The meeting

[Seth Karlo]

Seth recieved the guncam shots from Wolfe with little happiness. The pictures clearly showed some pretty heavy Rhienland ships in California.

This can't be happening...how are they getting such heavy tech through a Jump hole?

He had once witnessed a Navy Commander try and take an Assault Carrier through a jumphole after being battered by 2 Outcast Dreadnoughts... the Jump hole had destabilised due to the incredible mass, and the only thing that emerged from the other end was wreckage of the ripped apart ship. There was no way a Rhienland Battleship could get through-

"INCOMING DISTRESS CALL FROM THE LNS DEFIANT." The computer blared at him. He jogged out of his quarters and onto the bridge.

"Report?" he ordered, his voice calm and collected. Sonya looked up from the console on the other side of the bridge, and as Seth took his seat, she started reading the report.

"LNS Defiant, Cruiser class, currently stationed in California. Under attack by a Rhienland Cruiser and a fighter wing."

Seth flicked up his console in the arm of his chair and pressed a quick button, calling the battlegroup to close in to the San Francisco.

"Charge Hades." He ordered, and a tech ran to a corner of the bridge.

"COMMAND CODE REQUIRED." The computer screamed, and Seth gripped the arms of his chair.

"Seth Alpha Alpha 9 Tetra Red." he intoned, and was rewarded with a small beep of affirmation.

"CHARGING HADES. 70%"

Seth flicked the comms open and started the general orders alarm.

"This is the Captain, all hands, hole onto your hair. Battlegroup, prepare to jump."

With a roar, the 2 cruisers and the 4 gunboats that made up the San Francisco battlegroup closed in, and a split second later, the massive Dreadnoughts shields extended around all 6 vessels, holding them close.

"HADES 95%"

Seth gripped the arms of his chair tighter, and through clenched teeth started feeling the massive ship start to shudder under the enourmous power throbbing within it.

"HADES FULLY CHARGED."

Seth looked up, and laid his finger on a small black button on his chair. He pressed it, bringing weapons online.

"Jump" he said.

With an incredible flash, the Hades engine ripped a hole in subspace, the ships falling down into a giant abyss. The cruisers and gunboats merely passengers in the incredible roar of a hyperjump. Light seemed to consume everything, and all covered their eyes from the massive power.

And with a gigantic explosion, space ripped itself apart in the California system, and the crew of a Rhienland cruiser saw a sight that they would never forget. The San Francisco, along with her escorts, charged into normal space again, turrets already blazing.

Each gunner aboard the San Francisco sat in a see through pod, pointing the guns with their joysticks, pressing a small button to release a massive charge. The San Francisco was still several kilometres away, and they still managed to hit the small shape on the horizon with everything they had.

Teya screamed a war whoop as she launched the Heavy Mortar, and a second later shrieked a second as it connected perfectly with her target, the explosion seeming dull and dark compared to Hades. The Cruiser responded quickly, targeting the incoming ship, it's green and powerful turrets pushing the San Francisco's shields to the limit. Bombers appeared from behind the cruiser, sillouhetted by the Texas sun, the rays of which shot far and wide, turning a scene of death into one of beauty.

Seth held tight as the San Francisco slid sideways, the momentum from the jump still evident. The Gravity panels failed and the crew were thrown to the right hand side of their seats as the ship groaned and twisted. The gunners kept firing, even when the enemy cruiser saw their chance and pounced, focusing on the San Franciscos large side while only presenting a small front profile in return.

Seth cursed, and the Golden Gate and the San Jose moved in beside them. 2 Liberty Cruisers, renowned for their crew and commanders. The large forward guns spoke power, and the cruiser seemed only to whisper in response.

"Launch all fighters!" Seth roared, as the San Francisco continued to spin. "Ensign, get my ship under control!"

The ensign was doing his best, but the way they had come out of Hades meant that the sun was pulling them in. The momentum was magnified due to the position of the drop out point... it was too close to the sun, far too close. The impulse engines roared their anger, and the thrusters responded, and slowly the San Francisco began to slow her spin.

The Cruiser's started battling it out, each ship giving as good as it got, and slowly the enemy shiop began to weaken.

Then the bombers arrived.

Each ship had a Nova torpedo and a Supernova cannon mounted, each one primed for death. Seth cursed again, and watched as the fighters moved in. 3 wings of Guardians. 15 ships. He thought that would be enough, but watching the 20 or so bombers incoming, he knew he was in serious trouble. If they managed to launch their torpedo's at any of the ships, they would be doomed.

"FIRE FLAKS!" He bellowed, and the gunners on deck 9 narrowed their eyes, and fired their charges. The small capsules shot across space, before exploding in huge death, small fragments ripping into the bombers.

Seth sighed, this was not going to end well. He looked out of the window, and Sonya sat in her chair, his XO shrieking commands left and right.

Time seemed to slow for him, as the shield of his proud ship fell, and explosions were heard and felt across the ship. He had the choice to use Hades, to escape... but he would be leaving his ships behind.

Leave no man behind.

He knew that oath, and he stood by it. More torpedos hit the San Francisco, and he prepared to order an abandon ship. Then they came.

"Need a hand there Navy boy?" came the drawling tone.

Before he could blink, before he could open his mouth in amazement, almost 50 Rogue fighters and bombers shot into the battle, targeting the Rhienland bombers, targeting the enemy ships.

Seth grinned in disbelief, stunned for just a second, he came back to the battle in a second though, and slammed his hand onto the console, taking command again. The San Francisco pitched and rolled around him, but his face was always clear, and when the bridge crew looked at him, each and every one felt invigorated, ready to battle more. Never to give up.

"This is Seth. Noone target any Rogue vessels! Teya! Make that damned ship go away!"

And about 400 metres above him, a 23 year old brunette with stunning looks smirked, and hit her comms button.

"With pleasure sir."

The Heavy Mortar blast ripped from Teyas cannon, and streaked across space, ripping particle from particle on the enemy ships hull. With an explosion to rival that of a dying suns, the Rheinland Cruiser exploded, the shockwaves reaching out and hitting fighters like a massive hand from the heavens.

Some of the enemy bombers started to run, and Seth watched as Rogues seemed to appear in front of them, destroying them before they could finish retreating.

Seth collapsed back into his chair, and opened comms.

"Seems like I owe you one gentlemen..."

EDIT: Didn't mean for that to be so long D:

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Signature by Sleipnir.