The Icarian Legacy Collected Edition: Brave Souls - First Strike (Volume 3) (48 page)

She smiled.

“You are welcomed.”

The moment was brief but it broke the spell and the nervousness he felt. It was enough to make him relax. He turned back to the screen. He had a discussion with everyone. While the battle that would happen in Proxima would probably take more planning the one here was simple.

All ships had order to open fire the moment the Dacarian ships transition through. There was to be no waiting so there weren’t many rooms for putting plans. This was going to be a kind of battle that reminded him of the battles of the eighteenth and the nineteenth century. Tight formation that stands on the battle field without fear of the enemy, formation that fires and advances no matter what is standing before them. The only difference was that no it was ships and not soldiers. There were several meters of metal between the soldiers and the enemy rounds.  The only thing that would happen that they knew for sure was that the mine field will explode as soon as the last ship transits through to this system.

Everyone hoped that it would cause havoc among the enemy, but they prepared for the worse scenario. That is why there were ships placed in the asteroid belt and in orbit around Earth. But if the fight reaches to them he knew that neither he nor anyone else present here will see it. If the enemy reaches to that point it would mean that they are all dead. He hoped that it will not come to that. But he also knew that if it comes no one will cry or be afraid not in the fleet he commanded. They all were prepared to fight to the last, to die. In a way he felt the same as eons ago the Spartans must have felt at the battle with the Persians. This was where they were drawing the line. This was the place where the destiny of humanity will be decided.

As he was looking he noticed Anaya stir.

“They are coming.”

It was a statement. He noticed the readings of the warp point. Something was happening although there was nothing there yet. The readings were of the scale. It was obvious that something big was close to coming though.

“Give me a link to all ships. And be prepared to send the signal to activate the warheads.”

“Yes admiral.”

The link was established and he took a second to gather his thoughts.

“This is Admiral Johnson. You all know what is coming through that point. We all know what they want. And we all know our duty.

Long time ago at a moment similar to these three hundred Spartans stood against an army of a million men. They were the last line of defense. We all know what happened to them. We all know the legend that was born at that moment. All history, all legends start just like this. There are always some brave few, that no matter what happens will never back down, never retreat, that are prepared to die for what they believe in, to die for their home.

As I look at you now I see those brave men standing here today. We all heard the president’s speech…we all know what is behind us. We all know that this is where we draw the line. That today is the moment when we say enough, the day when we stay stop. We are the last defense, the last thing that stands before the night.

Today we are the Spartans and I say they will not pass!!!”

He turned towards Anaya. She was waiting for him.

“So it begins.”

“Yes so it does.”

As the admiral finished his speech all ships powered up their weapons and shields. And then they waited.

The warp point shimmered for several moments and then it suddenly expanded. It all took just a second.

Where there was nothing before suddenly hundreds ships started transitioning simultaneously. It was an unbelievable site. A site that was both beautiful and terrifying at the same time.

“Do we have the numbers Anaya?”

“Yes admiral counting five hundred and sixty one ships.”

As the ships transitioned and moved away from the warp point, an eerie silence settled for a second.

“Holy mother of God…Look at the size of the bastards.”

Johnson knew that they had a minute until the Dacarians settled and all their systems started functioning again. He gave the order.

“Activate the mine field.”

Anaya send the signal before he even spoke the words. She more than anyone else knew the real power of the fleet that was arrayed outside. There was no time to waste.

And at the same time all ships started firing with the long range weapons. Hundreds of MAC rounds flew towards the still unsuspecting enemy.

Vokar watched as the fleet came out. He always hated these moments. The warp points always impacted the ships systems and interfered with the sensors. The ships were literally blind and deaf for almost an arn. It was the time that was needed for the systems to come back on line.

He expected the call from the scout fleet as soon as they came out. He was surprised that there was nothing.

“Begin scanning and launch the air wings.”

“Yes admiral.”

He knew that the results would be incomplete thanks to the interference but he wanted to be sure that there was nothing out there.

“I want the…”-but he never managed to finish the sentence.

When they planned the mission they were acting arrogant, sure in their superiority, in the power of their technology, they never prepared for an eventuality that the warp point would be guarded. A warp point was always dangerous to cross and the battles that were fought in order to take control of the other side if it was defended always demanded enormous sacrifices. The fact that he never prepared for that came to his mind the moment that all the alarms started screaming, the moment when the legionary manning the sensors literally screamed.

“We have Radiological alarm!!! Detecting thousands signals!!!”

“Raise shields!!!”

But the order came much too late. And as he noticed the readings of the energy, he knew that even if they were up they would only prolong the agony.

