* Date: January 24, 2183
* Time: 8:05 AM
* Location: UGS Yorktown Bridge
''Status!''
[My dear, our Destroyer and Corvette escorts are lost. The Heavy Cruiser, Amagi, is losing atmosphere and altitude. A distress signal is currently being broadcast.]
''Patch it through.''
[Understood.]
Immediately, Luck intercepted the distress call and uploaded the contents to the terminal within the Yorktown's Bridge. What the Vice Admiral saw was an officer who was bleeding profusely. The senior officer's uniform was bloodied, and around her were other officers who had contracted similar injuries.
''This is Senior Officer Tanaka Lie, acting Captain of the Amagi. Captain Richard Lie, my father, is K.I.A. Requesting immediate evacuation assistance from any A.F.E. vessels!''
Slamming his fist. Gaft lamented the loss of the Amagi and its Captain.
'Damn it!'
Abraham clenched his fist and cursed. Seeing how the Heavy Cruiser was no longer capable of service, and with the recent death of her Captain, Richard Lie. The Amagi was considered a lost in the Vice Admiral's book.
[My dear, I've detected a response from the stealth ship, Howling Knight.]
''What's their response?''
The admiral knew that the occupants of the stealth ship weren't Ghost Operatives because of the order he sent. The ones manning and operating the ship must've been I.C.E. agents, or at least those that Sword and Shield had rescued.
[This is Agent Indigo of the UGS Howling Knight. We're currently on our way to the Amagi. Hold tight, Captain Tanaka. Help is underway.]
Hearing the response, Abraham let out a sigh. It seems that I.C.E. agents aren't as cold-hearted as his superiors painted them. Seeing how the stealth ship was headed for the Heavy Cruiser, Gaft focused on the two surviving Kaynian vessels, a Galleon and a Corvette.
''Luck, target the Galleon as a priority for our hell cannon strike. Let the drones handle the Corvette.''
[Very well, relying on orders.]
Immediately, the two-point-five-kilometer-long battle carrier angled its hull at the alien vessel as its potent super-type high-energy laser cannon glowed. After making several adjustments, Yorktown's main armament hummed as it readied to fire at the helpless Kaynian Galleon.
[Hell cannon charged and aimed, my dear. Awaiting order for fire.]
Looking at the alien vessel with hatred, Abraham would savor the moment as he gave the command to open fire.
''Open fire!''
Giving the order, the A.I. complied with her admiral's command and fired the hell cannon at the alien ship. Instantly, the laser impacted the alien ship as its shields flickered before shattering like glass. The hell cannon easily punctured the hull of the Galleon, with its crew suffering due to the firepower unleashed by the battle carrier. Explosions erupted around its hull as the laser tore through its sections. And in a few seconds, the alien vessel was no more as its pristine red glow disappeared.
''Report.''
[My dear, the Kaynian Galleon is destroyed.]
''Good, and what's the status of the Corvette?''
[Currently, our drone crafts are firing it with everything they have and are no longer presenting its broadsides at us.]
Luck stated as she presented relevant data and a holographic visual for her admiral to see. Gaft noticed how it was no longer presenting its broadside and was now engaging its propulsion. Was it trying to escape? But there were no energy readings that would suggest that. Its slip space drive wasn't powered, but why was it turned in their direction?
[Weird, it's displaying movements indicating it's trying to retreat. However, no energy readings suggest its slip space drive is powered.]
The Kaynian Corvette steered directly to the battle carrier as its engines were placed in full thrust. The swarm of drone crafts didn't deter the alien vessel as it approached Yorktown. At that moment, the Vice Admiral realized what his adversaries were doing. They were going to ram his ship with complete disregard for their lives.
''They're going to try and ram us!''
Gaft shouted, and everyone on the bridge was dumbfounded, including the X.O. of the battle carrier.
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''Luck, hard starboard!''
[Understood, my dear. Hard starboard.]
Immediately, alarms were set off around Yorktown as the Kaynian Corvette closed the gap to ram the battle carrier head-on.
''Brace for impact!''
