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Beyond Hope
- Chapter 60 - Roads, where they lead, and what they are paved with[]
"It wasn't technology that decided the battle of Melville. Observe, the humble SB-27 Saber, probably the cheapest, most common aerospace fighter in Human space. Does it look like a technical powerhouse? No, because it isn't. It's the way you use it…"
-Overheard in a spaceport bar, 3065
They say the road to hell is paved with good intentions. The road to glory is paved with your victims. So the question is what is the road of progress paved with? Progress is clearly driven by good intentions. It also comes with a fair bit of glory. Is it both? Or is it a more frightening third answer we still have yet to determine?
-Philosophical ramblings of Sarak ‘Why’ Yeh
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Assembling the Fleet[]
Kowloon, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
3063
Helena had drafted the orders some months ago when the news was first passed to her. So the Fleet she was able to assemble from the Member states was a bit of a mishmash, but wound up being an extra sixteen Warships on top of what Kowloon was putting into this fight.
"Extra might be stretching it, Helena. Those modified Makos aren't exactly impressive warships, even though Liz renamed them 'Landmarks'." Jane commented. "Never mind the original 'Landmark' class ships she's also sending."
“I know. I’m just glad Tom came through after all, and we got the Aphrodite. Over half of this force are Corvettes.”
"I could go, if you want," Jane said. "I mean, if you think they need me…"
“I’m done asking that sort of thing of you Jane. You’ve put your life on the line enough times. You’re a good Mom now and helping Liz with her OCB stuff.”
"Yeah, and Bianh would freak out if you left her behind," Daphne commented, sitting down between them at the table. "Besides, you're a brilliant 'hole card' if this goes in the pot."
“Give them another couple weeks and the member states say they could get a bit more to us. But we’ll need that if we lose,” Helena nodded.
“Thera, Kirishima, two Avalons, two Suffren, four Foxes, and six Mako, backed by four Landmarks Class Corvettes, because of course there aren't enough of them fit to serve and close enough to actually influence things," Daphne read off the Fleet list.
"That's a significant amount of firepower, even against the kind of ships the Clans field," Jane granted.
“Yeah it’s doable. We got the guns. But the Clans have some too, and those Mako, Fox, corvettes and Landmark destroyers aren’t going to be able to stand up to return fire very well.” Helena rubbed her temples.
Jane leaned back. "It's the way that you use them," she said. "But I might be biased. I helped design the Landmarks."
“Yeah. We got an up to date fleet listing for the Clan force?” Helena asked.
"We do… and I have concerns," Jane stated. "Our guys will be all right if the Clan units stick to published SLDF doctrine, or follow their weird ass rules of war… But if they don't? We could need those backups to save our asses."
“So let’s not count on them being stupid.”
"Wells will play it smart. She'll hold range and distance to minimize the gun power versus hull equation, and our side will run null ops. Even the Aphrodite, since they trained with our people during the Smoke Jaguar war. That's going to shift it to a carrier battle, and while they still have an advantage in fighter-scale weapons, I somehow doubt their fighter pilots are going to deviate enough from their doctrine to really take advantage… and if they do? Our pilots are as good as theirs, and know the stakes."
“So we use the thrust of the Corvettes to act as a screening force to start out. Then as we chip away at their fighters…”
"Don't forget Lizzie sent nearly all the Silver Streaks she bought for the Coast guard out with the support group."
“Yeah. That will give us a fair boost in our screen power and when the time comes, rapid high velocity slashing attacks, in and out before the Clans get more than a shot or two off.”
Daphne frowned. "Katherine had some input on how those Streaks are equipped. They're not just standard fighter or dropship weapons. The cannons they're carrying are something she called 'sub-capital'... Jane, you've seen them, how good are they?"
“If properly used, they are very good. They do have some limitations and drawbacks, but they’ll put some damage into even the heavy iron.”
“How long before we know?"
"A few hours.”
“Then it’s up to Wells. And if she fails and they come for us, we’ll have just enough to make them regret it,” Helena nodded.
Time to Dance[]
Dropship Schnellboot 1,
Kowloon System, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
Mid-3063
Korvetten-Leutnant Anh Cu'ong was named for a famous ancestor. "I see them arraying, Chief. RTO, have you gotten our go order from the Flag yet?"
