Chapter Eleven
"Let's get out there and Twat it."

USAF Prometheus.
One Week into SAR operations
Fifty light years from Wolfhound Station

It had taken the Prometheus only a day or so to make it to Wolfhound station, its refit reactors allowing the Earth vessel to make it there faster and much easier than ever before. However the news was grave. The station had heard of nothing since the Achilles had left the system it's bays full of partially refined Naquada ore.

With that in mind the Prometheus had met up with the dozen Jaffa Nation Ha'taks mother ships and their contingents of hyper capable Al'kesh bombers and Tel'tac cargo transports. The components of the Search and Rescue Squadron had split up to search the route the Achilles would have taken on it's journey back to the Sol System.

The scheduled stop the Achilles would have had to completely discharge and then recharge the entire hyperspace engine system in order to test the safety and recharge systems had been checked by the Prometheus. The debris of two Goa'uld allied Ha'tak ships had been found in the system both had been destroyed by Earth-created weaponry at least according to the radiation found on the debris, what's more the radioactive trace of a massive Naquada explosion had been found by the Earth ship's sensors.

-But no sign of the Achilles.

The immediate surrounding sectors were checked first by the SAR teams and nothing had been found. Painstaking checks and scans of systems and their planetary bodies had been checked and nothing had been found in those areas either. By the end of one week of operations an area of almost 40 square light years had been checked and nothing found by either the humans or their Jaffa Allies.

"Colonel, we're picking up something odd."

"Define odd."

"I'm not sure, Sir."

"Is it the Achilles?"

"No, Sir. It doesn't seem to be like anything we have on record."

"How long for us to get there at real space speeds?"

"About Six hours Sir."

"Anything from the rest of the SAR squadron."

"No Sir, however the Ha'tak 'Freedom's Choice' is in the area and approaching the disturbance, they should be there an hour or so before us."

"Plot a course and take us in."

"Aye, Sir."

The powerful Prometheus class Battlecruiser engaged it's ion based normal Space engines and pushed to the maximum rated speed the Prometheus was capable of before shutting down. It's engines off and coasting along on pure inertia, the ship could theoretically go much faster but it's capped speed was for two main reasons. One was the fact that the construction of the Prometheus Class was only rated to a certain speed in real space. The second and possibly most important was the relativistic effects on the small warship- the increase in speed could cause the ship to lose time to the Einsteinian effect of Space/Time.

Midrange Base
Beta Durani
Psi Corps Arrival – 03:00 hrs

The days since the Achilles' interment at Beta Durani had been filled with horror stories across the entire line, where fleets of Earth Alliance warships that had been patrolling the front lines, reinforcing stations and colonies had been all but annihilated. More than two hundred ships and three colonies had been destroyed. Every man woman and child had been brutally killed in the attacks. Now close to twenty million men humans had been lost in the war.

"General, we're receiving a message from Earthdome, we've lost contact with two more DSR posts and one long range base. The Minbari are hitting harder and faster with more ships than before."

"I think we've pissed them off."

"You think they know about the Achilles, Sir?"

"If they knew anything about the Achilles we would have been attacked by now so odds on the Minbari know something is out there but not what it is. But considering they lost so many ships so close to Earth Alliance space I'd guess they think they can find whatever it is out here."

"Aye, Sir."

"Sir, they seem to be taking out anything between the them and the Midrange bases. It's possible that we will be the next target."

"Understood XO. It's how they know where the hell we are that bothers me."

Hague turned to the station's head of ship construction, the older man stood straight and powerfully built. The man was a lifer and was an officer in good standing across the entire Alliance. His abilities were by no means indicative of his rank as the man was still a Chief petty Officer after almost thirty years in Earthforce.

"Status on the Achilles."

"Not good, Sir. Most of their damaged systems and hull damage can be repaired using the newest spec components for the Omegas but it will take time. Their refusal to allow us access to their most critical systems means we wont know if and when we can help to rebuild them."

