Terraformer Dreams - Chapter Four (complete)

[The Zig]

Story so far:
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three

Chapter Four – The Nexus

“War is the unfolding of miscalculations.”
Barbara W. Tuchman


Part One: The Second Fleet

Terraformer J – A-112 – Automated system log:
Entering jump gate, Sector 884, South... threshold passed, jump initiated...
Entering sector: Sector 892. Jump complete.
Warning: network connection failure... Nexus link, lost... distributed memory network, lost... unified defence access, lost... tactical hub, lost... ...Activate stand-alone protocols. Initiating...
New Status is: J-class Carrier, stand-alone.

Scanning for hostiles... negative scan results. Area clear.
Scan for friendlies...
...K class destroyer detected, initiating handshake... handshake successful. Uplink complete.
...fighters detected: L class, 30 ships ... M class, 28 ships ... N class, 42 ships... initiating broadband handshake... handshake successful. Uplink complete.
... No more friendlies detected.

Initiating local-region together-think Nexus... local Nexus established. J-carrier is Nexus core server. Seek mission data... Mission data file located, streaming data-file through nexus...
---
File: AS3215FK93/B, “Secondary Invasion Fleet”
Mission purpose: support primary fleet, exterminate remaining hostiles.
Predicted resistance: negligible to none. Hazards: Asteroid field (scan-scattering)
Composite risk factor: low risk

Primary Objective: **{ERROR402: encryption key failed}**
Secondary Objective: exterminate enemy ships and installations.
Tertiary Objectives: prepare system for Terraformer advancement – build nexus connection
Relevant Data:
“Mission File AS3215FK93/A, “Primary Invasion Fleet”
Secondary Objective: eliminate enemy combat ships
Tertiary Objectives: enter west gate, launch harassing strikes on sector 897”
Mission file ends;
---
Create action procedure... Objective: Support Primary fleet – contact friendly fleet.
Emitting high-power wide-band 'ping'... waiting... No 'ping' response. Retry... ...no response. Conclusion: no fleet, fleet has gone West to attack 897.
New Objective: Seek an**WARNING** Possible enemy contact. Distance: undetermined.
Confirm reading... confirmation failed.
High resolution scan... negative scan results; radar scan... negative; visual patterns... negative; IR... negative; EMP generated... no EMP echo. No contact; area clear.

New Objective: Seek and destroy enemy ships and installations.
Tactical assessment: low resistance, use rapid detachment to seek and destroy any remaining fighters, destroy installations. Tactics accepted.
Commands: K destroyer and all N fighters to proceed to identified enemy station “Silicon Mine Beta.” Objectives: (i) locate and destroy enemy fighters; (ii) destroy station.
Detachment assigned 'Rapid Strike'. Command accepted. Objectives accepted. Detachment now en-route. J carrier and heavy fighters moving to key tactical position at centre of ecliptic, search and destroy mode.

**WARNING** Enemy contact detected... 3km. Targeting... Targeting failed. No contact.
Scanning. No contact. High resolution scan... negative scan result; radar scan... negative; visual patterns... ...possible contact... negative... enhance, retry... negative... negative contact; IR... negative; EMP generated... no EMP echo. No contact; area clear.
Possible scanning malfunction, running 'scan_sys04' diagnostic routine.
...

“In position.”
The Cheiron's speed died away as it settled into place west of Silicon Mine Beta.
A large squadron of Falcons formed a sphere around the Mine; some made orbits nearly five kilometres out, others circled so near they almost scraped the rock. This magnificent band of defenders, unheard of in this little fly-through sector, had the miners unsettled. S'ain't good, they kept saying. Something bad comin'. The minors were equally unsettled, but in a different way. Gangs of children, too excited to sleep, bounded recklessly through the station's interior, grinning and pointing at the ships passing so close by the windows. They'd never seen anything like it! It was just so, like... Wow! These professional fighter pilots circled, watching over them.
Jo watched over his fleet. “Good.”
“Commander Slammer,” a Teladi wing-leader called on a private channel. “What if the Xenon don't attack here?”
“They will.”
“Well... of course yes, but what if they don't, they might slip past us and attack...”
“Don't worry about the Albatross. They will come here first with their fastest. As long as we win, your Albatross is fine.”
“I hope...”
“Just a moment,” Jo interrupted, Davi was on another channel. “Yes?”
“They're here, Jo,” Davi whispered.
Davi was posted as sentry in the southern part of the asteroid field.
“One K and a hell of a lot of Ns. They're moving fast, over 300mps.”
“Good work, thanks Davi.”
“I really hope you're right about them.”
“Huh?” Jo asked. “Oh right, relax! Just sit tight. You'll be fine in there. The Xenon never scan inside asteroids, they'll fly right by you!”
“I really hope you're right!”
Jo smiled. “Trust me!”
“God damn it, Jo I...”
Jo cut off comms with a quiet chuckle, then a cold shiver trickled through him. What if Davi was right, what if they did scan..? No, it wouldn't happen. But if..? No. He had things to do, no time to second guess. He switched back to the Teladi.
“Okay, they're here. Time to put this plan into action.”
He switched to the open channel: “Pilots. It's time. Get ready. Everyone remember your assignments, orders and positions as a matter of life and death. This could easily descend into chaos, but stay cool. Long as we stay organised, we can't lose here.
“Lil, you know what to do, right?”
“Sure,” she said.
...

