The Slaver Wars: Endgame
Page 21
The Altons were now concentrating on the AIs. Admiral Cleetus and Admiral Klask had pooled all of their battlecruisers together into one fleet. AI ships began to die under the massed fire of the Altons as antimatter missiles and particle beams began to tear the massive spheres apart.
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“Large numbers of Hocklyn fighters are being launched from the habitat,” warned Kevin as his sensors lit up with hundreds of new red threat icons.
Jeremy switched his eyes to one of the tactical displays focused on the immediate area around the habitat. He hurriedly changed his mini-com frequency so he could speak with Rear Admiral Marks. “Susan, clear your bays of all of your fighters, that habitat seems to be loaded with Hocklyn fighters. You have to stop them from reaching the fleet; they may be kamikazes.”
“Already passing on the orders,” answered Susan, promptly. “What about a bomber strike on the Hocklyn ships?”
Jeremy only hesitated for a moment. Federation ships were dropping off the tactical screen at a frightening rate under the combined attack of the AIs and the Hocklyns. “Yes, set it up; hold back some fighters to go in with them.”
The Avenger shook again as weapons fire struck the ship’s shields. Jeremy took in a sharp breath as he gazed around the Command Center, seeing the anxious looks of his command crew. “Press the attack,” he ordered. “The Hocklyns aren’t going away, and we’re not leaving until the last one of their warships has been destroyed!”
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Major Thurman flew his Talon out of the flight bay of the battlecarrier Retribution with the rest of his squadrons following close behind. The other battlecarriers of Fourth Fleet were also launching their full complements of fighters. Looking down at the small tactical screen on his flight control console, Thurman turned pale at the massive horde of Hocklyn fighters that were closing with the fleet.
“We’re going to be badly outnumbered,” he spoke over his com as he banked his fighter and maneuvered until he was facing the incoming threat. The other squadrons around him were doing the same.
“Only for a while,” Captain Julie Brice quickly pointed out. “As soon as the other fleets launch their fighters the odds will be a lot more even.”
“They’re just Hocklyns,” Lieutenant Riley spoke in a calm voice. “We’ve always been able to out fly them.”
“I want to fire off our Hunter missiles as soon as we get firm locks with our targeting systems,” Thurman continued. “Squadrons from the other fleets should be joining us shortly, but at the moment, we’re the closest.”
“Let’s rock and roll,” uttered Lieutenant Stark over the com. “The sooner we take out these Hocklyn fighters, the sooner we can go home.”
Major Thurman saw that all squadrons had been launched and formed them up into a large defensive wall between the fleet ships and the incoming Hocklyn fighters. He didn’t remember if he'd ever seen so many red threat icons before coming directly at him. A tone went off on his targeting computer indicating it had missile lock on an incoming Hocklyn fighter.
“Let’s take them out,” Thurman ordered as he fired off the first of his two Hunter missiles. As soon as the missile left his fighter, he accelerated toward the incoming Hocklyns.
Hundreds of missiles were going after the nearing Hocklyn fighters, but the Hocklyns were also firing missiles. In moments, brilliant balls of fire ran across both formations as missiles found their targets, blowing the small fighters into hundreds of pieces.
Thurman grimaced as he saw a number of green icons blink out. Grasping his flight control, he dropped his fighter in behind a Hocklyn and pressed the button, firing the Talons twin 30mm cannons. Instantly, the Hocklyn fighter blew apart as the cannon rounds struck the ship’s drive and power system.
Around the major, a massive dogfight began as both sides tried to kill the other. With relief, he saw a second formation of Talon fighters rapidly closing on his position with another behind it. They wouldn’t be outnumbered too much longer.
Over his com, he listened to his different squadron leaders as well as the pilots in his own squadron. Occasionally one of the voices would go silent. He felt a pain in his gut as he watched the green icon representing Lieutenant Stark’s fighter vanish. Outside his cockpit window, he saw a nearby flash and knew a Hocklyn missile had hit the lieutenant’s fighter. He took a deep breath and shifted his attention to his next target.
