The Icarian Legacy Collected Edition: Brave Souls - First Strike (Volume 3)

by Kocho Trajchevski

  As the rounds hit the armor managed to deflect the first few but the energy they released was too great. And there were too many to stop. The second wave broke through and the ships started exploding.

  Lukhma just closed her eyes.

  “Gods protect the ones I love…Protect Kobark, the clan and the empire.”

  As she said her prayer the ship shook. She felt the vibrations as the shield went active. But even that gave it just few moments more. The first round to break through broke on its stern. It was followed by three more that literally cut that section of the ship. As the ship spun a round hit the open decks. The energy it released exploded inwards inside the ship blowing decks and overloading its reactors.

  By the time the ship blew all of its crew was long dead.

  Of the twenty one ships just two ships managed to survive but they did with so many damages that they were just drifting hulks and the crew was faced with the worst fate they could imagine dying when the air ran out and watching as their friends died around them.

  They watched in horror as the bases exploded just like the ships as slugs hit them delivering their kinetic payload.

  And all the time the only question in their mind was who?

  Kobark saw the legionary that rushed in to the room.

  He was reading the report about the third fleet group that was supposed to stop and pick up thirty legions that were placed on this world in the past months. Lukhma and her fleet would join them.

  The legionary bowed and gave him the note.

  As he read the note he stood up and started speaking. As he did the sky above the planet exploded. And then he saw his world end as the kinetic rounds impacted.

  While the fleet didn’t notice them the kinetic rounds became visible the moment they hit the planets atmosphere.

  The planetary defenses reacted at once. Weapon batteries started firing at once. But the attempts to activate the shields failed.

  The rebel cells helped by the human teams on the world did their duty. The shield generators exploded the moment they tried to activate them. And most of them were powered by planetary generators that took the first hits.

  The batteries tried but in the end they were too little to late. They destroyed hundreds of rounds but there were thousands. And even more came after them.

  One by one every city and base on Arcadia died.

  There were almost two hundred ships in orbit around Arcadia. A good part of them were in the space docks that orbited the planet.

  They were the first to die as the MAC Rounds hit.

  Most of their crew was on the station that was being literally cut to pieces.

  In just two minutes ninety three ships were destroyed and literally the entire dacarian satellite network was destroyed.

  Ormak looked in horror as the space docks blew up taking half his force with them.

  And even as they exploded the ships around Arcadia started dying.

  The dreadnought shook as several rounds hit it.

  Then he was thrown from the seat as the entire ship shook. The blast doors closed behind him and he knew that the ship had hull breaches.

  The consoles exploded and pieces from the deck above them fell down crushing several officers including his second in command. A large piece missed him by centimeters.

  He stood up and checked him self for injuries.

  “Report.”

  “Sir we have major hull breaches on decks ten through twenty nine and the reactor three suffered major damage.”

  The ship shook again as another round hit it.

  But after this the shaking slowed as the shields were activated.

  “Give me a status on the fleet.”

  “Sir we have only twenty three ships remaining.”

  He gulped.

  “What about the other dreadnoughts.”

  “The Amarea is heavily damaged but they managed to activate their shields and are moving to a new position.”

  He looked at the status of the other dreadnought but even as he watched she rocked from hundred of strikes. He could see her shield flashing and going down and then the dreadnought exploded. He noticed the large round impacting her middle and literally cutting the ship in two.

  He knew that the battle was over.

  But he had to do something, if only he could hold for a day or two the third fleet group will reach this world.

  “Tell the surviving ships to form on us. And give me the status of our planetary forces.”

  But even as he asked he knew the answer.

  He could see the flashes and he could imagine the explosions and the devastation. He knew because he took part in the past in bombarding enemy worlds. But he never imagined that he would witness a dacarian world dying.

  “Sir every city and planetary base has been hit. They are destroyed.”

  “May the gods help us…who did this?”

  Levin and Simonson watched as their shots stroke their targets. Some of the ships managed to survive but everything else, the planetary bases, cities, space stations…everything was destroyed. The information’s Excelsior gathered and the update from the drones they launched gave them a real time update of the enemy forces.

  “We have twenty two ships remaining. One is breaking free and trying to move out.”

  Simonson smiled.

  “Execute the jump”

  A moment later ninety ships that were under his command jumped.

  A inter system jump is dangerous and hard to do. Too many planetary bodies, gravitational pulls and too many unknown variables, but there were no secrets for the ships that jumped. Not in this system.

  The jump was short.

  Ten minutes later they appeared one hundred thousand kilometers before the planet and the moment they acquired their enemies, the thirteen B-30 fortress ships went to rapid fire. And the other ships joined them.

  Simonson flashed a predatory smile as he saw the enemy ships try to avoid the coming storm.

