by Isaac Hooke
By the time the Harbinger and Saber reached Viper range with the lead segment, both vessels had multiple breaches, the Harbinger from the fighters, and the Saber from the long-range laser. When the laser segment rotated its aim away to fire at the first wave of incoming missiles that the fleet had fired earlier, both vessels maneuvered out from behind the cover of the mortars and unleashed their Vipers, destroying the laser segment. The Avengers and allied fighters finished off the first wave of enemy fighters.
Four laser segments remained, each with their own wave of escorting fighters, spread out across the remaining four hundred thousand kilometers. The Harbinger and Saber continued forward to provide an ongoing distraction for the remaining missile waves, which were still continuing toward their targets, and the two ships proceeded to take out the remaining three segments in a similar manner. Sometimes the missiles struck the distracted lens segments first, sometimes the two ships or their fighters did the job. Either way, by the time the fourth segment disintegrated, both ships were badly damaged and barely limping along.
“All right Harbinger, Saber,” Levieson transmitted. “Decelerate and reverse course. Launch a final volley of mortars, trailed by missiles and fighters. Let the missiles and fighters do their jobs of taking out that fifth and final lens segment. Remaining members of B4, proceed. Talon, stay where you are.”
Jonathan sighed.
We’re going to need all the ships we can get out there. Even the Talon.
The remaining eight members of the enemy unit E2 had already accelerated, and were proceeding toward the slowing Harbinger and Saber.
In nine minutes the Avengers reached the final lens segment and provided enough of a distraction to the waiting enemy fighters for the missiles to home in and eliminate the laser. But then the rest of E2 arrived, and the Avengers, along with the advance Talon fighters, were quickly overwhelmed by more fighters launched by the pyramid and capital ships. All of them were lost.
Good thing Levieson didn’t make me deploy all of the Talon’s fighters.
B4 proceeded to join combat with E2. Said space battle consisted of a series of flybys, usually led by a barrage of missiles and mortars from the human side, followed by an exchange of lasers and particle beams when the range closed. Each pass resulted in at least one casualty per side. Sometimes a ship was split in half. Sometimes merely disabled. The Reach was employed to devastating effect, and for the most part allowed the enemy to eliminate any missiles and mortars long before said weapons reached their targets. It also gave a distance advantage over the medium range United Systems lasers, so that overall, for every one ship the enemy lost, at least one member of B4 was disabled or destroyed as well.
Jonathan occasionally diverted his attention toward B1 on his tactical display, because by that point the first enemy unit, E1, had intercepted B1. So much for the planned pincer maneuver. The display was lagged slightly, thanks to the signal range involved. B1’s battle also unfolded in a series of flybys, with B1 faring little better than B4. The United Systems ships eventually began to utilize the Dammerung as a shield, gathering behind the destroyer, as the enemy seemed reluctant to fire on the vessel—obviously the aliens desired to capture the planet killer. Even so, human ships were still lost during the flybys when they emerged to fire lasers at the enemy. On the plus side, B1 eliminated the enemy laser vessels early on in their own engagement.
Jonathan watched it all unfold helplessly. His strategic mind came up with numerous offensives and counteroffensives, but the fleet was not his to command.
During the battle, B4 and E2 slowly drifted toward the Talon’s position during the repeated flybys, so that their center point was roughly a hundred thousand klicks distant. By then B4 had been whittled down to seven active ships, while on the enemy side, only the pyramid ship and its Reach class escort remained. That pair was proving difficult for the human fleet to surmount, with those four particle-beam “stilts” mounted underneath the pyramid used to devastating effect in combination with the range boost of the Reach. As if to prove that point, in the next flyby the pyramid vessel disabled another United Systems ship via the Reach.
Jonathan’s attention was drawn to the farther battle group B1 on the tactical display. 3-Vega had a very eccentric orbit around the star, and because of that, B1 and E1 were only fifty thousand kilometers away from said Slipstream. The wormhole hadn’t played into the admiral’s strategy whatsoever, because it led into the heart of the Tau Ceti star.
