CH50 (129)
Everyone was already on the bridge when they reached one hour. "Sound general quarters." Dell orders.
Dell and the others watched the screen. Their destroyers kept getting closer and the enemy sat there.
"We're both out of range." Dell whispers.
Just at the designated distance the destroyers started firing. Each of the nine ships fired 3 torpedoes each. "Only 3?" Dell whispers.
A few seconds later they each fire 3 more, followed a few seconds later by 3 more. Followed seconds later by 3 more.
Then suddenly a large amount of objects were launched by the enemy. "I'm reading 30, 40, … 55 fighters launched from each of the enemy cruisers. … Vampire, vampire, vampire. Now reading a launch of 12, 22 torpedoes from each of their destroyers." He was impressed. They didn't have these kinds of numbers.
"440 fighters and 484 torpedoes. … talk about overkill." Dell whispers out.
Their 9 destroyers had only fired 12 torpedoes each. "Not part of the original plan. They must have changed it at the last minute. Be nice to have gotten a heads up." Dell was annoyed.
"I'm reading that our destroyers have all fired the remainder of the 24 torpedoes that were to be fired."
Suddenly it occurred to Dell. "Interesting. … The sets of three we can detonate by remote to clear a path thru their fighters to allow an easier transit to their capital ships for the remainder of our torpedoes. … Not bad." Dell was suddenly impressed.
"Ok, detonate the first and second set of 3's in the field of enemy torpedoes. Lets see what that does. Maybe create a hole to allow the next set to make it to the fighters. … Just before their fighters are in range of our torpedoes detonate by remote the next set of 3. Then allow the next set of 3 to get deeper into their fighters and detonate them.
Let's see how big a hole we can make for the final wave." Dell orders out. Dell knew it was speculated that the X-rays might scramble the electronics of objects. Question was, were the enemy torpedoes smart or dumb torpedoes?
"Aye captain."
"Our destroyers are beginning their turn to withdraw and exit the system." The scanner officer announces.
"I'm reading the rear 2 cruisers are launching fighters on our 2 cruisers." Lynn tells them. "148 fighters launched."
Dell and her crew kept their eyes on their end of the fight.
"Our two cruisers have launched 9 torpedoes each." Lynn provides.
"Detonating first wave of 3's." The weapons office announces.
"Our panels are down to 94% effective based on computer modeling." Lynn informs them.
"Not surprising." It did not shock Dell. There was combat taking place, they were scanning everywhere too.
"Detonating 2nd round of 3's." The weapons officer announces.
"Enemy torpedoes in the affected areas are no longer following a track for our destroyers." The scanner officer announces.
"The x-rays fried their electronics. … nice." Dell whispers out.
"Next set of 3's are thru the torpedoes. Our destroyers have completed their turn and are at flank speed out of the system. Two days till they enter FTL."
"Detonating next set of 3's at maximum range of their fighters weapons." The weapons officer announces.
Taking apart all those fighters they had picked up from the scout group had shown them the type of weapons that were used by them. Their range, type of armor, amount of computer power and scanner range.
"Their fighters are splitting from their grouping. They are spreading out. The rear most group has turned and are headed back towards their capital ships." The scanner office announces.
"They recognize the threat. … Continue with the plan. … How are the cruisers doing?" Dell asks, knowing she left it to Lynn to keep track of.
"Our cruisers have detonated their torpedoes at range of the fighters weapons. All but 4 appear to be affected. The cruisers are still on course at flank speed." Lynn supplies.
"Might be part of why some of their fighters are on their way back." Dell comments.
"4th set of 3 detonating. …. Hole established in all three locations. …. Next wave of 12 is past the fighters. Our torpedoes are faster than their fighters, they are clear."
They all watched the screen as they watched their torpedoes approach the enemy capital ships.
There were 12 torpedoes left and suddenly groups of 6 broke away from each set of 12.
"I'm reading that our 4 cruisers have exited FTL and are at flank speed into the system. Estimate 2 days till they get here." The scanner officer announces.