Far to the South, near the Boron Crystal Fab, two Makos and two Octopus fighters watched over the rarest of all known phenomena: the friendly Xenon. The five ships sat still in space.
Behind the impenetrable red face of the Xenon ship, in the cockpit of the M, Hzzar Qr sat completely still. Qr's body was hunched, its smooth round head thrust forward and tilted to one side, its shiny golden eyes staring blankly to some imaginary point. Overall, it was just the pose a human might have when straining to hear some faint sound. In fact this was very close to the truth, for in his M, deep south in the fly-through sector, Hzzar Qr, the “friendly” Xenon, had just tuned in to the Xenon Nexus.
...

'Rapid Strike' detachment closing on target 'Silicon Mine Beta', 8km. Scanning area. No fighter contacts... no enemy in sensor range. Station is unprotected... Fighters report high levels of debris; image processing suggests debris is artificial wreckage.
Collecting sensor data... debris composition analysis... composite alloys... confirmed: ships debris is present. High resolution scan... 81% Argon fighter wreckage... 11% Terraformer wreckage... 2% biological matter... 6% unidentified... Conclusion: debris is the remains of the Argon defensive ships. Enemy ships: located, status: destroyed. Objective complete, next objective: destroy station.
All fighters acknowledge, attacking station. K now entering firing range, attacking. Co-ordinate attack in waves to maximise shield fluctuation... Enemy shield dropping, estimated destruction in 117 seconds... Station shield: 91%. ... 84% ... 76% ... 54%... estimate one minute to station destruction... ... 48%

**WARNING** contact detected. Scanning... Confirmed. Target: Argon, M6 Class, 'Centaur'. Target approaching from West of 'Silicon Mine beta' at: 207.2ms-1. Four escort craft: Boron, M5 class, 'Octopus'. Threat level, low. Nexus core cannot intercept, 'Rapid Strike' to engage... Best solution: attack contact with destroyer and all fighters – victory probability 94%, predicted losses 9%.
Breaking off attack on station. Fighters acknowledge new orders... confirmed. New heading: bearing West, full speed. Prepare to engage Centaur... N fighters engaging... Target now in firing range of K... [N lost] K attacking with main weapons... Centaur taking damage – shield 84% **WARNING** new contacts detected... Multiple enemy fighters launching from enemy station “Silicon Mine beta.” Four fighters detected... Teladi M3 'Falcons'. [N lost] Seeking new... **WARNING** new contacts detected. Multiple enemy fighters launching from enemy station. Eight enemy contacts: Teladi M3 Falcons, M4 Buzzards, now closing on 'Rapid Strike' from behind. **WARNING** new contacts detected... now twelve enemy contacts detected. Threat level rising, withdraw M5 fighters... fighters acknowledge, disengaging and moving in towards destroyer for protection. [N lost] Seeking new tactical solution. All turrets active... Enemy Centaur attacking [N lost]... Teladi fighters entering firing range. [N lost, N lost]

Best solution: [N lost] Repulse enemy fighters.
[Target destroyed: Teladi Falcon – N lost].

**WARNING** New contacts detected. Twenty four enemy contacts. Enemy fighters re-engaging. [N lost, N... N lost. N lost]... Target has left firing range. Changing target... Teladi Falcon. [N lost]
High losses, shields dropping, seek tactical appraisal. Currently thirty nine enemy contacts. Re-set resistance status: high. Composite risk factor: high risk. Victory probability: 22%. [N lost]
Defeat imminent. New tactical solution required. Working... Best tactical solution: 'Rapid strike' to retreat rapidly to Nexus-core location and re-form with heavy fighters. Priority: preserve K destroyer.
...

