Chapter – 13: Cancri Venandi

Hours had passed since Zephyr sent the decoy fleet into the fray. He stood on the bridge of the Rigel, staring at the holographic display that showed the fleet's last known positions.

Each blinking light represented a ship, and too many had gone dark. 'What if I've sent them to their deaths?' His shoulders slumped as if an invisible weight settled upon them. He clenched his fists, fighting the doubt that threatened to paralyse him

Shaking his head, he tried to dispel the growing unease as Ayame quietly stood beside him alongside their new companion 'Aria'.

Sensing Zephyr's internal turmoil, Ayame leaned closer, her voice a gentle whisper against the hum of the ship's systems. "Zephyr, we'll get through this. I trust you."

Her words provided some comfort to his mind but as if to spite that, a frantic transmission from the decoy fleet pierced the relative calm of the bridge. "We're under intense assault! The Virelians have unleashed unknown craft that are tearing through our ranks. We need backup now! Ah..."

The transmission's abrupt end, marked by that haunting scream, sent a wave of dread through the crew. Whispers of fear and prayers to deities filled the air, as many grappled with the grim reality of what might await them.

Seeing the unease threatening to unseat his crew's resolve, Zephyr rose with authority. "Soldiers!" he bellowed, capturing their attention. "Now is the moment we strike back. Prepare for warp!" Zephyr commanded.

As he spoke, the crew's eyes locked onto him, their postures straightening as the murmurs ceased. With renewed purpose, they hastened to their stations. Ayame, ever efficient, liaised with Admirals Munsch and Dhowan, ensuring that every ship in the fleet was primed and ready for the impending counterstrike.

With a deep, resonating hum that vibrated through the deck, the cold fusion engines ignited, casting a blue glow that danced across the walls, channelling energy into the Alcubierre drives and pushing them to their maximum potential. The 10,000-strong fleet emanated a mesmerising purple glow, casting an ethereal light against the backdrop of the inky void.

Much like their predecessors, the main fleet's ships began to enter the system in rapid succession, each warping the fabric of space around them as they accelerated to faster-than-light speeds.

…

One by one, ships blinked into existence, their arrival marked by the immediate blaze of returning fire and the sharp scent of ionized air as the Virelian crab-like crafts swarmed the beleaguered decoy fleet. Without missing a beat, the main fleet swiftly assumed formation, initiating the second phase of their assault.

The hangar doors hissed open as the Rigel slid into its designated position, revealing the Rider crew. Leading the pack was Mariya, her form-fitting, grey-tinted bodysuit capturing the essence of her every movement. Trailing closely behind her were Karl and Hui Ling, each garbed in their specialised combat suits.

Lost in thought and having missed the specifics of the briefing, Karl turned to Mariya, who was set to spearhead the operation. "Mariya, mind giving me a quick refresher on the plan?" he asked a hint of urgency in his voice.

Mariya cast him a mischievous grin as she ascended the staircase to her Rider's cockpit. "Get ready to go crab hunting, boys" she announced, her eyes lit with fire.

Karl stood there, momentarily puzzled, until Hui Ling nudged him out of his reverie. "She's saying we're going after those Virelian crafts, you dolt!" she clarified, with a deadpan voice.

Seamlessly sliding into the cockpits of their towering mechs, Mariya, Karl, and Hui Ling inserted their neural chips into the machines' interface ports. With a soft hum, the systems came alive, the onboard AI announcing, "Neural ID verification successful, confirming a secure link between pilot and mech. Initiating generator activation."

Moments later, the miniature nuclear reactors at the heart of their Riders roared to life, glowing a radiant blue as they drew power from the ship's electrical grid.

"Engines online," the AI continued with an unusually synthetic voice,

"Calibrating microfilament joints... Calibration complete.

Initiating system diagnostics... All systems operational.

Pilot control is now enabled."

With the final confirmation, the squadron felt the tactile feedback of the control systems sync with their neural chips, granting them full command of their Riders as their Heads-Up Displays flickered to life, syncing seamlessly with the battle network. The HUDs displayed the vital signs of all three pilots, confirming their condition.

