[Starhawk]

2405.7 The cost of war
“Admiral Magill, Naval Command has sent priority one courier ship with a message reading “your eyes only.” Captain Parrin of the Rebel Alliance light cruiser Starburst sounded more then a little worried as he handed the data chip to his Admiral still sealed in it's armorpLast case.
“Thanks Rodge….” Magill inhaled sharply and placed the data chip in his compute, he tried to look relaxed as he read the orders but his lips began to twitch uncontrollably and soon a sneer crossed his face.
“Sir, what is it?” Parrin’s anxiety was clear as he watched his Admiral’s eyes wander over the screen again.
“It’s war Rodge, we are to set course for the Icaran’s Goin base in the Gaia system and “neutralize all resistance”, you and I both know that will mean destroying the entire colony when it comes to those Icarans.” Admiral Magill frowned again, he had met governor Averato and some of the people from Goin colony only a few months before and found most of them to be good people if a little backwards politically, and now to carry out his orders he would have to kill all of them and start a war with their nation.
“Sir, that makes no sense the Icarans have done nothing to us!” Parrin objected and began to say more but was silenced as Magill raised a strained hand.
“Rodge, the Icarans are expansionists pure and simple, their economy requires that they expand as does their population growth, our spies tell us they have a limited number of planets they can colonize within their own space, which means they will have to head elsewhere“ Magill paused and frowned deeply before looking back at his flag captain.. ”We can not risk them trying to expand into our territories and NavCom beleives Goin base would be their stepping off point into our territories.”
“But sir open war will push them against us for sure, and what if after we destroy Goin colony they decide to counter attack us?” Parrin’s voice was earnest as he pleaded with his Admiral but Magill simply stood up and waved his officer down.
“Relay the orders Captain, tell the entire task force we are headed to destroy Goin base and then the Icaran destroyer squadron.”
“Aye sir.” Parrin said in a resigned tone as he turned to follow his Admiral out.

Both rebel officers left the Admiral's quarters with a grim attitude, the Navy command believed they could destroy the Icaran presence in Gaia and thus force the Icarans to quell their expansionistic attitudes, at least in their part of the galaxy.

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The radiant purple skies outside of the massive colony dome of Goin base lit brilliantly as an EM storm passed overhead, the wondrous green and yellow lightning flashed in dancing patterns across the sky as “night” drew near and some of the populace sat in the local park to watch the rare and beautiful storm.
Millions of other civilians went about their work, mining raw ores, refining, construction and various other essential tasks little concerned with the storm overhead, when suddenly the noises of work were violently cut off as civil warnings howled throughout the colony and the four platoons of army troopers garrisoned in Goin began racing along the streets in skimmers trying to round up civilians.
The civil alarms meant only one thing, attack was imminent and in this region of space it could only be one group, the Rebels who had signed and broken a peace treaty in record times thanks to their “mob controlled” democracy.

Military personnel rushed civilians into shelters as fast as possible but their sensors had detected the rebels too late, thanks to the EM storm which had blanketed all sensor and com frequencies with static and haze and the first Rebel cannon shells began raining down on the dome while millions of civilians were still clogging the streets.
Explosive shells tore massive gouges out of the dome and the poisonous atmosphere began leaking into the colony, chocking and burning thousands of unprotected civilians, more disturbing was the lightning which now came streaking into the unprotected colony electrocuting hundreds and destroying buildings with amazing ferocity.
More shells rained down and with most of the dome gone they began striking the city and base directly, massive explosions erupted all around the colony and within minutes even more shells had slammed into the colony causing massive casualties and damage. Within an hour, the entire population of Goin colony had been killed.
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“Target destroyed sir.” The grim cheerless tone of the Starbursts’ tactical officer rang out from his station as the entire task force looked on at the devastation they had wrought.
“Helm take us out, and set course for those Icaran Destroyers, we have a job to finish.” Magill said grumpily as he turned off his visual display of the colony’s surface....or what was left of it.

