Recruit: Book One of the Universal Conflict ( Under Constant Editing)

Chapter 33

  A week later the Revenge rejoined the battlegroup and set course for the next world to reclaim. Before they jumped T'ilvesh contacted the sub-fleets for an update. All ships were ready to attack. Bringing up the charts he saw the circle closing in on the Ruchkitay homeworld. He estimated a year before they would be the able to end the fight. However, the next world to reclaim would be the hardest. This world was protected by sensor satellites that had defensive capabilities. Those would have to be destroyed before any assault on the planet could begin.

  "We'll jump to within three lightyears then send cloaked drones to destroy the satellites simultaneously." the Commander stated in the briefing "At the same time the programmers will disable all traffic in and out of the system."

  "Isn't that cutting it a bit close?" Hawk asked "That doesn't leave room for any mishaps."

  "Then there had better not be any." T'ilvesh replied "We can't afford to let them alert the other worlds to our presence. That would ruin all future operations."

  "How do we stop communications during the drone strike?" Rufin asked.

  "We'll jam all transmissions just before we launch the drones." the Commander stated.

   "Sounds like a plan." Cory said "How soon do we jump?"

   "Ten minutes." came the answer.

  No sooner did the words leave his mouth than the fleet wide alert for the jump begin.

  "ALL SHIPS, 10 MINUTES TILL WARP." blared over the speakers "ALL HANDS PREPARE TO JUMP. COMMAND OFFICERS REPORT TO JUMP STATIONS."

  At this the squad jumped up and hurried to their posts. Cory went with T'ilvesh and Krystal to the bridge. Taking his seat Cory watched as Krystal took control of the fleet.

  "Since we have a few minutes how about a cup of coffee?" T'ilvesh suggested "I want some."

  "Sure, let's go." Cory acknowledged getting up and going into the ready room. Grabbing two coffees from the dispenser they sat at the Commanders desk while they sipped their coffee.

  "TWO MINUTES UNTIL WARP." came the announcement over the speaker "ALL STATIONS REPORTING READY."

  "Time to watch the show." Cory said getting up to return to the bridge.

  "Hold up a minute." T'ilvesh ordered "Are you certain you and Krys want to be in the fight now?"

  "Yes, we do." Cory stated "Those monsters have to be stopped. Since my world supplied the weapons technology it's my responsibility to make sure they are used properly. Besides, Krys won't leave the fleet willingly if there's still a chance the Ruchki's can retake Cinotae."

  "There's always that chance." T'ilvesh said " That's why we armed and trained the people in the use of the weapons."

  "I know," Cory replied "but she still wants to fight, which means I fight with and for her."

  "OK then, let's get this moving." the Commander said as they took their seats for the jump.

  "Warp emitters powered and ready." Shree reported.

  "Engage emitters and jump." Krystal ordered.

  "Jumping." Shree stated.

  Watching the space ahead become blacker as the warp emitters released their energies forming the wormhole, Corys heart beat faster, as it did during jumps, and the Revenge entered the blackness of the wormhole. Seconds later they were just outside the target galaxy. 

  "Set coordinates for three lightyears from target system and jump when ready." Krystal instructed.

  "Aye." the navigator affirmed.

  In a couple of minutes the target system appeared as the fleet exited from warp. T'ilvesh took over now.

  "Launch drones, cloak as soon as they're clear of the ship." he ordered.
  From the hanger bays across the fleet drones shot out and disappeared as their cloaks engaged. At the same time the air strike groups got ready to launch. Cory had the squad prepare to launch as well.

  During this the programmers began to disable all traffic to and from the planet while the communications were jammed.

  In just under an hour the drones were approaching the satellites with weapons hot. Two minutes later all drones had their targets in sight. Giving the order to fire T'ilvesh watched as the satellites were destroyed, clouds of fragments and dust was all that remained.

  "Air strike groups launch!" he said "Ground troops assemble for boarding transports."

  At this the squad started their preflight checks making sure their fighters were ready to fight. All of a sudden the Commanders voice came over the hangers speakers.

   "Ground troops stand down," He ordered "I repeat 'Stand down'."

  Hearing that Cory and Krystal ran back to the bridge to find out why they had been delayed. Running in they found the Commander looking angry.

  "What happened?" Krystal asked when she saw the look on T'ilveshs face.

  "They have ground defenses." he replied "The first ships there were shot down. A full squad lost."

  "Why didn't the drones survey the planet before we attacked?" Cory asked, puzzled as to why they changed tactics.

  "We thought the satellites were the only defensive line. We were wrong, horribly wrong." T'ilvesh chided himself.

  "So?" Cory said "Rearm the drones and go destroy the defenses."

  "Send the recall for the rest of the air strike groups," the Commander said "Rearm the drones and take out those defenses!"

  "Yes, Sir!" Shree acknowledged sending the orders.

  Cory ran to the drone control area and jumped into one of the stations. Launching a plane he sent it hurdling towards the planet, armed with air to ground missiles. When it reached the outer atmosphere he cloaked the attack craft heading to the surface for an attack run. Glancing around the area he saw that each of his squadmates had also taken a drone and were just as determined to destroy the ground defenses as he was. Reaching attack altitude he ordered the squad to split from him and each attack as many gun turrets as they could.

  From around the fleet drones were heading ground side by the thousands. He didn't think it would take too long to try the air strikes again.

  Lining up a turret in his sights he fired his first missile. He watched as it flew into a gap under one of the gun barrels and blew up taking the top off the emplacement, Ruchkitay body parts falling in flames. A feeling of satisfaction washing through him at the sight. From the whoops around him he knew other drone pilots scored hits on their targets. Concentrating on his screen he saw another emplacement and lined up for his next shot. Being cloaked was a definite advantage as he flew around the gun turret looking for an opening. Not finding one large enough he targeted the gun barrels themselves. In what had to be the luckiest shot ever, the missile went straight down between the barrels and entered the turret before detonating. Out of missiles he turned his drone back to the ship. After shutting down his drone he climbed out of his station to let the next operator take over.

  It took two days to clear the ground defenses. The Ruchkitay residents scrambled to clear the streets left behind by the original inhabitants.

  It was time to fight, close and dirty, the squad was ready.