Talosian Chronicles 5: Raptor Squadron (14 page)

Ian took a moment to skim the data file before looking up at his aide. "Alex, parse out the data concerning the removal of spinal fluid from the civilians as well as that part of my conversation with Cindy and forward it to the CMO A.S.A.P. please," Ian asked.

"Yes Sir," she replied and got busy.

Ian opened a comm to Jenny down on the bridge. "Jen, can you come up here for a minute? Bring Star with you. I'd like a comm to Commander Serena and Colonel Harris as well."

The comms were open before Jenny and Star made it to the office. Ian quickly told them about the spinal fluid and the special freighter that would be leaving the hanger at Starlight. "I would like that ship captured if at all possible. Star, during your assault on the computer systems, I'd like you to keep your eyes open for any data that might be related to this issue. It may seem irrelevant, but I can't help but feel this is important somehow."

"Are we still on schedule, Sir?" Serena asked.

Ian nodded. "We are.
Damocles
has secured the Ambassador. All other Raptor teams report contact with the resistance and have been supplying them with weapons and other supplies.
Damocles
is bringing the Ambassador up here before heading for their first target. We begin the assault in," he checked his clock. "Thirty-five minutes. Good luck."

When the comms to the other ships closed, Ian told Alex he was heading down to the CIC before he had to go meet the Ambassador. She grabbed her tablet and stood to follow him. Damn that girl was efficient.

Separated from the main bridge by a blast wall, the Combat Information Center had been built using the original ideas Ian and Star had, with suggestions from the Intel and Operations departments. It was the electronic nerve center of the ship and capable of processing every scrap of information a fleet of warships could amass during a battle. In the center was a huge holographic tank capable of floor to ceiling display. Surrounding that huge tank were terminals for the command staff to manipulate the data in the tank. Behind them were rows of smaller holographic terminals for each of the techs and operators that worked to make sure their commanders had all the information they needed to make decisions. Every time Ian walked in there, he couldn't help but think; "NASA ain't got shit on this place!"

"How are we lookin' Chloe?" Ian asked as the woman handed him a special ear-piece.

"So far, so good, Admiral. We've compiled our target lists and assigned stick missions. We're having a little difficulty planning on how to isolate their troops on planet, but we're getting it worked out. We'll be ready on time," the woman replied.

"Oh? What's the problem?" Ian asked.

"They're actually not as spread out as we anticipated and they are more heavily armed. The main garrisons are too close to population centers for anything more than a ground attack. We're probably just going to have to slug it out with them; at least until the civilians can get clear," Chloe explained.

"The Raptors on the ground have issued comm units to the resistance leaders. Maybe we can have them try to clear out the civilians before we hit those places," Ian suggested.

She nodded. "I'll see what I can make happen," she replied as she accepted a call over her ear-piece.

Looking at the tank, Ian could see that everything was in place and ready to go. Seeing that Chloe was no longer busy with her call he got her attention. "I need to go meet the Ambassador, I'll be back as soon as I can. In the meantime, I'll keep the ear-piece with me, so if you need me, call."

Chloe nodded. "Major Swift-Williams will need to hurry to make her target in time."

Ian nodded. "She knows. Be back shortly," Ian said and left with Alex.

The
Damocles
called in and said they would drop off their passengers in Alpha bay, so that's where Ian headed. He and Alex arrived in the small visitors lounge just off the main bay to await their arrival. Alex had called for a liaison officer to be present as well, and she had arrived before Ian and Alex. They didn't have to wait very long. In fact, Ian suspected Cindy had been pushing the limits of the Raptor's engines in order to get them to the ship this fast.

When the
Damocles
arrived, Cindy spun the ship around and landed so the side passenger hatch was only few feet from the access hatch to the lounge. As Ian watched, one of the team helped a tall woman and two men out of the Raptor and pointed to the lock doors for the lounge. The trio were wearing isolation headsets to protect their ears and, following instructions, ran to the indicated hatch. The
Damocles
waited until the trio were inside the airlock before lifting off and flying back out of the landing bay portal.

