Chapter 48

The AIs helped with the planning, mostly by confirming from observation equipment carried on the Heavy Fighters that there was a similar hatch on all the alien ships they had passed near in a position to observe their surfaces.

“We can only presume that it’s the same internally,” I stated.

“That’s true. We have observed variations, sometimes major ones, on several alien ships of the same type,” Gust nodded.

“If not, they’ll have to passively read the alien AI to find the correct hidden access to that control room we found,” I added.

“That should be straightforward enough, though no doubt we’ll have to ensure no one switches it on,” Gust chuckled, knowing the Troopers prevalence for having sticky fingers.

“Definitely,” I laughed.

“We’ll be using standard timers, so they’ll know how long they have. All they’ll have to do is turn the keylock to arm them.”

“How fragile are they?” I asked, not knowing a lot about the antimatter containment system the Empire used.

“Pretty robust, I’m informed,” Gust replied. “I’d still advise against dropping one though.”

“Will they fit through the hatches?”

“They will, Kiria,” the AI replied.

“Grav flotation, I presume?”

“Yes, it will not be affected by the change in grav state on the alien ships.”

“We’ll be using five-man teams,” Gust added. “Other than the approach, I’m not expecting them to have any issues.”

“Rough on the Heavy Fighters as they’ll be taking pretty much all the flak,” I observed as various flight plans were displayed.

“Yes, we definitely do not want a payload detonating en-route, it would alert the aliens as to our intent,” Gust agreed.

“So, our stealthed landing craft follow in close behind the Heavy Fighters and drop off our teams; set the timer; and get away as quickly as possible, whilst also avoiding detection?” I asked.

“Yes, though their designated routes are ones that are safer due to previous attacks on their defensive stations,” Gust answered.

“It’s still terribly risky.”

“I know, but stalemate helps them far more than us, they’ve got ten times the firepower of a battlestar grid. Also, they can replace a defence post swiftly, no matter the number of hits on it.”

“Yes, all the reports I’ve read have said the same thing.”

“You only won because you took out the boss and caused the crew and defenders to commit suicide.”

“Yeah, we can’t guarantee the boss will be near where we set our bombs off either.”

“The AIs assure me the energy release will be enough to break the central spine as well as taking out the power systems for their defences,” Gust replied.

“Good enough for me,” I nodded. “What’s my role to be?”

“Mission oversight. You move in if they run into difficulties.”

“As in a nonstandard ship?”

“Pretty much it, yes. You won’t be fighting ... I hope.”

“Right. Just go in, figure out where to place the bomb if it’s not standard inside, then move to the next problem,” I chuckled wryly.

“Yes. Hopefully you won’t be run off your feet, plus you’ll have support from the other Commanders.”

“The joys of delegation,” I laughed.

“True. You got this because the AIs view you as the best qualified.”

“I won’t let you down.”

“You have a go, Admiral,” Amantil informed Clessik. “The other Fleets of our Allies will be so informed by their political leadership as well.”

“Thank you, Serenissima. We’ll sort out the timing.”

“Good luck and let’s hope this will work.”

“I believe it will, Serenissima.”

“Your chances of success?”

“Greatly depend upon the abilities and fortitude of our pilots and Ground Force.”

“I see ... Your gut feeling?”

“Is that we will mostly succeed, though I have some concerns as to what the aliens will do once they realise they are vulnerable due to their own hubris,” Clessik admitted.

“Yes, that could be of concern,” Amantil nodded. “Worst case scenario if some do escape?”

“That they will come to the Empire looking for retribution and will destroy worlds.”

“Your thoughts echo mine. We will prepare ... just in case.”

“Word from our Allies. All is ready,” Gust informed me.

“The ordnance is loaded and the Troopers know what to do here,” I replied.

“AI, please inform all concerned, the mission is a go.”

“Message sent,” the AI answered. “Acknowledgements received.”

From various Assault Carriers, hurriedly stealthed landing craft took off, gingerly, in most cases. Though impact damage was not normally an issue due to AI overrides and safety protocols, but no one wanted that one in a million collision that would literally ruin everyone’s day. Hence the build up to the mission had had maintenance crews and pilots going over their crafts and the various features they had with fine-toothed combs, rooting out even minor issues. Hence the maintenance bays, from usually looking pristine, were stacked with working but suspect parts, as well as frazzled looking technicians.

“Heavy Fighters approaching,” the AI informed me.

“Autopilots on, let’s follow them in,” I ordered.

The landing craft turned as one and accelerated to the same as that of the myriads of Heavy Fighters, following an adapted flight plan that mixed them up within the Heavy Fighter formations, hopefully to prevent accurate targeting of them by the aliens ... assuming they had even taken note of our manoeuvring.

I was stationed on a boarding pod, hence was not particularly stealthed, though the pods themselves were damned hard to spot when approaching a target.

“Strikes going in. Landing craft detaching from formation,” the AI stated.

“Here’s hoping,” I murmured, eyes closed and hands clasped in prayer.

‘We have another spoiling attack from the prey,’ a senior intelligence warned.

‘Alert our maintenance and repair crews. Order them to withdraw from the surface of our ships,’ a Master ordered.

‘It has been done. Defences on automatic. Missile strikes detected.’

‘Pah! They waste their ordnance for little gain,’ another Master observed.

‘They have low cunning, continue to observe,’ another master ordered.

‘It shall be done,’ the senior intelligence acquiesced.

“Attack is going in,” the Detection Officer reported to Clessik and Gollant.

“Any change in the alien’s formation or defensive fire?” Clessik asked.

“None, sir, though they’re taking out our missiles effectively.”

“Keep me informed of any changes until Ground Force are in position.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Worried?” Gollant asked politely.

“Very, those Troopers are carrying a very dangerous cargo into an area filled with ordnance to place it inside alien ships which may or may not detect them.”

“Yes, we’re very much trusting to luck here.”

“Aren’t we just,” Clessik nodded. “Bring our Frigates and Cruisers in to give the aliens a ranged broadside.”

“Doubt that will do any damage, sir.”

“It’s a distraction. I want the aliens looking anywhere but at what’s following our Heavy Fighters in.”

“Yes, sir. Orders sent.”

‘We have detected several of the smaller enemy craft moving in to attack range,’ the senior intelligence reported.

‘As we suspected, this was a diversion to attempt to hit us from afar.’ A Master observed.

‘Prepare a salvo to correct their hubris,’ the senior Master observed.

‘It shall be done.’

‘Is this not a wasted gesture?’ another Master asked.

‘It is, but to teach them caution whilst we adapt our drives to escape.’

‘Ah, most wise of you.’

“Nearest points of contact reached,” the AI informed me.

“Are the airlocks still unalarmed?” I asked nervously.

“No power detection or other signs of monitoring.”

“Mission to infiltrate is a go,” I ordered.

“Orders sent. Troopers are disembarking with the payloads. Other landing craft are moving in.”

‘Please, please let this work,’ I sent up a silent prayer as I observed what was going on via the headcams of the Troopers.

From my point of view it looked confused and frantic and very obvious as to what the Empire and its Allies were up. It wasn’t until the AIs panned back the tri-dee image that I got a sense of scale as to what was really going on from an external observer’s point of view. Even the landing craft were miniscule compared to the size of the alien command ships.