Hells Bells

War Stories: Reinforcement

"Sometimes I regret joining the army when command basically tells me to go fuck myself when told to do the impossible... But I then retort that regret by saying it could've been the navy."

-Colonel Moore 169th Marine Raider Division. 1996-2024.

RO: Captain, multiple contacts 20 leagues from us. At a heading of 20 degrees.

In the void of space a US naval convoy is on a reinforcement expedition to support ground units on the surface of Mars as the 3rd world war expands into the stars. The contested orbit over the red planet has made jumping in near the planet suicidal, as space combat is always in motion so by the time a squadron made a jump to their allies position it might have moved and they may end up in the middle of an enemy formation, or colliding with friendly vessels. So jumping in an hour away ensures that won't happen but also leaves them vulnerable for enemy detachments in their same predicament. Or hunter killer teams patrolling the outskirts.

CAPTAIN: How many exactly?

He shouts across the command center.

RO: Ten contacts in a V pattern.

The captain walks over to the radar operator,  looking over his shoulder at the radar screen. He pushes away from the operator and heads to where sonar is located.

CAPTAIN: What's their compliment?

The Sonar operator presses on his headphones, listening closely.

OP: 3 of them match the signature of Sinzhin Class Cruisers, the rest match Type 13 Destroyers.

CAPTAIN: Mass produced junk but their double our number.

A shout from radar draws everyone's attention.

RO: Sir, They're turning about starboard. They're on direct course to us.

CAPTAIN: Shit, general quarters.

Claxons sound their repetitive drones as the ship stirred like a hornets nest. Bulkheads were sealed, Fire control systems brought to life, all weapon systems brought online. The 5 US ships skimming through the void align in a textbook battleline to provide ample points for their anti air defenses. In the rear of the line is the Ticonderoga Space Cruiser Savanah, followed by it's sister ship Atlanta. Who follows the Arleigh Burke Space destroyers Castell, Repugnant, and the leader of the line, Finn McGuire. The captain of the McGuire makes his way to the destroyers bridge with haste, as the intercom measures the closing distance from them and the reds. Upon entering the bridge, he looks out the viewing windows as heavy blast shields begin lowering down with a dramatic hiss. When the shields seal themselves to the bridge's access to the outside, the lights dim to an emergency red.

CAPTAIN: Report.

An officer to his right gives him a nod and walks over.

OFFICER: Fire suppression and weapon systems are online, all non essential systems transferred to the command center, with vital ones on standby for transfer.

During space combat all functions the bridge serves is to be transferred to the command center deep within the ship at the slightest hint of decompression of the bridge.

CAPTAIN: Have they started attacking?

OFFICER: Negative sir, radar reports they're still on an attack vector towards us.

The Captain pauses at this looking at the many monitors in front of him in disbelief.

CAPTAIN: Is their targeting system that outdated, yet they can still detect us?

He breaks from his trance and walks over to another officer.

CAPTAIN: Prep a firing solution, I want to press that advantage. Bow silos of the Burkes, and both stern and bow silos of the Ticies.