:: Unknown ::
“Chaser 3 to Chaser 5, tighten up that
formation!”
“Roger that Chaser 3, compensating.”
Silhouetted against the starry backdrop, ten glinting shapes
raced in a tight delta formation towards some distant objective.
Resembling a ray, or some other elegant marine creature, the
Specters moved along, plasma trail streaming behind their
dangerous forms.
“Target destination closing, all go for
sensor masking.” Again, the confirmations echoed across the
radios, and out into deep space. Abruptly the fighters began to
warp, their shapes becoming something more supernatural, defied
the laws of known physics. In a matter of moments the objects
faded from view, leaving no trace of the snaking engine wash or
distorted images. “Masking complete, moving towards current
objective.”
“Acknowledged Chaser 1, proceed with
caution, you are now under enemy sensor ranges.” An electric
hum filled the command station onboard the Garrison, an Avenger
class communications and command cruiser. A lone figure sat
within the room, glancing across various instrument panels and
transmission readouts.
“Confirm on enemy sensor contact Garrison,
see you on the other side.” The transmission abruptly lost
clarity, trailed from a strong clear signal to mere static
echoing through the room. The figure reached down and turned off
the comm panel for Chaser squadron, knew it was useless at that
point. It then rose, strode across the room and gazed out of a
port, into the starts and nebulae.
“Gentlemen, we are it, retribution
embodied.”
“Take formations for skirmish runs, two of
you with each.” The unseen fighters broke into five groups
of two, their target now revealed. Trails of plasma fire, and the
unmistakable shimmer of distant vessels were closing fast, formed
parade style.
“Chaser 3 and 4, noncoms are your first
targets.”
“The rest of you, focus on the fighters
first, then move to the cap ships.” The silent command was
known to the pilots. Weapons armed, they spun up to full speed
and set up for attack runs. The Taiidan fleet continued
uninterrupted, weapons powered down and sensors set passive.
“Chaser 5 and 6 in range, weapons
hot.”
“Chaser 1 to Chaser squadron, engage all
hostiles.” The Specters moved towards their targets
undetected and with utter surprise. Weapon fire burst from the
barrels of the fighters’ cannons. Taiidan radio
transmissions doubled in that instant. Resourcers and destroyers
alike scrambled under the hail of weapons fire. The Specters
approached from all angles, focusing fire into a central point
and ripping holes in the hulls of the Taiidani vessels. The blaze
of cannons lit the darkness of space and sent fire dancing across
the armor of the central Taiidan cruiser, the Harbinger.
“Chaser 1, all vessels down, focusing all
fire on the Harbinger.” In a matter of seconds the entirety
of the Taiidan assault force was destroyed, buckled under the
sheer force of intruding vacuum. The only remaining unit, the
Harbinger, was unscathed.
“Chaser squadron, Harbinger is moving away
from the combat area, intercept and destroy target.” The ten
uncloaked fighters deftly maneuvered alongside the massive ship,
avoiding the point defense weaponry and searching the hull for
any signs of weakness. At once the fighters made a coordinated
thrust to the front of the ship, spotting the command bridge. The
behemoth seemed to detect its imminent doom in that moment, as
ion cannon beams began to rend the space around then.
“Chaser 5 to Chaser 3, watch that incoming
fire, keep those formations loose!” The Specters moved
quickly in their intentions, striking the hull, sending frozen
oxygen and Taiidani corpses flowing into the void. Even with
multiple hull breaches pock marking the ship, the Harbinger
refused to cease it’s flight.
“We can’t do enough damage Chaser 1,
it’s not flinching!” The fighters continued their
assault, dodging through the beams of red hellfire. “I
can’t get a draw on the bridge Chaser 1, there’s too
much fi…” A bright phosphorescent plume of flame
erupted in the ranks of fighters, the culprit focus of ion cannon
fire tearing through the Specters like so much paper.
“Damn, Chaser group report in!”
“Chaser 2 here.”
“Chaser 5 intact.”
“Chaser 6, tanks ruptured, thrust is
nil.”
“Chaser 8 and 9 reporting in.”
“Chaser group, move to close range, take
out those cannons!” The dwindling squadron moved near the
lumbering hulk of the Harbinger, fire focused on the now silent
ion cannons. The volleys of point defense cannons now pelted the
attackers, disrupting their assaults and sending armor fragments
spinning into space. The flame trails of the failing craft sent
dancing orange light across the scene, lighting the ruptured and
violated hull of the Harbinger.
“Chaser 8 and 5 are down 1!”
“Roger that, keep on those cannons!”
Without flinching the Specters continued their barrage against
the ion cannon, to no effect. The steel skin of the leviathan
blistered and warped, the hungry jaws of vacuum tearing at its
body.
“Chaser 8 and 9, move to open another
hole, these attacks might be working!”
“Chaser 2 and 9, report in!” The lone
fighter spun about, looking for any sign of its fallen brothers.
“Chaser 6 to Chaser 1, sir the Harbinger
is entering hyperspace!”
“Acknowledged Chaser 6, I’ll do what
I can.” The sleek Specter blew full thrust, throwing
it’s pilot into his seat and making a dash towards the front
of the Harbinger. Blue light began to shine from the bow of the
craft, beaming from the opening gate. The fighter continued on
its course, speeding towards the opening gate, and the slowly
advancing Harbinger. With a blast of acceleration, the fighter
sped into the waiting gate just before the cruiser. A brief flash
emanated from the gate as the cruiser was entering. All at once
the rift turned a bright white, the flash blinding all onlookers.
Blazing white cracks began to travel the length of the Harbinger,
shearing across its surface and pouring light into the vastness
of space. Plasma fire, glowing a radiant purple, belched forth
from the gate and engulfed the hulk. Unable to escape the
rampaging destruction about it, the Harbinger gave one final
mighty groan as it’s skin split. Breaking under the
billowing plasma fire and forces of the jumpgate turned back upon
it. With a roar of flames and a massive shockwave, the Harbinger
was gone. The gate shut upon the remains, sending electrified
shards and components into the emptiness.
