HOMEWORLD2: WRATH OF THE GODS
CHAPTER 9: MISCALCULATED MOVE
Hiigara is a blue-green planet that orbits the Galactic Core very closely. Being an Inner Rim world, Hiigara and its star system are young in cosmic terms, resulting in both planet and system being relatively rich in resources. Its closeness to the Galactic Core region makes Hiigara a position of strategic importance in the Galaxy. Gravitational anomalies in the Galactic Core region serve as effective hyperspace inhibitors that prevent intrusions from the southwest, while the Sarum Dust Clouds and Coruc-Tel quantum anomalies give Hiigaran fleets the advantage in defending the northern and eastern routes. It is hence no wonder that Hiigara is a world coveted by many in the Galaxy.
The Sarum System is found in the densest portion of the Sarum Dust Clouds that span several light years in diameter. Being on the outskirts of the old Hiigaran Control Zone as declared After Hiigaran Landfall, it is a mere ten light years of distance from Hiigara. Hiigaran Fleet Command has recognized the strategic importance of Sarum and uses it as a staging area for the Hiigaran Navy. After the Vaygr Wars completely shattered the Hiigaran Defence Fleets, Hiigaran Fleet Command also made it a point to install an inhibitor station in the Sarum System so as to consolidate Hiigara's defence against would-be invaders from the North.
Extensive analysis of the Dust Clouds' contents have allowed the Hiigaran Navy to recalibrate their sensors to see without interference. The same cannot be said for the Turanic Raiders and Imperialists who have repeatedly tried to invade from the North. Their attempts at sensor calibration failed due to a lack of understanding of the Dust Clouds' contents, which change in random cycles due to the buffeting by interstellar particles from many nearby stars.
Though slightly outnumbered every time, the Hiigaran Navy has always triumphed by using the interference to their advantage, staging sneak attacks on the Raiders' flanks to weaken them before mounting a full-scale assault to mop up survivors. To quote the Paktu Kiith Sa, "We have learned much from our defeat at Makaan's hands. Sarum will never be breached again."
Onboard the Exile, the Great Beyond (Outskirts of Gate 112A):
Hyll understood Kiir's new plan. It was an exciting new venture using the hyperspace module, which would give them a chance at getting back home.
Kiir had suggested a modification to the Sync Jump Algorithms currently installed on all hyperspace-capable ships in the fleet. The idea involved creating a localized quantum waveform distortion for attack or defence. He had seen Karan Sjet demonstrating this principle months back during her experimental trials with Sajuuk, but such a feat was impossible by the standards of current hyperspace technology.
The Sync Jump Algorithm provided the foundation for this principle to be applied in their current situation. One hyperspace module may not provide the power to create such a distortion, but surely the combined hyperspace power of their entire fleet would be adequate to generate the distortion required, though not one on the scale of Sajuuk. The good thing about the distortion was that it could be executed with greater power within inhibitor fields, since such fields themselves operated on the principle of quantum waveform disruption.
The Bentusi had listened to Kiir's theory with interest, and then installed the modified algorithms on their ships with great enthusiasm. The combined fleets of the Bentusi and the Exile had then attempted a synchronized quantum waveform distortion with great success. Spurred by the success, Kiir Sjet then went on to refine the new algorithms for practical application. Now their fleets would be able to generate up to five small localized distortions at any given time to deflect incoming fire or assault the enemy.
Now, they had exited hyperspace on the outskirts of Gate 112A, their only way back home. The infected Bentusi vessels guarding the gate had already detected them and summoned several Keepers and Progenitor frigates to their aid. Hyll studied their fleet positions as well as those of their Bentusi allies. Several adjustments later, their fleets were ready. Hyll opened the broadcast channels and spoke.
"This is Commander Hyll of the Exile to all friendlies. This is most probably our only chance at getting back. If we fail, there will be no second try as we'll be goners. While Kiir's new hyperspace trick will help us greatly, it is vital that we do not depend completely on it. The Progenitors and their viral minions will definitely try to stop us with everything in their power, so let's all show them what we Hiigarans and Bentusi can do as a united force!"
