A/N: Had this sitting on my Hard-drive for quite a while. Figured I might as well upload this, while writers block strikes, HARD at the 6th chapter's writing process...
1BHL, Mother-ship, Outer Kharak System
"Admiral, report to the bridge." The voice of fleet command came through my radio once more. I grumbled to myself, and threw off my covers, grabbing my radio off of my desk. "Understood. Be there in five minutes." I replied, picking up my security key-card from next to where my radio was, and moved the growing stack of unfinished paperwork aside. After a few seconds of shuffling through after action report papers, ship manuals, design papers, and other assorted papers, I pulled out three different files.
The first of these three files was the folder in which I had placed all papers related to the disastrous Light Corvette project. I had scrawled on the folder 'unworkable in current form.' and placed several sheets of recommended changes within. The second was a rather thick folder listing all personnel currently on board the ship, whom were qualified at a basic level for the Arrow class light fighter. On it's cover was a small note reminding me to drum up replacements for group one's lost pilots.
The third was a rather plain folder at first glance- Aside from the large red stamps of {FAILED PROJECT} and [CLASSIFIED MATERIAL] on top. A corner of a sheet of paper peeked out of the top of the folder, and clearly visible on that was the words "Blade class interceptor design specifications." Quickly leaving my quarters, I hastily leafed through the information with the Blade's folder,made my way down the hallway towards the elevator for the bridge.
"Sir!" Ensign Ahlera waved me over, pressing the hold key in the elevator. For a moment, before pressing the key for the bridge, she stared at me, and the folders under my arm. She seemed like she wanted to say something, but she must have decided against it, she looked away quickly, and fidgeted with her uniform's sleeves."Sir, the techies asked me to remind you about your report on the light-" she started- but I raised a hand to cut her off, before pointing at the Light Corvette folder held under my arm.
"Already taken care of Ensign." I said quietly. The image of LCS-5 and LCS-4 colliding flashed quickly through my mind, and for a moment, I would have sworn I could still hear LCS-4's comm's officer's voice. "Speaking of which, what did they do with the three corvettes that made it back? Why weren't they scrambled for defense earlier?" I asked quickly- more to change my thoughts, then for the answer.
She stayed quiet for a moment, and glanced away, before speaking quietly, but quickly, "They were supposed to be, but... after that incident with 4, and 5... Sir, that happened right in front of the ship... every last crew-member saw that. No one would get in them." she fidgeted with her uniform again, "I was actually supposed to take LCS-3 as my first command- but.." she looked down, and bit her lip.
"It's alright, Ensign, I understand completely. Personally, I think the things are deathtraps, but the concept is good... It just needs to be reworked a bit." I said and lifted the Light Corvette file. "I've got about ten different recommendations on how to fix the problems with it, and only two involve a sledgehammer." I looked at her with a completely straight face for a moment, before a small grin creeped onto my face, "Maybe three." She chuckled.
5 Minutes later, Bridge
The bridge door opened in front of us, and not three steps into the room, I was immediately grabbed by a Techie. "Admiral, have you finished that report on the Light Corvette yet? I really would like to get your feedback, maybe we can-" he rambled, stopping only when I shoved the File into his arms. A look of what could only be described as pure glee crossed his face, before he quickly turned and almost skipped away.
Before the odd behavior of the scientist had fully registered in my mind, I was once again accosted by a reaching hand. This time, it was Lieutenant Commander Siara Manaan, 'Delta One'. "Sir," she said, snapping off a quick salute, "We still need replacements for the five lost pilots- and, regarding what you said a few hours ago, Sir, the Techies still want to speak with you on where you intend for them to pull a new fighter from."
I looked at her for a moment with a slight frown, before slowly responding,"As to the pilots, I'm afraid I can't replace them all right now- Crew constraints are too tight. The best I can do is sortie out myself with you-But that still leaves us down an entire flight." I lifted the folder for the Blade slightly into her view, and was immediately rewarded with a shocked look. "As for the other fighter... While reading this over, I saw a few things that looked out of place to me... I'll make my recommendations to them, and we'll see what that gets us." I grinned at the look on her face.
