The Nemain War [2328]

[Maedhros]

Lieutenant Rachel Pierce I
The departure of the flight from the International Lunar Spaceport (Earth's moon that is) to Jupiter had already been delayed for fifteen minutes, Rachel and her fellow passenger had already started to become impatient. Not that Rachel had any problems with delays, she simply preferred to at least know a reason. Even if it was a made up one.

A Martian soldier, Rachel Pierce was a Martian lieutenant herself at that, entered the vessel, "lieutenant Rachel Pierce?"
"I'm here", Rachel replied grudgingly.
"I'm afraid there has been a change of plans ma'am", Army corporal Heinrich Albers, according to his uniform and name tag, continued, "If you would follow me?"
"My luggage is still on this ship", Rachel remarked.
"It has already been removed", the corporal answered.

Once they had left the passenger liner, Rachel addressed the corporal once more, "why did you take me out of the ship?"
"I'm afraid I can't answer that ma'am", the corporal replied, "all I know is that I was ordered to get you on board of the Interceptor Marlin."
"I thought she would only be brought into service in two months?" Rachel remarked. Before all the mess had begun, she had planned to attend the ceremony in which the old Barracuda-class Marlin would be replaced by the Marlin-Class interceptor Marlin. Which was before the whole mess which led to her being transferred from Bone's Dagger, the Hammerhead-class battleship which served as flagship to the third fleet. And appointed to the Barracuda-class Interceptor Skull's Revenge of the fifth fleet, which was stationed at Polaris Prime.
"So did I", corporal Albers replied, clearly not entirely happy (mostly due to the fact he had planned to go on vacation, which wouldn't be possible now).

They soon reached their shuttle, which was a Martian Gunship. Barely half an hour later, they had docked with the Interceptor Marlin. "I'll take over from here corporal", a female flier said as she approached them, once inside, "captain Jones wanted to speak with you, corporal, he's waiting in the briefing room."
Once the corporal had left, the flier addressed Rachel, "welcome onboard the Marlin lieutenant.
"Thank you I suppose", Rachel Pierce replied. The rest she wanted to say didn't exactly come out as this moment was chosen to turn on the antimatter drive.
"Would you by any chance know why I was suddenly pulled out of a passenger liner?" Rachel finally managed to say.
"I probably know as much as you do", the flier answered, "but we should know more in about two hours, at the captain's briefing. In the meantime, I suggest you to follow me."

Rachel hardly saw any other option and accepted the suggestion, after passing through the briefing room (the small army contingent, including corporal Albers, was currently in a corner of the room being addressed by the army captain), they soon reached the crew quarters.
"You may put your bags over here", the flier told Rachel, "the top bed is yours for the time being. It's not as if I need a second bed after all. Which reminds me, I still haven't introduced myself. I'm Katherine MacDonald, portside flier on this Interceptor.
"You already know my name", Rachel knew, "but I'll introduce myself nonetheless, Rachel Pierce, lieutenant, newly appointed to the Interceptor Skull's Revenge, which I was supposed to travel towards at that.
"I have a cousin on that ship, Sean is the lieutenant-flier over there", MacDonald remarked, "it's not a bad ship. It will be your first assignment on an Interceptor I presume?"
"The first time on an Interceptor indeed", Rachel replied, "how did you know?"
"You are wearing a dress uniform for one", MacDonald answered, "which clearly gives you away as having served on a Battleship." Battleships were about the only ships where dress uniforms were habitually worn by its crew (especially the skirt would never be worn anywhere else, apart from maybe on a parade). "It might be best to change into your work uniform", MacDonald advised, "it won't make much of a difference in here, since you're not a part of our crew, but it might help getting accepted at your new post."
"If I ever get there", Rachel replied, "but thanks for the advise."
"You're welcome", MacDonald said.

Two hours later, the ship's crew (apart from those still on duty that is) had assembled in the briefing room. Commander Harriet Fields, captain of the Interceptor Marlin took the stand, "I know that most of you have been wondering why our new vessel has been taken into service this soon. Two days ago, we have received word that the Freestate has violated the Nemain System quarantine, which our nation has pledged to uphold."
The Nemain System, close to Polaris, had been the site of the very first discovery of sentient alien life. Although the indigenous species already possessed rudimentary space faring capacity (only within their own star system though), the United Nations had rapidly quarantined the System in order not to contaminate the native culture. Both the Federal Republic of Mars and the African Confederacy had pledged to uphold the quarantine. The Freestate, a new nation founded by dissatisfied citizens of various other nations, had however chosen to ignore the United Nations altogether and raided the system for its rare resources.
"Central Command has decided to send the Third Fleet to drive the Freestate back and free their captives", commander Fields continued, "we are to gather the Fifth Fleet Interceptors, which will then accompany us to Nemain to take part in our taskforce. As of this moment, our nation is at war." Fields waited a moment to let it all sink in before dismissing the crew.
It was silent in the briefing room, even for a military vessel, but eventually the crew did disperse. Rachel planned to leave as well, but before she could, commander Fields approached her. "With me lieutenant", commander Fields ordered.

"Lieutenant Rachel Pierce", commander Fields began once they were seated in the officer's mess (only because it was currently empty), "I've read your record, so I know the reason you were transferred to Skull's Revenge." Fields clearly didn't like Central Command's habit of using a transfer to an Interceptor as a punishment.
"I know the reputation Interceptor crews have", Fields continued, "which is why I remind you that the military regulations are exactly the same in here as they are on a Battleship. And that includes the non-fraternization rule lieutenant." A recently popular television series 'Interceptor Phoenix', in which basically everyone slept with everyone, didn't exactly help with the image of the Interceptors, to Field's chagrin. "Dismissed lieutenant."

"What did the captain want?" MacDonald wondered when Rachel came into her room, "not that it's my business."
"It isn't", Rachel agreed, before deciding to answer nonetheless, "she wanted to speak about the reason I'm being transferred from the Dagger to Skull's Revenge." The Third Fleet's flagship, the Battleship Bone's Dagger, was often called simply the Dagger by its crew.
"Sorry, I didn't know", MacDonald replied.
"That my transfer wasn't entirely voluntary you mean?" Rachel remarked, "you couldn't have known, but if you don't mind, I prefer not to speak about it further."
"Understandable", MacDonald admitted, although she remained curious, "but if it makes you feel a little better, my cousin Sean told me that commander Callahan, the Revenge's captain, isn't a bad sort."