Commander Hyll paused as cheering echoed throughout the fleet. The Bentusi remained silent, but Hyll knew that they too were cheering in secret.
"Alright then, all ships begin assault now!"
With that, the Exile's fusion drives roared to push the carrier forward. Interceptors and Super Acolytes rushed forward to meet the oncoming swarm of Drones and infected Super Acolytes. The Bentusi ion frigates moved in formation with the Hiigaran frigates to provide fire support for their fighter screen while the tradeships moved swiftly to dispatch any capital ship that might get through the strike craft.
The fighters began their combat and explosions lit up the blackness of space as ion beams tore through both enemy and friendly craft. As expected, the Progenitor frigates rushed forward to bring their fast-tracking plasma turrets to bear on the interceptors and Super Acolytes. Immediately, the Hiigaran and Bentusi ion frigates opened fire to slice up the advancing vessels.
The Keepers saw instantly that the battle would not go well for them, so they rushed forward and fired their infection beams into the fighter clouds. Dozens of Super Acolytes and interceptors scuttled themselves to avoid a grisly fate and dozens more swarmed in to unleash vengeance on the Keepers. One Keeper could not phase out quickly enough and crumpled under the immense firepower of the Super Acolytes. The remaining six Keepers split into two equal groups. One group remained behind to support the infected tradeships, Super Acolytes and Drones, while the second group powered up shields and dashed forth to infect the carrier and her escorting tradeships.
Hyll saw the approaching Keepers and yelled at all ships to start synchronizing hyperdrives. Sure enough, the Keepers fired a trio of infection beams that zapped through space to infect the carrier and two of their seven tradeships. In response, distortions in the fabric of space time opened up to deflect the beams away to safer vectors. Their infection attempt foiled, the Keepers began to retreat. The Bentusi opened fire with their ion beams and managed to take out two of the Keepers before they escaped beyond firing range. Commander Hyll was delighted.
"All ships, advance and destroy the defending fleet now! The Bentusi are already trying to hack into the Gate to open a path home, so let us push on!"
Now they started using the distortions for assaults and entire flights of enemy fighters were wiped out as shockwaves of quantum disruption reverberated through them. The Progenitor and infected Bentusi frigates were all gone now and the fleet was now opening fire on the four defiant infected tradeships. The surviving four Keepers were already fleeing, their captains cowering under the might of the united force. As an infected tradeship exploded into a flare of light, a troubling message came in from the Bentusi hackers.
"There is something wrong. Something stopping us from taking control of the Gate. An ominous presence is approaching…"
"Huh? What's happening now?"
"… No! The Progenitors are coming with their main fleet! We will not survive even with your hyperspace invention! We will try to open the gate as quickly as possible…"
"That's bad. All ships, finish the remaining vessels and head for the gate at maximum burn!"
Now the quantum waveform distortions were directed at another infected tradeship as the fleet struggled to clear the defenders before the main fleet arrived. There was a massive groan as the ship's hull gave way under the stress of the concentrated firepower. With two more tradeships to go, the fleet was gripped by urgency. It was then that Commander Hyll saw a flicker of blue light emanating from the hyperspace gate. The hyperspace portal was opening! Unfortunately, the main Progenitor fleet began to emerge from hyperspace right behind them.
"Hyll, it is too late. They have arrived. We will hold them off and delay their attack while your fleet jumps through. We have set an exit point at a gate on the outskirts of Gehenna."
"No! You have to come along too, there's time enough to save everyone here!"
"We understand your intentions, but believe us. The Progenitors will catch up to all of us with their superior drives in little time."
"But, you are the last of your race! We can't just flee from here while watching the destruction of our friends!"
"… Our time had already ended from since the loss of our Harbour Ship. Our time has ended, but the time of you Hiigarans has only just begun. It will be up to you to guide the Galaxy as we once did. Little time remains, please escape through the gate now!"
