Post by snowyaegis on Jan 9, 2022 23:28:47 GMT
--Quantum Gate “D’Ninurt”, Stenza, High Aubos Orbit, Staebh Territory--
The Staebh dockworker leant on the railing, their six eyes staring lazily out the wide viewports, shimmering occasionally with the transparent gold-orange of the radiation shielding. Beyond it was the monolithic shape of the Gate, the far side of the circular installation barely more than a sliver of silver, and inside it sat the swirling phenomena of bent space. Their four-limbed primate allies had gifted this to them over a decade ago, when the massive galactic war that passed the Staebh by was burning its last and the Artificia were still breathing down their neck, and told them how the device worked, through the admittedly painstaking effort of explaining it to a species that was still trying to figure out how to make a fusion torch that wouldn’t explode after thirty seconds of burning.
Admittedly, it meant they could repair the rings without human help. They had yet to successfully recreate it, however. It wasn’t his concern, at any rate; the Union had created an entire engineering corps for the rings’ maintenance, his job was just to help operate Station A-Three’s naval docks, currently home to a menagerie of mercantile and cargo ships, myriad different colours filling the berths, even the white and green of a Lusivohn Duchy mercantile skimmer.
“Is that the new flagship of yours I’ve heard about?” a voice behind him asked, a human leaning on the rail, a blue emblem signalling his origin.
“Yeah.” the dockworker nodded once after a brief pause, sipping his drink. “The Architonnerre.”
The ship in question was the largest vessel of Staebh creation to date, a tapering spike of white and blue, covered in guns and missiles. The replacement for the tiring old Trebuchet, now relegated to Staebha orbit. Even as large as she was, massive next to her escort fleet preparing to embark on a multinational antipiracy raid, she was easily dwarfed by the ring she drifted slowly towards, and no doubt only matching up to the vessels she would fight alongside.
“Pride and joy for the fleet and her people. Anyone that didn’t have to build the damn thing, at least.” the eight-limbed creature muttered.
“Well, I’m sure they had the satisfaction of a job well done, right?”
“Yeah, maybe. How the hell does a nation field a navy of hundreds as big as that thing?”
“Well, to be fair,” the human grinned, leaning forward a little. “Some nations have dozens of systems in their borders. I’ve heard we’re getting a new fleet back home, too.”
“Yeah, yeah.” the Staebh grunted with a faint smirk. “We’ll get there eventually.” he sighed, eyes drifting to the television reporting on the fleet’s mission. Sure enough points of light appeared, the two watching as the fleet accelerated towards the gate.
“...In other news Akharian Republic naval activity in outer Stenza has ramped up considerably, with fleets making repeat fly-bys of Isrekis. In response to mounting concerns about Republic militarism, ARSF speaker Ko’vitarn has this to say;”
“The Republic’s presence on the Staebhic geopolitical stage has never been the brightest, there is no denying this. But, in this new age of spacefaring where we no longer have to bicker over every trade lane and copper mine, our eyes now look outwards. Our navy is not here to intimidate or to snarl and snap, but like every other ship made by our people, it serves to safeguard Stenza, and the Republic.”
“The Republic, huh? I thought it was just your Union out in space.” the human mused.
“Nah, we were just the first. Before the Union’s founding they were the biggest nation on Staebha.”
“Huh, alright. You know how things are with them?”
“Nah. I ain’t much into politics. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid, watching the first manned ships go to Aubos.” the dockworked shook his head, before a device on his wrist beeped. He looked at it, sighed, looked back up at the ships now disappearing into the ring, and downed his drink.
“Well, I gotta go. Enjoy your stay, or whatever the greeting clerks are supposed to say.” he muttered, hooking the thumbs of his larger two arms in his belt as he turned to leave.
“I’ll be sure to.” the human smirked, watching the shape of a Staebhic frigate drift past the station.
--ARSF Battleship Kiritoga, Isrekis Orbit, Stenza, Staebh Territory--
“Admiral, everything is confirmed as ready. The SUSN fleet just left. Only 10% of their navy is in Stenza as of current. The task groups are operating as normal, and the second fleet is standing by.”
“Good. How are our rally groups in Stenza?”
“Standing by for rendezvous with the Kiritoga, sir.”
“Alright, give the word. When everyone is here, we move on Aubos. It’s time we put these guns our people back home made for us to the test.”
“Right away Admiral. Sending the signal.” the officer nodded, the admiral watching the screens from his place on the battleship’s bridge. Flagship of the ARSF’s First Fleet, the Kiritoga was also the first completed ship of the Verkadd-class, and would spearhead the Republic’s daring operation almost the entirety of the ARSF had been dragged into.
