"Attention all hands, prepare for departure T minus five and counting!." Thomas Buckley sat in his command chair on Oxford's bridge and listened to the announcements from his crew. Around him the liners bridge crew was busy with the myriad last-minute details that always proceeded when leaving for space. He watched their quiet professionalism and thought of similar operations before. They had done this so many times most procedures could be done in their sleep, still they are Armed Forces and procedures were mandatory.
Two minutes after the announcement, department heads began relaying their status to the ship's executive officer Ethan Leigh. As Buckley eavesdropped on the command circuit, he felt a sudden rush of pride at the caliber of people he had working under him. He started reading the message he got this morning again.
Quote:
***Flash... Flash.... Flash....**** To: HMRV-Oxford. From: HQ.
Priority: High.
Encryption Key: High Ultra 27593/B-I/4
Subject: Recall order.
1.The Oxford has to return to Pl. Leeds at best speed for a personal meeting with HQ. It's imperative to arrive as soon as possible for new operational orders.
2.Ships inspection by Armed Forces safety inspector will be conducted at determined date if its not interfering with current ship's operations.
3.Debriefing Athena project.
4.Debriefing Keystone project.
5.Delivering classified intel operation purple Brimstone.
**End of Flash... End of Flash..... End of Flash....***
Five minutes later the ship went under way for her long voyage home. When she drifted away from the spacestation Sunderland deep in the outskirts of the Newcastle system, her main engines took over the powersupply of the ship. Slowly the station faded away when the massive liner laid in a course for the gate leading into Leeds. Coming from deep out of the Newcastle system, where she worked on several classified research projects for the past months, this ship is shrouded in secrecy. A lot about this ship is classified. Even for the eyes of the BAF and BPA.
Captain Buckley turned his command chair around and gave his orders. 'Helm avoid the lanes and set course for the Leeds gate". Engineering give me cruise speed towards the gate' Chief engineer Hitchcock made a quick salute and started to work on his controls. 'Activate cloak and make preparation for stealthmode commander Leigh.' The commander quickly nodded and prepared for stealthmode. 'Athena' he referred to the ship's AI. 'Begin passive scans of the area and report anything suspicious.' Yes captain." Then he turned back and started to think about what he would tell at HQ.
Roughly 35k away from the Newcastle/Leeds gate.
A small drone makes its way through the Northumberland Ice Cloud, a very tiny red strobe light blinks from time to time sending a encoded scan transmission back to its mothership.
It had taken the the Oxford a week to cross the system from Sunderland research station to the jumpgate. Slowly the Oxford made her way through Newcastle. Unnoticed.... Undetected.Total communication blackout.. The crew is on edge, they were flying through dense clouds of massive clumps of ice, the reports of gallian frogs now invading deep in the system made them keep a keen eye on all sensor data. It was imperative they would reach Leeds but radio transmissions suggest that Leeds has fallen and the gate destroyed.. "Is this true?." Buckley thinks while starring out of the bridge window.
Suddenly a flash transmission comes in over an open channel.
Quote:
Flash…. Flash…. Flash…. >To all remaining Armed Forces ships
> Code Orange. Repeat… Code Orange.
> Contact nearest HQ.
> Line has been broken.
>Derby on fire.
>McDuff and York escaped.
> Gate has been sealed.
> Good luck. End flash…. End flash…. End flash……
Captain Buckley followed his crews actions with a sharp eye while thinking of ways to keep his ship and crew safe. With the current projects stealth is their main weapon. “Its imperative we stay out of side of the Gallians mr Leigh” he says to his xo. “Lets go to condition two and put up a four hour watch rotation.” Leigh responds with a firm voice. "Aye cap’n. and walks away to make sure the crew follows his orders to the letter.
Buckley thought about the briefing he had earlier this afternoon with his head researcher dr. Janice Fisher. "Most critical projects would be Project Keystone, Project Arturious and offcourse the Athena Artificial Intelligence system, Project Athena.The AI is now fully integrated into the Oxfords systems." She told him.
Twelve years of research had made Athena capable of improving the ships combat and operational processes by 38%, data gathered by sensors is processed almost instantaneously. Less crew would be needed when on every warship a AI would be integrated.
The injection of purple brain matter in Athena’s liquid core a week ago increased her higher functions by 21% Dr Fisher ordered a class 1 observation which involved a 24h watch to see if Athena would develop any side effects. Most of the crew did no longer see Athena as a program, but began to refer to her as a part of the crew now Athena began actively interact with the crew. Still sometimes she acted as a spoiled child. Time would learn.