Gaft shouted as the alien vessel rammed the bow of the battle carrier. The crew on board immediately felt the impact as they stumbled to the ground. Drone crafts, gunships, and dropships were thrown around their respective hangars as the ramming occurred. Meanwhile, everyone on the bridge was fastened in their seats, allowing them to withstand the impact of the Kaynian corvette.
''Luck, status!''
The admiral ordered, and the A.I. immediately assessed the condition of Yorktown's hull and found something devasting. The battle carrier's super-type hell cannon was disabled by the alien ship's ramming.
[My dear- dear. Yorktown's hell cannon has been disabled.]
Luck stuttered as she relied on the information, and this caused the admiral to curse as his ship's only means of attack was disabled.
''Bring our VLMs, PDLs, and ASLs online! Open fire on the Kaynian Corvette!''
[Very well.]
The response from the Yorktown would be quick as she fired all of her defensive armaments at the shieldless alien ship. Meanwhile, the drone crafts that swarmed the Corvette quickly caught up to it and fired their remaining armaments. Its hull was quickly overwhelmed by the sheer volume of attack from the drones and Yorktown. Its reactor went critical and exploded from the inside and without its energy shielding containing the blast and shockwave. The explosion that followed was more violent than the usual reactor explosion.
[Kaynian Corvette destroyed, my dear.]
Hearing his wife say those words, Gaft gave a massive sigh, as did his officers. They were essentially defenseless without their hell cannon, yet they still managed to destroy the Kaynian Corvette.
''What's the status on Yorktown?''
[Several of our point defense and anti-ship lasers on the bow were destroyed, and our hell cannon is also disabled.]
''Could we make repairs?''
[Negative, my dear.]
''Damn it.''
Never had Abraham dreamed of a nightmare as bad as this. His ship's only means of attack was no longer a viable way of engaging the Kaynians. That only left his drone crafts, but even they were losing numbers. And with the destruction of the Corvettes, Destroyer, and the Amagi attached to his strike group. Meant that drone craft pilots within those vessels are probably K.I.A.
''Sir! We have reports from Eden's Western Sphere!''
Informed the communications officer. Gaft immediately turned his attention to the officer to ask what the report was.
''What is it?''
''The Kaynian Super Capital is currently hovering above the exosphere and is teleporting its ground complement all over the west.''
Time stopped for a moment for the Vice Admiral. If what his officer was saying was true. That could only mean that the Second Fleet was defeated. Abraham's eyes widened as he processed the implications of the report.
''What- What of the Second Fleet? Where did the report come from?''
''Sir, the report came from New Jersey. Fleet Admiral Sasha Zveroboy states that the Second Fleet has failed at stopping the Super Capital.''
For once in his life, the Vice Admiral of the mighty battle carrier Yorktown was at a loss. The Second Fleet couldn't stop the Kaynian Dreadnought, then what was there to do? There was nothing in their inventory to prevent such a vessel as what the Kaynians had brought to their doorstep. Eden was lost, meaning Earth's solar system was open for the Kaynians to invade.
[My dear, my dear...]
[...Snap out of it...]
[...Abraham!]
Luck, his wife, shouted. Looking at her holographic avatar, Gaft saw her face full of worry. Never had he seen his wife be this concerned for him. They have always been eye to eye, never letting the other go astray, and it seems now he was losing himself. He has no more moves or plans to rely on. He was empty.
''Luck...''
''...I don't know what to do.''
Hearing her husband, the A.I. shared the same thought. They were cornered by their enemy. Each second civilian or military personnel was getting slaughtered by their alien adversary.
[I understand, but we're left with no alternative. Our duty lies in safeguarding Earth and her people. We're outnumbered and outgunned. However, take a moment to observe. Officers within the bridge are tirelessly working to stabilize Yorktown. Please, my dear. Don't give up. Don't lose hope. Because we're the only ones left standing.]
Looking around him, he saw the dedicated officers relying on orders to sections of the battle carrier. The Yorktown had taken quite a beating and was in a state of frenzy as the repair systems and crews rushed to seal every gap and repair the damage. Thinking about it now, he realized he didn't become Vice Admiral through planning but through his boldness and fearlessness, which he and his wife had persevered through whatever obstacle was in their way.
