This was where she was supposed to be, standing on the bridge of a warship headed for a fight. Not stuck inside some stuffy office back on Cambridge. Feeling the adrenaline pumping, watching the crew feeling a part of the machine.
Admiral Garibaldi stood on the bridge of her flagship, the HMS Valiant, headed for the Omega 5 jumphole. After the destruction of Cadiz the Hessians began a small campaign against the Bretonians, swift strikes, piracy. Hit and fade tactics, but this latest report was the most disturbing a Hessian fleet ammassed at Ronnenburg and headed for the research facility. So Admiral Garibaldi had taken out her flagship to go meet them, of course being an Admiral had meant she too had a fleet, and she was damned sure hers was bigger. Two additional Battleships, the HMS Courageous and the HMS Indefatigable, four Destroyers, eight Gunboats, two configured for missile bombardment, and the combined fighter fleets of all the bigger ships. The Hessians would know why the Corsairs never made it past the Jumphole.
The majority of the fleet stopped, the gunboats and some of the fighter and bomber wings racing away to reach the far side of the jumphole taking up position 10 klicks from it. Their orders were simple, when the Hessians came through and moved towards the research facility they were to move in and cut off retreat. Once they were in position it was just a matter of time.
"Long ragne scanner s are picking up jumphole activity, Admiral."
The admiral smiled, this was it, only a few more minutes before the Hessians were shown what being a Houe military meant.
"Gunboats report 2 cruisers, 3 gunboats and a flotilla of ancilliary fighters and bombers, we have them outgunned ma'am."
"Very good, all ships arm weapons and prepare for a fight. Don't expect them to give anything less than eerything they have. I don't want to see anyone taking unnecessary chances with their ships or crew, we have the advantage let's keep it that way."
Garibaldi waited, the tension in the air was palpable. Recent difficulties with Liberty had the entire armada nervous and wound up like springs, this should serve to give her fleet something to exercise that tension.
"Ships entering scanning range"
"All ships move in, let's show these Hessians what we've got. Courageous take the Newcastle and Manchester and target the lead cruiser, tkae it down. The rest of us will target the second cruiser. Gunboats target their anti capital support I want it off line. Fighters cover the capital ships from bombing runs I don't want to lose any of the big ships today."
As the fleet moved in it was clear that the Hessians knew what was up, a few of the enemy fighters went towards the jumphole and found their retreat blocked by the gunboats, as they turned back towards their own fleet they saw the full force of what they were up against. It was a lost cause, but the Hessians knew a thing or two about lost causes. It hadn't stopped them fighting yet.
The fleets came within range and the battle began in earnest. Explosions lit up space as the first volleys caught fighter pilots unawares. The Courageous scored the first major target as it's thunderous guns split the first Hessian cruiser's hull, rending it apart. The second cruiser followed soon after, the Valiant herself scoring the final volley that claimed it, after that it was just mopping up. Or at least it should have been. the admiral watched in horror as the two last gunboats powered up their cruise engines and set course directly for the HMS Newcastle, she winced as they plowed into it causing catastrophic damge and leaving it dead in space.
"Ma'am we have a communication from Cambridge, it's Director Finlay."
"I'll take it my ready room. Meanwhile order the fleet to fall back, leave the Manchester and attendant vessels to clean up. Our work is done."
"Yes ma'am"
As Garibaldi walked to the ready room the orders were bieng relayed, the Valaint began her long and ponderous turn towards home. Entering the room she sat down at her desk and opened the comm line.
"Yes, Director?"
"We've decrypted the recording and you may want to see this. You were right, we didn't destroy that base, unfortuantely I have no idea what it is that did."
