Athena Nebula, Tomaras System,
First Planet, Lusia
3 weeks after Relay Incident 314
Asari Dreadnought Luminous Fate
In Preparation to face invading Turian 3rd fleet
"Matriarch, we have lost contact with the sensor picket satellite around the Primary Mass Relay." a young Maiden reported. Ever since the official Declaration of war from the Turian and Salarian, the Asari Republic had been forced on the defensive. Ever so slowly the might of the Turian Hierarchy March on towards the core system of the Asari Republic. Even the criminal infested Omega Station was not spared, falling under the combined assault of the Turian's 5th Fleet.
"Ready the Fleet, inform Lusia Command. And pray that the Goddess protects us all." Replied the Matriarch grimly as she studies the position of Lusia defense fleet as well as the resupplying Asari 8th strike fleet. There was a burst of Static before the communication was established, "We have Lusia Command on the line Matriarch."
"Dreadnought Luminous Fate, this is Lusia Command. We are aware of the Situation, the last batch of refugee ships are evacuating to the Secondary Relay. 4th Battlegroup has been assigned to escort them back to Thessia." Came the controller in Lusia command. "Additionally the frigate Serenity will scout out the number of the invading forces."
"Acknowledge Lusia Command, Luminous Fate out." Replied the Matriarch as she grimly follow the scouting frigate's progress as it activate its sub drive and skirt to put the Primary Mass relay on the edge of its active sensor. Even so, another group of ship left orbit of Lusia and began to their long journey towards the secondary Relay on the other side of the solar system the ships blinking into FTL as soon as they reach the minimum safe distance.
It was not long before a large Data packet was transmitted to the Dreadnought. "Receiving data feed from the frigate Serenity, Estimate tonnage and number of enemy Vessels matched that of the Turian 3rd fleet. Reading multiple Dreadnought class vessels among them." Reported the analyst as she shifted through the received data. The hologram showing the tactical data suddenly flashed as it denoted an explosion. "Contact lost with Frigate Serenity!" shouted the communication officer. "Confirmed, Serenity has been destroyed." reported the Sensor operator. With a grim sigh, Matriarch Benezia T'Soni issued her orders: "Luminous Fate to all ship, form Battle lines in support of Orbital defense. Flanking frigates standby for flanking maneuvers. Bring weapons to full power and fire on my command."
There were a few brief flashes of light before the entire 3rd Turian fleet entered FTL and dropped right in perfect Military Battle position ready to overwhelm the Asari's defenses. Benezia spared the Turian Fleet a bitter glance before whispering "Fire." Multiple ships along the Asari's battle line fire their Mass effect cannons, launching multiple railgun slugs towards the Turian fleet. Concentrated fire managed to knock out a few cruiser and a single Dreadnought before the Turians returned fire. "Multiple confirmed hits, 10 enemy cruiser destroyed, 5 disabled. A single enemy dreadnought destroyed, minor damage on the remaining. Enemy frigates moving in to knife fighting range. INCOMING ENEMY FIRE!" reported the sensor operator seconds before the return fire hammered the Asari's fleet. Multiple cruisers fell out of the line before their core detonated. A few just hung dead in space as Mass effect shell shattered their hulls and internal system leaving them dead in space. The Luminious Fate shudder slightly as multiple rounds slammed into its kinetic barriers. "Kinetic barriers at 60%! We lost 10% of the fleet!"
"Release the frigates, have half them engage the enemy frigate wolfpacks while the rest flank the enemy dreadnoughts. They are to fire all disruptor torpedoes when they are in range. All remaining ships focus fire on their cruisers take down as many of them as we can." Ordered Benezia as she grabbed hold of the railing. The Asari fleet did not hesitate to carry out her orders as the frigate line moved forward to engage massive 100 meters long ships engage in an intense dogfight while more of them slink at the edge of the fight heading towards the larger ships hidden behind the conflict zone. Noticing the approaching frigates, the Turian cruisers shifted their fire in an attempt to prevent them from swarming the dreadnoughts with partial success as multiple of the wolf pack was forced to disengage. A single wolfpack managed to penetrate the defense line, launching their torpedoes at close range at the closest dreadnought. 3 of the 5 frigates retreated but the other two were too damaged, without any hesitation changed course and charged the other dreadnought weapons firing. Their effort was for naught as the dreadnought brought it's side cannons to bear, its broadside tearing them to harmless debris that ping off its kinetic barrier.
