Tipping Point in the Alliance War, page 3
“Aye sir.”
The Captain continues the battle dialog: “Tactical, you may only get one quick shot. Fire at will and make it count.”
“Aye sir. Ships materializing! Four ships emerging - trying to surround us.” exclaims Tactical!
“Warp, Helm!” the Captain says emphatically.
…………… “We made it out, Captain,” declares the Helm Officer. “But just barely. The gravity-well was approaching critical. We almost couldn’t warp out. …………….…. 6 minutes until real-space.”
“We can continue this process as long as we need to,” states Captain Niles. “We get a free shot at one enemy vessel each time, before we enter warp. They can’t fire weapons and their shields aren’t UP, until they have completely emerged into real-space. Even with their new technology, which enables them to follow us in warp, we still have the advantage.
Navigation, in your spare time, feed the Helm some more empty-space coordinates and make sure that you don’t become predictable.”
“Aye sir,” Navigation answers.
“Sir, damage report: The Damage Control Team reports at least 9 personnel were lost to open space, during the hull breach. In addition, there are approximately 30 injured – some seriously. Weapons Systems reports one rail gun and one laser canon out on the port side. Engineering reports no damage but says that we need to take longer warp jumps, because the warp drive is overheating. They recommend jumps at least 15 minutes in duration. Or alternatively, spend more time at the real-space position,” says the Logistics Officer.
The Captain is thinking aloud: “That could be a problem. We know that the Confederation ships have faster warp drives. I wonder if they can catch us in warp-space. That would certainly change space warfare. ……… …… ……. Ask Engineering how long we can continue at the current duty cycle, without damage to the warp drive.” he orders.
“Aye sir,” Logistics, responds.
“Warp exit in 15 seconds,” announces the Helm.
***
Empty Space 4
“Real-space, sir. At the programmed location,” reports the Helm.
“I see fire at the first two locations but nothing at the third,” announces the First Officer. “There may be a fire there, but we may have warped so far that the light hasn’t reached us yet.”
“If they try to surround us again, I might want to charge the closest ship at full speed. Tactical and Helm, be prepared for an assault like that,” the Captain declares.
“If one of them emerges close enough to us, we can destroy the ship as it emerges. Then we can keep on accelerating away from the others, until we can warp out. They won’t have time for rail guns or missiles. They will only have time to hit us with laser cannons, and I believe that our shields will hold against that – even from a number of ships,” the Captain shared.
(He is thinking out loud, but he is also hoping for some correction from the Bridge Crew, in case there is some glaring oversight in his logic.)
“Four emerging vessels. Closer in this time,” announces Tactical.
“Good,” says the Captain. “Helm, full-flank speed past the one emerging off our bow. Pass about 10 klicks off of our starboard side. Engage when ready.”
“Full-Flank Speed engaged, sir.” responds the Helm.
“This may do some damage to their vessel, if we can jerk them out of warp, and it will certainly give us plenty of ‘up-close and personal’ target time. We should be able to slice it in two.” shares the Captain.
Courageous doesn’t quite get to the enemy vessel in time to jerk it out of warp, but the weapons have continuously drilled into one point on the unshielded engineering section. By the time Courageous sweeps past, the breach in the Confederation ship’s hull is sizable. Explosions have begun and continue, until the ship looks like a small nova in Courageous’ rear view monitor.
“Three down and three to go,” announces the Captain, as cheers go up from the Bridge Crew.
“We can keep this up all day,” the Captain observes. “I would expect them to change tactics, again. Anyone have a guess at their next move?”
“……… Helm, engage the warp drive when we are out of their gravity-well.”
…………….. “Warp drive engaged,” announces the Helm Officer.
Lieutenant Basisht, the Chief Scientist, ventures a comment: “They can’t give up and retreat. Retreat is not an option in the Confederation Navy. All of the ship’s crewmembers would be charged with treason and executed.”
