Henry and the nine pilots waited near their repaired craft for an agonizing moment. The live video feed from the cruiser dubbed the Hammer of Alistra. The rail guns from the cruiser focused fire on one of the three traitorous destroyers. Henry watched as the fleet of three destroyers, two frigates, and the remainder of their screening force begin to turn and flee. However, the broadcast was interrupted by an image of commander Foley. Gripping at his helmet Henry stared with anticipation. “Wings 25, 37, and 42, prepare for sortie, you are to replace the casualties from the battle.” He continued “wings 15, 23, 62, and 98. Prepare to sortie your mission is to scout the area of E25-63-15 for more stealth vessels.”
Henry relaxed as he watched as the horde of aircraft began launching procedures from both sides of the hangar. He gripped the helmet in his hands as he looked towards his craft. He noted the cosmetic damage done onto the craft, but per the engineers and technicians that no structural or electrical damage was done. However, when he looked across towards Psi-1's fighter he noted the almost head sized holes that were sprayed across the craft. He grimaced wondering what would have happened if the rest of Zeta squadron didn’t destroy the PD cannon.
He turned as he noticed Amelia and Caleb walking towards him. Caleb spoke first opening with a smile “you’re pretty good, boss” the warrant officer said. Amelia rolled her eyes. “I agree with our commoner born friend here. Good flying, sir.” Henry nodded and gave a smile then looked towards Amelia “handy use of the flare, ensign.” Amelia blushed at the compliment. Then Isacc walked forward a smile adorning his face. “How did you like our flying, sir?” Henry turned and answered bluntly “perfect, I am glad that you all survived.” The words causing Caleb to shutter. “Unlike that bastard in Tau, am I right?” Henry frowned but didn’t protest. It was his hubris that ended him or rather the bad luck of it all. Henry shook his head. It was unfortunate.
Suddenly the ship rocked for a moment and commander Foley appeared on the screen. “Attention, attention, all fighter wings sortie immediately. Traitor forces have warped within range of the Prince’s Fervor. All hands to battle station. Enemy fighters are incoming. What the hell. Where were the forward probes? Henry thought as he donned his helmet and jumped into his cockpit. Again, he readied his craft and was launched out of the craft. This time though he had to dodge incoming coil gun rounds and rockets as they slammed into the shields of the Prince’s Fervor. “Attention all wing elements take heed upon take-off. Prepare immediate evasive maneuvers.” Henry ordered as he executed a barrel role at almost point-blank range. Looking up past his canopy to see a blur of a person fly by.
Henry watched as the railguns, auto cannons, and PD cannons on the battleship erupt in varying degrees of fire. He noted that several screening ships, and line ships were taking damage. He watched a swarm of traitor fighters damage and destroy a corvette. Wincing as the vessel’s reactor imploded causing a blinding light kin to a star go off. “Zeta-1, this is Psi-2 all elements of Psi squadron are airborne. We will head to point F784 and defend the sector.” Henry looked at the map “understood Psi-2, good hunting, and survive.” Ending the call, he turned his attention to the ever-chaotic situation. His immediate concern was that his five-man squad was faced against an entire wing. He called his squad “all Zeta elements, stay in formation and cover each other. We’ll whittle them down to nothing” Henry said with grim determination. A unanimous affirmative caused Henry to punch his craft to full burn. “For the prince. For the empire” Henry shouted.
Henry’s cockpit rattled with wayward explosion as he led his squad through small bits of debris that began to populate the field of battle. In some instances when an enemy got onto Henry’s rear, he noticed Carter’s dogged engagement on the enemy. Carter released a close-range burst from his coil gun which ripped the fighter like the recyclers on his old transport barge. “Good kill ensign, thanks for the assist” Henry said before pulling out of rocket lock. He flanked an enemy fighter launching a smattering of rockets which slammed into the fighter tearing off pieces rendering the enemy immobile and drifting in space. He watched the tactical map with one eye noting that Zeta squad had pushed the enemy wing back. Taking out seven of the fifteen fighters. However, a new wave was incoming, and it seemed to a flight of bombers.
This time Zeta-2 called in “Sir, we got the bastards here, take Zeta-5 and deal with those bombers.” Henry was debating who to send and acknowledge the confidence of Zeta-2. “Alright Zeta-2, don’t get yourselves killed while I am gone, understood?” Zeta-2 chuckled and ended the call. Informing Carter, they engaged afterburners accelerating at a frightening speed with an interception course. “I’ll take the lead craft, disrupt their formation. Come in from behind and destroy. Understood?” Henry said to Carter through tightened teeth. “Affirmative, sir. Good hunting.” Good hunting Henry thought.
