Phantom chapter 5 (standard:science fiction, 1509 words) [5/5] show all parts
Author: St George	Added: Mar 12 2003	Views/Reads: 2606/1856	Part vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Chapter 5

“We have analysed their course and come to the following conclusion.”
said Commodore Sterling, the leader of the first fleet, into which 
Phantom had been entered. He was addressing a gathering of officers 
hastily convened at Messiah, speaking about the large fleet which had 
passed through ES-44529 and was even now moving on. “Computer, map one 
please.” The station computer projected a 3-D map of space and through 
it ran a red line indicating the estimated course. “Computer, impose 
stellar navy grid overlay.” Suddenly green lines appeared, showing the 
sectors that the red line passed through and there was a loud gasp. The 
red line passed straight through the centre of sector HU55, Earth! 
“Ladies and gentlemen,” continued the Commodore, “This is not a fleet, 
it's an armada. We don't know how but they know where Earth is, and 
they are coming to visit. They have to go slow so that the freighters 
can keep up, that means we have twelve days.” 

The fleet which was being sent against Earth was impressive. Estimates
put it at more than half their space-borne force, and in addition the 
armada was accompanied by five of the terrible gravity-shielded 
singularity carrying freighters. The Megaeran plan seemed to be thus: 
attack Athens to destroy or drive away the human's main fleet, then 
move on to the homeworld. It was a good plan, it had worked before on 
the Tisiphones. Whether the freighters were there as a deterrent, to 
prevent attack, or they were actually planning to deploy them against 
Earth was immaterial, the fleet had to be stopped and it was going to 
take a lot of muscle to do it. As soon as possible Neo Mir began to 
evacuate people. Of course they couldn't hope to remove any more than a 
tithe of the population, but they tried. They also began to remove 
things, art, books and artefacts, hoping to preserve something of these 
should the worst happen. Plans for this operation had been laid down 
soon after the navy's conception. 

Meanwhile, preparations of a less high-minded kind were also going on.
Whilst Neo Mir ships were constantly taking people and things away from 
the Sol system, warships from all over were caning their engines to get 
to Bernard's star. After three days Rathporr arrived with her mighty 
fleet, comprising the best ships and crew in the Anduril navy (and the 
best in the Anduril navy means the best there is). As they penetrated 
alliance space the ships in the enemy's armada were identified. This 
was it, this wasn't just a fleet, this was the Megaeran navy. According 
to Anduril estimates the armada comprised almost two thirds of the 
enemy's force. To compete, every ship that could be mustered was called 
in. Odds on whoever won this battle would win the war. 

Phantom and her sister ship Wraith were assigned to shadow the advancing
fleet. Every six hours one of them would engage EH and move in to make 
sure the enemy had not changed course, then they would move out of 
sensor range and report back. It was dispiriting work. Archer felt like 
Canute, watching the advancing tide but unable to stop it. 

Six light years from Earth though, the tide was stopped. By human
science's other great achievement, the Interdictor cruisers, they 
closed the hyperspace corridor that the enemy was using and forced the 
armada to come face to face with the home team. 

Archer sat still in her chair. For the past few hours she had felt a
rising sense of dread, now however she was strangely calm, she knew her 
place. Earlier today some crewmembers had held a joint service. There 
were many faiths onboard but in the face of a common enemy, people of 
all creeds not just on Phantom but in the world at large, had realised 
they were not so different. They had asked Archer to say a few words, 
she had: “God helps those who help themselves”. 

Neither side blinked as they stared into the face of death. At a word
the defenders went into action. From the Alliance fleet, 650 torpedo 
bombers and their escorts raced to the fore, diving through the front 
ranks of the enemy they held their fire. The first wave was cut down 
but many made it through. Their targets were the freighters and the 
armada sensing this tried to get out of range in case the freighters 
were destroyed, releasing their deadly cargo. 

An instant behind the bomber spearhead came the ships of the line.
Crusader and Rathporr, flagships of the alliance lead the charge, and 
following was a force the like of which had never been seen. In a 
moment, from every Solarian cannon and gun came a shot, synchronised by 
command. The wall of energy hit the foe like a bolt from the hand of 


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