Exiles (The Progenitor Trilogy, Book One)

by Dan Worth

  ‘What level of fighter attacks can we expect Captain?’ Ramirez enquired.

  ‘Unknown. War Temples carry a good number of fighters and bombers Mr Davis, but I’m not sure just how many Kojima has on board at the moment. Keep a close watch for any incoming wings though. We can’t let them slip under our shields.’

  ‘Roger that.’

  ‘Now then, let’s see if we can’t give the Admiral a surprise or two. Let’s show him what this crew’s made of.’

  There was pregnant pause whilst they waited for Kojima’s signal. The three aggressor ships had dwindled to a row of faint points ahead of the Mark Antony. Chen eyed them pensively then she shot a sly grin at Ramirez. He knew that look.

  After a moment the comm. chirped into life again, it was the Admiral.

  ‘We are in position now Captain, let battle commence. Kojima out.’

  Chen began issuing orders.

  ‘Helm, close with the enemy as instructed. Gunnery, target the War Temple’s reactors and prepare to fire when we reach optimal distance. Lieutenant Singh, what do you see?’

  ‘Captain the enemy ships are maintaining their formation, they are advancing towards us and powering weapon systems. I am detecting a reactor spike from the War Temple; they are charging their primary cannon.’

  ‘Helm I hope you made a note of that. Time to target?’

  ‘Twenty seconds Captain. Matching velocities.’

  ‘Captain this is Davis. We are ready to fire.’

  ‘Velocities matched, range to target twenty four point eight kilometres, beginning turn to port’

  ‘Commander, fire all guns.’

  The simulation software in the ship’s systems was remarkably complete, right down to a visual representation of combat projected via the crew’s HUD monocles. Chen watched as computer simulated energy beams appeared to flash from the destroyer’s turrets and rake the shields of the enemy command vessel as computer rendered arcs of energy crackling and looping from the impact point. The strobing impacts of rapid, gatling laser fire combined with the sustained lashing streams of particle beam cannons as a swarm of simulated torpedoes were spat from the vessel’s bows, arcing round to home in on the target. Most of the projectiles were shot down by the illusion of defensive fire from the Normandy, though a few got through under its shields and scored superficial hits against the hull armour.

  ‘Captain, they are coming about. They appear to be attempting to bring that cannon to bear on us,’ said Singh.

  ‘Helm, keep us out of their fire arc.’

  ‘Captain their mid-dorsal shield is overloading, but the destroyers are moving out of formation. They’re trying to flank us,’ said Singh urgently.

  ‘Damn! Gunnery, we don’t have much time, keep up the pressure.’

  ‘Heavy weapons fire coming from all three ships. It is ineffectual. We are out of their range.’

  Chen watched the simulated energy beams probing outwards from the three ships. They were falling well short of their target and were washing harmlessly off the forward shields as the Mark Antony’s defensive turrets mopped up a few inbound simulated projectiles.

  ‘Davis here, we’re drawing power from the main drive, stepping up our barrage. Recommend we close with the enemy and use the cutting laser?’

  ‘That’s a negative Commander. We need to stay out of range of their turrets if we are to survive.’

  The volume and intensity of the storm of simulated fire pouring from the Mark Antony’s turrets increased measurably

  ‘Captain, the War Temple is only ten degrees away from bringing us within its plasma cannon’s fire arc,’ said Ramirez urgently.

  ‘Helm, increase rate of turn. If that thing hits us it’s all over.’

  ‘Gunnery here, shutting down forward turret number two, we are detecting unusual power fluctuations in the acceleration chambers.’

  ‘Very well Commander.’

  Chen cursed inwardly. The program had a number of possible mechanical failures built into it. It was bad luck that one would occur just now. Still, it was possible it could happen for real in combat and they would have to cope with it.

  ‘This is Davis; we’ve collapsed that dorsal shield section. Targeting reactors.’

  ‘Very good.’

  ‘Captain we don’t have much time,’ said Ramirez. ‘The Rameses is approaching our left flank. She’ll be in range in twenty five seconds.’

  Shit, thought Chen, this had better work. Captain Lehman might be an old comrade but I can’t allow him to beat me!

