CH 10.
The Bug leaders were puzzled about what had made Xzan so terrified. His mind was closed up tight. All he did was shudder, scream and release body fluids. Something on that tiny ship had done this. That tiny thing had also taken out four warships in the short battle, then blinked out. An impossible feat. As far as they could tell, it wasn't even damaged. A few survivors from their ruined ships told of their anti-ship laser and projectile weapons just bouncing off it. They had to find out what it was Xzan experienced.
They were gathering a swarm to finish off the Katan, but until they knew what this new threat was, they had to wait. Possibly to use the swarm against this greater threat first.
.
This time when Porcupine landed, it bore a long dent on the port side and another on the front. Both were streaked with black, and the sharp edge of the starboard side had a big chip out of it like something bit it.
"She's going to ruin that ship," Major Keaton said with a sigh.
"Bet they kicked some ass," Eddie said.
In the middle of the landing even before Porcupine settled down, the hatch opened and Suzanne jumped out. In another long bound she made the exit and called, "I'm heading to the war room. Major Keaton, Major Cohones, meet me there, bring Commnder Edmonson with you!" She then raced up the passage into the main body of the ship in long jumps.
"Sounds like trouble," Eddie noted. He headed down to meet Diane.
.
With the new damage to Porcupine and Suzanne's rush to the war room, it was assumed something vital was about to happen. Major Cohones ordered every combatant launched and recommended battle stations. Hera and Eddie ran to Porcupine, and were stopped at the hatch by Diane.
"Guys, guys!" Diane yelled holding both hands up. "No one followed us, there's no need to go spastic."
"Then what happened?" Hera asked and pointed to the long dent over the hatch.
"We went to talk to the bugs, they tried to take us over, so I killed the pilot while Suzanne extracted information from the other one. Their friends weren't happy about it and started shooting. We shot back and got four of them, then we got out of there," Diane explained.
"How big were these ships?" Hera asked.
Diane shrugged and said, "About the size of this one. I didn't take the time to measure them. They were pounding on us like they wanted to get in."
.
Diane got everyone calmed down while Suzanne raced to the war room's holotable and reconstructed everything she remembered about the bug systems while it was still fresh in her mind. She made holograms of the three systems, put in the coordinates for each, then filed the systems in with what she knew, the ex-Katan system first.
Working at the locations of each base, she heard the door open. Commander Edmonson came in with Major Keaton.
"I got a ton of info," Suzanne said a she added the 'swarm' rally point. "The Bugs have found the location of the Katan's planet, and are planning what they call a swarm attack." She put in the normal in and out routes of each system as she quickly changed the hologram and said, "They are insects all right, their cities they call hives, and like a bee, once they have a route down, they follow that route until something disrupts it. I've got their language, I'll need a translator to load it into so everyone has it. They only speak aloud over the radio. Face to face and short range, it's mental thought only. It's quicker ..."
The Commander and Major stood and listen as Suzanne went on as she build three solar systems in the hologram.
"... Their big strength is also their downfall, their weak spot. They are so sure their mind powers are superior to any other being, they consider every other intelligent being as merely animals to be controlled for their use." Spinning around to face the Commander, she said, "We are going to give them a hard lesson in what happens to those who think they can enslave whoever they want."
"You got all this from the one you talked to?" Commander Edmonson asked.
"No, I picked his mind apart and showed him he is NOTHING compared to us! I left him a quivering, insane, bag of meat. And I know just how to bring their empire to it's knees," Suzanne said, and spun back around to keep adding to the hologram she was making. "I need an engineer and a waveform expert."
For how badly Suzanne had taken the news that she was in charge earlier, Commander Edmonson noted she was really fired up now. "I shall see to it immediately, your Majesty."
.
On board Phoenix, Nova looked back at Zhena and gave her a thumbs up. Zhena transmitted. "This is Zhena, wife of Khal Aktar, scientist. Come in, please."
There was no reply, she she called again. Twice more she called out as they slowly approached a star growing in size as they got closer.
"This is the Fast Strike Dominator. Ship entering this system, stop and prepare to be boarded."
"Back it down," Nova said.
"Coming to a stop relative to the system ahead of us," Alex replied.
"Dominator, this is Zhena, wife of Khal Aktar, scientist. I am with hu-mans, friend species. We request to speak with the acting Alltribe. It is a matter of urgency."