Some of the ships that transitioned first managed to do that in time. They were the lucky ones. They also started firing almost at once. But then the second nightmare came as they detected the signals of almost three hundred ships that opened fire on them.

As the shields of the Ahairna started to come on line outside for a brief moment a new star was born as two thousand four hundred and eighty nuclear warheads detonated simultaneously. They released power of millions of megatons, power that would have devastated a planet if it was released on one.

The six miles long dreadnought had huge amounts of armor. It was fully capable of fighting even without its shields. It had forty meters of Trilik a metal alloy that was the strongest the Dacarians knew and it was composed of materials the humans never saw before. It had small traces of the metal they knew as titanium and also carbon and several other lighter elements.

But not even that armor could withstand the huge amount of power that was released against it. It melted in seconds.

The ship rocked and shacked and it slowly fell apart. Voran and his crew didn’t feel a thing. Their death was quick as the dreadnought found itself on top of one of the ten warheads that had a power yield of one gigaton. As it detonated it literally tore the ship apart.

As the blast hit the fleet the first ones to go were the ten fuel ships. They had weaker armor plates and even though they had their shields up they were drained away immediately after the explosions as debris and the power of several nuclear warheads that were near hit them.  The fuel they carried ignited and only increased the power of the explosion. They all exploded within seconds. The transport ships that were near them were hit by debris from them huge pieces that tore through their shields and cut deep in to their skin. Armor plates evaporated and the heat stroke deep inside. In just second’s sixty million legionaries, a number that was enough to conquer several worlds over, a loss that was unheard off, died.

Thousands others followed them as ship after ship exploded. It took for just a minute for the explosion to clear. In that time three hundred and sixty ships were totally destroyed. Half of those that managed to survive suffered huge damages. The thousands of seraphines that were launched never really had a chance. They were blasted to atoms. And so were their mother ships, the carriers.

Of fifty four dreadnoughts only ten remained and they all had huge damages. The luckiest ships were the cruisers and the destroyers. By sheer luck they found themselves protected by other ships.

Of the two hundred and one ships that managed to survive ten were dreadnoughts, eighty three were cruisers of both classes, thirty eight were destroyers, forty nine were frigates and twenty one were corvettes. All ships showed huge damages.

Pieces of hull were torn apart, on most places the armor was totally stripped leaving exposed inner bulkheads, weapons systems were wrecked. And even as they survived the first attack the second arrived in the form of MAC rounds and rail gun rounds. And those that still had functioning sensors noticed thousands of fighters approaching and a fleet of ships as well.

Jongar pushed the legionary that was trying to help him to stand up, away. His ship managed to raise the shields in time, but it still suffered huge damage.

“Give me the status of the fleet. I want to know who survived!”

It took just moments but as he read the results he paled. Only two hundred ships survived and only ten were dreadnoughts. And they all had huge amounts of damage.

“Inform the fleet that I’m taking command. And try to give me a link to V’las. His squadrons suffered least casualties. “

“Yes admiral.”

In one arn the face of the younger captain appeared on the screen. It was bloody and the video showed a bridge that had huge damages. It was obvious that the cruiser suffered terrible damage. Bodies were laying everywhere. As he turned he knew that his bridge looks the same.

“Jongar.”

“V’las. How many hips do you have capable of fighting?”

“About sixty I believe. The readings I have are showing that we have hundred and thirty seven functioning ships.  The rest are dead in space.”

“My results are the same. And as you know we have a fleet of almost three hundred ships closing in.”

“Yes. We were arrogant and we paid the price.”

“What we need to do now is retreat and regroup V’las. “

“We are surrounded. And we can’t travel through the warp point. They are there to a drone just passed with information’s that Kerak is under attack.”

Jongar kicked one piece of metal that was nearby.

“Curse the gods. How could this happen?”

“Don’t shout at the gods Jongar. They are not at fault we are. We forgot who we were fighting.”

“And now we will pay the price.”

“We have to go through them.”

The younger captain looked at him.

“I agree. We need to destroy this fleet and this world.”

“Do you submit to my command?”

“Yes my lord. I relinquish my command to you. I already ordered the most damaged ships to be placed in front to take the brute of the enemy attack. The rest of the ships are forming behind them. I suggest that your dreadnoughts do the same. “

“Thank you V’las. The dreadnoughts will take the center of the formation.”

The link went dead. The dacarian surviving ships arrayed for battle. They were damaged, but they were powerful ships. The sixty four damaged ships took most of the MAC rounds in to their hulls. They died one by one but they gave the time the rest of the fleet needed to prepare. Then the Dacarians opened fire. And as their shots found their targets humans began to die as well.

