Three Square Meals Ch. 100

Calara muted the interface, then glanced at the Tactical Map, noting that Admiral Dacres' fleet were half-way towards the Sol System. Selecting a course for him that would bring his forces in against the flank of the advancing Kintark armada, she transmitted those orders to his ship, the Nereus. A couple of seconds later, there was a chime from the interface as the order was acknowledged.

*Alyssa, can you ask Lilyana to provide covering fire for the retreating Terran fleets and use her Beam Lasers to destroy the lead elements of the Kintark forces,* Calara requested, studying the golden Maliri ships. *I want to keep the Kintark wary and cautious. Also tell her to hold off Nova Lance fire with her battleships until I give the signal.*

*Sure, passing that on!* her girlfriend replied.

Calara turned to look at Faye and said, "I'll handle the primary guns when we first engage the Kintark, then I'll hand over full control of the Invictus' weapons to you. I'm going to be too busy issuing fleet commands to concentrate on gunnery."

Faye looked shocked for a moment, then she nodded. "Of course, I'll do my best!"

Facing her green-skinned pilot next, the Latina said, "Jade, I want you to take us straight through the Kintark lines. We need to get close enough to the Hera for Irillith to work her magic."

The Nymph hesitated, her eyes locked on the Odin's Thunderbolt, watching as just over a dozen Claymores fought desperately to keep bombers away from the retreating dreadnought. "No... I'm going after Weber, he's on that ship."

Calara looked at her in shock. "What do you mean you're going after him?!"

Jade's expression grew bleak as she replied, "Now Buckingham's dead, our best shot at tracking Jehanna and the Nymphs is capturing Weber."

Calara had an anguished look on her face. "I can't save everyone, Jade! Clawing back a victory from this disaster is going to be hard enough as it is; good men will have to die to keep Weber alive... We can scour the Sol System for that base immediately after the battle!"

The Nymph slowly shook her head, a determined gleam in her eyes. "We can't let Weber get killed... Whoever's holding the Nymphs and Jehanna might kill them to tie up loose ends." Rising from her chair, she looked at the purple sprite who was listening to this exchange with a worried frown on her elfin face. "Faye, can you pilot the Invictus?"

"Of course, but I'm nowhere near as good as you," she replied, big eyes growing even wider. "Why? Where are you going?!"

"The stealth shuttle," the Nymph replied, breaking into a sprint and running up the ramp from the Combat Bridge towards the grav-tubes.

Calara turned around and watched Jade running away in shock. "Wait, come back!"

Jade paused and shook her head, her expression filled with regret. "I'm sorry to let you down, but I have to do this. I failed my sisters before, I can't fail them again..."

*Jade, what are you doing?* Alyssa asked, her voice filled with concern and sympathy.

*We need to flush out that rat and make him bolt for his nest,* the Nymph replied, darting into the express grav-tube. *I'll need Calara's help...*

***

Iridescent armoured plating slid aside on the unblemished green hull of the battleship Ralarn'tok, revealing a score of missile launch tubes. In a billowing blast those missiles streaked out, arcing across space towards their target. All across the port flank of the battleship Orion, Gatling Lasers whirred furiously as they spat laser bolts at the incoming missiles, the gunners desperate to take down those deadly warheads. One after the other the missiles were shredded by the frantic defence grid, but there were too many to intercept them all...

The Orion rocked to starboard as it was struck by several plasma missiles, deep craters blasted in the Terran battleship's armour by the initial detonation. The impact sites were then doused in superheated plasma, the insidious green substance melting through titanium plating and superstructure alike.

Chief Engineer Nguyen whirled around in his seat as alarms blared across the Bridge. "Sir, we just lost our Port Power Regulator!"

Commodore Ken Papados darted an anxious glance at the splash of red on the Orion's Damage Control display, all of it centred on the port flank. "Maintain full reverse thrust, adjust course 45 degrees to starboard."

His Executive Officer, Commander Valentina Kowalski, brushed her blonde hair away from her eyes and gave him a worried frown. "Ken, we've got two Kintark battleships advancing on our starboard flank. Are you sure that's wise?"

Papados grimaced as he stared at the Tactical Map. This battle had been one long series of disasters, starting with Admiral Ramos' battleship getting taken out of commission at the outset. "We've got no choice, Val. We can't take more hits on the port flank; we're getting skinned by the Ralarn'tok!"

"Oh shit!" their helmsman cursed, Lieutenant Prieto turning to point a shaky finger at the Tactical Map. "Sir! The other two battleships are launching missiles!"