"Time to full flight capability?"

"A week Sir, maybe more. She's space worthy but most of her systems are in need of serious repair, once we've sorted out the production lines the weapons and armour should be easy enough to replicate."

"Carry on then. Chief."

"Aye. Sir."

"Sir, we've a report from the EA Atchisson, they will arrive in three hours, with the Psi Corps team aboard." The Comms officer reported

"Great-that's all we need."

"Sir, the Psi Corps have no jurisdiction with the Achilles, if they attempt to take the tech information from the Achilles Crew that could ruin the rapport we have and lose us the tech advantages we may get from them," the chief said.

"Agreed. Fortunately they know about the Corps on the orders of Earth Force Command."

"Good."

Overhead the lights flashed and the claxons sounded as the 1st officer's voice came over the overhead speakers to every section on the station.

"Incoming ships. All hands battle stations."

Both Officers made for their respective positions, one to command and one to the Omega Dockyard, the station went into lockdown as every vacuum door and Airlock closed down and pressurized to pre set patterns to minimise damage to the hull.

Meanwhile across the entire system, thousands of officers, crewmen, deck hands and pilots took to their positions as fighters and warships broke dock and pulled into formation with already ready ships. Nova Dreadnaughts, Hyperion Cruisers, Corvettes and Frigates as well as dozens of squadrons of Starfuries both Nova and Aurora classes scattered around pulled to massed groups.

"Nautilus to Durani Station, confirmed. We have incoming vessels approaching the station, scanners read approximately thirty four ships. No IFF signals present."

"Nautilus, Durani Station proceed on attack vector, we don't know what's out there, continue transmitting scanner records."

"Sir, the unknown ships have disappeared from our scanners."

"Shit, Durani Station. Minbari forces are inbound, repeat Minbari forces are inbound. Sensor echoes have faded, task force is scattering."

"Durani Station to all personnel. Minbari fleet inbound."

Those positions that were not already committed to defence were filled quickly and every station and planetary defence post went on the highest of alerts. The minefields were alert their scanning systems looking for any possible sign that the Minbari were close. Defence Satellites and massed fighter squadrons took up their positions well away from the firing arcs of the station's fixed defences, backing up the already formidable defences stood a dozen half finished warships from the construction slips.

Omega Dock Six.
Same time

"All hands, Battlestations."

"What we got, Major?"

"Colonel, we have a Minbari battle fleet incoming, Earth alliance forces are attempting to take them on."

"Numbers?"

"Thirty Six Minbari ships, sixty Earth Alliance ships plus the static fortifications, not enough against the Minbari forces."

"Ready the ship for immediate departure."

"Ma'am we are not in any shape to fight against the power these ships represent."

"I realise that XO, but I'm not going to sit here while people out there die, now status report."

"The ship is at sixty percent capability, we have ninety percent sublight power and we've repaired the breaches, however the railguns and missile launchers are totally disabled, all weapons had been removed for damage control and repairs. Armour is still thin around the damaged sections and shields are down."

"Comms and Sensors?"

"Both fully operational."

"Break dock and prepare for manoeuvring."

"Yes, Sir."

The Prometheus class vessel broke dock and headed towards the closed doors of the pressurised dock, already the life support systems were pumping out the atmosphere of the dock. Within minutes the emergency dump was complete and the small battle cruiser made its way out of the cavernous bay.

Its scanners and ECM fully operational the Achilles could see the entirety of the battle as it began, the overwhelming forces arrayed against the Earthforce ships was stunning. Within the first few minutes of combat the forward fighter squadrons and initial wave of ships had been all but obliterated by the Minbari.
A successive wave of defending ships was readying itself for the Minbari advance, fighter and ship-fired missiles had already been launched in a saturation attack but it was unlikely they would hit anything thanks to the Minbari ECM and fighter support. However things were not going to go their way for long if the Achilles could help it.

"Open a channel to the lead ship of both groups."

"Open, Ma'am."

