The Raygin War

  “I accept the help you offer. I still want to know the reason why. Why you are so willing to help, when you don’t have to?”

  “But you see, we do have to help you. If you don’t win, we will not be allowed to live as we please. We believe the enemy you face may not be the enemy you should fear the most.”

  The tactical officer rushed to Mac and interrupted the conversation. “Sir, the probes indicate the Raygin fleet is on the move. They’re heading toward us.”

  “Damn, this is it! We will have to finish this conversation later. Com, initiate Thor’s Hammer.”

  “Aye sir, initiating Thor’s Hammer.”

  “Ayashe, you need to leave right now. Follow your natural instincts. I don’t have time to walk you down to your ship. I love you.” He hugged her, kissed her, and touched his forehead to hers. She had taught him the action represented a great show of affection with her people. “I won’t tell you to take no risks, but if you must, make sure the potential pay-off is worth it. Take care of yourself, and our little one.”

  Ayashe stepped into the elevator as activity on the bridge increased ten-fold. She heard Mac issuing orders to federation ships. She recalled the first time he called the operation Thor’s Hammer. She asked why he had chosen the unusual name. He said, “we are going to throw everything we have at them.” The sense of humor seemed to be a human trait found amongst both peoples.

  She appreciated his genius. He positioned the fleet and let the enemy probes see where they lay in wait. The Raygin fleet was moving in response to their last reports. Mac changed the human fleet’s entire formation. The elevator doors closed as the screens on the bridge flashed ship position information. With all the new preparations he told her in time he was sure they would win the war.

  She started thinking about her father. Losing him hurt. Now, she was leaving Mac. She had an overwhelming sense of anxiety. Tears dribbled down her cheeks. How had father remained sane after losing my mother? What did Apeiron mean saying the enemy we’re fighting is not the one we should fear most? My mind is like a trash heap. I need to focus. Focus Ayashe.

  She remembered lying in bed with Mac when he told her he wanted to start teaching her the Tao style of fighting. She laughed at him saying she was tired and not ready for one of his sexual workouts in the bedroom.

  In a gentle voice he said, “You lie here and relax.”

  She smiled at the memory. She knew Mac’s one-track mind and told him she was sure sex had nothing to do with Tao fighting. Her tears stopped trickling. It wasn’t sex he was after. He talked to her about how to clear her mind of clutter so she could focus at the task at hand. It was more than a fighting technique. It was a lifestyle he had told her. Train your mind every day.

  She walked through the mantra of meditation the old monk had taught Mac. She slowed her heartbeat to gain focus. For the first time, she could feel the baby’s heartbeat too. It is so strong. She identified her distractions and resolved her issues one by one. She felt an odd energy encompass her as she concentrated. In the end one thought remained, prepare for battle.

  When she arrived on the launch deck, it was a sight to see. Every launch tube contained a mix of fighters. If they had more time they all would have been the new design she loved so much.

  She heard someone yell her name.

  “Ayashe, over hear.”

  She scanned the rows of fighters until she saw a crewman waving his arms. He was holding her g-suit. She jogged over to him, grabbed the suit, and slipped into it. He directed her to a fighter. She walked up to it and noticed it already had a pilot’s name on the body. She hoped she wasn’t taking someone else’s ship. In the tradition of UFC fighters, a person close to the pilot gets to pick a nickname. For better or worse, the pilot is stuck with the name for their entire career.

  Ayashe read the pilot’s name. Tears formed in her eyes. It read “Sky Hawk” or in the People’s Nation language, “Mahpee Chatan”. Below the name was a headband with the twenty-three feathers she had earned in her life. Ayashe touched her forehead to her father’s name. She climbed into the fighter and strapped in. She turned on the gyro, turned on the com, and received a start engine signal from the launch crew. She looked around realizing she didn’t see Apeiron.

  A floating semi-transparent robot head appeared. “I am here, Ayashe. I loaded the coordinates of your fleet into the computer. You can fly manual or engage the autopilot once you clear the Constellation.

  “Command, this is Sky Hawk, tube Charlie three requesting permission to launch.”

