wolfboy
Captain
Alright folks, I said a while back that i was working on some fan fic and now i'm delivering. Now I dont know if this will turn into a semi-short or a series, but after each post i will take feedback. So without further ado:
TCS Bataan CVE-19
Gemini sector, Clarke quadrant, Newcastle system
The wail of the General Quarters alarm screamed throughout the ship, causing Captain James Bostwick to lurch from his peaceful slumber into action. Slamming his hand down on the button that opened the intercom to the bridge and shut off the alarm in his room the Captain awoke. “Captain here, report bridge!”
“Sir,” the bridge watch, a spooked ensign on his first combat deployment replied. “Sensors just caught the fringes of an unscheduled ship jumping into the system. It could be more than one sir, we lost the jump surge as we started to pass behind the planet.”
“Understood Ensign, launch a flight from the “Dragoons” and put the “Knights” and the “Cowboys” on standby. Wake the CAG and inform him, I'll be on the bridge in a couple of minutes.” Taking his hand from the button the captain rolled the rest of the way out of his bunk and started getting dressed. Five minutes later the hatch to the bridge opened and the Captain stepped through walking strait over to the holo-tank in the middle of the bridge. “Talk to me Lieutenant.” the captain said as the duty tactical officer stepped over toward him.
“Sir, Dragoon flight leader is reporting four Drayman class transports claiming to be here for replacement parts for Perry base. Dragoon lead has the Draymans believing they're a patrol from Newcastle base and will escort them there. Major Hunt has been informed and is preparing his boarding parties as we speak.” The lieutenant finished rattling off her list and looked up to the Captain for his confirmation which came in the form of a nod followed by questions.
“Very good Lieutenant, are the fighter squadrons ready to launch and the ship ready for battle?”
“All ready sir,” the lieutenant replied. “CAG reports all pilots up, briefed and prepped for launch. Fighters are ready for a magnum launch, Sabres loaded for anti-ship and the Rapiers for anti-fighter and Dragoon lead is reporting that they are set for CAP and leading the launch.”
“Very good Lieutenant,” the captain replied nodding. “Helm move us around the planet and behind the transports. Lieutenant bring up our ECM, i want them to think we are the medium transport Hooper C. Nelson. We will parallel their path till we near the base. When they reach the stations defenses we'll launch and order their surrender.” A chorus of “Aye sir” was his response as he headed toward his command chair and watched as the ships active systems came online.
As the ship came around the dead gas giant the sensors started picking up the other ships in the system again. Newcastle was a busy system for both the sector and the quadrant, and normally they would have a destroyer flotilla or a light cruiser squadron for local defense as well as the base's fighter squadrons. Unfortunately the fighters and other ships had all been drained off by recent war losses so higher had the Bataan redeployed here temporarily so that the base wouldn't be left completely uncovered. They were also under orders to take out any pirate activity that they found and since this was an unscheduled entry the odds were right for the Draymans to be a pirate squadron. But if they were planning on taking advantage of the lack of system defenses to load up on spares and salable items then they were in for a very large surprise.
Flight Deck: TCS Bataan
On the flight deck the fighters sat with their pilots fidgeting at their controls, fidgeting except for the squadron leaders and the Wing Commander. The squadron leaders were calm, almost catatonic and the wing commander was starting to enter what he called “The Zone”, a zen like state that made him death riding a stick. Suddenly their radio's crackled to life, “All pilots stand by for Bataan actual.” many pilots had to adjust their volume down where they had fiddled with the control while fidgeting or else go deaf from the loudness of the announcement “Ladies and gentlemen,” the voice of the ships captain flowed through the pilots like water. “In a few moments you will launch against an unknown enemy and attempt to take them completely by surprise. Hopefully when we drop our ECM they will heave to and there will be no fight, even better would be that they are just an unscheduled or ahead of schedule convoy that actually belong here. If this is not the case however, i want you all to be prepared for what should be a hell of a fight. We don't know what they are carrying, and hopefully they don't know what we are at the moment, therefore if they do put up a fight i want everyone to cover each other. Dragoons will stay on CAP until the marine shuttles are launched at which time they and the Cowboys will move to cover the shuttles. The marines wont launch until at least two of the transports shields are down so Knights you have to get in and do your jobs fast and hard. As the Knights knock out the transports shields, the Cowboys will assist with their guns by strafing the other two transports or if one of them is operating as a pocket carrier, then they will engage whatever fighters emerge. Good luck people and good hunting.” As the ships captain signed off the squadron commanders and the wing commander took over.
