HOME | DD
Yltoris — Battle for Ranlys
Published: 2026-09-13 19:32:35 +0000 UTC; Views: 4814; Favourites: 3; Downloads: 0
Redirect to original
Description
"Status," Commander Tavon Messyryn snapped.
"Ship is closed up and ready for action. Crew at action stations. All weapons armed and ready to fire, if provided targeting. Engines running within limits. All systems nominal. Crew is fed and rested, to the extent possible." replied Sub-Commander Algorial, her second in command.
"Scan. Tell me about those ships," Tavon ordered.
"Commander. Current count is now seven. Three are approximately our size. We classify these as cruisers. Four are smaller. These are classified as destroyers. None, repeat none, are of Gozari design. They are in two groups. Lead group count is five. Two cruisers and three destroyers. Rear group count is two. One cruiser and one destroyer. Distance between is two hundred thousand leagues, give or take. Distance between groups is increasing. Both rear group ships are leaking air. Emissions are fluctuating. This is believed from battle damage."
"Have they detected Blade of Kryssia?"
"Unknown. We are detecting radar impulses from those ships. Signals are weak." Lieutenant Ranyll shrugged. "Without knowing how good their equipment or techs are, there is no way to know."
"Give me video of those ships," the Commander ordered.
An image flashed to her screen. It showed five ships, in an arrowhead formation. The ships were long and blocky, as if someone had put rectangles together, with narrow sections between. Antennae and aerials protruded in numerous places. The engines were mounted on the hull, at the rear.
The forward ship was a destroyer, with another on each flank. Rearward of her were the two cruisers, in column.
The ships were painted white, with markings and letters along the sides. These could not be discerned, at this distance.
Lights flashed along the side of the lead cruiser.
"Commander. They are signaling. Each other, I believe." That was a signals tech speaking. She nodded, in acknowledgement.
Those are human ships. Moving in sequence, with purpose. They know what happened here.
Blade of Kryssia had moved quickly, reversing course and moving around the planet in a parabolic curve. She had thus left orbit propelled by her own engines and centrifugal force, as if shot out of a cannon.
Her course had not been to close on the intruders, or to flee. Rather, she had gone perpendicular to them. This allowed sensors a better view. Of both the intruders, and of Blade of Kryssia.
If they know what happened here, then they should also know who did it. Let them see us, and know the difference.
Neither confront nor flee them, as an attacker or miscreant would.
That had been her thought then.
"Commander. Lead group is changing course." A long pause, as calculations were made. "They now are on an intercept course for Blade of Kryssia.
They have sighted us, then.
"Rear group continues as before."
Communications sent a message to her repeater screen. We have an incoming message from the humans. Audio only.
"Tie in arcana. Record. Give me live mike," she replied.
It was a different language than that from Captain McClachlan. Ths voice was male, gruff, and held an undercurrent of anger.
"This is Admiral Alois von Haussen aboard Terran Federation Ship Scharnhorst, to unidentified ship. Identify yourself. State your intentions." The verbiage was difficult to understand. It repeated thrice, before she convinced herself she understood.
How many languages do these people have?
"This is Commander Tavon Messyryn, aboard Firstborn Navy Ship Blade of Kryssia. My intentions toward you are to make peaceful contact. I am not hostile; repeat, not hostile, to your people."
"Why did you fire upon our people on the planet?" There was outrage in the human's voice.
"I did not. My ship arrived a short time ago. Others fired upon you. No doubt you have descriptions of those. Does my ship match the descriptions?"
A long silence.
"How do I know you are not an enemy with a unique ship and a pleasant voice?" Admiral von Haussen wanted to know.
"You do not. Just as I do not know you and your five ships will not fire upon Blade of Kryssia as soon as you are within range. If I might make a suggestion, Admiral?" Tavon replied.
Their guns are hot, scan sent her. Radars are locking on.
"Go on," responded the Admiral.
"I do not know if you are in communication with the planet. If you are, you might consult with Captain Angus McClachlan," she suggested.
Target them with our fire control. Do not fire without my order. Weapons acknowledged with a nod.
"Stop your engines. Prepare to be boarded," the Admiral came back. "And tell me, how do you know Captain Angus McClachlan? Why have you targeted my ships, if you are not hostile?"
"My ship contacted Captain McClachlan. I rendered assistance, as best able. The number of your enemies there were greatly reduced." The Commander signalled, for a glass of wine. It came, and she downed it.
The human ships continued to close. They were nearly in range, if their weapons equalled her own.
I will not fire first.
"Reduce speed by half. Stand by for roll and displacement," she ordered, via her repeater screen.
"How did you know to contact him?" Admiral von Haussen wanted to know.
"He contacted me first. I knew not his name. He apparently believed my ship was one of yours. I responded to his call, when I was prepared to do so," Tavon replied.
"You have not explained why your fire control has locked onto my ships, Commander," the Admiral reminded her.
"Your fire control has locked onto my ship, Admiral. I am peaceful, repeat peaceful, toward you. I am not your enemy. I do not desire to fight you. But I will return fire, if you fire upon me," Tavon replied.
"You have not stopped your engines," the human commented.
"True. I have not," Tavon agreed.
"Why?" The Admiral sounded angry.
"I am not here to fight you. Nor am I here to surrender to you," she replied.
Silence.
Is he testing us, or is he waiting to close, to ensure a kill?
Then: "Captain McClachlan vouches for you." The targetting radars ceased emitting.
Blade of Kryssia's targetting sensors shut down after.
Admiral von Haussen had ordered her ship to parallel his own, Scharnhorst . This ship was the lead cruiser of the lead group.
"Commander Messyryn. Captain McClachlan speaks well of you. You have a powerful ship," the Admiral began.
"I do indeed. Blade of Kryssia is a new ship, of my people's most modern design. She is a match for many Gozari warships. They are enemies of my people. They are your enemies, as well," Tavon replied.
"What can you tell me of these enemies? We had never encountered them previously," the Admiral rejoined.
"They are called Gozari, Admiral. Reptilian, of considerable size and strength. They are personally brave, ruthless, carnivorous, and cunning. They prefer to attack with great force after scouting their target.
Tell me, Admiral. Two of your ships came in with what appeared to be battle damage. Were you ambushed by the Gozari?" Tavon asked.
"We were indeed. They hit us from two sides. We didn't know they were in the area," the human growled.
