by Kal Spriggs
We will not fail our race,Thxan thought, we will report accurately and we will perform selflessly. In the privacy of his mind, Thxan could admit to a bit of what might be considered frustration. He had worked his way up to Squadron Commander through merit, in victory after victory, never with even a single flaw on his record... yet he had seen many of his fellow Chxor with less capable performance yet the 'right' caste being promoted beyond him.
Two of the names that he recognized from the report, System Commander Kleigh and System Commander Grxun were officers he had served with. The details of Kleigh's final failure were still incomplete, but the report went into exhaustive detail about his fabricated reports and falsified logbook entries. The report only justified expectations he already had in his mind and only confirmed a concern he had in regards to many of his fellow officers... a concern, it seemed, that High Commander Chxarals shared.
His logbook updates complete, Thxan turned his attention to the sensor display once again. He noted that the humans, as expected, had plotted a course that swung wide of both the planet's moons and their heavy fortifications as well as the interdiction minefields. Thxan had little doubt that the humans could eventually batter the lunar bases into submission, but that would take them some time. The lack of even a minor atmosphere meant that the deep-buried bunkers could survive multiple hits from even the heaviest of weapons. While many of the human fortifications had been repurposed, the human laborers acted as hostages there, as well. As do the humans on the planet, Thxan thought. While he understood some inherent value in protection of noncombatants, he thought the human squeamishness about their own people was another sign of their inherent weakness.
On that thought, High Commander Chxarals transmission went out. The High Commander's face filled the screen, broadcast in the open, to the human fleet. High Commander Chxarals was slightly taller than most Chxor, though just as heavily muscled. His flat face and squarish head were the Chxor standard, though his oddly dark yellow eyes caught attention, so different they were from the standard pale yellow. Like Thxan himself, the High Commander had a deep voice and he managed to speak the human tongue with almost no hint of an accent. “Attention United Colonies Fleet,” he said. “You have entered territory claimed by the Chxor Empire by right of conquest. The system and planet are ours. Any hostile action will be seen as a full declaration of war.” If Thxan had a sense of humor, he might have laughed at that. All Chxor knew that humanity's time had ended. The process of replacing them was not a war... it was an extermination.
“Furthermore, my orders in the system are that should it look that you even have a chance at victory, we will gas the major population centers on the planet with Pacifix Seven, a new nerve agent which our scientists assure me will render the planet unsuitable for human life for well over a century, killing, in the process, some six hundred million human inhabitants,” High Commander Chxarals said. “The same squadron that will apply this nerve agent will also destroy the shipyards, munitions facilities, and stockpiles rather than let them fall into your hands.”
“The choice is yours,” he finished, “High Commander Chxarals out.”
***
“Well, that's about as bad as we expected,” Lucius said as the transmission finished. He looked over at Ensign Camilla Jiang, “Pacifix Seven? Last I heard they were on four or five.”
“Evidently nerve gas is a priority of theirs, Baron,” She responded with a dry tone. She shook her head, “I don't have any data on it, but they have no reason to lie about its capabilities.”
Lucius nodded. He had no doubts about the determination of the Chxor commanders to follow through with their threat, either. Lucius's eyes went to the clock on the wall and then back to their display. “Okay, what do we know about 'High Commander Chxarals' over there?”
Ensign Jiang frowned and Lucius saw her bite her lip uncertainly. “Sir, data on him is extremely limited. Honestly, this is as far as I know, the first image of him that we've got. There is a note that he might have commanded the attack on Chi Yung at the start of the war with Nova Roma.” She took a deep breath, “Sir, this isn't based off any data we have, but based off his eye color I would guess he's of the Tigurd genetic line.”
Lucius's eyebrows went up, “Tigurd, that's supposedly a very tiny population.” It made some sense though. They were a rare breed, not because of population limiting, but because they were just incredibly infertile. Lucius did remember reading that they had an unusual eye color, but the report he'd read on that was from the original xenothropology team sent to make initial contact with the Chxor and it hadn't had any more details than that. “What would that mean?” Lucius asked, himself uncertain.
“Well, as far as I can tell,” Ensign Jiang said slowly, “there can't be more than a few hundred, at most, of the Tigurd. The handful that exist are almost invariably at the very senior ranks of the Chxor Empire, but almost never in what we'd consider a bureaucratic position.” She licked her lips, “The one that we can confirm is from a report of a Tier Eight Investigator, who acted something as a troubleshooter for the Benevolence Council.”
“So when they need a man of action who is absolutely loyal, they bring in one of them?” Captain Beeson asked.
“Maybe,” she responded. “Even Nova Roma wasn't entirely certain how the upper levels of the Chxor Empire are laid out, but the records we got from Emperor Romulus suggest that they fill a role somewhat like a Praetorian Guard.”
Lucius grimaced, “Okay, so they're probably very capable, very dedicated, and very loyal, but we don't really know for certain.” He really could have done without the capable part. He almost missed Kleigh; the self-centered, tactically inept Chxor officer who had pursued him across the Nova Roma Empire and beyond.
