Synopsis: The IFC "rebels" arrive at the shipyard, and launch their attack. Zelda's ship arrives at the same time, and the Freedom's Cry also does soon. Chaos ensues as the RoH figures out who is to blame for the attack
Definition of terms:
FltOpOrd: Fleet Operational Order
CinC: Commander in Chief
Crimson Ashes: I'm glad you like my story. I can't wait to see your Zelda/link story. Thanks a bunch for putting my story on your favorite story list. Tell me when you publish your fic, and I'll be one of the first to review.
I.F.C.N Restitution, flagship of IFC "rebels"
Rear Admiral Lebron, the commanding officer of Taskforce 45 stood on the bridge of his flagship quietly contemplating the fleet order that he held in his hand.
I.F.C.N Fleet Command
FltOpOrd 538
Classification: Most Secret, viewable by Commander in Chief Lord Ganondorf, CinC IFC Navy Admiral Twinrova, CinC IFC Army General Badanov, CinC IFC Special Forces General Lokar, CinC IFC Marine Corps Badza, officers authorized by High Command
Taskforce 45 is to proceed to base Z12. Taskforce there will be repainted and refitted for coming attack on IP 457, Rear Admiral Lebron Commanding. Taskforce 45 will arrive at the enemy base and launch an all out attack after broadcasting messages identifying themselves as rebels. Taskforce 45 will then disperse to various border worlds and will be eventually followed by other IFC ships to simulate pursuit and will conquer border worlds. No mercy will be shown, no quarter given, and even the lives of civilians will not be spared.
Order of Battle Taskforce 45
Flagship: Redemption Class Battleship Restitution
20 Redemption Class Battleships
10 Flanker Class Cruisers
4 Hammerhead Class Fleet Carriers
This was the message that he had been waiting for all of his career. It had been his lifelong dream to strike a hammer blow at the heart of the Hylians. His hatred of them was inbred, as it was for all IFC citizens. It would a glorious day indeed, he thought to himself.
"Helm how long till we arrive?"
"About thirty minutes sir, give or take a few."
"Excellent. I want pilots in the cockpits now, and the gunners by their stations. Load the fighters with the heavy cruise missiles."
His subordinates scurried off fulfill the orders that he had just issued.
Bridge Freedom's Cry
Captain Nabooru sat silently in her chair not being able to shake off the feeling that something bad was going to happen on their arrival at the naval facility. Most people would have thought she was crazy. Besides Hyrule itself, IP 457 was the most secure place in the Republic.
"Ensign Mido, estimated time of arrival?"
"Forty five minutes, probably more ma'am."
"Alright." The captain then called Ruto and Impa to her to issue several more orders.
"Ensign, I want all six birds at maximum readiness, keep two of them on alert at all times. Lieutenant, I want all weapons at full efficiency and manned around the clock." Her two subordinates looked a bit confused but hid it in an instant as they saluted and moved off.
H.N.S Reigart, carrying aboard Zelda
Zelda sat in her room bored. She hated these politically oriented trips her father often sent her on, but went on them because she loved him dearly. For the whole trip she remained aloof from all of the crewmen and officers aboard, not speaking to them when not necessary, and when forced to, in a very arrogant tone. An officer poked his head in to inform her of something.
"We'll be arriving at the base in a little more than a half hour ma'am."
She didn't verbally acknowledge him but rather nodded her head imperiously to show that she had understood.
IP 457 Hylian Naval Base
The base at IP 457 was enormous. The actual asteroid was huge and housed the central command center, hangars, and recreational facilities for those crewmen whose ships were here at the base. Dozens of other orbital docks and shipways were arrayed around the asteroid both to house and construct new ships. Several defense platforms stood watch along the perimeter of the base. The ships had platforms had been at high alert for the past several weeks and the men were beginning to suffer for it. Their edge was worn off by the repetition of the daily drills and constant high alert, without any actual combat. Thus, on this day, many of the ships and facilities were running on skeleton crews as many were on the central asteroid, taking some rest and relaxation.
I.F.C.N Restitution
The taskforce had finally arrived at the outskirts of the base, just outside of detection range of the base's sensors. Rear Admiral Lebron stood on his bridge issuing orders, savoring the taste of upcoming battle.
"Launch all fighters, as soon as they're all deployed, form them into assault formations by squadrons, then send them in at full speed to take out the platforms and as many ships as they can. The capital ships will follow up and destroy any remaining heavy resistance or enemy concentrations."
Outside the bridge viewports, swarms of IF-3 fighters streaked away from the hangars on their ships. The fighters as well as the capital ships had been repainted with the grey and blazing claw paint scheme that the "rebels" supposedly sported. Eventually the fighters streaked forward towards the Hylian defense perimeter.