"Zhena, wife of Khal Aktar, we will be coming along side, show your entrance hatch," the radio ordered.
"We can line up with theirs, it might be easier," Nova offered.
Zhena passed the request. It was denied.
"Fine, do it the hard way," Alex said in a huff. "Exterior light over the hatch is on. Holding position."
The much larger ship maneuvered along side. Lights shown on the Phoenix, then the radio commanded, "Your whole ship will be brought aboard. Extend landing gear and power down."
"Gear extending," Karen announced.
The larger ship moved so Phoenix was in the landing bay. The bay doors were shut. A line of space suited Katan carrying weapons watched. They felt a bump as the gravity was activated. The air was pumped back in and more soldiers arrived, followed by an officer.
Zhena said, "Open the hatch, we all go out hands up. I will exit first."
They marched out, hands up, Zhena leading the line. She talked to the officer, motioning to Nova and her crew. After a moment of talk, Zhena turned and motioned the crew to lower their hands.
Another Officer came in, wearing a translator box. "Welcome hu-mans. Tell me why you visit us."
.
Suzanne's mind was working overtime as she completed the holograms. A Colonial officer with black plastic rimmed glasses, and another with a spot of grease on his face waited patiently as she continued to add details to the system she was building. She glanced at them and said, "Are either of you familiar with alpha waves generated from the brain?"
They looked at each other. "Ahh, no ma'am," The man with glasses said.
"There are two wavelengths brains produce. Alpha and Beta. Beta waves are the active ones, when you think or are doing something, it's the Beta waves you are emitting. Alpha waves are your brain when you sleep, and inactive," She told them. "Comparatively, these waves are very weak compared to any other electromagnetic emissions and very low frequency. Talk to whoever you have to, then design the most powerful Alpha wave generator you can make."
"Ahh, Ma'am? May I ask what good will it do to make one of these?" The bespectacled man asked.
Suzanne turned her head and looked at the men. The both lifted off the floor with a yelp. "The beta waves can be very strong. That is how I am holding you up right now. If you had a strong Alpha wave generator, it would affect my brain, and I'd drop you. The Bugs control people's thoughts. If they are say, making a ship dive onto a planet to destroy it, an Alpha wave generator would stop them." She put the men down.
"Very impressive," Major Cohones said.
"Impressive will be making those generators and getting them on our ships," Suzanne told him. "Without them, only myself and Diane are immune to the Bug mental attacks. I want to fight with a whole fleet, not just one ship."
"Get on it," Commander Edmonson told the men. They saluted and left.
.
On Tauron, everyone at the meeting was sitting in chairs in a circle. The centurions had larger frame chairs, and Lucy had a well padded purple chair. President Adama, Gina six, human leaders from 'states' on Tauron, and Cylon leaders on Tauron were all in attendance. White Robes stood patiently behind the meeting group.
They were making progress. Lucy listened as they all agreed to balance wants and needs. With needs being first, the Cylons maintained control of the factories, and agreed that humans were welcome there if they chose. In return, the humans agreed to support the factories and help make the plants as ecologically friendly as possible. Lucy never had to say much, her presence alone seemed to make everyone see reason. When they came to and agreed decision between themselves, everyone did look at her for her nod of approval. President Adama and Gina also agreed that since Tauron was a world of mixed species, their planet should be ruled by they alone, and be helped by both Colonials and Cylons.
The Taurons ended up making a democratic government by 'state', each state selecting it's own representatives for the Tauron Quarum that would be in charge of safety and security for the planet. Each state would govern themselves in all other matters.
The meeting was winding down when a Recon ship landed outside, and a woman from space command ran into the building. She stopped just inside the doors carrying a large folder and came to attention. "Queen Lucy, Lt. Fedora Andropov of the recon ship, Leopard, reporting. I have vital news to report from the Hot Sands system."
Lucy waved her over. "Bring it to me."
Lt. Andropov did. Lucy opened the folder and looked at the reports. Most were squared papers, one was the hexagonal paper of the Colonials. She raised an eyebrow and asked, "Lt, do you have any idea why Princess Warren wants asteroid movers?"
"None whatsoever, Your Majesty. My best guess is Suzanne … I mean, Princess Warren, has something up her sleeve."