Once inside the lounge, one of the men turned and saluted the ship's colors imprinted on one bulkhead, while the tall Benesian woman bowed to them. They turned back to Ian and the woman bowed to him. She spoke first, "Good day Admiral, I am Shies M'orel of Benesia. We request permission to come aboard."

Ian returned the bow. "Granted, Madam Ambassador. Please excuse the lack of a formal welcome, but we are rather busy at the moment. On behalf of my ship and crew, welcome back to the Alliance."

She smiled. "Thank you, Admiral. Please allow me to introduce my consorts, Lieutenant Commander Haskin late of the Talosian Defense Force and his brother Trante." As she introduced him, Haskin saluted Ian and Ian returned it.

Ian smiled and waved to the Liaison Officer. "May I introduce Senior Lieutenant Samantha Farnsworth of our Liaison Office. She will act as your guide and take care of anything you might need while you’re with us. If there is anything we can do to make your stay with us more comfortable, please don't hesitate to ask her."

The woman stepped forward and bowed to Shies before speaking her greeting in Benesian.

"My Lady, I must apologize for being horribly rude, but I am needed back in the command center. The Lieutenant will show you to your quarters and see to your needs. As soon as we are able I would be honored if you and your mates would consider joining me for dinner, although I fear that might have to wait for tomorrow," Ian said.

"There is no rudeness, Admiral. People’s lives are at stake, go and liberate this world. It would be our honor to join you for a meal when you are finished." Shies replied. She was still smiling, and so was the man she had called a Lieutenant Commander.

Ian smiled a thank you at her and turned to the Liaison Officer, "Lieutenant?"

"I've got this, Sir, go on. Kick some butt for us, too," she said and shooed him out of the room.

Ian arrived back at the CIC with about five minutes to spare.

"Cutting it pretty thin, Admiral. I was afraid we were going to have to do this without you!" Chloe said teasing him.

Ian snorted. "What do you mean? You guys do this without me anyway! I'm only here to blame it on if it all goes to hell!"

Chloe nodded to a grinning Major Eischans. "See? I told you we had him trained well!"

Ian just shook his head and looked into the tank. "Okay Chloe, it's time to go to work, get 'em moving."

"Aye, Sir," she replied and touched a stud on her ear-piece. "All units, this is the Umpire. Batter up!"

In the tank, Ian saw the Centurions move into position to attack the Imperial ships. Down in the landing bays, flight control was rapidly launching fighters. Normally, they would have already had the fighters launched and in position, but this time, they wanted the planet to be able to call for help. Down on the planet, Major Corvis and the
Icarus
Raptor team began their assault on the regional government offices in the city of Rominy. That attack was a diversion to make the Imperial commanders think the Alliance force made a mistake by attacking the wrong city. Of course, that city was also home to the division of troops stationed all over the planet and was the real target for the
Icarus
.

Damocles
would be making an assault on the main communications complex in the city of Starlight, which was the real planetary capitol. Their mission was a simple search and destroy. They were to destroy the communication array but do it slowly enough to allow the Imperial leadership time to call for help.

Almost to the second, the Centurions hit the Imperial ships without warning, doing heavy damage, but failing to destroy them. The Centurions continued to work on the cruisers, pounding on them relentlessly.

At the moment the Centurions began their attack,
Star Dancer
,
Prometheus,
and the
Zephyr
all began active sensor and targeting sweeps of the system. The action made certain that the Imperial ships would be able to detect them. In the case of the
Zephyr
, she launched missiles against the light cruiser furthest from the planet as if it were simply assisting the Centurions. When they got in range, the
Prometheus
did the same against the ship in orbit. Neither Imperial ship survived impact, but they had plenty of time to warn the planet.

"
Damocles
and
Icarus
both confirm civil defense sirens going off in the cities of Rominy and Starlight.
Damocles
reports the scrambled launch of fighters from the spaceport," an operation officer reported. "The civilians are running for the shelters."

