From the Begining New Chapter Added (9/12/06)

[Renegade 13]

Great stories, I look forward to more

[Starhawk]

Thanks you guys I hope I can keep you entertained with the next chapter (also likely to be a LOOOONG chapter) which should be coming sometime either tomorrow or Wensday

[Starhawk]

2405.1 A New Dawn
Goin base had been established in the Goin star system over two years ago for the purpose of establishing a forward supply base for the Exploration missions launched by the Royal Navy, but little did anyone on goin suspect just how important they would be to the future of Icara.
It was the third day of Tellus when the military Command attaché to Goin colony walked into the planetary governor’s office, his face pale with exertion as he had just run the full length of the government house corridor.
The Governor turned around to face the young officer grimly and opened his mouth as if he was about to say something before closing it again with a click as his eyes wondered back to the holodisplay on his desk teakwood desk.
Governor Lord Michael Averato was an older man at nearly 100 E-years, and because of his age h was among the first generation to receive the life prolonging surgery and drug that was now common practice, the first generation of treatments stopped the aging process at an older age then the newer generations and gray streaked the governor’s hair, but the man looked no less impressive at his two meter height and broad muscular marine features.
“Governor, Sir!” the young officer braced to attention and saluted his superior (both militarily and civilian) the tension in his voice spoke volumes, the military defense network had discovered the unknown drive signatures nearly three hours ago and although it was estimated that the five unknown ships would not arrive in Goin orbit for another three days the only Icaran warships were still five days away at maximum speed which made the military staff terrified as the planetary defenses were still months away from completion.
“Relax Lieutenant….we’ve still got time to attempt contact.” Averato’s voice was what one would expect from a man of his features, it was gruff and confident and could inspire confidence in the middle of a battlefield….for that is what he had once had to do, for Averato had been a Marine Sergeant 80 years ago during the “great war” which occurred when another colony ship stumbled across Icara and attempted to seize the jewel of a world for themselves, instead thanks to brave men and women of the Icaran military all those invaders found was death and defeat until they were forced to incorporate themselves into Icaran society.
“Yes General.”
“Now what is it that you came running here for?” That same gruff voice asked kindly as General Governor Averato handed the young army officer a glass of water and showed him to one of the big artificial leather chairs in front of his big desk.
“Sir they have already contacted us, they request we send a ship out to meet their task force.” The young army officer was still sweating but Averato suspected it was more out of nerves and anxiety then physical exertion.
“Well then how long ago did their message arrive Lieutenant?” Averato’s voice was calm as ever as this army officer who’s name he couldn’t seem to remember took a sip of water and reached into his breast pocket where he retrieved a data chip.
“About fourteen minutes ago sir, they requested to speak to an authority from our colony.” as he handed Averato the chip the officer took another deep sip of water and waited for his superior to finish playing the message.
After the message finished playing Averato looked up at the army officer with a grin “I think I need a sloop and a platoon of soldiers ready in a half hour Lieutenant.” his voice sounded thoroughly excited as the young man stood braced to attention and headed for the door.

The sloop Angela was privately owned by the VenStar corporation, but she was also the fastest intra-system craft in Goin and that meant even though she was totally unarmed she was the only choice. Her captain was somewhat less then thrilled when a platoon of army troopers arrived at his berth and informed him that he was going to take the planetary Governor to meet with an unknown government’s task force in his unarmed transport and let everyone within a kilometer radius know it.
The “task force” was a small fleet in and of it’s self, the long range sensors of Angela showed four destroyers, a frigate and a much larger vessel that must be the flagship and as those sensors confirmed mass and size readings the civilian captain practically crapped his vac suit and had to be “reminded” by an army trooper just how important this mission was before he continued on his course.
But finally the task force was in communication’s range, and Governor General Averato smiled to himself as the civilian captain switched on the ship to ship com net. A female face wearing a camouflage uniform with what Averato guessed to be a rank insignia on her collar, appeared on the screen …..a human Averato noted, and by her skin tone and features he guessed her ancestors came from Northern Europe, or North America back on old Earth, well at least they had a common ancestry to about half of Icara‘s population. He thought humorlessly as he noticed she seemed to be analyzing him just as closely.
“I am General Governor Michael Averato of the Icaran Royal Colony and Base of Goin, whom am I addressing?” His voice was as pleasant as he could manage as the face on the screen blinked her eyes numbly for a moment.
“She certainly is a young thing.” one of the civilian crewmen whispered as he caught a glimpse of the attractive young face on the screen…..she was certainly young looking but Averato waved his hand harshly at the man who had spoken….the Last thing they needed to do was offend someone before they even began talking to them.
“Sir, I am Lieutenant Liza Adare of the RANS Sunburst.” Her voice was pleasant but numb sounding as she seemed to be looking at her control board for a moment.
“Sir I have you at baring nine-oh-five mark two seven, please continue your approach vector until you reach this point.” A small light dot appeared on the sloops astrogation screen, then the young woman continued on in that same pleasant voice. “Then change your vector to two seven five by three, you will dock with Sunburst directly, please do not violate that heading or our destroyer screen may open fire.” her voice sounded like she was giving a genuine warning as she looked back at the screen and smiled politely.
“Thank you Lieutenant Adare, we will not violate your given course, I assure you.” Averato said in as cheerful a tone he could manage after being told he’d be blown out of the stars if he so much as violated his course.

