"Thanks Mistralith, though you have gone beyond
the call of a normal rescue. Even though they hit
us hard we will hit them far more. Our fleet was
caught off guard doing a mission and we knew
we were getting into a mess we couldn't handle
if we got caught off guard. Our systems were
doing a mandatory update during the attack.
Most of the crew was asleep until impact. That
is what lowered our injuries. If the system
wasn't updating the alarm would have sounded
and our ship would have acted accordingly to
the sudden threat. It's that that made us along
with the rest of 122nd vulnerable. We couldn't
head back to Evora for the update because
the mission was far more important."
Stewart said as he made up the excuse.
"Sir they're gonna wander what we were
doing in this empty system. Especially
when they see all the cargo we're
gonna remove when we get to Evora."
One of the crew members said.
"Then at that time we will make up another
excuse we can not have anyone in the Order
know what the 122nd is doing. If all goes well
we will have a new place to call home."
Stewart stated as he started looking out
the front window to the bridge.
He started thinking of the next move the
people he knew would soon attack his fleet
would do. He already knew that the attacks
on his fleet were coming along with his crew.
Though none of them knew that the strike
would disable 2 ships and destroy 1. It
was time for a mass retaliation and
the actions of the retaliation would decide
the fate of the whole fleet.
“Colonel, we have a problem, looks like those Bounty Hunters are back, and they brought some friends. I’m reading four fighters and a Battlecruiser, they are on an intercept course!”
“How many fighters do we have?”
“Only 2 have been fully repaired, and one more is at 75%.”
“That will have to do, put our best in those fighters and scramble them, Harris, tell the Lifters to keep going, we’ll try and hold them off. After all this ship was built to smack the Guild around. Tell the Tenabras she has to live to fight another day and we’ll handle this one. Disengage tractor beam and alter our course to intercept the Battlecruiser as far away form the Tenabras and the Lifters as possible. All hands battle stations.”
The Mistralith cut her tractor beam as the massive ship dropped out of Cruise speed. The hunters were already closing fast, too fast; it looked like they had no intention of engaging the Mistralith. “Alpha one they are going for Tenabras, CD them NOW!” Noah yelled into the comms, “Jake as soon as they drop, rig the Inferno cannons for staggered continuous fire, and as soon as their shields drop hit ‘em with everything we’ve got.”
The Battlecruiser dropped from cruise as two disruptor missiles from the escort fighters impacted it. Alpha wing immediately broke formation and went after the fighters. The Battlecruiser wasted no time in open firing. Noah nodded and Jake fired only the Inferno’s as to preserve the ships energy reserves until the enemy’s shields dropped. A panel exploded as the ship rocked violently.
“Colonel, they have Inferno cannons too. But we have better ones, their shields are down!”
“Helm, evasive action, Jake bring the primary weapons online, Set Battle Razors one and two for staggered continuous fire. Target the fighters with the missile turrets, and have everything else light that Battlecruiser up like the fireworks after the Nomads got beat. All forward batteries Fire!”
All of the turrets on the Mistralith lit up the area as the energy tore into the hull of the Hunter Battlecruiser. Even with the upgraded armor the ship was no match for the two Battleship Battle Razors and Mk 2 Order Battleship turrets that rained down on it. Meare minuets into the fight, Noah could tell this skirmish was over, and her tactical officer confirmed her feelings.
“Ma’am their core is about to breach, recommend we pull away.”
“Do it.” As the Mistralith began to pull away a final parting farewell in the from of an Inferno blast impacted the ship. The vessel shook violently as the blast, followed by the exploding hunter ship hit them.
“Colonel that last hit took out shields out. There is another single ship, a bomber approaching at high cruise, at bearing 087 mark 3, Ma’am its armed a Supernova cannon!”
“Redirect all turrets to that ship, don’t let it get in range!” The turrets began ripping into the lone bomber, but not before it fired its Supernova Cannon as it broke up under Mistralith’s fire.
Noah gripped her chair tightly, “All hands brace for impact, damage control stand by.” The entire ship seemed like it was going to rattle to pieces from the impact of the cannon shot. Lights on the bridge went out momentarily, soon to be replaced with the emergency red light strips that lined the area. Noah dabbed a bit of blood from her brow, “Report,” She said weakly as she staggered back to the command chair.
“Massive hull breach on decks 4, 5 , and 6 sections 20 through 25, damage control teams are responding. All adjacent sections have been locked down. 27 casualties, 4 fatal, 10 serious. Internal comms, long range sensors, starboard weapons array and the primary shield generator are offline. Life support is fluctuating on decks 4 and 5.”
