Chapter 7: Locusts of Hell
System: Beta Aquilae
May 23, Year 2371, 02:15 hours.
Pike's Quarters
A blinding flash of blue light, Pike sat up quickly. His heart was pounding. He looked around the small, dark room. All he could hear was the clock ticking repeatedly on the wall, along with his heart beating and rapid breathing. He was soaked from sweat.
"Quite a nightmare."
He thought to himself. He glanced at the clock, a quarter past three.As his body awoke further, along came blistering pain in his head. He placed his hand hard against his head and put his feet on the floor. Walking through his small, by private quarters he flicked on the light in the bathroom while turning the a small cabinet above the sink. Grabbing a white bottle of pain pills and quickly swallowing a couple, he looked back into the mirror. His eyes were blood-shot and he could see a deep red spot in the center of the bandages on his head. He hadn't had much sleep lately, in fact just about none at all. All the briefing sand debriefings were bad enough, but when he could sleep, nightmares would plague him to the point of staying awake. They would pass as he healed, he knew that, still he cursed quietly as he turned off the light and walked back to bed.
He walked to the window, he quickly noticed the stars and realized that the Vega had already jumped into Beta Aquilae. He looked back to his bed, rubbed his face with his hand and mumbled a curse before walking to his closet and grabbing his uniform.
System: System: Vega
May 23, Year 2371, 3:11 hours.
Bridge: GTVI Krybo(SOC Command)
Col. Jacob Fowler peered into a terminal, starting intently on the information on the screen. All around him, chatter engulfs the area, terminals beeping, doors opening and closing, the mood tense. Still his attention remains fixed.
"Sir, we have them."
A officer shouted from the level above. Fowler walks up the steps into a round area, a 3D holographic map of all the known systems. Both Adhara and Ikeya systems are flashing red. Fowler nodes to the officer. The officer reaches and touches the hologram of the Adhara system. The 3D maps zooms in and flattens out showing icons of all jump nodes and know friendly and enemy locations. The main center piece, the Knossos. The officer touches a blinking fighter icon.
"Open channel."
Static fills the speakers for a moment before going clear. The only sound is breathing.
"Report."
The pilot spoke, his voice occasionally rasped by static.
"Sir, GTVA battle-groups closing in on the Knossos. Enemies consist of several cruisers and destroyers and two Sathnas class Juggernauts. Wait, a third has just entered the system, I repeat a third Sathnas Juggernaut."
Fowler folded his hands.
"Pilot, Colonel Fowler, how long before the GTVA battle group is in firing range."
A burst of static.
"Sir, at current pace, forty-six minutes."
"Thank you, keep us updated."
The transmission ended.
"Sir."
A tech replied.
"Just in, reported that the battle group in Ikeya will be in firing range in thirty-nine minutes."
Fowler smiled, almost showtime.
An officer placed his hand on Fowler's should and whispered into his ear.
"Thank you."
Fowler walked to an empty communication's desk and placed the headset over his ears.
"Commander Harold."
A voice fizzed across the headset.
"Colonel Fowler."
"Orders."
He heard the man on the other end breathe deeply.
"The board agrees with you. Both GTA Command and SOC Command has placed you in charge of this conflict. We're still working on convincing the Vasudan Parliament."
Fowler smirked.
"We hope this trust isn't un-founded."
"It's not."
Fowler quickly rebutted. Then he grinned.
"If it is, no one will be around to remember it."
"Doesn't inspire confidence, I'm afraid."
"If anything, your fears are un-founded. We will quickly resolve this conflict once and for all. We know their motive, all we have to do is set the bait and then set the hook. Let me remind you, the bait is placed."
The line was quiet. Then the muffled voice whispered back over the line.
"Yes, lets finally have peace."
The line went dead. Fowler placed the headset back on the desk and walked back to the map in the center of the room.
System: System: Adhara
May 23, Year 2371, 3:34 hours.
Bridge: GTD Nautilus
Captain Henry Prichard stared quietly into the main forward facing view screen. His hand firmly gripped on the railing. In the middle of the screen is the distant, but growing Knossos. The Knossos isn't the center of his attention. The enormous device had the likeness of a wasp nest, and around it the insects themselves were swarming.
