Warrior One - Fleet Action Pt. 06

Copyright © 2015 - 2019 - This is an original work by Zeb Carter and is protected under copyright by U.S. copyright law. It is only submitted at Literotica.Com and any submission to any other site has not been authorized by the Author. This is a work of fiction. Names, places, characters, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, organizations, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

Author's Note: Just a note to those who care or are looking for sex in a Sci-Fi setting. There is no sex in this story as told. No tentacle sex or normal human sex. Sorry, that's the way these things go. Have fun. This is one of the short parts, only 12,000 or so words long. You might want to read the other parts first.

Chapter 106

For three days, wave after wave of Gar ships came. Then what was left of their dreadnaughts moved into the system. Three around Rigel VI and three around Rigel V. All of them dwarfed all ships around them. Plasma bolts of enormous power lashed out from the huge ships. Five Warrior class ships moved in on the Gar dreadnaughts, shields glowing from the bolts of plasma.

All five Federation ships fired at the same time. Four massive plasma streams from each ship. Hundreds of torpedo tracks flashed toward the first Gar dreadnought. Its shields held for an instant. Then it imploded, along its surface, gaping holes left where structure once stood. The monster ship was being eaten by an invisible beast. Plasma bolts cut and seared the structure still there.

Then it was gone, debris littered the airless space that was once a giant ship of destruction. The five Warrior class ships now turned their attention to the next huge ship around Rigel V. Yellow and blue plasma bolts flashed between the smaller ships to lick the shields of the larger ship. Torpedoes left over from the first ship were redirected to the next. Holes appeared in the hull of the craft now before the Federation ships. Plasma bolt after plasma bolt lashed out from the huge Gar ship. Each ship struck, shook off the force of the bolts and moved toward the Gar dreadnaught.

Then the second Gar ship was disappearing as if some monster was eating it from the inside out. The huge ship went dark and still, the monster ate. Then there was no more ship. The five ships of the Federation moved toward the next Gar giant. The single remaining dreadnaught disappeared into hyperspace. Their smaller brothers still able, joined them.

As the five Federation ships turned toward Rigel VI, the three Gar dreadnaughts jumped into hyperspace. Within minutes the Rigel system was clear of Gar ships. Well, it was clear of those Gar that could jump into hyperspace. There were still plenty of ships that could fight and maneuver to be dealt with.

Sensor tracks showed the Gar ships speeding toward the galactic center just as fast as they could. Once again, it looked as if the Gar were abandoning Rigel. Only time would tell. Then all the Warrior class ships jumped into hyperspace. They were quickly followed by the four battleships. The rest of the Federation ships were told to hold. The nine big ships were on their way to Earth. The Gar had yet to reach Homeworld and Admiral Nichols was on his way to help.

"Did you tell Ezra to go?" Lonan Fitzgerald asked Milford Cook.

"No. No, I didn't. Unfortunately," Milford replied.

"Well, we'll have to see how things play out then."

"We will. He'll either be promoted or demoted. But I would still keep him in command of Warrior One."

"Yes. Yes, he should be in command of that ship. Yet it might not be up to us," Lonan said with a sigh.

"Truth."

Ezra's ad hoc battle group popped out of hyperspace four days later and minutes before the Gar appeared en masse. No drawn out battle plan this time. They were hitting Earth with everything they had. Ezra's battle group turned to face where the Gar would come out of hyperspace. The home fleets were behind them.

"Comms, Admiral Tóla Shanna wants to know what the hell you are doing, sir."

"No time, they are here. All Warrior ships, attack with me," Ezra said.

"Our ships are responding, the other three are not," Candle said softly.

"Thank you Candle, I didn't think they would. Weapons concentrate on that first dreadnought, just like we did in Rigel."

"Aye, aye sir."

"Helm, ahead dead slow."

"Helm, aye."

Silence filled the bridge. Then the clunk of torpedoes leaving their tubes filled the air. A short time later the buzz of the four, five terawatt plasma cannon started. The first dreadnaught started to bubble as torpedoes snapped out of hyperspace inside them. It never had a chance. The smaller Gar ships were firing furiously at the five ships before them. The Warrior class ships shook with the impact against their shields.

"Fire on the second dreadnaught in line," Ezra said calmly.

"Weapons, aye."

