The combined forces of the Sauridian and Weave fleets fought on in space. On the bridge of the W.S.S. Trimension, Admiral Sveth Nighol, knew that he was in a pickle. He quickly had the Beam Cruiser, form the point of a spear with the Escort Carriers behind him and 2 Destroyers each escorting a carrier. Together, they plunged into the middle of the fleet. While some of the crossfire (from Empire ships) accidentally hit some of the Empire ships on the other side, the majority of it hit the Beam Cruiser and Escort Carriers. However, the X-ray laser on the Beam Cruiser kept pushing back the 2 Neutron Cruisers, while the Beam Cruiser was out of range of its adversaries neutron turrets. All 6 Destroyers shot their remaining torpedoes on one of the Neutron Carriers, causing it to explode. The Escort Carriers fired volleys of 4 missiles to completely wipe out any fighter stupid enough to engage them. The mobs of fighters that had been annoying the Escort Carriers were soon totally gone. The Escort Carriers and the Beam Cruiser surrounded the stranded Neutron Cruiser, and they pummeled it with the combined might of 27 pulse turrets. Under the onslaught, the Cruiser exploded. The shock wave sent the Weave forces scattering in all directions, and damaged their shields too.
However, the effect was over, and some of the Terran forces began to fire back on the Destroyers. Three of them exploded from the massive barrages emanating from the Missile Cruisers, Neutron Cruisers, and Attack Frigates. The rest of the Destroyers were all hurt in some way. Admiral Nighol sent the one command that the rest of the fighter pilots in the fleet feared. However, they knew that they were outgunned. They began swarming one of the Neutron Cruisers. However, the Neutron Cruiser repeatedly fired it torpedoes and turrets at them. The fighters were too quick to be hit by the Neutron Torpedoes, but whenever they were hit by a neutron turrets barrage, they went spinning off only to explode. From out of nowhere, the remnants of the battered Sauridian fleet came up. They had used the time that the Weave Fleet had bought them to make repairs upon all of their ships and let their shields recharge, bringing them to about 90% combat status. The two Battle Dragons pummeled the Neutron Cruiser, and when they had brought it down to about 10%, the Battle Dragons and the Cobra, with their own shields failing fled. The fighters did the rest of the work.
They would target single vital points en masse on the Neutron Cruiser, such as the Neutron Turrets. 2 of the turrets were reduced to slag, and then the shields failed. The other Frigates of the Beta Fleet had a hard time tracking the Stingrays and Mantas, but they finally let loose a salvo of missiles that devastated the remaining fighters. With only 6 Mantas and 6 Stingrays left, the Stingrays shielded the Mantas until they hit the Neutron Cruiser. One of the Mantas hit the bridge, wiping out all personnel there, another 2 hit its engines, 2 more slammed themselves into the remaining neutron turrets, and the final one, by sheer luck, hit a magazine of ammo, triggering a massive explosion. The Stingrays all vanished in the explosion. While the fighters and Sauridian elements had been engaging the Beta Fleet , the Weave elements, without their fighters, had been engaging the Theta Fleet. The Frigates and Missile Cruisers let loose a huge volley of missiles and heavy rockets, forcing one Escort Carrier to run away, and completely destroying another 2 Destroyers. However, the Theta Fleet had more projectiles, but the Weave outgunned them significantly, since they were split up from the Beta Fleet. 1 of the Missile Cruisers exploded, a large portion of its magazine going with it. Then, the Weave fleet and Sauridian fleet turned to run into hyperspace while the Terrans took last grazing shots at them. One of the Frigates broke through the weakest Escort Carriers shields, and the end result was that there was massive amounts of scoring on the armor.
Theta Fleet Ammo 25%
1 Missile Cruisers @ 45%
2 Attack Frigates @ 60%
Beta Fleet: Ammo 60%
1 Neutron Cruisers
6 Attack Frigates
Weave Fleet Ammo 25%
Battle Dragons- 2@ 10%
Laser Ships- 1@ 70%
Escort Carriers- 2@45%, 1@ 5%
Beam Cruiser- 85%
Argosy Destroyer- 1 @75%
Once in the Farazon system, Nighol quickly composed a message to be sent to President Vaten.
To: President Vaten
From: Adm. Nighol
Subject: Antares
Priority: High
Encryption: High
President Vaten, we have lost the Antares system. We destroyed the defense fleet easily, but in the battle of wits, I believe I am the loser. The Terrans reinforced the system with two fleets, and this had unforeseen consequences. We severely damaged both reinforcement fleets, though we suffered heavy damage ourselves. The Sauridian fleet is broken, and both of our fleets head home to replenish their arms.
End Transmission
He then wrote another message.
To: Tiber Shipyards
From: Adm. Nighol
Subject: Fighter Replacements
Priority: Urgent
Encryption: High
Please begin the production of 26 Stingrays and 24 Mantas. I understand that the cost of replacing these fighters was included when we paid for these ships. Also, please stand by with resupply ships and armor repair teams. We are coming home.
End Transmission
Sauridian Remnant:
Antares -> Farazon -> Sauron
Weave Fleet:
Antares -> Farazon -> Tiber
When the Weave Fleet returned to the Tiber system, the repair teams welded on new blocks of armor and began the transfer or fighters to the Escort Carriers. Due to the gargantuan facilities of the Tiber Shipyards, the all ships had their fighters back within 8 hours, and their ordinance was restocked within 10, and armor replacement done within 12. The Sauridians would likewise be preparing for the Terrans, and they too had completed rearming within only 6 hours.
Ammo: 100%
Battle Dragons - 2 @ 100%
Cobra - 1 @ 100%
Destroyer - 1 @ 100%
Escort Carriers - 3 @ 100%
Flagship Cruiser - 1 @ 100%
(Edit: Forgot Stats)
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The Thunderhead Lance and Ion Cannon: Coming to an outfitter near you!
(This message has been edited by specops (edited 08-08-2002).)