Admiral Ty’lakatt watched the readouts, the squares marking where SUSN ships floated near the gate, their designations underneath each one. They had left themselves exposed. Only that creaking old hulk pushed out in a hurry, the Trebuchet, could be counted as a heavyweight remaining in system, and it was in a dockyard over Staebha.
The Union had restricted the Republic for too long. Yes, they had been the first to truly establish themselves in space, and all of Staebha owed them for defending it from the Artificia. But they had used that, lorded it over all the other nations and made it difficult for anyone else to establish themselves on the same level. The Lusivohn Duchy had gotten its feet under it by way of docile neutrality.
They were cowards.
Republic industry, he had been told quietly behind closed doors, was sputtering and struggling to keep up.
They would not have to for much longer. With the Union out of the way, much of their space industry could be repurposed to Akharian use, and the Republic would again stand as the largest and mightiest of Staebh peoples.
“Admiral?”
“Report.”
“The rally groups are en-route. They will have all arrived within five hours.”
--SUSN Light Cruiser K’voto, Quantum Gate “D’Ninurt”, Stenza, High Aubos Orbit--
Seven Hours Later
Commodore D’dato grumbled as he watched the various readout scrolls. With S’dara’s fleet having left, Stenza was quiet, news piping down and the remaining SUSN presence in Stenza having nothing to do. He wanted to be out with the Architonnerre, punting kinetic slugs through pirate ships. Sure, the Lockbow class was not a frontline brawler, but the K’voto’s main gun hit hard, and she had an ace gunner to plot its shots.
Alas, command thought otherwise. He was on the verge of passing out, before the call of an ensign got his attention and snapped him awake.
“Commodore? We have new contacts on short range sensors.” they called, D’dato leaning over and squinting a little.
“Are those…?”
“ASRF contacts, commodore. Fifteen of them, moving in formation en route to Aubos. And the gate, sir.”
“What’s the Republic doing with a force that large?” he muttered. “Open comms.”
“Comms are yours.”
“Republic Space Force fleet, this is Commodore D’dato, Staebhic Union Space Navy. Significant Republic navy presence is not authorised without prior authorisation from SUSN command. State your intention and divert course immediately. Say again, state your intention and divert course immediately, over.”
…
Silence.
“No response, sir. Their formation is moving.” an officer called, D’dato tapping a few buttons as the holographic projector in the bridge center shifted, showing local space.
Heavy hitters in the middle. Lightweights towards the edge, where they could move.
It was a battle formation.
“Republic fleet this is Commodore D’dato. This is your last warning, continue your course and I will be forced to assume you hostile. Divert course immediately, over!”
“No response, sir! They’re picking us up but we’re not even getting static back!”
“Dammit! Signal the fleet, ready weapons and rally to the K’voto! Any word what’s going on back home?” he called.
“No sir! Command is--”
“Wait! Commodore, switch to Lelitosa News!” an ensign called. Confused, D’dato did so, tapping a few buttons, a screen bringing up the news feed.
“--eports that a thermonuclear device was detonated in Aklitos Naval Yard. Casualties and those responsible have not yet been determined, but five vessels including the Trebuchet have been caught in the blast and damaged to varying degrees. We have--” the reporter stated, a look of uncertainty on their eyes before D’dato cut the feed.
“Oh, I think I know who’s behind it.” he growled. “They had their chance. All ships, engage the Republic fleet! Fire at will! Gunnery, pick us a heavy hitter and fire when ready.” he ordered.
“Aye aye, sir!” came back the officer as the Lockbow cruiser’s main gun finally came about.
--ARSF Battleship Kiritoga, Entering Aubos Space, Stenza--
“It seems the Union’s lapdogs caught on. They’re moving to engage, emission spikes indicate charging weapons.”
“Very well. Then we shall do the same. Detach the destroyers, charge weapons and open fire on my command.”
“All ships charging! Destroyers detaching and moving to defensive positions in the fleet! Sir, SUSN vessels are opening fire!”
“Brace for impact.” the admiral’s XO grunted dryly, Admiral Ty’lakatt gripping the railing hard. The utter briefest flashes of kinetic slugs racing by crossed the screens, the ship shaking as one struck home.
“Hit! All main systems remain operational! Two guns are offline.” an officer called.
“The Ilokat has been hit twice!”
“Missiles inbound! Deploying countermeasures!”
Sure enough, the markers of Republic defensive missiles flew off in number to meet the attack.
“All ships have charged weapons and locked targets!”
The admiral paused slightly, narrowing his eyes.
“Fire!”
“Firing!”
