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The Revelation of War, Prologue: Part II
Posted By: russ687<russ687@hotmail.com>
Date: 13 July 2004, 7:03 AM
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0540 hours, August 30, 2552 (Military Calendar)
Aboard UNSC Destroyer Melbourne
Epsilon Eridani System, in orbit above planet Reach
The three Pelicans slowly entered the main docking bay of the Melbourne. Reinker watched from behind the thick glass as the bay doors closed and the pressurization process began. The three craft settled down onto their landing gear as the internal guiding lights turned off and the normal operation lights came to life.
Reinker eyed the craft carefully and waited for the duty ensign to call the bay pressurized and safe to enter. The eight Marines waited silently behind the ONI officer as the red light switched over to green on the door that opened up to the bay. The duty ensign nodded and pulled the level, causing the two large doors to part.
The group waited for the doors to fully open, then walked out into the large docking bay as the side-doors on each of the Pelicans dropped open. The first people out of each ships were Marines; ten Marines shuffled out of each and set up a perimeter, their sidearm's holstered but ready to be used if need be. There was a quick radio exchange among the thirty Marines surrounding the Pelicans, then the rear doors began to slide open. Reinker walked forward as a Lieutenant exited the first Pelican.
The young ONI officer spotted his commander and walked smartly up to him. "Colonel, all materials are present and accounted for." He said, saluting.
Reinker nodded and returned the salute. "As you were. Begin unloading operations and standby to transport them to Storage Section 8C."
"Yes, sir." The Lieutenant turned around and headed off to perform his orders.
Reinker watched in silence as the crewmen that came along with the Pelicans began unloading massive four by ten meter crates out the back hatch of the Pelican. The crates were standard armor protected security crates that were rarely used over the cheaper, lighter steel crates. Only the best, he thought.
"Lieutenant Colonel Reinker! Captain Baker is online," a crew member called out from the large entrance doors. His voiced echoed throughout the large docking bay as the crates were loaded onto mechanical transport dollies.
Reinker walked over and grabbed the phone-receiver. "Reinker here."
"Colonel, the Covenant have entered the system." Baker said. "I suggest we leave as soon as possible if you wish to get out of system unharmed."
"Understood, Captain. Has the Triton contacted you?"
"They have, estimated time to rendezvous is five mikes."
Reinker thought for a second. "I will meet you on your bridge in five mikes, Reinker out."
He turned around and took one last look at the unloading operation. So far the evacuation of these 'materials' had gone unblemished, but he knew that it was only a matter of time before something went wrong, and with the Covenant already entering the system, they were running out of time. He turned and walked back out through the large double doors and down the corridor towards the turbo-lift, his MP's close in tow.
They had to leave, before it was too late.
Baker watched from the Captain's seat as his thirty-two bridge officers worked quickly, but calmly, to make the proper ship adjustments before they entered slip-space. The emotional environment on the bridge was thick with worry and concern. Sensors, as well as numerous reports that flooded the comm. systems, reported hundreds of Covenant ships inbound to Reach.
"Captain, the fleet is warning that hostile contact with the Covenant will occur is less then two mikes." His Comm. Officer announced.
Baker sighed. Before his visit by the ONI officer, his ship was getting ready to prepare for the largest battle he had ever been in. The crew was pumped up, adrenaline rushing, but at the same time scared that this would be their last battle. And he couldn't blame them, he had many of the same conflicting emotions within despite his twenty-three years in the UNSC. Staring down a Covenant fleet was no easy thing to do, never mind fighting one.
"Sir, incoming transmission from the Triton; they are ready to jump with us out of system." The Comm. Officer said, his voice raw but calm.
Baker nodded. "Onscreen."
The Captain of the Triton filled the secondary viewing screens before him. "Captain Baker, it is good to see you again, but I believe the circumstances are less pleasant then the last time we met."
Baker sighed, his obvious concern and question about this whole ONI set up was evident. "Less pleasant indeed, Captain Scorzio. I believe you have heard from our friends at ONI?"
Scorzio nodded. "Unfortunately so. Sounds like you have some precious cargo aboard and they want an escort. Usually I might be honored if it were not for the situation at hand."
Baker turned when he heard the Marine MP at the entrance to the bridge call out: "Captain, Lieutenant Colonel Reinker is on deck."
Baker nodded a quick good-bye to Scorzio, then looked at the four Marines keeping the ONI officer and his own group of MP's from entering the bridge. "Colonel, come aboard. However, for security reasons and protocol, I will have to ask your guards to stand down and not enter the bridge."
Reinker nodded and motioned for his eight Marines to stand by, then entered the bridge and walked towards the Captain, eyeing the large bridge of the destroyer. The Trident-Class Destroyer was the second closest thing to a Cruiser, and the class was often refereed to as a 'light cruiser' tonnage and armament wise. Although the design was aging into the twenties, it was nonetheless a formable craft of the UNSC.