Henry watched through darkened vision as the bombers, which had a turret on top for protection and forward coil guns, began to fire upon the pair of fighters. Disengaging his burners Henry leapt into action. At close range squeezing the trigger and peppering the lead bomber with coil gun rounds. Watched as the craft begin to spiral out of control and slam into the following craft. Two down, twenty-two more to go Henry thought with dread. As he turned his fighter in a high G turn which made his spine feel like it was going to fold in on itself. He launched two rockets, which clipped one and destroyed another bomber. Henry turned to see Carter engaging three bombers in a volley of rockets resounding in success. Pulling out Carter’s craft began to be peppered by coil gun rounds. An explosion in his left thruster caused Henry to once again pull another high G turn this time almost knocking him out. “Ensign, disengage, pull back” Henry cried.
Carter’s call which showed the young ensign in a blackened cockpit and spewing sparks tried to protest to no avail. “Get out of here ensign or I will shoot you down myself.” Survive, you daft bastard. I can’t focus on the task without worrying for your life Henry thought his mind clearing for a moment. Before once again turning sharply to avoid incoming rounds. Carter with great worry began to retreat towards the hangar. He called Zeta-2 “send Zeta-4 to cover Zeta-5, he is in critical condition.” Zeta-2 presumably looked at the tactical map for a second “you got it, sir?” Zeta-2 asked, Henry agreed through gritted teeth as he fires another volley destroying another two bombers.
He flew close to the remaining seventeen bombers. Getting within the formation and causing the bombers to cease turret fire for fear of friendly fire. Henry looked around as two bombers tried to align behind him. He released the remainder of his rockets with their thrusters off and watched with glee as they detonated engulfing the bombers in an array of explosions. Looking forward he squeezed another burst of his coil gun causing another bomber to tumble lifelessly into space.
“Damn traitors” Henry shouted emptily into his cockpit; he executed a barrel roll behind another bomber and fired. The AI chiming that his munition reserves were at thirty percent. The bomber wing was reduced to thirteen. He noted that the formation was almost within range of the Prince’s Fervor and to his hope watched as the PD cannons began to fire upon the incoming foe. Firing without restraint he took down another two. While the PD cannons destroyed four more. The bombers began to withdraw, which caused Henry to leave their formation. He began to fly towards the two Zeta pilots who were dog fighting with another wave of fighters. When suddenly Psi-2 hailed him. “Zeta elements, this is Psi-2, disengage enemy fighters. We are going to cover you.” Henry repeated the order and were joined by Isacc who had freshly placed holes in his craft and Amelia who was sporting a damaged thruster.
Receiving entrance clearance and beginning landing sequence. Henry breathed a sigh of relief that he did not even know he was holding. Isacc hailed Henry who accepted the call. “So, sir, how much did you kill?” Henry scoffed was I supposed to keep count? “You first” Henry replied and saw the beaming man. “Twelve” Isacc said with triumph. Amelia joined the call as they locked onto the hangar bay floor. “You got ten kills, Isacc. I saved you from the other two” she said flatly. Isacc simply coughed as they began to leave the craft as a series of technicians and engineers began to patch and refit the crafts. Henry simply smiled before exiting his craft and found Caleb waiting for them near Carter’s craft.
Henry ran towards Caleb inquiring where Carter was. “You just missed them. A whole medical staff came in and rushed out with him on the stretcher. Pretty banged up, but he’ll live.” Henry breathed a sigh of relief but heard Caleb speak once more. “My emperor, boss. I saw on my HUD your kill count. Thirty fighters and bombers altogether. Color me impressed.” Isacc and Amelia who had just arrived heard the number and Isacc walked forward. “Thirty, on what is basically your first battle. That means you're going to receive a mark.” Henry stared puzzled for a moment. Did I really destroy thirty traitors. He pondered the thought for a moment but dismissed it. There is still a battle going on damn it. He looked at the three remaining pilots. “We can’t relax yet, prepare for another sortie.” However, before Henry could even take a step. He felt his legs become gelatinous. He clutched the side of a crate before bracing himself. Luckily none of the pilots saw him do this.
Reaching his craft Henry sat on a ladder that was left. He looked up to see several screens showing live feeds of the battle. He saw the Hammer of Alistra trying to return to the fleet in all haste, fighters from the attacking wing rushing back to combat the closer enemy, and the fighters outside fighting desperately. He felt the shock of the dozen rail gun emplacement fire in volleys. He watched with a wolfish smirk as five railguns slammed into a traitor destroyer. The first three smashing the shield and the last two ripping great holes in the hull. However, it was the ever-growing swarm of fighters just outside worried him. Where the hell did, they come from and how were they able to deploy so fast? Henry pondered as he continued to watch the screen. All the while his surroundings bustled with work.
