Counterstrike

by D. J. Holmes

  -Excerpt from Empire Rising, 3002 AD.

  IS Drake

  After Captain Dee’s fighter wing was past the Karacknid fleet, James stayed on Drake’s bridge to watch their progress towards the Karacknid mining freighters. When the hidden escort ships appeared, he sat forward in his command chair. For a few seconds he thought the entire attack was about to fail. Then Dee split her forces and charged the new Karacknid ships. When the battle was over he sat back in his command chair. They hadn’t hurt the Karacknids as badly as he had hoped, but they had done some damage. He still had other ideas to reduce the effectiveness of their tactic, but he had been hoping Chen’s plan would have more success.

  Though the skirmish was over, James remained on the bridge for another two hours as he watched the Karacknids attempt to locate the carriers Dee was retreating to. When it was obvious their attempts would fail, he gave Miyagi a nod and turned to his Flag Captain. “You have the bridge Captain, inform me if there are any significant updates.”

  “We’ve got movement in the gas giant’s planetary ring,” Anderson announced loudly. James paused, halfway to his feet. He peered at the holo display. The mining freighters that had survived Dee’s attack were indeed moving towards New Shanghai.

  “There’s no way they have mined enough asteroids to fill all their cargo holds already,” Miyagi commented.

  “We don’t know how good Karacknid mining techniques are,” James reminded his Chief of Staff. “But whether they are full or not, something has changed. If they’re coming here, it means the Karacknids intend to fight, and soon.” There was no other reason for the change in behavior. Though James didn’t understand the motives behind it, what it meant was obvious. Somehow, Dee’s attack had sparked something in his opposite number. There was no way the Karacknid commander was afraid of a repeat attack. He could send triple the number of escort ships to protect the mining freighters before Dee’s force could return to launch another attack. No, something else had sparked this. What it was didn’t matter. The Karacknid fleet was preparing for its final push. “Alert all our warships and defenses, tell them to prep for a full-on engagement,” James said to Lieutenant Martinez. “Miyagi, prepare a squadron of our fastest frigates. Make sure they have the latest updates on everything that has happened. Make preparations for them to break through the Karacknid blockade and head to Earth. We need to inform them that the final battle is about to begin. Make sure everyone that has a letter they want to send home sends it to those frigates.” He turned to Fisher. “You may as well let your crew get a good meal in them. Who knows how long this battle may last.” Pausing, he looked at the five thousand five hundred Karacknid warships that were orbiting New Shanghai. “We have delayed them as long as we can. Now it’s time to see if we can hold them off,” he said to his staff officers. Though he poured confidence into his words, he felt very little. Standing, he kept the look of confidence on his face. “I shall retire now and eat myself. When I return I’ll relieve you Captain,” he said to Fisher as he gave her a nod.

  “Aye, Admiral, we will keep a close eye on the Karacknids until you get back,” Fisher replied.

  Aware that every one of his officers was watching him closely, James kept his back straight as he left Drake’s bridge. Only when he got to his office did he let the mask slip. “Fox, prepare me something to eat,” he called to his steward. Though he couldn’t see Fox, he knew the man would be hovering within earshot. “It doesn’t matter what it is, but make it filling. I fear we are about to face the biggest battle of our careers.”

  “Yes Admiral,” Fox replied as he appeared in front of James. “I have a steak stored away for just the occasion. It will not take me long to get it ready.”

  “Thank you,” James said as he locked eyes with his steward. He saw the same look on Fox that he guessed was on his own face. Both of them expected it to be his last meal. “If there are two of them, prepare one for yourself. I’d like you to join me if you would.”

  “Certainly, Admiral, it would be my pleasure,” Fox replied, giving James a small smile. It quickly vanished as he turned and scurried away to gather what was needed.

  James’ mind turned to Christine and Jonathan. He reached out for his datapad and pulled up his latest letter to her. He didn’t have long before the frigates he had dispatched to run past the Karacknid blockade would leave. Quickly he added an ending to the letter.