All fire shifted to the second large ship. It too started to bubble and collapse in upon itself. Soon, it was all gone. Gar ships began to disappear all across the front line. Torpedo tracks were now coming from behind Warrior One headed to the cluster of Gar ships.

"They're starting to run sir," Ensign Carlson yelled. "Yikes."

Some thirty destroyers flashed past Warrior One, giving chase to the Gar. They dropped into hyperspace just behind them. Ezra shook his head.

"Navigation?"

"Course laid in," Eric replied immediately.

"Jump," Ezra called out.

Warrior was in hyperspace, accelerating at maximum thrust. Sensors could see the Gar ships ahead, closely followed by the destroyers. Torpedoes were giving chase also. A large group swarmed by Warrior on their way to the Gar ships to which they had been assigned.

"I always wondered if we could fight in hyperspace?" Ezra said more to himself.

"I could have told you that," Candle said in answer to his question.

"Really?"

"Yes. Hyperspace has no effect on the objects passing through it. So the hypothesis is that yes you could do battle in hyperspace."

"I see. And we will see in a few minutes."

The torpedo tracks started to merge with Gar ships. Explosions filled the sensors. Warrior One was suddenly back in normal space.

"What the hell?" Ezra cried out.

"Explosions collapsed our hyperspace bubble. Gar ships are in normal space, dead ahead," Candle called out.

Chapter 107

Fire from the Gar ships continued as Warrior One and its companions continued to fire at them. The destroyers were zipping in and out of the cluster of ships like fighters. Gar ships were imploding all across space. Then the Gar were all back in hyperspace, running at high speed. None of the Federation ships followed.

"Helm, back to Rigel. Comms alert the other eight ships."

"Helm, aye."

"Comms, aye."

"All ships responding."

"Jump," Ezra called out and the ship was in hyperspace.

"You can probably expect... "

"I know. Thank you, Candle."

"Yes, sir."

Caster floated in the darkness of space her sensors reaching out, searching, for enemy ships. Gillian strained to see, what wasn't really there, Gar ships. Seeker she could see, three thousand light years farther down the spiral arm. Both Seeker and Caster could see the fleeing Gar from their encounter with Admiral Nichols around Homeworld. They were plain to see. But Gillian knew there was something else out there.

Nolan Tóla had that same feeling. He sat there wondering if Gillian was rubbing off on him. Shaking his head he stared at the sensor screen in front of him. Slowly, blips started to show some twenty-five thousand light years from his position. Right there at the edge of his sensors range. The blips he saw, were unlike any he had seen before.

Bridget Carlin, Captain of Finder, watched as her sensor screen started to fill with blips. The computer chewed on the information it now had. After a while, it gave Bridget course and speed of the blips on the screen. They would be here rather quickly. Twenty days. Their speed was incredible. Bridget typed on her keyboard, her partner Cassidy watching. The comm unit hummed for a split second then was quiet again. The message had been sent.

"More? More ship are coming?" Lonan Fitzgerald shouted.

"Yes, sir. Twenty days from now, they will arrive here at Rigel," Bridget Brogan told him.

"Good thing Ezra did come back here. And these ships are of what type?"

"Still too far away to tell sir."

"Well then. Alert the Fleets. Pass the word."

"Yes, sir."

Ezra sat at his desk in his ready room. The communiqué from Admiral Fitzgerald was in front of him. An unknown number of Gar ships were now on the way to Rigel. Intent unknown, but must be assumed to be hostile. They had twenty days. Twenty days to get the fleets ready. To make repairs, to rearm, to rest, if possible.

"Sir," Candle said sticking his head around the partially open door.

"Come in. It would seem there is no rest for us. More Gar on the way."

"So I hear," Candle quipped.

"We don't know the size of the fleet yet or the makeup, although one of the scouts speculated that they are larger than frigates and smaller than dreadnaughts."

"Comforting."

"Candle?"

"Sorry, sir."

"Do you need to shut down for a while?"

"No, sir."

"Well if you do, go ahead, just make sure you're awake when the Gar get here."

"Of course sir. Any word about you going off the reservation... so to speak?"

"No, not yet. They may never say anything as things worked out."

"Did they?"

"How do you mean?"

"There are more Gar on the way. And I just received word that the fleeing Gar are slowing down and changing course."

"How... "

"I can hear the comm traffic."

