“Interesting, we might have a chance here,” said LeMarche. “We could turn and draw her away. If we do that, we complete our objectives for the Fleet and the mission. We risk less but she could simply turn back. If we stand and return to volley fire we could cripple her and remove her from the fight completely,” he added.
As the gunfire continued and the ship rocked from the high-energy weapons the Captain considered the possibilities.
“I say we take the middle road. We fight for a little longer and see if we can cripple or slow her down enough to give us options. I see this as a golden opportunity. One way or another, Victorious will have to be dealt with. If not by us, then maybe one of our marine transports will have to contend with her guns. I will not have that. At the very least, we can hurt her before we leave. Reload the guns and resume volley fire. I think we have her attention now. It is about time we really hurt her!” he growled.
“Captain,” he nodded and began relaying the orders to the ships.
Captain Matthias turned back to his communications officer.
“Have you been able to make contact with the Admiral yet?” he asked.
“No, Captain, we are still too close to the Station.”
“How much further?” he demanded.
At this speed, another ten to eleven minutes, Sir,” he explained before turning back to the display.
A series of lights flashed across the bridge and panic set in with the engineering officers and tactical.
“Captain, we’ve got a problem!” cried Lieutenant LeMarche. “She’s accelerating towards Ajax!”
The mighty battleship was now only a short distance from the three cruisers and had altered course slightly towards the middle ship, Ajax. Volley fire from the cruisers now pounded her hull.
“Captain, my scans show her prow has been badly damaged though most of her weapon systems appear undamaged. She is far less damaged than our results suggested. Either she is unwilling or unable to use them. Wait, I’m detecting a power surge, she is running at over 120 per cent charge, she is going to fire a double broadside,” he added.
“Dear God!” shouted LeMarche, as he realised the battleship was about to unleash every weapon it carried. “They are not damaged, Captain. Instead of firing she’s been slowly topping up her weapon banks so she can fire both sides at once. There is a chance the surge could destroy her and us with her!” he shouted.
“A suicide attack? Are you sure? That old ship could easily fire a few doubles before taking damage!”
The communications officer tried to reach the other two cruisers to warn them to move to full power but it was too late. The battleship steamed through the three kilometre wide gap between Hector and Ajax, her right hull facing Ajax and her left Hector. Time seemed to slow as the officers watched in horror as the battleship positioned herself perfectly to attack two ships at the same time. There was a terrible flash as both of her flanks were covered in venting plasma. Every single weapon that still worked opened fire. Hundred of rounds smashed through the bow and bridge of the Hector. At least four entered the command centre, instantly killing the captain and his officers. The rest of the shots ploughed through the entire length of the ship, tearing through section after section. In less than thirty seconds the ship was left a burning hulk with hundreds of crew already rushing for the lifeboats. She was of no use to anybody anymore.
The Ajax fared only slightly better as her engines absorbed most of the weapons’ fire. The overwhelming barrage of metal tore the engines and fuel storage tanks apart, instantly leaving the vessel with nothing more than manoeuvring thrusters. Some of the rounds penetrated as far as the port batteries and set off a chain of explosions through the length of the ship. The fires were serious but the ship was still able to move and incredibly returned fire with a number of the surviving weapon batteries.
On board the Achilles Captain Matthias was stunned. In just seconds his wing had been reduced to only one functioning ship, one heavily damaged and one crippled. The Victorious was already slowing down and turning around to bring her alongside the damaged Ajax.
“Sir, we have only two decisions, either we turn and give assistance to Ajax or we go full burn, save the ship and warn the Fleet,” LeMarche said.
Captain Matthias said nothing; his attention focussed on the crippled Hector. He knew many of the officers and he couldn’t believe the damage she had sustained so quickly. As he watched, a bright green flash tore through the centre of the Hector that split the vessel in two.
“My God!” he cried, still unable to comprehend what had happened.
“Sir, we must decide, now!” LeMarche shouted, finally shocking him out of his stupor.
“Captain, I’m through to the Admiral, relaying tactical data now,” said the communications officer.
Captain Matthias stood up straight, his expression serious. He turned to LeMarche.
“They know the situation and the Victorious is away from the Station. Turn us around and engage her stern. I want this bastard’s engines and I want them now!” he shouted.
LeMarche moved to the tactical display and co-ordinated the battle between the remaining two ships as the Captain moved to the window, watching the battle in all its terrible glory.
The Ajax, though unable to escape was still quick and in less than twenty seconds her port side was facing the starboard side of the Victorious as the two ships faced off. Both vessels pounded each other with salvo after salvo, both taking damage from the massed batteries of railguns. The Achilles turned hard to her left and once again crossed the T of the mighty battleship. This time though they timed their salvos to hit slightly off centre so that they ran down the flanks of the ship, rather than impacting on the reinforced prow. The damage was impressive but as the debris drifted it was clear that the Victorious could take this kind of fire for hours. Small fires burned at points inside the outer structure but the massive vessel was intact and all of her broadside batteries were operational. As the broadsides continued, it quickly became clear that Ajax couldn’t take much more. Half of her guns were out of action and fires were running along her entire length.
“Sir, message from the Ajax, they have breaches in engineering, they are advising us to leave the area,” said the Lieutenant.
Captain Matthias swore, angry that he was about to lose his only other vessel and her huge compliment of crew. “Double charge the guns and bring us in close, I want to hit her close and hard!” he barked.
As the warship moved in closer to the battle the three ships disappeared in a cloud of projectiles and plasma gas.
“We need to move faster!” argued Admiral Jarvis as she watched the tactical display as her group of ships moved in towards the Titan Naval Station. The Fleet had almost completed the trip from where they had been assembled at Kerberos and would reach Prime shortly.
“Any more news on the Achilles? Is she still in the fight?” she asked.
“Unknown, Admiral, just static and interference. Whatever is going on we’ll find out in about thirty seconds,” answered Lieutenant Andrews, the tactical officer, as the Fleet moved ever closer.
The Fleet, headed by the mighty battlecruiser was heading directly for the Station and the Admiral could only hope that the cruisers had done enough to clear their way in. As they reached within one thousand kilometres their sensors were able to burn through the perimeter and provide some tactical data.
“We’re showing the Achilles and the Victorious are still fighting. Achilles is heavily damaged and venting fuel. Ajax is evacuating, Hector is gone. Can’t get through to Titan Naval Station yet, no signs of capital ships in the area though,” said Andrews.
As the Fleet moved ever closer, the flashes of battle were now visible from most of the ships. News of the loss of the Hector had spread through the rest of the Fleet like wildfire and some were undoubtedly concerned as to the ability of the CCS Crusader to hold off such a well renowned warship. They were already slowing as they reached just fifty kilometres from the Station.