Counter strike offensive.., p.20
Counter Strike: Offensive: Book 3, page 20
The hull groaned in protest as the megaton battleship jinked in randomized patterns and with impossible gracefulness.
"We dodged another MAAC!" the sensor operator called out.
"That means their chambers are empty! Standby for full thrust!" Bjorn/Helga called out.
With quantum eyes, Bjorn/Helga watched through the vantage of the sensor array's raw data, and in his mind's eye, the battle space was rendered in 3D. Fenrir rocketed toward the enemy battleship. An Apex cruiser tried to cut him off, but Bjorn/Helga snapped the stasis shields into place and rammed right through it like a hot knife through butter, scattering debris in all directions like shrapnel from a fragmentation grenade.
Seconds later, Bjorn/Helg snapped the shields out of place so he could re-apply thrust, but the enemy battleship wasn't cooperating. It had jinked and repositioned. Ramming wouldn't work, as the cruiser strike had bled off his inertia, and the distance was too short to build up enough momentum to do any meaningful damage to the enemy behemoth.
"MAAC is reloaded!" the weapons control officer reported. "Solution achieved; Firing MAAC,"
The deck plating shook as the slug ripped through the void, slamming into the enemy battleship just aft of the prow, causing it to lazily tumble until the steering thrusters engaged to counter its rotation and right the ship. But the damage was done, and other ships, including a Chartean dreadnaught, moved in to surround the stricken vessel.
"Temporal anomaly detected!" the sensor operator called out. "Enemy battleship... make those two enemy battleships! Bearing zero-eight-nine; up bubble one-two; range forty-two nautical miles,”
"They're singling us out," Bjorn said. "That was a mistake,"
The stasis shields snapped into place, and the battleship traveled on a ballistic trajectory as the shields prevented the ship from applying thrust when engaged.
His plan was simple. Let the enemy ships engage.
The first MAAC round impacted the shields, flaring them to brilliant white light, but they held, nonetheless. Another round struck the shields, and Fenrir was knocked in a different direction, colliding with an Apex destroyer escort. The smaller ship had no chance, and its hull was smashed from prow to stern.
"Two down, two to go," Bjorn/Helga said. But the enemy got wise and held their fire. The three battleships converged into a loose formation, with the first venting atmosphere.
"Call out to our escorts; we need an assist," Bjorn/Helga called out.
"Yes, sir!" the comms suite operator reported. "Message sent,"
Seconds later, the two cruisers in tow unleashed their lone MAAC cannons. One round missed the enemy by inches, but the second found purchase, clipping the prow of one of the two new arrivals.
"MAAC is twenty seconds to reload, sir!" the weapons control operator called out.
"Weapons free; fire as they bear," Bjorn/Helga said. "I'm taking down the shields,"
"Sir, I have a solution for the missile pods," the weapons control officer reported. "Firing port missile tubes,"
Sixty missile pods unleashed their payloads, sending fire and smoke into the fray. The missiles dodged the debris floating in the battlespace, bleeding fuel as they maneuvered. However, the range was short, and the excessive fuel expenditure was negligible.
Of the sixty missiles, they divided into twenty groups, each tracking a different enemy battleship. The enemy poured point-defensive fire into the void, destroying most of them. Those who got through did minimal damage, but that wasn't the point of the engagement. Bjorn/Helga was buying time for the MAAC to reload.
"Firing MAAC!" the weapons control officer called out.
The deck plating rumbled beneath their feet, but the command crew was used to the miniature earthquake the MAAC caused and barely batted an eye.
The sixty-ton slug ripped through the void, finishing what the first round started as the stricken battleship received another hit from Fenrir. Hitting amidship, the MAAC slug broke the back of the enemy battleship, taking her out of the fight altogether.
"Snapping the shield into place!" Bjorn/Helga called out just as the last enemy battleship opened fire. The shields saved Fenrir from destruction but prevented it from applying retro thrusters to right the vessel's tumble.
Bjorn/Helga surmised he was the primary target because Fenrir was the only battleship with a single MAAC in the battlespace. So, the enemy probably figured it was the softest possible target. But Bjorn/Helga had other plans.