"Ah, of course."

"Sensors, update on all Gar ships," Bridget said.

"The Gar fleet leaving Earth has turned and is now headed our way. They will arrive in six days. The other fleet has slowed. They will arrive here two days after the first fleet."

"Well, there you have it, Admiral. It looks like we are in for another battle or two," Bridget said to Admiral Fitzgerald.

"Any word on the type of vessels in that second fleet?"

"Sensors?"

"Not really sir... although they are showing as bigger than the frigates we are used to seeing."

"Thank you Sensors. Well, it looks like we will be dealing with a new class of ship."

"It does," Lonan said, "I just hope we can handle them."

"There is that," Bridget responded absently.

"Indeed," Lonan said flatly.

Chapter 108

The conference room aboard the Donegal was now crowded. Filled to capacity with Admirals and ships Captains for a final briefing before the Gar arrived. Admiral Fitzgerald was once again leading the Armada of ships. The Saxon's had agreed to follow his order of battle.

"This will be the only time we all meet face to face. After this meeting, all conferences will be via holo-cube. We will provide the apparatuses to each Saxon ship, just as we did the K'lar.

"On to the plan of battle. Our strategists have finished the plan. You each have been given a dataset with that plan outline. There are four scenarios in the plan. First, the frigate class ships attack alone. Two, the dreadnaught ships attacked on their own. Three, all ships attack. And finally four, they come in waves."

"What's the line?" Ezra asked.

"Wait until after this briefing for that," Lonan said hastily, chuckling as he did.

"Yes sir," Ezra replied. "Sorry, sir."

"Now... I think they will all come at the same time. We'll have about eight hundred Gar ships in-system at the same time. I have asked our tacticians to plan for that one happening first. The plan doesn't distinguish if the dreadnaughts come in front of the frigates or behind them, all Warrior class ships will be the first they encounter, supported by the battleships. Destroyers, K'lar and Saxon frigates and our fighters will cut in from the side, so watch your plasma fire. All the battlecruisers will be kept in reserve. The command battleships will be up front with the big ships.

"If the Gar big ships come first, Admiral Nichols will call the shots on which will come under our fire first. So keep an ear open. That's mainly for the Warrior class ships. Torpedoes, keep the allocation to the Gar frigates to five each. All others target the big ships. The Glaistig will coordinate the torpedo fire. Have your comms pay attention.

"Of course all this may change once battle is joined. Ezra and Dana have the tactical plan. Ezra is in command of our large ships. Dana has the battlecruisers and cruisers. I have given command of the destroyers to Commander Áinle Ó Daire. Fighter coordination will be commanded by Captain Fina Dugan of the Pech. The three carriers will be just behind the battleships. Five destroyers for each carrier as close-in protection.

"The supply ships and the Donegal will be in orbit of Rigel V, while we meet the enemy out by the orbit of Rigel IV. Ground troops will remain on the ground just in case. The Chicago is still in-system with hospital and repair facilities onboard. Hopefully, this battle will not last long, but you can never tell.

"The K'lar and Saxon fleets will have free rein once battle is joined. High Admiral M'mal will command the K'lar fleets while Fleet Captain Barclay will command the Saxon Fleet.

"Now, are there any questions?"

The fleet was deployed. Everyone was rested and ready. All stations were manned. Weapons were tight. Ezra watched as the Gar ships came. When they all dropped out of hyperspace at the same time, he knew he had won the pool. Over eight hundred ships now sped toward the mixed Armada. He could feel the vibrations as torpedoes left the tubes. Hundreds of torpedoes flashed from Warrior One in seconds, only to disappear into hyperspace.

Then the battle was joined. The Gar ships fired first. Plasma bolts leaped from their ships to paint the shields of the ships of the Armada. Plasma bolts from the Armada answered them, flashing across the distance instantly. Warrior One shook as the powerful bolts hit the big ship. Fire was returned. All ships shields glowed with hit after hit from plasma bolts. The Federation ships shields held, absorbing the power that struck them.

The Gar ships flashed through the system and were gone. Bits and pieces of some of those ships floated along with them.

"All ships turn," Ezra called out.

Warrior One started her turn in place, then they waited. On the front screen, the blips representing the Gar ships were slowing and turning to come back.