  “Sky Hawk, this is command, cleared to launch from tube Charlie three, God speed.”

  Ayashe’s fighter flew out the tube, made a streaking left turn and disappeared into the blackness of space. “I think…I’ll pilot my own ship,” she said. “I need to get a better feel for how it operates.” Between jumps she put the little fighter through maneuver after maneuver.

  Each time it felt a little better. The ship was a little more responsive. “Is it me or is the fighter getting faster?” she asked Apeiron.

  “The nanobots are leaning how to better use the bioluminescent bacteria. I have detected an eight percent improvement in overall ship efficiency. Your reaction time has increased twelve percent. Your increase represents an impossibility in such a short time.”

  “What are you saying?”

  “You should be capable of improving your speed by three point two percent through muscle repetition. You have more than tripled that. It is impossible without outside influence.”

  “Could a sounder sleep be the cause?”

  “You misunderstand. I am not talking about your attentiveness. Each human body has an amount of electrical energy to send nerve impulses to control muscles. It also fires signals to or from the brain. The amount of electrical energy your body generates is increasing. It is causing you to think and move quicker. I cannot detect what is producing the phenomenon.”

  “My people believe in totems. They are spectral energies in the form of animals. As a baby, I was near death and had a cleansing performed by tribal elders. My father told me that he witnessed many spectral animals in the operating room with me. Sightings of these spectral animals standing next to me have occurred from time to time. Could the ancient stories have some truth to them?”

  “Perhaps. Have you observed any of them yourself?”

  “No, but Mac did. He didn’t tell me at the time because he thought it was his imagination.”

  The semi-transparent face of Apeiron looked at Ayashe as it contemplated what she said. “We will search our memories for answers. The Wasp is calling you.”

  “Sky Hawk, this is the Wasp.”

  Sure enough, it was the Wasp. She recognized Bodaway’s voice. “Wasp, this is Sky Hawk, go ahead.”

  “When you arrive, dock with the Wasp. We have a port designed for the new fighter. It is official. The War Council selected you as the new War Chief. The generals wait for your arrival. We continue to track the Raygin fleet and wait for your orders.”

  Ayashe made her required statement, acknowledging her selection. “I accept my place amongst the previous War Chiefs. I promise to honor all my relatives. I will listen to the Council of my people. When I sing my death song, I will not show fear in front of my enemy. I will support the telling of our past, for it reminds us where we came from.” In the old tradition of warriors, Ayashe let loose a blood curdling battle cry to instill confidence as they prepared to attack the enemy.

  “Your words have been heard and recorded. We wait for your arrival, chief,” said Bodaway.

  Tiny bumps formed on Ayashe’s skin at the base of her skull to the small of her back. The prophecy was unfolding before her eyes. I must help put an end this senseless war. The Ogarii have no respect for our lives. I shall have no respect for theirs.

  Her fleet keyed their transmitters and each ship played its war drums.

  Boom, boom, boom.

  The sound echoed throughout the universe’s first ring. The human r
ace was no longer divided. It was once again a single circle, unbroken by the old prejudices.

  When Ayashe arrived, she received bowls of red and black melted wax. She painted her war face in front of everyone. Bodaway placed a twenty-three feathered headpiece on her. It was all transmitted to the People’s Nation. She could feel the rush of adrenalin, like someone turned a switch on. The excitement was getting to her. Focus, she thought to herself. Focus. Get control. Save it for the enemy. Breathe, she told herself. She let out a breath and started to share her plan.

  “The main Raygin fleet has two large groups of Raygin ships on each flank. They plan to combine and cut off the human ship’s retreat. Our enemy’s problem is they attacked us, killed our people, yet they do not know we exist. What is the first law of war?

  The room was quiet. They were afraid to talk… not a good situation she thought. Time to change tactics. She walked in front of Admiral Sewati, stopped, and looked him in the eyes. He was a big man, like her father. “Admiral, my father often spoke of you. He considered you a great leader. A great military mind.”

  “Mahpee too was a great leader,” said Sewati.