Tavon sent a message to her scan officer, Lieutenant Ranyll, via her repeater screen. Scan his ship. Passive scan and arcana only. I want to know about that ship. The others as well. Record everything, and capsule it, ready for transmission home. If detected, cease at once.
They are scanning us, Lieutenant Ranyll replied.
That is to be expected. Take no action against it.
After a few momenta, a schematic came back. Lieutenant Ranyll had anticipated the order. A smile was her reward.
Package schematics of all known Gozari warships. Attach them to a audio/visual projection of me, with arcana tied in. Record. Stand by to send on my order.
Lieutenant Ranyll keyed controls on her board. Ready.
"Admiral, are you sitting at a desk or table? If you are, please clear a space on it, if you would." Tavon asked.
"God in Heaven, what are you asking that for?" Admiral von Haussen demanded.
"It will be clear enough in a moment, Admiral," she replied.
They cannot do projections. Do they have arcana?
"It is done. Of all the foolishness.." The Admiral sounded exasperated.
She stood. Do not wish to arrive sitting on my rump. It would be disrespectful, not to mention undignified.
"Vas is los!" Admiral von Haussen was gazing down at her. Tavon looked around. She stood on a desk, close to a engraved metal cup. Steam floated from the cup.
Fortunate I did not arrive in that.
"Admiral von Haussen. I am Commander Messyryn, speaking directly to you via a projection. This is an, ah, ability we Firstborn have, blended with our technology. I thought it best to appear before you, and speak personally."
She was clearly on the bridge of a warship. Other humans were seen. Some at consoles, going about their duties. Others were officers supervising juniors. All were armed with some sort of sidearm.
Three were carrying larger weapons, rifles of some sort. Two now approached, and leveled those weapons at her.
She gazed back at them, equably.
This is a projection. I can see and speak through it. My physical body is elsewhere.
"What are you?" Admiral von Haussen asked.
She smiled. "We refer to ourselves as the Firstborn. We do so, because in our travels we have found no sentient species of an age greater than our own. And," she smiled, "we are much taller than this." She knew what he saw. A biped, shaped much like he was, but female and slender. She had long straight black hair, pointed ears, grey eyes, and an angular face. She wore tunic and breeches of green and black, with a crimson sash from right shoulder to her waist. The sash was decorated with small metal badges, indicating enemy ships killed. Her arms were bare, her left forearm and hand bearing tattoos indicating her rank and years of service.
Admiral Alois von Haussen was a slender human. His skin was light, his hair grey and stubble. His eyes were blue; they regarded her with curiosity and wariness. His mouth curved downward in a frown; an old scar marred one cheek. He wore a one piece uniform, of light grey color, with body armor over parts. She saw no weapon, as his waist was below her line of sight, but she presumed he carried a pistol of some sort.
She was armed, to be sure. She had her sword and arcanist pistol, although these were but images on the projection, and harmless. The data chip she now brandished was not harmless.
"This chip contains all the information my folk have on Gozari warships. You might find it useful. However, I do not know if it is accessible by your devices."
Her projection lay the chip on the desk top.
Admiral von Haussen did not pick it up.
He is wary. As would I be.
"I had intended to introduce you to my other captains. To have a planning session. There is little time, as the Gozari, as you call them, are no doubt pursuing my ships. They may arrive at any moment."
He gave an order to his comm officer, then activated a monitor on his desk. The machine lit up, then the screen subdivided, showing seven humans. He introduced them. "These are the officers commanding my other ships. Capitaine Villiers of the Jeanne d'Arc, Captain Wilson of the Ticonderoga, and Captain Wolf of the Gneisenau, have my cruisers. Capitaine DuChesne has the Montcalm, Commander Burke the Lexington, Captain Ohara the Mikuma, and Captain Oba has the Kongo." A gesture indicated Commander Messryn. "Gentlemen, this is Commander Tavon Messyryn, commanding the Firstborn Navy Ship Blade of Kryssia." They nodded to her.
Captain Wolf spoke. "Commander Messyryn, what capabilities has your ship? What information do you have, on our enemies?"
"Blade of Kryssia is the newest vessel of the latest cruiser design of the Firstborn Navy. She is equipped with powerful walls against enemy fire. Her weapons are lasers, charged particle guns, and railguns. I do not know how effective those are, compared to your own. Her scan systems are superior, unless you waited a time to change to an intercept course of my ship. I had you on scan for several minutes before that. Be advised, the Gozari also have superior scan to your ships. Some are equal to my own." She smiled. "At current range I can count the rivets in your hulls, and evaluate the nutritional content of the food you eat."
"You can see inside our vessels? Sacre bleu!" Capitaine Villiers was aghast.
"I can," she affirmed. "Your ships are also scanning my own. I have taken no action to prevent it."
Captain Wolf broke in. "You have data on those we fight. Give it to us."
Tavon indicated the data chip, still resting on the desk top. "Everything
I have is on that chip. I do not know if it is compatible with your devices. If not, I can verbally recite much of it, from memory."
Admiral von Haussen took the chip, then passed it to a crewman. "Isolate the tertiary library computer from all others. Then insert this."
The man took the chip and strode away, to obey the Admiral's command.
Admiral von Haussen regarded her again. "You have not informed me why you are assisting us. You seem to have considerable freedom of action. More than a Terran ship Captain would have. What orders are you following?"
"Admiral, my superiors have known of the presence of another void faring species, further out on the Arm than ourselves, for months. Intercepts of your signals told us that. They also knew the Gozari were here, in considerable force. It was uncertain what the situation was. My ship was sent here to find you, and discern your intentions. Further, I was to locate the Gozari, learn what they are doing, and hinder it. Lastly, to explore this area.
I do not know your intentions concerning my people. You seem to have been unaware of us. This remains unconfirmed.
The Gozari intend to devour you, as they intend to devour all. As they are attempting to devour we Firstborn. Thus I assist you, in fighting them.
Blade of Kryssia has explored two systems thus far, including this one. Further exploration must wait, until it can be resumed, the Old Gods willing."
"Your superiors sent only the one ship, your own?" Captain Burke asked.
"I am unaware of other ships being despatched. It is possible others have been, and that I was not informed of it," she replied. "Have you reinforcements enroute?"
"Other ships are coming. I do not know when they will arrive.
