"You idiot what have you done!!"
Isabelle was on fury, still in her torn clothes, one arm fully bandaged. A medic behind her was trying to calm her down. But mostly, everyone was silent, gloomly silent.
The triangles representing the 45th group, was now completely gone. Instead, it was filled with numbers of escape pods that survived the blast.
Alban was demoralised as well. He was looking at the viewport, unable to understand.
Isabelle was raging, and finally pushed the man off from the pedesdal of the holo projector.
"Wake up men, I am in command now! Comm, open a channel to our ships, new orders!"
--
Trinity was in a maximum security cell, held by two guards, her arms and legs restrained on a strange machine, basically a circular steel ring with manacles at each extremity in order to bind a prisonner in a cross position.
Even from there, they could feel the loud shockwave of the explosion...
She wondered what hapenned to cause this...
--
Outside, it was confusion and panick. The loud rumble of the artillery laser could be heard anywhere there were atmosphere: they came from the cruisers, from the station... but they were shooting blindly through the smoke of the wreckages of the 45th.
Captain Lavoie was, however, behind the Tenebras, and incoming at full speed.
"Fighter squads, fire at will on these f--ers! We'll show 'em the retribution of the Liberty Navy!!"
Over the comm channel, a nearly savage roar of combat was avived as the three dozens of pilot in their fighter cockpits boosted toward the deadly order ships, all weapons blazing.
They were soon joined by multiple squadrons of surviving bombers, unleashing their furry through storms of bomb shells and antimatter blasts. The battleship's shield collapsed and came back online constantly, as it changed it's energy field in order to gain energy from the laser hit. But the trick wasnt effective, as the navy ships automatically changed the polarity of their own weapons to adapt.
And antimatter blasts made no difference: large blasts of white lightning appeared everywhere where once a hull part were, and then disappeared from existence.
--
"To all liberty ships, RETREAT immediately within 2.5 klick of St-Mitchell, this is a direct order from general Kaitlynn!"
No one began arguing. After this booby trap of the Order, the men weren't going strong head against this young girl out of nowhere, she seemed in control of the situation and had an aura of authority around her, something admiral Alban never managed to have. Just at her sight on the holo projection aboard a capital vessel or at the sound of her voice in the noisy channel in a fighter cockpit, men took her with seriousness, and knew she meant business.
A serie of aknoledgement, for the most tired, came back. The fight hadnt lasted that long, it wasnt over yet, but the loss of all ships of a whole battlegroup was bad for the moral.
--
Kaitlynn was now a bit more in control of herself, and ordered men and material around. REports flew around, casualities were immense. It was going very bad.
But her mind was now focused on admiral Alban, who was now sitting on a chair, looking completely numb.
"You... you bastard. Because of your reckless orders, the 45th is gone. How many men have you killed AGAIN? Was the "accident" 4 years back not enough for you?!"
"I didn't w..."
"You say so!" She went forward furiously, a terrifying sight indeed. "All you care of, are these stupid medals! You think men life are expendable, they are like credits you spend to buy glory! That's how nearly a third of my men died, 4 years ago! And now you just killed thousands of the kids outside, how are you going to explain that to high command?!"
Alban was now flushing red, angered as well,
"If it wasn't to save you, this would never have ha-!!"
Isabelle slapped the man in the face, despite her injured arm. There was a bright red mark on the man's face.
"You knew by sending all your ships within the security zone no one would have died! The only risk you would have run, would be the battleships running away from your grasp! But no, you wanted to show the whole world just how awesome you are, you NEEDED to try to trap the-"
A loud alarm interrupted her, as the radar officer (obviously all over his nerves tonight) ran to them,
"Ma'am, reports of a corsair battlegroup coming from the north! They seems to be back up for the order vessels!"
Isabelle took a deep breath. She needed to be calm in order to command. Calm. Coldness, reflection, accuracy.
"We need to give back some order to our ships. Tell to all our vessels to form up in a security line around the north and south of the station. Once they will be in, tell them to hold position."
