The Infinity Chronicles Volume 1

Act-19/20: Opening Moves...

Marrokian Sector, 12 Light years from Marrok Prime, toward Center.

Edge of Marrokian controlled Space, 5-May-2330

H.I.S. Razor Fang, Phoenix Dragon Class, Modified and Enlarged Commercant, Interdiction Patrol

Act-19: "Opening moves..."

Captain Cylus paced the small bridge of this new class of pocket warship, the design crafted by Delilah Saxon herself. Modeled after the Commercant, only enlarged by 25%, this vessel could stand toe to toe with everything up to the Hammerfield, and survive. That wasn't why Captain Cylus was nervous. 2 hours before, his line of picket satellites had detected hyperspace wakes 15 AU away.

Setting course for the signals, he sent word back to Imperial Naval Command that he may have pirates, or worse, a Terran fleet in his sector. What he found was staggering to behold:

1) Terran Dakota class Heavy Battle cruiser, 2) Ulysses class Missile Destroyers, and 6) Perry class Escort Frigates, recharging their hyper drives. The new model stealth shielding his ship had, compliments of Kinsman Industries, was the only thing keeping him from having to dodge hostile disruptor fire.

"COM! Send word via H-Space COM back to Command. Message to read: Terran Task Force enroute to Marrok Prime. Stop. Will attempt to damage or destroy as many as we can. Stop. May Primus guide us."

"Message compressed, and sent Captain!" His COM officer, who also doubled as his astrogator, replied. Sitting back in his chair, Captain Cylus weighed his options.

"Right now, they are vulnerable, since most of their power is being shunted into recharging their star drive. If we strike from an initial position of surprise, and then jump back to Marrok, we can help muster a defense. What say you exec?" He said, turning to his exec, a gorgeous female named Sylvia.

"If our surprise holds, we should take every opportunity to inflict as much harm on them as possible. The 'Chosen One' warned us that his former Masters were not a race to show mercy. Therefore, we shouldn't either." She replied.

"Ops, range to lead Terran vessel?" Cylus called out.

".75 AU sir, from the 'Dakota'!" His helmsman replied.

"They still don't see us do they?"

"Negative Captain. They've conducted scanner sweeps of this quadrant already this hour, and we remain undetected."

"Battle stations! Make ready for War! May Loci guide our hands this glorious day!" Cylus commanded. His bridge crew leaping into action, as the lighting went from beige-white to stark red, the ships offensive systems going from stand-by yellow to ready-green.

"Close with the 'Dakota' from her port quarter, so we may make a raking shot down her entire portside." Cylus ordered, as the helmsman turned their ship in the direction ordered.

Their ship, a 10,000 ton version of the normally 7,500 ton Commercant, the 'Phoenix Dragon' was first and foremost a weapon of war. Very little space or tonnage was allocated for cargo. From her military spec thrusters and hyper drive, to her shield generator and 4 single 406mm disruptor turrets, two mounted dorsally and two mounted ventrally, she could deliver a knockout punch to just about everything in hers and three other weight classes.

And standing before her, was a 60,000 ton weapon of war, the 'Dakota' class. The 'Dakota' class was designed with one overriding purpose: To assemble a ship class capable of standing toe to toe against ships like the 'Tico' or the 'Hammerfield'. Mounting six triple turrets, each with 3) 203mm Disruptors, and a single 30 cell VLS system on her bow, the 'Dakota' was just as fearsome as a 'Tico', but with far better offensive punch.