Chapter 3: Unpleasant surprises

As the jump was completed, camera drones left their small docking bays and started to orbit the ship. Their feeds where starting to fill Freyya’s ocular implant and the sights of several wrecks hanging motionless in space turned her stomach.

“Everyone hold positions and maintain jump cloak!”

She sounded worried, and the message came across as the other pilots where receiving their feeds as well. Counting 9 wrecks in the position the camera drones where pointing, then with a thought they turned around the field of vision to the rear side of the ship. Even more wrecks littering space all around the jump gate.

“SIR! We have incoming! Scanner picks up several large vessels heading this way! Acquiring more intel….new results coming in.”

The panic was easily heard in the voice of Liora and Freyya was afraid she might leave her protective cloak. They still had about 20 seconds worth before the effect wore off completely.

“Maintain positions people! Alert the crew and man all battle stations! ..I see them coming…”

The ship scanners onboard all starships where now registering multiple large contacts and several smaller ones following not far behind. Further analysis and scans resulted in a hit in the ship database: 7 Serpentis battleships approaching with 12 smaller guardian forces tagging along.

“Spectre, initiate battle algorithms and calculate primary and secondary targets.”

Results where streaming through all the implants inside every pilot’s brain as Spectre linked to every ship’s own mobile version of the AI. Ocular implants displayed the number and types of ships on scanner, states of all systems and weapons, as well as the immediate surroundings. Perception implants where running hot with all the influences that had to be calculated into the battle algorithms such as position of wrecks, friendly forces and the estimated warp in point of the hostile forces closing fast. Memory implants where storing all available information and caching all related bits of information in easy to reach places. All skill hardwire implants such as the Zainou “Snapshot” and Zainou “Deadeye” implanted in the heads of the pilots where jolted into action as the stream of battle algorithms reached their processors.

“Arazu pilot, warp out to the nearest planet and warp back in at 100K! Stay cloaked and try to gain at least 100K more distance so you can provide a close cyno location in case we need backup bad!”

A small flicker on the overview indicated the pilot left jump cloak and entered it’s self generated field. At that moment the Serpentis ships reached the stargate at 20 kilometres away, but only 10K away from Freyya and her fleet.

“10 seconds to cloak effect drops. Everyone received primary and secondary targets, new ones will be broadcasted as enemy ships are destroyed. Proceed to optimal weapons range at decloak. In need of assistance? Send a broadcast and we’ll cover your back. Any questions?”

The fleet transmission line remained silent. “Alright then…. Give them hell’s wrath people!!!!”

As the jump cloak effects wore off simultaneously, Freyya mumbled to herself; “Come get some you fucking douchebags…'"

“Sir! We’re receiving a video feed from the fleet!” The sound Mav’s voice made when he was excited was annoying at the least. A high pitched peep was present and made him sound like a mouse from a famous holoreel.

Marcus was in the middle of a meditation inside his pod when the message bursted into his mind. “Well? What are you waiting for?! Patch it through damnit!”

“Coming up sir…it should be running now.” Mav replied while typing his fingers off at the keyboards, turning more red with every second that passed before the feed was finally patched through to the carrier’s video systems.

Mav and the rest of the crew present in Tac where watching with awe at the scenes being portrayed on the large holoscreen while Marcus had his own private show. Flashes of light and the sounds of exploding ships and ammunitions bounced off every wall where the feed was being watched.

“Spec, patch this through to Uli and all operatives on standby. MAV!”

“Y..yes sir? He replied, startled by the sudden shout of his commanding officer. “Why the hell weren’t we aware of this troops build up in the mission system?!”

As the tension in his body grew, knowing the Serpentis scum where able to form a fleet without Oversight in the loop beforehand, he let out an angered yell while forming his fists inside the pod...he took the goo inside his mouth for granted and swallowed it.

“Get every damn agent infiltrated in the Serpentis organisation to report in and explain why I didn’t know about this!”

