Chapter 27

The Battle of Elex

Part 2: The Test

I was hungry for salvation. Ridley was hungry for truth and validation. Weavel was hungry for morality. Kelso was hungry for civility. If you're hungry, never move like you're starving.

Federation Carrier Salachimorpha - Bridge

Anderson and Lennings told Kelso this was his mission to lead. But Kelso knew better than to believe that.

If it were really up to Kelso, he'd have brought half of what they did. They wouldn't have even considered engaging, or even showing up, until the pirates and X obliterated one another.

But Kelso, like many of the Federation including Anderson and Lennings, had never encountered the X parasites personally. He truly had little idea how powerful they were. He figured the pirates would destroy the X and had no intention of using them as bioweapons. Why would they? They were just weeds that needed to be pulled, as far as Kelso was concerned.

Instead, he had to give orders he thought Anderson and Lennings would give. This wasn't a test of Kelso's abilities but a test of his capacity to listen and execute orders. To do someone else's bidding. To get his hands dirty so the higher-ups could keep their pearl-white gloves clean.

He was also hoping that I wasn't around in the area at all, so he wouldn't be tasked with having to capture me himself. Kelso already had reservations about the Federation's stance on what I had done on the B.S.L. and SR-388. He wanted to stay as far away from this as possible, but the Colonels dragged him right onto the front line. Now he just had to make the best of the situation - hope I wasn't there and reduce the chance of casualties as much as possible so everyone could go home. He just knew that was the exact opposite of what Anderson and Lennings wanted.

He figured he'd stay ahead of the game. "Attention all ships," Kelso muttered into his receiver. "Prepare for engagement. All pirate targets are to be wiped out. Report back on any vessels that are not Federation marked nor associated with-" CLICK Anderson cut the transmission short.

Kelso's assumption too was wrong. "Thick-headed," Lennings said under his breath. "Why would we send our ships toward the pirates when that cloud is also waiting for us?"

Kelso marinated on that, searching for the answer Lennings wanted to hear, and coming up empty.

"Listen," Anderson said, stepping forward. "Clarify that transmission. Do not have ships engage until the pirates have moved passed the cloud. There's no need to fight them when the X are sitting right there on the sidelines. Move the fight away from the X then transition to the cloud when the pirates are done with."

Lennings begrudgingly handed the receiver back to Kelso. "Calling all ships," Kelso began again. "Clarifying. Do not engage pirate forces until they've gone beyond the X, and try not to engage them further if you end up near the cloud. The pirates are your first priority. There's no need to fight both of them at once."

But this ideal was slowly but surely becoming less of a reality. The cloud was pulsing and growing in size. The X were increasing their surface area exponentially as each minute passed. Soon there wouldn't be much room in the area left to combat one another without the X being right there next to him.

Then it didn't even matter. In the blink of an eye, the pirate forces huddled beneath the Absolute jettisoned from their positions, screaming toward the Federation fleet at blistering speeds.

"Scramble and engage! Shoot to kill!" Kelso shouted.

Orbit of Elex

The pirate Interceptors and Corvettes cascaded toward the Federation, tucking and diving only to dodge the lashing tendrils of the X cloud as they passed by it. To everyone on the Salachimorpha bridge, it seemed as though the pirates didn't mind at all that they were traveling extremely close to the cloud. But Kelso wasn't sold on chalking it up to ignorance or obliviousness.

The Federation vessels alongside Salachimorpha spread out, patrolling and circling until their pirate counterparts got in range. As soon as they did, both sides traded shots in a beautiful array of firepower. It was like watching a meteor shower of tracers and plasma volleys, stronger and denser than any thunderstorm in the galaxy.

The trades seemed even. As many Federation ships were falling as pirate Interceptors and Corvettes. But the pirate ships would get closer to the Salachimorpha than the Federation ships would to the Absolute. Federation ships were still tucked into the general area of the Federation carrier, but the pirate ships had no problem peeling back towards the X cloud and the Absolute.

Several Federation ships began to follow and chase down weaker pirate ships as they pulled away from the Salachimorpha.

Federation Carrier Salachimorpha - Bridge

Kelso recognized what this was immediately.

"All ships, do not chase pirate vessels toward the X cloud! I repeat, do not chase!"

