You call it dictatorship they call it logical
2411.2
Dawn of a New Era
HMS Hawkwing, the first of the General class heavy cruisers was launched from Handra base only a month after her keel was laid, there was of course a reason for her rapid launch, an entire Phong destroyer division had been located by sensor probes, hiding in the Escandor system’s asteroid belt and it was the considered opinion of the Handra base commander that they were intending on launching an assault to destroy the Icaran base.
Hawkwing was a massive vessel at 600,000 tons, she dwarfed a cruiser by a clear 50 meters and was manned by a crew of 3,000. Her firepower and shielding matched her size and it was believed by her designers that if handled right Hawkwing could take on an entire Phong Squadron by herself.
That theory was soon to be put into test as she set course for the asteroid belt at maximum military power not even pausing for a shakedown cruise.
“Captain Palmer, we are closing in on the belt I am detecting those destroyers but I don’t think they can see us.” Tac officer Gregor sounded very satisfied as the new sensors picked up the six enemy ships that thought they were hidden.
“Thank you Tactical, let’s just hope those new sensors that BuDesign came up with do as well in combat.” Captain Palmer’s grin was obvious from across the bridge as watched the command repeaters at his station. 6 destroyers on staggered formation within a belt of thousands of rocks of various sizes.
“Helm take us in as close to those asteroids as you can manage without crashing into them, let’s see if we can surprise those destroyers shall we.”
“Aye captain plotting a course now.”
The massive form of
Hawkwing slid silently along the asteroid belt for nearly two hours all the while closing on her unsuspecting prey. As the heavy cruiser swung round the first destroyer came into her weapons range.
“Guns, open fire!” Palmer’s voice was excited as he watched the targeting sensors achieve locks on the first enemy ship.
“Firing aye.”
In an eye blink beam after beam of highly charged phased polorons cut across space and sliced again and again into the armored hull of the Phong warship, debris and atmosphere began pouring away from the destroyer in massive clouds…less then a minute later the destroyer exploded.
“Damn good shooting guns.” Captain Palmer’s voice was praiseful as he saw the expanding cloud of gas and wreckage.
The other five destroyers were aware of his ships presence however and they quickly closed the range and opened fire with broadside after broadside pouring across space, many of the explosive shells detonated on asteroids while others missed entirely the few that did manage to find
Hawkwing did no damage as the splashed across the heavy cruiser’s hull.
The Icaran’s counter fire was far more devastating however as yet another broadside cut a Phong destroyer into pieces, a second broadside against another destroyer sent it spinning out of control as it’s engines exploded.
The three enemy destroyers still in combat range closed in on the heavy cruiser, firing as they came but this time their fire was totally ineffective and Palmer’s smile broadened as he realized it was his ship’s ECM generator that kept the Phong from getting a lock on him.
“Sir I’ve got two more of those destroyers locked on.”
“Thank you guns, take them out. Helm run us right down their throats.”
“Aye sir, putting maximum thrust, closing.”
The Icaran heavy cruiser accelerated into ranges so close Palmer felt like he could just spit out his gun ports and hit one of those yellow bastards, the broadside
Hawkwing dealt to the first enemy destroyer turned it into a plasma ball and debris field, the second destroyer that met her fire also erupted into a ball of fire as it had been damaged previously by
Hawkwing.
“Sir incoming!” Gregor frowned as he watched his display. Almost before his sentence was finished three shells slammed into the heavy cruiser’s shields but to the relief of everyone aboard their ship’s strong shields simply shrugged off the fire.
“Guns, let’s make sure that destroyer gets our compliments for his gunnery skills.” Palmer’s voice was relaxed and cool even as he saw the smirks on the faces of his bridge crew.
The aforementioned destroyer did receive
Hawkwing’s “compliments” barely a minute later as she was torn to pieces by the powerful cannons that had already destroyed 4 of her comrades only minutes before.
The sixth and final destroyer died less then fifteen minutes later as the heavy cruiser achieved lock through an asteroid that the destroyer was attempting to hide behind, both the destroyer and it’s hiding place erupted in fire and rock as the heavy cruiser’s broadside came to bare.
“Damage report tactical?” Palmer’s voice was slightly anxious as he awaited the reply.
“Sir, no damage, medical reports we do have a minor injury from an energy feedback caused when that Last shell impacted the shields though.” Gregor turned around and smiled cheerfully at his captain, this was probably the first naval battle in history where six warships had been destroyed by one and no fatalities were sustained by the victor.
“Well then, Helm take us to the Fornax warp point and hold position until new orders come through.”