“Right away sir!” If Mav’s face could get any more red he would probably explode from massive blood buildup in his brain. The message was sent to every active agent within the Serpentis organisation, from low ranks to senior deep cover agents…all replies where almost instantaneous;There was no indication whatsoever about a fleet being assembled in or near the mission area. Marcus thought about this for a bit before he realised this could only mean one of 2 things; Either the attacking forces are not true Serpentis, or they are a separated wing of the Serps acting alone or under a separate directory of the organisation.

“I want every spare analyst on this right now. All leaves have been revoked and I want all agents and operatives who are on leave reporting at HQ within 12 hours. We need to get to the bottom of this since we could be dealing with an all new ship and weapons design created by the Serpentis family. I will NOT tolerate this lack of information as they could have easily built a whole armada of these things and we don’t know jack shit about it!”

Marcus calmed down a bit after he was done ranting, knowing he might be needed in battle soon. It was his first priority to be clearheaded if his assistance was required on the battlefield and he would deal with the rest when the situation returned back to as normal as possible.

“Maintain close formation! Get those warp jammers Silas!” Another few hybrid rounds flew past the gleaming hull of the Dominix that was piloted by Silas. He already suffered some heavy hits but they weren’t through his shields yet. His t2 Hammerheads where ripping away at a Guardian Vexor, which quickly caught fire as the drone sized shells hit it’s armor with deadly precision. Pieces of black armor plating where slung into space as they tore off one by one. The Vexor was no threat anymore as it’s engines where dead, it’s crew either dead or dying and all of it’s weapons ripped off by the continued pounding the drones provided. Silas turned his energy vampires and neutralisers at another Guardian vessel; a Brutix homing in on the Myrmidon piloted by Shae Tiann.

Antimatter rounds where whizzing past the tail section of her Myr and some even hit their intended target. Her shield was already down as she had received fire from several cruisers and battlecruisers. The green hue indicated her armor repair systems where running at full speed trying to keep up with the damage her pursuers inflicted on the armorplating. Luckily for Shae, Uli really did his best on making the ships as damage hardened as possible and she found her personal copy of a Shadow Serpentis armor repair system was working way above it’s designed repair levels. Such irony…
The Brutix that had a fix on her was already engulfed in flames before exploding into a giant cloud of igniting plasma, debris and exploding ammunitions, set on fire by the trails of the drones and blaster rounds that headed towards it shortly before it’s demise… Shae’s drones where already working on a Thorax class cruiser and her medium sized blasters trained at another Vexor she was chasing.

“Run bastard! RUUUUN!!!” She laughed maniacally as she thoroughly enjoyed the thrill and excitement of up close and personal combat.
The Serpentis fleet had already lost 7 of their smaller ships and one of the Megathron class battleships was starting to crack under the pressure of continued fire by the Hyperion, Navy Raven and the Navy Megathron. Torpedoes where circling each other as they made their way to the heavily damaged Megathron, sections of it’s hull completely stripped of all the thick armor that it possessed only a few minutes before. Explosion after explosion rocked the very inner structure of the vessel as the torpedoes hit it’s target one by one. Plasma venting into space, instantly frozen alongside alot of crewmembers from the various decks that where exposed to the cold and harsh void.

Tech 2 Void cartridges where being exhausted by their t2 Neutron blaster cannon hosts, fitted on the shiny and fear inspiring NavyThron and Hyperion. Round after round cut through space, heading towards it’s crippled and badly wounded target. The other Serpentis battleships where firing their guns and using their tracking disruptors in a blind fury trying to save their falling brother in arms, but it was to no avail…A bright flash of light marked the end of it’s existence and the shockwave of the explosion send debris and bodies flying through space, hitting both the Serpentis battleships and the ships of Oversight. Loud thuds where heard by the crew of the Hyperion as hybrid rounds from both large railguns and blasters hit it’s steel shell. The double X-type large repairers had no troubles at all at keeping the armor well above 80% integrity, while sparing the capacitor from certain emptiness if lesser modules where used. Some cap charges where expended to keep the guns blazing in their full glory and the crew manning the guns were putting cartridge after cartridge into the loading platform. The entire gun platform area was engulfed in a thin mist from the expelled cartridges and the smell of melting steel could be detected as the heat from continuous fire was building up slowly but surely.

