Three more AI ships died as Alton particle beam weapons tore holes in their energy screens, allowing sublight antimatter missiles to blow the spheres apart. Then another Alton ship died. The center of the Hocklyn and Borzon formation became lit up with massive explosions as the battle intensified.
-
“What’s going on?” Colonel Trist demanded as his tactical display began showing the orange icons of AI ships vanishing. On one of the main viewscreens, titanic explosions could be seen inside the Hocklyn and Borzon fleet formations.
“It’s the Alton ships with Admiral Sheen,” replied Hedon, knowing they were taking a huge risk. For a moment, he considered ordering Amanda to pull them back, but he understood why they'd launched this attack. If the AIs could be forced to withdraw, it could easily change the outcome of the battle. “They jumped inside the Hocklyn and Borzon formations and are attacking the AIs.”
“I’m showing twelve AI spheres destroyed,” Captain Reynolds reported as another orange icon representing an AI ship swelled up and vanished from his sensor screen. “We’ve also lost five Alton battlecruisers.”
“Alton ships are jumping back out,” Colonel Grissim reported grimly. “The enemy firepower is just too great for them. If they'd stayed too much longer, they might have lost all of their ships.”
“It was a courageous act,” Trist stated, his eyes focused on the tactical display.
“The AIs are not jumping out,” Captain Reynolds added as the remaining orange icons continued to advance along with the Hocklyn and Borzon fleets.
“Admiral Sheen’s ships are entering the gravity well and making for the enemy ships,” Colonel Grissim reported, her eyes turning until they were focused on the admiral. “We’re still vastly outnumbered.”
“Have our bombers rearmed,” Hedon ordered with a heavy sigh. This battle was far from over. “They'll go in with the Carethian bombers. Contact Rear Admiral Bixby and have him coordinate the attack with Grayseth and Rear Admiral Marks.”
Hedon looked around the Command Center with calm nerves as the crew carried out his commands. He leaned back in his command chair, feeling the StarStrike vibrate sharply from a nuclear missile detonating against her energy shield. They were still outnumbered nearly six to one and Hedon knew he'd have to depend on the defenses around Careth to help even the odds. The only problem was he wasn’t sure that even those powerful defenses would be enough.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Fleet Commodore Resmunt stared at one of the main viewscreens showing the shattered remains of an AI sphere. He felt a cold chill pass through his reptilian body upon realizing once again just how deadly the Alton battlecruisers were. He was just relieved they'd focused their attack on the AIs and not the Hocklyn or Borzon fleets.
“Fleet Commodore Versith is requesting orders,” First Leader Ganth reported, his large eyes focusing on Resmunt. He had a tremendous amount of respect for the Fleet Commodore and was confident he would lead them to victory in this battle.
Resmunt looked at the tactical display, seeing that the Human and Alton ships ahead of him were pulling back toward the heavy defenses that surrounded the planet. What concerned him the most was the Humans were pinning his forces between them. The newly arrived Human ships were already entering the gravity well of the planet and would soon be within effective combat range. He still had a huge advantage in numbers, and he fully intended to exploit that.
Turning toward Third Leader Grodno at Communications, Resmunt quickly passed on new orders. “Contact Fleet Commodore Versith and tell him to engage the new Human ships with his segment of the fleet. We will continue on to the planet with the Borzon and the AIs and destroy the ones there.”
“Should we split the fleet?” Ganth asked, his large eyes growing even wider. He was unsure if this was a wise decision. Perhaps it would be best to stay together and let the Humans come to them.
“We have the numbers,” Resmunt spoke, his cold black eyes glittering dangerously. “The new Human ships should have fled instead of seeking to engage us. Now they will die also!”
-
Hedon watched the main viewscreens as the enemy ships came closer. He leaned back in his command chair and took a deep breath. There was so much riding on his decisions. In just a few more moments, the next bomber strike would be launched. For every warship the bombers destroyed, it was one less his outnumbered fleet would have to face in combat. It just bothered him that so many pilots would have to die in order to give the fleet a chance.
