Shattered Lylat: The Fragmentation War

Disclaimer 5: I own the Ikaruga-class ark ship/space fortress. I own the character of Captain Sean Forrest, and the aforementioned Miles Locke (from chapter 5). I also own the Rook-class battlecruiser. And if I forgot to mention it before, I own the Zeus-class Particle beam frigates. I also own the Flayer-class frigates for more info on what I own, refer to the disclaimers of previous chapters. And now back to our story.

Chapter 6

"All hands brace for impact!" Captain Picard- Star Trek: Nemesis

***

Corneria City

The three Cornerian warships flew over the CDF Academy, and Ed could see the Imperial army laying siege to it. "Those bastards!" Ed said as he pounded his fist on the Black Knight's tactical console. "We have to help them!"

"Oh…we'll help them," Pepper said "But I think they can defend themselves just fine."

As if on cue, underground silos around the academy grounds opened, and Arwings and MACS bearing the gold and green colors of the CDF Training Cadre swarmed out, taking the fight to the Imperials. The Imperials were caught by surprise, but started to return fire.

As units on both sides began to fall Ed asked, "Where the hell did they get the MACS from?"

"More secret projects." Mike Wilson responded from the bridge of the Great Fox.

The Imperials, despite the Training Cadre's best efforts, were gaining the upper hand. "Time for phase 2." Pepper said "Ikaruga, you are cleared for launch. Same for Rook and Castle."

Ed watched as the parade grounds of the academy opened up and a massive ship 3 miles long flew out from underground. It was painted white with a mottled black and gray pattern. It also had green trim stripes, to signify it belonging to the CDF. It was escorted by two brick shaped vessels that, due to engine placement, looked like sideways castle towers.

"The Ikaruga ark ship and the Rook class cruisers Castle and Rook." Pepper said "All cadets, retreat to assigned cruisers!"

The units of the training cadre began to fall back to the ark ship and its escorts, but heavy Imperial gunfire was preventing them from making the job easy.

"General, the cadets will be slaughtered unless we help with the evac. I have a plan." Ed said as he took off towards the Black Knight's hangar. When he reached the hangar, he powered up the Galvatron the MAC he recovered from the lab, and opened the hangar bay doors.

"All cadets, this is the Black Knight. We will assist in evac. Same goes for Phantron and Great Fox."

Ed saw some of the cadets divert and head towards the Black Knight. However, enemy MACS and fighters followed them. Ed brought the MAC's assault rifle up and opened fire. A couple Invader III fighters disintegrated under the assault. His particle cannon blew a hole right through an enemy Flanker, dropping it out of the sky. Ed covered for the cadets as they entered the ship, the last cadet's Mac he had to haul in with his own. In all, Ed helped 12 cadets into the ship. Mark showed up in his Arwing to provide more cover for the cadets, as did Damien and Karl. They helped the cadets reach the other ships with minimal losses. Then a call came in.

"We're picking up more fighters, as well as a Saruzin-II escorted by two Grazan-II carriers!" ROB-2 reported.

"This is Captain Sean Forrest of the Ikaruga. We'll handle this." The coyote then barked a command "Initiate Fortress mode!"

Ed watched as panels on the side and top of the ark ship opened up to reveal numerous laser and missile turrets. Ed guessed at least 50. The front of the ship also deployed two massive heavy naval particle cannons. The three Imperial warships closed on the Ikaruga, and right towards their destruction.

The Ikaruga's forwards lasers and missiles opened up on the three ships, depleting their shields almost instantly. Then the particle cannons fired, blowing the two Grazan-II carriers apart, their broken hulls falling all over the city. The Rook cruisers dispatched of the Saruzin-II with their own particle cannons. Then the Ikaruga strafed the ground with lasers and missiles, obliterating many of the enemy forces attacking the Academy.

"Holy shit!" Ed shouted over the comm. "The Ikaruga kicks ass!"

Jason Kage cut in "What does the name mean, anyway?"