“Alright men, the first battleship is down! They have already lost 9 cruiser and battlecruiser sized ships thanks to Silas and Shae, our next primary target is the Dominix at 5790 meters away. Engage at will!”

Once again a hail of gunfire was sent towards the enemy, quickly reducing it’s shield with every hit it took. As the last bit of shield resistance was expired, a fading blue glow was seen. Frantically the Serpentis forces where shooting at the battleships ripping them apart. More rounds started missing than actually hitting anything worth while but Aveeva’s shields where starting to reach critical mass as the drones operated by the Serp Dominixes where firing round after round at the Navy Raven. This combined with the finally concentrated railgun fire where starting to take their toll on it’s shield systems. Suddenly there was a massive boost visible in the CNR’s shields as an extra large Pith Shield booster received a jolt of energy from the capacitor.

“HAH! I’ll show you asshats how to kill a ship!” A very big smile appeared on her face as the shield was replenished to above 55% and gaining a good 33 % as the next boost made the shield glow and vibrate.

More torpedoes made their graceful way to one of the Domi’s, literally ripping huge chunks out of the now structural unstable ship. It’s repair systems trying to save what was left of the ship, which was not much anymore. A void round fired by Liora slammed right into a large gaping hole in the Domi’s hull, probably killing dozens of crew on board the enemy vessel with the intense heat it produces when fired. It hit the central warp core chamber after demolishing several decks, and with the protective plating surrounding said warp core gone, it’s force field dissipated. This meant the end for the now steel coffin as the WC overloaded and imploded on itself.

Rounds from the blasters fitted on the Serps MegaT’s were regaining their targets as their pilots and crew apparently got a boost in confidence. Antimatter shells where once again slamming into the hull of the Hyperion, putting a bigger strain on it’s armor systems and capacitor along with it.

As Silas’s drones killed the before last smaller sized ship, he turned his attention to the 5 remaining battleships. Neuts and Nos where now draining the capacitor of both a MegaT and Domi. T2 Ogres making their way towards yet another target, already expending their ammunitions from a good distance away. The trails left by the drones made it almost look like a beautiful light and laser show, explosions complementing the intricate patterns the small and thin engine trails made, heated ammunitions bouncing off armorplates creating gorgeous fountains of melted steel and liquids and plasma spilling into the void creating fantastic colored clouds assuming the weirdest shapes before being either vaporized or frozen. Slowly but surely the Serpentis fleet was turning into nothing but floating heaps of biomass and tangled steel.

Shae was trying to shake off the last of the smaller vessels, another Guardian Brutix, who had taken up position behind her and wasn’t about to loose his lock on her. Shooting his railguns while following the microwarpdrive propelled Myr, the pilot tried to keep up with all the sudden moves Shae was performing and trying to steer clear of all the wreckage that was littering his immediate surroundings.

“I can’t get this scumbag off my tail!” Shae was getting quite frustrated with the BC still following her every move.
She was kind of hoping he would have flown into a wreck or a large piece of debris a long time ago because her drones where destroyed and her guns almost empty.

“If he wants to go out with me just ask already damnit! Stalking me is going to get you nowhere..I’ll need to try harder to make you loose your lock, and your ship along with it.”

