HOMEWORLD2: WRATH OF THE GODS
CHAPTER 2: DEVELOP
The Coruc-Tel System orbits the stars Coruc and Tel respectively. Being a binary system, the objects in this region of space transit via bizarre orbits due to the inexplicable movement of the two stars. Tel does not orbit in a circular fashion, instead it wobbles around Coruc in a seemingly random orbit. As such, Tel's distance from Coruc can range from anywhere between sixty-five million kilometres to two billion kilometres at any one time. Furthermore, Tel never stays in one plane of movement for more than sixty hours at a time. This has resulted in the formation of unique asteroid belts that weave in and out between the stars and the planets in the system, like fighters manoeuvring around capital ships.
However, such object movement does not warrant the deployment of a science vessel. It was the presence of certain quantum waveform irregularities that attracted the Clee San's attention. Regrettably, the doomed Somtaaw ship was unable to complete its analysis, owing to the arrival of the Beast wars that claimed the Clee San as its second victim.
Hiigaran Fleet Command built an inhibitor station in the Coruc-Tel System for various reasons. The most obvious ones were Coruc-Tel's strategic location in Hiigaran space and resource-rich asteroid belts. The lesser-known factors were the unexplained quantum waveform irregularities that somehow amplified the effectiveness of the inhibitor field. Though the navy's general perception of this region in space has been "safe", what they do not know about is Fleet Command's hushing up of several unexplained ship disappearances over the years.
Coruc-Tel System:
The light from Coruc shimmered briefly as the fabric of space time was bent. Slowly, the Hiigaran carrier fleet emerged from hyperspace along with the awe-inspiring Gatekeeper.
"Hyperspace jump complete, Captain Soban. The Manaan carrier Sabre reports that all its systems are nominal, as are the rest of the ships in the fleet. However, we are off-target by twenty-three kilometres. Sensors indicate that we were disrupted by quantum waveform anomalies in the area."
"Off-target? That station needs our help ASAP. Helm, compensate for anomalies and prepare for micro jump into the battlefield. Comm, open fleet broadcast channel."
"Fleet communications established, Captain."
"Excellent. Soban to Sabre, launch all strike craft to provide immediate cover for the station. All other ships reconfigure hyperdrives for micro jump!"
As Soban's fleet moved into formation for the jump, dozens of Interceptors launched from the docking bays of the Sabre, speeding towards the inhibitor station Bravo II. Things were not looking good for Bravo II – it had lost almost all fighter cover and its remaining three Destroyers were getting picked off by the Turanic Missile Corvettes. Meanwhile, a dozen Ion Array frigates had rushed forward, scorching the hull plating of the station with their brilliant crimson beams.
Soban was disturbed by the way the battle was unfolding. How could a Lord carrier overwhelm the station's defences with just corvettes and frigates alone? There was definitely something else going on.
"Captain, engineering reports that we are reconfigured and ready for the jump. Sabre and the rest of the frigates are fully prepped as well."
"Alright, all ships engage hyperdrives! We're going in!"
The Hiigaran fleet vanished into hyperspace once again, re-emerging in front of the stricken inhibitor station seconds later. Their Interceptors and Pulsar Gunships had already reached the battlefield beforehand, weapons blazing away at the enemy. Immediately, five Torpedo frigates took aim and unleashed their anti-corvette weaponry at the Missile Corvettes, shredding them to debris in moments. Meanwhile, fourteen Ion Cannon frigates targeted the Assassins and started blasting away, covered from the Raider strike craft by Flak frigates. The battlefield now lit up with the dazzling red and blue light of pulsar and ion beams, with the occasional flash of yellow when a ship's reactor failed.
Amidst all the chaos, the Gatekeeper charged straight for the heart of the Raider fleet – the Lord carrier. As it moved along, its plasma turret fired at every target of opportunity in range, reducing frigates to heaps of molten metal. The carrier remained defiant and raked the Dreadnaught with its ion beams.
"Captain, weapons control reports that we are now clear to fire the Phased Cannon Array."
"Good! Let's show these pirates what we're made of!"
The massive Progenitor ship manoeuvred slowly as it brought its ultimate weapon to bear. The carrier seemed to sense its imminent doom and began to turn around, trying in vain to escape the Dreadnaught's wrath. Suddenly, the communications channel crackled to life.
"Captain Soban! This is Bravo II! This is a trap, I repeat, this is a trap! Do not engage the Raider carrier!"
"A trap? What do you mean commander?"
"Captain! The carrier is launching missiles at us… Kiith's blood they have Beast signatures!"
"Beast cruise missiles?"
"Captain, the Raiders have found a way to contain Beast material and control the trajectory of their cruise missiles. That's not all, the Raiders also…"
"They're getting jammed! Soban to all ships, stay clear of the carrier at all costs! Engineering, activate the shields now!"
