War on the Horizon
- Chapter 23 / Book 2[]
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Deja vu[]
Date: 25.10.7975 CRC (Coruscant Reckoning Calendar)
Location: Unnamed System, Outer Rim Territories
The Leviathan dropped out of hyperspace, the system around them empty for a brief moment before the rest of the fleet appeared in formation around her.
"Last stop before Bakura," Commodore Jewel looked at the holographic table that showed the fleet. "Colonel, I want you and your people loaded up and ready to head for the surface. We have no idea what we're jumping into, and I don't want you ground pounders getting killed doing something stupid in the void."
"I hear you," Hull chuckled. "I'll head down to the bays once we start moving again. Now, have we heard anything else since the last message?"
"No," Jewel shook her head. "There's not even any chatter in the systems around us. The Holonet is just gone."
"It's strange that we got used to the interconnectivity," Hull stroked his beard. "Now that we're back to the level of the Inner Sphere, the galaxy seems large again."
"And no HPGs to receive up-to-date intel," Jewel agreed. "We might have to look into setting up some sort of communications network outside the Holonet."
"Something to think about for the future," The Colonel replied. "I'm going to leave you to it. I'll be in the hangar if you need me."
With that, the CO of the Marksman disappeared from the Leviathan's bridge.
"Captain Anderson, have the rest of the fleet move into formation Delta," the Commodore ordered. "Ensure our aerospace assets and escorts are on standby for deployment as soon as we exit hyperspace and have the Interdictors] ready to prevent the enemy from fleeing."
"Aye, ma'am," the captain saluted and began issuing orders to the fleet.
"I'll have my Marines on standby," Felicia Paige leaned against the wall behind the commodore. "Just point us at the ship you want to be taken, and we'll make it happen."
"We'll sort that out once we're on the other side," Jewel worried her lip. "We won't know anything until we engage."
"We'll be ready," Paige said, placing her helmet on her head and sealing it, breathing in the recycled air. I'm just waiting for you to pull the trigger."
Outgunned and Outnumbered[]
Date: 26.10.7975 CRC (Coruscant Reckoning Calendar)
Location: Bakura, Wild Space
The fleet dropped out of hyperspace into a full system.
Unknown vessels filled the solar system, their electronic signals bouncing around and spreading an unfamiliar language throughout; guttural snarls, hisses, and snaps were all that could be identified.
"Sitrep," Captain Anderson barked while the Commodore began to issue orders to the fleet in the background.
"Enemy force strength mirrors our own, Captain! We're looking at roughly thirty or so ships ranging from corvettes to cruisers in size."
The holographic table was filled with green arrows, representing the enemy ships.
Then, they began launching fighters, and smaller arrows and dots filled the space between them.
"Enemy fighters outnumber us three to one, Commodore," Anderson reported.
"Have them concentrate around our cruisers and corvettes," Jewel replied. "We'll try to avoid taking casualties, but this is combat. Someone always pays the price."
"Enemy is moving on an intercept course. New enemy contacts are approaching from the dark side of Bakura. They're larger than cruisers but smaller than our Interdictors and Dreadnoughts."
"Possible carriers," Jewel muttered, leaning over the holotable. "Keep an eye on them. If they start rotating their fighters through, we'll have to mark them as a priority target."
Furball among the Stars[]
"Mirage Lead to all squadrons, stick with your wingmen, and cover the cruisers and corvettes. We'll need their anti-fighter batteries to stay alive in this engagement," She broadcast. "If you have to eject, your armor is rated for twelve hours of vacuum. Keep your transponders on, and Search and Rescue will get to you as soon as they can."
)(*"I dunno, Mirage, that's a lot of bogeys,")( Azure's squadron leader commented. )("I think I'll make Ace before you do.")(
<"In your dreams, maybe,"> the Goon's squadron leader cut in. <"I'll buy out the bar if you make ace before Mirage does.">
)("You're on,")( Azure laughed. )("And may the best pilot win.")(
The ships and starfighters drew closer together, and in the blink of an eye, Mirage Lead found herself and her squadron surrounded.