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Henry felt his helmet buzz with a hail. Placing the helmet on he noted that commander Foley was disheveled. “Henry, you and your squadron are to sortie along with the remainder of the 22nd Wing. You are to harass the enemy destroyer named the Gorgon’s Pride. If applicable disable the vessel, if not sink the thing” Henry observed the vengeful glare Foley had when he finished the sentence. “For honor and loyalty, go forth Henry” Foley finished before cutting the channel. Henry upon finishing the call gave an open order through the 22nd wing’s comm channel. “Attention all pilots of the 22nd enter your cockpits and prepare for sortie.” Immediately Henry saw the other three pilots of Zeta squadron, the three from Psi and the remaining two from Tau rushed about mounting their craft and locking their canopies pressurizing the small cockpit.
Before mounting his own craft, Henry was stopped by an engineer. “Lieutenant Lane” the engineer said with a salute “per commander Foley’s order. We have mounted four sparrow rockets. For ship assault. That means less hummingbird rockets, we also were able to attach two more flare pods. So, make use of it, sir.” Henry nodded and quickly entered his cockpit and sealed the thing with a satisfying hiss. Flipping the necessary switches and attuning with the craft. Henry began to move the craft for take-off. He turned to his right to see a formation of technicians and engineers arrayed in formation looking at his craft. Using the external sensor of the craft Henry heard the shouts of good luck from the ensemble as Henry for the third time now felt his body pushed into the seat as he was launched out.
Henry leaving the safety of the ship saw that the fighting was no longer as close to the hangar bay, however, stray rounds and explosions flew harmlessly passed. Henry pinged for the wing to take-off with caution before he hailed Zeta-4. The disheveled olive-skinned man responded, “what seems to be the problem boss?” Henry shook his head. “Did you notice how crisp Amelia and Isacc were?” Caleb tilted his head in confusion. “It's probably the implants, sir?” Henry stared confused for a moment. A moment long enough for Caleb to notice “does that mean you didn’t receive the implants then?” Henry nodded and much to his confusion Caleb sighed. “What the hell are they doing, just because you're a commoner, doesn’t mean they can disrespect the rank.” Henry informed Caleb of what is to happen after the battle. “That’s going to suck, boss. I saw Isacc and Amelia during the recouperation process after the implants. Especially after the battle. That is going to suck” Caleb said cryptically. Before Henry could ask an alert of the AI drew his attention.
Looking ahead a good distance out. The AI magnified the external camera to put focus on a destroyer firing a volley of rockets towards the battleship. “That must be the Gorgon’s Pride” Caleb said still on the channel. Henry agreed and closed the channel opening the wing’s channel. “All pilots form on me, staggered line. Let us commence.” A unified affirmative filled the channel as the nine craft went into full burn. Reaching PD cannon range of the destroyer, they slowed beginning evasive maneuver as the destroyer began to fire upon them. Syncing with the AI and the other crafts ordered a volley of sparrow rockets to be launched, but much to his dismay the PD cannons shot down four of the anti-ship rockets, three veered off, and two struck the shields simply causing them to flicker. The destroyer in kind fired a full volley of rockets to obliterate the wing. “Evasive” Henry roared as Caleb followed closely behind him. Like leaves in the wind, they scattered in their duos.
“Going for the defense” Caleb said as he pulled behind Henry and fired off one of his flare pods. Henry looked forward seeing an incoming rocket, he squeezed the trigger firing a molten stream striking the rocket causing a detonation. Flying through the smoke the pair turn to see the destroyer trying to escape out of their range. “All crafts begin attack run, confuse their sensors, use the mag-mines. Sink the bastard.” A groan of affirmation responded to his order. Henry watched as the pair of Psi and Tau members fired guided volleys of hummingbird rockets mixed with sparrow missiles. Isacc and Amelia peppered the shielded bridge, more distracting than damaging them. The ship’s PD cannon began to fire unapologetically in all direction unable to lock onto one target at a time. Henry and Caleb flew fast towards the engines almost scorching their craft from the large blue plumes of fire from the engines. Pulling out from a direct course they released their mines watching as they began to follow towards the top right and left portions of the engine. However, one strayed too close to the flames and exploded causing a secondary reaction. The blast scorched Henry’s left wing causing a series of alarms to blare. Yet, the damage was done. The twin engines of the destroyer flickered slightly watching the shield of the ship shatter as one of the sparrow rockets from Psi squadron slammed into the left side of the destroyer.
The PD cannons continued to fire, but the fighters regrouped and with a classic attack run destroyed or disabled the few cannons. Henry broke off ready to destroy the bridge much to the protest of his wing mates. “Sir, you cannot destroy the bridge” a pilot from Psi squad said with bated breath. The ship is still active. Cut the head and the rest will surrender. Henry thought trying to brush off the warning. However, his efforts were stopped when a missile lock blared into his helmet. Quickly turning, causing what felt like his lungs temporarily collapse, he was joined by his wing as a squadron of enemy fighters intercepted them. An open channel call echoed in his helmet; the sound of a roar caused him to shudder. “I am Cornelius “the roaring lion” Mercades. Face me pretender scum.”