“True,” says the Captain. “This is a battle to the death for them. They can’t even let us escape. They have to chase us, no matter what. That knowledge should give us some tactical advantage. …… …… …..….. I wonder if they have the same ‘overheating warp drive’ problem that we have. That might explain why they are taking longer to follow us.”
“We have no information on that subject, sir.” answers the Science Officer. “We know their warp drives are faster and that they can engage warp closer to a gravity-well, but we don’t know if they have an overheating problem.”
“Engineering responded to your question about how long we can continue these warp cycles, without damage to the warp drive, sir,” interjects the Logistics Officer. “Chief Gnu said, “We’re overheated, already. We need to let the warp drive cool.”
“Navigation,” the Captain says. “Plot us a course that will keep us in warp for 20 minutes and pass the coordinates to the Helm. Helm, use the 20 minute flight for our next warp trip. That should give our warp drive time to cool off.”
“Aye, sir,” respond Navigation and Helm.
“Warp exit in 25 seconds,” announces the Helm.
***
Empty Space 5
“’Real-space, sir. At the programmed location,” Helm reports.
There is quiet on the Bridge, as all eyes are on the sensors and view screens.
“Ship exploding out of warp, sir!” Tactical declares. “Apparently, they have the same overheating problem. Two enemy ships emerging on our port side, sir. Range 70,000 klicks. Weapons firing.”
“Engage warp, Helm,” the Captain orders.
……… ……….. “Warp drive is off-line, sir,” says the Helm Officer. “Engineering is responding to the problem.”
“Then turn the starboard side to the enemy, Helm.”
“Aye sir.”
“18 missiles launched – 9 at each vessel.” reports Tactical. “Target #1 locked. Beginning continuous firing of plasma, laser canons and rail guns - targeting the engineering section.”
“Helm, move Courageous so that the #1 target is between us and the second ship,” commands the Captain. “That will shield us from the #2 vessel.”
“Aye sir. Moving.” responds the Helm
“Incoming!” declares the First Officer. “15 missiles en-route. ………….4 remaining. ……………… 1 remaining. ………..… Impact!”
Courageous rocks and tumbles, from the impact of the missile and the subsequent nuclear explosion. Lieutenant Ung had been diligent to turn the ship so that the missile hit the starboard side, where the shields were at 100%, rather than the damaged port side. Even so, the power of the explosion is enough to rip open a 100-foot-long jagged tear, along Courageous’ pristine skin. The view screen shows the release of atmosphere, debris and people, into the void of space. Crew members are wearing their protective space skins and some may be alive, as they are sucked out of the ship. But even if those people are recovered, they will soon die from the radiation exposure. It’s another awful and painful picture etched into the Captain’s memory, and the horrific scene causes a rush of nausea, in the Captain’s stomach - such is the horror of war.
Even as the Courageous struggles to right herself, Tactical Officer Mutreno continues to assault the closest enemy vessel, with every weapon available. The enemy ship had received some damage while it was emerging from warp. Now the concentrated firepower to the engineering section is taking an increasing toll. The shields in that section are weakening. The Confederation Captain begins to rotate his vessel, so that the energy isn’t all in one spot, but it is too late. The enemy ship begins to belch fire from the engineering section, and explosions are spreading to other parts of the ship. The enemy vessel continues to fire its weapons, as it burns and explodes, but most of the fight has gone out of it.
For the Alliance vessel, the option of ‘warping out’ is gone, and the last Confederation ship is moving closer, as it senses a ‘kill’.
“Logistics, get me damage reports. Start with Engineering, Weapons and Life Support. ………….. Major Dawkins!” the Captain exclaims, as he presses the Marine commander’s comm Button.
“Yes sir,” is the immediate response.
“Are your Marines able to launch your landing craft and board the enemy vessel the way you did in the simulations?”
“Yes sir,” is the immediate response. “Can you roll the ship around, to hide our exit and are you able to give a ‘cover fire’?”