Shae was really pushing the limits of her ship as she pulled one roll or corkscrew after another, trying to ditch the bastard harassing her. Her crew either tightly strapped in or trying to hold on to things as they where being pushed from one side to the other. Grav boots really helped in these situations. Suddenly she saw an opportunity…
The Myr turned towards the battleships and got in between the 2 fighting parties, appearing to be flying in random directions. As the Serp pilot was too busy following Shae around, he noticed his mistake little too late. A shell fired by one of his brothers slammed right into the already weakened armor of the bridge and completely tore off the top front section of the battlecruiser taking the bridge and several tactical and engineering decks along. Shae admired her handy work for a few seconds before focusing her attention on the 3 remaining battleships.

With the combined effort of the entire fleet the 3 remaining BS’s were taken care of in short order. Looking over the battlefield, littered with debris, wrecks, bodies and supplies, the group was finally able to wind down a bit and look at their own status. Most of them where scarred and a bit damaged but nothing that was a danger to their lives.

Freyya opened a com channel to all pilots and crew members; “You can be proud of what you did here today, facing such a large opposition and winning the engagement without casualties is worth every drop of sweat and blood you’ve had to deliver in this intense battle! Beers are on me tonight!” she said proud to all of the members in her fleet.

Cheers, songs and laughter resonated through corridors, tubes and pipes. Cargo bays almost empty of cap charges and ammunitions, drone bays empty or emptier than they where.
Suddenly it dawned on Freyya…With her hands full on the battle with the Serpentis fleet she completely forgot about the real mission target. It is still out there and could well be on it's way to finish off her weakened fleet.

“Sir! Multiple contacts appearing on scanners! I’m getting 3..4...7..9…9 confirmed battleship signatures, 7 battlecruiser sized signatures and 15 cruiser sigs!”

“Serpentis battlefleet approaching, 45 seconds until they reach our grid position. Warp point calculations show enemy fleet drop out of warp at their optimal range. Current status of capacitor is 97 % and climbing, supplies and ammunitions are almost depleted throughout our fleet. Combat effectiveness against opposition enroute is 38.298 %. Estimates show 91% of friendly fleet will be destroyed within 3 minutes and 21.43 seconds after destroying 4 battlecruisers and 5.18 cruisers or 2.71 battleships. Proposed tactics: Emergency warp to another grid location, open cynosural field and re-supply with Thanatos class carrier currently on standby.”

Spectre’s voice was sounding as serene as ever, calmly stating the facts and it’s calculations. Freyya and the rest of the fleet, who were receiving the same message from the AI, knew it was their best and only shot at surviving another encounter with an even larger fleet of Serpentis. With most of their ammo depleted and little to no capcharges left, the ships they had would turn into huge paper weights….and floating piles of scrap not soon after.

“Initiate emergency gang warp to grid coordinate: 29304.289101.27364550. Send battle report to Tac, also send a message we need carrier support right away!”

The still cloaked Arazu was first to enter warp and reach drop point. Already charging it’s internal systems and preparing the containers of liquid ozone for insertion into the cynosural field generator. The rest of the fleet came out of warp not soon after.

“Cynosural field is generated and stable.” The Arazu pilot stated, with a voice that portrayed nothing but anxiety.

The cyno would show up on all scanners and the Serpentis fleet would have no difficulty in tracking them down.The Thanatos was already halfway outside the station as the reports came in. Marcus’s installed AI had already received instructions from it’s counterpart in the endangered fleet and initiated a full thrust towards the docking bay’s doors, which opened in time for the carrier to pass through with only centimetres to spare.

“Marcus to Tac, if any more Serpentis reinforcements show up I want to know about it before they where even assembled! I want to know what they know and what they are so eager to protect or destroy. I do not like being surprised like this and putting my men in more danger than we anticipated! Also direct all resources towards finding out if the “alien” vessel is still in that system and what it’s doing. Call in all available forces in the immediate surroundings, I want that system in lockdown and secured yesterday!!”

Marcus was really starting to get pissed off at the surprises stacking up on top of each other and got more angry by the minute.

“Message received and understood Commander. Current tactical maps show several medium grade reconnaissance and combat ships in the immediate surroundings, several operatives within customs and navy border patrol are also in the immediate vicinity. Arrival of all forces should be within 10 to 20 minutes….. Orders are sent and acknowledged Sir.”