  “I agree. He too is a great leader. Yet he counted on your council in anything war related, ship design, weapon systems, deployment of forces, and planetary defense systems. Is there anyone more knowledgeable than you in such matters?”

  “You would be hard pressed to find such a person.”

  “Forgive me Admiral Sewati, but I must prove a point.” In a move taught to her by Mac she chopped her hand onto a nerve located on the neck below the ear. As Sewati slumped unconscious she caught him and laid him down. An instant grumbling started. Did they lose their best admiral?

  “Tell me. What good is all that knowledge now?” They saw Sewati stirring and trying to get up. She experienced the same difficulty when Mac struck her vagus nerve to show her the effect of such a blow. She stooped over the admiral and helped him up. “We will do the same with the Ogarii. Take enough of them out so they cannot control the large Raygin fleet.” She hugged the admiral.

  The admiral understood. It was the quickest way to get everyone talking. He hugged Ayashe back. “You are a brutal war master, but I do have a few thoughts on how we should attack the enemy.”

  Everyone laughed. Many good discussions occurred, and the group chose the best plans. The People’s Nation fleet split into four groups. Twenty-five cruisers carrying the modified walkers would be the first to deploy. Their escort included fifty battleships loaded with a mix of both old and new fighters. Their targets were the lead ships in the trailing flank of Raygin ships. The rest the Peoples Nation ships would approach from behind and split into three attack groups. Each group would have cruisers capable of deploying walkers.

  The trap was set. Two hundred Raygin ships flew into the minefield before they understood their danger. Some walkers were engineered to lock onto gravitational wave targets displaying no associated visual confirmation. The fighters waited with engines off in the nothingness of space. When the walkers activated, it was the cue to start the battle. The cruisers and battleships made a jump into near space. Fighters attacked. The walkers identified and latched onto their targets shields. A few enemy ships tried to pulse their shields so they could fire at the walkers. They discovered the walkers could detonate faster than they could get a target lock.

  Six walkers were stationary, just hanging in the empty space located in the middle of the several Raygin ships. It could mean they had found some of the cloaked vessels. The Ogarii activated their shields. Four sleek ships appeared. Instead of slipping off, the walker continued to hold onto the shield and created a short. The weapon system on the modified mine required thirty seconds before it could create an opening in the shield and fire.

  Raygin fighters deployed with the intent to destroy the walkers hanging on the Ogarii vessels. The new fighters destroyed about forty Raygin fighters, as they attempted to pick off the walkers. The Raygin launched a swarm of hundreds of fighters. A few cruisers were waiting for the move and fired their large laser canons into the swarm of enemy fighters. The swarm turned into a large melted mass of metal flickering and flashing in the foreground.

  Because the Ogarii were dealing with their own threat, they were losing focus on the Raygin. The People’s Nation battleships made their move. They had learned much from the People of the Stars successes in their battle. The computer engineers dedicated part of each battleship’s semi-bioluminescent computer to targeting. It combined three technologies. The effect of the coordinated firing to hit the same target equaled the energy of planetary lasers. The Raygin shields couldn’t hold. The combined firepower started to rip the bug ships apart.

  Ayashe saw four Ogarii ships with their shields still up explode within the same second. The thirty seconds required to detonate seemed like an eternity. The Raygin battleships broke formation and started to run, causing total chaos. Ayashe let the fleeing ships go. She would not be distracted from attacking the lead group of Raygin ships trying to box the human fleet into a trap.

  The Ogarii realized the humans could see their cloaked ships, so they uncloaked. They were no longer priority targets of the mines. The two groups came face to face with near the same number of ships. The Ogarii used the big Raygin battleships as shields. They maneuvered within the Raygin fleet. This allowed their sleek ships to concentrate fire at a single People’s Nation battleship. The People’s Nation shields could not withstand multiple hits from the unusual Ogarii energy weapon.

  Ayashe lost two battleships. Their new computer adjusted and began to fire at the ships shielding the Ogarii. Unless something changed, it appeared they had come to a standoff. She was sure in time more Raygin ships would arrive. Focus. What would Mac do?

