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Harvest Campaign Chapter 9 Final Victory
Posted By: Fleet Admiral<fleetadmiral4@yahoo.com>
Date: 30 October 2004, 8:16 PM
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0900 Hours May 10, 2529 (Military Calendar) /
UNSC HQ, Harvest System/
UNSC Yamato- class Cruiser Zeus, Flagship of Vice- Admiral Cole's Fleet
Rear- Admiral Shay Kennedy walked into the conference room of the Zeus. It would not be the first time he was in this room.
Sitting around the conference table were other officers in the fleet. Most were newer faces since most of the original fleet commanders had been killed over the course of the four month long campaign.
Vice- Admiral Cole walked into the room and they all stood at attention.
"At ease," Cole said.
They all sat.
"Everyone," Cole began. "The Covenant forces in the system have almost been routed; but even with their forces in such a bad state they could still easily destroy us.
"A recon fly by of the Covenant Fleets position showed that they were bringing their fleet together. A prowler was dispatched to keep an eye on just what they were planning. That prowler reported back 15 minutes ago. Every ship in the Covenant Fleet is on its way here right now."
A murmur went around the room, but quickly stopped.
"We will be making the stand here," Cole said. "Our fleet against theirs. The six MAC platforms and the stations defenses will be helping. This will decide the fate of the Harvest System. So, with out further delay, get back to your ships and get your crews ready. This is going to be a ling one."
0940 Hours May 10, 2529 (Military Calendar) /
UNSC HQ, Harvest System/
UNSC Yamato- class Cruiser Tyrant, Flagship of Rear- Admiral Kennedy
The fleet was as ready as it would ever be. In all, with the reinforcements they had received in the past four years, the fleet consisted of 28 ships.
"Sir," Lauber said. "Covenant fleet inbound."
"Numbers," Kennedy asked.
"I have thirty ships on the scope," Lauber said.
"Admiral Cole is sending in MAC gun targeting data," Mayfield reported.
"On screen," Kennedy said.
The green board showed a red line connecting with an inbound Covenant frigate.
"Put the MAC firing system on the timers," Kennedy ordered.
The Covenant Fleet sped in toward the UNSC Fleet.
"Firing in 3...2...1," Liz said.
The Tyrant shuddered as the four massive MAC guns fired. The rest of the fleet followed suit making it two volleys fired at the enemy.
The first volley slammed into the Covenant. The shields held and they went on, then the second hit. The already weakened shields could not hold, they popped and went out. Some of the last MAC round slammed into the unshielded craft.
The frigate the Tyrant fired at exploded into a ball of fire. Another one, a destroyer, took a round through the nose and flew out of control and hit a frigate. The two ships became linked together and then exploded.
The 27 other Covenant ships kept coming closer to the UNSC Fleet. Then red balls of fire started to collect on their lateral lines, preparing their plasma weapons.
"MAC gun status," Kennedy asked.
"The fleet will fire in ten seconds," Liz reported. "Five...four...three...two...one."
The UNSC fleet fire another volley of MAC rounds.
Admiral Cole's face came up and he said, "Break and attack!"
The UNSC Fleet broke formation and sped toward the Covenant Fleet. The last MAC volley slammed into the Covenant Fleet. Two frigates and another destroyer exploded leaving the Covenant Fleet to 24 ships.
The Covenant Fleet launched their plasma torpedoes. The red balls of fire burned through space.
"Launch all fighters," Kennedy ordered.
***
Captain Gearhart jumped into his Broadsword fighter along with the rest of the squadron.
After being cycled through the airlocks, they launched into the battle.
"Tighten up," Gearhart said. "I'll take Alpha through Delta squadrons. Sean, you take Echo through Hydra squadrons."
Commander Sean Prendergast was the second in command of all fighters on the Tyrant.
Gearhart saw Seraph fighters launching from the Covenant capitol ships.
