The burden of command, p.37
The Burden of Command, page 37
part #14 of Empire Rising Series
“Former Governor Varma is actually trying to open a COM channel to you Admiral,” a COM officer reported.
James glanced at the Flex-aor fleet. They were still about ten minutes away from the point where he could begin his plan. “Very well, put her through,” he replied.
“Admiral,” the former Governor said, scorn completely absent from her voice. Instead, she spoke with an earnestness James hadn’t heard from her before. “I have watched your fleet’s engagement with the enemy so far, and I wish to thank you for your efforts to this point. I see the Flex-aor are quickly approaching. I wanted to let you and your ships know that the hopes and prayers of the people of New Delhi will be with you as you stand between us and certain death.”
“Thank you,” James said, taken aback at her words. “I know it must cost you to speak like that to us. My people will understand the genuineness of your concern for us.”
“I’ve had it explained to me what you intend to attempt,” Varma replied. “I’m no tactician, but I understand at least in part. Your force is risking everything to give us a chance. I may have my disagreements with you Admiral, but I will not disparage your courage, nor that of your fleet’s.”
“I hear you have done well evacuating your people. If it comes to it, you will have saved many lives,” James said. “But let us hope the courage and skill of my people will mean your efforts will have been for nothing.”
Varma nodded, and even smiled a little. “For once, I couldn’t agree with you more Admiral. Thank you for your time. I will owe you a drink when this is all over. But do not let me distract you any further.”
“I will hold you to that,” James replied as he found himself smiling slightly as well. “Farewell.” Varma gave him one final nod and then cut the COM channel. James turned to Davenport. “That was unexpected. See that Varma’s words are sent to the fleet.”
“Of course Admiral,” Davenport responded as she gestured to her COM officer.
James waited several more minutes as he resumed watching the Flex-aor fleet approach. “It’s almost time,” he said as he sat up straighter in his command chair. “Open a COM channel to Home Fleet.” When the channel was open, James took a breath and then stared unblinkingly at the holo recorders. “Men and women of the Imperial Fleet. You all know me; you all know what I and my generation accomplished against the Karacknids two decades ago. For most of you, war is a new experience. So far this day, you have all handled yourselves admirably. Now however, the real test comes. The Flex-aor may not be the Karacknids, but the threat they pose to New Delhi is as serious as any Human world has ever faced. As even a child could tell, we are badly outnumbered. Yet we have all committed our lives to the Imperial Fleet. We have trained for many years to prepare ourselves for moments like these. I want each of you to look around at those to your left and right. Do not lose sight of who you are fighting for, and who you are fighting with. We are the Imperial Fleet. We have faced Karacknid invasion fleets thousands of ships strong and not backed down. We have advanced right to the heart of the Karacknid Empire and won our freedom.” James paused as he shook his head. “No Flex-aor fleet is going to take that from the people of New Delhi. Not while we are here. We may have come to put down a secessionist rebellion, but citizens of New Delhi, those loyal or even those who may not be, are still human. They are our people. Let us show the Flex-aor that they cannot be snuffed out like unwanted bugs. Let us meet them in battle! It is an honor for me to lead you into battle. Do not waver, and you will not disappoint me, nor our Empire.” For a moment, James stared at the holo recorder to let everyone in the fleet see his resolve. Then, with a gesture, he ordered the COM channel ended. “This is it then,” he said to Davenport and her staff officers. “Break orbit, take us out.”
“Aye Admiral,” Davenport said, passion filling her voice. “You heard him,” she said to her officers. “Let us blast these scum to smithereens!”
James watched as, with a renewed vigor, Oblivion’s officers got the dreadnought and the rest of Home Fleet moving. As the holo display showed however, not just Home Fleet, but every ship in James’ command began to break orbit. Two hundred and fifty-six secessionist ships had been joined to his force. A further one hundred and forty freighters and yachts had been commandeered and armed with point defenses. What kept James’ focus though, were the twenty-six orbital battlestations that also began to move. Far slower than even a bulky freighter, they gradually moved out of their orbits. Though it couldn’t be seen from the angle James was looking at them from, he knew each battlestation had four freighters welded onto the underside of their superstructures. The freighters’ engines were pushing them out of orbit. Around the battlestations, other unarmed freighters also started to move. Long wires stretched out behind them as they towed more than two hundred small defense satellites with them. Though the satellites had no long-range offensive weaponry, they were designed to bolster New Delhi’s battlestations’ defensive fire.
