Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 3 - Fleet Action (15 page)

‘Admiral, three Jerecab frigates have earlier left the armada and are mounting attack runs on Earth. We are not in a position to be able to intercept them as they are already too far away. I will do the requested simulation immediately.’

Mary did not hesitate as she keyed the audio only channel to Gindane’s flagship and spoke urgently.

‘Captain Gindane, the Barus have sent three frigates directly at Earth, can any of your ships intercept.’

A long moment of hesitation came over the audio line before Gindane hurriedly replied.

‘We are sending two of our fastest destroyers, but the three enemy frigates already have jumped away by several thousand kilometres and are accelerating heavily.’

Mary silently discounted the offer, as she knew that Earth had her own defences and she felt that they should stop the three frigates in time. Rick Gordon hurried over with the requested simulation and the admiral looked at the data tablet in disbelief. She evaluated that simulation must be in error for it showed that the defenders would barely win the battle. She then noted that the Barus cruiser squadron was only weighed a destroyer squadron, so the error was already in favour of the Jerecab.

Mary’s spirits soared as she noted the point Lieutenant Gordon had made at the bottom of the data tablet. The near total projected loss of their smaller ships made her flinch, but she quickly verified the simulation. The admiral grinned determinedly around the bridge as she stood up and gave a firm order.

‘Admiral Neilson to all ships, directly attack the armada with all weapons and use minimal point defences. All surviving smaller ships are to engage the enemy missiles at all costs.’

Mary noted that the smaller flight of eight Long Lance missiles was due shortly followed by the staggered last flight of twenty-four missiles in about twelve minutes. She grimly took in the mounting losses in her ships and crew as the massive battle continued to rage in space.

                                                                     ***

The Cephrit fleet angled past the remnants of the minefield left earlier by the Jerecab armada. A series of multiple explosions had rocked several of the large cruisers in the three squadrons, but the fleet master merely ordered his moderately damaged ships to keep up. The senior Cephrit male eased back in the cables holding him inside the command couch as he looked over the data supplied earlier by several of his scout ships. The smaller ships, usually crewed by a young male midshipman, had ventured inside the solar system as far as the orbit of Mars.

The fleet master had keyed the reports to appear on a smaller view screen, and after several moments, a surprisingly detailed live schematic of the massive battle between the humans and the Jerecab was on the screen. The junior officers watched spellbound as the battle, delayed by several light hours, unfolded in front of their eyes. The fleet master caught their interest, and in moments commissioned several of them to conduct time and distance assessments of all the participating combatants based on standard combat models.

The Cephrit fleet continued to drive hard across the system towards Earth and the fleet master knew that the Jerecab must now know of their arrival. He was very surprised that their armada had not attempted to flee, as his three cruiser squadrons was now the biggest threat facing the Jerecab. The senior male chirred softly as he thought about this strange fact, as the Jerecab assumed they would safely flee with the bulk of their ships after annihilating the humans.

The fleet master was still patiently thinking through the facts after several minutes when a junior lieutenant chirred for his attention and he gave the young Cephrit leave to speak.

‘Fleet master there is an increasing divergence with the standard combat models and what we are witnessing for the actual battle. The humans are doing rather better at defending themselves than we have allowed for in our most generous simulations. Their allies are also doing very well especially the Sspol cruisers. Unfortunately the Jerecab have brought with them two special missile carriers and their presence could prove decisive.’

The fleet master chirred in hope and then grated his hind scales for several moments in both excitement and anxiety. He did not favour surprises of this type as they possibly boded ill for future interactions with the humans should they survive. He asked three direct questions as he conducted his own analysis of the lieutenant’s last statements.

‘Very good lieutenant and we must pay greater attention to those earlier battle reports from our scout ships about the former Dradfer colonies. Now do we know the projected losses of the human ships? Do we know how many of frigates from the armada are likely to survive? Also are the humans attacking the missile carriers directly?’

