Chapter 4
General Kiirt briefed the Kadeshi pilots, and formed a plan that would send our strike craft (Interceptors, Multi-gun Corvettes, and Heavy Corvettes; not the Swarmers) just inside the shipyard's sensor range to drag most of the station's strike craft support away. During which time our Heavy Cruisers, Destroyers, all our Ion Frigates, and all 48 Swarmers would attack the big boats opposite from where our strike craft would be engaged with the Shipyard's fighters. Along with our Capital Ships would be 5 of our 8 Support Frigates to repair them. Staying just outside the battlefield would be our Carriers, Fuel Pods, and the 3 remaining Support Frigates that would assist in anything that's needs to be done. And once our fighters and corvettes finish off the shipyard's strike craft escort, they'll join the Carriers, and serve as their escorts incase some enemy Strike Craft strayed to close to our support group.
"The assault will begin at 1400, correct?" The general was as uneasy as the rest of his crew, but being the battle-hardened commander he was, he didn't show itโฆ too much.
"Yes sir," responded the Communications Officer. Who was fresh from the academy, and had never seen action before.
"Excellent, transmit it to the rest of the fleet. And don't forget about the Kadeshi either."
"Understood sir. Umโฆ Commander, sir, as you know, I have never been in a real battle, and I was just wonderingโฆ um, if something were to happen to the Khar-Toba II, how far is it to the nearest escape pod?"
"What?!?! Are you thinking of abandoning your crew-mates?"
"No! Not at all, I was just wondering, in the case that-"
"Don't worry, I know what you meant. It's just so tense in here. But relax, the armor on this carrier in 3 times thicker than on the carriers built during the Mothership's run for Hiigara. And besides, we won't be entering the main battle. We'll be on the side lines, keeping our big boats running in the green."
Onboard theย Khar-Toba IIย things were even more hectic than usual. The Kadeshi pilots were scrambling into transports trying to get to the Fuel Pods that were currently topping off the Swarmers' own internal fuel pod. As for the Kushan pilots, the exact same things were happening. Pilots getting suited up, and taking care of some last minutes, personal, checklists. Such as: record a message for their loved-ones in case they die in the line of duty, retrieving some good luck charms from their quarters, and so on.
Once all the fighters, and corvettes were fueled and all the pilots were sealed in their cockpits the carriers dropped them off at one side of the station, while the rest of the fleet hyperspaced to the opposite side, and waited until the fighters started their diversionary attack. Everybody was on edge, and you didn't need to be a Hyperspace Physics scientist to figure that one out.