"By the Goddess it's a slaughter out there." Whispered the communication Officer. Benezia spare a pitying glance to the young maiden before returning her attention to the battle. So far the battle was in the Asari's favor the guerrilla forced managed to severely damage this Turian fleet before they entered the system. However it was not to be as multiple slugs appeared to be fired from nowhere, revealing the hidden Salarian Stealth fleet that had snuck into position. Among them a dark and menacing looking stealth Dreadnaught firing it weapon with impunity at the Asari's flank. "Multiple casualty! We lost the entire right Flank! Orbital defenses are being taken apart! We won't last out here!" Even as Benezia consider the impossible position her fleet was stuck in, the remaining orbital defense turned to engage the Salarian fleet, their sensors attempted to track the hidden fleet with limited success as a few of their fire manage to hit and destroy a stealth cruiser. She grimaced slightly as a particularly nasty hit shook the Luminous Fate hard, rocking the Dreadnought. "Order the 1st cruiser squadron to coordinate fire with Orbital defense, bracket fire where the Salarian fleet is. By the goddess we will not let them take our colony without a fight!" Snapped Benezia as she reassert her calm and consider her options.
Her face however paled when the sensor operator reported "Multiple new contact! One of them is larger than a Dreadnought! They are firing!" She closed her eyes ready to accept her fate, however that fate did not come. "Impact! They struck the Turian fleet! Sensors confirming, it's the Destiny Ascension! Thank the Goddess!" Knowing they have been beaten, the Turian fleet slowly attempted to withdraw while the Salarian fleet simply disappeared from sensor leaving no trace that they even existed. Less than a minute silence fell over the survivors of the Asari defense fleet as the turian fleet vanish in flashes of light, retreating towards the Primary Mass relay. The silence was broken by the sensor officer who whispered" By the Goddess, Matriarch look at the Destiny!" sensor data was pulled up on the main screen, showing the familiar looking dreadnought. However it was not the same as large patches of its hull was replaced by a silvery metal that the spectrometer analyzed as dense but lightweight titanium alloy much stronger in quality than most armor used on any ship she has seen. "Open a channel." ordered Benezia as she watch the group of ships settled into defensive formation 700 kilometers out from her battle line. "Channel open Matriarch."
"This is Matriarch Benezia in command of the Lusia Defense fleet, we thank you for your assistance in driving off the assault fleet but we required identification. Our IFF has designated you as the battlegroup lost at Relay 314, however there seems to be many modification to the Destiny Ascension none of which are from her original design." Benezia was slightly skeptical that the battlegroup at Relay 314 had survive but here they were somewhat modified, her cautious side telling her to be wary till she can positively id the fleet. There was a crackle of static before the Bridge released the breath they have been holding. "This is Matriarch Lidanya in command of the Dreadnought Destiny Acsension, it's good to hear from you Lusia Defense Fleet, request permission to dock there is much we have to discuss. I am transmitting the recognition codes now." The communication console lit up as it recognized the incoming code, confirming the identification of the incoming fleet. "Identification codes received, Space dock 9 is ready to receive you." Replied Benezia as she fought to keep her emotion under control, hopeful to see her daughter alive and well with the fleet.
While the Destiny Ascension's battlegroup moved to dock, a small camera focused itself as it zoomed in on the defense fleet. Satisfied, the Prowler Port Stanley stealthily power up its engines before disappearing into a slipspace rupture leaving behind a small satellite probe to watch over the system.
Author Notes: And that's a wrap for this chapter. Enjoy and R&R.