“All squadrons listen up.” The voice of the wing commander and CAG Major Christopher “Blade” Stewart rang out over everyone's radios as soon as the ships Captain had left their ears. “You all heard the old man, now we have a job to do lets do it. Black Knights on me. Cowboys have our backs so don't worry to much while going for lock but be prepared for these guys to have one heck of a punch. Another thing, when our torpedoes are spent were gonna take and move by flights to help the other squadrons cover the shuttles. I want the lead elements from each squadron on point for the shuttles. I also want the rest of the Dragoons to bring up the rear and another element of rapiers on hand in case one of these transports decides to either play gunship or launches fighters.” The affirmatives rang out clear over the system and the heavy fighter-bomber squadron leader smiled.
“Alright people you heard the man, Dragoons we have over watch on the carrier and the shuttles.” Captain Emelia “Lawless” Lawler said over her squadron's frequency. “Nothing gets through to the Bataan, i don't care if you have to ram it just make sure you eject just before. The hardware's important but the pilot is more important.” Captain Lawler was the squadron leader of the “Light Dragoons” the light fighter element of the carrier's air wing.
Since they were in the lightest fighters as far as both armor and weapons that the Confederation still used, they tended to draw the most insane of potential pilots, those who really had nothing to lose. This really showed itself in Lawless's second in command, one Margaret “Medusa” Jones who giggled at this last. “Aw, come on lead, if they don't stick with the bird, how are we gonna get any new blood in the squadron?”
“Knock it off Medusa,” the squadron leader replied, “or you'll be one of the ones being replaced.
TCS Bataan CVE-19
Gemini sector, Clarke quadrant, Newcastle system
The wail of the General Quarters alarm screamed throughout the ship, causing Captain James Bostwick to lurch from his peaceful slumber into action. Slamming his hand down on the button that opened the intercom to the bridge and shut off the alarm in his room the Captain awoke. “Captain here, report bridge!”
“Sir,” the bridge watch, a spooked ensign on his first combat deployment replied. “Sensors just caught the fringes of an unscheduled ship jumping into the system. It could be more than one sir, we lost the jump surge as we started to pass behind the planet.”
“Understood Ensign, launch a flight from the “Dragoons” and put the “Knights” and the “Cowboys” on standby. Wake the CAG and inform him, I'll be on the bridge in a couple of minutes.” Taking his hand from the button the captain rolled the rest of the way out of his bunk and started getting dressed. Five minutes later the hatch to the bridge opened and the Captain stepped through walking strait over to the holo-tank in the middle of the bridge. “Talk to me Lieutenant.” the captain said as the duty tactical officer stepped over toward him.
“Sir, Dragoon flight leader is reporting four Drayman class transports claiming to be here for replacement parts for Perry base. Dragoon lead has the Draymans believing they're a patrol from Newcastle base and will escort them there. Major Hunt has been informed and is preparing his boarding parties as we speak.” The lieutenant finished rattling off her list and looked up to the Captain for his confirmation which came in the form of a nod followed by questions.
“Very good Lieutenant, are the fighter squadrons ready to launch and the ship ready for battle?”
“All ready sir,” the lieutenant replied. “CAG reports all pilots up, briefed and prepped for launch. Fighters are ready for a magnum launch, Sabres loaded for anti-ship and the Rapiers for anti-fighter and Dragoon lead is reporting that they are set for CAP and leading the launch.”
