Chapter 18: Common Threat
Reviewers:
Sean: Ooops! Let's just say another Admiral sent Picard. The Breen idea is a good one. Look for it soon. For The Imperium!
Liljimmyurine: Mistakes corrected. The optics and scopes are new models that are better than the old ones.
PeaceKeeper Dax: Thanks! You'll see the Tyranids soon enough.
Silvanas: Sorry. (Creates new, BETTER, HOMING knife). Here, this'll get the fly for sure! And what do you mean, "Not Eldar Tyranids?"
Oblivionknight7: They are Craftworld Eldar.
The Klingons had agreed to battle the Federation and the Imperium. The Imperium had contacted the Klingons and asked them if they were interested in unlimited battle and bloodshed. They had been interested. The Imperium wanted the Klingons to become part of the Imperial Guard. They had responded with a challenge. They would send five hundred ships to meet a Federation/Imperium fleet of the same size in the Kitomer system. If the Klingons lost, they would join the Imperium. If the Federation lost, the Klingons would be allowed to do as they pleased. The Federation/Imperium alliance had agreed.
The Federation fleet arrived first, led by the refitted Enterprise-E. Over the past several months, the Adeptus Mechanicus had completely redesigned the Utopia Plenetia, transforming it into a full Imperiumfleet yard. They had redesigned the entire Federation fleet, adding void shied generators, small Lance batteries to larger ships, improved armor, and ramming prows. They still looked the same, with the exception of their hulls being darker, the thick armor on their prows, and the lance turrets of the Galaxy and Sovereign class ships.
The Klingon fleet arrived an hour later. On board the Klingon flagship, General Kolgoth gazed out at the Federation fleet. The Federation ships looked different. The armor on their prows was thicker, and the larger ships sported turrets on their undersides.
"General, the Federation fleet is hailing us," his First officer reported.
"Answer them," he responded. A moment later the face of Picard appeared on the screen.
"Klingon commander, I am Admiral Jean-Luc Picard. We are here to duel your fleet as agreed."
"Admiral Picard, I am General Kolgoth. We are honored that the Federation has agreed to this duel."
"I have only one request. When a ship becomes disabled I request it sease to bea target."
"Very well Admiral. May we now begin?"
"Very well General. I wish you good luck."
"Real warriors make their own luck," the general said as he severed the connection.
On board the Enterprise, Picard ordered the fleet to assume battle formation. The Imperium had trained Federation crews on how to trulyfight a battle.
"All ships open fire," Picard ordered. The lance turrets of the larger ships fired at long range, many impacting their targets. Shields overloaded and dozens of Klingon ships were destroyed or disabled. Return fire splashed over void shields. Several volleys struck Enterprise.
"Void shields holding," Worf reported. "These new shields are extremely effective."
"Indeed. Target the Lance Cannon on the Neg'var bearing one five eight point nine." The lance cannon was the newest weapon given to the Federation by the Imperium. It was basically a scaled down version of the lance battery mounted of Imperium vessels. It was smaller and less powerful but more accurate and with a faster rate of fire.
The lance beam struck the Neg'var and cored through its port nacelle.
"Direct hit," Worf reported. Their port nacelle has been damaged and they are venting plasma."
"Torpedoes full spread. Target their power systems." Eight Quantum torpedoes struck the weakened Neg'var, taking it out of the fight.
"Target disabled." Suddenly the sensors began going crazy. "Captain, sensors are picking up a massive distortion opening up five thousand kilometers directly ahead. Something massive is emerging!"
Outside the battle, a massive warp rift opened to disgorge the Ork space hulk Big Blasta and its fleet of Terror ships and Kill Kroozers, thirty ships in all.
"What are those things?" Picard asked upon seeing the patched together Ork vessels and the massive space hulk. The tech priest assigned to the Enterprise stepped forward.
"Orks, but how could they be here?"
"Who are these Orks?" Word asked.
"Savage creatures. They posses immense physical strength, though their weapons and tactics are crude," he replied.
"Worf, contact General Kolgoth." The General appeared as confused as Picard.
"Who are these new arrivals?" He asked. "Have you decided to violate our agreement?"
"I am as surprised as you. According to the Imperium's information, they are a race called Orks. They exist only to make war. However, unlike Klingons, they have no sense of honor. I suggest we join forces to stop them."
"I agree. If these Orks do have a love of war as you say, we will vanquish them."
The Klingon fleet moved up and opened fire on the Ork vessels. Disruptors, Photon Torpedoes and all manner of special weapons splashed against Ork ships. Crude shields failed, and the Klingon attack destroyed three Kill Kroozers. The return volley had the Orks' typical lack of accuracy, but the sheer volume of fire meant that at least some Klingon ships were hit. Twenty Birds of Prey and three Vorcha cruisers were obliterated by Kannon shells and some sort of lightning weapon.
"Order our ships to fall back," Kolgoth ordered. "We must learn more about this new enemy before we attack again.
On board Enterprise, Picard ordered Worf to send a call for assistance to the Imperial battle fleet that had been standing by in case it was needed.