"Okay everyone," Gearhart said. "It's time to go to work."
He dove his fighter and so did the rest of Alpha squadron. They came down right on a squadron of Covenant fighters.
He fired his 100mm auto- guns and HE missiles and so did the rest. They blew through the Covenant fighters, like they had no shields. Out of 12 only 3 remained.
"Mop them up," Gearhart said. "And let's move on."
Gearhart looked to see a squadron of Covenant bombers escorted by Covenant fighters. They were heading for the UNSC Fleet.
"Alpha take out the bombers," Gearhart ordered. "Bravo, the fighters."
The two squadrons came up on the Covenant small craft.
Gearhart pulled the trigger on his stick and the guns came to life.
"Sir," the radio said. "Another Covenant squadron has come in behind us!"
Gearhart looked back to see most of Bravo Squadron get blown away.
"Bravo," Gearhart ordered. "Regroup and attack. Charlie come in behind the Covenant and take them out. Charlie? Charlie Squadron come in?"
"They're gone sir," Lt. JG Frost, new commander of what was left of Bravo, said.
"Shit," Gearhart said. "Delta, get your asses over here."
He through his fighter around and locked a pair of missiles on the lead Covenant bomber and fired.
The missiles flew true. The shield went silver, then popped and went out. The last missile blew into the hull and the bomber exploded.
He saw Delta come in and start blowing through the Covenant fighters, but then came two more squadrons. They were being over whelmed.
He looked up and saw why. A Covenant cruiser was right above them. He knew there was no way out for any of the squadrons with him.
"Sean," Gearhart said into his radio. "Take command of the fighters. We're not going to make it."
"Sir," Sean said. "Hold on, we're coming."
"No," Gearhart said. "Stay back. You have command."
He looked over the see Frosts fighter explode and the blue lasers coming in at him. He dove, but it was too late. The lasers went through the cockpit and the fighter exploded.
1017 Hours May 10, 2529 (Military Calendar) /
UNSC HQ, Harvest System, In Combat with Covenant Fleet/
UNSC Yamato- class Cruiser Tyrant, Flagship of Rear- Admiral Kennedy
Kennedy watched as the Covenant cruiser came right through to the middle of the UNSC lines.
"Come to course three two eight zero mark 2," Kennedy ordered. "Liz, get me a firing solution on that Covenant cruiser in the middle of our lines."
"Yes admiral," Liz and the helm officer said.
The Tyrant turned and faced the Covenant cruiser.
"Guns ready," Liz said.
"Lock pods A through F on target," Kennedy ordered.
"Locked," Mayfield reported.
"Fire," Kennedy ordered.
The cruiser shuddered and the four MAC rounds left the Tyrant and the 180 missiles fired.
The first three MAC rounds hit the Covenant ship. Its shields turned white hot silver. Then the last one hit and the shield popped and went out. The rest of the momentum from the round transferred to the hull, but the cruiser still held strong.
Blue pulse lasers fired and a third of the missiles were shot down before they could hit the target.
The rest did though and fires broke out across the forward decks of the Covenant ship.
Three pulse lasers fired at the Tyrant. The armor popped and sizzled as the lasers penetrated deeper.
"Armor on decks D through H is at 20%," Lauber reported.
"MAC status," Kennedy asked.
"I have 40% and rising," Liz said.
"Transfer to all of it to one of the guns," Kennedy ordered.
"I have 100% on number one gun," Liz reported.
"Send that Covenant cruiser to hell," Kennedy said.
The Tyrant shuddered as the MAC round flew toward the Covenant cruiser.
It hit her right in the middle and blew through her. She went out of control and her engines flared to try and come about.
"Pods G through J lock and fire," Kennedy ordered.
The pods fired and the 120 missiles blew into the hull of the Covenant ship. The hull was white hot. The hull stress became too great and the ship blew in half.