Commander Hyll watched as the Bentusi fleet dispatched the remaining infected tradeships and turned to face the massive Progenitor fleet. Their Super Acolytes had already broken off from the interceptors and were rushing to meet the deadly foe.
"… Very well. Fleet, full speed ahead to the gate! On behalf of all of Hiigara, I thank you for your assistance through the ages, from the Time of Exile through the Homecoming, Beast Wars, End Times and this! We will remember you Bentusi as eternal friends of Hiigara, wherever you might be!"
"And so will we. Farewell."
Everyone in the Hiigaran fleet began to weep as their ships raced forth towards the beckoning blue light of the hyperspace gate. Already the Progenitor fleet was tearing into the Bentusi ships with sheer numbers and superior firepower. Still, the Bentusi put up a strong resistance against the ancient race.
The Exile was the last ship to enter the hyperspace portal. As the last Bentusi tradeship lit up in a brilliant explosion, Commander Hyll vowed tearfully to avenge the terrible destruction of the Bentusi. The bright flare faded away rapidly into the blueness of hyperspace as the carrier plunged into the portal and began its long journey home.
Onboard the Shipyard Naabal, Sarum System:
Commander Elohim was yelling orders continuously at his fleet. Just an hour ago a huge combined Raider/Imperialist fleet had stalled outside the farthest reach of the Sarum hyperspace inhibitor field. Now the enemy fleet had organized itself and was pushing on towards the position of the defending shipyard fleet.
Elohim Naabal had seen bad times, having defended the shipyard from Vaygr strike fleets before the Pride of Hiigara arrived, then accompanied the Pride to battle against some of the largest Vaygr fleets he had ever seen. Now, they were facing a combined Raider/Imperialist fleet that dwarfed even the Thaddish Sabbah Vaygr forces. Already he had dispatched bombers and several ion frigates to eat away at the flanks of the advancing fleet under the cover of the dust clouds, but any ship losses were mere pinpricks against the might of the enemy fleet.
The sensors officer came back from his post with disturbing news. He had just completed sensor analysis of the Raider/Imperialist attack force, and it didn't look nice. There were at least fifty Lord attack carriers with their full strike craft complements, a few hundred ion array frigates, seventy Imperialist Heavy Destroyers, and thirty Imperialist battlecruisers. It looked like the Raiders and Imperialists were finally throwing everything they had at them.
Elohim's fleet paled in comparison. One inhibitor station, one shipyard, two carriers, three battlecruisers, five destroyers, twenty ion frigates, twenty pulsar gunship squadrons and thirty interceptor squadrons. The comm channel crackled to life as the Raiders began to transmit a message to his fleet.
"Filthy Hiigarans, stand down or be destroyed. You cannot win against this. Surrender your fleet and we may spare your lives."
"This is Commander Elohim of the Shipyard Naabal. Burn in the sands of Kharak, you pirate and imperial scum!" Elohim spat back.
"My my, you certainly speak like a true Hiigaran. Very well, though it pains us to wipe out that useful shipyard of yours, it looks like we have no choice but to bring in our friends. Perhaps that will make you reconsider."
At that moment, additional hyperspace signatures began appearing behind the advancing Raider/Imperialist fleet. When the ships had cleared hyperspace, the sensors said it all. Now they also had a large Vaygr fleet to contend with. Apparently the surviving Vaygr had forged an alliance to wipe out their common enemy. Elohim groaned as he counted an additional fourteen Vaygr battlecruisers, then stopped counting when he saw at least thirty escorting destroyers. The rest consisted of a few carriers and loads of frigates and fighters.
At that moment, the communications officer reported that the Legacy of Kharak and her fleet were a minute away from arrival. Elohim didn't find the news comforting at all.
Onboard the Legacy of Kharak, hyperspace transit:
"One minute to hyperspace exit at Sarum."
"Excellent. All ships stand by at full alert."
