Star Crusades Nexus: Book 09 - The Black Rift

by Michael G. Thomas

  Captain Garcia looked at her, and his face finally relaxed.

  “I know. And for the record, I might come from a long line of Neo-Christians, but that doesn’t include me. There’s no way you’ll find me believing in talking snakes and rules and regulations going back to the bronze age.”

  He looked to the right and checked the weapon status. Takeda shook her head again as he did so.

  “I know, I know,” he said defensively.

  “These torpedoes are burning a hole in my hull, and I want them off my ship ASAP. We’re not equipped for this kind of operation.”

  Lieutenant Takeda pointed to the mainscreen.

  “Look, the first part of their fleet is about to move from behind the planet.”

  Both of them took in long, slow breaths while watching the ships.

  “The battle is about to begin.”

  A single red alert indicator flashed repeatedly.

  “Here is comes.”

  Captain Garcia reached forward and tapped the icon. The audio from ANS Warlord came through loud and clear.

  “Enemy warships have arrived. All vessels withdrawal to the secondary deployment area, launch fighters, and prepare for battle.”

  Captain Garcia nodded as though the Admiral could see him.

  “So, we feign a withdrawal, but will the enemy fall for it?”

  * * *

  Battleship Retribution, Taxxu, Uncharted Space

  Zero-One-Zero, Thayara, and Spartan watched the massive Rift Engine in complete silence; the floating model that sat suspended in the center of the battle deck and easily filled the vast open space. Like the last vessel, it was double-headed and truly gigantic. Behind it moved more ships of the same design plus scores of warships and escorts. Amongst them, like a shark around a shoal of fish, were the Biomech battleships, each unique in its shape and configuration, yet they dwarfed all but the Rift Engines.

  “It is time,” said Spartan.

  “We agree,” answered One-Zero-One.

  The model changed to show the Rift and the ship, as they seemed to merge into one.

  “How long will this take?” Thayara asked.

  No sooner had the one end of the machine approached the Rift, and it began to spark and flash. Vast streams of energy crackled along its entire length, but it remained just out of reach of the collapsed entrance.

  “The machine will take less than an hour to stabilize the entrance. Then we will create the bridge and send the engine through to maintain the connection. When this happens, the engine will maintain the bridge until it becomes fully stable.”

  “And nothing will be able to collapse it afterward?”

  “Once the Spacebridge is constructed it will be as stable as any other astronomical body. We will use our machines to open the old Rifts and to create a permanent network suitable for our return.”

  Spartan looked back at the massive projection. Even he had to admit the mighty Rift Engines were unique. Their ability to build and support the Rifts was unlike anything he’d heard of before. In his mind he could see whole networks of Rifts, each allowing travel and trade between stars, but without traveling. He thought of Terra Nova and Hyperion, and of ships moving between them filled with traded goods.

  What am I doing?

  He looked to Thayara and almost panicked upon seeing so many of the machines around him. Even the female warrior was draped in the finery of the Ghost Warriors. He lifted his hand to wipe his brow, and once more found himself stunned. The mechanical arm was something he’d forgotten about in the last few minutes.

  One of these days I’ll do this, and the machine will be more me than the flesh.

  He looked to the two of them and then pointed to the Rift.

  “What about traveling in Helios? You said you could take care of that.”

  “Yes, we will,” said the machine.

  Spartan sighed.

  “I need more than that. How long will this all take?”

  The machine flashed white, and a hologram of the Helios System appeared once again.

  “Our Rift Engines can create short tunnels for a few minutes at a time. Once we are through, we will build a tunnel directly to the enemy.”

  The machine then pointed to Spartan.

  “This is where you will come in. Our simulations show that your first-strike strategies have a greater likelihood of success than ours. You, Spartan, you will have the honor of selecting the first targets, as we discussed.”

  “Then get this damned Great Seal open. I have a target for you.”

