Barbarians

I need you to know what you've done can you hear?

Can you hear me roar?

I will not take this anymore

These words will never be ignored

You want a battle?

Here's a war

Bullet for My Valentine - “You Want a Battle? (Here’s a War)”

The Tetrarchy had absorbed most of its military traditions from humanity, which only made sense since the other races had no such background. By necessity, some had required alteration, but a human from Earth’s past would have felt comfortable on the bridge of Zaaronq, named for the last battle of the previous war. Naval protocol was strictly enforced, and when a higher-ranking officer visited they announced their arrival. They had disposed of the tradition of coming to attention with, however, if the individual was at a console since the flagship was a working vessel. Interrupting the crew amid their duties to acknowledge the appearance of a superior officer was deemed an unnecessary distraction.

However, a senior officer was not announced when one of higher rank was already present. That too was tradition, one left unchanged. It was an insult, a slap in the face to the officer in question, and that convention was also enforced.

Unless said officer made the announcement themselves.

As Admiral Fujimoto arrived on the bridge, Nassat was already on his feet. “Attention on deck!” he barked, catching the crew by surprise. They recovered once they spotted her entering, and no one could have asked for a better display. Hélène hesitated, not expected the honor, but she recovered and made her way to the command chair with confident strides. She came to a halt a comfortable distance apart from Nassat, while Sergeant Lin stood by his side, his eyes missing nothing. The Admiral gave him a brief glance, tarrying for a moment at the sidearm at his waist, before returning her attention to her commander.

“Marshal Nassat,” she said.

“Admiral Fujimoto,” he replied, in subdued tones. “We are thirty minutes out from Gzuj orbit, and sensors are indicating several Khonhim vessels.” He took an exaggerated step to one side, away from the chair. “Tactical command is yours, Admiral.”

She inclined her head in acknowledgment, seating herself on the chair. Her back was as ramrod straight as ever, but there was also a wariness in her eyes as if she wondered how long he would allow her to remain in this place of power. She took a moment to study the tactical display, still somewhat vague in details this far out, before turning her attention back to Nassat.

“Thank you for that,” she whispered, “though it was unnecessary.”

“I believe it was necessary,” he disagreed. “The crew needed to know you have my support. As for the announcement itself...Sergeant Lin has been coaching me.” Lin himself smirked, though Nassat seemed unaware of the gesture.

Hélène chuckled at that, before turning her attention back to the display. “What are my operational parameters?” she asked.

“Prime Minister Singh’s orders still stand,” Nassat replied. “We are here to defeat the Khonhim, to destroy their warfighting capabilities, and to do everything in our power to ensure their eventual capitulation.” He paused for a moment, and then said quietly, “However, we will also give their forces the opportunity to surrender, if the tactical situation warrants it, and limit any planetary bombardment to military targets only. If the planet itself surrenders, we will cease all attacks, and negotiate an immediate ceasefire.”

“And if they violate said ceasefire?” she asked.

Nassat sighed. “That would depend on the specifics, I’m afraid. We will still do everything reasonable to avoid civilian casualties, but to put it in terms you are familiar with…‘The gloves come off’.” He looked uncomfortable with that statement, yet recognized the necessity.

Admiral Fujimoto nodded, taking that in. “I can live with that,” she said after a moment, “though it is not what I would prefer.”

“Your species were the ones that created the rules of warfare, Admiral,” Nassat replied, “and I believe the reasoning is as valid now as it was then...possibly even more so.”

“Perhaps,” she answered, still not convinced, as the tactical officer turned to face her.

“Admiral, the plot is clearing up. I am reading over three dozen point targets, though we’re having difficulties locking on to some of the smaller ones. Some electronic countermeasures.”

Hélène’s eyes narrowed. “The same type reported during the RKKV strike on Earth?” she asked. The attack that killed Marshal Antuma was left unsaid, though everyone on the bridge heard it.

“It’s difficult to say, Ma’am,” the officer replied. “The surviving ships of that battle all suffered damage to some extent, and it corrupted many of the data recordings. But it’s possible.”

“Order the carriers to flush their birds,” she ordered, “and tell them to go to active sensors the instant they’re in formation.” She leaned back in her chair, regarding the plot, as Nassat raised an eyebrow.

“If they’ve developed some stealth technology, then they’ll want to get in as close as they can,” she informed him. “That kind of screen takes power, and it’s unlikely they could equip any of their missiles with it. If they can get in close, cut down on our reaction time…”

“I understand,” he said quietly. “But why only the smaller ships? Why are the larger vessels not also equipped with this technology?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “Maybe there’s a limit to the size of the field they can create.”

“Admiral, fighters are clear of their bays, and sensors are active,” the tactical officer reported. “Forwarding the data to your display.”

Hélène watched the plot update and nodded to herself. “Fujimoto to all ships,” she barked, “Tactical formation Bravo. Watch your flanks.” The task force began to shift its pattern as the ships took up new positions, darting forward as the Khonhim fleet came out to meet them.

“Ma’am, the Starfires are reporting they still cannot get a target lock on the enemy fighters,” the tactical officer informed her. “All attempts at breaking through their ECM have been unsuccessful.”

“Damn it,” Admiral Fujimoto cursed. “We’ve got to burn through their stealth technology.” She stroked her chin as she thought. “Is there anything within range of the Starfires, other than the enemy ships? Anything at all?”

“Checking,” the officer replied, as he pulled up a new screen. “Other than two minor asteroid bodies, there appears to be nothing else within the designated target area.”

The grin that appeared on Hélène’s face was positively feral. “Target the asteroids, but wait for my signal. Inform the Starfires to watch their displays. We will only get one shot at this.”

Nassat looked at her. “What are you thinking, Admiral?”

“That we need to disrupt their ECM,” she replied, not looking up from her screen. “If we can’t burn through with our onboard systems, then we require something else to do the job.”

“Something like a large Matter-Antimatter explosion,” Nassat said, in sudden understanding.

“Exactly,” she nodded. “That’s why the bigger ships are hanging back. I’m certain of it. It won’t disrupt their jamming for long...just long enough. I hope.” She raised her arm, pointing a finger skyward. “Tell the Starfires to get ready. On my Mark...three...two...one…fire!” Her arm came down with a slash as if she were firing the cannons herself.

The task force belched out a barrage of projectiles, sending them screaming towards the planetoids. Fujimoto gripped the armrests of her chair as she watched the display, as the “Time to Impact” clock raced down to zero. The monitors filtered the explosions to less than blinding levels...as dozens of icons appeared on the screen.

“Got you!” she snarled in triumph, as the Starfires swooped in on their targets. The disruption didn’t last long, but just as she’d predicted it had been enough for the fighters to get a lock. The enemy ships fought back valiantly, but with the element of surprise lost they were now badly outmatched, and the Tetrarchy forces took deadly advantage of it. Khonhim fighters died by the handfuls, as the agile craft showed them no mercy. In the space of minutes, they had cleared the way to the rest of the enemy fleet.

“Well done,” Nassat smiled.

“It’s not over yet,” Hélène growled. “Flagship to all units...time to take the rest of them down.”

Nassat turned and faced the Admiral. “I will return shortly. There is...one last detail I must see to.”

Fujimoto barely noticed his departure from the bridge...her mind already focused on what was to come.