Chapter 17: New Gains and New Losses
With Carl getting a new job, and Candy taking some time off. Ken finally got the message from the president that no charges would be filed, and he asked him to be patient with Carl for his outbursts, and he agreed.
“He’s a moron sometimes, but he’s a good man I’ve known for years,” He explained as Ken smiled and nodded. “ I’ll see he gets some therapy for his problem so maybe things will settle down after a while, just be patient.”
“Thank you, sir,” Ken said as the link went down and he returned to his work. At least now he wasn’t in any trouble and he and Candy might even see each other again. But that was for later, and he went on for another boring day not seeing anything new, and wondering what happened to the enemy forces they had fought for over a month.
But thinking that might have been the straw that broke the enemy camels back, as a sizable force moved into position a few light years away, and opened fire on a star base in orbit of one of the Empires outer worlds. There were cruisers and bombers and they made it very plain that they were here to stay until the work they set out for was finished. They moved into weapons range and dropped several heavy missiles towards the base, which went to high alert a minute later and crews ran to operate the weapons and defend the base against the heavy weapons on their way.
The battle was a good one with many missiles getting shot down by the high tech defenses of the base, but sheer numbers, as well as help from the cruisers big guns, was taking a toll, and the call went out for help, and Ken got the message a little while later and jumped that way.He wasn’t the only one jumping in as Frank and Karen called to let him know they were on the way too. That gave the station something to cheer about for a minute anyways as they continued to hold their own against the invaders attacks, but two heavy missiles got through, one hit the side of the base but thankfully wasn’t near anything essential. The other went right into a docking bay, and several ships docked there were destroyed and a raging fire was ignited from the burning fuel and the rich oxygen atmosphere.
It was a real disaster, but not as bad as what might happen if they didn’t get help quickly. Ken got there a few minutes before anyone else and attacked the nearest ship with missiles and did a good amount of damage to a cruiser that turned on him immediately. But he saw right away that the real problem was the bombers so he set out to destroy those as he ducked and weaved to avoid the heavy weapons fire from the cruiser, until his beam weapons finished it and it blew up into a dozen rather sizable pieces that drifted away.
Frank and Karen were there a minute later and they too attacked the force with full intent. They managed to finish one bomber quickly, but another jumped in almost at once and they saw that this was not just a skirmish , but a real battle for control of the planet. Just then another missile hit the station and even Ken swore that they might take it down yet.
“We need more help, send everyone,” He called as the message went out and he got the return saying that the entire team was on the way. Casi got there first and was posted to defend the base from attack and she took up position between the attacking forces and the base, and her beams started shooting down every missiles that approached her ship. That reduced what the base needed to worry about by more than half and they thanked her gratefully as she just nodded and went back to work. The battle was still hot, with two more ships jumping in and Ken started to wonder how big a fleet they had staged nearby, and if they planned on fighting until the planet fell or they destroyed the defending teams, or maybe both.
The President got the message too and he ordered every ship to the site, and was told that Ken had called for them a while ago, and he smiled thinking that his expertise wasn’t needed as bad with him on the job. They had always been told they would get help getting started then be on their own. But that hadn’t happened since the war got going the defender teams were on constant patrol and they fought almost daily. The original plan might have failed but the results were the same, they had a new defense team and they were doing a smash up job, and he looked to see where the battle was taking place and swallowed hard and called a friend before he found out for himself and did something unthinkable, since it was the star base in orbit....around Terra II.
The entire Defense Force was now in one place, not necessarily a good thing it left other areas open to attack, but they had no choice since the base would fall without them. Now several corvettes jumped in and were destroyed as quickly as the heavy beams could cut through them. Casi took a hit and had to fall back closer to the base as Krys made sure she got away safely, and she thanked him. Then he turned again on the corvette that managed to get past her and finished it , but not before it got several missiles into the side of the base and windows and stuff from inside started out across the space nearby and everyone knew that people were dieing in there, and that things were getting worse.
“We cant let any more missiles through!” Ken ordered as everyone agreed, but Frank got his two cents in saying he hadn’t been told Ken was in charge, as a few chuckles were heard.
“Just shut up and kill something,” Krys mentioned as Frank gave him a sour look and got quiet after that.
