From: "NEIL COLLINS" Subject: Thin Ice, Wild Fire (Corrected Version) Date: Thu, 20 Nov 97 06:47:30 UT Thin Ice, Wild Fire By: Daniel Collins * * * * * * * * * * Continuing From 'Into The Fire' * * * * * * * * * * The Earth Alliance fleet had been drastically reduced through the Minbari engagements. It was obvious that they needed to reconsider their tactics. The Nova conversion project was sped up, but still going slowly. It is nearing the end of Earth Year 2245, and the way the year will end, doesn't look too good for the Earth Alliance... * * * * * * * * * * > Tactical Preparation < "This is what the new ship will look like." the Engineer said to his workmates. "If we just change the middle sections of the hull, these vessels can be used in space alot longer than they can be now." "Okay, it looks good. But the problem is that we've got at least 20 Nova ships out there, and we need to do this to all of them!" one of the other colleagues said. "We can do it, it won't take long," he replied "It can't take long..." "..also, in further news of the progressing war, Earthforce has posted a defence force to protect Galvor Colony, they have reason to believe that to be the next Minbari target as it's out on the edge of the frontier..." * * * * * * * * * * > For the Third Time < The planet Galvor, a small world of no tactical importance to the Earth Alliance, a world inhabited by humans, and many different species of aliens. A world, now under threat of attack, for what? The planet Galvor, is just a small insignificant world in a great war, and yet, now it has changed, as Earthforce has posted 25 Hyperion ships to patrol over it... The flagship, the EAS California, leads the fleet in a wide orbit around Galvor. Their crews, ready for the battle that lay ahead. "Status?" Captain Longseld asked. "Everything is good." Her first officer, Commander Brakton replied. "No Minbari detected within 14 light years, Sir." "Very good, Carry on." There is still tension in the air, no matter where you are. At times like these, it is expected, and unavoidable. The computer sounds to alert the bridge crew. "What is it?" Brakton called. "Jump point forming 3 light years away!" "Is it them?" "I can't tell, wait a..Confirmed Sir, Minbari cruisers!" "Red Alert!" Brakton called "Captain Longseld to the bridge!" Longseld had only just left the bridge, when she was called back and the corridors shone their red lights. Obviously something was happening out there, so she hurried her way to the bridge. When she entered, she could tell by the looks on everyone's faces that the Minbari were there. She took a glance at the crew. Their faces were worse than when she left. They were trying to hide it though. Then she took a look out the viewport in front of her, and saw the last blue tinge of the jump point closing. The California and the fleet cleared Galvor's orbit, and up ahead lay over one hundred Minbari vessels... * * * * * * * * * * > The Never Ending Spark, That Which Becomes A Flame < In an attempt to try for a reasonable conversation, Longseld gave an order to the crew. She was different to most Earthforce Captains, she doesn't fire until fired upon... "Open a channel to the lead ship." she ordered. "Aye, Sir." Communications officer Telford reported. "I'm just getting static." "Are their ships on sensors?" Longseld asked Tactical. "We can see them on the sensors, but no way of pinpoint targeting." "Ready all weapons, scramble all fighters, keep trying to open a channel!" "Aye, Sir." Telford responded full of gusto, "All fighters Scramble!" The Minbari cruisers continued to close in, a tactic they always employed to intimidate the Earth Alliance. In the past engagements it worked, why would this one be any different? "Sir, their weapons are fully charged!" "Hold your fire, notify all other ships not to fire until fired upon!" Longseld said. "Acknowledged." Telford followed her orders. He was a good officer, probably after this, Longseld would promote him to Lieutenant Commander. But it wasn't the time for that now... The Bow Hangers were ready for launch, aboard the California, where two fighter squadrons, usually she carried four, but two were lost to a previous engagement in Quadrant 3, good officers were lost there too. They reported into the bridge that they were ready. "All fighters standing by Sir." Telford said. "Open Hanger Doors." Longseld said. The bow of the California opened. All the fighters, waiting like bees in a hive to strike at the invaders. "Sir," Brakton's voice called, "Energy spike from the Minbari forces." "Where?" The Minbari flagship fired a beam of green energy straight at the California. Then the others fired at the remaining ships. The bridge rocked. "Fire weapons!" Longseld called. They watched as a red beam, one of theirs snaked out toward the fleet, but missed the cruiser. "What happened?" Brakton asked. "Their Stealth, Sir, we can't get through!" "Go to manual, fire anywhere! Launch all fighters!" the bridge rocked again. "Launch all Fighters!" The fighter pilots powered their engines and headed forward out of the rear of the California. They maneuvered along side her, where they could see the damage the Minbari had done. "All fighters, we're going in!" California's team leader called. The fleet moved toward the Minbari and fired their weapons at the enemy ships. The damage was insignificant though, as the Minbari fired another shot at the Earthforce fleet. Several more Starfury's emerged from the other ships, the Hyperion cruisers weren't able to do anything against the Minbari otherwise. The Starfury's went in with full guns firing. None of them came back. Or what did come back, was just debris. Only one or two hovered around, trying to avoid fire from the cruisers, they had closed to point blank against the Minbari, but still, it wasn't close enough. The Minbari vessels had held their positions, whereas the Minbari fighters had closed in toward the Earthforce ships. The California was taking the most damage. Several ships at the rear came