• Date: January 24, 2183


  
• Time: 5:45 AM


  
• Location: UGS Yorktown Bridge


  

  Currently, in pursuit of the Kaynian group's designation A and B, Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft clenched his chair as the approaching Kaynians were massacring the H.E.L. cannon platforms. The sixty contacts who bypassed the space station Atlantis were bearing down on the helpless platforms. With only the marine expeditionary group to defend, the one hundred H.E.L. cannon platforms were slowly being destroyed by the Kaynians.

  ''Luck, H.E.L. cannon charge?''

  [Eighty percent.]

  ''Damn it...''

  ''...What about our hull breaches?''

  [E.T.A. sixty seconds until sealed.]

  The A.I. responded as she did her best to charge the main armament of the battle carrier while relying on personnel onto the damaged decks to repair them. Fires were rapidly throughout the mentioned decks as the nano repair system patched the damage sustained.

  ''What's the status of the two Kaynian groups?''

  [Currently, group A has invaded the Western Sphere of Eden and engaged the assault group. However, they have incurred heavy losses. Out of thirty ships, only ten survived at the cost of thirty of our platforms destroyed and fifteen disabled. That leaves the West with five H.E.L. cannon platforms, but their shields are in tatters. However, they could still fire.]

  Swiping over to the Eastern Sphere of Eden. Luck highlighted the Kaynian's advance and engagement with the A.F.E. Marine Corps.

  [Meanwhile, the Eastern Sphere of Eden has been completely wiped out. All fifty platforms were destroyed by the Kaynian group B. However, much like the first group, they, too, suffered heavy losses. Only six Kaynian ships managed to get to the surface and engage the Marine Corps on the ground.]

  This was what Abraham feared. Without proper protection for the H.E.L. cannon platforms, they would eventually drop like flies. However, that didn't mean the Kaynians got off without problems. Although powerful, the platforms were orbiting Eden, which meant the Kaynians could predict their movement and fire first—and they did.

  ''That's good. If the Eastern Sphere is already facing ground invasion from the Kaynians. This means that their ships are focused on aiding them. If that's the case, we're already ahead of schedule.''

  [Shall I send the signal?]

  ''Yes, with how things are. The Second Fleet has to come to our rescue.''

  [Understood, relying on the message to I.C.E.]

  Staring at the obliterated H.E.L. cannon platform ring stretching from the Eastern Sphere to the Western Sphere of Eden. The admiral couldn't help but wonder if the plan he and Cob had created was the only way they could save Eden from the Kaynians. Looking over his terminals, he saw the reports from the surface, Kaynian Sentinals striding over the defended Cities of Eden. Intense firefights broke out all across the Eastern Sphere of Eden. A.F.E. armor clashed with Kaynian Paladins as firing lines were established and marched toward the defending marines.

  ''Sir, an emergency call from Rear Admiral Shin Zaka.''

  ''Patch him through.''

  ''Right away, sir.''

  The communications officers then established the connection. Immediately, the visage of Shin Zaka appeared over the terminal. The first thing to come to view was the red light blaring on his counterpart's bridge. Although non-audible, Gaft guessed things were not going well on board the Rear Admiral's bridge.

  ''Vice Admiral, we need your help. The Kaynians that got past Atlantis have managed to reduce the number of H.E.L. cannon platforms to just five.''

  Pleaded the admiral, and Gaft would oblige as his strike group was already on the way toward the Western Sphere of Eden. This should ensure that the marines on the ground regain their support from their ships. The assault group had already bled the numbers of the Kaynian group A to just ten, and it was time for the Navy to take over.

  "Don't worry, admiral. My strike group, along with the Amagi, is on the way. We'll provide you with breathing room to recover and assist your Marines on the surface..."

  "...Just hold on. We'll fire our H.E.L. cannons to grab their attention."

  ''Very well, Vice Admiral.''

  This story has been unlawfully obtained without the author's consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.

  Hearing Abraham's promise, the connection between the two admirals was immediately terminated. Looking at the remaining Kaynian ships, the admiral was confident that his ship wouldn't give up. Yorktown's weapon systems were finally at the end of the preparation. Although exhausted, the remaining missiles, torpedos, and drones were rearmed for another attack.

