Citation Series 1: Naero's War: The Annexation War

by Mason Elliott

Naero continued to monitor Saemar from the mobile flight command deck overlooking 2nd Squadron.

  Saemar had her hands full with twenty-seven new replacement pilots. She and her remaining veterans struggled to check out each pilot on the new F59-T Ghost Dragons, fresh out of the wrappers.

  Naero went over the specs. These tandem fighters had excellent dual controls and a seat for the Trainer, up behind the pilot, where the instructor could study everything the pilot did.

  Saemar and her vets had finished the sim programs, and prepared to take the replacements out a few at a time, while the others waited their turns and studied the training sessions on the cockpit readouts and battle holos.

  Naero listened in on Saemar’s open audio feed.

  “If you are going to make mistakes. Make them here and now. Make all the mistakes you want and learn from them. Get past them now. Out in the mix, in a real battle–mistakes can mean death. And sweeties, death is to be avoided. So listen and learn. When we tell you to do something, we do so for a reason. Do it. Even if you don’t understand why, right away. We’ll explain it when it needs to be explained. We will always make time for Q & A.”

  One of Saemar’s vets, Second Leftenant Maesara Taylor chimed in.

  “Sometimes we just want you to experience something first. Focus on, study, and get the entire feel for each lesson. Save your questions for later.”

  She and Saemar nodded to each other, obviously great respect between them. Saemar had that with all of her people.

  “All right. Suit up and let’s go out into the black.”

  Just as they were climbing in, and the flight crews prepared for launch, Captain Chaela strode in, nineteen of her aces formed up in a wedge right behind her.

  The two friends saluted, then embraced.

  Chaela grinned.

  “Well, captain. My people and I were off duty and had nothing to occupy our time. We thought we’d come over here and give you some help with your new recruits. Then we can all go out there and fly around together.”

  Saemar counted them. “Uh…that’s great Chae. But we’re still one short.”

  Chae shook her head. “No…we’re not.”

  She pointed up at the mobile flight command deck.

  “Come down and join us, N. Mike’s people told me you were up there. Get down here and give us a hand.”

  Naero rubbed her hands together and called down to them.

  “Sounds good. On my way.”

  When she reached the pilots, the recruits snapped to attention smartly and saluted her, some of them just staring at her, mouths open.

  Haisha, had she ever been that green?

  Naero’s friends, and the other veteran pilots who knew her, saluted casually.

  One of the newbs actually stammered, “Fleet Captain M-M-Maeris…Haisha! It’s…it’s such an honor to have you train with us. Thank you, sir!”

  Naero chuckled a bit at that. “At ease, ensigns.”

  Of course all of the newbs were ensigns. Crisp, shiny new flight togs and gear.

  She turned to the speaker, a short tiny gal with pink and black short hair. “What’s your name, Ensign…?”

  The young woman turned scarlet and saluted again.

  “Chang, sir. Tiali Wallace Chang.”

  Naero raised one eyebrow and smiled. “Got some Clan Wallace in you, huh?”

  Tiali nodded. “And proud of it, sir!”

  “I just happen to be Clan Wallace on my father’s side. I guess that makes us distant cousins.”

  “Everyone knows that, sir. Both reasons why I’m proud of it, sir.” Without any prompting, Tiali led the fifteen recruits in a cheer that the others joined in with. Their raised fists pounded the air.

  “Omaria! Omaria! Omaria!”

  “Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!”

  Naero stepped back, drew her blazing blue energy cutlass and saluted them quickly, sheathing her blade just as fast.

  Tiali and several others cheered and actually had tears in their eyes.

  Naero bowed her head to them.

  “Thank you. You honor me and my blood.”

  The recruits spoke in unison.

  “The honor is ours.”

  Naero put her hands behind her narrow waist and spread her stance.

  “Very well. Pilots, suit up. Let’s get out in the black in these tandems and learn a few things today.”