The Gozari may arrive at any moment," Admiral von Haussen answered.
"Have you a plan for when they arrive? You said they ambushed you. What forces did they have?" Tavon wanted to know, mind working frantically.
"They had one ship, larger than the others. A battleship, I presume. Two cruisers, and six destroyers. Outgunned and tactically in a bad position, I ordered a withdrawal here. They did not pursue. You know them and their tactics. Why would they not have pursued?"
She considered. It was unlike the Gozari to fail to pursue an advantage.
"I do not know. Typically they would have attempted to destroy you. Perhaps they were unsure whether they had sufficient advantage over you. They might have permitted you to escape, with a ship beyond your scan range following you. That ship could relay data on you to other ships. This would enable them to have overwhelming advantage when they do attack."
"That was some hours ago," commented the Captain of Lexington.
Tavon thought back. "I do not know the length of your hours. But." She paused to consider time factors. "That might put it approximately when Blade of Kryssia entered this system and engaged their forces here. I know they did transmit warnings before I destroyed them."
"They might have received news of your arrival, and broke off because of it? Your ship was not present, and not an immediate threat," commented Admiral von Haussen.
"True. Yet you have a powerful force, even though outmatched by them. They might inflict great loss upon you, while sustaining loss themselves. They could not know that my ship is operating alone.
We do not know the extent of their forces operating in the area. Perhaps they have reinforcements enroute. They might have chosen to wait until those reinforcements are present, and then attack. Or perhaps they have lightly protected forces coming here, and chose to join such. Thus to protect them from me. They might have other reasons." Tavon shrugged. "These are beings who take prisoners with intent to eat them. Their thoughts are beyond my ability to understand. Nor would I wish to."
"They eat their prisoners?" Capitaine Villiers asked.
"Surely not!" Captain Wolf scoffed.
"They do. We Firstborn have video of it," she confirmed.
"What happens to their folk, when you take them prisoner?" Captain Oba asked.
"Gozari are not known to surrender. To my knowledge, none ever has. I tell you that as an officer of the Queen, and Commander of one of her warships, I have never taken one prisoner. When we learned they eat their prisoners, attempts to take them captive ceased. I personally have never attempted it. I became an officer of the Queen after my 26th year day. I have been Commander of a warship since my 79th year. I am 256 years old now. I am in my middle years, as my folk see it.
They used nuclear weapons on three towns of your planet there. Blade of Kryssia destroyed the culprit. My weapons detonated that ship's magazines.
They have taken my folk captive in this war. When possible, we board that ship, and free the captives," Tavon replied.
Shock lay hard upon human faces.
"If you cannot free the captives?" It was the Captain of the Kongo.
"Then we give them a quick death, and pray to the Old Gods on their behalf. Better that, than to be eaten by their captors," Tavon's voice turned hard. "As my eldest sister was."
"Your sister?" It was Admiral von Haussen.
She nodded. "The Gozari are known to use nets and non lethal weaponry, for the purpose. They prefer their food fresh." Her voice was bitter. Captives are referred to as rubosh. It is a Gozari word, meaning food which will soon be eaten." Her eyes came up, and she looked into the eyes of each captain, and last of all the Admiral. "They use the same word for you. I have copies of signal intercepts doing so. This is not a border incursion. They mean to devour you, and all you have."
Admiral von Haussen waved a hand. "This is all very interesting, no doubt, but I need to know what you will do when they arrive, Commander Messyryn."
She nodded. "As I mentioned, my orders are to prevent the Gozari accomplishing their purpose. That purpose is to destroy you. Hence, I, and my ship, are at your disposal." Tavon looked him in the eyes
My left ear has begun to itch.
"When they arrive, the squadron will engage. This includes your vessel, Commander Messyryn. The cruisers in line ahead formation, thus able to maneuver as needed. Destroyers behind.
Our weapons are lasers, short range space fighters, and missiles. Fighters will launch as appropriate, then wait until my order to close and engage. Missiles will be launched when the enemy are in range. Blade of Kryssia will be on the far right of the formation.
Priority target will be the Gozari heavy unit, followed in sequence by the cruisers and destroyers.
Have you any suggestions, Commander?" Admiral von Haussen stared at her. It seemed a legitimate question.
"Admiral, I have little knowledge of your weapons. Thus I can give you no advice to best to use them. Yet I must say this: Gozari ships are fast, and have powerful weapons. What they lack, is maneuvrability. Take advantage of this. Do not expect Blade of Kryssia to stay in formation, for she will not. Further, -"
Words in script appeared in her vision. GOZARI WARSHIPS HAVE ENTERED THE SYSTEM.
It was Lieutenant Ranyll.
Tavon shook her head, to clear it. "Admiral von Haussen, scan has detected enemy ships entering the system. I do not know if you have them yet. Your pardon, but I must go."
Admiral von Haussen waved. "Hals und Beinbruch!"
Commander Messyrn saw her own bridge once again.
"Status report," barked the Firstborn Commander.
"Ship is coming to action stations. Systems are nominal. Shield walls are down. Weapons are warming up. Crew is as rested and fed as possible," replied Sub-Commander Algorial.
"Report data on intruder ships," Tavon ordered.
"They entered scan range moments ago. Count is nine. One large, two medium, six small. Evaluate as Gozari battlecruiser, two cruisers, and six destroyers. Range is too great for details. Speed is high. Course is direct path to the planet,' Lieutenant Ranyll replied.
"Do they have us?" Tavon queried.
"Unknown. Possible but unlikely. If Zugrad is with them, they do," the Lieutenant clarified.
"The humans are changing formation, Commander. Moving to line ahead," a scan tech inserted.
"Navigation. Our position is on the right side of the firmation. End ship. Alter course and speed to assume that position, then maintain it," Tavon ordered.
Blade of Kryssia shifted position. The formation then gained speed, moving on an intercept course for the foe.
Shields came up. Weapons were armed and made ready.
The Gozari changed course to meet them, going to an arrowhead formation. The cruisers leading the battlecruiser, destroyers on the flanks.
IDs came in. Blade of Kryssia passed pertinent data on the enemy ships to Scharnhorst. Zugrad was among the Gozari vessels.
The ships moved in concert, slowly, as fighters were launched. Six fighters put out from each human cruiser, and two each from the destroyers. The fighters grouped ahead of the ships.
