20 Against the Swarm by Stuart Grosse

Author:Stuart Grosse
Language: eng
Format: mobi, azw3
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

(Fleet Command Cluster, IAS Aclotloxl’s Claw, in orbit of Coldana Prime)

“Warleader! The Consortium’s Seventh Fleet is contacting us. The Tribute of Gold has been hit! Admiral Ironbelt is dead, and the fleet command has fallen to you.”

Keh Dhaka bowed her head for a moment, and then said, “The Ancestors of her people will guide her. We have a battle to win! Are the X’thari still focusing on the larger ships?”

“Yes, Warleader! All groups report X’thari ships are focusing on the dreadnoughts primarily. Escorts and small attack craft are only being targeted when they go on close attack runs or attempt boarding actions.”

It was a stupid strategy for the X’thari, nowhere near what she would expect of them. Sure, the dreadnoughts were the heart of the fleet, but to ignore the escorts entirely? What madness would make them think that was a good idea?

Wait, the escorts? Could it be that simple? She checked the database for past encounters with the X’thari. Yes! That was it, the X’thari were hunters, not soldiers! They let the escorts peel back the enemy escort ships, allowing for the heavier ships to focus on the toughest prey. Without their packs of escort ships to balance the fight, the X’thari’s proven tactics were working against them. They had the weight of numbers to make it work anyway, but they would lose many of their ships because of it.

“Send to all ships. Admiral Jadegut is in command of the strike division. I have overall command. All dreadnoughts and carriers are priority targets. That is where their fleet commanders are.”

She waited for the communications savant to send the message, and then said, “What is the status of the Black Star Navy?”

(Flag Bridge, BSN Ama-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi, Coldana System)

“Status report.”

Raven looked over from where she was analyzing the data from the sensors. While her eyes might have been on the screen in front of her, I didn’t doubt that she was also hooked in to the raw data and everything coming through from the combined fleet’s tactical network. Not having that meat to slow your processing down was a bonus at times.

“All forces are under attack, as expected. Black Star Marines have landed at two enclaves of survivors that were in danger of being overrun. Second Company has reinforced the Darboldor enclave, and pushed the X’thari back there. Second’s Crows and Thunderbolts are conducting seek and destroy missions, taking out enemy artillery and vehicles where they find them. First Company dropped directly on the Dharram enclave, where there were X’thari inside the perimeter. The Thunderfury herself contributed to the bombardment, allowing the marines and local militia to sweep up behind and take out the X’thari inside the perimeter. They are currently clearing an LZ near the breach in the walls, so they can use the Thunderfury’s point defense and shields to seal the breach temporarily. Consortium Army units have taken the primary spaceport outside Coldana City, and are establishing a perimeter.”

“In space, the Second Great Armada has engaged the X’thari heavy ships directly, while the First Fleet is battering a group that tried to flank the forces.

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