{"id":246,"date":"2015-07-06T12:39:58","date_gmt":"2015-07-06T12:39:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=246"},"modified":"2015-07-06T12:43:15","modified_gmt":"2015-07-06T12:43:15","slug":"the-cimalian-princess-invasion-ch-16","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=246","title":{"rendered":"The Cimalian Princess: Invasion – Ch 16"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cimalian Princess: Invasion<\/span><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 16<\/span><\/p>\n

Randy looked down at the scanner indicating how far away the fleet was from Serria. The Starhopper had finished its mission sending information about what ships were present around the planet. It appeared there were three Cimalian battle-cruisers along with a dozen and a half other ships. The Strike Fleet consisted of four battle-cruisers, six cruisers, and eight destroyers to go with the four scout ships.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you think admiral,\u201d Kim asked. He looked up at the large screen indicating where every enemy ship had been, their orbits and predicted paths for when the fleet arrived.<\/p>\n

\u201cif nothing changes then the Warspite and Victorious will dropout here,\u201d Randy said highlighting an area near one of the enemy ships. \u201cThe Bismarck here, and we\u2019ll take on this one over here. Cruiser group one and three, your job is to keep the smaller ships busy. Group two will help out the Warspite and Victorious. Remember to try and stay within fifteen clicks of the enemy battle-cruisers. If we drop out of hyperspace out side of fifteen clicks close the distance as rapidly as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

He watched as the different ships acknowledged his orders. He had decided to try and take out an enemy ship as quickly as possible giving him a better chance to survive. He had thought about having the Bismarck and Akagi attack the same target while Cruiser group two attacked the other battle-cruiser but rejected that. The cruisers wouldn\u2019t survive as long and could mean more losses.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone, good luck,\u201d Randy said to the fleet. \u201cFrom here on out its radio silence.\u201d<\/p>\n

The one thing that concerned him had been the scanning ability of the Cimalian fleet. If they spotted the Strike Fleet too far out then they could reposition the fleet to ambush them. It hadn\u2019t happened at Vernada, but he doubted the Cimalians had been expecting a counter-strike so soon.<\/p>\n

\u201cTwenty minutes, all ships report ready,\u201d Yvette said.<\/p>\n

Randy nodded his head as he glanced around the bridge. The crew seemed calm, as he did as well. He figured that had to be because the veterans of the crew who knew their job. He knew that many were still afraid, but they also knew the enemy wasn\u2019t impossible to beat either. He was more worried about the crew of the Victorious. The crew of the Bismarck along with the Akagi had seen combat at Pacifica, and at Vernada. This would be their third combat mission.<\/p>\n

Experience had also taught him one other thing, to be flexible in combat. Have a plan but be willing to flex. That determined in his mind the ability to live or die in combat. He thought about his equivalent wondering if he knew they were coming. He guessed he\u2019d know in a few minutes. Randy continued thinking of different possibilities and outcomes in the upcoming battle. When to retreat and when to push any advantage.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Jezic had sat down when another call for him came in. Admiral Ordex from the 1st CF was calling into see how things were going.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdmiral Ordex, we\u2019re preparing to leave for New Zeus now,\u201d Jezic replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen I won\u2019t keep you long admiral,\u201d Ordex said. \u201cHigh Command has reported Meia hasn\u2019t been eliminated yet. I\u2019m sending you a file that is to remain confidential at all costs. It will explain why they are so interested in her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, but I was one of her trainers at the academy\u201d Jezic said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Ordex said. \u201cI also know what your mission was that day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jezic thought about that. The admiral knew about his mission to kill Meia\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the one who recommended you,\u201d Ordex said. \u201cBut I think you\u2019ll find her history very interesting, and give you a bit of heads up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Jezic said glancing down at the screen. It indicated the file had been received. \u201cIs she really that dangerous, I mean she\u2019s a great pilot and all, but.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreater than that,\u201d Ordex replied cutting off Jezic. \u201cJust be sure to look into it,\u201d he said, then signed off.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell Meia, what do you have that has them so scared,\u201d Jezic said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdmiral to the bridge,\u201d Diern said.<\/p>\n