"We can't fight, and we can't fly, so let's get to some clearer space," Bjorn/Helga declared.
He willed the capacitor to dump some of its charge into the temporal jump drive. The stars melted away, and Fenrir survived to fight another day.
CHAPTER 38
The emperor seethed with rage. Despite his advantage in numbers and the fact he had human battleships of his own, his main forces were faltering. However, he didn't blame Duke Zurge for this since the Imperial Commander was acting prudence with his commands. But the enemy was pressing their attack with all their forces, a worrying sign given the absence of the dreaded JDF fleet, a force known for its devastating power and unpredictability.
"Send a message to the Guard Commander," the emperor ordered. "Tell him it's time to bring in my reserves,"
"Yes, your grace," the Grand Commander, the emperor's operations officer, replied. "The message was sent,"
The throne room in the emperor's dreadnaught was cavernous, and the throne was rotated one hundred eighty degrees so the sovereign could see the battle with his own eyes. Behind the throne was a large viewport that boasted icons and tactical overlays over the natural photons coming through the window. The effect was a tactical map complete with icons denoting friendly and enemy forces, but instead of images, the data was overlaid over the view from the port.
The humans and Numerians were pushing his fleets back, so bringing the reserves in was his only play. Even his Imperial Commander did not know the additional forces hiding in the void. The Guard Commander answered directly to the emperor and was the only commander in the empire not expected to follow the orders of the Imperial Commander.
Knowing the humans have somehow infiltrated Chartean networks, the emperor secretly set this up with a complete comms blackout.
"What is the status of the battle station?" the emperor asked.
"Your grace, I have only a preliminary report, but the damage is substantial. Early indications are the humans used a new weapon we have yet to encounter," the Grand Commander reported.
This wasn't anything the emperor hadn't already concluded, but he lamented the sudden loss of the station. "Can it be returned to action?"
"It can only operate in a degraded state, and we have no answer for the new weapon. The Grand Commander at the helm is hesitant to return for fear of its vulnerability," the Grand Commander explained.
As much as the emperor wanted to override the Grand Commander's decision, he knew it was the wisest option and abandoned any thought of returning the battle station to the fight.
"Inform the Imperial Commander that I've arranged for reinforcements from the Imperial Guard fleet," the emperor explained.
"Your grace, I've just received fortuitous news!" the Grand Commander reported excitedly. "It's the nobility. They heeded the call after all, and they've agreed to join the battle under the command of Duke Zurge,"
It was a dream come true for the emperor. On the one hand, he was frustrated that the nobles had waited so long to go to their emperor's aid, a delay that had cost him dearly in the battle. But on the other hand, he was grateful for the chance to destroy his foes outright finally. His eyes gleamed with a mix of anticipation and determination. This would cement his unrivaled power, and his conquest of humanity would finally be on the horizon.
"When will they arrive?" the emperor asked expectantly.
"I shall find out for you, your grace," the Grand Commander bowed deeply.
While the Grand Commander went to task, the emperor took in the scene before him. The human fleets and their overpowered battleships were surging ever closer to the planet's gravity well, pushing the combined Apex-Chartean fleets back.
There were no orders to give. The calculous of battle was stacked against his existing forces in the battle space, and the Imperial Commander was holding on with sound defensive maneuvers.
"Massive temporal activity detected!" the sensor operator called out across the spacious throne room. The emperor spun his throne about on its axis and stood on his hind legs before rushing to the sensor display.
There it was. His Imperial Guard.
The Imperial Guard had the most powerful dreadnaughts and the most well-trained crews in the entire Imperial fleet. Their ships, massive and imposing, were a sight to behold. Now their metal would be tested in live combat. Arrayed just behind the planet's southern pole and on the other side of the planet from the battle, the Imperial Guard quickly formed an offensive battle formation.
"Hail the Imperial Guard," the emperor growled. The nearby comms suit operator dipped his head in submission and clicked his mandibles, acknowledging the order.