IP 457 Central Command Complex
The base commandant was sitting in his chair reviewing the list of ships present at his base, when his sensors officer broke his attention.
"Sir. I've got a lot of contacts here in Sector 9. Can't get any positive ship ID sir."
"Max out power to the sensors. I want to find out what's out there."
The sensors officer acknowledged and accordingly hit the switch to throw full power to the sensors and then rechecked his screens.
"Contacts firming up now. Looks like IF-3s a whole lot of them. Behind them looks like a bunch of capital ships I cant make out yet sir. The fighters are coming in at high speed, estimated one and a half minutes before arrival."
"Shit, scramble everything we've got. Get all hands to battle-stations now!" the commandant shouted
The following message went out to all facilities and ships at the base.
"Warning, all hands inbound attack. All hands man battle-stations immediately."
"Sir, multiple very high speed contacts originating from the IF-3s. Lots of them sir. They're cruise missiles. They're going to hit sir!"
The commandant barely had time to swear again before the first wave of missiles impacted against the outer defense perimeter, savaging the defense stations and the outlying picket ships.
"Who are they, IFC? Rebels?"
"They're broadcasting a message over all frequencies sir. They claim themselves to be the rebels who are fighting against the tyranny of the Republic and the incapable leadership of the IFC."
"Sir, heavy casualties all round. Their fighters are inside the base, and all the defense stations are gone. All ships are taking massive damage. Their capital ships are in weapons range now and are firing at us.
Outside the twenty Redemption Class Battleships opened fire with their main cannons, and their secondary batteries. The multitude of supporting ships sprung forward and sprayed weapons fire everywhere causing massive amounts of chaos and damage. The heavy weapons fire consisting of beam cannons, vaporized large chunks of Hylian capital ships and orbital facilities, while the secondary batteries of cannons and machine guns wreaked havoc on the smaller ships. A few HF-29s managed to scramble but a few well placed missiles destroyed the hangar entrance. The IFC "rebels" swept through the base rapidly cutting a large swatch through the Hylian base.
"Get a message out to Hyrule. Tell them we're under attack by rebels we cant hold any longer here."
The central asteroid was a disaster. Huge chunks had been blown off by weapons fire. Smoldering remains of antennae and defense turrets dotted the surface of the asteroid.
H.C.N Reigart
The ship would soon arrive at the base, and not a moment too soon. The ship needed to replenish its stock of propellant, as the existing reserves aboard ship were dwindling.
"Sir, the base isn't responding to any of my inquiries."
"Are you sure, try again, all channels this time."
"Nothing sir."
"Helm, take us into the base, maybe it's just a faulty relay or something."
"Hold on, sensors are picking up multiple contacts heading our way at high speed........identify them as cruise missiles!"
"Helm, evasive maneuvers. Weapons target incoming missiles and fire."
The Savior Class Cruiser turned sluggishly as her weapons came to bear. Her defensive fire plucked the missiles out of the sky slowly one by one, but it was evident that the majority of them would get through. The leading two streaked through the defensive fire and impacted against the forward hangar, their detonation tearing out a huge chunk of the bow. Soon, several rebel fighters were strafing the beleaguered cruiser with their Vulcan cannon and beam cannon, leaving gaping holes in the ship.
Zelda felt the ship rock under the impact of the cruise missiles and stuck her head out of her cabin thinking to reprimand the captain of the ship for such lousy piloting, but when she looked out her door she saw officers and crewmen running around frantically carrying out orders, and trying to repair damage to the ship.
On the bridge the XO stood where the captain had fallen several minutes earlier listening to the reports coming in from various parts of the ship. It was clear that the ship could not be saved, over 85 percent of its weapons were non-functional, the engines were destroyed, and there were multiple hull breaches. However the XO thought not of his own duty but of the life of the passenger whom he had sworn to protect. He sent an officer to retrieve Zelda, in order to put her in an escape pod which would then be hopefully unnoticed among the other debris, and would be eventually picked up by Hylian ships that were sent to investigate.
Zelda saw an officer running towards her. He grabbed her wrist and led her to one of the few functioning escape pods left on the ship. She didn't say anything, mostly because of shock. She felt herself being pushed in and heard the hiss as the door closed and then felt a large jolt as the officer pushed the button to eject the pod into space. She could see out of the single viewport in the escape pod the dire shape that the Reigart was in. Eventually the cruiser exploded as her main reactor was breached and overloaded. The blinding flash of the explosion caused her to lose consciousness as her escape pod floated peacefully among the rest of the debris of the battlefield.
So ends chapter 4, too much action, too little? Please review, it would be highly appreciated.