She hesitated a moment, before speaking "Sir, the Blade was a failed project... It couldn't meet all of it's specifications without becoming a Flying bomb... Sir, are you sure you've thought this through?" she asked, pausing a moment before continuing. "It couldn't meet all of it's design specifications, and in trying to do so, it-" I quickly held up a hand to interrupt her here.
"That's exactly it. Reduce the required specifications in unnecessary regions." I stated, and quickly pulled out the main overview page for the Blade. Scrawled next to the name was an identifier of "Mark 2". Several features were crossed out and revised, including the removal of underbelly bomb racks, a reduction in top speed, and range, as well as a slight increase in armor amount around the reactor.
She blinked for a moment, before chuckling to herself. "God, I bet the techies are going to slap themselves." she said, before turning around to walk off. She only went a few steps, before pausing and looking at me incredulously "Wait a minute... Did you say you'll be sortieing out with us?!" she asked in a slightly baffled tone. "Can you even do that?"
I pointed to my shoulder and grinned. "The privileges of being the highest ranked military official on board are many, Commander." I said, and was once again rewarded with a confused look. "Sir?" she asked, and looked at me for a moment, before noticing a small, open box in my hand with a pair of Insignia for the rank of Commander, as well as a small metal medal in the shape of an Arrow Interceptor.
"For recognition of quick thinking, valor, and your service in the line of duty, I hereby award you the first authorized Interceptor's Badge, and promote you to the rank of Commander, in the Kushan Navy. Congratulations, Commander." I said, and grinned. "Sir!" she saluted, and stood at attention as I replaced her old Insignia, and pinned the medal on her chest. She saluted once more, and then walked away, back towards the other remaining squadron leaders.
Turning towards the techies waiting at the other end of the bridge, I was once more grabbed by the corvette's techie. "Sir, I just looked over your recommendations on these papers, and... Sir, what you described in here is two different corvettes... Ignoring the 'Multi-gun Corvette'... Which is practically infeasible." He looked up for a moment, and paused. "But wait... if we... hmm.." he turned away, and walked back towards the techies, mumbling to himself, and writing on a sheet of paper.
I blinked, and held still for a moment, before clearing my throat, and speaking to the bridge at large. "Would the next person who wishes to speak with me PLEASE refrain from pulling on my arm? Thank you." I shook my head and muttered under my breath, before hearing someone clear their throat. "Admiral. We need to speak with you for a moment about your conduct here, a few hours ago." Fleet Intelligence stated, and looked at me with a frown.
I refrained from groaning aloud, I had quite a clear idea of the possible penalties of my outburst. Instead, I replied with "Of course," although, I did say it a little reluctantly. He turned towards Karan S'jet motioned me to follow, and walked to stand next to her. She looked at me with an impassive look on her face as I approached. I stood at attention for a moment, before she waved her hand shortly.
"Admiral, please. I am not one of your Navy personnel. Fore-go the formalities." she said, and looked me in the eye. "You however, are." she stated flatly. "And I'll expect there to be absolutely no more of your earlier conduct." she looked away, and closed her eyes, going back to the manipulation of various ship's systems.
"While I cannot officially reprimand you, seeing as you are my superior officer, Let me remind you, Admiral," he started, pausing a moment to frown, "You are technically in overall command of the military portion of this ship, for the duration of the tests, and her imminent expedition. It would not do to have you setting a poor example for the conduct of all the rest of the navy personnel on board." he said quietly. "I will not recommend your replacement, as I understand your outburst completely, but don't let it happen again, sir."
I sighed quietly in relief, even though he was my subordinate, he had still managed to make me feel as if I was about to be chewed out by a drill officer back in boot camp. "Understood." I said quietly, and turned to leave, "Admiral." Karan interrupted. I turned back around slowly, and raised an eyebrow at her. "Yes, Ms. S'jet?" I asked, anticipating more words on the outburst.
She hesitated a moment before continuing slowly. "While I understand the necessity of your sortieing out with the other pilots, until we return to Kharak to replace our losses, do be careful..." she stated with a small hint of worry, before quickly covering it with a further statement "It would be poor form to lose a high ranking officer on a systems test." she continued staring at me for a moment, before quickly turning away and closed her eyes to return to systems management.