“Ha Ha Haaaa!”
“And another one bites the dust!”
“They're making a break for it,” a Boron pilot called.
“Get that destroyer!” Jo ordered.
“Look at them run!”
The K's speed had dropped and it was starting to turn.
“No-one's stopping him!” Jo shouted. “Lil, where are you?”
“Manoeuvring... Okay. Attempting to block the Ks turn. Firing!”
“Come on!” Someone shouted. “Another N down!”
“Focus on the destroyer!” Jo barked. “Get that K now.”
“Just let me... there! Another kill! More profit!”
“Destroyer now!” Jo called “We have to- Watch out Lil!”
“Evading. Okay, I'm good. Putting in a Hornet. ”
“... the hell?!”
“Damn it! They've released the Ns!”
“Hornet shot down.”
“How many are there!?”
“Too many! Khaz, they're everywhere!”
“Can't see!”
“They're just Ns!” Jo said. “Thirty at most. Cut through. We've got to get that K.”
“Opening fire.”
“Ha! Fireworks!”
“Xenon, meet Plasma. Plasma, this is Xenon.”
“You lose Xenon!”
“Ha! Ship captured! The profits are with me!”
“They're falling fast!”
“But that K's still getting away,” Jo called.
“It's too fast for me,” Lil said.
“No... The Falcons, how fast are you?”
“Too slow, way too slow.”
“Can anyone do anything to stop that K?” Jo called, barely expecting an answer. “Damn it.”
“The K's left my weapon range.”
“Die sscum!”
Another N exploded in the night.
“Let's finish these bakazu N!”
“Damn right!”
“Do it,” Jo scowled, turning fast on a Xenon ship.
...

'Rapid strike' merging with Nexus core fleet. K suffered minor hull damage – speed at 251.3ms-1. Ns engaging enemy... 7 Ns remaining. Victory Probability: 0.041%. Withdrawing... ...2 withdrawing... all Ns lost. Tactical appraisal...
Invasion Fleet Beta: assets; 28 Ms, 30 Ls, J, K.
Enemy: known assets; 21 Falcons, 12 Buzzards, 4 Octopus, Argon Nova, Argon Centaur.
Proposed action: direct attack. Action accepted: direct attack. Engage enemy, destroy all – predicted losses, 22%, victory probability, 86%.
Accepted.

Jo saw the situation every bit as clearly as the Nexus, his triplex was showing the Xenon fighters teeming around the two cap ships. One or the other, he could have handled. The caps alone would be doable, the fighters alone easy... but the two combined... there's the problem. The odds were against him. Badly. He knew this. Jo took a deep breath. 'Okay, what are the options?' Options?!? He couldn't see any. So this was it, 'No choice now. To the hands of fate...'
“Okay,” he shouted. “We can do this! Same tactics, same wing assignments. Let's go have some fun!”
<Beep> The communications light beeped exactly as Jo punched the thruster. He flicked the answer button; the angry face of Captain Ji Lola burst onto his screen.
“Commander Slammer, your 'friendly' Xenon has betrayed us!”
...


Part 2: The unfolding of miscalculations...

One point one kilometres. It wasn't changing. Boron Captain Ji Lola glowered at his screen as though the force of his rage would make it go faster. After what felt like an age it finally clicked over, one kilometre. His ship continued to drift imperceptibly toward the station dock, it was less than a kilometre away now but it would still take another three mizura to get there. This was slow.
That "friendly" Xenon stitched them up good.
“I fail to see how it went through our shields,” one of his wingmen was saying.
“Yes, like they weren't even there,” another replied.
“It must have been some kind of mass-driver.”
'A mass-driver,' Ji thought. 'Yes, must be.'
He ran through it again in his mind; that Xenon had sat still in space since it got here. Completely still the whole time. Then, out of the blue, it turned and demanded to dock. While Lola and his crew had fumbled over what to do, the Xenon ship flew past them toward the station. This must have been when it did it. The Xenon then flew back the other way, heading full speed straight towards the battle in the North. When Captain Lola and his wingmen powered up their engines to follow, their engines exploded.
It hadn't been a violent explosion, just enough to kill their propulsion. But they'd had to watch uselessly as the Xenon escaped into the void. Gone to rejoin its friends. What tactical secrets was it taking back with it? What critical intelligence? What kind of fools had they been to trust a Xenon?
...

