Jackson returns to the bridge, where he sees Mulvey looking over charts of T-Challa ship formations with Kitanna. He interrupts, saying, "Kitanna, contact Val. He has a few things for you to do. Mulvey, let’s continue with your hit and run tactic."
Mulvey confused asks, "Sir? I thought you wanted a different tactic?"
Jackson smiles and says, "We need them to activate that gateway one more time, and if we do that. Well then, this battle is over and we can go home."
Mulvey surprised, responds, "Yes sir, I’ll set it up again, but a little different, so that they can’t prepare for it."
Jackson says, "We have just a little under an hour or so before the support fleet links up with us. I want to have at least two strikes on their forces before that."
Mulvey nods his head in agreement, saying, "Shouldn’t be an issue sir."
Mulvey goes to work, as Kitanna contacts Val, and starts working on his plan.
After a few minutes, Mulvey calls a meeting with all the ship Captains, and General Jackson.
Mulvey speaks, "I have a plan in which we will have the Yorktown appear to have had a major malfunction. It will then drop out of hyperspace. We will then simulate damage, giving the appearance that the Yorktown can no longer fight."
Jackson smirks, saying, “Wounded fish."
Mulvey smiles and says, "Yes sir, they should throw caution to the wind and converge on us with everything they have. Unfortunately for them, we will be placing the bulk of our forces all around, waiting to pounce on them mercilessly."
Jackson studying the plan says, "We may have to make it look more convincing, we may need to create false sensor reading to show serious damage to lure them in."
Mulvey says, "I have data scans of our previous battle damage. We can broadcast that damage on a false sensor image, this should confuse their scanners, at least until they get in close enough for us to strike."
Jackson thinking aloud says, "We know they have monitoring systems set to our older communication systems. We should use that."
Mulvey says, "We should have our trap set in thirteen minutes."
The holoimages disperse, as Jackson and Mulvey are alone in his ready room. Jackson looks over and says, "Mulvey good job."
Mulvey replies, "Thank you sir. It’s a real honor to know that you appreciate my effort sir."
Jackson smiles and says, "Don’t get all mushy now, go and get this plan of yours working."
Jackson surveys the crew as they rapidly prepare for the next attack on the T-Challa.
Two minutes later, Mulvey prepares for his plan, saying, "The Yorktown will be the bait, appearing to have catastrophic computer failure. It will appear to them that we are abandoning ship. We will be calling out for help. Then we will have the remaining Carriers and support fighters lay in wait to attack the T-Challa at this juncture.” Mulvey points at the tactical holoscreen, pinpointing his planned assault.
Mulvey continues going over every detail of his plan. Jackson asks, "What is the status of the second T-Challa fleet? Do we have any idea where it is, or if it poses any threat to us now?"
Kitanna reports, "We have a possible chance that it could be nearby, but I cannot confirm it as of now."
Jackson’s mind is calculating all their options. He says, "Mulvey, we’re going to need a lot more bait, to attract enough of them into this trap."
Mulvey replies, "Well sir, we could use a second Super Carrier, and also show it has the same issue as ours to increase the deception."
Jackson agreeing with Mulvey’s idea says, "We can use one of the Carriers already up ahead."
Mulvey continues, stating, "I’ll have the Chinese Carrier Si, play the second downed Carrier, it’s only about ten minutes away from us."
Jackson says, "Captain that leaves us only three Carriers and about six hundred support fighters. I'd suggest we lace the area with as many mines as we can muster up, to increase the impact."
Mulvey says, "Yes sir, I will have the other Carrier traveling with the Si, the Essex cloak, and rendezvous back with us as soon as possible."
The com officer interrupts, "Sir, incoming transmission from Val."
Mulvey says, "Put it through at once."
The holocom opens and Val stands there, saying, "I have the program settings for the gateway. I can set it to open on the black hole the next time they open it, but they need to open it and Jacks, this is a one-time trick. Once I do this, they will be able to prevent me from ever doing this again."
Jackson replies, "I understand Val, but we need to destroy that gateway now."
Val replies, "Ok Jacks I'm transmitting the data to Kitanna now. All she has to do is send it through the communication system the moment she sees the gateway powering up."
Tess says, "Jacks, we will be there in six or seven days."
