Unknown Void (main)

[Slimalou]

[OCV Montana: Unknown Region]

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SOURCE: OCV-Montana, Unknown Space after docking with new Alien Jumpgate.

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The large visage of the OCV Montana sailed through the gas cloud. Soon the Order Dreadnought made it to the coordinates provided by the Admiral. Captain Cross started ad the alien jump gate through the bridge’s window. Such alien structures never failed to make him feel uneasy. Even since he had learned of the Dyson sphere deeper in Nomad controlled space that feeling seemed to weigh heavier on him; even when just looking at a simple jump gate.

“Ship status, are we ready to make the jump?” Cross asked, still looking at the gate.

“All decks report green for gate jump.” One of the communication deckhands answered soon after. “On your order captain.”

Cross looked away from the gate and to the helmsman. “Helmsman take us in.”

“Aye captain!” The helmsmen replied.

The Alien gate began to power up as the Montana approached. On the Bridge blast shields over the windows lowered. Moments later, the ship began to shake more violently than a normal gate jump would have gone.

“I don’t appreciate this bumpy ride.” Captain Cross sounded holding onto the railing to keep himself up right.

“Engineering reports more stress on the hull than normal.” A communication hand called back. “We must be going farther and faster, putting more strain on the ship.”

“Are we in danger of hull damage?”

“Engineer does not think so, the shields are taking the brunt of it.”

“Keep me posted, I guess now we test Insurgent Engineering and Order maintenance crews.”

The ship continued to shake before the whole ship lurched forward then returned to normal. Reports came in from the rest of the ship, no damage was reported but complaints of tossed around loose items were plentiful.

“Alright people, let's get this mission started, scanner report.” Captain Cross Ordered straightening himself.

“Long-range scanners standard a standard yellow star with one gas giant, other than that the system is clear.” There was a pause and a few more flicks from the terminal before the deckhand spoke again. “Sir, scanners detecting debris off our portside, remains of the alien gate sir…”

Cross’s heart skipped a beat, no gate meant there was no way to return. “Find out where we are, our jump drive may still be in range of our lunch point.”

A reply came shortly after. “Sir, systems cannot pinpoint our location; the stars don’t match our charts.”

Cross silently let out a curse. This was not good. “How long can the computer create a new chart and to triangulate our location?”

“Unknown sir, but our best estimate is three days to chart the local consultations and to find our original star cluster.”

“Captain! Scanner contacts, twenty contacts on a fast approach!” The Comm. “IFF confirmed Nomad fighters with bomber forms!”

“Battlestations!” Captain Cross ordered. “Scramble fighters! Gunners track targets!”

Alarms roared to life all over the ship. Fighter pilots dropped what they were doing and collectively made a mad dash for their assigned fighters. Meanwhile damage control terms equipment their suits in case of deck decomposition. Gunners began to track the incoming Nomad fighters causing anti-snubcraft turrets to turn towards the coming foe. Onuris and Anubis deployed from the rear hangers of the Montana. The fighter quietly turned on an intercept course for the incoming Nomads. The two forces met at a five kilometer distance from Montana. The dogfighting quickly began, light fighters went after the bombers while the heavier fighters attacked the Nomad fighters. Meanwhile the Nomad fighters attempted to screen the bombers, and the bombers themselves kept on their run towards the Order dreadnought.

Montana’s anti snubcraft weapons roared to life as the threat of friendly fire became negligible. Flack began to brighten the void of space as Liberty made anti aircraft bolts raced towards their targets. A few Nomad bombers went up from the combined fire of their light fighter pursuers and antisnub craft weapon fire. Three bombers were able to release their torpedo warheads however the point defense weapons of the Montana quickly shot down most of the warheads allowing the shields to absorb the rest. The rest of the bombers were soon shot down as they were left undefended from their escorts.

Having dealt with the bombers the light fighters turned and raced to join the dogfight against the remaining Nomad fighters. Order snub craft that were damaged during the fighting were able to pull away and return to the Montana for repairs, the Nomads on the other hand did not share this benefit. Soon enough the fighting began to fall into the Order’s favor as Nomad snubcraft began dropping one by one.

As the last Nomad snubcraft went up in flames the comms officer reported in. “Conn: last Nomad contact breaking up, scanners clear.”

“Stand down from battlestations, make ready to retrieve snubcraft.” Captain Cross ordered. “As soon as they are aboard I want to move away from this sector. The Nomads know where they are here and they are bound to send more.”

“Aye captain.” James replied. “Helm, plot course out of the system. Engage cruise engines as soon as fighter complement is storied.”

Captain Cross turned to his chair as he thought of the next course of action for his ship. All he could do now was pray to God that He was watching over them.