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Weapons fire between Fourth Fleet and the Hocklyn warships continued to intensify as they closed the range and were soon within just a few hundred kilometers of each other. At that range, very few weapons were missing. Admiral Tolsen’s Third Fleet was also closing and between the two Federation Fleets they had the Hocklyns outgunned. However, it was still going to be a costly battle.
From the Hocklyn fleet, four dreadnoughts suddenly turned broadside and fired off ten AI sublight antimatter missiles each at Third Fleet. It was quickly followed up by a barrage of nuclear tipped missiles from the warcruisers as they attempted to knock down the energy shields of the Humans. Brilliant explosions of light ran across the Human formation with more than one ship losing its energy shield. Whenever that happened, Hocklyn nuclear missiles and energy beams would make short work of the hapless ship. The battleship Newark had its energy shield shredded and then half a dozen nukes went off against the armored hull. It was too much for the valiant warship, and it died in a blaze of nuclear annihilation. The Newark wasn’t alone as other Federation warships continued to die from the savage attack.
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“Antimatter missiles,” groaned Commander Malen as she watched the carnage being inflicted upon Third Fleet.
“Target the dreadnoughts that fired those missiles,” ordered Jeremy grim faced as he watched more green icons fade from the tactical displays. “Continue to close the distance; I want every weapon Fourth Fleet has focused on those Hocklyn warships.”
“Rear Admiral Marks is launching her bomber strike,” Kevin reported as large numbers of green icons began appearing next to the battlecarriers and forming up into squadrons.
Jeremy nodded as the Avenger shook violently once again. More lights on the damage control console turned amber.
“Antimatter strike to our energy shield,” Ariel reported in a concerned voice as she stepped closer toward Jeremy as if she wanted to ensure his safety. “Shield is at sixty-two percent. The strike came from a different dreadnought and from the amount of encrypted communications emitted from it, it has to be the fleet command ship. If this Hocklyn fleet has a Fleet Commodore, that’s where he’s at.”
“Admiral,” Commander Malen spoke suddenly, her face wrinkling with worry. “Some of the Hocklyn fighters are beginning to break through. It looks as if you were right; they’re accelerating rapidly toward our ships.”
“Target them with our laser batteries,” ordered Jeremy, glancing over at Lieutenant Preston. “Don’t let them complete their runs!”
Preston hurriedly passed on the orders to his weapons techs. The Avenger was equipped with forty-eight defensive laser turrets and he intended to use them all against the approaching Hocklyn fighters. He knew that across the fleet hundreds of other defensive laser turrets would be targeting the inbound enemy.
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“Damn, some are starting to break through,” Major Thurman swore as he saw a group of red threat icons clearing the fighter melee and streaking off toward Third and Fourth Fleets. Talon fighters from the other Human fleets had arrived to help even the odds, but even that didn’t stop some of the Hocklyns from turning away from the battle to make their attack runs.
“There are just too many of them,” Major Karl Arcles replied over the com. The Talon fighters from Second Fleet had recently joined the massive dogfight above the battling fleets.
“I just made Ace,” gloated Lieutenant Sloan as he blew away a second Hocklyn fighter with his last Hunter missile.
“If we don’t stop these fighters from targeting the fleet, we may have nowhere to land,” warned Lacy as she
saw another enemy squadron break away and head toward Fourth Fleet. She pressed the button controlling her 30mm cannons and blew away her third Hocklyn fighter in less than ten minutes.
“There’s nothing we can do about those heading toward the fleets,” stated Major Thurman, sharply. “The best we can do is thin out the numbers so our fleets’ defensive fire can take care of the inbounds.”
“Damn!” yelled lieutenant Sloan over the com. “I just got hit on my starboard wing. I can see holes the size of my fist!”
“We told you not to fly in a straight line,” warned Lieutenant Kyle. “Learn to dodge!”
“All squadrons,” spoke Major Thurman over his com. “Continue to press the attack; we’re not going home until the last Hocklyn fighter has been blasted from space.”
