Chapter 16
"What we have here is a failure to communicate."
USAF Achilles
Former Earth Alliance space
Close to one hour later.
The Achilles was rocked from all sides as the large group of Minbari ships closed in on her from the flanks and the rear. Fusion cannon fire and Neutron fire impacted into the shields of the warship. Most of the shots were glancing as the jinking and jumping of the ship and the Achilles' ECM confused the enemy scanners.
"Range?"
"Enemy ships are closing, at maximum missile range."
"Launch full salvo of missiles maximum spread, maximum yield."
"Aye."
A fusillade of missiles exploded from their launchers into the midst of the Minbari ships. Within seconds most had been shot down by the defensive fire from the fighters and Minbari capital ships, three of the enhanced missiles however made it though to the Minbari warships and exploded as their proximity fuses activated the warheads.
Three times five hundred megaton explosives detonated simultaneously causing immense radiological and concussive damage to the nearest ships. The fighter and Tinashi frigates attempted to pull away and avoid the explosive effect, many manage to make it but a few unlucky pilots and crew were smashed by the explosions killing them all and damaging many more.
"Only three impacts, Sir. Fighter and intercept fire took out the rest, seems that our missiles aren't much use anymore."
"Ok, ready the railguns for fighter intercept- ready Alliance interceptors for weapons intercept."
"Aye, Sir."
As part of the exchange between the two powers, the Alliance had given technical and systems support to the Battlecruiser. One such change had been the addition to the defensive systems of the Achilles had been the inclusion of several type one interceptor systems. Only a few had been attached as they had been intended for ships and stations much larger than the USAF ship. Sa such they had been cut down to single cannons on a small turret much like the railgun turrets of the Achilles. These weapons would be useful in intercepting weapons fire from the Minbari ships and indeed any ships they came into contact with.
"Engineering, divert all power to shields and weapons. What is the status of the Asgard weapon?"
"Weapon is charged and set for repeat action. She's as ready to go as we can get her."
"Good Job chief. Bridge out. Sensors ready locks on Minbari capital ships, weapons ready the Minbari weapon."
"Aye, Sir."
"Aye, Sir."
"Helm increase speed get us further away from the Minbari, we have to get room to turn and fire."
"Aye, Sir."
"Colonel, Earth Alliance ships have confirmed inbound, in excess of sixty fighters coming in. Their entire Starfury compliment has been destroyed by the Minbari fighters."
"How many?"
"Thirty six fighters all completely destroyed."
"Any pods?"
"Negative, they're all gone.
"Keep an eye out anyway."
"Aye sir, what about the Alliance ships, without their fighter defence…."
"Their own systems should keep them safe. Their interceptors and railguns should hold off the fighters. Order them to continue to the jump gate by all means necessary."
"Aye, Sir. Sir the Main Minbari fleet are catching up to the Daedalus quickly- they won't make it to the gate in time."
"Dammit! Have them change course to meet with us we'll hit their attacks while they hit ours. Weapons ready ALL weapons with maximum loads, ready a full strength ECM burst to cover the Missiles as they go in and ready the S.O.D for immediate use."
"All secondary weapons are ready Sir, missiles being loaded now. The Asgard cannon is operational, secondary reactor at fully readiness and tied into the weapons."
"Without a hyperdrive that's a lot of power, Sir."
"We're gonna need it, Major."
"Aye, Sir. Rear shields are dropping in power, they seem to be getting better at targeting us."
"Not difficult considering we're running in almost a straight line. Fire a salvo of conventional missiles see if we can get them off of us."
"Aye Sir. Missiles are being loaded and we've got targets," the Weapons Offices said.
"Fire."
A salvo of conventional nuclear missiles, non-enhanced by naquada, sped towards the Minbari ships, again most being intercepted well ahead of their targets. This time the surrounding ships pulled away from those that exploded the nuclear payloads exploding to ALMOST no effect on the Minbari ships.
"They got them all Sir. Missiles are now completely non effective."
"Thought they would," said Taylor. "Increase speed, get us to the Alliance ships. We need to hit some of them before they completely destroy the Earth Force ships."
"Aye, Sir. Three minutes to intercept. The Minbari ships behind us will be in weapons range of the EarthForce ships in four and a half."