  [My dear, all weapons systems ready to fire, strike group-wide.]

  ''About damn time. Then let's not waste time and greet our alien visitors...''

  ''...Strike Group Yorktown, this is Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft, weapons free!''

  Immediately, ten H.E.L. cannon beams exited the barrels of each A.F.E. warship and instantly impacted the energy shielding of the alien vessels. The Yorktown would score a kill first, as its target was the weakened Kaynian Galleon, whose shields gave up immediately upon contact. The beam pierced the bow, setting off a chain reaction as the potent energy cannons of the galleon exploded one by one. The Amagi fired its heavy type first, which broke the shields of a Kaynian Frigate, followed by its light-type H.E.L. cannon that finished the frigate. The three destroyers all picked their targets individually and managed to shatter the shields of three Kaynian Corvettes. Following up, the five A.F.E. Corvettes went and destroyed the alien vessels. Ten H.E.L. cannon strikes resulted in the destruction of five Kaynian ships out of ten.

  ''Luck, report on our strike.''

  [We managed to destroy the lead ship, one frigate, and three Kaynian Corvettes. It seems that the Kaynian group A had turned its attention to us- Warning energy build-up detected.]

  In Gaft's head, that could only mean one thing. The Kaynians were about to engage them with their broadsides. Abraham saw the remaining Kaynian ships glowing on his terminal, charging their weapons before firing.

  ''Inform the strike group to launch our remaining drones and torpedos to divert some of their cannons! If they fire, we'll be wiped out!''

  [Very well, relying on command.]

  The battle carrier, heavy cruiser, and the three destroyers launched their final squadrons of fighter and bomber drones to the alien ships. A swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles and nuclear-guided torpedos raced toward their targets. Meanwhile, on the Kaynian side, the frigate and its corvette sister ships directed fifty percent of their cannons to the incoming drones and torpedos. Their energy cannon broadsides fired, unleashing hell on the A.F.E. Strike Group as Yorktown's shield took multiple hits and was reduced to fifteen percent. The impact of the energy beams shook the battle carrier as the crews and systems repairing the ship were paused for a moment. Meanwhile, the Amagi fared better as her shields were damaged to fifty percent.

  ''Report!''

  [Yorktown's shields have sustained damage but managed to hold off the broadsides alongside the Amagi.]

  Luck stated as she tried to sustain the battle carrier's shields. However, the accompanying destroyers and corvettes did not have the same luxury. However, out of the three Fletcher Class Destroyers, only one survived, although its shields were shattered. The A.F.E. Corvettes were reduced to two as they were not robust compared to their larger counterparts. However, the surviving corvettes had their shields shattered by Kaynian firepower. Having only five ships taken out of the fight, the Kaynians diverted fifty percent of their firepower to the incoming drones and torpedos but only destroyed less than a hundred. Thus leaving the defenseless alien ships at the wrath of the incoming A.F.E. nuclear weapons and missiles.

  ''Status!''

  [Our strike group suffered two destroyers and three corvettes lost. In total, five warships were lost on our side.]

  ''What about our torpedos and drones?''

  [Making contact in three, two, one.]

  The fighter drones unleashed their missiles as with their missile bomber counterpart. Hundreds of missiles plunged into the energy shielding of the Kaynian ships, which held off the attack due to their shielding. However, when the torpedo bomber drones fired torpedos, the Kaynian Corvettes 'shields were obliterated, with the frigate managed better due to its robust shielding. Although not destroyed, the shieldless corvettes would be primed targets for another H.E.L. cannon strike.

  ''Status on the Kaynians?''

  [Kaynian Corvettes one through four had their shields shatter from nuclear torpedos. However, the frigate still has its shielding intact.]

  ''Damn it, how long until our H.E.L. cannon is charged?''

  [Fifteen seconds.]

  ''Good. When our H.E.L. cannons are charged. I want to follow up with another strike.''