The emperor returned to his throne and watched as the holographic display emerged in the center of the room. The visage of a Chartean with ornate battle armor appeared on the screen.
"And what are your orders, Your Majesty?" the Imperial Guard bowed.
"The nobles will arrive soon, but I don't know how long they will take. I need you to create some breathing room for our forces. Flank the SNA's 1st fleet and threaten their flagship. This will cause the enemy to break off their assault," the emperor explained.
"I shall bring you glory or die in the attempt, your grace," the Imperial Guard bowed deeply.
"You do not have my permission to die until you have secured a path to victory," the emperor said sternly. "Now go forth. For we have little time to waste,"
"By your command, your grace," the Imperial Guard bowed once more before cutting the feed.
The screen went blank, leaving the emperor to his own devices. He rotated the throne back to the viewport and fixed his gaze on the enemy's 1st fleet, waiting for the show to begin.
"Your grace," the Grand Commander said as he stepped into the emperor's view. "The nobility will be here in less than ten micro cycles,"
"Very well, Grand Commander," the emperor said approvingly. "Stand here with me and watch as the humans meet their ultimate defeat!"
CHAPTER 39
"Massive temporal activity detected!" the sensor suite operator called out.
Waititi/Joey saw it first via the raw sensor data. "We're being flanked!"
Without warning, the tactical display revealed the enemy dreadnaughts emerging from subspace and hurtling towards the exposed flank of 1st fleet with Nemesis leading the charge.
"Sir, the admiral is ordering 1st fleet to rotate left to meet the incoming flotilla," Potato-Waffle reported urgently.
"Then let's not keep him waiting," Waititi/Joey said. "Helm, you have the con,"
"Aye, sir. I have the con," LT McDonald responded, her ankle casually propped on the flight controls, a testament to her unwavering focus.
"You know what to do, lieutenant," Waititi/Joey said.
"Aye, sir! Meeting fire with fire!" McDonald gleefully replied.
"Malorie, talk to me," Waititi/Joey called out.
"Sir, I've got MAAC solutions locked in; proposed target icons are on screen," Malorie replied.
Waititi/Joey looked to the display and saw a pair of dreadnaughts surging ahead of their peers. In his mind, it was a good selection, so he intended to approve it.
"Fire!" Waititi/Joey ordered.
"Firing MAAC one," Malorie announced. The ship quaked, and the lights flickered as the colossal sixty-ton slug was launched into the void, obliterating the first of the two dreadnaughts.
"Incoming!" the sensor operator reported. "Enemy missile swarm,"
"Point defenses to auto!" Waititi/Joey ordered.
"Aye, sir," Malorie replied. "Point defenses are set to auto; be advised, firing MAAC two!"
The deck plating rumbled in protest as another massive slug ripped through open space, clipping the port side of the second dreadnaught, sending it into a flat spin as it scattered debris and belched fire.
"Sir, more of the enemy is breaking formation and heading straight for us!" the sensor operator called out nervously.
To his horror, Waititi/Joey saw what the sensor operator was discussing. An entire squadron of dreadnaughts broke from the formation, rocketing toward Nemesis.
And the MAACs were empty.
Boom.
An explosion rocked the hull. Waititi's head popped out of the command helm as he bit his lip from the violence of the impact, but his eyes remained focused and determined.
"Damage control, report!" Waititi growled as he gripped the command helm.
"Sir decks three through seven on the starboard side just took a hit. The ablative armor held, but they're slagged beyond recognition. We can't take another hit in that spot," the damage control coordinator reported.
Waititi had reunited with Joey via the command helm by this time and knew what to do. He willed the armored wing array to adjust its orientation to cover the damaged spot, protecting it from another hit.
Boom.
Another explosion rocked the hull, but Waititi saw it coming this time and braced for impact.
"Sir, the armored array stopped the round, but I have no data regarding damage," the damage control coordinator reported.
Waititi/Joey knew he wouldn't have the data, as the armored wing array would need to be visually inspected from the outside at a later time.
"Very well, lieutenant," Waititi/Joey replied.