"Captain, now that the Triton is with us, we need to make the jump," the ONI officer said, reaching into the suitcase and pulling out a small digital personal computer. He quickly typed in the access codes, then handed the device over to the Captain, who looked over the results.
"The Renard Prime System?" Baker asked, obvious confusion etched across the weathered face. "What could possibly do us any good there?"
Reinker stood without emotion. "This is the system, now order a Cole Protocol sufficient jump and get us there."
Baker leaned back in his chair, obviously not content with ONI's choice for their retrograde. "This system is barely considered militarily reinforced. We would have a higher chance of keeping our 'materials' safe here at Reach."
"Negative, Captain, this is our destination. Order the jump."
Baker sat in confusion. The Renard Prime System was one of the UN's more recent colonization's; having two planets in orbit around a relatively small star with a combined total population of no more then three-hundred million; peanuts compared to anywhere else. He nodded to his Executive Officer.
Grover walked over and took the device, then moved it to the Navigation console and handed it off to the two officers staffing that station. "Helm, set course for System Alpha 1265+90 in compliance with the Cole Protocol." The senior Navigation called out.
"Helm: setting course 101 by 300, to Alpha 1265+90." The chief pilot called out from the front of the bridge. "Standing by."
"Relay coordinates to the Triton," Baker ordered. After his Comm. Officer nodded in approval, he turned to the his XO. "Take us out of here."
The bridge crew watched as space tore apart in front of them. Around them the UNSC fleet MAC cannons were warming up, and Longswords launched from the ships surrounding Reach and readied for the impending battle. Baker looked around them via the primary screen and saw as the Super MAC platforms opened up with a volley of rounds, the flashes lighting up the nearby ships as the rounds shot out towards the invasion force. He felt guilty; he should stay and fulfill his original orders to defend the planet at all costs.
But his new orders stood, and he had no choice. The fleet would have to defend the planet without them. The real question that raced through his mind, though, was whether or not he would see his fleet commander, his comrades commanding their ships, or even Reach. The fear that he would never even return to this system crept up to him as he thought about it.
When the Covenant attacked, they didn't stop until everything in their path was dead.
1850 hours, August 30, 2552 (Military Calendar)
Aboard UNSC Destroyer Melbourne
Alpha 1265+90 System
"Entering normal space, sir." Lieutenant Grover announced.
Baker leaned forward in his chair and pushed the intercom button. "Acknowledged." He then sat back and looked around his spacious office and pondered about the situation hey had just left thirteen hours ago. Either Reach was successfully defended or there was nothing left but a glassed planet.
He turned to look back at Lt. Col. Reinker, he sat comfortably on the couch along the far wall, taking slow sips from a large coffee mug. The ONI officer was relentless to tell him anything about what his ship was carrying, or even why they were heading towards a low-interest system that contained two small UNSC outposts. Even though he knew Reinker and respected him as one of the few clean cut officers he knew from ONI, the frustration of receiving no information bore down on him.
Reinker put out his cigar in the tray on the mahogany coffee table in front of the couch. "You will find out more about this unfortunate endeavor soon, Captain," the ONI officer said, almost reading Baker's mind. "You know I would tell you if I could."
Baker nodded reluctantly. It was true.
The intercom light flashed on his desk. He sighed and reached to open the channel and expected another routine report. Instead, his heart jumped when he heard the tone of voice from his XO.
"Sir, three Covenant vessels have entered the system."
Baker stood up immediately and picked up the phone so it was not over the intercom. "What? Where?" He asked impatiently, pushing the receiver hard against his ear.
"Five million kilometers bearing 249 by 170. They appeared to have followed us from slip-space and are turning towards us with an intercept course." Grover said.
Baker stood up and headed for the door. Reinker stood up and followed, not sure what was going on. The two officers made the short walk to the bridge and passed unchecked by the Marine sentries.
"Status?" Baker asked, moving up to the command console.
"Three frigate-size enemy vessels on an intercept course. Their weapons are hot and will be in range in thirty seconds." Grover said.
"Helm, take us on a perpendicular course. All ahead flank." Baker ordered.
The ship rumble dully as the engines heated up to full speed, forcing the large ship forward. "General quarters, all hands to battle stations."
Throughout the ship, three alarms rang out; the lighting dulled and the operational red lights came to life. The Marine sentries immediately ran to the nearby by armory locker and retrieved their assault rifles, as did every Marine aboard the destroyer. Crewmen rushed about, trying to get to their stations as fast as possible.
"Weapons?"
"Magnetic Accelerator Cannons One and Two are fully powered, sir." The Weapons Systems Officer announced. "Archer Missile Pods Alpha 1 thru Charlie 27 are armed and awaiting a target solution. The guided Shiva Beta missile pods Zulu one and two are also standing by with all fail-safes still activated."
Baker nodded in approval, they would need to disable at least the first ship with the MAC rounds, use the Archer missiles to engage the second, and maybe resort to the guided nuclear missiles on the third. Above all else, though, they needed to get the first shot off.
