Space Odyssey: Spectre-Chapter 68: Outmaneuvering

Salem threw the ship into throttle as it smoothly shot forward. She felt a lack of force from the movement as it moved around to outside the formation that the federation had taken up around them. Each one had an acute angle between them as they were attempting to get through the Wing of Pegasus's shields.

But as the Wing of Pegasus began its maneuver to the right the closest ship began turning towards it while the other ship's began maneuvering as well giving chase to the other two ships that were hidden behind the Wing of Pegasus before it began its maneuver. They were actually spending that time putting distance between them and the federation ships. Closing in on an asteroid field where they were going to make their stand.

The Wing of Pegasus veered around to the thrusters of the first federation ship, Calypso's Stick. It was still attempting to turn and catch up with the Wing of Pegasus's speed when the Wing of Pegasus's shield's dropped. Not even a moment later a barrage of laser and ballistic weapons began hitting the Calypso's Stick's shields.

The shielding shimmered gold for a few moments before the first shot's started making it through the shielding. Then plumes of fires and explosions could be seen as the rear thrusters went dark on the Calypso's Stick. The Wing of Pegasus took a moment to directly position itself behind the enemy cruiser lining up a shot with its ship's main cannons.

A hum could be heard throughout the ship before everything slightly lurched and shook.

THROOM!

On the bridge their surveillance systems were blinded for a moment by the bright light as the loud hum could be heard as well. A side effect of firing such a large weapon had probably caused the noise they heard.

The Calypso's Stick, a ship well known for its military history as it had been at the forefront of many military campaigns. It had also been one of the first streamlined cruiser's that the Crystoph Federation had manufactured. The ship had been captained by some of the most well known Admirals and military commanders to date. That ship was now in several pieces as explosions continued to go through it.

The High Output Laser Cannons had drilled holes through the Calypso's Stick. Rendering it into scrap metal and debris. Taylor Hielo's assumption that the cannon's were too powerful was accurate, especially since both cannon's reactor's were now offline. They needed to be repaired and build up more energy in order to fire another shot like that.

Salem was stunned for only a moment, forgetting her orders before she blinked and began the second maneuver. Giving chase to the enemy cruisers while lowering so it was 'below' the enemy's thrusters.

The allied ship's had already entered the asteroid field as the last two federation cruisers were catching up to them. Still unaware that their allied cruiser had been completely decimated. But as one began entering the asteroid field the other started turning. Both had started releasing their space capable mecha to join the fight.

Captain Cornwall ordered his ship's Hawks Starfighters into action as well. Hawks were designed to be slim and maneuverable. But they ended up shaped like a hawk flying when looking down on it from above, hence the name. Its design also allowed them to maneuver easily in atmospheric environments.

They had either one or two pilots depending on the variation. The variations were vast as some could hover, some were heavily armed for dogfights, while some were kitted for bombing.

As the Hawks flew out the weapons crew began picking their shots carefully, mostly aiming at stray mechs or the enemy cruiser, the Lincoln Feather. The Hawks flew quickly in between the mechs only suffering a few damages as they prioritized getting past the mechs.

The Hawks began a run on the Lincoln Feather at the same time the Red Sanix mercenaries appeared. They were lying in wait on Captain Cornwall's orders waiting for this moment.

Their newly acquired ship, which was previously a Victorium ship, was barreling through the asteroid field making a line for the Crystoph Federation Cruiser that went into the asteroid field following the other two Vexical Military ships. The cruiser was called the Phoenix Declaration, a cruiser fresh off the line with the federation's best military technology. But in the face of the stolen Victorium shielding technology and the Red Sanix's mecha squadron it was destroyed in moments.

With Romav leading the charge in her mecha that was zipping through the air. Showcasing its maneuverability and strength as it arrived first at the Phoenix Declaration and used its sword to cleave off the bridge section that was protruding from the top of the ship. Romav's mecha stood stunned for only a moment before it began flying around the ships carving off other sections that looked important.

Meanwhile the mecha that were closing in on the Wing of Pegasus were met with laser and ballistic fire. But as one of the mecha got closer the weapons stopped firing and then the mecha crashed into the Wing of Pegasus's shielding that was back up.

The federation mechas spent a few minutes attempting to get through the shielding before they flew back to their ship that was under attack by the Wing of Pegasus's Hawks and was taking stray shots from the Red Sanix as they were almost done with the Phoenix Declaration and their mecha that were attempting to defend it. But they were sorely outmatched against the Red Sanix Mercenaries who had the talented Vexical Military Engineers assist them in repairs.