  Everyone secured their helmets and checked their gear.

  “Ensign Tia…”

  She looked back, her mouth open slightly.

  “You’re with me. Take a breath. Relax.”

  “Thank you, sir. I am quite relaxed, sir.”

  Over her shoulder, Naero caught Tia turning to her friends and silently spazzing out, with her hands gesturing wildly, her face waggling, and her feet stamping in place with glee.

  Some of them made faces and stuck their tongues out at her in clear envy.

  They all climbed in, set their controls, fired up all systems, and prepared to launch.

  Out in the black, Captain Chaela ran the practice exercise, and put them all through their paces using captured Triaxian stealth drones, seeker mines, and robotic gunships in training mode.

  Training mode meant that all the ships scaled back the output of their weapon arrays so that they still scored hits that could be tracked and evaluated, in order to determine simulated damage and kills, but of course they did no real harm.

  And if a ship endured simulated damage, the ship systems would react or power down in kind, to allow the pilot to react to those situations as well.

  If a clean kill was made, the warning systems would flash and blare in panic mode for several seconds and then go dead. The fighter would list in space for several more seconds before the systems powered back up, or the instructor overrode the training protocols.

  The new batch of recruits, including Tia, were rough around the edges, but they showed off many hot, agile, inventive skills.

  Fighter pilots often trained from a very young age to become what they were–from the time they could float.

  Naero understood that completely.

  She had to admit, flying in tandem provided many opportunities for on the spot training and advice. These pilots had the basics down cold.

  But they still had not raised their skill sets to the level of an art yet. And that’s basically what it took–a blend of experience and ability that combined honed instincts, finesse, and cunning in order to do many things automatically, without thought or hesitation.

  Then they had to be able to read the battle and the continual stream of data that flooded at them. Constantly shifting targeting profiles and combat orders. There remained much that could not be learned in mere simulation, but only in the crucible of actual combat.

  With harsh realities and death all around.

  The instructors gave them tips all along the way, showing them first hand what to do, and how to both survive and fight effectively.

  Together they could polish moves and tricks, or the instructor could even take over and let the recruits feel the magic in the controls, as the vets executed them flawlessly. Then let the newbs try them repeatedly, until they had them down.

  The trainers could slow techniques down and let the recruits practice them in slow motion at first, working out each element, before speeding them up once more.

  Saemar called them together in scattershot formation.

  “Nice work, sweeties. For the rest of our time today, we’re going to take turns jumping on single ships and small groups with larger sorties. This is also the way the enemy tries to peel us off and swarm on us in an attempt to overwhelm us. If we get the chance, we try to do the same thing to them.”

  Saemar took a deep breath. “You need to know how to resist and defend against these strategies and tactics, and how to get away when you are outnumbered and outmatched. Right now, I just want the recruits to focus solely on survival. Don’t worry about doing damage to your opponents. Later on, we’ll work on wave, squad
ron, and wing tactics to back each other up with, and to turn the tables on the bad guys. After that, we’ll get into fleet defense modes, and attack strike methods to use against different types of enemy ships.”

  Naero joined in. “Excuse me, Captain Saemar. I just want to interject something here.”

  “Please do. Go right ahead, N.”

  “People, in your free time, I want all of you studying up and drilling each other on the various types of enemy ships you will be facing and their current strengths and weaknesses. You need to become experts on these matters and have the data in your heads. Help each other. You will be too busy flying and fighting in the mix to stop in the middle of a battle, and read the latest intelligence dossier on, say, the Triaxian Centurion Class Heavy Cruiser, and where its shield patterning is weakest, due to a slight design flaw and the placement of its deflector shield projection hardpoints.”

  Tia spoke up. “Twenty-three meters directly forward of the front sublight engine nacelles, on both sides and below.”

  “Very good, ensign. Can you or anyone else tell me why not to bother targeting the bridge until the shields are down on the same vessel?”