***************
Thirteen minutes later the tiny 500 ton sloop Angela slipped quietly alongside the massive 400,000 ton light cruiser Sunburst and cut her power. Averato couldn’t help but notice that just one of the cruisers massive cannons was all it would take to easily destroy his puny sloop in a single shot, he shivered at the thought and forced himself to relax.
A docking tube extended from one of the mane blisters on the warship’s hull and linked with the sloop’s own docking tube, slowly the sloop was pulled in toward the massive ship’s airlock. A light clinking noise alerted the Icarans that they had attached to the warship’s hull and a rushing of air signaled the pressurization of the two docking tubes.
“Sir, please allow four of my men to go first, just in case they are planning something sneaky.” Sergeant Yu’s voice rang out as he slapped the butt of a magazine, securing it to his auto-rifle, a series of responsive slaps announced that the entire platoon had slapped their magazines into place.
“Alright Yu , four men that’s all, I don’t want these people to think we’re trying to board them.” Michael smiled and the young looking Sergeant grinned back as he went about selecting the four troopers he wanted to take point. A sloop boarding a ship this massive was utterly impossible and all of the military personnel present knew the Governor was making a tension breaking joke but the civilian crew went pale as the four troopers stepped into the tube.

Four army troopers stepped out of the airlock, their green fatigues and gray flak armor and helmets looked oddly out of place in the massive boat deck that stood before them, four columns of soldiers stood in parade formation, each representing a different field, the first column that the Icaran soldiers took note of was the one with a large group of men and women carrying rifles of some short slung over their right shoulder.
The other three columns wore different uniforms that the Icaran troopers did not recognize and carried no weapons. As the Governor stepped out of the airlock he too paused a moment, attempting to count how many men and women were in each of the four columns.

Behind Governor Averato the rest of his platoon fell into parade formation, though they were obviously far from relaxed as they watched their armed counterparts very closely from across the boat deck.
Three officers stepped forward from between the two centermost columns and walked proudly towards the Icaran Governor, two of the officers were tall men, one wore a white and tan uniform with red blocks on his chest that Averato assumed was a rank insignia, the other two officers wore the camouflage uniform that the Governor recognized from the young woman on the com screen, in fact he noticed with a wry smile that the officer to the Flag officer’s left was the same young woman who he had first spoken to.

“Governor Averato I presume.” The tall officer’s baritone voice was strong and confident as the officer offered his hand to the Icaran Governor.
“You presume correct….” Averato’s voice was questioning as he waited for this foreign officer to formally introduce himself.
“Ah….forgive me, I’m sure you do not recognize my rank insignia, I am Admiral Magill of the Rebel Alliance fifth squadron.” The Admiral released his firm handshake with a polite nod and turned to introduce his officers.

“This is Captain Parrin, commander of Starburst..” he waved to his right and the other officer offered his hand to Averato. “And this is Lieutenant Liza Adare, my chief communications officer….we have much to discuss Governor.” the Admiral continued in his same neutral baritone as he gestured for Averato to follow him, he also made sure to make a point of ignoring the platoon of Icaran soldiers standing in the bay.