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Jeremy leaned forward in his command chair as one of the viewscreens showed half a dozen Hocklyn fighters heading toward the Avenger. Orange-red laser fire flashed out and two of the inbounds exploded in bright balls of fire. The laser fire intensified, destroying three more, but the last pilot must have been touched with Hocklyn luck. His fighter dodged, juked, and then slammed into the Avenger’s energy shield. The ship shook as if struck by a sledgehammer and then calmed back down.
“That fighter was loaded with two ten-megaton nukes,” Ariel reported as she quickly scanned the ship for damage. “We have several power couplings that have blown and a rupture in the hull in section twelve, bulkhead three. I’ve sealed off the corridor and one compartment. There were four crewmembers in the affected area. I don’t believe they survived.”
“We’ve lost two more battlecruisers and four strikecruisers,” Kevin reported. “The battlecarrier Ardent has been heavily damaged.”
“The bomber strike is going in now,” Commander Malen reported as the cloud of green icons representing the Anlon bombers began to accelerate toward the Hocklyn fleet. “Admiral Tolsen has launched his bombers as well.”
Jeremy nodded, they would lose a lot of bombers, but they had over sixteen hundred of them now headed toward the Hocklyn fleet; it should be enough to turn the battle.
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Fleet Admiral Streth’s face was pale as he watched the battlecruiser Ajax being torn apart on one of the main viewscreens. Two AI ships had managed to knock the ship’s energy screen down with antimatter missiles and were using their deadly white energy beams to carve the ship up. In a sudden blaze of light, the ship died as its self-destructs initiated.
“Battlecruiser Ajax is down,” Captain Jarvis reported in a clear voice.
“Admiral,” Colonel Grissim spoke suddenly. She had been talking to the two Alton admirals. “Admiral Cleeteus and Admiral Klask are preparing to microjump their ships just to the edge of the AIs’ energy screens. They say to be prepared to pick up the pieces. Admiral Cleeteus also says it has been good serving with you.”
Hedon felt a cold chill run down his back as he realized what the Altons were preparing to do. To jump that close to the AIs would practically be suicide. However, if anyone could to it, it would be the Altons. He also knew if they couldn’t find a way to rapidly deal with the AIs, the battle could still be lost.
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Jaseth felt his blood run hot with blood lust as another Human warship exploded on one of the viewscreens on the front wall of the War Room. The Humans were destroying many of his attacking fighters, but now some were making it out of the fighter battle and ramming the Human ships with their nuclear warheads. These warheads were set differently. The Hocklyn pilot had to send an arming signal just before he rammed to activate the warheads.
“The battle goes well,” War Leader Barelle spoke. “Much honor is being earned today for our warriors. It is a great day for the Hocklyn Empire.”
Jaseth felt the Viden shudder as a Human missile detonated close by. The vastly improved energy screen of the flagship shrugged it off and continued to fire. “Between the AIs and us, the Humans and the Altons will be defeated,” Jaseth stated with confidence. “With the aid of the AIs a new Hocklyn Empire will rise from the ashes of the old.” There was no doubt in Jaseth’s mind that he would play a leading role in that new Empire.
A warning alarm suddenly sounded on the sensor console, drawing Jaseth’s attention to it. Shifting his gaze to the main tactical screen, he saw all of the Alton ships suddenly vanish and then reappear almost inside the AIs’ energy shields.
“The Altons are attacking the AIs,” hissed Barelle his cold eyes focusing on what the Altons were doing. “Look how close they’ve jumped to the AI ships.”
Jaseth felt sudden dread at what was about to occur. The Alton ships were more powerful than the AIs, and they had jumped literally to within knife throwing range. It amazed him that the ships’ drives hadn’t exploded from exiting hyperspace so close to the large fifteen hundred-meter spheres.
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In the AI command ship, the command AI looked intently at the large tactical display. The combined Alton fleet of a little over one hundred ships had jumped dangerously close to many of the AI ships. So close that in some cases, the energy screens were nearly touching.
“Destroy them!” ordered the command AI, turning toward the AIs at the weapons consoles. “They are so near that our weapons will be even more effective.”
“So will theirs,” cautioned the AI at the ship’s main computer console. “They will be able to fire directly through our shields.”