The people in Tac where working frantically to make sure all operatives knew what they where supposed to do. Fake orders for relocating or dismissing the navy and customs undercover operatives and their ships where made, sent to the appropriate bureaus and accepted within short order. Computers processing radar and any video datastreams trying to find the aggressor’s vessel, people talking and typing to operatives, screens showing all new information as it became available, scientists and engineers working on ideas and solutions to where the Serpentis and agressor came from. It was complete chaos but in a reasonable orderly fashion.

As Marcus was getting ready for the jump towards his fleet, preparations where made inside the large steel structure. Ammunitions stacked neatly besides the external loading bays, capcharges placed next to the ammo, all specifically designed on it’s intended recipient’s cargo bays and modules. Fighter pilots got into their vehicles and armed all weapons, drones where being racked up and put in place for deployment.

“Lock acquired on intended cynosural field. Estimated time before arrival: 8 seconds. All systems activated and running at 100% capacity. Remote armor repair systems completely charged and ready for triage boost. Initiating jump procedure.” The entire ship was surging with energy as it's navigational computers acquired a lock on the opened cyno field. With a burst of light and webs of electrical surges the carrier was pulled into a miniature wormhole.

As the carrier came out of the cyno in the mission system, preparations where already made to supply the depleted cargo holds of the fleet. External loading docks sprung into action and the supplies already being grabbed by the immense cranes where waiting for their recipient.

"Carrier to all fleet members, converge on my position for supplies."

"Acknowledged sir. You arrived not a moment too soon might i add." Freyya was understandably happy about Marcus showing up as the Serpentis fleet was but 15 seconds away from dropping out of warp at their position.

"Re-supply coordinates broadcasted, order your cargo crew to load up as fast as they can."

All the ships made their way to the loading docks while the crews prepared for their jobs at hand. With the cargo doors open, all that stood between the crew and vacuum was the special force field which kept air from escaping but allowed anything else to pass through.. including enemy fire. Containers where quickly hauled on board and as soon as all the necessary supplies where on the cargo bay floor the doors closed, creating a secure environment for the people working there once more. Stacks of ammunition, put upon automated carts the size of a truck, quickly made their way towards the gun platforms where they refueled the blaster cannons of the Myrmidon. Cap charges arrived at the booster module and where quickly inserted and new drones flew into the drone bay to connect to their new host. As all the goods arrived at their destination, Shae felt like she was boosted with a shot of pure energy. It was as if the now fully operational ship let it’s pilot know it was doing good and ready to fight again. Shae understood the message completely and made her crew prepare for a second round of intensive combat.

"Ready for battle sir."

One by one the pilots reported. Marcus was viewing all data as the information about the fleet was updated.

"Everyone prepare for accepting AI dock with fighter escorts." He said while ordering the fighters to leave their hangars. As dozens of trails marked the routes of fighters flying away, an alarm was triggered.

"Serpentis battle fleet imminent, time of arrival; 7 seconds. Scan results show an officer of the Serpentis is present leading the fleet. Database shows outstanding warrant for the capture of several officers, one of which is the enemy fleet commander. Chances of victory and capture are calculated at 96.857 %." As Marcus was listening to Spectre, he sent a message to the fleet.

"Capture Serpentis officer Orstoy Zve'Quastej, keep him alive at all costs."

The Serpentis fleet dropped out of warp at 20 km.

"This is officer Zve'Quastej, you have entered a forbidden zone and engaged one of our groups...A crime for which you will pay dearly. Surrender now and you might live another day or fight and die a fools death. Your choice."

"I saw your sister last night, must say that dog was really going at it there." Nothing like a little smack talk in local Marcus thought.

"You are going to die slowly and painfully for that! All ships engage!!"The Serp fleet opened fire on about anything that moved. Railgun fire mixing with the rounds from large blasters together with drones made the space in between the two opposing forces fill up quickly.