As they walked down the corridor from the boat bay Averato and eight Icaran troopers looked around at the large open rooms and long corridors that these “Rebel Alliance” folks seemed to prefer, it was very different then the confined corridors and segmented compartments Icaran ship designers preferred and also a lot less safe as if any of those big open rooms took a hit the whole section would be harder to seal off, at least as far as Icaran tech went.

“So Admiral” Averato cleared his throat uncomfortably trying to think about all the repercussions his question might have…but as the Admiral paused and looked him square in the eyes Averato realized he’d already gone to far to clam up now. “Why exactly do you call yourselves the Rebel Alliance?” his voice stayed solid and confident but as the Rebel officers paused the Icaran commander wondered if he had asked to bluntly but then the Admiral’s face broke into a smile and Michael felt himself relax noticeably.
“Well Governor, our colony was established by the Northern Economic Block just before the fall of civilization back on Earth, and even though we found ourselves on a new world, light centuries away from Earth and their power base the NEB government stayed just as cruel and non-democratic as it had before, police actions and sanctions were commonplace until a group of men and women finally began to fight back.” The Admiral’s smile faded somewhat as he remembered some horror of the past. “Well so you see these brave men and women were outnumbered and outgunned almost one hundred to one but they fought for over a century they fought until finally they formed a Rebel Alliance that included many NEB army units, and finally they achieved victory….in their memory we have become a Democratic nation, and we have kept the name Rebel Alliance.” Admiral Magill frowned for a moment before continuing on down the corridor in silence.
***********************
“So Governor, you speak for your uh what did you call him again?” Admiral Magill’s baritone sounded crisp as he looked over the treaty papers again reviewing the conditions laid down therein.
“Praetor, Admiral and yes I speak for the crown in this matter.” Governor Michael Averato smiled as he signed the piece of paper that was laid in front of him.
“So, our two star nations shall have a non-aggression pact with one another in so far as we will not colonize within your territory and you will do likewise and not colonize any of our worlds.” Magill said formally as he handed a copy of the treaty to his Icaran counterpart.
“Precisely….and perhaps someday a stronger alliance can come of this.” Averato’s left eyebrow raised when the Admiral frowned rather then replied.
“Governor, please understand that my nation is a democracy, so far as you’ve explained your system of government you are far from democratic, I’m afraid I doubt my people would want a closer relationship with a monarchy such as yours….please take no offense.” The RA Admiral sounded genuinely like he was trying not to offend his counterpart but it was also obvious that he hid some personal distrust of the Icaran form of government and so Averato chose not to push the subject further.
“Very well then Admiral, I must be taking my leave of you now to get these reports back to my own government.” With a nod Averato and Admiral Magill stood and shook each other’s hands.
Averato’s party was escorted back to the boat bay by Liza Adare, and as sweet as ever she bid them farewell. The old General couldn’t help but like the young woman, she had been his liaison to her Admiral for the past two days and had been a competent and sweet young woman considering she was dealing with complete strangers with an equally strange form of government in her eyes. With an inner nod Averato decided she reminded him a lot of his daughter back on Icara who had sent him a message only a month ago proudly announcing her enlistment into His Majesty’s Royal Navy, he bade her one Last farewell before boarding his sloop.
Two hours later the sloop Angela was heading to a rendezvous with the destroyer HMS Victory and her squadmate HMS Tiger who were patrolling the far end of the system hunting down a criminal syndicate that had been smuggling in various prohibited goods such as tobacco and stronger drugs.

[Starhawk]

2405.2 Twilight
“I don’t know your highness but they just sent a message informing us that their population vetoed their treaty with us and that we can consider ourselves in a state of truce but not formal peace.” Governor Averato’s voice was grim as he stood before his Praetor on Icara after being summoned by a Crown courier ship (faster then any warship in the fleet do to it’s small size and large engine mounts) earlier that month when word of the treaty being broken reached Icara.
“Damned democracies never work! A mob can dictate who their entire world can talk to!” Praetor Leonidas fumed as he read the reports, the Rebels unilaterally withdrew for no other reason then their mob of a populace had decided that they did not want to be associated with a non-democratic government.
“Sir, I don’t believe they are going to move against us at this time, they’ve even pulled Admiral Magill’s fifth squadron out of Goin.” High Admiral Hallice said, his voice sounding more hopeful then either of his companions.
“Very well, Hallice keep Victory and Tiger on alert though, just in case those Rebels come back and decide they don’t want to be as peaceable.” leonidas said grumpily as he tossed the flexy with the rebel’s exact message aside.
“Michael’m afraid you’ll have to stay on Icara for a few months I have a lot to discuss with you.” Hallice said finally as he stood to leave, shaking Averato’s hand and Saluting Leonidas before withdrawing through the big oak doors.