Fully integrated and battle-ready, each pilot felt a newfound sense of unity with their mechs, as if the machines had become extensions of themselves as their neural paths synchronised with the HUDs and began to populate with tactical data of enemy positions, allied ships, and objectives, all overlaying the real-time view of the chaotic battlefield that stretched out before them.

"Rider Squadron this is Zephyr" the Captain's voice crackled over their comms laced with fury, "Your primary objective is to relieve the Courbet from the enemy's clutches and secure a perimeter for our fleet to operate effectively."

Mariya gripped her controls tightly, her eyes narrowing. "You heard the Captain," she said, her voice carrying through the squadron's private channel. "Let's make some room."

Positioning her Rider into the launch tube, she felt the magnetic locks engage, securing her mech onto the catapult rails of the Rigel. The system began to hum, charging up to propel her into the chaos of the battlefield.

Pressing her lips to a locket that hung around her neck, Mariya whispered, "May the Lord be with us," feeling a surge of adrenaline sharpen her senses.

With one last glance at her Heads-Up Display to confirm all systems were operational, she took a deep breath and shouted "Rider Squadron, launch!".

In a split second, the electromagnetic catapults of the Rigel roared into action, propelling Mariya's Rider, codenamed Phalcon into the vacuum of space with staggering velocity. The abrupt shift from the ship's controlled environment to the vacuum of space was jarring. Still, Mariya's training kicked in, as she expertly engaged her axial thrusters, steadying the Phalcon as it rocketed toward the besieged Courbet.

Trailing behind Mariya, the remainder of the Rider Squadron launched into action. Karl's Rider, known as Titan, used its substantial mass to stabilise itself in the vacuum of space. Meanwhile, Hui Ling's Arachnid extended its frame, emitting energy to generate an electromagnetic field as it joined the fray.

Soon they were well on their way toward the battered decoy fleet.

…

Onboard the ESS Courbet,

09:00 hrs,

Fischer slammed his fist onto the desk in frustration as they lost ships to the Virelian death crafts. These enemy vessels had utterly decimated the Asian Union's fast battleships, which, for some inexplicable reason, had been designed without sufficient armour for prolonged combat.

"Damn it!" he shouted, wincing as he touched his injured eye, resulting from a stray shot from an enemy warship that had sent him sprawling onto the Courbet's metal deck.

The situation was dire since they had already lost a third of the fleet to the Virelian onslaught and their trans-galactic communication capabilities had been severed with the destruction of the Vieste. Cut off from the main fleet and without any strike craft for support, they were sitting ducks.

The ship quivered as another volley of plasma lances struck its armour which had been heavily damaged due to the relentless assault from the Virelian crabs.

Absolutely terrified a bridge officer shouted, "Super Dreadnought-class vessel detected! They've breached the asteroid belt and are on an intercept course!"

Fischer had been banking on the minefields to hold the enemy at bay as they retreated toward the system's fifth planet, a massive gas giant whose turbulent winds would make it difficult for Virelian strike craft to pursue them. But now, with the enemy capital ships breaking through, that hope was dashed.

Having little choice Fischer ordered "Fire Solar Lances! Target their propulsion systems!"

The targeting officer nodded, utilising the AI system to lock onto the enemy dreadnought as a stream of bright yellow energy burst forth from their weapons.

Upon impact, the Super Dreadnought's shields flickered momentarily but held firm. In retaliation, the enemy ship charged its plasma lances, releasing a continuous stream of superheated mass toward the Courbet.

"Evasive manoeuvres!" Fischer barked, but the port-side thrusters failed to ignite, crippled by previous plasma lance impacts.

Despair settled over the crew as the deadly plasma stream drew ever closer. Fischer sank into his chair, a resigned expression on his face. "So this is it, huh? It seems I've failed to become an admiral after all," he mused, his thoughts drifting to a younger version of himself conversing with a youthful Munsch in a forest long ago.

Just as the plasma stream was about to strike, an object came flying and shot up the Dreadnought's turret with missiles averting disaster.

A swarm of fighter craft soon followed, launching a coordinated assault on the dreadnought. Amidst the chaos, a transmission cut through as a feminine voice filled the bridge, "Vice Admiral Fischer, this is your escort. We're here to guide you back to the main fleet. Please follow our lead."