  [Of course, my-]

  But before the A.I. could complete her response, a report from one of the surviving H.E.L. cannon platforms was presented to her. The admiral noticed the abrupt pause his X.O. was in and turned to her avatar to see what was happening.

  ''Luck, anything wrong?''

  Gaft asked, wondering what caused his wife to pause abruptly before finishing her sentence. Afterward, Luck turned to him with a smile on her virtual face.

  [My dear, the surviving H.E.L. cannon platforms request immediate orders from you to finish the Kaynians.]

  ''What?''

  The admiral stated as he glanced at the report on his terminal, where he saw that the sender was indeed from the five remaining H.E.L. cannon platforms.

  ''Huh, I guess the platforms have charged their H.E.L. cannons while we faced the Kaynians...''

  ''...Hmm, very well. Give my order to open fire.''

  [Understood, my dear.]

  It didn't take long for a response to reach the H.E.L. cannon platforms as they oriented themselves slowly to the remaining Kaynian vessels in Eden's Western Sphere. The barrels of their H.E.L. cannons glowed before unleashing a potent red beam that impacted the alien ships instantly. The five Kaynian Corvettes fell immediately, and the frigate exploded from the inside due to the H.E.L. cannon strike, which shattered the shield and pierced the reactor.

  [Kaynian ships are down for the count, my dear.]

  ''Good, now we just have to-''

  Cutting the admiral was the arrival of the Second Fleet on the Eastern Sphere of Eden. The bridge spiraled into a frenzy as officers immediately established a communication line with the newly arrived Second Fleet. The Vice Admiral was surprised at the sudden arrival of his superior.

  ''Sir! The Second Fleet just arrived directly on Eden's Eastern Sphere!''

  The Communications Officer informed, and Gaft looked at his terminal, seeing the virtual silhouettes of the Second Fleet.

  ''Get me a connection with the New Jersey!''

  ''Right away, admiral!''

  The officer shouted before connecting the Vice Admiral's terminals with the New Jersey's. Suddenly, the visage of the Fleet Admiral Sasha Zveroboy appeared on the terminal. Abraham straightened himself, knowing the admiral wanted to know what had occurred in her absence.

  ''Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft, report.''

  ''Fleet Admiral, everything is going as planned. However, the losses that we have predicted are far more than we expected.''

  ''Elaborate.''

  ''When the Kaynians arrived, they only brought thirty ships at first, and immediately my battlegroup and the defense group engaged. We obliterated the Kaynian group, but we did not anticipate reinforcements to come so soon. What came out was the Kaynian Dreadnought and ten escort frigates. Although outnumbered, the Kaynians managed to destroy half our ships...''

  ''...Not only that, but sixty more contacts arrived and flanked Atlantis space station but did not engage and only bothered to bypass the station. I realized then that the purpose of the first Kaynian group was to soften us before finishing us with their capital ship. So, Rear Admiral Oxton Hue modified our plan for the fall of Atlantis. Yorktown and her strike group, with the heavy cruiser Amagi, would turn to Eden and aid the H.E.L. cannon platforms with the incoming Kaynian ships....''

  ''...After saying my goodbye to the Rear Admiral, the Kaynian super capital would make its move and vaporize the remaining ships near Atlantis. The space station itself was obliterated and made unrecognizable. Thus, our plan of defeating the Kaynians was accelerated and hindered. Shortly afterward, the Western and Eastern Sphere of Eden would engage their hell cannons against the approaching Kaynians and manage to lessen their numbers to just sixteen. But in return, ninety-five of Eden's platforms were destroyed.''

  Gaft explained before catching a breath for how long the explanation was. He hoped the Fleet Admiral would have a general idea of what was happening. And with Atlantis gone and the Kaynians on Eden's surface, the admiral's decision was a make-or-break situation.

  "I see. If that's the case, Vice Admiral, I'm assigning you to aid the marine assault group on Eden's atmosphere. Ensure that the Kaynian ships are eliminated."

  ''Yes, ma'am, but what about the fleet?''

  ''We'll be engaging the Kaynian Dreadnought head-on.''

  To Be Continued.