January 796 UC Astarte; 8 hours after Empire hostilities.
Aboard the Serebryakov.
"And you think that they intend to take us out one by one without stop?" Vice Admiral Paeta asked me as we spoke over Fleet communications. Now that we have them back up and working.
"I do. It's why I brought my fleet to link with yours." I told him with a nod.
"Then why not link up with 5th Fleet? Your two fleets working together would be invaluable." He pointed out.
"There is no was no way for me to link with him that would not result in me being intercepted by Reinhard. But if we hurry we could link with the 5th Fleet and rescue the survivors of the 6th Fleet" I tell him, going over what I thought would be the most likely avenue for the enemy to take.
"So, then that leaves us to come to Moore's aide." Paeta commented and rubbed his chin in thought. "Alright, I will assume over all command of our combined fleets. We will head to 5th Fleet and unite with them. Together we will make to intercept the Imperials head on." Paete declared, as the senior of the two of us it was his right and responsibility to assume command. As his junior I would follow his orders.
"Yes, sir." I replied and Paeta ended communications. Though our two ships continued to exchange communications with one another.
"Admiral," Ilia spoke up and walked over to me. "Is it wise to let him assume command of both our fleets? Would it not be better for you to take command? After all you appear to be the only one who seems to have foreseen the enemy's plan. Making you the better strategist." She pointed out.
I smiled and looked at my concerned adjutant. Again, I cannot help but be proud to have such competent men and women working under me. That they would praise me and raise me above my peers. "It is a simple matter of seniority, Lieutenant Commander." I tell her as I walk away from the communications console.
"Vice Admiral Paetta is my senior by several years. Therefore, he has more experience and knowledge under his belt. He is bound to know more about the Empires tactics and ways of getting out of situations such as this. By me letting him assume command and lead us to victory after the Imperials defeat two of our fleets. He gets the recognition as the Hero of this endeavor," I say with a smile. What I don't say is that he will also take the blame for when there is an inevitable investigation into who, how and why we screwed up so badly. That the Empire was able to sweep aside two whole fleets when our five fleets together outnumbered them two to one. I did not want to have to stand in front of the Military Review Board. That would be counterproductive to my desire to live a quiet life once this war was over.
"And as the Hero he will pass on the recognition to us for having foreseen events unfold the way they have. Meaning we will get better posting." Such as being posted somewhere safer than the front lines. Maybe a posting near Heinessen? It would be nice to take a vacation and visit home. It has been years since my last vacation. I'm sure father would appreciate a visit as well if he was not busy.
This seemed to instill Ilia with some measure of pride. As the woman began to grin proudly. "Well then, hopefully command gives us the best posting! I won't settle for anything less than being able to kick those Imperials out of our territory and back behind Iserlohn!" She cheered.
I could only smile and nod my head in agreement. Ah, and there was famous, infamous? Drive to constantly wage war, that has ensured that our two states have remained at war for the last 156 years. Ilia returned to her post while I looked back to the read outs and reports that were filtering between my 3rd Fleet and Paeta's 2nd Fleet.
…..
2 hours 30 minutes later.
Our fleets have moved forwards to unite with Piett's 5th Fleet or rather. Where his fleet should have been. I frown as I look over the reports coming in. The wreckage we were coming upon indicated that this was in fact 5th Fleet or rather its remains. The initial reports we got indicate that they were attacked head on and destroyed out right with the enemy moving on not long after.
I frowned as it would seem Reinhard von Lohengramm has proven to be every bit the super star of strategy that Imperial Propaganda has painted him as. Instead of going with the expected tactic of taking us all on one by one. From weakest to strongest. He instead knocked out our most concentrated source of fire power first and moved on from there. Taking that in. I can only presume that he moved on to attack Pastolle and remove our formation's ability to coordinate properly if we were to unite with him. Which means right now he was engaging Vice Admiral Moore.
At that moment a call came in from Paetta. "They're… they're all gone!" Paetta says with disbelief clear in his voice.
"It unfortunately appears to be that way." I tell him steeling my face to prevent my emotions from being visible. At my clear stalwart and unmoving response. Paetta seems to regain some of his own composure as well.
"Where do you think he would be at now?" Paetta asks me.
