Part 3 Of Visionary
by Chaoseternus
Chapter 7: Fleet Actions
The Tau'ri by this time had fourteen vessels at their command, one mothership, the Del Shakka Mel, ten Ha'taks and the three allied O'Neill class vessels.
Against them, were arrayed eighty-seven of Anubis's vessels, of which twenty were pure troop ships and therefore non-combatants. That still left Anubis with a near five to one edge in warships. And whilst the O'Neill class was the most advanced and capable in the system, they were not enough to defeat a five to one advantage, not against Anubis's enhanced Ha'taks and motherships.
The decision had to be made, and Buffy/Enerina and Hammond called it from their respective command ships. Destroy the warships, they can destroy the Earth. Let the ground forces deal with the transports as they force a beachhead, but whatever else, maintain control of the skies.
And just prey that Anubis was sending Jaffa and not his supersoldiers.
"So" Xander said, his voice nonchalant and uncaring, "roughly five to one odds just counting the warships… no big, what we doing tomorrow?"
"No big?" O'Neill asked aghast, "they have thirteen motherships and fifty-four Ha'taks! How can that be no big?"
"Well, the motherships are just big fat targets and the Ha'taks are like vampire, got a bite…" there was a collective groan as the pun registered, but Xander just grinned and carried on, "but not exactly rocket scientists, if you know what I mean"
"I agree" Teal'c inclined ahead to the young warrior, "the Jaffa will tend not to improvise or act outside of orders for fear of the consequences"
Buffy leaned forward in her throne, "these ones even more so, Anubis has killed far too many of his own Jaffa for them to even contemplate doing anything without orders… we can use this"
"While you're planning," Giles commented, "the O'Neill's can, unless I am mistaken outpace and outgun the Goa'uld ships?"
"They can" Carter replied, a little curious.
"Then may I suggest a hit and run attack to reduce their numbers?" Giles replied, Ripper very much evident.
"Thor, you get that buddy?" O'Neill commented, his head tilted towards the viewer where the image of his Asgard friend was evident.
"Indeed, we are moving to engage now" Thor's voice was even, showing no signs of hesitation and fear, "any particular targets?"
"Nope, just kill as many of the Ha'taks as you can in a single pass" Xander replied flippantly, "the more ships they have, the more chance they have of out-manoeuvring us"
"Understood"
It was an understandable incredulous group that watched the screens as the Asgard vessels headed back to rejoin the fleet, after successfully destroying six Ha'taks in a single pass and crippling two more.
They weren't incredulous about the losses the Asgard vessels had caused the Goa'uld, no, they were incredulous that ten of Anubis's warships had seen fit to pursue the escaping Asgard vessels.
"Let me guess" Daniel sighed, rolling his eyes, "Anubis ordered them not to let the Asgard escape…"
"And now they are too afraid to turn back in case Anubis orders them killed for allowing the Asgard to escape" Willow shook her head, "bloody brilliant"
She froze, "I didn't just say what I think I just said did I?"
Grinning, Xander replied "you did"
"Bloody hell" Willow commented disgusted, then groaned as chuckles filled the room, "just kill me now. Please"
"Wills, you know I love you" Xander dropped a friendly arm around willows shoulders, "but you do know that if you start wearing tweed, I will be forced to perform a mercy killing right?"
"Actually…" Buffy gestured towards the icons flashing towards their position on the centre screen, "a mercy killing may be just what the Doctor ordered"
"I believe we should oblige the good Doctor" Teal'c eyes glinted, "We would not wish Frasier to get her blunt needles out would we?"
The Scooby's just chuckled as O'Neill and Daniel shuddered.
"So Dorothy, what say we introduce the munchkins to the wicked with of the West?" O'Neill drolly commented as he finally stopped shuddering.
"And hope they forgot about the little melting problem hum?" Giles asked.
"It would be indeed beneficial if they didn't attack us with water" Teal'c added.
Teal'c glanced around, and noting the odd looks he was getting thought it prudent to add "O'Neill has made me watch the Wizard of Oz many many times"
"Not to rain on the parade or anything" Willow butted in, "but their in weapons range now"
Grinning O'Neill walked over to the weapons console of the Del Shakka Mel, " The Wizard of Oz may be great and wise…" he tapped one last button, and the ship rocked slightly as volley after volley of weapons fire lanced out from the mighty ships weapons batteries, swiftly joined by fire from the other vessels of the fleet, "…but he is in no mood to see visitors today"
Xander looked askance out the window as a Cheops was caught in crossfire, rapidly dieing under the fire of the combined weapons of the fleet, "you think? Maybe he just has something against Door To Door salespeople…"