Ch 7-
"War was the ultimate chaos, a pounding, soul-destroying snarl, ending in blown-apart men lying unburied on the cold earth. There was nothing more cosmically chaotic than war."
— Paullina Simons
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Earth system xxxxxxxxxxxx
"All units hold fast, this is what we've trained Winged Hussars where built from the ground up to face the Black Lancers! We've come to the prom now let's dance boys!" Vice-Admiral Geary said as her fleet and the Black Lancers became close enough to start a skirmish between the two.
"Time to dance. OPEN FIRE!"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Westerland xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"What's the matter with Count Herxheimer?" Duke Braunschweig asked as he saw that the Noble Fleet and the Blonde Brat's Fleet where now close to firing range and yet only long-range skirmishes with missile ships where being carried out.
"He's reached the edge of the red zone and he's holding positions." The bridge office said.
"He's holding?!" The Duke said in outrage as he ordered for a direct link to be made to the Count.
"What are you doing Count? Are you afraid to fight some peasants?" the Duke asked in a derogatory manner.
"They're hold positions around the moon and they've mined all areas of advance. It's a killing field, why a chicken couldn't survive there! If we charged then we're done for." Herxheimer said, he was not a military man but even he could see that attacking here and now was madness.
"Then I'll put someone else that is not a coward. You are dismissed. Flegel, you have command! Now all units attack." The Duke said and Herxheimer wished that he had sided with Ovlessler in the power struggle.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Amritsar xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"They are not attacking." Admiral Lennekamp said to Admiral Kemp as for the past few weeks they had been in a constant maneuver ballet with the rebel fleet.
"They seem to be focused on draining out fuel reserves with constant maneuvering, this is not a bad move as it keeps us here instead of joining Lord Reinhart at Westerland." Kemp replied.
"And yet if we retreat, they will raid and destroy the military infrastructure we leave vulnerable which will affect out long term plans and if we stay, we will not participate in the main battle. Yare, yare. Yang Wen Li truly is terrifying." Lennekamp added.
"Before the Alliance was an afterthought, a place to earn distinction in battle but with it's most deadly warrior in charge it's become the stuff of nightmares. Admiral we have been ordered to join his excellency at Westerland after we fortify Amritsar but any forces we leave here will be attacked while we send a detached force. We must do our duty but we cannot let out territory become vulnerable to an attack." Kemp said.
"What are you suggesting?"
"We use our entire Zephyr particle supply to make this jump point inaccessible along with mines and traps and then retreat to join his excellency."
"Admiral, Zephyr particles aren't cheap! What you are suggesting could cost us the equivalent of at least 3 to four fleets without firing a shot! We could ruin the fleet with this!" Lennekamp said.
"Better a bankrupt fleet than a crippled one." Kempt said and that made Lennekamp pause.
"We can replace used resources but we cannot replace those who die. Very well, let's block Amritsar and move to Westerland." Lennekamp said.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Bittenfeld Flagship xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Don't let them dodge! SHIT!" Bittenfeld swore as for the 7th time his fleet charged the Winged Hussars and for the 7th time the enemy fleet simply divided itself in two and let the Lancers fly by while pelting them with long range fire.
"Damn it! We're bleeding here!" Bittenfeld said with the frustration of a knight who could not catch a horse archer.
In that moment the Konis Tiger shook as several panels burst injuring Bittenfeld in the face as a doctor rushed to treat his eye and put a path on it.
"All units…retreat." Bittenfeld said with his now one eye as the crew where shocked to hear those words. But yet there was something about his stance that made it clear that the fight was not yet over.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Van Huu flagship, Amristar xxxxxxxxxx
"It looks like they are making the jump point impassible. Do you recommend pursuing?" Van Huu asked Dusty the Vice commander of this task force.
"Our mission was to raid and deny the enemy their fleets for the big battle, we've achieved that objective. I'd say we retreat to save up on fuel and food. The Alliance doesn't have the big pockets the Empire does." Dusty offered and Van Huu nodded.
"You heard him boys, let's skedaddle and tear up the place on the withdraw. Bend the railroad tracks!" Van Huu ordered as Dusty shook his head as he ended the transmission.
"Tell our ships to abstain from looting. This is going to come back to bite us once the Empire's civil war ends." Dusty said as he could imagine that the real battle was about to begin in a few months' time.
Xxxxxxxxxxxx Westerland, Brunhilda xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Look at that." Oberstein said with wonder in his voice, a rare feet for the normally calm man, as he and the whole crew looked in child like disbelief at the sight of the enemy fleet charging open space to attack their fortified positions.
"Hush now, you may interrupt it's majesty and break the moment." Reinhard said as he too was shocked at just how desperate the prey was to jump into the predators' teeth.
Without needing his command Reinhart's fleet opened fired at the optimal time and started to decimate the Noble's Forces.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Earth xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"They are running! THEY ARE RUNNING!" Geary said as her bridge crew cheered as the Black Lancers retreated back towards the Moon and rounded it but instead of trying to make for another charge the enemy fleet was turning tail and retreating with the Winged Hussars hot on their tails.
"After them! They've sustained 30% damage, let's make it 99! Forward! Let's party like it's the new Millennium!" Geary said as she ordered for an ancient earth song by an artist who was a Prince play as they chased the Lancers.
"Enemy detected from the moon!" One bridge officer said as hidden in the shadow of the moon the Black Lancer's Valkyries emerged for their ambush. They were too small to have been detected by the big sensors of the Hussars, but they on their own they could not do enough damage to the Allied Fleet. But that was not their purpose as they launched scrambler missiles and targeted sensors and navigation.
"The fleet is losing coordination!"
