Title: Jumping at Shadows (10/?)
Author: Cyclone
Feedback: Please be gentle.
Distribution: Gimme credit and a link.
Rating: Nothing worse than on the shows, except maybe language.
Spoilers: After the end of one and before the beginning of the other.
Disclaimer: The characters depicted herein belong to other people. I'm just borrowing them for a while.
Summary: First contact between the United Earth Alliance and the Minbari Federation goes horribly wrong.
Author's Note: This is what a lot of you have been waiting for for quite some time now. Credit to Ash's Boomstick for writing several of the scenes in this chapter.
December 27, 2245
Earthdome, New York City: Prime Minister's office
Prime Minister Levy let out a tired sigh. "How bad is it, Scott?" she asked plainly.
"Bad," the Minister of Defense replied. "They hit us hard. We lost a factory satellite, the hull laid down for the SDF-23, fifty-three Nova-class dreadnoughts, over a hundred and fifty cruisers and heavy cruisers, and hundreds of lighter ships. Saving grace out of this mess is that they didn't stick around to steal our tech, and we can salvage a lot of what's left. The only really good news is they seemed to have overlooked the fuel refinery station."
"Casualties?"
"Still coming in," Scott said. "But most of the crews were on leave on nearby colonies while their ships were being refit. Still, we're looking at around seventy thousand dead."
"Damn it," she hissed. After they'd found human DNA in their prisoner, there had been hope of a peaceful resolution, but this swept that off the table. "When can we launch the offensive?"
"We're not ready yet," he answered. "We've got a target, and refits are almost complete, but we still need a few more weeks."
"Then come up with something," she snapped. "After something like this, we have to retaliate immediately somehow. We haven't been hurt this badly since Liberty."
Scott sighed. "HICOM's floated me an idea. We can cobble together a task force around Fortress Group Twenty-Two, launch a raid, do some damage, but we won't be able to take and hold the system. Problem is, if we screw it up, it'll delay the offensive even further, maybe force us to change targets entirely, which means more time lost to recon."
"Do it," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "We need a win, Scott, and soon."
December 31, 2245
Space Station Veracity: Observation deck
2Lt Jeffrey Sinclair peered through the observation bubble and watched in ill-disguised awe as the SDF-22 Vindicator drifted majestically into view, the Earth providing a gorgeous backdrop behind it. Over two kilometers long, the SDF-22 held more firepower and mecha than most battle groups, with twin reflex cannons, dozens of synchro cannons and capital-scale particle laser turrets, hundreds of ship-to-ship missile launchers, and thousands of anti-mecha weapon systems. The last time an SDF had been committed to battle had been during the Dilgar Invasion, and in a straight fight, an SDF could fight off an entire Dilgar fleet single-handedly; the Minbari would be the first real test of an SDF's capabilities in generations. Alongside it were the rest of SDFG-22: three Hyperion-class heavy cruisers, six Tyche-class cruisers, and a dozen each of Olympus-class corvettes and Artemis-class escort frigates.
The Artemis-class escort frigate had yet to see combat against the Minbari, and for good reason. Developed decades ago, the Artemis had been equipped with an impressive missile payload and the densest, longest-ranged, most sophisticated interceptor grid available, all with the intent to blunt enemy missile swarms and destroy hostile mecha squadrons before they could deploy anti-ship torpedos... only for such a threat - so prominent during the Third Robotech War - to never materialize. Since then, the Artemis had been largely retired, relegated to anti-raider operations and escorting the Spacy's most valuable warships, the Super Dimensional Fortresses. Just in case.
"Admiral on deck!"
Jeff turned, snapping to attention as the admiral stepped into the room. Vice Admiral (VAdm) Michael Fontaine gazed over the crowd of pilots gathered together.
"At ease," he said, his voice carrying across the obs deck. "Welcome to Operation Doolittle. This is our chance to hit 'em where they live."
He paused and touched a control panel, causing a holographic display of a planet surrounded by Minbari ships to appear above the assembled crowd. "Fold scouts have located a large Minbari fleet, estimated in the thousands, apparently in storage and being prepped for combat. This is where they hit Pharos from."
