Closing on the Prey

May 1st , 2441

CNS Odin

Star System SS-157

16:30 Earth Standard Time

“Ma’am, five minutes until we’re in range of the enemy carriers,” Lucas Wright informed his Admiral over the intercom.

“On my way,” Admiral Deanna Collins reported as she stood and fastened the top latch on her combat suit and replaced her helmet.

The Flag Bridge was cool, the calm professionals passing information to each other in whispers. An enormous holo-grid displayed the two fleets that were locked in combat, Task Force Revenge closing on the Orin Kin vessels that were attempting to flee from SS-157. In less than five minutes the combined firepower of the Confederate ships would be focused on the Orin Kin carrier and her two battleship escorts.

“Ma’am, we’ve been punching missiles out of space the whole time we’ve been closing on them. They’ve been decelerating to make the jump so it has been a bit more difficult than before. Only a handful of targets have made it through the suppressive fire, though, and they only caused light damage to one of the cruisers.”

“Good. Has a targeting priority been transmitted to the rest of the Task Force?” Deanna asked as she brought her tactical console on-line and made a quick review of the situation.

“Aye, Ma’am. Priority has been assigned to crippling the battleships first, because of their observed firepower. The destroyers have been set on point-defense duty for the remainder of the battle. The cruisers and battle cruisers will be focusing on the two Orin Kin heavies, our cannons have been locked on the carrier.”

“Good. Time to fire line?”

“Two minutes, Ma’am.”

Deanna ran a quick set of calculations on the number of volleys her ships would be able to unload on the Orin Kin before they were able to make the jump. Her smaller ships, with a reset time of six seconds and full capacitors, would be able to fire twenty straight volleys before needing to charge their capacitors. Her largest ships, their cannons on a twelve second reset timer but with larger capacitors, would be able to unload for the full twelve minutes that they would be in range of the enemy core elements. And hopefully, her ships had already done enough damage to the Orin Kin ships to prevent them from doing too much damage to her ships in the same span of time.

“Ma’am. Range achieved.”

“Thank you, Commander,” Deanna said as she returned to her command chair. “Pass the word to all ships; fire at will.”

--

A wave of energy lashed out at the core elements of the fleeing Orin Kin group. The carrier and two battleships were the focus of the entire volley, and even their massive size was not enough to absorb the damage from the Confederate attack.

The Odin’s massive class-five cannons tore gashes into the enemy ships that spanned several sections. Atmosphere spilled from the opening wounds in the Orin Kin vessels and debris trailed behind the ships as they continued to slow for translation. But even damaged, the Orin Kin vessels could still retaliate.

Another barrage of missiles lashed out, accelerating wildly to try and avoid the incoming fire from the Confederate destroyers and frigates. Their approach vectors danced and shifted as they locked onto drones and then decided to find more attractive prey. Deanna noted their speed and quickly checked her console.

The Orin Kin had increased the acceleration rate of their missiles to counter the superior point defense of the Confederate task force, and it was working to a degree. The missiles were getting closer and closer to her ships, and more of them were breaking through the outer most layer of the anti-missile fire.

But with each volley from the Odin and her consorts, fewer missiles fired from the Orin Kin missile tubes and Deanna felt the tremor of yet another massive volley erupting from the guns of her warship.

A/N: I have returned! Sorry this one is so short. My brain is a bit lost right now on where I was taking this one so I need to take a little while to flesh some stuff out while I decide that. But I should be posting more. Rejoice!