"Sir."
An First Officer Andrew McNight walked up the steps and handed him a piece of paper.
"Number of observed enemies and classes."
Prichard quickly read over the paper and threw it to the floor visibly shaken.
"Sir, with all due respect, this is suicide. Sir, we need to turn back."
Prichard's stomach froze over, he began to feel frantic as his heart rate rose. He looked in the view screens from the rear of the ship and looked over the large fleet he was leading. He wasn't a coward. He had always completed his mission. All the lives that depended on him. The fleet was solidly behind him, not wavering.
"No, we will only turn around when we reach the waypoint."
He continued to look forward. The officer just starred.
System: System: Vega
May 23, Year 2371, 3:53 hours.
Bridge: GTVI Krybo(SOC Command)
"Sir, the fleet is two minutes from the way point, shall I send the signal?"
Fowler gave his full attention to the giant holographic grid in the center of the room. The grid showed the fleet, comprised of twenty-four destroyers, corvettes and cruisers moving toward the Knossos where the massive Shivan fleet outnumbered them nearly two to one.
"No, just a little while longer."
System: System: Adhara
Bridge: GTD Nautilus
Prichard felt the sweat drip down his face and back, but white knuckled, he stood quietly. An alarm sounded and the red warning lights flashed twice over the bridge.
"Sir!"
A Tech screamed from below.
"We have been sensor locked. Sensors show several cruisers and Corvettes powering up engines and moving toward us. Sensors also show the destroyers and the three Sathni deploying fighters and bombers heavy, but are still stationary!"
Prchard knew what that meant. They knew that the meager strike force was doomed and now procedded to play with them. He felt nausea rise up in his chest. Another loud alarm.
"Sir, we've reached the way point!"
Prichard wasted no time.
"McNight message the fleet. Full starboard, retreat back to the node at full speed!"
"Yes Sir."
The lights dimmed and the ship shook.
Prichard looked up at the view screen. A Moloch class corvette had entered firing range, firing it's forward beam cannon with impacted the rear hull of the vessel.
"Status!"
"All decks show minimal damage, armor absorbed most of the impact. Shall we return fire?"
"Negative!"
Prichard shouted.
"All available energy into the engines."
The Hecate destroyer turned quickly, as did the rest of the fleet. Trails from the thrusters poured into space.
Prichard gripped the handle with all his strength. The hard turn sent cups and papers of stations and crew members off their feet. The pressure slowly ceased and looking up at the screen Prichard now looked at the engines of the rest of the fleet in mass retreat.
"How long before the fighters and bombers reach us?"
"A Minute, Sir."
"Power up anti-fighter beam cannons and get gunnery control to ready the flak and laser cannons."
"Sir!"
A Tech screamed.
"Incoming jump signatures, enemy configuration."
Prichard looked up at multiple view-screens. Many subspace portals opened and he felt the slight hope he was feeling only a moment ago shatter into hopeless despair.
"Sir, several several destroyers and corvettes have exited subspace. Sensors show a new class of destroyer and corvette among them, designating the corvette Agni."
Prichard felt helpless. Where was the reinforcements? His mind snapped back to reality.
"Communicate with the fleet, tell them to launch all fighters and bombers and power up all photon beam cannons. Order them to fire at will!!"
"Yes Sir."
"Have gunnery control fire at will.
System: System: Vega
May 23, Year 2371, 3:59 hours.
Bridge: GTVI Krybo(SOC Command)
"Command this is the GTD Damascus, we are heavily out numbered. Please advise."
The command center was silent. Only the occasional cough or whisper could be heard.
"Command do you read? The is Prichard, where are the reinforcements? We are out numbered and taking casualties. Please assist."
The technician at the communication desk spoke.
"Sir, should be assist?"
Fowler stood, unmoving staring transfixed on the holographic map. The map showed a tangle of red and green ships, the greens ship dwindling. The technician looked back and asked once more.
"Sir?"
Fowler didn't even flinch. The technician then understood and looked back solemnly at his desk. The answer was clear and he was helpless. The entire room listened quietly to the cries for help and screams over the communications channel.