I turned to leave, before once more being interrupted "Wait a minute... did she just say you're sortieing out with the... You can't be serious, Admiral!" He started indignantly, pausing when I held up a hand. "Captain, I understand your sentiments exactly. But whom would you rather I send?" I asked, holding up the file folder. "Our chief engineer? Perhaps some of the repair crew. No, better still, I could take a few of the crew intended for the first two frigates."
I pulled their files quickly, and read a few off, "Ensign Kera LiirHra, Intended for my frigates weapons crew, Technically qualified for an arrow interceptor, but no flight hours. On any craft. Send her immediately into a known combat situation?" I asked, continuing before he could respond "Lieutenant Padgur Manaan, Chief of Repairs on the Mother-ship. He's the most qualified, he actually flew in the experimental versions of the Arrow, AND the Blade. However, not only has he never been in combat, his position could sorely be needed on this ship." I held up a hand to forestall his arguments. "The rest of them are very similar in situation. We did not set out with a full crew from the start- this was supposed to be a simple Test."
He looked at me for a moment, glancing quickly through the files, before frowning. "I see..." He said slowly. "Well, under the circumstances, sir... I suppose all I can do is echo Ms S'jet's statements... Don't get yourself killed." he said, before grinning "If you died out there that wouldn't bode well for us, Eh 'Flying-Khaak-Beast'?"
I put my palm over my face. "I still don't know how that damn name started." I grumbled, "But yes.. I suppose it would." I looked at him and grinned. "Sajuuk knows you can't fly straight." I turned and walked off towards the Science Officers, mentally cherishing the look of offense on his face. As I crossed the bridge, I swore I heard Karan mumble "Wait a minute... He's the 'Flying-Khaak-Beast'... I thought he'd be older with a record like that..."
"Admiral, you called for us to be here?" a techie asked, looking a little confused. "Sir, this is the staff from the failed Blade project..." .1st Arisa Paktu stated, looking around. I grinned at her and held up the Blade project's folder. "Got it in one, Techie." She grimaced "I hate that nickname." she muttered. Ignoring her, I continued, "I looked over the files for the blade, and I think that if a few issues were sorted out, it would be a Much better candidate for our primary fighter then the Arrow class interceptor."
Arisa interrupted quickly "Sir, we worked for a year trying to flatten out all of the bugs- It just can't be done!" she said quietly, and two of the other techies nodded behind her. I smiled slightly, and shook my head, opening the file to the first page. All of the techies blinked as one, and more than one muttered "Why didn't I think of that..." to themselves. Arisa snatched the file from my hand and quickly flipped through the pages.
She looked up at me with a blank look for a moment, before flatly asking "When the hell were you a Science Officer... You're not even from one of the right Kitth, Soban... But Why in Sajuuk's name did you stop being one?" she quickly looked back down at the paper, and grinning widely. "With these revisions... We should have the fighter ready within... Well... How fast can the mothership produce one, again?" she looked over her shoulder, asking one of her compatriots. "About thirty seconds, ma'am." the techie responded, her eyes still glued to the file.
15 minutes later, Mother-ship's Fighter Bay
I looked at the gathering of pilots before me and cleared my throat. "Alright people, Open up the briefing folders." I said, pressing a button on the display panel next to me. An image taken from about 100km directly above the mother-ship, Via probe, was displayed on the screen.
"Turn to page three, There should be an image of this map." I started, grabbing a laser pointer from my pocket, and clicking it on, pointing to the center of the screen. "This little dot is us." I moved the pointer to rest on a point several inches above and to the left. "This here, is the wreckage of the Khar Selim." I pressed the same button again, and a red line appeared in between the two indicated points.
"There are seventy kilometers between us, and that wreck." I said shortly, pressing the button once more, bringing up an image of a Salvage Corvette. "Our task is to escort one of these there, and back, and ensure that it reaches the mother-ship with the black-box of the Khar Selim, so we can fully understand what happened, and asses the threat completely." I turned off the screen, and the laser pointer. "Simple enough mission. Go out, Come back, Keep everyone alive. Questions?" I looked around shortly, and nodded.