Four more Gozari ships entered system. This was reported to Admiral von Haussen aboard Scharnhorst.
"Human scan has inferior range than our own," Lieutenant Ranyll commented.
"Our scan has superior range than most of our own ships. I want IDs on the newcomers, soonest," the raven-haired Commander barked.
"Working," replied Lieutenant Ranyll. Then: "IDs are two light escorts, Doran-class. New ships. One transport, one repair ship. Course is direct path to the planet."
"They're here to stay," remarked Lieutenant Odarican.
"Agreed. But in reality, they have come here to die. They just don't know it yet," growled Tavon. "They shall learn it soon enough."
"Range closing. There go the fighters.' Lieutenant Ranyll indicated the viewscreen. Missiles emerged from newly opened hatches on the human ships.
"It is nearly time," Tavon remarked, as she tightened the straps holding her to her command cair. "Lock fire controls on Zugrad. She has their best scan, to our knowledge. Kill her first. Then retarget on the battlecruiser."
"Commander," acknowledged the Weapons Officer.
Another volley of missiles launched, then another.
"Time between missile launches is 14 seconds, Commander. Scan reports magazine capacity is 20 missiles per tube," remarked Lieutenant Ranyll.
"Noted. Add that to the file on human ships. Data on their fighters?" Tavon inquired.
"Fighters are sub-light. Range is interplanetary, not interstellar. No shields. Weapons are two lasers, and two missiles. Those missiles are smaller than ship missiles. Possible anti fighter," replied the scan officer.
The formation gained speed, following the missiles in.
"Roll ship two seven degrees left, displace one league right, now!" Tavon barked, as Blade of Kryssia's lasers reached out. The lasers tore at the forward shields of her target, Zugrad.
The Firstborn cruiser rolled, then dhsplaced. Enemy fire tore through the space she had been.
"That was from the battlecruiser," scan reported.
"They know who and what we are. Either they have a grudge against us, or they deem us their most formidable opponent," Tavon opined.
Gozari fire lashed at the missiles and fighters. The first wave of missiles were blotted out. Three fighters became wreckage.
But more missiles followed, and behind them came the human ships.
The Gozari ships packed many weapons. But they seemed confused, undecided whether to target missiles, fighters, or ships.
Zugrad had no such issue. Lasers penetrated her shields, and then the forward globe. She belched air and debris. Her lasers fired, scoring hits on the Firstborn cruiser. Two got through the walls of force. One destroyed a laser mount, the other tore away a chunk of hull.
Then Tavon ordered another displacement followed by a sharp turn, bringing the cruiser in behind the Gozari ship at close range. Lasers chopped off the engine pods, while railguns and particle beams ripped her hull apart. Zugrad coasted on, without power, bleeding air and debris. A railgun shot delivered a final blow, detonating a magazine. The Gozari ship exploded.
Another Gozari destroyer came up on the Firstborn cruiser, guns blazing. Her walls on that side failed under the pounding. Sirens wailed, gun mounts were destroyed. Firstborn crew died.
Tavon rolled and displaced her ship. She now was astern and left of the Gozari. Two pointblank salvoes left that Gozari vessel wreckage, air bleeding out, fires consuming what air remained.
Commander. I am detecting humans aboard the Gozari ships. They appear to be confined. It was Lieutenant Ranyll, on her repeater screen.
Acknowledged. Forward the locations to weapons.
To Weapons she sent, If possible avoid targeting sections which contain humans. If you must, then you must.
Acknowledgements came back.
Scharnhorst and Gneisenau had focussed on the Gozari battlecruiser. The two cruisers concentrated their guns on the heavy ships' forward globe. It was holed now, badly, streaming atmosphere. Several gun mounts were inoperable. Yet the heavy had considerable firepower of its' own. Repeated heavy hits had wrecked Gneisenau. The ship still fought back. But then a Gozari destroyer moved in close. Laser hits severed the Terran cruiser's forward section. Gneisenau exploded. Lexington scored missile hits on the Gozari destroyer. Fighters strafed the ship with their lasers. The Gozari attempted to turn on its' tormentor. It moved too slowly. Three missiles struck, plunging deep into the ship before exploding.
The Gozari destroyer came apart, the globes separating.
The lead Gozari cruiser had taken multiple missile hits from the second and third salvoes, then been strafed by fighters. Its' guns had scored heavily on the fighters, and knocked down the forward shield of Ticonderoga. That ship had replied with heavy laser fire, wrecking the central and forward globes of the Gozari. More missiles had struck the badly damaged ship. One detonated in an engine pod. The pod exploded, killing two fighters and finishing the destruction of the ship.
The second Gozari cruiser targeted Jeanne d'Arc. Her lasers had punched through the Terran cruisers' shields. Two Gozari destroyers had added their fire. Jeanne d'Arc was badly holed. She turned to evade, firing furiously. She laumched missiles at the Gozari cruiser, but the destroyers killed them all.
Montcalm, Mikuma, and Kongo were in a swirling fight with the other Gozari destroyers. The two Gozari ships concentrated their fire on Kongo. That ship was sliced apart by laser fire, and then exploded. That left the Gozari pair open to Terran missiles. One Gozari took multiple hits, which left it a drifting, powerless hulk, bleeding air through multiple holes in her hull. Laser hits chopped her up. The other Gozari, alone now against two undamaged ships, fought bravely.
It wasn't enough. Montcalm and Mikuma used concentrated fire and blew the Gozari to pieces.
Scharnhorst was badly damaged now. Half her guns were gone, her missile tubes destroyed or blocked by wreckage. The battlecruiser ignored the wreck, and turned for more dangerous prey. Blade of Kryssia.
Her guns reached out, savaging the Firstborn ship. Tavon rolled her, then displaced, dodging some of the fire. Her own guns blazed back. The battlecruiser was armored, with heavier shields. Shots deflected away, or failed to penetrate. Two missiles from Jeanne d'Arc slipped through the battlecruiser's defenses, blasting her. One shield failed entirely, as the generator was atomized.
Jeanne d'Arc paid severely for that. The remaining Gozari cruiser slipped between her and the battlecruiser, her lasers scoring multiple hits on Jeanne d'Arc. The hits knocked out her remaining missile tubes. Her lasers were already gone. No weapons remained to fire.