  * * *

  ANS Warlord, Micaya Shipyards, Helios Sector

  Admiral Anderson watched the tactical screen as it filled with more and more ships. The icons showing his active vessels paled compared to the vast Biomech horde. Even so, he watched with no expression, as his own forces withdrew away from the shipyards and in the direction of the Micayan planet.

  “Any change in their course?”

  The tactical officer shook his head.

  “No, Sir, the entire fleet is making directly for the shipyards.”

  “Good, let them come. There’s plenty of scrap for them to shoot there.

  He noticed eyes staring at his and twisted about to find Captain Louise Decker.

  “Yes?”

  “We’re ready, Admiral. All of our crew at their stations, medical bays ready for casualties, and every gun is loaded and targeted.”

  “Excellent work, Captain, truly excellent.”

  “Admiral, the enemy vessels are launching missiles,” said the tactical officer.

  Admiral Anderson looked at his tactical display and spotted the shapes moving from the enemy fleet. At this distance, the timers showed they would take nearly a minute to strike their targets. It was more than enough time to move, assuming they were ready to do that. Against a fleet unprepared for battle, it should give them no chance to escape. He tapped the icons for the commanders at the shipyards who were waiting aboard the operational ships to the rear.

  “Activate defensive batteries, release four ships to the forward skirmish line.”

  They must have been waiting for such an order because in less than thirty seconds there were four ships accelerating away from the vast gantries.

  This had better work!

  Captain Decker and her XO moved alongside him, watching in silence as the missiles moved closer and closer to the vessels positioned at the shipyards.

  “Why just the one volley?” asked the XO.

  Captain Decker pointed to the structures.

  “They are checking our defenses and trying to spring any traps that might be out here. It’s a smart play.”

  “Admiral, here’s the feed from Admiral Lewis.”

  The imagery from the mainscreen was of hundreds of derelict ships, all of them sitting out in the open and connected to gantries. Markers showed that large numbers of them were powering up their engines, but only those in the fleet knew they were a distraction. Admiral Anderson pointed at the area of space between the two sides.

  “Launch fighters, put up a protective screen around the shipyards.”

  That was when the first missiles made impact. The largest derelict was a ship known to the Helions as the Aorvorr, apparently a name from an ancient hero. The vessel was close in size to an Alliance Battlecruiser, yet this one was a wreck. Her hull was holed and broken, and several large sections had been removed over the last generation. Even so, at least one powerplant was active in her hull, as were four point defense turrets. Streaks of gunfire opened up and were quickly joined by the small number of active defenses on this side of the gigantic facility.

  “Great work, T’Kron, damned good work,” said Admiral Anderson.

  Over half of the missiles were exploded well out of range before they were through the perimeter. They then had to run the gauntlet of the fighters. Six missiles punched through the worn out armor of the Aorvorr. Explosions wracked her innards, and her powerplant immediately went offline. A second ship just beh
ind her was hit, and then secondary explosions crippled two more.

  “Sir, their fleet is breaking. They are moving in to the attack,” said the tactical officer.

  “Yes, but what are their targets?”

  The display showed the vast group of Biomech vessels, along with projected lines showing their targets. Every few seconds the lines changed to show the revised projections. They all waited a little while longer until the data conformed what they had all hoped. The XO said what they were all thinking.

  “Looks like they’ve taken the bait. Eighty percent of their forces are heading for the shipyards. The Ark and its escorts are coming right here.”

  Admiral Anderson lowered both of his hands to his hips.

  “Very well. This is it, then.”

  He reached for the intercom and pulled it to his mouth.

  “It is time. Break and fall back.”

  With that single order, the entire fleet of Alliance and Helion ships broke formation and moved away from the potential battle site. ANS Warlord led the bulk of the Alliance ship on a direct path to Micaya while the others scattered in small groups. They moved slowly, and many ships changed course repeatedly as though trying to avoid being attacked. A handful of destroyers were the last to leave, and they took the full brunt of the Biomech assault, as the enemy fleet surged on to the shipyards. Admiral Anderson watched in silence as all six empty ships operated under full automation.