"Report to your new craft. I want to see Twelve Blade's take off, and Twelve blades come back. Is that understood?" I ordered, and received a quick round of "Yes Sir!", as well as one pilot's "Yes Sir, Flying-Khaak-Beast, Sir!" I glared at her "Good. Lieutenant Paktu, You're on my wing." her face immediately fell, I stepped forwards and spoke quietly into her ear, "Don't worry... I don't bite... Well, that's a lie." I pulled back and grinned, bearing my teeth.
I looked at the rest of the pilots, and continued loud enough for everyone to hear. "Alpha wing will consist of myself, as Alpha One, Lt. Leera Paktu as Alpha Two, Lieutenant Commander Deera Paktu as Alpha Three, and Ensign Friea LiirHra as Alpha Four." I waved the three of them over to stand by me.
"Beta One, Lieutenant Commander Taora S'jet, Beta Two, Ensign Khare Manaan, Beta Three, Lieutenant Zhadara LiirHra, Beta Four, Ensign Abriel Manaan." Beta flight gathered to my left, and all placed their helmets on, saluting, before going to ready their crafts. "That leaves Gamma one as LtCdr. Siara Manaan, Gamma Two as Ens. Jurgas LiirHra, Gamma Three as Lt. Oliara S'jet, and Gamma Four as Ens. Larduc Manaan." Gamma flight saluted and left to their crafts.
"Let's go, alpha wing, Can't let them get out before us." I quickly said, and turned to hustle towards my fighter. For a moment, the sound of boots hitting metal was all that could be heard through the hangar. The boots of the support crew, moving away small hover-pads with fuel tanks, and extra ordinance, and the boots of the pilots towards their craft.
I reached my fighter, and quickly climbed into the cockpit, sealing it shut behind me, and going through the start-up procedures. "Beta One here, Beta flight is all systems green, ready to launch." the voice of Beta One came through my helmet's comm's. "Gamma one here, All wing's green, ready for launch." Gamma one followed. Alpha two reported next,"Alpha Two, all systems green." followed by three, "Alpha Three, systems go." and finally four"Alpha Four, I'm ready, sir."
"Bridge, this is Alpha one. Group one is go. Requesting clearance to launch." I reported into my comm's. "Affirmative, the Salvage Corvette has already launched and is awaiting link-up, We will have Repair corvettes launch and await your return after you have cleared the mother-ship." was the response. Before I could ease up my throttle, the voice came through my comm's again, this time on a private channel "Good luck our there, Admiral."
Two by two, we slowly taxied to the exit point, before easing our throttles up, and launching out the side of the mother-ship. "Assemble, 150m ahead and starboard of the mother-ship, then assume delta formations." I ordered into my comm's, receiving a quick "Roger," from Beta, and Gamma One's. "Hello there, 'little friends', nice of you to join us!" called the comm's officer on board of the Salvage corvette. "Captain says we're all ready to go, as soon as you lot are in escort positions, we're off." he quickly reported.
"Roger that, assuming Escort Formation. Beta, Take the Port side, Gamma, Starboard, Alpha flight, We're on point." I eased my throttle up to 65%, and easily gained a leading position in front of the corvette, throttling back once I had a fifty meter lead. My flight kept with me, and I saw Beta and Gamma flights enter escort position. "We're away, Command, We should be returning in Fifteen minutes, Over." I reported. "Understood, Admiral. Get back safely!" came Fleet Intelligence's voice.
The flight to the Khar Selim seemed to take hours, although it really only took three minutes. "My god... It looks a whole lot worse in person." Beta Three said quietly, pausing a second, "My uncle was on there... I signed up for this to surprise him..." she whispered sadly. "We'll get them, three. We'll get 'em" Beta one said back quietly, but firmly.