“They knocked out most of our first wave of probes,” Lucius said. “Which tells us two things, they don't want us to see what they're doing and that they know the advantage it gives us to have them in place.” The screening force was blasting with active radar across a vast swath of space. It made them excellent targets, but the screening cruisers also had their firefly systems engaged, which meant that a huge section of the planet had basically disappeared behind a wall of electromagnetic noise. To make matters worse, they had apparently installed installations with the same system on the moons. While there were only three on one and five on the other, those installations were far more massive than the Ten-class cruisers and mounted far heavier jamming systems. The blanket there had made it almost impossible to get detailed observation of the other installations. That was an issue because there was likely tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of human prisoners on those moons, being used as both slave labor and hostages as well.
The handful of probes that had survived were those they had sent above and below the elliptic plane. Those, ironically, had discovered extremely dense minefields set to interdict any attempt to attack from those positions. Since those weren't a stable orbit, Lucius had to assume that the High Commander had put those in place more recently. While they didn't completely block movement, they would have required several course alterations and would have severely slowed the progress of the attack. Navigating those minefields had dropped the speed of those probes, which meant they had halted them outside and above and below radar range of the screen. If they brought them up higher, they had the option to drop those probes down and try to peer behind the wall of jamming, but they would lose telemetry on them in the process. That, in turn, meant the probes would have to move on their own, limited, programming. Their only other option was to send them well above and below, but the ranges would be such that the probes limited sensor suites wouldn't be able to get much, if any data without going to active sensors and making targets of themselves.
“Right,” Lucius said. “We need to see what they're doing.” The enemy screen was over seventy thousand kilometers out from Delvar. That was still inside missile range and it also gave the enemy commander far too much room to both accelerate and maneuv
er without Lucius having any ability to see it. “Order both a second wave of probes and our surviving ones to go in together.” With both they would lose telemetry while the probes were behind the jamming, but at least when they cleared it Lucius could get some idea of what was going on back there.
He glanced again at the clock. Ideally, the Chxor commander would come out to engage them, but if they stayed within their current perimeter, the plan could, in theory, still work. It would just be a lot harder to pull off without massive civilian casualties.
Lucius's gaze went to the display. The second wave of probes went out, a mix of stealth and standard probes to maximize the chances that a few would get through. He felt like he was missing something. The enemy's jamming was a danger, one that kept him focused on it. It felt a little too convenient though. Yet at the same time, he didn't know what he could be missing. The enemy dreadnoughts had already been identified at long range as they powered up.
His gaze, again, went to the lunar bases. They were powerful enough that they would dissuade any commander away, especially given their tidal-locked orbits which left such a wide expanse open, with nothing beyond a few minefields designed to channel an enemy force...
His gaze locked on the salvage field, which occupied the point diametrically opposite the two moons. Logically they would have to pass around or through the salvage field, where the hulks of thousands of ships and debris from countless battles had been corralled to feed Delvar's industry. That field held the wrecks of ships from the multiple battles for the Danar system, going all the way back to when humanity had first occupied the system as a buffer.
It was already too late for Lucius to avoid passing near it.
“Retask probes,” Lucius said sharply and his gaze went to Ensign Michele Konetsky. “I want a full scan of the debris region, active radar, as close as they can and full emissions sweep. If they find anything, I want a visual sweep as well.” He pursed his lips, “And task half the surviving probes from the first wave to go above and below the jamming wall.” They wouldn't get a good look at what was going on there, but they would get him something.
He just hoped it wouldn't be what he expected.
***
Squadron Commander Thxan realized exactly when the enemy had figured out their plan. This human, he thought, is crafty, though it is too late for him. The human probes near the salvage field went to active radar at the same time as some few probes jetted above and below his screen and they too went to active radar. Though if they need that to see Fleet Commander Krxil's ships then the humans are even less competent than expected, he thought. The Fleet Commander's vessels were at maximum acceleration, which meant they should easily be visible.
“Launch missiles at these, let us not let them get a good look just yet,” Thxan said as he highlighted the probes above and below his formation. Since they had gone to active sensors they glowed like beacons. It galled him, a bit, to have to use his missile tubes for the task, yet they were out of range of his other systems. Not that it really matters at this point, he thought, the humans can see their destruction coming now, it is too late for them to halt it. Even the stupendously large ships of these humans could not withstand this attack, surely.
As the missiles went out, Squadron Commander Thxan's attention went to Fleet Commander Krxil's force. It had already built up acceleration and would pass through his screening force in only a few minutes while it continued to accelerate. “Prepare for Fleet Commander Krxil's passage,” he said. “Execute rotation and cease jamming.”
***
Lucius bit back a curse as his probes showed the accelerating Chxor fleet behind their stationary screen. If they continued to accelerate for the next few minutes, they would reach Lucius at the same time as he passed near the debris field. Since they couldn't help but see his ship's drives, they could be certain to position themselves on whichever side he chose to pass the salvage field. And as he thought that, ship icons began to appear in the salvage field as well.
