The Battle of Vanheim

Written by Tom Kershaw

The reverb of the engines shook the Leopold ever so slightly. Out on the bridge Travic could see the fleet arrayed before him. There was Lord Grumman’s ship the Havana, all the way in the vanguard, barely visible through the exhaust fumes. Just behind him was Admiral Gria in the Emperor August A. Glancing down towards the planet, he could see the fleet silhouetted against Vanheim as the planet slowly turns, the shadow cast by Emperor August A moving across the countryside. The Supercarrier darkening entire towns in its shadow.
In this down time, the limbo between battle and preparing he cast his mind back to Mirinna and the children she was expecting. Their life after this, he would probably start working for Kentan, who had recently become Lord Sondeheim, rooting out smugglers in the deserts, raising his children. His musing however was cut short as the monitors lite up and shouts could be heard as the Karkouri jumped into the system. The space mines detonate, blowing up against the shields, taking a few smaller ships with them. The bright lights illuminating the monstrous hulls of the Karkouri. The jagged angular design combined with the sheer size meant that portions were illuminated while the rest sat in darkness, shadows dancing across the behemoths.
“Outnumbered by about 100 ships and they have the tech advantage. I agree with the Admiral, why are we fighting here. We can see the delaying tactics as the carefully sweep them aside,” said Captain Mulon, walking to the window alongside Travic.
“Orders are orders. Lord Collingwood must have a plan, there must be a reason why we are engaging here. Buying time for CANDL perhaps?”
“I don’t believe that, the Gannid could meet us here. Where are they?”
“Dragging their feet I suppose. Regardless, we have to stop them here. It’s a clean run to Sol otherwise,”
“Mmmm, if the reach Sol then its game over. The advance has been ordered, to your station officer,”
Taking his position as helmsman Travic slowly applied power to the thrusters, getting the Leopold up to speed. The Karkouri were not moving, sitting ducks. The absence of the stars betrayed their location, the fleet gathering speed as the light blue of the engine intensified. The vanguard unloaded their salvos into the Karkouri shields, they flickered and held illuminating the terrible Karkouri ships in all their unholy glory. The second salvo went in, again no retort.
“This isn’t like them,” Thought Travic “they must be waiting for something,” The third salvo struck the Karkorui, a few shields died. The dark blue flickering out of existence. As the Emperor August A came to the front of the battle group the black swirling mass kicked into life.
Three shots.
Three fucking shots. That’s all it took to render the supercarrier dead in the water. Travic could see the great hull rent open, the men and women exposed to the vacuum of space. The lights flickering as power went out for large sections of the ship. The engines desperately trying to regain thrust after the sheer amount of force that struck the ship. How the tiny escape pods twinkled across the burning hull.
And then he noticed the flickering of the dark blue shields shimmer across the surface of the supercarrier as the generators lost power.
With no time to think the Karkouri attacked. Desperately evading shots, one caught the aft, sending the Leopold spinning and falling back into heart of the battle group.
“Oxygen levels low, Engines offline, Oxygen levels low, Engines offline…” Groggily Travic awoke to hear the sounds of the ships 3rd generation AI broadcasting error messages.
“No shit,” he cursed as he dragged himself from his chair, wincing at his broken leg. The bridge was illuminated only now by the fires in the room and Karkouri rockets streaking across the dark expanse. Turning to look at the rest of the fleet, Travic’s heart jumped into his throat.
The Karkouri’s weapons slid right through the shields of the fleet. With no defences, ships were destroyed in one salvo from an enemy ship. Sitting at the bottom of the battle, having drifted down and out from the main engagement. If you could call it that. Travic watched in growing horror. The battle was almost over, some skilled helmsmen avoiding the hail of fire, weaving in and out of the wreckage of the fleet. While the Emperor August A was firing on any and all Karkouri ships that came in range, they were avoiding firing back. It was like watching a grand beast laid low, desperately trying to inflict as much damage as possible before it expired. The once great imperial fleet, pride of the Terran Empire and the pinnacle of Terran power lay shattered and smouldering before the roiling mass of their sworn enemy.