  Another recruit jumped in. “Because the new Triaxian wave-flux shields lay down extra layers of protection over both the bridge and the cruiser’s power core to improve both function and survivability.”

  “Excellent. So currently, what other design flaw on that warship allows the best opportunity to take the shields down, as quickly as possible?”

  Silence.

  “Uh, sir,” Tiali noted, “there wasn’t any info on that in the latest Intel dossier.”

  “Exactly. The Triaxian Centurion Class uses three very large Stellar Corps Quasar SJ303-K sublight engines, coupled with the jump drive and the power core, protected in the aft section of the warship. Yet concentrated fire or multiple hits on the aft shield node, especially when that type of ship is accelerating rapidly, will disrupt the wavering shields and take them down. It will also possibly damage the engines themselves, and other interlinked systems, leaving the ship even more vulnerable.”

  Silence again.

  Tiali again. “Sir…that info isn’t anywhere on record. How would we possibly know it?”

  “Because I’m telling it to you now. It hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, but I assure you, it works. Go with it. And if you stumble on something like that, report it immediately and spread the word.”

  Warnings suddenly sounded from the fleet.

  Fifteen enemy carriers jumped in close, almost right on them in the rear areas, protected by two enemy strike fleets.

  “All ships, prepare for battle!”

  Saemar gave the orders.

  “Shields up, full on. All training modes off. Fire up all weapon arrays and prepare to accelerate to attack speed. Form up into three wings of nine, led by me, and Captains Chaela Maeris, and Naero Maeris. All three wings, tight three talon support. Back everyone up.

  “Battle computers online. Watch your optimal targeting protocols. Let’s throck, sweeties! In on my mark. Enter the mix.”

  “We’re with you, Saemar,” Chae said.

  “Copy that. We need to buy our fleets time to form up and coordinate a counter-attack. Delay and slow the enemy down. Containment cloud formation Tango-X-ray-4.”

  “They’re launching now. Look at them swarm.”

  Naero analyzed the enemy plan of attack.

  Not good.

  Everything favored Triax on this one.

  “They’ve caught us napping back here,” Naero said. “Our people are in a bad way. They’ll try to overwhelm our defenses and take out all the helpless ships.”

  “More waves launching from our available carriers,” Chae added. “Good thing we had some of them waiting in line back here.”

  “Time. We need time,” Naero said. “Increase attack speed. Let’s make some.”

  Fleet attack orders came down, trying to coordinate whatever Alliance ships were not disabled or stuck passing through the fixer cloud gauntlet.

  “All available warships and fighters, commence immediate attack on enemy formations. Expand into forward melting waves of the evolving Tango-X-ray-4. Re-enforcements are on the way.”

  “Here we go,” Saemar told them. “We’re up against mostly Triax Achilles 125D and E variants.”

  Twenty-seven Ghost Dragon tandems hit the advancing swarm with everything they had.

  Four cruisers, eleven destroyers, and a handful of other smaller ships waiting nearby expanded the containment screen and joined them.

  No battleships available yet.

  The Condor was the only carrier free and clear, out in the open.

  It bravely advanced with the responders, right behind its launching fighter waves, secondary batteries already blazing.

  The foremost, thin screen of defenders slammed into a vanguard of three hundred enemy fighters, or vice-versa.

  Having disgorged their lethal insects, the enemy carriers retreated behind the offensive waves of their two strike fleets without a scratch.

  The two enemy strike fleets proceeded to swivel around on either flank to catch the Alliance ships stuck in the fixer clouds in a medium-range crossfire of big gun salvos.

  The enemy attack stalled only long enough to attempt to absorb the few initial defenders.

  Naero grinned.

  The enemy commander leading the attack must be a complete dope.

  Had he been bolder or smarter, he or she would have merely swept past the Alliance’s thin, meager defensive screen—ignoring it entirely. Triax could have then concentrated all of their initial firepower on the helpless fleets stuck in refit.

  They could have really done some damage.