“We still outnumber them,” the command AI informed the others in an even voice. “This is our opportunity to destroy them. It will ensure the safety of the Great Project.”
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In space, titanic explosions began going off where the AIs and the Altons battled. Antimatter missiles arrived almost instantaneously at their targets and even the AIs' white energy beams were now able to penetrate Alton screens and cut deeply into the Alton’s battle armor. Four Alton battlecruisers were destroyed almost immediately as they were blown apart by antimatter missiles after their shields had been knocked down. Others were severely damaged as energy beams penetrated their screens, blasting large sections of hull plating off into space.
However, the Altons were not idle; they were firing their one hundred-megaton antimatter missiles in sprint mode at the AI ships they'd targeted. At such close range, the AIs rapidly began to die. Whenever an Alton antimatter missile struck an AI ship, its hull and interior was instantly consumed by ravaging energy. However, in this case it was not one or two antimatter missiles that were striking the AI ships but ten or more.
After just a few minutes, over eighty AI ships had been reduced to glowing gas and dissipating energy. However, twenty-two Alton battlecruisers paid the ultimate price, including the flagship of Admiral Klask. It had been destroyed when its energy shield had been stripped away by an exploding AI ship and another attacking AI warship had used the opportunity to hit the Alton battlecruiser with six fifty-megaton antimatter missiles. The brave Alton admiral never knew what happened as his ship had been destroyed almost instantly.
Admiral Cleeteus grimaced in sadness at seeing the death of his longtime friend. There were too few Altons of command ability like Admiral Klask.
“Prepare for the second jump,” he ordered with resolve in his voice.
He knew that many of his ships were damaged, but there were still too many AIs facing them. It was unfortunate that all of these AI spheres had been updated with much more powerful shields and weapons; it made destroying them that much harder. It was one of the reasons why he and Admiral Klask had decided to take the attack to the AIs at such close range.
Scant moments later, the Alton ships vanished again to reappear once more within close proximity to other AI ships. Once again, weapons raged as both sides tried to destroy the other. This time, due to the damage the Alton ships had already suffered, the two sides were trading ships on an almost even basis.
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Upon seeing the second jump, Hedon knew what Admiral Cleeteus was up to. There was no doubt in Hedon’s min
d that the Alton admiral would continue this tactic until either every AI sphere was destroyed or all the Alton ships were gone. Due to the fact the AIs outnumbered the Altons by nearly two to one Hedon had a horrible feeling about how this battle would end.
“Inform Admiral Sheen that I want all battleships, battlecruisers, and strikecruisers to close the range with the remaining AIs and hit them with everything we have. All battlecarriers and light cruisers are to attack the Hocklyns. Admirals Strong and Tolsen will coordinate their attacks.”
“We’re going to lose a lot of ships if we get that close to the AIs,” warned Colonel Trist. “Even our enhanced screens won’t hold up for long.”
“No, they won’t,” Hedon replied in agreement. “But they’ll hold up long enough.” Hedon looked over at Janice, who was busy at Communications speaking to the other ships and passing on messages as needed. She glanced at Hedon and forced a smile.
“Alton ships are suffering major damage,” Clarissa reported as she scanned the battling ships with the StarStrike’s sensors. “They won’t survive another jump.”
“Get us closer,” grated out Hedon. He wasn’t going to let Admiral Cleeteus die.
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The Federation warships rapidly closed the range, their weapons firing continuously as they neared the massive AI spheres. The AI ships had to turn their attention partially away from the Altons to deal with the attacking Humans. Four AI antimatter missiles struck the energy screen of the battlecruiser Axtell, stripping it away. Two more missiles impacted the hull, turning the ship into a glowing sun.
Human antimatter missiles and Devastator Threes were also hitting the AIs. Two AI ships saw holes knocked in their energy screens and they too were soon consumed by the unbridled release of antimatter and nuclear energy. Ships on both sides were now dying at such a rate it was impossible to keep track of the losses. The battle continued to intensify as the ships entered pointblank range with all weapons firing. This was a battle to the death, with neither side backing away.