  Christine, I believe the Karacknids are making final preparations to attack New Shanghai’s defenses. We cannot delay them any longer. No significant reinforcements will arrive in time to relieve us. We must fight this out with what forces we have. You know the odds we face as well as I. I hope this letter will reach you. Please, if things go against us, heed the advice Ya’sia gave me. I know you have had time to read the evacuation plans she shared with me. If we lose this battle, Alliance Command will put their plans into motion. You must do so as well. Flee Earth. Get as far away from the Karacknids as you can. Join the Alliance in starting again somewhere else. I know you will want to stay. You will see it as your duty. But that is a mistake. If the Karacknids win here, then none of our colonies will be able to stand. Nothing will stop the Karacknids conquering the Alliance and this sector of space. The only hope for our species is for some of us to run with what technologies and ships we have. With enough space and time our species can start again, we can better prepare to face the Karacknids. If such an endeavor is to have any chance of success, it needs good leadership. Our species has just been united for the first time in our history. It’s the duty of our Empress to keep this unity and lead our people. You must think of Jonathan. He is so young, so helpless. He deserves a chance to have a life. To grow up. If I cannot be there for him. You must. Please do this for our Empire and for our son. Know that I will do all that I can for you both here. You are always in my thoughts. I love you, now and always, James.

  When he was done, James scanned what he had written and sealed the letter so only Christine could read it. With a couple of taps on his datapad he added it to the files that would be sent to the frigates. Then he set his hands on his desk and closed his eyes. After taking several breaths to clear his mind, he visualized how he saw the coming battle play out. He only opened his eyes again when Fox returned. With an effort he dismissed thoughts of the Karacknids and tried to enjoy the meal. Both he and Fox made several attempts at starting conversations. None lasted more than a few sentences. Eventually they lapsed into silence as they ate together. Both of them knew that once James left, they wouldn’t see each other until the battle was over. As he placed the last sweet potato fry in his mouth, James stood. He gave Fox a final nod of thanks and turned to leave.

  Just forty-five minutes after leaving the bridge, he sat down in his command chair. A glance at the holo display told him that the Karacknid mining freighters were still making good progress towards the rendezvous with the Karacknid battlefleet. Also on the gravimetric plot were three hundred other contacts. Another squadron of Karacknid reinforcements had arrived. They were moving swiftly towards New Shanghai. James grimaced at the sight of them. Three hundred was a small number, but it tipped the balance of forces ever more in the Karacknids’ favor.

  “The Karacknid fleet are altering their flight paths,” Anderson reported. “It looks like they’re beginning their preparations.”

  “Agreed,” James said as he watched the five circling Karacknid fleets maneuver. An hour later it was clear what the Karacknid commander was thinking. Two of the Karacknid fleets were lining themselves up to make attack runs on Sanji, two others on New Shanghai’s second moon, Taitou. The final Karacknid fleet, reinforced to a strength of one thousand eight hundred warships, was settling onto a course to directly threaten New Shanghai. “He’s going to take out both of our moons’ defenses,” James informed his staff officers. “The fleet facing us is there to keep us honest. If we move too many ships to support either moon, their largest fleet will push straight at us and try and take New Shanghai’s orbitals.”


  “What do you want to do Admiral?” Miyagi asked, “neither Lightfoot nor Suarez have the strength to defend themselves against two thousand Karacknid warships.”

