“This is group three. Only silence.”
“Group three, point your radars east. You’ve got fast-moving objects incoming.”
Indeed, five dots blinked at each of the six Cloaked Fighters’ radars. They approached fast, straight at the patrol, more and more blinks, closer and closer.
Hostile ships inbound near group three.
“Group three, these are hostile ships. Keep your cloaking on and retreat to base.”
The cloaks were kept on, no response from the Fighters was delivered, but despite their increasing speed the enemy ships advanced straight at them.
Enemy detects the cloaking.
“Drop the cloaks, engage the enemy in a claw formation. Evasive manoeuvres. Don’t let them hit you.”
Before Fleet Command finished voicing her orders, her Spectres have arranged themselves and were soaring at the enemy, weapons charged and targeted.
The cameras revealed seven ships, the heavily armoured Light Corvettes with the faint blue of force shields about them and the magic-focusing hemisphere at the bottom. Their hemispheres were pulsing with energy. They were named“Fireflies,” or more accurately, “Sajuk-damned Fireflies”.
Just before they came into range, the Spectres faded out of the world, concealed by the cloaks. They reshaped their formation into a more loose one and switched the cloaks back off.
The distilled-light missiles fell in the spots the Spectres had occupied earlier, but corrected quickly and continued firing. Although some of the Fighters were damaged, they all responded with a salve that bounced off the enemy shields.
Fleet Command directed some of the Probes straight at the field of battle, assuming direct control. “Group three, split into two delta formations.”
Right beyond the enemy lines, the group reformed itself into a formation resembling an X with its middle pulled back. The moment they turned around, they cloaked and split in two V-shaped groups, darting in opposite directions. Each group flanked from either side. As expected, half of the enemy ships followed the first group, the other half the second one.
The Spectres switched off their cloaks and flew in separate directions.
“Group east, do an upward sharp 180 west. Group west do a downward sharp 180 east. Fire at the enemy midway.”
The three Spectres heading west turned east by pulling sharply upward. They then targeted the enemy chasing the other group.Same manoeuvre was completed by the other group from the other side, forming an infinity sign. Their respective Corvettes lagged clumsily behind, unable to target well.
The enemy shield’s a thinly stretched film.
Concentrated fire will breach it.
“Both groups, focus on one target’s hemisphere each and fire at the same time.”
The sentence wasn’t finished before the skies lit up again with both the distilled light and fire of projectile cannons. The light, however, was inaccurate, and if any of the missiles found its mark, it was by pure chance.
The projectiles cracked two holes in the enemy shields and knocked two hemispheres out of commission on the first salve. The second salve gave similar results, dropping the hemispheres of two other Corvettes, giving four out of seven total.
While inaccurate, the distilled-light missiles overcompensated in power. When they did land a hit, the Spectre was left barely limping, most of its systems on fire. Two ships were knocked out of the sky that way. The message was delivered, though. These weren’t the rookie Scouts, but the far more experienced, unforgiving pilots. All Corvettes turned to flee.
The Spectres were restless. They pursued, mercilessly firing at the battered shields of the three remaining ships and chasing the already defenceless ones despite the severe collateral damage. Engines exploded, hemispheres shattered and all the Corvettes were felled into the ocean.
In the end, none of the Corvettes returned home. Perhaps they would later be found rusty, crewed by Griffin skeletons in their final rest at the bottom of the sea.
Situation analysis:
Enemy possesses many small ships of low manoeuvrability and aiming accuracy, but high firepower and average maximum speed. They all have shields unable to withstand concentrated fire and all have clear weak spots, hitting which renders them unarmed.
Sensor Array has proved incapable of working this close to the planet, and thus might only be used for communication purposes.
Suggested course of action:
– Use of small, manoeuvrable, but sufficiently armed and armoured Interceptors and Cloaked Fighters.
– Use of the "Puppeteer" class Drone Frigates, with all drones aimed at one enemy hemisphere, firing until the hemisphere is shattered, then switching to the next one.
– Creation of minefields by the Minelayer Corvettes across the whole globe, at greater density near patrol paths.
– Assembling of a Proximity Sensor and Probe net to determine where the enemy ships are assembled and refuelled.
“Recall half of our Destroyers, Light and Heavy Corvettes, and Defenders for salvaging. Their pilots will be reassigned.”
Recalling Destroyers.
Destroyers en route.
Recalling Light Corvettes.
Light Corvettes en route.
Recalling Defenders.
Defenders en route.
“Order half of our remaining units to the Griffin Main Island. Keep the rest to the Mothership.”
All groups ready.
Executing command.
Building Proximity Sensors
Building Probes.
Dispatching Proximity Sensors
Dispatching Probes
Probe on eastern region of the northern hemisphere is receiving multiple enemy ships inbound.
“Exact number?”
Ten.
They are heading straight toward the Probe.
“Dispatch two Drone Frigates with a Cloaked Fighter escort, and a Support Frigate. Send two Ion Cannon Frigates their way with Interceptor escort.”
Dispatching orders.
Drone Frigates en route.
Cloaked Fighters en route.
Support Frigate en route.
“Assign them to group three.”
Group three reassigned.
Ion Cannon Frigates waiting for escort.
Interceptors in position, assuming Claw formation.
“Assign them to group four”
Group four reassigned.
Ion Cannon Frigates en route.
Closest Probes in position.
Further expansion of the net will require the creation of a larger number of Probes.
“Assemble the required Probes.”
Assembling the Probes.
“If the place of the ships’ construction is found, inform me. Do not take any automated action.”
Directives understood.