Automated Log: Local Nexus Core: J-Class Carrier A-112
**Notice** New node detected... unknown M fighter craft connecting to nexus. Cross-checking registration data... confirmed, ship has not been registered lost. Receiving handshake protocols... responding. Key swapping initiated... security procedures satisfied, target is genuine Terraformer ship. Integrating into nexus... Urgent data-stream found.

>Identity: “7th M4 fighter of Primary Invasion Fleet” FK93/M7
>Note: Invasion fleet was ambushed by unknown black ships. Fleet destroyed.
>>I am only remaining asset. Enemy presence high.
>>High Priority Threat Located: Teladi Albatross {location data attached}
>>Unknown black ships are secretly undergoing repairs here,
>>>>target must be destroyed before ships become active – top priority.
>>Mfighter needs repairs, request permission to dock with carrier ship... end.

Data accepted. Locating lost M... 26km south. Seeking full memory dump from new ship, all data... dump failing, ship cannot memory dump, broadband communications not available, ship damaged – memory dump will only be possible on landing. Ship incoming. Projecting position of Teladi Albatross... Albatross holding position 12km south. Assessment: Hostile fleet closing, eta 1 minute. Albatross is close enough to actively threaten.
Tactical solution: Special mission: J carrier and six Ls to head South to engage Albatross, objectives (i) destroy Albatross before unknown ships can launch, (ii) meet damaged M and acquire memory data, (iii) return to engage enemy fleet. Accepted. Commands distributed through nexus... accepted, headings set. Remaining ships prepare to engage hostile fleet. Accepted.
...

'Target is now in firing range.'
“Here we go again!” Lil said.
“There're a lot of them,” a Boron pilot.
“Octopus pilots,” Jo ordered. “Kill any missiles they launch.”
“Uh oh...”
A sheet of Plasma and particles flew for them.
“Move fast,” Jo was saying as he pulled his ship through the fire. “Think faster.”
“I can't avoid... Damn!”
“S'alright,” a Teladi commander was saying. “Just dodge till they empty their batteries.”
“There really are a lot of them.”
“A lot of fire!”
“Let your shields recharge.”
“When weak, appear strong...” Jo's guns blazed as he fired a missile at a passing L.
By now the fleets were on top of one another, craft twisting round like leaves in an eddy. Every ship trying to stay alive long enough to get a clear shot.
“They must outnumber us near two to one.”
“Yeah, but half of them are M4,” Lil said. “Crack 'em open like peanuts.”
“But that K...”
“We lost another.”
“... when strong, feign weakness...” The L closed in on Jo's limping ship, in an instant he thrustered out, circled and passed, blasting away at its shields.
“Here comes that K again.”
“Uh-oh! Direct hit, shields are down! Someone...”
“Where's that J going?”
“Who cares?! As long as it's going!”
Jo's missile slammed into the L, destroying it. “Warfare is The Way of Deception.”
“Will you shut the hell up Jo!”
“Calm down people!”
Jo took in the wider situation in a glance, the J was pulling South. Why? He couldn't understand it, but it lifted their odds... But why? Must be a reason. He needed to think it through... his ship violently shook, another L had a target lock on him, he pushed forward on the stick, dipping down just in time to see an Octopus slink past, hot on the tail of some small, fast missile.
“Falcons, get on the Ms,” Jo said. “We need to thin them out.”
“Acknowledged.”
“I can't... I...”
A Teladi Falcon was broken to pieces by the plasma of two Ls on its tail.
“Noo! Imelessus!”
“She's gone...”
Explosions and decompressions consumed the Teladi wreck, leaving some Hornet missiles floating in space. Barely two sezura later the Cheiron, vulture-like, had swept in and swallowed the missiles, firing some pot-shots at the Xenon in passing.
“Hey!” a Teladi shouted.
“Can't just leave 'em lying there,” Lil answered.
“I got an M,” someone cheered.
“What is going on with that J?” Jo asked.
“Watch out Jo.”
“I know, I know,” Jo said pitching his ship clockwise, two Ms hot on his tail.
“No...” Another Falcon was snuffed out in a stream of fire. Again Lil was there to scoop up the missiles.
“Huh? Could you let them die before you rob their graves, Argon!”
“A self-righteous Teladi,” she responded. “What an unwelcome freak of nature!”
...

