Chapter 10
UNSC 4th Fleet Flagship, Valiant class Cruiser The Marian
Epsilon Eridani System, Planet Reach.
Undergoing resupply and refit from long distance patrol.
Ivan Troy Cole, Aged 61, gazed through the viewport into the inky darkness of space. All around him, the three dozen bridge officers of the Marian worked to coordinate the resupplying and refit process of the massive vessel.
"Sir Incoming transmission from Fleetcom on priority channel" yell one of the three communication office. "Patching it through."
Ivan Cole nodded and turned his attention to his personnel com holoprojector while his two co-commanders followed.
The projector winked its green indication light before a swirl of photon resolved into the familiar face of Fleet Admiral Harper.
"Fleet Admiral, sir!" Saluted Cole as stood at attention.
"At ease Cole" smiled Harper as he gazed on the living legacy of the famous Preston Cole. "Fleetcom just received word from a Sangheili patrol fleet nearby. They found something of particular interest and you are going to be tasked with leading the mission for the recovery of the UNSC Spirit of Fire and the Leviathan class Keyship they found"
"Sir, with all due respect, my fleet and their crew need some R&R, the last fight has severely damaged most of the ship under my command" Replied Cole as he slowly eased up his stance.
Frowning slightly, Harper replied "I heard about that, nasty scuffle. Which is why Fleetcom wants me to inform you that you will be placed in command of the 5th Fleet for the duration of this mission, the ship you are given is this beauty." Harper's hologram shirked and the blueprints of a ship sprung up.
Ivan Cole studies the blueprint with a trained eye and his mouth twitched into a grin as he quickly identify the ship class. "A Mark 2 Astraeus class? I thought Fleet com Scraped the original two Mark with the reason of them being too damn expensive?"
It was Harper's turn to grin. "The spooks at ONI were bored with the peace time and decided to have fun in completing the original Astraeus class battleships. They recovered the original structure of the ships from Algolis. Surprisingly the hull of the original ships suffered only minor damaged when ONI recovered them. The first one has already completed construction and refit, I'll send you the specs later. Now the name of the ship is Field of Hope and I'm only loaning it to you so please dun scratch the paint."
With that, Harper cut the connection. Ivan shakes his head at the old Fleet Admiral's weird sense of humor before turning to face his bridge crew. The two co commanders were the first to say anything "Vice Admiral, sir, It's been an honour serving with you" with that the crew snapped to full attention and saluted Cole.
"The honour has been mine" replied Cole as he slowly returned his crew's salute. "Tim, you keep this ship and the crew safe you hear?" Asked Cole as he slowly turned towards the bridge doors.
"I hear you, Troy" smiled the AI of the Marian.
The Vice Admiral stepped into the hanger bay and slowly regarded the assembled crews that had come to pay their respect. A sudden "Aten- Hun" caused them to salute the Cole as he walked towards the waiting Pelican.
Taking one last look around, Cole returned the salute. "Dismiss" said the admiral softly before entering the Pelican. The Dropship slowly eased its rear hatch shut before it's four individual thrust engines roar to life in the cavernous hanger of the Marian.
"This is Tango 398, requesting permission to proceed with Flight plan" said the pilot as she slid the agile dropship into the waiting airlock.
"Tango 398, this Is control, Green light" replied the technician as he shut the inner airlock. The outer airlock cycled open, allowing air and the lone Pelican to dash out into cold vacumn. The pilot of the Pelican slowly orientate the dropship just as a flight of five Mark 2 Sabers slid into escort position around the Pelican.
"Let give the Admiral an Airshow" Yell the flight leader. A cheer sounded through the the com frequency as the flight as one perform elegant maneuvers until they are 2 kilometers from the Field of Hope. Cole look through the viewport at his new ship.
The Astraeus Battleship was an awe inspiring sight, the ship with a length of approximately 2.4 kilometers falls only 62 meters short of the Phoenix class colony ship. Three holes in the front is the only indication of the ships three MAC cannon build into the ship. Hexagonal covers of the six hundred Oversized Archer Mark2 missiles pods that that dotted both side of the battleship hid the incredible firepower from view. Nearly a thousand pulse laser point defense system dotted the massive ship providing an all coverage field of fire, along with 6 recessed deck guns that house the ship's Plasma cannons.
The Pelican approach the massive battleship's hanger bay and Cole admire the partially Forerunner alloy that cover the vessel. Studies into the Forerunner metal have yielded significant results in armour technology, allowing the UNSC to mass produce Titanium-A Alloy armour that contains silver of forerunner metal inside, greatly enhancing the armour's durability and heat resistance. With the incorporation of Forerunner metallurgy, UNSC ships can now withstand a few direct hits before their hull beneath the armour is fully exposed.