The ship shuddered as eighteen axial railguns fired, bolts firing back in number. Moments later, two SUSN markers disappeared, a Polybolos and an Arbalest, though other hits were recorded. The ship leading the fleet however, a Lockbow-class Light Cruiser, flared its maneuvering engines to life, dodging with remarkable agility as more return fire came.
“One of the destroyers has been disabled!”
“Direct hit to the Jyritain! Several weapons offline, it went straight down the middle!”
Not a bad shot, the Admiral thought to himself. He supposed that cruiser had a decent crew.
They would need a lot more of those in order to win.
The ship shuddered again as it fired once more.
“Kinetic impactors inbound! Destroyers are targeting!”
Flashes of light, and numerous balls of fire as the impactors were torn apart. One impactor slipped through, smashing down the heard of one of the Republic cruisers, its gunblock detonating in a ball of fire that shredded the missile block.
“Cruiser Wesrilot disabled, sir.”
“Losses?”
“Injuries, no reported deaths yet.”
“Good. We can pick them up later. The destroyers work even better than we expected.”
Among the SUSN fleet, a shot grazed the fleet’s frigate, the small ship starting to drift as its attitude rockets went mad, trying to account for the damage to their grid. The ship drifted past ring station A-One, as one of the Republic cruiser shifted to track it, guns charging again.
--Ring Station A-Three, Quantum Gate “D’Ninurt”, Stenza, Staebh Territory--
The station’s alarms were loud and obnoxious. He supposed they were supposed to be, to make them hard to ignore.
So it was with no amount of calmness the human merchant burst onto the station concourse, hair a touch dishevelled.
“W-What the hell is going on?!” he called out.
“The Republic is attacking the ring! The fleet’s outnumbered!” some security officer yelled. “Get to the shelters!”
“The Republic? What the fuck?” he shook his head, running to the railing by the window.
Outside, SUSN ships burned, the wreck of a Polybolos cruiser drifting past as the few remaining ships of the fleet fired back desperately, loosing their few impactors remaining.
Why the hell were they doing this? What had sparked it? Did they know there were people in the crossfire? People from other nations, even!
“That ship!” someone shrieked, diverting his eyes upwards. “It’s going to crash into the station!”
Sure enough, one of the SUSN frigates was drifting, dangerously close to Station A-One.
“Is it armoured to survive a collision?” someone asked.
“If the people get away from that area, maybe!” someone answered. The identities of the voices didn’t matter to the man.
Not that the risk of impending collision mattered anyway. A volley of shots, the briefest bolts of light, raced by, tearing the frigate to shreds.
And the station with it, ripping it open like a hedge trimmer to a cardboard box, gutting the interior and sending debris into space, compounded by the frigate’s remains exploding in tight proximity.
The man had to fight not to vomit as he sank to a knee, glad no noise could cross the gap to them and glad no bodies could be seen at this distance.
It wasn’t that the Republic didn’t know there were innocent people in the ring stations.
They didn’t care.
The merchant looked up just in time to see a shot graze the Lockbow cruiser leading the defence, forcing it to sharply tilt upwards as a second shot punched through its reactor in a ball of fire.
It did not move to reorient itself.
--ARSF Battleship Kiritoga, Quantum Gate “D’Ninurt”, Stenza--
One Hour Later
“All SUSN vessels disabled, Admiral. We’ve confirmed all radio equipment jammed or destroyed.”
“Good. And the slingshot?”
“We have ships confirming control of it now.”
“Excellent. Do we have a broadcast ready?”
“Yes sir. Ready when you are willing.”
The admiral stepped forth, clearing his throat and straightening his uniform.
“All ships and all officials of the Staebhic Union.” he begun, contempt slipping into his voice. “As you are no doubt learning, the Akharian Republic is now in control of the quantum gate and the cargo slingshot over Aubos, and the shipyard over Staebha has been disabled. Any Union vessel that crosses the gate will be destroyed. Any action taken against the Republic or her fleet will result in the destruction of the gate, and the use of the slingshot against Union targets on Staebha. We have task forces en route to monitor SUSN activity, and any attempt to flee, move without authorisation or garner outside support will result in the same. Surrender and take no hostile action, and the safety of your people, and those of your foreign visitors, will be ensured. However much blood will be on Staebhic Union hands depends entirely on the decisions of its leaders, but know that any further bloodshed will be the fault of them. We eagerly await their response. Admiral Ty’lakatt, Akharian Republic Space Force, over and out.”
--SUSNS Architonnerre, Unnamed Binary System, Neutral Space--
The crew was in silence. Not because they were busy, or because word had yet to reach them.
But because they were in shock.
Anger. Outrage.