  ‘Captain, the enemy command craft is launching fighters and bombers, two wings of Retribution bombers and what looks like three wings of Vengeance interceptors,’ Singh informed her hurriedly.

  ‘Gunnery, we have inbound bogies coming from the War Temple.’

  ‘Roger that Captain, almost there…’

  There was a blinding simulated explosion superimposed over everyone’s HUDs as the Normandy experienced a simulated reactor core breach. The illusion of a blast wave expanded in all directions at phenomenal speed, “killing” the entire fleet of smaller craft sortied to engage the Mark Antony and knocking out systems along the flanks of the two destroyers.

  Chen felt a surge of elation as her crew cheered and whooped around her, now it was time to deliver the killing blow.

  ‘Helm, bring us around the port side of the Rameses and maintain our current separation. I intend to use it to shield us from fire coming from the Thermopylae. Commander Davies, concentrate all fire on the Rameses’ weapon systems. Ensign Andrews, send Admiral Kojima my condolences.’

  ‘With pleasure Captain,’ said Andrews and laughed.

  The Rameses appeared to be having trouble manoeuvring; the detonation of the Normandy seemed to have inflicted simulated damage against its engine block, though the shields along its starboard side were still at one hundred percent. The Mark Antony drew up alongside at a distance of twenty three kilometres. Fire spat once more from its turrets, answered by ineffectual barrages from the wounded vessel. The stabbing, searing beams stripped the Rameses’ shields one by one, before knocking out the craft’s turrets and launcher tubes and fully disabling its engines. Icons appeared in Chen’s vision, superimposed over the destroyer, indicating which systems had been deemed to be destroyed. Chen ordered Goldstein to close with the stricken ship, and then spoke to gunnery once more.

  ‘Commander Davis, you asked to use the keel laser? Well now you get your wish. Use it to finish off the Rameses.’

  ‘With pleasure, Captain.’

  The Mark Antony executed a quarter roll to port to better bring the great cutting laser to bear on the target before Davis and his gunnery officers opened fire. The enormous weapon was capable of slicing through starship hulls like butter. After a few seconds of simulated firing an icon appeared Chen’s tactical display indicating that the Rameses had broken apart. Two down. Now where was the Thermopylae?

  ‘Captain, the other destroyer has manoeuvred behind us. Range, seventeen kilometres.’

  ‘Shit! How did we miss them Mr Singh?’

  ‘Captain they appear to have used the expanding cloud of plasma from the destruction of the Normandy to shield themselves from our sensors.’

  ‘Helm, move us away and bring us about to better engage the target! Gunnery control, take down that destroyer!’

  ‘Captain, they are firing directly into the rear of our engines. They are launching torpedoes into our defensive grid’s blind spot.’

  ‘Helm, evasive manoeuvres!’

  ‘Impact in four seconds… three… two… one….’

  Chen winced.

  ‘Engineering, damage report.’

  ‘Chief Sohal here, we have lost fifty percent of our manoeuvring capability.’

  ‘Helm, can we come about?’

  ‘Aye, Captain. Though our turn rate is significantly reduced.’

  ‘Damn, there’s not enough time.’

  ‘Captain, what if we reverse and use the cutting laser at clos
e range?’ said Ramirez.

  ‘It’s worth a try, we still outgun them,’ said Chen hastily. ‘Helm, full reverse. Gunnery, prepare to use the cutting laser again.’

  ‘Captain the Thermopylae is firing again. They have targeted our engines once more.’

  ‘Damn!’

  ‘Impact in three... two... one.’

  Chen swore under her breath.

  ‘Engineering here, Captain we’ve lost all manoeuvring capabilities. We’re dead in space.’

  ‘Range to target?’

  ‘Twelve kilometres.’

  ‘This is Davis; we’re too far away to use the keel laser. Firing all rear turrets.’

  Chen’s tactical display showed the rear mounted weapons on the Mark Antony firing furiously at the starboard flank of the other destroyer. It didn’t seem to be enough. The other vessel was turning to bring all its weapons to bear.

  ‘Status of enemy shields?’

  ‘Enemy shields are at seventy-five percent.’