forward to give cover fire, but once again, it was obvious they were losing. "Isn't there anything we can do?" Longseld asked. "No way Sir, if we don't retreat we'll be blown up!" "But if we retreat, all those on Galvor will die!" "Sir, Earthforce has sent a full regiment of Ground Pounders to protect the colonies!!!" Telford said. "Still, it would help more if we put up as big a fight as we can!" With that, the ship rocked again. "We're losing power to decks 3 and 4." "How are the targeting scanners?" Longseld asked. "No good, we can't get through on manual either!" "Keep trying," the bridge rocked again, and the crew were thrown across the deck. "Shit, do your best people!" Longseld yelled. "Aye, Sir." "Sir, we have a plasma leak on deck 15!" "Evacuate the people on Decks 13 through 16, and clean it up!" "Sir, three starships have been destroyed, the Minbari are moving toward Galvor." "And we have no ships to go after them. What ships are they?" "Small atmospheric ships, they're going to take the colony!" "Reposition the fleet in their way!" Longseld ordered. * * * * * * * * * * > When Help Is Needed, It's Never There < Ensign Sybert was the last of the California's squadron Starfury's. He maneuvered his fighter through the Minbari forces, taking a Minbari ship out every now and then. He cleared the Minbari forces and realised that the Earthforce fleet were moving back. Toward Galvor. There was a large void of open space between the two fleets now. Several beams lashed out occasionally, mainly form the Earthforce side, but apart from that, nothing. Sybert looked on, but could see nothing, he hit afterburn and his Starfury hurtled toward what he thought was safety. A green beam of Minbari weaponry flew past and struck the California. Then another Hyperion ship fired back. He maneuvered again to avoid a Minbari fighter that had caught him, he fired at the enemy, which blew up from extensive damage. He now approached Galvor, and the California. He had ten minutes of oxygen left, and he saw several ships heading toward the colony, Minbari ships. "Oh no you don't." he thought. He fired at the ships entering the atmosphere. Several other Earthforce beams struck them too. These other beams were more powerful than his, and he soon found out it was the cruisers firing at the Minbari. Several of the ships were destroyed, some continued. A large explosion out of his left eye told him that another Earthforce ship was destroyed. Then, as though he were in an invincible world he lost everything he had. Everything. His ship was sliced apart by Minbari weaponry, and he was gone... The California witnessed the destruction of several atmospheric vessels approaching Galvor, but it wasn't enough. The Beaufort exploded some moments ago, and their last Starfury joined the many people who had died in the protection of the colony. Now, out of 25 ships, 13 remained. There was no way of winning with just cruisers. They were going nowhere fast... * * * * * * * * * * > A Sudden Change of Perspective < In all their service to Earthforce, the crew of the California had never felt so helpless. So out of sink. So, nothing. They decided to take the best possible action... "What's the status of our engines?" Longseld asked. "At full power, why? Oh no...You're not going to..." "Helm, set a full ramming course for the Minbari flagship." "You're sure?" "More sure than I've ever been. Ever since this war started. It's about time we came out with some victories." She started. "If any of you look back on our history, the Japanese Samurai said it was an honour to die in battle. And a 20th Century television series, depicted aliens that believed in an honourable death, they were called Klingons, we can be like them, and it's our last best hope..." "Aye, sir." Telford said So much for Telford's promotion. She was so sorry she couldn't have done it earlier. The bridge rocked again, and Longseld ordered. "Let's do it!" The California's engines powered up and the ship revved straight toward the Minbari cruiser, by this time, only seven ships remained, soon, that would be six. The two ships got closer, but the Minbari didn't move. They feared nothing. They just stayed in wait, not even firing. Two of the atmospheric shuttles remained, the other Earthforce ships just waited to see what the California was doing. Then, just off the Earthforce fleet, a jump point opened. And several familiar, but then so unfamiliar ships came through. Two Hyperion class, and one that resembled a Nova class, but wasn't. A full fleet of Starfury's escorted them. Immediately, the Starfury's targeted the Atmospheric craft, and destroyed them. The larger Earthforce ship moved in toward the Minbari fleet, the Minbari began backing away. But the reason the ship moved in, wasn't to provoke the Minbari, but to stop the California. Aboard the California, they realised what had happened. "Full stop!!! We're going to hit that ship!" The other ship continued on it's course, as the California came to a stop. "Sir," Telford said, "the Minbari have retreated." "Good," "The other ship is hailing us." "Let's hear it." Longseld answered with relief. "This is Captain Shourne of the Earth Alliance vessel Omega, I'm glad you stopped, I doubt this ships debut would look good if it were rammed by one of her own. What you see here is a new project Earthforce has undertaken. One for the new year. The Omega class, a new tool against the Minbari. This is the only one, but by the end of next year, we hope to have at least 20. Good work here." "Thank you Sir, but we've lost quite a few ships." The immediate task was to see what damage had been done to the Galvor colony. Only two or three fatalities from debris falling on one of the cities, but all up, it wasn't a massacre. Everyone knew the Minbari would be back. But the Omega class brought a new hope for the future, and a great way to end the Earth Year 2245... * * * * * * * * * * To Be Continued... The next episode will be in Earth Year 2246, continuing the Earth-Minbari War. By: Daniel Collins