Seconds later, the missiles exploded against the Dreadnaught, unleashing their infectious potential on the ship. The Turanic Raiders watched the light fade, only to realise that they had failed. The viral payloads had been completely vaporised by the Gatekeeper's energy shielding! Now the Dreadnaught was enveloped by a protective layer of yellow light. This was the shield technology that had rendered the Keeper invincible when the Pride of Hiigara had first encountered it at the Dreadnaught Berth. Captain Soban heaved a sigh of relief.
"Thank the maker they managed to repair the shield systems on this thing. Fire the Phased Cannon Array!"
At first, nothing happened. Then, the sides of the Dreadnaught began to glow yellow with ever-increasing magnitude as energy poured to the front of the ship. Just as the brightness reached a maximum, the Gatekeeper shuddered and recoiled to the rear partially as all that energy leapt forward in a blinding lance of light. The yellow beam pierced the carrier like a needle going through cloth, melting its superstructure and killing all on board. As the beam faded, the carrier detonated with tremendous force, all of which was absorbed silently by the Gatekeeper's energy shielding.
"The carrier has been neutralised, Captain. The Raiders are retreating."
"Order all ships to pursue and destroy the remaining ships! They must not be allowed to escape!" Soban roared.
It was then that the space behind the Dreadnaught shimmered, slowly revealing a trio of large capital ships. They were the fearsome Taiidani Qwaar Jet Heavy Cruisers!
"Captain, three heavies have just decloaked behind us! They're opening fire!"
"Dammit! Turn us around and have Weapons Control ready the PCA for firing again!"
Suddenly, screaming pierced across all the comm channels, shocking everyone on the bridge momentarily.
"HELP! HELP US! SOMEBODY HELP US! NOOOOO! AAAAAAAAHHH!..."
"What in Kharak's name was that?"
"Bad news Captain. It appears that another Raider carrier decloaked behind the station and launched cruise missiles at it! The station has been infected!"
"This could be very bad. Sabre, lock on and scan the station for infection beam weaponry! All ships, stay clear and focus fire on all remaining enemy vessels!"
As Soban watched his fleet scatter from the doomed station, he sank down in his chair while the Dreadnaught shuddered under the combined firepower of the cruisers. How in the world did the Raiders manage to control the Beast to such an extent? He knew this would not bode well for Hiigara. It was then that a constant bleeping noise distracted him from his thoughts. It was coming from the hyperspace NAV computer, which had been abandoned in the chaos of the battle. Soban watched the screen and saw many pings across the region.
Could those be hyperspace signatures out there? Before Soban could check the ship sensors from his console, the Dreadnaught rocked violently and he was thrown out of his seat, bruising his head in the process. Now alarms were wailing across the entire ship.
"What's going on?"
"Unknown, Captain! It appears that we're being dragged into hyperspace!"
"Quickly! Send a distress signal to the Sabre!"
But it was too late. The crews on board the Sabre watched in horror as the Gatekeeper and the heavy cruisers were engulfed by the largest hyperspace rift they had ever seen.
Onboard the Exile, Eye of Aaraan Gate 112A:
He was looking at an Eye of Aaraan gate for the first time. It was a magnificent structure in space and clearly as massive as Balcora Gate itself. Various Hiigaran ships were already swarming around it, hoping that their scans would force the gate to reveal its secrets. The gate revealed nothing but the infinite blueness of hyperspace beyond its dimensional portal.
Kiir Sjet was still feeling exhausted. That rest had done him no good, as he had continuous nightmares about the tragedy at Tanis Base. Now he focused on the issue at hand, trying his best to forget the screams.
"That, Scientist Kiir, is Gate 112A."
"It is… beautiful. I assume that we're just going to jump through it recklessly, Commander Hyll?"
"Reckless is not the word I'd use to describe this. I'd liken this to a voyage into the great unknown, and we are the explorers."
"True. There can be no gain without venture."
"Very well then. Exile to all ships! Stand by for jump via hyperspace gate!"
Onboard the Legacy of Kharak, High orbit over Hiigara:
"The Mothership has cleared the Scaffold. Stand by for hyperspace test."
"The wait has been long, isn't it?"
"Indeed. But Eefrit, we are away at last."
It was a breathtaking sight. The original Mothership no longer looked like something from a century ago. She had been painstakingly taken apart in places and rebuilt to be larger and more adaptable than both her original design and the Pride of Hiigara. Now she was edging slowly away from the Scaffold that had nurtured her. Millions of Hiigarans cheered all over the planet. It was a moment of great celebration.
Yuno suddenly fell silent.
"Yuno? You alright there?"
"…"
"You're scaring me here. What's wrong? Too much data to handle?" Eefrit snorted, trying to lighten the mood.
"… Eefrit."
"What's the problem?"
"Word just came in from Hiigaran Fleet Command. It appears that… we have lost the Gatekeeper."
Eefrit stood like a statue, staring at the projector that contained Yuno's hologram. Yuno called his name, trying to bring him back to his senses, but the Admiral heard nothing now. He still maintained a steely exterior as the Admiral of the Hiigaran Navy, but deep down inside he wept openly for the loss of his friend.