"If I were in the enemies' shoes. I would have moved on from destroying 5th Fleet and removing my enemy's heavy hitters to target their Command Center. Meaning that Admiral Pastolle and 4th Fleet will also be destroyed by now. And that Vice Admiral Moore is likely being attacked at this point in time as well." I state clearly and without remorse. Paetta and Pastolle must have been close because hearing this made the man waiver again.
"Admiral Paetta," I announce clearly and loudly to stop him from entering a depression at the loss of his friend. "As we are the last two fleets to survive. I would suggest that we make preparations for a fighting retreat." I tell him.
"You would write off Vice Admiral Moore and the entire 6th Fleet?" He asks sounding shocked. Well, I admit it is quite a shocking thing to suggest. After all, well over a million people have died here and we would be leaving 6th Fleet out to die without us ever firing a shot.
Normally I would be opposed to fleeing an enemy with such clearly lopsided losses without ever causing harm to my enemy. These odds are so clearly against us I cannot in good conscience submit my command which included my loyal and brave underlings to what would surely be suicide. We would all be facing investigation into incompetence and be removed from military service in disgrace at worst, sure. But we would all be alive, and the Free Planets Alliance Military would still have thousands of ships and hundreds of thousands of men still alive to deploy again. While at best we would be alive and thanked for so many lives and then given posting at some office desk in the back lines to be forgotten about for the rest of the war.
But I get the feeling that Vice Admiral Paetta does not see things the way I do. So, I make a conciliatory move instead. "It was only a suggestion, admiral. There are always alternatives. That was just the first thing that came to mind." I tell him.
"Right, well I'll have my strategic planner Commodore Yang Wen-Li put something together instead. We will find a way to defeat the Imperial Fleet. We owe it to our allies to claim victory over the Empire!" Paeta said with vigor and resolve in his eyes.
"For victory, sir!" I reply and end communications with him and then sit down in my chair and sigh once more.
"That was brilliant maneuvering, Admiral!" Ilia stated as she stood beside me. "I doubt that he would have stayed on the field any longer and fled the field of battle if not for you!" She congratulates me.
But it was I who suggested to retreat! Now we're all going to die to satisfy one man's desire for revenge! I complain to myself as I force myself to not shake my head and hold my smile as I respond to her. "Indeed, Vice Admiral Paetta did appear to have a moment where he questioned his own faith. But it is good to see the admiral is as resolute as ever. His command staff must consist of some of the best men and women in the Alliance if he is relying on his Commodore to make the battle plan."
"Ah, that's right!" Ilia said with a snap of her fingers. "He has the Hero of El Facil on his staff! We are sure to get through this!" Ilia said with a nod and assuredness of someone who wholly believed that the worst was over.
I must admit I haven't paid much attention to other combat operations across Alliance space. Which I should rectify soon. But as I remember it El Facil fell when the Empire invaded and destroyed the defense fleet there. Yet the entire population of the planet was evacuated before the Empire could reach them. A miracle for sure, but one that relied on the Empire's desire for glory and honor in combat. If the Empire had been even the slightest bit more reasonable, they would have sent a portion of their fleet to El Facil to keep the civilians from escaping while their fleet tied up and defeated the defense fleet in space.
I suppose the Hero of El Facil was the one responsible for getting all those civilians out in time. Of course, that could have been a one-time fluke. Meaning we were dooming ourselves to a person who got lucky once. But seeing how Ilia seemed to react at the thought of that Hero being present, what harm would it do to indulge in a little moral building?
"Is the Hero of El Facil truly that great a person?" I asked tentatively.
"Yes Admiral!" Ilia responded rapidly.
"Do you think it will help the Fleet strengthen their resolve to know such a Hero is here fighting along side them?" I asked, of course I knew that it would help. I had once been called the Silver Argent once long ago by friend and foe. So, I knew what having Heroes did for morale. I waited for Ilia to come to the necessary conclusion.
"Yes ma'am! Should I?" She asked, to which I gave an affirmative nod giving my ascent. "I'll begin spreading the word, Admiral!" She sounded off and saluted before returning to work.