She sighed, and went over the command chair, punched a code as the lock mecanism for a red button was openned, hissing smoke.
"If the corsair fleet fire, I'm afraid we are going to show up already one of our best cards yet."
"Sir we have enemy ships coming on an intercept course. All escorts are scattered and heading home. What are our orders sir?" Stephanie said with a somewhat tired look on her face.
"Send a message to all our ships still in Alaska. Tell them to cloak and head home. Do the same for us."
Travis replied with a bit of disappointment.
"Sir scanners indicate the Corsair fleet has just arrived in Minor and are heading to St. Mitchell."
After saying it Stephanie looked at Travis for a response.
Travis let out a long breathe then said.
"Tell the Corsairs were returning home, to Toledo. I would like you to also ask them to join us."
Stephanie nodded and went over to the Communication Screen.
The newest communication devise out there. A 3D screen with all allied and enemy ships on a list. All you have to do is tap the selected ship on the screen and talk. Quite simple for something that looks so complicating. The 3D screen also pinpointed where every ship or object is at and which direction it was going.
"This is Stephanie, second in command of Tenabras. Attention Corsair flagship please return to Omicron Minor with the Order fleet. We'll brief you on the situation when were regrouped. Stephanie out."
"This is General Fox of the Corsair Dreadnought Mir. Roger that, changing course to Omicron Minor."
--
Travis was not happy with this defeat as they slowly approached Planet Toledo the damage of the battle was soon realized. The large fleet that Travis commanded at the start of the day was cut in Half.
Stephanie walked over to Travis holding a infocard.
"Sir heres the report on the damage."
Damaged: (In need of repairs)
40+ Fighters
20+ Bombers
5 Gunboats
10 Cruisers
5 Battleships
Looking at the infocard Travis could only show a bit of disappointment. He knew that the Navy lost far more then he did. He then stood up from the Command Chair and walked over to the window. Where many ships were sitting outside Isis Battle Station and Planet Toledo. Some on fire, some missing parts, and some look like they don't even belong to the Order any more.
"If they havent done so already. Call Toledo tell them we need all the repair ships and personnel who know how to fix these ships up and running. They have 2 hours to get all these ships back up and ready for battle" Travis said calmly. Though he knew some were going to take several days.
Stephanie again nodded and went back to the Communication Station.
Travis then walked over to Emily, the navigation captain, who had her head in her arms. Clearly exhausted. Patted her on the shoulder and said.
"You did great."
*still pissed about being ordered to withdraw but knowing he wasent a fighter he buzzed the cittadelle and stoped off her port side on the radio he heard then generals voice as she ordered th regroup"your safe thank the heavens"he then actvated his radio: LNS citadelle this is LSF 24 standing by for orders,i take it you want me to sweep wehats left of the battlefleet?"thats the plan however dock first rearm repair if you need to...*the captian said to the now speeding guardian*"ill get started with the damage assments patterson out"*he closed the channel and then began to comb the debris of the fleets and station"this day just got a helluva lot longer.....*
Isabelle sighed in relief with most of the men in the command center as radar reported the enemy retreating. She looked toward admiral Alban, finding him unemotional. Their stares crossed, burning with cold hatred.
But Isabelle didn't care. The man will have to answer for his acts.
Maybe he will answer for what he did 4 years back as well.
She left the control room, tired and shaken by the loss of the 45th battlegroup. At least, they haven't shown their joker card to the enemy, yet. Which was a good thing, because it was incredibly easier to copy an already existing technology than finding it and Liberty has made his share of sacrifices to get his hand on this unique nomad technology. One of the few the Order didn't have already.
--
Outside, in the sickening cyan nebula of Alaska, captain Lavoie was heading the searches for survivor through the various debris. They tractored in an incredible number of escape pods, but most were sinister burned out wrecks, destroyed by the explosion of the Order battleship. The few Order prisoners they've managed to pick up were treated in a very cold fashion, the soldiers aboard every navy ship at the battle having witnessed the destruction of the battlegroup. Some were even beaten when they refused to cooperate, and the overzealous men could only be straightened by the voice of their commander which often, would have loved to see their prisoners die into a pulp of blood.
