around the ship were small weapon mounts, each fitted with medium power railguns and rapid-fire projectile weapons. Against a target as small as the transport, the aircraft carrier would have to make use of the point defence turrets. Each one had a maximum range of twenty kilometres, but could launch a devastating barrage of explosive shells that could hold off scores of missiles or attacking fighters.
“She’s in range, opening fire!” The Lieutenant hit the automatic defence system.
Lights started to flash along the console as the weapon systems took turns to lock and fire at the ship. First one, then forty separate turrets fired bursts of shot at the craft. From their position on the ship they could see the grey trails from the shells as they blasted out into space and towards the unseen target. The defensive fire stopped almost as soon as it had started. In the distance a tiny yellow flash indicated the weapons had hit something.
“Report!” called out the Admiral.
“Target is off the board, we’re clear, Sir,” said Captain Hardy.
The officers breathed a sigh of relief. Another attempt to break the blockade had failed, though at the loss of a good pilot.
“General Rivers, you are clear to continue ground operations.”
“Aye, aye, Admiral.”
Admiral Jarvis took a few steps back and sunk into her chair. With the ground operation still ongoing and the frequent attempts to get near her ships, it felt as if everyone was aiming to make her life as difficult as possible. She could only hope that the arrival of the Army would give the forces on Avagana a chance to recover lost ground and push out the rebels once and for all.
* * *
Spartan watched the black shapes emerge from the clouds. According to his tactical display the approaching vessels were the heavy Landers of the Army. Around these massive vessels were dozens of the small Lightning MKII fighters. A few seconds after the first emerged the dark shapes of more Landers appeared behind them. The roar from their engines took a short time to reach the ground but when it did it was mighty.
“Where are they going?” asked Marcus.
Spartan checked his tactical map, there were no details for the Army units anywhere near his position. He clicked a button to contact Lieutenant Daniels.
“Sir, are the Army units deploying in this area?”
“Negative, Sergeant. I’ve just been in touch with Captain Mathews, he is further down the line and establishing a high bandwidth link with the Fleet. Apparently the Army units are being landed outside of the cities to start sweeping actions against the enemy.”
Spartan zoomed out on his map until he could see some of the others settlements still occupied by Confed units.
“So what about us, Sir? Any reinforcements coming our way?”
“Our orders are to maintain the perimeter and the city defences until relieved by the Army. For now the marine units are to operate as a defensive bastion.”
Spartan wasn’t impressed. Everything he had learnt and been taught during basic training had shown him that the marines were flexible and well-equipped units designed for movement and rapidity. He couldn’t understand why the slow moving behemoth that was the Army, was to be given the job of field combat operations, when the more flexible marines were stuck in the rubble defending the cities. To him it seemed to be a complete role reversal.
Another noise indicated yet more Landers as they roared off into the distance. Smoke trails snaked up from the ground towards one of the massive vessels as two shoulder-mounted missiles rushed towards the hot engines of the Landers. Spartan cringed at the thought of the hundreds of soldiers plummeting to their deaths with the loss of such a major vessel. He needn’t have worried though as a wing of Marine Corps electronic warfare jets whistled past and engaged the missiles with their point defence weapons. At the same time the Lander emptied over a hundred ultra hot flares that
“She’s in range, opening fire!” The Lieutenant hit the automatic defence system.
Lights started to flash along the console as the weapon systems took turns to lock and fire at the ship. First one, then forty separate turrets fired bursts of shot at the craft. From their position on the ship they could see the grey trails from the shells as they blasted out into space and towards the unseen target. The defensive fire stopped almost as soon as it had started. In the distance a tiny yellow flash indicated the weapons had hit something.
“Report!” called out the Admiral.
“Target is off the board, we’re clear, Sir,” said Captain Hardy.
The officers breathed a sigh of relief. Another attempt to break the blockade had failed, though at the loss of a good pilot.
“General Rivers, you are clear to continue ground operations.”
“Aye, aye, Admiral.”
Admiral Jarvis took a few steps back and sunk into her chair. With the ground operation still ongoing and the frequent attempts to get near her ships, it felt as if everyone was aiming to make her life as difficult as possible. She could only hope that the arrival of the Army would give the forces on Avagana a chance to recover lost ground and push out the rebels once and for all.
* * *
Spartan watched the black shapes emerge from the clouds. According to his tactical display the approaching vessels were the heavy Landers of the Army. Around these massive vessels were dozens of the small Lightning MKII fighters. A few seconds after the first emerged the dark shapes of more Landers appeared behind them. The roar from their engines took a short time to reach the ground but when it did it was mighty.
“Where are they going?” asked Marcus.
Spartan checked his tactical map, there were no details for the Army units anywhere near his position. He clicked a button to contact Lieutenant Daniels.
“Sir, are the Army units deploying in this area?”
“Negative, Sergeant. I’ve just been in touch with Captain Mathews, he is further down the line and establishing a high bandwidth link with the Fleet. Apparently the Army units are being landed outside of the cities to start sweeping actions against the enemy.”
Spartan zoomed out on his map until he could see some of the others settlements still occupied by Confed units.
“So what about us, Sir? Any reinforcements coming our way?”
“Our orders are to maintain the perimeter and the city defences until relieved by the Army. For now the marine units are to operate as a defensive bastion.”
Spartan wasn’t impressed. Everything he had learnt and been taught during basic training had shown him that the marines were flexible and well-equipped units designed for movement and rapidity. He couldn’t understand why the slow moving behemoth that was the Army, was to be given the job of field combat operations, when the more flexible marines were stuck in the rubble defending the cities. To him it seemed to be a complete role reversal.
Another noise indicated yet more Landers as they roared off into the distance. Smoke trails snaked up from the ground towards one of the massive vessels as two shoulder-mounted missiles rushed towards the hot engines of the Landers. Spartan cringed at the thought of the hundreds of soldiers plummeting to their deaths with the loss of such a major vessel. He needn’t have worried though as a wing of Marine Corps electronic warfare jets whistled past and engaged the missiles with their point defence weapons. At the same time the Lander emptied over a hundred ultra hot flares that
Similar Books