[Atrocities]

Another great read. Thank you.

[Starhawk]

2405.3 A Victory Bittersweet
It was a routine day as far as the crews of HMS Claw and HMS Bounty were concerned, they had been guarding the 6-11 warp point from the unknown hostiles for over a year and both crews were ready for their stand down and rotation back to Icara while another pair of destroyers were assigned this dreary post for a year.
But suddenly that routine calm was shattered as an energy signature appeared from within the warp point leading to the unknown system beyond and a warship larger then either of the two Icaran vessels came tearing out of the warp at high velocity.

“General quarters all hands general quarters!” The tactical officer aboard Claw screamed over the com net as she tabbed button after button, triggering emergency drive activation, weapons activation and the battle display mode of the holotank.
“Enemy vessel accelerating at six-zero gees skipper, mass reading indicates she is 400,000 tons, scanners identify unknown weapons on her port and starboard.” Executive officer Tyler called off as Captain Manning sat down at his own command chair and activated it’s repeaters.
“Bounty this is Manning, what’s your status?”
“Bounty here, we are accelerating parallel to you Claw, estimated time to missile range is one-zero-zero seconds” Captain Jessica Smith’s voice sounded cold and professional as she read off her ship’s intercept times but Manning could hear the tense anxiety in her voice that he too felt as they engaged an unknown.

The two Icaran destroyers entered missile range at about the same time and both vessels spat two capital ship and one sprint missile each in the direction of the intruding enemy Light Cruiser and within seconds it’s point defense clusters were tearing at space with thousands of titanium slugs, desperately trying to kill the Icaran missiles before they killed it.
The light cruiser’s defenses actually succeeded in taking down one of the missiles and it turned away from the others and bore down directly on Bounty seemingly ignoring the other missiles which were yet to enter a threatening range.

Captain Manning and his bridge crew watched in horror as Bounty attempted to escape the massive enemy ship, she was losing ground fast thanks to the gravity waves caused by her closer proximity to the warp point then Claw had been, and the enemy ship already had the advantage of coming out of the warp at maximum thrust while the smaller Icaran destroyer had to trigger her drives after she launched her missile salvo.
“Captain Smith we are turning about to see if we can get that bastard off your tail just stand…..” Manning winced as a brilliant light ball erupted from one of the enemy ship’s mysterious cannons, then another and yet another glowing sphere tore across space…..Bounty zig zagged and twisted like a desert hopper trying to escape a tree raptor but all three of the massive spheres found there target.
Whole sections of the Icaran destroyer vanished in a wash of energy and flame, debris and atmosphere erupted from her like gore as she writhed under the fire.

“Captain Manning this is Bounty we are down to one cannon, engines are gone, so is life support, my whole aft section is engulfed in fire or exposed to vacuum…. “ Jessica’s voice sounded tortured as Manning listened in absolute shock, his heart sank as he heard a girggling cough from his friend and realized that her bridge must have been hit and she must have been hurt worse then she would tell him.
“Captain…..” Her voice was cut off as an explosion in the background signaled the destruction of her communications array.

“Helm, can we intercept?!” Manning’s voice was ice as he watched the burning wreck that had once been HMS Bounty level her lone cannon defiantly against her murder, the shell actually impacted on the enemy ship and Manning couldn’t help but feel all the worse for it, the sad defiance of a ship and crew who knew they were dying.
“Sir intercept in fifteen seconds!” The helmsman’s voice was agonized, everyone on the bridge knew that there was no chance of them getting there any faster but they also knew with absolute certainty and dread that their sister ship and 400 Icaran spacers would be gone by then.

Five seconds after her defiant Last shot HMS Bounty and her crew vanished in a brilliant flash of light and wreckage, as she was torn into thousands of pieces by the sheer force of the Light Cruiser’s unknown weapons. The enemy ship’s triumph was brief however as 5 missiles slammed into her, tearing great holes in her hull and thrashing her own cannons into non-existence.
“Sir!” Chief Gunnery officer Tanner shouted as she watched the ship who had murdered Bounty limping and spinning in space.
“Bring us into Cannon range helm.” Manning’s voice was pure venom and hatred as he watched that bastard floating lamely in space.
Vengeance belonged to Claw as she swooped down upon her crippled pray and leveled a devastating broadside into it’s shattered hull, all four cannons struck home and as the Last shot turned the enemy ship into a glowing ball of plasma and wreckage the crew of Claw felt nothing but sorrow.