Dave Cheng had the answer "It's a Japanese word that means 'spotted dove'."

"That makes sense," Ed said "On the one hand, Ikaruga is a peaceful ark, and on the other hand, it's a bad-ass of a space fortress."

"I think that sums it up best" replied Captain Forrest.

"Well, looks like we've done all we can, let's get out of here before the fleet gets overwhelmed," said General Pepper.

The 6 Cornerian ships headed out of orbit, leaving a burning Academy and city behind.

***

Cornerian Orbit, 10 minutes later

"Goddamn it! I am not asking much, I'm just asking you to hold out against overwhelming odds!" Admiral Collins shouted at Vice Admiral Gestahl. "We just have to buy time for the Ikaruga to escape to the Meteo region."

"I know that, but my ship is getting the piss kicked out of it, sir." Gestahl responded. Gestahl actually may have been understating. The Galaxian had lost almost all shielding and 45% of its weapons. Decks 4 through 6 had sustained heavy damage and were going to be uninhabitable for some time.

"I realize that, but this is almost over." Collins said as he fought to stay standing, as a volley of laser fire from the Imperial cruiser Bismarck rocked the Guardian. A couple bridge consoles flared out, and the transmission between the Guardian and the Galaxian was cut.

"Damage report!" Collins barked

"We've lost ventral shields, all other shields at 30%, weapons at 45%, decks 9 and 10 have numerous hull breaches, hull integrity at 60%." Reported the Tactical Officer

"What about communications?" Collins asked

"Critically damaged. Everything beyond the Ikaruga, which is 10 km away, is uncontactable." Reported the chief engineer

"Sir! More Imperial ships incoming! Two Flayers, and two Intimidators!" the TO reported. "They are locking on to us!"

"Open fire with whatever we have left on all 5 attacking vessels!" Collins shouted

The Guardian's remaining weapons sent lasers and missiles at the 5 Imperial attackers, but the shots only dissipated against the shields. The only damage inflicted was a couple missile hits on the Bismarck. The Imperial return fire was devastating. All 5 ships used their heavy naval laser cannons to blow through the minimal shielding on the Guardian, tearing massive rents in the hull. The shot from the Bismarck cored almost all the way through the Guardian.

On the bridge, Admiral Collins was thrown from his seat as consoles exploded, the chief engineer going down in a hail of sparks. When the blasts subsided, Collins noticed the bridge was on a slant. "Report!" he shouted as he got to his feet.

"That last shot hit the command deck support structure. It could break loose from another hit. All shields are gone. Decks 7 and 15 have major hull breaches. Decks 8 through 10 have been cored through, and…we can't jump to hyperspace, the hyperdrive has been critically damaged. We are also losing life support and structural integrity" reported the TO.

Collins was momentarily stunned. He was trapped with no escape, and no options. Well, except one. Collins thought as he stared at the Bismarck, pointed directly at the Guardian. "I want the reactor red lined and have all power dumped into the weapons and engines. I want all weapons locked onto one of the 5 attacking ships and fired at 150% power. I'll handle the thrusters. Also, give me the Ikaruga battlegroup.

"Audio only," the comm officer said

"Ikaruga and escorts" the Admiral said, his voice unwavering, "I'm about to give you one hell of a diversion, and you'd better make use of it."

He closed the channel "Helm, FULL SPEED AHEAD!!! RAM THE BISMARCK!!!"

The Guardian jumped forward, hurtling the ship at the Bismarck.

As the reactor redlined, the computer tried to warn the Admiral. Collins disabled the computer This is a one way trip, I won't have to worry about the reactor. When the distance between the two battleships was less than 1km, Collins ordered the guns fired.

Overpowered laser beams speared into the 5 attacking Imperial vessels, draining their shields, and causing hull ruptures on the two Flayer frigates. Then the Guardian slammed head-on into the Bismarck, punching through deck plating and armor as if it were paper and balsa wood. The remaining forward cannons fired, punching through the Bismarck's hull and piercing the reactor core, starting a destructive chain reaction.

