“Excellent work, Roifrode Spoor!” Trife praised her.
The enemy’s front line was wide open, and the Jadbyr Futune wreaked havoc on the ships at the center of the enemy formation, marching deliberately right through them.
“Send the Hoksath in here.” Trife pointed with the Greu. “We can’t let those enemies seal that opening and surround the Futune.”
✦ ✦ ✦
“Enemy Flasath group! Direction zero one zero. Distance thirty. About three hundred of them. We’re on a collision course.”
“It appears to be the enemy’s main force,” Cufadiss said loudly, trying to speak over the sound of his pulsing heart. “They’re throwing everything they’ve got at us! Initiate evasive action, immediately!”
“Calm down, Aim Kasalia,” pleaded Spoor. She pointed to a cluster of Hoksath on the Ja Fad. “Are our mines going to get there in time?”
Pouting, Cufadiss calculated. “Yes.”
“Maintain present course,” ordered Spoor.
As projected, Trife’s mines caught up to the enemy Flasath.
An elaborate dance began; the Hoksath attempted to create time-space fusion and the enemy Flasath taking steps to avoid it. When enemy ships stumbled, the Hoksath stepped in, blowing them to smithereens.
Releasing several minutes’ worth of air in one breath, Cufadiss realized just how tense he was.
As enemy ships blew up all around, the Futune closed in on the main cluster of Alek.
✦ ✦ ✦
“There’s almost no threat to our main force,” stated Kahyuul. “See? They’re sending all their Alek at the Futune.”
“Good. Then, let’s get ready to blast them with everything we’ve got,” concluded Trife. “The Rokeil will destroy all the enemies on the starboard side, and the Wakapeil can take care of those on the port side. The Byrdeif and Kitiil should come with us. We’d better hurry, or else the Futune will have all the fun.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Perhaps sensing the grimness of their situation, the enemy’s last line of defense began to retreat.
“Sorry, guys. Too late,” said Spoor. “Break into units of half Sov, and destroy those ships. Aim Kasalia?”
“Yes?”
“I can’t be bothered with the details. Be a dear and send the targets to each Sov?”
“Yes.” Grumbling the whole time, Cufadiss assigned each squadron a certain number of target Flasath.
“Sadly, the situation does not necessitate this ship’s participation,” lamented Spoor.
“Check.” After a few seconds, Cufadiss finished the job. “So, are we going to fall back and become battle reserves, then?”
“Hold on. Let me see that thing,” she commanded, indicating the Ja Fad.
There was one enemy ship that troubled Spoor, lurking behind all the others.
“It’s got to be an Isath, Lonyu,” began Cufadiss as he double-checked his battle data, “because it hasn’t fired a single Hoksath since the battle started.”
“That’s exactly why we mustn’t ignore it. It waits. And waits. Then, as soon as we’ve forgotten it’s there,” the Niifyuunyu paused for dramatic effect, “Ka-POW! Guns blazing! Fiery Frybar death! No, better to strike it down before it gets the chance.”
“Very good,” conceded Cufadiss. “The Sov have all confirmed receipt of their targets.”
Nodding, Spoor picked up her Greu. “All ships: move out!”
Upon her command, the rectangular formation of Jadbyr Futune came apart into several groups of three patrol ships, which went in search of their respective targets.
Since the ships had to spread out, Drosh Flacteder became largely impossible. Thus, Roifrode Spoor retained direct control of only three ships.
“Call the Sarerl and change the course to zero one five,” she barked. “Maintain Noktaf Bata!”
With two Resii in tow, the Heirbyrsh cut a path straight toward Flasath six hundred sixty one.
“Flasath six six one is retreating,” reported Navigation Staff Officer (Kasalia Rilbikot). “No other response. Gor Putarloth is possible by seven eighteen, ship’s time.”
“Should we take attack formation, Roifrode?” asked Cufadiss.
“Unnecessary. Just keep going,” replied Spoor.
After a few moments, the Kasalia Rilbikot announced Gor Putarloth was only ten minutes away.
“Prepare for Dadjocs,” Spoor ordered, to no one in particular. Her attention snapped to Cufadiss. “The enemy hasn’t issued Aga Leigakot; if it were an Isath, it would have surrendered by now. My guess was correct.”
“Then why don’t they launch any Hoksath now that we’re on to them?”
“Good question,” shrugged Spoor. “There must be some explanation.”
“Gor Putarloth with Flasath six sixty one!” shouted Kasalia Rilbikot.
“Here we go!” Spoor smiled.
“Uh-oh. Looks like we have six Gel-class Flasath headed our way with a relative velocity of three hundred seventy-five Digrl.”
Spoor arched one of her eyebrows. “Hoksath?”
Her only answer was a nod.
Temporarily distressed, Spoor asked how many mines they had between the three ships in their party.
“Let’s see… Four on this ship, four on the Bogbyrsh, and five on the Hasunbyrsh.” The Kasalia Rilbikot paused. “That would be thirteen altogether.”
“Gee, thanks.” Spoor rolled her eyes. “Fire ‘em all. Initiate forward Hoksatejocs. Let’s mow them down.”
The three Resii released their mines simultaneously. The enemy Flasath fell victim to this barrage, and the three Labule ships held their course as if nothing had happened.
“Aim Kasalia,” Spoor quipped, “what do you think is the worst crime a Lodairl can commit?”
“Opposing his superiors?” ventured Cufadiss, instantly hating himself for being a suck-up.
“Wrong. It’s being an Onyu. Loyalty and a sense of responsibility mean nothing if you’re going to act like a moron, specifically the kind of idiot who would send six puny Gel to fight three Resii!”