Jeanne d'Arc's captain decided on a different course. He ordered full speed on the remaining engines. The Terran cruiser rammed the Gozari cruiser midships.
Like her namesake, Jeanne d'Arc ended her days in fire.
Blade of Kryssia rolled starboard, then again, and finally displaced, trying desperately to evade fire from the battlecruiser. She moved sluggishly, not as rapidly as normal. Worse, the Gozari gun crews had gotten wise to the tactic. Some shots went wild, but others struck home.
Red lights showed on Tavon's schematic of her ship. Four of the laser mounts remained operational. Two of the particle beam projectors remnained, as well as three of the railguns.
One of the railguns had lost ammo feed, but was being supplied by hand from a wrecked mount. Over half her weapons were out.
One engine was out. The others were redlined, overheating from power demands. Engineering Central was burning. Damage Control Central was wrecked, and an ensign was running the section from the secondary bridge. Crew quarters were open to the void, bleeding air and debris. Main Fire Control still functioned, but the back up had been blotted out.
Three of the canards were gone, both aft ones and one forward.
That is why she was sluggish. We cannot maneuver well enough to dodge fire, certainly not at this range.
But neither can they.
Casualty reports came in. A third of the crew were dead or wounded. Some were missing.
Doubtless carried away into the void by escaping air or debris. Old Gods, I pray, look upon them, take them into your arms.
The Firstborn cruiser and the Gozari battlecruiser exchanged fire again. Lasers and railgun hits blew out the battlecruiser's sensor array. Others severed an engine pod. Two heavy laser mounts were destroyed. Crew quarters were set ablaze.
Blade of Kryssia suffered worse.
A heavy laser hit wrecked Engineering Central, opening it to the void. Few escaped alive. The last out, Sub-Commander Myr, shut down the engines. They would explode else, as Engineering Central provided power couplings to transfer power where needed. Without the couplings, the engines would run wild, then overload and detonate.
Secondary Bridge was ripped apart by a laser hit. Splinters and chunks of metal flew through the air. Sub-Commander Algorial had moved to assist at damage control. A metal splinter as long as her arm transfixed her through the chest. Her bad timing had doomed her. She screamed as she died.
Laser mounts were damaged. Others lost power as the engines shut down.
Tavon felt the ship lurch, then a message came in from Sub-Commander Myr. Engineering Central open to void and abandoned. Engines shut down.
Without power, Blade of Kryssia was defenseless and unable to fire at her enemy. She was doomed. The battlecruiser loomed beside her, heavy guns ready to fire another salvo.
Commander Messyryn braced herself, preparing to meet her ancestors and the Old Gods.
I did the best I could.
The battlecruiser didn't fire.
Montcalm, Mikuma, and the damaged Lexington roared in like avenging angels. Their fire cut into the battlecruiser. The central globe took multiple hits. Three laser turrets were disabled. Wreckage was blown ino space. Ticonderoga added her own fire. She destroyed another engine pod.
The Gozari leviathan still had guns of her own. Mikuma was savaged. The ship, crippled, her weapons knocked out, was abandoned by her crew. Lexington launched her last missile salvo, and then blew up, as a missile magazine detonated.
Ticonderoga launched missiles also. At close range, the battlecruiser's gunners had no time to kill the missiles before impact.
Four missiles went deep into the aft globe of the battlecruiser, before their warheads detonated.
The aft globe was wrecked internally. The Engineering section became a crematorium. All weapons lost power. The internal supports for the engine pods were compromised. One was ejected by blast effect.
Tavon wondered why the Old Gods had decided to spare her ship and remaining crew.
Never ask the price of a gift. Accept it.
"Navigation. We have no engines, but we still have maneuvring thrusters. Bring us alongside that monster, near her shuttle bay."
Sub-Commander Myr came on intercom. "Commander, emergency power is now on. It has taken damage, but should keep comms and life support going."
"Take command of the ship. You have everyone in or aft of Frame 147. Keep life support going, do what you can for the wounded," Tavon ordered.
"Acknowledged, " came the reply.
Tavon activated intercom over the entire ship. "This is Commander Messyryn. Everyone forward of Frame 147 and able to fight, arm yourselves and go to the shuttle bay. We are going to board the Gozari battlecruiser. Everyone else is under the orders of Sub-Commander Myr." She looked to Lieutenant Ludanill at the communications section. "All ships broadcast, in clear. Tie in arcana. Record, then send: This is Commander Tavon Messyryn of the Blade of Kryssia. Without engines, the battlecruiser cannot escape. There are human captives aboard her. They will kill them, and eat them, before they die. Gozari do not surrender. I will board that ship and take her, or I will die in the attempt. End recording. Repeat thrice. Then follow me to the shuttle bay. Everyone, arm yourselves. We have a ship to take."
Before leaving the bridge, Tavon paused at an arms locker. Opening it, she first selected a vest of chain links. This went over her torso. Then an Anmikar Mark 4 automatic rifle, firing heavy slugs. Ten clips of shells went into a satchel, which in turn went over her shoulder.
A weapon twelve decades old, but yet a good one. I trained on one like this, all those years ago. I know it as well as my own ears. Gozari are strong and tough. The firepower may be needed.
"Follow me."
Blade of Kryssia closed in, then turned, powered by her thrusters. She stabilized, in position mere yards from the Gozari ship. Tavon reached the shuttle bay, accumulating crew as she went. All were armed. A pilot and gunner stood by each of four shuttlecraft. Techs removed fuelling hoses as she entered. A pilot, Ensign Milleys, saluted.
"Commander. Four shuttles are prepped and ready for flight. Fuel tanks are half full, Lasers have full charges, with two reloads each."
"Half full tanks are enough. We are not going on a sightseeing trip. Get aboard, get ready for hot launch and hot landing," she ordered. Turning, she counted pairs of ears. "I have eighty-seven here, including myself. I see four healers. There are four shuttles in flying condition, armed and ready. One healer to each shuttle, arrange as you will. Ranyll, Ludanill, Odarican, take 20 crew each. Take shuttles two, three, and four. The others, and I, are in shuttle one. Hurry, time is fleeting. Board, and launch immediate. We meet outside her shuttle bay. The Gozari's shuttle bay doors are intact. I will open them. We go in, land, disembark, and assault that ship. My target is her bridge. Ludanill, you go to her comm center. Take it, shut down their internal comm system. Odarican, move to her main fire control. Secure that. If they somehow manage to get weapons online, they will shoot them blind. Any human captives you find, free them. Have them escorted here. Ranyll, with me. Go."