400 Icaran spacers died aboard His Majesty’s Ship Bounty and the entire crew of her sister held memorial services the very day she returned to port at 6-11 base for re-supply and minor repairs.

[dogscoff]

the ship who had murdered Bounty

Given that the Icarans fired first, I think most courts would knock it down to manslaughter at least.

</pedantic>

[Renegade 13]

Another series of great stories. Are you using any mod for the actual game you're playing, or is it just stock?

[Starhawk]

It's a modified Devnull I added two new weapons that will make late game naval battles much more interesting IMHO and a new ship, but that one will be a suprise for you guys .

[Starhawk]

2405.5 Loss of a Hero
6-11 System
“Damn it Captain I don’t care about your opinion on this subject!” Governor Paldwin screamed at Manning so loud his assistant cringed and looked toward the door like she was about to run.
“Governor please, keep your voice down.” Manning said in as calm a voice as he could manage considering he despised the man in front of him, especially since the slime ball had just ordered him and his ship through a warp point leading into enemy space.
“Don’t tell me what to do CAPTAIN! You will take your ship through that warp point and find out who attacked you and destroyed Bounty or I will have you hung!” Paldwin’s voice was cold and hostile but not any quieter, and if he had been a military officer Manning would have challenged him to a duel and killed him outright for threatening him in such a manner.
“Governor you have no authority over whether I am hung or not, and if you threaten me in such a manner again it will not help your position any further.” Manning was about to leave when he heard the clear sound of a slap…Manning whirled around to see the young assistant holding the side of her face, a large red mark on her cheek.
Manning’s hand went immediately to his sidearm before he heard the Governor’s personal guard’s unlock the safeties on their weapons behind him, he slowly slid his hand off his sidearm and grimly acknowledged that all the nasty rumors passing around the Icaran royal court were true, Paldwin was running 6-11 colony like a dictatorship and that meant that the rumors of him using a private army were also likely to be true which meant those two “soldiers” behind him probably wouldn’t hesitate to put a few explosive darts in his back.
“Governor Paldwin……I will take Claw through the warp point if that is what you want….however I am going to need to take some of your staff to act as liaisons.” Manning thought quickly, he needed to get off world and he needed to bring someone with him who could testify to the fact that Paldwin was a dictator, in short he needed Paldwin’s assistant.
“Ah, so you’ve finally come around have you Captain?” The arrogant little man said self importantly as he reevaluated the officer in front of him
“Yes….governor, I suppose we do need to investigate that region, but may I ask that you assign me your assistant as she is more likely to know what you want done M’lord?” Manning attempted to sound cowed into submission ,
The governor rubbed his chin thoughtfully before looking at the young assistant who was still holding her bruised cheek, a wolfish grin crossed the man’s face as he looked back at the naval officer.
“Very well captain you may take her, as well as two of my personal guards to, ah ensure her protection.” Paldwin’s shark like grin grew broader, as if he dared Manning to defy his order that his assistant be accompanied by two of his “soldiers”.
But Manning simply bowed politely and turned to leave.

*****************

Three days later HMS Claw was headed towards the warp point where their sister ship had died with all hands. Manning sat frozen in his command chair as he contemplated the bigger picture which that fool Paldwin did not see, there would be two Navy destroyers coming in system in less then a year to reinforce the security blockade at 6-11 but that idiot wanted to send his only warship straight into enemy space instead of trying to keep them on station to protect his world.
“Sir, we are out of Paldwins’ jurisdiction now.” Commander Tyler whispered to his commander as they reached the 12 light minute range of a non noble Governor’s jurisdiction in a system.
“Commander, execute my orders now please.” Manning whispered back to his friend as he patted the younger man on his shoulder.