The com closes as Mulvey says, "Ok, let’s get everyone into position now."
The five Carriers all take their positions, as hundreds of mines are spread in the path of the approaching T-Challa fleet.
Jackson asks, "Kitanna, anything on that second fleet?"
Kitanna replies, "No sir, nothing yet, determining from their last location and best speed, they could be in our area within a half an hour."
Jackson says, "Hopefully this will be over in a few minutes."
Six minutes later, everything is in position, as Jackson says, "Ok, turn it on Captain."
The Yorktown sets off several superficial explosions and uncloaks setting off a false distress signal, which says, "THIS IS THE YORKTOWN. WE HAVE A CATASTROPHIC COMPUTER FAILURE. OUR SHIP IS HELPLESS, AND UNABLE TO MOVE. WE ARE ATTEMPTING TO SET OUR SELF-DESTRUCT MANUALLY. ALL SHIPS STAY CLEAR."
Kitanna says, "General, sir, I've been able to keep a general location on the T-Challa fleet using the gateway as a fix on their location, speed and course. It appears they have increased speed to intercept us."
Jackson smiles and says, "Continue to appear that we are evacuating the ship. Load all our fighters, and all our torpedo bays. Set all guns to fire on my order."
Mulvey waits a few seconds, and says, "Order the Si to follow their part of the plan."
A few moments later, the Si also uncloaks declaring an emergency just as the Yorktown had done, a few earlier.
Kitanna alarmed states, "Sir! They have just increased speed for a second time. Their cloaks are starting to show signs of failing. They must have maxed out their engines."
Jackson smiles and says, "Sometimes old tricks are the best tricks. Prepare all ships to fire as soon as they hit the minefield. Prepare our shields, and make sure everyone knows one shot, and hit hyperspace, and no heroics."
The last minutes seem to take a lifetime, as they wait for the trap to spring. Jackson considering all options suddenly questions, "Kitanna, did you take into consideration that the second T-Challa fleet may also have increased its speed as well?"
Kitanna freezes in her tracks, and her mouth drops, as she quickly refocuses her scans. Shocked she yells, "Sir! I'm detecting failing cloaks on several T-Challa ships approaching the Si sir."
Mulvey snaps into action, ordering, "Order the Si to evac to hyperspace now."
Kitanna scanning the region yells, "It’s too late sir, the T-Challa fleet has her surrounded."
Then the T-Challa fleet pursuing the Yorktown finally hit the minefield. Several of their ships explode, as all the remaining ships uncloak. Raising shields, and continues charging toward the Yorktown.
All the cloaked Carriers and support fighters, fire into the fleet, as the Yorktown raises its shields, and fires all its weapons into the charging fleet.
Jackson orders, "All ships jump out! Head for the Si, at once." Jackson glances over to Klaus who in turn shakes his head in agreement they need no conversation. Klaus knows what is needed.
The Yorktown under helm control of Klaus Meyer hits hyperspace instantly. Klaus skill at helm is unparalleled, as he seizes the moment. He pushes the Yorktown to its limits and far beyond.
Kitanna yells, "The Si has taken heavy damage sir, but has managed to raise its shields. Its fighters are rallying an attack on the Super Dreadnoughts." Kitanna studies the data as it comes across her screen. She yells out. "General! It appears the Si is attempting to jump into hyperspace."
Jackson looking over the tactical holoboard, and quickly access the T-Challa's strategy. He yells out, "That first Super Dreadnought is gonna ram her! They will try to take the Si over. Get me the Si's Captain on the com now."
Mulvey also looks over the data reports announcing, "We have four minutes till we intercept the Si. We are accelerating at maximum speed, far beyond safety protocol. The rest of the Carrier fleet is falling behind"
Kitanna shocked yells, "The Si, its firing all her guns at the Super Dreadnought."
Jackson, frustrated, yells again, "Run! Don't fight, you jackass! You’re outgunned."
The com opens up as the Captain of the Si says, "General, sir, we have severe engine damage, I cannot maintain a long jump into hyperspace."
Jackson yells, "Jump as close to us as you can Captain. We will do what we can to get there."
Kitanna says, "Sir, I have the damage reports on the other T-Challa fleet."
Jackson asks, "Did we have any losses on our side?"