“I’m almost out of missiles myself, how many did these guys bring anyways?” Karen mentioned as Ken agreed they had been fully armed when they jumped in, and the counter on his command screen said that he had only 12 more left himself. But minutes later and a call came in saying a supply ship was on its way, and Ken knew that their coms were always monitored and this time was probably a good thing they were.
“That’ll help,” Krys mentioned as everyone smiled and went back to work, but Karen took a good hit this time, while trying to move into beam range to save the last of her missiles, and Frank covered her retreat, as she slowly made her way to the base for emergency repairs.
“Its getting tough here, lets concentrate on the bigger ships,and Casi, watch for smaller vessels getting past us,” Ken mentioned as she agreed and watched closely for any corvettes that might get past, but everyone was working to remove the defense team and it was clear to see from a distance, and she sent a few of her missiles out to help whenever a ship came within range. The battle was now into its third hour, and scrap was getting thick in some areas as ships from both sides bumped into pieces of ships that had not survived the fight so far. Some pieces were the size of vehicles and did damage to anything they hit, and people had to fly more carefully, until the area cleared itself, and even the enemy ships seemed to be more careful, as a large piece nearly ripped a hole into a corvette that wasn’t careful enough and lost shields when it rammed a tumbling piece from an exploding cruiser.
The Commanding officer of the enemy fleet saw it too, and his reinforcements were now all gone. The old Admiral had warned them these new people were their equal and until now he had fought that idea tooth and nail. But here he was, watching them first hand and their skills, and ships, were very good, and he saw that even he, personally, could not stand against them and after a while trying to remove as many as he could. He ordered withdrawal, and the ships jumped back to a fall back position, until he decided what he’d do next. The officer in charge of the attack, sitting back at the base was not happy either, to see so many casualties, but they hadn’t completely destroyed a single Defender ship. Two were damaged, but only one was forced to leave the battle field, as the other was big and strong enough to take the damage and remain working. They had wasted over a dozen ships trying to destroy the star base and take the planet, but had failed, and these new people hadn’t lost a thing, as far as he was concerned, and he recalled the fleet, until a better plan could be hatched.
But on the planet itself, the local news agency had a ship in place, watching the battle from a distance with special cameras. They’d zoom in to show the enemies and the defense force ships fighting and Candy was sitting on pins and needles as shot after shot was fired and ships exploded and she watched closely to see if Ken was among them. Her aunt offered her some tea and she took it as they both watched now and finally Candy pointed, all excited to a ship on the screen and Clare slid up closer to get a better look.
“Thats him, thats Ken...” She said as Clare looked impressed as the ship fired off shot after shot and dodged many missiles and heavy weapons. “ he’s the unofficial commander of the Defense Force.” She added as even Clare looked impressed.
“Unofficial?” She asked as Candy laughed.
“No one was ever named as the official Commander once they are in space...” Candy mentioned, “ but when he talks, everyone listens, except maybe Frank but then he wishes people would follow him instead I think. Ken’s a natural born leader.”She whispered as Clare smiled very wide....it was love... no doubt about it, and she went back to watching the screen as the battle stopped and the enemy ships jumped away.
The ships all docked and the repairs began as the fires on the station were all out now and the news crew got to interview a few of the Defender Force, and true to his manners, Krys refused their offer and Casi spent her time waving and cheering for everyone else. But Ken was all business, and he thanked the entire team for their hard work, mentioning that one member had been hurt in the attack and two ships took damage, but they’d be OK soon, and as he stood there talking Clare pointed and Candy nodded agreement, with her nose high in the air, and Clare smiled and said he was gorgeous, and Candy agreed wholeheartedly.
“Captain Kenneth Haskell...” Candy said with some pride, as Clare nodded she understood.
“THIS is the young man your seeing?” Clare asked as Candy agreed with the biggest smile ever.” What’s Carl’s problem anyways? He’s great looking has a cute face and nice build, and he’s the ‘unofficial’ commander of the new Defense Force...I mean come on...what more could a young girl ask for?”
“My point exactly!” Candy said with feeling and Clare laughed and gave her a big hug. It looked like Candy was taken and if she didn’t try for this young man, Clare would have wondered about her herself.
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