"Return fire at will. Silas and Shae, engage cruisers and battlecruisers at your discretion. Use both blue and white fighter group to assist. Broadcast when in need of remote repping. Aveeva and Liora concentrate on the battleships, you have green, yellow and purple fighter groups for assistance. Freyya, i want you to concentrate on Orstoy..I'm preparing a group of breach and capture specialists as we speak. Keep him occupied and get his armor low enough to prepare a hole for the breach."

As usual the Serp fleet lacked most discipline as they did not really focus their fire on a single target, but just fired away at anything. Apparently the presence of Orstoy was a good thing for the Serps as one half suddenly changed target to Silas an the other half focused their fire on Liora. The concentrated fire on both ships was proving to be effective as they both hit armor in an instant. Numerous rounds where slamming into both vessels and their armor was being shot away with every hit it took. Eventhough the ships where tanked to hell and back, their armor started to drop further and further.

"I need remote rep and i need it quick!" Silas was panicking as section by section of his armor was ripped off their supporting structure. The nanobots tried to keep up but the combined damage of half the Serp fleet was proving to be too much.

"Initiating remote repair, hang tight!"

As the stream of nanobots traveled through space to reach Silas, Liora was blasting away at her attackers. 'Le Buttplug' was holding strong at 83% armour as the double X-type reppers where working at full capacity repairing the faction plating fitted on the exterior of the ship. It appeared to hold out for now allowing Marcus to focus all his attention on remote repping Silas. Shae got behind a Brutix and commanded the blasters to fire their payload towards it. The first few rounds bounced of it's shield but that was quickly depleted by continuous fire from the Myrmidon. As it's armor was being shredded to pieces, Shae was receiving fire from 2 thoraxes who took up position behind her.

"Blue group, could you please do some rodent extermination for me?"

"Blue group. Orders received and understood , proceeding towards targets." As the five fighters trained their sights on the thoraxes, the Brutix exploded into a huge ball of fire and debris. Rapid fire from the fighters ate through both of Shae's pursuers and they where turned to harmless space junk not soon after.

"Veev!" Liora shouted, "Launch some torps towards that Megathron at 13 km away… I’ll reload Null and fire away at it after your second volley of torpedoes hit. Green and Yellow group, take position at 10 K away and orbit broadcasted target. Engage as soon as torpedoes have hit the target.”

“Alright, commencing fire sequence. Volley one is away, volley two will follow in approximately 7 seconds.” As the 6 torpedoes left their launchers, leaving trails of fire in their wake, the targeted Megathron released a few Defender missiles and took down one of the torpedoes. It was not enough for the ship as the five remaining torpedoes slammed into it’s shield, detonating their heavy payload and stripping the shield of it’s energy. The second volley was already under way and another spurt of Defenders hit a torpedo. It was not enough to take out the warhead this time and all 6 torps detonated into the armor plating of the Megathron, leaving giant gaps where they struck. As soon as the explosive shockwave died off enough the fighters engaged their target and released a rain of bullets onto their victim. With 3 of it’s gun ports blown wide open and secondary explosions from the ammunitions stored there, the now in 47% armor ship was beginning to tear apart. Bullets hitting it’s armor creating holes big enough for an Ibis to pas through, bullets hitting already created holes and slamming into inner sections of the ship killing dozens of crew aboard the enemy ship and finally bullets hitting the weakened sections where the main structure’s support beams where located. As the structural integrity passed below 20%, the once mighty battleship began breaking into two. Explosions on the inside and outside of the ship made the two separated parts drift away from each other before exploding completely, while the fighters turned their attention to another battleship within short order.

“Marcus to all pilots, keep shooting the officer’s support. We’ve already decimated a few battleships and half of their cruiser sized support. Freyya, keep that douchebag there and prepare for the breach team!”

"Roger that Commander! He's not going anywhere."