“Fana, Can we get to Cruise?”
“Yes, the SN impacted the front area of the ship, engines were unaffected. Im getting us back on a course to Evora. The fighters have picked off the remaining Hunters, we are clear.”
“Good, are any of you injured?” no one else on the bridge was injured. “Alright, Fana, get us back to the Tenabras.”
As the Mistralith came up to tow Tenabras again
the damage seen on the Mistralith showed
Stewart that the enemy doesn't care who gets
in there way. They would commit suicide to
guarantee the 122nd does not exist in the future.
The hole in the Mistralith was rather large
a rim of small flames circled the hole that
was left there upon impact. The smoke trail
she made while she moved. It gave a glimpse
of what the outside of the Tenabras may look
like to the other ships.
"Sir those Bounty Hunters were not part of
the attack group that was ment to attack us.
They were affiliated with Liberty."
Shiki stated with a slight grin.
"Hmm so Liberty found out we're on to them.
Though they're to afraid to bring out there own
ships and attack us. Cowards."
Stewart replied.
"Sir! We scanners are on the fritz! Something
in the area is jamming our scanner."
Commander Shiki said trying to figure out what.
Tenabras was fortunate that the battleship didnt
knock out its scanners.
"Find the point of orgin." Stewart told shiki.
"Sir it's point of origin is 3 click 9 o'clock.
Though we don't see anything over there."
Shiki replied with a confused look.
"Fire a heavy mortar that way."
"Sir?"
"Do it."
Amy fired a heavy mortar missle toward
the location. At 3 clicks out 9 o'clock it impacted
something.
The thing it hit suddenly un-cloacked from the
impact.
"What the heck is that?!" One of the crew asked.
They were looking at what could be a cross
between a Liberty Dreadnaught and a nomad
battleship.
Stewart chuckled as he said.
"There you are."
When ships are cloaked there shield doesn't work
When the Mortar hit it left a large hole in the side
of the mysterious ship.
"Amy use all the guns we have fire at that thing!
Launch the mortar once it's ready! FIRE AT WILL!"
Stewart commanded with a somewhat psycho
look on his face.
As this happened he was thinking That is what we
were hoping to find. The one thing that proved
the invasion. The very beast of the enemy ship!
The dragon and we are the dragon slayer!
Stewart let out a little burst command.
"BLOW IT OUT OF THE SKY!"
"Colonel, the Tenabras has fired a Heavy Mortar Round, and it hit something. Colonel something just decloaked 3K off out port bow."
"On screen." The view screen flickered before it came to life, displaying the Liberty Nomad half breed ship that the Tenabras had fired on. Liberty ships cant cloak, hell the Order and the Wilde are the only ones that have got that to work!
"Ma'am, the Tenabras has open fired on the unidentified ship." Reno stated, and I have tried to scan the ship, but our sensor array is still off line."
"Well the Tenabras is firing for a reason, Jake, fire all Port side weapons, full broadside!" The weapons that still functioned on the Mistralith began tearing into the unknown ship's hull. Finally a bright flash erupted, the enemy ship didnt even get a chance to fire, not that anyone was complaining. Damage control already had enough work to do as it was.
"Alright i want to know what the hell that was, Reno, use whatever sensors we have to scan those remains. Jake stay on full alert, be ready in case another ship decloakes. I've got to talk to the Commodore in my office, Fana you have the bridge." Noah walked off the bridge to her personal office to the right of the main bridge. She sat behind her desk and opened a secure comm link to the Tenabras.
"Commodore, I know you lead the 122nd, and I know that the 122nd undoubtedly has secrets, but sir, we still have a good ways to go, and if there is something that you know about cloaking battleships, no matter what their alignment, I feel as though i need to know. Both for the safety of your ship and mine. Please respond on this secure link, Tanis out
"Sir a secure message from Mistralith has come in. It's
Commander Tanis. Patching it to your quarters."
Stewart nodded looked at Caitlyn and headed to his
quarters.
Caitlyn was now in charge of the bridge and
everyone of the crew knew that just by the look.
As Stewart entered his Office in his quarters he turned
on a huge display screen.
"This is Commodore Stewart Chamberlain to Commander
Tanis of the Mistralith. What you just saw is what we,
the 122nd call the Hybrid Class Glory Dreadnaught.
As you can plainly tell It was a cross between a nomad
ship and a Liberty ship. Now from what we can tell
these ships are not the making or joint effort of Liberty
but in fact a nomad invasion.
They found a way to recycle ships that they take over.