The Comms Oofficer interrupted. "Sir the Daedalus is hailing us. EarthForce reinforcements are twenty minutes from the system."
"Those ships will take us all apart in less time. Fine, let's do what we do best shall we. "Get me shooting solutions on the closest Minbari ships, ready missile salvo to assist the main guns."
"Aye Sir. Missiles are loading."
"Helm, get us between the EarthForce ships and the Minbari on their tails. Keep us there no matter what, weapons free hit em where it hurts."
"Weapons range in thirty seconds. Asgard weapon armed, fighters approaching all railguns are ready."
"Put them on computer control, but ready the systems for manual fire if we need it."
"Aye, Sir."
"Fighters coming in- energy spikes."
"Fire railguns- ready interceptors."
From the small turrets on the hulls of the Achilles small bolts of light seemed to burst from the barrels situated there, these hyper accelerated metal rounds were much stronger than the basic titanium rounds the Achilles had been using since her commission. These new rounds were made of scraps of damaged or destroyed armour from the hulls of EarthForce ships. Much stronger and heavier than the titanium rounds these new shells ripped into the enemy fighter strength. The Minbari while they had known somewhat of the railguns that were used by the Achilles were not expecting the speed and strength of the rounds or the damage that they gave to the fighters.
The survivors banked away quickly most managing to avoid the next salvo of railgun fire. The railguns were much more powerful than the massive and cumbersome guns used by the Humans on their corvettes and frigates.
"Enemy fighter strike had been diverted, Captain, they are pulling back to protect their capital ships just like the others."
"Good, makes it easier for us."
"Sir, we're in weapons range for the Asgard weapon."
"Good, I've had enough playing nice. Target the big bastards and take them down."
"Aye, Sir."
The Minbari had seen the weapons of the Achilles and were convinced that they were more than capable of hitting the Achilles while staying out of range of the Human's impressive weapons systems. Their solid state weapons, while effective, were easy to intercept, or had very short range. Their powerful energy weapon was different but was believe to be short ranged as well.
The Minbari were very wrong.
What happened next would change the way the war was fought until its conclusion.
From the very tip of the Achilles a burst of light escaped from a long and heavily armoured barrel, the energy pulse screamed away from the Achilles followed by another and then another. Within just a few seconds six pulses had been sent on their towards the Minbari ships.
Unlike the Earth Alliance and to a lesser extent some of the other younger races the Minbari had no form of intercept technology. Their use of Stealth and ECM, as well as thick armour plating and energy dispersion fields, had kept them safe for a great many years. And so now these ships had no turreted pulse weapons or twin arrays to disperse the pulses from long range.
Two pulses had been targeted at each of the closest Sharlins in range. The speed of the pulse was too much for any ship to try and move in front to save the heavy ships. Each bolt impacted their targets within milliseconds of each other the Minbari's defence systems were woefully under prepared for the full fury of a weapon designed by a race that had been in space of over thirty thousand years.
The first pulse to hit the lead Sharlin hit it head on, the ship taking the impact directly on the warcruiser's forward sections annihilating the forward weapons. The energy weapon burrowed through over three hundred metres of reinforced crystalline armour and thick internal bulkheads exploding in the very interior of the Minbari ship completely annihilating everything in its path. Decks, crew, bulkheads, systems and finally the outer hull itself ceased to exist as the immense energy released ripped through the internals of the huge Minbari ship of the line. A hole over a kilometre in length and breadth now sat where on three ships the crewed decks and hanger bays had once sat.
The second group of pulses arrived less than a second later in two cases passing through the hole made by the first shots and annihilating the entire rear sections of the Sharlins leaving little more than spinning debris and bodies, the third Sharlin was clipped in by the bolt destroying the lower fins of the warship and sending it hurtling into one of it's own escorting frigates destroying both
"Three Sharlins down Sir. The rest are coming into their own weapon's range."
"Another salvo from the guns and then get us out of here."
"Aye, Sir. EarthForce ships have engaged the Minbari task force. They are requesting assistance."
"Helm, get us there full speed."
"Aye, Sir."
The final salvo from the Achilles impacted the Minbari ships sending two of the Tinashi frigates and a number of fighters to meet Valen. In banking around the incoming fire from the combined fire of fifteen warships, the damage done to the shields of the SGC warship was severe.
