by Gary Caplan
“Thank you for sending the codes, Governor. We will get in touch with General Idar, and I will have my staff keep you informed,” Sheppard he said, then ended the communication.
A notification sent through the computer interlink from his designated chief of fleet medicine, Fleet Captain Grey informed Sheppard on the status of the marine contingent’s cryo-sleep awakening process. Sheppard activated a direct interlink to speak with Grey.
“I have sent the details on report you wanted, said Doctor Grey. Sir, we have one hundred percent of the three brigades up and active on the strike cruiser Platus, and the regiment on Phoenix and the battlecruiser Lompoc’s regiment of space marines is also one hundred percent active. That’s almost four brigades. I was informed by their General we should be able to retake QB7, as long as our ships can defend against those H- and J-class dreadnaughts and battlecruisers.”
“I know we’re going to take casualties,” said Sheppard. “I not am not that happy about having to send in all those cloned marines and transhumanoids, but we have to retake this system for morale as well. I know those Varlon H and J ships are tough, but we have several ships with the Nova weapon. I know you’ll be ready for the casualties.”
Doctor Grey nodded.
“I’ve got to coordinate actions with General Idar. They may be sending us some civilian casualties, as well, because the medical system is impaired,” stated Sheppard.
“Sir, I will prepare for the likelihood of civilian casualties arriving,” Grey said.
Chief of Security Ares walked into the now open door connecting Sheppard’s command office with the fleet command alcove.
“Sir,” Ares said, “we have General Idar on a secure channel I believe you wanted to speak with him. He has been talking with Fleet Captain Sherman.”
Sheppard followed Ares out to the fleet command alcove, which was about a quarter the size of the bridge, and joined the conversation with the general.
“General Idar, I’m acting Fleet Admiral Robert Sheppard. We have been in communication with Governor Golda, and she has indicated that you need assistance as soon as possible,” said Sheppard. “My task forces are moving toward QB7, and we will send one force directly toward the Varlon. The other five ship strike force with our space marines is on its way via a more cautious route to enter on the opposite side of the battle zone to land surface support forces and marines on the planet to assist your remaining forces.”
“I have only perhaps two organized regiments left, and we are in retreat,” said the Rigezon general, his beak twitching. “I will need to work with your troop command officer. Just how many troops will you bring?”
“There will be one space marine regiment of replicant and transhuman clones from the Phoenix and another regiment from the Lompoc, as well as three brigades from the marine strike cruiser Platus. I will have the commanding officer contact you to arrange details, General Idar,” replied Sheppard. “They are all awake and by now have been given detailed action orders through their bio-links via their CDL interface viewers.”
“That should be enough to give us the advantage, sir. I will take whatever help I can get at this point,” stated Idar We have lost over a hundred planetary ground defense platforms, and our orbital defense stations have been mostly destroyed, although several were simply neutralized or taken over. Several of the orbital defense bases were drained of power and later the few crews that escaped told us that Varlon nanobots eventually built energy transfer conduits for Varlon starfighters after co-opting the bases computer systems. Stations that had starfighters were co-opted this way, and the Varlon are using them to shorten the distance for resupply.”
“Thank you for the intelligence about the co-opted orbital platforms,” Sherman said. “We will arrange our troop descent accordingly. Later, sir, we will have to retake those orbital bases.”
“I will leave the small details of who will retake those stations to you, Benjamin. Now, let’s go kick some Varlon butt,” said Sheppard with a smile. “I will update the overall attack plans to avoid the enemy-operated orbital stations and our selected planetary troop drop positions. I need something to do while we get into firing positions.”
Sheppard headed back to his command room to transmit a coded message to Star One and inform Admiral Pendragon of the situation. At their preset distance even with the COMNET reestablished, he still might get some last-minute tactical advice from one of the finest strategists in the Alliance of Worlds.