[Maedhros]

Carl Johnson I
"We have new orders", captain Lianna Park of the Freestate vessel Hyena informed her crew, "we are to meet up with the Raider and the Vengeance. According to our sources, the Martian Third Fleet is en route to our sector, they have also send their Interceptors ahead. Probably to try and establish a beachhead. We won't let that happen, we are to find and destroy them first."
"Are you sure we are up to this?" Chief Engineer Elena Bhukov wondered, "I know we can out jump a Barracuda-Class Interceptor, but whatever you might think about them, one direct hit from them and we are gone."
"They always try to disable vessels before resorting to destroying them", Carl replied, "our deflectors can make their Ion Cannons harmlessly bounce of our hull, by the time they notice it, we can have fired our own rail guns and flown out of their range.
"I'd be a bit more confident had they tested those against actual Ion Cannons", Elena insisted, "how do we know they will actually work?"
"They will work", captain Park confidently replied.
"Or they won't, the Martians hit us with an Ion Cannon, our Antimatter Containment fails and our vessel explodes", Elena still worried.
"In that case our end would be swift", Carl shrugged, "there are worse ways to die."

[Maedhros]

Lieutenant Rachel Pierce II
"Lieutenant Rachel Pierce, reporting for duty sir", Rachel addressed commander Thomas Callahan as she entered the Revenge's bridge.
"At ease lieutenant", the captain replied as he took her transfer orders, after reading them he continued, "this seems to be in order."
"I have more documents", Rachel replied, "I was told to deliver these to you in person, they are directly from Central Command."
"Very well lieutenant", commander Callahan accepted, "lieutenant-commander, continue preparations. Follow me lieutenant."

Commander Callahan and Rachel left the bridge and went towards the officer quarters. "This is your bunk", commander Callahan informed Rachel as they passed one of the doors, "you are to appear in my office, the second last door, in one hour sharp, dismissed."
Knowing well enough that her new captain wouldn't have expected direct orders from Central Command, Rachel understood that he would want to read those and discuss them with his XO, before officially entering Rachel in the ship's books. It didn't take all too long to unpack her belongings, mostly because Rachel never took many on board in the first place. Most of her luggage consisted out of a few spare uniforms, writing material and a notepad. Which wasn't much, even on an Interceptor.
Having used the time available to shower and change uniform (her new vessel was still connected to the Spaceport water supply, making sure this didn't violate the water quota on board), Rachel arrived perfectly on time. "Enter", the captain ordered after Rachel had knocked on the door.
"In ordinary circumstances, the XO and I would make sure one of us is always on the bridge during your first watches", the captain informed Rachel, "unfortunately this aren't normal circumstances. I trust you have made use of your time on the Marlin to familiarize yourself with the Interceptor routine?"
"I have sir", Rachel replied.
"Your record then", the captain continued, "the XO and I are aware of its content, as far as I'm concerned it doesn't need to spread beyond us. Repeat your past behaviour on my vessel though, and I will personally make sure you aren't just thrown out of my vessel, but out of the service altogether, understood?"
"Yes sir", Rachel replied.
"Now you will accompany lieutenant-commander Price to the bridge, where you will take over the watch, perform the travel calculations towards the Nemain system, the exact coordinates will be provided once we've left the system", the captain ordered, "we will depart in one hour."
"It will be ready sir", Rachel assured.
"Dismissed", commander Callahan ended the conversation.

"XO on the bridge", one of the navigation department petty officers loudly proclaimed as Rachel and lieutenant-commander Price entered the bridge.
"Lieutenant Harrison", Rachel addressed the current officer on watch (lieutenant-commander Kara Price had told Rachel his name), "I've come to relieve you from your watch."
Not knowing Rachel yet, Alexander Harrison looked at the XO for confirmation first before replying, "you have the watch lieutenant ..."
"Rachel Pierce", Rachel informed him.
"Lieutenant Pierce", Harrison continued, "engineering has confirmed all systems to be ready, the last of our crew is present and accounted for. Supplies are onboard."
"Understood lieutenant", Rachel replied.

Once Harrison had left the bridge, Rachel began her work, first she went to the chart plot. "Call up the star charts from this system to the Nemain system", she ordered one of her petty officers, "then plot an indirect route to Nemain itself."
"To the star?" the petty officer replied in confusion.
"For now our orders are to plot a route to Nemain", Rachel replied, "if you have the waypoint coordinates, transfer them to my console. Get on it."
"Yes ma'am", the petty officer gave in.

"What is the shortest time engineering can provide between jumps?" Rachel asked after receiving the coordinates.
"The absolute minimum is ten seconds", the XO replied, "but that would overload our engines."
"Would thirty seconds be acceptable?" Rachel asked.
"It's possible", the XO replied.
Rachel went back to her work and changed the first two waypoints provided by the petty officer and replaced them by five others in various directions. Ten minutes later, she went back to the XO, "I have the calculations."

After the XO had approved them, Rachel contacted Engineering, "bridge to engineering."
"Engineering is listening", the engineering officer on watch replied.
Rachel continued, "we will depart in thirty minutes, be advised, we require the first six waypoints in 30 second intervals, if possible without damaging our engines, the interval should be shorter."
"I can give you twenty five", the engineer replied.
"acknowledged", Rachel ended the conversation.

Commander Callahan came into the bridge several minutes later, after he had overlooked the calculations as well, he concluded the final preparations and turned on the intercom. "Men", he announced, "in five minutes we are departing for a mission of unknown duration. You are to assemble in the briefing room at 1220 standard time."
The captain now turned towards those on the bridge, "lieutenant Pierce already knows what we are up against, all others are to assemble in the briefing room as well." He then handed a folded piece of paper to Rachel, "this contains the exact coordinates, replace the Nemain coordinates with these once the briefing is in progress. Make sure we arrive at the exact moment specified on here."
"Yes sir", Rachel replied.
The captain made contact with the spaceport next, "Skull's Revenge is ready to depart."
"Acknowledged", the port commander replied.

Once the Revenge was released from the holding clamps, the captain continued with his orders, "get us out lieutenant."
Rachel turned on the rocket thrusters and steered the Interceptor out of the spaceport, after which she contacted Engineering, "Bridge to engineering, engage the fusion drive and standby for jump."
"Acknowledged", the response from engineering came.
With the conventional fusion drive, Rachel steered her vessel clear outside Polaris Prime's atmosphere after which she contacted Engineering again. "Engage", Rachel ordered. Seconds later the vessel jumped clear from the Polaris System.

