The Dralthi were the first to break away to engage the Human ships,
making a beeline for the Hyperion. Unfortunately the squadron commander
completely ignored Ralao's orders, and the missiles from the two escorting
Olympus corvettes. His and nine other Dralthis were destroyed in the
opening salvos, and the disorganized squadron cowardly retreated back to
the Kuth'lan.
"Order the fighters to protect the transports, the Natha, Kuth'lan and Vetrox will break to attack the Human vessels." The three Kilrathi capital ships broke away from the convoy as the Dorkirs went to maximum thrust with the fighters shortly behind them. The Natha was the first to open fire, her six turret batteries sending energy bolts right for the Hyperion, whose Interceptor system went to work by destroying each bolt before they could do any damage to the ship. The Hyperion responded by firing her Pulse cannons at the Natha, the crew bracing for impact as the shots slammed into the ship's shields.
Ralao could see one of the Olympus ships maneuvering to get a side shot of the Natha. "Vetrox, come about and protect the Natha's flank, engage that Olympus." The Vetrox veered off from its course for the Hyperion and started firing on the smaller Human ship. It began firing a merciless barrage of energy bolts at the ship, whose defense systems could barely intercept the shots. However it exposed its rear to the other two Human ships, which opened up on it with all their weapons systems. The weaker rear shields buckled under the pressure, and the Vetrox's engines were seriously damaged; but not before the Natha, who had joined in on the fighting, overloaded the Olympus's interceptor system and landed several shots on the hull, destroying two of the Pulse cannons and a Railgun.
Meanwhile the Kuth'lan began firing on the second Olympus, launching an Image Recognition missile. Her interceptors were too busy with the energy bolts, and the missile struck her amidship, creating mostly superficial damage. She fired back repeatedly with her Railguns, their slugs bashing into the forward shields and weakening them slightly.
With his attention on the Olympus, Ralao did not notice the Hyperion bearing down on the Natha, her Pulse guns going all out on the Kilrathi destroyer. The captain of the Natha made the vital mistake of dividing his fire between the Hyperion and the wounded Olympus, his instincts tell him to kill off the weakened opponent first. The front shields were beginning to fall when the Hyperion fired off her Fusion missiles, and just as shield was destroyed the missiles hit home. Her laser batteries were destroyed, her forward half almost unrecognizable and a missile had gone through the main bridge, killing the captain instantly.
Ralao muttered a silent curse; the Natha was destroyed and the Vetrox couldn't maneuver to bear its guns on the Humans, who still had three ships in commission, albeit two of them were damaged to some degree. But that didn't matter anymore; he was secure in the fact that the transports would not be destroyed. The Dralthi signaled they had met up with a squadron of Krants and they would escort the needed supplies to the fleet. He could die knowing he had not failed his mission.
He stood their, his First Officer screaming for orders, the Hyperion moving to a position behind the Fralthi, fire impacting from all sides. Even the wounded Olympus threw a few missiles at the Kuth'lan, each shot tearing away at the protective shielding. It came when a Fusion missile lodged itself in the rear of the vessel, exploding near the main reactor; the Fralthi went up like a firecracker, and when the debris cleared there wasn't a thing left of it.
*************************************************************
"This is the EAS Tallahassee to Earth Alliance Fleet, enemy task force destroyed, single Ralari destroyer disabled and captured, requesting mechanical assistance for EAS Williams and Tecumseh. Go get them for us, boys. Tallahassee out."
"Order the fighters to protect the transports, the Natha, Kuth'lan and Vetrox will break to attack the Human vessels." The three Kilrathi capital ships broke away from the convoy as the Dorkirs went to maximum thrust with the fighters shortly behind them. The Natha was the first to open fire, her six turret batteries sending energy bolts right for the Hyperion, whose Interceptor system went to work by destroying each bolt before they could do any damage to the ship. The Hyperion responded by firing her Pulse cannons at the Natha, the crew bracing for impact as the shots slammed into the ship's shields.
Ralao could see one of the Olympus ships maneuvering to get a side shot of the Natha. "Vetrox, come about and protect the Natha's flank, engage that Olympus." The Vetrox veered off from its course for the Hyperion and started firing on the smaller Human ship. It began firing a merciless barrage of energy bolts at the ship, whose defense systems could barely intercept the shots. However it exposed its rear to the other two Human ships, which opened up on it with all their weapons systems. The weaker rear shields buckled under the pressure, and the Vetrox's engines were seriously damaged; but not before the Natha, who had joined in on the fighting, overloaded the Olympus's interceptor system and landed several shots on the hull, destroying two of the Pulse cannons and a Railgun.
Meanwhile the Kuth'lan began firing on the second Olympus, launching an Image Recognition missile. Her interceptors were too busy with the energy bolts, and the missile struck her amidship, creating mostly superficial damage. She fired back repeatedly with her Railguns, their slugs bashing into the forward shields and weakening them slightly.
With his attention on the Olympus, Ralao did not notice the Hyperion bearing down on the Natha, her Pulse guns going all out on the Kilrathi destroyer. The captain of the Natha made the vital mistake of dividing his fire between the Hyperion and the wounded Olympus, his instincts tell him to kill off the weakened opponent first. The front shields were beginning to fall when the Hyperion fired off her Fusion missiles, and just as shield was destroyed the missiles hit home. Her laser batteries were destroyed, her forward half almost unrecognizable and a missile had gone through the main bridge, killing the captain instantly.
Ralao muttered a silent curse; the Natha was destroyed and the Vetrox couldn't maneuver to bear its guns on the Humans, who still had three ships in commission, albeit two of them were damaged to some degree. But that didn't matter anymore; he was secure in the fact that the transports would not be destroyed. The Dralthi signaled they had met up with a squadron of Krants and they would escort the needed supplies to the fleet. He could die knowing he had not failed his mission.
He stood their, his First Officer screaming for orders, the Hyperion moving to a position behind the Fralthi, fire impacting from all sides. Even the wounded Olympus threw a few missiles at the Kuth'lan, each shot tearing away at the protective shielding. It came when a Fusion missile lodged itself in the rear of the vessel, exploding near the main reactor; the Fralthi went up like a firecracker, and when the debris cleared there wasn't a thing left of it.
*************************************************************
"This is the EAS Tallahassee to Earth Alliance Fleet, enemy task force destroyed, single Ralari destroyer disabled and captured, requesting mechanical assistance for EAS Williams and Tecumseh. Go get them for us, boys. Tallahassee out."