Just then, the point defenses roared to life, spitting tracer fire and rail slugs into the void. Fireballs erupted as the swarms of incoming missiles were mostly defeated, but a few got through.
"Brace for impact!" Waititi/Joey called out.
Boom.
The explosion was less intense than the other hits, but it was still enough for the command staff to feel the shockwave pass through their bodies. Yet, they remained resolute, their spirits unbroken.
"MAAC one reloaded!" Malorie called out.
"Fire!" Waititi/Joey sounded off.
"Firing MAAC one!" Malorie replied. The ship rumbled, and the massive projectile surged out of the barrel, hitting one of the five dreadnaughts square on the prow. For several seconds, nothing happened, but then the enemy vessel's reactor lost containment and was replaced by a ball of nuclear fire, vaporizing what was left. The orb of the short-lived sun enveloped two others, and when the glowing orb dissipated, the fiery wrecks of the dreadnaughts became visible.
The odds were two to one, and Waititi/Joey couldn't be happier.
"Helm, I have the con," Waititi/Joey ordered.
"Aye, sir," McDonald replied. "I stand relieved,"
"Standby for a change of scenery," Waititi announced as he willed the capacitor to dump a portion of its charge into the temporal jump drive.
When the stars snapped back into place, the klaxon sounded immediately. Waititi/Joey knew it with the proximity alert because he'd jumped between the remaining two dreadnaughts.
"Mal, any time now," Waititi/Joey said urgently.
"Firing the kitchen sink!" Malorie reported the main guns belched fire in either direction, pelting the dreadnaughts with high explosive shells. Soon, the howitzers joined in, followed by the point defense system.
"Missile lock acquired!" Malorie sounded off.
"Fire!" Waititi/Joey ordered.
Missiles exploded outward from their tubes, making the short trip in seconds before enveloping the two dreadnaughts with a cascade of explosions across the hulls, leaving them dead in space.
"Sir, the fleet is being hammered!" Potato-Waffle called out. "I don't know how much more we can take!"
"Inform the admiral," Waititi/Joey said. It was the only thing he could say, as one battleship couldn't hold off an entire fleet.
But one thing was clear, this enemy force was much more capable than a typical Chartean fleet.
"The admiral is calling for all forces to fall back and reconsolidate," Potato-Waffle said.
It was what Waititi/Joey feared. All the initiative the allies had enjoyed evaporated, and the chances of victory were also dissolving.
"Very well, Master Chief," Waititi/Joey replied. "We're going to get the boss out of the danger zone,"
With that, Waititi/Joey willed the capacitor to dump the remaining of its charge into the temporal jump drive system.
When the stars snapped back into place, the battlespace had thinned out, and Nemesis was now behind 1st fleet.
***
Jason watched in horror as the enemy fleet was rolling up 1st fleet, causing the formations to break, and every ship was fighting for its own survival versus a coordinated effort. The enemy's momentum was building, and they threatened to roll right through the main force. With six enemy fleets ahead and one flanking, he had no choice but to call for his ace card.
Jason's voice was steady, but the weight of his decision was palpable. "Inform Vice Admiral Hito that his services are needed," he said, the gravity of the situation hanging in the air.
"Aye, sir," Dane replied. "The message has been sent,"
The operations room was abuzz with activity. The ambient noises of the crew conducting coordination and orders being relayed could be heard over the chimes and alerts that periodically sounded.
All Jason could do was wait and pray.
Jason's relief was evident in his voice as he saw the temporal bubbles appear. "That's it!" he exclaimed. "The JDF fleet has arrived. Let's take this opportunity to counterattack!"
"That's it!" Jason's voice was urgent. "Order all ships in the first fleet to report to their squadron commanders and reform. Let's take this opportunity to counterattack!"
"Aye, sir," Dane reported. "The order is relayed,"
As the minutes flew by, the entire tactical situation changed. The enemy forces flanking 1st fleet were now being hit from behind and were forced to break off their advance to meet the new threat. This created breathing room for the commanders of 1st fleet to regain control of their ships and form a skirmish line facing the enemy.