Close to the Newcastle/New London gate. Cruiser patrol P-466/HL, consistent out of three cruisers, two gunboats and various fighter escorts, pass the gate in Newcastle keeping a watchful eye for Gallian intruders. In charge of the parol was commander J.M. Brown of the HMS-Farrington. It was a easy patrol through Newcastle past days, the frogs were awfully quiet, “I bet they are up to something” he murmels to himself..
Brown turned to his Second in command while filling his pipe “Set course for Salisbury mister Taylor, it's time we getting some R&R”. Lt.Commander Taylor nods “Oi can’t agree more skip”. “Activate the fleet command circuit miss Ponce.” Taylor says to the communications officer. "Aye aye sir.." ... Suddenly their talk was interrupted."Capt’n we detect Gallian signatures on the screen.” came a voice from the dark area of the bridge where the sensors were monitored.
From behind of the gate a group of ships, a Gallian cruiser and 2 gunboats appear. The cruiser launches a group of snubs crafts and they lay in a attack course.
Chapter 1.2 HMS-Farrington. “Gallians detected sir” Yells one of the young officers. “At least one cruiser…..no make that two and several gunboats. I also detect fighters sir…. Bloody hell, they have launched at least a dozen snubs heading our way.” The young officer screams a bit too excited for commander Brown. “Calm down, keep a eye on your screen.” Commander brown says with a authorial voice as he swings his chair around and starts issuing orders. “Mr Taylor sound quarters and open fleetcom.”
The XO nods with a grim face and starts to talk in his headset while in the meantime alarm bells go off "Battlestations…. battlestation…. all crew to their stations, this is not a drill" .... "
Brown continues with his orders over the fleetcom. “Cruiser Brimstone stay on our port flank we will catch them head on” Capt Crowley a grey bearded officer salutes before he turns away from the screen. “Cruiser Alexia and gunboats Wasp and Stingray attack their starboard flank… Hammer down those gunboats.…” The captains nod as they all understand there orders. He looks for a second on his tactical screen to rethink his strategy….. “Order our fighter squadrons to intercept bombers first, fighters second, and tell them to stay at least 1500 m from the gunboats to give them a free zone of fire.” Taylor looked at the screen “Sir i suggest we keep our bomber squadron behind us until they have a window of opportunity to strike.” Brown nods “Agreed mr Taylor”
Fighters fought in vicious dogfights around both fleets. The Gallian pilots were experienced but outnumbered and soon most fighters were shot down. At the same time the capital ships engaged in long range combat, torpedo's and mortars flew across between the fleets. Soon the fight continued at close distance, both sides did not give any quarter. The HMS-Brimstone, suffering heavy damage from an torpedo attack, exploded,
There was no time for her crew to launch escapepods. Both Gallian gunboats came in crossfire from both remaining Bretonian cruisers and were destroyed.
Brown ordered his bomber squadron to make a run for the leading cruiser “Understood... Tally Ho chaps let send em to hell” The squadron leader responded as they roared in to launch their torpedoes, she exploded damaging her sistership. Seizing the opportunity Brown ordered all his ships to concentrate fire on the damaged Gallian cruiser. The gunboat Stingray had taken a beating, large gaps were visible in her hull as her captain stated over the fleet com he would retreat to save his vessel and crew.
The asteroid field….
Buckley watches the main view screen, the left side shows the battle, the right side shows the ships 25000 meter radius scan. He is relieved that the Armed forces managed to get the upperhand and winning. **You want a analysis of the battle sir?** Athena asks with a clinical voice. “No thanks Athena” Buckley replies. The crew cheers when another Gallian ship blows up. Suddenly.... A bright flash appears where one of the Armed forces ships is positioned Buckley curses. “Bloody bastards.” A silence comes over the bridge as the crew realizes the crew had no change to reach the escapepods. **My scans indicate that was the HMS-Brimstone** a two second pause **Further analysis of data says the crew had a 5% probability to escape.** “Great!!” Buckley faces his XO with a grim look on his face.
“Mr Leigh set course for the battle and warn doc Stanton she gets wounded incoming, make sure we stay atleast 6000 meters from the battle.” Leigh nods “Very well sir. Helm... Make your course one three zero, ahead full. Tactics...Prepare for decloak and to defend the ship.” **Captain you are aware we break our prime directive not to reveal this ship sir? Our rules of engagement clearly states that we may not reveal ourself when we have 1. Several ongoing experiments aboard. 2. No escort. Also…...** “I know Athena” Buckley cuts her off mid sentence with a grim voice. “Sometimes we have to follow our heart instead of logic, i cannot let them die in good conscious while we have the perfect facilities to aid the wounded" Athena thinks for a few seconds before reacting **I....... understand captain.**