"Negative, mum."
She was in Schnellboot 1, because DropShips don't get names, they get numbers and a designation based on role.
Like Subs, which is where she spent her first five in the Service.
"Keep your ears wide open," she said. "What the hell are they waiting for?"
"Fleet Flag, or the other guys?"
"The other guys," she tried to sound more confident than she felt. "Engineering, is everything good?"
"Everything's good, mum. The dampeners will work, the polarizers do work, power's at optimum, and we've got a deep reserve."
So what are we waiting for? she tried to relax in the acceleration couch. Helmet open for now, because unlike her famous Rockjack ancestor, Anh was a Camranh girl, growing up among fishing boats on the south coast of the Northern landmass, not a fighter jock and not space-born.
"Order from Fleet, Mum: Screen the fighter wings, we're go," the RTO said.
"Let's play the music and call the tune boys, it's time to dance," Anh said it with more confidence than she felt. "Condition One throughout the boat, seal up, we might be in suits for a while."
Facing something New[]
Melville system, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
3063
Cassius N’Buta had his fleet arrayed. They had been training for this. Practicing for off axis attacks, ambushes, coordinated lines of attack and defense.
"My Khan, the Traitor lord forces are launching fighters!"
“Signal our forces. We will pounce on them now that we are drawing them in!” Cassius smiled.
Status karats showed the Clan's fighter stars as they freed themselves from bays and assumed formations. Others coming from Dropships using the mass shadows of their Warship partners to hide from observation.
The approaching Spheroid ships were starting to show up. "Many light fighters in this wave… they cannot believe such pathetic things are any match for us," his own Flag vessel's Commander of Aerospace fighters scoffed.
“Do not underestimate them. That folly led to the defeat of the Steel Vipers.” Cassius warned.
Cassius watched the status on the tactical display. Odd formations… something new? Or is there a problem on the other side?
Minutes before the merge, Star Adder fighters began to disappear, and the comms channels reflected voices of surprise. "A new weapon? Those are confirmed to be Sabers! They should not have this kind of range!!"
“We’re getting reports of sensor returns of enemy craft, but before anyone can confirm, our pilots are dead or ejecting.”
“Stealth technology?” Cassius grumbled.
One of the sensor techs was glaring at her readouts, and mumbling to herself.
"Speak up tech."
"There are… voids," she said. "Visible light, EM, Radar. The weapons killing our pilots are coming from those voids… I can not lock down the size, and there is no plume of fusion exhaust!!"
“Savashri! All craft, tighten our formation. Perhaps we can burn through their stealth tech if we all combine our efforts and force the enemy to come in even closer.”
"Let me see, Tech." Cassius had brought a Scientist to the bridge, to analyze the intended prize, he was now looking at the sensor readouts. "My Khan, that is not an ECM field… but I think I know what they used.”
"What?"
"Jumpsail material, wrapped around the hull, our sensors are sending power to their systems if it is military grade wide spectrum material."
“You are suggesting something then?”
"There are limits to the absorption. Enough concentrated EM or light… And it will have to discharge somewhere."
“So the counter is doing what I already ordered.”
"I would say patterning naval laser fire near the apparent middle of the… void, actually."
“Let us see how good these algorithms for bracket firing really are that we obtained from the Goliath Scorpions. Saturation bombardment. Center of the void.” Cassius ordered.
The warship's naval lasers opened fire, and for a few seconds, it looked like the scientist might be full of it.
Then, something lit.
For a moment, but after that moment, a partial spindle shape was on sensors, maneuvering wildly at gee-loadings that simply were not possible.
"Kill it."
"My Khan, the enemy fleet is changing their formation and moving in!"
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Aegis Class Heavy Cruiser
“Maintain formation. Fleet adjust heading ten degrees starboard. One Gravity thrust. Stand by for new heading and thrust.”
Silver light bloomed, and Stellar Serpent sent out a distress call, the Aegis class vessel had been struck by a nuclear missile from close range.
“I ordered a tight formation!” Cassius barked. “That should not have happened!”