That was why Jonathan was surprised when he noticed red dots appearing from said Slipstream.
“Barrick,” Jonathan said. “I’m seeing unrecognized heat signatures at 3-Vega. Tell me its some kind of United Systems software error, and that the Talon isn’t reading anything.”
“Apparently it’s no error,” Barrick said. “Otter just reported them. Eight dart ships, and another two capital ships. They’re on a course to intercept B1 and the Dammerung.”
The tactical display updated so that the new enemy unit was labeled E3.
“Looks like the enemy is the one performing the pincer maneuver on us,” Wethersfield said.
“So much for well-laid plans,” Jonathan said. “How is this even possible? They hid in the core of Tau Ceti’s star?”
“I doubt it,” Wethersfield said. “My guess is, the Elder changed the endpoint.”
“And why the hell would the Elder do that to us?”
Barrick was the one who answered. “Likely the Elk Raakarr negotiated a deal with the Elder to change the location of that Slipstream many months ago when we were all still in their galaxy.”
“Again, why would the Elder agree to do that?”
“Perhaps they realized what we had planned to do,” Barrick said. “Remember, our mission was to send a planet killer through to detonate the star on the other side. Maybe the Elk warned them that we might try something like that again, and negotiated to have the endpoint changed to one of their own systems.”
“Wonderful,” Jonathan said. “Ask Valor if he knows anything about that. Specifically, where 3-Vega actually leads.”
“He says he doesn’t know,” Barrick replied a moment later. “The Elder would have changed the endpoint after he had already defected to our side.”
“And none of his sleeper cells have contacted him since with relevant information?”
“They have not,” Barrick said. “But the key word, I think, is sleeper. If any of the hidden Zarafe attempted outgoing communications, they would’ve probably been tracked. Think of the moles the United Systems has in the Sino-Korean government, and how furtive their communications have to be.”
“Our moles use digital drops piggybacking on the encrypted communications of other inconspicuous apps. A room in a virtual reality social network, for example.”
“Yes, via the comm node network forming the InterGalNet on our side of the galaxy,” Barrick said. “But so far, we haven’t come across any intact Raakarr probes forming their equivalent of the InterGalNet.”
“Well whatever the case,” Wethersfield said. “It is prudent that B4 finishes up quickly and rejoins the main fleet as soon as possible.”
“I agree.” Jonathan glanced at the closer battle taking place between B4 and E2. The two enemy vessels were decelerating, preparing for the next flyby. Their range was rapidly approaching the seventy thousand klick mark from the Talon.
Jonathan brought up an image he had recorded earlier, courtesy of the external cameras aboard one of the telemetry drones. It displayed a Reach vessel. Like Barrick had said, it looked oddly like a giant hand mirror. He zoomed in on the head portion: that grid of interlocking metallic wires that acted as a range boost to the enemy particle beam weapon.
“Barrick,” Jonathan said. “I need you to ask Valor something for me. Regarding the capabilities of that Reach.”
He detailed his question and after a few seconds Barrick replied in the affirmative.
“Good,” Jonathan said. “Tell Valor to accelerate the Talon and pr
epare for an attack run. Leave behind our fighter escort. I want us traveling at full speed, and those fighters won’t be able to keep up.”
He remembered Levieson’s orders. The Talon is to stay back and avoid major fighting. Valor knew those orders, too, but apparently he was just as eager to join the fray, because the blue dot indicating the Talon on the tactical display began to update.
If Levieson orders me to return, I will return. But if he does not...
Sure enough, a few minutes later Levieson’s voice came over the comm.
“Jonathan, what are you doing?” the vice admiral sent. “You were not to engage.”
“I have a way to help,” Jonathan said. “With one flyby, we can eliminate that pyramid. The risk to the Talon will be minimal. You have to let me try.”
Levieson hesitated. “One flyby, you say?”
“That’s right.”
“All right,” Levieson said. “Just one. But if you mess this up, I’m placing someone else in command of the Talon.”
“Understood.” Assuming there was anything left of the Talon if Jonathan messed up.
