Alpha One - Chris Burton [139]
“How near to battle are we?”
“It is imminent, but with the addition of your support and The Sect Guard we should be able to mount a significant offensive capability. Let me know when you are on board the Pacific.”
Shenke closed the comm link and returned to his discussion with the Sect Commander.
“Our numbers have swelled dramatically, Sect Commander. We really should all work together on this.”
“I reiterate what I said before, Admiral: we will work alone, but not against you. Did you wish to discuss the behavior of the Kryl some more?”
“Yes, please.”
Shenke and the Sect Commander proceeded to discuss the Kryl in further detail. The Sect Commander revealed that the Kryl could consume the electrical impulse energy over time or all in one go, meaning death could be immediate or could be dragged out over many years., with the victim’s motor neuron functions gradually depleting over time. Shenke learned the Kryl used a form of the consumption to gain ‘mind control’ over their prey. Some could control and influence people over distances, and this was likely to have been the way that Winterburn established control over his ‘disciples’.
“So, Winterburn was consuming his victims as well as controlling them.”
“No. They can only consume their prey over short distances. This was simply mind control. The principle is the same though.”
The discussion went on to discuss the Queen’s ship in more detail and the tactical and offensive capabilities of the Kryl ships. After a further half-hour of discussion they agreed to work side-by-side but independently and Shenke thanked the commander for his help.
Alone again. Shenke turned his attention back towards Cameron. He was in mid- discussion with the Doctor when the fleet suddenly went to Battle Stations status. The Kryl Fleet moved forward.
“How long before Admiral Haines’ vessels are in position?”
“About an hour. Looks like they are going to miss the start.”
* * * *
The Kryl Fleet launched an all-out offensive moments later. Alpha responded immediately by launching three hundred jump ships who quickly engaged their Kryl one-man counterparts in a dogfight above the main fleet battle. The Kryl battle cruisers fired a multitude of plasma weapons which impacted immediately on the Alpha Fleet. The effect was devastating. Before Alpha was able to re-modulate their shield frequencies, seven ships of the line were destroyed by the plasma attacks alone. Alpha, though, was far from defeated and Shenke ordered direct attacks on the Kryl battle cruisers within Alphas weaponry range. Again and again, the Kryl plasma weapons pummeled the Alpha Fleet. This time the shields held up for longer, allowing the Alpha ships to regenerate and defend themselves.
Above, the jump ship squadrons were engaged in the fiercest battle of all, with over one thousand vessels fighting one-to-one in a confined space above the fleet. Alpha’s jump ship losses were appalling.
They lost half their fleet within the first ten minutes of fighting and Shenke was forced to launch a further three hundred vessels immediately. Still the losses mounted, and another three hundred jump ships were dispatched. It wasn’t their individual capability, it was the sheer number of Kryl vessels and their superior maneuverability that was losing the jump ship battle.
The Sect Guard waited for the right time to engage the Kryl. Timing was critical. The Sect fighters entered the jump ship foray all at once and immediately they transformed the status of the battle. Their weapons delivered their payload accurately and with instant success, while the Kryl vessels made little impact in the initial skirmishes between them. This allowed the Alpha jump ships to regroup and target specific Kryl groups. At last they, too, began to make an impact.
Shenke witnessed the battle from the command deck. It was not going well. The Kryl superiority was telling and they had not deployed the considerable weaponry of their mother ship. The Sect