INTO THE BREACH
"Gentlemen, we have a major problem" the captain spoke, his voice flat and to the point, "An enemy frigate is sheltering here right on our boarders, she's using the radiation from the nebula as cover for her sorties, and the batteries on the planet's surface mean we can't get close enough to fire a shot at her."
"Aye sir, and if we leave her, we either risk losing more ships, or leave a back door open to the alliance." Lieutenant Bowles
"Indeed not." The captain replied, letting the weight of the burden settle before he proceeded.
"If I may make a suggestion sir" Bowles stood, as the captain nodded to him, conceding the floor. "Taking the ship is nearly impossible with the battery there, that's why they hide there, even if we manage to take her, the batteries will blow us apart before we can break orbit" there was a mummer of agreement on the lips of the officers present, and heads nodded to confirm. "So we take the battery too" At that statement the room went silent, it was a simple idea, but the fighting involved nearly impossible, at least, that was the notion running through the heads of those sat at the table. "I know it sounds audacious, and that's why it'll work, it's the last thing they'll expect, we have the advantage of surprise."
He inhaled, he'd announced his overall intentions, justified them, now he was preparing to go deeper into detail. "We land a strike-force here, on the other side of the planet, if the nebula shields them from us; it stands to reason they'll find it hard to notice a small transport. Two miles south of the battery is heavy woodland, we'll land in a clearing there, we can use the woods to cover the approach." His hand traced over the dense forest on the map, following a river to a small clearing, where he planned to put down the ship. "We attack by night, we should be able to get up to the wall without being detected, plant explosives, blow the door, and be on the men inside before they know what's going on. With the battery in our hands, you can launch a second strike against the frigate, take her too." The room fell silent, the officers digesting what they'd just heard.
"We'll take into consideration" The captain smiled, clearly impressed. "Does anyone else have any suggestions?" the room sat silent, no one could compete with what they'd just heard. "Very well gentlemen, you're dismissed. I'll get back to you when I've made my choice"
For the next few hours the ship was tense, the officers on deck hardly spoke except when necessary for ship functions. Hold a near straight course hardly required many orders given. Finally, John Echols, the captain's steward emerged from Pettigrew's cabin, "Gentlemen, the captain's compliments, he requires your presence in five minutes".
Five minutes later, the officers stood facing the captain, again standing over a large map of the planet battery. "Your plan is a good one Mr. Bowles, I'll have no hesitation in going through with it." Despite the weight of the task before them, the cabin breathed a sigh of relief, they all knew it had to be done, no matter how dangerous. "Tonight, Mr Bowles, you will lead a taskforce composed of 30 ship's marines, Ensign Peters, Ensign Forest and Ensign Sawyer. Lieutenant Johnson, you will take a further 20 marines, Ensign French and 40 ships hands to take the frigate once the battery has been captured or destroyed."
The ship was silent, the crew had been briefed on the plan, they were ready, but nervous, as Ewell drifted forwards into the black. "We're coming up on the launch position sir" Lieutenant Bowles turned from the console to face the captain.
"Very good Mr Bowles, have the men board the ships" He replied
"Aye-aye sir" He replied, saluting, he left the bridge heading to the launch bay. The small transport ships began to fill with marines and officers.
One by one the fleet of small ships left the launch bays. Ewell would wait 20 clicks beyond the range of the planetary batteries for 4 hours, at which point she would move forwards and launch the crews to take the alliance ship. "Don't worry" Forest look across at Ensign Peters, she sat nervously, looking forwards blankly. The ships shook at they hit the outer atmosphere, the undersides glowing red from the heat as the ships descended through the air towards the landing point. Gently the ships touched down exactly where it was intended.
The door opened and the marines quickly stepped out, weapons presented they ensured the surroundings were clear. The officers stepped down, their pistols and swords sheathed. Looking around Forest breathed the fresh, crisp air. He hadn't set foot on a planet since the war started several weeks ago, and firm earth and fresh air felt good to him, a welcome change to a steel deck, and re-cycled air. But they had a job to do, they couldn't stand and enjoy the sight of the sun setting over tips of the mountains in the far distance. As darkness fell the group moved slowly and silently through the dense woodland, there were so many things that could go wrong, an accidental noise, anything that would let the alliance know of their presence before it was time to commence the attack.
After what seemed to be hours of marching, the big grey bunkers of the battery complex loomed before them. The external security was remarkably light, the alliance was complacent enough to believe the independent's wouldn't attempt an attack of this magnitude, not with the ship in orbit as well. "Bring up the explosives, quietly" Bowles whispered back to the marine sapper, who came forwards, spreading the plastic explosive over the weak points on the main door to the compound, just enough to blow off the door. Pressing the long fuse into the block of plastics they slowly reeled off the quick fuse wire, walking backwards into a ditch.
