30 Scalian Flee (1/2)
Ivan, Mazur, Iris and Valeria leisurely explored the spaceship graveyard left over from an old battle. Mazur picked random pieces of wreckage which interested him, floating from one to another leisurely. By moving through the fourth dimension, it was possible to examine the insides and working of some components without having to pull them apart, but it was still far from enough.
”What are your findings?” Major Harold asked with consternation before the otherworldly Mazur.
”Their technology isn't greatly superior to ours,” Mazur said with a shake of his head. ”But all the important technologies are completely ruined. The greatest difference is the energy content. Many of these technologies don't focus on the efficient use of energy and should have a lot of wastage. My conjecture so far is that they have an abundance of energy and don't care about wasting it.”
Before the Major could reply with his questions, one of the communication officers hastily turned his head and said, ”Major, we have received communication that one of the undeveloped human life planets we are monitoring several light years away is under attack. It appears to be the Scalians, Sir.”
”Good, use the open channel to inform all fleet ships. We will automatically synchronise our vectors and enter hyperspace immediately. What is our ETA?”
A navigational officer in standard uniform was busy calculating it with the computer, he then informed them, ”Major, we are estimated to arrive in 27 minutes, given time to increase velocity and decrease again before the destination.”
The crew rapidly began calling out status reports as the fleet turned in space and faced away from the ship graveyard. The Galactic Fleet ships were like iron filings in a magnetic field automatically aligning themselves into a unified direction.
”Informing all Captains and Majors, Scallian assault has been detected in Sector D46-Y11-Z8, Solar System SS-47B. Coordinates have been automatically shared with all ships, adjust vectors immediately and enter combat state, all weapons are to be armed, and all pilots are to be ready in their mechanoids to deploy immediately after exiting hyperspace.”
”Fleets Delta-Gamma-Androis and Alpha-Century under command of Colonel Regiere have sent a transmission from hyperspace. They are on there way to the site and will arrive in 92 minutes.”
”Captain Reila has responded they will head back to the Andromeda Federation Headquarters in consideration for Prime Minister Mortimus who is on board. All other ships have a confirmed vector, alignment status is green.”
”Activating primary impulse engines, velocity is rapidly approaching FTL speeds.”
”Approaching FTL speed, engaging secondary and tertiary impulse engines.”
”Inertia dampers are experience fluctuations, chart reading are still within safe parameters. Priority given to shields to disperse residual dust in space.”
”Attention all crew, there will be some turbulence entering hyperspace, please move to a nearby safety station and use the safety belts in order to prevent personal injury.”
”Jumping to FTL. Transition was smooth, shields dropped two percent from friction with residual dust in space.”
Ivan, Mazur, Iris and Valeria were nearly shaken loose from the space turbulence. The turbulence wasn't from atmospheric differences such as flying on a plane, but from the dust and minute fragments left over from the battle with the Scalians that left behind the graveyard. It was negligible and normally unable to see, but when moving close to light speed, those minute fragments and dust could tear apart a ship moving close to lightspeed if it didn't have an energy shield.
”Mazur, Ivan,” Major Harold spoke with a firm resolution, ”there is a chance our fleet may suffer catastrophic damages in the battle with the galactic fleet. Colonel Regiere is the captain of one of the Galactic Fleet's flagships. It's defences and offensive weaponry are far above ours, but they will still take just over an hour to arrive. If we are destroyed before they arrive to reinforce, leave with them.”
Ivan and the others couldn't move while in hyperspace, but he still had enough leeway to nod his head and say, ”That's an admirable spirit, Major. But how can you lead a fleet if you don't show confidence before your crew?”
”You misunderstand, I am merely basing this on statistical facts. These Scalians are difficult to deal with. The fold space around their ships so even though they don't have energy shields, most attacks curve and are simply unable to hit them, while they are free to fire back. You will understand when we see them. You can somehow survive and even move in space with just your body, so you should be able to survive.”
”Even if you are a hundred percent certain of losing a battle, you should still inspire confidence in your subordinates, Major. Leading them into battle full of fear is a failure as a leader.”
Major Harold briefly showed surprise before stating, ”Understandable. Should we survive this battle, I will consider it for the future. Comm Officer Portere, inform Colonel Regiere of the status of the four individuals aboard and the contingency plan should the fleet suffer catastrophic losses.”
Halfway through the journey, there suddenly came a communication from one particular battleship.
”Major,” One of the communication officers on the bridge hurriedly reported, ”Captain Argentear has reported his battleship has suffered damage from turbulence before entering hyperspace. Several of his impulse thrusters are beginning to fail and he is losing speed. He requested to exit hyperspace and make emergency repairs.”
Major Harold's brows raised in surprise briefly before he mentioned, ”Accepted. He is to immediately return to hyperspace as soon as the necessary repairs are made and to regroup Colonel Regiere's fleet to reinforce us.”
”Passing along orders now, Major,” The communications officer rapidly contacted Captain Argentear and Colonel Regiere's fleet.
The fleet travelled through hyperspace quickly without any other incidents, only occasional status updates and communications running through the bridges of the battleships and destroyers. The Galactic Fleet soldiers and officers waited in dread as they felt this moment was the calm before a storm, one which would cause innumerable casualties amongst them.
The pilots sitting in the cockpits of their mechanoids gripped the controls with white knuckles. They had steeled their hearts to die protecting the human race, but they still sweated nervously from the fear of death.
”We are exiting hyperspace!” One of the navigational officers shouted nervously.
Ivan, Mazur, Iris and Valeria watched the monitors which transformed into enhances visuals of different light spectrums. A secondary monitor also wrapped around the room the moment they left hyperspace, a top tier technology that gave Major Harold and the officers a full view of every direction around the ship, as if they were standing in space itself. Of course, it had some transparency, so everyone could see the floor and not trip over.
Ivan looked at the enormous planet looming in front of them like a behemoth. They could leave hyperspace so close to the planet as the ship's quantum computer calculated the safety margin to the precision of a quarter of an inch.