I didn't have much hope that a person getting lucky once would do much to turn around our luck here. But we also needed every advantage we could get and when the crews learned that the Alliance lost three fleets while the Empire suffered minimal casualties. The hit to morale would be severe. So heading that off before it happened would be a massive boon.
Getting up and going back over to the holographic display. I began entering in more scenarios. We were outnumbered, there were no two ways about it. Reinhard and the Empire could take their time in disposing of us. Our 29,000 versus their 33,000, the numbers were in the Empires favor and if numbers were all that mattered, they would easily overwhelm us.
With one fifth of my fleet consisting of Carriers and a couple hundred of Vice Admiral Paete's 2nd Fleet putting us at having 3,000 Carriers and 26,000 Battleships to the Empires own 3,000 Carriers and 30,000 Battleships. We had about even odds in a Carrier fight, and it would be up to our fighters to bring us a victory in such a fight. But we lacked big guns.
Carriers in this day and age, were best used when Fleets were in such close ranges. Ranges which one could figuratively stab a person with a knife. My fighters were likely to be ravaged by the point defenses of the Empires ships. But so too would theirs. If their fighters could even get past my own fighter screen. I take pride in my fighter squadrons and I would bet on them to turn the tide in our favor in a close quarters fight. With the numbers between Carriers and Fighter craft to be even it would come down to the skill of the Pilots to tip the scales. If we survive this and I get to keep my commission as an officer. I will do my best to ensure that the Alliance invests in improving either the reliability of the Carriers to launch their Spartanian fighters from further away or to increase the Spartanian's ability to reach distant targets under its own power faster.
…..
30 minutes later.
By now Reinhard von Lohengramm has destroyed 6th Fleet and Vice Admiral Moore. Bringing our losses up to 41,000 ships and 5,740,000 brave men and women. Leaving me and Paete with only 29,000 ships and 4,060,000 soldiers to fight the Empire. The lives lost here make those saved at El Facil look like they were wasted. As almost twice as many men and women have died so far as were saved at El Facil.
If I were of weaker constitution, I would probably be sick. I know that the public has to be sick of all our losses up to this point. But with this one battle. We have lost more lives than any conflict before in recent history. Trust in the military is going to take a massive hit and they are going to be demanding reforms of the Military to prevent such a catastrophe from ever happening again.
We were already flying with skeleton crews to reduce the number of lives lost. As normally we would have 1,082 crewmen aboard a Carrier normally and 660 aboard a Battleship. But to reduce casualty rates we went down to the bare minimum. I do not dare think of just how many we would lose if we were at full crew capacity and went into this fight. I am sure this were the twentieth century of which I had lived twice already. Such losses would have been deemed catastrophic and the public demanding a cease to all hostilities.
I could only hope that the people of this century were of the same type and demand that we stop fighting the Empire. As I doubt, we could continue to suffer such losses anymore. Not without destroying our economy, never mind our future as a viable interstellar self-governing state.
"Admiral, advanced patrols have spotted the enemy on approach." Ilia informs me as the Empire finally comes for us.
"Understood Ilia, inform everyone that I expect the best out of all of them. Has Vice Admiral Paeta given us any instructions?"
"No ma'am. We have not received any notice from the admiral."
Odd, maybe he was still reviewing the options given to him by his Commodore? Having had a little bit of time to read up on him. Commodore Yang Wen-Li did not strike me as much of a strategist, in fact if I were still an HR Manager in my first life and he an employee. He would be near the top of my list to fire, but he performed well enough to avoid further scrutiny. Plus being the Hero of El Facil bought him some protection through the adoration from the masses. Not even I would make the mistake of thinking to fire him if it could be avoided. Maybe a quiet retirement, such as what I want. But if he can provide us with a means that would ensure we don't all die. Then I'll accept it.
…..
Abord the Patroklos.
"Yang Wen-li, reporting as ordered." Yang replied tiredly bordering on disinterest.
"I looked at the plan you proposed. It was a very interesting proposal. But I fear it may be overly prudent, perhaps even passive." Paeta informed the young Commodore.
"Is that so, sir?" Yang replied feigning interest.
"It's certainly hard to imagine we'd lose if we'd use it, but there's no room for simply 'not losing'. We must WIN." Paeta stated from across the battle projection table. With a notepad in hand with Yang's proposal on how to get through the clearly one-sided fight.
