The Ganthoran Gambit (The First Admiral Series) (20 page)

“Sir, repairs are completed on Colossus,” an Engineering Technician said.

“Excellent,” Billy responded, “and the repairs to Aquarius?”

“Relatively minor damage, sir, some crew accommodation decks got knocked about a bit, but no casualties reported,” the Engineering Technician responded.

“She’s a tough old girl.” Lokkrien was aware of just how special a place in Billy’s heart the Aquarius was.

“Yes, but it would be shame to lose her so early on,” Billy said.

“Ganthorans coming back within range,” the Scanner Officer called.

“Very well, same again, one salvo and withdraw, but concentrate the Trionic Cannon on the flanks of the formation,” Billy ordered.

If his guess was correct, Frontier General Sal’nor would have his ships stationed at the centre of the formation.

If Billy concentrated the Trionic Cannon on the flanks of the formation, he would be cutting down the vessels from Kav’al and Timmeg’s Frontier Fleets. If Kav’al and Timmeg saw their ships being cut to ribbons, whilst Sal’nor’s vessels stayed relatively unscathed, it would put pressure on what must already be an uneasy alliance. Anything that was likely to disrupt this unlikely alliance of Frontier Generals could only be of further benefit to Billy Caudwell.

“Opening fire now, sir!” the WATO announced.

On the War Table image, dozens of Destroyers in the front three lines of the Ganthoran formation simply vanished. The one hundred and forty high-yield pulsar-bolts had slammed into, or cut through, the hulls of many vessels in the first three ranks. The Trion Stream from Olympus cut a swathe through the Ganthoran left wing, whilst the Trion Stream from Colossus cut through the Ganthoran right.

“Comms, signal Colossus to concentrate her Trionic Cannon on the Carriers,” Billy ordered.

Having seen the Trion Stream from Olympus annihilate a “Six-Cigar” Carrier and three more Cruisers, Billy had noticed that the Trion Stream from Colossus had barely grazed the edge of the Ganthoran right wing. It had been an effective strike, but had only managed to strike down two Cruisers and a few dozen Destroyers.

The Frontier Fleets still had a massive advantage in Axe-Blade fighters, and it was more effective to remove the Carriers and their fighter complement.

“Yes, sir!” the WATO said.

Although it was the job of the Communications Officers to relay messages from the War Room, it was the Weapons and Tactical Officer’s job to direct the gunfire.

“Very well, withdraw another fifty thousand kilometres, one half of one percent light speed,” Billy commanded.

“A little bit slower, sir?” Lokkrien asked.

“Yes, it might give them the idea that we’re running low on fuel or protecting a damaged ship,” Billy said, “and prepare the Star-Destroyer Eagles for launch!”

“Launching Eagles?” Lokkrien said quietly, “I thought we were trying to avoid a fighter-on-fighter battle?”

He knew that it was improper to challenge the First Admiral openly.

“I didn’t say we were going to use them for an attack, Marrhus,” Billy said, “we need every gun we can muster on the far side of the Wormhole.”

“But, we’re nowhere near the Wormhole yet.”

“Not yet, Marrhus, not yet, but when we do get there, we’ll have to feed our ships through the Wormhole a bit at a time.”

“Ah.” The truth of the situation began to dawn on the Chief of Staff. “And we feed the Eagles in first, followed by the Star-Cruisers, and then finally the big ships?”

“Well done, Marrhus,” Billy praised, “all the ships with close range weapons form the cordon on the other side of the Wormhole, we face down the Ganthorans this side to allow them to take up position and escape through the Trionic Web.”

“And, that’s why you’re First Admiral and I’m not.” Lokkrien had to acknowledge a sound tactical plan.

“Sir, the Ganthorans are in range again!” the Scanner Officer said.

“Very good,” Billy acknowledged, “WATO, same again, one salvo then withdraw one hundred thousand kilometres at one third of one percent light speed.”

“Firing now, sir,” the WATO said.

On the War Table image, Billy could see the Ganthoran formation. It was slightly more ragged than he had seen it before. Behind the three “Rings”, the slew of damaged vessels was growing larger and longer as the not-so-effective ships tried desperately to stay up with the main Fleet. Except, this time, the Ganthorans were ready for the salvo of pulsar-bolts.

