Dawn of a New Age (38 page)

She swung her fighter around in an arc so that she was pointing at the three Brentax fighters following Kelly Winters.

“Hurry!  I can’t shake them!” Kelly whimpered.

“Don’t worry, I’ve got them dead to rights,” Stephanie grimaced as she lined up the shots.  In quick succession she fired off three volleys, each one connecting with a different Brentax fighter.  “Now I just have them dead.”

“Thank you, Commander!”

“Anyti—“

Stephanie didn’t have time to finish her statement as a Brentax fighter, damaged in battle, rammed into her Starfire from out of nowhere.

6.7.2125

1046

SLS Quintanilla

The Bridge

“We’re losing a lot of fighters, Lieutenant,” Colonel Jameson frowned.  “I can’t make out who’s been shot down and who hasn’t yet.”

“Work on the weapons, John,” K’Alan ordered gently.  “There’ll be time to count the dead later.”

“Aye, sir,” Jameson nodded.

K’Alan brought up the tactical holo and focused on the two Kovat class cruisers.  He started to hum slightly to himself then headed over to the helmsman.

“Do we have full engines?” he asked.

“Yes,” the helmsman nodded.  “It’s about the only system that’s not shot to hell.”

“Good.  Here’s what I want to do…”

6.7.2125

1053

SLS Argus

The Bridge

“Commodore, the Quintanilla has no weapons,” Tom Nichols fired.  “They’re also reading as having no sensors or communications.”

“Send a squadron of fighters over to help them out,” Bonetti ordered.

“Aye, sir.  Sending Red Squadron.”

6.7.2125

1057

SLS Quintanilla

The Bridge

“Lieutenant, it looks like Commodore Bonetti is sending us another squadron of fighters,” Jameson reported.  “That should even out the fighter battle.”

“Good,” K’Alan nodded.  “If my plan works, the Brentax fighters won’t have a base ship to land on.  At least, they won’t have the Kovats.”

“No offense, Lieutenant,” Jameson chuckled.  “But I’m not wild about your plan.  You’re taking a big risk.”

“And right now we’re sitting here with a big target on us, Colonel,” K’Alan sighed.  “We need to do something.  If you have a better idea, I’m more than willing to consider it.”

“Unfortunately, I don’t have a better plan,” Jameson shook his head.  “I just hope yours works.”

“Me too, Colonel,” K’Alan muttered.  “Me too.”

6.7.2125

1101

Draxus Porida

Main Bridge

“Commander, the SLS Quintanilla has sustained major damage,” the sensor tech reported.  “They are no longer firing on our Kovat class cruisers.”

“Good,” M’Tak Jolan said.  “Tell the Kovar and the Brecos to concentrate their fire on the Quintanilla’s engines.  As soon as we dispatch the Argus and the Haphaestus, we’ll help destroy the Quintanilla.”

“Yes, sir.”

6.7.2125

1113

SLS Quintanilla

The Bridge

“All right,” K’Alan said, crossing his fingers.  “Take us in, nice and slowly.  Put us between the Kovat class cruisers.”

“Aye, sir,” the helmsman said, heading right to work on getting the ship where it needed to be.

“Colonel, how much punishment can our shields take at the moment?” K’Alan asked.

“Shields are at sixty percent, Lieutenant,” Jameson reported.  “We can take several direct hits.”

“Good,” K’Alan nodded.  “We’re going to have to if this is going to work.  This is going to be very hard on this ship.”

“Yes, sir,” Jameson nodded.  “It will be.  She’s a tough little ship though.”

“Let me know when we’re in position, helmsman,” K’Alan ordered as he began to prepare for phase two of his plan.

“Aye, sir.”

6.7.2125

1118

SLS Argus

The Bridge

“Commodore, this telemetry for the Quintanilla is confusing,” Tom Nichols frowned.  “It looks like she’s positioning herself between the two Kovat class cruisers.”

“What?” Bonetti jumped up to look at the telemetry for himself.  “What the hell do they think they’re doing?”

“Unknown, sir,” Tom frowned again.  “This makes no sense.”

“Any success in raising the Quintanilla?” the commodore asked.

“None, sir.  They’re unable to respond,” Tom sighed softly.

“I sure hope they know what they’re doing over there, then,” Bonetti shook his head.

6.7.2125

1121

Ensign Mark Roderick’s Fighter

“What the…?” Mark Roderick pondered on the comms.  “Where is the Quintanilla going?”

“Looks like she’s headed for the Kovat cruisers, Mark,” Kelly Winters responded, a note of worry in her voice.  “What’s the Captain up to?”

“I don’t know,” Roderick admitted.  “But it’s not like we can really do anything to help out at this point.  I think we’ve got enough to worry about.”

“Yeah,” Winters added.  “Like the Brentax fighter I just shot off your tail.  You are so going to owe me when we get back aboard the Quintanilla.”

“Keep yappin’, Sergeant,” Roderick grumbled.

6.7.2125

1128

SLS Quintanilla

The Bridge

“Lieutenant, we’re in position,” the helmsman reported.  “The two Kovat class cruisers are moving into our position.”

“Colonel, are the antimatter pods ready?” K’Alan asked as the ship shuddered with the impact of a direct hit.

“Ready to drop on your mark,” Jameson confirmed.

“Helm, as soon as we drop the pods, we need to be going full fusion drive,” K’Alan ordered.

“Aye, sir.  Full fusion drive ready on your mark,” the helmsman nodded.

“Good,” K’Alan nodded.  He took a deep breath, looking at K’Itea’s picture before giving the command.  “Drop pods and engage fusion drive now!”

K’Alan gripped the armrests on his chair as he was thrown back in the chair due to the rapid acceleration.