Warrior One and the other big ships surged forward to get in front of the smaller ships in the group. Once again the Armada was ready long before the Gar returned. On the screen in front of Ezra, he watched as Gar ships disappeared. The Federation torpedoes were still on the hunt. Their prey, Gar ships.

Once again the Gar were in-system, headed toward the Armada. Once again shields glowed with hit after hit of plasma. Once again, Gar shields were saturated with plasma bolts as they flashed by the ships waiting for them. Once again, Gar ships disappeared as they passed.

The Gar were turning for another pass. Warrior One along with the other ships turned in place and waited. Torpedoes still hunted. Their prey disappeared. The computer estimated the Gar had lost over one hundred ships.

The Gar came again. This time three ships of the Amada exploded. The clutter in the system had hidden the Gar scout ships. Tór, the mighty command battleship was torn to pieces. The main part of the ship was still intact, but both sponsons were in shambles. The destroyers 098 and 899 were destroyed. Ezra believed they had sacrificed themselves to save another, bigger ship. The worst loss was the Nuadha, Fleet Four's carrier.

The Gar were through the system once more. As Ezra watched, none were turning to re-engage. They jumped into hyperspace only to reappear two AU's out where they came to a halt.

Once again the conference room aboard the Donegal was filled with the holograms of the Admirals and Captains of the Armada. Admiral Fitzgerald was at the head of the table.

"I thought we would get together with the small respite from battle. Any thoughts on why they broke off?"

"They lost far more than we have, maybe they think they won," Captain Carey said.

"Maybe. Any others?"

He scanned the holograms of those present. None ventured any reason.

"I don't have any idea why they are doing what they are doing, but I can venture a guess as to their next move. Waves of ships will be sent in," Ezra said.

"I don't think so," Lonan said. "I think they will come again en mass only this time the dreadnaughts will be in the front."

"Odds?" Ezra queried.

"Better than even," Lonan replied.

"Why?" Dana Tracy asked.

"I think they are learning. They learned that the wave after wave hasn't worked. They have learned that attacking en mass they have destroyed more of our ships than they ever have."

"Truth," Dana said.

No one disputed her word. Lonan looked at the young Captain and smiled. Ezra chuckled. Everyone else around the table nodded.

"So there we have it. We don't know when, but I think we have guessed how they will come. Everyone resupply. Any wounded, get them to the Chicago. Mealla, get your ship to Donegal... "

"We can still fight," she said defiantly, the bandage on her forehead prominent in the hologram.

"I know you can. You will be protecting the Donegal, that's an order, Captain Bree," Lonan said sternly.

"Aye, aye sir," Mealla shot back, jumping to her feet and saluting.

Lonan Fitzgerald rose and saluted her back. A tear trickled down Mealla's cheek. Then her hologram vanished.

"Her ship is moving in toward the Donegal," Ezra said looking away from those around the table.

"Are you on your bridge?" Lonan asked.

"I am. Is that a problem sir?"

"I guess not, for you multi-tasking officers. I myself have a hard time just concentrating on one thing. Did I just give myself away?"

"No, sir. I am fully involved with the task at hand. I just thought...," Ezra said.

"I understand. You are the only Admiral who is a ship's Captain. Would you like me to remedy the situation?"

"No, sir," Ezra said, almost shouting.

"Then we will continue."

"Yes, sir. Weren't we really finished, though?"

"We were. You all have your orders. Our plan is the same. Admiral Nichols has the lead with the big ships. Captain Tracy with the smaller ships. Good luck to you all," Admiral Fitzgerald said, then his hologram disappeared.

"Dismissed," Admiral Cook said softly and all the holograms went dark.

Chapter 109

The Gar came out of hyperspace just at the edge of the system. They were under full power on their way into the system. Five dreadnaughts were in the lead. They would be met by five Warrior class dreadnaughts and four battleships. While the large ships engaged the Gar dreadnaughts, Dana Tracy would be tearing up the smaller Gar ships with her group of FOP ships. The K'lar and Saxons would be working the outer edge of the Gar fleet.

The Nóe moved out from behind Rigel VI followed closely by the rest of the battlecruisers. The destroyers were just rounding the moon of Rigel VII as the Gar fleet sailed by.

"Weapons, fire torpedoes when in range. Fire plasma cannon when in range," Dana called out in a loud and clear voice.