Summoning America

Chapter 191: Fleet Ace

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US Navy Fifth Fleet
CSG-2, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower

Admiral Samuel Locklear stood on the bridge of the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, his eyes glued to the Common Tactical Picture (CTP) display. The bridge crew was on high alert, tracking every move the Gra Valkan Third Conquest Fleet made.

Commander Michael Harlowe, his intel officer, came up to him with a tablet. "Admiral, we've got an update on the Gra Valkan fleet's position."

Locklear nodded. "Let's hear it, Commander."

"They're maintaining course and speed, sir. 1,000 miles out and closing. Standard cruising formation, with their carriers and capital ships in the center, escorts on the flanks."

Locklear studied the CTP. The Gra Valkans were in for a rude awakening. They probably thought their numbers would be enough, but they couldn't be that stubborn, could they? It was like bringing a knife to a gunfight, and that gunfight was on an open field.

"Any response to our hails, Commander?" Locklear asked.

"Negative, sir. Radio silence since our last attempt."

The Gra Valkans' silence spoke volumes. It made sense for the first few commanders they encountered to have second thoughts. According to reports from the Seventh Fleet, the Gra Valkan Admiral Dietrich only surrendered after experiencing a missile strike first hand. Now, putting himself in the Gra Valkans' shoes, he could understand complete surprise and disbelief if an alien fleet showed up out of nowhere and completely decimated their forces with ease.

He'd have thought it was propaganda, or some sort of Hollywood fiction. But to see that those very forces had suddenly stopped communicating, and to hear of it several times, there had to be at least some truth to the tales. Whoever commanded the Gra Valkan Third Fleet surely knew what would happen if they engaged directly, right? Surely, it couldn't be led by some cliched leader who'd cry "IMPOSSIBLE!" after getting his forces wiped by a foe that has been confirmed numerous times to be technologically advanced, right?

Well, if said leader didn't back down, at least Locklear would be able to claim the first – and quite possibly the only – full engagement with a Gra Valkan fleet. He almost felt bad for the men serving on that fleet, if not for their sealed fates, then at least the stupidity of their leaders. He'll give them a good opening salvo; if they still kept coming afterward, that'd be on them.

Putting his conscience more or less at ease, he turned to Captain James Wheeler, the Eisenhower's CO. "Captain, are our strike packages ready to execute?"

"Affirmative, sir. Our Super Hornets and Lightning IIs are locked and loaded with LRASMs. They're ready to launch on your order."

He faced Captain Wheeler and Commander Michael Rodriguez, the carrier's strike ops officer. "I want a final review of our strike plan. Make sure we're hitting the Gra Valkan fleet's critical assets. Carriers, command ships, any high-value targets. We're gonna hammer them until they're combat ineffective."

As Wheeler and Rodriguez confirmed the details, Locklear's gaze returned to the CTP. The Gra Valkans kept pushing forward, eating up the miles.

"Commander Harlowe, any updates on the Gra Valkan fleet's movements, let me know," Locklear said.