System: System: Adhara
Bridge: GTD Nautilus
"Command, this is Prichard, we need help now plea......"
The ship shook and the lights dimmed, Prichard stumbled before catching a computer station and steadying himself.
"Status!"
"Light damage in quadrant four and five with moderate hull damage. No atmosphere venting.
Prichard cursed. Where was the reinforcements.
The Hecate destroyer turned with the noticeable crumple in the hull on the rear-right. Gunnery control zoned in on a Cain class cruiser. Power surged from the beam batteries. The first lance of green light slashed across the cruiser ripping a large scar down one side. half of the cruiser's red engine sputtered and exploding rocking the ship to the side. A second later the destroyer's larger direct fire beam blasted through the ship. The whole vessel was pushed back until the mighty sword of light cut through the ship at mid-point. As the beam dissipated, a hue hole remained in it's stead. With most of the core of the ship disintegrated, it collapsed at the mid-point, all running lights fading out as the ship bowed up and the engines collided with the top bar.
Prichard watched as the cruiser faded black.
"Good shooting Gunnery."
As he spoke a giant flash lit up the view screens, seconds later the whole ship shook.
"Sir, we just lost the Damascus."
The moment's victory was overcome and the situation was once again hopeless.
"Sir, brace for impact."
Half a klick away, an Agni class corvette, Destitute closed in. It's wasp like hull, flashing red over it's grotesque spikes and bone like super-structure zoned in on the mid-section of the Nautilus. Beginning with a fain blue glow, red particles gathered at the front of the ship. The glow grew and became bright as a star, pulsating blue and white, red particles leaping from within. A bright flash of light and with it came a lance of red. The beam tore through multiple decks. Molten steel from the impact scattered across the hull like small meteors exploding into fragments as the hit the hull.
even with the small warning, the impact threw crew members on the bridge upward and sideways. Monitors crashed down as the overhead lights sparked and exploding, raining down sparks. Prichard was slammed into the floor.
The beam continued for six seconds, tearing through decks and floors like paper and blowing it out the other side of the ship. Small explosions blew out more floors and huge jets of flame poured into space from multiple locations. The beam finally faded out, but it had served it's purpose. A large section of hull was missing, explosions and fires continued at deck collapsed.
Prichard stood to his feet, the bridge half bathed in darkness. He could hear moans and in the faint light see Technicians pulling themselves back into their desks.
"Damage report."
"Catastrophic damage to the entire top half of the read one-forth of the ship. Reactor damaged and performing under half efficiency, only one engine responding, half fuel lines damaged or incapacitated, main engineer station not responding to inquiry."
The tech spoke with horror in his voice. Prichard knew what he had to do.
"Issue order abandon ship. Get everyone to the escape pods. McNight!"
Mcnight ran to him holding a powerful flashlight. Blood dripping from his eyebrow, his clothes torn.
"Yes sir."
"Oversee the evaluation. Hurry, you don't have much time."
"Yes sir. Everyone follow me"
McNight started to run toward the stars with several technicians and personnel behind him. Prichard grabbed the tech on the shoulder and out of the chair.
"Hurry, go!"
The tech looked right into his captain's eye and began to run toward the stairs. Prichard looked up to find he wasn't along. Several technicians and officers remained. He smiled.
"Gunnery control train all remaining guns on the Destitute. Lets provide a parting shot."
A Herc Mk Two chased a Nehema bomber from behind, weaving around exposed support beams and through fire and smoke billowing from the side of the wounded vessel. He heard the targeting system beep and let loose with his chained Prometheus and kayser lasers. The lasers nailed the bomber, ripping into the hull. Fire spewed and an explosion ripped the ship apart. It was then he realized it was too late. In front of the newly formed debris cloud a torpedo snaked it's way into the hull and exploded.
Running down the corridors with the others, McNight was thrown into the wall by the impact. Several others were thrown to the floor. He stood up.
"Everyone, hurry!"