The brief surge of hope he had just felt evaporated as the young Cephrit placed the outcome of the battle onto the small screen. The humans experienced the complete loss of all their space assets, and within two hours, their home planet was a smouldering wreck after the forty or so surviving frigates and at least one of the missile carriers subjected it to a sustained missile attack.

The fleet master sent a brief message to Captain Omerio, now desperately attempting to get to the battle in time to protect the humans and their planet. He knew that the message would arrive after the Barus squadron attacked the Jerecab and he hoped that his clever friend would survive the encounter. The Cephrit cruisers continued their journey inwards and the fleet master had a short break from his duties as he thought of his mate of record.

The assault leader must now be escorting the human marines back home, and he hoped that her strange medical condition would not get worse. He shivered at the thought and his hind scales grated again for a moment in fear at what his mate could soon face. The fleet master brooded for several moments in his acceleration couch before repeated calls from his lieutenants brought his attention back to the delayed battle report on the smaller screen. The senior male watched in wonder for a moment as he realised that the dynamic battle in space was by no means a guaranteed victory for the Jerecab, he kept his reactions silent as he willed the humans to survive.

                                                                     ***

Captain Narindestat eyed with suspicion the report coming from the junior Maveen probe that the more senior Dradfer probe and Grant Stoneham had earlier left behind. The Traders had been on their guard ever since entering the home system of the Altoran, when several fighting ships promptly encircled the Resuria. He noted that the human had used their most secure encryption protocols to protect the information inside the probe. The security of the message was so strong that the captain had been forced to instruct the probe to land inside the Resuria, and he had waited impatiently as the probe eventually arrived.

Narindestat had earlier been in a good mood over several days as he rejoiced in the freedom of the Quixxe refugees he had just met. However, this happiness had quickly died due to the obtuse nature of the junior probe when being questioned, and he had changed his mood to one of mixed suspicion and dread. The captain re-checked the integrity of the data and then motioned for Garendestat to come over to his console. Father and son eyed the report and Garendestat made a pair of simple observations.

‘The Altoran might be glad to see us but we need to be on our guard. Obviously our last meeting cannot be discussed with them either.’

Narindestat replied after glancing at his son with pride, as he was glad that his son was showing his readiness to be a captain in his own right.

‘Lieutenant, you take command of the Resuria and stay well back with the pair of Maveen gate ships. You are to implement a total radio blackout for the ship and await my return. I will take sneak ship three across and speak with our long lost friends.’

The Trader captain got a quick ‘yes sir’ from his son as he strode determinedly towards the pylon holding sneak ship three. The journey from the Quixxe world had been hurriedly done in three long hyper gates by the Maveen as they sought to catch up with Grant’s ship. Narindestat had fumed at the Maveen as they had not informed him why the urgency of the long journey had increased. He felt it likely that Grant had run into problems or a change of plans, and hopefully his ship would not be required to fight again.

The sneak ship already had a pilot waiting, and after several minutes was heading towards the massive star base well out from the home world of the Altoran. Narindestat noted the several large ships surrounding the Resuria, and knew that if his ship was forced to fight he would lose, as the massive damage the Resuria had incurred was obvious. He sat back in the co-pilot’s seat for a moment and thought through the scenario before a solution offered itself. He quickly altered the amount of data he had on his data tablet and sat back in satisfaction.

After another ten minutes, the sneak ship was slowly nosing its way inside the massive hangar deck of the main Altoran star base. Narindestat quickly made his way to the nearest side door as the sneak ship came to rest. He buttoned his best blue jacket then picked up an engineering hologram near the door, and ensured that he only had available the data he wanted to show to the Altoran. The captain also ensured he had only the one data tablets on him as the door finally opened and he disembarked.

Narindestat kept calm and ignored the theatrics of the lights with the Altoran as the earlier secret report had informed him of their habits. He blinked and drew himself up to his full height in the suddenly harsh light as the Altoran reception party regarded him. He noted the short capes adorning the Altoran, and he was aware that he faced their leader and at least one military officer.  The Trader knew that by protocol he had to remain silent as the Altoran lead counsel looked at him critically and then spoke first in welcome.

