Chapter 42

‘They return,’ a detection intelligence reported.

‘Inform the Masters. Ready the fleets,’ a senior intelligence ordered.

‘It is done,’ the communication intelligence responded. ‘Readiness at full. Defensive positions in place.’

‘This time we will crush them!’

‘Such hubris!‘ A cold, chilling, mental message that was both everywhere yet had no discernible source echoed round the control chamber.

‘Master!’ the control group almost crooned in ecstasy.

‘You appear to have fallen into the traps of complacency and assumption. This prey are strong and innovative! Do not assume victory! Be prepared to seek it out by any means!’

‘Yes, Master,’ the now chastened group replied.

‘Enemy emerging!’ The detection intelligence announced as the Master’s mental presence faded.

“Fleets are moving to their assigned positions. GF personnel are being awakened and should be ready in thirty rotations,” Gollant informed Clessik.

“Heavy Fighters are to go after any stragglers, but otherwise avoid their fleet formations. Missile Carriers are to engage any targets that come into range.”

“Orders sent,” an AI replied.

“Hold in place until all Fleets report readiness.”

‘Message sent, sir,” a Comms Officer reported.

“Good. Let’s see what they do whilst we prepare.”

“See, you’re just fine,” I chuckled as Torun came into the medical office along with our group of Meditechs.

“Easy for you to say,” she huffed. “You weren’t forced into those death traps.”

“True, but it saved us having to feed you and Flinn the joy of dealing with you bitching about being bored,” I laughed, not put out at all by her attitude.

“Thrrp!” she blew a raspberry at me.

“Have fun. I have to report to Gust,” I replied and left with a cheery wave.

The corridors on the Spitfire were overflowing with recently awakened Troopers, though it wasn’t chaotic as the AIs had them under control and all knew where they had to report to. Hence I was swiftly able to go to the GF command centre and report for duty in person.

“Welcome, Kiria,” Gust greeted me. “Battle will commence in just over twenty rotations, though there’s a few exchanges of fire going on as we manoeuvre into position.”

“Ah, yes, so I see,” I replied, tapping into the battle net.

“I’ve reviewed your preparations. Good work, but let’s hope they aren’t needed.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Troopers are now moving to their assigned craft,” the harsh monotone of the AI informed us.

“Guess we’d better head for ours,” Gust replied.

“Yes, sir. All is prepared,” I nodded, feeling a knot growing in my stomach.

The command landing craft was a wonder of Imperial tech with command and control interfaces for the five Communication Officers seated there. They were keeping tabs on what was going on with the various Regiments under our direct control. Also on board were the specialists I’d requested from both GF and Fleet, all looking somewhat nervous as the battle approached.

“Command links established,” a Communication Officer informed us.

“Inform Fleet Command, GF 5 is ready for action,” Gust replied.

“They acknowledge.”

“Good. Now we wait.”

“All Fleets report full readiness, sir,” Gollant informed Clessik.

“Then let us begin.”

“Yes, sir!” Gollant replied. “Begin the attack! Punch a gap in their defences for Ground Force to begin operations.” He gave the order to the command staff on the bridge.

The Imperial Fleets forged forwards, unleashing a massive salvo of missiles at the closest fleet of the aliens; whilst their capital ships, surrounded by the massed Assault Carriers, moved into the heart of enemy space.

“Here we go,” Gust commented.

There was a series of massive explosions in front of the alien fleet as the vast majority of our missiles were taken out. Enough however, did get through to cause some damage and disruption to the alien’s serried ranks. It enabled the Imperial Fleets to get into beam range to clear the way for the Assault Carrier group and masses of Heavy Fighters to surge forwards into the small gap made. The Assault Carriers then launched masses of landing craft and boarding pods into the alien formations. They were able to begin their tasks in destroying or rendering useless as many of the alien ships as they could before Fleet moved into close proximity to finish off the job.

The command landing craft was also in with the other landing craft as we observed the seeming chaos of the launch and guided a few away from intense counterfire.

