Chapter Two Fifty-One Firebird Shakedown II (Patreon)

June 14th, 065 SDE:

Captain Eriko Dykes walked down the steps of her bridge and joined Kirk by the main navigation plot, where a map of the system was displayed. The central star of the SLR-223 star system, a G-type star, was prominently depicted in the center of the system along with the orbits of the inner planets. Asteroids and other features were also marked out, including markers for fleet assets in the system. Including a marker for Ruri’s latest test ship for the micro warp drive program. That ship was currently in proximity to the first planet in the system, local name Chau’ni, a hellish world with a thick, toxic atmosphere and a molten surface. Its orbit around SLR-223 was much akin to Io’s orbit around Jupiter and led to intense local volcanism. Orbital scans revealed an average of almost seven hundred erupting volcanoes at any given moment.

Much of that was in part due to the orbital position of the second planet, Nau’sara and her unusually dense moon Chu’Sar. Dykes was fully aware of that unusual density; it was due to the moon being almost entirely metal. The science division believed it was previously the core of a much larger planet, perhaps a gas giant. Current theory was that it had been a gas giant in the early system before being displaced and knocked into a close orbit of SLR-223, which stripped the entire planet of its atmosphere and then it was later captured by the second planet Nau’sara, which would also explain its unusual orbit.

They were positioned near the former third planet, which the locals called Mau’sar but the Refuge labeled Salvation. It was located 1.12 AU from SLR-223. A little further out at 1.43 AU from the star was the homeworld of the Sarelfi, Sarel’chu. The planet was quite Earth-like but received less annual radiation when compared to Earth, thanks to the greater distance and a stronger magnetic field.

The system had several gas giants with the nearest being 4.9 AU from the local star with a mass similar to Saturn; it had a large ring system and 39 moons. Designated Raush’wi by the locals, and noted for being quite common for gas giants, the atmosphere was primarily hydrogen and helium which made it attractive to the fleet as a fuel source, but it was currently on the far side of the system from Salvation (Mau’Sar). Due to that factor, the fleet was instead looking to the gas giant, Xeris’taul, a massive gas giant 11.6 AU distant from the sun. It was about a tenth heavier than Jupiter with corresponding gravity and fifty-nine moons. Its atmosphere was primarily helium but it still had nearly thirty percent hydrogen by mass. A potentially rich fuel source. 

The next planet after that was also massive at 92% of Jupiter’s mass and with an atmosphere similar to Neptune's. It had some interest to the fleet, some of its moons carried valuable minerals. There were some planets further out, but they were of little interest and no import at the moment; their main target for today was a warp navigational jump to the local Asteroid belt located roughly halfway between the two super giants. Dykes had been briefed on future planned mining operations for the belt, there were several large rocks rich in useful materials like titanium, erudite, iridium, tungsten, iron, silver, gold and more. There was even some carbon in the belt, but the best sources for carbon in this system were Sarel’chu and Chau’ni. Obviously the former would be preferred but since that world belonged to someone, the fleet was looking at Chau’ni.

Dykes gestured at the plot, “Alright Kirk,” she pointed at their planned combat zone, “This is where we are going, the drone ships are already in position. Our mission is to take out the transports. How would you plan the attack?”

Kirk took a breath, adjusted her stance to look more serious and with the seriousness of a student trying to ace an exam began, “I’d come out of warp here,” she said tapping on the map, “The large asteroid SR-224-M34 has a dense iron-nickel core and crust laced with large concentrations of diamagnetic ores, which combined with the the high magnetic field would interfere with standard sensors and hopefully hide our arrival. That will give us time to cloak the ship, and hide our approach.”

She paused and traced a route around the large asteroid toward the convoy, “This path should be a good approach, giving us a good chance to scan the convoy and confirm its position. Once we do, we can slip past the escorts, to hit the transports. Assuming a standard convoy formation, we should be able to hit six of them before they have a chance to raise shields. That will leave four remaining but we should be able to knock them out before the escorts can respond and escape.”

“Mission focused, I will give you that,” replied Dykes. “But I disagree on focusing on transports. I’d knock out the escorts first, they are well-armed escort destroyers and fast. I wouldn’t assume they can’t respond to an attack, and neither would I assume the cloak is perfect. There is every chance they might have some way to see through it. We should use the initial element of surprise to even the odds and open a direct path on the transports.”