Roughly ten hours later, the vessel arrived in the Nemain system, within seconds the other fifth fleet Interceptors and the Marlin had joined them. After this, the Interceptors split into two squadrons, one led by the Marlin and one by Skull's Revenge.

[Maedhros]

Carl Johnson II
"The Martians have arrived", Carl informed his captain, "they've split into two squadrons, I recommend staying away from Marlin's squadron."
"Explain", captain Park ordered.
"Our sensors have detected an antimatter signature on Marlin", Carl explained, "I'm not sure we can take her without reinforcements."
"The other squadron it is", Park gave in, "signal Raider and Vengeance."

Barely a few hours later, the Freestate's vessels jumped in and opened fire on Skull's Revenge. Severely damaging the crew quarters.

[Maedhros]

Lieutenant Rachel Pierce III
"Bridge to captain", Rachel called her captain, "we are under attack."
"Crew quarters are hit", an answer came over the intercom seconds later, "the captain has been taken to sickbay."
"Then get me the XO", Rachel ordered.
"He didn't make it", the answer came.

"Bridge to armaments", Rachel now began, "anyone there?"
"Armaments is ready", major Grant assured, "we await your actions captain." Clearly the other bridge officers hadn't made it either, hence the captain.
"How did they get so close without us noticing?" Rachel requested from her bridge crew.
"They have antimatter propulsion", the answer came.
"Bridge to engineering", Rachel contacted the bridge after having thought through a possible course of action, "we need two successive jumps on my order, minimum time in between"
"Engineering to bridge", engineering replied, "acknowledged."
"Bridge to armaments", Rachel ordered, "load the antimatter warhead and make ready to launch directly after jump. Launch must be completed within 8 seconds."
"Acknowledged", major Grant replied, satisfied that Rachel at least had a plan.

"warhead is loaded", major Grant informed Rachel.
"Make ready to jump", Rachel announced over the intercom, "Engineering, engage."
Before the Freestate vessels, who had planned to keep on shadowing the Martian vessels until the next opportunity for a strike came in, knew what happened Skull's Revenge jumped in between Raider and Vengeance and fired its antimatter warhead, seconds after Revenge had jumped away once again, both vessels were no more. Hyena wisely chose not to remain in jumping range and fled the scene. Someone on board managed to transmit a message to the Martians before though.
"We have received an encoded message from the Freestate vessel", petty officer Hamilton informed Rachel.
"Send it to my console", Rachel ordered, after which she contacted Engineering, "bridge to engineering, how long before we can jump again?"
"We require at least an hour to cool down", the answer from Engineering came.
"Inform me once we can jump", Rachel ordered.

Rachel turned on the intercom, "this is acting captain Rachel Pierce, two of the Freestate vessels responsible for the cowardly strike at our vessel have been destroyed, the third has fled. Once Engineering gives the go ahead, we are returning to Polaris for repairs. All senior officers apart from engineering are requested on the bridge. Engineering staff, head to Engineering. All others, I want the officer's mess turned into a makeshift triage center. All the wounded not yet in sickbay are to be transported there. Bridge out."
"Starling is on the line", petty officer Hamilton informed Rachel.
Rachel took the radio, "this is Skull's Revenge."
"Where is Callahan?" the captain of the Starling asked after hearing Rachel's voice through the radio
"Unavailable", Rachel replied, "this is acting captain Rachel Pierce."
"Understood", Starling's captain replied, having seen the damage at Skull's Revenge well enough, "what is your condition?"
"We are unable to continue the mission at this moment", Rachel replied, "as soon as Engineering gives the go ahead, we are returning to the Polaris System.

"Understood", commander Leroi of the Starling replied, after which he transmitted to all the vessels in the Squadron, "this is commander Leroi speaking. As of this moment, I'm taking command of this squadron. Phoenix and Ericka, you are to protect Skull's Revenge until it has returned to the Polaris System. The rest of you are to follow me and join up with Marlin's squadron. Starling out."

Rachel transmitted her new jump coordinates over a secure channel to her escorts as soon as they had been calculated. Two hours later, engineering finally informed them they could jump. "Attention crew", Rachel announced, "we are jumping in T minus two minutes. We will continue to jump in two minute intervals until we reach Polaris Six." Polaris Six was the designation given by the Martians to the gas giant around which the Kenyan colony Bandari and their mutual repair yard circled. She gave the same message to her escorts.

Twenty two hours later, the three Interceptors reached the Polaris system, after which Phoenix and Ericka returned to Nemain. Given that the damage to Skull's Revenge was quite visible, Rachel had no difficulty getting her vessel into the repair yard. "Get the wounded shuttled out to the nearest military hospital", Rachel ordered, "and get me on a shuttle to Cassandra's Fate, I need to brief the admiral as soon as possible."
After she had given her last instructions, Rachel and major Grant embarked in their shuttle. After a short flight, they reached the Fifth Fleet's Colossus-Class flagship, Cassandra's Fate. Inside, they were immediately escorted to the Operations Center, where the admiral awaited them. "Explain", the admiral ordered.
"They knew we were coming", Rachel began, "shortly after reaching the system, we split up into two squadrons. One under command of the Marlin, one under ours. Three antimatter powered vessels jumped in and opened fire upon us, jumping outside of firing range before we could retaliate. In this hit, we lost seventeen men, including the XO, my fellow navigation lieutenants and half our fighter pilots, the captain and several others were critically injured as well, leaving me in charge."
"Continue", the admiral ordered, satisfied that major Grant clearly backed up the report (as he didn't object to Rachel's words).
"Once I knew Engineering and Armaments were still available, I had the major load an antimatter warhead", Rachel continued, "then we jumped in between two of the enemy vessels, fired our warhead and jumped out again. After these two vessels were destroyed, the third one fled the scene, but not before transmitting this message." Rachel took out a data chip and gave it to the Admiral. "It has been encoded with MIA encryptions", Rachel explained, "I believe we have an agent on the ship that got away."
The Admiral took the data chip and contacted the Intelligence Department on board of his vessel. "I'll look into it lieutenant-commander", the admiral assured her.
Not sure whether she had heard it right, Rachel spoke once again, "lieutenant-commander?"
"I have decided to promote you to lieutenant-commander", the admiral replied, "you are to continue as captain of Skull's Revenge until commander Callahan is once again fit for duty." After the admiral wrote down these orders, he continued, "now I want you to shuttle down to the planet, with these orders, you can get your new rank insignia. My vice-admiral will meet you there to make sure your vessel will be fully crewed as soon as possible."
"Thank you sir", Rachel replied.
"I'll contact major-general Vandervoort to arrange additional army personnel for your department major", the admiral now informed major Grant."
"That would be extremely helpful", major Grant replied.
After the admiral had dismissed them, both officers took a shuttle to the surface of Polaris Prime.