Jezic sighed closing the screen again. Locking the screen he figured it had to be that the fleet was ready. He\u2019d come back to this in a bit, for now though he had a job to do.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

The Alliance Strike Fleet appeared in the space around Serria quickly engaging the Cimalian fleet. On board the Akagi Rear-Admiral Randy White watched with interest the opening engagements carefully.<\/p>\n

\u201cOpen fire, launch all fighters,\u201d Randy ordered. The crew raced to carry out his orders as quickly as possible. He looked down to see that the Akagi was moving to within fifteen clicks of the enemy battle-cruiser. The one thing that bothered him was the fleet wasn\u2019t fully up on fighter pilots. The Akagi only had twenty-seven pilots and thirty fighters instead of the normal complement of thirty-two.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll fighters have been launched admiral,\u201d Yvette said a minute later.<\/p>\n

Randy felt a bit relieved that the hangar had been designed for maximum launch capacity. It had paid off now as the fighters were now all away.<\/p>\n

The main weapons of the Akagi opened fire on the enemy ships as indications of enemy fighters came in.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnemy hasn\u2019t opened fire yet,\u201d Kim said from where she stood. \u201cBismarck and Victorious have exited hyperspace on target, the Warspite missed by a few clicks but closing the distance now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Randy acknowledged the information knowing that the opening move had played out rather well. Either the enemy didn\u2019t have long hyperspace scanning ability or were overconfident in their abilities. He hoped it was the later.<\/p>\n

\u201cFighters beginning attack runs,\u201d Yvette said.<\/p>\n

Several fighter squadrons had been singled out for strafing runs on enemy ships damaging them hopefully before enemy fighters appeared in mass numbers.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnergy spike, enemy weapon systems firing,\u201d Yvette said again.<\/p>\n

\u201cDamage control teams standing by,\u201d Kim reported.<\/p>\n

The Akagi shook a bit as enemy weapon fire slammed into the shields.<\/p>\n

\u201cShields holding,\u201d Kim said. \u201cNo damage reported.\u201d<\/p>\n

Randy had a feeling that such good news wouldn\u2019t last in this fight but he hoped it held a bit longer.<\/p>\n

\u201cStatus of the other ships?\u201d Randy asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll ships have engaged, so far no enemy missiles have been fired,\u201d Yvette said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnemy fighters heading towards sector eleven,\u201d Kim reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohn, heads up, you\u2019ve got company,\u201d Randy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cCopy that skipper,\u201d John replied. \u201cMoving to engage now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Randy watched the scanner as two groups of fighters moved to engage each other. He also knew each time a dot disappeared it meant one life had ended. He just hoped all of his crew survived.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Meia felt the ship rock a bit as the first hit occurred on the Akagi. She\u2019d understood more since the fainting spell she\u2019d had not long ago. Many things were now becoming clear to her.<\/p>\n

The biggest question she now faced seemed to be who the real enemy was. She\u2019d been taught all her live that the Alliance was evil, wanting nothing but to destroy the Cimalian way of life. Now that she\u2019d met some of the Alliance, talked to them, she no longer thought what she\u2019d been told was accurate.<\/p>\n

Making a decision she walked out of her quarters headed towards the bridge. Maybe she could help again.<\/p>\n

John turned his fighter in a tight turn feeling the g-forces press him further back into his seat but he lined up behind the enemy fighter. A quick burst of weapons fire and the enemy fighter shattered in a small explosion. It was his third kill of the day so far in the beginning of the battle.<\/p>\n

Another enemy fighter appeared opening fire on him. He quickly turned his fighter avoiding the barrage either though luck or skill, he wasn\u2019t about to rule either out at the moment. He turned his own fighter hard truing to line up another shot in a rolling maneuver.<\/p>\n

He\u2019d almost completed the roll when the glint of sunlight caught his attention. Another enemy fighter had joined the battle. He moved his fighter into the opposite roll as the other enemy fighter roared past him without taking a shot.<\/p>\n