Suddenly the silence of the night was broken, a dull thud echoed throughout the forest as the charges went off. "Ewells charge!" Bowles shouted, the explosion had hardly settled as the men ran out of the ditch through the door. As they crossed the threshold, flashes of gunfire erupted from inside, the first line of men fell, either dead or seeking cover, behind them the marines returned fire, shooting forwards into the dark building. They had to stay mobile, if they got bogged down here, Ewell would be in huge danger from the battery itself when she approached. "GRENADE" came the cry from a marine as a small metal shell landed a few inches ahead of the attackers, they turned to move back but it was too late, a second explosion shook the night.
When the dust settled, the alliance fire had stopped, but in the doorway 3 marines, and Lieutenant Bowles lay dead or dying. "Marines, present" Forest yelled, the marines lowered their guns, pointing forwards into the fort, "Covering fire" he shouted again. The guns opened up, firing up at the alliance positions. Forest ran forwards, into the doorway, to Bowles, who lay, blood dripping from a gash in his forehead. "Leave me, theres not enough time, take the battery." He croaked.
"Ewells to me" Forest yelled over the gunfire, the marines and crewmen pushing forwards to his position. Drawing his sword and pistol he moved forwards, leading the men onwards into the fort. The alliance defenders who initially halted their progress had either been killed, or fallen back. The crew of Ewell pushed onwards, into the open courtyard at the centre. As they entered a volley of shots hit them from behind a barricade in the middle of the courtyard. "TAKE COVER" Forest yelled over the gunfire, knowing that a charge would be suicidal. The marines hid behind whatever they could find, firing sporadic bursts into the defenders. From all around them now, guards on the walls were firing down. "We're pinned down sir, there's no way we can move from here" A young marine confirmed the situation.
"ENSIGN PETERS" He yelled, trying to find the other officer in the chaos.
"She's not here Paul, I don't know where she is" Sawyer replied from the other side of the marines.
"Gorramit, she should be in charge"
"Guess you got promoted" Sawyer laughed
"Marine, come with me" Forest tapped the shoulder of a young marine and pointed to follow him, "And bring the rest of the plastics." Turning to his old friend he yelled again "Take over here Sawyer, I'm going to see if I can find another way"
Forest and the marine fell back, moving away from the courtyard and back into the corridors of the base. "There has to be a way up to the walkways of the wall." Forest mused, running quickly through the base. "Quickly, through here" he smiled, a thin staircase beckoned. The stairs ended in a long, thin room, in the centre was a line of huge guns, pointing towards the black of the nights sky. "This must be the gun room" Forest said, in awe at the huge guns before him. On either side of the room, there were a series of smaller anti vehicle and anti personnel guns, pointing outwards towards the planet's surface. "Quickly, help me with this" He gestured to the marine; they both struggled against the weight of one of the smaller guns, angling it downwards until it could be brought to bear on the fort itself.
"Okay, now pass me a cartridge" Forest ordered the marine, pointing at the stack of shells in the centre of the room, "Its not what I had in mind, but lets see if this don't help" He grinned as he slid the shell into the gun. "Stand back" he smiled again, the gun primed and ready. He pulled the fire cord. The pin fell with a click on the shell casing and suddenly the gun erupted, jumping back along its rails. Forest ran to the hole, getting there just as the shell hit, a few yards behind the barricades, but it did what it was intended too. The explosion rocked the fort. The alliance defenders behind the barricades were either dead or lying stunned by the blast. He could see Sawyer leading the men forwards into the centre, towards the former barricade.
"Lets go" Forest shouted to the marine, running down into the centre again.
"You must surrender" Sawyer demanded, his sword pressed against the stunned senior officer. With obvious hesitation the officer obediently bowed and turned his weapon over to the attackers. With that gesture, the fort was theirs. They were given little time to celebrate their victory, right on time Ewell entered a deep orbit with the planet, approaching the frigate. "Paul, what do you make of this?" Ensign Sawyer said, his a tone of worry to his voice, he offered his telescope to Forest.
"Damnit" he turned away. "Mr Prowse you'll come with me please, and bring a few marines" He walked quickly into the fortress. The stout ships hand gestured to the nearest marines, who followed Forest back into the gun room.
"There are three corvettes moving in on Ewell. We're going to have to take them down." He gestured at the huge guns. "But we don't know how to use that" Prowse protested.
"Well have to learn, quickly. With most of her marine guard, and gun crews down here Ewell doesn't stand a chance, especially if they board her. Besides it can't be that hard" he swallowed nervously.
