"Hmmm… it is as good a plan as it could be made, given the situations," the micronized Zentraedi added, "but you should bear in mind that Azonia has deployed her forces in a rather conservative formation; she is, I believe, wary of our forces."
"Wary?"
"As strange as it sounds, Admiral, yes. In spite of our size, we are unknown to her, with some rather obvious exceptions."
"But Zentraedi do not have the habit of showing too much restrain, even in the face of a new adversary and certainly not against an adversary of our numbers." Lisa narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
"That is correct, but since some of our ships are of obvious Zentraedi origins, and any force that not only has managed to obtain but to restore and operate Zentraedi Vessels are to be taken seriously."
"Serious enough to notify Dolza now?" God, would that sword ever be taken from above their heads?
"It is, indeed, a high possibility."
Lisa cursed silently. Still, this was not the moment to worry about Dolza, Azonia was the threat in the now. Well, Khyron and her were the immediate problem. It was the best plan they had. In any case, there was no time to change the plan. "We’ll cross that bridge when we reach it."
"Admiral, Azonia’s ships are coming into range" the senior sensor officer spoke
"I see. How are our fighters with our anti-shipping loads doing?"
"They are attacking the primary targets. Three ships with Reflex Cannons have already been taken out," was the air controller’s answer.
"New orders for the Shadow Fleet. If it looks like any ship is turning to try to jump towards the Grand Fleet they are to be disable or destroyed," Lisa said with great force.
Azonia's face had turned stony with the incoming reports of one of the most one-sided battles that the Zentraedi had managed to lose. "Miriya, stay here on my bridge. We shall die as comrades in arms should. In glorious battle."
"But Commander Azonia!" Miriya tried to argue. But even she could see that these invisible demons were defeating their forces with incredible ease. What use were her skills when you could not even see the foes?
"Commander, I don't believe these are the ancient adversaries from within. They just don't match any known configuration excepting the Micronians of this world. And even here they seem to be far more advanced!"
"Thank you, Tactical. Signal Jyrioum of the Eighteenth Division. Tell her to prepare to fold for the Grand Fleet with the status of this battle."
Out on the edge of the great space battle, the Zentraedi strike cruiser responded by turning towards the far off location. Great generators started to hum within it.
On the bridge of the MacArthur, Captain Kearns looked up from tactical. The Ikazuchi he commanded was one of the few Shadow capable capital ships. Along with the three Garfishs; the Manila, Port Arthur and the Brunei were the short sword inside the enemies vitals. They had been fitted with all of the spare anti-shipping loads that the Alphas were using. "Prepare to disable that Zent cruiser that is trying to run. Short count! Three, Two and ONE! FIRE!"
The four cruisers within the Zentraedi fleet formation opened up with deadly, short-ranged precision. The Queadol Magdomilla class Strike Cruiser stumbled under the intense barrage, critically damaged but not destroyed. But its fold generator had been desabled.
"There are enemy cruisers within our forces?" Azonia shouted. "Find them! Destroy them! Dolza must be warned!" They were, indeed, the very devils of space.
"We are reaching critical losses among our battle pods! Our supply train has just been destroyed!" Kiyu shouted from tactical again. The loss of the pair of Quiltra Queleuals would be devastating! That was where all of the spare parts for almost everything within the fleet.
Miriya leaned closer. "Commander! They are just disabling our battle pods! We are receiving only two percent fatalities!"
"They surely do not think that we are unable to repair even such trivial damages?" Azonia asked. Suddenly, on the speakers erupted a strange noise that jarred the Zentraedi soul.
Life is only what we choose to make it!
Let's just take it,
Let us be free!
We can find the glory we all dream of.
And with our love, we can win!
Azonia's heart shuddered under the strange noise. It was compelling, unreal and strange. Just listening to it, she knew that her warriors would start to lose their will to fight! "What is that?" she demanded.
"It's coming from the main super fortress that is leading the fleet in the attack! It's over riding all of our command channels except one!"
"All but one? Why?" her keen, tactical mind was already turning the strange fact over in her head. "Open that channel to my screen!"
"Commander?"
"Do it!" Azonia shouted.
On the screen appeared a female with long, brown hair. A Micronian! "Commander Azonia. I was hoping for this message. We must talk," the strange female said. Her accented Zentraedi was atrocious, but it had the tinges of Battle Speak, not the tinges of Home Command. She could detect a bit of Tirolian within it, but not even as much as the Zentraedi that dealt with the masters.
"We are talking! Who are you? Know this, if you are his followers, we will fight to our deaths!" Azonia said with a commanding note in her voice. The damnable noise was still filling the background, sapping her will.
"We do not follow Zor. This is our world here and we will do anything to prevent its destruction! I am Admiral Lisa Hayes Hunter!" the female said with an even stronger note of command in her voice. "And we have no desire to destroy you, but you must not be allowed to contact Dolza."
"How do you know these things?" the Zentraedi Commander asked.
Lisa grinned mirthlessly. "You, Azonia, told us. Or would have, when Dolza brings the Grand Fleet here to purge our planet of life and all contaminated Zentraedi fleet tenders. Including your own!"
Azonia's blood chilled to absolute zero. Never in her imaginings had she dreamed that Dolza would bring the Grand Fleet here. But it made absolute sense if what this Micronian was saying was in actuality the truth. "So you expect me to just turn on my superiors?"
"Those same superiors that would kill you rather than try to reclaim you?" Lisa countered.
"What are you demanding then?" Azonia asked with a bitter tone.
"Only that you participate in a charade."
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(Posted Tue, 18 Jan 2005 02:47)
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