Lucy took the pen and authorized the list of requests and added a couple, then passed it back and said, "Princess Warren has her items she requested, plus a third squadron of recon ships and a supply and repair ship. I do believe she will need them. This list it top priority."
Lt. Andropov took the folder back and snapped a salute. "Yes, Your Majesty, I will see to it personally."
She then walked quickly out and back to her ship. It lifted up and flew away.
Seeing both Lee and Gina watching her, Lucy said, "It appears problems may be developing near Hot Sands. For the time being, we let those we trust handle the situation."
Gina spoke up and said, "Your Majesty, we Cylons would like to support your efforts. Perhaps with a Base Star at her command, Princess Warren will be better able to control the situation?"
Lucy thought for a moment, then said, "Thank you, Gina. Have the ship proceed to Hot Sands and offer their assistance."
.
The strangest fleet was collecting around the planet of Hot Sands. The Orion was overshadowed by three Katan Hardstrike battle ships, four Devastator Battle ships, an half dozen Battle cruisers, Kay's cargo ship, a large blocky supply and repair ship and the most impressive, a Cylon Battle Star.
Suzanne had no idea what to do with them all. She had been expecting the two squadrons of recon ships, and got three, along with a battle fleet. She had been planning fast, surgical hit and run strikes, and got a big hammer to work with.
Instead of launching her plan, Suzanne found herself meeting with Katan, Cylons and Admiral Scot. She took Commander Edmonson and Kay with her as moral support on her trips to visit with the various ships. Visiting the Cylon ship, she did note one thing that gave her attack plan real hope. The centurions were all machine, they had no biological minds the Bug could infiltrate. The 400 heavy Raiders the Cylons brought with them would be impervious to Bug mind control. Once she saw what she had to work with, she modified her plans to form a new and utterly devastating one.
On an open hangar deck on the Base Star, which was the only place that had room for all the Admirals, top officers, and unit commanders of various species now under her command, Suzanne had the hologram of the Bug systems projected over her and large enough for everyone to see. As people arrived, they got radio earphones with the appropriate translators they needed so she could speak to everyone at once.
Standing on the platform, Suzanne bowed to the large crowd before her. "I thank you all for assisting in this mission. The actions we will take are many and complex. Ensure every one of your shipmates knows the entire plan, right down to the ones who provide your nourishment or energy. Once we start, there is sure to be changes. Any good battle plan is good only for the first few minutes of the fight. I have speculated as accurately as possible on Bug reactions, but there may be surprises waiting for us. Keep sharp and be prepared to modify as needed to ensure victory."
Suzanne explained, "Bugs are insectesiods, they are hive minded and follow routine paths. When attacked, they will swarm to defeat the attacker. If they are only a few, they will retreat to gather a swarm. They are planning to swarm on the Katan to annihilate them. We are going to use their habits, and their sense of superiority against them before they can carry their plans out. Bugs use mind control on their biological opponents to disable them, and possibly use them to their advantage. There is a range to this ability. All biological entities, stay a minimum distance of two thousand miles from any Bug ship unless you have an Alpha generator AND your ship is protected against low frequency emissions. You don't want to put your own people to sleep. Those are being made now. I cannot promise you will get one before we launch. The other weapons Bugs use are focused lasers and fairly fast and heavy projectiles. Long range missiles will most likely be destroyed before they can reach their target in the opening phase of this battle. Consider the likelihood of success before using them. Now, for the battle plan."
Pointing up to the three systems over her, Suzanne said, "We are going to attack each system. This one," she said illuminating it. "Use to belong to the Katan. It is designated LK. If there is a Katan strike, this is where they will be expecting it. So that is not where the Katan will strike ..."
It took Suzanne an hour to lay out who was going to strike, with what, when and where. The fold or warp in locations, what the objective was, and when to leave. After explaining each separate attack, she made sure the group involved knew what they were to do, then went on to the next strike. As she talked, she could see the light of revenge in the eyes of the Katan. Once the whole plan and contingencies were laid out and everyone understood, she finished the briefing the only way she knew how.
Thrusting a fist in the air, Suzanne cried, "PANZER VOR!"
"PANZER VOR!" came the roar of the crowd in reply. Especially with the Katan, they had no idea what it meant, but to them, it meant a cry of the Bug were finally going to get theirs.