27 June 14:45 hours

Proxima Centaury

Kerak watched as the unknown ships stopped. His fighters moved well ahead of the fleet searching for any remaining nuclear mines like the ones that wrecked the first fleet. As he watched them move the screens showed hundred and sixty fighters moving to intercept them. The sight made him laugh. The seraphines were unmatched in their class in space combat. They were superior or equal to every space fighter of the known races. And they outnumbered their opponents three and a half to one. He was sure that they would massacre the small fighters that raced towards them.

As he watched the officer operating the sensors turned.

“What is it?”

“We just registered twelve more ships. They just exited hyperspace and are racing towards us.”

This was complicating things.

“How long do we have until the two fleets meet?

“They will meet in forty arns. We will be in firing range in thirty three my lord.”

“It seems that they were attracted to these star systems. They probably have a colony on some of the worlds. As I recall there was a habitable world in the other star system.”

“Yes my lord.”

“Good. Once we finish with these ships we will have something to destroy. And a place where we can find out who they are. They are worthy adversaries.”

Smiles appeared on the faces of the legionaries at his words. They knew that the fleet suffered a heavy blow in the first engagement but a trap like that was a trap they would fall only once. They were confident in their victory.

Jennings watched as the fighter squadrons closed in.

“Sir we have new contacts on the edge of the system coming from the point to Alpha Centaury.”

As soon as he heard that he knew that Peck jumped in system. He knew that it was against orders but he was glad he was here. He needed all the help he could get.

“Contact him and tell him to come as fast as he can. And move us back a little. Let the Dacarians come to us but not before we have Peck’s ships here.”

“Yes sir.”

While the ships captains communicated and planned the hundred and sixty space fighters, four air wings in total moved towards the incoming seraphines.

Jacobs looked at his wing mates. They were flying in formation and closing in on the seraphines. They were all experienced fighter pilots, and he and several others already had an experience in fighting their opponents in the first battle on Earth. Then they managed to win flying in F-22, raptors and F-18. The fighters they had were generations ahead of those. The vipers were excellent small fighters heavily armed and they had huge power. He smiled as he noticed the six pelican drop ships. They were flying in formation. And they were the real nasty heavy hitters in the formation. With their armament and armor they were more than capable of taking on the alien fighters.

He looked at the distance. It was time. Each fighter was armed with six missiles.  They were converted AMRAM missiles designed for use in space.

“Lock and load people. It’s time to give them another taste.”

He got confirmations from every pilot. In several moments he could hear their voices announcing the firing. In just a moment hundred and sixty missiles raced ahead. They were followed by a second salvo and a third.

As the missiles accelerated the enemy fighters started evasive movements and opened fire. They managed to hit about half but still almost three hundred missiles found their target. Tiny explosions marked the death of the alien fighters. Some received three missiles. The final count showed hundred and ten seraphines destroyed. After that the alien fighters accelerated at full speed

“Here they come. Watch for your wing mates. Remember your training and everything will be ok.”

The two groups of fighters intermingled. Explosions appeared everywhere as pilots on both sides died. Jacobs could hear the screams of his pilots when they were hit.

“CAG watch for your six.”

Jacobs suddenly turned the fighter and the alien shots and a fighter raced pass him.

He immediately fired after it and was pleased with its explosion.

“Thanks Halo I owe you one.”

“You are welc…”

The voice cut out in midair and he saw that Halo’s viper disappeared from his sensors. They showed that forty three human fighters died so far. Twice that number enemies were dead. But they were still outnumbered. But as he watched the pelicans equaled the odds. The drop ships expended their missile loads before, and now they were using their guns.

The two M61A2 twenty millimeter cannons and the four Dillon M204 thirty millimeter guns were seeding death all around them. As the seraphines fired at them they met with strong enough armor to deflect their shots and were surprised by the agility of the large ship.  He noticed that they are concentrating on the drop ships.

“Protect the drop ships.”

“Let us be the anvil CAG and you can be the hammer.”

“OK Fly. That is ago. Ok boys let’s draw them in.”

The vipers spread out and engulfed the larger and less agile alien fighters. The smaller more maneuverable fighters surprised and outpaced the seraphines. Slowly the seraphines found themselves surrounded.

Hogar watched as his air wing was being decimated. His sensors showed that they destroyed sixty eight fighters, but they lost four times that number.  The enemy fighters had no more missiles those cursed things that surprised them at the beginning of the battle. But they were smaller and faster. He was a proud pilot but also a realistic one. Before now he believed in the story, not just believe but knew it for a fact that the seraphine was one of the best space fighters in the known galaxy. It was superior. But what he was seeing now was a fighter that outmatched them at every step. He knew that the pilots that were his opponents were great also. They were far more than good. But the fighter was something else. It moved faster, rotated better, it could turn on its own axis, it was just simply superior.

