After the second group of small asteroids was sent through the frontier, shredding it even more, the final large group was put in motion and the flotilla moved into formation behind them.
The large asteroids plowed into the weakened frontier, forcing a large hole. The flotilla passed through effortlessly into K’Rang space. As they passed through, Chief B unleashed her electronic attack, seeding the sensors and mines with malicious code that would make its behavior hazardous for the approaching K’Rang fleet. It would not react as they expected. Their IFF devices would not deactivate the frontier mines. The K’Rang would have to fight their way through their own mines.
At 200,000,000 km inside the frontier, the flotilla disbanded and each ship moved to its sector. LCDR Timmons watched the task force ships disperse and said, “Damn, busted back to Captain. I was beginning to like the sound of Commodore.”
The Vigilant moved to the previously selected planetary nebula and settled in. They now all waited for the K’Rang invasion fleet to pass.
Admiral Chang called a commanders’ conference onboard his flagship, the command ship Montpelier. He stood before the holographic tank and surveyed his subordinates: Admiral Haddock-Halloway from the 15th Battle Fleet; Admiral DuPont from the 19th Battle Fleet; each of their seven Carrier Battle Group Commanders; Admirals Dickinson, O’Malley and Minh, the Battle Cruiser Group commanders; and Admirals Dubrovsky, Chen, and Mayer, the Assault Landing Group Commanders.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, Let’s get started.”
The room lights dimmed and the holographic projector displayed the Scutum sector, 6664 system, and the K’Rang frontier.
“This is our battlespace. To orient you, this is the Scutum Sector here in the center. This is Aquila here and this is Sagittarius. The frontier is here in blue and orange. This highlighted system is the 6664 system. As I zoom in, you can see these red lights that equate to the defensive satellites currently being emplaced around the system. We don’t expect them to do any real damage. We won’t turn it down if it happens, but we are mainly using them to canalize the K’Rang into these kill zones, here in yellow, where New Alexandrian Planetary Defense Forces will try to knock out some of the K’Rang escort ships. Their main effort will be to slow down the K’Rang invasion fleet so we have time to spring our trap.”
“My intent is to stand the 1st Combined Fleet outside of max sensor range until the K’Rang are just about to attack New Alexandria. Once the K’Rang are through the defensive satellite field and past the New Alexandrian ships, new defensive satellites will be sown along the way they came to block off any direct route to the frontier. That is when we will strike.”
“Admiral DuPont, you will be reinforced with the three Battle Cruiser Groups and the three Assault Landing Groups. You will set up here on the edge of the Scutum Sector farthest from the frontier and well out of K’Rang sensor range. You will be the main counterattack force.”
“Admiral Haddock-Halloway, you will position your battle group near Aquila, also outside of K’Rang sensor range. Your mission will be to seal the frontier against any K’Rang reinforcements that may try to support the K’Rang invasion fleet. You will be prepared to reinforce the 19th Battle Feet, as required. You will also block any of the invasion fleet from retreating across the frontier.”
“On my order, ladies and gentlemen, we will all close in on the 6664 System at maximum speed. Admiral DuPont, the three battle cruiser groups and your carrier battle groups’ escorts will fire all of your long-range missiles in one massive salvo at max range. That should saturate the K’Rang fleet’s defenses and, depending on how big an invasion fleet they bring, will destroy or damage the majority of their major combatants. Your fighters and attack craft, outfitted with medium-seekers and mini-seekers should take care of any survivors. The three Assault Landing Groups will be prepared to land on New Alexandria and come under the command of the New Alexandria Defense Forces and assist them in dealing with any K’Rang forces that may make it to the surface. Your landing force will come under the command of General Holcomb.”
“Admiral Haddock-Halloway, you will close in on this area between the 6664 System and the Frontier. Don’t let anyone get by you. Have two of your Carrier Fighter Wings outfitted with Mini-Seekers and two outfitted with Medium-Seekers in case Admiral DuPont needs help against the K’Rang Fleet. Admiral DuPont, you will request reinforcements through me.”
“Once the K’Rang Fleet is destroyed, as I am confident it will be, the battle cruisers will completely reload missiles and chop to the 15th Fleet to support their frontier defense mission. 19th Fleet will then be prepared to reinforce the 15th.
“Are there any questions? No? Ladies and gentlemen, I want your implementing plans to my staff by 0600 tomorrow morning. Good hunting.”
It was two days before the first indications showed up on the Vigilant’s long range sensors. A cloud of K’Rang mosquito scout ships moved through the sector and proceeded to the frontier. Kelly could almost feel their sensors scans passing through the Vigilant. The Vigilant withdrew into the nebula to await their passage. When the scouts passed, the Vigilant moved out to the nebula’s edge to pick up the approach of the K’Rang invasion fleet. In six hours, the K’Rang fleet appeared on the edge of the long-range sensors.
They were coming at in at power 4, but dropped to sub-light to approach and negotiate the frontier. Kelly counted out the K’Rang fleet order of battle. There were five battlecruisers in the lead, escorted by eight missile cruisers, five bombardment cruisers, a dozen destroyers, six of the new torpedo ships, and four frigates. Two fleet carriers followed the cruiser screen, and they were followed by the landing group. There were twenty large lighter carriers, four frigates, and two landing support carriers in the landing group. Bringing up the rear were the logistics support ships, four of them, escorted by two more frigates. None of the expected drone motherships were in the formation.
Kelly knew that in six hours, at their current speed, the K’Rang fleet would run into the frontier mines and the reinforced defenses of the New Alexandria Defense Forces. There were hundreds of defensive satellites interspersed throughout the Scutum Sector and 6664 system. There were also ten additional squadrons of planetary missile ships on New Alexandria. Even without the approaching GR Combined Battle Fleet, the K’Rang would not take the 6664 system easily.
Kelly was somewhat baffled by the size of the K’Rang invasion fleet. He expected a much larger force. He questioned whether the K’Rang would have enough of a landing force to conquer New Alexandria. As he thought on this a feeling of dread came over him. The K’Rang were not going to conquer the 6664 system, they were going to annihilate it.
After the K’Rang Fleet passed, the Vigilant pulled out of the nebula just far enough to send a tight beam transmission on the approaching fleet’s order of battle. It would give the 6664 system defenders a chance to adjust their forces before the enemy closed contact. Once their report was received and acknowledged, the Vigilant proceeded to carry out its combat mission.
The senior intelligence officer in the New Alexandrian Defense Forces reviewed the Vigilant’s report. The K’Rang force was smaller than they anticipated, but more than they could manage on their own. He hoped that the Fleet’s plan to trap the K’Rang force worked before the K’Rang could do too much damage to his home world.
He reviewed the placement of defensive satellites and the path of the approaching enemy. He could see several adjustments of position and programming that could result in higher K’Rang losses. He surmised they could do the most damage by concentrating on taking out the fleet carriers and lighter carriers. He put his recommendation in a message to the Planetary Defense Commander, General Holcomb, and hit send.