.
The coordination of all theses ships at different locations and start times required for everyone to use the same clocks to ensure coordination. During the fight, many would not even get to see each other or know how the rest were doing. Suzanne decided on a 100 hour clock for timing. Day one was the initial strikes, day two a reforming at Hot Sands to find out how day one went, repair and resupply then day three follow-on strikes as needed.
Two hours before day one started, Suzanne had the last batch of Alpha generators sent to the Katan. Only half the Katan ships were equipped with the devises. The Katan Admiral chose which ships to put them on. Her recon squadrons, the ones she was depending upon the most, and the Base Star had theirs, as did the Orion. She wanted the bio-cylons and humans protected, for she did not want the Bugs to grab either ship. That would be a disaster.
At one hour before launch, Major Cohones ordered all crews into their ships and Commander Edmonson ordered his ship to battle stations.
.
"This is it," Eddie said as he settled down into his middle seat. Hera took the electronics console for dedicated sensor monitoring.
Over the radio, Major Cohones said, "Porcupine, this is Major Cohones. Princess Warren, we really do wish you would stay behind."
"Major, I made this monster. It would not be right to step out of harms' way when the chips are down," Suzanne replied.
"Understood," he said with a sigh. Then added, "Commence launch. Panzer vor."
All ships cried out, "PANZER VOR!" at once.
"Now, we're ready to roll," Diane said with a grin.
As planned, the battered Porcupine and the rest of the 32nd folded together and lined up with the Bug's normal entry into the ex-Katan system, but on the ecliptical, and not at 20 degrees above. They turned towards the system and used full thrust to get closer, then shut down. Drifting in between the defense platforms and their radar, Suzanne seriously hoped the Bug were not expecting trouble.
"Pay no attention to us, we're just asteroids," Eddie said.
"Yup, just harmless random space objects that happen to be in line with each other," Dianne added.
Hera chuckled. "Natural objects in a nice neat line?" she asked.
"It could happen," Diane said defensively.
Suzanne pressed her lips together, then said, "Keep sharp, we're live now moving into enemy territory."
Hera watched her passive sensors closely. If Suzanne's intel was correct, their 10 ships were going to take on 350 Bug battleships. Success depended upon surprise. She had a hollow pit in her stomach. This was insane. Even if they did achieve total surprise, the odds were just too stacked against them. No sane person launched an attack with a thirty five to one odds disadvantage. And this ship already had battle damage. "Do we have a plan to pick up survivors?" she asked meekly.
"It's win or die, so stay sharp. Remember when we start swinging, you have the lower laser. Don't miss." Suzanne stated.
"Swinging?"
"This is going to be a brawl, baby," Diane told her. "A knock down, drag out slugging match. Go for their sensors, mid ship in a ring around the hulls. The sooner they are blinded, the sooner they can't shoot back at us."
"Remember, the 24th is coming in to help after they wipe out the defense platforms in this system," Suzanne told them. "Be careful you don't hit them by accident."
After they win against 35 to one odds. Hera was very glad she hugged her parents good bye before she left. She feared she would never see them again.
.
The 14th squadron were drifting into the normal bug entry at their home system. Behind them, the asteroid movers drifted in. At each entry and exit point of every Bug system, a squadron of recon ships came in on the ecliptical, except the entry to the Bug home System from L1, the other system captured by the Bugs. There, the Katan waited outside the system with their ships shut down. The Base Star and the Orion moved into their pre-attack positions close to their targets. There were no communications, everyone knew their timing and goals.
.
Watching for the defense platforms, Hera called out, "Suz, I have a platform at 293, 021 … another at 287, 300."
"Their system entry guards," Suzanne noted. "There should be another below the ecliptical."
"I see it," Diane said. "Just like before, they are ignoring us."
Keeping close track of their approach, Suzanne said, "Eddie, once we are in the system behind those platforms, angle up slowly. We don't want to get spotted."
"Right, Suz." Pointing he added, "There goes the others in system and right on time."
Diane let out a giggle. "The bugs will be sooo butt fucked."
"Naw, Eddie's staying on board with us," Suzanne said with a smirk.