It's weird I must admit.
As for the attack against our ships along with yours.
The vessel that rammed us was controlled by robots
programmed to go straight into our ship. From what
we can guess the robots malfunctioned upon impact
at which time the bomb was activated. The people
who were trying to kill us are most likely of the Liberty
affiliation. The Bounty Hunters with them are just
the cover up so no one thinks the Liberty is behind
the attack.
We, or I, think it's just coincidence that they all
decided to attack us at once. Now as you may
know this information is 122nd Order Guard
Classified. You are to tell no one of this.
Last note. As for the hybrids. We calculated that
there are approximately 7 more of these things.
That one didnt attack us because it's guns were
not up and ready. If they were up we would
be in a world of trouble.
Noah laced her fingers together and rested her chin on them. The Nomads are planning another invasion. And it looks like this time they mean business. She thought to her response, choosing her words carefully. She began her response.
Commodore, what you have told me is, troubling. The colonies barely survived the last run in with the Nomads, and now they are warring with each other as if they werent almost annihilated those years ago. Bretonia and Kusari are both rather weak due to their fighting with each other granted neither would admit it. And Liberty and Reinland are on the brink of open war. So if there was a time for them to strike it would be now. Come in through Tohoku and wipe out Kusari, since all of their military is near the Tau systems. Then it would be a simple thing for them to overpower Bretonia in her weakened state. Liberty would fall next with most of her fleets positioned along the border with Reinland. And then they have Reinland from all sides. It will be a blood bath.
She paused, collecting her thoughts, It seems as though Liberty has a bone to pick with us as well, I thought we were in the middle of cease fire negotiations? Then they sic those Hunter dogs on us? I dont understand it. And now I am fairly certain that the 122nd has known about these ships for some time now. Does the rest of the Order know as well?
I guess what I am trying to say Commodore is: we all signed up to fight the war against the nomads, and this looks to be a pivotal time in that fight. It looks like the 122nd was gearing up for this, but you have sustained heavy losses this day. I would like to transfer the Mistralith to the 122nd, each person on my crew has been hurt by the Nomads in some way, and I know in my heart that they want to do whatever it takes to stop another massacre. And the best place for us to do that is on the point of the spear, the 122nd.
We cant allow the Nomads to push us to the brink again. Lets take this fight to them.
Noah sighed, and sat back in her chair, awaiting Commodore Stewart Chamberlins response.
Stewart let Noah's words seep in a bit then responded.
"As much as I would like another ship such as yours in the
122nd. We were given orders from Bs| to no longer expand
our fleet. The current ships under my command are that
of my own picking.
If I could expand my fleet further I would, but as I said,
Black Squadron will not allow me that.
As for the nomads. We have had several of our ships at
which I will not give out there names. Destroy many of
there larger crafts. My ships have been on the Nomads
for quite some time now. Every day i get a report
that another capital class nomad vessel was destroyed.
We know they are growing, and we know they are
growing fast. We just don't know where they are growing
from.
Currently the only objective as of now is for the 122nd
to get home. Get the crew of the Kestrel in there back-up
ship. Repair ours and your ship. This is all out of the 122nd
Order Guard Budget. The budget however is starting to
tighten since the renovations of our ship and the newly
made Kestrel. If we get hit hard one more time.
We wont have enough in the budget to continue our project.
Anyways. Once the ships are back up and ready. The
fleet is going to call on the Corsairs and the entire Order
we're gonna go surprise a certain group that needs to
be taught a lesson."
Stewart stopped there to make the commander wander
what the 122nd was getting ready to do.
Most of the 122nd was already home now. They
were all now waiting on the Tenabras along with
her rescue/escort ship Mistralith.
Noah let a sigh escape her lips. That wasn't the response she was hoping for, but at the very least there was valuable information on the Nomads gained from all this. Granted she could not tell anyone about it. Well this was no time to mope about, there was still a great deal of work to be done, and she knew it.
A chime echoed through her office, "Colonel, this is Fana, we are coming up on Evora."
Well, at least we are safe now, "Understood, I will return momentarily." She turned to her computer terminal once again. Commodore,
While I regret to hear that we cannot join you on a permanant status, I understand that the Black Squadron does not wish you to expand. However, I think that my crew and I can still help you. You mentioned that is was time to teach a certain group a lesson, while I dont have the faintest idea who you are refrencing, but if you are calling in the Corsairs and more Order ships, I would like to offer our assistance. I dont know what we'll be getting into, but it cant be as bad as cloaking Nomad Dreadnoughts. I await your reply on my secure bridge terminal.