"This is the USAF Achilles to Minbari task force and EA Nautilus- please respond."

"We've got a response from the EA ship Ma'am nothing; from the Minbari."

"Colonel, I hope you have something that can help us here."

"Captain I need you and your ships to pull away from the front line and closer to the Shipyards. Let the fixed defences take the punishment for now."

"What, we can't…"

"Please Captain, this may save your ships and crew."

"I sure as hell hope you know what your doing."

"Hail the Minbari again."

"No response."

"Comms, set up a link between our sensors and the communications channels and ready them for transmission to all Earth alliance ships in the area, Captain have your ships link up the same way and ready your ships to receive targeting data on Minbari targets."

"We've got you Achilles, good luck. Nautilus out."

"Hail them once more and then put me on."

"Aye Ma'am, you're on."

"Minbari ship, you don't know us or what we are capable of. Please answer or we will take it as a hostile action and assist the Earth Alliance forces against you. We are aware of your ships and their strengths and weaknesses- the battle your last force that attacked us was enough to show us that."

On the monitors surrounding the forward of the bridge the crew could see the entire force all but stop in their tracks as the Minbari received the Achilles' transmission. If the Minbari could go be said to be shocked then this was what the Achilles could see.

"We're receiving a transmission. It's from the Minbari Flagship."

"Sensors, ready tactical data, comms ready transmission and put the Minbari through."

The screens changed from the assembled fleets at long range to a face, the bone crested visage of a Minbari, unlike the last time the scene behind him was dark as if he was in an unlit room instead of a bridge.

"What do you know of our destroyed brethren?"

"I thought that would get your attention. Now, whom am I addressing?"

"Satai Hedronn of the Warrior Caste, Commanding Officer of the Drala Fi Battle fleet."

"Colonel Joanna Taylor of the United States Air Force, Commanding officer of the Achilles."

"You are human, yet you are not like the humans we have met in battle before."

"That's correct, it's difficult to explain but we are not part of the Earth Alliance."

"But you were willing to destroy our ships."

"No exactly. Both times we have encountered your vessels the Captains have fired on us first. We disabled each vessel we came across but in turn each vessel was destroyed by their crews or the actions of their other ships. We have not destroyed any ship that we have engaged."

"So you destroyed both the Blood of Valen task force and the Shal'avi. Leave the system now and we will not destroy you. Come across my forces again and we will destroy your ship for the murder of our brothers."

"Hey, hey, hey, what the hell, your ships fired on us and we defended ourselves."

"That is why we will allow you to leave the system unharmed."

"And the rest of the system?"

"Everything will be cleansed free of the barbarian scum known as mankind."

"You are aware that the death of your leader was an accident, these people had no part of what happened. Some of them weren't even part of Earthforce at the time."

The Minbari was getting annoyed at the tone that this little human female was taking with him. It was very possible that they were not associated with the Earthers but they were human and may just be attempting to save those that they associated themselves with. The Humans had murdered the greatest of them and must die, the loss of so many ships in the last six months of war had pushed them further and further on to destroy the Earthers before they and their kind could do any more damage to their people or the order of things.

"Leave now or be destroyed with the rest of these vermin."

The line cut off as the Minbari ships turned back to the retreating line of Human ships. Two of the Massive Sharlin class ships and three of the escorts however headed inwards towards the shipyards ready to hit the fixed defences and the Achilles.

"Looks like some of them don't care if we leave or not."

"Well, let's not keep them waiting, comms open up on all frequencies- transmit targeting data on all Minbari ships to all Earthforce ships and defences, lets see how these bastards do when they are up against equals."

EA Midwinter
Hyperion Refit

The Hyperion cruiser had for years been the benchmark of the Earthforce navy. Before the arrival of the Nova class, the Heavy cruisers had been at the forefront of all naval actions and exploration along the alliance's frontier, now with the Minbari War in full swing they were the most numerous of the front line battle units.