The pyramid had its weapons currently pointed away from the Talon. B4 launched a wave of mortars and missiles to distract the ship, and a fresh squad of decelerating Avenger fighters gathered around the pyramid and the Reach as the two vessels ground to a halt before accelerating in the opposite direction to begin the next flyby. Enemy fighters swarmed against the Avengers in counter attacks.
The Talon was coming up fast behind the two enemies.
As the Talon approached to within fifteen thousand kilometers of the Reach, Jonathan thought of the question he had asked Valor.
“Does it matter which side one fire’s into the Reach?” Jonathan had said. “Or is the range boost effect strictly limited to one side?”
“Valor says you can fire from either side,” Barrick had replied.
Jonathan stared at the display.
“The pyramid ship is swiveling two of its particle beam stilts toward the Talon,” Barrick announced.
Jonathan nodded. The other two would be facing forward, to stave off the impending assault of missiles and mortars, and perhaps mag-rail slugs, which were too small to show up on the overhead map.
“Tell Valor to give me emergency speed, if the Talon is capable of it,” Jonathan said.
“Apparently we’re already operating over the limit,” Barrick said. “But he’ll push what he can out of the engines.”
A moment later Barrick said: “The Talon just crossed the ten thousand kilometer mark from the Reach.”
“Fire particle beam,” Jonathan said. “And initiate a full dive at the same time. Get us out of the line of fire of those stilts!”
On the tactical display, the Talon moved downward on the Z plane; the red dot representing the pyramid vanished seconds later, leaving only the defenseless Reach.
“Our beam ripped deep into the hull of the pyramid,” Barrick said. “Tearing off one of the forward facing weapon stilts. The damage allowed a full mortar barrage to smash into the ship. It’s been obliterated.”
“Nicely done, Jonathan,” Levieson said.
“Thank you, sir,” Jonathan replied, though in truth he felt the congratulations were unwarranted. He knew he had gotten lucky: if the stilts on that pyramid had finished maneuvering into place, and fired, the Talon very likely would not exist at the moment. It had been a mistake to engage.
Well, we survived, and took out the enemy. Not going to beat myself up over it. Too much.
“The remaining enemy fighters are breaking away toward B1,” Barrick said.
Jonathan glanced at the tactical display and focused on B1.
By the looks of it, the new enemy unit, E3, had already initiated a flyby with B1. Apparently four dart ships had successfully disabled the engines of the Dammerung and grappled her. Those four ships were accelerating back toward 3-Vega, dragging the Dammerung along behind them, while the surviving pyramids, laser vessels, and other dart ships that formed the rest of the enemy fleet remained behind to harry B1.
“We’re losing our planet killer...” Jonathan said.
“The fleet can’t match their pace,” Wethersfield agreed.
Though B1 was accelerating at top speed toward the Dammerung, it was clear they wouldn’t make it before the captured vessel reached the Slipstream.
“Barrick,” Jonathan said. “Will those ships actually be able to drag the Dammerung through the Slipstream?”
“No,” Barrick replied.
“So what are they doing then?”
“In all honesty, I have no idea what they intend,” Barrick replied.
“Maybe they’ve discovered a way to change the properties of the Slipstream for a short period of time,” Wethersfield said. “Long enough to allow them to carry one of our vessels through. Or perhaps the Elder showed them how to do this.”
“Speculation...” Jonathan said.
“Yes,” Wethersfield agreed. “AIs are skilled at this.”
Jonathan tapped his lips. “They probably intend to fly by 3-Vega, and maybe force some of the pursuing members of B1 into the Slipstream along the way, destroying them in the process.”
“That may very well be the case,” Wethersfield said. “Either way, the Dammerung will have to self-destruct soon... to prevent the planet killer from falling into enemy hands.”
“Will they?” Jonathan said. “How do we know the Raakarr haven’t disabled all the reactor cores of the engines, either accidentally, or purposefully? Preventing a runaway chain reaction.”
“Then they could simply detonate the planet killer itself...” Wethersfield said.