"Just keep it together, Okay?" I said quickly. I looked at the large wreck in front of us and shook my head at the loss of life. "Sajuuk knows you aren't the only one who's lost family on there." I said a bit more quietly. I looked down- more to get my eyes off the wreck than for anything else- and immediately spotted several red pip's on my sensors display.
"Get ready people! Here they come!" I reported louder into my comm's. "Pair off, remember your wing-men, and I don't want to see a single damn ship lost- If you start to take fire, get the hell out of here, am I clear?" I ordered. "Beta flight, Engaging!" Beta One reported. "Gamma flight, Pull cover on the Salvage Corvette, Alpha will assist Beta." I said, and immediately pushed my throttle to the 95% mark.
"Understood, Gamma remaining on escort, Good luck you lot!" Gamma one responded, and gamma flight circled back towards the corvette, taking a defensive flight pattern between it and the raiders. I looked off towards my left, and immediately spotted an enemy fighter pair, heading at high speed towards the rear of Beta flight. "Beta flight, Get your squadron into Evasive, Now. Alpha, Cover Beta's six. Fire at will!" I ordered, rolling my fighter onto the rear of the lead fighter.
My paired mass drivers gave a rumbling report through my ship's frame, and the heavier caliber weapons provided much more satisfying results then the Arrow's- the fighter immediately started trailing flame, and a second burst caused a brilliant flash, and a new cloud of debris to litter the area.
"Tally One," I called over the comm's. "Damn, I wanted the first kill," quipped Alpha Two.
"Gamma flight here, We're engaging light contacts, nothing we can't handle." Gamma one reported, and I quickly glanced in their direction- only a pair of Fighters was headed for them. "Copy Gamma, stay sharp." I responded, returning my view forwards just in time to catch another bright flash. "Scratch One!" Alpha three reported.
"Don't get so cocky- Still more coming!" Beta two called, and I glanced at my sensors to get a quick count- six... a flash off to my left, make that five fighters engaging us, and a seemingly endless chain of pairs incoming. "Great Sajuuk, where are they all coming from?" Alpha two asked. "Don't think- Shoot!" I responded, nosing up hard and putting a long burst into the belly of another fighter.
"Tally Two," I called, pulling off hard to the left to head for the tail of another fighter. "Got one!" Beta four called, quickly followed by Alpha three claiming another. I switched my long range comm's on, "Command- engaging HEAVY contacts, Send up those repair corvettes ASAP, I want to get a rolling retreat going once that Salvage Corvette's got the box." I quickly reported, receiving a response almost immediately "Affirmative, Alpha lead, Repair Corvettes En Route, ETA, Three minutes."
"Hah! Got Two!" Alpha two said, pulling out of a chain roll with two quick flashes going off. "Two, check your six!" Four quickly warned her. "I'm on it!" I reported, and pulled for a head on course with her. "Shit sir, lookout!" she pulled up hard, going only a meter above my craft, and clearing the way for a burst straight to the cockpit of the fighter behind her.
"Tally Three." I called, hanging a hard right, and rolling wide. A couple of large rounds whizzed by my craft, going shallow of my turn. "Could use a hand here, Got one on me." I reported, pushing the stick forwards to keep out of his line of fire. "On the way, One." Alpha Four responded. "Understood, come straight at me, I'll pull clear." I said, and angled my craft towards her, and pushing the throttle to full.
Just before collision, I pushed the stick hard, and then cut throttle completely, spinning my craft around without changing my momentum. Then I slammed the throttle back to full, and arced off at a 150 degree angle from where I had been going. "Remember, people- Momentum!" I said over the comm's, "Don't forget we AREN'T atmospheric fighters!"
"Dammit sir, you're a Genius!" Alpha Two said, and pulled of a similar maneuver, spinning 180 degrees, and placing a burst into a fighter following her. "Got another!" she called over the comm's. "Alpha Lead, Repair Corvettes have arrived, and are on station." Karan reported, and I glanced back towards the mother-ship- spotting three new small yellow dots. "Copy, Command, Beta flight, Refuel and Repair, Alpha, pull these guys towards Gamma. Salvage- How's it coming?"