The destroyer, pouring smoke and flame from several places along with the huge rift along the side sluggishly turned to face the Destitute. A orb of green light appeared and a beam slashed across the hull of the ship. Particles from the impact pour around the ship, but was the beam faded to blackness, only minimal damage was done. The familiar blue glow formed under the head of the black ship, and quickly illuminated the entire corvette. The beam poured out with fury and tore into the hull of the Hecate class destroyer once more.
McNight and the other had just entered the fighter bay when the beam hit. Throwing fighters and service equipment across the landing bay like toys and crew members into the floor. McNight looked up from the floor to see the Hermes shuttles were ready and a few hundred crew members were entering the ships. He stood up and waved toward the others.
"Hurry, we don't have much time."
They ran toward the shuttles.
The red pillar of light fading, leaving a huge hole in the center of the ship. Fire poured out and explosions begin to rip through floors, becoming larger. The entire top section of the ship began to sag and collapse into the void. Support beams were thrown like matchsticks into space as desks fell into one another before detonating.
Prichard pushed himself slow off his hands unto his feet. Alarms were wailing, half of the bridge had collapsed and only the occasional spark lit of the now dark bridge. He could here a rumble. The sound of an unstoppable beast roaring towards him. He turned toward the main door, only to see it explode towards him, with fire and heat and shrapnel.
The shuttles were lifting off the floor of the landing bay, moving towards the exit. McNight looked a view port to see other crew members below running towards them and yelling. He knew it was too late. The bay started collapsing. The shuttles pick up speed and the great bay doors opened and the eight ships blasted out of the bay. He kept watching out of the view port. Explosions were ripping through the once mighty vessel. A closer explosion caught his eye, temporarily blinding him. As he vision readjusted, he saw it. Out of the explosion came a large steel support beam. He watched as it blasted out of the fire and he was stunned. It pieced through the rear of the Shuttle with incredible force. Crew members were sucked out into the vacuum. He held on and turned around. He watched as the flaming hull of the Nautilus grew larger. He shut his eyes. The shuttle bounced off the hull, ripping apart as it did before exploding.
Several explosions ripped through the Nautilus tearing the ship apart in an impressive final flash. Only one badly weakened destroyer remained, pouring fire and smoke, along with a Deimos class corvette. As the Shivans closed in a giant flash lit up the immediate space bathing the ships in blue light. Immediately after exiting subspace the Omega was firing all it's batteries. It's two main beams cannons tore into a Sathnas juggernaut, ripping off two of it's forward spikes while the other tore into the vessel itself. Smaller beams, missiles and laser cannons shredded destroyers and corvettes alike. Within ten minutes the massacre was over and space was full of debris.
Admiral Lewis Looked over what destruction he vessel had wrought. Immediately friendly support vessel arrived. Several cruisers, corvettes and destroyers, which also included Vasudan ships. Lewis looked ahead toward the Knossos.
"Command shall we proceed."
A crackle fizzed through first, then the voice of Fowler.
"Proceed, enter the Knossos and set up a perimeter on the other side."
"Understood."
The large black ship moved toward the Knossos, plowing over still sparking debris, and entered subspace.
System: System: Unknown
May 23, Year 2371, 4:17 hours.
Bridge: SOC Omega
The system was quiet, no sign of enemy presence. Lewis looked around at each view-screen studying it. The only thing of importance in the system was a nebulae straight ahead. Lewis stared on it intently. For a moment the nebula flash brightly. He walked down to the navigation station. Feeling his presence the tech spoke before Lewis said a word.
"Sir, we are getting very high levels of radio-activity from the nebulae, the computer reports high chance of a pulsar at the center. Likely from a recent supernova."
Somehow that sent a chill down his back.
"Align star charts, locate current position. Where the heck are we."
Lewis spoke loudly.
"Capella."
A tech spoke up. Lewis turned around.
"Impossible, run the data again."
"I did sir, three times. The computer reports a ninety-sever percent certainly that this is Capella, the only different is no planets and the Pulsar. Sir, the star charts match perfectly."
Lewis looked back up at the nebulae. He watched as the nebulae lit up in sections, illuminated by the spinning remnants of Capella one."
"Sir, Sensors just reported a new Knossos."