A very dark day for the navy they intended to make even worse for the Order people who did this.
--
Trinity Elassion wasnt living the best moments of her life either. It was now 24 hours she was chained to the restraining cylinder, her legs and arms tied in cross position across the device. She wasnt alone in her cell anymore either. A senior LSF commander was standing in front of her, his face showing no emotion, so much that it could have been carved in stone. His severe black uniform, short military hair cut and cold black eyes, so black they never shone by the light, all these made him a quite menacing man.
There were also a few men, looking like technicians with their black lab suit, all of which were written LSF in white on their back. These were walking around the restraining device, apparently checking some mechanic components she couldnt see from her point of view. None of them talked if it wasnt the occasional whispers from one tech to another informing each others in terms she couldnt understand. Then they left, leaving her alone with the commander.
The man finally moved it made her slightly jump so unnatural it seemed for this individual to move. He came back in her visual field with a small table, on which were a number of strange devices, mostly medical.
The man took a syringe sporting a very thing and long needle, filled with some light emerald coloured liquid.
He took it up to eye level, and pushed the trigger until it was at his desired amount, then called with a baritone voice;
Lightning 100%.
The cell door was closed by an opaque steel gate that shut down with fearsome speed.
The room was suddenly filled with blinding white light so white, Trinity couldnt distinguish where were the corners of the room. In fact, where was the light coming from?
The only thing she could see now, was the LSF commander in his black uniform.
The man spoke again, and his voice was most freezing.
Commander Trinity Elation. You are under Liberty authority custody and are going through interrogation for various crimes, namely;
Defection to a military force hostile to the government of Liberty, important theft of Liberty naval properties, collaboration with a military force hostile to the government of Liberty, resisting arrest, refusing collaboration, corruption of naval personnel and acts of treason against Liberty.
He turned his attention back to the syringe, and approached Trinity. His pace were precise, military so straight, he looked like a droid. And then, even droids were programmed to walk in a more humanly fashion.
He made no warning, and inserted the needle in the restrained right arm of the woman.
This is a light tranquilizer, which will slow down the activity of your brain. However, it will inflict no damage to your system, nor cause bodily harm.
He hesitated, and glanced at the table where the rest of his equipment laid.
However, we might come to this if you resist. It is suggested you cooperate fully.
He took out a datapad, on which a microphone of very high quality was plugged, and pushed a little command on it. A red light, meaning it was now recording, blinked alive.
Commander Trinity Elasion, you are accused, and have confirmed your defection to the terrorist organisation known by the name The Order. Tell us how did you managed to enter contact with this organisation, and how was arranged your defection.
--
Admiral Alban, (maybe in a rather pitiful effort to buy her silence), gave her one of the finest suit aboard the prison station, possibly one used during visits of important naval or LSF officers. It was a nicely furnished room, large enough for her to do gymnastic if she wanted to.
It was rather ironic such luxury existed in such a hostile system but she wasnt there to complain. She was exhausted and injured, mentally as well as physically. Her run away from the Tenabras added an impressive number of cuts to her body, mostly from debris. She had a number of light burns, one very close to her belly slightly closer and she would have been killed. And also an arm that had its bone slightly broken, though that was quickly fixed with a cellular regeneration beam. The medics guaranteed she would be back as normal in a few days.
She looked at the viewport to see the Citadelle moving slowly across the wreckages of the 45th battlegroup, and immediately turned her head away. She didnt wanted to see that.
Isabelle looked up at the ceiling and wondered where Jimmy was
//The Order isnt a Terrorist group just so ya know >.< //
"Its been 24 hours. How many ships are back up and running?" Travis asked with no emotion on his face
"Sir most of the damaged ships have been fixed. Were still short 1 Battleship and several fighters."
"Alright get the fleets in formation. Were going to get ready for the final attack we can do. I will get my sister back no matter what the cost!"
