Part 9 (2/2)
The numerous icons representing the missiles fired by the stars.h.i.+ps of both sides were more scattered, and there weren't as many, perhaps a hundred. Most of them had been successfully decoyed by defensive chaff or flares; confused by the chaff and flares, a few jittered about erratically. Some dotted lines ended in pulsing Xs, indicating missiles that had been killed by defensive fire. Only a quarter of the dotted lines still showed probable intercept with stars.h.i.+ps.
There were two pulsing circles in the display, one red and one blue. The red one was labeled ”medium cruiser Gamma,” a Coalition stars.h.i.+p that a missile had put out of commission, perhaps killed. The pulsing blue circle made Solwara's breath catch in his throat; it was labeled Everett Fulbright, Everett Fulbright, a Confederation Navy destroyer. He had friends, former s.h.i.+pmates, on the a Confederation Navy destroyer. He had friends, former s.h.i.+pmates, on the Everett Fulbright. Everett Fulbright.
But Inap Solwara was a navy wars.h.i.+p captain, he had a battle to fight. There would be time for mourning later, when his crew's lives didn't depend on his paying attention to the job at hand. He focused on the icons indicating the missiles fired by the Kiowa. Kiowa. All the missiles in the first salvo had been decoyed or destroyed, and half of the manually guided missiles had gone astray or been killed. Six of the remaining ten looked like they would do no better than minor surface damage to their targets. The last four would probably do more substantial damage, perhaps even kill their targets. All the missiles in the first salvo had been decoyed or destroyed, and half of the manually guided missiles had gone astray or been killed. Six of the remaining ten looked like they would do no better than minor surface damage to their targets. The last four would probably do more substantial damage, perhaps even kill their targets.
He looked at the limb of the planet and saw icons emerging from behind it. Two of them were labeled ”medium cruiser Charlie” and ”destroyer Alpha.” Labels on the other four flickered until Surveillance identified them. One of them resolved to a frigate, two others to destroyers. Solwara was startled when the fourth was identified: ”dreadnought Alpha.”
He forwarded the information to Admiral Hoi's CIC. The task force CIC probably already knew about the four new stars.h.i.+ps-and that one was a dreadnought-but it was better to be certain than to a.s.sume.
The CIC was aware of the dreadnought, as Admiral Hoi proved by almost immediately tight-beaming orders to the Kiowa Kiowa and two light cruisers to prepare to volley missiles at it. and two light cruisers to prepare to volley missiles at it.
”Batteries, status,” Solwara said into his comm.
”Battery one, rearmed.”
”Battery two, rearmed,” came the responses.
Solwara glanced at the display to see how close the Kiowa Kiowa's guided missiles were to detonation, then tapped out a new target-target Charlie, the dreadnought. ”Prepare to launch two salvos at target Charlie, one locked, the other under inertial guidance. We are coordinating with Broward Broward and and p.a.w.nee. p.a.w.nee. Launch on my order.” Launch on my order.”
”Sir, what about targets Alpha and Beta? The inertial missiles haven't reached them yet.”
”Keep guiding those missiles, but be prepared to cut them loose if I order firing at target Charlie before they close.”
”Aye aye, sir.”
”Let me know when the inertials reach targets Alpha and Beta.”
Close-in Fire Control came on, ”We have reached ninety-nine. Four. Three. Two. One. Fire.”
Solwara imagined he could feel the firing of the defensive guns through the deckplates. He looked at the display, where he could see the enemy missile still closing on the Kiowa. Kiowa. In seconds, the missile ran into the cloud of half-gram pellets thrown out by the guns, and it detonated. Seconds later, he heard light pinging as debris from the explosion impacted the In seconds, the missile ran into the cloud of half-gram pellets thrown out by the guns, and it detonated. Seconds later, he heard light pinging as debris from the explosion impacted the Kiowa Kiowa's hull. He allowed himself a curt nod, certain that his s.h.i.+p had suffered no damage beyond chipped paint.
On the display, the remaining missiles of the Kiowa Kiowa's first salvo continued to close on their targets. One by one they flared and turned to Xs. Target Alpha's icon changed to a pulsing red circle, target Beta's trajectory cone began slowly moving away from Task Force 79-it was damaged as well. A muted cheer rose on the bridge.
”Battery three, solution found and ready to fire,” Main Fire Control reported.
”Acknowledged,” Solwara said.
New icons appeared on the display as other stars.h.i.+ps rearmed and fired at new targets; more Coalition stars.h.i.+ps fired than Confederation. Eight missiles were headed toward the Kiowa. Kiowa.
”Helm,” Solwara said, ”hold steady until main batteries fire, then change course three points down, two starboard.”
”Hold course until the main batteries fire, then change course three points down, two starboard, aye,” the helmsman replied.
”Battery two, solution found and ready to fire,” Main Fire Control reported, followed immediately by battery one.
Outwardly calm, Solwara waited, watching the enemy missiles on the display. He let them close half the distance, then ordered, ”Torpedoes, fire killer decoys,” and watched as eight torpedoes launched and headed for the missiles locked on the Kiowa. Kiowa. At almost the same moment, he saw a spray of missiles launch from the At almost the same moment, he saw a spray of missiles launch from the Broward, Broward, headed toward the dreadnought. headed toward the dreadnought.