The two forces faced off slowly closing in. Henry with the aid of Zeta squadron fired a massive volley of rockets causing the enemy squadron to scatter into individual crafts. However, Henry followed one craft. A customized Star Hawk with the painting of yellow and brown. That must be the boastful bastard Henry thought as he closed in. Then in wild bemusement saw the fighter go into a tight loop that must have exceeded close to twenty G’s a laugh echoed through his HUD. “I have a challenger. Good” Cornelius said with murderous glee. “Come little wolf. Let me show you what a lion can do.” Henry stared slack jaw as the craft turned right behind him and fired a stream of molten rounds and an array of rockets.
Feinting left but slamming to the right. Henry was pulled into an over the shoulder turn. “You cannot escape wolf” Cornelius roared as he followed closely still putting rocket lock warnings across his HUD. Cursing Henry saw Caleb and the rest of Zeta squadron parrying one of the enemy fighters. A missile lock brought his attention back. Then he saw the debris field, a graveyard really, of fights parts enter his field of view. Veering towards the field he began to dance within narrowly avoiding the ruined cockpits, gutted parts, and so on. All the while Cornelius laughed in appalling happiness. “Good, you are entertaining me little wolf. Perfect indeed.” Henry turned rotating the remains of a destroyed corvette. By chance or by luck he found himself on the back of Cornelius and not wanting to let him know fired a spray of molten rounds. He watched as a good second of stream slammed into the shield of the fighter. He watched with bated breath as the shield flickered and shattered. Thank the emperor Henry sighed. “Good little pup. Now we can begin.”
Henry watched as the fighter’s engine cut and a jet from beneath the nose caused the craft to flip. Henry swore as a stream of coil gun rounds fired. He was able to pull up just as a few rounds slammed into his shield. Then he saw Cornelius full burned his engine forcing the craft to a stop and then increased from nothing with his after burners clawing his way right behind him. Then an explosion far off brought the two opponents' attention. Cursing into an open channel Henry heard Cornelius laugh bitterly. “You survive this time wolf-pup. I’ll find you net time.” All Henry could do was slam his fist onto the thick metal parts of his canopy. I almost died Henry thought. He felt the chill on his neck relax.
Then he looked towards the destroyer where the rest of his wing were. He was shocked and appalled. Out of the eight fighters that he left to deal with the enemy squadron two were destroyed, one heavily damaged. Henry not wanting to waste time ordered Psi-3 to return to hangar while the rest checked on the two destroyed fighter. Tau-4 and Psi-5 were drifting emptily. “Shit, boss. You survived.” Caleb got closer to Psi-5 “we got a live one, boss.” Henry nodded and with knowing knew that the single seat fighter can hold a second person. Although it does get cramp. Caleb in a pressured suit went and grabbed the pilot. Isacc got closer to Tau-4 “shit, lieutenant, we got to get her out of here. She’s missing a limb.” Henry nodded and the remaining craft flew back to the hangar.
In the transit return. Henry looked at the squadrons' craft. Emperor’s curse Henry thought as he observed Caleb, Isacc, and Amelia’s fighter. Cosmetic damage seemed less of an issue as scorch marks, chunks of the wing, and a smashed missile pod hanging limply from the right side seemed like the most obvious damage. However, as they got closer to the battleship. Henry noted the rather dire state of his fighter. Several key components, in particular life support, missile guidance, a jammed coil gun, and sparking pieces of his console caused Henry to quietly think of the duel even more.
Upon executing the landing sequence and magnetically locking with the floor he exited his craft, that slowly began to become clouded in smoke. A small fire team arrived and extinguished the small electrical fire that started. Henry looked to see that Isaac and Caleb were being tended to by the medical staff. While Amelia was taken in a stretcher. A pair of medics tried to assess Henry much to his chagrin. However, it was the arrival of the princesses and commander Foley that caused the hangar to go silent upon gazing at the royal group. Elara raised a hand, and the hangar began to bustle about as if they had not existed. Liz with royal grace walked towards Henry and the medics. “Is the lieutenant alright?” Liz questioned with hints of worry. The medics nodded together “yes, your highness. The lieutenant will be fine, but he is experiencing G force trauma and smoke inhalation from life support failure.” Liz’s countenance faltered into a worried glance but returned to neutrality. “We thank you for his care.” Turning in place Liz and Elara then continued to walk around having a few words with the pilots from his wing along with visiting other parts of the hangar. However, Foley remained to speak with him.