Kitanna replies, "Yes sir, we lost sixteen support fighters, and two of the Carriers took moderate damage, but we appear to have destroyed a dozen Heavy Cruisers and damaged at least a dozen more. However, they are in full pursuit and uncloaked."
The com officer says, "Sir, I have Gaul on the com."
Jackson responds, "Put him through."
Gaul appears on the holocom, saying, "Jacks, we have increased speed and dropped our cloaks. We'll be there in just under ten minutes."
Jackson asks, "Are you in range to shift on board the Si?"
Gaul shocked, quickly looks over at his tactical holoscreen and replies, "We can, but not while her shields are up."
Jackson replies, “Get your men ready."
Mulvey says, "We are three minutes away, the Si has jumped into hyperspace, but is losing power rapidly."
Kitanna panicked as she reviews the Si's data says, "She's going to overload her engines."
Jackson focused says, "Transfer all power to engines, get us in there now."
Mulvey alarmed says, "Sir, we already have everything we can into our engines including life support. Will be there in less than two minutes, but the rest of the fleet is still a few minutes behind us."
Jackson focused says, "Get all our support fighters and guns ready to go. We go in hot and heavy."
Kitanna yells, "The Si has lost power! It is dropping out of hyperspace it is on emergency backup. Her shields are failing."
Mulvey looking over the tactical display says, "She's a sitting duck. They will get there just before us."
Jackson asks, "Do we have both fleet sizes?"
Kitanna says, "Yes sir. The pursuing fleet is made up of over four hundred ships, mainly heavy, medium class Cruisers, and several Dreadnoughts.
The second fleet in pursuit of the Si is made up of three Super Dreadnoughts and over a hundred Heavy Cruisers."
Mulvey hastily asks, "No sign of them activating that gateway yet?"
Kitanna replies, "No sir, I have all my systems set to alert me if they do."
The Si prepares for the approaching T-Challa fleet, as all her remaining fighters are loaded, and all her nukes lock on to the approaching T-Challa fleet. The Si prepares to give it all it has left.
The pursuing T-Challa armada quickly drops out of hyperspace, and the battle starts anew. The Si fires all its remaining nukes, destroying several T-Challa Cruisers. The Si’s fighters launch an all-out assault on the T-Challa fleet. The T-Challa return fire. The Si easily loses its shields, and many of her main guns in the first salvo. The first of three Super Dreadnoughts closes in and targets its grapplers on the Si, just as Jackson predicted. The T-Challa are preparing to take the ship.
Gaul sees his opportunity, and orders his entire team to jump onto the Si.
Jackson looks over the tactical board and orders, "Mulvey full power to forward shields. Set all guns and torpedoes to maximum." Jackson points at the tactical holoscreen yelling, "We will come out of hyperspace here, and at flank speed. Klaus, set course and prepare for ramming."
Mulvey, completely shocked says, "Sir?"
Jackson annoyed says, "Captain just do it." Let’s see them prepare for this style of attack.
Mulvey overwhelmed, replies, "Aye, aye General." Mulvey barks out orders, "All Marines to the bow of the ship! Prepare to repel boarders! All non-essential personnel clear the bow of the ship NOW!"
Kitanna sits at the edge of her seat as she yells, "The Si, is about to be rammed!"
At that exact moment, the Yorktown exits hyperspace, just yards from the Si. The Yorktown fires all its guns, at point blank range, accompanied with a full barrage of torpedoes pummeling the Super Dreadnought. The Yorktown propels itself on a collision course with the heavily damaged Super Dreadnought.
Mulvey yells out orders, "All fighters emergency launch now!"
Yorktown’s fighters all launch simultaneous from the flight deck, as it bears down at full speed, on the first Super Dreadnought.
Kitanna yells, "Their ship is heavily damaged, the other two are closing in just behind it."
Jackson yells out to Klaus, "Commander Meyers! Take us in, full speed."
Klaus smiles as he kicks in the flank speed, and piles headlong into the heavily damaged Super Dreadnought.
The Yorktown is rocked hard, as it impacts the monstrous T-Challa ship, ripping into its hull, pushing away from the Si. The inertial dampers are overloaded, as the Yorktown plows headlong into the Super Dreadnoughts hull.
