[attack_condor]

2508.6

Zezzis system
Zezzis V war operations center...

The announcement of the capture of Zezzis VII had lifted the morale all across the empire. With one operation, the Dawn empire had brushed aside the militia there, added a colony with a shipyard (desparately needed in a war zone), a supply depot, two more research centers, and denied the Phong a space port to ship any resources back to their empire. The captured frigate Anous was sent to Zezzis IV, as was the boarding ship Chaney. The captured destroyer was still under repair in space by Alice Springs. The colony immediately began construction of a second minesweeper for the system.

The focus of the empire now turned not to an empire they were at war with – declared war, that is. The Norak empire was blatantly stealing information from the Dawn empire, and now their fleet of thirteen frigates had been stationed one sector away from Zezzis IV and its Dawn colony for over two months. Repeated calls for the Norak empire to move them were unanswered, and the Ferret spy satellites confirmed the orders of ships arriving into Zezzis were to join the fleet and increase their presence. The Dawn colony was unhappy about so many ships so close to them. The Navy was now ready to confront the Norak in Zezzis.

The first order was to mine the Fezzran-Zezzis warp point, and maintain the minefield there. This would close the system to new Norak ships. At the same time, Beagle would penetrate Fezzran and provide intelligence with regard to what was approaching Zezzis from the Fezzran side of the point. Finally, the entire military strength of the system would be brought to bear on the Norak fleet. Once the population felt at ease, the process of colony improvements could begin in earnest. The planners made it a priority not to directly engage the Sergetti. This policy cost the Dawn empire a month, as a Sergetti colony ship was in the Fezzran warp point. With the point now clear of ships, Aztec would lay her mines.

The mines would be an unwelcome surprise for the two destroyers and three frigates of the Norak empire approaching the warp point to Zezzis. Beagle, having penetrated Fezzran found a plasma storm they could call home for the next few months and scan any ships approaching the point. The system appreared to belong to the Phong, as they had two colonies visible. As Beagle took up her vigil, Cabrerra thought of how the Phong would love to get a hold of the sophisticated technology on board his ship. Should they find out there was an unarmed Dawn ship in their system feeding intelligence back to the empire, their reaction would be predictable. Inside the storm and under a protective cloak, however, Cabrerra felt secure that wouldn’t happen. He knew what the “security” guards would do to the crew to prevent their capture, so he was determined not to let it get that far.

Back in Zezzis, Montreal and Toronto cut off an unlucky Norak supply frigate that entered the system at the wrong time. Their boarding crews captured the ship intact, and the now three ships joined the others at Zezzis IV to begin the assault on the Norak fleet.

As the two fleets approached each other, the plan was brutally simple. West End – with the famous Captain O’Rourke, Southampton with Captain Benjamin Harrison, Manchester and Thames would volley no less than eight missiles at one ship at a time. The Norak had a good deal of point defense, which would be reduced as their ships became disabled.

Chaney would lurk in the distance, waiting for the unlucky ship that had no weapons and try to single her out and kill the crew with her biological weapon.

The fighters would be joined by the captured ships and operate on the wings of the fight, crisscrossing strafing runs once the point defense environment was less hostile.

The Norak approached, and the Dawn ships in the center retreated, drawing the enemy toward them. The wings retreated as well, to keep the immediate threat in front of the enemy.

The first salvo or eight missiles made it through the defense and destroyed the first Norak frigate. The Dawn frigates reloaded and waited for the next ship to come into range.

The next target was a Steelghost frigate. It too was fired on with eight missiles. It too, was destroyed after the missiles outlasted the point defense.

Although the Norak had lost two frigates without getting a shot off in return, Captain Harrison wanted the frigates to align so they would all fire simultaneously. With a bit of maneuvering, the four ships were in a line waiting for the next target.

With the Dawn frigates in a tighter formation, a Voidmist point defense ship was the next closest ship. Captain Harrison gave the order to target the frigate and fire when she got within range.

This time, the missiles were synchronized better, but the Voidmist was just as dead.

The battle continued, and the Norak were eliminated. Thames suffered severe damage, and could not return with the others. She stayed in orbit until Alice Springs could get back to her and escort her to a yard for repairs.

The war continued, but the Norak had been removed from Zezzis. A message offering peace was sent to the Sergetti. If they agreed, the focus of the efforts could shift to the security of Mentocka, and the empire could once again prosper...