“The pods cleared the Quintanilla’s field before we accelerated, Lieutenant,” Jameson reported.  “They’re now homing on the two Kovat cruisers.”

“Holo,” K’Alan ordered.

In the center of the bridge, a holographic image of the two Kovat cruisers loomed, two bright white pods nearing the two ships, gradually getting closer.  After a few seconds, the pods collided with the Kovat cruisers, resulting in two giant fireballs in space.

“Now that was effective,” Jameson smiled.

“Was there any damage to us in the maneuver, Colonel?” K’Alan asked.

“Shields down to thirty percent, but otherwise no damage,” Jameson reported.

“Status on repairs?” K’Alan demanded.

“Communications should be back online in five minutes,” Kim reported.  “Sensors and weapons should both be back online now.”

“Good,” K’Alan grinned.  “Let’s go see if the Commodore needs a hand then.”

6.7.2125

1135

SLS Argus

The Bridge

“I don’t believe it!” Tom Nichols gasped.  “The Quintanilla has just destroyed two Kovat class cruisers without having weapons online.”

“Captain Starlos is a brilliant tactician,” Bonetti chuckled.  “I’d have been surprised if he couldn’t destroy the two Kovats.”

“Commodore,” the communications tech called.  “I have the Quintanilla online.  Audio only.  It’s Lieutenant Bryce.”

“Lieutenant Bryce?” Bonetti asked, raising an eyebrow.  “Where’s Captain Starlos?”

“Captain Starlos was killed early on in the battle, Commodore,” K’Alan reported.  “I’ve been in command during most of the battle.”

“So you’re the one responsible for that rather unorthodox move?” Bonetti chuckled.

“What can I say?” K’Alan snickered.  “I never was one to conform to the norm.  We’ve finally got our weapons back online.  We’re coming to assist you guys in whatever way we can.”

“Good,” Bonetti nodded.  “We could use a little help.”

“We’ll be there momentarily,” K’Alan said, a slight grin in his voice.  “Quintanilla out.”

“Well, how about that,” Bonetti marveled.

6.7.2125

1249

SLS Quintanilla

The Bridge

“That’s the last of them, Lieutenant,” Jameson reported.  “All Brentax fighters have been destroyed.”

“Good,” K’Alan nodded.  “Recall all our fighters and start preparing damage reports and casualties lists, please.”

“Recall order issued, Lieutenant,” Kim acknowledged.  “Lieutenant, Silvers 1, 3, and 7 and Golds 2, 3, 5, 6, and 9 were all destroyed.  I’m afraid Commander Westphalen was shot down.”

“Stephanie too?  Damn,” K’Alan swore.  “I was hoping I could relinquish command to her.”

“I think you did well in command, Lieutenant,” Colonel Jameson winked.  “You certainly managed to keep a cooler head than I would have been able to.”

“Thanks, Colonel.  That means a lot.”

“I’ll have the damage reports and the casualties lists for you shortly, Lieutenant,” Jameson smiled.

“Commodore Bonetti on the comms for you, Lieutenant,” Kim announced.

“Holo,” K’Alan barked.

“Lieutenant Bryce,” Commodore Bonetti nodded in greeting.  “You did well today.”

“Thank you, Commodore,” K’Alan nodded, smiling sadly.  “We lost some good people today though.”

“Yes, I know,” Bonetti sighed.  “It is the price of war.”

“I think the cost is too high, Commodore,” K’Alan bit off.

“I’d have to agree.”

6.7.2125

2002

SLS Quintanilla

K’Alan Bryce’s Quarters

Lieutenant K’Alan Bryce sat staring at his desk, unable to focus.  Now that he was alone, he let the tears flow, tears that he’d been holding ever since his friends were lost in battle.

He flicked a switch on his computer and sighed softly, composing himself.

Personal Log: K’Alan Bryce: 6.7.2125: The battle is over.  We won.

It doesn’t feel like we won, but we did.

We lost a lot of good men and women during this battle, including Captain Starlos and Commander Westphalen.  I hurt from the loss of these two friends like I’ve never hurt before.  I don’t ever want to feel like this again.

On the bright side, Kit is safe.  The Brentax have lost their foothold on this sector of space and therefore they can’t attack my home world easily.  I shall have to keep an eye on developments in this sector from now on.

I miss Kit.  I miss her a lot.  I think that my being in the Star League Defense Force is going to be tougher now that we’re married.  The long time between visits is going to be rough.  I only hope I can visit her soon.  I doubt I will though.  Duty is keeping me here for now.

I truly wish I hadn’t been here for this battle, although I fear the outcome may have been different had I not been.

K’Alan flicked the log recorder off and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his eyes.

“Lieutenant Bryce,” the voice of Ensign Kim Ericson, the communications tech on duty, called over the intercom.  “Commodore Bonetti requested your presence on board the Argus.”

“Understood, Ensign,” K’Alan sighed, wondering what else could happen today.  “Tell him I’ll be there presently.”

“Aye, sir.”

K’Alan groaned softly and headed off towards the shuttle bay.

6.7.2125

2117

SLS Argus

Commodore John Bonetti’s Office

K’Alan Bryce sighed softly and fidgeted as he stood in front of Commodore Bonetti’s desk.  He waited, somewhat impatiently, for the Commodore to notice him.

“You wanted to see me, sir?” he asked after another minute had passed without the Commodore looking up from his paperwork.

“Yes, Lieutenant,” Bonetti said, looking up.  He indicated the chair on the opposite side of the desk.  “Have a seat.”

“Thank you, sir,” K’Alan nodded as he sat in the offered chair.

“Well, Lieutenant,” the Commodore began. “You’ve had quite a day.”