Good news is these two days off I have been able to write a few chapters for some of my stories. Now the bad news, this chapter is not as long as the last two. This chapter will cover the first interaction between the RDF and the Zentraedi. More good news I will be starting to write the next chapter to this story today. I don't know if I will get it posted but will try. Now the new chapter. Hope you enjoy.
Admiral Hayes watched as the two Zentraedi scout ships cross over into the SDF-1's main guns range. When the shot he was afraid that started the last war in the old timeline did not happen he let out a sigh of relief. Now he needed to decide what to do.
"Communications, signal SDF-1. Tell Admiral Gloval I want one flight of fighters to do a fly by. They are to cross in front of the two ships. They are not to fire on them unless they come under fire."
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Rick was in his fighter waiting to see what would happen. The good news was that the main gun did not fire. So now they were in unknown territory. Will Breetai still order an attack to reclaim Zor's ship or will disobey orders and contact them.
His TAC-NET came on and Lisa face appeared "Wraith 1 Command wants you to take your flight and cross in front of the two ships. If you are fired upon you may return fire to defend yourselves."
Rick figured Admiral Hayes wanted to see if they would fire first. "Acknowledge." switching to his squadron channel. "First flight on me. Arm half your reflex missiles. We will do a fly-by, then return to the fleet. If we are fired upon, we will fire our missiles to cover our retreat. Fly in a lose formation in case they do fire on us."
Rick led his flight off to the port side of the ships so they could cross in front of them. He kept a close eye on the weapon systems on the scout ship. Rick saw them track his flight just as they started to cross in front of them. The first one didn't fire but the second one did just before they reached the midway point between the two ships.
Rick called out just as the first shots fired. "Fire missiles on second ship and preform evasive maneuvers and head back to the fleet best possible speed."
Rick fired 30 of his short-range missiles and did a hard turn back towards the fleet. He checked his radar and saw all his fighters with him. As they left the second ship fired on them, but they were moving too fast for the gunners to target them. Behind them the missiles struck and destroyed the scout ship that opened up on them. They were back at the fleet 10 minutes after the first shot was fired.
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Lisa watched the fighters start their pass. Everything looked good as they passed in front of the first ship, but it went from good to bad when they came close to the second. She could not see the ship open up on the fighters since she was watching her scope but saw them take evasive maneuvers once they came under fire. She could tell that Rick had his flight push the fighters hard and fast as they could to get back to the fleet.
"Captain, all fighters are returning. Looks like they were fired upon."
"Wow someone yelled out as one of the ships exploded. Lisa looked up to see the tail end of the explosion.
"Lisa, alert all fighters to be on alert and if need be ready to cover the fleet from enemy fighter." Lisa gave the order. By then the flight had return to the fleet.
Admiral Gloval voice came over the bridge speakers. "All ships hold a defensive posture."
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Breetai watched the fighter's approach. "Exedore, what do you make of this?"
"They maybe testing us or just warning us off without seeming hostile." explained Exedore.
Breetai was about to order both ships to fall back when one of them opened fire on the fighter. He watched as a minute later the ship exploded with the fighters in full retreat and the second scout ship firing with no effect.
"Tell them to hold fire. I gave no orders to fire on the micronian ships." yelled Breetai.
Breetai was not happy. Any chance of a peaceful resolution ended with the first shot. He was impressed on how the micronians responded.
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Admiral Hayes sat back in his command chair. 'Well so much for a peaceful resolution' thought the Admiral. "OK, signal both fleets. They are weapons free, but they are to hold position. If the enemy comes in range of their particle weapons, they are free to fire all weapons. They are to hold off on reflex cannons until they are in range of all weapon systems then let them have it."
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"Admiral, we have about 30 ships heading our way at a slow pace. They are not sending any ships towards the Enterprise and her battle group."
Admiral Gloval looked at the tactical screen and saw that the enemy ships would be in weapons range of all their weapons in 5 minutes. "OK, signal all ships in the fleet to hold fire till I give the command. Get me Admiral Avery."