''You're right. I didn't become Vice Admiral to give up and let those alien bastards ruin Eden.''
The admiral's resolve was quickly strengthed as he cast away his fear of his enemies. Right now, the defense of Eden was his main priority, even without the Second Fleet to aid him, even without the leadership of the Fleet Admiral. Abraham Gaft will continue and fight the good fight.
''Communications officer!''
''Admiral!''
''Inform the Howling Knight that the surviving crew of the Amagi will be treated in Yorktown's medical facility. Seeing how damaged the Heavy Cruiser is, the sailors on board must be suffering serious injuries.''
''Understood, admiral!''
The officer responded as he turned to his terminal and took the order to the stealth ship. Thinking about the report that had just come from New Jersey, the Vice Admiral knew that his ship and the Marine Expeditionary Group were the last operational A.F.E. warships on Eden. However, the expeditionary group was still caught on clearing the remaining Kaynians in the Eastern Sphere. They didn't have time to ferry Marines to the West and face the Kaynians there. Thus, he would need to do it himself.
''Luck, do you have contacts on the Marines that cleared their sectors on Lumina? If we want to face the Kaynians on the West, we'll need their help.''
[Of course, my dear. However, I could only call upon one Marine company within Lumina. It seems the battle was fierce over the capital, and only a single company is left.]
''Send dropships to pick them up and inform them that for the duration of Eden's hellish day. They're under my command.''
[Very well.]
* Date: January 24, 2183
* Time: 8:15 AM
* Location: Lumina Capital of Eden
In the ruined city of Lumina, the Marines of Cobra Company were accompanied by the Ghost Operatives of Sword and Shield as they gathered around the recently reactivated defense center facility. Having accomplished their objective, they restored the defenses of the capital, giving them an advantage as the last remnants of Kaynian troops were whittled down by missile strikes.
[Lieutenant! We got a priority one connection from a battle carrier, the Yorktown!]
Looking to the right, Jackson saw the sergeant major running toward him with a holo device. Beside him, the commander of Sword and Shield joined him as he answered the call.
''Well, let's not keep the Vice Admiral waiting. I suppose.''
''That should be best, Lieutenant.''
Jackson tapped the screen of the holo device, causing the visage of the executive officer of the battle carrier to appear, which prompted the Ghost Commander to salute, as did the Lieutenant.
''Ma'am!''
[At ease.]
The commander and the Lieutenant then released their salute as they faced A.I. The officer would notice that the Ghost Commander of Sword and Shield was also present. The X.O. smiled at the prospect that she had not only found the Marines she was tasked with retrieving for the Yorktown to ferry, but she also found a Ghost Team.
[Lieutenant Jackson Domes of Cobra Company and Commander West of Sword and Shield. From this point onward, you will be under the command of Vice Admiral Abraham Gaft.]
''Understood, ma'am!''
Jackson shouted as he acknowledged the change in command. Meanwhile, the Ghost merely nodded. This wasn't the first change of leadership that the aged operative had been through.
[Dropships will be coming down to pick you and your armor.]
''Understood, ma'am. My Ghosts will be eager to join the Vice Admiral.''
"As will my company, ma'am. I'll see that my Marines is ready for immediate pickup."
Hearing their response, the X.O. of Yorktown was satisfied with her work. She tapped several holographic glyphs, reporting her success in collecting the Marines and their accompanying Ghost counterparts.
[Very well. You have your orders. Now execute them.]
Saying her farewell, the A.I. disappeared from the holo device, leaving the Lieutenant and the Ghost Commander to their devices.
''Well, commander, let's get to it.''
"Agreed."
Nodding at the Lieutenant, West followed him outside to inform the company about their recent order and preparation for transfer to the battle carrier. It wouldn't take long for the dropships to be spotted by the Marines of Cobra Company as they noticed their superior and the Ghost Commander stepping outside of the defense facility.
"Sirs, we got dropships inbound. What gives?"
"We got new orders...''
''...We're reassigned to the battle carrier, Yorktown."
To Be Continued.