  Ayashe opened a link to Sewati. “Sewati, Ayashe here. I have a plan. Give me cover fire as I move in on the lead Ogarii ship. Be ready to fire at it.” She remembered Mac’s words. Risk must have a worthwhile pay off or don’t take it. Well, she thought, winning the battle for the human race was worth the risk.

  “We are ready. Proceed with your plan, chief.”

  Ayashe felt an exhilarating blast of adrenalin. She used the Raygin ships to hide her from view as she zigzagged her way toward the Ogarii. She was invisible to the big Raygin battleships. She wasn’t sure about the advanced Ogarii ships. Timing was everything. She cleared the last Raygin battle ship and accelerated. Her tiny fighter latched onto the Ogarii shield. The portal weapon triggered on contact. She began to see an increase in her shield strength. The Raygin fighters must have received a command because they came full speed at the Ogarii ship. They were heading right at her. The portal soaked up the energy the Ogarii poured into their shield and put it all into the little fighter. The Raygin fighters opened fire. Her shields held. Whew. That was too close.

  She loved using the manual controls. Moving her throttle forward to full power the tiny fighter nudged the bigger ship. It was all it took. Two battleships fired at the exposed Ogarii vessel. The drain on the Ogarii shields made their ship vulnerable. In a tight cocoon of Raygin ships, the command ship couldn’t maneuver. In a violent reaction, the ship split in half. Ayashe could see bodies floating into space as she accelerated toward the other Ogarii ships.

  The destruction of the Ogarii control ship caused the associated Raygin ships to leave the fight. The People’s battleships fired on the Raygin ships breaking formation. They were able to open a line of fire to the remaining the Ogarii ships. The Ogarii tried to lock their weapons onto the little fighter causing all their problems. Ayashe was too quick. They missed time and time again, often hitting their own Raygin ships.

  Her mind was clear as a bell. Somehow, she could feel the energy coming from enemy weapons as they tried to lock onto her fighter. She wreaked havoc on them until she started drawing too much fire. Even with her newfound super sensitivity she knew it’s time to leave. The gyro moved her seat ninety degrees as the fighter shot away from the hotbed of laser and plasma fi
re. She caught her reflection in the pilot bubble. Impossible. Behind her left shoulder was a large semi-transparent wolf. It couldn’t be, there was no room! She had to zigzag some more to avoid becoming a target. When she looked again, the wolf was gone.

  She returned her attention to the battle in time to see her battleships and cruisers destroy a second Ogarii ship. The Raygin recalled their fighters. The big bug ships formed a wall around the two remaining Ogarii vessels. They sacrificed their outer ships to allow the Ogarii to exit the battle without taking losses. To escape, they jumped as a group, using their singularity drives.

  “Sewati, Ayashe here. Do not chase them. Have the fleet take up defensive positions. Assign a couple of cruisers to collect the remnants from the Ogarii ships. Pick up all survivors including Raygin. I’ll stay out here and help.

  “I understand, Ayashe. What’s our next step?”

  “We were lucky. Each battle they see more of our tactics and the capabilities of our weapons. The next engagement won’t be so easy. We move to attack the Raygin ships flanking the human fleets the opposite side. We must prevent a pincer style attack or a block of their escape route.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN: Clash of Fleets

  The vids Apeiron sent Mac of both engagements were telling. He learned the Ogarii controlled a limited number of Raygin ships per command vessel. The Raygin leaving formation must have been the ones controlled by the destroyed command ships. Their first instinct seemed to be to run and save their own lives.

  Ayashe confused the Ogarii crew when she attacked the command ship. Mac believed the confusion occurred as they took resources away from controlling the Raygin to assess their own threat. During those few seconds he saw several Raygin ships break formation and run. He brought up the display panel on Ayashe’s ship.

  The shield strength on the fighter as it drained energy from the Ogarii ship was high. Not because the Ogarii used more power but because the fighter was so small. He looked at the data from the Ogarii ship and the Constellation. He realized both produced the same energy for their shields. Since the Ogarii shields were stronger, it meant the strength came from the exterior surface’s density.