Admiral S’dara could feel the air in the vessel’s CIC shift. He could feel it in his chest, too.
“...Admiral? What do we do?” someone asked, slowly.
“I’ll tell you what we do! This is the best ship in the damn fleet! We go back to Stenza and we kick their!--” one of the younger officers started, standing up.
“No.” S’dara cut in, his voice stern but only raised enough to cut him off.
“...Sir?”
“Did you not listen to them? If we so much as move, millions back home will die. We’ve known for decades how little the Republic cares for the lives of other nations’ citizens, there is every chance they will keep true to their word. And that cargo sling could reduce even the biggest of our cities to a crater. By the time we got there millions would die and there would be nothing we could do to stop it.”
“...B...But admiral--”
“This is the strongest ship in the fleet. But firepower won’t fix this, not where we are.”
“...Confirmed, sir, four Republic ships just dropped into system. They’re keeping an eye on us. Union fleets across the Rift are reporting the same.”
“...Dammit.” S’dara growled, balling all four of his hands into fists.
A moment, of quiet.
“What...about the operation? Surely our allies will notice when we don’t arrive.”
As if on cue, more ARSF contacts appeared, dropping out of FTL. Twenty three of them, including several battleships. They did not stray close to the fleet, but close enough their purpose was obvious. It was the Architonnerre’s captain, sat next to S’dara, that voiced the cause.
“They’re our replacement. We can’t risk attacking them, and they’re rubbing it in.”
--SUSNS Ol’tekat, outer Stenza, Staebh Territory--
The much smaller crew of the lonesome Arcoballista frigate was equally as quiet. The ship had been out on patrol when the signal arrived. It was, of course, far too late. And far too out of the league for a sole ship armed with a pair of light turrets and a few missile silos to handle.
“Did...did they just…?”
“Hamstring the entire Union navy.” the captain, D’mate, breathed.
“What about the fleet at the ring?” the helmsman asked.
“Destroyed.” the communications officer sourly replied.
“What...what are our orders, captain?” someone asked, turning to look at her. After a long moment, her eyes turned back to meet them.
“I...I don’t know.” she shook her head, sitting down. “What is the Republic fleet doing?”
“I, er...” an ensign turned to their screen. “...holding near Aubos, mainly. I suppose they really do plan to turn anything that comes through to dust.”
“Anything in the outer system?” D’mate raised a brow.
“...No. After their fleet rallied at Isrekis, they’ve left the outer system to everyone else. Right now, its mostly the Duchy out here.”
“Captain, even at this distance, they’ll pick up a ship leaving. It won’t be long before they find out there’s a patrol frigate out here.” her XO reminded her.
“Yeah...” she nodded, rubbing her eyes with a hand. She looked up, at the readouts.
“Hey, what’s that other ship on sensors?”
“A moment...” one of the sensor operators muttered. “Cargo hauler D-40-A6. Stenza United Industrial Transit Guild. They’re giving off odd sensor readings.”
“Hm. Send them a hail. Tightbeam.”
“Aye aye.”
A moment, before a brief burst of static.
“D-40-A6, this is Captain D’mate, SUSNS Ol’tekat, you’re giving off odd returns. Are you in distress?”
“--No distress Captain, but our warp ring is having startup difficulties. We were en-route to RANGSI space, but it seems we’ll be late.”
It took a moment to register in D’mate’s head, before she turned to her XO.
“Can you disable our IFF transponder?”
“...Yes, why?”
“Do it.” she ordered, turning back.
“If you like, D-40, we can give you a lift out of Stenza. It might give your warp ring the kick it needs.”
“...Captain? Did you not hear the word from Aubos?”
“Negative, D-40. It seems we’re all having difficulties out here today; our engineers can’t seem to get our long range comms equipment working.” she smiled, putting on a fake voice of amusement.
“Anywho, that’s irrelevant. Hold position, we’ll come to you.” she added.
“...Very well, Ol’tekat. Holding position.”
The signal cut, D’mate turning to her XO.
“...The transponder is disabled, captain. What are you planning?”
“If they want to know what’s going on out here, the Guild will know they had a cargo ship leaving around now. The Republic never needs to know we were out here.” she explained.
The eyes of the crew brightened a little.
“Linking up with the cargo ship...now.” an officer called.
“So what’s the plan, captain? We’re one frigate. I doubt we could kill even one Republic cruiser.”
“That’s why we’re going to find help. To kill them for us.”
“Warp engine ready!”
“Alright.” S’mate nodded, straightening her posture in her seat.
“Engage warp!”
The distorting of space in a growing bubble, and with a blink of an eye, two ships disappeared.