[Maedhros]

Carl Johnson III
"We have a situation captain", Carl Johnson told captain Park in private.
The situation obviously being serious, otherwise Carl wouldn't have woken the captain less than an hour after she went to sleep, captain Park closed the door of her quarters, "what is the problem?"
"I've only just found out", Carl admitted, "but during the few moments in between the destruction of our sister ships and our jumping out, someone on our vessel transmitted an encoded message to the Revenge.
"Is anyone else aware of this?" captain Park asked.
"Not yet", Carl replied, "I came to you as soon as I found out."
"Good", captain Park decided, "this information will stay between the two of us for the time being. As you already know of the situation, I want you to closely monitor all outgoing transmissions. But do so covertly. We don't want the mole to find out we know about him."
"I'll get on it", Carl assured the captain, knowing well enough that the culprit would be extremely aware of the investigation (given that he had been the one to transmit the message in the first place), "but there is another thing you should know. The crew is unhappy we left after they destroyed our sister ships. I know the reasoning behind it and wholeheartedly agree, but many of our crewmen have lost friends to the enemy today."
"I'll address the crew tomorrow", the captain replied after which she waved Carl away.

[Maedhros]

Lieutenant-commander Rachel Pierce IV
"I've been told you were the one who saved our ship", commander Callahan told Rachel as she visited him in the hospital.
"It was your crew who pulled it off", Rachel replied, "and the fact we actually had an antimatter warhead onboard at that."
"How did you even know that?" commander Callahan wondered.
"I was told so on the Marlin", Rachel replied, "otherwise I wouldn't have known they now place antimatter warheads on Interceptors during wartime."
"Remind me to thank them", Callahan told Rachel, "that notwithstanding, it was your thinking which pulled it all off."

"About our officers", Callahan continued before Rachel could object to the praise, "I heard that the admiral has offered to replenish our ranks, I would advise you to only take two new navigation lieutenants. Petty officer Hamilton is ready to become lieutenant."
"You know the crew best", Rachel replied, "I'll ask to have him promoted."
"You are captain now", Callahan corrected, "you can promote him yourself. Within limits that is, you can't just promote anyone as you see fit. You do have to justify any promotion you give to your superiors, in this case the admiral, and you can't promote army personnel or Flier Corpsmen."
"Major Grant and lieutenant-flier MacDonald have already seen to their departments", Rachel assured Callahan, "I've looked over the files on the new people and they seem promising."
"How about the engineering department?" Callahan asked.
"That's the biggest problem", Rachel admitted, "engineer Sarah Gates is about the only one we have left who could rise to the occasion and become chief engineer at this point."
"But?" Callahan wanted to hear.
"While she has the capacities", Rachel explained, "I believe it would be better for her to remain in her current role just a while longer, which would allow her to keep on improving herself."
"I can agree on that", Callahan admitted, "a promotion to Engineer second class however, is something you should consider. But that's a decision you're going to have to make. Referring to my judgement would only decrease your authority on board after all."
"I will decide in a few weeks, when the reparations are complete", Rachel decided, "the vice-admiral has already given me the files on several candidate chief engineers, I can have him or her transferred to the Revenge within days."
"Giving him or her time to form his or her own opinion concerning Gates' capacities", Callahan understood, "an excellent plan of action."
"Thank you sir", Rachel accepted the compliment.

ELEVEN DAYS LATER

"Chief Kaczynski", Rachel addressed her new chief engineer, "have you made up your mind concerning engineer Gates?"
"She shows promise", Artur Kaczynski answered, "in a few years she might very well become chief engineer in her own right. I advise promoting her."
"Understood", Rachel replied, "I've made my decision." Rachel ordered Engineer Sarah Gates to attend her in her office.

"Engineer Third Class Sarah Gates reporting for duty ma'am", Sarah Gates stated after having entered the office.
"At ease Gates", Rachel replied, after which she continued, "the chief and I have come to an agreement concerning your position on our ship." Rachel took a set of Engineer Second Class rank insignia and laid them on the table, "from this moment on, you are officially Engineer Second Class and second in command in our Engineering department."
"Thank you captain", Sarah Gates responded after a while, "I swear I won't disappoint either of you."
"We're counting on it", Rachel replied, "when we are done here, chief Kaczynski will fill you in on your new duties. Afterwards, I order you to shuttle down to Polaris Prime for your shore leave. I need you back on board by 0600 standard time tomorrow. Dismissed engineer."

"We still have quite a lot of work ma'am", chief Kaczynski remarked, "why did you send her on shore leave now?"
"She hasn't left the ship even once in the last 3 weeks", Rachel replied, "it's high time for her to take up shore leave."
"I suppose you have a point", Kaczynski admitted.
"How long do you need to finish the maintenance on our fusion drive?" Rachel requested.
"We should be finished in twenty four hours", Kaczynski promised.
"Then get on with it", Rachel ordered, "keep me informed."
"Yes ma'am", Kaczynski replied.
"Dismissed chief", Rachel concluded the interview. It was time to continue her paperwork, she was after all both XO and acting captain, which meant loads of paperwork.

Three days later, Skull's Revenge was ready for departure, Rachel took the Intercom. "Attention all crew", Rachel announced, "we will depart in T minus three minutes. I can't tell you how long we are going to spend in open space, but I can tell you this. Our mission is vital to the success of the entire operation. Good luck men."
Rachel seated herself at the captain's console and opened the course calculations she had made, she had chosen to calculate them herself, to preserve the secrecy of the operation. "Lieutenant Hamilton", she said, "I'm transferring our course data to you now, prepare for take off."
"Yes ma'am", Hamilton began to work.
"Take us out", Rachel ordered when the specified time had passed.

The ship made its first jump, Rachel turned on the intercom once more, "attention all crew. Contrary to what probably all of you thought, we are not meeting up with the others. Our mission will take us deep into Freestate space, which means that off this moment a strict radio silence will be observed. We are to act in full radio silence, without back-up. In ten minutes, a full briefing will be held, attention is mandatory."
"Warn me if the enemy is spotted", Rachel ordered, "then you must do whatever it takes to shake them off."
"Yes ma'am", Hamilton replied.