“Rear Admiral Bixby is launching the strike,” Colonel Trist reported as numerous green icons began appearing around the carriers, the space station, and the shipyard. He knew that only four hundred Anlon bombers had survived from the original strike. They would be reinforced by one thousand bear bombers as well as nearly fourteen hundred bear fighters.
Looking at one of the tactical screens, Hedon saw the small number of green icons leaving the carriers. It pained him that so few bombers and fighters were exiting the Federation flight bays. He sighed deeply, knowing that more pilots were about to die.
Carethians are launching their small warships,” Colonel Trist added. Anne knew that the small, one hundred-meter ships would go in with the bombers to give them additional covering fire. Each of the Carethian warships was carrying ten Shrike missiles with twenty-kiloton warheads. It would be a very unpleasant surprise for the Hocklyns.
-
Jeremy watched the viewscreens intently as the Avenger and Fourth Fleet continued into the gravity well of the planet. He knew that somewhere up ahead Grayseth was waiting for his return. But first, he had to get through nearly three thousand enemy warships and over forty of the deadly AI spheres. It would be no easy task; it seemed almost impossible. Jeremy hoped that Admiral Sheen had some tricks up her sleeve.
“The odds of us winning this battle are not good,” Ariel commented from Jeremy’s side where she was studying the tactical displays as well as the latest data coming in on her sensors.
She was very concerned for the safety of her friends as well as herself. For the hundredth time in the past ten minutes, she checked the new firewalls that Katie had installed to protect her from another attack by the AIs. So far, there had been no sign of an attack or attempt to insert a virus into the Avenger’s systems.
“When have the odds ever been in our favor?” asked Jeremy, looking over at the gorgeous AI. Ariel was in her standard dark blue fleet uniform without any insignia.
“We should have brought Grayseth’s battleship with us,” added Ariel, looking pointedly at Jeremy.
“The crew’s not trained and it’s serving us well enough protecting the ammunition ships we left behind,” Jeremy responded. “If we have to withdraw, we'll need the missiles on those ships.”
“Besides, what would Grayseth say if we got his new battleship destroyed?” Kevin added with a grin.
“Boys and their toys,” spoke up Kelsey over their private channel, turning her head and glancing at the three.
“I'll just be glad to get back to Careth,” Angela said, joining the conversation. “I just wished we didn’t have to fly through a Hocklyn battle fleet to get there.”
Jeremy was silent for a moment as he looked at one of the viewscreens focused on the planet. Careth filled a large part of the screen and it looked so peaceful with its blues, greens and browns which indicated a living planet. He knew the view was deceiving, as even from here a bright flash occasionally erupted close to the planet where its defenders were waging a bitter battle.
“Returning would have been better if it wasn’t in the middle of a battle,” Katie reminded them. She was watching the ship’s computer system closely for any sign of a new virus attack on Ariel. This time she was prepared to ensure the friendly AI remained unharmed.
“Do you have any ideas how to win this battle, Ariel?” Kevin asked his eyes focusing on the AI. He knew she'd been running numerous battle scenarios seeking an advantage.
“No,” Ariel admitted wi
th a long frown. “I wish I did. I just don’t see any way to get through the enemy fleet without suffering substantial losses.”
“We’re launching our fighters and bombers,” Kevin reported suddenly as myriads of small green icons began appearing on the tactical screens. He knew that Rear Admiral Susan Marks was coordinating the attack along with Rear Admiral Bixby on the Essex.
“This is it,” Jeremy spoke as he looked over at Kelsey and smiled reassuringly.
-
From the three new Federation fleets, thirty seven hundred fighters and nearly two thousand bombers launched. They quickly formed up into their respective squadrons and began advancing on the Hocklyn and Borzon fleets.
“Here we go,” Lieutenant Sanders muttered unhappily from the second seat of her Anlon bomber as they began moving toward the waiting Hocklyn ships.
Major Arcles grinned and nodded. “I knew you'd be excited to be back in a bomber again. It lets us see the action up close and personal.”