Collins managed to stay standing during this, staring defiantly at the Bismarck as the bridge was torn apart by the fusion core exploding, taking Collins and his crew to the great beyond.

***

10 seconds earlier, aboard the ISS Bismarck

Captain Mehta had no chance to avoid the oncoming ship, he tried to order a turn to lessen the damage, but the call came to late. As the Guardian rammed into the Bismarck, Mehta was thrown backwards, and he slammed into one of the guardrails on the bridge. He heard a dull snap as something in his back gave, and he crumpled to the floor. As his TO ran to assist him, the universe exploded in his face. The fusion core of the Bismarck had just gone critical.

***

From the Black Knight, Ed watched as the Guardian rammed the Bismarck, crushing the two hulls of the ships together. Then their fusion cores detonated almost simultaneously, ripping both ships apart. The shockwave from the blasts slammed into the 4 unshielded Imperial warships, destroying them as well.

"Dear God…" Ed said as the explosions subsided

"There was nothing we could have done." Mark said "The scans showed hyperdrive was disabled before the crash."

"However, it is one hell of a distraction," ROB-2 said "The blast caused an EMP burst that has scrambled the sensors of nearby Imperial ships. All CDF and DSF ships are using this time to escape, I believe we should do the same."

"Agreed" said Captain Forrest "We're going to use the Meteo jump point to escape to Katina. The asteroids should mask our sensor signal from any pursuers."

The 6 warships flew on through space, towards Meteo.

***

ISS Andross, Corneria Orbit, 2 minutes later

"Impossible!!!" Emperor-General Josef Caine roared. "We outnumbered the CDF/DSF coalition, and yet they escaped? Not only that, but we lost one of our Halberd-class warships to them! And I hear they have more MACS now, which is another unknown variable! Now we have no clue where the scattered fleets are going."

"My lord, I warned you not to underestimate the Cornerians." Said a shadowy figure "They may not normally practice tactics of deception and brute force, but that doesn't stop them from doing so."

"Just because you and your buddies once worked for them does not mean you get to tell me how to fight them. Don't forget that…EVER!"

"Enough bickering, you two" said Empress-General Katlin Stienburg. "This isn't achieving anything. I do have good news, though. The 4th Imperial War Fleet spotted 6 warships heading towards Meteo. They included the Great Fox, the Black Knight, a Phantron-cruiser, and that mysterious space fortress that showed up when we attacked the Academy."

"Tell the 4th fleet to engage them now, wipe them out, chase them into asteroids if you have to!" Caine shouted

"My lord, do you think it is wise to do so?" the shadowy figure asked the panther.

"I don't think…I know!" Caine laughed.

***

Meteo Border, 5 minutes later

"What is the status of the other fleets?" General Pepper asked in his communication to Vice Admiral Gestahl

"Most of them got out, but with heavy damage." Gestahl responded. "Magnusson confirms that the diversion fleet is intact, and will leave for Zoness 1 day after reaching Katina"

"Good, we will speak again when we all reach Katina."

The transmission ended, and suddenly the Black Knight's Red Alert klaxons went off.

"Warning! Picking up 6 Imperial warships with numerous escort fighters closing in on us from behind!" ROB-2 reported.

"They must have spotted us when we were leaving." Captain Forrest responded from the Ikaruga.

"We have to stop them from destroying the Ikaruga." Ed said "I suggest we move into the asteroids and ambush them with fighter assaults."

"Good idea" General Pepper said "Have all fighters prepare for launch."

Ed ran towards the hangar bay, and began prepping his Arwing for yet another battle.

William Black walked up to Ed "Do you have any extra fighters lying around?" he asked

"Well…one of the cadets is wounded too badly to fly, but his Arwing is available. Will that do?" Ed asked as he pointed to an Arwing in the hangar bay.

"Yeah…I just want a chance to fight these guys." Black said, "On equal terms of course"

"All right, just form up on my lead when we're out there" Ed said

"Got it." Billy said as he headed for the Arwing.