"Commander, how will you open the bay doors?" Ranyll asked.
"I am an arcanist. I will get them open," Tavon declared.
A human fighter met the shuttles outside the ship. The pilot reported his fighter was damaged and unable to fire weapons, but his personal sidearm was fully functional. He had heard the broadcast and wished to join the boarding party.
"Another weapon is always welcome, " she had replied.
The small craft grouped near the Gozari shuttle bay. Tavon strode to the shuttles' cockpit. The pilot glanced at her.
"Give me live mike. Tie in arcana," she ordered. The pilot punched keys on the instrument panel, then offered her a headset.
"You are live now," he said.
Nodding her thanks, she spoke into the headset, while moving her hands in intricate gestures.
Aboard the battlecruiser, Gozari crew watched, stunned, as the shuttle bay doors began to open. Sirens whooped. Officers shouted orders. Techs hit controls, but the bay doors continued to open, then locked into place.
Four Firstborn shuttles and a solitary human fighter zoomed in, guns blazing.
Gozari crew fell, pierced or cut to pieces by lasers from the shuttles. The craft landed. Doors opened, ramps came down.
Fitstborn stormed out of the craft, weapons in hand, cutting down enemies.
In the cockpit, Tavon spoke again. The shuttle bay doors unlocked, and slammed shut.
"Give me all ships broadcast," Tavon ordered.
"You have it," replied the pilot.
"This is Commander Messyryn of the Blade of Kryssia. I have boarding parties aboard the battlecruiser. Come join me. There are Gozari enough for all."
She removed the headset. A glance to the pilot. "Stay here, you and your gunner. Instruct the others to do the same. If any of us return with human captives, take them to our ship. Speak the word 'Denliir', and the doors will open for you."
The pilot nodded. "Commander."
Tavon ran to the exit ramp, moving the Anmikar into the crook of her arm.
Your instructors always said you had more courage than brains. Not to mention a sense of the dramatic. This is going to get you killed, you know.
But what choice have you?
The shuttle bay was chaos. Smoke mixed with the air, which stank with a reptilian reek. There was wind, caused by atmosphere exiting the bay through holes in bay doors. A Gozari shuttle lay on its' belly, burning. A Firstborn shuttle lay nearby, hull peppered with slugs from Gozari guns.
The turret still fired, hosing down a lift shaft, through which poured more smoke and Gozari crew. The pilot of the shuttle lay slumped out a side window, blood dripping from a head wound. Consoles along the sides sparked. Weapons and personnel carriers were parked along the walls. Some were burning or torn by shot.
A lift car arrived. Doors opened, and a dozen Gozari ran out, weapons firing. Turrets of two Firstborn shuttles turned, their lasers tracking. Red beams leaped out, shredding the Gozari. Tavon saw the officer commanding them cut in half, his troops mowed down around him. She aimed her rifle at a Gozari carrying a laser carbine, and squeezed off a three round burst. The heavy rounds struck deep into her target, knocking him to the deck.
She gave him another burst.
Gozari are hard to kill.
Other Firstborn joined the shooting. The squad of Gozari counter-attacking soon were all dead. Other Firstborn finished off the remaining enemies in the shuttle bay.
Lieutenants Odarican and Ludanill led their contingents out of the bay.
A human appeared next to her, dressed in a fighter pilot's void suit. He made a gesture, bringing his right hand to his forehead.
A salute, she thought.
"Lieutenant Hartmann, of the Gneisenau, Commander. You are Commander Messyryn, ja?" His accent was thick.
"Commander Tavon Messyryn." She returned the salute in the Firstborn way, her right hand to her chest.
He nodded. "Where do you want me?"
She thought a moment. "Close by me. There are prisoners aboard this ship. Human prisoners. You can help with those." She eyed his firearm, an odd-looking pistol. "What is the range on that? How much ammunition do you have for it?"
The human shrugged. "It is an old Luger. Has a good punch, but not so good accuracy at range. I have the rounds in the gun, and another eight round clip."
"Not enough, for a fight like this." She looked around, saw a dead Gozari near by, head blown off, a Gozari laser carbine in one outflung hand. She took it from the corpse, and four power cells from a pouch. "Here. Take this." Quickly she showed him how to aim, fire, and reload the alien weapon.
Familiarity drills have their uses.
Raising her voice, she summoned her crew to her, including Lieutenant Ranyll. She pointed to one healer. "Choose four others. You stay here, attend our wounded, and others we send you. Any that require evacuation, there are shuttles here for the purpose. Send them to the ship."
The healer quickly chose four crew to stay. That done, Tavon counted pairs of ears.
Twenty-seven, plus myself. It will have to be enough.
"We're going to take the bridge."
Tavon ran to the doors, her crew behind her. She avoided the turbo lifts. Instead, she went for the emergency ramps Gozari put on their ships, in case the power was knocked out.
"We are not using the lifts?" Lieutenant Ranyll asked.
"No. They surely know we are here. They will expect us to use them, and set ambushes. They will be waiting for the lift cars to arrive. So, we avoid the ambushes, and go another way. That will occur to them, of course. May the Old Gods grant they don't think of it quickly."
She took the first ramp at a run.
I am getting too old for this. Fewer pastries, more time in the weight room.
If I live through this.
Which is not exactly probable.
At an intersection she stopped, raising her hand as a sign for the others to do the same. A hand gesture, and words spoken, activated an arcana.
Gozari ahead. Ten or more. They had taken furniture, and piled it up, building a makeshift barricade. Roughly forty paces ahead, to the left.
Left was the direction they needed, to reach the bridge. Right led to crew quarters, which was burning, from the smoke coming that way.
Clearly they had not forgotten the ramps. Either they expected her to use them, or they took precautions.
Whoever was in charge on that bridge was no fool.
"Did anyone think to take grenades?" Blank looks answered her question.
Thank the Old Gods for being an arcanist. What was the old term for it? Oh, yes. A wizard, or a mage, practicing magic.
Now it is called arcana.
The Anmikar went over her shoulder. This is an old spell. Leaves and branches, I haven't done this one in years. Decades, maybe.
Not since I was a Lieutenant, serving under Commander Mallarys, on the Princess Anardys, if I recall correctly.