The Yorktown finally settles in place, as Mulvey overwhelmed looks up and sees the monstrous ship attached to the bow of the Yorktown. Mulvey is in shock as he says, "Damn, we survived."
Jackson laughs aloud, saying, "We did more than survive Captain." Jackson looks over to Klaus ordering, "Klaus! Turn it on, full power. Let's push this ship into another Super Dreadnought! Don’t give them time to react!"
Klaus smiles, saying, "Yes sir."
Jackson laughs aloud asking as the ship is rocked hard by the action, "Hey Mulvey, you think they knew about this style of attack?"
Mulvey smiles replying, "Sir, I can be sure that there is no one in the universe that could have prepared for this."
The two ships begin moving toward another Super Dreadnought directly behind the first. The T-Challa are caught completely off guard and unprepared for Jackson's unorthodox tactic. Jackson has complete disregard for his own ships safety, as he successfully plows both ships, into yet another Super Dreadnought.
The second impact once again shakes the Yorktown and her crew.
Kitanna alarmed yells, "We have multiple boarder’s sir!"
Jackson yells, "Klaus back us out of here! Mulvey fire everything we have, as soon as we break free!"
Mulvey yells back, "Sir, we have no forward shields, we will take collateral damage."
Jackson frowns at Mulvey, who shrugs, saying, "Ah hell, who wants to live forever anyways? All guns, prepare to fire on my mark."
Jackson smiles thinking. Damn, this is pushing it far beyond the limit.
The Yorktown starts to pull itself free, from the Super Dreadnoughts. The hull is strained as it is forced well beyond its limits, finally pulling itself clear The Yorktown is heavily damaged.
Mulvey immediately barks out, "Fire all guns."
The Yorktown unloads a lethal barrage of firepower into the Super Dreadnoughts. Decimating both, as the blasts enter through the first Super Dreadnought, and rips through the second, leaving both crippled.
The Yorktown suffers collateral damage from firing its weapons so closely but is still operational while the Si is crippled.
The com officer yells, "Sir! I have an incoming message from the T-Challa Commander."
Mulvey says,
"Put it through."
The holocom comes alive as the image of Toth appears, saying, "Human, you surprised me. I see you do have courage. I will enjoy killing you personally."
Jackson annoyed thinks. Damn it, why isn't that thing dead yet. Jackson says, "Toth, you’re starting to annoy me now. Why don't you just run off to your mommy...? Oh wait, we killed her didn’t we? Oops." Jackson smiles toward Toth.
Toth enraged growls, cutting the transmission.
Kitanna says, "That last Super Dreadnought is moving into a firing solution."
Mulvey reports, "We have most of our fighters, still engaged in close combat, with this T-Challa fleet."
Jackson grumbles as he says, "Fire everything we have at that ship. See if the Si has anything left in her."
The Yorktown launches yet another salvo of torpedoes, as the last Super Dreadnought fires its barrage at the Yorktown.
Klaus maneuvers hard to port, as its assault strikes dead on.
The Yorktown reels onto its side as Kitanna yells,
"We lost shields on the port side, multiple hull breaches, emergency force fields are holding."
Jackson exasperated asks, "Can we still shoot our main guns?"
Mulvey replies, "Yes sir. We still have over ninety percent of our guns and torpedo launchers still operational. We're locking on, and firing!"
The Yorktown fires again, as Klaus maneuvers the ship upright. The Si also launches over two dozen torpedoes.
The return fire is devastating to the final Super Dreadnought.
Kitanna announces, "We have multiple strikes on them. Their shields are down, and they have taken massive superstructure damage. However, sir, we have several Heavy Cruisers breaking through our fighters. They’re heading directly at us."
Mulvey smiles, saying, "We have incoming ships from behind us. It's the rest of the Carrier wing."
The Carriers arrive and immediately launch, attacking the Heavy Cruisers.
Jackson asks, "Can the Si make the jump into hyperspace yet?"
Mulvey checks his screens, and says, "No sir, it’s operating on minimal power reserves now."
Jackson exhales and says, "Then we tow it through hyperspace." Jackson yells, "Launch all boarding cables! Prepare us for the jump into hyperspace!"
The Ocoda Chronicles Book 2 Lost Heroes Page 22
