha Team and Tango 4 provide covering fire. Charlie Team and Bravo Team pull back 200m past the back stop. Ready….Go.”
The enemy sensing that a withdrawal was underway began charging forward. They were savaged as they did. In the process of the enemy charge and the blistering covering fire, both Bravo and Charlie Teams retired back through the rear doors. Only one marine fell.
“Sir, we’re down” called the Charlie Team leader.
Jake was about to order Alpha Team to fire and move their way back, even though he knew it was hopeless. But as he looked up he saw the enemy overrunning their positions.
“Tango 4 pull back 300” he ordered. Tango 4 needed no reminders and reversed back along the side wall. A lone rocket rammed into the wall just ahead of it. But otherwise it was safe.
Jake now turned and ran at the crouch. He felt a sting in his left shoulder, then another just below it. He tumbled forward hitting the ground hard. He looked up and could see the doors ten metres away. He couldn’t feel his left arm. He forced himself to roll over like a roll of carpet. He was hit again in the right leg and again in the left leg as he rolled. He knew it was hopeless now.
“Shut the doors” he ordered. But as he glanced towards them, they were still open. “Shut the fucking doors now” he screamed. They closed then. He rested his helmet on the ground facing the door as the enemy pulse rounds impacted along his back.
Chapter 28. Pulton 1 0740, 26 May.
Chuck arrived weary and concerned at the backstop position behind the third set of blast doors. He’d had less than three hours’ sleep and yet the adrenalin somehow spurred him on.
He could see the despondent look on the marines’ faces. They had been whipped good and proper by a superior force. There was no shame in that but it still didn’t remove the bad taste in everyone’s mouth. They had just lost over half their number. There was shock, fatigue and fear.
Tasked by the Commodore to take charge here in the wake of Jake’s death that is exactly what he did. He appreciated that any thoughts of counter-attack had to be shelved. Even if they thought it worth the risk, these troops would not be capable at the moment. They needed time to recover, regroup and refresh. Trouble was, and Chuck knew this all too well, they were unlikely to get any of that.
“Maam, this is Liz. They just made another attempt to break in to our position. We killed several of them and took no cas here.”
“Right Liz. How’s your ammo holding out?”
“Low, about 30%. I take it we’re now pinning our hopes on the relief force?”
“Correct. We lost half of 3rd Pl.”
“Geez” said Liz. “What about Jake?”
“He didn’t make it, Liz. I’m sorry” said Rihan. How she hated having to be sorry all the time. She hated being the bearer of bad tidings, especially those she could do little about.
“Me too. He was a good kid. Showed a lot of promise.”
‘Not anymore’ thought Rihan. “Your OC has taken charge of the force behind the third set of blast doors. Our hope now rests on being able to grind these bastards down, trading space for time and praying that the Wasp Group arrives this morning.”
“Roger that. Well you know where to find us.”
“Yeh, take care.”
“You too.”
“OK, listen up people” said Chuck to the troops at the third blast doors. “It will probably take the enemy another two hours to set the charges and force a breach. We need to be dug in well before then. They took over forty casualties last time. They must be hurting bad over that. We have to be ready and inflict maximum casualties when they come through. We need to hold on here for as long as possible. Hopefully, the relief force will arrive later today. We need to hold on till then.”
Chapter 29. Pulton 1 0820, 26 May.
“Cpl Baretto” hailed Rihan. Linda stood up and walked down the vent 25 metres.
“Maam” she said in a whisper.
“Where’s Art?”
“He’s here. Do you want to speak with him?”
“How’s he doing?”
“He’s pretty depressed. But he hasn’t folded. I think he’ll be OK.”
“Good. I’ll hail him directly. You guys need to setup shop now.”
“Roger that.”
“Art?”
“Yep” was all she got back from Art.
“Time to setup the radar.”
“Right. Will do.”
“How are you feeling Art?”
“Best not go there. Not if you want this done right.”
“OK. Let me know when you activate.”
“Yeh, OK.”
Rihan left it at that. She could sense his despondency. She just hoped that there was enough discipline and training there for him to hold it together.
“Come on” said Art to Linda. They moved back towards the grate. They first had to remove the grate and then position the radar array on the surface, allowing it a full unimpeded 360 degree sweep.
Linda took out the daisy chain charges and affixed them to the edge of the grate. The plastic explosive easily clung to the grate. She gave Art the thumbs up. They moved back 20 metres and Linda fired the charge. The grate simply fell through to the floor of the vent. It was a nice clean break all the way around.
Art set up the radar console while Linda poked her head up above ground level for the first time in a day. There was no one there. She scanned the space overhead in a futile effort to identify any enemy spacecraft. There were none that could be discerned with the naked eye. She erected the array and gave Art the thumbs up. He noted it was already 0835. He set the sweep timer for 30 seconds. He activated the radar and watched the scope on his console. The sidebar was filling up with identified objects. His eyes though were on the timer. It fired and he deactivated.
“Come on” he said to Linda. She pulled in the array and he picked up the console. They walked back down the tunnel to their position 200m away. He sat down and reviewed the data in the sidebar.