Kennedy looked at the fleet on his tactical board. Most of the Covenant Fleet was destroyed. The disabled one self destructed. The UNSC Fleet was not in the best condition either though.
Only 12 ships remained. Most of the others were disabled or destroyed.
He saw the Covenant Flagship, a heavy assault carrier, head strait for the Zeus.
"Come to course five eight nine zero mark 6," Kennedy ordered.
The Tyrant turned toward the two flagships.
"Full engines," Kennedy ordered.
The cruiser headed toward Cole's ship.
The Covenant flagship fired two plasma torpedoes and the Zeus fired her MAC guns.
The torpedoes flew into the cruiser and started to burn through the hull deeper into the ship.
The four MAC rounds hit the Covenant ships shield, and it held.
The carrier fired its pulse lasers and hit the Zeus again.
Cole's ship was engulfed in flames. Most of the port side was burned away along with that went two MAC guns.
The torpedoes also detonated all the pods on that side so the Zeus was in bad shape and could not take much more.
"Come into position to fire our guns," Kennedy ordered. "Bring the reactor to 130% and divert 70% of our engine power to our guns."
His crew did not question his orders or hesitate. With a "Yes sir" they carried them out. This was a dangerous plan. The reactor was running over the safety limits and the engines were down to only 30% power.
"MAC guns fully charged," Liz said.
"Lock pods K through S on target," Kennedy ordered.
"Locked," Mayfield said.
"Have them hit when our last MAC round hits," Kennedy ordered.
"Ready," Mayfield reported.
"Fire," Kennedy ordered.
The 270 missiles fired and went toward their target. Then the MAC guns fired.
The carrier was now coming in for the kill and the Zeus was trying to back off as fast as possible.
The MAC round hit. The shield turned silver. Then the last one hit with the missiles. The shield popped and went out. Momentum transferred along with over 100 missiles.
The hull became a blaze with fire. She turned and fired a plasma torpedo at the Tyrant.
Kennedy hit the emergency thruster, but it was too late. The ball of fire hit the cruiser.
The bridge was suddenly very hot.
"Heavy damage to all starboard decks sir," Lauber reported. "It's still burning through us. Quick, vent atmosphere on all starboard decks!'
"Venting now," Hugo reported. "Venting complete."
Kennedy looked to see the carrier. Then he saw two MAC rounds hit her from behind. They came from the Zeus!
One hit the engines and the carrier exploded into a huge ball of fire.
Admiral Cole's face came up on the screen, "Thanks Kennedy."
"No problem sir," Kennedy replied.
The Covenant Fleet was gone. They won; they finally won the battle in the Harvest System.
0800 Hours May 11, 2529 (Military Calendar) /
UNSC HQ, Harvest System/
UNSC Yamato- class Cruiser Tyrant, Flagship of Rear- Admiral Kennedy
"Amen," Kennedy ended the prayer. "We now commit the body of Captain Michel Gearhart to space. Until space gives up her dead."
He looked over at the coffin that held the remains of his friend and comrade. The honor unit took the UNSC colors off the coffin and stood at attention.
"Attention," Kennedy shouted.
Taps started to play and Kennedy said, "Present arms."
All the men it the bay saluted as the coffin was ejected into space. It was the proper burial for a man who had served the UNSC so well.
"Order arms," Kennedy said and all the arms dropped. "Dismissed."
Kennedy saw Commander Sean Prendergast still standing there. Then he walked over to the window and kept watching the coffin as it drifted from sight.
Kennedy walked up to him. He had known Sean for a long time. Their families knew each other.
"How are you holding up," Kennedy asked.
"Good sir," Prendergast said.
"Well," Kennedy said. "Here."
Kennedy handed him a box and Prendergast took it. He opened it to see a pair of brass collar insignia, four gold bars and a star, the insignia of Captain.
"Congratulations," Kennedy said.
Then he left Prendergast there to stair into space.
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This story is dedicated to all the men and women who have died in the service of the United Stated Military
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