Advancing relentlessly despite the withering fire from the UED ships, the Zergs swarm the outer perimeter and proceed towards the main body. On the Alexsander, the comm channels are alive with reports from the picket ships as they break off from the engagement. Those vessels unfortunate enough to withdraw quickly are overrun. Tactical is flooded with the calls from the beleaguered crafts. Slowly, the numbers of calls decrease as one after another they are destroyed by the Zerg.
“Get these things off of me! I can’t shake them! Get them–“
“Jolly Lead, I’m hit! Someone cover–“
“Oh god I can’t eject! I’m burning! I’m burn–“
“Cobra 2 watch it! You’ve picked up six on your tail! I’m moving –“
With anguish in his heart, Torral tries to block out the calls and concentrate on the task at hand. I can’t dwell on this right now, I have a fleet to command he thought to himself. Tearing his eyes away from the tactical momentarily, he checks the ship’s status.
“Status report,” he barks.
“Main batteries are armed and ready sir.”
“The Zerg,” he asks.
“Forward wave of the Zerg will be reaching Captain Chin’s battle group first sir,” replies Hamilton.
“Get me Chin on the comm,” he orders. The comm officer establishes a link and the image of Captain Chin materializes on the screen.
“Had a feeling you would be calling me soon Jeffrey,” replies Chin. “That picket line threw everything at those Zerg and they just shrugged it off and rolled right over them,” he says sadly.
“I know. Can your group hold against that Jonathan,” asks Torral.
“We can hold for a little bit but if you have any spare help lying around someplace, now’s the time to whip it out Jeff,” he adds with a touch of urgency in his voice.
“Hang on Jon. The fleet is shifting position to reinforce you,” replies Torral. “We need to keep ourselves alive long enough for the strike to work.”
“Let’s hope they get it done soon,” says Chin as he shuts down the comm and prepares to fight his group.
“Mr. Hamilton, inform the fleet of the movement and have the commanders report they have received the orders.”
“Yes sir,” he replies with a look of concern on his face.
Guessing as to the reason behind the concerned look, Torral responds. “We still have a chance Mr. Hamilton. It’s not over yet. We just need to give the strike group more time that’s all,” he says tersely.
Torral returns his gaze to the tactical display just as the leading edge of the Zerg slams into Chin’s battle group. He looks into the heart of the displayed red mass as the strike group continues to move purposely forward. He can only hope that the strike makes it through.
Space is alive with the Zerg as they continue to lash out at the invaders. The strike group moves laboriously forward into the central mass seeking to deliver their packages. The four Battlecruisers continue to advance as their defensive shields glow intensely from the onslaught as the Zerg turn their fury on them, despite the laser batteries on board the ships running on auto, their fire helps the strike group’s advance. Ahead of the advance, several Valkyries fireball from the swarm of the Zerg adding to the mass carnage. Their wreckage joins that of the other destroyed UED ships and the blasted remains of the Zerg. Running on autopilot, the cruisers mindlessly surge forward totally oblivious to the madness around them. The few remaining science vessels continue to irradiate tightly clumped masses of Zerg while trying to maintain the shields of protection. The surviving wraith squadrons rocket all along the line of advance lashing out at anything alien. The strike’s channels are a cacophony of noise as commanders and pilots fight for their lives.
***
Lt. Commander O’Donnell throws his fighter into a punishing turn to line up on four mutalisks making a run on one of their science vessels. The targeted vessel’s defensive matrix flashes insanely as it tries to absorb the acid sprays from the attackers. Razor lines up for a shot on the mutas and grins maliciously. With no detection nearby, the Zerg are easy prey for the fighters. A flurry of lasers erupts from the guns of his wraith and hammers the targets. He watches with satisfaction as his lasers stitch a line across the body of the Zergs. The lasers lance through them causing massive injuries as they spasm uncontrollably and die. With his wingman in tow, he blasts past the science vessel and heads off to assist several frigates under attack. Radioing his squad to help, he rockets off toward the assaulted ships. A large group of Mutalisks, devourers and scourge drive headlong at the Valkyries.
“Form up people and let’s take the scourge out first,” orders Razor.
“We copy lead. Two has your wing,” reports his wingman.
Striking the Zerg like the apparitions that their fighters are named after, the twelve wraiths of the “Wild Bunch” invisibly fire a barrage of lasers that ripple through the approaching Zerg formations. Dozens of scourge disappear in brilliant flashes as the lasers rip into their ranks causing them to explode into clouds of heated gases. Wilds 5 and 6 break off to engage a group of devourers and mutas closing on a frigate. The Zergs fire on the hapless frigate and the Valkyrie shudders under the hammering blows. The vessel responds in kind by firing a barrage of missiles that explode among them taking out several of their number.
***
“Go for the ones on the right Saki! I’ve got the left ones,” screams Squeezer with glee as he tears through the Zerg.