A disgruntled murmur rose from the crowd, but Fontaine ignored it. "We don't know what our time window is, so we're leaving as soon as this briefing's over. We'll be taking Fortress Group Twenty-Two, six Macbeth-class monitors, three Avenger-class assault carriers, and as many fighters with reflex missiles as we can find pilots for. We're going into the very heart of Minbari space, and we're going to do as much damage as we can before we bug out. This is a high-risk mission, thousand to one odds if we're wrong about the status of those ships. We're calling for volunteers."
Every man and woman present stepped forward.
December 31, 2245
SDF-22 Vindicator: Hangar bay
Jeff popped the canopy of his Shadowfury and vaulted out, taking advantage of the 0.8 artificial gravity maintained in the hangar bay, then took a moment to survey the hangar. Within moments, he was making his way to the ward room.
"Second Lieutenant Jeffrey Sinclair, reporting," he said, saluting.
"At ease, Lieutenant," the tall, gangly redhead said dismissively. "I'm Commander Iris Taylor. Welcome to the Skulls."
"Glad to be here, ma'am."
"You're just off a two year hitch as an instructor at the Academy, right?"
"Yes, ma'am," he answered warily.
"I've flown with your father, kid," she said. "Don't worry; you'll shake the rust off in no time. It's in your blood."
January 3, 2246
Valen'tha: Council chamber
"Given the amount of materiel we destroyed," War Leader Aeraan said, "I can confidently assure you that we have dealt a major setback to the human fleet and possibly blunted any future attempt to take the initiative. Still, these were ships undergoing refit and construction; they were not active-duty line ships, so there is still much work to be done."
He was just finishing up his report to the Grey Council. The Valen'tha was in orbit over Tarellan, one of the Minbari Federation's oldest colonies. Tarellan was home to the largest Minbari shipyard near the border toward Earth space, and as such, it was where more many of the ships constructed in preparation for the Shadow War - more than two thousand ships - were being refit for active duty. The shipyards here over Tarellan were a massive sprawl of space stations, each smaller than the human station they had attacked and destroyed but connected to each in a latticework that allowed them to support ten times as many ships.
"Excellent work, Aeraan," Morann said. He opened his mouth to say something further when there came a fuss at the entrance to the chamber. "What is the meaning of this?"
The young Warrior who sought entrance bowed humbly. "I do not mean to intrude, Satai, but we are detecting a number of gravitational disturbances. We were ordered to report these as soon as possible."
"By whom?"
"By me," Hedronn said, throwing his hood back and stepping forward into the light. "How many?"
"Three, Satai."
"Then we must go to arms," he said.
"What is the meaning of this, Hedronn?" Coplann demanded.
"The Anla'shok have been gathering intelligence on the humans," the Worker Caste Satai answered. "The humans do not always use jump points, but when they do not, a gravitational disturbance always precedes them. One of these grav waves can carry a handful ships, so three would be a sizable raiding party, and we are not ready."
January 3, 2246
Tarellan far orbit
In a flash of multicolored light, three Avenger-class assault carriers appeared a mere half-million kilometers away from the planet... and much closer to the orbital shipyards.
At eight hundred meters, the Avenger-class assault carrier was about the size of an escort carrier or long patrol variant Hyperion, but unlike Hyperions, Avengers lacked jump engines, instead relying on their much smaller fold drives for FTL travel. This freed up a considerable amount of space, allowing an Avenger to carry and rapidly deploy a full thirty-two squadrons of veritech fighters. Armored hangar bay door swung open, and the assault carriers each disgorged four hundred and eighty veritech fighters, a mix of Aurora Shadowfuries and Badger Strike Furies.
Aboard the lead Avenger, the UES Alexander, VAdm Fontaine stared out at the immense shipyards and the ships that made up their primary target, curling around out of sight around the far side of the planet. The destruction of "the Rok" had angered EarthForce and its Spacy contingent far more than any other single attack in living memory, and now, they would get their revenge.
Appropriate, then, the ships that would lead the attack.
"All monitors, this is the flag. Engage main weapons and lock on to primary targets. Assault squadrons, enter formation Bravo Zero and await the go order."