Over the next few hours, the expanded task forces moved to within firing range. The Alliance of Worlds ships had released waves of starfighters to attempt to intercept some of the translight or warp torpedoes that were released at long range by the Varlon. The Alliance forces had a tactical disadvantage, though, as the Varlon had range advantage and could target starships at somewhat greater distances than Alliance of Worlds spacecraft.
The Varlon were capable of building huge ships, and a portion of the defense advantage they had was because of their ships’ greater structural size. They also had organic alloy armor that was capable of regeneration over a period of days, and multiple shield and particle screen-generating centers and multiple backup systems for weapons. The Varlon’s other advantage was the chameleon field, which could alter the sensor appearance of their ships and even make computer targeting locks very difficult. Many times, starfighter pilots were forced to manually fire at what they believed was the Varlon ship, and doing so required close attack range.
The second task force of five ships under fleet Captain Wilder was taking an evasive course toward the planet QB7 in order to get to a good orbit and land the brigades of space marines safely. The transport ships from the strike cruiser had to land safely onto QB7 near clear zones, not in the center of the enemy forces.
Meanwhile, the Varlon had been successfully drawn to attack the approaching fleet of twenty ships under Commodore Helmslar. The H-class super dreadnaught and the three J-class heavy battlecruisers would cause severe damage to the two task forces. There were no I-class dreadnaughts or K-class battlecruisers in this group. The other four Varlon L-class heavy cruisers lacked the heavy plasma cannons and higher yield torpedoes of the other larger vessels. These L-class were still fairly powerful comparatively, having more superstructure and higher weapons power when compared to Alliance of Worlds heavy cruisers. The Varlon L-class ships were actually more than a match for an Alliance of Worlds battlecruiser.
The eight ships of the Varlon fleet were each more powerful than any similar class of Alliance of Worlds ship, and the Alliance of Worlds had no equivalent vessel for the H-class as yet. To make matters more difficult Varlon starships were just as maneuverable as a ship two size classes smaller. Those eight ships would seem like battling more than twenty-some ships. The Varlon ships started accelerating towards the Alliances’ large task force as they began charging weapons.
Confidence in their equipment made the Varlon move out from near QB7 to meet the oncoming fleet, allowing the task force with the Phoenix and the strike cruiser to move safely to QB7. The only good news was that many of the Varlon starfighters were still attacking the last of orbital planetary defenses or helping secure the planet and would not be able to support their fleet.
Several hours earlier after leaving the rendezvous point near the fourteenth plant, Sheppard had decided that the five ships in his task force would after accelerating go on a type of silent running. The ships cut power and used inertia to glide in until it was determined that the Varlon ships were far enough away that they couldn’t stop the marines from landing. As the Phoenix finally glided toward low orbit around QB7, Commodore Sheppard ordered the task force ships to power up and then ordered Alliance navy and marines to commence the operation to repel the Varlon.
The Varlon immediately noticed the entry of the new task force, but, as Sheppard had planned, they unable to stop the ships’ movements toward QB7. One of the J-class heavy battlecruisers turned back to engage the small task force, but it did not have its ful
l complement of starfighters, which was a small blessing. Phoenix had already launched most of its personnel carriers and T50 Sentinel and T100 Guardian heavy starfighter craft and its two T200 recon-craft. Five squadron wings of starfighters also launched as support and cover for the space marine drop ships to secure the chosen landing sites.
Enemy starfighters from the two relatively nearby co-opted orbital defense stations began an attack run and launched heavy antimatter torpedoes at the Platus and the Phoenix. The Phoenix’s multiple shield generators held through the first two salvos, but the third partially penetrated and struck starfighter docking bay two and caused damage near one of the pilot’s ready stations. The decompression killed several starfighter pilots, who were gearing up to go to the hangar and launch. A few starfighters were also destroyed or damaged in the explosion. In order to retain breathable atmosphere automated internal force fields came up in selected areas to keep the atmosphere from pouring out into space.