“Baron,” Ensign Konetsky said, “Upwards of one hundred dreadnoughts and four hundred plus cruisers detected in the salvage yard.” There was more than a little irritation in her voice and she shot an angry look at Ensign Jiang, almost as if she blamed her for not suggesting they look there.
“Well, this all got a bit more interesting,” Forrest Perkins said with a laugh.
“Yes, it did, didn't it?” Lucius asked. He bit back a laugh of his own at the gallows humor of the situation. The three massive Crusader-class ships were far tougher, larger, and more capable than even a squadron of Chxor dreadnoughts. Each ship mounted extensive jamming systems, chaff launchers, and even multiple decoy systems as well as the heaviest defense screens ever created by mankind. In addition, they were studded with weapon turrets, with heavier firepower than anything else in space. Forty of the Chxor dreadnoughts would have been a tough, but doable fight, particularly with the Harassers break up the Chxor's screening formation. But a hundred and forty dreadnoughts was a different story, altogether... and right now, Lucius was headed directly for them.
The parasite frigates were heavily armed, with huge offensive firepower, but they couldn't take even a single hit from one of the dreadnoughts primary batteries. If they had the rest of the Dreyfus Fleet's original screen... well, then it might be an even fight, but Lucius had used those ships on a different mission, one he couldn't regret even at the likely possibility of defeat. At least, Lucius thought, with all the enemy ships here, Admiral Dreyfus should face a lighter force than expected at Tehran. He wondered if this massive response were some effect of his sending Kral to infiltrate the Chxor Empire. Did they see the United Colonies as a much greater threat, now?
At this point, his big, ponderous ships had only three real options. They could accelerate and attempt to limit the engagement time. That would minimize the Chxor's opportunity to hammer his ships and would probably save his force... but it would also shoot them past the planet and meant that Lucius's own vessels wouldn't have time to break the Chxor formations to do any substantial damage of their own. At best, it would be a draw, at worst, the enemy might cripple one or more of the Crusaders which would also effectively mean the loss of whatever parasite frigates and fighters couldn't leave the system. He could maintain the current course and engage the Chxor on their terms, which would be an engagement of several minutes, at least. During that time, the enemy would pound his ships and make extensive use of their firefly jamming systems to blind his sensors and disrupt his communications and orders to his frigates and fighters. In that kind of fight, the Chxor would have every advantage, both in numbers and in the ability to negate many of his ship's advantages.
The last option was to reverse acceleration and slow his own ships. That would buy him some time, but in the end, it was fundamentally identical to the second option. Except, Lucius thought, my force isn't limited to one speed... or just one option.
“Message to the Harassers,” Lucius said sharply, “Full acceleration on course...” he glanced at his screen, “Three nine five.” That would swing them low and inside their course, decelerating to prolong the engagement, which was opposite what fighter doctrine should be. It would swing their formation past the inside of the salvage field. “Full orders to follow.” He saw Ensign Konetsky begin to update the various flight commanders. “Message to parasite frigates...” he took a deep breath, “Maintain current vector seven three, course one three six.”
“Right down their throats, eh sir?” Ensign Perkins said. The frigates course would bring them directly towards the approaching force of forty dreadnoughts on the outside of the debris field. It was, quite literally, a suicide course. The eighteen frigates had the acceleration to avoid that engagement for another thirty minutes, but they wouldn't survive long in the system without the support of their parent ships. “Yeehaw.” His tone, if anything, was more than a little ironic.
Lucius nodded, “Right down their throats.” He glanced at his display again and considered the t
iming very carefully. His gaze went to the clock again. The timing is everything on this, he thought. “Crusader squadron, orders are as follows...”
***
Fleet Commander Krxil monitored the display and the updates from the system sensor net. The humans had, somewhat inexplicably, ignored the static sensor platforms seeded throughout the system. Either they assumed that they would take the system and therefore want to use them or they simply didn't care about the advantages it gave him.
Granted, they didn't allow for targeting the human ships, but they did allow him to track their general formation and the power signatures of their three monstrous ships. That led to a great many questions, both about their commander's plan and also about how the human had, thus far, managed such successes against the Chxor Empire. In particular, he did not understand the purpose of the enemy frigates course.
The human formation had split. Which seemed counter-intuitive, in that the humans must realize that there was strength in numbers. Still, he could somewhat understand the separation of the fighters, but to send the smaller escort vessels on a separate course, one that swung around the debris field, seemed to invite defeat in detail, particularly since they maintained their original course even as the three massive ships slowed their overall velocity relative to his own force as well as that of High Commander Chxarals. At the current rate, the enemy force would be split, with the three ships and most of the fighter force passing on one side of the debris field and the small escort force on the other
Granted, their fighters could break off from that attack. The human fighters had more than enough acceleration to join the escort frigates, but that would leave the three capital ships entirely on their own.
“Message from High Commander Chxarals,” Communications Officer Klxan said. “He orders us to engage the frigates while he will engage the larger ships. He's asked that we retain our missiles for interceptor fire against the enemy fighters rather than to use them against the frigates.”