By the time they closed ranks, the Imperials melted another six front-line ships. It could have been worse. Now the first brawl of the day played out as the remainder of both fleets idled.
“Delta, this is Beta Wing. We’re taking a heavy pounding here. The Seatac and Majestic are disabled and the Valiant’s heavily damaged . . . we won’t be able to hold this flank.”
Rhineheart responded. “Gamma, keep pushing. We’re smashing them on our flank. Delta will reinforce Beta.”
The front-line ships transitioned to a brawling skirmish. However, they still attempted to maintain loose formations to enhance their collective offensive and defensive projection, while mitigating enemy attempts to do the same. Gamma Wing battled along the right flank of the skirmish while Beta pushed along the left flank and Delta pushed in the center. If the flanking Imperial front-line ships overran Beta, they could turn the tide of the other ongoing skirmishes along the center. Front-line ship’s firepower concentrated on their bows and made easy targets for flanking maneuvers. If you left the minimum distance safety threshold of a ragtag formation and over reached, you could become a prime target for a missile volley from an entire enemy squadron. And separated from the immediate cover of your own formation’s unified and coordinated point defense, it might prove an unfortunate outcome for an over eager warship captain. Sometimes captains found themselves lured by a weakened or isolated enemy ship and sacrificed positioning for a killing strike.
In this brawl, if an Imperial laser missed, it could hit one of their own ships. That’s what Gamma and Delta Wings exploited. Hard evasive forced inaccuracy and meant laser fire might strike other Imperial ships. In contrast, the United Fleet ships could remotely detonate inaccurate missile ordnance before they posed a threat to friendly vessels. However, they’d have to be careful with railgun barrages.
Aaron rubbed his eyes as he focused on his tactical monitor and listened to the Fleet frequency. The reinforced Beta Wing overwhelmed the Imperial formation, delivering a pounding, and pushed back the Imperial front-line inflicting heavy damage. Shepherd pressed the advantage and ordered remaining front-line ships to engage.
“Red and Blue squadrons get in there and hammer them. Push for the center, and break their defensive line. We’re beginning our forward thrust to join you.”
Aaron moved to Alvarez’s station to study some raw data. He didn’t like what he saw.
He kept his voice low. “Vee, some of those Imperial ships are pulling back even with light damage. Our front-lines are chasing them closer to the heavy ships.”
“Isn’t that the goal?” Vee asked. “Break the center line and scatter their fleet and command structure? Then just systematically bombard them from all flanks, with more ordnance than their point defenses can handle?”
Once the defensive lines broke, a fleet could no longer rely on its unified point defense to defend against large volleys comprising hundreds of missiles from an opposing enemy fleet. It was difficult to defend against an advancing fleet formation whose defenses were still intact. Holding position once your own main defensive line shattered would ensure an utter blood bath. Sometimes the only option available to a weakened fleet was a strategic withdrawal. The ultimate goal to keep moving while defending against hails of missile volleys as they tried to regroup and reestablish a defensive line.
“Normally, but you don’t give space this easily. Many of the retreating ships’ power signatures remain above fifty percent which suggests they aren’t badly damaged. Giving space without fighting for it will only ensure a complete route.”
Aaron opened a direct channel to Shepherd. “SC, this is Rayne, respond please.”
“I’m really up to my ears here, Commander,” came the reply.
“I understand, sir. But something isn’t right with the enemy front-line movements. They shouldn’t be falling back so easily, some of them haven’t even sustained significant damage.”
“I’ve considered the possibility it’s a trap, Rayne. I’ve been doing this a long time. It’s also an opportunity. Stay off the channel or I’ll lock you out.”
Then the unthinkable happened.
“Massive energy discharge from the Imperial fleet!” Vee said.
Aaron’s eyes widened as he monitored the readings.
The once idle Imperial battleships, like their counter parts in the United Fleet shouldn’t fire into a mix of friendly and hostile ships. Now, after luring the remaining United Fleet front-line frigates out into the skirmish, the entire Imperial Armada unleashed their devastating firepower on the brawling frigates.
Entire battleship and heavy cruiser squadrons unleashed a murderous hail of matter/antimatter torpedoes into the dueling Imperial and United Fleet frigates decimating them. The Imperial heavy ships quickly dispatched any surviving United Fleet front-line ships with a renewed barrage of laser beams.
Twenty-five frigates crippled or destroyed in less than two minutes, yet at least half of the retreating Imperial front-line ships survived. The Imperials had sent forward the older frigates as cannon fodder to lure the United Fleet frigates into range.
Miroslav stared open mouthed at the tactical image. Sudden screams erupted across open comms as useless distress calls were cut off when ships exploded. Brief screams of men burning and suffocating permeated the bridge. If the Imperial ships advanced now with their lasers and numerical superiority, nothing could defend against it.
“Imperial fleet is advancing,” Alvarez said. “Their lasers have further effective range than our railguns, not to mention limitless ammo. They’ll slaughter us just by wearing us down from outside our range. Our missiles will never penetrate their defense screen. Imperial front-line ships are merging into formation. Their heavy flanks are branching outwards. Looks like they want to encircle us and negate any potential barrage of missiles they can’t handle.”
Shepherd’s voice came through.
“Alpha Wing, break formation and engage those flanking Imperial front-line ships on our starboard vectors before they outmaneuver us. Beta Wing, take the Imperial ships vectoring in around our port quarters. Delta Wing will accompany our battleships and heavy cruisers. Flank speed for the center of the enemy formation. We don’t stop until we can read the numbers on their hulls. We’ll take heavy losses getting into range, but once we’re in, we’ll make them sorry they left Imperial space.”
The Imperials had already widened their numerical advantage. And even worse, it seemed the advanced ships they brought to the fight were making their presence felt. It was time Aaron made his presence felt. The Imperial fleet commander must feel the battle is going well. But it was about to take a turn.
“Command,” Aaron said. “This is Phoenix. I’m breaking off, SC. I’m going to rattle them from inside, before the bulk of our fleet gets into it.”
“Negative, Commander, help escort your wing in. Use the kinetic barrier.”
“It won’t work, sir. We wouldn’t cover a wide enough area. The lasers are what we have to worry about and it’s useless against that.”
“Rayne, orders are orders.”
“Totally agree, sir. And since I am still discharged from the Fleet and you loaned me this ship, you can’t order me to do anything. Now please don’t disturb me. I have work to do.” He cut the Fleet frequency.
“Ensign,” Aaron called. “Stand by to light the blink drive, pinpoint jump, right behind the main enemy cruiser formation on the starboard flank. Ahead one third, cut engines and then bring the bow around. I want to be staring right at them after we blink.”