"I will need covering fire. Four of you, when I step around the corner," Tavon directed, "hose them down. They are a half score or more, behind a barricade forty paces or so beyond." She stepped back making room. "Now."
Four of her crew stepped up. Leaning around the corner, they opened a steady fire. Their rifles and laser carbines dropped two Gozari. The others dropped into cover, and returned fire. One of her crew fell, shot through the head.
Tavon stepped around the corner, casting an arcana even as she moved. A heavy slug smacked the Anmikar, deflecting away. A laser shot grazed her hair.
A red hot ball of fire appeared between her cupped hands, then a flick of her wrists propelled it to just beyond the barricade.
There it exploded into a fireball. Gozari screamed as they burned. Some collapsed, consumed by flames. Others thrashed in their agonies. Still
others continued returning fire.
Tavon ran forward, arcanist pistol in her hand now, spitting energy bolts at the foe. "Follow me!"
The barricade was afore, charred to ash in places from the intense heat of the fireball. Shots whipped past as she ran. She heard a loud grunt behind her, as someone was hit and went down.
She leaped through a hole in the barricade. Her pistol slammed shots out, disembowelling a Gozari with a axe. Another, with burn spots on face, neck, and chest, loomed behind the first, leveling a rifle at her, only to drop before firing. It had been cut down by a burst from someone's Anmikar.
Moving to her right, she engaged a Gozari officer. The creature struck at her with a blade. She ducked below the strike. Moving in close, she thrust the muzzle of her pistol into the Gozari's chest and cut loose a burst. The Gozari flew backwards, chest blown open, organs visible.
Other Firstborn were about her now, guns blazing and blades slashing. The few enemies living were quickly killed.
Her eyes sought out and found a healer.
"Check any of us who is down. I heard one drop. If still capable, they come with me," she ordered. "If not, send them to the shuttle bay. Summon assistance from there if you must."
Quickly she counted pairs of ears. Twenty-four, including herself and the healer.
Not enough. This monstrosity will have thirty or more on the bridge. We must still reach it.
But there is no choice. Whoever commands is there. I cannot give them time to make repairs. Or blow the ship, if they can without engines.
Or eat their captives.
"Search the bodies. Ensure they are dead. Take anything useful."
Tavon replaced the power cell in her pistol. Holstering it, she took the Anmikar, and checked it, including the clip.
Fourteen rounds. And I have more clips. Adequate.
The pistol is effective, but drains my arcana. I may need that for more powerful things.
Surely they will have more obstacles on this ramp.
But taking the lifts would have gotten us all killed.
The ramp ended in a solid looking steel door, complete with blood stains, tatters of flesh, and scorch marks.
The Gozari had placed a barricade and blocking force before it. Twenty of them had held the barricade, led by an officer.
Her last Fireball had burned many of them. Being Gozari, they had diedhard.
As had the defenders of two barricades before that.
Tavon had only twelve sets of ears with her now. Many of them were walking wounded. The human, Lieutenant Hartmann, was among them, a bandage on his thigh. Lieutenant Ranyll limped along, her right knee bandaged and bloody.
The healer was dead, shot down while trying to pull an injured Firstborn to safety.
Gozari were not known for mercy.
Tavon had a painful burn on her side from a laser pistol, and a gash along her left forearm. Gozari claws could penetrate steel chain, if the Gozari owning the claws was motivated enough.
Gozari might lack mercy and compassion, but they certainly did not lack motivation.
Firstborn linguists and arcana could, and did, comprehend the Gozari language, but never the minds behind it.
"Beyond that door lies the bridge. From prior scans, there are human captives in there. That means we cannot use area effect arcana and weapons in there. We can use them to open that door." Tavon waved two crewwomen forward. These had demolition charges taken from a Gozari weapons locker. "Place those charges there. Set for a one minute delayed fuse. Everyone else, move behind the barricade. We will use it, what remains of it, for cover. Go."
Tavon stood before the barricade, watching her orders carried out. When the charges were placed and the fuses set, waved to the two women who set them.
"Behind the barricade. Quickly. I do not trust Gozari fuses."
She joined the two as they took cover.
The ship rocked. The deck trembled. An explosion rent the air.
That was not the demolition charges.
That was someone firing on this ship. Or boarding her. Or fighting aboard her.
The charges went off.
The door was twisted into scrap, blown onto the bridge beyond. A piece transfixed the right arm of a Gozari helm operator. Smoke billowed, obscuring view. Shots, both energy and hard slug rounds, punched through the smoke in both directions.
Old Gods, I know I am not the most pious of my kind. Yet I commend myself to you, and ask your blessings on my actions. Look after my crew. I do not expect to live through this.
Tavon drew her sword and arcanist pistol, and jumped to her feet.
"Follow me!"
The Gozari bridge was a maze of control consoles and desks. Wiring burned, and a console blazed brightly. The flames belched out toxic smoke, which obscured vision and rasped the lungs. The ceiling had a gaping hole from something. Several Gozari lay dead below the hole, killed by whatever had struck there. A cage against one bulkhead contained several humans. They wore tattered uniforms of some kind. Two armed Gozari stood before the cage, firing laser carbines. Other Gozari knelt behind consoles or upturned desks. Some held weapons which they fired at the Firstborn intruders. Others had blades of one kind or another, or bared sharp claws and teeth.
There were perhaps twenty in all.
Yet they all paled in comparison to one, no doubt their commanding officer.
This one had cover behind a huge throne. He was massive, fully ten feet in height, with muscles to match, and a crest flaring upon his head. He wore body paint of unfamiliar design. In his clawed hands was a massive pistol, upon his belt harness hung a mighty war hammer, sized for him.
Tavon dove through the smoke, taking this in. Her pistol blasted out rounds, felling a Gozari, even as she ducked behind a piece of wreckage. Her crew followed her, weapons blazing. Two were shot down in the doorway, screams echoing.
Leaf and branch, they have us two to one, and they have cover.
Someone shot down the Gozari near the cage. One fell near the bars, and human hands reached to the corpse.
Shots pelted back and forth. Lieutenant Ranyll cursed viciously, dropping her rifle, her right arm nearly gone. An engine tech next to her fell, shot through the head.
Then someone armed a demolition charge and tossed it into a knot of Gozari. It blew, wrecking another console and reducing the Gozari there to charred flesh and bone.