********************
Kira Lougheed frowned as she sipped at her coffee noting the two heavily armed guards that never let her leave their site since she had come aboard. She knew all to well that the guards were just mercenaries and that they were there to kill her if she tried to say anything to Captain Manning or any of his people what was going on in Paldwin’s district.
A knock on the door to her quarters made Lougheed jerk out of her thoughts, as she stood to answer it one of her “guards” waved her down and opened the door, the look on the guard’s face made Loguheed cringe and she made sure she accidentally dropped the spoon she had been stirring her coffee with and ducked under her table feigning a search.

A navy officer stood in the doorway and the guard mumbled something at him and attempted to close the door in his face, but the naval officer shoved his hand out and stopped the door saying something that Kira couldn’t quite make out.
A shouting match started shortly there after and Kira noticed the guard still hidden from view reaching for his sidearm, she cowered for a moment before standing up from behind her desk and throwing her mug coffee and all straight at the man’s face. His scream of agony as he started trying to get the fragments of the mug and the burning coffee out of his eyes alerted the navy officer who reached for his own sidearm just a second faster then the other guard.
The whine of a darter pistol and the dull thud of an explosive dart jerked the young woman back to the real world as she saw the guard at the door drop to the deck, a clean hole through his torso and his gun held limply in his dead hand. The navy officer charged into the small room and three marines quickly followed him, two of them rushed over to Kira and shoved her head down as they raced her to the door, Kira briefly caught a glimpse of the third marine slamming a knee into the groin of the other guard and hearing a gurgling scream coming from the room behind her as she was raced down the corridor.
The young woman did not even have enough time to feel fear as she was rushed into the destroyer’s small boat bay. The two marines let her go and the naval officer stepped in front of her, a grimace on his face.
“Ma’am I am Commander Tyler, I know your confused and probably more then a little scared but I need you to follow these two marines into that launch over there and go with the rest of our non essential personnel.” his voice was urgent but calm as he looked around the boat bay to ensure that his people were cramming into the destroyers three launches.
“What’s going on Commander?” Kira asked in a voice who’s calmness surprised even her but the officer just nodded at one of the marines and a firm hand locked around her arm and began almost dragging her towards the third launch in the line “COMMANDER WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON!?” she screamed again but the officer simply turned around and rushed for the bay door.
“Relax ma’am I’ve been instructed to explain it all to you once we are aboard the launch.” The marine who had her arm said as he continued to pull her towards the launch.

Less then three minutes later all three launches and 280 navy and marine personnel were on their way to the nearest Icaran naval base, all of them were witnesses essential to building a case against the local governor and Manning expected that they would be the only survivors from his destroyer.
“Is it done Richard?” Captain Manning asked as his commander quietly as the young officer stepped back to stand beside his captain.
“Yes sir, it’s done.” Was the simple reply as the young man took his seat beside the captain's chair.
**********************
Two weeks later the three launches arrived at the Grayson colony and were immediately brought to the naval base, a series of interviews was begun on behalf of the Icaran Royal Court to find out what was really going on in 6-11 system.
Three days after that a messenger drone from HMS Claw showed a video playback of the warship’s Last minutes of life as she attempted to get into scan range of a world at the other end of the warp point she had been blockading. Unfortunately for the destroyer and her crew the enemy world’s weapons systems were long ranged and Claw didn’t stand a chance as she was destroyed at two hundred thousand clicks by an energy weapon of unknown type.

A battle against the Phong
“Commodore Ross, this is Count Aznoble, our scanners show an enemy squadron in system can you confirm?” Aznoble said grimly as he finished tying his bathrobe, and wiped the sleep from his eyes.
“Sir I can confirm, I am preparing to deploy my squadron as we speak.” Ross ‘ voice was calm and professional but Aznoble could tell by the tone that the captain was anxious, he had been given the brevet rank of Commodore unexpectedly so he could take command of the Enterprise Squadron and much to Aznoble’s amusement the captain still flinched at being called Commodore.
“Captain Ross is there anything I can do to assist you?”
“Sir, the best thing you can do for me is get your people into shelters, I’ll try to engage the enemy squadron at three light minutes out and with your permission sir if I can destroy them with minimal damage to my own force I will retrace their vector and see if I can destroy their base.” Ross quiet deadly tone was one Aznoble was not used to hearing and he stood stunned for a moment before nodding to himself.
“Ross do what you think is best, God and Saints be with you.”
“Thank you sir, may God be with us all.” Ross said ominously before cutting the com channel. Ross and Aznoble almost hated each other when Ross first arrived on station, but once they had gotten to know one another and once Aznoble became more sure of himself as Count Handra the two men became friends to their mutual surprise.

