The opposing fleets maneuvered warily. It was
too late for either side to safely fire long-range
thermonuclear warheads. The battlefield would
be a tight arena.
Brad and Hodak matched up to Admiral Selvin's
flagship Ruthless. Without altering formation the
Ruthless extended a mag-beam and drew the fighters
quickly to the flight deck one following the other.
Wasting no time on boarding formalities, Brad
motioned his colleagues to follow as an escort led
them at a run to the command deck. Selvin was
waiting impatiently. A debriefing officer took
Hodak in tow, and an another escorted Drummer
to the VIP lounge.
At a sign from Brad, Myra trailed after him.
The fleet command center was fifteen meters across
and ten deep. View tanks, consoles and displays
along the bulkheads glowed and portrayed the
multidimensional battle zone, updates on readiness
of the fleet and whatever had been considered
relevant in defeating the enemy. Specialists and
back-up technicians studied displays, recapped real
time data, checked results and sent them on in an
ongoing process. The place hummed with muted voices
and the almost silent clicks of an organized combat
ops center.
Selvin waved Brad to join him at a plotting table.
A globe-shaped view tank, suspended close overhead
displayed the three-dimensional battle zone. The
command center's communicator hovered close
to Selvin, his head encased in a helmet linked
to all ships in the UIPS fleet, fleet headquarters
on Earth, and the conference site. A hard-copy
dispatch remote on a shoulder harness extended
forward waist-high.
Selvin hastily exchanged handshakes with Brad
and Myra. Brad talked fast pointing to the capsule
Myra held in her hand. Listening, Selvin's Executive
signaled the communicator to open the secure link
to Commanders on all ships in the fleet. A nod from
the grizzled Fleet Commander and Myra inserted
the capsule into a slot on the view tank's base.
The Exec motioned the battle staff to observe
and listen. Taking turns, Brad and Myra reeled off
details on the enemy fleet's new Order of Battle.
Brad pointed to locations in the view tank,
suggesting potential UIPS tactical options to
exploit the enemy's vulnerabilities. He added how
Captain Yargoul might respond, and how the UIPS
fleet might use them to advantage.
As Brad spoke, a microphone picked up his words
and fed them into the computer to bring current
the fleet's, now by-passed database. Selvin and his
staff, even as they listened to Brad, observed the
effects on the plotting screen. A superseding fleet
tactical formation spread before them.
There was no time for discussion; the opposing
fleets were too close. Selvin, eyes on the tank and
plot, took over and spun out orders to his ships'
Commanders.
"Your view tank has a copy of what I have
here," he said. "The enemy fleet is down to
four battle cruisers, sixteen destroyers, three
fighter-bombers, seventeen fighters, four gunboats,
and three attack transports with troops aboard,
plus a tagalong pack of armed support ships.
"Consider the destroyers are in their best
screening positions. We are totally committed.
Launch fighters as soon as the INOR fleet is in
optimum range. Target priorities are cruisers,
destroyers and gunships. Take the offense
immediately against all enemy ships that
penetrate our outer defenses.
"Avoid contact with transports or support ships.
If an enemy vessel is disabled, engage in rescue
if your situation permits; especially should they
retire from the arena and present no hazard to the
Slingshot construction site. In such circumstances,
do not pursue. If they do begin to approach the
Terminals, pursue at max and take them out. Keep
the construction site command center informed
so that they can take defensive actions.
"Engage the enemy. Attack. Attack. Attack."
##
The INOR Commanders facing Captain Yargoul on his
view screen appeared apprehensive. They had not
closed with the enemy fleet yet lost two cruisers,
three destroyers and a dozen fighters. The
thermonuclear warhead launched at the enemy
fleet had been faulty or sabotaged into premature
detonation. They had taken savage blows.
Captain Yargoul rallied his forces.
"The battle has just begun," he exhorted his
listeners. "Our surveillance of the enemy fleet
shows we are in a strong position. Form up for
penetrating the enemy fleet. Destroyers tighten
screens. As soon as the enemy gets within range
launch fighter-bombers and fighters. Gunships and
attack patrollers take the point. Attack. Now."
Optimum range was closing for particle beamers.
Fighter-bombers, gunships and patroller-fighters
from each side sped and dodged toward firing points.
A Jovian fighter-bomber plunged through a gap in
the UIPS shield and came at the bridge of the UIPS
cruiser Implacable. Arrayed to fire for effect the
Implacable cut loose with successive volleys of
its forward laser-quads. From a turret above the
cruiser's upper structures a molecular disrupter
flashed a cascade of energy that coalesced
into twisting, jagged bolts. The fighter-bomber
dissolved as its guns fired a short burst.
Fragments caroomed off its target's hull.
Two thousands kilometers distant, a Titanian
gunboat evaded the UIPS defensive screen and
slashed in at Selvin's Ruthless. The flagship's
guns set up a withering fire, but couldn't match
the lightning speed of the closing gunboat. A
raking laser-doubles knifed through the Ruthless
amidships, opening ten meters of hull. The vacuum
of space sucked at storage bays, shops and
wardrooms; dozens of bodies floated through the
rupture. The gunboat, caught in a crossfire of
laser-quads, exploded silently.
The Ruthless' internal safety doors had slammed
shut immediately, isolating the damaged bays and
compartments.
Suddenly, the main bodies of the two fleets were
within range of each other's heavy weapons. A
tangled circus of cruisers, destroyers, gunships
and fighters careened through space, sweeping
the battle arena with their guns. Battle craft, from
both sides, blossomed into clouds of wreckage,
shards and debris in the first minutes of combat.