Travis was pacing back and forth in his room. As he worried more about his sister's health.
A man knocked on his door.
"Come in."
The man walks in, the Commander of Adler.
"Sir me and my crew are heading back to Toledo we cant help anymore."
"Alright go ahead and go. Thanks for everything."
"Sir, I wish you and your family good luck."
All of the Order ships start moving into a large formation. Along with the Corsairs.
"Heres the plan. All Order ships will go cloak. The Tenabras and Adelka will then move up next to the Quebec. As the other Order battleship, along with the Corsair Dread. Will take the other still active Liberty Dread. However since the Corsair ships cant cloak the Order ships will get there first then as the corsair ships come in. They should start moving toward you. When we are out of range of the St. Mitchel defence. The Osiris ships will uncloak and blow up the Dreadnoughts turrets. After that we may have to wing it. All ships ready! Prepare to go!"
*flying through vvarious debris he saw a hulk of a 45th capitolship he tried listing for comms and what he ehard was men screaming and dieing"christ its like old earths pearl harbor" i cant look at this anymore,st mitchal control request permission to land:contro, replyed :granted but youl lhave to space walk to an airlock were crouwed : he made a 180 and headed back to the station upon hearing this he thought:hmmthe general probly wants me to meet for a debreif or something and controls gonna want a report so il lswing by"*he latched onto the station open ed his ckckpit and walked insaide to fine utter hell,men running droidfs working smoke alerms fires,death never had he seen so many medics and streachers he aproched the command center and hessatantly yet cooly he asked: whres the general or rather the staff they probly want a debreif from me ,and whats the status of general katielyn"
The command center was filled with officers, running from one console to another. Despite the battle being now passed, activity was still strong. In order to defend adequately the station, another battlegroup of the navy, the 88th, composed of 5 battlecruisers and its whole escort wing, entered in. Alban, despite having received a large defeat, knew what to do.
A young lieutenant notices finally Jimmy and hearing his request, dismissly said;
"General Kaitlynn is in her quarter, room 121, 7th block. She doesn't want to be bothered unless its an emergency."
The man focused back to his console, before turning his head,
"Say, why are you interested in knowing that?..."
--
Captain Lavoie had his ship standing by in the defencive line surrounding St-Mitchell, right beside the two dreadnaughts of the 79th battlegroup. These were older version of the Liberty battleship, Freedom class, but still held very good in combat and their components constantly upgraded over the decades, they weren't lagging so much behind the Constellation class dreadnaught he was commanding.
They all knew what would probably come up next. The Order would strike back.
Oh, they doubted it was going to be the decisive battle between the Order and the Navy. It was highly unlikely, even though the obvious outcome would be the Navy completely crushing its enemy. That was only if they managed to assemble a large enough fleet, which never seemed to happen. Heck, they even knew how to get to the order's homeworld.
But for the moment, their mission was a defencive one. And they certainly had enough ships to hold off any kind of attack.
--
On the other side of the station, Trinity was having a beating. She wasn't even sure if she told the truth or a lie in the thousand of questions the LSF commander asked. He wasn't even sure if what she knew in her head was true or not. The man apparently didn't cared either.
He...
Another punch came, strong. Trinity tightened her mouth, forcing back a scream of pain.
"Holding your silence longer will only make it last longer. As a matter of fact, we have a lot of time to burn. If I run out of patience, others will replace me. How about you?"
The ring rotated slightly so Trinity was now held completely at the vertical.
As well, the man could now kick him...!
The kick came, going straight to her belly. The air in her came out and she felt like dying...
"We will manage to breack you down just like anyone who's ever passed by here."
Trinity looked around, panicked. There was no refuge. She now understood why such lightning. She couldn't even hide in the shadow, couldn't even find a place to seek comfort.
She was completely vulnerable to someone for the first time of her life.
Another kick, this time near the groin, made her bite her tongue accidentally. Blood came out.
The man wasn't even doing this out of passion, or hatred or any emotion. It was merely a machine doing its duty, calculating her breaking point and torturing without any regret or sadism.
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