He signaled the retreat.

As Kerak watched the unfolding battle between the two fighter formations he was getting worried. The results were clear. For every enemy fighter that the seraphines destroyed they lost four of their own. The real result in close combat was two to one but it was obvious that they were facing a new superior design. The confidence and arrogance he felt before was slowly evaporating.

He didn’t object when the fighter wings retreated.

A little more time and his ships were going to get in to range. Then he planned to show this enemy the real power of a dacarian ship of war.

“They are a worthy adversaries my Lord.”

He turned as he heard the voice of Sod, his loyal companion. They were members of the same clan and were at similar age. Sod was his second in command and always there to offer a good advice when he needed it.

“They are out passing us at every step so far Sod. Their technology is more primitive, but their design and the way they use it… I just hope that the fleet that went through the warp point didn’t encounter them.”

Sod looked at his friend. He could notice that Kerak was angry. But he was also worried. He felt that same anger inside him as well.

The losses so far were hard. What started as a simple chasing of a single ship was slowly turning in to a battle of attrition. And it was a battle they were losing. But so far there was no fleet battle. He was sure that the Dacarian ships are superior. The enemy was reluctant to offer a battle so far but it was clear that they were finally ready to do that. As he watched the way they positioned them self he remembered the death of Ahia and his squadron.

“We are dealing with an excellent tactician on the other side. Whoever commands that fleet is one hell of a captain or admiral.”

Kerak turned towards the holographic image that showed the enemy fleet. In two arns his fleet was going to be able to open fire. He knew that they could open fire already. They had a slight advantage considering that they were using projectile weapons. His scans were still being blocked and he couldn’t get a clear reading of their capabilities. It frustrated him.

But he already came to the same conclusion.

“You are right Sod. He is good. He is an adversary that deserves respect and admiration, and an honorable death.”

Sod just nodded with his head.

“My lord we can open fire in one arn.”

“Order all ships to open fire as soon as we enter it. Tell them to fire everything.”

He turned towards Sod.

“It will begin soon.”

“Yes. May I suggest that you send a third of the fleet ahead. Just in case there is a second mine field. Order the other ships to slow down.”

Kerak thought for a moment. He was well aware that there might be a second field out there.

“Get me N’tak.”

As the legionaries carried out his order the hologram of an older Dacarian dressed in armor appeared.

“You summoned me my lord.”

“N’tac I want you to take your squadron and three frigates of Cral’s squadron and race ahead of the rest of the fleet when we enter in to firing range.”

“Yes my lord.”

The hologram disappeared. N’tac’s squadron had one light cruiser, one destroyer, six corvettes and one frigate. With the three frigates he was going to have more than enough firepower to be on even ground with the enemy ships even if there was no mine field. And if there was, those ships didn’t represent a significant loss in firepower.

Jennings watched as the enemy ships closed in. He waited a moment and gave the order to fire.

A moment later it looked as if the eleven human ships exploded. Hundreds of projectiles and missiles launched from them towards the dacarian ships. In just under thirty seconds the ships fired forty rounds from the MAC guns. The rail guns also engaged and missiles were continuously launched from the launchers.

The dacarians responded in kind.

Plasma beams passed the distance between the ships and impacted the shields of the human fleet. Lasers fired as well and the graviton guns engaged as well.

At the speeds they were moving the beams and the projectiles reached their targets almost instantly.

Two of the dacarian corvettes exploded as they were hit by the MAC rounds. A destroyer and one cruiser drifted away as they were hit by several MAC rounds. The cruiser exploded seconds later as two of the MAC rounds hit its side. The kinetic energy that was released as a MAC round impacted was enormous. It literally tore the ship apart. But the duel wasn’t one sided.

The Chien was the first human ship to die as it was hit by several Plasma beams and lasers and later by the graviton guns. The ship was holed in several places and as it drifted away internal explosions could be seen. Life pods started launching from it but not all made it as two more beams hit the ship as it turned its belly to the enemy fleet. They tore the ship in two and moments later as the reactor overloaded it exploded.

The Nebraska soon followed as she was holed by a graviton gun that hit her right after several plasma beams impacted its nose. By that time three more Dacarian ships drifted away holed on several places and littered with internal explosions that tore them apart.

After this all ships started evasive action, and scrambled to all sides. The fight turned in to a hit and run as the human ships started slowly to retreat and run watching not to be engaged by several enemy ships.

The dacarians smelled blood as one more of the human ships started losing speed. It was the Farragut. One of the plasma hits managed to damage its engines and the ship slowed down.