On the bridge of the Albatross, the Navigation Officer had finally realised where the J was going.
“Uh... ssir. Th-the Xenon Carrier. It's coming right for us.”
“For us?” Captain Lussidrillos jerked upright in his chair. Had he been dozing off?
“Yes, it's coming here. About 150mps.”
“Odd... Why us? Did we manage to get those Solar Cells for the jump-drive?”
“Not yet, sir.”
“Do we have any cells on board?”
“Uh... three.”
The Captain snorted. “Right. Retreat towards the West Gate. Full speed. Order the Buzzards to stay on tight escort.”
“Engines engaged,” the chief pilot reported.
“Is that it?” The Comms officer asked. “Hardly feels like were moving.”
“This is full speed,” confirmed the Chief Pilot. “They never bothered with engine tuning.”
“How are we...”
“Sir,” the Navigation Officer looked up from his screens. “Some Ls are closing.”
“Can we get a visual of the enemy, monitor three,” the Captain said.
A moment later, a view from the starboard camera appeared on one of the monitors. The slow-tracking camera had not yet found its target, it was panning steadily across the starry emptiness. After some sezura the Xenon Carrier started to slide into view; by the time the camera had finished tracking, the enemy warship took up much of the screen.
“It's... big!” The Comms Officer summed up their thoughts.
“It's getting bi... Is it... getting nearer? It is...”
“It's way faster than us, sir.”
“The Ls are on us, they're going for our escorts.”
“Main screen,” the Captain hissed.
The main monitor lit up, a rear view. In the foreground, a Teladi Buzzard in formation – motionless relative to the camera – behind it an L crept into view. The L drifted up the screen until it was hidden completely behind the Buzzard. They waited a few sezura for it to emerge from the other side, but nothing. Then the Buzzard's shields lit up twice, and now it turned sharply. A third bolt of plasma, narrowly missing the Buzzard's wing, came straight for the monitor. The image went to snow.
“Uhh... Camera lost.” The Comms Officer reported, rather unnecessarily.
“We've lost a Buzzard, sir. And that cap ship is definitely closing.”
“Get the Buzzards to dock. Looks like we'll put these high-speed docking drills to profitable use.”
“Sir, that J will be on us in about four mizurae.”
“Four?” Lussidrillos was shocked.
“It's much faster. They will catch us.”
“We could turn and fight,” said the chief pilot.
Lussidrillos rubbed his hand nervously down his face.
“No,” he said. “Go for the gate. Buy as much time as possible.”
His ship started to rock under the fire from the Ls. We have to buy some time.

Distance to target: 4.2 kilometres... closing.
Main Terraformer fleet engaging main enemy fleet in North area, battle is progressing as expected. Expected victory in eight minutes.
Target 'Teladi Albatross' is now in firing range of J carrier (Nexus Core). Dropping speed to match. Attacking. Enemy shields dropping... 92%, dropping. L fighters to attack in waves to maximise shield fluctuation. Shield at 81%.
Unknown M seeks docking beacon... in motion docking protocols active... docking handshake initiated. Unknown M synchronised with docking system... manoeuvring into docking lane and preparing to dock... velocities synchronised. Docking...
Teladi Albatross is now turning... enemy shields: 27%. Enemy is firing at Nexus Core carrier... no threat... enemy fighters launching: Teladi Buzzards, no threat... enemy shields at 22%... estimated kill in 32 seconds... 30...
*Notice* Unknown M has fallen out of docking lane... falling towards rear of carrier... Reason for deviation? Unknown M has suffered engine failure due to battle damage. Re-initiating engines, preparing to dock from rear. Adjusting docking protocols.
Enemy shields failing...

Two hundred metres behind the J, Hzzar Qr accelerated toward the huge carrier. The glowing exhausts now filled much of his view. The 'friendly' Xenon reached the edge of the J's shield perimeter, the shields parted accordingly. It is time.
Hzzar Qr calmly turned to spray a myriad of tiny, specialised particles into the exhaust rockets of the J. Before the J could possibly notice Qr's deviation, Qr's ship emitted two electric-like arcs towards the J's primary shield relays. Both relays simultaneously shattered, spewing electronics into space. In the blink of an eye, the Js shield collapsed completely, although it was still firing at the Albatross. Hzzar Qr turned sharply, flying away at full speed.
The particles Qr had fired glided in through the carrier's exhaust tunnels, finally reaching the magnetic-suspension chamber at the core of the engine. Here, the huge magnetic field magnetised the tiny particles. Magnetised, they attracted one another. Quickly they began to cluster into small chunks of radioactive matter within the engine core. Over the next few millisezurae, these chunks grew as they gathered in more and more tiny particles. The chunks grew fast. Finally, three large chunks smashed together, fusing in the engine's heart to make a sphere way above the critical-mass of this fissile material. Criticality. A nuclear chain reaction was inevitable...
The entire engine section of the carrier shattered in the huge nuclear explosion that Hzzar Qr barely escaped.
“Attack now,” was the short message Qr sent to the Albatross.
The Teladi did not need to be told twice.