"They won't see them for another day." Dell comments.
"Our two cruisers have each fired a single MAC round on the target Zeus." Lynn informs them.
"One minute out from torpedo detonation. … Just lost 1, … 2, …. 3, …. 4, …. 5, …. 6. Torpedoes detonating by proximity. 19 targets hit. All of Alpha, Beta and all but 3 targets of Charlie.
Reading secondary explosions on 11 of the 19 targets. 3 targets have exploded. Two in Beta and one in Charlie." The scanner office announces.
"Our two cruisers have fired their second MAC round on target Zeus." Lynn provides.
"Our destroyers are still exiting the system at flank speed." The scanner officer announces.
Dell was thinking something. This was going a little better than expected. Granted they did see it coming, but still. That left 3 destroyers, 8 cruisers and 6 super cruisers and the Battleship that they could kiss goodbye soon.
"I've got new contacts!" The scanner officer calls out. "Reading another 18 destroyers, 9 cruisers, 9 heavy cruisers, 1 battleship, 18 support ships and 6 scout class. They just exited FTL behind our 2 cruisers."
"Confirmed. … first 2 MAC rounds have struck Zeus." Lynn tells them.
"They're trapped!" Their two cruisers were now between two fleets. "Order our destroyers to turn around. Order them to fire the remainder of their torpedoes in ripple fire. One after the other for each ship.
Order the cruisers to proceed past the Battleship and open fire on the remainder of this fleet. Our destroyers and cruisers a day later will provide retreating cover fire. Have the destroyers turn for home after they fire their remainder compliment of torpedoes." Dell calls out.
"The second MAC rounds fired have struck Zeus. Each cruiser is now firing 3 torpedoes each, …. target is Zeus. …. The cruisers have acknowledged the order." Lynn tells them.
"All 9 destroyers have reversed course as ordered. Order to fire torpedoes acknowledged.
Our cruisers are still 2 days out."
This was going to be tight. The only closest support for their 2 cruisers was the 9 destroyers and the torpedoes they could fire. What were these enemy super cruisers capable of?
"Our cruisers torpedoes have detonated by proximity on the target Zeus." Lynn provides.
"Lynn calculate distance and speeds and have our 2 cruisers slow to a speed that allows for the torpedoes fired from our destroyers to give cover support for their exit." Dell has an idea.
Closure rate is longer. It gives our destroyers time to get back here and fire their torpedoes to provide them support. Dell is thinking.
They all just watched and waited.
"The destroyers have reached firing range and are beginning ripple fire as ordered." The scanner office announces.
"I'm reading 20, .. 30. … 40 torpedoes fired by the enemy heavy cruisers. Target is our 2 cruisers. … Now reading another 10, … 20, 30 torpedoes fired by enemy heavy cruisers. Target is our cruisers." Lynn tells them.
"Guess that answers what the heavy cruisers are. Massive torpedo boats." Dell whispers.
"Now reading another 10, … 20, 30 torpedoes fired by enemy heavy cruisers. Target is still our cruisers." Lynn informs them.
"Our cruisers have slowed to 1/8th speed." Lynn tells them.
"Gives their guns a more stable platform to fire from. Do they know what happened to the enemy torpedoes when ours exploded in their midst?" Dell asks.
"Sending information now." Lynn tells them. Lynn curses silently to herself for not thinking of that already.
They didn't have long to wait. "Our cruisers have each fired 12 torpedoes each on a full spread." They were not all headed to the same area of space.
"Destroyers are continuing to fire in ripple fire one at a time." Scanner officer announces.
"They only have 24 torpedoes left each." Dell whispers out. "Where are those other ships? The scouts and support ships." Dell wondered where they were.
"Scanning." It was a mess out there. "All of them are headed for the sun. Trajectory suggests a sling shot around the sun to gain speed out of the system." The sensor officer answers.
"At least they are not headed our way." Dell comments to no one in particular.