With his mismatched fleet all keeping formation with one another, they broke out of New Delhi’s orbit and slowly moved towards the Flex-aor fleet. Oblivion’s nose pointed directly at the heart of the Flex-aor’s formation. James was making his intentions crystal clear. If the Flex-aor wanted to get into missile range of New Delhi, they had to go through his force. Either his ships would blast the Flex-aor apart before they could attack the colony, or Home Fleet would be wiped out, and then New Delhi destroyed. There was no more time or space for James to carry out any additional tricks. The one thing he couldn’t allow, was for the Flex-aor to get into range to engage New Delhi’s defenses, for they would undoubtedly try to slip some nuclear warheads past the colony’s defensive fire. James had to take the battle to them. Now all he could do was trust in the weapons technologies and the skills of the people he had spent the last two decades preparing.
“We’re entering missile range with our mark VII’s,” a tactical officer reported.
“Fire as soon as we can,” Davenport responded.
Seconds later and the Imperial ships and battlestations fired three thousand eight hundred missiles at the Flex-aor. As soon as they could, a second salvo was released, and then a third. “Switching to mark VIII’s,” someone called out, just before the fourth salvo was fired.
Barely a minute before the first salvo reached the Flex-aor fleet, they fired their first group of missiles. Nearly seven thousand new contacts appeared on the holo plot tracking towards James’ fleet. He swallowed when he saw the number, for he knew each missile would break apart to the release as many as ten more. Still, before they reached Oblivion, James got to watch his first salvo strike home. As each successive wave of mark VII’s got close to the Flex-aor fleet, they broke apart, releasing four smaller antimatter missiles each. Hundreds of thousands of laser beams were fired at them. Thousands were destroyed before they could cause any damage. Yet enough from each salvo survived to fill the Flex-aor fleets formation with bright blue balls of death.
Next, it was the turn of the first mark VIII missiles. Not having to get as close to the Flex-aor, more of them survived to detonate and hurl overpowered laser beams into the Flex-aor ships. Oblivion’s sensors detected too many hits for James to fully count. Before he could assess just how badly damaged the Flex-aor fleet had been, their first salvo finally closed to attack range. Like his own mark VII’s, the Flex-aor missiles were programmed to break apart before entering point defensive range of James’ fleet. Yet many of them didn’t get the chance. James had pushed all of his gun ships ahead of the fleet, hidden in stealth. As Flex-aor missiles passed them, they revealed themselves as they sprang into life and hurled thousands of laser beams at the missiles. Hundreds were destroyed. Sensing the danger they were in, the Flex-aor missiles either began to carry out evasive maneuvers or released their smaller missiles early. Both actions disrupted the coordinated fire of the Flex-aor attack.
Even so, as thousands of missiles began to enter point defense range, James knew his fleet was in trouble. Sure enough, despite everything his fleet hurled at them, Flex-aor missiles breached their defensive fire. Around Oblivion, warships, civilian freighters and battlestations began to die. When the explosions ceased, and Oblivion’s sensors were once again able to see beyond the dreadnought’s immediate vicinity, the next Flex-aor salvo was just minutes away. James’ eyes sought it out first on the holo display, then snapped to the Flex-aor fleet. Another one of his salvos was already attacking them. James watched as more Flex-aor ships died. Then his own fleet, back in formation, fired again. This time, an even larger missile salvo was accelerated towards the Flex-aor. Finally, the secessionists’ ships were close enough to be able to use their missiles. The missiles barely left their tubes however, before the secessionists’ ships and the rest of James’s force had to open up with their point defenses again. As more Flex-aor missiles reached attack range and began to detonate, James winced. Three battlestations and five Imperial ships were blown apart. Nearly three times as many secessionist and civilian ships were destroyed as well. His force was being whittled away far too quickly!