Engine lost, hull at 34%... Unknown M is hostile, attempting to target, ship is transmitting unknown file-type into nexus... under fire... shield generators destroyed... memory virus detected... Albatross attacking... Virus counter-systems failing, virus spreading, attempting to crack... **Warning: Nexus in critical danger** J hull at 16%... Urgent assistance requ...
*************************nexus lost

As the J exploded in the South, the Xenon ships to the North suddenly became uncoordinated, their tactics amateur. Each ship fought alone. Jo was quick to spot this.
“Something's rattled them. Fight aggressive, all fighters. Hit fast.”
They started to push into the Xenon.
...

Initiating local-region together-think Nexus... local Nexus established. K-destroyer is Nexus core server. Friendly ships logging on... **Warning: under attack** Co-ordinate combat through Nexus. Up-load tactical data... memory files corrupted – no tactical data.
Seek mission data... seeking... No mission file.
Create action procedure: no Nexus presence, tactical data missing – no battle directives, no orders, widespread data corruption. Must return to Terraformer Nexus system for commands and repairs... Navigation systems identify sector... 892... head to North Gate.
...

Jo was fighting a slow-witted M when the Xenon began to retreat. The M ran quickly out of range.
“What's?”
“They're retreating.”
“They're running.”
“An L... Two Ls down.”
“Chase,” Jo said. “They'll have to slow down when they hit the 'roid field. We can wipe them out in there.”
“Watch out, they're still kicking. Just a kind of retreating kick.”
“Concentrate on the Ms,” Lil said. “I'll pop the Ls.”
Jo's comm node lit up. He pressed the button, in the bottom right of his view, a face appeared.
“Ms Kho,” he said. “What's news?”
...

Unnoticed, the North Gate flashed as four sleek, dark ships came through together. Suddenly, in front of them – barely a kilometre away – the huge thrusters of a Xenon K just leaving the gate. Around the larger ship, countless smaller engines trails zipped to and fro. These must have just entered the system. For a fraction of a sezura, the black ships seemed to hesitate. the moment passed, and the tiny, black shadows slid silently into formation behind the Xenon craft, which they then shadowed south through the rock field.
...

Jo was ecstatic – the battle couldn't be going better. A big grin was plastered solidly across his face. The K was way ahead, and without destroyer support the fighters were sitting ducks; Lil's ship had already picked off more than half the Ls. The Ms were going too fast for the M3s, but Lil should catch them up. They would catch up in the asteroid field anyway, or at the bottleneck at the gate. Tactical suicide; it was unlike the Xenon to make such an unprofitable retreat.
“What's that?” one of the Boron scouts asked. “North, in the field.”
“Looks like another capital ship.”
Jo smiled even harder. “Not to worry, it...”
“It's another K.” Lil shouted. “It's coming for us.”
“Looks like it's got fighters.”
Jo's face had dropped. “How many?”
“Uh... lots.”
Jo punched up a scanner image. He had no coverage of the field. He stared at the big, empty space on his display. Then something else caught his attention.
“We're too spaced out. Lil pull back. Everyone, bunch up. This is going to be the worst fight yet.”