If he had been handed this earlier, Paeta figured he might have considered it. But with the loss of so many friends as well as so many fleets. They needed to win. To show those Imperials that the Alliance Military were not fools!
"I do not see why we need to, win, sir, when we could just as easily survive." Yang replied.
"Maybe one day when you are older you will understand Commodore. For now, I am dismissing your plan and going with tried strategy of breaking through." Paeta stated, it was a difficult and dangerous maneuver. But if they pulled it off, they would be behind the enemy battle line and able to take advantage of them. Ah, but he best reassure his junior flag officer that this isn't a slight against him. He just has to ensure that his friends and their comrades did not die for nothing.
"Just so we are clear, this is nothing personal against you." He added and handed the notepad back to Yang.
"Understood, sir." Was his disinterested response before he left the main plotting table.
…..
As the lines draw closer, we do eventually get a battle order and how to proceed. With a deep frown I stare at the instructions on how we are meant to fight and somehow pull out a win here.
Clearly Yang Wen-li is a terrible strategist. Charging out to meet the Empire and attempt a breakthrough? What terrible garbage. We don't have nearly enough numbers to make such a breakthrough possible. Discarding the clearly suicidal plan I looked to my staff who were looking to me for guidance.
They knew as well as I did that this plan would get us all killed. It would be up to me to see us through this mess after all.
"This is only the opening operation! We've done several operations in the past in the middle of a battle this is no different! Vice Admiral Paeta has seen something we have missed and has it in mind already. Await further orders and be ready to act upon them." I instruct my crew and fleet.
With there only being our two fleets left the jamming of communications and our datalink would only get worse the closer we got to the enemy. But until then we would make use of what we had. If need be I can probably find a way for us to retreat without being destroyed like Paeta and his fleet would be.
…..
"Enemy formation in range and opening fire!" One of the fire control technicians reported.
"All ships raise shields and battle stations! Target enemy ships individually! Keep pushing." Paeta instructed.
Behind the Admiral Yang Wen-li grimly input the instructions for is plan which had been turned down by the Admiral. He watched as both his and the Admirals plans began to unfold. Comparing the likelihood of either one succeeding. And shook his head at the expected outcome.
…..
A few minutes later the Empire began to open fire upon our combined fleets and still no change in plans from Paeta and communications were all but impossible between our fleets and the datalink we had helped reestablish between the two was down again and even in our own fleet was crippled to individual squads. Not even Squadron level Datalink worked. I was glad I had drilled my fleet in the event of such eventualities. It would not do to be without our Datalink. Being blind and mute would have been a death sentence, but we were prepared for such eventualities. I did not hold much hope for 2nd Fleet and Vice Admiral Paeta.
The incoming fire was bad. I did not need full Datalink to know my fleet was being savaged. My Carriers had deployed their fighters and they were out there fighting with the Empires fighters. Yet some of those fighters would find their berths lost, destroyed by the overwhelming fire power. As the Carriers were destroyed from the overwhelming firepower that punched through their armor.
I was issuing out orders left and right. Directing the ships of my squad and to have those same instructions issued out via Datalink whenever we could get close enough to another ship from a different squad. It was a messy solution, but it worked for what we needed. Plus, with a clear hierarchy of ships and order of battle. We could operate just as well on Squad level coordination as we could on the Fleet level. We were just not as effective as a whole and instead were more a bunch of grouped together squads of single Carriers and Battleships. A threat for certain but not the threat we could have been.
"Admiral! Message coming in from Admiral Paetas flagship on the general channel!" My communications officer informed me.
"Put him on." I instruct shaking my head. What was he thinking? Was he going to ask Reinhard to spare us and surrender our fleets? If so, that would be the smartest thing he could do now that he drove us right into the Empires gun lines and we were suffering so many casualties.
"I am Commodore Yang Wen-li, deputy staff officer to Commander Paetta. Our flagship Patroklos has been hit, and Commander Paetta is gravely injured. Per the commander's orders, I will take over command of all fleets. Do not worry. Obey my orders, and you will be saved. Those who wish to survive, remain calm and follow my directions. Our fleets are losing the battle at the moment, but all that matters is that we win in the end. We will not lose. All ships, focus on destroying individual crafts until I give further orders. That is all." The voice played over the speakers.
