The Rise before the Fall
Chapter 2: The Courage to Fight
"What! Check your sensors. You must be mistaken." Barked Commodore Jisco.
"All sensors functioning properly Commodore. New total, over 4,000 Coalition ships detected." Replied the sensors officer.
"That can't be. Ctarl Intelligence reported only 500 ships would be arriving." Said the Commodore, sweat rolling down his forehead, his hands shaking visibly. "Verify the count with the other ships."
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"It appears the total number of Coalition ships in this sector is 5,020: 500 heavy cruisers, 3,400 light cruisers and 1,120 freighters, no doubt carrying additional supplies and weapons."
"It can't be, no Ctarl Ctarl fleet has ever faced such odds and survived." Captain Augusta whispered to himself. "It's an all out invasion. They plan to destroy our home world."
The tactical officer responded, "Captain's observation appears to be correct. Accounting for known Coalition battle strength, this armada should be sufficient to defeat our planetary defenses."
Augusta breathed in deeply, "Comms Officer contact the Al Tigaro Tigaro. Inform them we are awaiting instructions from the Commodore."
**********
"An Invasion Fleet!?" Cold sweat rolled down Aisha's brow.
"Yes ma'am, that is what it appears to be." Her tactical officer replied.
An uneasy hush filled the ship. Even the soldiers that filled the lower level of the ship where the man made stream flowed and plant life grew in abundance, were all silent. Though known throughout the galaxy as fierce warriors, even the Ctarl Ctarl knew when they were facing hopeless odds. Forty or fifty to one maybe, but five hundred to one, those were impossible odds.
Fear gripped Aisha, as it never had before. Not when she was a cadet aboard the training vessel that fell under attack by two Coalition light cruisers had she experienced such fear. Not when she fought off a heavy cruiser with her military freighter in order to save a Ctarl Ctarl settlement had she known such fear. Not even when her ship boarded a Coalition space station that was assumed abandoned and two thousand Coalition soldiers ambushed her and her two hundred soldiers. Even then she did not know the level of fear she was now experiencing. It took Aisha a second before she realized her entire command crew was looking at her. They had seen the fear in her eyes and now they too were filled with fear. Aisha steeled her expression and ordered her comms officer to open a channel to the Sabre Hone Hone.
The viewfinder flashed the image of Commodore Jisco on the screen. If Aisha appeared frightened moments ago, Jisco looked like he was about to wet his pants. With all the confidence she could muster, Aisha addressed her superior officer.
"The fleet awaits your instructions Commodore."
"In, Instructions?" The Commodore responded. "Yes, yes… umm." His eyes darted left and right as if he were trying to think of something.
Aisha was considering offering a suggestion of her own but what; she had not a clue. Jisco finally responded. "Order the fleet back to Sector Alpha 52, contact Ctarl High Command and notify them of our current situation and our need for re-enforcements. I'm going to approach the Coalition alone and offer terms."
"What! Your surrendering, you coward!" Aisha exploded.
"Silence! I'm not surrendering, I'm merely trying to buy us some time until additional support can arrive." Responded Jisco.
"That won't work. The Coalition is too suspicious of mammalians. They'll see your actions for what they are, delay tactics and they'll come at us even harder."
"That's enough captain. You have your orders. Jisco out." The screen went blank.
"GRRR! That Fool! He's going to get us all killed!" Aisha said, raising her fists chest level and gritting her teeth.
"Your orders Lady Aisha." The comms and navigations officers said in unison.
Aisha thought for a moment, "Comms Officer, send a distress call to the High Command. Notify them of our situation and request immediate assistance. Then inform the fleet to hold their positions."
"Lady Aisha, the Commodore's commands were quite clear. Shouldn't we fallback as ordered?" Injected her first officer.
"Quiet!" Aisha snapped. "That fool hasn't faced the Coalition half as many times as I have. What he has in mind is suicide." Turning her attention from her first officer, "Tactical Officer! Come up with an attack strategy that will enable us to do as much damage as possible."
"Yes ma'am!" Striker Craaw Craaw replied. Her tactical officer lived for opportunities like this. He immediately started feeding data into the battle tactics computer. Options came out and by adding and/or deleting variables, Striker would re-enter it as input. The whole process normally took only minutes but in this situation those minutes felt like an eternity to everyone on board.
While waiting for her tactical officer, Aisha wanted to know what was going on with the Sabre Hone Hone. "Sensors Officer, report on the status of the Sabre Hone Hone."
"The Sabre Hone Hone is advancing towards the enemy fleet. They are approximately 200,000 kilometers from the enemy fleet and closing. Lady Aisha, they just dropped their shields." The sensors officer reported.
The comms officer picked it up from there, "Lady Aisha, the Sabre Hone Hone is issuing terms of surrender to the Coalition ships. They continue to repeat it over and over."
"That's odd, why would they need to send it more than once?" Aisha asked herself.
"The Sabre Hone Hone is now 150,000 Kilometers from the enemy fleet." Injected the sensors officer.
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Aboard the Coalition flagship, the Devastation, word of the approaching ship was relayed to the Coalition Chief of Staff.
"Admiral, the Ctarl battle cruiser is approaching at 2,000 kilometers per second. They continue to send terms of surrender on all channels." Said the lieutenant, holding a silver platter with a folded note on it with the terms of surrender.