"Our cruisers have fired another round of 12 torpedoes each. This group is a little tighter." Lynn tells them.
"Enemy fighters have reached their mother ships and are continuing on towards our cruisers." The sensor officer announces.
"First nine torpedoes have reached target. Detonating by remote. …. Estimate another 20 fighters destroyed.
Detonating next set of 9 by remote at extreme range from cruisers."
"Walk each wave in a little closer and detonate by remote." Dell orders.
"First group of 12 torpedoes fired have detonated in the middle of enemy torpedoes. One minute to gun range." Lynn tells them.
"Walking torpedoes into targets."
"Cruisers have fired another round of 6 torpedoes." Lynn announces.
"Cruisers main 5-inch auto-cannons are firing. … Enemy has fired another round of 40 torpedoes. Target is the 2 cruisers. …. Cruisers have each fired their port MAC gun. Targets are Gamma 1 and Gamma 8." Lynn tells them.
"Continuing to walk torpedoes into targets of Delta group." Weapons officer announces.
"Communication get me the Admiral." Dell orders.
Soon the Admiral is on a secondary screen. "I've been watching. Our nine destroyers are going to be out of torpedoes soon. We'll be lucky if we don't lose 2 cruisers."
"Working on the latter sir. However I have an idea. Have the 9 destroyers return to Tellus and take the place of the second strike group and have the second strike group meet you at the rendezvous point after this is all done.
Then we do this all over again with the second fleet making its way here. We'll make a burn on the outer rim of the system and head back in like last time. We need to know what they plan on doing and we need to fight them here sir. Not at the edge of our own system.
We do not fight them at our front door." Dell needed him to see.
"All those destroyers will have will be their MAC guns and smaller guns." The Admiral was worried about leaving Tellus that lightly defended.
"Have the transport ships from Callisto meet them there and make a transfer. Maybe not all 48 per ship, but it'll be something." Dell counters trying to shoot his reasons not to do this down.
"The second strike group isn't as big as this one." The Admiral points out.
"No sir, but if these Battleships are troop transports for planetary landings, that thing has got to go." Dell counters.
"Cruisers have fired their second MAC round on targets Gamma 2 and Gamma 7." Lynn announces.
"Enemy cruisers have all been targeted. Now walking torpedoes towards enemy super cuisers, designated Gamma 3 and Gamma 6." The weapons officer announces.
"Cruisers have fired another 6 torpedoes each. Second round of their torpedoes have detonated in the middle of enemy torpedoes. One minute to weapons range." Lynn announces for everyone.
Dell turns her head away from the Admiral. "Any damage to the cruisers?"
Everyone waits a moment. "They both report no damage taken." The communications officer announces.
The Admiral moans. "Alright, I'll have the destroyers report back to Tellus and have them met by supply ships from Callisto. And have the second strike group meet us at the rendezvous point. You are cleared for your burn to remain in system.
Provided that your chief engineer concurs. You get spotted and you will be dead." He knew they stood no chance at outrunning anyone. That's not what it was designed for.
"Thank you sir. We won't let you down." Dell watches the Admiral end the transmission.
This was a risk. Maybe a big risk. The second strike group was only 2 destroyers and 2 cruisers. And both of the cruisers were full of Marines. If they lost those two cruisers they would lose not just the flight crew but hundreds of Marines.
Combine that with just the 4 cruisers they had with them. Six if the other two survived this. They would be fewer in numbers, but maybe not in total fire power. Except for the fact that those same 2 cruisers were going to be low on torpedoes.
However if by some miracle they got to board an enemy ship that was still intact because 2 of the cruisers will filled with Marines. Dell stopped thinking it. She was getting greedy and that might get people killed.
"Cruisers are firing MAC guns on targets Gamma 4 and Gamma 5. They are also firing another 6 torpedoes each. … Their dual barrel auto-cannons are firing." Lynn informs them. Each cruiser had four across the top and four of these guns across the bottom.