“I can see the action just fine from my fighter,” replied Lacy, frowning. “Why are we back in a bomber?”
Karl sighed, knowing Lacy was not pleased. “They needed all the experienced pilots they could get,” he responded. “Too many of the pilots in the fleet are new with little battle experience.”
“You owe me,” Lacy replied in a determined and threatening voice. “If we survive this you have to promise to go and do whatever I ask at the resort of my choice.”
“I promise,” responded Karl, wondering what type of resort she was going to drag him to. He'd nearly broken his leg when she'd taken him skiing. Trees just seemed to naturally get in his way.
Lacy nodded. She had something special planned and Karl had no idea what he was in for if they survived this battle. Looking at her sensor screen and seeing the large number of Hocklyn fighters that were forming up to oppose them, she knew the odds of collecting were not very good. She let out a deep sigh, praying they would be able to return safely to the carrier when this was over.
-
Fleet Commodore Versith watched with deep concern as the Humans launched a massive fighter and bomber strike toward his ships. The Hocklyn fighter strength had already been greatly depleted. Now the remaining fighters were split between the Human bomber attack coming in toward his fleet from the new ships and the one launched from the Carethian’s space station and shipyard.
“They’re going to break through in large numbers,” War Leader Trion warned as he studied the tactical display. The Hocklyns still had an advantage in fighters, but they wouldn’t be able to stop this Human attack wave.
“I know,” Versith responded, his large dark eyes looking at the tactical display. “Have all ships load interceptors in their missile tubes. We'll have to deal with the Human bomber strike before we can engage their warships.” Versith leaned forward on the command pedestal and looked closely at the data on a small screen. Even after the Human bomber attack, he would still have sufficient ships left to destroy the Human fleets.
“More of our warriors will soon find their honor,” Trion uttered in his cold voice.
“Honor is with all of us today,” Versith responded in agreement. He just hoped the Humans had no other tricks waiting for them. This battle was going to be costly enough as it was.
-
Fleet Commodore Resmunt waited defiantly as the Human and Carethian bomber strike came in toward his section of the fleet. Already Hocklyn fighters were engaging, and he could see numerous bright explosions on the main viewscreens as Human bombers and fighters were being destroyed. He also knew some of those dying ships were Hocklyns finding honor in death.
“Our fighters are running low on ammunition,” First Leader Ganth warned with concern in his voice. “They will need to return shortly to rearm. The Carethians have also launched their small warships; they're coming in with the bombers from the station and the shipyard.”
“See to the rearming of our fighters immediately,” Resmunt grated out, his dark eyes locked on the viewscreens. “The fleet will continue to advance; I want to close the range with the remaining Human ships.”
“The defenses around the planet are very powerful,” cautioned First Leader Ganth. “There are twelve large battlestations as well as the space station and the shipyard. All are heavily armed.”
“We have the ships!” replied Resmunt, sharply. “We will destroy their ships, their orbital defenses, and then the planet!”
-
In space, the battle raged. Major Brice groaned as he saw more bombers being destroyed around him. Already, he'd accounted for two more Hocklyn fighters with his Hunter missiles but enemy fighters seemed to be everywhere. It was taking everything the Human fighters could do to protect the bombers and the small Carethian warships, but even then some Hocklyn fighters were getting through.
“The bombers are nearly in range,” one of the pilots spoke over the com channel. “Do we turn back?”
“No,” replied Brice, grimly. “This time we go in with them. The more targets the Hocklyns have to shoot at the more likely the bombers and the warships will get through.”
“Just like shooting fish in a barrel, but we’re the fish,” moaned a female voice over the com. “Someone is buying me a big steak when this is over.”
“You’re on,” a male pilot replied.
“Cut the chatter,” Brice ordered as he moved his fighter in toward another Hocklyn. He pressed the button on his flight control and twin lines of glowing tracers reached out, striking the other fighter’s engine. Almost instantly the Hocklyn exploded, flinging debris in front of Brice. Turning up sharply, Brice managed to avoid most of it.
