Chapter 38

Various Imperial scouts had observed the alien fleet now for almost two binary cycles. Mostly it was just monitoring in case the aliens launched another attack; however, the Empire was also noting just what it was they were mining and where they were storing it on various alien ships.

“A raid?” Taisha asked Admirals Clessik and Hratt when they reported to her after requesting a meeting.

“Yes, Meritocrat,” Clessik nodded. “The plan is to go in and destroy those vessels which have been loaded up with various ores stripped from the asteroids and the planets, as well as blow up those which appear to be fuel tankers.”

“Can this be done with limited risk?”

“I believe so, Meritocrat,” Hratt answered, as she’d come up with the plan.

“What of these mysterious large ships?” Taisha asked with a frown.

“Unfortunately we won’t be in a position to attack those, surrounded as they are by the bulk of the alien close support ships, along with being well beyond our emergence limit,” Clessik answered.

“I see. So you plan to delay them by destroying all the supplies they have gathered?”

“Indeed so, Meritocrat.”

“Very well, what do you need from me?”

“An official request for assistance to our Allies, Meritocrat,” Hratt answered.

“Why? Don’t you normally do that yourself?” Taisha asked, puzzled.

“Rules of engagement of both the Hegemony and the Emirate require this as it’s not a defensive engagement, but an offensive one, Meritocrat.”

“Ah, protocol,” Taisha sighed.

“Indeed so, Meritocrat.”

“Very well. AI, draw up a request and submit it with my official seal to Supreme Oramiral Hassat and Admiralius ... er?”

“Hunno, Meritocrat,” Clessik supplied the name.

“Admiralius Hunno, please,” Taisha finished.

“Thank you, Meritocrat,” Clessik replied.

“Didn’t take long for Zheng to pack his bags,” Taisha observed.

“I believe his summons to return for ‘consultation’ was marked ‘most urgent’, Meritocrat,” Clessik answered. “He returned on the Starliner Hope of Joy, which was returning with a supply convoy.”

“And his fleet?”

“Is now under the command of newly promoted Admiralius Juvvu with Admiralius Hunno in supreme command until Admiralius Kinon gets here with the two new fleets they are sending out,” Hratt explained.

“Thank you, Admiral Hratt. That was a situation I was staying well out of as it was getting very political.”

“Understandable, Meritocrat. We only knew because it affected various deployments and even then it was more via non-official sources within the Emirate fleets. I do believe though that Admiralius Zheng was not a happy man at all, or missed,” Hratt expanded.

“Considering the censure he’s likely to receive for the unnecessary casualties his fleets took, it’s both understandable as well as well-deserved. He was not popular in the Emirate fleet command,” Clessik added.

“Yes ... Oh, that was quick,” Taisha noted. “Both the Hegemony and Emirate have replied that their fleets will partake in your mission.”

“Thank you for your support, Meritocrat,” Clessik replied.

“No problem, glad I could help. Good luck and try to keep our people as safe as possible, including our Allies.”

“Of course, Meritocrat,” Clessik answered as both Admirals saluted.

“We have orders to report to the Assault Carrier Spitfire,” Flinn announced.

“New mission then,” Torun observed unnecessarily.

“Yep, should be fun. Wonder where we’re off to?” I added.

“Apparently it’s a raid,” Flinn replied with a frown.

“On who ... or what?” Torun asked.

“The aliens, apparently they’ve been busy in an uninhabited system and we’re off to destroy their gains from mining, etc.”

“I’m guessing saboteur squads?” I posited.

“You and me both,” Flinn nodded.

“How long?” Torun asked.

“A half binary, according to the AI,” Flinn replied, indicating five Imperial days.

“Long trip.”

“You can do it in stasis if you want.”

“Rather not,” Torun shrugged as she was not that fond (nor was I) of stasis and shared the fear many had of not waking up, despite its good record.

“Well, we’re carrying enough supplies, just don’t come bitching if you get bored,” Flinn chuckled.

“I’m going to go over my Advanced Officer stuff to lock it down,” I informed them, knowing there was a lot to still go through and I wouldn’t normally get the chance.

“Good idea,” Flinn nodded.