  “Indeed they do not,” James responded. The Karacknid commander was giving him a dilemma. If he sent too many reinforcements to either moon, New Shanghai would be vulnerable. Yet if he lost either moon, the Karacknid fleet could push in and envelop New Shanghai’s defenses in a circle of fire. And he’s keeping his mining freighters in reserve, James thought as he noticed the freighters had joined the largest Karacknid fleet. He knew that if he gave the Karacknid commander an opening, the asteroids would be hurled at New Shanghai’s defenses. “We cannot defend both moons,” James answered his Chief of Staff. “Not unless we’re willing to risk losing New Shanghai before the battle has been joined.” Aware of the significance of his next words, James took a moment to make a final decision. If he couldn’t seriously defend both moons, then he’d have to sacrifice one. Whichever one he chose to defend, he’d be putting the other moon’s defenders in serious danger. “Order Admiral Koroylov’s battle squadron to reinforce Suarez ships defending Sanji,” James said. “Inform both Admirals they are to hold Sanji for as long as possible. But they are not to risk losing their ships if the cause is futile. Make sure they know we will have no more reinforcements to give them. Then send orders for Admiral Jil’lal and Vice Admiral Klack’s battle squadrons to reinforce Lightfoot at Taitou. We’ll detach our missile pod freighters and a large escort of cruisers and destroyers from our fleet to Lightfoot’s command as well. I also want Commodore Chen to prepare all of his fighters for a strike. He is only to hold back enough to counter the Karacknid fighters in case they try to hit us elsewhere. If the Karacknids want to keep their fleet split into groups of one thousand, we’ll make them regret the move,” James said as he highlighted one of the Karacknid fleets that was preparing to hit Taitou. “We’ll focus all our long-range mark V missiles, Chen’s fighters, and Lightfoot’s firepower on this Karacknid fleet. We may lose both moons, but let’s make them pay a high price for Taitou.”

  “Aye Admiral, understood,” Miyagi responded. “We’ll begin sending those orders now.”

  James let out a deep breath as Drake’s bridge burst into a hive of activity. The Karacknids had made their opening move. He was responding. The battle would soon be joined. Though he was full of doubt and concern about the outcome, at least the waiting was over. “What do the simulations say about our proposed moves?” James asked a minute later, certain that Anderson would already have begun to play out his orders using the ship’s computer.

  “We should certainly hammer the one fleet we’re focusing on,” Anderson replied without looking up from his console. “But it doesn’t look good for us.”

  “No, I imagine it doesn’t,” James replied. “But we have a lot of warriors out there, they will make the difference.” They have to, James thought. With each of his seven senior commanders commanding one battle squadron consisting of three hundred warships and four hundred armed freighters, James had committed six hundred warships under Koroylov and Suarez ‘s command to defending Sanji. They faced two thousand Karacknids. With three battle squadrons assigned to Lightfoot’s defense of Taitou, he wasn’t much better off, but with Chen’s fighters the Karacknids numerical advantage would be significantly reduced. That left James with Ya’sia and Nogamoro’s battle squadrons, along with his reserve fleet and Tranquility. The Kulrean worldship was the one unknown in his fleet. He accepted Kalong’s assessment of the ship’s strength, but the ship was as yet untested. He intended to hold Tranquility back for as long as possible. She would be his last surprise for the Karacknids. Yet even if the worldship lived up to her hype, in each of the three sectors his forces were heavily outnumbered. Yet there was no way around that. The best he could do was to try and win a series of minor victories by gaining superiority over a Karacknid fleet. Yet even if we get those victories, we will be taking even heavier losses at the same time, James thought but there was nothing he could do about it.

  “Our forces are moving to their assigned locations,” Miyagi informed James minutes later. “Both Koroylov and Lightfoot have confirmed that they understand your orders.”

  James nodded to acknowledge Miyagi’s update. Then he focused on the Karacknid fleet. All right, you see my response, what is your next move? he asked. So far, the one key unknown factor was the Karacknid fighters. As best as his scouts and sensor probes could tell, no additional carriers had reinforced the Karacknid battlefleet. Yet the three hundred or so fighters the Karacknids were known to have were a serious danger. Their particle beam cannons could devastate warships and battlestations alike. Depending on where the Karacknid commander chose to commit them, they could tip the balance decisively either at Sanji, Taitou or New Shanghai. As the Karacknid forces drew closer and closer to their targets, James wondered if the Karacknid commander had any hidden surprises. For once it looked like his ships weren’t going to try anything fancy. They were just going to smash into the two moons’ defenses and destroy everything that was there. The lack of trickery made James eye the large Karacknid fleet that was facing off against his command. They had already slowed their approach. It looked like they were going to come to a halt just outside powered missile range. It’s as if they are herding us into one spot, James thought as he took in the cluttered display of space around New Shanghai. Though so many different fleet elements were on the move, the general pattern was quite clear. It looked like the Karacknid forces were trying to push the defenders at Sanji and Taitou towards New Shanghai. Once they have us altogether, what is the plan? Though he had no specific answer, James feared it would be decisive. Gently, he leaned towards his Chief of Staff. “Keep launching sensor drones towards the large Karacknid fleet, I want to know what they’re up to at all times. I can’t help but feel that is where the surprise is going to come from,” he said quietly to Miyagi, hoping his other officers wouldn’t hear.

