Saxon Andrews - The power of a Queen

The message was transmitted and an answer was immediately received. “Take your time. We will enjoy the show down here. If you want to surrender, please let us know.”

The Warleader was livid, “Fire all weapons into the screen. Target their largest cities.”

More than 80,000 primary beams and 4,000 missiles were fired at the screen surrounding the Earth. The flashes were gigantic; but nothing got through the screen.

“Warleader, it appears that the screen is getting stronger with our attack. It was 60 degs when we started our bombardment and now it is 86 degs thick.”

“Move all our ships to one side of the planet and have them fire all our weapons into one part of the screen.” The 800 ships gathered above Central City and formed a circle. “On my command fire all weapons into the marking beam on the screens surface; fire!”

The Alliance fleet fired into the screen and the Warleader could see waves of color move out like ripples into the rest of the screen. “Warleader, the screen is now 93 degs thick.”

The Warleader slammed his claws into his console. “How am I going to get thru this screen he yelled at his crew? Hit it with five fusion missiles.” The Warleader thought, I didn’t want to destroy this world, we’ll just have to take what we can of the remains.”

Five 400 foot long missiles left the massed Alliance ships and impacted the screen. The blast knocked all sensors off line momentarily and when they came back on the Sensor officer said, “The screen around the planet is now 110 degs thick.”

‘Cease firing energy weapons at that screen,” the Warleader ordered. “How am I going to break thru this screen?” He thought.

The four hundred and fifty Human ships hit the Alliance fleet at 60,000 miles per second. The three ship teams found spaces between the Alliance ships and flashed in among them before they could respond to their presence. Each of the small ships fired two needles into the ships they encountered and the battleships fired their primary beams as they passed thru the Alliance fleet and then turned to come around for a second attack matching the speed of the Alliance ships, 450 Alliance ships exploded. Five of the Human ships died when they collided with an Alliance ship. “Reduce speed,” Kosiev ordered. “Pull up vertical and come over the top of their formation. Keep your formation together. Use each other’s screens and hold your positions in the line.”

Captain Rubens in the Los Angeles was amazed at the number of targets around him. There were twenty dreadnaughts moving in to attack his ship and escorts. The huge ships were beautiful and all looked on fire as they fired their beams and missiles. Some were so close that their screens were bumping against each other. “Weapons, target the closest Dreadnaughts and fire two needles each into them. Use the primary beams on those more than ten miles from us. Helm, pick the cleanest path thru.” The Los Angeles was being hit by more than 800 primary beams when she began firing. Six of the dreadnaughts were hit by the two needles each and seven others were hit by the awesome 700 foot wide primary beams. All thirteen were damaged with seven of them blowing up into small rubble. The surviving six continued to fire and were being joined by eight others. “Weapons, I want the primary beams fired every three seconds whether we have a target or not. We need to bleed our screens.” Captain Rubens saw his screen moving into red as the Los Angeles turned and flew between four of the dreadnaughts as they sought to surround the smaller ship. The dreadnaughts beams followed the Los Angeles as it moved away from the mass of gathering dreadnaughts. The two escorts of the Los Angeles would fly thru her screen and take some of the energy then attack other Alliance Ships. The Los Angeles moved thru the Alliance formation killing ships and darting between open spaces to avoid being rammed. Some of the Human ships were not as fortunate.

The Dallas was also being attacked by twenty dreadnaughts and was having success until two of 3,600 foot long ships accelerated and rammed her from both sides. Before she died she fired 40 needles into the surrounding dreadnaughts and fired her primary beams into the two ships ramming her. The resulting explosions cleared space for 20 miles around the site.

Kosiev asked, “Has the second fleet made contact?”

“In three minutes,” Kelly answered.

“Ship count, Ensign?”

“We’ve lost 68 ships, sir. The Alliance has lost 875. The Empire ships have taken a drastic toll on their heavy ships but they still have more than 800 in the first fleet. They have started to ram our larger ships, Admiral.”

Kosiev pushed a button on his com and said, “All ships begin weave on my command, Execute!”

The Earth fleet suddenly went in four different directions. One quarter of them went straight down thru the Alliance fleet while one quarter of them went vertical. The other half of the fleet went left and right. The Alliance fleet found itself with ships passing from different directions and they could not change directions as quickly to ram. They would try to follow the ship they were attacking only to find another human ship firing at them from above and below.

Kosiev ordered, “Initiate one quarter change, execute!” All the Human ships rotated ninety degrees and continued moving thru the Alliance ships firing needles and Primary beams. The Alliance ships just could not change direction fast enough to keep up with the faster smaller ships and they were getting mauled.

The Washington looked on fire as it was struck by hundreds of beams and missiles. Captain Mikado watched as three dreadnaughts picked up speed and attempted to ram. “Fly straight at the lead dreadnaught and run down its length,” Mikado ordered and then held on to his arm rests as the Washington abruptly changed direction. The other two dreadnaughts tried to match the turn but only flew into the dreadnaught the Washington was running along. The screen of the Washington was so hot it penetrated the dreadnaughts screen and burned thru the top of the dreadnaught for its entire length setting off its missile magazines as it passed. The dreadnaught exploded behind the Washington taking the other two Alliance ships with it. Alliance ships were dying by the hundreds.

Captain Rubens in the Los Angeles was approaching three dreadnaughts from below that were chasing the Clearwater. He hit two with his primary beams and the third one with three needles. All three were dead and bleeding atmosphere as he passed. The Clearwater turned suddenly leaving three ramming ships passing thru the spot it had just occupied. Captain Rubens ordered, “Kill those three rammers.” As the Los Angeles passed vertically by the three dreadnaughts, three needles punctured each of the dreadnaughts screens. Two of them didn’t even leave rubble when the hornets hit their missile magazines. The third was broken into three parts bleeding atmosphere and enduring multiple explosions.

The Subleader was watching his fleet being destroyed around him. He tried to call the Warleader for direction but he couldn’t break thru the interference. He saw his second support fleet being attacked by the second Earth Fleet and he knew he couldn’t expect help from that quarter. “Order the remaining ships to turn and join the second fleet. Do it immediately.”

“Sir, the Alliance ships are turning and running toward the second fleet.”

Kosiev ordered, “Cease weaving and pick a ship to destroy before it joins them.”

The Human ships broke formation and every ship attacked a single Alliance warship. Three hundred and forty Alliance ships were destroyed before they made it to their second fleet.

“Ship Count, Mr. Kelly?”

“We are down to 330 ships. The Alliance first fleet has lost 1908.”