Light cruiser Conqueror fired with its railguns on the crippled Sowir light cruiser. It appeared that the Nel ship did much more damage. The Conqueror, Talon, and Nel frigate were pouring laser fire into the ship, with its return fire coming in short bursts. It looked like they would finish dispatch it quickly.
“Talon got hit! Their power grid overloaded, the backlash hit the core, its compromised!” Comm Handler yelled out. Leia turned sharply, there were countermeasures to prevent that.
“Are they ejecting the core?” Leia asked quickly.
“They are trying Ship Master, but—” Comm Handler started, but was interrupted as a big explosion enveloped the Talon.
“Th-they’re gone.” Comm Handler said softly.
It hit Leia hard, Julia Ness Ship Master of the Talon was her friend, and suddenly she was gone. Leia steeled herself, “Keep the pressure on the Sowir ship.” Leia said coldly.
Laser beams hit the Sowir ship, and Conqueror’s weapons handlers worked frantically to compensate for the Sowir ship movement, keeping the beam in the same place. Then after the third try they finally managed it, the Conqueror’s beam held and burned through the Sowir ship hull. Immediately Ship Master Leia ordered all lasers to be retargeted to the same point. All eight of Conquerors remaining operational lasers hit a target within five meters of each other. The 24cm beams burned deeper into the ship, until finally the Sowir ship couldn’t take anymore and it snapped in half. Short explosions split the ship and sent the two parts flying in opposite directions. There were no cheers among those in the Conquerors command center. Her task now partially complete, Leia sent a message to the flagship, then she looked at the holo in front of her. The Sowir transport had almost reached Nuva. There was nothing she could do about them now, it was left to the soldiers on the ground.
Chapter Twenty Nine
Nuva
Platoon Leader Sahib Adin stood in the makeshift command center on Nuva. Company Leaders Okoro, Hughes, and Mao were deciding what was the best way they can contribute to the defense of Nuva with the Nel military leaders. Nuva had just the one major city, with the rest being farms, that were mostly automated. Machines would do most of the work, people were only needed at certain points during the farming year. The two Nel Laas Rett that were in command of the militia believed that Sowir troops would drop directly into the city, as it had no defenses. It all seemed pointless to Sahib, they couldn’t possibly hold the city, their fleet was losing, if they had support from orbit perhaps. But landing troops now had no purpose other than their deaths. The two Nel Laas Rett, which translated as something like a warrior, argued for waiting and sending troops after the Sowir land, rather than spreading them out over key points in the city as the Company Leaders suggesting. Sahib had spent the time since they landed on the planet listening in to the meetings and planning sessions. And he got the expression that Nel didn’t put much stock into what humans said. They came off arrogant, but that could just be the impression he got from their emotionless faces. In the end Company Leaders had to agree to Nel plans.
As the Sowir troop ship entered orbit of Nuva it released five dropships and then used Nuva’s gravity to slingshot around and exit on a course out of the system, away from the space battle that was still raging. As the Sowir landing points became apparent Laas Rett started sending their militia troops to meet them, after some more “discussion” between Company Leaders and Laas Rett, Company Leader Okoro turned and walked over to Sahib.
“Adin, take yours and Monifa’s platoons to these coordinates, you are to reinforce the militia squad sent to deal with one of the dropships.” Company Leader Okoro said as he sent the coordinates to Sahib’s implant. Sahib could detect a trace of annoyance in his tone.
“And the rest of our people?” Sahib asked.
Okoro shook his head. “The fools are keeping us back. It’s their show, I barely managed to convince them to let me send two platoons as backup.” He sighed. “This needs to be fast Adin. These people don’t understand what is happening, they are giving their opponent time to dig in, they think that because the fleet got one troop transport there is no danger. These guys know how to fight, I can tell just by looking at them, but they don’t understand how to wage war.” Okoro looked Sahib directly in the eye. “Assist their militia, and make sure that you get every single Sowir.”
“Yes, sir!” Sahib said and saluted. Then he turned and went to find Platoon Leader Nissah Monifa and then to get their platoons.
Sahib swayed gently as the TTV or tactical transport vehicle turned a corner. He was standing in the TTV alongside the rest of his platoon. After Sahib found Nissah, both he and she got their platoons into their TTV’s and immediately started towards the position of the militia force. The TTV’s were armored vehicles designed to be used in high threat situations, transporting troops through contested territory. They remained almost unchanged from even before Olympus got into space, with only a few additions.
“Reaching the coordinates in 5 minutes.” A voice over the internal speakers in Sahib’s helmet, as it did in that of every soldier in the TTV’s.
“Alright, everyone get ready.” Sahib said. Looking at his HUD, he saw the updated info on the situation sent from Company Leader Okoro. The militia forces had engaged the Sowir, and were losing badly. Laas Rett sent 700 militia to deal with 300 Sowir soldiers. Militia with limited training and equipment against 300 fully equipped soldiers. Sahib shook his head. It was stupid. Even this small force will be able to do enormous damage before it was defeated unless Laas Rett started acting competently. TTV’s came to a stop and the back opened. As soon as the two platoons left them Sahib started giving orders.
“Squad Claw and Paw reinforce militia positions, setup turrets and keep them bottled. Nissah, you hit them from the east. I’ll try to come from their backs, see if we can take their dropship.” Sahib said, and Nissah saluted. Claw and Paw squad took out two boxes from the TTV and then started towards the militia positions, Nissah’s platoon took off to get in position. Sahib turned to his two remaining squads, Alpha and Fang.