"Eefrit, you understand that even with Commander Elohim's fleet we'll still be greatly outnumbered."
"True, but I've seen worse. I was onboard the Pride of Hiigara when Karan launched the attack on Thaddis Sabbah."
"And what was it like?"
"Typical Vaygr numbers – a dozen battlecruisers, lots of destroyers and frigates, and too many fighters. And we won in the end."
"I see. Well, what I'm seeing from my sensors isn't very pleasing…"
"As in?"
"You'll see. We are exiting hyperspace now."
Admiral Eefrit grinned cheekily as the blue surroundings of hyperspace gave way to reveal the Sarum System beyond. His grin vanished quickly when they dropped back to normal space completely and Yuno zoomed in on the advancing fleets.
"Hyperspace jump successful, we have arrived at Sarum. You were saying something about having seen worse?"
Eefrit didn't reply.
Onboard the Gatekeeper of Sajuuk, hyperspace transit:
Captain Soban was still recovering from the emotional trauma of slaughtering so many Kadeshi. He didn't mean to order the attack, but they just didn't have any other choice. He couldn't understand why the Kadeshi remained so unreasonable and fanatical. His recovery was interrupted when a long range transmission came through.
"This is Commander Elohim of the Shipyard Naabal to any Hiigaran ship hearing this. A very large combined Raider, Imperialist and Vaygr fleet has just emerged from hyperspace in the Sarum System. The Mothership fleet has arrived but we won't be able to hold them. Requesting immediate assistance!"
Captain Soban paused in silence when he heard the news, then swung into action immediately.
"Helm, where are we headed on our current jump?"
"I set a course for Tanis Base since it was the closest outpost I could think of."
"Can you try to correct course and head for Sarum instead? The situation there sounds pretty bad, and I'm sure they could use an extra Phased Cannon Array."
"Uploading new coordinates now, everything else is up to Engineering."
"Don't worry, captain! We've managed to isolate the frequency used by the signal transmitted to the Grand Core. Duplicating signal now, if it works we should see…"
The Dreadnaught shuddered slightly, indicating that it was now headed on a new route through hyperspace.
"… Looks like it worked. Good job Engineering! Let's get ready to kick some butt!"
Soban quickly put the Kadeshi matter behind him. He had done it to save the lives of himself and his crew. He had already given the Kadeshi ample warning, and they failed to heed it. Now he would just need to concentrate on protecting Hiigara.
Onboard the Oblivion, the Great Beyond (Outskirts of Gate 112A)
The divine leader was solemnly observing the pieces of Bentusi wreckage drifting around his fleet. He was not pleased with the fact that the pesky Unbound race had managed to delay his ships long enough to let the Hiigaran fleet escape through the now-closed gate. To complicate matters more, the Bentusi had left the gate protected by advanced Bentusi encryption. While it would only be a matter of time before their technicians broke the code, valuable time would be wasted in doing so.
He then received a transmission from one of his top commanders hailing from the Keeper Nova. He was pleased to hear that though the recon fleet had been decisively defeated, their experimental project had been a success.
He sat down in his seat of power and smiled. No matter what, the Three Cores' power would be his to wield alone in the end.
Onboard the Carrier Cosmos, Mothership fleet in Sarum:
Luca regained consciousness wearily, only to find himself in a bunk in the medical centre. He looked around slowly and saw various tubes feeding fluids into his right arm. His head was throbbing as though someone had hit him across the forehead with a very hard object. As he reached to push a button to call a doctor, the doors whirred open and the ship's doctor strolled in. He was pleasantly surprised to see Luca awake.
"You've had a good sleep, I trust?"
"… Where am I?" Luca responded in a tired voice.
"You're in good hands onboard the carrier Cosmos. You blacked out not long after you got out of your ejected cockpit."
"What's the matter with me?"
"Nothing serious. We took a series of blood samples and found low blood sugar levels. You've been skipping meals, haven't you?"
Luca nodded sheepishly.