At the same time, six Kintark cruisers were spraying the Orion's bow in plasma bolts, their Plasma Cannons glowing white hot as they maintained their barrage. As well as leaving the front of the battleship pocked and pitted with incendiary plasma, their frenzied shots took out numerous retro-thrusters, slowing the Orion's retreat.

"Down to 74% thrust," Nguyen warned, looking fearfully at the damage control status.

A score of Kintark fighters were performing strafing runs on the Orion, while two squadrons of destroyers had swept closer, pouring more fire into the wounded capital ship. It was as if they had all sensed the battleship's weakness and were eager to join in the kill. Papados shot his XO a look filled with anguish and his heart sank when he saw that same realisation in her lovely hazel eyes. With his final moments upon him, his only regret was that he hadn't made an honest woman of her.

That was when all hell seemed to break loose around them...

The Tactical Map was suddenly ablaze with colour and an incandescent column of energy slammed into the two Kintark battleships on the starboard flank, filleting the pair from prow to stern. The Ralarn'tok was pounded by a dozen pulsed beams, going from fully shielded to exposed and vulnerable in a split second. Before Papados even had time to blink, the Ralarn'tok was smashed backwards by the force of some unknown impact, lurid explosions blowing apart armour plating amidships. Those explosions continued for the next three seconds, as if someone was gouging a huge pit in the side of that Kintark battleship, until a Power-Core breach finally ripped it asunder.

More of those dazzling blue beams scythed through the six Kintark cruisers, melting glowing trenches through them and literally cutting each of them in half. Finally, a blue globe appeared to shroud the Orion in a protective embrace and just... obliterated... everything Kintark in a broad sphere around the battleship. Missiles exploded, fighters were shredded, and the destroyers turned into Swiss cheese by that unending hail of laser bolts.

By the time the terrifying azure firestorm had abated, there were no Kintark vessels left intact in any direction out to Beam Laser range.

"What the fuck?!" Nguyen blurted out, staring at the smouldering wrecks surrounding the Orion in disbelief.

"Incoming hail," Commander Kowalski murmured, clearly just as stunned as their Chief Engineer. "It's from the Invictus!"

A beautiful olive-skinned girl appeared on the holo-screen and the Bridge crew all instantly recognised her lovely face. "Good morning, Commodore! Would you please tell my big brother I said hello."

Papados managed to gather his wits enough to give her a grateful smile. "Of course, Commander Fernandez. And... thank you."

She winked at him then ended the call and his eyes darted to the Tactical Map to search for the Invictus. Sure enough, the Lion's ship roared past them, travelling at some ungodly speed. The white battlecruiser then plunged deep into the Kintark lines, leaving unparalleled levels of destruction in its wake.

He laughed and shook his head. "Eduardo's never going to have to pay for a drink again!"

Valentina reached out to squeeze his hand and gave him a knowing look. "We need to talk after the battle," she whispered, with a gentle smile.

***

Prelate Khardas chortled with glee as the green-plated dreadnought remorselessly pounded the Terran battleships with Singularity Driver rounds. The Crios had been attempting to retreat, retro-thrusters on full burn as it pulled back from the Kintark forces. It shuddered with each pounding impact, large chunks of the prow breaking away from the battleship's superstructure as the Hera systematically tore it to pieces.

"That'sss the fifth one today isssn't it?" he asked his hulking lizard companion.

Vorgrax nodded his blunt snout, the Royal Guard's lip curling back to reveal rows of very sharp teeth. "The Terran forcesss are on the verge of a complete rout. This ssshall be a gloriousss victory for the Kintark Empire."

Khardas watched the Crios buckling under the pulverising force of those mighty detonations, eagerly awaiting the final killing blow... but the steady stream of rounds came to an abrupt halt. Glancing at Vorgrax in surprise, he could see that the big lizard was as confused by the pause in destruction as he was. It seemed highly unlikely that Grand Prelate Melkadian would decide to spare the despicable Terran vermin.

Turning back to the Tactical Map to study the dreadnought to see if there was a problem, Khardas froze in shock as the Hera opened fire with its extensive Plasma Cannon batteries... on its own escorts! The cruiser flanking him was lashed by plasma bolts and even the Zekran'tor's new shields were unable to withstand the kind of punishment the dreadnought was dishing out at point-blank range. It took only two seconds for the shields to flicker out and the plasma bolts began striking the glistening green armour, blasting big chunks out of the hull. Khardas' mouth fell open in horror as the Zekran'tor exploded in a bright red and green ball, the cruiser totally destroyed.