He identified an enemy carrier, four caps, but only three light ships. There were several shuttles, obviously bringing ground troops to the surface. He counted just four enemy fighters. But then thought that would be just their CAP. There were no other objects identified.
“Rihan, this is Art.”
“Art.”
“We just activated for 30 secs. No friendlies. Enemies amount to one carrier, four caps and three light ships, four fighters and sundry shuttles.”
“Roger that. Let me know if anything changes. I’m relaying another signal for you to send. Please send this with your next sweep.”
“OK will do. What’s happening down there Rihan?” asked Art. It was as though the process of doing his actions had loosened the grip of his malaise. Not a lot but enough for the first time since hearing about Sue to think of someone else.
“It’s not good, Art. Jake Tomar died along with half of 3rd Pl. Liz and eight of her marines are trapped in the first section and we’re press-ganging loggies into the defence here.”
“I see. It’s been a day for dying across the board.”
“Alas it has. Must be time for another sweep.”
“Yes it is. I’ll catch you later.” Art and Linda moved back to the grate and went through the same procedure they would now do every five minutes till contact was made.
Part 6
Liberation
No greater joy than a liberated soul
It’s what I’m striving for. It is my goal.
No greater ecstasy than a liberated heart
I yearn to be no longer apart.
No greater contentment than a libera
ted mind
I’m flying free, no longer blind.
Chapter 1. Pulton 1 0930, 26 May.
There it was. Art was halfway through his 30 second sweep when he saw the first frigate from the Wasp Group warp in. It was quickly followed by another three frigates. He forgot about shutting down the sweep.
“Rihan, four friendly frigates have just warped in” he advised. “Making contact now. Out.”
There was no more welcome news for Rihan. She turned with a big grin towards the Commodore and the Chief. “Friendly frigates warping in.” First a wave of relief washed over Pious. Then one of concern. He knew all too well that this battle was by no means assured. But at least they were no longer alone and for that he smiled back at Rihan.
It was such a good tonic, thought Rihan that she broadcast the news over the base channel. Art heard this too but he was now focussed on establishing comms. He had sent the pre-canned message advising of their current situation and requesting immediate assistance. Now he was trying to establish direct comms with one of the friendly ships.
He hailed on the Fleet emergency channel but got no response.
“Try the Alliance emergency channel” suggested Linda.
‘Good idea’ thought Art and straight away was routed to the Wasp. The Comms Officer told them to hang tight that their first priority was to destroy or chase off the enemy fleet. He would hail once that was achieved.
“Roger that” said Art. He turned to Linda and said “Maybe we will get out of this after all.” She nodded, not daring to say anything that would upset him. But she could already see the redness in his eyes and she knew that he was now focussing on his own loss.
“How many friendlies?” she asked him. Art refocussed. Looks like three battle lines. Four frigates forward, followed by four caps, followed by the Wasp and two other caps with three frigates.”
The data on the sidebar indicated that two of those last three frigates were the Hermes and Washington. His best mate, Dave Warner was true to his word. He was back.
Chapter 2. Hermes 0935, 26 May.
Immediately after warping in, the Hermes had implemented the group attack profile. It was now slaved to the Wasp. It was providing top cover for the carrier. The Washington was providing bottom cover. The third frigate in their group was providing rear cover.
In effect the whole group was in a chiselled wedge formation. The four Bravo class Alliance frigates were in the van, backed up by the second wave comprising four Alliance Shinto destroyers. The third wave comprised the Wasp in the centre flanked by the two massive Daring class cruisers, with the Hermes on top, Washington below and the fifth Alliance frigate behind.
The whole group moved and fought as one. The Wasp’s command centre managed the profile and directed fires. They had warped in only 5000 kilometres from Klaster. In effect they were already within missile range of most of the enemy.
Salvo after salvo of missiles were being fired. The Wasp’s fire control system had given number one priority to the enemy carrier. It had launched its fifty fighters and these had now divided into two groups. Fifteen performed CAP duties over the carrier while the other 35 went straight for the priority target.
The enemy were spread around on three sides of the Wasp Group and were in some cases within cannon range. The agreed approach was to nullify the enemy’s acceleration capability and accentuate what they hoped were its powerful advantage in capital ships.
Beam attacks were underway between the opposing capital ships. Hits were being scored on both sides. Warner was thankful that the priorities for the enemy beams were against their caps. He, like the rest of the crew in the Hermes command centre, was glued to the big display watching the battle unfurl as though he was watching a movie. It promoted a certain level of detachment until he spotted a salvo of enemy missiles approaching along with four enemy fighters making a run on the Wasp. Their own missiles were being fired in response. Now the cannon erupted. Eight friendly fighters dived onto the approaching four enemy ones and within a few moments the enemy icons disappeared.
The Wasp received two hits from leakers that got through. The Akagi destroyer in the second wave was being targeted by two enemy caps and taking significant punishment. Its commander reported only 30% shields when the Admiral gave it permission to warp away. Their 6 to 4 cap advantage was now 5 to 4 and not looking so good.