Kirk frowned, “I get the point sir, but are you sure? I wouldn’t really want to get into a head-on fight, we are only one ship. Realistically, sir, if we were going to do this mission. It would be with at least one other ship, maybe three more for the best odds.”

“I understand your concern, and yes if this were real and not a live fire exercise, we’d have fire support from other ships.”

Kirk gestured at the formation, “That’s why I think my plan is better. The Manticore might be dated but she still has teeth. Those missile batteries in particular. That’s why I don’t want to tangle with the escorts.”

Dykes sighed, “The plan is valid, I’ll give you that. We can try either one, but with my plan there would be fewer escorts to contend with in case things go wrong.”

Kirk groaned, “This isn’t an easy test is it?”

Dykes smiled, “It never is, and there are no right answers but at the end of the day your task is carry out the mission and bring your crew home alive. If you can do that you’ve come out ahead.”

Kirk gave her a look, “Let me guess, Mom asked you to teach me.”

“Winnona and I did have a chat about your posting. She shared with me your dream of one day commanding your own ship and as my first officer you are already on track for that. Now it’s my job to prepare you for one day commanding your own ship. Your mother doesn’t really factor into it. I did the same thing with Joseph.”

“With who?”

“My last XO was Commander Joseph Bell, and the reason he isn’t here is he accepted a promotion. I’ve heard he was promised command of one of the destroyers when they come off the line. In the meantime, he is now in command of my old ship.”

Kirk smiled, as she took another look at the chart. “Right, so when do we start?”

A familiar face sitting at the helm looked over, “If you are done with the teaching moment, ma’am. I’ve plotted a course to the proposed insertion point, warp factor two.”

Dykes turned to Cortez, the young woman she’d been before had matured, even if she still looked young. She’s also been promoted a few times and Dykes was happy to have her staying on with her. Having Lieutenant Commander Emily Cortez along was one person she didn’t have to relearn. Her new XO, operations and tactical officers, were just things she would have to deal with. It was one of the dangers of being in the service, crews were family, but even families had to move on with their lives. They’d been spoiled by the rather stable and small fleet of the last sixty years. But with the ongoing expansion of the fleet, things were changing. Opportunities for advancement abounded, and that was giving promising young officers that might have otherwise languished in obscurity a chance to make a name for themselves. Dykes had no doubt that young Jane Kirk would be one of those officers making a name for herself. She was already on the fast track for command, as evidenced by her position as the youngest first officer in the fleet. “Excellent, and what would our ETA be?”

“Given the short distance, it will only take an hour to reach the target at that speed.”

That largely tracked with her memory. Low warp speeds were recommended for interplanetary travel since they gave more time to react if a sudden course correction was required. Warp two was 3.26 times the speed of light, perfect for the tight confines of the inner system. Once the distances spread out more, one could go for higher speeds like warp three, which was ten times the speed of light. In binary and trinary systems however the distances between planets could become large enough to justify speeds of up to warp four. Presuming the path between was clear of debris, that was. “Take us out,” ordered Dykes.

Live Combat Test Sector M23-11, 1340 hours:

The ship came out of warp as planned, covered by the shadow of the large asteroid SR-224-M34. Dykes was tempted to rub her butt, but she’d already had a chat with her new Chief Engineer, one Lieutenant Commander Delilah Winters, about the warp engines. It had been a low warp transit, so there was no reason for the ride to be that bumpy. It was a good thing they hadn’t made a high warp jump as that might have torn the ship apart. Still it was for things like this that they ran shakedown cruises. According to Winters, the engines were fine, just some minor calibration errors that the computer diagnostics had missed. Unfortunately they would have to take the engines offline to fix the errors, so the repair would have to wait. Until then she’d have to make do with a suboptimal warp drive. Something that wouldn’t affect the combat trial.

Shifting in her seat, she focused on her tactical officer, Lieutenant Jerri Watt, a bright young lady, who seemed excited to play with the big guns. Like her First Officer, Miss Watt was young enough that in the old days she’d be fresh out of the academy. Still the girl seemed to handle the job professionally enough but only time would tell. “Engage cloak, standby main weapons.”