The conversation was audible to the entire Bridge Crew. The Helm and Tactical officers both signal “Aye”.
“That is affirmative, Major,” the Captain reports. “The ship is rotating, as we speak, and we will try to keep the burning ship between us and the remaining enemy vessel, so that your approach will be hidden. Load up and call me when you are ready to launch. God speed, to you and your men.”
“And to the Courageous, sir. Dawkins out.”
“Damage reports, sir.” announces the Logistics Officer:
- “Engineering reports warp drive offline and under repair. Main thruster on the starboard side is down and needs to be replaced. Starboard docking-thrusters are still functional. Significant damage to the Engineering section - a fire is under control. Three seriously injured in the attack, including Chief Engineer Gnu.
- Weapons reports 2 rail gun positions, 1 plasma canon and 3 laser canons damaged or destroyed on the starboard side. One rail gun and one laser canon out on the port side. 2 plasma canons out above and 1 rail position out below. Missile launchers 5 thru 17 are offline, with extensive damage to three of them. Repair under way on the others.
- Life Support is online, and all hull breaches have been sealed. Emergency crews are fighting fires on all decks. None of the fires is a threat to the ship, at this time.
- Over 70 crewmembers dead, or missing in action. Extensive damage to living quarters, and to the Medical Section. Auxiliary Medical teams have been dispatched to render assistance.”
“Chief Scientist Basisht, report to Engineering and provide support, as needed,” orders the Captain. “Helm, tell me when the ship has rotated enough to hide the Marines as they disembark. Tactical, tell me when your ‘cover fire’ is ready.”
All respond with “Aye sir.”
Captain Niles’s begins to feel another ‘nausea surge’ at the news of the damage to the Medical Section. Every crewmember matters to the Captain, but the thought of losing Mei Kei is affecting him on a visceral level. It feels like someone has grabbed his heart with their hand, and they are squeezing. The Captain manages to push that problem to a separate mental compartment - for future consideration - and returns to the fight for the ship’s existence.
“Rotation complete for Marine disembark,” reports Helm.
“’Cover fire’ programmed and ready, sir,” declares the First Officer.
“Ready to go on your ‘mark’, Major.” says Captain Niles, through the ship’s comm. “Exit the ship when ready, and get your launches in position for a straight shot at the burning enemy ship. Tell me when you are ready. At that time, we will begin the ‘cover fire’ distraction. After you reach the burning vessel, you may be able to approach the target vessel by pretending to be lifeboats from the burning ship.”
“On our way.” says the Major, as she pilots her launch through the hangar door.
***
Boarding Party
There are a total of 7 Marine launches with 10 Marines in each launch. Each Marine is in Space Armor and carries heavy weapons, including explosives.
This plan calls for each launch to reach the enemy vessel unnoticed, under a ‘cover fire’. It is also hoped that the shields on the Confederation ship will not identify the launches as a threat - they are approaching at normal ‘life boat’ speed, rather than at weapons speed.
According to plan, each launch will attach itself to the enemy vessel’s hull, or if they are lucky the enemy vessel may have the hangar doors open, while they receive lifeboats from their burning comrade. After they attach, the launches will burn access holes through the lightly armored Confederation hull, using tritium fusion technology.
Once the hull has been breached, or entry through the hangar door is accomplished, the vessel will be boarded by the Alliance Marines. There are 7 teams. Even if just one team boards the enemy vessel, the entire ship will be in danger of being destroyed or captured. 10 heavily armed Marines in Space Armor will be formidable. 70 Marines in Space Armor will overwhelm the enemy vessel within minutes.
The first operational goal is to disable the Confederation ship, and thereby eliminate the threat to the Courageous. The second goal is to capture the enemy vessel, with surviving crew members, and return it to Alliance space so that the advanced technologies can be reverse engineered.