I pulled a hard turn, hooking around towards a fighter headed for Beta Three's tail, and putting a burst into his engines. "Tally Four." I called, angling left, and heading for another. Suddenly a blast of steam nearly hit me in the face, and my cockpit gave off a warning alarm. "Shit, I'm hit!" I called, cutting my throttle, and reversing my heading. The fighter was already turning off my tail- obviously having witnessed the same maneuver from Alpha Two.
I gunned the throttle, and quickly pulled onto his tail- putting a burst at him, only to miss as he sharply maneuvered. "Two, Get over here, and Cover my ass!" I called, and got a quick "Roger" in response. The fighter cut a hard turn towards my left- straight up for himself, and started heading directly for Beta flight. I put another burst at him, and scored only a couple glancing hits off the side of his ship.
"Beta flight, Watch out, You've got incoming." I called. I then had to quickly pull off, and cover my eyes. "Got him!" Alpha Four called over the comm. "Shit! I've got one on me!" Alpha three called "Two- Handle it, Four, with me, We have to get to Gamma." I ordered, swinging to face the wreck, and pushing the throttle to full.
"Roger!" Four called, and she swung onto my wing, full throttle. "We've got problems here!" Gamma one called, and I couldn't help but agree- at least eight fighters were near Gamma flight. "Paid you back, Sis!" Two called over the comm's. "Copy- Rendezvous with Lead" three called, heading in our direction. I sharply rolled onto the tail of a fighter, and put a burst into his midsection- A scream came over my comm's, covered heavily by static, and sounding almost metallic. "Tally Five." I said, and swung to tail a second- finishing him in short order. "Tally Six!"
"Got another!" Alpha four called, muffled by static. "I've got damage!" Gamma three called, "Hold on, I'm on it!" Gamma one quickly responded. Gamma one passed over me at full throttle- quickly followed by a Fighter she hadn't noticed. "Got 'im!" she cried, putting rounds into the fighter's cockpit.
"Gamma one, Check six, I'm on it!" I called, Pulling a hard roll onto the fighters tail. "Alpha Four, Cover Gamma Three" I ordered, pushing my throttle to full, and putting a long burst into the fighter's top section. Once more, I heard a metallic scream through my comm. "Is anyone else picking those up?" I called, pulling hard around towards a fighter trying to tail Four. "Got one more. And yeah!" Alpha Four called back.
"Alpha Four, Spin round, you've got one on you." Three called, just arriving with Two. "Copy." she responded, turning just in time to see me put a long burst into the fighter's middle section, setting it off in a bright flash."Tally Seven!" I called quickly. "We've Got the Box, we're pulling out!" called the Salvage Corvette, "Beta lead here- All craft ready, Re-engaging!" "I Copy Beta- Gamma flight, You're up." I ordered, rolling on the tail of another fighter. "Tally Eight!"
"Lead! Break Left!" Called Two, and I immediately pulled a hard left, narrowly being missed by a pair of missiles. "Shit, they've got Corvettes here!" I warned, spotting the origin of the missile's. "Looks like you guys could use a hand!" came over the Comm, just as a bracket of explosive bursts blew chunks off of the Missile Corvette. "Sajuuk! I guess they liked the suggestion!" I called back, correctly guessing that it'd been a pair of heavy corvettes.
"Well, Explosives are always fun!" Came the voice of a techie over the comm, quickly followed by another one in the background hushing him, and saying "Shut up! They're busy out there!" I grinned, pushing the throttle up and curving around back towards the Salvage Corvette. "They're Breaking off- Do not pursue, Let's get this thing home people." I called. "Roger lead!" Beta One responded.
I grinned to myself, and reported over the long range comm's. "Group one returning, Salvage Corvette and cargo intact. Zero casualties, Over." no response was made- or at least, if there was one, it couldn't be heard over the cheers that broke out on the bridge at that announcement.
A/N: YAY, Response time:
dark: Would it be bad if I said that, While I liked the first A LOT more, HW-2 isn't a horrible game of it's own right? Sure, it doesn't quite live up to the expectations of HW:1, but I personally like the Vaygr... A lot. :V
DragonofGreed: Huh, hadn't thought of it that way, to be honest.