[Starhawk]

2419.3 The Newest Sword:
HMS Shadowclaw’s advanced sensors had detected the four Phong warships at a much greater range then the other vessels of the third fleet, Ross was eager to get his newest ship into the fight so he ordered the 3rd fleet excluding his own flagship to remain in position in blockading the warp point.
Along with being the most heavily armed and most advanced starship in the fleet, Shadowclaw was also the fastest ship, she could intercept and destroy the enemy ships and return to the fleet in under a month which is something no other ship could do, this also played part in Ross decision to go out with his flagship and no escorts.

Two days after her departure from the 3rd fleet the massive dreadnought was already closing the range with all four enemy ships.
“One can’t help but admire their bravery.” Captain Fowler commented sourly as she watched the four tiny specs of light closing on the much larger green light code that represented the Icaran dreadnought.
“Really, is it bravery Captain or arrogance?” Ross sneered at the four closing dots before turning to the young woman, his expression held a wisp of a smile. “Those four ships don’t stand a chance against us, the Phong started this war with superior technology to our own and thought they could conquer us!, and because of our conquest of the Rebel Alliance, as well as our superior scientific endeavors we now have the upper hand, they know they can’t win yet they do not surrender. This is more an act of arrogant defiance then of bravery, some people simply need to learn when they’ve been conquered.”
“I suppose it’s a little bit of both sir.” Fowler’s voice held far less sympathy for her enemies then it had only moments before. Ross was right, the Phong started the war when they destroyed Haden, they threatened the survival of Icara and on more then one occasion demanded the Royal navy surrender, but Icara had fought on and now she was prevailing, sympathy towards an enemy was for the weak, the child and the coward Fowler scolded herself for her lapse and then turned her attention back to the tactical display.

“Admiral enemy ships are entering maximum combat range, shall I order gunnery crews to fire?” The chief weapons officer looked at the Captain instead of Ross which the Admiral actually preferred, he liked his crews to feel comfortable with their direct superiors and not feel like they need to pass everything through him.

“No hold your fire until we enter optimal range, we’ll still be out of their firing envelope at that point, and I don’t want to overstress our guns until we’ve had a chance to test them out in battle.” Fowler barely bothered looking away from her OpRan (Optimal Range) countdown to reply to her officer.
Seconds later the countdown blinked blue, Fowler shot a quick glance toward Ross, the Admiral nodded curtly.
“Weapons, Open fire all batteries all targets, take them down.” Fowler flipped up the visual display on her chair while Ross watched the main screens.
“Aye, firing all batteries, all targets.”
Moments later the screens lit up brilliantly as dozens of green beams shot forth from the massive Icaran dreadnought’ the broadside slammed into the four Phong warships like lightning through tissue paper. The infinite dark of space momentarily became alive with light and fire, and then….darkness returned, leaving only wreckage where once there had been four cruisers.
“My lord! Tactical do we have any signs of the enemy?” Fowler along with everyone else on the bridge crew was stunned silent, even they had never suspected the true power their ship had until this moment.
“No ma’am, they’re all gone, I’m only reading small clouds of debris and atomized hull and biological elements.” the tactical officer’s reply turned heads throughout the bridge as the realization sank in.
“Congratulations ladies and gentlemen we’ve just knocked four enemy starships out of the universe, let’s head back to the rest of the fleet.” Ross said cheerfully before standing up and walking towards the command center’s door. Inside the victory felt almost hollow, the enemy never even stood a chance to fire one defiant shot, it felt more like target practice then battle to the war hardened Admiral. But more dangerous targets lay out there in the universe and these new weapons brought Icara one step closer to dominance and in the end that is all that mattered.