“Nag nag nag, that’s all I hear from you Squeezer,” replies Saki as he watches a missile track into the side of a devourer. The devourer seemingly disappears from the explosion.
“Bah! What would you do if I didn’t baby-sit you, Saki,” counters Squeezer as he lines up on a hapless devourer. He feels a thump as the explosive charges are fired and the missile is ejected off the hardpoints. He eyeballs the missile in as it strikes the devourer in the side. Pieces of the armored carapace are blasted off as the missile embeds itself within the creature and then explodes outward violently. He throws the stick viciously over and fires his lasers into a passing group. Several devourers sizzle from the strikes as the energy beams sear through them.
A fighter moves into position to nail a trio of mutas when all of the sudden it catches a scourge amidships and vanishes from the impact. Pieces of the blasted fighter fly off into the void.
“What the hell happened!” screams Razor.
“Overlords! Overlords!” screams Wild 12. Suddenly the wraiths are turned upon by the full fury of the Zerg horde. Dozens of wraiths fireball from the attacks of the swarm now that their advantage is gone. The Zerg begin to lash out at their once unseen foes with wild abandon.
“Somebody give me a count,” orders Razor tersely.
A pilot, Ravage 2, reports the numbers as he dodges a pair of scourge that tries to impact on him. “I count thirteen, possibly eighteen overlords at 2 o’clock high.”
“All Wilds lock in an overlord and prepare to fire,” commands Razor. The fighters of the 67th form a line in order to mass their firepower and prepare to engage.
“Fire!” screams Razor. Twenty-four missiles explode forth from the Wilds as they close on the sixteen defenseless overlords. The missiles impact violently among them, piercing their forms and spilling their blood into space. With the threat removed, the wraiths have free run again. Unfortunately with their ammo running low, Razor wonders grimly as to how long they can keep the pace up. Suddenly, the strike group commander appears on the comm.
“Strike group this is strike lead, we have reached the center mass and have located what must be the cerebrate. We have dropped the packages! Fall back to the fleet now,” he orders. “Squadron commanders pull you people back now!”
“You heard the man Wilds, let’s get the hell out of here,” orders Razor as he throws his fighter over to cover the withdrawal of the strike group.
“What happens now boss,” asks Wild 2.
“We run like hell out of here and pray those defensive shields on the cruisers hold out long enough for us to get clear,” answers Razor. Drive trails flare brightly as the ships of the strike group accelerates to clear the kill zone.
***
On board the Alexsander, Torral and most of the bridge crew pulls themselves off the deck after the fierce explosion. Dull thuds can be heard as several scourges continue to impact against the hull. The cruiser rocks from the resulting explosions. Throughout the ship, battle lights dim briefly from the power surges resulting from the damaged systems. Scanning the tactical center, Torral watches as his crew returns to their stations. The air is thick with smoke from several small fires. The smell of burning electrical equipment and the bodies of the dead fills the air and he can’t help but not cough from the thick rolling clouds.
“Damage report!” Torral rasps. “Damage report!”
The damage control officer responds after briefly shaking his head clear. “Hull breeches on decks 10-12, 18 and 23. Main power is offline, auxiliary holding steady at 54%. Forward portside laser batteries have been destroyed. Environmental controls have been damaged.” Scanning the damage screens as they file in, he continues on with his report. “Engineering reports that engines are still operational but the jump engines have been damaged, no word as to how severe yet sir.”
Torral takes in the news with a straight face. He looks over at the tactical displays and then to tactical officer and asks for an update on the battle.
The tactical officer replies immediately. “The fleet reports being fully engaged with the Zerg sir. The Saratoga reports extensive damage and has numerous fires on board and threatens to blow. Essex also reports heavy damage with several decks breached. Ark Royal and the Reliance report being boarded and have numerous intruders. The other ships report sustaining severe damage as well sir.”
Torral turns to the to the forward view screens and takes in the grim situation. The fleet has managed to hold off the Zerg horde but at an extreme cost. He notices the blackened and burned out husks of several cruisers adrift in space. All around him, space is a madhouse of crisscrossing missiles and laser blasts hunting for targets. Brilliant flashes indicate the death of a UED ship while expanding clouds of matter mark the death of Zerg. Everywhere the wreckage of destroyed ships and the remains of the Zerg litter the void. Despite the massive losses they have suffered, the Zerg still outnumber them three hundred to one. He spots the next wave of Zerg approaching and his hopes fail him. He slams his fist into a console out of frustration as he watches the Zerg move to overwhelm the remains of the fleet. Suddenly, the comm comes to life with the voice of the Strike leader.
“Strike group to fleet. Packages have been delivered. I say again, packages have been delivered. We are EVAC back to the fleet. Blow the damn charges now!” he screams.