"We're slowing down!"
"THE BLACK LANCERS HAVE TURNED!"
"Hold fast!" Geary quickly ordered as she reformed her forces and kept a calm strong exterior even as deep down she was terrified for falling into this trap.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Konis Tiger xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Pay it back! Pay back every drop of blood spilled times 3! Leave nothing behind but their eyes for weeping!" Bittenfeld said to his fleet as he stood now with his single good eye and a black eye patch over the injured one.
He looked like the God of War himself Odin descended from Valhalla to reap a terrible vengeance as his Black Lancers where finally in melee range where they flourished and charged like the wild boars they were.
And there were wounded animals.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Westerland outskirts xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Reform and charge! Reform! Nephew whys is your ship here! You must look to your fleet!" The Duke said to Flegel.
"Uncle…..I have no fleet." Flegel said with a broken voice and broken gaze as the Duke fell silent.
"Incoming transmission. Fahrenheit fleet has attacked Geiersburg and has launched an infantry assault. Command room and reactor core besieged; we will hold out as long as we are still alive. Admiral Ovlessler."
"All units retreat to Geiersburg." The Duke said as his fleet did that with the Lohengram forces on their tail.
They passed trough the Posada system who had only two jump points in their rush to reach Geiersburg on the fastest route, which was also the most dangerous.
"Contact! Lennekamp and Kempt fleets detected jumping into the system!"
"Contact! Lohengram forces coming from the other jump point.
"No….this can't be…it cannot be….."The Duke said in disbelief.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Brunhilda xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Fahrenheit's initiative to go to Geiersburg instead of rushing to Westerland has forced the Noble Fleet to retreat along a dangerous route and Admiral Kemp and Lennekamp decision to gamble sabotage Amritsar and retreat early has given us the opportunity to bag them all. I recommend commendations for the two soldiers. Also, we are receiving an incoming report from Admiral Bittenfeld." Oberstein said as he debriefed Reinhard.
"Winged Hussars have sustained 50% casualties. Enemy fleet repelled. Main enemy fleet has reached Earth. Holding against enemy main fleet. Estimate enemy forces at 45.000. We shall not let them pass." Oberstein added.
"That Bittenfeld. He seems determined to earn his place in Valhalla and an honored place at that. He didn't mention 50% casualties in his own fleet and he only is at 9.000 strong and to make a stand against a force 5 times bigger." Reinhard said in amusement.
"Admiral Bittenfeld is reckless but his aggression is his strength. He keeps his Black Lancers is constant motion and is threatening to bypassed the enemy fleet and is threatening their lines of communication. It is a tactic that works because of the Black Lancer's speed and the psychological shock of the Winged Hussars being beaten back. At least at face value." Oberstein said.
"Yes, both fleets have lost equal amounts of ships. The Winged Hussars have shown they can take on the Black Lancers and the Black Lancers have shown they can come back from the brink. It will be interesting to see which mad cavalry general earns the most hunting trophies. Order Mittermeier and Reuenthal to reinforce Bittenfeld but not to engage. The Alliance will soon withdraw and send Kircheis to help Fahrenheit take down Ovlessler."
"Yes sir. Also, I would advise to sent the message that Admiral Ovlessler has been captured and that we pardoned him and he is still the Grenadier Commander."
"So that we suffer no more resistance from remaining forces and avoid a fight to the death with the encircled Noble Fleet. I understand your position Oberstein, but let's not overdo it. Merkatz will be the Fleet Commander, that should be enough to solidify our take over." Reinhard said as he surprised Oberstein who though that he would have to fight for Merkatz to be given the role.
"And Kircheis will be the Vice-Fleet Commander. Now then, what should we do about Littenheim and Braunschweig?" Reinhard asked.
"About that. It seems that has been taken cared of. After surrendering both of them have been assassinated."
"By who?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Earth xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"The Imperial Civil war is over. Soon Lohengram will consolidate and rule the Empire. The battle above Earth is something we can use to attract followers since Earth is where the Black Lancers stopped a fleet up to 5 times their size. This is a fortuitous opportunity that we can take advantage off." The Arch Bishop, leader of the Earth Cult said to Rubinsky who was on Fezzan.
"I agree. But I think that there is more that you want to say to me." Rubinsky replied
"Yes, why did you have the leaders of the Noble Fleet assassinated?" The Arch Bishop asked.
"So that everyone could see that their assassins were Earth Cult followers." Rubinsky.
"So that everyone can see that earth cult members killed them. The same reason why I am contacted you now so that I know you are on Earth at this very moment. The same reason you just said previously. I am taking advantage of an opportunity." Rubinsky said as in that moment one of his agents on a hidden mercenary ship launched a nuclear strike that destroyed Old Earth to such a degree that the Planet cracked in two, ensuring that every single Earth Cultist on Earth was dead right as the Alliance and Imperial Fleets where still in the system
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Fezzan xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Interesting move but which purpose was it for? With this you are now free of the Church grip and have access to their hidden resources. This can solidify Lohengram's reign since it makes it look like payback from the Nobles for killing their leaders. To the Alliance it can look like ruthless scorched Earth from the Empire making peace even more difficult. And to the Lohengram faction it puts a damper on their efforts to incorporate elements of the Old Guard into their new order. Destroy your master? Weaken the other players? Escalate the conflict? Increase Fezzan's importance? Which reason was it?" Domonique asked.
"Yes." Rubinsky said he looked at a map of the Galaxy and smiled.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Heinessen xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Extra, extra read all about it! Alliance invades Imperial territory and returns victorious! Chairman Yang Wen Li resigns from post!" A newspaper boy said as the Galaxy changed once more.