If the first two goals cannot be accomplished, the third goal is to self-destruct some of the Marine launches, in order to destroy the enemy ship. According to plan, most Marines will be extracted before the detonations, but survival is still possible for any Marines who remain on the Confederation vessel, when the launches self-destruct. Their Space Armor will protect them - to some degree - from the explosions, and they carry enough ‘epitomized oxygen’ to last for 24 hours. The survivors will float in space and wait for the Courageous to pick them up.
***
“Launches are positioned,” announces Major Dawkins. “Fire when ready.”
The ‘cover fire’ has been programmed into the computer, and resembles an enormous 4th of July fireworks display combined with a weapons assault. Explosions from rockets, flares and plasma canons light up local space. The weapons fire is directed primarily at the damaged ship, but there is also some plasma canon fire directed at the healthy ship, which is partially hidden from view.
***
(Plasma is one of the four fundamental states of matter. The other three fundamental states are solid, liquid, and gas. Plasma is created when a gas is heated and the molecules in the gas ionize – meaning that the particles have a negative or positive charge. The Plasma Canons impel beams of actuated plasma gases, which ignite on contact, and subsequently radiate incredible amounts of heat into the targeted object.
As the plasma assault begins, the unshielded hull of the burning ship lights up from the heat, and produces a cloud of luminous radiation, which emanates perpendicularly to the plasma beam. The cloud seems to morph, flow, and spread, in a way that is similar to the Northern Lights, on planet Earth - except with a blinding white light. The associated electromagnetic interference renders useless any sensors or piece of electronics in the vicinity. The sensors will remain useless for the duration of the ‘cloud’.)
***
The Marine launches take a straight path, until they reach the burning wreckage. Then Major Dawkins leads her assault launches around the burning ship and takes a slow circuitous route toward the target vessel, hiding so that the enemy sailors won’t see them as they approach the open hangar bay.
The ruse works. None of the launches is fired upon. Major Dawkins is in the lead and makes a dash for the open hangar door, while the other launches head for their assigned entry points.
***
There is a tense 16 minute wait on the Courageous Bridge, before they receive news from the Marines.
“The Marines have landed,” announces Major Dawkins, over the comm system. “Two launches entered through the open hangar doors, and 5 launches are attached to the hull. Mission proceeding. Dawkins out.”
The Bridge Crew on the Courageous erupts in cheering and celebration. The Captain, who is cheering as well, quickly regains his composure and chastens the Bridge Crew. “It’s not ‘game over,’ yet,” he says. “Return to your stations, and concentrate on finishing this battle - with as little loss of life, as possible.”
The crew is appropriately contrite and murmur “Aye sir” comments, as they resume their duties.
***
The Brutus
There is another kind of celebration going on aboard the Confederation ship Brutus. The Alliance Space Marines have, at last, been unleashed with instructions to kill and maim – the two things that they do best.
The two Marine launches, which landed on the hangar deck of the Brutus, arrived as a complete surprise to the Confederation crew. That surprise quickly turned to dismay and panic. No one has used boarding parties, in space battles, for hundreds of years. There is no armed resistance to stand in the way of the Marines.
Major Dawkins is on the first launch to hit the deck of the Brutus, and immediately realizes that there will be little - or no - opposition to their onslaught. As the 20 Marines exit the two launches and quickly take control of the area, Major Dawkins orders the other launches to abort their ‘hull breach entry’, and to follow the Major onto the hangar deck.
The first operational goal for the mission is to disable the enemy ship. That goal is clearly in sight. Nothing can stop the Marine invasion.
The second operational goal is to capture the ship and its crew, so that the advanced technologies on the vessel can be reverse engineered for use on Alliance Navy vessels. That goal is clearly possible. The only obstacle is the certainty that the Brutus’ officers will self-destruct the ship, when they realize that there is no hope of controlling the boarders.
It is a race for the life of the Brutus, the Brutus’ crew, and the lives of all the Alliance Navy Marines who are part of the assault team. Major Dawkins reminds her Marines of the importance of their mission and tells them that it is ‘do or die’ time.