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“Sir I’m detecting the entire rebel task force over Goin base, cancel that they are headed out from Goin sir.”Victory Squadron’s chief tactical officer turned to face Captain Park. The Captain curtly as he watched his station‘s command repeaters.
“Are they headed for us Lieutenant Commander?” Park asked hoarsely as the realization sank in, the two destroyers of his squadron had detected multiple energy flares around and on Goin colony and the presence of a Rebel task force in orbit meant only one thing, Goin base was gone and war was coming straight down on Icara’s frontier.
“Aye sir, they are coming our way at maximum military power.” the answer was exactly what Park had feared, he had only one choice, he could not run or else he would open the entire system to rebel occupation but he knew all too well that his squadron would get pummeled by those damned democrats!, but he had no choice.
“Comns get in touch with Tiger tell her to follow us in, we are going to take on that squadron.”
“Um, Aye sir.” the startled comns officer replied as she tapped controls on her board, and a second later her quiet voice was passing his orders on to an equally startled com officer aboard the other destroyer.

Two hours later the Icaran destroyers were within missile range of the rebel task force and both Icarans spat out their missiles in a wall, 2 sprint and four capital killer missiles raced across the stars towards their intended victims like 6 tiny stars.

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“Sir missiles incoming, I count two fast movers and four of their big ship killers!” The chief tac officer aboard Starburst announced.
“Already plotting intercept” The weapons officer announced as he began firing the light cruiser’s point defenses, monitoring their destroyer screen as it too opened fire on the incoming missiles.

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“Captain we’ve scored a hit!” Gunnery officer Beasley smiled broadly as the enemy frigate fell away from their formation.
“Excellent job guns that only leaves 4 destroyers and a light cruiser” Park smiled thinly at his gunnery officer.
“Good sir, means more practice for me.” Beasley grinned back sharkishly before looking back at his targeting display.

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“Sir Albunea has been hit, she’s lost two engines and is falling back.” Liza Adair’s voice chimed calmly from her station.
“Sir we’ve got more missiles incoming!” The chief tactical officer grimaced as the task force point defenses began clawing at the new missiles.
“Impact on Mothma she’s falling out of formation sir….she’s down to one engine and a cannon”.
“We need to get in close to those Icarans or we’re dead helm.” Migill’s anger was made all the worse for the fact that two of his ships had been knocked out of formation by TWO enemy destroyers and he had done no damage to them…but his task force was fast closing on those Icarans and he gritted his teeth as his three remaining destroyers and his own light cruiser closed in.

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“Captain Park, they are closing fast sir!” The tac officer was watching nervously as the enemy squadron closed.
“Give them another volley guns.” Park’s cold tone was harsher then he had meant it to be, but if those Rebs closed the range then his two destroyers would suffer for it.
“Target that light cruiser this time guns, and tell Tiger to do the same.”
“Aye sir” Beasley replied almost absently as the two destroyers rippled off another volley.

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“Admiral missiles closing fast!” The tac officer’s voice sounded panicked as his screens showed 6 incoming objects.
“What ship are they aimed at tac?” Admiral Magill feared he already knew as with their current trajectory there were only two ships they could be focused at the destroyer Roul and his own ship.
“Sir directly inbound on us!” was the simple reply as the tactical screen showed 3 objects still closing directly on his position even after their point defenses had intercepted the rest.
The Starburst rocked in agony as the missiles slammed into her hull, great gouges were torn out of her unarmored hull, damage and collision alerts howled as the light cruiser rocked again, her port magazine erupting in a swath of flames that completely encompassed six compartments on two decks.
“Admiral we’ve lost cannons two and three, engines one and four are gone, port magazine is gone, heavy casualties in cannon six.” Adair’s voice was cold with fear as the damage reports continued to spill across her screen.
“Sir we are in cannon range!” the gunnery officer reported almost triumphantly as his Admiral nodded and he depressed the firing tab that fed all the cannon crews plots into the computer, seconds later the light cruiser rumbled to her keel as her four remaining cannons fired.
The three remaining destroyers still in combat range also lit up their own cannons and within seconds the stars were filled with DU shells traveling at .3c.