Desperately, he checked the range to the Flex-aor fleet. With his force moving so slowly because of the battlestations, they still weren’t in energy weapon range yet. Three more salvos, James said to himself as he judged the distance. His fleet had to survive three more salvos. James began to doubt himself. Each enemy salvo was reducing the effectiveness of his fleet’s defensive fire. Yes, he was hurting the Flex-aor as well, but as he looked at their fleet, he guessed they had nearly six hundred ships still fully operational. He was losing ships almost as fast as they were. Yet they had the numerical advantage, he couldn’t afford a like-for-like trade!
In desperation, James glanced around at his officers. Davenport and the rest were focused on their own tasks however. His eyes then looked back to the holo plot. The strategic situation was set. There was nothing he could do. There is one thing, James told himself. He hated the idea, yet he knew it had to be done. “Order the civilian and secessionists’ ships to push ahead of Home Fleet,” he ordered. “They are to absorb any missiles that make it through our point defensive fire. Our warships must survive to enter energy weapon range.”
“Understood Admiral,” Davenport replied at once. “We will see it done.”
James felt dirty for giving the order. Putting others in front of Oblivion to die in his place felt wrong. We might all be dead soon enough, he thought. Though it didn’t ease his conscience any.
“The enemy fleet is altering course!” a sensor officer called out.
James’ eyes snapped to the Flex-aor fleet. The sensor officer hadn’t been mistaken. The Flex-aor were turning up and away from their direct route to New Delhi. “What?” He couldn’t help demanding.
“They are altering course,” the officer repeated, not realizing just what James was saying.
James shared a glance with Davenport. It made no sense. No sense at all! The Flex-aor were winning. Their numbers were taking their toll on Home Fleet. “It has to be a trick,” he said, though he was not sure exactly how. Within seconds, it became clear, however. As everyone on Oblivion’s bridge watched, the Flex-aor fleet began to split into two. One hundred and seven of their ships suddenly increased their acceleration rates and moved ahead of the main body of Flex-aor warships.
“Frigates,” Davenport said as soon as Oblivion’s sensors identified them. “They’re all frigates.”
James recognized what was happening right away. “They’re going to try and loop them around us to strike at New Delhi,” he warned, his voice faltering. He could see it now. He was going to have to order his faster ships to turn and decelerate. Every Imperial warship would have to try and race back to New Delhi to beat the Flex-aor frigates. Yet in the meantime, the main Flex-aor fleet could decelerate itself and continue to pummel the battlestations and secessionist ships. They would be destroyed with ease. Yes, Home fleet could probably catch the Flex-aor frigates and wipe them out. Yet then the main Flex-aor fleet would come for them. Though James could see what was about to play out, he had no choice. He couldn’t let the frigates reach New Delhi. Their missiles would saturate the defenses of the battlestations still in orbit and rain down on the colony’s cities. Deflated, James sank back into his command chair. He opened his mouth to give the order he knew he must. A COM officer stopped him.
“I’m sorry Admiral, it’s Wing Commander Jensen. She has demanded to be put right through to you.”
Before James could respond, Jensen’s face filled Oblivion’s bridge. “Don’t worry about those frigates Admiral, we have got them.” On the holo plot, ninety-four new contacts sprang into life.
“Jensen’s fighters!” James said, relief flooding over him. “Yes, Wing Commander, you go get them!” Even as he watched, they began to rapidly accelerate after the frigates. James nodded. It was a risk. If Jensen didn’t kill enough of the frigates, the survivors might still be able to overwhelm the six orbital battlestations still at New Delhi. Yet it was a risk he would have to take. “Alter course, pursue the main Flex-aor fleet. I still want to close with them,” he ordered. His original plan still had a chance of working. The Flex-aor weren’t charging right for New Delhi, but they weren’t retreating either.
As his ships turned to continue to pursue the Flex-aor, James couldn’t help but look at the groups of missiles moving between each fleet. His ships still had a long way to go to get to energy weapon range. But we are going to make it, he told himself even as Oblivion’s point defenses began to fire once again. We have to! For if Jensen managed to stop the Flex-aor frigates, he was sure the main enemy fleet would resume its charge for New Delhi once again. He had to have destroyed them by then.