"I'm not going to lie to you", Rachel began her briefing, "our mission is dangerous and success is by no means assured. A month ago, MIA has discovered the location of the only antimatter refinement station in the entire Freestate. Our mission is to take out this station, by all means necessary. The station will not be easily destroyed, but I'm confident we can get it done. This mission is our best chance to end this war. Those from our Armaments and Flier department are requested to remain here. All others, dismissed."

"I'm going to need all of you at your best if we are to break through the station's defenses", Rachel told the members of both departments, "lieutenant MacDonald, I'm afraid we can't spare any of our warheads. Which means that I will need you and your men to fly straight into the enemy ranks and draw as many as possible away from this vessel."
"We can do it", Sean MacDonald replied.
"I know you can", Rachel replied, "and I swear I will do anything I can to get you back onboard before we leave. But know this, if I need to choose between you or this ship, I will save the ship."
"We wouldn't expect it any other way ma'am", another fighter pilot replied.
"This ship can take it", major Grant was convinced, "this time we are prepared for the enemy, we can and will take them."
"I'll worry about that", Rachel replied, "your only job will be to make sure every single one of the antimatter warheads hits our target."
"It will be done captain", major Grant stated.

[Maedhros]

Carl Johnson IV
"We've been spotted", Carl told captain Park, "it's Marlin."
"Damn", Lianna Park swore, knowing she wouldn't be able to outrun the Interceptor. After all, contrary to the older ones in the Martian Fleet, Marlin had antimatter propulsion. Yes, Hyena had it as well, but Park had no illusions. The Interceptor would catch up to them eventually. "Call everyone to battle stations", captain Park ordered.
"All hands to battle stations", Carl announced, "this is not a drill, all hands to battle stations."
"We might as well get on with it", captain Park decided, "jump to their port flank and make ready to open fire upon their port missile launch station."
Carl quickly calculated the jump, while opening a secure file containing a computer virus. "Initiating jump", Carl told his captain. Seconds later, everything but life support and communication failed, even gravity did.
"What the hell just happened", captain Park asked, not having expected this at all.
"Damn", Carl swore as well, being quite the accomplished actor, "we are transmitting."
"Transmitting what?" captain Park requested.
Carl tampered a bit with the radio and finally managed to connect it to the intercom speakers. "This is MIA commander serial number 235 Bravo Foxtrot 441", could be heard, "this vessel has been disabled." The message kept on repeating.

In zero gravity, the Martian soldiers vastly outclassed their Freeport counterparts. In under ten minutes, they managed to capture the Hyena. The Hyena's crew was shuttled over to Marlin's brig, where they were securely locked up. "Hyena's systems should restore in about thirty minutes", Carl suddenly told Marlin's army captain, who had been the one to lead the boarding party. The army captain wisely decided not to lock up Carl with the other Hyena men after this, but had him brought to the captain (the ship's captain that is).
"You're the one we have to thank for this easy capture", commander Fields, still captain of the Interceptor Marlin understood.
"It was only a matter of time before the enemy found out my true allegiance", commander 'actually not really named Carl Johnson' explained, "making sure you could capture this vessel seemed the best way to get out alive. But now I have, I need you to set course to Bone's Dagger immediately. The faster our people receive my information, the more useful it will be. And on a more personal matter, I would like to see my sister again."
"I can understand that", Harriet Fields replied after which she called up the bridge. "we are finishing our patrol", she ordered, "as soon as we get Hyena operational, we are to set course with both ships towards the rest of the fleet."

"Thank you", the intelligence commander said, before continuing, "given that this is your ship and we hold an equal rank, I suppose it couldn't hurt to introduce myself. I am commander Kenneth Pierce."
"Pierce you said?" commander Fields wanted to be certain, "is your sister by any chance lieutenant Rachel Pierce?" Fields didn't know about the promotion yet.
"You know her", Kenneth Pierce grasped.
"She has been on my ship for a short while", Harriet Fields replied, "you won't find her on the Dagger. She has been transferred to Skull's Revenge." These words didn't exactly set Kenneth Pierce at ease, he had after all been a crewmember on Hyena while she had taken part in the attack on the Revenge. Grasping the reason of his discomfort, Fields continued, "she took command during the ambush, I even heard she was the one who came up with the method they used to destroy two of the Freestate vessels."
"Let me get this straight", commander Pierce recapped, "first I take part in an attack which could very well have killed my twin, and then she retaliates and destroys two out of three vessels in my squadron."
"Quite so", Harriet Fields agreed.

[Maedhros]

Lieutenant-commander Rachel Pierce V
"All hands to combat stations", resounded through the ship, "this is not a drill, all hands to combat stations."
After all stations had confirmed they were ready, Rachel turned off gravity in the currently unused quarters, this allowed the Interceptor to pump more reactor energy to the rail guns. Rachel turned to her current helmsman, "take us in lieutenant."
"Engage the rail guns", major Grant ordered his men once they had jumped in among the enemy ships.
"lieutenant", Rachel turned to the helmsman once again, "give me full ahead towards the planetoid." Then she turned on the intercom, "lieutenant MacDonald, launch your fighters."

Six fighters were rapidly launched from both fighter bays after which lieutenant MacDonald engaged the enemy.
"Accommodation is hit", Rachel was informed.
"Lock it off", Rachel ordered, knowing that her entire crew was at their battle stations anyhow.
Using both the Revenge's rail guns and its fighters, Rachel pressed on, until finally she received word from major Grant, "we have a direct line of sight to the station."
"Launch the missiles", Rachel ordered.

Four warheads flew at full speed towards the antimatter refinement station. Major Grant and his men immediately started to reload the launch tubes.
Seconds later, the missiles hit their target and blew huge chunks out of the planetoid, effectively destroying the station. "Major Grant", Rachel ordered, "fire the remaining warheads into the enemy ships at our starboard side, concentrate rail guns at our portside." Next Rachel contacted her fighters, "get your men back inside MacDonald."
Two minutes later the welcoming message came that MacDonald's squadron had returned, unfortunately they had lost one fighter though. "Get us out of here lieutenant, our work is done."
"Gladly captain", lieutenant Hamilton agreed.