"Interesting. … Both cruisers have launched their compliment of three fighters each. Three appear to be vectoring for runs on target Gamma one while the other three are on Gamma 8." Lynn sounds and is a little surprised.
"They did only take one MAC round each. None of the torpedoes we have fired have reached any of them." Dell comments. "Target our torpedoes on targets Gamma 3,4,5 and 6." Dell orders. She didn't want to accidentally cook their own pilots.
"And contact our 2 cruisers, I want to know why they launched fighters." Dell was curious.
All of their torpedoes had been detonated. The fighters had made runs on the two outer most super cruisers and were now headed home.
"Fighter landings in 1 minute." Lynn provides. "The cruiser captains indicate that their Marine pilots wanted and I quote, "A piece of the action". End quote." It got Dell to laugh.
"All our destroyers are at flank speed back out of the system, again. Our 4 cruisers are still on course. Estimate just under two days till arrival." Scanner officer announces.
"Admiral Martin Fischer has sent a communication to the destroyers and to the second strike group as well as the transport ships at Callisto." The communications officer announces.
"Have our 2 cruisers fire a single torpedo on each enemy ship after they pass them by. Let's make sure they are dead and stay that way." Dell didn't want one of them to suddenly come to life and manage to put a hole in their ships.
"Fighters are aboard. … They are firing torpedoes. … Two are headed for the Battleship. … They have both increased speed to flank." Lynn tells them.
"Keep your eyes open people we haven't left the system yet. … Status on the second enemy fleet?" Dell wanted answers.
"They are still headed in system." Scanner officer reports.
"Communications?" Dell wanted to know something. "Any communications between this group and the second group?" Dell could hope that the answer was no.
"Several captain. Both to and from. Mostly between the super cruisers and the coming fleet." The communications officer responds.
"Damn. I knew it was too much to hope for. Encrypted no doubt." Dell didn't think they would get lucky.
"Correct captain."
"Ok, forward it on to Tellus and get to work on it. See what you can do with it." Dell would love to know what they are talking about.
"Our two cruisers are approaching the field of enemy destroyers. They have fired one torpedo each for each of the super cruisers and one for each of the normal cruisers." Lynn announces.
"Do they report any damage?" Did they get lucky?
"Both cruisers report no damage." The communications officer reports.
"Amazing. Maybe lady luck is on our side." Dell was amazed.
A little later. "Our two cruisers have cleared the enemy destroyer field. They have combined to fire one torpedo on each destroyer."
"Estimate less than 24 hours to rendezvous with the incoming cruisers." The scanner operator reports.
"Now we need to come up with a new plan for this new group. It'll be a month before the second strike group makes it to the rendezvous point." Dell was mostly talking to herself.
"Looks like the fun is over for now. I'll be in engineering. You have the bridge Mr. Sulu." Dell gets up and walks off the bridge.
"I have the bridge, aye."
"Hi Scotty, how are things down here?" Dell is curious. The system has been tested over a longer time than they have been out here.
"We're fine captain. How did we do outside?" If she was down here it must be over for now.
"That reminds me." Dell walks over to a communication panel "Ridge this is the captain. You can secure from general quarters. However keep everyone at their stations until we clear our turn." Dell walks back over to Scotty.
"They lost 22 destroyers, 8 cruisers, 6 super cruisers, 1 battleship and over 400 fighters. However we are severely short on torpedoes. Problem is there is another group equal in size headed our way. It'll take them about a week or more to get here.
Our support is a month out. Can we stay in system for a month?" Dell needed an answer.
"We can, but we'll have to leave within hours after that. We will need to give the power systems a chance to re-charge. We'll be almost dry by then." Scotty warns.
Dell thinks over her options. "I'll see if I can give you a few days in about two weeks. Will that work?"
"Make it a week and you got a deal." Scotty offers.
"I'll see what I can do." Dell grins and heads back for the bridge. They were deep in the system still. This was not the time to get complacent.