Seeing that cruiser blown to pieces by a supposedly friendly ship sent a shiver of fear down his spine. He'd seen exactly the same thing happen before... in the Mar'Katrach Nebula.

"By Malganth the Betrayer, it'sss happening again!" he gasped, reeling from those dreadful memories.

He could still remember the terrified look on Padaar's face, the Prelate powerless to prevent his ship from attacking his allies. Padaar had claimed that his ship had been hacked, which meant that the Invictus had to be close by! Whirling around, Khardas searched frantically for the terrifying white Terran cruiser that had ambushed them in the nebula and torn his fleet apart. His blood ran cold when he spotted it, the Invictus looking even larger and more menacing than he remembered as it hurtled towards them.

The Jernak'tor trembled violently and Khardas gaped at the map in fear when he realised that the Hera had turned its formidable starboard batteries on him. Grabbing the Command Platform's balcony he leaned over the Bridge Pit and roared, "Order all ssshipsss in the essscort fleet to open fire on that-"

Prelate Khardas didn't get to finish that sentence as a brutal explosion rocked the Jernak'tor, hurling him over the balcony, his arms flailing as he fell.

***

"By the Godsss, No!" Melkadian cried out in anguish, watching aghast as his dreadnought eviscerated the escorting cruisers. Prelate Khardas had been like a son to him, and that evil witch had just gunned him down like he was a worthless bug!

"Oh yes, Melkadian," Irillith replied, a wicked smile on her holographic face as she loomed over the Bridge. "Don't worry, we're just getting started!"

The Grand Prelate gaped at her in shock. "How did you hack the Hera?! The Emperor told me it was impossible... we were promised!"

"Whoever told him that lied," the Maliri hacker said with a contemptuous smirk.

Admiral Norwood rolled over on the floor and choked out a laugh. "How does it feel to be betrayed, Melkadian?"

Melkadian shook his head, unwilling to believe the Emperor could be deceived. "No... it can't be!"

Irillith turned her pitiless angular eyes on the wounded traitor. "Hacking the Hera was easy; almost as easy as taking over the Thor's Hammer. The look on Lynton's face when I shut her down and ruined all her plans was hilarious. I wonder if she looked just as dumbfounded when the Progenitor she whored herself to blew her away..."

"You fucking bitch!" Norwood snarled, grief and rage overcoming his pain. "I'll kill you!"

She seemed to grab hold of the corners of the holo-screen, then peeled herself away, her glowing violet form landing lightly on the deck. Melkadian panicked and fired at her with his Enshunu pistol, but his wild shots passed harmlessly through her incorporeal body and ricocheted off a console behind the spectral Maliri. Irillith pointed at him with a menacing smile, and lightning shot from her hand to hit him in the chest, making him convulse and scream with pain. He collapsed on the floor, the melted pistol falling from his limp and scorched fingers, as he writhed and jerked uncontrollably.

Irillith continued her advance on Norwood, electricity dancing over her fingertips, a look of dreadful anticipation in her eyes. Norwood cowered backwards, trying to drag himself away from her and leaving a trail of blood behind on the deck. She reached for his terrified face and stopped only inches away, little blue sparks arcing between her fingers.

"You, Melkadian, and Lynton all have a lot in common," Irillith said, the smile on her beautiful face not reaching her eyes. "You're all fools who were deceived and manipulated by John's Progenitor adversary. However, you're also the worst kind of scum... traitors and mass murderers, so you deserve to see your dreams destroyed before you die."

As Norwood quailed before her, Irillith's mocking laughter echoed around the Hera's Bridge, but none of the bridge crew found the situation quite so funny. That might have been because they were now smoking corpses lying slumped over their stations, Irillith having ruthlessly electrocuted every last one of the treacherous Terran crew and their Kintark overseers...

***

Admiral Weber watched the frantic dogfight unfolding before him, scarcely believing that only a dozen Claymores were all that stood between his dreadnought and flights of torpedo carrying bombers. While the rest of his battle group were trying to fight a delaying action against the Praetorian fleet, he had been desperately trying to pull back out of the firing line. Unfortunately, the Kintark Bomber command must have been hunting for big game, because every one of the bombers had been directed towards the Odin's Thunderbolt.