The Republic had made their cage, but a rat had slipped through the bars.
The Staebh dockworker leant on the railing, their six eyes staring lazily out the wide viewports, shimmering occasionally with the transparent gold-orange of the radiation shielding. Beyond it was the monolithic shape of the Gate, the far side of the circular installation barely more than a sliver of silver, and inside it sat the swirling phenomena of bent space. Their four-limbed primate allies had gifted this to them over a decade ago, when the massive galactic war that passed the Staebh by was burning its last and the Artificia were still breathing down their neck, and told them how the device worked, through the admittedly painstaking effort of explaining it to a species that was still trying to figure out how to make a fusion torch that wouldn’t explode after thirty seconds of burning.
Admittedly, it meant they could repair the rings without human help. They had yet to successfully recreate it, however. It wasn’t his concern, at any rate; the Union had created an entire engineering corps for the rings’ maintenance, his job was just to help operate Station A-Three’s naval docks, currently home to a menagerie of mercantile and cargo ships, myriad different colours filling the berths, even the white and green of a Lusivohn Duchy mercantile skimmer.
“Is that the new flagship of yours I’ve heard about?” a voice behind him asked, a human leaning on the rail, a blue emblem signalling his origin.
“Yeah.” the dockworker nodded once after a brief pause, sipping his drink. “The Architonnerre.”
The ship in question was the largest vessel of Staebh creation to date, a tapering spike of white and blue, covered in guns and missiles. The replacement for the tiring old Trebuchet, now relegated to Staebha orbit. Even as large as she was, massive next to her escort fleet preparing to embark on a multinational antipiracy raid, she was easily dwarfed by the ring she drifted slowly towards, and no doubt only matching up to the vessels she would fight alongside.
“Pride and joy for the fleet and her people. Anyone that didn’t have to build the damn thing, at least.” the eight-limbed creature muttered.
“Well, I’m sure they had the satisfaction of a job well done, right?”
“Yeah, maybe. How the hell does a nation field a navy of hundreds as big as that thing?”
“Well, to be fair,” the human grinned, leaning forward a little. “Some nations have dozens of systems in their borders. I’ve heard we’re getting a new fleet back home, too.”
“Yeah, yeah.” the Staebh grunted with a faint smirk. “We’ll get there eventually.” he sighed, eyes drifting to the television reporting on the fleet’s mission. Sure enough points of light appeared, the two watching as the fleet accelerated towards the gate.
“...In other news Akharian Republic naval activity in outer Stenza has ramped up considerably, with fleets making repeat fly-bys of Isrekis. In response to mounting concerns about Republic militarism, ARSF speaker Ko’vitarn has this to say;”
“The Republic’s presence on the Staebhic geopolitical stage has never been the brightest, there is no denying this. But, in this new age of spacefaring where we no longer have to bicker over every trade lane and copper mine, our eyes now look outwards. Our navy is not here to intimidate or to snarl and snap, but like every other ship made by our people, it serves to safeguard Stenza, and the Republic.”
“The Republic, huh? I thought it was just your Union out in space.” the human mused.
“Nah, we were just the first. Before the Union’s founding they were the biggest nation on Staebha.”
“Huh, alright. You know how things are with them?”
“Nah. I ain’t much into politics. I wanted to be an astronaut when I was a kid, watching the first manned ships go to Aubos.” the dockworked shook his head, before a device on his wrist beeped. He looked at it, sighed, looked back up at the ships now disappearing into the ring, and downed his drink.
“Well, I gotta go. Enjoy your stay, or whatever the greeting clerks are supposed to say.” he muttered, hooking the thumbs of his larger two arms in his belt as he turned to leave.
“I’ll be sure to.” the human smirked, watching the shape of a Staebhic frigate drift past the station.
--ARSF Battleship Kiritoga, Isrekis Orbit, Stenza, Staebh Territory--
“Admiral, everything is confirmed as ready. The SUSN fleet just left. Only 10% of their navy is in Stenza as of current. The task groups are operating as normal, and the second fleet is standing by.”
“Good. How are our rally groups in Stenza?”
“Standing by for rendezvous with the Kiritoga, sir.”
“Alright, give the word. When everyone is here, we move on Aubos. It’s time we put these guns our people back home made for us to the test.”
“Right away Admiral. Sending the signal.” the officer nodded, the admiral watching the screens from his place on the battleship’s bridge. Flagship of the ARSF’s First Fleet, the Kiritoga was also the first completed ship of the Verkadd-class, and would spearhead the Republic’s daring operation almost the entirety of the ARSF had been dragged into.