What?! I thought to myself though looking around it was clear I also shouted as well. Ah, hopefully they can ignore a small slip like this.
But still what the hell kind of message was that?! 'We will not lose… Obey my orders, and you well be saved.' What kind of crap was that! I will excuse the Commodore for using the general channel to inform both his fleet and mine to prevent confusion with the loss of the Vice Admiral. And since he did not necessarily give out any crucial or important orders that were not being carried out already. I couldn't judge him too harshly.
Oh, who was I kidding? Why was he using general wide band messaging to say that! If that was his idea of an inspirational speech. The man needed speech lessons more than I did!
Clearly, I must have been disturbed by the buffoon's speech because my Command Bridge and staff were looking to me still.
"You heard him. Carry out your orders. Continue targeting individual ships until he gives further instructions." I order them all. Just target individual ships? No target prioritization? I understand the lack of a Datalink making it difficult for a fleet to effectively target enemy ships. But this is going to waste so many resources, both in personnel and in ships.
Calming down I look back to the plotting table even as the battle outside rages and becomes worse.
…..
Yang stared out at the mess of a battlefield before him. Vice Admiral Paeta was injured and in critical condition and was now in the infirmary. But before he left, he made it a point to appoint him over all commander of the Fleet. He did not like being in front. He wanted to be away from the spotlight.
If communications were functional and their Datalink still up. He would have preferred to have the other Vice Admiral take charge. Granted he had heard of 'the Reaper of Arlesheim' or alternatively 'Tiamat Incarnate' and knew of her reputation, but it would be better that she took command instead of him. If for the simple matter someone else would be the one to manage this instead. Leaving him to sit back and just follow orders.
However, fate did not always provide favorable means and he only hoped the other Admiral did not take offense to him usurping command of her fleet. But trying to transfer command and control from his ship and fleet to hers would be difficult to do while under fire while having both communications and Datalink up. With both of those things down it would be impossible. So, he did what he had to do and stepped into the role of overall commander. Regardless of how he felt, he had a duty, and he would carry it out and then hope that when this was all over he could step back into obscurity once again.
He observed the virtual display as it updated in real time showing the enemy fleet and his own combined fleets coming closer together. With the enemy changing formation.
"The enemy is reforming into a spindle formation." Pointed out Lieutenant Commander Lao
"They must be planning to break through our center." Yang replied as if he had already seen this play out.
"What will we do?"
"I have a plan in mind."
"But how will you give the order? The enemy is still jamming our communications. The datalink isn't restored yet, either. How can we…" Lao asked with worry clear in his voice as he looked to the other man with concern clearly written upon his face.
"Don't worry. Broadcast a compressed data transmission across all frequency ranges. Tell each ship to open code C-4 on their tactical intel system. Even if the enemy is monitoring us, they can't figure anything out if that's all we say." Yang replied gaining a smile upon his face.
He was in charge of these fleets. He was going to make sure they made it through this alive one way or another. He had already planned this out earlier on the plotting table and saw the results and made his decision then. Now it was just a matter of carrying through.
"I had hoped this wouldn't be necessary, but alas…"
…..
"Message from 2nd Fleets Flag ship." My communications officer informed me. "It says to open code C-4 on the tactical intel system."
Open Channel 4 on the tactical intel system? Why on earth would he want us to do that? "Go ahead and do so." I instruct wondering just what this Yang Wen-li was planning.
As soon as we did, we received instruction on how to proceed. Now this was a much more manageable plan. Why did he give out that crap one at the beginning? Was he one of those types who worked well under stress? Whatever the reasoning, this was a much more palatable a plan than the last. "It's a strategic plan to counter the enemies' movements. Make sure all other Squadrons have received the message and are ready to carry out instructions." I direct my command staff.
"Yes ma'am!" Ilia replies and begins giving off orders.
It wasn't necessarily the prettiest of plans. But it did provide a measure of success that the last was seriously lacking. We would both be desperately drained of resources after this battle that was for certain.