The strike cruiser Platus’s shields and deflectors were not quite as able as the Phoenix’s to deflect the heavy torpedoes with a kilogram of antimatter. The Platus took some damage across several decks, and the explosive shock wave concussions altered the ship’s course. By then space marine brigades had already dropped and were on the way to the surface of QB7.
The Legendary-class battlecruiser Lompoc had accompanied the Phoenix as one of the five escort ships, including a Heroic-class heavy cruiser, the Valor, and a Waterway-class light cruiser. The latter ship, the Nile, was performing a descent into the atmosphere to protect the marine drop ships. The Lompoc, named after a legendary Rigezon entertainer, launched its five starfighter squadrons.
At full strength of twenty starfighters per squadron, the attack craft form the Lompoc moved to intercept the torpedo attacks from the co-opted orbital stations and from the Varlon Crab, Manta, and Scorpion-class starfighters. The Lompoc was able to eliminate the nearby stations, taking only light structural damage. Damage control crews would mitigate much of the damage in a few minutes’ time.
On board the Phoenix, the crew prepared to engage the enemy after covering the marine’s drop ships. Fleet Captain Wilder had ordered starfighters to begin launching just after the stealth maneuver, allowing inertia to carry the starships toward QB7. Many starfighters had already launched, but the attack on the fighter bay caused a pilot to ship loss that could not be helped now. There were likely at least four other co-opted stations at ranges of several thousand kilometers away, and they would also have complements of Varlon starfighters and probably upgraded torpedoes that would also need to be neutralized.
C HAP TE R 2 7
THE BATTLECONTINUES AND A NEW ALLYIS FOUND
Commander Andor moved toward his console at the science station. He was also auxiliary helm officer if needed. Andor was using his skills to identify several unusual sensor readings. The result of the chameleon field and other jamming systems the Varlon used to camouflage their ship positions caused weapons targeting problems and identification problems. One set of sensor readings belonging to two craft that had stayed close to the orbit of the small moon of QB7 continued to read as a type of starship, but the ships were not of any known space ship configuration. The sensor officer had deemed them as unknown observers and they were listed as non combatant at present. The scans were sent to Commander Andor for analysis.
The two ships had been there from before the Alliance of Worlds task forces arrived. They were keeping the moon between themselves and the Varlon fleet. In addition, they were orbiting over one of the moon’s magnetic poles, which would likely throw off all but the most active sensor scans. The Varlon may have detected these other ships but had not planned action against them at this time. The Phoenix’s sensors only detected the starcraft as the Alliance’s five ship strike force
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also used the moon for last part of their silent running transit while simultaneously spending time monitoring passive sensor scans. Commander Andor analyzed the ships markings from the visual scans, and they concurred with the ships computer as being from a non-aligned civilization. Both ships’ configuration analysis placed them in the range of heavy or battle cruiser class specifications. Andor concluded these were alien ships from a civilization with which the Alliance of Worlds did not previously have a treaty. Andor rapidly analyzed the sensor logs and realized that the ships had recently actively scanned the Phoenix’s task group and had not taken any hostile actions. He notified Fleet Captain Wilder, as his ship had just finished protecting the marine drop ships.
“Sir,” he told Wilder, “I have located two alien ships that appear to be a type of cruiser class vessel, at least from preliminary scans.”
“Open a tight beam range of hailing frequencies at the two alien ships. I don’t want the Varlon to hear or tap into our communication,” ordered Wilder to the communication officer.
“We are receiving, sir. I will patch the communication link to your station. The translator is on line, and sir, there is no visual feed,” replied Lieutenant Orask.
“Hello, spacefarers,” said a voice emanating from the speakers at captain’s station. “We are travelers sent here to find out about Varlon movements. They and an ally of theirs have attacked our colonies and caused considerable damage. They have taken two of our colony worlds and have not even had the decency to officially declare war on us.”
“That’s how the Varlon treat non-arthropod species sir,” said Wilder. “Do you intend to observe or to engage in combat? There is an old saying: an enemy of my enemy is my friend.”