The moment the words "main fleet" resonated through the bridge, a wave of jubilation swept over the crew. Two officers, overwhelmed with relief, embraced each other, shouting, "We're saved! We're actually saved!"

Fischer's stern face broke into a rare smile, the tension that had gripped him now dissipating. "Acknowledged," he responded swiftly, "We'll fall in line and follow your lead."

Wasting no time, he gestured to the communications officer. "Send out a fleet-wide broadcast. I want all ships to fall in line behind the Courbet. We're punching through to rejoin the main fleet."

As they closed the distance, the Virelian crab-like crafts shifted their focus toward the new arrivals. The enemy crafts moved with an eerie, organic fluidity, their plasma torches glowing a menacing hue.

Just then, Vice Admiral Fischer's voice crackled through the comms. "Rider Squadron, aim for their central bodies. Our scans indicate they're vulnerable there," he advised, pinpointing the crabs' weak spots.

"Understood," Mariya acknowledged as she accelerated the Phalcon, towards one of the enemy crafts, her energy blade humming to life as she prepared to strike.

Now fully engaged, Karl felt a surge of adrenaline course through him. "Weapons locked and loaded," he declared. With a trigger squeeze, a volley of projectiles erupted from his Rider's shoulder-mounted cannons streaking across the void, bursting upon impact and decimating a cluster of Virelian crafts.

Behind him, Hui Ling, covered him as her eyes narrowed and locked onto the enemy, skillfully manoeuvred her Rider, Arachnid, to evade incoming plasma beams. "Take this!" she exclaimed, launching an EMP pulse at the enemy crafts. The pulse hit its mark, leaving the Virelian crafts incapacitated as their systems short-circuited.

Explosions lit up the dark expanse as the Riders' weapons found their marks. One by one, the Virelian crafts disintegrated into molten metal and flame showers. But for every craft they downed, it seemed two more took its place.

Soon, the beleaguered decoy fleet regrouped with the main fleet, although they had lost a significant portion of their original strength. Nonetheless, the tide began to turn as the carriers launched their interceptors with the American FX-122 fighter jets annihilating the Virealian Crabs.

Back on the Rigel, Zephyr stood transfixed before the main screen. Each explosion, each near-miss, sent a jolt through him. His Rider Squadron was out there, holding its own, but this was far from over. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, knuckles whitening.

"Ayame, status report on the fleet," he ordered, never taking his eyes off the screen.

Ayame's fingers danced over her console as she quickly assessed the situation. "All ships are maintaining formation, and munitions are at full capacity," she reported. "However, our sensors are picking up another wave of Virelian ships, emerging from their orbital station."

A grin spread across Zephyr's face, his eyes narrowing with anticipation. "Then it's time to escalate our efforts. Signal the Ashoka to initiate a preemptive strike on the Virelian orbital station. And establish a secure communication line with Mariya, it's time for Phase Three."

"Acknowledged," Ayame responded, her fingers quickly dialling into the battle net as she initiated a secure channel to Admirals Dhawan and Munsch.

"Admirals, this is Ayame from the Rigel. Captain Zephyr has ordered the initiation of Phase Three. Prepare for a preemptive strike on the Virelian orbital station," Ayame relayed sternly.

"Understood, Ayame. We're ready on our end. Ashoka is powering up its main cannons as we speak," Admiral Dhawan responded, his voice crackling through the secure channel.

"Excellent. Zephyr, the admirals are in position," Ayame turned to inform Zephyr, who was still fixated on the unfolding battle on the main screen.

"Alright then, commence assault!" he ordered standing up from his seat his face filled with excitement.

As soon as Zephyr gave the order, the human armada's formidable dreadnoughts and battleships surged forward, zeroing in on the Virelian fleet's weakened capital ships.

Leading the vanguard was the Ashoka, its path cleared by a protective phalanx of Indian Heavy Cruisers and Russian Mir-class Dreadnoughts. They formed a near-impenetrable shield around the Ashoka, ensuring no stray shot marred its pristine exterior.

"Deploy all strike craft; protect our flagships!" The unified command reverberated from the captains stationed on the colossal battle carriers, anchored at the rear of the formation.