Underdog Against All Odds[]
Silver Streak class assault dropship
"Continue evasive pattern, they've broken our stealthing," Korvetten-Leutnant Anson Krieger was from Alarion. He'd been surprised at getting a DropShip command when he arrived for his tour with the SLN. He'd been even MORE surprised at the abbreviated training workup to learn the complexities of a Silver Streak class assault dropship.
"They're still tracking us, sir."
"I know, I know. Gunnery, maintain pattern bombardment on the enemy fighter wings, we have to make sure there's a hole for our strike fighters." And accept that this is a job that has a short lifespan once they see you.
"I have a firing solution on one of the Aggies, sir!" the PO at the missile station announced.
Anson made a choice. "Helm, five seconds stable, launch when ready." If we die, at least we can cripple the enemy one for one.
"Fish away!!" announced the gunner.
"Evasive, NOW!!" barked Anson.
He didn't see the naval laser that killed him.
Facing something New[]
One out of the six Silver Streaks bloomed in silvery light, as it was cut down by the enemy, but only one.
Wells checked the name, "Krieger, damn, he had promise… all ships, move to engagement line Alpha One, execute Fleet Maneuver FUTBOL."
The formation moved reasonably well together for how ad hoc it was. Some of these crews were not used to joint maneuvers with the SLN, but they all seemed quick learners and professionals.
The strike wings were out of the barn, and the trace on the Silver Streaks showed that Patrol Eleven, minus one of their number, were already penetrating the enemy's close-packed battle line. Stick to the plan, stick to the plan…
"One Aegis down so far, ma'am."
She was on pins and needles. Three's missile launch had been an opportunity shot, and it cost them, but their stealthing had already been compromised.
Stick to the plan… she willed it across the distance.
On paper the Clan formation was good. Overlapping lines of fire for most vessels, close escort by Dropships and Fighters, and normally that would be a tough nut to crack.
But with that Aegis gone it was an easier matter to just chip away at the outer layers.
And while they chipped the outer layers, the fast boats, those Silver Streak class dropships, were angling into the middle of the enemy formation to hit it from inside…
Fiery Conclusion[]
McKenna Class Battleship, Sovereign Right
"Where did it go?"
Cassius had a horrible idea. This horrid idea was confirmed a moment later, as several escorting dropships on the port flank of the Sovereign Right erupted, struck by heavy fire at high speed and close range.
There is an upside to losing that vessel.
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McKenna Class Battleship under attack
“Maximum fleet burn. Fifteen degrees port.”
The Sovereign Right vibrated, and damage alarms began to sound.
"We have been hit!!"
"Where?"
"Primary Thrust units! I can no longer promise more than one and a half gravity's acceleration, my Khan!!"
Non-nuclear at least…
“One and a half gravity. Fleet adjust heading twenty degrees port. Fifty degrees zed.”
A second Aegis, the Are's Might was swarmed by enemy fighters, who then broke off, just in time for silvery light to announce the cruiser's death.
“My Khan…”
"I see it." Cassisus said.
Just a bit more and we might at least salvage a little honor from this debacle and with luck we may even get free to that non-standard point…
The Absolute Truth was firing at… nothing. And sections of that Nightlord class were venting fire into space, the harjel compromised repeatedly in damaged sections.
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Nightlord Class Battleship
Another gee. If I just had another gee we could at least catch that Thera. No, this is lost.
Damage alarms sounded again, this time to starboard, and positive Zed axis. "Enemy Corvette! Positive sixty degrees, range is Long, she is accelerating!"
He looked, and saw the needle-spindle shape of a Landmark class destroyer, only it was… the vector shown was impossible.
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Landmark Class Destroyer under attack
It was flying sideways and raking them with minimum profile, and eight light Naval Gauss.
"Impossible… Dispatch it while we can. Fleet we are making for the non-standard point in grid sigma seven. Best possible speed.” Cassius knew they could no longer force the fight he wanted so now he hoped he could at least get as many of them out as possible.
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Lola III Class Destroyer
The Lola class Warlock sent out a distress, and then, she brewed up, an enemy fighter wing zipping away.
<<"This is Vice Admiral Wells of the Star League Navy to all Star Adder vessels still in this theater, stand down your weapons and drives and surrender. You have twenty minutes. That is all.">>
It hit on every channel.
“Vice Admiral Wells, we request permission to withdraw without further conflict.”