Unfortunately the smaller warships were no match for any Minbari ship of the line and an entire wing of warships could be reduced to scrap within minutes. The Midwinter class refit was the most advanced of the ships in service but not even the newest and most successful advances could help the cruisers survive the massacre of the Earthforce Naval units.

-Until today.

"Minbari ships coming in, visual scans confirm ten Sharlin class, two dozen frigates and smaller… What the hell?"

"What is it?"

"We're receiving computer information on all frequencies, we have confirmed targeting info on all Minbari warships, fighters and frigates coming in fast and hot. We can see them."

"Unbelievable! All ships this is the Midwinter, find a target and hit it, Starfuries and interceptor grids, take down those fighters. All ships fire at will."

"Weapons stations firing."

From thirty ships, twenty weapons satellites and over a hundred fighters a massive barrage of plasma, pulse missile and interceptor fire opened up on the Minbari phalanx.

The Minbari believing in their invulnerability against the humans did absolutely nothing.

The survivors of the DSR post and the evac fleet had seen the effect that the Achilles had had against the Minbari ships, fighters and capital ship had both died under the guns of the tiny Battle cruiser. However even that sight paled against the massive collection of firepower arrayed against the dozens of Minbari ships that had attacked the Midrange base.

The dozens of fighters already on their way to hit the lumbering Earth ships and their fighter escort were caught with accurate bursts from Starfury pulse cannons and interceptors from the warships around them. Every Nial in the attack line ceased to exist as explosion after explosion claimed entire flights and then squadrons, within seconds none of the agile and dangerous Minbari fighters were left.

The rest of the fleet had pushed forward to find the range of their weapons against the Minbari; their cannons had comparable range and damage potential even against the fusion weapons of the massive Angelfish-shaped cruisers. This was evident as the targeting locks transmitted to the Nova Class Dreadnaughts was in turn made into accurate fire from ten of the ship's sixteen double plasma cannons.

The backup groups of Corvettes and cruisers locked onto the smaller frigates and almost as one launched rail gun rounds and plasma fire into the forward section of the Tinashi ships and secondary wings of combat fighters.

The devastation was incredible, fourteen Minbari ships impacted with the wave of plasma weapons, pulse cannons and rail gun rounds fired by the ships of the Durani defence force. Crystalline Armour shattered under the impact of the weapons while the interior sections burnt out as the plasma scorched through the armour and into the interior of the ships.

Entire sections of the Minbari ships just ceased to exist as drive fins and weapons pods were ripped off or shattered under the strain of the immense bombardment. Three of the Sharlins just disappeared under the concentration of fourteen Earthforce warships and OSATs. The fighters were routed and many retreated back to the relative safety of the capital ships.

Quickly overcoming their shock the Minbari ships came in fast attempting to knock out as many Earth ships as they could, the damaged and dying ships attempting to retreat from the field of battle.

Durani Base
Command and Control Plotting stations

"General, the Achilles targeting data is confirmed, our ships have targets."

A cheer rang across the entire base as they saw multiple enemy units drop off the screen as the Earthforce ships and static defences opened up, missiles and energy beams crossed in the blink of an eye.

"Report."

"Nine enemy ships taken out Sir, six more damaged and retreating. Fury squadrons are harassing the damaged ships closest and the enemy fighters have been reduced to ten percent by defensive measures."

"Sir, we've got multiple ships approaching the Omega Docks."

"Any ships in the area?"

"Nothing that can stop them, Sir."

"Get anything you can over there, we lose the Achilles we lose this engagement."

"Aye, Sir."

"Sir, the Nova X is at fifty percent completion her forward weapons are in place as are the basic manoeuvring systems." The Xo came up to the command section, "She may not be much but she has much more than any other ships we have."

"Can we get her out in time?"

"Possibly, Sir. The fixed defences can hold off the Minbari a short time but the Omega Section's defences are not to the level of the rest of the dockyards, but they should hold for long enough."

"Send the signal, get the Nova out of dock and into escort with the Achilles."

"Aye, Sir."