  Now, the defenders were in for a definite pounding, to be sure. But at least they could still maneuver and fight back.

  Each precious second that ticked by, the odds of the battle would slowly swing over toward the Alliance’s favor.

  Anyone with any battle sense at all could see that.

  This was the price commanders paid for being too cautious at times.

  Yet, as expected, the withering enemy beat down quickly commenced.

  Naero and Tia spun and fired and fought and got kicked around, along with everyone else.

  “I’ll fly and keep us alive, Tia. You focus on keeping our guns doing damage. Give anything around us sheer hell.”

  “On it, sir.”

  Naero bounced, bucked, stalled, flipped and spiraled, using every trick and every technique she could think of to keep them moving and make them harder to hit.

  But they got pummeled anyway.

  Tia calmly maintained a steady patter of blazing fire from their heavy blaster cannons. She fired micro missiles and discharged microbombs and mines right into the packed ranks of the foe to soften them up.

  Shields reduced rapidly across the entire defensive screen, under heavy, relentless, enemy fire from multiple attack trajectories.

  One destroyer, a missile frigate, and two gunships got swarmed on and taken down in the heat of the initial engagement alone.

  By then, the Alliance had less than five hundred fighters out in the mix against six time those numbers or more.

  Seventeen percent of those defending fighters were lost outright as well, in the course of the first pass.

  Chaela’s three wings remained intact momentarily, quickly joined by the rest of their wave forming up around them.

  But three of their tandems were forced to pull away with heavy damage. Ghost Dragons were tough, but not indestructible.

  Saemar kept the rest moving and fighting, coordinating with the other ships and Fleet Command.

  “Inch the cloud back. Lima-Tango-4. Tight loop, clockwise fighting retreat. Cycle back in on random vectors and keep firing–right in their teeth.”

  Naero performed the maneuvers in timed conjunction with the rest of the defenders. Tia kept acquiring and nailing targets according to the coordinated firing protocols.


  Their few larger ships pulled back, many already heavily damaged. Their fighters did the same, but looped out of the way and then back again in crazy swoops and angles, to blast the advancing tide of enemy fighters once again and keep them guessing.

  This delaying tactic led to an effect where the defensive screen appeared to ripple, waver, and wobble, as the enemy attack continued to slam into it, bounce back, and then surge forward once more.

  Only minutes into the battle, and the enemy punched gaping holes in the thin defense.

  It nearly collapsed.

  Then the foe would sweep them away.

  Fleet orders saved them.

  “Retreat to tertiary defensive line. Form defensive sphere Delta-Victor-5 around The Condor.”

  Any of them that could still move pulled back and fell in around the battered fleet carrier. Loose formation, allowing them all to still maneuver and fight.

  The deadly enemy pounding continued.

  Then Naero noticed the enemy commander making a second fatal mistake.

  Realizing his first error, he immediately divided his forces in half, sending one part to finally attack the gauntlet of refit nebulae ships close up. The trapped Alliance vessels attempted to break up, come about, and either join the mix or get clear and jump out.

  The other half of the enemy kept up their assault on the beleaguered defenders, who were suddenly somewhat relieve to find that the odds against them were now halved.

  The enemy leader should have stuck to doing one thing or the other from the outset, once they had committed themselves to an action.

  Triax could have crushed the defenders within another few minutes at most.

  Now it grew likely that the enemy would accomplish neither objective.

  And in a few short moments, the tide should begin to turn against them–the price of indecision.

  The defenders merely needed to do their best to stay alive until then.

  Fleet orders gave them what they needed.

  “Scattershot retreat. Max out. Three-sixty dispersal. Form back up on coded signals.”

  The defenders suddenly broke away, poured on every ounce of speed, and fled in every direction possible.

  The enemy tried to pursue them all, and only succeeded in confusing and jumbling its superior numbers up in all directions as well. This led to a further waste of valuable time, effort, and energy.