“I’ll probably do a refresher on the latest Healer updates,” Torun decided.

“And I’ll catch up on what little paperwork our group has,” Flinn chuckled.

The voyage was uneventful, and we all managed to keep somewhat busy, though Torun was heading towards being a bit stir crazy on the final full day. Most of the Troopers had been ordered into the stasis pods whether they wanted to or not. All, however, came out of them fine as we approached the system the aliens were mining. We were on a fixed course that the Scouts had designated for us.

‘Detecting approaching vessels!’ a detection intelligence warned.

‘Send out a group alarm and move status to battle preparedness!’ the senior intelligence on the detection vessel ordered.

‘It is done.’

‘Defence and close defence vessels moving to intercept,’ the controlling intelligence of in-system manoeuvring announced. ‘Analysis shows that these are the bolder prey hoping to display their supposed dominance of us.’

‘They shall fail! This time we are ready!’ the senior intelligence crowed.

From its position hanging above the elliptic of the star system, the Scout Black on Black monitored the sudden increase in alien movement to where the aliens believed the Empire and its Allies would emerge.

“Looks like they can use predictive emission analysis to judge the emergence point,” Yuni observed with a slight smile.

“For all the good it will do them,” Kliss replied.

“True, they’re going to be out of position as the Empire is creating a fake wave generation ahead of them and will likely emerge in their rear.”

“Love it when a plan comes together,” Kliss chortled.

‘The prey are not emerging in the predicted area!’ the detection intelligence announced.

‘Impossible! Our sensors cannot be fooled!’ the senior intelligence mentally gasped.

‘Apparently they can,’ a monitoring intelligence commented.

‘Inform the Masters.’ The senior ordered as the prey emerged behind the manoeuvring fleets and began their attack.

“All Troopers to board their craft!” the ship’s AI announced.

“Here we go,” I commented. “See you when we get back.”

“Good luck and ditto,” Torun replied as we headed to our designated landing craft.

Landing craft were being launched through the Assault Carrier’s air shields as fast as they could get them out. Though we had not, as yet, been designated an alien ship to wreck, we were all now familiar with what was expected of us, hence there was almost total silence in the craft as we mulled over our mission.

“First strike going in,” the Pilot informed us. “Targets being designated now.”

I felt the faint thrum as the grav-drive on the landing craft was turned up to full power and we raced away to an alien ship that had been stripped of its outer defences.

“Target is a close defence ship. You know what needs doing,” the Pilot informed us.

“We’ll get it done,” I replied as Officer in charge.

“Target breached; boarding pod locked; beginning our docking manoeuvre.”

“Ready yourselves!” I ordered.

The landing craft docked with the boarding pod that had breached the alien ship’s hull and the Troopers poured forwards into the corridor where the Troopers from the boarding pod held a perimeter as the alien crew attempted to wipe them out.

“They appear to have moved their heavier armoured types into the outer hull, Sir,” a Monitor commented, pointing out one of the aliens of that type approaching.

“Yes, won’t help them much though, it’s struggling to get through the corridor due to its size,” I replied.

“Yes, Sir. Fren, take it out before it becomes a nuisance!” he ordered a Trooper.

There was a loud bang as a stick bomblet was fired at the heavier armoured alien. This was followed by a bigger explosion as it was torn apart by the bomblet.

“Advance!” the Monitor ordered and we moved forward to our objective.

The main difference for me, as compared with past battle missions, was that I was now able to tap into the Battle-com AI and observe the progress of the attack as a whole. Fleet concentrated on stripping the out of position alien fleet of surface weapons and then despatched several boarding pods and landing craft to deliver the killing blow by sabotaging the drives and power plants of the alien ships rather than waste ordnance and time on punching through the still tough outer skin.

Elsewhere the various Allied fleets were holding off a wave of alien attack craft whilst the Empire’s Heavy Fighters had been set against the alien freighters (or rather what we presumed were freighters). I also noticed what I believed to be the aliens getting their act together with several of their ships forming up to advance on our position as well as the moves of various Admirals to counter this, holding them off whilst the rest of the Fleets took care of the business at hand.