“Initial analysis shows that the alien’s fire has been confused by the chaos of our multiple launch,” I reported to Gust.

“Yes, that was a good idea. They appear to expect a logical approach and chaos ... along with the unexpected, throws them,” he replied thoughtfully.

“Fleet reporting first wave of alien ships are stripped of outer weaponry,” a Comm Monitor reported to us.

“AI, designate vessels for the strike, please,” I ordered as Gust observed what was happening in the mounted control tri-dee tank.

“Orders sent and acknowledged,” the AI replied.

And so, it went. The Heavy Fighters would use their built-in dispersion weapons to clear an area on an alien ship; that would enable us to land a boarding pod or two and then follow up with landing craft to plant explosives inside the ship before retreating. My job was support, as in sending reinforcements to any alien ship that had our Troopers stuck, using various specialised squads, depending on the circumstances.

“Prepare to transfer, Kiria. I need you to sort out a situation on alien vessel designate #82756,” Gust ordered.

“On my way,” I replied, the AI bringing the data up for me.

I stepped through into the airlock, through the air screen and launched myself via my grav-pack at a seemingly stationary landing craft which set off as soon as I was on board.

“Orders, sir?” a Monitor asked.

“Squad is trapped by aliens in superior numbers. They’ve planted the charges but are still well within blast range. The aliens have their heavy types in numbers; hence we have to go as we’ve got the weaponry to deal with them,” I replied.

“Used all their stick bomblets, sir?”

“Not sure, AI wasn’t clear and their Monitors are all down.”

“Greens,” the Monitor sighed.

“Yep, but it’s to be expected, we’re throwing everyone in at this mission.”

“Yes, sir!”

It was a complete cluster-fornication as the Imperial saying went. We docked at the boarding pod to find box after box of stick bomblets as well as other high explosives that the Troopers had left whilst they went on to try and sabotage the alien ship.

“Stupid fuckers,” the Monitor leading our way commented. “Trying to be clever with a quick dash so decided to leave their get-out-of-jail-free gear here.”

“Looks that way. Always someone who thinks they know better than the plan,” I replied. “Sometimes it works, until the shleck hits the fan.”

“Got that right, sir.”

“OK, here we go,” I replied as the first of the larger, heavily armoured aliens came into view.

“Progress, Admiral?” Taisha checked in with Admiral Clessik at a specifically designated time in order not to intrude on his oversight and guidance of the battle.

“As well as can be expected, Meritocrat,” a tired looking Clessik replied. “Ground Force infiltration saboteurs are causing the enemy some difficulty as they appear to have issues targeting such small craft after the Heavy Fighters strip them of their close-in defences.”

“Casualties?”

“Heavy. Despite our tactics, we are taking losses in both ships and personnel.”

“Thank you, Admiral. I will update her Serenissima.”

“You’re welcome, Meritocrat.”

“Looking over your shoulder, sir?” Gollant asked.

“No, this was arranged. For all the Empress could have called me direct, she’s doing it via Meritocrat Taisha so as not to pressurise me. Meritocrat Taisha is not in the chain of command, but her Serenissima most certainly is.”

“Ah, in other words you could fob her off if we were busy?”

“Yes. As it is, I wasn’t, so she got the answers to the questions her Serenissima wanted asked.”

“It is going to plan, though casualties are higher than we would like or anticipated,” Gollant nodded.

“Yes, our Allies are having a harder time though, as in many cases it has been a steep learning curve for them that no amount of virtual reality training could have prepared them for.”

“The good thing is that their command group are not committing themselves to the battle,” Gollant noted.

“Be thankful for small mercies and let’s hope they continue to ignore us,” Clessik chuckled.

“Amen to that, sir.”

“Sub-Commander Kiria, you are ordered, along with your squad, to stand down for the next 500 rotations,” the AI informed me.

“Message received. Please inform the squad they are stood down and to get some shuteye.”

Despite the stand down, I continued to mess around with various formations and personnel in my troubleshooting squads as I came down from a battle high. I also compiled a quick report to Gust on our various trials and tribulations until I could no longer keep my eyes open.