  ‘It’s not enough. Can we fling any mines in their direction?’

  ‘Mine laying tubes are inoperable Captain.’

  ‘Captain the Thermopylae is firing,’ Singh sounded crestfallen. ‘Captain they have breached our reactor, we’re dead.’

  Shit! thought Chen, and thumped her chair arm in frustration.

  ‘Thank you Mr Singh.’

  Damn, and we came so close, thought Chen ruefully. Still, at least the tactic can be shown to work, if the Thermopylae hadn’t managed to sneak up on us like that…

  ‘Ensign Andrews, send my congratulations to Captain Benson and get me Admiral Kojima on the comm.’

  ‘Aye, Captain.’

  Kojima appeared in Chen’s vision, he wore a broad grin.

  ‘Excellent Captain, most impressive.’

  ‘We didn’t win sir.’

  ‘You beat me, and Captain Lehman. If Benson hadn’t got the drop on you…’

  ‘If, sir.’

  ‘An important lesson there Captain, never let the enemy out of sight for a second.’

  ‘I know sir. I should have instructed my sensors officer to take account of the energy cloud from your demise.’

  ‘Well that’s something to work on. But all in all I was most impressed. ’

  ‘Yes sir. Thank you, sir.’

  ‘Now let’s try that again. This time you’ll be a K’Soth ship and the Rameses can be the good guys. Form up with us, Kojima out.’

  Chen sighed. It was going to be a long day.

  ‘Permission to speak frankly Captain?’ said Singh.

  ‘Go ahead.’

  ‘Was Admiral Kojima really suitable opposition for us? He’s only Marine Corp after all.’ There was a ripple of laughter around the bridge.

  ‘Well that’s true Mr Singh; at least we got killed by a Navy crew. Imagine the embarrassment if we’d lost to the Marines?’ There was more laughter. ‘Helm form up with the Normandy, let’s show them some more of what we can do.’

  The four ships spent the rest of the days on exercises, taking turns at being aggressor or friendly craft in a variety of scenarios. Chen and her crew threw themselves into the task and managed to excel in many areas, even when fighting as an inferior K’Soth destroyer. By the end of the day the crews of all the four vessels were exhausted. One thing was clear however. Based on the known capabilities of K’Soth ships, Commonwealth vessels were capable of engaging and defeating far greater numbers of enemy vessels. That a destroyer was able to take down a carrier vessel in a matter of minutes was taken as proof of the technological, if not numerical superiority of the Commonwealth Navy. It gladdened Chen’s heart immeasurably to think that if they were deployed against a larger K’Soth force they would have more than just a fighting chance of surviving. She couldn’t afford to make any more stupid mistakes though. Being killed by the Thermopylae still rankled several hours later. They had been so close!

  When the exercise was complete Kojima invited the senior staff of the destroyers over to the Normandy for a celebratory dinner before the carrier returned to Topaz, in honour of the day’s achievements, as he put it. Chen wondered if he was being prematurely jubilant. She despised the K’Soth, but she didn’t doubt their skill and prowess in a fight and the overwhelming numerical superiority of their navy. She remembered recordings she had seen of the battles that had taken place during the last war: the void filled with a vast unstoppable cloud of warships that decimated all before it. Human vessels shattered and tumbling, swept aside before the might of the onslaught. She shuddered. Though they would have more of a chance with the ships they had now, she didn’t relish the prospect. However, part of her still lusted for revenge.

  Several hours later, Chen and Ramirez rode in a small shuttle over to the behemoth that was the CNV Normandy. Just under two kilometres in length, the vessel was of the Charon class of planetary assault carriers. Based on the Jupiter class carrier used by the Navy, the Charon was shorter from bow to stern, but considerably broader across the beam. Its flattened hull consisted primarily of a long fat midsection, containing the hangers and munitions stores, from which jutted long launching and recovery bays to the front and rear. Essentially covered launch and recovery bays, these provided an armoured haven in which craft could accelerate to and decelerate from combat speeds in relative safety. Crew accommodation and gun turret emplacements were wrapped about the oblong cross sectioned tubes giving them a bulky, tapered appearance. The engines were snugly fitted about the lower hull of the vessel, their exhausts positioned low and wide so as not to foul the approach to the docking bays.

