Earth and Jurain War: P. V: Operation Slambang Act 2 Complete

CAG Ruthenburg was in his bunk sleeping without a care in the world. As is often the case in war that changed rapidly when the Bosun Mate's whistle came over the intercom followed by "Red Alert, Red Alert, all hands to battle stations, this is no drill, scramble, scramble, scramble!"

"Shit!" Ruthenburg shouted as he jumped out of bed and went to the Pilot Ready Room where he threw on his gear along with the other pilots before rushing out to the Flight Deck. Climbing up the ladder into his cockpit, he strapped himself in. His Crew Chief came up with his checklist.

"All right sir, I loaded your baby with 24 of the new Athena missiles and 2 Infrared Sidewinders. The engine is stable and the circuits optimal. Preflight is complete, so we'll lower the canopy and put you in the tube. Semper Fi."

"Semper Fi Chief." Ruthenburg replied as his canopy lowered. The flight crew then moved his fighter to the launch tube. As he was being moved he initiated a radio check. "All Betas report in." Ruthenburg received immediate green lights on his HUD as the 10 flights of 4 came in. Then he turned to the Shooter in the tube. "Shooter, I have permission to leave ship. Call it."

"Maglocks on, madcat set, engines good check, launching." After which the shooter saluted Ruthenburg.

Ruthenburg Saluted back and turned his face forward as the shooter hit the release button. As was fighter pilot tradition he had the inertial compensator off as he hurtled down the tube at 5 Gs. Within seconds he cleared the tube and broke right with his wing. All around him Confed Star Furies and Cathoon Tiger fighters were launching and before them lay the entire Jurain Fleet. "Oh shit." He said silently to himself. Orders flashed across his HUD and he ordered his fighters forward into the Valley of Death. At 40,000 klicks he released all his missiles and the battle of Slaumbak Station began around a refueling station that forever afterward would be known as Slambang Station.

………………………. Jurain First Generation Ship Serenity………………………….

Sasami sat at the Heart tree of the Jurain First Generation Ship Serenity in the ship's garden. Her maid had begged her stay in her room where it would be safe, but she ignored her and came to the garden to commune with the tree as the battle commenced. The suddenness that this battle had begun with shocked her as the Strategists had consistently told her that the Humans wouldn't penetrate this far. Admiral Faki hadn't shared that point of view and advised Sasami to be ready for combat at any time. Now she was here with Azaka and Kamidake as she placed her hand on the Heart Tree. The tree which was semi-sentient allowed her into its consciousness as it surveyed space. Sasami winced along with the tree as the opening barrage from the Humans destroyed 14,000 Jurain fighters.

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"This is CAG, open formation and switch to side-winders, execute." Ruthenburg said over the radio. Only 8 percent of the fighters' combined missile barrage of 168,000 missiles had hit their targets, still that was a vast improvement from earlier engagements. Entering side-winder range he thumbed the pickle button. These missiles all hit their targets due to the shorter range with which to intercept. Thumbing his selector to plasma Ruthenburg gave quick orders. "Broken formation Razzle Dazzle. Give'em hell" His fighters approached the Jurains at 60Gs and began firing then they broke apart to engage in individual Furballs.

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"Kikuchi, get him off me!"

"I'm hit! Tumbling, AHHH! KABOOM!"

"Grepa, where the hell are you!"

"Four more heading toward the Asgai."

Sasami listened to her men fighting and dying and began to silently cry with the tree. "Azaka, Kamidake, leave me."

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Admiral Halsey was in the CIC of the Ares, talking to Admiral Misaki, as the battle whirled around the fleet. "Their fighters are attacking, but their vessels are not engaging. Instead they are moving to surround us. If we don't break off and retreat to the Muterian Nebula, they will cut us off."

"I'm well aware of that, but however this fleet has 1st Generation Tree ships with them and those Lighthawk Wings they are emitting are making it impossible to get an accurate jump fix. We must take out those ships before we can escape. Commence attack plan Alpha Strike. I'll lead the way with the Savior, the Cathoons on my sides. You and the Aad will task force will Strike at a 70 degree left angle from our strike while the Venators will move on our right."

"Yes Sir."

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Admiral Faki was issuing orders to his fleet when the Humans brought the Savior to the front of their formation. "Sensors, what is that ship?" Before the Sensor Officer could tell him, Savior fired its main cannon at the First Generation ship Tao. The mighty 8 Kilometer long Tao simply ceased to exist along with 6 Jurain Second Generation ships as Savior's main cannon spoke. Most Admirals would have panicked, but Faki wasn't that type of Admiral. "Concentrate all firepower on that ship."

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CAG Ruthenburg hit his RCS thrusters to intercept a Dragon Torpedo enroute to the Fleet, firing he destroyed it. So far his command was doing well, the Jurains had lost 32,000 fighters to the 5th Fleet's loss of 600 fighters, 80 Capital ships to 3, and still the Jurains outnumbered them heavily. Angling up he targeted a Jurain fighter that was retreating to his home base when new orders flashed across his HUD. "This is CAG, all fighters return to base, execute. Out of my way bastard." Ruthenburg said as he destroyed an oncoming Jurain fighter and kicked his ship into a 200G burn towards the Ares.

All along the lines of battle the 5th Fleet's fighters disengaged and returned to their motherships as Jurai's 20,000 surviving fighters regrouped for a renewed bout of combat as the 5th Fleet angled at them for a Rarity in space combat. A gun to gun engagement and Savior spoke again, destroying two First Generation ships and 13 3rd generation ships as well.

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"Admiral Faki, I suggest we move in as close as we can and engage the Humans at point blank range while our fleet escapes." Sasami's words on arrival to the bridge shocked everyone.

"Your Highness, it won't work. That ship will snipe us off one by one,"

"Admiral Faki, she knows this ship as she fought it before several millennia ago, she will hold it off, just order our fighters in to hold off theirs."

"Who are you referring to."

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"Admiral, we have an energy spike." The sensors officer called out.

Admiral Misaki turned towards the view port in time to see the Tsunami in her full 36 kilometer glory with all ten Lighthawk Wings extended in a protective formation. "So you have come Goddess."

"Admiral, their fighters are inbound, shou…"

"No. Order all ships to board the Tsunami classification ship. It came to protect and not fight. Notice how it isn't fighting, all its power is being directed to shielding the Jurain ships."

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"Azaka, Kamidake, and Admiral Faki, we will take our flag to the Tsunami." Sasami said as they teleported off the bridge.

The Jurain Fleet fled along with its fighters as it became clear that the Humans wouldn't pursue. They left behind 20 percent of its fleet that was destroyed.

Next Chapter: The Tears of Tsunami.