"Well, Saviour or not, you're still a normal person like everyone else. You need food to fight, so no more skipping meals for fighting next time mate."
"I'll bear that in mind."
"We also discovered that your body temperature is a few degrees higher than normal. Yet, you're not running any fever."
"I guess prolonged close range exposure to drive plasma is taking its toll?"
"That's just a myth. We'll be keeping you under observation till we figure out what's causing your anomalous body temperature. Till then, rest well."
"Thanks, doc."
As the doctor left the room to tend to other patients, Luca drifted back to sleep, oblivious to the slight discomfort he was feeling in his left leg.
Onboard the Legacy of Kharak, Sarum System:
Eefrit watched the battles unfold nervously. The combined strike craft squadrons of the Mothership fleet and the Sarum fleets were now engaging the incoming waves of Raider, Vaygr and Imperialist strike craft. Their pilots may have the edge in experience and tactics, but nothing works well when you're outnumbered at least seven to one.
The inhibitor station had already been evacuated and the Legacy of Kharak was retreating along with the Shipyard Naabal. Against such a withering invasion there was no way to mount a standard forward defence, so Eefrit had chosen the strategy of retreating defence to maximize their chances of survival. The good thing was that the invaders didn't bring gravs along with them, so tactical hyperspace jumps would still be possible.
The Hiigaran strike craft tried their best to hold the line, but to no avail. Soon they were forced to pull back as casualties started mounting. Still, wave after wave of enemy fighters and corvettes swarmed in, backed up by frigate firepower. The invasion fleet drew ever more closer to the retreating Mothership and shipyard, whose rear was being covered by their frigates and capital ships.
As a squadron of ion array frigates came within firing range of a battlecruiser, they opened fire on the ship's drives in a bid to disable it. Eefrit immediately ordered the cruiser, the Solar Sword, to jump ahead of them. The battlecruiser vanished into hyperspace and emerged a few kilometers in front of the retreating Hiigaran fleets, escaping further drive damage.
Eefrit knew that their time was up. He immediately told Yuno to activate the Mothership's Extended Range Gravwell to halt any enemy hyperspace advances. He then sent a transmission to Commander Elohim. They were to execute a tactical hyperspace jump to put distance between themselves and the approaching fleets. As the last interceptors completed their docking, both Hiigaran fleets jumped forward a few dozen kilometers.
Now that they had bought themselves more time, Eefrit studied the star charts of the nearby regions, hoping to find something that would work to their advantage. Yuno was quick to bring his attention to a nearby area that contained several crystals. This was part of the Crystal Wall set up by the Somtaaw when the defence lines were first established. Dozens of rare crystals had been towed in by the Somtaaw mining fleets to form a fortress in the Sarum System. It was hoped that this defence would never have to be used, but now it looked like they had few other options open to them.
Eefrit gave another order for the fleet to blast through the crystal field at maximum burn, hoping that the dust clouds would hide the "mines" from their attackers. Several minelayer corvettes remained behind to seed the field with mines. If the invaders pursued them into the field, they would activate the mines to destroy the crystals. It was then that klaxons began wailing across the Mothership as Yuno discovered a large Progenitor ship emerging from hyperspace in front of them. Eefrit didn't want to take any chances, so he gave the order for a full fleet assault.
Onboard the Gatekeeper of Sajuuk, Sarum System:
No sooner had their ship emerged from hyperspace were they bombarded relentlessly from all directions by torpedoes, mass drivers and ion beams. The Gatekeeper shuddered violently under the assault, her shields straining to prevent the destruction from reaching the outer hull. Captain Soban and his crews were alarmed.
"What's going on? What's attacking us?"
"Sensors indicate the Hiigaran fleets of Commander Elohim and Admiral Eefrit are both firing on us!"
This is Engineering, our shields have yet to recover from the Kadeshi skirmish, estimate shield breach in one minute!
