Chapter 10

Operation Trout

"Everyone, the time is nearly upon us, and Sydney is on the horizon," Commander Mckay said. "The Mercenary Cabal is holed up in Sydney, cornered like a rat. This is their final beast, and they are trying desperately to keep it fed."

The briefing software zoomed in on the southeastern tip of Australia, near Sydney. "We originally intended for us to strike the Mercenary Cabal Navy when it was at port in Sydney, however that has changed. In an effort to cover up its moments, the Cabal has decided to split its naval forces in two in order to evade our detection. However, thanks to the efforts of Ms. Frost and a naval patrol an hour ago, we know where they will attempt to make the trail run cold."

The map zoomed in and focused on a small sea next to a great outcropping of rocks.

"Based on the intel, we believe the second Mercenary fleet will split up again at the Spring Sea, where thermal interference from latent cordium is at its highest. Naturally, we cannot allow this to happen. We have to eliminate the fleet before they make it there." He then broke a smile.

"But to ensure that will never happen, we will be deploying the First Naval Battlegroup alongside 2 airship escorts and a fighter screen. See to it that these pirates are wiped out once and for all."

X

"All squadrons, contact with the enemy fleet has been sighted," AWACS Alamo said. "You are cleared to engage."

"Roger," Katrina said, weaving through the massive swarm of Federation aircraft. The mercenary fleet appeared on her HUD, a motley collection of destroyers, cruisers, and even lowly ships like corvettes and patrol boats, to a small screen of escort fighters ranging from multi-roles to attack craft.

"Ha! These won't put up much of a fight," Twister said, swinging by them.

"Remember, these mercenaries might be low-lives, but they sure as hell can put up a fight," Katrina said, remembering her encounter with Dragur 1.

A new voice joined them over the comm.

It was the captain of the battleship that was leading the Federation charge against the mercenary fleet.

"This is Captain Matais Torres of the Federation battleship Dejanus. The thermal interference from the Spring Sea is too high for our ASM launchers. We've got to cross the T with these fools, but I know this ship's armor can take a few hits."

"What does that old fool think he's doing?" Twister said. "What does he mean by crossing the T?"

"He's going all guns on the enemy," Katrina said. "He's going to completely broadside them."

"Ah, that makes sense," Twister said.

"All forward batteries, prepare to fire!" Torres said. The forward turrets of the Dejanus swung forward, and Katrina saw for the first time that the Dejanus was armed with three railgun turrets, two in the front and one in the rear. All three turrets had three individual railguns cannons on them.

An orange-ish glow came from the muzzle from each cannon and three railguns shells erupted from them, a massive sonic boom following them.

The mercenaries had no chance of dodging or intercepting them because a few moments after the Dejanus fired the first shots of the battle, 5 mercenary ships exploded into burning husks.

"Woo!" Twister yelled. "Now that is a fireworks show!"

Katrina smiled. "Vanguard, all squadrons, let's get in there and help the Dejanus out!"

She hit the afterburners as the rest of the Federation fighters soared forward.

She locked up a cruiser and the moment the targeting boxes turned red, she fired 2 standard missiles, following it up with a storm of bullets that bloomed a massive explosion from the ship that split it in half. Dead in the water, the ship began its descent to the bottom. Peppermint shredding a cruiser with a well-placed gun run and Twister dodging anti-aircraft fire to put a few patrol boats and a destroyer out of commission.

The Federation Navy was also catching up. The Dejanus was tearing multiple mercenary ships to slag with well-timed and well-placed bursts from its railguns. A few mercenary fighters tried to slip past the destroyer screen to try and hit the Dejanus with bombs, but the AA system shot them to slag before they could attempt their run. The two Anura-class cruisers, the Koteng and the Ameria, were also collectively pitching in with their missiles and ventrally mounted railguns, clearing up the mercenary air cover as well as the naval vessels.

As Katrina soared away from the wreck of a mercenary destroyer, a frantic transmission from Alamo came in.

"ALCON, be advised. I have detected a task group from the Oceanian Royal Navy inbound, consisting of the carrier Geofon and the battleship Tanager."

"Oh shit!" one of the Federation pilots exclaimed. "It's the Invincible Fleet! They've been hammering the Federation Navy for months!"

"Let's see how invincible they are once we send them to the bottom," Katrina declared. "Dejanus, soften them up for us!"

"Roger, Vanguard," Torres said. "All batteries, prep for fire on the Aegir Fleet on my mark!" The Dejanus repositioned itself and swung all three turrets to face the Oceanian Fleet. "Mark!" All turrets on the Dejanus fired, unleashing a deadly salvo of shells that soared through the air and knocked out a considerable amount of the Aegir Fleet's vessels. The other Federation ships unleashed a salvo of torpedoes and followed the Dejanus in, claiming kills on the Oceanian Fleet.

"Destroyer Tische sunk," Alamo said. Katrina saw Peppermint soar away from the wreck of an Oceanian destroyer. She picked out a nearby cruiser and put bullets in it until it sank.

"Cruiser Fenris sunk," Alamo said, confirming the kill. Katrina looped around a SAM warning and caught a glimpse of the Geofon launching a pair of F/D-14s.

"Alamo, be advised. The carrier is launching fighters." She then maneuvered behind the Tomcats and locked them up, launching a pair of MLAAs as soon as the targets were highlighted. They struck the Tomcats, and they were out of the fight before they could join it.

"I got it!" Meteor yelled, diving on the Geofon, weaving through CIWS fire to put his URBMs on it. A massive fireball bloomed from the island and reduced it to a smoking husk.

"Carrier Geofon sunk," Alamo said. "Damn Meteor, you are making a name for yourself."

Katrina chuckled and dove in on another destroyer and shredded it with gunfire. Then, she set her eyes on the Tanager. It was almost the same as the Dejanus, with those three railgun turrets and massive imposing frame, but now it was vulnerable, barely firing back because a shell had lodged itself in one of its turrets, and it was damaged by a torpedo run from an allied destroyer. "I've got the Tanager," she said. Then, her cockpit lit up with missile alerts as she dove in on the Tanager. The missiles streaked past her, and she put two missiles and a lot of bullets into the battleship before it erupted in flames.

"Battleship Tanager sunk," Alamo said. "All ships, move in and finish them off!"

"Roger," Captain Torres said. "All stations, send these mercenaries to Davy Jones!" The guns on the Dejanus and on the Federation ships pounded on the remaining mercenary and Oceanian vessels until there will no vessels left afloat except for burning husks. The Federation ships suffered little if no damage at all. The only exception was the cruiser Torrance, which was struck by a shell from the Tanager, and it was now belching smoke, but it was still afloat.

"All forces of the Federation," Captain Torres said. "The Mercenary Cabal had their chance to leave. Form up on us and begin the blockade. Let's start tying the noose."

"Ha! We are back in business!" Twister laughed.

"Aren't we all?" Katrina said, forming up with the rest of Vanguard.

X

"Thanks to your efforts, the so-called Invincible Mercenary and Oceanian fleet has been sunk," Commander Mckay said. "With this setback in their hands, the mercenaries are now completely vulnerable now that our path to Sydney is clear. Standby for the call."