  Ormak gasped as the enemy ships appeared on his sensors. The sensors marked them as unknowns. He could see the weapon placements the armor configuration…They were not as advanced as the dacarian ships but they were deadly.

  If he could only hold out for one more day, that was the thought that crossed his mind before the enemy fleet appeared. And he could read from the long range sensors that there were hundreds more out there waiting.

  He had to send a warning…

  Even as that thought crossed his mind he noticed the Kimarion, a heavy cruiser under the command of Sakara a young officer he just promoted trying to do just that.

  But the enemy saw him too.

  Hundreds of missiles hit it. It still went but then the main guns on the enemy ships opened up.

  He saw the cruisers shield go down and a moment later the hull simply exploded. The ship kept moving for several seconds on inertia and then it exploded.

  “Order all ships to close the range. And no one is to stop if they can get through tell them to jump.”

  The order went out at once.

  He felt the vibrations as the dreadnought accelerated.

  “I want full scans of those ships. I want to know who they are.”

  But as they approached two more ships jumped in. And the moment they did the dreadnought sensors lit up recognizing the configuration.

  “By the gods the Alterans are back…”

  Those were his last words.

  Both cruisers targeted the dreadnought and fired their primary weapons.

  Energy weapons a thousand times stronger then anything the humans still had hit the dreadnought the moment the MAC rounds and the rail gun rounds hit it.

  The shields collapsed after several seconds.

  As the ship died around him Ormak watched as his own fire hit the enemy ships. He saw their shield flair and hold.

  That was his last sight as the dreadnought exploded.

  The entire engagement lasted just three minutes.

  After that no dacarian ship rema
ined in the system.

  “Enemy ships destroyed. Tell the rest of the fleet that they can jump in while we clear the trash on the planet.”

  Levin watched the face of Simonson as he delivered his report and ordered the message to be transmitted to the ships waiting two light years out.

  The two corvettes that stood on picket duty on the edge of the system jumped out the moment they received the message.

  Simonson turned to his communications officer.

  “Try to get hold of major Rivers and our boys down there I think they’ve been alone long enough.”

  He turned towards his XO.

  “And send in the marines.”

  His second in command smiled and gave the order.

  “Sir we have a message from the planet.”

  “Let’s hear it.”

  “Yes sir.”

  “Human ships orbiting Arcadia greetings. We are requesting immediate assistance and both ground and orbital support. I’m transmitting you the coordinates and also the coordinates for the enemy positions.”

  “Who is this?”

  “My name is general Egert from the free city of Ksamona.”

  Simonson nodded. He was the general that was mentioned in Major Rivers report.

  “Hang on general. Help is coming. And the fleet will clear the road.”

  “DO we have the coordinates for an orbital strike?”

  “Yes sir but they are close to the rebel positions.”

  “Then let us be precise.”

  “Organa can you hit the dacarian positions without endangering our new allies?”

  The AI looked at him.

  “I’ll deliver your package at once admiral.”

  The ship shook as the rail guns fired. As the Yorktown fired so did several other ships.

  Several seconds later they could notice mushroom clouds on the planet below.

  “Sir Admiral Jennings and his fleet are here. They are starting to deploy the marine regiment.”

  “Deploy our units as well. We did our job it’s time for the marines and the army to do theirs.”

  Jennings watched as hundreds of drop ships launched. He could see the assault ships carrying the marines entering the planet.

  They would establish two LZ.

  The primary would be on the main continent a location that placed them in ideal opened position between the enemy slave camps. The second would be close to the only base they didn’t bombard. The base they had to take the old fashioned way.

  “Sir we established communications with Major Rivers.”

  “Thank you. Patch him through.”

  A moment later they could hear shouting and then Rivers answered.

  “Mother bear can you confirm package.”

  “Package received and delivered Major.”

  “It’s good to hear you again Sam.”

  “The same goes from everyone here Major…And sorry for your men.”

  There was a moment of silence.

  “Thank you sir, they died good.”

  “We are sending shuttles to your positions Major. It’s time for you boys to come home.”

  “If you don’t mind sir we would like to finish our job first. One base is still standing.”

  “The marines will take care of it Major. But if you like I think they would accept a little help from you.”

  “Thank you sir.”

  “Good luck son.”

  “Sir general Barrett reports his troops are on the ground.”

  He nodded.

  “Go to yellow alert. I think it’s time we relax a little.”

  Captain Anders nodded.

  The Patton was his new flagship. He admired the power and intellectually he knew that it was far stronger and safer than the Excelsior but he missed the cruiser and the crew.

  He spent more then a year with them and got used to all their pranks and jokes. And above all he missed Aria.

  The crew was sharp. It was obvious that Anders trained them good, and just like on the Excelsior most of them were young.

  The first part of their mission was over…

  Barrett watched as the marines spread out. They moved fast like they always did clearing the perimeter and expanding the LZ.