At the heart of the carriers was the USS Enterprise, serving as the operational nucleus of the fleet.

Within moments, the Enterprise and its surrounding battle carriers sprang into action. Hangar bays opened, and a diverse swarm of fighters, bombers, and drones catapulted into the void.

Each craft was adorned with the flag of its respective superpower, creating a breathtaking display of international unity as they soared into battle.

These agile strike craft weaved through the battlefield, decimating the Virelian crab-like enemies while effortlessly evading the Aegis orbs of the Virelian ships, which notably lacked any close-in weapon systems.

As the distance between the Human and Virelian fleets closed, a titanic clash erupted. Human warships unleashed a diverse arsenal, firing missiles, lasers, and ion cannons in a symphony of destruction. In contrast, the Virelian ships seemed limited in their weaponry, relying solely on plasma lances, energy beams, and Aegis orbs for their counterattacks.

The limitations of the Virelian armoury became increasingly apparent as the battle wore on. While their ships were undeniably powerful, their narrow range of weaponry made them vulnerable to a well-coordinated assault. Human capital ships, with their superior armour and agility, either evaded the Virelian attacks or absorbed them with minimal damage.

"Ashoka, this is Admiral Dhawan. Launch all Brahmos and Shiva nuclear ballistic missiles at the orbital station," Admiral Dhawan's voice came through the secure channel, crisp and clear.

"Affirmative, Admiral. Missiles are armed, and locked. Firing now," Captain Verma of the Ashoka responded as hundreds of missile tubes sprang open, unleashing a devastating nuclear salvo. The payload was so potent it could extinguish life on a minor garden world.

The first wave of Shiva missiles impacted the Virelian space station's shields, causing them to flicker and eventually collapse. This left the station vulnerable to the second salvo of Brahmos missiles, which tore through its armour plating, effectively neutralising its operational capabilities.

Capitalising on this momentary weakness, the Russian Mir-class dreadnoughts launched a volley of rockets aimed at the Virelian ships' newly exposed vulnerabilities. Explosions cascaded through the enemy fleet, disrupting their formation and sowing chaos in their ranks.

At that moment, the Rider Squadron, flanked by an array of strike craft, descended upon the smaller Virelian vessels.

Mariya led the charge, shouting "Haaaaaa!", her battle cry echoing through the comms as she activated her energy blade.

With a burst of speed, she sliced through enemy armour, supplementing her attacks with thermite grenades that melted through the hulls.

Karl followed closely, covering Mariya by unleashing volleys of cluster bombs that obliterated any remaining Virelian strike craft with Hui Ling who picked off threats near Mariya with pinpoint accuracy from her sniper rifle.

Their combined efforts decimated the enemy's ranks, further shifting the balance of power in favour of the human fleet.

Back on the Rigel, Zephyr watched the unfolding battle with a sense of satisfaction. A smile crept onto his face as he realised his strategy was paying off. "This is it," he thought, "the plan is coming together perfectly."

With the Virelian station crippled and their fleet in disarray, the enemy forces retreated to a distant corner of the system, as if fleeing from an unseen threat.

Zephyr finally allowed himself to exhale, finally relaxing for a bit after the intense firefight. "Ayame, damage report and casualty figures," he ordered.

Quickly scanning her console, Ayame responded, "Minimal damage to our fleet, sir. Casualty reports are still coming in, but they're lower than projected. The decoy fleet suffered the most, but they're holding."

Meeting Ayame's gaze, Zephyr nodded. "We may have won this battle, but let's not forget, the fight is far from over."

"True," Ayame concurred, "but today we've proven that we can not only fight back but also win."

"Given the enemy's unexpected vulnerabilities and the destruction of their orbital station, there's no longer a need for covert dropship operations. Let's move forward with the planetary reclamation," Zephyr declared, leaning back in his chair with a sense of accomplishment. A fleeting but genuine smile crossed his lips as he looked at Ayame.

Ayame returned the smile, her fingers gracefully gliding over her holopad.

"I'll notify the USS Enterprise to commence orbital insertions," she confirmed, her voice giddy with their victory.

Behind them, crew members leapt from their seats, high-fiving and hugging, their cheers filling the bridge.

…

TBC