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HMS Tiger was the first Icaran destroyer hit by the Alliance ships, her hull shook violently as multiple shells tore into her, Park clenched his fists in rage as he saw yet another shell slam into his squadron mate and he imagined the scene of hell in those damaged areas.
“Guns fire our own cannons, tactical, com get me a report on the status of Tiger.”
“Aye sir target plotting underway”
“Sir Tiger reports she’s lost missile two, cannons one and two and engine five, Captain Anders says she’s going to stay in the fight though.”
“Thank you, Rourke, Beasley” Park nodded to both of the officers who had just spoken and tried to give a reassuring smile but couldn't quite manage it.

Victory maneuvered into near, point blank range with Starburst and locked her entire armament on the larger ship, 3 missile tubes and four cannons erupted into life as the Icaran destroyer made her pass on the rebel flagship….more holes were torn in the side of the massive craft as cannon rounds shattered hull plating and bulk heads, the missiles too were closing fast on their victim.
Tiger chimed in with her remaining missiles and cannons against an enemy destroyer but with her shot targeting systems both her shells missed and her ship buster missile fell easy prey to the enemy ship’s point defenses. The sprint missile met it’s mark however and two of the Rebel destroyer’s cannons vanished in an expanding sphere of wreckage taking it out of the fight. Another volley of cannon fire struck home and finished off the enemy ship.

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“Admiral I’ve got three birds closing in, our point defense is gone sir!” the tac officer’s voice sounded resigned as he watched the three deadly weapons closing in.
“Damn it, damn it! Can either of those destroyers intercept it?” Magill asked desperately, but it was already too late and he knew it…..the bridge erupted in flame and noise as the three missiles slammed into the already damaged rebel ship.
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“Scored it sir!” Beasley’s triumphant tone was interrupted suddenly as Victory shuddered violently, one of the enemy destroyers had closed in behind her while she hit Starburst and three of it’s shells tore into the Icaran destroyer mercilessly.
“Sir missiles, one and two gone!” Tac officer Rourke nearly spat as three more shells from the other enemy destroyer slammed into Victory. “Gadamn, sir we’ve lost cannons one and four, engine 5 is gone and 2 is failing.”
“Well let’s pay them back for that, fire down that lead destroyer’s throat mister Beasley.” Park hardly noticed that Tiger’s remaining cannons had torn apart the second enemy destroyer’s point defense clusters and when when heavy missiles slammed into the enemy destroyer the magnificent flash caught him off guard.
“Sir Tiger reports she got a kill!” Rourke said unnecessarily as anyone on the bridge could see the erupting wreckage that had once been an enemy destroyer.
Victory fired her own broadside to a less brilliant effect, both her shells tore into the destroyer that remained but they only managed to take out two engines and a single cannon.
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“Adair, are you still there?” Admiral Magill’s voice sounded numb as he dragged himself to a kneeling position and looked around the wreckage that had once been his flag bridge in horror, an arm stuck out from under a massive piece of debris but it was obvious whoever’s arm that was could not have survived as the wreckage lay flat across the deck, another body lay headless only inches from where Magill’s command station had been and he realized sadly that so far every one of his bridge crew was dead.
“Aye sir, I’m here.” the voice of Liza Adair sounded distant and pained in the Admiral’s ears, or rather his remaining intact ear, that Last missile had sent a piece of debris flying straight across the left side of his face and the old Admiral noted solemnly to himself that his left eye was probably gone and that was why he could not manage to open it.
The battle that had done this to his ship seemed distant now, almost like it had just been a bad dream but Magill looked around him again, at the wreckage and the bodies and knew in his heart that it had happened, even though his mind refused to believe the horror in front of him.
“Where are you Liza?” he tried to make his voice sound encouraging but it was mangled even to his own ear and he noted that his voice box had probably been damaged too.
“Sir, I’m here at my station…” her voice said painfully and Magill shook his head in horror. Adair’s station was buried in rubble and he thought there was no way he could move it all by himself with his injuries, but he told himself he had to at least try as he limped over to the rubble that contained what might be the only other survivor on Starburst and started digging away at it with his bare hands
*******************
Things were almost as bad aboard Victory and Tiger, both destroyers were bleeding atmosphere and trailing debris as they clawed back at the enemy destroyer that remained in combat range with whatever weapons remained functioning.
“Sir, Tiger reports her Last cannon is gone, she’s got a missile tube left but Anders reports that her damage control parties are still trying to clear it.” Rourke’s voice was hoarse as he reported the extent of the damage to his captain, and tried to ignore the corpsman that was tending to the hole in his shoulder that had been caused by the same piece of debris that had torn Beasley’s throat out.
“Tell Tiger to pull back while she clears her damage Rourke, our cannons should be able to finish this destroyer.” Park replied sharply as he looked around the damaged bridge, Beasley, Torez, Killroy, Mach all dead and his XO had been taken to sick bay nearly five minutes ago with a couple of ribs poking out of his uniform in a bloody mess of meat and bone.
Victory struck wrathfully at the enemy destroyer and this time her wounded foe paid for their inability to maneuver as the two cannon shells tore her shattered hull apart in a dim series of explosions along her hull.