Alongside each of the Avengers floated a pair of Macbeth-class monitors. At just over four hundred and fifty meters long, the Macbeth crammed sublight engines, crew quarters, and an oversized reflex furnace into the rear fifty meters of hull. The forward four hundred meters were dedicated to a pair of massive fixed booms that earned them the nickname "Devil's Horseshoe." High energy particles began collecting between them as the reflex cannons charged.
"Sir, all monitors have begun charging, twenty seconds to main weapon discharge." The Alexander's chief sensor officer informed the vice admiral. "All ships are in formation."
January 3, 2246
Valen'tha: Council chamber
The Nine stood watching the arrival of the human warships. A bare handful were in full view, all unlike any of the others they had been able to destroy in the conflict so far.
"I do not recognize these ships."
"Then the humans have other ships in their fleet that we have not yet been able to see, perhaps new prototypes of more powerful vessels that are kept in their home sectors."
"Launch defensive fighters and power up the shipyard perimeter defenses. This force will be less than useless against our warriors," Morann scoffed. "Still, it would be prudent not to allow them too close in case they are able to cause even a slight confusion in the refit of our ships."
"Agreed," Coplann said, "but be wary, Morann. The humans have caused us harm in the past; the fact we are able to see their ships tells me they want us to know they are there."
"These ships may not have the stealth technology, but we will dispatch the defense ships as well as our own escorts to take the humans on. At three to one odds, the humans will be unable to cause much damage."
"That is odd," one worker Satai spoke up.
"Shokaar?"
"Their ships are not closing. They are, in fact, launching a great many fighters, so many that we are finding it difficult to keep track. What is more, immense power readings are coming from six of the nine ships. I have only ever seen readings like this from jump points or... in Valen's name!"
"What is it?"
"It has to be a weapon, far more powerful than anything I have seen before. As powerful as a Vorlon ship... if not more so."
"Impossible!" Morann exclaimed. "Order the defensive ships to close and fire, shipyard defenses to long range."
January 3, 2246
UES Alexander: Bridge
"The Minbari have seen us: Fighters are launching; defense turrets are going active."
On the ship's main sensor display, the admiral could see the small number of his capital ships unleashing hundreds upon hundreds of fighters. Each veritech was a match for the Fencers the Minbari deployed. Better yet, he had pilfered the best pilots and best fighters for the job and was willing to use them. The Auroras had already proven themselves deadly in much smaller numbers. The incoming warships... they would deal with them when the time came, but for the moment, they all had a job to do, and he was going to enjoy this immensely.
The enemy defenses were too little and far, far too late.
"This is Admiral Fontaine to all monitors... fire at will."
Each of the split prongs aboard the monitors shone with pent up energy, the power of reflex furnaces feeding every erg into the main weapons of these singular and capable ships. As one, the ships pointed their noses towards the Minbari station.
And then as one... they fired.
Space itself seemed to ignite as six beams of destructive energy swept across huge sections of the Minbari shipyards. Crystalline armor designed to give a scant few seconds' protection against the deadly beam weapons of the Shadows held better against this onslaught - better even than Earth's own robotech alloys would have fared - but eventually, even they failed, fusing, popping, and literally boiling away under the raw fury of the attack, entire vessels and stations vaporized by the pure energy of the human weapons, destroying hundreds of years of work in bare moments.
The Macbeths moved on, playing their beams across the surface, keeping the weapons from penetrating any further than they had to into the depths of the Minbari stations, the huge cannons completely stripping the ships and shipyards of their armor. When the beams finally ceased - seconds that seemed to draw out into days - the Badgers moved in.
The VSA-25A Badger Veritech Strike Fury was designed to complement the faster and more agile Aurora. Heavily armored and slower than its counterpart, the Badger boasted a pair of powerful particle pulse cannons, a 100mm smoothbore railgun pod, and multiple hardpoints. The Badgers here moved even more sluggishly than normal, each laden down with a quartet of reflex missiles.
The Badgers closed in on the shipyard by the hundreds as they accelerated, and then as they launched, they pulled up, unleashing their weapons and allowing momentum to do the dirty work. So close and without warning, there was no defense that could possibly stop the missile bombardment, the veritechs accelerated away and flying along the crushed and skinned ships, crippled stations and flattened shipyards. Over a thousand reflex missiles rippled out, burying themselves in groups or singularly into the now-exposed superstructures.