Tanis Out
Noah rose from her dest adn walked onto the bridge, "Status Fana."
"We are 3K from Evora, ma'am." Fana replied, and Lt. Monroe is back from sickbay, good as new."
Noah nodded, "Good to have you back Katrina, Harris signal all ships to drop out of cruise speed and put me on with Evora."
"Comm line open Ma'am."
"Evora Shipyard this is Colonel Tanis of the Mistralith, we are returning from SAR mission, adn we have the Tenabras. She is hurt pretty badly, which repair bay shoud she be towed to?"
"Colonel this is Evora, good job on your first assingment, your performance was exemplirary. Have the Lifters tow the Tenabras to bay one, and then take your ship to bay two. We'll have you both good as new in no time."
"Understood, Tanis out. Well, you heard the man, Harris tell the Lifters to get Tenabras to her repair bay, and Katrina, take us to ours."
Stewart was already at the bridge when they were towing
the ship into the repair bay. In a few minutes
he would see the damage of his ship first hand.
Then the largest joint fleet the Tenabras ever commanded
would soon be called forth. To attack an enemy that
many pilots have been waiting to do so for so long.
An attack so massive that the enemy would look in terror
as one ship after another of their own would perish under
the force of The Order and it's strong ally, the Corsairs.
"Sir we are in place. and Evora repair teams are hard at
work." Shiki stated with a bit of relief.
"Good to hear." Stewart replied back.
As the crew prepared to take a break in the crew
lounge of Evora. They watch as both Mistralith and Tenabras
were suddenly surrounded by multiple repair ships. Bringing
in Ship Hulls and many other pieces. The most remarkable
piece was a brand new engine section for the Tenabras.
Stewart was told in advance that the ship would now
be fitted with the newest engine in the Order hands.
The Ark Capital Interceptor Engine Class 12. The first
of the Ark kind. Many asked though, why the 12. It just
sounded cooler I guess.
As the engine was put in place all you saw were sparks fly
as the ship was being put back together in record speed.
From the looks of things the hole in Mistralith was
already repaired because there was no repair team around
it.
Other then the spectacular display of repairs going on the
biggest thing most people were looking at were the entire
122nd Order Guard Fleet in formation with each other.
Lined up at Evora shipyard. The wall of ships showed just
how large the fleet was. The only ship missing apart of
the wall currently was the very flagship of the fleet.
The Tenabras.
Evora was now as crowded as can be with the entire fleet
there. It was rather hard to hear people in the crew
lounge since most of it was crew from other ships
reuniting with old friends of other ships. A big family reunion.
As for Stewart. He stayed quite in the corner of the lounge.
Looking at a info card full of the 122nd information collected.
After Katrina had piloted teh Mistralith into position, Noah authorized a bit of shore leave for her crew. The only requirement was that they all be present for the memorial service to be held for those slain by the attacks this day. With her crew off the ship and repair crews patching up the hole in Mistralith's side there was not much for the young Colonel to do but watch as the small repair ships buzzed around the hole in her ships side. At the rate they were going they ship would be good as new in a few hours.
She didnt even notice when Fana, her trusted executive officer and friend for as long as she could remember, walked up to her, "Colonel, is there something bothering you?"
"Please Fana we are not on the bridge, call me Noah. And no, not really. I'm just playing the mission back in my mind, trying to find a way different from the way I handeled those Hunters that could have saved those men their lives."
"Noah, you did the best that you could have under the circumstances. No one knew they had Infernos. We didnt know they would slice through our shields like they did, until it already happened. You are one of the best commanders out there, you have to be other wise you wouldnt be a commander as young as you are. Most Battleship commanders are old men, you and Commodore Chamberlin are the youngest and two of the best commanders the Order has, dont ever forget that."
Noah looked back to the ship, "Thanks Fana, Im glad I can turn to you and you'll always have something to say that inspires me to pull through another day. But speaking of the good Commodore, I need to talk to him. I'll see you later." Noah turned and headed doewn the hallway toward the Officer's Lounge. She quickly found Stewart, sitting at a table by himself gazing into the stars. She walked over and pulled up a chair, "Mind if I join you?"
He shook his head in response.
"I ... I want to know what you are planning, I owe it to the men Ive lost, their families, and my crew. Who is responsible for what is going on. You have the entire 122nd Guard Fleet formed up out side. There is someting more going on here then you have let on to. Unless we are planning an expidition into the heart of Nomad space there should be no reason to assemble this fleet. That and word is spreading that the Corsairs are mustering a fleet also. What are you planning Commodore?"
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