Hera knew it was unprofessional, but she couldn't help be let out a laugh that contained a bit of insanity. What the hades, she thought, it might well be the last time she could laugh before a shell or energy weapon smashed in here to splatter her all over these panels.
.
Suzanne estimated it would take them three hours to get turned around and approach one of the platforms from behind. They arrived fifteen minutes early. Closing on the platform she said, "You're up, Eddie."
Eddie opened the clam shells and extended the grippers. He grabbed the body of the platform with one and the antenna with the other. He ripped the antenna off, then reached out and crushed the radar dome. Some sparks shot out. A red light came on. Eddie smashed it. "No warning anyone," he chided.
Backing away from the ruined platform, they moved to the other platform.
.
Major Keaton watched the planet growing in size the moon that was their first target was dipping behind it. She looked at the time. She had to allow the full time allotted for Porcupine and Badger to disable the defense platforms before she began her attack. In a hostile system with only eight ships, she was beginning to sweat.
Watching the clock tick down, she nodded. Stinger went to full thrust, the rest of the 32nd followed. They shot a satellite on their way around the planet, then the moon came into view. A zoom view showed the plane on the moon that was covered with warships. "Commence fire!" she announced over the radio.
At the same time Bug warships began to blow up at the swarming location, Porcupine appeared in front of the military station. Eddie aimed and shot the middle ship. The slug went right down the center line, blowing that ship up, which destroyed the warships to either side of it. Diane and Hera cut into the station with lasers as Eddie picked another good, solid section to pump another rail gun round through.
"Hera, any transmissions?" Suzanne asked.
"The station has ceased transmitting," Hera reported.
"Objective complete. Eddie, get to the the moon base," Suzanne announced.
.
At the planet where Major Keaton and her ships were shooting out rail gun rounds as fast as they could, Badger appeared to take out satellites, then join the obliteration of the parked warships. Return laser fire came from turrets on the surface of the moon to deflect off the Space tank hulls. Soon, Porcupine arrived to help shoot ships that were warming their engines and shooting back as they got ready to lift off.
"I lost the lower laser" Hera reported.
"Keep scanning!" Suzanne told her.
"Eddie, one lifting up, one o-clock by three!" Diane cried.
The ship rotated slightly and shot the rail gun again. "Got him!" Eddie said, and then lined up on the next ship. He aimed and shot as fast as he could.
.
'ATTACK!' cried every bug mind on the moon and their forward system station. The station went silent, but on the moon, they radioed out for 'immediate' assistance, swarm under attack.
The leaders panicked. The Katan again! How were they getting into the system? Every ship was to respond and get control of these attackers, except one to fly to the home system to raise the alarm and bring another swarm to help.
As ships lifted off from the captured Katan planet, a strange warship appeared in orbit. Gunfire and missiles rained down on the largest Bug hive. A multitude of minds cried out in pain and fear as these weapons blasted apart their carefully build homes and factories. Ships closed to take the attacker over, and were shot down. The long warship was immune to mind control. The bug leaders had no warships of their own in flight, and the ones on the moon were being destroyed where they sat. The forward station was silent, as if it no longer existed. They feared this was the end unless they got help fast.
.
Porcupine assisted in the destruction of the swarm. Shooting rounds into the cloudy debris on the surface Eddie looked for anything rising up. One ship did rise. Three rail gun rounds from different ships ripped it apart. The 24th appeared to help rip into more ships trying to launch.
"Five minutes left," Suzanne announced.
Diane was vaporizing laser turrets and any structure she was able to find. A small ship tried to slip away. She burned it. Eddie shifted the ship to shoot a few Bug ship not yet in pieces. He shot them one after the other.
"Two Minute warning!" Suzanne announced over the radio.
"The Orion jumped out of system," Hera reported.
"One minute, disengage!" Suzanne ordered over the radio, then told Eddie, "Get us to hold station one!"
Eddie turned Porcupine for space and Folded out on the vector Diane supplied. The large asteroid was close to the exit point from the Home system. Eddie landed in a crater beside Polecat. The 32nd collected there to wait for their next part on the mission. The 24th retreated to hide on another asteroid.
At both locations, raptors were there with ammunition ready to reload the rail guns. Suzanne, Diane, Eddie and Hera all went out in pressure suits. Eddie opened the loading hatch, Hera got the rounds off the raptor, tossed them to Suzanne, who tossed them to Diane, who gave them to Eddie to load into the ship. Once Porcupine was loaded up, they helped other ships reload. Out of the 400 rounds the raptor had brought, they distributed all but seven.