She twisted her sticks and dodged a burst of blaster cannon fired, pulling back and pulling the triggers to stitch her pulse lasers against the side of another enemy craft as she did so, her wingman finishing off the one on her tail as she tucked tight into the furball around the Hammer of Dawn.
"Mirage, regroup on me," she ordered. "If you can't shake 'em, divert under the guns and link up with other squadrons. We're in a target-rich environment here."
Two of her six-fighter squadron managed to link up, and they kicked on the afterburners on their fusion engines, the inertial dampeners stalling for a brief moment before kicking in.
"Three, use Concussion missiles on that cluster!" she barked, moving 'under' friendly turbolaser fire that shattered two enemy fighters. "Four, clean up the rest. Two, we're heading for that Corvette."
Evasive Maneuvers[]
Captain Jasiah Ali had been given the opportunity to command a larger ship, but instead of taking it, he had opted to stick with his beloved Two Birds, One Stone.
The CR-70 had been massively upgraded since the initial battles against the Trade Federation. Something he was grateful for now as missiles and blaster cannons splattered against his deflector shields.
"Captain, enemy Corvettes are emitting some sort of EMF interference," the sensors officer reported. "It's interfering with our ability to communicate and coordinate with our fighters."
"Relay the information to the Commodore," Jasiah sat in the captain's chair, forcing himself to appear calm before his bridge crew.
He tapped a few rough calculations into a datapad and nodded to himself.
"Follow the course I'm transmitting to you," Jasiah ordered.
"But, sir, that's in the middle of the enemy formation!"
"I'm aware, Lieutenant," Jasiah replied. "If you can't stomach it, I'll pilot this ship myself."
"Setting suicide course, aye, sir," Lieutenant Carteek's hands flew over the controls.
"Front deflectors are taking a beating, Decks one and two are leaking atmosphere, and a handful of corridors are on fire," the damage control officer reported.
"If anyone ignored the order to wear their suits, then it's on them," the captain replied. "Vent the atmosphere and begin fire suppression. Carteek, maintain this heading. Vas, reroute power from the atmosphere to the engines and shields."
The bridge crew fell silent as they performed their jobs, moving closer and closer to what seemed like it would be their death.
"Prepare starboard emergency thrusters," Jasiah ordered. "Execute on my mark."
The Two Birds, One Stone's shields sputtered one last time and then fell silent. Turbolaser batteries from the enemy cruisers began to lock onto the smaller ship before she exploded out of the way. The enemy's turbolaser fire impacted their own ships and caused a pause in the battle. A pause that was exploited by the Two Birds, One Stone, and her fighter squadron, concussion missiles, and a flurry of turbolaser fire shattered the shields of one cruiser, the engines giving one burst as they tried to maneuver before sputtering to a halt and sending the enemy ship adrift.
"Get us out of here. Lieutenant, signal our escorts to hit that Corvette with missiles and then follow us. We're pulling out of this fight."
The emergency thrusters fired again, making the CR-70 avoid another flurry of enemy fire before hitting her main thrusters and moving out of the enemy formation.
The two formations slowly broke apart, leaving behind the shattered wrecks of ships and fighters behind.
"We're not going to be able to keep up this momentum," Jewel crunched the numbers. "Send Paige after this ship," she said, highlighting a damaged carrier. "I want her Marines to own it."
The Commodore sighed and looked at her comms suite.
"Colonel, I'm requesting permission to use the Taurian Protocol."
<<"If you think it'll help, then permission is granted,">> Hull's voice was distorted as his dropship rode through Bakura's atmosphere. <<"Just make sure it's worth it before pulling that trigger.">>
"Understood, Colonel, Godspeed down there. Jewel, out."
- Story Chapter Note
- Taurian Protocol = Nuclear Weapons (Canned Sunshine...)