We watch as the Majah-tu fighter with fold capabilities slips through the rift, and vanishes out of sight. This fighter is similar to the the one Jahní and I took to the ice world. With one difference; it has stealth ability that the other one doesn't. We've sent it in as our advanced eyes to recon the mining world, since it's inside Barhalmahní space.
Now we play the waiting game for their return, with the report that will hopefully be favorable for us. We are far enough from the boarder that no passing ship can easily detect us, so I don't feel so stressed out.
If we're spotted this plan is a wash, and we'll have to go back to the drawing board.
Jahní puts her hand on my shoulder and I touch hers knowing full well what failure means here, that's why I pray for the speedy return of that fighter. The wait is not to unreasonably long, about forty five minutes later the fighter returns.
It flies quickly into the Red Sun Star's landing bay; soon we start to get the data the pilot collected, and it's interesting. Jahní and I analyze the images of the facility, and it appears to be lightly guarded since we see only one cruiser on patrol. "I think we should hit the mine itself and then take a cargo vessel."
Jahní considers my idea for a moment shaking her head. "That could provoke a war with us and the Barhalmahní, which is what my father wants to avoid."
I consider this since it could be a possibility. However it might get be worth the risk, but not now.
"Ok, we'll stick to the original plan."
She smiles. "I know what you want to do, but be patient Captain and your plan shall bear fruit."
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We steel ourselves for the fight; Jahní is back aboard the Red Sun Star, she'll wait here as per our plan and come in to shake things up. "Sir, we're ready to go."
"Thank you Mr. Meyers. Helm, thirty seconds to jump. Weapons, heat' em up." Everyone is anxious, but not frightened; this is good news it means moral is high on the ship. I look back at the clock and take a deep breath. "Mark the time and fold." We slip through and pop out right on top of the enemy battle cruiser quickly taking out its engines, but it returns fire hitting us good. The Helios rocks from the blast!
"Return fire! Target weapons systems!" Our gunner hits one gun after another. "Damage report!"
"Armor plating withstood, but another hit there will cause a breach!" The enemy battle cruiser is rendered ineffective, as we pull away. "Sir, one medium transport is trying to pull away."
I see it off to our starboard. "Cripple its engines!"
"Sir." I turn to the Comms officer. "She's managed to send a distress call."
I smile as our gunner takes out it's engines. "Get the tractor beam on it and helm get us out of here!" We grab it with the tractor beam, just as six enemy battle cruisers slip out into normal space. "Go go now!"
We slip through the rift dragging the mineral laden transport with us.
Once on the other side we meet up with the Red Sun Star, who begins to jam radio signals from the transport. [Excellent work Captain. We need to move once more.]
We slip once more from this area. "What now Sir?"
I turn to Sam. "Now we have a price on our head."
I look in my screen, which has the transport in it.
"If they thought we were a pain before now they're going to come after us for real, with one goal on their mind."
"Well, that goes without saying, but the question still stands. What now?" I smile at my esteemed EXO.
"Now... we make a purposeful mistake."
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The message is sent via a fold pod. It's about the size of a football with fold capability, and can be sent anywhere one way. It's purpose is to carry a message that cannot be transmitting due to the sensitivity of its content, and the lack of trust at it being intercepted. However, in this case the we want to let it slip out that we have captured a Barhalmahní mineral transport and where we are.
Jahní will now lay low just a short jump from us. When they come we will have a surprise for them, and if all goes well we'll have the traitor in custody.
Sounds simple, but a lot can go wrong with the plan. Much depends on wether or not they go for the lure, or choose to sacrifice their transport. Ultimately it's a waiting game now.
I tap my fingers on the arm rest of my chair as the clock moves steadily on, though I should be more patient and give this the time needed for all the information to be processed. But, it's been a full twenty four hours since the message was sent.
"Sir, I'm reading an energy spike ten thousand klicks to our port."
I sit up refocusing my mind. "Can you identify the origins of the vessel?"
Sam steps by my side. "Sir, should we sound battle stations?"
I look at him agreeing with his assessment. "Battle stations, but keep the weapons on standby."
"Aye Sir." We go to ready status through out the ship.
"Sir. Four more spikes aft same distance." The science officer looks at his screen again. "They are Barhalmahní all of them."
Why are they keeping such a distance? There is no surprise now. It's like they are waiting for something, or someone. "Heat' em up."
"Helm, move us point five to starboard." We shift position ever so much; it's time to play a game of who hit who first. "Helm, bring us to full speed towards the lone cruiser." The Helios lurches forward; she's quite maneuverable and fast. We're closing in at a good clip, and the enemy cruiser starts to move trying to get out of our way.
We close in and the enemy ship fires at us, but it's more of a glancing blow. "Weapons, tell me you have them in your sights."
"Aye Sir, locked on."
"Fire!" Two of our guns connect and the ship slows down, since we hit their engineering section. They return fire and it's a direct hit on us, and the Helios shakes. "Let' em have it!" The Helios's guns spit out death as they hit the enemy ship punching a hole in the armor! I watch as the internal explosions travel through out the ship, as it goes dead.
"Sir, the other cruisers are coming at flank speed." She scans again. "Their weapons are hot Sir."
"Helm, bring us to three two two point six down!" The Helios move to its new coordinates smoothly. "Comms, send the message to the Red Sun Star now!" A few minutes pass and suddenly a rift opens at the port side of the last enemy vessel, as the Red Sun Star plows Right through the Barhalmahní ship causing it to practically break in half.
My crew cheers at this move. "Helm, bring us about!" The other three ships are turning to engage the Red Sun Star. "Helm, get those coordinates and execute a short fold and get us right on top them!"
The rift open and we slip through and wind up literally on top of them. "Weapons, fire!" Our beam strikes the enemy vessel and it turns firing back.
The Helios trembles and the alarms go off. "We have a breach in section twelve deck seven; the bulk heads are going down to contain!" The science officer checks all her instruments. "All systems are green across the board!"
"Weapons, load the new anti ship torpedo and fire when ready!" That hull breach was near the recreation area. "Do we know what our casualties are?"
"Torpedos ready!"
"Let' em have it!" The thump of the lunch is felt even up here in the bridge, as the torpedo streaks across the span of space between us. Then a bright flash followed by a big orange fiery blossom.
"Sir." The science officer is silent for a moment. "The enemy ship is completely destroyed." It must've penetrated their core. "Sir, the other enemy ships are breaking off contact." She checks again. "They are leaving"
"Captain, The Red Sun Star is hailing us."
"Put them through."
"Ant." I hear the desperation in Jahní's voice.
"I'm fine. The bulk head system worked well." I have to find out what our casualties are, as soon as I can.
She lets out a breath. "We've sustained some damage, but we are over all operational." That's good to hear.
"We're operational as well, but I think we have to get out of here ASAP before there regroup." I know that running is not the Majah-tu way, but it's the best maneuver for us to do so we can lick our wounds.