*
Though she knew she shouldn’t, Georgia couldn’t help but watch as missile salvo after missile salvo crashed into her father’s fleet. Her focus should have been solely on the frigates Jensen’s attack wing was pursuing. Yet she couldn’t stop herself. Even as her Hellcat’s engines were screaming at her in protest as she red-lined them, and targeting data was coming in from Jensen’s fighter, Georgia watched as the Flex-aor missiles scored proximity hits on Oblivion. She winced as the thermonuclear energy washed over Oblivion’s shields. A sigh of relief passed her lips when the dreadnought continued on without drawing any outward signs of damage.
A beep from her fighter drew her eyes back in front of her. Focus, she warned herself. The beep was telling her she was approaching energy weapon range of the Flex-aor frigates. Currently, they were looping high up over her father’s fleet relative to New Delhi. It would take them nearly forty-five minutes to circle the Allied Fleet whilst keeping out of missile range and reach New Delhi. At least, if Jensen left them alone, they would. We have to take them, Georgia demanded. She had spoken to Jonathan about what he had seen at Chennai. The scars he carried had been visible. Georgia didn’t want to have to carry around her own.
Forcing her concerns for her father and Jonathan aside, Georgia sought out the frigate that had been assigned to her. Disengaging her autopilot, she threw her fighter into a series of random evasive maneuvers. In her mind, she summoned an image of a mushroom cloud igniting over New Delhi’s capital. The image made her teeth grind together. Her vision narrowed and the Flex-aor frigate consumed her attention. Though her fingers and wrists never stopped twisting and weaving her fighter, Georgia was acting on instinct. Her father and brother were forgotten, even her concern for her own life disappeared. Only one thing mattered, taking out the enemy frigate.
As enemy defensive fire started to zip past Georgia’s Hellcat, she didn’t falter. Even as some of her wing mates were blown apart, she continued on. The moment her Hellcat beeped to inform her she was in range, she depressed the trigger on her flight stick twice. Two missiles accelerated from their racks towards the frigate. Unlike before, Georgia didn’t pull up. Instead, she continued to twist and weave. The Flex-aor frigate switched its fire to both of her missiles. One was blown apart within seconds. Georgia screamed in rage. Then she depressed her second trigger, sending hundreds of laser beams from her two small cannons towards the frigate. They weren’t powerful enough to punch through the frigate’s armor, yet they caused small explosions as they struck the frigate’s hull. Sensor nodes and weapon points exploded when they were hit. Her fire caused enough confusion to throw off the defensive gunners’ aim. Charging in right behind her missile, Georgia escorted it right to its target. Only at the last second did she pull up, fighting with her flight stick as she tried to get out of range of her missile’s detonation.
The sudden blooming of a blue antimatter ball bathed her cockpit in light. More alarms blared as her shields were sucked away. For a split second, Georgia thought she was next. But then, her fighter’s momentum raced her ahead of the antimatter wave. Within another second the matter stopped advancing and quickly disappeared. When it did, the Flex-aor frigate was gone. Georgia punched the air as she yelled in delight. She yelled again when she glanced at her sensors and saw at least seventy of the Flex-aor frigates had been taken out. The rest were pulling up and away from New Delhi, unwilling to try and engage its battlestations alone.
*
Despite the death and destruction that surrounded Oblivion, James couldn’t help the relief that hit him when he saw so many of the Flex-aor frigates taken out. Just as much relief washed over him when it was confirmed Georgia’s Hellcat had survived the attack. Deeply thankful that at least one of his children would survive the battle, he slowly turned his head back to the Flex-aor fleet. Another one hundred of their ships had been taken out by the constant missile salvos striking at them. His fleet had lost almost as many ships. They were now down to the last eight battlestations. Yet Home Fleet was just ten minutes away from entering energy weapon’s range. Movement from the Flex-aor fleet made him sit up in his command chair. They were altering course again. James frowned. He shook his head. No! The Flex-aor were completely turning away from New Delhi. They were trying to disengage!