As the Lincoln Feather's mecha began flying back to it the Wing of Pegasus's shields dropped and another barrage of shots began hitting the mechas in the back. Half of them turned around while the rest continued to the Lincoln Feather.

Unfortunately for the Crystoph Federation mechas it was already too late as a sudden transmission was sent to everyone in vicinity on an open channel. Aboard the Wing of Pegasus the communications bridge officer played the message out loud for the entire bridge to hear.

"This is Admiral Jakobs of the Crystoph Federation. I surrender all of my troops to the Vexical Military. I repeat I am waving the white flag. All Crystoph Federation troops that are part of the Lincoln Feather, Phoenix Declaration, and Calypso's Stick are ordered to stand down and surrender yourselves. I ask that an operation to save the occupants of the Phoenix Declaration and Calypso's Stick be begun immediately." The Admiral sounded a bit desperate, likely worried about his troops now that the battle was over.

The mecha began stopping in mid space as they seemed to be talking it over for a second before they disabled all except their life support systems. The captain seemed to be thinking it over for a moment. Before he waved at the communications officer.

"Send this through both our ship's internal system and the general transmission channel." Captain Cornwall told the communications officer. "This is Captain Cornwall of the Vexical Military. We accept your surrender." Then he waved at the communications officer and she cut it off. "Now get me a live connection to the Red Sanix Mercenaries, and our allied ships."

"Yes sir." The communications officer began pressing buttons on her console. Then she gave a thumbs up as the call was connected.

"Red Sanix Mercenaries I want you to collect the mecha and to take prisoner of any survivors you can find on the Phoenix Declaration and what remains of the Calypso's Stick." Captain Cornwall ordered.

"Boss Romav wants to know if we can have anything we find that is not property of the Vexical Military?" An old man, likely Romav's second in command, asked.

"Yes you can but I want the prisoners handed over to the Vexical Military when backup arrives." Captain Cornwall answered. "Now then, Mist of Desert and the Flower of Sister," Those were the allied ships that were undermanned. "I need you to dock with Lincoln Feather and to take the entire crew into custody. Do a full sweep, make sure you catch them all."

"Yes sir!" Came the answers as the call cut off.

"Now connect me to Oculus Station, I need to speak to Major Mendez." Captain Cornwall ordered as he yawned. The call was connected a few seconds later.

"This is Major Mendez, I am also joined by central command on this call." The call opened a few seconds later. "How did your fight go? Cornwall?"

"Good sir. Admiral Jakobs of the Crystoph Federation surrendered but we need support to keep all these prisoners. I have also given the Red Sanix mercenaries permission to take any scrap, debris, and mecha they find for themselves." Captain Cornwall answered, "When can we expect support?"

"They are on their way Captain," Another voice answered, Cornwall and Salem both recognized as the voice belonging to Admiral Dakota. "Was there anything else?"

"Yes sir, we had saboteurs aboard before the battle. I just finished combat so I will begin looking into it with Solisa's assistance." Captain Cornwall answered honestly.

"Concerning, send Major Mendez your report when you are finished. Major Mendez, let them take the cities they have for now. It will only cost lives if we can't support the troops that we send down. But jam all transmissions coming from the planet." Admiral Dakota ordered, "that is all." Then the call ended.

Salem frowned as she remembered the saboteurs and looked at the metal corpse that sat in the middle of the bridge. Just as she was wondering where the people from the medical bay were, a familiar face walked in. Freya Charlie, who served in the same squad as Jace walked in with a black bag.

She looked down at it, "this looks a bit different from the one that showed up in the infirmary."

"One showed up in the infirmary?" Captain Cornwall asked as Freya began putting the body in the black body bag.

"The Infirmary, the Bridge, One in each Cannon Maintenance Room, and the one back by the Rear Thrusters. Fortunately only the infirmary and one of the Cannon Maintenance Rooms suffered fatalities before it was taken down. And the one that Specialist Hielo fought was taken alive but almost completely disassembled." Freya answered as the Captain looked over at the security officer.

"She is correct sir, I was waiting until you were done to inform you. If the damage to the ship was critical I would have informed you immediately." The security officer confirmed.

"Fine but inform me that something is going on at the very least next time something like this happens." Captain Cornwall then turned to the holographic otter that appeared over the war table. "What do you have for me Solisa?"