  “Understood Admiral,” Miyagi replied in a similarly low voice. “I’ll update you if anything unusual is detected.” James nodded as he straightened.

  “Admiral Koroylov should be able to open up with his multistage missiles in five minutes,” Anderson updated everyone. “Admiral Lightfoot will be able to do the same three minutes after that.”

  “Karacknid fighter launches detected,” Ivanov announced as soon as Anderson finished. “Multiple launches from each Karacknid fleet. It looks like the fighters are heading towards Taitou.”

  “They’ve detected Chen’s fighters,” Fisher commented. “They’re moving to counter them.”

  James bit his lip. If the Karacknids committed all their fighters against Chen’s it would reduce the impact of Chen’s attack. Yet it meant they wouldn’t appear somewhere else and surprise him. “Have the fighters Chen kept in reserve launched. We’ll keep them with us for now, if things go against us, we’ll have them to back us up if we need them.”

  As the Karacknid fleets charged the defenders of both moons, first Koroylov’s and then Lightfoot’s forces opened fire with their multistage missiles. The Karacknids didn’t even flinch. As they accelerated as hard as they could, the one key weakness of defending a planetary body was made all too obvious. Neither Koroylov nor Lightfoot’s forces could disengage, not if they wanted to fight alongside the orbital defense stations and mark V missile launchers on each moon. The Karacknids could charge right into energy weapon range if they desired. It also meant the multistage missiles’ effectiveness was largely negated. Koroylov and Lightfoot would get off two salvos, but then the Karacknids would be close enough that standard anti-ship missiles could be fired from both sides.

  Though James would have loved to hammer the Karacknid fleets with multistage missiles for longer, in one sense it didn’t matter. Neither his battlestations nor freighters had multistage missiles so the two salvos that were launched towards the Karacknid fleets were severely understrength. Even so, James watched them intently. He was desperat
e for them to do some damage to the forces that were closing in on his friends. Sadly, he was disappointed by both salvos. Across the Karacknid forces attacking Sanji and Taitou, only thirty ships were destroyed or seriously damaged. The Karacknids simply had too much defensive fire power.

  “Vengeance has just signaled us, Lightfoot’s force is preparing to open fire with their standard missile salvo,” Martinez updated everyone.

  “Acknowledge the communication,” Fisher replied.

  Now it’s time to reveal our full strength, James thought as he watched events unfold. The first sign that something was afoot was when the two-hundred-and-fifty mark V missile launchers based on Sanji hurled their missiles through the moon’s thin atmosphere. Instead of targeting the two Karacknid fleets closing with Sanji, the missiles headed towards Taitou. A minute later, all the battlestations around New Shanghai fired their mark Vs. The three hundred battlestations that had been towed into orbit released two thousand nine hundred missiles. They too were targeted at one of the Karacknid fleets closing on Taitou. Second to last, the mark V launchers on Taitou fired their missiles. As the missiles hurtled through space and passed Lightfoot’s nine hundred warships, they added their missiles to the giant salvo. Boosted by the forty missile pod freighters James had sent to Lightfoot, they added another thirteen thousand missiles. Seconds after Lightfoot’s warships opened fire, Chen’s fighters revealed themselves. Alongside the five hundred that had been launched normally, four hundred more that had been slow launched appeared on the gravimetric plot. All nine hundred charged one of the two Karacknid fleets opposing Lightfoot.