‘Captain Narindestat, welcome to the Sigri colonies of the Altoran. I am Bel’khai Sigri and I speak for my people as lead counsel. It has been too long since we have spoken with the Traders and we once again affirm our friendship with your race. Your race has always had our respect for assisting us when we fled the inner galaxy so long ago.’

Narindestat nodded curtly for he knew of the Altoran disdain for the fawning mannerisms of the vassal races. He also knew that the renewed friendship of the Altoran would easily evaporate if the Traders got in the way of Altoran aspirations in this part of the galaxy. The Trader spoke warmly as he sought to build rapport with the Altoran leader.

‘Lead counsel you honour my visit and all Traders by both your welcome and meeting with me today. I look forward to renewing a long and mutually beneficial arrangement with your people.’

The lead counsel looked at Narindestat and bared the two single wide bladed teeth in his jaws as he replied with critical observations about the presence and recent actions of the Traders.

‘The Maveen and humans pointed out that they face little conflict and have even less to fear in this part of the galaxy, and yet your battle cruiser shows signs of heavy battle damage. In addition, you delayed to pick up a message probe and this breach in protocol distresses us, as we fear your words may be untrue. Even if our two races have been friends in the past, we will not be mistreated again by another galactic race.’

Narindestat calmly replied, as he placed on the decking in front of him both his spare data tablet, already filtered to remove any possible reference to the Quixxe, and the engineering holograph.

‘Lead counsel, I apologise for any slight, as the Maveen have urgently summoned me to meet elsewhere with the Dradfer and the humans. I also tend evidence on these devices on how my ship was damaged.’

Narindestat knew that the forbearance and the respect that the Altoran were seeking did not extend back to others, and especially they would quickly conquer and likely devour the hidden Quixxe if they located their world. He knew that even the Altoran fear of the response of the Maveen would not keep the Quixxe refugees safe.

Narindestat then spoke slowly as the data holograph began displaying edited sections of the recent mission into the centre of the galaxy. He also highlighted his recent meeting with the Huopheen, but of course left out all mention of the Quixxe and the more distant and valuable Arranen system.

Bel’khai hissed in rage as the first Fenshilla attack was replayed in front of him. A murmur came from the other Altoran on either side of him, but he silenced them by looking at them critically without saying anything. Narindestat had the presence of mind to remain silent and still, as the replay then progressed to show the later destruction of the four Fenshilla cruisers by the Maveen. A low growl of approval came from several Altoran as the ships of their ancient enemy were destroyed.

Bel’khai this time ignored the interruption and again took in the long report for several moments, before he turned to speak with his advisors on either side of him. He noted the cool glance he got from his silent fleet commander and spoke a brief question to him in an obscure Altoran dialect.

‘You consider the situation warrants greater disclosure and discussion Commander?’

The commander now had leave to speak and answered tersely in the same dialect with out looking at Narindestat.

‘Lead counsel, the outcomes of the two battles as described indicates that our earlier decision to seek alliance or détente is still valid. I now consider that war with the outer alliance of humans, Traders and Maveen would be extremely foolhardy.’

Bel’khai nodded and now spoke to the waiting Narindestat in a more genial manner.

‘The deaths of so many gene-meddling and stinking Fenshilla are most welcome. Now you are welcome to stay for an extended period, and do you need to repair your ship further at our facilities?’

Narindestat beamed in good nature as he replied, for he had taken in the quick message from Grant also on the message probe.

‘Lead Counsel Bel’khai, I am grateful for the friendship and hospitality of the Altoran, but the Maveen are uncompromising in their expectations of my arrival to meet with the Dradfer. Surely the demands the Maveen inflict upon shorter lived life forms are at times onerous. Now I will upgrade my loaned ship when we later return to our home system, so further repairs are not required.’