Ervin runs across his ship, shouting orders. In the span of a minute or two the ships’ systems ware back online, all thanks to the fact his main fleet was Alarian made. The fleet at the mouth of the hyperlane? Not so much. The engineers ware working but it would take time for the ships to get back to being fully functional.
“Set the thrusters to emergency speed, make up for the distance we lost. Keep shooting at the retreating fleet, and keep a eye out for further traps! We are not done yet! They will pay for this!”
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The destruction of the station was costly, but it was better then letting it fall into pirate hands. It helped to buy the Federation fleet some time.
Sensors of the TFS “Napoleon”, a heavy cruiser under the command of Admiral Morgan Peterson detected the explosion too.
“What the hell was that!?” He asked, nearly shouting.
“A large Cascadium explosion, most likely the station reactor. Unless the pirates somehow pulled a dreadnought out of their ass.” Answered Z, the fleets analitycal AI. “Whatever that was, your brother is in need of serious assistance.”
The Peterson family has been associated with the Federation military ever since the War of the 2nd Coalition. They still are among the best officers in both the Army and Navy. The family name doesn’t make anything easier though. The Petersons are still tried and tested like every other recruit, sometimes with higher expectations from their instructors.
“How long until we reach his fleet?”
“About 20 minutes. These bastards need to be thought a serious lesson. I had to quit a match of Fleet Command because of them!”
“Stay focused Z.”
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“Admiral, detecting ships on a intercept course”
“Put it on my screen”
A fleet of 15 ships lead by a heavy cruiser, clearly well armed and advanced. It would enter combat range in 20 minutes.
“Launch long range multi stage torpedos. We can’t afford to engage both the fleets at once. This will buy us time to pull back.”
“AMI-637 “starkillers”?”
"Yes, but also normal long range. We need to saturate space with torpedos.
These alarian made AMI-637 “starkillers” torpedos ware in limited supply, only 60 in the whole fleet. They are expensive but effective. In total 3 ships launched salvos of 10 torpedos each, 30 torpedos total. the salvos ware made up of 8 AMI-637 block A “starkillers” and two AMI-637 block B “Midnights” at the start and end of each salvo. The “Midnights” are support missiles. They have no warheads, but are equipped with a high power jammer and countermeasures like chaff to make defense against these very tricky for the enemy. Besides that fact the missiles are also corkscrewing, and the “starkillers” are equipped with high power conventional warheads. There also exists a nuclear variant, the AMI-637 block C “Gungnir”, but Ervin’s fleet didn’t have any.
Besides those missiles the 9 remaining ships fired 10 simpler long range torpedos each, for a total volley of 120 torpedos.
The torpedos fired from the retreating fleet and burn towards the enemy. They entered their sprint stage and dart at high speed. Jammers scream, flares fire. Some might get shot down, but a lot will hit their target.
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The fleet deployed decoy drones, flares, chaff and pint defense in the form of lasers and missles. Some attempts at jamming were made before the missles were launched, but they weren’t very effective against up-to-date Alarian ships. Most of the conventional missles were shot down or diverted of course, but the “Starkillers” were tougher to get rid off. Through a combination of high speed, usually unachivable by regular torpedoes and especially missles due to limited space for fuel supply, and usage of support misdles, most if them reached their targets. A few destrpyers and a cruiser from the new fleet suffered damage, but nothing they couldn’t withstand.
In response the new ships deployed more Starfighters, 55 more in total and started chasing after the pirate fleet. They also fired torpedoes, including EMPs, at the retreating pirates, aiming for their engines. Now that the Federation forces had gained the upper hand, they had to neutralize as many of these new ships as posdible. Maybe even get a still functioning one for studies.
However the fleet was not aware of the pirate reinfircements, nor what they had left in their suprisingly broad arsenal.
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As point defense missiles fly PDCs are ready to roar Ervin sends orders
“Damn it. Detonate a nuke between the missiles to knock them down. Create a full nuclear screen actually. Put us in a high g burn to get away faster”
6 nukes fly from the fleet, spreading out. With a precise detonation they create a wall of nuclear fire between the two fleets, and a emp pulse, slowing their enemies down and shooting down most of their torpedos. Most. A couple still go trough, and 3 hit. 2 do minor damage, and one does major damage to the Scimitar (a destroyer), but it’s drive stays functional thanks to jamming and defensive maneuvers.
The pirate ships burn like hellfire, gluing the crews to their seats. G tolerance enhancers are pumped into their veins to let them stay functional. The fleet back at the hyperlane runs cold to avoid detection as long as possible, ready for a ambush
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“There is no point chasing them down now. Z, start drafting a report for the Ministry. Lets see whats left of the station, maybe we can get some clues as to where they acquired this fancy equipment.” Commanded the Admiral.
“100 Credits its Alarian. They are the only ones crazy enough to do business with pirates.” Z said. He had a habit of ripping off his crewmates in bets like these.
“I’m suprised you still find people willing to participate in these games of yours. Just get on that report.”
The fleet advanced slowly, keeping eye on the pirates, just in case they tried anything funny.
“About that station… I swear I can explain.” The Commondore spoke over the speakers.
“Don’t worry Alex, you won’t be court martialed. It was the best option in your situation. They were going to destroy it anyways.” The Admiral switched to a more informal tone, like used to during the more uneventful moments during service. It did wonders for the crews morale, showing that your superiors are living beings too.
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“Sir, they seem to have stopped chasing us”
Ervin was relieved. For a second it looked he was pulled into a trap. That is why pirates usually don’t operate deep in the system. Fast pull in, fast pull out. The enemy can’t kill you if you aren’t there.
“Thankfully. We’re pulling back ro Panasu. We got all the data we need and we caused chaos. Deploy mines on our exit if they decide to after all follow us.”
“Aye captain. Charting a course for the Free Port.”
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While the pirates were retreating, the Federation’s fleet has reached the station. Or rather would have reached it if it was there. The station, the ship and any wreckage in the area were pulverized by the Cascadium-fuelled explosion.
When the pirate fleet disappeared from their radar, the Federation vessels started demining the area.
“All ships, you can return from full readiness. the battle is won.” The Admiral said over the speakers. “Those who perished today, may rest in peace knowing the Federation is safe. thanks to their sacrifice. They died like all soldiers should, in the fires of combat. Glory to the Federation!”
“Glory to the Federation!”
With the Admirals words, the tension among the soldiers visibly lessened. People started to abandon their posts and start conversations, sometimes even across ships. soldiers evacuated from the station were redistributed among different ships so the Alexanders squadron wasn’t so cramped.
Z finished his report and sent it back to the Ministry on Taren. It would take a few days to travel through the Federation’s system of stations and lanerunners, but most could already predict their reaction. There will be retaliation, like every time after the pirates get too confident and the Federation needs to remind them who is the greater power. The only question was, how big?
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