I stood firm as I felt the ship accelerate and begin to spread apart from our allies making a gap for the Imperials. We were moving by them so fast that we barely had time to get off a single broadside against the retreating Imperials as we began to pass them and then make to turn around and get behind them. I wonder what the Imperials were thinking as they got the breakthrough that they wanted. Only to have us follow up behind them immediately on their flanks.
The display continued to update even as we took up position behind them and fired into their rears. But as we had done to them. So too did the Empire's fleet begin to turn into ours.
"Make sure the Carriers are at the center and protected by our Battleships armor. Have the fighter craft targeting the engines on the ships in front of us. They don't need to destroy the enemy ships, just damage them enough for us to overtake them." I instructed as the display updated to show a circle or a donut.
I imagine in the history of space naval warfare no one has ever seen something like this before. As the two opposing fleets began chasing the others tails like a dog chasing its tail. But I have before, not in person, but it is something that has happened before in ancient Earth's history. Back before humanity was a space faring race. I wonder if Yang Wen-li was an avid historian? And if that was why he decided to pull out this ancient tactic.
It would ensure that the battle was not clear cut and would turn into a slog of a battle between the Empire and the Alliance. Where things were brought down to a more manageable level. Instead of being destroyed wholesale at once by an enemy with a fully functional Datalink and communications. We would instead be bled slowly.
Sure, they had numerical superiority and if given time would destroy our combined fleets. But at what cost? Was Reinhard von Lohengramm willing to lose most of his command in order to finish us off? Or would he break off?
Or in another sense. Would the Empires top strategist and commander let his pride get the better of him in the pursuit of glory and honor in battle? Or would he come to his senses and decide that destroying our combined fleets wasn't worth his command?
It is not like we could pursue him. We would be to heavily damaged and so unable to realistically take the fight to him in whatever battlefield we followed him to. Being damaged and outnumbered did not instill me with confidence. We started this battle with twice the Empire's number in tonnage and fire power. Now we were but a few desperate remains trying to scare off the larger foe and hoping he acted reasonable.
…..
Aboard the Brünhild.
"Kircheis, what do you think?" Reinhard asked sitting down once more after realizing the mistake he made and what he got himself into.
"I think perhaps it's time to end this." His friend replied observing the same circular pattern playing out before them on the battle screen in front of them. "Continuing this battle will only produce more casualties on both sides. There is no strategic purpose to this." He then paused and looked to Reinhard briefly before finishing. "Does that frustrate you?"
"Not especially, but I would have liked more of a win. It's to bad we couldn't apply the finish touches." Reinhard said meeting his friend's stare. A moment between the two passed as the battle continued on just outside.
"Despite being surrounded by the enemy on five sides, you eliminated three of their fleets with a strategy to strike them individually. Then, with the last of the enemy reversing course to come up behind you, you fought on even footing. Is that not good enough?" Kirches asked with a brief smirk knowing his dear friend. Then turned more serious. "To hope for any more than that would be a bit to greedy." He added for a finish.
"I know that.
…..
I watched as our two battle lines pursued one another a few minutes longer and then miraculously the Empire began to break away. At the same time, so did we. Both of us retreating from the battlefield leaving the other without further confrontation. Content merely to retreat and gather our wits about us.
I could not help but breathe a sigh of relief as the plan came together beautifully.
…..
"That commander of their 2nd Fleet. The man who assumed command during the battle… What was his name again?" Reinhard asked.
"Commodore Yang Wen-li."
"Right, Yang. He just might be the kind of person you spoke of earlier."
"Send a message to Commodore Yang Wen-li in my name." Reinhard continued. "Now I have something to look forward to."
…..
"I offer my respect for your bravery in battle. I pray for your good health until we do battle again. Galactic Imperial Navy High Admiral Reinhard von Lohengramm." Lao read off to him.
"Respect for my bravery in battle, eh? How humbling." Yang replied with an inner chuckle as he had no intention of ever meeting that man in battle again if he could avoid it.
"What shall we do? Will you respond?"
"I doubt he expects that of me. No matter. Just leave it be. More importantly, we must quickly retrieve any survivors. I want to save as many as we can."
"Understood." Lao replied crisply and then relaxed quickly after. "Thanks to you, my life is spared yet again."
"You just have good luck."