"The fleet is en route now," Worf reported. "Time to arrival ten minutes."
"Tech priest, what can we do against the Orks?" Picard asked.
"Their weapons may be powerful, but their accuracy is negligible. If it were not for their lightning cannon you could destroy them from long range. However it is probably slow to recharge. I suggest you target all your weapons on it."
"I agree. Worf, instruct all ships to target the large vessel's main weapon."
"Understood." The Federation fleet joined the Klingons in attacking the space hulk. Most of its guns were too large to effectively target the small, darting Federation vessels. The Hulk did have impressive defenses though. Layers of shielding and very thick armor. It withstood everything the Klingons and the Federation could throw at it.
"Admiral, our weapons are having little effect on the enemy vessel. I am picking up increasing energy readings. I believe it is preparing to fire its main gun again,' Worf reported. Picard opened a general comm. channel.
"Picard to all vessels. The enemy flagship is charging its main gun. Get clear!" The fleet scattered, but several vessels were still destroyed. Then aWarp Foldopened and the Imperium battle fleet exited. One hundred fifty ships, led by the Retribution class battle ship Emperor's Judgment.
"This is Fleet Admiral Dren to all allied warships. We are here to assist you in the destruction of the Ork hulk. We will take down the hulk itself, focus your efforts on the Ork capital ships," the Fleet Admiral ordered.
"You heard the man, let's go to work," Picard ordered. The combined Federation/Klingon fleet engaged the Orks. The crudely made ships disintegrated before the punishment that was being dished out. Return fire destroyed many more ships. The Federation's void shields were not as effective as before because now they were up against weapons they had been designed to fight against. Still, in the end numbers told the tale and the Ork fleet was destroyed.
The Imperial battle fleet focused its firepower on the Orks' lightning weapon, destroying it with their second volley after the hulk's shields fell. Massive numbers of Ork fighters swarmed out of the hulk. Imperial Marauders and Lightnings responded, and the space around the capital ships was quickly filled with dozens of short lived fireballs . Slowly but surely the Ork hulk began to break apart. Thirty meter long plasma torpedoes blasted open the hulls of ancient vessels, and lance batteries and Nova cannons blew apart weapons batteries and ammunition magazines. For those on the planet below, a new sun was born for a few moments as the hulks reactors exploded in sequence.
"Admiral, the enemy hulk has been destroyed," the tech priest reported. He had taken over tactical temporarily to assist in choosing the most vulnerable points in the Ork ships. Picard breathed out a sigh of relief. Casualties had been heavy, he knew. Hundreds of ships had been lost. If the Imperial fleet hadn't showed up though, it could have been much worse.
"Sir look!" Worf suddenly shouted. He indicated the Klingon flagship, crippled during the final moments of battle. An Ork Kill Kroozer, fire leaking from everywhere, was somehow still moving. Its' crew were apparently determined to take their enemy with them, and they had chosen the Klingons' flagship. No other ships could reach it in time. Then a Dictator Class cruiser, also aflame, rammed the Ork vessel amidships, vaporizing both vessels in a flash of igniting plasma.
"How many people were on that ship?" Picard asked. The Dictator was three kilometers long, so it must have had a large crew.
"Over three thousand," Worf responded. Picard hung his head. "Sir, the Klingons are hailing us."
"On screen," he replied, little emotion in his voice. The bleeding face of General Kolgoth appeared.
"Admiral, I and my entire crew witnessed what you did for us. You have shown great honor and courage. In the name of Chancellor Martok and according to the stipulations of this duel, the Klingon Empire officially joins the Imperium of Mankind. We look forward to future battle with you."
"It would appear you will not have to wait long at all," Tech Priest Musoko said. "Sensors show that before the Ork hulk was destroyed it launched seven Roks to the surface of Kitomer."
"What harm can rocks do?" Kolgoth asked.
"Ork Roks are hollow and each can carry thousands of Orks to the surface of a planet. I believe the Orks are beginning a planetary invasion of Kitomer. We must stop them or they will lay waste to the entire world."
"We will help," Kolgoth said. "The Klingon Empire will defend its newest allies. I personally owe you a debt, and I intend to repay it."
"You cannot do this alone," Musoko said. "The armies of the Imperium will join you. We will see you on the surface." And so the defense of Kitomer began.
Meanwhile, the Changeling had just crossed into the Neutral Zone and was intercepted by Romulan patrol ships. The Eldar told the Romulans they only wished to get home and that they would trade technology to achieve their goal. The Eldar were escorted to Romulus under heavy escort. After the Remen incident they were taking no chances.
At the galaxy's edge, the main Imperial fleet was preparing to meet the first wave of Tyranid bio-ships. They knew these Tyranids were likely to be different from the ones they had fought before, but so long as they had faith in the Emperor they could not fail. The Tyranids would be destroyed.
How was that? Orks on the ground! Prepare for a big battle chapter. Also, what will the Eldar and Romulans decide to do? Will the Eldar double cross the Romulans? And watch out for the coming battle against the Tyranids. Stay tuned and leave reviews! See ya later!
ENTILZA