Admiral Ty’lakatt watched the readouts, the squares marking where SUSN ships floated near the gate, their designations underneath each one. They had left themselves exposed. Only that creaking old hulk pushed out in a hurry, the Trebuchet, could be counted as a heavyweight remaining in system, and it was in a dockyard over Staebha.
The Union had restricted the Republic for too long. Yes, they had been the first to truly establish themselves in space, and all of Staebha owed them for defending it from the Artificia. But they had used that, lorded it over all the other nations and made it difficult for anyone else to establish themselves on the same level. The Lusivohn Duchy had gotten its feet under it by way of docile neutrality.
They were cowards.
Republic industry, he had been told quietly behind closed doors, was sputtering and struggling to keep up.
They would not have to for much longer. With the Union out of the way, much of their space industry could be repurposed to Akharian use, and the Republic would again stand as the largest and mightiest of Staebh peoples.
“Admiral?”
“Report.”
“The rally groups are en-route. They will have all arrived within five hours.”
--SUSN Light Cruiser K’voto, Quantum Gate “D’Ninurt”, Stenza, High Aubos Orbit--
Seven Hours Later
Commodore D’dato grumbled as he watched the various readout scrolls. With S’dara’s fleet having left, Stenza was quiet, news piping down and the remaining SUSN presence in Stenza having nothing to do. He wanted to be out with the Architonnerre, punting kinetic slugs through pirate ships. Sure, the Lockbow class was not a frontline brawler, but the K’voto’s main gun hit hard, and she had an ace gunner to plot its shots.
Alas, command thought otherwise. He was on the verge of passing out, before the call of an ensign got his attention and snapped him awake.
“Commodore? We have new contacts on short range sensors.” they called, D’dato leaning over and squinting a little.
“Are those…?”
“ASRF contacts, commodore. Fifteen of them, moving in formation en route to Aubos. And the gate, sir.”
“What’s the Republic doing with a force that large?” he muttered. “Open comms.”
“Comms are yours.”
“Republic Space Force fleet, this is Commodore D’dato, Staebhic Union Space Navy. Significant Republic navy presence is not authorised without prior authorisation from SUSN command. State your intention and divert course immediately. Say again, state your intention and divert course immediately, over.”
…
Silence.
“No response, sir. Their formation is moving.” an officer called, D’dato tapping a few buttons as the holographic projector in the bridge center shifted, showing local space.
Heavy hitters in the middle. Lightweights towards the edge, where they could move.
It was a battle formation.
“Republic fleet this is Commodore D’dato. This is your last warning, continue your course and I will be forced to assume you hostile. Divert course immediately, over!”
“No response, sir! They’re picking us up but we’re not even getting static back!”
“Dammit! Signal the fleet, ready weapons and rally to the K’voto! Any word what’s going on back home?” he called.
“No sir! Command is--”
“Wait! Commodore, switch to Lelitosa News!” an ensign called. Confused, D’dato did so, tapping a few buttons, a screen bringing up the news feed.
“--eports that a thermonuclear device was detonated in Aklitos Naval Yard. Casualties and those responsible have not yet been determined, but five vessels including the Trebuchet have been caught in the blast and damaged to varying degrees. We have--” the reporter stated, a look of uncertainty on their eyes before D’dato cut the feed.
“Oh, I think I know who’s behind it.” he growled. “They had their chance. All ships, engage the Republic fleet! Fire at will! Gunnery, pick us a heavy hitter and fire when ready.” he ordered.
“Aye aye, sir!” came back the officer as the Lockbow cruiser’s main gun finally came about.
--ARSF Battleship Kiritoga, Entering Aubos Space, Stenza--
“It seems the Union’s lapdogs caught on. They’re moving to engage, emission spikes indicate charging weapons.”
“Very well. Then we shall do the same. Detach the destroyers, charge weapons and open fire on my command.”
“All ships charging! Destroyers detaching and moving to defensive positions in the fleet! Sir, SUSN vessels are opening fire!”
“Brace for impact.” the admiral’s XO grunted dryly, Admiral Ty’lakatt gripping the railing hard. The utter briefest flashes of kinetic slugs racing by crossed the screens, the ship shaking as one struck home.
“Hit! All main systems remain operational! Two guns are offline.” an officer called.
“The Ilokat has been hit twice!”
“Missiles inbound! Deploying countermeasures!”
Sure enough, the markers of Republic defensive missiles flew off in number to meet the attack.
“All ships have charged weapons and locked targets!”
The admiral paused slightly, narrowing his eyes.
“Fire!”
“Firing!”