  He smiled.

  He was expecting much worse. But the fleet did its job well. He knew that there was almost a legion of the enemy in the base that was his primary target but he also knew that they would stay put. He had teams watching for any movement but so far there was none. There were dacarian units spread out in the jungle but they represented no danger. The rebels were hunting them.

  Two marine divisions were supposed to land near the rebel fortress and help them clear the dacarian legionaries. He was about to contact them when he saw Rivers approaching.

  “It’s good to see you again Major. The admiral mentioned you have men inside that base.”

  Rivers smiled.

  “You know the Brits sir. They have to be close to the fire…”

  Barrett smiled.

  “Will they be able to open the gates?”

  “Davis thinks the answer is yes. I guess will know in the next 24 hours. If not he said we could use the way they went in. The problem is we’ll need a month to go in that way.”

  Barrett nodded.

  He knew about that entrance. Davis sent all the information in his last communication. But it was nota an option he considered.

  He turned to one of the officers.

  “Lieutenant Dane will show you to their quarters.”

  Rivers nodded and knowing he was dismissed followed the marine.

  Abbot rushed out of the drop ship as soon as it hit the ground. All around him the other marines did the same. The enemy opened fire at once. He could see that they knew they were trapped. The ground was blasted and hot, a result from the kinetic strike from the fleet. He wondered how many of them died when it hit. Judging by the numbers they faced not enough.

  The drop ships rose and opened up on the enemy positions from above. He saw the Assault transport landing. As it did its point defense shredded the enemy ranks.

  As soon as it landed choppers and tanks started coming out and after them the marines followed.

  “Sir we have a heavy concentration on the eastern perimeter and there are signs that some enemy units managed to get deeper in to the city.”

  “The armored and air units will help us clear them here.”

  He turned towards his XO.

  “Tell the second armor brigade that they should clear the eastern perimeter.

  “Yes sir.”

  Marines fell down all over the place as the well placed enemy fire hit their positions. It was obvious that the dacarians were fighting to the death. And considering what happened just moments before he couldn’t blame them.

  “Ok tell the boys it’s time we finish this. Move out.”

  All along the front marines moved. As they did their armor, artillery and air support opened up on the enemy forcing them down.

  The progress was slow but soon the dacarians were forced to fight on two fronts as they were hit in the back from the rebels.

  In the end none of them survived.

  And eight hundred marines lost their lives.

  Henderson watched as the reports from the units already on the ground came in. A third LZ was established close to the rebel base.

  The units were going down at a faster rate now that there was no danger. The enemy base was surrounded. They were still buttoned down not showing them self but Major Davis reported of heavy fortifications and a well prepared legion.

  The fleet was spread in position above the planet watching for any enemy activity. If all went as planned he expected to finish the mission in one week. Far faster then it was previously planned. His units started liberating the camps on the planet. At least those where there were slaves that were still alive. In many places the dacarians started killing them the moment the world was attacked. It just showed that they were an enemy that deserves no
mercy.

  He raised his head as a soldier entered.

  “Sir Admiral Levin has asked for all senior officers to join him on the Hyperion at 20 hundred hours.”

  Henderson nodded.

  “Thank you lieutenant, inform General Barrett that the moment the second division hits the ground I want the attack to start.”

  “Yes sir.”

  The soldier closed the door and Henderson returned to his papers.

  So far about thirty percent of the units were on the ground. He planned to land just several more divisions. There was no need for a larger presence.

  As he finished he looked at the clock. He had five more hours. Enough time for a short rest.

  Zero hour…

  Levin watched as the captains of the ships and the commanders of the army units filled in.

  It was time to discuss the next phase of the plan and in a way celebrate their success. He planned to keep it brief.

  He never expected to hold this meeting this soon. But the developments down on the ground and in space were far better then even the best projections.

  The enemy fleet was destroyed, his ground forces were almost totally removed and the population decimated. And even as time went by he knew that the rebels and freed slaves were exterminating the last survivors.

  Simonson and Jennings were the last ones not present.

  He knew that several army generals as well as the marine commanders were absent but he expected that. And he knew that General Henderson spoke in their name.

  He looked at the clock.

  Five more minutes…

  Excelsior did its job good. They mapped all the ships, the transit routes of the ships entering and exiting the system, they even catalogued the warp points.

  But they couldn’t notice what they didn’t know.

  Arcadia was a transit hub. A planet where the Dacarian fleets stopped to resupply before continuing to their final destination the Lacarian Front.

  It was a front in which the Empire faced a dangerous foe, one whose resistance was far stronger then expected. The fleet losses were great. After thirty years of war finally they managed to break through their defenses and attack their core worlds. And the strong defenses forced the commanders on that front to ask for reinforcements.