Mizurae later the Xenon fleet, with both Ks and over eighty fighters, clashed into Jo's battered and bedraggled defence force. It was no fight, the defenders could barely shoot back, they struggled to stay alive... unsuccessfully.
In the midst of it all, Jo had mentally zoned-out. Ships blew all around him, but he was too deep inside the battle now; it was all ambient noise. He only saw how desperate things were, when he found over half his fleet gone in less than a mizura. This was insane. He threw himself back into the fight with a scowling grin. A fanatic's fire. Is this it? Is this what I've been looking for all these jazura? Almost unconsciously, he took down an L while dodging between two streams of photon pulses. He spun up launching a Hornet at the K from close range. Four Ms were laying down fire to try to force Jo to stay up near the K.
Words were forming on Jo's lips, without his even being aware of them.
'Think I'm scared of you, Xenon? Scared of death? Ha! Look, I'm right here! Come on!'
He plunged his ship through their fire, his shields dropping further as he escaped the K.
'Scared of death? Ha! All my friends are there! For me it'll be a ****** reunion! Here! You think I'm scared, huh? Scared of death? I embrace it!' On these last words he blazed an M and turned on the next.
Spontaneously, plasma flew from the shadows snatching away his kill; the dark ships were back. Eight shadow-ships slipped into the fight – ruthlessly they cut into the Xenon.
For half a mizura, the Xenon were paralysed, unable to target this new enemy. In this brief respite, a glimmer of hope. Jo's last few ships pressed home their advantage, destroying as many Xenon as they could. But then the Xenon clicked. In an instant, the whole enemy fleet flipped back from that state of dumb paralysis to this pathological killing machine. They ignored the new threat now, exclusively targeting Jo's visible ships, a tactic that worked fine. With the Xenon co-ordinated, there was little eight ships could do against more than fifty – Jo's ships started to fall fast. It was hopeless.
“No! Another one!” a Teladi shouted. “It's unending! This is a full scale invasion.”
Another war-ship was approaching through the asteroid field to the north.
“That's not...”
“Two of them. There, in the roid field. Look! Two more cap ships.”
“No!”
“It can't...”
“Wait... That's... it's... Argon!”
“Huh? From the North? How?”
“That's definitely a Titan in the lead. Definitely.”
“Thank fortune!”
“It's Terracorp.” Jo shouted. “Push towards them.”
Before Jo's ships could make any headway, a massive wave of Discoverers swept over them, with a Centaur close behind. The void grew thick with friendly ships. The tables turned. Finally the Xenon were under fire, finally Jo's shield level was going upwards. They could win!
Sezura later, Busters arrived on the scene, almost simultaneous with the Titan. Now the Xenon were falling fast. The Ms were thinning out. Suddenly the weaker K exploded in a huge flash. A cheer went over the open channel, and the Cheiron swept in for the pickings.
Quickly the remaining Xenon fighters grouped around the last K in a defensive posture, a substantial force. The Titan, the two corvettes and those of Jo's ships that were still combat ready, lined up to attack it from the South. Behind it, coming in from the North, the Colossus and its Novas were closing for the kill.
“A rock and a hard place,” Jo muttered. “Couldn't have happened to a more deserving fleet!”
They waited for the Colossus to get closer, then everyone attacked.
...

With the battle won, the Colossus headed up to guard the North Gate, while Jo had returned to his power plant for repairs. En route, he had escorted the last few battered and despondent Teladi to their Transporter ship. The Teladi were very quiet, hollow, they had been through a lot. Lost a lot. Jo had seen that look before; he knew just how they felt. Exactly.
“Thanks for all your help,” he said as he left them.
After that, he had returned to base to get his ship fixed. There he had found the 'friendly' Xenon docked and under guard. 'I'll dock when it's safe,' Jo thought. 'That's what it had said.'
Then the order came through: head to the Colossus for mission debriefing.
...

As Jo Slammer set off for the distant Colossus, he felt instantly uneasy. Something's wrong. He couldn't say what, but space... didn't feel right. He checked the gravidar. Nothing. No. He must be imagining things. Must still be twitchy after all that action. He'd never expected this when he signed up to work in the fly-through sector! He came here to escape. He just wanted to...
“Huh?” His ship, it seemed to be casting a shadow against the... empty space just above him. He looked straight up at it. It was definitely there, a shadow of the Nova directly above. But... a shadow in empty space? How..? Maybe there was a faint particle field... or...
“Ah! You've seen me?!” A voice came through the Comms, audio only. “How you doin' Mak!”
Jo blinked a few times before it hit him: it was one of the shadow-ships, and he knew that voice.
“Kanyo? Is that..?”
“Ha! Ha! Great to see you again, the Mak-daddy!”
“My God! I didn't think... man, it... it's you! God! Thanks for all the help today.”
“Yeah. We look after our own. At least... we try to!”
“Yeah, but... y'know, I'm hardly...”
“No 'buts', man. One of us.”
“After all this time? I didn't even know if...” Jo trailed off. “It's been a long time.”
“Sure it has, you been wastin' away here in this nowhere sector.”
“It's weird. I wasn't even sure my messages got through 'til you texted me back from the 'roid field.”
“Yeah, I was actually on Old Annie – y'know, the old Anarchy port – when you called. Pretty much live there these days. Got your message personally, so I grabbed some of my best, came in to help out.”
“You saved us.”
“Ever a pleasure. So, d'ya like the ships? Don't think the Xenon did!”
“They're amazing, I still can't scan. What are they? Where'd you get 'em?”
“Ha! Same ol' Mak-daddy, still with the questions! You know we've got contacts.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah. Our dark ships. People are calling us 'The Shades' these days. We're getting quite a rep. Apparently we're now a 'moderate pirate threat.' That's what the Navy say. News to me!”
“The Shades.”
“You should join us, we could definitely use you. I see you've still got some moves.”
“Ha... You know I can't.”
“Too busy wasting away in your little sleepy-hole? What, they 'really need' you here? You're 'valuable'? Is that it? We need you! More to life than this, my man. Time to wake up, y'know. Gotta wake up sooner or later.”
Jo changed the subject. “Shades? I'm not sure about the name... it's a bit... I don't know.”
“'Shades of the Dead', my friend. Old Goner myth: when someone dies, their 'shade' lives on in Hades. And we're all dead, right?”
Jo nodded silently.
“Look, Mak, seriously, I gotta go. The Navy gonna lock down this sector, so we can't hang about. The Shades, we'll keep an eye on you where we can – help out. No promises though. Kay?”
“Sure. Just, thanks again, Kanyo. Thanks.”
“Just remember, Mak, if you wanna join the Shades of the Dead there's a place for you. Always has been. Y'know, even if you just gotta disappear or something. The option's there. Whatever, y'know. Just call the Old Annie and we'll be happy to have ya, pal.”
And his shadow faded away into the blackness of space.
“Bye.”
Ahead of Jo the Colossus loomed large and bright. A debriefing?
Argon Navy gonna Love this story!
...