There was a pause as new data streams were received and an image began to appear of a vaguely humanoid life form. Their skin was slightly bluish, they had smaller ears than humans, and they followed the bilateral symmetry of a humanoid form.
“I am Klein Harrolid, the leader of this Aharri survey expedition,” said the voice. “As we have recently been scanned by the Varlon, I have decided to aid you. We will engage the Varlon battlecruiser from the starboard position.”
Commodore Sheppard passed Andor’s station and noted his activities then moved toward Captain Wilder’s station in order to exchange communications with these Aharri.
“Hello,” he said, “I am acting Fleet Admiral Robert Sheppard, and I would like to thank you for your offer of assistance. I don’t recognize your species. You must be from coreward or periphery ward in the galaxy, and I’m guessing you probably live not that far from a boarder with the Varlon.
“Yes the Varlon have again begun encroachment of our space,” replied Harrolid.
“In any case, my ships are now almost in optimal firing range on the Varlon ship I suggest you try to get a targeting solution, or if you have problems with targeting solutions, try manual detonations if you choose to use torpedoes. We will talk later, Sheppard out.”
The communication image dissipated.
Sheppard said, “Captain Wilder, please observe them to make sure they don’t turn on us.”
“Aye, sir,” replied Wilder. “Ahead sub-light engines to full, accelerate to zero point five light speed.”
“Yes, sir,” replied first officer York.
The J-class had now come into firing range of the Phoenix and most of the other ships as the Varlon J-class battlecruiser was now at ten light-seconds distance or about four million kilometers. On the main screen, the J-class was engaging the Lompoc and the Victory. The sensor indicated they were taking a beating from Varlon plasma cannons and multiple plasma torpedoes, with around a hundred terra joules of energy per torpedo. It was more than enough energy to cause critical systems damage.
The J-class and the Lompoc were exchanging several antimatter torpedoes. Both ships were using the heavy torpedoes with a few kilograms of antimatter. The shock waves emanating from point defenses exploding the torpedoes prematurely could be felt as vibrations by any nearby starship. Starfighters scattered to avoid those shockwaves. The J-class sent a few torpedoes toward the strike cruiser Platus as well, as it was somewha
t closer than the Phoenix. Three torpedoes that successfully struck and penetrated the protective shields and screens did some critical systems damage along multiple areas of the ship.
“Charge the Nova Gun,” said Sheppard to Wilder. “We can’t afford to lose too many ships or crew. At this range, I want to make the energy count. We do have the power reserves, even though the Nova weapon takes up enough energy that most of the main disruptors and particle cannons will power down.”
“Yes, sir,” replied Wilder. “In the meantime, our point defense array can continue to operate, and we will keep trying to get targeting solutions and launch our heavy antimatter torpedoes.”
Wilder gave orders to the helm officer. “Charge the Nova cannon’s spinal mount, and prepare the fusion generators for particle release,” ordered Wilder.
“Get us a targeting solution, Commander Zachary,” said Sheppard, who had moved next to the helm officer.
The crew recognized that Commodore Sheppard was a very hands-on type of officer, and there had been no actual combat tests of the Nova Cannon in the Phoenix yet.
“Sir, the output angle and the Nova weapon’s expansion effect will likely hit the Varlon easily at this range,” replied Zachary. “I will verify a manual target; the computer keeps discounting the targeting solution.”
During this time, the swift Aharri ships moved in toward the starboard side of the Varlon battlecruiser. It appeared as if the Varlon was going to turn toward them, but instead it released or discharged a red field resembling a cloud of particles and targeted nanobotcontaining torpedoes at the ships. The Aharri cruisers maneuvered to avoid the trap, but one of the ships passed through the edge of the cloud, and one of the nanobot-containing torpedoes struck another area of that same ship.
About a minute after the order to charge the Nova Gun was initiated, the chief engineer called to the bridge. “Sir, Nova weapon is charged and ready,” said Commander O’Brien. “Spinal mount discharge stabilization and ship recoil support active.”