Re: Rise of the Remorhaz Society
Showdown at Bardron VI-Part 3
One by one, the Rage beams were fired at RSS Tarus. The first beam was thrown off by jamming, but the second one hit, severely weakening the ship’s shields. The next beam finished the shields off, and bit into the command cruiser’s hull.
Rear Admiral Sakazawa watched the battle display and quickly surmised the situation. At this range, the fleet would take a pounding from the Rage batteries, so the only option was to try to take them out before they did too much damage. He ordered his command staff to gather targeting data on the new targets and send the information out to the rest of the fleet.
The ship was rocked as another beam smashed into the hull. Shiro pulled up the com unit to address all of the fleet’s captains. A quick glance at the damage display showed that Tarus would not stand up to much more of this punishment. He had to make sure the fleet carried out their orders, and knew that to run now would be suicide.
Just as the display came up, the ship was battered again from another direct hit. Sparks flew from the computer consoles, and the data feed from the bridge of his ship suddenly died as the bridge status went from green to red on the damage display.
He tried to chase the faces of the crew from his mind as he began to speak.
“We’ve been fooled, everyone. The Rage have much stronger defenses than we previously thought, and we now have to go on the assumption…”, the display died briefly as another beam slammed into the ship.
He began again when the display came back up.
“We have to assume that the signal broadcast from this ship informed the Rage of our force structure. We cannot retreat. We have to destroy them before…”
Sakazawa and the command staff did not even register pain as the phased polaron beam vaporized the command center and everyone in it. The beam continued to burn down the hull until its energy was spent. Seconds later, another beam burned into the engine room, destabilizing the anti-matter chamber in one of the contra-terrene engines and setting off a chain reaction bLasting what was left of Tarus into atoms.
The destruction of Tarus sent a shockwave through the fleet. All fire at the planet stopped momentarily as the shock of the admiral’s death stunned everyone. Almost instantly, the commanders of the individual ships sought to carry out their orders and the fire rained down on the Rage planet once more. Rear Admiral Brennan, aboard the cruiser RSS Ganymede assumed command of the fleet.
RSS Ceta was the next target of the Rage. Her gunnery crew was delivering very accurate fire and had destroyed two of the Rage batteries, but it was not enough to help her survive. The beams quickly overwhelmed her shields, and methodically tore the destroyer apart. Her bow tore away as one Rage beam sliced the ship in half. Debris and gasses filled the space around the ship as another Rage beam tore into Ceta’s exposed compartments. This beam burned down the length of the ship, reducing the interior of the ship to molten slag. With no structure to contain them, the engines tore away from the shell of the hull and continued on their path toward Bardron VI, as if eager to escape the carnage. Only five of her crew would survive the battle.
Finally, the Rage turned their attention to RSS Ganymede, the only remaining cruiser in the Remorhaz fleet. The powerful beams quickly burned through the shields and battered the hull, tearing great rents in the hull and vaporizing compartments. Ganymede continued to return fire, bLasting battery after battery, until she could no longer return fire, all of her weapons having been destroyed. Rear Admiral Brennan ordered the ship to retreat, as she was no longer battle worthy.
With the Rage attention focused on the capital ships, Commander Henderson’s Thundercats space fighters were able to drop some heavy space-to-surface bombs, eliminating a number of Rage batteries with each attack. The Rage quickly recognized this threat, and opened up on the fighters with anti-missile lasers and a few phased polaron beams. As the lead element of Jericho flight turned to attack another target, heavy fire rose to meet them. The fighters turned and jinked to avoid the fire as they dropped their ordinance on their targets, but four of the six fighters were destroyed during the attack. Realizing the precarious situation that the fleet was in, Henderson ordered the fighters to press the attack.
The battle between the capital ships and the surface batteries continued. Hit after hit was scored against the Rage batteries, but they were taking a toll on the Remorhaz fleet. RSS Quasar, a Comet Class ground attack frigate, was destroyed as she tried to get close enough to deliver a devastating cargo of space-to-surface bombs. RSS Glory was also destroyed in a duel with battery of Rage guns. Brennan knew that the only option remaining was to get the Space Marines on the ground as soon as possible. If they survived the assault in sufficient numbers, they would be able to overwhelm the Rage batteries quicker than his fleet could destroy them from space.
He activated his com unit and Brigadier General Henry Townsend appeared.