"What is the status of the other Ctarl ships, have they left the sector yet?" The Admiral asked thoughtfully.
"Huh, well, no sir. They continue to hold their position."
The Admiral took a deep breath and clasped his hands behind his back. "I knew it. Mammalians can never be trusted." He walked from the table where he was enjoying his midday tea to the viewport where he had a clear view of more than half the Coalition fleet. 'Yes, one way or another, we will prevail.' He turned to the lieutenant, "Inform the captains of the Devastation, Destruction, Revolution, Extirpation, and Carnage to prepare to open fire on the battle cruiser."
"A…Admiral, the ship has lowered her shields. It would be defenseless against such an attack. Is it really necessary…"
"You have your orders Lieutenant!" Snapped the Admiral.
"Yes sir." He saluted and left to relay the Admiral's orders.
"May the Gods help us." Whispered the Admiral.
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"Launch cameras so we can view the Sabre Hone Hone." Aisha ordered.
"Cameras would show very little at this distance ma'am." Advised the sensors officer.
"What would be a suitable range?"
"Approximately 150,000 kilometers ma'am."
"Shall we advance to within 150,000 kilometers of the enemy, Lady Aisha?" Inquired the navigations officer.
"No! That may be viewed as an act of aggression. Sensors Officer, continue to report."
"The Sabre Hone Hone has come to a halt approximately… 30,000 kilometers from the enemy fleet. Well within Coalition weapons range."
Several tense moments past, the bridge remained perfectly silent. The only thing Aisha could hear was her own labored breathing. Then it happened.
"Weapons fire detected, Lady Aisha. At least 5 heavy cruisers have open fired on the Sabre Hone Hone." The sensors officer reported.
"Status of the Sabre Hone Hone!"
"Analysis indicates, she's suffered serious damage. Her propulsion systems appear offline and she appears unable or unwilling to raise her shields." The sensors officer paused for a moment reviewing the data as it appeared on his monitors. "She's adrift, no attitude control. Lady Aisha, the Coalition fleet is advancing."
"Towards the Sabre Hone Hone or towards us?"
"Towards us ma'am, at a rate of… 200 kilometers a second."
Again silence swept over the bridge. Finally Aisha turned towards her tactical officer. "Tactical Officer! Your results."
"My analysis reveals a means by which we can increase our shield output to 145%. If the remaining ships form a heptagon around us, we can force our shields to overlap by setting them to full forward and remaining no more then 10 meters apart from each other. This should allow us to reach the enemy fleet before they can penetrate our shields, enabling us to take out at least some of their ships."
"That's suicide! At 10 meters apart with shields full forward, the slightest variation by any of the ships would result in disaster." Protested first officer Vistar.
"What about the other ships' flanks? They'll be receiving fire from the sides as well. If their shields are full forward they would be susceptible." Aisha stated.
"Not necessarily. If we attack at maximum speed the overall shield output of all eight ships should generate enough curvature along the shields' edges to provide ample protection. The faster we go the greater the curvature." Reported the tactical officer.
"You're not seriously considering attacking the Coalition? Are you Lady Aisha?" Sweat rolled off Vistar forehead uncontrollably.
"What would you suggest?" She threw back at him.
"Withdrawing to Sector Alpha 52 as the Commodore commanded." Quivered Vistar.
"Than you're as much a coward and a fool as the Commodore!" Barked Aisha.
"Comms Officer, relay the tactical instructions to the rest of the fleet. Tell them to prepare to get in position on my mark."
"You'll kill us all!" Vistar screamed.
"Well, maybe today is a good day to die." Aisha responded coolly, cracking a half smile. "Comms Officer! Mark!"
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The other ships formed a heptagon around the Al Tigaro Tigaro. Slowly they moved to within ten meters of each other.
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"Shields full forward."
The Al Tigaro Tigaro was the first to put its shields full forward, followed immediately by the Al Lione Lione and then the rest of the ships.
"All ahead, quarter speed."
The fleet started forward towards the Coalition Armada, first at one-quarter speed, then half speed. Finally they achieved 100% engine output and were traveling at 2,950 kilometers per second.
The fear Aisha felt earlier had been channeled into rage and excitement as the fleet raced towards the Coalition Armada.
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The lieutenant rushed from the bridge to the conference room where the Admiralty of the Coalition was planning their next objective. Rushing over to the Chief of Staff, he informed him.
"Admiral, the Ctarl destroyers are advancing towards us at high speed. It appears they mean to attack."
"Attack? Eight destroyers against our entire space fleet? Are they insane!?"
"Are they within firing range?" Another admiral asked.
"Not yet, but they will be shortly." Answered the lieutenant.
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"Coalition ships will be in firing range in 20 seconds." Informed the tactical officer.
"Concentrate all fire power on the three lead heavy cruisers in the middle. We'll take them out and punch a hole right through their defenses."
"Lady Aisha, I beg of you, reconsider your actions." Vistar pleaded.
"GRRR, Quiet! You Fool! This is for the honor of the Ctarl Ctarl Empire!" She thrusts her fist forward. "Victory or Death!"
The rest of the crew picked up the chant, "Victory or Death! Victory or Death!"
The soldiers down below shortened the chant to, "Victory! Victory! Victory!"
And in the vacuum of space you could almost hear the cry of "VICTORY!" coming from all eight ships.