“Very good Lieutenant,” the captain replied nodding. “Helm move us around the planet and behind the transports. Lieutenant bring up our ECM, i want them to think we are the medium transport Hooper C. Nelson. We will parallel their path till we near the base. When they reach the stations defenses we'll launch and order their surrender.” A chorus of “Aye sir” was his response as he headed toward his command chair and watched as the ships active systems came online.
As the ship came around the dead gas giant the sensors started picking up the other ships in the system again. Newcastle was a busy system for both the sector and the quadrant, and normally they would have a destroyer flotilla or a light cruiser squadron for local defense as well as the base's fighter squadrons. Unfortunately the fighters and other ships had all been drained off by recent war losses so higher had the Bataan redeployed here temporarily so that the base wouldn't be left completely uncovered. They were also under orders to take out any pirate activity that they found and since this was an unscheduled entry the odds were right for the Draymans to be a pirate squadron. But if they were planning on taking advantage of the lack of system defenses to load up on spares and salable items then they were in for a very large surprise.
Flight Deck: TCS Bataan
On the flight deck the fighters sat with their pilots fidgeting at their controls, fidgeting except for the squadron leaders and the Wing Commander. The squadron leaders were calm, almost catatonic and the wing commander was starting to enter what he called “The Zone”, a zen like state that made him death riding a stick. Suddenly their radio's crackled to life, “All pilots stand by for Bataan actual.” many pilots had to adjust their volume down where they had fiddled with the control while fidgeting or else go deaf from the loudness of the announcement “Ladies and gentlemen,” the voice of the ships captain flowed through the pilots like water. “In a few moments you will launch against an unknown enemy and attempt to take them completely by surprise. Hopefully when we drop our ECM they will heave to and there will be no fight, even better would be that they are just an unscheduled or ahead of schedule convoy that actually belong here. If this is not the case however, i want you all to be prepared for what should be a hell of a fight. We don't know what they are carrying, and hopefully they don't know what we are at the moment, therefore if they do put up a fight i want everyone to cover each other. Dragoons will stay on CAP until the marine shuttles are launched at which time they and the Cowboys will move to cover the shuttles. The marines wont launch until at least two of the transports shields are down so Knights you have to get in and do your jobs fast and hard. As the Knights knock out the transports shields, the Cowboys will assist with their guns by strafing the other two transports or if one of them is operating as a pocket carrier, then they will engage whatever fighters emerge. Good luck people and good hunting.” As the ships captain signed off the squadron commanders and the wing commander took over.
“All squadrons listen up.” The voice of the wing commander and CAG Major Christopher “Blade” Stewart rang out over everyone's radios as soon as the ships Captain had left their ears. “You all heard the old man, now we have a job to do lets do it. Black Knights on me. Cowboys have our backs so don't worry to much while going for lock but be prepared for these guys to have one heck of a punch. Another thing, when our torpedoes are spent were gonna take and move by flights to help the other squadrons cover the shuttles. I want the lead elements from each squadron on point for the shuttles. I also want the rest of the Dragoons to bring up the rear and another element of rapiers on hand in case one of these transports decides to either play gunship or launches fighters.” The affirmatives rang out clear over the system and the heavy fighter-bomber squadron leader smiled.
“Alright people you heard the man, Dragoons we have over watch on the carrier and the shuttles.” Captain Emelia “Lawless” Lawler said over her squadron's frequency. “Nothing gets through to the Bataan, i don't care if you have to ram it just make sure you eject just before. The hardware's important but the pilot is more important.” Captain Lawler was the squadron leader of the “Light Dragoons” the light fighter element of the carrier's air wing.
Since they were in the lightest fighters as far as both armor and weapons that the Confederation still used, they tended to draw the most insane of potential pilots, those who really had nothing to lose. This really showed itself in Lawless's second in command, one Margaret “Medusa” Jones who giggled at this last. “Aw, come on lead, if they don't stick with the bird, how are we gonna get any new blood in the squadron?”
“Knock it off Medusa,” the squadron leader replied, “or you'll be one of the ones being replaced.