A quick succession of jumps finally got rid of the Freestate vessels, allowing Rachel to spare her engines and continue on in a more leisured pace. "Bridge to engineering", Rachel contacted her engineering department, "send men to accommodation and commence repair work." Rachel next turned on the intercom ship wide, "we have met our objective. The Freestate antimatter refinement station is no more. Good work men."
"Lieutenant Hamilton", Rachel continued after having turned off the intercom, "continue towards the rendezvous point with the rest of the fleet, you have the bridge."
Rachel headed on towards the starboard fighter bay and approached MacDonald.
"We lost Thomas Patterson", lieutenant MacDonald informed Rachel, Patterson had been one of the fighter pilots who had survived the ambush a small month ago. MacDonald handed Rachel an envelope, "Patterson had left this in his locker before the engagement, it should go to his wife."
"I'll make sure she receives it as soon as possible", Rachel assured her lieutenant-flier, "do you want to be the one to write the letter to his wife, you knew him best after all."
"I would captain", MacDonald agreed.

About twenty hours later, Rachel reached the rendezvous coordinates with the rest of the fleet, who had no idea what Rachel had been doing at that (having received her orders from the admiral of the Fifth Fleet). "Contact the Dagger", Rachel ordered, "tell them the enemy antimatter refinement station has been destroyed. That should get their attention."
Rachel being summoned to Bone's Dagger after this was as expected. "Not that I'm not glad to see you", the shuttle pilot remarked, recognizing Rachel, "but I was under the impression I was transporting the Revenge's captain."
"You are transporting the captain Kate", Rachel replied, "in commander Callahan's absence, admiral O'Neill has named me acting captain on the Revenge."
"Congratulations I suppose", Kate Parker replied, before turning to her crew, "lock the hatch, prepare for takeoff."

"I do still know the way lieutenant", Rachel addressed the army lieutenant awaiting her at the shuttle bay, "operations or the admiral's office?" Noticing that the lieutenant clearly hadn't expected her, she continued, "and yes, admiral O'Neill has named me acting captain on the Revenge."
"The admiral has requested your presence at operations ma'am", the lieutenant finally replied, "congratulations on the promotion."
Clearly knowing the way about as well as the lieutenant did, they quickly reached operations. Knowing that no word of her promotion would have reached admiral Hennessey just yet, Rachel had seen fit to take the documents proving it with her, just in case.
"Lieutenant-commander Pierce", Rachel addressed the admiral, "at your service sir."
"I summoned Callahan", admiral Hennessey objected.
"With all due respect sir", Rachel corrected, "you summoned the captain of the Revenge, which in Callahan's absence would be me." Rachel gave him the papers.

"That seems to be in order", the admiral had to agree, "continue Pierce."
"Thank you sir", Rachel replied, "I trust you have received word of the battle last month between our interceptors and an enemy squadron. At the end of this incident, we received an encrypted message from an MIA operative on the sole surviving vessel. Back on Polaris Prime, I handed this message to admiral O'Neill, who managed to have it decrypted. The message contained the coordinates of the only antimatter refinement station under Freestate control."
"O'Neill wanted to make sure no word of this leaked", Rachel continued, "which is why you weren't informed, once our repairs had been completed, he send us towards the coordinates to take out the station." Rachel gave three reports to the admiral, "these are the incident reports by myself, lieutenant-flier MacDonald and major Grant."
"You're absolutely certain the station has been destroyed", the admiral wanted to hear from Rachel in person.
"Even the planetoid it was on has been all but destroyed sir", Rachel replied, "I've included photos made after the strike in my report."
Admiral Hennessey took the photos out of the report.
"I was ordered to fire at least four of my antimatter warheads at the station", Rachel explained the obvious overkill (there were inhabited planetoids smaller than the crater left by Rachel's warheads), "admiral O'Neill didn't want to leave anything to chance. Seeing the total destruction these four had caused, I made a judgement call and fired my remaining warheads at the enemy vessels. Destroying seven or eight of them. I used this distraction to allow lieutenant MacDonald's squadron to return to our fighter bays."
"Good work lieutenant-commander", admiral Hennessey reluctantly admitted (he had been the one to transfer Rachel away after all), "is there anything you would want to add, which is not in these reports?"
"I would sir", Rachel replied, "we lost one of our fliers during the engagement, Thomas Patterson, he had a wife and daughter on Polaris Prime. Lieutenant MacDonald and I would like to nominate him for the Medal of Valor."
"I'll give you my decision after we've went through your reports", admiral Hennessey decided, "return in an hour lieutenant-commander, dismissed."
Rachel left Operations and headed towards the Dagger's officer mess.

[Maedhros]

Commander Kenneth Pierce I
For the first time in over two years, commander Kenneth Pierce once again walked in a Martian uniform, the Interceptor Marlin had done as asked and brought him to the Third Fleet's flagship, the battleship Bone's Dagger. In the two days he had spend on board of the battleship, he had already divulged most of his carefully accumulated information, which admiral Hennessey was already planning to make use of.
Ignoring the looks of the Dagger's crew, the teal uniforms from the Martian Intelligence Agency weren't exactly popular in the fleet, commander Pierce joined the officers in the officer mess. It didn't take long for him to spot a familiar sight, "didn't I hear something about you being transferred sis?" Kenneth Pierce was glad he hadn't mistakenly addressed another officer as his twin sister turned around.
"You probably did", Rachel replied, "how are you brother?"
"Better than I would have been had you chosen to attack the third Freestate vessel", Kenneth replied, "I was the one who transmitted the message."

Realizing how close she had come to killing her twin, Rachel didn't immediately reply, eventually she did manage though, "we acted upon it. The station has been destroyed, which is the reason I'm currently back on this ship."
"Isn't it usually the captain who reports these actions to the Fleet Commander?" Kenneth wondered.
"It is", Rachel agreed, "commander Callahan still hasn't recovered though, which is why admiral O'Neill has appointed me acting captain."
"By which you mean your XO didn't make it either", Kenneth grasped (otherwise she would have been appointed acting captain after all).
"She died when the accommodation was hit", Rachel replied (she would probably have been affected more had she had the chance to actually get to know them), "so did all other navigation officers at that."
"I wish I could have stopped it", Kenneth admitted, "but with two other vessels with us, I had no chance to do so."
"At least you managed to send the coordinates of the antimatter station", Rachel replied.
"That's one good thing", Kenneth agreed, after which he went for his own meal.

When both siblings had finished their meal, they headed towards Operations, as Kenneth had been asked to appear there as well.