Outside the raptor, Suzanne got Hera's attention with a tap on her shoulder.
Evenly, Suzanne said, "Hera, I know you're terrified and the worst is yet to come. If you want, get on and leave with the raptor. You came to train, not to fight."
Hera looked at the inviting open hatch on the raptor. It was tempting. Only a few shells hit Porcupine, but each one had made the ship shudder. If Suzanne, a Princess who didn't even have to be here, was going to continue to fight against incredible odds, Hera could not abandon her. Stiffening herself, she returned her gaze to Suzanne and said, "I am a certified crew member of Porcupine. I will not leave my post because it's getting a little rough."
Suzanne gave her a satisfied nod. "Let's get back on board."
The the raptors fled after the Space Tanks were reloaded. In the time remaining, Space tank crews slept in shifts as they waited for the next engagement. Hera took a nap fully clothed beside Diane.
.
Upon hearing the news the Katan were mass attacking the new system, The supreme Leader ordered all swarms to counter attack immediately. Low animals could not defeat them! They would crush the attackers, then drive on to the Katan's pitiful planet and destroy all resistance in one fell swoop.
Every warship in both remaining Bug systems were ordered to form up and flooded into the new system to eradicate the attackers.
That was what the Cylon Base Star was waiting for. Upon getting the sensor readings of a mass of ships leaving the system, they jumped in and launched their Heavy Raiders and the squadrons of Space Tanks to do their assigned destruction. At the same time, the 14th came into the system, destroying the defense platforms and the asteroid movers raced to the asteroid belt and began grabbing asteroids to position. While the Base Star went to the home planet to launch a ferocious missile attack, the 14th and the asteroid movers prepared for the swarms to come back.
.
The Katan ships saw the swarm leaving the system they were monitoring. Right on time. They warped deep into the system and attacked every ship and occupied planet. The mines they brought were scattered along the Bug entrance paths into the system.
This system had not done what Suzanne had predicted it would do. Upon the call to swarm into the New system, they held back some of their forces, thinking this was only an assist. Consequently, when the Katan arrived, the Bug had a hundred of their own warships in system to respond. The Katan did make a devastating attack initially, wiping out 20 Bug ships, but then they found themselves soon outnumbered and about to be overwhelmed with numbers. Following Suzanne's orders, they didn't stay to fight to the last, but warped away to sit outside the system the bugs had taken from them.
.
Suzanne noted the appearance of a mass of Bug ships coming in. This was expected.
"Damn, look at them all," Eddie whispered.
"Diane, Hera up NOW!" Suzanne yelled. Listening to Bug transmissions though her translator, she heard the orders to spread out and destroy the attackers. Both women shot up and returned to their stations.
"Time to squash more bugs?" Diane asked as she got settled.
"Almost," Eddie told her.
The Bugs didn't find any attackers. Not one single Katan ship was in the system. Orders were sent out to assist the places they had been hit, and another two hundred ships came in from the other system. Then the one Suzanne was waiting for warped in, calling out the Home System was under attack. The 600 or so angry Bugs ships reformed to warp back to their Home system.
"All units attack now, Panzer VOR!" Suzanne ordered. Eddie lifted off, lined up on a Bug and shot.
Bug ships exploded and came apart. Phoenix had lined to one behind another, their rail gun round went through both ships. A few others got double and triple hits this way in the target rich environment. Bracketed by two squadrons to their rear, the Bug ships turned to counter. Bug ships exploded and laser and gun fire bounced off the Space tanks.
On board Porcupine, it was chaos. Suzanne was calling out orders, Eddie and Diane shot while Hera did her best to make sense of the cloud of craft covering her sensor screens. The ship shuddered, then shuddered so bad that if she wasn't buckled in, she would have been thrown out of her seat. The hits kept coming in and their rail gun kept shooting out.
Gripping her console to keep from being thrown around as loud bangs sounded with alarming regularity, Hera knew Diane had spoken the truth. They were indeed in a slugging match for their lives.
A 600 against 20 slugging match. Thirty to one odds. It was going to be a long, drawn out fight to the bitter end.