  “Will this work, Admiral?” Captain Decker asked.

  Two of the destroyers exploded with their innards exposed to the void. The other four scattered just as the advance wave of Biomech fighters and Biomantas screamed past. All four Alliance ships emptied a torrent of fire at their attackers, but they were quickly silenced, but not before destroying a pair of Biomanta warships.

  “They were crippled, and I didn’t have the crew to man them. This way they have done their job, and with no loss of life.”

  The shipyards were arrayed in a series of vast spokes, each connected to a massive hollow central structure the size of a moon. These spokes extended out hundreds of kilometers and from them came more sections, many of which were surrounded by ancient and mothballed ships. The first of the Biomechs were now at the closest tendrils and attacking the docks and gantries. The site was massive, and the ships barely visible at this distance. The site was so large that the entire Biomech fleet and their Ark could have hidden amongst the active and derelict ships on one of the vast spokes, let alone the huge central hub that would dwarf many small moons, and none would have been the wiser. It was only at that point he realized he hadn’t answered the question.

  “You wanted to know whether this would work, Captain?”

  Both looked to the mainscreen where the footage from Admiral Lewis’ own ship showed the advance party of Biomanta ships and scores of fighters darting aboard the shipyards. They blasted every target showing an energy signature. Alliance fighters were busily fighting them, but it was clearly a one-sided battle.

  “We have to give the trap time to settle.”

  He looked about the command deck. The dozens of officers were all busily managing the vessel, leaving him clear to command the entire operation from the horizontal tactical display.

  “Too early, and surprise will be lost, too slow though, and they will discover what we have waiting for them.”

  He rubbed at his chin.

  “It’s time to send in a little help. The Biomechs can’t take the site too easily, and they aren’t stupid. Let’s spring the trap that they expect.”

  He moved his hands about the display and highlighted two squadrons of Liberty destroyers and a force of four Crusaders. He then selected two attack squadrons of mixed smaller craft with his left hand and merged them all together. With a quick gesture, he drew a set of curved trajectories to follow.

  “Yes, that will do nicely.”

  One by one the ships moved from his fleet of slowly retreating starships and on an intercept course for the shipyards. The numbers above them stated they would be in range within four minutes.

  “Launch all fighters at the shipyards. Let’s turn this up a notch.”

  * * *

  ANS Tempest, Micaya Shipyards, Helios Sector

  The forward displays showed hundreds of ships now in action, and Captain Garcia was beginning to lose his patience. They had been trailing behind the fleet while at the same time a great battle raged throughout the shipyards. The twenty-two ships arrayed along the arms and gantries of the first of the great spokes had been completely destroyed. Even so, from the very wreckage came burst after burst of fire, and in death the old ships refused to go quietly.

  “Look!” said Lieutenant Takeda.

  They both looked at the display and the projected course just received.

  “Finally,” Captain Garcia muttered.

  He tapped the transmit button on his control column.

  “Bomber squadrons Alpha and Bravo with me. Follow course Charlie Six and prepare for mass-bombardment.”

  Both of them had been waiting for the orders, but now they were finally here it seemed there just wasn’t time. With a deft bit of maneuvering, Lieutenant Takeda spun the ship around and hit the main engines. The two squadrons of craft did the same. There were eight Maulers in each group, and all had been loaded out with torpedoes taken from the crippled Liberty ships. The same number of X57 Avenger drones formed up around them in a defensive screen while Hammerheads pulled up in front. The wave of small craft totaled just fewer than forty, and Captain Garcia had the command of the entire force.

  Not much further, he thought as they moved silently through space.

  Captain Garcia counted the seconds and minutes as they drew in closer and closer to the raging battle. They could now make out the scores of burning ships and thousands of lines of tracer fire. Even though few ships had moved away from the monolithic structures, there were still a great many involved in the battle. He looked to Lieutenant Takeda.