"Shields are dropping in power Sir, we've taken too many hits we need to recharge and soon."
"We will once we get those Minbari off the Daedalus task force."
"Aye, Sir."
"Sir, Earth ships have destroyed two frigates and damaged a warcruiser, their taking heavy fire. They've lost the Polaris Sir." The Polaris had been the second of the task force's Hyperions.
"Tell them to get out and to the jump gate, we'll keep the boneheads busy."
"Aye, Sir."
"Engineering, time to shield regeneration?"
"Three minutes, twelve seconds."
"Can we divert power from other systems to get them up?"
"Negative, it's not the power that's the problem it's the resetting of the shield emitters and the regeneration of the shield barriers. The powers there and we will have shields; just try not to get us knocked flat in the next couple of minutes."
"No promises Chief. Bridge out."
"Daedalus and Cunningham are pulling away. The Minbari are following."
"Open a channel to the Minbari flagship. Let's see if we can get their attention away from the Alliance ships."
"Aye, Sir. Channel open."
"Achilles to Minbari commander, you momma was lovechild of a Religious caste and a Pak'ma'ra. Close channel."
"A your momma joke Colonel?" Major Davis asked
"It should get their attention shouldn't it?"
"You scare me, Joanna."
"I should hope so Paul, I should hope so."
Shala Fi
Shargotti Refit Cruiser
"Achilles to Minbari commander. Your momma was lovechild of a Religious caste and a Pak'ma'ra."
"Insolent Human! You will pay for this insult, bring us around they ware to die NOW."
"Alyt they have range on us."
"We are Warrior caste of the children of the vorlons, Bring us around and intercept that ship, they shall pay for the deaths of the Minbari they have killed this day and their impertinence against the warrior caste of the Minbari."
"Yes, Shai Alyt."
"Have the rest of the ships continue after the Earth Alliance warships the remaining ships of the second group will approach from behind the Achilles. Hit them from all sides."
"Shai Alyt, they are much more agile than our ships. they can outrun our ships and get away from our firing arcs. In addition their weapons seem to be able to destroy our ships quickly and efficiently, much more than any other we know of."
"Our ships outnumber them by dozens to one, the Earth ships are of no consequences."
"Yes, Shai Alyt."
"Ready all weapons, full strike as soon as they are in range."
"Our scanners are still having problems targeting their ship, we are getting a basic silhouette and that is all."
"Then have all ships synchronised fire to sweep space around the Human ship."
"At once, Shai Alyt."
USAF Achilles
"I think you got their attention, Sir," came a voice from the communications console. "The Flagship is pulling away to target us but the remaining ships are continuing after the Alliance ship. The ships behind us have been ordered to surround us."
"Sensors, are the ships after the Daedalus still in range?"
"Missile range, yes."
"Weapons- three enhanced at their back sides see if we can get their attention."
"Aye, Sir…missiles away."
A trio of the Achilles most powerful weapons hurtled towards the Minbari fleet. Eight ships backed by dozens of fighters approached the Alliance ships their fusion weapons reaching out and attempting to hit the fleeting Vessels.
The more advanced sensors allowed the two remaining ships of the Alliance to stay ahead of the locks the Minbari had but not by much, slight hits damaged components and weapons stations all along the hull. Now, the slower nova became the main target as the Minbari came closer.
Out of the three missiles fired, only a single one managed to break the gauntlet of fighters and defensive fire. It impacted on the rear of the closest frigate. The ship dissolved in a burst of light as the nuclear reaction detonated the ship's own engine core feeding the explosion to almost double its original potential.
Fighters all around the ships were annihilated by nuclear fire while entire sections of the closest frigates shattered from the shockwave causing more damage to the surrounding fighters and fliers from the massive pieces of shrapnel.
The Nova dreadnaught, already damaged stopped accelerating as it's engines were blown out by fire from one of the closest ships. The lack of acceleration meant they were coasting at their already close to maximum speed. The velocity was not enough as the Minbari ships came closer.
EA Cunningham
"Engines are down Sir, we've lost power to the interceptors and the Minbari are closing."
The Captain of the Nova class Dreadnaught was a relatively young and inexperienced officer with this ships being his first real command, he knew he was outnumbered, outgunned and out of time.
"I'm damned if they are gonna get off that easily."
"Sir."
