Carinae Sector: 02 - Admiral's Fury - Part 3 - Fleet Action Read Free Page B

affected the crew of his armada for several minutes. But he would have none of that as his next orders indicated.
    ‘Pick yourselves up and return to your duties immediately for we have to fight the remaining Sspol. I want those cruisers enveloped and destroyed.’
    The wing sections of the armada moved to separate sides as the ships attempted to comply with his order. However the frigates had to leave an open approach cone vacant so they would not run into the planet. The Sspol quickly identified this weakness and they then tore through the vacant space to one side of the armada. Powerful beams of light raced out from the lead cruiser and tore into the first Jerecab ships.
    Admiral Baunrus knew that the Sspol’s rapid approach speed was already causing the armada problems, for their cruisers were approaching at over five gravities in acceleration. He knew that he could slow the onrush of his own ships further but then that would mean less flexibility in his later attacks on the humans.
    The cruisers continued to attack even as the weaker beam weapons of the Jerecab frigates now responded to the Sspol. A storm of laser fire raced out and would assault a cruiser for several minutes before switching across to another cruiser. The admiral watched in anger as the combined firepower of the cruisers caused another of his frigates to explode. He immediately berated his commanders over their fighting choices.
    ‘There are only four cruisers and I want each of them disabled in turn before going on to the next one. Do not only fire on the cruiser attacking your ship, also I want to see better covering fire support between all of you.’
    The firestorm between the four large ships and the masses of Jerecab ships now increased again before the Sspol cruisers turned away. The admiral tore at his whiskers in anxiety as he realised what the Sspol were attempting to do. The Sspol had lost one cruiser but he had already lost four frigates. Perhaps unnecessarily the Jerecab tactical officer called out his report across the bridge.
    ‘Admiral the Sspol have altered course to brush past the starboard wing section of the armada. They will only be in range for another eight minutes at their increasing speed. Also the other races will be in range in little over two hours.’
    Admiral Baunrus choked back his frustration as he took in the news, for the wily Sspol were proving elusive to corner and destroy. He was tempted to alter course and keep the Sspol in battle, but he voiced his main concern across the bridge as the view screen showed the rapidly increasing range of the Sspol cruisers. The admiral instead satisfied himself by organising the armada for the imminent arrival of the Barus and the humans. A lieutenant across the bridge coughed nervously and the admiral gave him leave to speak.
    ‘Admiral, the Sspol cruisers will return as they are now orbiting back around the planet Neptune. They appear to be slowing down as they left weapons range and they will be able to attack the armada about the same time the other races arrive.’
    Baunrus was no fool and he gave further orders as he looked over his navigation console.
    ‘The other races attempt to pin us here at this planet. All ships are to close up and turn towards the oncoming ships as this is also an excellent chance to get closer to Earth.’
    The admiral was hoping to get the human fleet to shed too much velocity so he could arrive at Earth first with his armada. He watched in vain as the Earth destroyers merely altered course a hair to compensate for the course change of the armada. Frustration boiled as he noted that the oncoming human ships were still approaching at high speed.
     
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    Probe three had earlier detected the non aggression clauses sent to the humans by the Sspol and he had copied the messages to both Robert and Emma with