When the Star-Cruisers opened fire, the Ganthorans also opened fire with their “Screaming Death” weapons pods. It was a massive gamble by General Sal’nor, but at longer range, the “Screaming Death” wave did manage to neutralise most of the energy from the pulsar-bolts. And, instead of hundreds of the Ganthoran Destroyers being blown to smithereens or crippled, less than fifty of the small ships suffered some form of damage.

Once more, on the War Table image, Billy caught snap-shots of what had happened within the Ganthoran formation. The great shimmering wave of “Screaming Death” surged forwards from the front of the Ganthoran formation, and instead of huge numbers of Destroyers vanishing from the image or weaving and veering from their stations, Billy saw only a few ships lurch and begin to fly erratically. He noticed one Ganthoran Destroyer struck cleanly on the front of the hull, but instead of vanishing in a huge burst of flame and debris, the ship lurched from its station and began to veer away from the rest of the formation.

“Well, it took you long enough to work that one out, General Sal’nor,” Billy said quietly to himself. “Get us out of here, Navigation!”

The wave of “Screaming Death”, however, was not enough to stop a Trion Stream.

Once again, the lane of destruction cut through the centre of the two flanking “Rings”. Another group of Destroyers, two Carriers, and four Cruisers vanished from the War Table image.

“That should encourage them a bit more!” Lokkrien announced. “How did you know their weapons would stop out pulsar-bolts?”

“Their “Screaming Death” is a combined sonic and electro-magnetic wave. Our pulsar-bolts are an energy discharge weapon. Their frequencies partly cancel each other out,” Billy replied. “A strong enough and sustained wave of “Screaming Death could break down our Force Shielding.”

“Well, that’s a comforting thought.” Lokkrien smiled nervously.

“No, Marrhus, they’d have to assemble their whole Fleet and fire from about a quarter of a kilometre away to break down a Star-Cruiser’s Force Shielding.”

Once more, Billy saw the Ganthoran Combined Frontier Fleets set off in pursuit of the Alliance ships. On the War Table image, the Star-Cruisers and Star-Destroyers formed no recognisable formation. The two Star-Destroyers were side-by-side with the gaggle of Star-Cruisers around them. The Ganthorans, however, emboldened by the success of fending off the pulsar-bolts, were starting to deploy the heavier Cruisers to the front of their advance. Sal’nor was, perhaps, thinking of unleashing a massive wave of “Screaming Death” at the Alliance ships and following up with his surviving Axe-Blades and Destroyers.

“Three minutes to the Calyx Wormhole, sir,” the Navigation Officer said.

“Very good. WATO, as soon as we arrive, launch the Eagles and open the Wormhole for them,” Billy ordered.

“Sir, the Eagles don’t have any Force Shielding?” the WATO asked.

It was a valid point. The single seat Eagle fighters did not possess the Force Shielding Generators that the larger Alliance vessels carried, and the turbulence in the Wormhole would make it a very uncomfortable ride for the pilots.

“The Ganthorans don’t have Force Shielding either, and they’ve managed for the last few centuries,” Billy countered, “when they get through the Wormhole, pass control of all fighters to Admiral Parbe’an’s command.”

“Yes, sir,” the WATO acknowledged.

“It’ll be rough for the Eagles in there, sir,” Lokkrien said.

“Yes, I know Marrhus, but we might not have time to launch them when we arrive on the other side,” Billy replied calmly. “If the Ganthorans overrun us here and go straight through, Parbe’an will need every gun ready, there and then. It’s a chance we just have to take.”

“Sir, signal from Admiral Parbe’an,” a Communications Officer called, “position ready.”

“Thank you Comms,” Billy said, “make response, good news, customers on the way, expect trade in about fifteen to twenty minutes.”

It was a piece of sheer showmanship and bravado from Billy Caudwell, however, the part of his mind that was Teg Skarral Portan knew that he had to show as much confidence as possible. Confidence was infectious, as was uncertainty. And, the last thing the Alliance crews needed to see from their Supreme Commander was any form of uncertainty.