\u201cHades,\u201d John gritted though his teeth. Now he seemed to be fighting two elite pilots. He had lost his wing-mate early in the battle and now he could really use one. His eyes narrowed in concentration as his new mantra became destroying these two enemy pilots and staying alive in the process.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Randy watched on the scanner as John appeared to be in trouble. He felt helpless as watching knowing there was little he could do. Switching the screen to the bigger picture he took in to see how the fleet was faring. So far the enemy hadn\u2019t surprised him, yet.<\/p>\n

He scrolled though the damage reports pleasantly surprised by the light damage so far. The Cimalian battle-cruisers appeared to be moving to where they could fire the missiles.<\/p>\n

\u201cMissile launch,\u201d Kim\u2019s voice said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich ship,\u201d Randy asked. He looked down but so far didn\u2019t see it.<\/p>\n

\u201cSector 4,\u201d Kim replied.<\/p>\n

Randy switched his screen quickly noticing the faint indication of the missiles. He noticed that the ship which had fired it was currently engaged with the Bismarck, but the Bismarck didn\u2019t appear to be the target.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo we know who the target is yet?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking on it admiral,\u201d Kim replied.<\/p>\n

Randy had hoped to destroy at least one enemy battle-cruiser before they adjusted to the tactics. Now it seemed the one advantage they had was gone, and he needed another one quickly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Warspite,\u201d Kim finally said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnything we can do,\u201d Randy asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing yet,\u201d Kim said.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohn, can anyone accept a new mission?\u201d Randy asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re a bit busy right now,\u201d John\u2019s strained voice said.<\/p>\n

Randy could have ordered one of the men but he doubted they wouldn\u2019t been able to make the mission. \u201cI need suggestions, now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is still manual control, but it\u2019d take all weapons off-line for a while,\u201d Yvette said.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnacceptable!\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTake out the missile launchers,\u201d Kim said.<\/p>\n

Randy thought about that one. Looking around he noticed the crew didn\u2019t have any other suggestions.<\/p>\n

\u201cTarget the missile launchers,\u201d Randy said.<\/p>\n

The weapon\u2019s crew raced to carry out the order. No one noticed a figure near the entrance walk away.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Ben looked over at Jean and her crew as they worked getting ammo and fuel ready for the next fighter that came in. His own crew had worked hard as the next fighter landed. Ben looked back at his own crew noticing the fighter not far away. It had been armed and fueled, a dangerous thing, but it was in case a damaged fighter landed.<\/p>\n

Ben began handing ammo to the person next to him as they armed the fighter. Another crew member topped off the fighters fuel tanks. Most fighters that were landing had run out of ammo and were no where in near close to being out of fuel.<\/p>\n

The whine of engines starting up caused him to turn. He barely saw the fighter that had been ready launch. He looked over at Jean noticing that the pilot there was still in his fighter.<\/p>\n

\u201cBridge, hanger,\u201d Ben said in the communicator. \u201cWho just launched?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t know, hanger,\u201d the bridge replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s fighter one five five,\u201d Ben said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll look into it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ben placed the communicator down and with a last look at where the fighter had been went to work with the fighter in front of him. He\u2019d let the bridge crew handle the unknown pilot.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

\u201cAdmiral, problem from the hanger,\u201d Hans said.<\/p>\n

Randy turned to see Hans looking at him with a strange face. \u201cWhat happened,\u201d Randy said, he wondered what it\u2019d be this time.<\/p>\n

\u201cFighter 155 just launched without permission,\u201d Hans said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you mean,\u201d Randy said his brow furrowing in confusion.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hangar reported that it just launched, and it bypassed launching procedure,\u201d Hans said.<\/p>\n

\u201cConfirmed admiral, one over-ride,\u201d Yvette said. \u201cOrders?\u201d<\/p>\n

Randy wondered what was going on now. Things seemed to be getting worse.<\/p>\n

\u201cNew missile launch, I think same target,\u201d Kim said.<\/p>\n

Randy sighed at that. The previous missiles had impacted on the Warspite causing damage to the ship, not badly but something Randy hoped to keep to a minimum.<\/p>\n