The detonations tore huge sections of the shipyards apart.
January 3, 2246
Valen'tha: Council chamber
The assembled Satai shut their eyes or covered their faces with hoods and sleeves as the flash of energy passed by their ship, blasting deep into the dry docks and shipyards and destroying everything in their paths. Bright lights and immense explosions almost flash-blinded those who were too slow in covering their faces. Soundless destruction continued in front of them as the beams continued to slice through supports and ships both, simply annihilating everything they touched.
Only moments later, the beams stopped.
"How?" Delenn gasped. "How is this possible?"
"It shouldn't be. Nothing in the universe could be that powerful. Nothing!" Morann shouted.
What they could see was nothing short of horrendous, billions of tons of shipyards and slipways were now twisted and broken, massive crystalline and metal structures now shrapnel and frozen nodules of molten metal. Blackened and cracked hundreds to thousands of meters deep, where the precious warships had been under refit, so many of them gone within a blink of an eye or mangled to the point that they could no longer be recognized by their creators.
The few fighters and short range craft that had been launched were no longer even visible, their atoms separated as they were intercepted by the bright beams, dissociating every one of them from the others. Over a hundred thousand of the best workers and warriors the Minbari Federation could gather had been wiped out in an instant, unable to escape from the attack.
Still staring at the carnage that the encroaching enemy ships had wrought, the Grey Council was slow to realize that the EarthForce vessels had not yet finished their attack. Due to the great distance, the Minbari were unable to see the hundreds upon hundreds of fighters launching massively powerful warheads into the open faces of the yards or past them into undamaged areas. Still all but invisible, the now retreating craft were completely masked by the millions of megatons of explosive force that erupted from the previously untouched bays.
Waves of destruction swallowed up the remaining ships and yards by the dozens. Nothing was spared by the human's incredibly powerful weaponry. Sharlins, Tinashis, Sharlans, a handful of precious Shargotis, Morshins, thousands of Nials and Flyers simply vanished in the fire of reflex detonations. Shrapnel flew from the explosions, cutting through yet more of the constructs and causing more carnage as the damaged areas were exposed to vacuum.
Those few ships under power moved away from the docks, attempting to escape their fates to no avail, several holed by flying debris or engulfed in explosive force. A small handful of escorts protected from harm by the bulks of the larger capital ships made it out, heading for the defense ships already heading for the human force.
Nearly a quarter of the shipyards were gone. Over five hundred warships and tens of thousands of fighters gone in barely five minutes and more than a hundred thousand Minbari with them. A heresy unlike anything that they had been forced to face before.
"This cannot be," Rathenn whispered. "It just cannot be possible."
"What have we done?" Delenn murmured.
"We have done nothing!" Morann shouted. "The humans have attacked us, and they must pay for the damage they have caused here. They began this war and have now simply advanced our cause against them. Order every ship left into formation against those human vessels. Do not let them escape!"
January 3, 2246
UES Alexander
Aboard the Spacy warships, it was a very different scene. The moment the explosions ripped apart the Minbari fleet yards, cheers and shouts had rippled throughout the fleet. The loss of Space Station Ragnarok had been relatively small compared to the devastation that burned in front of them. Most of the ships had been empty and the construction automated, leaving a far smaller number of people aboard but this... this was something far, far nastier.
Revenge was sometimes best served quickly and with overwhelming firepower.
"Report," Fontaine ordered.
"Sir, all monitors have secured from firing stations. They report ten minutes to full weapons power," his XO reported. "First and second waves have reported successful launch and impact of missiles, third wave is on standby."
"Status of primary target?"
"Destroyed, sir. Primary and secondary have been neutralized completely," Stevens continued. "The King Lear reports a visual on Minbari ships coming in on vector one-one-nine, at least twenty vessels, tentatively identified as a mix of Angel Fish and Shark classes, along with a third type of cruiser we haven't seen before."
"Raise the Shadow cloak, and rearm all returning veritechs with anti-mecha missiles," Fontaine smirked, "and send my regards to the SDF-22. Time for them to join the party."
Author's Postscript:
A side note. Due to the changes in the timeline and the miniaturization technology available, the Jumping at Shadows universe version of various B5 ships are about 25% smaller than their OTL counterparts.