Less then a day after the three destroyers and single frigate of his squadron had left orbit of Handra they got a visual of the six Phong frigates and Ross noted that the Phong had actually altered course and speed to engage him directly.
“Sir, enemy will be in missile range in one nine minutes, and cannon range five minutes after that.” The familiar voice of Sarah Pallins chimed in his ear as she passed on the message from tactical.
“Thank you Commander, my compliments to tactical.” The Captain gave his exec a wry grin as he noted that she was passing on a message that he was too busy thinking to himself to hear, and also caught her polite warning to that fact in her tone.

“Captain Fowler, this is flag I want Saber to stay on the tail of our formation, hold your missiles until all three destroyers have fired theirs.” Ross said as he fixed his eyes on the tactical display and saw the six red blips closing fast.
“Aye Commodore, am I to engage with cannons sir?” Fowler’s voice came crisp and calm over the com net and Ross felt a swell of assurance that he had given his old ship to the right officer and had to suppress the smile that was twitching on his lips.
“Negative Fowler, I want you to keep your missiles in this fight until we’ve scored a few hits, let the destroyers get into the cannon duel until the Last minute.”
“Aye sir.” Ross heard the disappointment in her tone as she realized her ship was pretty much the squadron’s reserve and the same pride swelled again, she was an aggressive young Captain and aggressive captains were exactly what he wanted under his command, unforunately she also commanded the smallest ship in the squadron and in a straight up cannon duel she would be hurt the worst.

Nineteen minutes later a mass of blue dots appeared on the holotanks of the Enterprise Squadron signaling a massed volley of missile launches from the Icaran warships.
Enemy point defenses tore through space and 6 of the Icaran missiles died before reaching their targets but Saber’s missiles had popped up from behind their destroyed brethren and all of them slammed into their target knocking one of the Phong Frigates to pieces, leaving it’s point defenses and two engines wrecked.
A second volley of Icaran missiles followed moments later and this time only five Icaran missiles were taken down, the remaining missiles knocked yet another Phong Frigate out of the point defense screen and also removed all but one of it’s engines, and one cannon.
A third volley destroyed it’s target outright as the 4 missiles tore it to pieces sending wreckage across space in a brilliant flash of light.
“This is flag to squadron give them one more volley and close to Cannon range, Saber as we engage with cannons I want you to take out those stragglers with your missiles.” Ross’ voice was the same icy deadly tone that he had the Last time he had gone into combat and Pallins smiled at the familiar tone
The ranges closed fast and the fourth squadron wide volley of missiles blew another frigate apart, the three destroyers reached cannon range of the Last two combat effective frigates, the destroyers [i]Enterprise and King Roger targeted the frigate closing from the left, their concentrated broadsides sent 7 cannon shells into the enemy frigate, turning it into little more then a burning wreck it’s own single cannon broadside missed both destroyers entirely.
Meanwhile Manticore engaged her own target and sent four shells ringing into the forward section of the frigate’s hull tearing out half of the enemy ship’s cannons, the Phong ship returned fire defiantly and scored a single direct hit on the larger Icaran destroyer doing only minute damage.
The single Icaran frigate rushed past the cannon duels going on between her squadron mates and the enemy frigates and fired off yet another volley of her own missiles straight into one of the “stragglers” blowing it into a massive cloud of plasma and wreckage.
Her own cannons finished off the second straggler before it even brought it’s cannon to bare, it’s wrecked hull drifted away.
Enterprise and King Roger fired another concentrated broadside at their target, all eight shells impacted on the frigate’s already shattered hull and the brilliant golden explosion that followed left only one enemy frigate.
The Manticore closed to point blank range on the Last remaining frigate and her four cannon broadside tore the frigate asunder without even an explosion to mark it’s death.

“Sir all enemy frigates have been destroyed!” Sarah Pallins announced cheerfully as the Last red blip on the holotank winked out of existence
The bridge crew relaxed noticeably and smiles were on almost every face, Ross couldn’t help but smile himself as the damage reports showed no damage that could not be repaired in space, casualty reports were equally as good, no dead and only 21 wounded throughout the entire squadron and Doctor Leung the squadron’s senior doctor assured the Captain that the injuries were minor enough to be treated by the squadron’s sick bays.