<<"I gave you twenty minutes. That's what you get. Stand down, or be destroyed.">>
Cassius looked at the display. At best speed, it was an hour. The SLN was also well positioned to shadow them and keep the attack up.
“Do it. Stand Down. All vessels. We request permission to send out search and rescue parties.”
<<"We'll allow you to assist in search and rescue.">> Wells sounded tired over the channel, <<”Assume block formation, Khan N'Buta, and stand by for boarding parties to conduct health, welfare, and damage assessments.">>
“Confirmed. See to it, Dante. I will be in my cabin.” Cassius nodded to his saKhan.
Dante Truscott nodded. He knew the tone in his Khan’s voice, but said nothing.
Cassius would later be found dead in his cabin. In his letter, he took all the blame.
Take Me to Your Leader[]
Light armor with maneuvering units for the boarding. Ox nodded to Janet as they entered the ruined remains of the Sovereign Right's port fighter bay, and started setting up the temporary curtain that would allow damage control repairs to begin.
More to the point, it would let them open the inner door and enter the ship like civilized people, instead of having to blow a hole through hull-and-harjel.
>>"Bet you didn't expect to be boarding a Clan warship so soon."<< he joked over the common channel.
“I did not.”
>>“Still slumming with us even though you’re ‘special’. It’s not exactly as secret as they think that you’ve got the tap,”<< Ox chuckled.
"More fun than the 'office' part of 'Officer', which is where they are threatening to send me once I have been…'frocked'." Janet told him.
"Staff right out the gate?"
"Aff," she said with distaste.
"You'll do all right," he told her. "And they don't let anyone STAY in a staff job long. Two years tops."
“I will trust that you are correct, and that this is a necessary part of my transition.”
“Done.”
"Pressing up…" The shuttle's cargo taps opened, and the bay filled with air, as they watched from outside.
"We'll have a drink with Nikki, once things settle in. Assuming they let her off of Four," Ox suggested.
“Aff. Though her temporary detail was not glamorous, I still envy her for being able to ‘rub elbows’ with Lady Cameron as they say.”
"Maybe she'll introduce you," Ox teased. "Okay, ready to take a Khan's surrender, Ensign?"
“Aff.”
Aftermath and Friendship[]
Beta Site station
Melville system, Federated Commonwealth (Lyran State)
3063
"...is why they really didn't want to take this station." Nicole was sitting with Ox and Janet in the 'combined lounge' of the Beta Site station, now officially "Naval Station Melville Beta". "See, the big accelerator has to keep going now, because the energy release from shutting it down would crack the moon we're on like an egg under a sledgehammer."
“The universe is changing a great deal, and quite rapidly. But it is a new way to challenge myself,” Janet nodded.
"I have a challenge for you, Janet. Finish your beer." Nikki teased, then looked at the chronometer. "Shit, I've got deck watch on my boat in five."
"I thought they made you the CO?"
"Yeah, and I wrote the duty roster, and I'm on it, so I need to get back to the dock so my XO can go get his freak on with an engineer off the Aphrodite."
With that Janet chugged the rest of her beer as fast as she could then loudly belched from all the carbonation.
“As long as you do not deprive yourself of getting your freak on, Nikki. I could help with that…” Janet smiled.
“You know I’m still straight.”
“Aff. But now it is about the teasing and the look on your face when I make my advances,” Janet chuckled.
"My dry spell will end, when it ends," Nikki reminded her. "It didn't work out with Eddie, but he's got a girl who seems to be good for him now. I just need to find someone for me."
“I am happy to wing girl for you anytime our schedules allow.” Janet smiled.
"For now, I'll just live vicariously, so you go make Ox groan, okay?" Nikki said cheerfully at the airlock to her own vessel.
“Aff.” Janet waved.
"They just didn't understand what was happening around them. The Star Adders thought they could do things the way their ancestors had for two hundred years… But it wasn't going to work this time. It's a shame about N'Buta. I would have liked to converse with him on just how the world changes when you're clawing out of a dark age. His reputation was as a forward thinking man for a Clan Warrior. Dante proved to be… disappointing."
<br>-Elizabeth Ngo,
Surfacing From Darkness
Written 3063/01/15, published 3067/11/25