Post by Savior on Apr 12, 2011 18:53:12 GMT -5
| Regidranus System 16' hundred hours November 18, 2525 Military time Aboard the UNSCS Carrier "Colonial Former" |
The UNSCS Carrier, “Colonial Former” entered the Regidranus System after a long trip through slip space. Captain Lawrence Gallagen stared into the starry night sky, he gave a heavy sigh before turning to the ship’s AI. Lawrence saw a man in a white navy uniform wearing his hat at brisk attention; Avery was modeled after the typical Navy officer in full regal uniform. This was really for show as the AI was an older model and was really only there to control the newly placed Shaw-Fujikawa Slipspace drive on the ship. This was a test run to see if a ship of this mass could travel such a distance for the UNSC’s purposes. The AI turned to the captain with a puzzled look on his face.
“Avery, what happened exactly? I thought we weren’t supposed to be at Chi Ceti 4 for at least another two weeks. That’s what you told me a few days ago right?”, Lawrence asked with a bit of intensity in his voice, he was a man who didn’t like complications.
“Sir, it appears we have suffered a malfunction. The Shaw-Fujikawa Translight Engine has stopped responding to my commands, I believe it may be overheated sir.”, Avery stated with his metallic yet chilled voice.
Overheated? Dammit, this is why I didn't want the damned thing on my ship! Those Section 3 guys should have put it on one of those heavy cruisers if they wanted a test run. But that was what it was all about, if something went wrong, a carrier was easier to replace then a UNSC heavy cruiser. Lawrence muttered a curse under his breath before meeting the AI’s gaze once more.
“Alright, send a transmission to Chi Ceti out post and tell them we’ll be late. Also tell them I’ll be more then glad to explain why their shipment is going to be later then they expected.”, Lawrence said as turned back to the front view ports and stared out at the sky.
He would be damned if he was going to take the blame for this screw up all because ONI wanted to test out their latest toy. But at least this also had a bright side, another two weeks to get to Chi Ceti meant he could relax a bit. Maybe he’d have a cup of coffee then go down to the mess hall and pass jokes with the other crew members before getting a bit of shut eye. Later he would come back and see if the maintenance would dare to try and fix the drive with no intelligence on how it worked and only three ONI officers to examine how it functioned on such a long journey. The drive originally planned to get them to the Ceti Outpost in 3 months, less than half the time it normally took to get goods transported to the system from other colonies and outposts. The crew’s cargo was previsions along with fresh uniforms, parts, ammo, and a pair of fresh off the line Warthogs and a few weapons. The outposts had a new batch of recruits that were supposed to come in two days after the expected arrival of “Colonial Former”, now they were going to be without their shipment for at least ten days. But what did this matter to Lawrence, this seemed to be his lucky break for relaxing, at least so it seemed.
“Sir, I’ve picked up a transient slipspace rupture. Its signal different from any UNSC ship an-“, This was as far as Avery got before Lawrence snapped to attention.
“Another slipspace rupture?! Bring up on screen!”
A few moments later a screen near the center viewport came to life showing a chart of the Regidranus system and a single red dot that winked into existence. Behind a small moon of one of the systems smaller planetoids. This caused Captain Lawrence Gallagen, a man who feared few things from growing up with a tough pair of older brothers, to break out in a cold sweat. He started ordering his hands on deck as fast as a dog barked at cats that stepped in its territory.
“Get two spy drones at that moon’s northern and southern poles, bring our thrust speed to full power, I want to be behind that planetoid and out of that ship’s sight yesterday!”, he ordered crazily.
The people in the room began following his orders immediately and the ship lurched forward as the side view screens came to life with the lower and upper half of the moon enlarging on them. That’s when Lawrence saw it, he had heard about it through reports, he had seen photographs from spy drones too, but what he was still not ready for what was displayed on the right view screen that had the moon’s northern pole in view moments ago. A covenant Frigate loomed behind the moon, its bulbous shape floating still before its engines began pushing it along. It began to leave the shadow of the moon and turn toward the planetoid. Lawrence cursed aloud realizing the ship must have picked them up on its sensors before he could get behind the planetoid. His ship was ill prepared for a battle with a covenant Frigate, his ship was stripped of half its archer missiles since they were on a delivery and test run. Even with the ship’s mac and fusion rockets to compensate for only carrying half the amount of shiva missiles, it would take a miracle for them to win. And with their newly piece of crap slipspace drive on the fritz, running wasn’t a wise decision.
“Avery, send a distress signal to the closest UNSC outpost or ship.”
“Saying what sir?”, Avery asked.
“Tell them that the covenant are attacking us, and that we need help.”
“Aye sir, message sent. Along coordinates to our location.”, Avery stated.
And that we need a miracle. Lawrence thought but didn’t dare say. He silently, began to pray as he watched the Frigate’s armor shine as it entered the sun’s light. He then activated the Carrier’s com link and prepared to tell the crew the horrorfying news.