“RJ, I’m glad to see you in one piece. You guys took quite a pounding,” Townsend said.
Brennan grimaced.
“I still don’t know how many we’ve lost, Henry. We’ve got to end this soon, or we’re in serious trouble, and I think your Marines are the best option.”
Townsend nodded.
“I was preparing for that already, RJ. We’ve re-plotted our landing zones, and are prepared to make a hot landing. We’re ready to go when you want us.”
“I’m glad you planned ahead, Henry. Let’s get this going.”
“Aye, aye, Admiral. Well commence our assault run immediately.”
Brennan nodded.
“Good luck, Henry.”
He switched the com unit to address the fleet.
“All units, prepare to support ground operations.”
Once the order was acknowledged, he switched the com unit off. It was up to the Space Marines now.
Aboard RSS Mongoose, the Space Marines of 1st Brigade scrambled into their combat suits as the warning klaxons sounded. Mike Villers, correspondent for the Remorhaz News Network, watched in confusion as the Space Marines donned their equipment. Lance Corporal Jake Renton, Villers’ “handler”, turned to him and frowned.
“Get your suit on, Mike.”
The reporter stared at him in confusion, but did as he was told.
“Why are we suiting up now, Jake? You guys don’t usually suit up until just before the drop, but we aren’t even approaching orbit yet.”
Renton checked to ensure that his oxygen supply was full, and then turned to help the reporter seal up his suit.
“That alarm that you heard a minute ago, remember it? I realize that you haven’t heard it before. It means were are going to have a hot landing.”
Villers struggled with is recording unit. Simple tasks became much more difficult in a heavy space suit.
“What is a hot landing, Jake?”
Jake frowned and grabbed the reporter’s equipment, helping him carry it as they hurried toward the Blazer.
“Usually, the fleet knocks out most of the heavy defenses for us before a drop. There is usually some anti-craft fire, but nothing that would threaten Mongoose. Where there are weapons that can knock us out before the drop, we call that a hot landing.”
The reporter’s eyes widened a bit. “I see,” he said. “So we’re in danger right now?”
Renton smiled. “Yes, you could say that. If the Rage fire on us now, there isn’t a lot we can do about it. That’s why we are suiting up.”
They reached the Blazer, and stood to the side as the troops of 4th platoon quickly stowed their equipment and took their seats. Once this was finished, Jake and Villers entered.
“I don’t understand, Jake,” the reporter said as he fumbled with his seat harness.
Jake snapped Villers’ seat restraints, stowed his equipment, and then his own.
“The mission of this ship is the get us on the ground. If we take fire, and the captain decides that it is in danger of being destroyed, he make every effort to get the Space Marines out of this ship by the most expeditious means possible. That means he will open up all of the bays and launch everything as quickly as he can. If that happens while we are deploying, or the Blazer is open…well, at least with a suit on you have a chance. Make sense?”
He turned to see Villers staring at him with wide eyes. His face was as white as chalk.
Jake nudged him a bit and smiled.
“Don’t worry, Mike. We’re in the Blazer now. Our chances of survival just went up to around fifteen percent.”
The Space Marines around him laughed. Villers didn’t.
Two more Remorhaz ships were destroyed supporting the Space Marines as they made their landing run, RSS Flurry and RSS Olympia. Also, the Last of the Thundercat fighters were destroyed, but not after they destroyed a large number of anti-craft batteries and a number of phased polaron beam batteries.
Finally, the Space Marines landed. The Thundercats and the remaining capital had opened a wide corridor for the Blazers, and they made it to the landing zones with very little damage, with two Blazers suffering minor damage from missile attacks. The four remaining Rage phased polaron beam batteries were quickly neutralized by elements of 2nd battalion. Local defense was sporadic and the rest of the brigade was able to break through with light losses. Mines knocked out two Blazers from 3rd battalion, but they were able to capture their objectives. 1st battalion was tasked with finding and eliminating the Last Primary Sequencer. It was located deep underground in a mountain complex. The Space Marines battled their way inside, taking heavy casualties. The complex was too small for the Blazers to fit inside, so the combat was close and deadly. Finally, they were able to force their way into the heart of the complex, and the Last Rage Primary Sequencer was destroyed by elements of 1st battalion. With that, the Rage would fight no more. The Remorhaz Society had finally defeated the Rage Collective.
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Now now...is that any way to treat a lady?
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