Lennings again snatched the receiver from him, but Kelso had already spout the order. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Lennings was pissed beyond belief.

"The pirates want us to chase them towards the Absolute. They're hoping the X cloud might take out anyone chasing them back," Kelso explained.

"You're no military tactician, Lieutenant. Stay in your lane!" Lennings barked.

Kelso growled in frustration. "Anyone with half a brain can see it's an obvious trap!"

Orbit of Elex

All Federation ships had gotten Kelso's message, but several of them were already committed to pursuing hostile ships or just wouldn't let any attackers get away for free.

Sure enough, the pirates tragged ship after ship towards the X cloud. The pirates were well-versed in dodging the X cloud attacks by now, but the Federation pilots had never experienced anything like this. They were entering a minefield ready to blow.

One by one, Federation ships enter the X cloud's vicinity, and are promptly destroyed. The massive tendrils, some now miles long, could still react in an instant. They crushed, punctured, and assimilated almost every ship traveling in the direction of the Absolute. Pilots watched as the ships and bodies of their comrades were absorbed deeper and deeper into the giant mass of X parasites.

But over at the Salachimorpha, the Federation ships were winning the battle. They were adeptly sniping pirate Interceptors with high-temperature rounds that melted the pirate ship exteriors like butter. For every Federation ship unfortunate enough to be taken out by a running Corvette or an X tendril, several more pirate ships were destroyed near the Salachimorpha.

Moments later, a pirate Corvette breached the Federation fleet, lancing several ships with well-placed plasma rounds. One target barreled into several other Federation ships, causing a domino effect of explosions as debris toppled endlessly and ships spun out of control into one another.

Over the Federation comm lines, Lennings spat, "Destroy that Corvette!"

On Weavel, Piloting Pirate Corvette - Orbit of Elex

Exploding Federation ships reflected off of Weavel's expressionless visor. He was like a robot, keying in commands and routes like it was programmed into him, never breaking his stare straight forward except to check modules to his side for split-seconds at a time.

Whether or not he agreed with those giving him orders, he had a duty to follow them nonetheless. And he was going to do that better than anybody.

Not like that was saying much. Weavel often detested his association with the other pirates, who were more like savages than soldiers, or the scientists who would never interact with him except to do tests or lab work, despite his rank. But he never wished or imagined pirates to be piloting the ships he was taking down. He couldn't control the family he was born into. He just respected it.

Maybe Ridley would be tuning in when he got a few more kills. That'd be worth it.

"You mongrels!" It was Ridley on the comms again.

Pirate Carrier Absolute - Bridge

Commander Veron thumbed the receiver, muting himself as Ridley chirped away on the comms line. He didn't want to answer for whatever might sneak by his mandibles.

"Why are you not destroying the Federation ships with your outer-spec cannons?" Ridley asked.

Veron tilted his head, unmuting himself. "Sir, the Absolute uses wave-beam ammunition rather than plasma. It's unlike the systems we've had previous. We've prepped the cannons but they've never been tested at this range. Worse, it could put excessive strain on the ship and its resources too early into the battle."

"DON'T PLAY WITH ME, VERON!" Ridley's words dripped like acid through the receiver. "You better put a hole through that carrier before I put a hole through you!"

Sure enough, moments later several pirate underlings approached with an answer Ridley wanted to hear.

"Sir, we've confirmed coalesced wave-beam trajectory projection of up to 55 clicks, well within range of the Salachimorpha."

Veron forgot to mute himself, so Ridley heard the whole thing. "Well, I for one am SHOCKED. But I'm not totally surprised you ingrates don't even know the capacities of your own ship. Stop slack-jawing and GET TO WORK!"

How could the pirates not test this properly? After all these years? Pitiful. It's like most of them learn and retain none of it. And the ones who do are too sequestered from everyone else they never get the opportunity to share that skill. Now the pirates were going into this fight using a weapon that could fail or even backfire on them.

But...Ridley wouldn't make an oversight like that...unless...

Federation Carrier Salachimorpha - Bridge

Anderson and Lennings hovered over the isometric battle perspective visualized on the tabletop. It flickered for just a moment, just as Kelso cut into their study.