"Theres no shells in here big enough" the gunner announced, having taken stock of the ammunition in the gun chamber. "They must keep them somewhere else"
"Quite right" Forest agreed. "Send the marines to search the fort, and could someone find Ensign Peters please"
"Sir, we've got the shells, through here" A marine ran up smiling. Leading the officers into a re-enforced ordinance room.
"Very good, get them to Mr Prowse." Forest ordered as the marines began carefully lifting the huge shells onto the trucks.
"I think we've got it figured sir" Mr Prowse lifted his head from the open chamber, his face covered in soot and gun oil.
"Very good Mr Prowse, load and prepare to fire" Forest smiled as the first of the shells arrived
"Course if I'm wrong it could blow us all up" Prowse added his usual macabre observation.
"It's a risk we'll have to take" Forest smiled back, sarcastically as the shell was slowly and carefully slid into the chamber. "Hurry up gorramit" Forest yelled, staring through his glass into the sky, watching as the corvettes surrounded Ewell, he could see their guns firing, and knew it wouldn't be long before they realised she wasn't at full strength.
"GUN READY" Prowse yelled as the chamber closed and his men primed the firing pins.
Forest closed his eyes, "FIRE" he yelled as loud as he could, his voice croaking. Prowse pressed the fire control panel. A deafening roar announced the firing of the gun. The shell soared forwards out of the barrel through the upper atmosphere, the huge force of the batteries enough to propel it out of the planet's atmosphere.
"Sir, batteries are opening fire" the ensign of the watch on Ewell's bridge looked up from his console, fires were erupting throughout the ship from the repeated attacks by the corvettes, his facial expression told of the "last straw". Captain Pettigrew closed his eyes in resignation, the ship hadn't heard from the men on the surface, and noone on board believed they could operate a planetary battery, the guns firing, to Pettigrew told of defeat. The shell sailed onwards, suddenly making contact with the side of one of the attacking frigates. The force it possessed forced the shell through the outer casing of the hull, and into the ship before it finally detonated, ripping the warship apart from the inside out. "Sir, it hit the corvette sir, they're firing on the alliance ships, we've taken the fort!" the ensign laughed as he reported the first bit of good news.
"God help them." Pettigrew whispered under his breath as he watched the external screens, watching the corvette break up.
"Well shot Prowse" Forest congratulated his gunner, watching the corvette break up. Realising the situation the two remaining corvettes quickly began to change course and move away, as did the frigate. The crew of Ewell cheered loudly as the alliance ships scattered, fleeing from their own planetary battery. "Mr Prowse, please lay the charges and let's get out of here".
As the sun began to rise, casing an warm orange light across the mountains the crew of Ewell, under the command of ensign Forest arrived back at their transport ships, their uniforms and faces covered in blood and soot from the last nights actions. A sudden loud crash reported that the timed charges in the fort had gone off, destroying the battery. Huddled inside one of the ships was the tiny frame of Claire Peters, her face stained with tears, "I'm sorry" she offered meekly, "I couldn't do it, the fighting, the death, it was too much, I didn't want to die, I panicked, and I ran." Ensign Forest sat next to her, extending his arm around her he sat silently, trying to think of the right words to console her. "Lets get out of here" he finally said, directed more at the pilots and marines than at her. The crews quickly boarded their ships and began to take off, returning to the heavily damaged Ewell. In his arms, ensign Peters had stopped crying, "I'm sorry" she mewed again. Forest lent down and gently kissed the top of her head. She looked up and smiled, his face black with powder and mud, she ran her hand down his face, before leaning upwards, she gently placed her lips to his, closing her eyes she kissed him softly, feeling more reassured and safe in his embrace than she had since the war began.
Pettigrew eagerly shook his hand as he entered the captain's office. "Very impressive" he smiled, reading the hastily drawn up report. "You took the fort and managed to save my ship" the captain smiled more, looking at the young officer before him. "Unfortunate about Bowles, and now my ship needs a new lieutenant, can you think of anyone to fill that vacancy?" the captain shot a subtle look at the young ensign.
"Ensign Peters is the most sen.." the captain cut off Forest's reply
"As you were Acting Lieutenant Forest" the captain stood and shook his hand. "Besides, I've approved Peter's request to transfer back to the admiralty, I've no place for officers who panic under fire. I've arranged for Ensign Sawyer to move your possessions to the wardroom." Pettigrew said quickly
"Thank you sir, I don't know what to say"
"Don't say anything, just make sure you're ready for the Lieutenant's examination, we'll be putting into dock soon to repair the damage, you'd better not let me down" The captain said in a mock serious tone.
"Of course sir, I'll be ready" Forest smiled
"Dismissed, I assume you'll want to get to know your new bunk."