"Helm turn us, bring every weapon we can bare on the closest of their ships. If we're going to die, then we take some of those bastards with us, too."
"Aye, Sir. Coming around."
"Divert power from engines and hyperdrive to all weapons. I want everything we have firing."
"Aye, Sir. Diverting."
"Scanners?"
"We've got them on scanners, Sir. Closest ship is the lead cruiser. She's coming into optimum range. I think she wants a clean kill Sir."
"Well let's give them one shall we?" He smiled.
The remaining bridge crew grinned nastily. They were going to die but by the grace of their Gods the Minbari would go with them.
"Sharlin directly ahead all weapons are locked.
"All cannons ready."
"All cannons fire at will, take them down."
With the losses that had been taken by the Alliance during the months of the Earth/Minbari war it had been all but forgotten just what the Earth ships were capable of in a fair engagement. In the twenty years since the Dilgar war the Nova class dreadnaught had become much more capable than the first run ships had been during those bloody years against a hostile race.
Now the newest of their class had had many upgrades of all kinds from basic propulsion and fighter deployment to heavier weapons and better scanners. Now for the first time since the Dilgar war a Nova class warship unleashed its entire weapons compliment at a single target.
Eighteen dual heavy pulse cannons was an impressive amount of firepower for any ship in known space. That many weapons confirmed the Nova class as a Dreadnaught. Over sixty pulses left the weapons of the Nova class ship in those few seconds that the Minbari ship closed.
Every railgun, particle beam and interceptor turret reached out for the smaller fighters, making the more nimble Minbari vessels break off their own escort to keep away from the deadly volley.
Sixty plasma pulses impacted on the thick hull armour of the Sharlin class warcruiser, the first salvo slammed against the forward sections and the flanks of the warship, the successive weapons fire impacted the same area causing massive detonations both outside and inside the ship's main hull.
Massive gaps appeared where the explosive force ripped apart armour that had kept the Minbari ship safe for more than one hundred years. The ship's hull compromised began to shatter as the atmosphere inside superheated and blew the bulkheads out.
The last dozen bolts of super heated plasma impacted the rear fin of the Minbari ship burning through the thick armour plating and igniting inside the hull itself. The explosive force caused the reactor to spike and explode taking the remaining ship's hull with it. The nova locked onto the second target and began anew.
The retaliation was swift and decisive as the last Sharlin ripped into the hull of the dreadnaught; it's immensely powerful fusion cannons gutting the hull from the midway point to the engine blocks. The weapons fire from the Nova responded with only a dozen or so bolts before the last intact portions of the ship was destroyed by neutron fire from the Sharlin and massed fusion fire from the remaining frigates.
But the sacrifice by the crew of the Nova class ship had not been in vain as the last of the task force made it to the Alliance jump gate and jumped out of the system and into the realms of hyperspace.
The escape of the Daedalus and the loss of its two escorts had left the Achilles alone in the star system. The superior attitude had cost the Minbari fleet dearly with their inherent beliefs that they were better in all ways than the Humans were.
The loss of a half dozen warships for only two Earth Alliance ships was a shock to the system for the Minbari. The reports had been filtered through the fleet at all levels about this new ship and it's impressive capabilities, but had in most ways been believe to be an exaggeration of the highest level by the survivors to justify their failure to an inferior enemy.
Now for the first time a full fleet had been assembled to destroy or disable the Achilles by any and all means necessary. Unlike in the last few engagements the Minbari ships had been able to stand up against the offensive technologies of these lost Humans. The Achilles had been damaged by the combat its shields and ECM systems seemed to be weakening by the prolonged battle against so many of their ships.
"All ships are to surround the Human ship. Put me on a communications channel to the Human ship."
"Shai Alyt?"
"This ship has led to the slaughter of almost fifty of our ships. I want them to see the face of their destruction, the blood of the slain cries out for vengeance and these humans will pay for the deaths of so many of our people.
"Yes, Shai Alyt."
"The Human ship is pulling away it's also heading for the jump gate."
"Have the second task force bar their way. Do what they have to to hold them here!"
"Sir their weapons have a greater range than our own, we may not be able to hold them here."
"No ship has the power to go through the combat we have been through and still be capable of warfare."
"Alyt their shields are dropping."
"Good, this will make it easier."