Through these fields of destruction

Baptisms of fire

I've witnessed your suffering

As the battle raged higher

And though they did hurt me so bad

In the fear and alarm

You did not desert me

My brothers in arms

Dire Straits - “Brothers in Arms”

For hours the various media outlets had been preparing the Triumvirate citizenry for a major announcement from the government. Given the heightened state of tensions, many individuals felt a certain sense of trepidation, for there had been no warning as to the topic, though no one doubted that it must have something to do with the war. When the time came it glued almost everyone to their viewscreen, waiting with apprehension as Minister Leandra Singh appeared, with the other ministers and senior military personnel in the background.

“My fellow citizens,” she began, her image and demeanor exuding gravitas, “I come before you this evening to deliver an announcement...one that affects every member of our society. At 0700 hours, local time, Triumvirate forces engaged the enemy at Uzaunx.”

Utter silence filled the chamber where she spoke, as she was sure it did in almost every location where the broadcast was being heard.

“At this time, we have no other information,” she continued, “though I can assure you as any new data comes in we will keep you updated.” She paused for a moment, as her features softened.

“We ask that you pray for our sons and daughters in their hour of need...for they require our strength now, more than ever.”

The Task Force that approached the Khonhim fleet was something very different than the ad hoc collection of freighters that had died here, weeks before. The ships were utilitarian with a rough unfinished appearance...but unlike the freighters humans had designed them for battle from the keel up.

“All Pilots to their ships!” the intercom blared, as human and Ophiptera alike raced to their Comet fighters. The stripped-down Pegasus-Class carriers that transported them were little more than engines and rails to secure the tiny craft, with minimal life support. The aviators climbed aboard their tiny craft, sealing themselves in, as the carriers slowed at the edge of the engagement area. One by one the lights turned green, as each ship signaled their readiness.

Admiral Fujimoto stood on the carrier Bellerophon’s bridge; her hands clasped behind her back. For this operation she had to be here, and as she saw the enemy fleet beginning to react to their presence, a grim smile appeared on her face. They’d pored over the imagery of TF Odysseus’ crushing defeat, learning everything they could, and the results of every lesson had gone into planning for this one...though Murphy had made his presence known once again. The Ronin contingent had run into unexpected delays, and because of that she’d almost scrubbed the mission. But the hidden scout ships posted at the outskirts of the system had reported signs the enemy was preparing to depart...and that had forced her hand.

Let’s hope they get here in time, she thought to herself, as she touched an icon on her console. “Bellerophon actual to all fighters...remember, you must get in close to the enemy ships to stay under their guns. Your aim is to cripple their ships, not destroy them, so once you’ve done enough damage to slow them down, move on to the next one. Whatever you do, do not let yourselves get pinned down. The Comets have the advantages in speed and agility, so use that.”

Her almond eyes grew dark and cold. “You’ve all seen the images. You know what these same ships did to TF Odysseus. Those brave men and women are watching us now, so let’s make damn sure their deaths were not in vain.” She took a deep breath and said, “All units…Launch! Launch! Launch!”

The Comets detached in pairs, forming up by squadron before speeding towards the enemy. The carriers themselves raced for safety once their fighters were away, mounting no offensive weaponry they were sitting ducks for the enemy ships...which were already beginning to respond.

Dhyaksh Jiyazh Ghuuyaz studied the images as the attacking vessels closed in. These new ships were nothing like the ones the enemy had used before, and he had a hard time imagining such tiny craft would have anything more than a minimal effect to his fleet...but perhaps they knew something he did not.

“Alert the fleet,” he ordered. “Open fire the instant they are within range.”

“Raptor Leader to all squadrons,” Group Captain Mustafa Malone announced on the Fleet frequency, “Stick close to your wingman and keep focus on your objective. Do not let yourselves get pulled away.” He plastered a predatory grin on his face, as they readied themselves for their attack run.

“Tally Ho!” he howled, diving into the fray...just as the enemy ships exploded with deadly aimed fire.

The Comets bobbed and weaved, jinking around the sky as a hail of cannon and missile fire clawed up to meet them. Their agility was their greatest advantage, and that was an area in which the Ophiptera excelled. Just as the humans suspected, being descended from flying creatures had given them an immense advantage in spatial awareness and reflexes. Their success wasn’t total, however, the sheer amount of firepower being thrown at them began taking its toll, as the Comets began to die. In ones and twos, they disappeared from the display, and yet they did not return fire. The tiny ships were knife fighters, not snipers, and to do any damage at all they had to get in close.