-
The bombers, small warships, and fighters continued to go in. Hocklyn and Borzon ships opened up with a massive hail of interceptor missiles and railgun fire. The AIs added to it with a heavy barrage of energy weapons. Bombers, warships, and fighters were exploding in fiery deaths everywhere. The AI energy beams were annihilating everything they touched. Even a few unfortunate Hocklyn fighters that got in the way of the incoming ordnance died.
Fourteen hundred Human and Carethian bombers had launched from the flight bays. Eight hundred survived to fire their missiles and then turned to flee back toward the fleet and safety.
There were thirty two hundred Shrike missiles inbound toward the massed Hocklyn and Borzon fleets. Defensive fire manage to bring down over twenty two hundred of them, the others found targets and detonated against energy shields. Numerous shields failed, allowing other missiles to impact the heavily armored hulls of Hocklyn and Borzon warships. A warcruiser was hit by multiple missiles, causing its screen to weaken and allowing two other missiles to strike the armored hull. Two bright nuclear fireballs incinerated much of the ship, leaving a floating hulk, which was totally annihilated as its nuclear self-destructs activated. Hocklyn and Borzon ships began to die as their formations were covered in blazing nuclear explosions. Sixty-two Hocklyn ships were destroyed as well as twenty-six Borzon battlecruisers in the space of just a few minutes.
The Carethian commander of the small warships smiled, baring his sharp teeth at the viewscreen in the ship’s Command Center. His warships had not turned around when the bombers did. They'd continued to close the distance and now they launched from nearly pointblank range. Only one hundred and ninety of his small warships still survived, but each one launched ten nuclear tipped Shrike missiles at the massed enemy fleets. Every missile contained a twenty-kiloton warhead.
More nuclear explosions rolled across the Hocklyn and Borzon shields from this new attack. A Hocklyn dreadnought vanished under a series of powerful nuclear explosions; other ships around it also began to die.
-
Fleet Commodore Resmunt stared in silent fury at the most recent losses to the Hocklyn and Borzon fleets. Additional dreadnoughts, warcruisers, and escorts were gone and the Borzon had lost more of their battlecruisers.
“Almost within engagement range,” First Leader Ganth reported. They'd b
een staying just outside of the range of the heavy weapons on the orbiting stations while they divided the fleet to take on the new Human warships. Now they were ready to go back on the offensive.
“Take us in,” Resmunt ordered, his eyes glowing with fire. “All ships are to advance and engage the enemy.” He'd already lost more ships than he'd planned. He felt anger at the Human commander for ruining his battle plan. Now he would send that commander to his death.
The Hocklyn and Borzon ships entered engagement range and instantly fell under fire from the shipyard and the space station. Power beams, pulse lasers, and Devastator Threes struck the Hocklyn and Borzon fleet formations. The Alton battlestations began firing as well as the Human fleets. Space became filled with deadly ordnance. The few fighters still engaging instantly turned and fled the suddenly hostile space. No fighter could survive long between the two fleets.
Then the space station as well as the Alton battle stations opened up with their particle beam weapons. Bright blue beams struck Hocklyn shields, cutting through them like butter. Shields failed and each time one did, a Devastator Three was fired to finish off the enemy ship.
“What was that?” Resmunt screamed in anger as several dreadnoughts were blown out of space.
“The space station has a number of weapon installations similar to the ones the Altons have been using to destroy the AIs,” First Leader Ganth responded. “Our ships have no defense against those beams. The AIs have reportedly said that it is some type of highly advanced particle beam weapon. The battle stations have the same weapon.”
“Order Commodore Tantil to target that station!” Resmunt ordered his eyes showing growing fury at the way the battle was going. “All other ships are to keep firing their antimatter missiles at the Human ships. I want them destroyed! Resmunt could feel a growing rage inside of him. He would not be defeated by the Humans this time!”
-
The Slaver Wars: Galactic Conflict Page 31