  “I don’t know how the Admiral did it, but somehow he got over a hundred ships to do something out there. Last I heard they were all mothballed or half scrapped.”

  The Lieutenant nodded twice.

  “Based on the fact that they haven’t moved, I’d say somebody managed to get a few engines fired up. All you need is a powerplant and a few defense turrets running and you have a realistic looking target.”

  A ship exploded in a spectacular yellow flash right before their eyes. Lieutenant Takeda’s goggles flashed in the reflected light.

  “Just as well, because that kind of ship would have just meant the loss of upward of a thousand Helions.”

  One of the Maulers took a heavy hit to its left flank, and a great cloud of debris blew off and into the path of a following Avenger. The small craft vanished in a white light, and then the formation was down by one.

  “Well, that’s one reason to cut down on the pilot program!” Takeda muttered.

  A few of the guns aboard the many Biomech ships started to change direction, and then as quick as they could be seen, the arcs of four ripped into the formation. At this distance, it wasn’t easy to hit the fighters. The forward guns of the Hammerheads opened up and created a wide flak corridor for them to advance along. At the same time, the Avengers released medium-range interceptor missiles. These were special weapons that would intentionally explode and scatter razor-sharp metal debris into the path of approaching warheads.

  “The enemy is working systematically through the shipyards. We will ignore the initial attack and hit the secondary wave of ships. Target the following craft and prepare to fire on my mark.”

  Using just his eyes, he tagged two Ravagers and a pair of escorting Biomantas. After so many battles, the Alliance had a good idea of the weaker areas of these ships. This information allowed the computers to automatically select the nest areas for the torpedoes.

  “We hit them with a single bombing run and then turn on their forces currently engaging our ships.”

  Each of the
craft sent in their acknowledgements, with the exception of the drones. These were the latest models with upgrade artificial intelligence nodes and the ability to function fully autonomously. On and on flew the Maulers until they reached their optimal firing range.

  It was possible to make out the ship silhouettes and configurations from within the cockpit of the Mauler.

  “Are we ready?” Captain Garcia asked.

  Lieutenant Takeda didn’t turn her head; she was transfixed on their current course and the long line of Biomech warship blocking their path. She began shaking her head at the prospect of having to face down and defeat such an overwhelming enemy.

  “As ready as we’ll ever be,” she said stoically.

  “I want our torpedoes heading right for the snout of that Ravager, understood?”

  She nodded slowly.

  “Yes, Sir, targeted and calibrated. We’re ready to launch.”

  Captain Garcia selected his formation of fighters and Maulers and sent them the code all had been waiting for.

  “Release your bomb door and launch. This is a free fire authorization. Let them burn!”

  The Maulers opened up their cargo areas and lowered the massive torpedoes. Each craft was capable of carrying only two, and they unleashed the entire arsenal for this attack. Sixteen Maulers launched thirty-two hypersonic torpedoes between them. Each of the guided weapons had been configured with a mixture of dense penetrating slugs or high-explosive rounds. There were also four tactical atomic missiles that could devastate an entire ship, if they could get the device inside the armor. The warheads streamed forward, leaving no trail behind them as they moved faster and faster toward their intended targets.

  “Break and attack, I repeat, break and attack!” Captain Garcia ordered.

  The mixed formation of craft split apart like an arrow striking the end of a piece of bamboo. They fanned out as the massed volley of torpedoes tore into the flanks of the four ships. One of the Biomantas managed to turn away and blast apart all those heading for it, but the other three were hit hard. The second Biomanta spun to avoid the impact and merely managed to crash itself into the flank of a Ravager. At the same time, a mass of torpedoes hit them. The heavy density slugs ripped through the hull, and two even appeared on the other side, vanishing into the blackness. High-explosive rounds tore out chunks of metal, but it was the atomic warhead from ANS Tempest that achieved the greatest result. Captain Garcia watched it entered the bow of the nearest Ravager as they rushed away at full-speed.