“Sir, we’re approaching the Wormhole,” the Navigation officer announced.

“Very good. WATO, get those Eagles launched and away as soon as we arrive,” Billy ordered, “and, prepare the Star-Cruisers to follow them.”

“Which will leave Olympus and Colossus waiting here with no fighter or Star-Cruiser escort?” Lokkrien asked.

“That’s the plan,” Billy replied, “two vulnerable vessels holding the rearguard.”

“Eagles are launching, sir,” the WATO announced.

“Very good,” Billy acknowledged, “how long until the Ganthorans reach our position?”

“They’ll be within weapons range in nine minutes, sir.”

“Nine minutes isn’t enough to get all of our ships through?” Lokkrien realised that if the Ganthorans attacked with the Alliance Fleet divided on either side of the Wormhole, they would be in serious trouble.

“Yes, I know, Marrhus,” Billy’s quiet and anxious tone told Lokkrien that the First Admiral was worried.

Focussing intently on the War Table image, Billy quickly scanned the scene in front of him. The great, looming, grey misty presence of the Wormhole dominated the three-dimensional image, dwarfing even the two massive Star-Destroyers. The Star-Cruiser, Agamemnon was stationed close to the Wormhole; holding the aperture open with a constant stream of Cheddax radiation. The two Star-Destroyers were forming the centre of the four-by-four formation. The Eagles from the Star-Cruisers and the Star-Destroyers were already emerging from the Landing Bays like flying insects from a nest, and swarming towards the aperture of the Wormhole.

The Ganthorans were still distant on the War Table image, however, they were closing the gap to the Wormhole far quicker than Billy had expected. For Billy Caudwell, it was becoming obvious that the Ganthorans would reach the Wormhole before the whole Alliance contingent had passed through. He had miscalculated on the speed of his own approach, and now he would have to take decisive action.

“WATO,” Billy called, “bring Olympus and Colossus forward to intercept the Ganthorans.”

“What about the Star-Cruiser supports?” Lokkrien asked quietly.

“We need them on the other side of the Wormhole,” Billy responded equally quietly, “we have to buy them the time to get through.”

“It’s a big risk, sir,” Lokkrien said.

“Big risks for big rewards.” Billy finalised his decision. “Time to intercept, WATO?”

“We can be there in a few seconds, sir.”

“Very good,” Billy said, “keep them as far away from the Wormhole as we can.”

The atmosphere in the War Room suddenly became tense. This was not a part of the plan that any of the War Room personnel had expected. Something must have gone wrong for the First Admiral to make such an irregular departure from his original plan.

“We can intercept in ten seconds, sir,” the WATO recommended.

“Okay,” Billy acknowledged, “take us within one thousand kilometres, full Force Shielding, prepare the Self-Defence Turrets and the Trionic Cannon.” Billy began the rapid-fire orders that would prepare the two Star-Destroyers for battle.

The two Star-Destroyers moved rapidly away from their stations, in the four-by-four formation, and sped off towards the approaching Ganthoran. And, As the Star-Destroyers moved away, the Star-Cruiser formation began to break up to make their way to the Wormhole.

“Have we got all of our Eagles through the Wormhole, Scanners?” Lokkrien swung into action for the first time.

This was the role of the Chief of Staff in the War Room; this was the role that Marrhus Lokkrien enjoyed. He was there to make sure that Billy Caudwell’s tactical and strategic genius was made possible in the real world. And, part of that duty meant keeping him updated with the details of the operations currently underway.

This was what Marrhus Lokkrien now lived for, this was what made him feel alive and with some purpose in the universe.

“Almost complete, Admiral,” the Scanner Officer said.

“Good,” Billy said, “get the Star-Cruisers through as quick as you can, WATO.”

“Approaching Ganthoran Fleet now, sir,” the WATO announced.

At one thousand kilometres of distance, the two Star-Destroyers halted in front of the advancing Ganthoran Combined Frontier Fleets. The three “Ring” formations emerged rapidly from the darkness of space, the ships quickly growing in size and stature as they approached.

“Right, fasten your safety belts, everybody, this might be a rough one.” Billy tried to lower the tension in the War Room with some levity.