Midshipman Henry Gallant in Space by H. Peter Alesso

Author:H. Peter Alesso [Alesso, H. Peter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781482640328
Publisher: Vid Soft Lab
Published: 2012-12-13T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 18

Ten uneasy days after the first radar sighting of the Titan Fleet, Captain Caine in the Repulse led a small but steadfast band of ships toward the aliens. Captains Rook of the Renown, Minford of the Remarkable, and Waller of the Retribution followed. The four battle cruisers formed a column flanked by a column of five destroyers. Their weapons were at the ready. Their men were at battle stations, fully confident they would prevail.

On the hangar deck of the Repulse, Gallant watched the refueling, rearming, and pre-flight checks being completed on his Eagle. Kelsey sat nearby, her arms folded and eyes closed. Nearly four hours had passed since they had returned from their solo escort mission. Bone tired, they had tried to nap but failed. The rest of Squadron 111 had returned earlier and was already prepped and rested.

Making his way through the crowd of swirling technicians, Chief Benjamin Howard strolled toward Gallant. He extended his hand and said, “Henry, I’m glad I caught you. I wanted to wish you, Godspeed.”

“Thanks," said Gallant shaking his hand. "Good luck, Benjamin.” They held their grip for a long moment. Instinctively they sensed that the life they knew was about to change All too quickly, however, they had to part and return to their duties. Howard left to take his station in the communication shack, as Gallant got aboard his fighter.

Gallant’s AI console revealed a mesmerizing scene of the two approaching fleets. Recon drones that had been sent hours before were providing detailed information to supplement the current radar readouts. From the combined intelligence, it appeared that the Titans were targeting Ganymede, approaching in three separate formations.

Like an octopus, the aliens extended their tentacles toward their prey. Each of the three threatening appendages pointed toward a UP target. They acted in concert to threaten the Jupiter frontier; the enemy ships never extended beyond the ability to provide mutual support.

The first Titan tentacle was the main battle fleet, about thirty light-seconds ahead of the assault force. It was arranged in an ellipsoid formation as it approached the UP fleet. There was a large outer screen of destroyers with two dozen cruisers inside the perimeter.

The outer screen formed a quilt-like arrangement. Each patch in the quilt made up of a group of a dozen Titan destroyers arranged in a simple geometric form, positioned in three dimensions with three ship triangles at each corner of a square. The overall effect solidified the volume of the outer screen which consisted of 144 ships.

The Titans had the advantage of being higher up in both the Jupiter and solar gravity wells, so they could withhold their attack until they felt ready. They were on course 010, azimuth up 10 degrees, and speed 0.0022c - a direct intercept course toward the Jupiter Fleet.

The second formation consisted of twenty-four ships, each of which had multiple large shuttles attached. They had small weapons profiles and appeared to be assault transports. Their course of 015, azimuth up 10 degrees, speed 0.0018c was

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