Chapter Five - Classified Information

[KiwiNZ]

Excellent battle. Love the Xenon communication! Looks like they relieved themselves of the fast scouts which should make missiles a lot more of a factor against the Xenon. Also little distraction for the fighters from fast-moving targets.

And at the end of the day, they still have the shadow ships up their sleave

Looking forward to the next part!

[champgm]

Very cool, Zigi. The Xenon J's processing of the data is a nice twist and a cool point of view of what's going on. Waiting anxiously for the next part

[Wgoblin]

[Captain Chris sTc]

what can i say apart from sweet.

[therjw]

nice one cant wait for the next part

[Barron]

Excellent battle. Love the Xenon communication! Looks like they relieved themselves of the fast scouts which should make missiles a lot more of a factor against the Xenon. Also little distraction for the fighters from fast-moving targets.

And at the end of the day, they still have the shadow ships up their sleave

Looking forward to the next part!

dito

[The Zig]

Phew! Relief... big time!
Was kinda worried how that last bit would go down! Writing that Xenon stuff was (to put it politely ) a challenge... and at the end I was like, but will anyone get what's actually going on!?! A nagging doubt.
So thanks a lot for the responses people.
Cheers,
Zig

[The Zig]

Chapter four's all done now.
Plus I've added a little poll about a new band who I hate. Actually... hate's a very strong word. Let's just say,I'd like them all to be put in a rocket and sent into the sun. Is that fair?
Uh... It's late and I gotta sleep!
Laters,
Zig

[Epiphany]

I'm liking this story, keep it up

[X-Periment]

Impressive. Expect to meet the Centraxian Silver. He is a good M4 Pilot, and he is currently flying a M4 Hawk.

Fanscript

(:twisted: secretly sets up the Xenon Database)

Xenon M0 Thunderhammer Nexus Database

Command program #1ZA5 activated

To all M3 Vikings: A M4 Hawk has just picked up on our radar. Origin: Centraxian. Objective: Destroy. Command: launch from carrier. Target Located on: Sector J1.

All fighters launch immediatly and decimate Centraxian fighter.

#1ZA5 signing off.

Command program #1ZA5 deactivated.

*thousands of Xenon M3s launch and rip the M! to shreds*

Ummm... regret to inform you, but Silver just got a little... shredded.

[RSDark_Angel]

Good one Zigi, reveting story. I loved every second of it. No worries about the last section, i think we all understood it perfectly.

btw, X-Periment, you might want to divert from FanFict and take up golf or something.

[X-Periment]

Good one Zigi, reveting story. I loved every second of it. No worries about the last section, i think we all understood it perfectly.

btw, X-Periment, you might want to divert from FanFict and take up golf or something.

I'd take up Scuba diving anytime, so bye, 2-Headed Eagle!
*jumps out*

[MGA]

btw, X-Periment, you might want to divert from FanFict and take up golf or something.

Golf? How about a hike?