The ship shuddered as eighteen axial railguns fired, bolts firing back in number. Moments later, two SUSN markers disappeared, a Polybolos and an Arbalest, though other hits were recorded. The ship leading the fleet however, a Lockbow-class Light Cruiser, flared its maneuvering engines to life, dodging with remarkable agility as more return fire came.
“One of the destroyers has been disabled!”
“Direct hit to the Jyritain! Several weapons offline, it went straight down the middle!”
Not a bad shot, the Admiral thought to himself. He supposed that cruiser had a decent crew.
They would need a lot more of those in order to win.
The ship shuddered again as it fired once more.
“Kinetic impactors inbound! Destroyers are targeting!”
Flashes of light, and numerous balls of fire as the impactors were torn apart. One impactor slipped through, smashing down the heard of one of the Republic cruisers, its gunblock detonating in a ball of fire that shredded the missile block.
“Cruiser Wesrilot disabled, sir.”
“Losses?”
“Injuries, no reported deaths yet.”
“Good. We can pick them up later. The destroyers work even better than we expected.”
Among the SUSN fleet, a shot grazed the fleet’s frigate, the small ship starting to drift as its attitude rockets went mad, trying to account for the damage to their grid. The ship drifted past ring station A-One, as one of the Republic cruiser shifted to track it, guns charging again.
--Ring Station A-Three, Quantum Gate “D’Ninurt”, Stenza, Staebh Territory--
The station’s alarms were loud and obnoxious. He supposed they were supposed to be, to make them hard to ignore.
So it was with no amount of calmness the human merchant burst onto the station concourse, hair a touch dishevelled.
“W-What the hell is going on?!” he called out.
“The Republic is attacking the ring! The fleet’s outnumbered!” some security officer yelled. “Get to the shelters!”
“The Republic? What the fuck?” he shook his head, running to the railing by the window.
Outside, SUSN ships burned, the wreck of a Polybolos cruiser drifting past as the few remaining ships of the fleet fired back desperately, loosing their few impactors remaining.
Why the hell were they doing this? What had sparked it? Did they know there were people in the crossfire? People from other nations, even!
“That ship!” someone shrieked, diverting his eyes upwards. “It’s going to crash into the station!”
Sure enough, one of the SUSN frigates was drifting, dangerously close to Station A-One.
“Is it armoured to survive a collision?” someone asked.
“If the people get away from that area, maybe!” someone answered. The identities of the voices didn’t matter to the man.
Not that the risk of impending collision mattered anyway. A volley of shots, the briefest bolts of light, raced by, tearing the frigate to shreds.
And the station with it, ripping it open like a hedge trimmer to a cardboard box, gutting the interior and sending debris into space, compounded by the frigate’s remains exploding in tight proximity.
The man had to fight not to vomit as he sank to a knee, glad no noise could cross the gap to them and glad no bodies could be seen at this distance.
It wasn’t that the Republic didn’t know there were innocent people in the ring stations.
They didn’t care.
The merchant looked up just in time to see a shot graze the Lockbow cruiser leading the defence, forcing it to sharply tilt upwards as a second shot punched through its reactor in a ball of fire.
It did not move to reorient itself.
--ARSF Battleship Kiritoga, Quantum Gate “D’Ninurt”, Stenza--
One Hour Later
“All SUSN vessels disabled, Admiral. We’ve confirmed all radio equipment jammed or destroyed.”
“Good. And the slingshot?”
“We have ships confirming control of it now.”
“Excellent. Do we have a broadcast ready?”
“Yes sir. Ready when you are willing.”
The admiral stepped forth, clearing his throat and straightening his uniform.
“All ships and all officials of the Staebhic Union.” he begun, contempt slipping into his voice. “As you are no doubt learning, the Akharian Republic is now in control of the quantum gate and the cargo slingshot over Aubos, and the shipyard over Staebha has been disabled. Any Union vessel that crosses the gate will be destroyed. Any action taken against the Republic or her fleet will result in the destruction of the gate, and the use of the slingshot against Union targets on Staebha. We have task forces en route to monitor SUSN activity, and any attempt to flee, move without authorisation or garner outside support will result in the same. Surrender and take no hostile action, and the safety of your people, and those of your foreign visitors, will be ensured. However much blood will be on Staebhic Union hands depends entirely on the decisions of its leaders, but know that any further bloodshed will be the fault of them. We eagerly await their response. Admiral Ty’lakatt, Akharian Republic Space Force, over and out.”
--SUSNS Architonnerre, Unnamed Binary System, Neutral Space--
The crew was in silence. Not because they were busy, or because word had yet to reach them.
But because they were in shock.
Anger. Outrage.
Admiral S’dara could feel the air in the vessel’s CIC shift. He could feel it in his chest, too.