"Open a transmission channel quickly… This is Captain Soban of the Hiigaran Dreadnaught Gatekeeper of Sajuuk! Hiigaran vessels, cease fire at once! Elohim, Eefrit, what in Kharak are you doing? Repeat, please cease fire immediately!"
The firing stopped and the Gatekeeper groaned as it tried to right itself. The shock of the impacts had thrown her gyros off and the ship was struggling to restore balance. The startled voice of Eefrit crackled to life on the Dreadnaught's comm systems.
"… Soban? Is that really you…? We all thought you were…"
"Who did you think it was, the devil? By the way, I'm NOT dead, though I would be if you didn't stop firing. Just like you to welcome an old friend with a bang." Soban was still rather annoyed by the "warm welcome" they had just received.
"Ah, it was my mistake. No time for explanations now, but the situation is pretty tense and we could use the extra firepower."
"I realized that when your transmission came through. Sounds bad, like back there at Thaddis Sabbah."
"Thaddis Sabbah is nothing compared with this. Yuno's voice interrupted as she transmitted all their data on the enemy forces they were facing."
Soban studied the data, then swore an obscenity that had originated from the ancient times of Kharak.
"You want us to go against THAT attack force without Sajuuk's support!"
"The other Kiithid are relocating their carrier fleets to defend Hiigara itself. This is all we have right now, and there's no way we can let them breach Sarum! The crystals'll hold them…"
"Sorry to interrupt," came Elohim's worried voice, "but it looks like the Taiidani are using some sort of missile to ram the crystals!"
Soban turned to the sensors screen immediately. Sure enough, five "ramming missiles" had latched onto a few crystals and were pushing them towards the Hiigaran fleets! Eefrit yelled an order through all fleet frequencies and interceptors scrambled to stop the missiles. Yuno did a quick calculation and realized that it was too late. She retransmitted orders to the fighters and frigates to turn around and move away at full speed.
The missiles detonated when they closed with the Hiigaran fleets, and the crystals responded by shattering. Their chemical energy released from within in the form of lethal shockwaves that reverberated through both the Mothership and shipyard fleets. Several fighter squadrons and frigates didn't manage to get far away enough and fell prey to the shockwave, while other capital ships reeled from the cosmic assault. The Legacy of Kharak shuddered as the shockwave echoed through her decks, and so did the Shipyard Naabal. The Dreadnaught felt only a whisper as they were well beyond the range of the shockwaves.
Onboard the Legacy of Kharak:
"Damage report!"
"Moderate outer hull damage across five decks, outer hull breach and minor inner hull damage in section 32C. Repairs are underway. Battlecruisers Super Strike and Omniscient report moderate damage to subsystems and armor, while the Solar Sword has lost all drive power. Our carriers are still alright and frigate damage is considerable. Our remaining destroyers and half of our frigates are crippled beyond any form of fighting. Luckily, our strike craft mostly made it out alive and are docking right now for repairs," Yuno reported solemnly.
"Damn! Any word from the Shipyard Naabal?"
"Commander Elohim reports that his ship and fleet were badly buffeted by the shockwaves and several decks are venting to space. The situation on the shipyard is grim - life support is at forty percent and all other facilities are offline. He is making an emergency hyperspace jump to Hiigara along with what's left of his fleet. I suggest we do the same."
"We can't retreat, Sarum is all that stands between Hiigara and them! If we pull back now…"
"If we continue fighting we will face certain defeat! Face it, Eefrit, you can't win every time! I am plotting a course for the outskirts of the Hiigaran System, we'll mount our stand there. Soban, have you received coordinate data?"
"Sure we have. Executing jump ASAP."
"Alright then. This is Yuno, I am taking over temporarily from Admiral Eefrit for the duration of this jump. All ships prepare for jump to designated coordinates!"
Admiral Eefrit remained silent as Yuno coordinated the fleet's departure from Sarum. Meanwhile, the Raiders, Imperials and Vaygr forces watched on in glee as the Hiigarans fled. Minutes later, they too leapt to hyperspace in hot pursuit.