A few seconds later the Enterprise's Battle Fleet Commander was on the screen. "Henry, what do you got planned?"
"I'm waiting till they have past our max range by 30 seconds then let them have all guns. I want to keep our max range a secret for the moment in case they send more ships after these." replied Gloval.
"I will maneuver my ships so we can fire at the same time as you. We can be in position in a minute. We will wait for you to fire." Avery informed his friend.
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Lisa was watching her scope when she notices the enemy fighters launch and head their way. "Captain, enemy fighters inbound."
"Weapons, have I want all CIWS to hold fire till the fighters are in range of all weapon systems. Lisa have the fighters fire half their missile when the fleets CIWS opens up. Tell Hunter that since his flight has already fired half their missiles to hold off and stay close to the SDF-1 in case any enemy fighters get through." Captain O'Conner ordered.
Lisa passed on the orders and watched as all the fighters maneuvered so they had a clear view to fire. She also saw Rick's flight take up station just above the bridge.
Everyone on the bridge watched has the enemy fighters came in range and every CIWS the fleet had opened up along with all the fighters. A little less than a minute later the space in front of the fleet was lit up with hundreds of explosions.
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Breetai watched as the fighters approached the enemy fleet and was curious as to why the enemy fighters did not come out to meet his fighter. Then he watched as 60% of the fighters were destroyed in less than a minute, he was shocked.
"Impressive, they waited and let our fighter fly right into a trap." Exedore stated.
"Yes, whoever the commander is he is smart. Things may not turn out as we thought."
A minute later he got his second surprise as the two-enemy fleet opened up on the ships he sent to prob the enemy defenses.
"Their weapons range is is a little more than ours." Commented Breetai. "They also seem to have reflex weapons." He watched as the battle progressed.
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As the enemy fleet continued to advance the SDF-1s fleet fighters were finishing of the last of the enemy fighters. They still had a lot to face after the initial wave of fire. Rick had just killed the last battle pod near the SDF-1's bridge when the fleets weapons fired on the enemy fleet. The reflex cannons, particle cannons and missiles all opened fire at once. The enemy lost half their ships in the initial attack. It was shortly after that that the enemy started returning fire. All fighters were ordered to fall back so they would stay out of the line of fire.
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The bridge shook as a shot hit the superstructure just below the bridge. A couple of the girls let out a scream. But Captain O'Conner could tell the pinpoint barrier had done its job. "Any damage?"
"Non sir. Pinpoint barrier system holding."
"Lisa our fighters?" ask O'Conner.
"All have fallen back to behind the fleet. We lost several fighters, but I have distress beacons for most of them."
Lisa knew they would not be able to try to recover the pilots till the enemy fire stopped or lessened enough not to endanger the rescue ships.
"Very well, as soon as it is safe enough launch rescue craft. Notify the Admiral."
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Admiral Hayes watched the tactical screen in RDF Command Center. Several of the RDF ships were just starting to show damage and he saw were there were several distress beacons from fighters. The good news that the enemy fleet was almost destroyed.
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Lisa watched the last few enemy ships be destroyed as the reflex cannons fired for the third time. She had already ordered S&R ships to launch. Rick had sent fighters to cover the rescue ships. The battle lasted about 35 minutes from the time that Rick's flight was fired on till the last enemy ship exploded. Reports of damage was starting to come in, but she didn't pay that any attention. She just watched as rescue operations were under way. She did start ordering squadrons to return to her ships. The last fighter to land was Rick. He waited till all his pilots that survived made it back before he would land. Only then did Lisa relaxed. She knew from the beginning he was going to be a pain in her ass.
I hope you liked the chapter. As much as I would like to see that there was no fight between Breetai's fleet and the RDF's, it would not be possible without shortening the story a great deal. As you can see that Lisa was starting to worry just a bit about Rick. I know there has been a lot if interaction between the two but behind the scenes in the course of their duties there would be. She also has to take in account of what she learned about Rick, her father and Dr. Lang. We will start seeing more Rick, Lisa in the coming up chapters.