”Kiowa, launch main batteries at dreadnought Alpha,” Admiral Hoi ordered. launch main batteries at dreadnought Alpha,” Admiral Hoi ordered.
”Launch main batteries at dreadnought Alpha, aye,” Solwara replied, then into his comm, ”Main batteries, launch all.”
The Kiowa Kiowa shuddered almost as violently when the thirty missiles launched toward the dreadnought as she had when he ordered thrust reversed. shuddered almost as violently when the thirty missiles launched toward the dreadnought as she had when he ordered thrust reversed. p.a.w.nee p.a.w.nee launched shortly after. launched shortly after.
The enemy powerhouse was in for a hard time with sixty-eight missiles heading at her and arriving at the same time. Solwara expected the dreadnought to survive, but she'd be effectively out of the fight until she dodged, destroyed, or absorbed damage from the volley on its way to her.
The Kiowa Kiowa shuddered again as maneuvering jets on her top and port side fired. shuddered again as maneuvering jets on her top and port side fired.
”Flank speed,” Solwara ordered. There was a moment of seeming silence when the forward thrusters cut off, then the stars.h.i.+p was jolted by the firing off of the main thrusters. The view in the main display began to s.h.i.+ft up and right, and moved more quickly than before as the Kiowa Kiowa began to move and increase speed. began to move and increase speed.
Solwara checked the positions of the killer decoys and the missiles they were aiming at. Five of the torpedoes, possibly more, would successfully intercept their targets. Near Ravenette's limb, he saw the three destroyers break formation and begin moving to s.h.i.+eld the dreadnought from the incoming Confederation missile volley. Good. Good. If they were extremely lucky, the three destroyers might be able to successfully divert or destroy half of the oncoming missiles, but they probably wouldn't get that many. If they were extremely lucky, the three destroyers might be able to successfully divert or destroy half of the oncoming missiles, but they probably wouldn't get that many.
The main thing was that they, along with the dreadnought, were out of the fight until the volley completed its run. It was also probable that one or more of them would be totally knocked out of the fight.
Before Solwara could select his next targets, Admiral Hoi came on again and designated targets Delta and Eta, a heavy cruiser and a fast frigate. ”One battery on each,” Hoi told him, ”keep one battery in reserve. Let me know when you're ready to launch at Delta,” the heavy cruiser. ”I'm going to coordinate your launch with Broward. Broward. Launch at Eta when ready.” Launch at Eta when ready.”
”Aye aye,” Solwara replied. Then, ”Main batteries, status.”
”One minute to rearmed,” Main Fire Control reported.
”Here are your targets, one battery at each.” He tapped b.u.t.tons on his console to transmit the target data. ”Let me know when you've got solutions.”
”Aye aye.”
On the display, several missile icons turned to Xs, including three of the missiles headed toward the Kiowa. Kiowa. Others changed course, chasing chaff or flares. Solwara checked the positions of target Delta and the Others changed course, chasing chaff or flares. Solwara checked the positions of target Delta and the Broward; Broward; when they launched at the heavy cruiser, their missiles would come at her from different directions, making it very difficult for the heavy cruiser to defend. By the time Main Fire Control reported the batteries were rearmed, only three missiles were still on course to intercept the when they launched at the heavy cruiser, their missiles would come at her from different directions, making it very difficult for the heavy cruiser to defend. By the time Main Fire Control reported the batteries were rearmed, only three missiles were still on course to intercept the Kiowa, Kiowa, and the icon for one of the Coalition fast frigates had changed to a pulsing red circle. and the icon for one of the Coalition fast frigates had changed to a pulsing red circle.
Solwara reported readiness to fire to the admiral's CIC.
”Stand by,” the admiral's CIC said. Solwara waited, never taking his eyes from the main display. The destroyers screening the dreadnought released chaff and fired off flares. A missile from the Broward Broward began moving erratically and one from the began moving erratically and one from the p.a.w.nee p.a.w.nee veered off, decoyed by a flare. The others continued on course. Another of the missile icons heading for the veered off, decoyed by a flare. The others continued on course. Another of the missile icons heading for the Kiowa Kiowa terminated in an X. Only two still threatened her. terminated in an X. Only two still threatened her.
”Kiowa, launch at target Delta. Ready your reserve battery to repeat on Delta.” launch at target Delta. Ready your reserve battery to repeat on Delta.”
”Launch at target Delta, ready my reserve battery to repeat on Delta, aye,” Solwara replied, then ordered Main Fire Control to launch at target Delta and find a solution for the third battery to launch at the same target. Moments later he saw the icons of Broward Broward's launch. It would be a couple of minutes before the heavy cruiser would react to the launches, so he looked back at the dreadnought.
More missiles in the volley had veered off or were juking about confusedly, but four of them were homing directly on the three destroyers. Forty were still headed for the dreadnought.
Solwara looked back at the two missiles homing in on the Kiowa; Kiowa; they had both gotten past the torpedoes. Inertially guided? Possibly. they had both gotten past the torpedoes. Inertially guided? Possibly.
”Release chaff and flares,” he ordered. The Kiowa Kiowa continued turning up and right, and increasing velocity. continued turning up and right, and increasing velocity.
At least twenty missiles were past the destroyers screening the dreadnought. One of the destroyers showed as a pulsing circle, and another had turned away, apparently too badly damaged to continue screening. The dreadnought released chaff and flares, sending some of the missiles awry. More missiles pa.s.sed the destroyer screen.
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