“Yes, Ma’am!” was the sharp and quick reply, “Engaging cloaking device!”

A hum reverberated through the hull as the system came online, “Cloaking field engaged, power draw nominal, minor instability in the number three and six shields, compensating.” reported Watt, before finally turning, “And we are cloaked and ready for silent running.”

“Excellent!” replied Dykes as she turned to the helm, “Cortez, ahead one quarter bring us around M34 counter clockwise.”

“Aye!” she replied before setting the course. The twin engines thrummed, the deck plates vibrating with their power but only for a moment before the inertial dampers kicked in. Dykes had spoken with Winters about this as well. It seemed the inertial dampers were a little sluggish, which would have to be locked down. Those engines were powerful enough to reduce her crew to paste if they didn’t find the issue. 

The Asteroid shifted across her screen as they moved around it. In moments the target convoy was in sight. Ten C-type haulers in a loose double line formation with half a dozen Manticore class destroyers positioned defensively around the convoy. Dykes marked their positions on her plot. “All hands battlestations, Watt! Standby to decloak, Cortez increase speed to full and take us below the ecliptic, set angle minus thirty two mark 15 degrees to port. Load forward tubes one and two.”

“Aye sir! New course set! Increasing speed!”

“Forward tubes one and two loaded! Photons ready on your mark!”

Dykes glanced at the plot, and called out new nav orders every few minutes, lining up her attack run. Tension filled the bridge. It might not be real, these might be drone ships, but this attack run was no less important. If it didn’t go right, how could they be expected to do something similar in the future? When lives were actually on the line?

Finally they were lined up. She took a breath and gave the order.

The ship dropped her cloaking field, almost instantly both cannon pairs started charging as she gave the order to fire.

The forward tubes glowed blue before spitting a burst of warheads into the void. Ten glowing blue streaks that sought out their targets, a pair of Manticore’s covering the flank of the formation. Both ships responded with counter missiles, laser flak and decoys, but it was too little too late. Five warheads hit each ship amidships and detonated with crippling force.

“Manticores one and two have been hit. Reading major damage to primary systems and they are venting atmosphere. Both vessels are withdrawing and transmitting white flag signals.”

She marked them out of the game, even as the remaining four went hot.

“Incoming! Multiple photon missile launches!”

Knowing their only protection against missiles was the energy web projector, she noted that down and gave her next order. “Ahead flank! Lock main batteries on the transports and fire!”

Heavy turrets popped up from their armored housings and as directed opened fire on the transports. Scoring multiple hits in rapid succession while the convoy was still reeling from the surprise. The missiles closed rapidly as the Firebird sailed right into the middle of the convoy formation.

Dykes ordered a new heading, lining them up with one of the transports. “Lock main cannons! Fire!”

Four bright streams of energy lanced out from her ship and tore into the side of the targeted transport. Her shields flared but did nothing to actually stop the burst of high yield bolts as they tore through the superstructure. Compared to the standard antiship batteries, the main cannons were on another level.

Then the missiles were in range. “Energy web deployed!”

The ship rocked as the photons exploded on contact with the energy barrier. Detonating them safely away from the armor. As they sailed out of the fiery explosions, she shouted, “Damage report!”

“Minor damage to hull plating but otherwise fine, sir!”

She smiled and glanced at the plot, two escorts had withdrawn, six transports disabled from heavy damage, one destroyed. It was a good initial attack and they were about to be in line with another escort, and they hadn’t yet had time to fully reload their missile banks. Still they didn’t want to stick around. She gave a slight course adjustment and watched her plots.

“Lock cannons and fire!”

The cannons fired again, this time tearing into the side of a shielded Manticore. Her heavier construction showed, but the bright blue particle bolts tore through her hull just the same. Leaving a gaping side and roaring plasma fires as the Firebird sailed out of the engagement area. “Engage cloak! New heading, one six three mark two eight!”

“Cloak engaged!”

When the Manticores failed to pursue she relaxed and turned to Kirk, “Alright, let’s discuss how that went and get a report ready for command.” Then she focused on Cortez, “Set a course back to base, warp three.”

‘Aye sir!” said Cortez, while Kirk followed her into her ready room. They had a lot to talk about and there were a few things she’d noted could be improved.