Torral points to the tactical officer and orders him to activate the transmitters and the charges onboard the cruisers. With a flurry of movements over the still functioning controls, the tactical officer transmits the commands to the cruisers. Psionic transmitters aboard the cruisers power up and begin to generate massive energy pulses that draw the Zerg to the signals. The commands from the cerebrate go unanswered as the nearby Zerg break off and head towards the rigged ships. Throughout space, Zerg begin to withdrawal and head back into the central mass. Some Zerg still continue to fight despite the beacon but the majority rush headlong into the trap.
Smiling tightly, Torral orders the fleet to move away from the blast area as he spots the remains of the strike group slam past the Zerg horde. He glances at the holographic projection and sees the fleet is still within the blast area. The cerebrate is already beginning to reassert its control again over the scattered brood as the Zerg begin to attack the rigged cruisers. Weighing the options, he comes to a decision. If he lets the ships get destroyed, then they lose their only chance of survival. Informing the fleet of his actions, Torral orders that the charges be ignited.
The defensive shields on the cruisers have long since failed and the hulls of the ships are now being pounded relentlessly by the swarm. On board, dozens of tactical nukes await the transmission command as hundreds of containers filled with radioactive matter lie waiting to be unleashed upon the unsuspecting horde. Sensing a trap, the cerebrate slowly begins to move away from the threat but it reacts too late. A signal is sent and one hundred and fifty nuclear warheads explode all at once.
Where once there were four cruisers and the Zerg horde now lies a rapidly expanding wave of raw energy laced with irradiated material. The central mass of the horde with the cerebrate simply vanishes within the blasts. Thousands of Zerg are outlined in the blast prior to being consumed in the violent firestorm. Those Zerg fortunate enough to be on the outer edges are merely spared a quick death from the intensive nuclear energy, as they are bathe with particles heavy with radiation. Their bodies writhe in agony as the radiated material assaults them. Thousands of Zerg explode outward to fill the void as their blood freezes in the cold of space. At the farthest edge, the remains of the UED fleet struggles to get clear of the blast. Torral watches with grim fascination as the energy wave approaches from the stern.
“Sound collision alarms,” he orders. “Rig ships for impact!” Alarms blare throughout as crews ready themselves for the blast.
The fighters and frigates of the fleet slam past the lumbering vessels as the pilots and crews wonder if they will still have a place to land afterwards. The blast wave reaches the fleet and the vessels are tossed around like toys. Several cruisers are hurled by the blast end-over-end. One cruiser is carried along right into the path of an unfortunate science vessel. The vessel is literally cut in half from the collision and explodes. As the blast wave subsides, the remains of the UED fleet drift in space. Request for status reports buzz on the comm channels as the fleet pulls itself together.
“Status reports,” asks Torral.
Hamilton, his face covered with a streak of blood delivers the response to the question. “The remains of the fighter and frigate squadrons made it safely sir. The fleet reports having lost six ships in the blast with another unaccounted for, it’s presumed destroyed. Captain Bordenski reports what’s left of his battle group is heavily damaged but can be made operational shortly.” Lowering his head he informs Torral of the additional bad news. “The remains of Captain Chin’s battle group report the Verdun was completely destroyed sir; no survivors.” Lowering his head, Torral closes his eyes and takes a moment of silence for his lost friend. Rest easy now old friend, you’ve earned it thinks Torral. He gestures for Hamilton to continue. “The Zerg no longer register on any of the scanners. We did it sir,” his voice laced with shock.
“But at what cost Erik,” he asks. Glancing up at the holographic displays, Torral’s worst fears have been confirmed. Not counting the fighter and frigate losses, the fleet is reduced to only a handful of science crews and twenty-three cruisers. The majority of them severely damaged. Half the fleet has been destroyed in the fleet action. Torral shakes his head with disbelief and quietly speaks. “What have I done here… what have I done.”
“You gave us a chance at survival sir,” says Hamilton quietly. “We cleared the Zerg from our tail and now we have a chance to slip away.”
“You are right Erik,” says Torral as he turns professional. “Those crews bought us this chance with their lives and I don’t want their sacrifice to be in vain. Begin the transfers of the crews off those ships that can’t be salvaged. Strip down the wrecks for parts and let’s start looking for a quiet place for us to set down and repair.
“Yes sir,” replies Hamilton as he watches the captain navigate his way around the debris littered bridge. They are alive and safe for now, what more could he ask for at the moment he thinks to himself as he walks off to carry out his orders.
The remains of the UED fleet eventually finds an obscure world to set down and begin repairs. Most of the ships’ jump engines were destroyed but they were able to salvage parts to outfit one cruiser. That cruiser, the Defiance, takes a rag-tag fleet with it back to warn Earth while the survivors prepare for the future. A massive energy field is created on the outskirts of the nebula and a portal is created in the aftermath. A scouting brood passes through and comes across the remains of the hunter Zerg and the UED fleet adrift in space and reports them all destroyed. The UED is left alone to ready themselves in the shadows for the coming conflict.