“Oxygen levels low, Engines offline, Oxygen levels low, Engines offline…”
“Fuck,” Travic gingerly floated out of his chair, cutting through the straps. The bridge was a mess, bodies strewn across the space, fires starting across the space as the Leopold groaned under its own weight. He looked briefly towards the captains chair. The impact had caused Mulon’s neck to snap, judging from the way his head moved.
“Anyone still here?” he called out into the room. “Speak up soldier!”
Silence.
With no time to waste he grabbed the back of his chair, as he pulled himself across the room, gingerly pushing aside the remains of those he was making idle chit chat with not even ten minutes ago. Steeling himself he reached the edge of the room. If he could make it to the escape pod he could maybe float to Vanheim, stay there, wait for CANDL, the Tranoans and the Empire to defeat the Karkouri and then return home. Marinna, his wife was waiting for him on Technopolis, he would get back for her. His wife, his pregnant wife, oh god, oh god his children. They haven’t even been born yet and he may leave them without a father. Twins, he hoped that Kentan would take- no, no thinking like that is defeatist.
Travic knew that there was one lifeboat on the other side of the bridge’s doors. If only they weren’t bent and twisted from the impact. If only.
“Oxygen levels low, Engines offline, Oxygen levels low, Engines offline…” Grunting in pain as his broken leg touched the floor, Travic gingerly pulled himself over to the service hatch.
“Of course it wont open, no that would be too easy. Wouldn’t want to give a Terran any sort of victory today,” Looking around he spotted a piece of metal floating around the bridge. Long, thin, seemed to be sturdy. Angling himself, using his good leg he pushed off, his combat training coming back to him.
And he missed.
Cursing and now on the roof he angled himself again, he pushed off.
“Fucking come here you shit piece of metal”
Travic looked around again, spotting a floating strap about 3 feet above the floor. Swinging this around he cast it around and just managed to snag the edge of the metal. Again, he tried and this time he managed to lasso it. Sighing in relief he pulled it towards him.
“Oxygen levels low, Engines offline, Oxygen levels low, Engines offline…”
Angling himself on the wall, the improvised crowbar wedged in the frame. He planted his foot and pushed. The metal was sharp and jagged, slicing his palms but he managed to prise the hatch open. Blood pooling around his hands like gloves, Travic pulled himself into the passage. His head swimming, he was beginning to lose focus.
“At least the AI wasn’t wrong. One crawl then freedom” his voice rasped against the quiet lull of the alarms. Heaving himself through the tight space, his leg throbbing, he managed to get to the grate that lead to the corridor. Peering through the escape pod looked intact, generator whirring away and door open. The hatch wasn’t even damaged, pressing the button the hatch slide silently on its rails.
“Oxygen levels low, Engines offline, Oxygen levels low, Engines offline…” Manoeuvring himself out of the hatch he floated up to standing height. Pushing off, he came to the pods doors. The pods engines whirring away as the escape protocol had been activated. Rations lined the back wall, with med kits sitting on the wall and the short range communicator stood on stand-by.
Travic stood at this sight for a second, taking it in. He would get to go home, he could get lodging with the Hawthornes, he would see his wife and new-born children.
…
“Oxygen levels low, Engines offline, Oxygen levels low, Engines offline…”
…
The doors leading to the corridor slide open silently.
…
Delirious from blood loss and lack of oxygen Travic saw something move out of the corner of his eye. A massive figure of a Salborian entered into the corridor. The black battle armour glinting slightly as it wordlessly beheld Travic. The gun trained and ready in its arms.
Many months later…
The conditions were appalling. And Travic had gone through basic. He attempted to stand, almost falling over. His generous new captors hadn’t allowed much medical assistance, so his leg had healed badly. Causing him immense pain every time he put weight on it. At least they made it so his hands didn’t get infected. Little mercies. Bracing himself on the shovel he looked across the camp towards to Karkouri over seeing it. The thin and spindly creature looked over the camp as if he was a king surveying his kingdom. He had done nothing to earn this privilege as far as Travic could figure out but like most creatures who are given power for the first time it had gone to his head.
His eyes locked onto Travic’s. The bastard just nodded.