"The Absolute is turning from port side, head-on, sirs." Kelso bit his tongue. They'd know that if they were paying any attention. And they have a map in front of them!

Lennings looked up to see through the main vantage point of the bridge, right passed Kelso. Meanwhile Anderson swiped outward on the panel, bringing the battle to a more macro view. Just as Kelso said, the indicator for the Absolute upon their map was indeed turning, facing straight forward at the Salachimorpha.

Energy ratings piled on at the corner of the map. Through the vantage point, Kelso could barely make out a green glow gathering beneath the carrier.

"GET DOWN!"

Burst from the bow of the ship, a tremendous blade of energy cut through space. It looked as though I had shot the largest wave beam shot of all time, and it traveled just like it, too. Ebbing and flowing at a blindly rapid pace.

It sliced through a portion of the X cloud, sending a sizable mass of X floating lifelessly into space, jiggling slower and slower until frozen solid. But the rest of the mass simply grew it back. And the Pirate Interceptors and Corvettes fighting near the Salachimorpha peeled out at the last second.

The Federation ships, however, weren't nearly as lucky. The shot carved a horrendous wound into the Federation fleet. Nearly five times as many Federation ships were destroyed as pirate ships, drastically evening the odds. The numbers advantage the Federation came into the battle with was completely erased.

Kelso, still holding his head, looked up from the edge of the command center. The bridge was still in one piece - the shot had missed the ship.

Finally on his feet, Lennings pushed Kelso out of the way, screaming into the receiver. "All active ships engage that carrier now. Don't let them get off another shot!" But Kelso shoved back. "What're you doing?! You're sending them to their deaths!"

Lennings reeled back and shocked Kelso in the jaw. Kelso fell back, catching himself on a chair. His face was flushed with pale white and red hues, hand to his chin. I'd never let anyone touch me like that.

"Lieutenant, I swear on my mother's grave I will eject you from this ship if you ever get in the way of me doing my duty."

Lennings was frothing at the mouth, but Anderson pulled him back before he bit somebody. Through the main vantage point, he peered as much as he could.

"The pirates are replenishing their numbers, they have reinforcements coming in." Anderson said. "Where are our reinforcements?"

The glow beneath the Absolute shone even brighter this time. The carrier was somehow able to fire again before Salachimorpha could even respond. The shot burst from the Absolute once more, cutting a path dead-on with the Salachimorpha.

The bridge was overwhelmed with light, blinding everyone within it. Could have been bright enough to prevent you from even seeing your life flash right before your very eyes. Kelso, Anderson, and Lennings braced for impact, gripping whatever they could with desperate might.

On Weavel, Piloting Pirate Corvette - Near Salachimorpha

I hated how good of a pilot Weavel was. Though, he was Space Pirate Special Forces, after all. I've got to admit, that division is one of the most competent branches of the entire organization. He's their shining star. I really hate to admit it.

Weavel spun through the destroyed remains of Federation and Pirate ships alike, leading a pack of other Corvettes and Interceptors to regroup with the survivors of the blast. Without hesitation, Weavel inspected the field and issued his orders.

"Drop on those Federation ships, don't let a single one get away. Squads Zeta and Orion, on me," Weavel said, without a single skipped breath.

Weavel and his pack approached a pack of dropships, guarded by just a few Federation vessels that could spare to.

"Weavel!" It was Veron. "Continue regrouping nearby the Federation carrier until you've been given-"

"Weavel, the VERY SECOND you see anything abnormal, you report DIRECTLY to ME!" Ridley cut the comm line as quickly as he cut Superior Veron off.

He slapped the Corvette into auto-pilot, pushing the controls into the dashboard before him. The cockpit cover slid open a moment later, just as Weavel propelled himself out of his seat and into open space. Several other pirates sprang from their ships in his wake.

With a few adjustments from his low-use rocket pack, Weavel and his team maneuvered through the field and catching the closest dropship, tumbling into its center and into a flurry of tracers and plasma bolts.

Weavel took cover as one of his teammates was struck in the sternum, killing it instantly. He had no time to be disturbed by the sight of it. He tapped his arm, revealing the green and orange exterior of his Battlehammer rifle.

Several others took shelter nearby, including one right next to Weavel. He turned, seeing the same human he had saw before on that operating table:

Cameron Randall.