\u201cSee if you can raise pilot 155, if not inform John,\u201d Randy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d Hans said.<\/p>\n

\u201cPrepare to turn weapon systems to manual,\u201d Randy said. He had to have a way to defeat the missiles.<\/p>\n

\u201c155, heading towards John, still no response,\u201d Yvette replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet John know, we might have a rebel pilot,\u201d Randy said.<\/p>\n

He wondered what would happen next.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

John continued to twist and turn his fighter avoiding the enemy fire. He figured he was against at least one, possibly two of the Cimalian elite pilots. He\u2019d run out of tricks some time ago and now was running on pure luck.<\/p>\n

\u201cJohn, Akagi, be aware that the unknown pilot is heading towards you,\u201d Hans said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat, just what I needed to hear,\u201d John mumbled banking his fighter again. He blinked his eyes trying to rid the sweat dripping down his forehead from getting in his eyes.<\/p>\n

John dodged another barrage when he noticed the fighter heading right for him. Its weapon systems opened up in what appeared to be right for him. Stunned for a few seconds he barely had time to notice the weapons fire went past him. The fighter then went past them continuing on its way.<\/p>\n

Glancing at his screen he noticed that now he only was facing one enemy pilot. Now the odds were even.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right you little bastard, you\u2019re mine now,\u201d John said. He yanked on the joystick pulling the fighter into a hard tight turn. The enemy fighter couldn\u2019t keep up with the turn as John pressed his fighter advantage. He found an opening and fired but the enemy pilot banked as John turned again to try and remain on the enemy\u2019s tail. The enemy pilot was indeed good as the enemy fighter twisted and turned avoiding John\u2019s fire.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re good, but not that good,\u201d John said to the enemy pilot. He\u2019d been watching what the enemy did. The next time he fired then quickly turned in the opposite direction. The enemy fighter made a hard turn one way then the other leaving John with a clear shot. \u201cNow,\u201d he whispered to himself. Pressing down on the trigger he watched as the fighter was destroyed.<\/p>\n

He looked down to see the unknown fighter heading towards the missiles. Turning the put the engines to maximum burn to try and catch up. He watched amazed as the pilot took out first missile easily. The second quickly joined the first one as the fighter turned to intercept the two missiles headed towards the Akagi.<\/p>\n

John was closer to the missile but he noticed his targeting computer refused to lock onto the missile. He looked up, lined up a shot then fired. The shot missed as he turned his fighter slightly firing again. The first shot missed by the second hit the missile followed by a second hit. The missile exploded in a larger explosion than he\u2019d been expecting.<\/p>\n

Glancing at the other missile he watched as the pilot opened fire hitting the missile with precision destroying it easily. Reports of new missile launches came in as both he and the mysterious pilot turned to target the new missiles.<\/p>\n

*****<\/p>\n

Randy watched the scanner as the unknown pilot destroyed several missiles. John had joined in the interception which had minimized the amount of damage the Alliance fleet had taken. It also meant they didn\u2019t have to switch the fire control over to manual allowing them to continue firing.<\/p>\n

\u201cMissile launchers,\u201d Randy asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve disabled two, the Bismarck reports one and the Victorious reports all four,\u201d Kim replied. \u201cThe Warspite however took four missiles causing considerable damage to several systems.\u201d<\/p>\n

Randy nodded his head as the reports came in. The enemy battle-cruiser the Warspite and the Victorious were fighting seemed to heavily damaged as well. As he looked he noticed the blip disappear.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne enemy battle-cruiser destroyed captain,\u201d Kim reported.<\/p>\n

\u201cContinue firing, have Victorious help out the Bismarck,\u201d Randy said. They were holding their own, especially consider the Cimalian missiles were no longer as much of a threat.<\/p>\n

\u201cThird missile launcher disabled,\u201d Kim reported.<\/p>\n

Randy looked over to see how the cruiser squadrons had done. They\u2019d lost a cruiser and a destroyer but the enemy had lost four ships now, including a battle-cruiser.<\/p>\n