"Commander." It was Lieutenant Odarican, on a communication bead. "We have main fire control. There is some scan working. Human ships have entered the system. Something big, with two destroyers. The destroyers are inbound the planet. The big ship is coming here. Lieutenant Ludanill is down. Her comms are also down. A runner from her informed me she took their comm center."
"Hold the fire control center. I am on the bridge now. If you do not hear from me again, you are in command of the boarding attempt," the black haired Commander replied.
"Acknowledged."
A laser shot punched through the wreckage, showering her with splinters. She rose, her own pistol pelting out shots. Another Gozari fell. Other Firstborn kept up the fire, knocking down two more of the enemy. Lieutenant Hartmann's borrowed weapon drilled a Gozari helmsman through the chest.
He shouted in exultation, fist pounding the air.
She was nearly out of arcana. The pistol went into a holster, and she shouldered the Anmikar. It had a full clip, twenty rounds. She affixed the bayonet, a foot of sharpened steel, below the muzzle.
Shouts suddenly erupted from the cage. The humans there had gotten the cage door open somehow. Exiting, two had seized weapons. One struggled with the unfamilar gun, but the other did not. He raked his former tormentors with fire. Others took up improvised weapons and attacked. Still others took cover and remained there.
Another explosion came from nearby. Smoke billowed from beneath a door she had not noticed before. Shouts and screams resounded.
Gozari fire at Tavon's Firstborn redoubled. Two more fell, as did the human captive firing a Gozari carbine.
Another explosion, very loud. The door she had just noticed flew off, striking a Gozari officer and knocking him flat.
Fire poured through the opening. Not Fitstborn fire, the sounds were wrong. Not Gozari weapons either. Figures charged through the smoke. Human figures, carrying odd looking weapons. Gozari shots flew at them. One fell, to be replaced by two more. Gozari charged them, fighting with boarding axes, or teeth and claws.
"We have friendlies joining! Ware your shots!" Tavon shouted, using her last bit of arcana to amplify her voice.
Then she rose and charged the Gozari commander, shooting the Anmikar from the hip. Her remaining crew rose and followed.
The Gozari Admiral rose as Tavon charged. His pistol rose as well, and he loosed a burst. Tavon dived aside as he fired, the rounds whizzing past her, to embed themselves in a bulkhead. She rolled as she dived, the rifle muzzle coming up. Her shots spanged off the throne chair, deflecting away.
The Gozari Admiral shouted something then, a challenge it seemed. A personal challenge. The pistol banged again. She rolled, and the shots missed, save one which struck the rifle. It flattened against the receiver. She replied with a burst, but only one round fired.
The rifle jammed, the receiver shattered.
"All right! If it's a duel you want, then a duel you have!" She threw the rifle at him. It struck him in the arm, and knocked the heavy pistol away.
It gave her time to draw her sword.
He pulled the hammer from his harness, and shouted back at her.
All around Firstborn and humans traded shots and blows with reptilian bipeds. Lieutenant Hartmann shouted welcome to the nerwcomers, as he traded shots with a Gozari, finally felling the reptile with shots to the head. A Firstborn with another Anmikar bayonetted a foe, then blasted it off the bayonet with a burst of slugs. A human former captive seized an axe and brained a Gozari with it, and then fell to laser shots. The human newcomers continued to push onto the bridge, their numbers increasing. They used consoles and wreckage for cover, flanking Gozari and overwhelming them with gunfire.
The massive Gozari swung the hammer at Tavon, smashing a console as she dodged away. Her sword licked out, cutting into her enemy's arm. It seemed not to notice. It instead made a cunning, powerful strike at her legs, catching her left thigh and knocking her to the deck. She landed with an oof, thinking That will leave a bone bruise.
Tavon rolled to her feet, to the sound of rumblings from the huge reptile. She thought it might be laughter. It struck again. She tried to dodge, but her wounded leg slowed her. The hammer struck her side. Her armor slowed and absorbed some of the blow, but still she felt ribs cracking. The impact knocked her down again. She lost her grip on the sword. Stars were before her eyes from the pain. Her hands felt the deck around her, searching for the sword, as the Gozari Admiral advanced.
They found something.
It was the Gozari Admiral's heavy pistol. Her fingers struggled for a grip.
The Admiral loomed above her, hammer raised high to smash. His mouth worked, in a smile perhaps, and he spoke.
Her arcana used and gone, she did not understand the words.
Her hands found a proper grip on the pistol, and it rose. The hammer fell. The pistol roared in her grip, heavy slugs slamming into the Gozari Admiral. The powerful impacts knocked him backward, punching deep into his torso. The hammer struck the deck, knocked from his grip.
She held the trigger down, an ancient war cry rising unbidden to her lips. Her eyes met her enemy's eyes.
More heavy slugs slammed into the Admiral, until the pistol clicked on an empty clip.
The Admiral still stood, body torn by bullets, blood streaming from holes in his chest and belly, eyes yet locked on her own. He seemed to say something. Then he fell backward, to move no more.
Tavon held on to the pistol. A Firstborn helped her to stand, though her ribs pained her severely. Breathing hurt, and the sound of it seemed wrong. Broken, I think, not cracked. From the pain and my breathing, one nicked a lung.
The Firstborn leaned into her, holding her steady. It was Wardroom Steward Second Class Arden Lanyrr. She nodded her gratitude, not sure whether she could stand unaided.
No. Wardroom Steward First Class Arden Lanyrr. Leaf and branch, everyone on my ship goes up one rank. I have the authority to do that for the crew, if not the officers. Everyone is recommended medals for valor, including the officers.
The firing had died down, and there was silence, punctuated only by single shots. Her crew and the humans were combing the bridge, shooting any wounded but not dead Gozari.
A trio of humans approached, guns out but not trained on any. One, an officer by his uniform, and two crew, who flanked him. They halted before her. The officer gave her a human salute. She raised her right arm, and returned it in the Firstborn way. He looked at her, then his face took on an odd look.
I wonder if any of my healers yet live. Old Gods, that hurt.
She coughed, blood coming from her mouth. The human spoke, but she could not understand the words. The pain was increasing. The man turned, and shouted something.
A coughing spasm overtook her. The pain increased.
A wave of red and black overwhelmed her.
Old Gods, I am coming.