[Maedhros]

Lieutenant-commander Rachel Pierce VI
To Rachel's chagrin, navigation captain Richard Stevens was present in Operations as well by the time she arrived. Having noticed his sister's reaction to seeing him, Kenneth wisely went and stood in between the two of them. The others present were the captains of the other vessels in the taskforce (basically, the entire Third Fleet, reinforced with the Fifth Fleet's interceptors).
"Now all of us are here", admiral Hennessey opened the meeting, "lieutenant-commander Pierce, I want you to go over your last mission once more. A recapped version will suffice."
Doing her best to ignore captain Stevens, Rachel began speaking, "three weeks ago, we came into the possession of confidential information, thanks to our then operative in the Freestate navy. After the MIA station on Polaris Prime had managed to decrypt this information, which contained the coordinates to the only antimatter refinement station the Freestate possessed, admiral O'Neill ordered me to take Skull's Revenge deep into Freestate territory. Once there, we fought our way through the enemy vessels protecting the station and destroyed it using antimatter warheads."
"Commander Pierce", admiral Hennessey took over once again, "you are absolutely certain the Freestate has no other refinement station?"
"I am sir", Kenneth Pierce swore.

"On to our next plan of action then", admiral Hennessey decided, "the African Confederacy's taskforce is expected to arrive at Bandari in three days." Bandari or the Swahili word for haven, was the moon colonized by the member state Kenya of the African Confederacy, also in the Polaris system. "Commander Fields and lieutenant-commander Price, your vessels are to be added to their Fleet for the remainder of the war. Captain Stevens will travel with Marlin, he is to act as my liaison officer among the Africans."
Rachel was quite glad captain Stevens wouldn't be on the Revenge.
"Commodore Kawasaki", admiral Hennessey continued, "it's your plan we are going to enact, so it's only right for you to explain it to our people."
"Thank you sir", Commodore Kawasaki from the Operations Department replied, "the main advantage of the Freestate fleet has been its antimatter propulsion, thanks to lieutenant-commander Pierce, this won't be a problem soon though. Our plan isn't to attack the enemy fleet, which still possesses more than enough antimatter to be wary about. On the contrary, we are going to hit where they are not. If the African agree, we plan to send both this taskforce and the Africans deep into Freestate territory."
Kawasaki had the star charts of the region projected, before he continued, "commander Price has been able to provide us with the location of the Freestate repair yards and supply stations. Which we intend to destroy."

"They can still resupply at their capital", Kenneth Price remarked, "if we don't take out the shipyards there, I'm convinced it wouldn't make that much of a difference."
"Which is where the Africans come in", Kawasaki replied, "our own fleet is too small to take on the Freestate at their own capital planet, which is why we intend to have the African taskforce raid the mining planets in the adjacent system. This should draw most of their fleet away from their capital, allowing our taskforce to take the planet."

After the main meeting had been completed, admiral Hennessey ordered lieutenant-commander Rachel Pierce, commander Harriet Fields and captain Richard Stevens to remain for a while. "As you know", the admiral began, "the African flotilla consists out of a mishmash of various vessel types." This was due to the fact that the Confederacy had no own fleet and had to borrow vessels from its member state's fleets, which came down to one or two battleships and loads of battle cruisers, ranging from thirty year old vessels to brand new ones. "In general their vessels are quite capable of holding their own against our fleet", the admiral continued, "but they have nothing comparable to our Interceptors. Which is why I want your vessels to join up with them."
"You want us to scout ahead for them and try to get them undetected through Freestate space", commander Fields understood.
"Exactly", admiral Hennessey confirmed, "I originally intended to send Phoenix along with Marlin, but it seemed to me that your previous experience in travelling through Freestate space could come in handy lieutenant-commander."
"I thank you for the trust sir", Rachel replied, "I won't disappoint you."
"See that you don't", admiral Hennessey concluded, "now head to the shuttle bay and shuttle back to your vessels, you are to depart in one hour."
"If you don't mind sir", Rachel remarked, "have you made a decision about flier Patterson?"
"I have", admiral Hennessey replied as he handed Rachel a letter, "take this back to the Polaris system and get it to major-general flier Mackenzie. It contains a recommendation for the medal by me, I've added the ones by yourself and your flight lieutenant as well."
"Thank you sir", Rachel saluted the admiral.
"Dismissed", the admiral returned the salute.

On the walk back to the shuttle bays, commander Fields couldn't help asking what had gone on between captain Stevens and Rachel. After making sure Richard Stevens couldn't hear them, she replied, "I thought you read my file? Or did they censure his name?"
"Now you mention it", commander Fields remembered, "they did omit the name of the other party, him being Luna's prime minister's son explains a lot at that."
Captain Stevens caught up with them, effectively ending the conversation. They continued on to the shuttle bay in silence.

[Maedhros]

Lieutenant-Commander Rachel Pierce VII
Once back in the Polaris system, the Revenge and Marlin still had a few days before the Africans would arrive, which gave Rachel and lieutenant MacDonald the time to personally visit flier Patterson's widow to convey their condolences. They also had time to deliver the Medal of Valor request to the Flier Corps' Polaris system major-general.

Eventually, the Africans arrived, both Kenya and Ethiopia had provided a battleship to the task force, while the other member states had send their battle cruisers. Anyone stupid enough to discard as irrelevant the African Confederacy, would certainly have changed his mind, having seen the fleet. Yes, a Martian fleet could probably out gun and out fly them, but apart from the Martians?

Admiral Belete, the Ethiopian admiral appointed chief of the task force, didn't object to the plan concocted by admiral Hennessey and soon the Africans left the Polaris system once again, using both Interceptors as their advance guard. By this time, admiral Hennessey should have destroyed at least half of his targets. The Africans steadily jumped until they breached Freestate space, after which Marlin and Skull's Revenge began their work.

With both interceptors guiding the way, the Africans kept on penetrating the enemy territory, until they finally reached the mining settlements they had been looking for. The Freestate troops at the mining settlements weren't stupid enough to engage an entire fleet on their own (especially since the few ships guarding the settlement had already jumped back to the Freestate capital planet).

Now the real work began, under admiral Belete's orders, Rachel began patrolling the edges of the system, making sure no Freestate vessel would reach the Africans unnoticed. The first sweeps didn't exactly find anything. "Anything on your end?" Rachel asked Marlin over the radio when they crossed paths once again, by the end of the day.
"Nothing just yet", commander Fields replied, "but I don't think we will have to wait much longer."
A few hours later, commander Fields was proven right, as the Freestate navy jumped in. "Jump back and warn the Africans", Fields ordered Rachel, "I will hold them off."
"Good luck commander", Rachel replied, before turning of the radio and addressing her crew, "Jump back to the Africans." Having kept the jump generator on standby all this time, the jump was initialized seconds later.
"They've arrived", Rachel broadcasted to the entire African flotilla, "Marlin is currently holding them off, but she can't hold them indefinitely."