\u201cEnemy ships retreating,\u201d Yvette said.<\/p>\n

Randy noticed the enemy fighters retreating back to the battle-cruisers. The enemy ships were already moving to enter hyperspace.<\/p>\n

\u201cLet them go for now, we\u2019ve hurt them a bit. Right now we need to repair and rearm,\u201d Randy said to Kim. \u201cCAP around the clock, leave nothing to chance and damage reports on my desk ASAP.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYes sir,\u201d Kim said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m heading to the hanger to see our mysterious pilot,\u201d Randy said. He didn\u2019t say he had a feeling about who the pilot was.<\/p>\n

What bothered him was how easily security had been bypassed to launch the fighter. That would be something to look into in the future, but for now things were different. Peace time had allowed security measures to become lax, something to bring up to his father as well.<\/p>\n

He entered the elevator as he thought about the fleet. The Warspite had been damaged, that meant a quarter of his battle-cruisers had been disabled depending on the damage. The Akagi had also taken several hits as well, and he hoped the damage wasn\u2019t too severe. He didn\u2019t want to have to switch flagships.<\/p>\n

The door opened allowing him to watch the hanger operations. To him it just seemed like people were running around in a chaotic way. But he knew that each person had a job, and if everyone did their job then the hanger would be safe.<\/p>\n

\u201cAdmiral, what brings you down here,\u201d Ben said walking over to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWaiting for 1-5-5 to land, I think I\u2019m going to have a talk with the pilot,\u201d Randy replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth of us then,\u201d John\u2019s voice said from behind Randy.<\/p>\n

Randy briefly wondered if this would be a good idea, but perhaps it would work out.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you know who it is,\u201d John asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve an idea,\u201d Randy replied as John stepped up next to him.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, because you can promote that guy to pilot on the spot,\u201d John said. \u201cI\u2019ve never seen anyone fly the way he did. That was some of the finest shooting I\u2019ve ever seen in my life. I almost didn\u2019t survive that encounter if it hadn\u2019t been for that pilot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou did your share John, probably saved some lives as well,\u201d Randy said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut if he hadn\u2019t show up I\u2019d be floating in space as well,\u201d John replied. \u201cShould security be here?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNah,\u201d Randy said watching as another fighter landed on the hanger deck.<\/p>\n

\u201c1-5-5 is next admiral,\u201d Ben said to them.<\/p>\n

The group watched as the fighter landed in the hanger bay answering another question that Randy had. The fighter came to a stop as the mechanics raced over to clear the fighter. Once clear the canopy opened allowing the pilot out. Even from this distance Randy could make out the feminine features of the pilot. The helmet came off but Randy already knew the hair color of the pilot, blue, as Meia began her way over to where they stood.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou knew,\u201d John asked as they watched Meia walk across the deck in the safe area.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a suspicion, yeah,\u201d Randy replied. A grin came to his lips to mirror the one on Meia\u2019s face. \u201cWell, you took a chance,\u201d he said when she reached them.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had to do something,\u201d she replied. He glanced down at her as she didn\u2019t back down from him. John interrupted their staring contest.<\/p>\n

\u201cI figured you were good, but, Hades that was different,\u201d John said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just do what I do,\u201d Meia said. \u201cThough you\u2019re not bad either.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah right, there\u2019s elite, then there\u2019s the elite of the elite, which you are,\u201d John said.<\/p>\n

Randy noticed a slight blush cover Meia\u2019s face as John praised her.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell there\u2019s some question that have to asked and answered along with the normal debriefing of the pilots so there\u2019s still quite a bit to do,\u201d Randy said turning leading the group off the hanger. His office would provide the perfect place to ask the questions.<\/p>\n

End Chapter 16<\/p>\n

Continued in Chapter 17<\/a><\/p>\n

Comment below or send to AJMarks01@aol.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Cimalian Princess: Invasion by AJ Marks Chapter 16 Randy looked down at the scanner indicating how far away the fleet was from Serria. The Starhopper had finished its mission sending information about what ships were present around the planet. It appeared there were three Cimalian battle-cruisers along with a dozen and a half other […]
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