More heavily armed, the INOR forces were
nevertheless at a disadvantage. The fleet had not
completely recovered from the disruptive effects of
the haphazard redeployment that Adari had contrived.
Drummer and Brad had deserted them; Hyk and the
Dragon were gone. The INOR forces lacked cohesion.
Captain Yargoul had barely assumed command of the
combined fleet and needed to assess the situation.
There was no time for that. They were face to face
with a powerful adversary who had appeared without
warning. An easy victory had become a struggle for
survival.
Two UIPS destroyers made a run at the Jovian
cruiser Boulder. Four explosive-decompressors cut
loose simultaneously at the cruiser, striking her
amidships. A succession of explosions wracked
the ship, hurling debris and bodies in all directions.
The ship rolled and yawed wildly out of control.
The UIPS destroyers cut away.
The Ruthless' damage assessments flashed to the
bridge and the ship's Commander informed the fleet
command deck.
"We've still got full power and most of our guns
are operative," Selvin announced to his staff after
a brief study of the report. "With another of their
cruisers gone the big ships have evened out, but
they've still got the edge in destroyers. We've..."
"Fighter-bomber locked on to enemy cruiser
Encounter." The communicator's voice cut in over
the loudspeaker.
"Put him on," Selvin ordered.
The pilot's voice filled the room, low and tense.
"...3000 kay starboard. Destroyer screen at 2000,
kinda loose. Going in. Have incoming, lots of it.
In evasive. I'm hit, but I'm through. 700. More
incoming. Bridge in sights. Three seconds burst --
a hit. I'm out of control. Encounter dead ahead...
gonna..."
Silence.
Selvin turned away to hide the pain in his eyes
at still another death.
"Cruisers three to two, in our favor." An officer
called out from his position at the battle monitor.
"New ball game."
Brad pointed, drawing Selvin's eyes to the
constantly changing plotting table and view tank.
The displays showed the struggle had become a
series of separate skirmishes spread across a
million kay in all directions. Fighter-bombers and
fighters without a mother ship, and destroyers
that had lost their cruisers ranged the battlefield
singly and in pairs, searching out and attacking
the enemy.
Not visible to the naked eye through the swarm of
space debris around them, the view tank's sensors
discriminated against displaying the lacework
of crossing beams from laser-quads, explosive
decompressors, molecular disrupters, and here
and there, a cruiser's particle beamer.
Admiral Selvin stared at the tank.
"Does he realize what he's doing?" He whispered.
The Jovian heavy cruiser Windstorm and its
screen of destroyers had changed direction about
twenty-five thousand kay distant and headed
straight at the UIPS fleet; the Jovian light
cruiser Assault and its escorts lined up behind.
The UIPS cruisers Ruthless, Avenger and Implacable
were broadside to the oncoming enemy line. Most of
the gun ports for the Windstorm's and the Assault's
most powerful long range weapons were along
their broadsides and out of position for returning
fire at the UIPS battle fleet. Jovian vessels of all
types that came within range of UIPS weapons would
be overwhelmed by UIPS concentrated broadsides.
The Windstorm's escorts would not have the range
until the two fleets were closer.
"They've inadvertently maneuvered themselves
into an ancient sea battle formation," Selvin said.
"It was once known as 'crossing the T'. They intended
to cut straight through our defenses to optimize
their broadsides but instead they opened themselves
to ours. That's how the game is played. I have no
choice, but I have to act quickly."
Selvin's battle computer counted down the enemy's
distance and flashed estimates on when the enemy
line would be optimally exposed to particle beam
volleys.
"Cruisers: ready your particle beamers," Selvin
commanded, "sustained fire as soon as you have
the range."
Moments after he spoke, the Admiral's order
transformed into action. Abruptly, the gun circuits
snapped shut. Lights dimmed and the Ruthless
throbbed as the beamers sucked up massive amounts
of energy. The Avenger and the Implacable joined in.
Indicators swung wildly. The technicians watched
the dials and verified that a stream of highly
charged, invisible particles had erupted from the
beamer tubes. The lights returned to normal, and
the throbbing tapered off.
The bolts struck the leading INOR warship full
length from bow to stern, and moved on the second
in line as soon as it came into range. The INOR
battle cruisers shuddered, smitten as by a
giant hammer. Their hulls collapsed and the
ships exploded into enormous, silent fireballs.
Destroyers and support ships in close screens
were caught in the blasts and shattered.
The INOR fleet's will to continue the battle was
gone; they had disintegrated as a fighting force.
The battle ground to a halt. What was left of the
INOR armada withdrew beyond the reach of the UIPS
fleet's long-range weapons, careful to demonstrate
that their retreat was in a direction away from
the Slingshot Terminals. It was just as well, lines
of UIPS destroyers and gunships had formed up as
a shield between the work sites and any potential
attacker from the residue of the INOR Combined
Fleet.
The arena quieted. UIPS search, rescue and medical
craft searched the area, marking wrecks of both
sides with electronic signals, collecting the dead
and treating the wounded.
Communications lines opened between the fleets.
Admiral Selvin requested the INOR commanders to
order a stand down from all weapons. All Plutonian
Assault Force vessels were ordered to form up and
prepare for boarders.
Brad and Selvin stood in a corner of the command
deck, heads close. Brad drew an object from
a pocket as he spoke: the control for the
communications barrier Zolan had erected.
Selvin, hand to chin, stared at the device,
listening. He pointed to it, and then in the
direction of the companionway.
"Notify Camari," he said. "Now."
Brad nodded and raced away.