One by one, the African ships powered up their fusion drives. "Jump in", admiral Belete ordered when having received confirmation from all of them. The Africans and Skull's Revenge jumped back to the edge of the system.
"MacDonald", Rachel ordered, "launch your fighters." The African vessels and Marlin launched their fighters as well, which made sure over 300 fighters were currently heading towards the enemy. Rachel took the helm on her ship and steered it straight into the fray, ramming several enemy fighters into oblivion. "Launch the missiles", Rachel ordered, "spread them wide, take out as many as you can."
The first strike destroyed at least five enemy vessels, the Freestate flotilla fought back though, the first African battle cruisers were destroyed soon after. The African battleships now engaged without holding back. But even with the battleships, both fleets remained evenly matched.

[Maedhros]

Commander Kenneth Pierce II
"Can you do it?" admiral Hennessey wanted to know.
"It depends on how many men you can give me", commander Pierce replied, "I mean, I know how to get to the Freestate planetary defense systems, but I would need quite a lot of manpower to get inside and take them out."
"Would three hundred raiders suffice?" MIA commodore Helen Pike asked.
"I'm not sure", Kenneth Pierce admitted, "four hundred would be better."
"I can get you an additional two hundred soldiers", army colonel Steven Hunter replied, "my men might not be as trained in covert warfare as the MIA raiders, but we can get the job done."
"That could be enough", commander Pierce supposed, "how will you get us on the planet surface?"
"Let me deal with that", admiral Hennessey replied, "right now I want you to meet the officers in your strike force and come up with a plan of action for on the surface. Dismissed commander."

After commodore Pike and colonel Hunter had given him the names of the officers who would accompany him in the strike, Kenneth Pierce left Operations and headed out to meet them. It was soon quite clear that neither the MIA officers or the army officers were all too happy to be in the same strike force. The raiders, or the Martian Intelligence Agency Black Ops Commandos, and the Martian army had a vastly different approach in military tactics after all.
"I know neither of you is all too happy about the joint strike force", commander Pierce began, "but we are going to have to work together, and we don't have much time to prepare. We will be dropped on the surface of the enemy capital in ten days. Our mission is as follows, we will be dropped on the surface, fight our way to the planetary defense system and take it out. We aren't going to bother taking it out on the entire planet, one sector should be sufficient in allowing the admiral to get the Flier Corps and the rest of the army on the surface in one piece."
Kenneth Pierce projected maps of the planet on the wall, "this is the sector were we will be dropped, our target is the control tower. If we take it out, we take out the planetary defense system in the entire sector. The control tower itself is heavily defended. In addition, the enemy has a garrison two blocks south of the tower. My current line of thinking, and do tell if you have a better plan, is to have captain Dupont and some of his men to take up a defensive position over here." Kenneth pointed towards an road in between the tower and the garrison. "I believe that your men could hold the garrison long enough to allow our raiders to break into the tower."
"Can you give us a 3D projection?" Pierre Dupont asked, "I would like to see what kind of buildings those are." Dupont indicated some of the buildings in between the tower and the garrison.

After Kenneth Pierce had turned on a 3D projector, he indicated captain Dupont to continue. "If we get snipers in those 3 buildings, they should be able to keep the garrison occupied longer than all my two hundred men could, all we need is three good sharpshooters and some soldiers to protect them."
"I can get you those sharpshooters", MIA lieutenant Ian O'Donovan remarked, "my sharpshooters won't make as much difference in us getting into the tower as your two hundred men would. My squad can keep the garrison occupied."
"Very well", commander Pierce accepted the proposal by O'Donovan and Dupont, "which still leaves us with the tower itself. This location should provide an excellent location to start shooting at the tower with some heavy duty weaponry." Kenneth Piere showed the location he meant and continued, "the location should provide us with sufficient cover when the tower defense retaliates. I originally planned to have O'Donovan take this location, but Dupont's soldiers might be the better option over here."
Dupont saw no problems in this, so Kenneth Pierce continued, "with Dupont's men in position to draw the defender's attention away, I'm going to walk towards the tower and unlock the door."
"You're just going to walk there?" O'Donovan asked, not entirely certain he had heard it right.
"The chances are quite good that they haven't revoked my security access just yet", Pierce replied, "which was quite high, I can open the doors. After which Dupont's men will open fire, draw away the enemy's attention, and allowing the rest of the strike force to run to the tower and get inside."

"Once inside", Pierce continued, "the enemy will know you are there. Which means we will have to fight our way through all ten floors. Which will be crawling with enemy soldiers. O'Donovan and Dupont will not be able to leave their positions until the main army has landed, which won't happen until we've taken the upper floor, containing the control room."
"Why did they locate it above ground?" Dupont wondered, "one nuclear warhead can take out the control tower like that."
"True", commander Pierce admitted, "but that would kill at least several ten thousand civilians as well. Which just doesn't happen." The last time any country had used nuclear warheads on civilian targets had been about four hundred years earlier, when the Americans destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Technically, Rachel had fired antimatter warheads on an enemy refinement station, but that had been a pure military target. This would come down to leveling an entire city as well.
Kenneth Pierce continued and showed his officers the ground plans of the tower, making sure they would know them as well as they could by the time they would have to attack.

[Maedhros]

Lieutenant-Commander Rachel Pierce VIII
"Retreat", admiral Belete ordered, the battleships were the first to have their fighters return, after which they instigated a continuous barrage on the enemy fleet, allowing the other vessels to have their own fighters return as well. One by one, the vessels jumped away. Most of the Freestate fleet decided to pursue them. Both fleets kept on fighting all the way back towards Polaris, where admiral O'Neill's 5th fleet awaited them.

The Freestate might have been evenly matched against the African fleet, but the reinforcement by most of the Martian Fifth Fleet turned the tide firmly against them. At the end, the antimatter propulsion vessels, still in the Freestate fleet made a run for it. The remaining vessels surrendered.
"Return to admiral Hennessey", admiral Belete ordered Rachel Pierce and Harriet Fields, "tell him my ships are coming as soon as we can."
"You've heard the order", Rachel told her bridge crew, "Hamilton, plot a course to the Freestate." The Freestate was the name the Freestate had given to its capital planet.
"Will do captain", Hamilton replied.
"Engage", Rachel ordered, her vessel jumped away.