“Attention all crew, a covenant ship has been spotted in the system. All crew are to arm themselves and begin evacuation protocol immediately. This is not a drill, I repeat, the Covenant are here, begin evacuation protocol, all escape pods and pelicans are to go to the planet Lios’ surface. Any crew members that cannot get to an escape pod or a pelican are to barricade themselves into a safe and secured location away from the ship’s hull. The UNSC are coming, we just need to wait, all marine and ODST forces on board should prepare for battle. We’ll do what we can on the bridge. God speed, and God bless!”
Lawrence switched off the com, the easy part was over, now it was time for the hard part. He stared hard at the incoming enemy ship. He looked to his crew, each of them showing just as much determination as he did. He regained his composure and looked at the forward screen, the frigate had seen them but they had no way to see around the planet without accelerating around it. That gave the captain a seemingly great idea. He turned towards the forward view screen, he glanced at the side screens where the spy drones still held the Frigate’s presence as they rotated to keep it in site. But instead of the Frigate’s front, the drones were feeding an image of the frigate’s thrusters.
“Give me a firing solution for when that ship starts its trip around the planet’s orbit, I want every Shiva missile we have fired at that thing.”, the captain ordered while watching the Frigate.
It was beginning to come around the planet when Gallagen saw the chance to attack. He waited a few moments longer which felt like hours as he waited for the Frigate to poke its front around the planet. Finally, the ship’s front began to emerge from behind the planet’s mass and Gallagen sprang into action.
“Fire all Shivas now!”, he yelled.
All at once, the carrier’s 150 shiva shot out and arced towards the frigate at high speeds, he watched and waited for the covenant’s next move.
| Regidranus System 23rd Age of Doubt 156th solar cycle Aboard the Covenant Frigate “Righteous Vengeance” |
Ship Master Gallus Ragallee watched as the infidel ship fired its missiles at his ship, he gave a faint chuckle as the “Righteous Vengence’s” anti-projectile laser turrets began shooting down the missiles with pin point accuracy. He felt a small amount of joy from each missile shot down, but it barely filled the crater of disappointment he had for having such a short-minded adversary. He would have fired only a handful of munition’s then fired with a heavier weapon like a plasma torpedo. Then Gallus decided he would fire one, waited until the last 30 shiva missiles were destroyed and scowled when one managed to impact against the frigate’s shield causing a minor shake through the bridge. He then turned to his hands and saw their anticipation.
“Bring us about and give me a reticle on that infidel ship, make them burn for their heresy!”, Gallus ordered as he watched the enemy craft close fill up the forward view screen.
An elite tapped several commands into the ship’s holographic controls and a crimson colored covenant symbol appeared next to the ship. It’s went from the crimson to a bright orange then a cool blue as plasma gathered for the torpedoes that would be fired at the ship. The plasma torpedo launched from the front most plasma turret and arced through the air and only grazed the side of the ship due to its emergency thrusters accelerating the craft to the right, causing portions of the hull to melt but only causing minimal damage to the craft.
“Commander, the heretics have sent out a distress call. They plan to call more of their forces to aid them in battle! They may be upon us within the hour! We may not be able to handle them if too many of their forces come to aid there kin.”, one of the elites informed him.
Perhaps this foe was more intelligent than Gallus gave him credit to be. He opened up the covenant com channel and spoke to the hundreds of forces inside.
“My brothers, we have treaded upon the infidels and they have exchanged blows with us, now they have called for their kin’s aid, so we shall do the same! Soon we shall be within range for the boarding crafts to be launched. Prepare my brothers as we shall take the fight to them in and outside their ship. We shall also call for our brothers and we shall all battle with the heretics for the glorious light of the covenant. For their destruction is the will of the gods and we are their instrument.”, Gallus roared.
Several cheers were heard from the covenant forces inside. They all roared with flights of fancy and imaginations of honor being bestowed upon them for their loyalty and their servitude. The Prophets would welcome their glorious victory and make their names known to the other covenant soldiers who would look up with respect and envy at their worshipped brothers. Their future generations of their families would forever know of their greatness. Gallus grinned as he heard these cheers, he waited for them to quiet down before finishing.
“Now go my brothers, go forth and show the infidels why we walk the holy path. They shall receive the honor of being cleansed by our sacred fire!”
At this statement, Gallus went back to attending the bridge. The enemy had begun pulling away but the “Righteous Vengeance” was already at full speed and was gaining on its enemy fast. Gallus didn’t want to defeat them yet, there was a grander battle coming for them.
“Bring us to a halt, use reverse thrusters if you must, I want to give them a chance for the others to arrive. Killing them like this will do nothing for our honor.”, Gallus ordered.
He smirked with anticipation of the upcoming battle. This day would be told of to his children and grandchildren of how he fought valiantly against the heretics in a grand battle with his ship and his crew slaying thousands of the cretins. Even if he died, honor would still be his as his death for his faith would put him among those who nobly sacrificed his life for the holy path. For his fate was the will of the gods, and he was their instrument.
Just then, the first of the boarding crafts launched from the “Righteous Vengeance” and propelled towards the craft, each carrying at least a lance or two of covenant soldiers craving the excitement of battle. Gallus watched and as he did, the first of the UNSC ships began winking into existence as Gallus heard an elite speak of incoming reinforcements. Gallus formed his mandibles into what looked to be an excited grin, he glanced at each of the scenes unfolding in front of him with much anticipation.
And so it begins.