Suddenly the Pelican swung into a 180 degrees turn and slowly settle down on it's landing gear. The ramp lowered, revealing the welcoming crew, two lines of Marines stood at attention in front of Cole before parting to form a path for the Vice Admiral. "Let's get this ship underway" muttered Ivan Cole as he strode into the command elevator that leads to the bridge.
The Field of Hope shudder as it's now completed engine assembly fired up, the docking collars connecting the ship to the orbiting shipyard disconnected. Slowly the vessel cleared the shipyard and began it's way towards where the rest of 5th fleet remain.
"All system nominal, reactor are green at 70% capacity" Reported ops officer Diana as she taps away on her keyboard managing the Field of Hope's large maintenance crew.
The door to the bridge slid open and Vice Admiral Ivan Troy Cole step into the bridge of his new flagship. "Status report" Barked Cole as he walk towards the command table.
"Weapon Green across the board, Sir" replied the weapon officer
"Main engine is online and shake down is almost completed sir, we can use 80% power right now." reported the ops officer
"Navigation system online" reported the ship's AI as she activated the holo-projector to show her avatar. "Vice admiral Cole, I'm UNSC AI construct TYA-one-six-seven-five-dash-eight, you may call me Tanya." The hologram stabilized, showing a female commando with two pistols.
"A pleasure to work with you" replied Cole as he examines the table. Numerous holograms of scale sized UNSC vessel floated above the table representing the numerous ships under Ivan Cole's command.
"This is Vice Admiral Ivan Cole to all ships, prep slipspace drive and lock in coordinates for the Sarum system." Ordered Cole as he flip through the various data provided by ONI. Suddenly he arched an eyebrow. "Tanya, we have Civilian tugs with us?"
"Affirmative, the following data is classified eyes only" Replied Tanya as she beamed the data directly into Cole's eyes. "In addition to the Forerunner Keyship, There is another object that ONI has taken considerable interest in." Whispered Tanya directly into Cole's personal com unit.
Even as he scanned through the report sent by the Sangheili fleet, Cole immediately understood the implication of another Alien technology. Suddenly the projector shifted and Cole was given his second order, directly from the top brass of ONI.
"Right, is the fleet ready to depart?" Asked Cole as he shut off the projector. His eyes were slightly watery as they try to adjust to the sudden change.
"All ships confirmed the coordinates have been lock in, synchronizing slipspace drive algorithm, the fleet is ready sir," replied Tanya as she cocked her avatar's guns.
"Engage Slipspace jump, let's get this over with." Ordered Cole as he settled into his chair. All around Reach, Slipspace portal opened as the new slipspace drive of the human fleet enlarge the micro black hole into portal to slipspace and disappeared in a brilliant flash of Cherenkov radiation.
UNSC Modified Colony ship Spirit of Fire
Sarum star system, 2563, September, 19th
Holding position above the forerunner Keyship
"Sir, slipspace rupture detected." Announced Serina as she monitor the sensor array on the old colony ship. "Receiving IFF, it's an UNSC Slipspace Probe, receiving transmission from the probe…. Putting it on speakers."
"Spirit of Fire, We are sending reinforcement to reinforce the Sangheili fleet currently patrolling the Sarum sector, Hold position until 5th fleet arrives. Good luck Hood's out"
There was an eerie silence before the bridge crew members erupted into frantic cheers. Even Captain Cutter managed to crack a smile.
Suddenly Serina frown "Captain more slipspace rupture detected!"
"Onscreen Serina, prep weapon, there's no way 5th fleet will be here so soon and notify the fleetmaster of this development" Ordered Cutter as the celebrating mood suddenly fades away.
His caution was rewarded as three dozen Jackal ships emerged from Slipspace directly in front of the Sangheili fleet.
"All Ship Open fire! Protect the Keyship at all cost!" Roared Rtas Vadum over the com channels as the collective Jackal ship attempt to make a beeline towards the Keyship.
Bright blue plasma lanced outwards piercing the weak shield of Jackal ship before melting the tinker parts that were cobbled together to form the bird like Kig-Yar's ships.
Cutter raised an eyebrow at Serina. The AI gave a grin before three MAC rounds slammed into the leading three Jackal ship before the archer missiles detonated along their hull, blowing chunks of metal, atmosphere and jackal out into space.
"Sir, a pair of Jackal ships are getting close to the Keyship!" yell the sensor operator as she try to sort through the chaotic reading flooding her computer.
"Serina bring us in, unlock safeties on the deck guns and open fire!" yell Cutter as he survey the battle from the holo table in front of him.