“Good point. It’s too bad the Dammerung will only destroy the four Raakarr ships with them if it does that.”
Jonathan watched the display as the tense seconds ticked past, and the Dammerung steadily made its way toward 3-Vega. He kept expecting the blue dot to wink out, signifying its self-destruction and the end of the mission.
“Strange,” Barrick said. “The four ships towing the Dammerung are decelerating.”
“Why?”
“Wait... new heat signatures are emerging from 3-Vega,” Barrick said.
“Enemy reinforcements?” Jonathan’s tactical display hadn’t updated to reveal the new ships yet.
“Otter tells me the signatures are consistent with United Systems vessels,” Barrick replied.
“What the hell is going on?” Jonathan said.
The tactical display finally updated. New dots were appearing from 3-Vega, and sure enough they were all colored blue.
“Sir,” Wethersfield said. “It’s the Callaway.”
sixteen
Jonathan stared in disbelief. The label above the flagship in charge of the newly arrived vessels indeed read USS Callaway. “That can’t be Task Group 72.5. There are too many ships. I’m counting twenty of them.”
“It definitely appears to be the survivors of Task Group 72.5,” Wethersfield said. “However, they’ve made some new friends it would seem.”
The Callaway and its warships bore down on the Dammerung and the four dart ships. Dots representing missiles and mortars appeared ahead of them.
The dart ships initiated evasive maneuvers, dragging the Dammerung with them.
Five of the rear vessels in the incoming human fleet began to slow down, while the leading ships, including the Callaway, proceeded to fly by the targets. The four red dots representing the dart ships vanished.
“Guess we’re not losing our planet killer today after all,” Wethersfield said.
“Good morning,” Robert’s voice came over the comm, fleet-wide. “Need a little help?”
“Commander Cray,” Admiral Ford said. “Nice of you to join us.”
The five decelerating ships proceeded to grapple the Dammerung, and began to drag it safely away from 3-Vega. Meanwhile the Callaway and its escorts continued toward the remaining enemy to initiate a dual pincer maneuver with B4 and B1.
The bat
tle was over in an hour. The combined United Systems fleet lost eight more ships, and when the last of the enemy was disabled, the alien craft chose self-destruction over capture. The Talon summoned the remaining enemy fighters to it, instructing them to destroy any manned variants along the way.
“Recover survivors,” Admiral Ford said over the comm. “And initiate repairs of disabled ships. Coordinate with Vice Admiral Levieson to share raw materials and workers as necessary. Vice Admiral, dispatch four ships to mine the entrance of 3-Vega and set up a watch. I’m convening a captains’ meeting at eighteen hundred tonight. We have a lot to talk about.”
JONATHAN TAPPED IN Commander Cray shortly after the admiral disconnected. “Welcome home, Commander. Impeccable timing, as always.”
“Thank you, Captain,” Robert replied. “It’s good to see you. I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting to find the fleet engaged in a full scale war with the Raakarr upon my return, but then again, I can’t say I’m all that surprised.”
“No,” Jonathan said. “The United Systems doesn’t take well to incursions in its space. Though I’m not sure I’d call it a full scale war, not yet. Though we’re damn close.”
“It sounds like the Raakarr attacked humanity first?”
“They did,” Jonathan said. “But we can get into that later. I’m sure the admiral is eager to chat with you.”
“She’s tapping in as we speak,” Robert said. “I’ll have to excuse myself, Captain. Let’s connect later.”
“All right,” Jonathan said. “Until then.”
Jonathan returned to his berthing area and sheltered inside the psi-shielded tent while the Centurions assumed watch near the hatch. He removed his helmet, lay back on the thick pillow he needed to support his head while he wore that bulky suit, and closed his eyes, only intending to rest them, but he fell fast asleep.
He was awakened by the beeping of his aReal glasses beside him. Someone was trying to call him. The alert wouldn’t have sounded unless it was important. He fumbled for the glasses and put them on. The call was from Vice Admiral Levieson. According to the time display in the lower right, two hours had passed.