“...Admiral? What do we do?” someone asked, slowly.
“I’ll tell you what we do! This is the best ship in the damn fleet! We go back to Stenza and we kick their!--” one of the younger officers started, standing up.
“No.” S’dara cut in, his voice stern but only raised enough to cut him off.
“...Sir?”
“Did you not listen to them? If we so much as move, millions back home will die. We’ve known for decades how little the Republic cares for the lives of other nations’ citizens, there is every chance they will keep true to their word. And that cargo sling could reduce even the biggest of our cities to a crater. By the time we got there millions would die and there would be nothing we could do to stop it.”
“...B...But admiral--”
“This is the strongest ship in the fleet. But firepower won’t fix this, not where we are.”
“...Confirmed, sir, four Republic ships just dropped into system. They’re keeping an eye on us. Union fleets across the Rift are reporting the same.”
“...Dammit.” S’dara growled, balling all four of his hands into fists.
A moment, of quiet.
“What...about the operation? Surely our allies will notice when we don’t arrive.”
As if on cue, more ARSF contacts appeared, dropping out of FTL. Twenty three of them, including several battleships. They did not stray close to the fleet, but close enough their purpose was obvious. It was the Architonnerre’s captain, sat next to S’dara, that voiced the cause.
“They’re our replacement. We can’t risk attacking them, and they’re rubbing it in.”
--SUSNS Ol’tekat, outer Stenza, Staebh Territory--
The much smaller crew of the lonesome Arcoballista frigate was equally as quiet. The ship had been out on patrol when the signal arrived. It was, of course, far too late. And far too out of the league for a sole ship armed with a pair of light turrets and a few missile silos to handle.
“Did...did they just…?”
“Hamstring the entire Union navy.” the captain, D’mate, breathed.
“What about the fleet at the ring?” the helmsman asked.
“Destroyed.” the communications officer sourly replied.
“What...what are our orders, captain?” someone asked, turning to look at her. After a long moment, her eyes turned back to meet them.
“I...I don’t know.” she shook her head, sitting down. “What is the Republic fleet doing?”
“I, er...” an ensign turned to their screen. “...holding near Aubos, mainly. I suppose they really do plan to turn anything that comes through to dust.”
“Anything in the outer system?” D’mate raised a brow.
“...No. After their fleet rallied at Isrekis, they’ve left the outer system to everyone else. Right now, its mostly the Duchy out here.”
“Captain, even at this distance, they’ll pick up a ship leaving. It won’t be long before they find out there’s a patrol frigate out here.” her XO reminded her.
“Yeah...” she nodded, rubbing her eyes with a hand. She looked up, at the readouts.
“Hey, what’s that other ship on sensors?”
“A moment...” one of the sensor operators muttered. “Cargo hauler D-40-A6. Stenza United Industrial Transit Guild. They’re giving off odd sensor readings.”
“Hm. Send them a hail. Tightbeam.”
“Aye aye.”
A moment, before a brief burst of static.
“D-40-A6, this is Captain D’mate, SUSNS Ol’tekat, you’re giving off odd returns. Are you in distress?”
“--No distress Captain, but our warp ring is having startup difficulties. We were en-route to RANGSI space, but it seems we’ll be late.”
It took a moment to register in D’mate’s head, before she turned to her XO.
“Can you disable our IFF transponder?”
“...Yes, why?”
“Do it.” she ordered, turning back.
“If you like, D-40, we can give you a lift out of Stenza. It might give your warp ring the kick it needs.”
“...Captain? Did you not hear the word from Aubos?”
“Negative, D-40. It seems we’re all having difficulties out here today; our engineers can’t seem to get our long range comms equipment working.” she smiled, putting on a fake voice of amusement.
“Anywho, that’s irrelevant. Hold position, we’ll come to you.” she added.
“...Very well, Ol’tekat. Holding position.”
The signal cut, D’mate turning to her XO.
“...The transponder is disabled, captain. What are you planning?”
“If they want to know what’s going on out here, the Guild will know they had a cargo ship leaving around now. The Republic never needs to know we were out here.” she explained.
The eyes of the crew brightened a little.
“Linking up with the cargo ship...now.” an officer called.
“So what’s the plan, captain? We’re one frigate. I doubt we could kill even one Republic cruiser.”
“That’s why we’re going to find help. To kill them for us.”
“Warp engine ready!”
“Alright.” S’mate nodded, straightening her posture in her seat.
“Engage warp!”
The distorting of space in a growing bubble, and with a blink of an eye, two ships disappeared.
The Republic had made their cage, but a rat had slipped through the bars.