Her sister ship the Sukoku was also in a bad way but at 50%, the Admiral took the risk and told it to hold station. He was really focussed elsewhere.
Some big hits were recorded against the enemy carrier by the second wave of friendly fighters. The first wave was completely destroyed. The third wave followed in the second’s wake and their short ranged missile fire raked the enemy carrier’s thrusters. A message flashed over the enemy carrier indicating significant energy being given off.
“Enemy cap powering to warp” called out Crystal. An arc of missiles were heading straight for the enemy cap powering up. It wasn’t going to make it. They hit a few second later and Crystal exclaimed “Scratch one enemy cap.”
“Another enemy cap is powering to warp. So is their carrier” called out Crystal. The entire Wasp Group accelerated towards the enemy carrier at max speed. A massive salvo of missiles were launched from the wedge of warships. At less than 200kms they hit the enemy carrier before she could warp away. 150 plus missiles were too much even for such a massive ship. They tore it apart.
This brought cheers throughout the group. The surviving enemy ships warped away.
They had done it. They had destroyed the enemy carrier and one of its caps. More importantly they had secured the space over Klaster.
On board the Wasp, RAdm McDermot breathed a huge sigh of relief. He could not believe they had been so lucky. He turned to Lindsay Han who was ecstatic. “Casualties if you please Commander.”
This brought Han back to a more serious demeanour. “Of course Sir.”
The Admiral turned to his Comms Officer. “Get me that fellow on the ground.”
Chapter 3. Pulton 1 0946, 26 May.
The space battle had lasted no more than ten minutes. Chuck knew that, because he checked the time and one minute later the blast doors in front exploded. He along with his marines were already suited. They had been standing to for ten minutes now.
Chuck wondered whether the enemy knew they had been abandoned. It didn’t matter either way. They were charging out now, guns blazing. Tango 4, as before, was laying down a barrage of cannon and pulse fire from 400m back. The quantos were firing from up and down the positions. The enemy soldiers were piling in fast and dropping faster. Some made it to the ground and were firing back. A salvo of rockets forced Tango 4 to pull back 20m but then it started to fire again catching the tail end of another rush.
Chuck checked his scanner. The enemy count read 42. But he knew there were more beyond his scanner as Liz said she had at least 47 at her end. He had 32 counting himself plus Tango 4. The odds were not good. But the enemy faced some real headaches. Tango 4 was their biggest and then there was the narrow breach through which they had to enter. Tango 4, however, was constrained from firing its large canon too close to friendly positions, lest they kill or maim them. So the enemy tactic was to close as soon as possible.
He had personally sited each quanto. The forward ones were set up to enfilade the enemy and the rear ones to fire into the breach. He had briefed his forward positions to wait for the enemy to build up on this side of the breach. When he gave the signal, they would hurl a barrage of grenades with the hope of blanketing and destroying them. He reckoned the time had come. If he left it any further they may decide to rush his forward position.
He gave the signal and a dozen grenades were hurled or fired. The tactic paid dividends. Chuck could clearly see less flashes now firing at them.
Another salvo of rockets and one hit Tango 4 as it was moving forward in an attempt to dodge them. The Trojan stopped.
“Tango 4 are you OK?” asked Chuck.
“We�
�re OK but the battlewagon is immobile. We’re now sitting ducks. You need to do something.”
Chuck knew that Tango 4 was right. But he also knew he couldn’t afford to launch his own assault. It would be suicide. He was caught in the same bind as his subordinate had been.
The enemy had used the break in Tango 4’s fire to make another rush. They overran the forward position but paid dearly for it. There were at least eight enemy fallen in front of it.
“Keep firing” ordered Chuck. “No one withdraws. Is that understood?”
“Yes Sir” came back a reluctant compliance from Tango 4.
“Maam, we’re under heavy assault here. Our forward position is overrun and Tango 4 is now immobile. We need your reserves now. Any news on the space battle?”
“Chuck. Understood. Committing reserves now. The space above Klaster is ours. The cavalry is coming Chuck. They will be landing soon. Hang on.”
“Wonderful news. Thanks” said a heartened Chuck. “Listen up marines” said Chuck on his company channel “Wasp has kicked ass upstairs and the cavalry are coming. We’ve got to hold on here.”
There was no greater news that he could impart and he knew it would hearten the resolve of those in the tunnel. But right now he had to return his focus to the battle in front of him.
Chapter 4. Hermes 1000, 26 May.
“Let’s go” said Warner to Parinya. She hit the thrusters and they shot out the docking bay. The second warthog followed suit. They only had a short run in, some 20 ks.
“Enemy missiles launched” called out Parinya. The plan called for them to ignore these. They were on active cloak and would trust that the Hermes would deal with them.
Emma, Aubrey and Crystal were managing the fire support from Hermes. The enemy missiles were targeted within ten seconds of launch. “Friendly missiles launched” advised Parinya. “Splash enemy missiles. Enemy battery is KO too.”
The Awakening: Book 1 of Warner's World Page 40
