From: "NEIL COLLINS" Subject: Into The Fire Date: Thu, 6 Nov 97 09:40:13 UT Title: Into the Fire Author: Daniel Collins Commence: 5th November 1997 * * * * * * * * * * Continuing From 'The Brink of War' * * * * * * * * * * Now that the Earth Alliance had suffered it's first defeat, they began working on a new project, and called all Nova class vessels available, back to Earth. Their plan was to have a new warship ready to fight the Minbari, and do a better job than what the other ships in the fleet had already done. The Minbari were strong, and for some reason, Earthforce sensors couldn't find them through some Stealth Technology. But this didn't stop the Earth Alliance, they would see it through, right through to the end... The Year is 2245. * * * * * * * * * * >And it still Goes On...< "And in latest developments, the Earth Alliance has prepared another fleet of ships to fight against the Minbari, our best hopes go out to the crew aboard those vessels, I'm Julie Sanders on this, the 16th of November 2245, good night." A Hyperion class cruiser moves through normal space, on it's way to rendezvous with a fleet of Earthforce ships. Just another of those that will fight for the cause of Earth. At the current time, Earthforce has suffered heavily compared to the Minbari, and the war wasn't over yet... The cruiser, named the Yukon, wasn't in any condition for battle, yet Earthforce orders it to fight. So that either meant that they were desperate, or that they were expendable under these circumstances. None of which were acceptable to the starship's Captain, he walked up and down the bridge, with the crew humming away at their stations, no one caring about the Captain's actions, only caring about those they loved, those on the outer colonies, those on the ships that have already been destroyed, those who are now gone. The ship is in silence, even as they arrive at the co ordinates, because, no one is there. Shortly after the Yukon arrived, a Hyperspace jump point opened, and three larger, Nova Class cruisers flew into normal space. If this was the fleet, then Earth was pretty much doomed, but there were still more to come. "How many more ships due?" The Yukon's Captain, Thompson asked. "About ten, Sir!" "Ten?" "Yes, sir,. that's all Earthforce can spare for now." "But, how come?" he asked, puzzled. "Several of the Nova class vessels have been recalled to Earth for repairs or refits." It made sense to Thompson. They were rarely kept up to date on the events at Earth because they were too far away. Exploring DID have it's downsides. "Sir, another Jump point forming" "Ours, or theirs?" "Ours Sir, it's the fleet, we're all here." The lead ship was the Nova class Excelsior, and in total, the fleet consisted of about 17 ships, so they were in a bit of luck. "Excelsior is hailing us, Sir." "On speakers." "All units launch Star Furies, Minbari ships detected three light years away. Get ready." The voice of the Excelsior's Captain called. "Red Alert!" Thompson acknowledged, "Prepare to launch all fighters." The bridge went to red alert, below decks, the halls were lit with red glow as the fighter squadrons scrambled to their Star Fury's. "Cobra Bays 1 and 2 on Standby, Sir." "Launch..." The Starfury's 1 by 1 were launched and pushed out of the hull of the Yukon, soon after, ships came from the remaining Cobra Bays, all of the fighters entered a standard formation. "Minbari vessels 1.5 light years away." The Squad Leader said. "Ready all weapons." Out ahead, in the blackness of space, the side of the Yukon's hull, and the other cruisers could be seen clearly, as could the other Star Fury's from the other ships. "Minbari vessels nearing weapons range, 0.7 light years, ETA 45 seconds." * * * * * * * * * * > The Second Confrontation < The Minbari cruisers slowed down as they approached the fleet, their weapons were charged, there were only five cruisers, and they didn't look much compared to the Earth Alliance fleet. "I'm picking up five ships, no fighter escort. Their weapons are fully charged." the Tactical Officer called. "Is the Defense Grid charged?" Thompson asked. "Yes, Sir." "Good." "Sir, I'm picking up smaller objects leaving the cruisers, they, they're Minbari Fighters!" As the crew looked on, several small vessels emerged from the front of the large cruisers and flew out to the fleet. The Star Fury's stood ready. "Weapons are armed, enemy ships are firing!" The fighters moved toward the fleet, there was no need for the cruisers to do anything, several shots were fired, by both sides, but in no time, the Star Fury's were gone from the front line... Now that the Star Fury's were destroyed from the front, the others had to quickly make their intercept runs. The Minbari moved in, and gave close assaults against the cruisers, who in turn, fired back. "Keep Firing!" "Sir, I can't! We know they're there, but our targeting scanners aren't targeting!" "Take a lucky guess then!" The Excelsior was badly hit, and so, it turned to make a run for a Jump point formation, but there were too many Earthforce ships in the area, the risk was too great. The Yukon swung round to attack some of the large cruisers just sitting out in front, but the fighters kept them where they were. Several Star Fury's pursued Minbari fighters that were lining the hulls of the Earthforce vessels with laser fire. But, they were destroyed with the swiftness of another Minbari fighter looking after their race, it appeared that the Furies couldn't target the fighters either. Now certain of defeat, the Excelsior made it's jump point, but one of the cruisers turned and fired it's weapons into it's rear hull, that exploded and destroyed the ship. The Jump point closed, and several Minbari fighters were caught in it's wake and destroyed. The only way to win, would be to randomly fire into the night... No one thought of it at the time, as two other Earth Alliance cruisers were destroyed. No one was thinking straight, and it showed in many of the Captain's decisions. Eventually, the entire squad of Starfuries had been destroyed, and there were only three Earth Alliance ships left, the Yukon, Clemente and the Constantinople. "This is Captain Thompson, of the EAS Yukon, I suggest we get out of here." "Agreed!" "Okay." The three ships turned as several more Minbari fighters flew past, the Yukon launched a buoy, and the jump point formed, but by the time it did, the Yukon exploded, which disrupted the connection to the buoy, and so the Jump Point closed, the other two cruisers quickly got out of the wake, and the Constantinople launched another buoy, and the two ships entered the jump. The Minbari ships re grouped. * * * * * * * * * * > Into the Fire < Now that the Earth Alliance had been defeated a second time, it was time that they re thought about their tactics. Their project on Earth had to be sped up, as the fleet was quickly becoming lesser, and lesser. Soon it would be no more, and then, Earth would be on it's knees... * * * * * * * * * * It's not the end yet... To Be Continued... By Daniel Collins. Contact: daniel_collins@geocities.com