"Sphinx flight reports spotting heavy armor being deployed in Rominy!" Ian heard over his ear-piece.

Chloe typed on her terminal. "Warn the
Icarus
they have heavy playmates. What about Starlight? Can we confirm any troop deployments there?"

Then, it got really busy. So many reports were coming in that Ian was almost dizzy, but somehow he managed to keep track of what was going on and helped Chloe and Major Eischens keep a handle on the flow of battle.

It was going pretty well until Ian got a call that broke his concentration and scared him.

"Medical emergency on the bridge! The Commander has collapsed! Admiral to the Bridge!" The XO called on the open comm.

Ian ran from the room. The guards had already begun opening them for him and turning sideways, slipped though. When he got there, Jenny was sitting in her chair, unconscious. Colonel Poul Festun, Jenny's executive officer, had taken charge. He was on the battle bridge in another part of the ship, and only his hologram was present. One of the Marine guards had gotten Jenny back into her chair and was doing what he could for her.

Ian picked her up in his arms. "I'll get her to the ready room, Poul. Send the medics in there please."

"You got it Sir," the man replied. "Please keep us informed?"

"Count on it, Poul," Ian said as he left the command dais and headed for Jenny's ready room. One of the guards from the bridge door was already there and had opened the door. Star accompanied Ian.

"There is nothing physiologically wrong with her or the baby, Ian," Star replied. "However, she is showing signs of mental distress. In my opinion, she had a vision; judging from her reaction, it wasn't a good one."

"It wasn't," Jenny said weakly. "Ian, we're in trouble. The Empire is coming to murder the planet and I couldn't see how to prevent it!"

The medics arrived then and gently but firmly pushed Ian to the side.

"How soon, Jen?" Ian asked.

"I don't know Ian. When they arrive we'll think they are an Imperial infantry unit. They'll drop from orbit while we destroy their ships, they're brutal, heartless killers. Their targets are Starlight and Rominy; they have a chemical of some kind that utterly destroys organic matter," Jenny said.

"Admiral, we need to get her to medical," one of the medics said trying to get him to get out of their way.

"A moment, this is important," Ian replied, but his eyes never left Jenny. "Tell me everything, love."

"They'll arrive close and fast. They'll ignore the big ships and fighters and push to the planet. They'll drop in groups of smaller pods surrounding a larger pod. The Rominy group will make it to the ground without the larger pod.

"The Starlight group will fall short of their target, but land short of the city. The smaller pods aren't pods at all but large powered armor suits. Four of them will pick up the large pod and they will head for the city killing and destroying everything in their path.

"The vision jumps then to a building in Starlight, a hanger I think. They open the large pod they carried and activate what's inside. They get into the ship there and wait. The pod is some kind of chemical weapon but the chemical dissolves anything living. It goes off and the grass and tress just…melt. Everything, Ian it's horrible, animals…… the people… they all die screaming. The winds from the ocean pick it up and carry it inland. It gets into the streams and rivers, spreading to the oceans. It all dies." She began sobbing again.

"Sir, we really need to get her to medical," the medic said urgently.

Ian nodded and moved back. "Jenny, was it clear? Was the vision real to you?"

"Yes, it's all real," Jenny replied, and began sobbing again.

"Admiral," Chloe's voice called over his earpeice. "We have the confirmation from the Raptor teams that the gates are destroyed, but we are tracking six inbound hyper-wakes at normal speeds originating in Imperial space. Their E.T.A. is about an hour.  I'm sorry, Sir, but we need you back here."

Ian stared after his wife for a moment. "I'm on my way back, Chloe. New orders for our reserves. Take out those inbound ships at all costs. We can't let them get close to this planet. Destroy them by any means necessary."

TDF
Star Dancer

Assault Orbit

Hyperion, Aurigae System

Commander Jennifer Williams, Commanding

"Things are gonna change fast, Chloe. We're gonna have to keep up or we'll lose the planet," Ian said as he entered the CIC.

"What's happened, Admiral?" the woman asked, concerned. "Is Jenny alright?"