"Aye Aye sir!" Replied the AI as she pushed the Spirit's Engine the Ship shake with the sudden acceleration before the gryo stabilize the inertial. Even as the massive ship rockets towards the two unsuspecting Kig-Yar ship, twenty two of the original thirty concealed deckgun emerged from the top of the Spirit of fire from their concealed position.
"450mm Shells are loaded and the deckguns are primed, Time for some payback" announced the AI calmly as she ran through what remains of the Spirit of Fire's battered system.
"Fire at will Serina," Ordered Cutter as he surveys the fight between two Sangheili cruisers with 8 Kig-yar Raider. The cruisers were drifting leisurely into the midst of the Kig-yar formation even as pulse laser and small version of covenant plasma torpedo impacted their shields. Suddenly all hell erupted as the cruisers released two plasma torpedo each, smashing half of the Kig-yar ships into molten slag.
The four other ships attempted to flee as they suddenly found themselves out gunned but were strike down as four more torpedo detached themselves from the cruiser pair.
Suddenly the Spirit of Fire shook as her massive deckguns fired into the sides of the two Kig-Yar ships. The 450 mm shells rained upon the tinkertoys like ship, pounding their shields before they detonated along the shields. "Uh-oh" muttered Serina as points of blue lights gathered along the Kig-Yar ships.
More Archer missiles erupted from their missile pods and formed a screen of chaff, shielding the Spirit of Fire from the pulse laser fired by the Kig-Yar, fireballs of nuclear detonation doted the space around the spirit of fire as the missiles managed to intercept some of the lasers.
"Damage report!" Yelled Cutter as alarms sounded throughout the ship.
"Hull breach in deck 14 to 12, sealing bulkheads, Damn Kig-yars, they're trying to hit our starboard armour." Hissed Serina as more lasers slammed into the ship's armour.
"Flip us by 90 degrees, activate the point defense turrets, and concentrate fire on this one" indicated Cutter as he selected the larger of the two Kig-Yar ships. Maneuvering rockets throughout the Spirit of Fire's hull fired, slowly flipping the massive ship to present the top side of the vessel.
"All guns fire!" Yelled Cutter as the colony ship brought its complement of deck guns and tri-barreled 50 mm autocannons to bear. Thousands of high explosive rounds slammed into the Kig-Yar's ship, the silver shield flicker before dying out under the massive hailstorm of rounds.
With the shield gone, the rounds punctured the Jackal ship's hull, detonating inside. Within seconds, the jackal ship was reduced to a debris field. The other Jackal ship attempt to disengage to regroup but a plasma round from a nearby Sangheili frigate detonated the ship's reactor.
"This is like shooting fish in a barrel" joked the weapon officer as he manages the shortsword bombers currently dive bombing another Kig-yar ship.
"Serina get the MAC recharged," whisper Cutter as he observes the remaining four Kig-yar ships jump into Slipspace.
"Expecting trouble Captain?" asked the AI as she worked to carry out the captain's orders.
"Something tells me this is just a recon expedition" muttered Cutter before returning his attention to the holotable, Casualty report scroll across a window, Three Sangheili frigates are disabled, and a lone destroyers was severely damaged, the rest of their ships have sustained minor hull abrasion.
"Something is not right here" muttered Cutter as he continues to study the holotable…
Meanwhile, Professor Solus Mordin surveys the carnage of the fight. Whoever these being are, they have incredible amounts of technology. The Stealth frigate, a prototype provided by the Turians. Even now, teams of Salarian's STG are attempting to snag a few seemingly surviving ship components that had floated near their ship.
Suddenly the sensor officer, a Turian by the name of Chellick shouted out "General we might have trouble! Detecting a lone vessel on an intercept course!"
General Septimus Oraka gave a slight grow before ordering" Recall the STG team, we are leaving!" the 3 STG team crammed into the airlock even as the frigate race away towards the mass relay. "Sensor which ship was the one that attempted to intercept us?"
Chellick tapped away at his console and put the vessel responsible for their fleeing on display. It was the only ship in the entire purple hull fleet that is a dull grey. From the front it looks like a rifle. The general nodded his satisfaction before the frigate jump away through the mass relay.
Author's Note: Well now the Kig-Yar recon fleet was routed while the stealth frigate built by the Turians got scared away by the Spirit of Fire. It seems each fraction is gearing up for one hell of a fight. Human and Covenant Separatist: 2 fleets; Citadel fleets: 6; Covenant loyalist: 3 (Including the Kig-Yar Scouting fleet). Who's going to win the upcoming slugfest? Give me some votes and I'll consider it.