"Open a channel to the Triton," Baker ordered. He waited a second while the transmission feed uploaded. Captain Scorzio appeared on the secondary viewing screen. "We have company, take out the third vessel and we'll deal with the other two."
Scorzio nodded. Baker wished that Scorzio's ship had two MAC weapons like his own ship, but they would have to work with it. All in all they still had three cannons to deal with three threats.
Baker's Operation's Officer interfaced with the ships AI and sent the targeting information to the Triton. After it was complete the uplink was severed and both ships turned to face the incoming threats at flank speed.
"Order Major Sonder's fighter squadron to standby for deployment." Baker ordered. "Then give me a firing solution on the first and second enemy frigates."
His crew worked quickly to get the information and find the targeting solution for the two enemy vessels. The process took under fifteen seconds.
"Firing solution set, sir. Cannons One and Two are tracking their targets." The Weapons Officer called out.
Baker stared at the primary viewing screen as it showed a magnified view of the ships closing in on them. They were outnumbered and partially out gunned, but they would have to do their best to pull through this battle.
"Fire."
Two thunderous explosions rang out through the ship as the large cannons fired. He watched as the rounds of fire sped off towards the targets; he never got tired of seeing those rounds impact on the purple objects the Covenant called ships.
"Impact in 7 seconds," the Weapons Officer announced.
"Captain, the Covenant are firing! Three inbound torpedoes." Grover called out.
"Who are they tracking?" Baker replied instantly.
"Two for us, one for the Triton."
Baker watched as the Triton's MAC round sped off towards the third ship. He then watched his own rounds find their targets. His Weapons Officer called out in excitement, "Captain, direct hits on enemy ships one and two."
The magnified view of the ships showed the rounds tear through the first two ships. The shields flashed and vanished, and the supercharged rounds exploded through the enemy frigates decks. Explosions ran through them as secondary explosions sent them into uncontrolled spirals. But on the screen were also two heated plasma balls heading right for them.
"Fire all Archer Pods and divide them up evenly on our two targets." Baker ordered. "Helm, come left to course 120 by 50."
The ship began its turn to run perpendicular to the incoming torpedoes. The view screen followed the three enemy vessels still, and the bridge crew watched with satisfaction as the third MAC round from the Triton impact and explode though the third frigate. They had done their part, now they had to avoid the blow the Covenant had sent at them.
The system had no planets, so there was nothing to hid behind or even try to get to. The only thing that was in the system was the star, and they were way to far away from that to try and use it to their advantage.
"Helm, prepare to fire the starboard rear emergency maneuvering rockets on my mark." Baker said. "Operations: time to impact?"
"Eight seconds, sir."
Baker waited as the bridge crew got very nervous. Two plasma torpedoes would adequately and effectively cut the ship in half. He watched the countdown and waited until it met two seconds.
"Mark!" Baker yelled.
Some of the bridge crew not strapped into their seats toppled to the deck floor as the ship accelerated suddenly forward and towards the enemy ships. The entire ship vibrated heavily as the two-second afterburners from the emergency maneuvering rockets fired on the one side. The Melbourne accelerated quickly and turned inside the turn of the torpedoes, forcing them to miss behind the ship.
Baker quickly sat back up in his chair and looked at the screen, then at the top-down navigational view. They were heading toward the three enemy ships at an alarming rate, the gap closing quickly.
"Sir, torpedoes are turning and heading back towards us, impact in less then thirty-five seconds at our current attitude and speed." His XO called out.
Baker nodded but focused on the ships in front of him. The Archer missiles were just now approaching their targets. He watched as the frigates launched hoards of Seraph fighters towards them and the inbound missiles. Plasma fire erupted from the nimble fighters and began taking out the missiles; but they were too many for the Covenant.
The missiles dived toward the ships and passed effortlessly through where the shields should have been. The crew watched in awe as explosions sprang out all across the two ships. At least half of their missiles found their targets.
"Multiple hits on the enemy ships, sir." The Weapons Officer announced.
Baker nodded. "Launch the Longswords."
"Sir, the two torpedoes have failed to continue tracking us. The damage must have hit their weapons controls systems." Operations called out.
Baker shot him a glance. That was lucky.
"Sir, scans show that the two frigates have taken on enough damage to neutralize them completely from the fight." Grover said. "The Seraph fighters are occupied by our Longswords, and the third frigate took a direct hit to their engines from the Triton's MAC; they are dead in space.
"The Triton has taken a direct hit from the plasma torpedoes fired at them and are currently inoperable." Grover continued. "Communications is not available with them due to the damage."
Baker watched as both ships' burning hulks floated in space and a small battle around them with the Seraph's and Longswords waged. Had they won? Had they won even though the were outnumbered by the Covenant? All the battles he had been in that they won had been because they had more ships; this experience ran completely contrary to everything he had ever seen.
"Captain! Cruiser-size Covenant ship was just entered the system, two million kilometers and closing!"
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