“Indeed.” Cufadiss nodded solemnly.
“I might enjoy this a little too much,” admitted Spoor, “but I’m not an Onyu. My subordinates won’t die for no good reason.”
Cufadiss swallowed his thought, and it grew into a profound respect for Spoor’s ability to command the fleet.
“I don’t tolerate idiots in here. I prefer to have ‘playmates’ in my Glagaf.”
The heat of Roifrode’s Kireif Piana Spoor made Cufadiss sweat. “I’ll do my best to play with you, Lonyu.”
“Maybe there’s hope for you after all.”
“One minute until Gor Putarloth!” the Kasalia Rilbikot reminded them.
“And still no Aga Leigakot,” added Communications Officer.
“Kasalia Rilbikot, see if you can have all three ships fuse at the same time.”
“No problem!”
“And let everyone know: as soon as we fuse, hit them with everything we’ve got.” Roifrode Spoor smiled, anticipating the battle. “I can’t wait to see what’s in that Flasath — it’s like unwrapping a present!”
“Ten seconds!” yelled the Navigation Staff Officer. “Eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one. Gor Putar — “
Irgyuf blasts cut him off.
As soon as they fused with the enemy ship, the range of Cufadiss’ Frokaj expanded. He could sense that the enemy’s ship was huge. Luckily, it traveled solo.
“Aga Leigakot!” shouted the Kasalia Drokia. “A surrender signal transmitted through Drosh Dem!”
“Cease fire!” Spoor opened her eyes, and rose. “All ships, cease fire! A mark of shame on the name of Spoor to destroy a ship that already surrendered.”
A mark of shame on the name of the Frybar, the name of the Labule, the name of all Abh-kind, Cufadiss added mentally.
Too late; the Hasunbyrsh fired its electromagnetic projection cannon. Fortunately, the shells blew themselves up before they reached the enemy ship.
“Honestly,” Spoor complained, “why didn’t they send the message via Drosh Flacteder? Were they trying to cut and run, or what? Get the Bogdyrsh on the line — tell them to receive and inspect the enemy vessel. The Hasunbyrsh will come with me.”
As it turned out, Flasath six hundred sixty-one was actually a large transport ship.
“Wow, we nearly blew it to smithereens,” reported Cufadiss.
“Yes,” acknowledged Spoor, concealing her disappointment that they hadn’t.
“Awaiting course directions,” said Cufadiss.
“Course one-sixty. Reconvene with the rest of my ships.”
Saluting, Cufadiss relayed the message to the ship’s Sarerl. He watched the Roifrode. It was impossible to tell what kind of person she was. Was she possessed by some kind of demon, or was she just crazy? Or neither?
“Looking at your commander like that could get you in trouble,” said Spoor sharply.
Cufadiss nodded.
Sighing, Spoor read Cufadiss’ questioning gaze. “You know,” she said, playing with her neatly arranged hair, “occasionally — rarely — my hunches can be wrong.”
✦ ✦ ✦
Just like that, the battle was over. Only allies and surrendered ships remained on the battlefield.
“There’s a Pelia here from Futune,” Shewas Kahyuul noted.
“Why?” inquired Trife.
“It seems they’ve taken some prisoners of war, sir. Enemy officials.”
“Excellent. Promotions all around,” he joked. “I don’t understand why the bureaucrats were on the battlefield, though.”
“Apparently, it is the United Mankind’s custom to send a Front Line Disciplinary Officer and a Press Officer along for the ride. They were in a huge Isath headed to Sord Sufagnaum.”
“Weird.” Pacing around the bridge, Trife contemplated the oddness of the United Mankind. He stopped. “So… we won, right?”
“All signs indicate yes.”
“Great… but it seems too easy. Send out an order for the whole fleet to assemble.”
“Got it.”
“Once that’s done, we’ll have the Futune do one more job for us. We’ll re-supply it, then send it into Sord Sufagnaum. If there aren’t any forces left, we’ll have them take control of the territory. Hmm. Who did the least amount of work in this battle?”
“All the Jadbyr carried out their duties to the utmost — “
“No one’s getting a spanking — just give me an estimate.”
“Well, if I must…” Kahyuul leaned back to think. “The destruction ratio of the Byrdeif‘was pretty low.”
“Okay. Then leave the Byrdeif‘here to mop up.”
“Yes, sir.”
All in all, it was an overwhelming success for the Imperial Star Force.
Once the battlefield cleanup was over, the flagship Keildij fired two Hoksath. Instead of antimatter explosives, however, these mines contained fireworks signaling victory.
Frode Trife conducted a moment of silence for those lost in the fray, both enemies and allies.
✦ ✦ ✦
When the wreckage of the battle was cleared, Trife requested a damage report. Byr Toraimu lost twenty-four Leit, seventeen Gel, and one Resii. Fifty-one Leit, forty-seven Gel, and five Resii were badly damaged. Ninety-five escort vessels, one hundred seventeen assault ships, nineteen patrol ships, and seven Alek incurred at least minor damage.
The ships (Menyu) that were only slightly damaged could be repaired by the construction ships (Dausuia), so the fleet lost one-hundred and forty-five spacecraft. Though it could never be called a small loss — just ask the families of those aboard the vessels — it wouldn’t significantly hinder the fleet in battle.
There were originally nine hundred Menyu in the United Mankind Peace Preservation Army Dispatch’s Fleet A. Of those, only a scant twenty-seven retained even partial functionality — and those had all surrendered to the Labule.