Although the Claymores were heavily outnumbered, they were managing to more than hold their own, racking up an impressive tally of destroyed bombers. Their skill and bravery would normally be highly commendable, but they'd all refused to fire on the lioness in that Raptor. Weber was determined to see them all court-martialled for refusing a direct order and couldn't wait to see their smug looks wiped from their faces.

Feeling reassured that the bombers were being held firmly at bay, Weber considered rejoining the main Terran fleets, where he'd be able to safely snipe at vulnerable Kintark battleships with the Odin's Singularity Drivers. It was clearly the best way he could support the battle with his dreadnought, and had nothing to do with hiding behind the lines, well out of range of the Kintark Plasma Cannons.

The bedraggled wings of Claymores suddenly made an abrupt course change, and to Weber's shock, they all rushed away towards the primary battle line. Stabbing a finger on the Tactical interface, he contacted the fighters, desperate to know what they were playing at.

"Get back here!" he snapped at their commanding officer, watching wings of bombers approaching unopposed. "I order you and your men to attack those bombers!"

A moustachioed pilot with "Gator" written on his helmet slowly shook his head. "No can do, Admiral. My apologies, but we've been ordered to intercept bombers heading towards Admiral Malone's battle group."

"I've got seniority on Connor Malone!" Weber snarled, pointing furiously at the bombers. "Turn those Claymores around and protect the Odin!"

Calara's holographic image on the battle group interface turned to look at him. "Captain Lewis is following my orders, Admiral. His squadron will be more valuable fighting elsewhere."

Gator's piercing eyes hardened a little as he winked at Weber and gave him a half-hearted salute. "Good luck, Admiral..."

"You can't do this!" Weber blustered, feeling tendrils of icy fear digging into his heart.

The battle group interface flickered and shut down as Admiral Weber was abruptly ejected from the command network. The only image remaining before him was Calara's beautiful face, and her cold-eyed stare intensified his feeling of dread.

"We know what you've done, Carl..." she said quietly, the damnation in her tone quite clear. "Jehanna, the Nymphs, all of it..."

He froze, shaking his head in mute denial. "W-what? I d-didn't..."

Calara leaned forward, her voice dropping a few octaves. "When we're finished here, John's going to hunt you down and make you pay." She looked at him with pity. "I almost feel sorry for you... You better run and find a good place to hide."

Weber rose shakily from his chair, feeling a rising surge of panic threatening to overwhelm him. He looked around the Bridge and saw a mixture of fear and anger in all the stares directed at him, which did nothing to help calm him down. Darting a frightened glance back at the Tactical Map, he could see the approaching waves of bombers bearing down on the Odin and knew the dreadnought was doomed. His courage finally gave out and he rushed down the illuminated steps from the Command Podium, then bolted from the Bridge, running for the shuttle bay.

"Admiral!" his XO called after him, stunned that his commanding officer would just flee from his post like that.

Unbeknownst to Weber, as soon as he fled from the Bridge, Captain Lewis' Claymore squadron banked around, then barrelled towards the lead bomber wings at maximum speed.

"Thanks for playing your part in that bit of subterfuge, Captain," Calara said to him, a grateful smile on her face. "Hold on for as long as you can, help is on its way!"

***

Plasma bolts rained down on Unity City like one of the biblical plagues, the fiery green hail spreading the widespread devastation to the suburbs. It was quite clear to Sakura that the Praetorian battleship fleet was intent on wiping the Terran capital from the face of the planet. Her Valkyrie raced closer, getting into Pulse Cannon range of the waves of Kintark fighters that were supposed to be providing cover to those capital ships. The mech's two shoulder mounted turrets opened fire, hammering the opposing ships with blue laser bolts and scything through one ship after another.

The Kintark heavy fighters were out of range to fire back, so they rushed forward at maximum speed to intercept her. Dogfighting with strike craft was not her primary mission, so Sakura swept straight past them, letting her automated turrets cause more mayhem on her way. She was travelling at over four times their maximum speed, which meant that the fighters had absolutely no chance of catching up once she weaved through their ranks.

Each of the twelve Kintark battleships sported a comprehensive defence grid of rapid-firing Heavy Plasma Guns, which posed a deadly threat to attacking strike craft. However, the Valkyrie had been upgraded with the best in Trankaran thrusters, making it almost impossible for the Kintark gunners to hit the nimble mech as it dodged and weaved across space. With no other targets to fire at, every battleship in range opened fire on Sakura, creating an impossibly dense thicket of plasma bolts for her to traverse.