  Instead of carrying just fighters and bombers, the Charon class carried assault gunships as well as a host of heavier landing craft designed to deploy a large force of men and armour at speed onto a planet’s surface or into a ship or facility in space. It could also hold its own in a ship-to-ship engagement, and though it lacked the enormous belly mounted particle beam cannon of the Jupiter class, its flanks were lined with numerous deadly turrets. Home for up to ten thousand marines, a thousand or so crew, an entire armoured division and a miniature air and space armada, the Normandy was a prime example of force projection writ large.

  It certainly impressed Chen. As the tiny shuttle sped toward the rear of the space-borne fortress ship she couldn’t help but admire it. Its raw, naked power. Its awe-inspiring size. The damn thing stirred some visceral primal urge in her, seen this close up - some million year old race memory of predators lurking in the night.

  Starlight gleamed dully off the gunmetal grey flanks, from turrets and barrels, armour plates and launching tubes. The ship’s name was emblazoned along its side in light grey letters ten metres high, and the Commonwealth crest on its nose was of a similarly impressive size. She envied Admiral Kojima immensely. She’d never command a Charon class since she wasn’t Marine Corp, but one day she’d have a Jupiter class to call her own, maybe even one of the new Saturns, she hoped. If she lived that long, she added grimly in her thoughts.

  The shuttle’s pilot looped the small craft around to approach the rear bay of the vessel. Its shielded, oblong mouth gaped, brightly lit and massive, ready to swallow the tiny shuttle. Chen looked askance at Ramirez, who was fiddling with the stiff collar of his dress uniform, and admired his appearance. His large frame seemed magnified by the formal garment. He winked at her.

  The ship was beginning its final approach. Chen could hear the faint chatter of radio traffic in the pilot’s head-phones and his relaxed replies. The bay mouth loomed larger still and then they passed sedately inside and through the series of energy shield barriers. These kept the vacuum out and the atmosphere in whilst dispensing for the need for the clumsy, slow, bay doors that had hampered the earlier carriers. Now inside the ship’s gravity field, the shuttle relied on AG propulsion as it floated across the hangar, before settling gently in its allotted landing space between rows of parked landing craft and gunships. Once the engines had shut off, the craft’s hatch opened and Chen and Ramirez stepped out
into the brightly lit hangar that echoed with the sounds of a busy flight line. They were met by a junior officer who guided them across the ordered clutter of the deck towards a waiting crew lift which whisked them away upwards to the officers’ mess.

  Chen was impressed by the food they had been served. It was definitely a cut above what she was used to on her own ship. On the other hand, the Normandy had significantly better galley facilities - another perk of serving on her. She sat at a large oblong table in the officers’ mess with Ramirez on her right hand side and Captain Lehman on her left with his XO. Captain Benson and his second in command sat opposite them, next to Colonel Simonov and Kojima’s subordinate whilst Admiral Kojima sat at the head of the table.

  Chen studied her fellow officers. She knew Lehman already. He was dependable but unimaginative as a captain, she thought, though what he lacked in flair he made up for in personal integrity, despite his perpetual appearance of slight dishevelment. Benson she had earned a grudging respect for earlier in the day. He was a captain of some experience and she had learned the hard way that he knew when to seize an opportunity. He was clean cut man in early middle age with greying black hair that gleamed slightly in the light. Kojima meanwhile, was quite a presence despite his diminutive size. He was an impassive, thoughtful figure, almost reptilian - an impression that was enhanced by his wrinkled, leathery skin.

  It was Simonov however that intrigued Chen. The stocky, balding Marine Colonel was unafraid to speak his mind and share his opinions on a variety of subjects. Moreover his opinions were borne out of years of combat experience on the Commonwealth’s frontier worlds. Despite his coarse soldier’s manner and fiery temper, Chen liked him immensely. At the moment he was airing his views on the day’s training exercises, having observed from the Normandy’s bridge.

  ‘All I’m saying is that we shouldn’t read too much into the results of today. Sure, it was interesting, and good practice too, but any battle with a K’Soth force is likely to be very different if you ask me.’