Two enemy destroyers remained still but at their current speeds Tiger and Victory would take a substantial amount of time to reach them.

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The shattered remains of Starbursts’ bridge was all to quiet as Admiral Magill finally tore the Last piece of rubble out of his way and got a glimpse of Lieutenant Adair. He tried to hide the shock as she reached what was left of her right hand up to him, he grabbed it as gently as he could but the horrible burns caused one of her remaining fingers to come off in his hand as he lifted her out of the rubble.
“Sir, you look like hell.” Adair said quietly as her shattered and bruised face attempted to form a smile.
“I know Liza.” Magill said with a tearful grin as he tried to lift the injured young woman up to get her to the escape pod but her cry of pain froze him in place.
“Liza I’m going to get you out of here.” His remaining eye filled with tears as he noticed her attempt to form another smile.
“I know you will sir.” she said in a shadow of her formerly energetic and youthful voice before passing out in his arms.

Magill managed to get her through the shattered bridge doors to the nearest life pod and started hooking her up to the life support systems and an emergency medical bed. He then stepped out of the life pod and picked up another two injured crewmen that lay near the pod and hooked them up to the life support and emergency medical beds that remained before activating the auto-launch sequence.
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“Captain Park, I’ve got a life pod from that light cruiser!” A startled Rourke said as he began locking his cannons onto the target.
“Rourke!” Park’s shout froze the tactical officer in his place as Park sprinted over to his side and spun his chair around. “Damn it Rourke we are Icaran Naval officers not butchers, you inform S&R that we have a mission for them right now, and stand down those weapons or I will have you shot.” Park’s bitter tone shocked the young officer but out of a mix of training and fear the young man managed to give pass on the message.
Fifteen minutes later S&R teams recovered the escape pod and brought it to the remains of the boat bay where a medical team and marine squad met it….

Meanwhile in the Fornax system:
HMS Enterprise and HMS Saber closed in on the first of two Phong bases in the fornax system, so far no targeting sensors had locked on to them and as far as the two warships could tell not a single Phong ship was in system, which made their job much easier.

“Ross this is Fowler, how about you let me take Saber in first, my ship’s smaller and if those Phong are hiding anything on that planet we would make a harder target for them then Enterprise.” Her voice sounded quite sincere and her advice was good but Ross smiled to himself as he wondered if the real reason the young officer wanted to take her ship in first was to get into the action faster, and ensure that she was not left “in reserve”.
“Alright Sandra, take your ship in first, but be careful the fact that your smaller also makes you a more vulnerable target if they do hit you.” Ross grinned at the pretty young face on his screen and her conspiratorial grin made him feel almost like laughing.
Her salute as she cut the com made Ross feel like laughing again if only because it was one of the few things that was stress relieving on such a grim day.

The two Icaran warships closed fast on the undefended Phong world and within seconds a volley of fusion missiles from Saber was screaming towards the surface targets that had been picked out by Fowler’s tactical officer and even as their volley of missiles was closing the frigate opened fire with her cannons.
Explosions erupted all around the Phong base as the devastating volley struck. The frigate’s second volley of cannon fire was joined by the missiles and cannons of Enterprise and even more devastation riddled the unprotected base.
Two more vollies later and the two warships had blown the Last pieces of the enemy base and millions of Phong into dust and glass as the nuclear rain stopped.