Admiral Fujimoto watched the plot as the Comets plunged towards the enemy, holding her breath as they did their best to evade the hail of death being thrown at them. They had to clear a pathway in, if the follow-on forces were to have a prayer of making it through the blockade.

The smile on Group Captain Malone’s face was long gone, as the enemy fire winnowed down his ships. The Comets were dying by the handful now, as they closed the distance, but they held their course as they came screaming in. So close...just a little more...and then…

“Raptor Leader to all squadrons…Scatter!” he shouted, as the fighters peeled off in a dozen different directions, confusing the enemy. It took the big ships a few seconds to adjust aim, and by the time they did...it was already too late.

The Comets opened fire, their cannons hurling their projectiles against the hulls of the enemy ships. Unlike the missiles used by TF Odysseus, these weapons couldn’t be batted aside. There were no sensitive electronics to fry here, and as the fighters peeled away the first Antimatter rounds detonated, ripping great rents into the Khonhim hulls, their passageways and compartments now exposed to space.

Oathkeeper bucked as a round landed amidships. The damage was severe, but not crippling, as Dhyaksh Jiyazh Ghuuyaz prepared to show these meddlesome creatures who ruled in this place, once and for all.

“Fire Capacitors!” he shouted, as a hundred ships sent a massive EMP energy burst against the tiny fighter craft.

...only this time it was the Comets who shrugged off the attack, as all around him his fleet began paying the price.

The attacking fighters tore a hole into the enemy fleet, as a thin smile appeared on Admiral Fujimoto’s face. Losing TF Odysseus had been painful, but it had shown them how the enemy fought. In retrospect, they should have expected an EMP attack, but a century of peace had deprived them of a great deal of institutional knowledge. In a way, they were having to relearn how to fight all over again, despite the Guilds and the Reenactments.

There were some things only war could teach...and the lessons were proving costly.

But the fighters had done their job. Admiral Fujimoto switched to a new frequency and contacted the ships waiting on the periphery of the battle zone.

“Fleet Admiral to second wave...the way is clear. Begin planetary drop.”

Nassat clutched his rifle as the shuttle screamed towards the planet’s surface. Bravo company was all crammed in together, so much so that breathing itself was a struggle. In a way that was almost a comfort, having the herd pressed in close was a reassuring sensation for his kind...though the humans scattered among them seemed to feel otherwise. They weren’t a herd species, after all.

He did not know what was happening outside the confines of his shuttle. There were no windows, no monitors, no message traffic being forwarded to their helmets…nothing. Were they winning the battle? Losing? Who knew? There was just one thing he did know...one hit was all it would take to kill everyone on board.

Perhaps, it was better not being able to watch.

He glanced over at Raichret, waiting as if she were someone meeting a friend for lunch. They had talked late into the night after Sergeant Lin had left, and while they had gotten to know each other better, he still could not say he knew her. There were large parts she kept walled away, and the times he’d tried to inquire he had bounced off an impenetrable wall. He could only imagine the amount of pain it would take to make her close herself off so, and yet…

Nassat shook his head, looking away. This was not the time to be thinking of things other than what awaited them on the surface. A sharp jolt slammed him against his neighbors, as several cried out in alarm. Part of him wanted to do the same, but what good would it do? Either they would reach the surface...or they would not. There was nothing he could do to influence the outcome, so best he focus on the task at hand instead.

Sergeant Lin stood at the front of the shuttle; a look of grim determination plastered on his face. He acted as if the strangeness of that evening had never taken place, and Nassat was glad for it. Was it possible the humans felt the same fear he did? It was not a question he could ask them; also, he did not want to. For if the predators feared death...what hope was there for any of them?

Another sharp jolt, and he glanced towards Raichret once more...only to find her staring back at him. He tried to smile for her, to give her some sense of ease, but it was like gazing on a blank wall. Had she disappeared so completely inside herself, there was nothing left? Nassat prayed that was not so, but as he struggled to find some way to reassure her, Sergeant Lin’s booming voice interrupted his thoughts.

“One minute out!” he shouted over the din. “When the ramp drops, get the hell away from the shuttle! You let yourselves get bunched up, and you’re just asking for it.”

Nassat closed his eyes and whispered a fervent prayer. Creator...I beg you watch over us, he implored, as Lin spoke up again.

“Thirty seconds! Lock and load!”

His hands shook as he readied his weapon, as the reality of what was coming threatened to overwhelm him. But the months of training took over, and despite the trembling in his fingers they knew what to do. Another deep cleansing breath, and then…

WHAM!

The shuttle slammed hard onto the ground, as the ramp dropped a split-second later. “GO!” Lin screamed as Nassat charged out of the confined space along with the others…

...straight into Hell.