Chapter 668
The way the situation had developed in the system made general Gabris interest in finding the Independence again into an obsession. Perhaps they should have given chase the first time but such was hindsight. It no longer was in orbit around any of the gas giants, cutting it off from the best fuel source. Next was the sun, but it hadnt been found there either. That left the only option being refueling from ambient natural energy, or juicing it up with condensed energy. By far the most expensive option, but it <em>would</em> keep it out of view while they repaired it.
Ignoring it wasnt an option, especially with uing assaults. It was too powerful to risk it appearing during the middle of a pitched fleet battle. While the Wayfarer could be ready to counter it, it was unclear how many ships they would lose before that point. There was some danger with seeking it out, especially if the spearmaster Aoibhin was with it still. Though that depended on what <em>other</em> ships came along with it. If Gabris fleet could catch just those two, they would have a significant advantage. At the very least, it would not go any worse than the previous time, and the repairs to the Wayfarer wereplete.
For the sake of the smaller ships, they already had energy profiles of Aoibhin- so while it might be possible for her to destroy them, it would take her significantly more effort. Reviewing the battle records has also provided them with tactical options for offense against the woman.
The Wayfarer had just passed the primarys moon. That was well under Trifold Alliance control, and with Anton vouching for theck of anything in sneaky corners, Gabri was looking elsewhere. If the Independence wasnt somewhere around this particr, then it could only arrive significantly into the duration of a battle. Currently, they were searching the empty space further away than true orbits. It would require fuel to maintain a position or far orbit, but it would also be harder to spot them. But there was a lot of empty space to search in a system.
The next day, the Independence had still not been found. With an assault nned forter, there wasnt much time to find it. Currently, they were searching off the system ne for any abnormal signs. It was nearly hopeless, if the ship had just flown to a random point and maintained its rtive position to the system, but they had <em>some</em> hope. It would be a source of energy, and various technological signs could make it stand out if they imperfectly hid them.
Despite that, Gabri was surprised when they finally detected it. We found it, general.
What sort of traces? she asked. Fuel trails? Energy emissions?
Both. But also its just <em>there</em>. No cloaking attempts.
Sounds like an ambush. But as far as I know theres nothing for them to hide behind out here. A free floating formation, perhaps?
Were looking into it, the bridge crew confirmed. Nothing yet.
Whats the status of the Independence? Back to full capacity?
There was a moment of silence with the hum of the ship and the tapping of keys and fingers on tactile screens. It appears to be at eighty percent energy reserves. Hull status is unchanged.
Undamaged?
No, general. It is in the same state we left it.
But why? It was stocked with materials. It would only take a good crew a few hours, maybe a day to patch what we- Gabri stopped herself. I think weve made a simple mistake.
Should we call off the approach?
Gabri bit her lip. No. Maintain our course. She looked around the bridge. Lieutenant. How long did it take you to get approved for space duty?
Five years, general.
What is that counting?
Everything from fighters to ascension ss battleships, general.
What experience did you have before that?
Standard military experience for ten years.
How much flight school do you think the people on the Independence had?
I would assume the same.
I dont mean the official crew. I mean the people currently there, right now.
A century? the man tilted his head. Given our intel that General Nicodemo was a subject of transferral.
Maybe, Gabri said. But I dont know about that. And thats just one person. The rest of the crew theyll only have a few months of experience. Without a living basis of our technology, even. Gabri nodded, even more confident in her assertions. Were not going up against the Independence. Were going up against a bunch of novices piloting the Independence. That doesnt mean its not a danger, but it affects our tactics. The most important thing is to maximize attack pattern variability. If Im right, well mainly be fighting against automatic shield adaptation. And perhaps an Integration cultivator.
Scansplete, reported another bridge member.
Report.
Aoibhins signature detected, along with signs indicating smaller ships are docked upon the Independence.
Ours or theirs?
A mix of both, likely.
Well have to take them into ount, but the priority will be causing any form of damage to the Independence. Hull is secondarypared to technological systems, though if we can destroy it thats probably our best option. Nobody wanted to take down the Independence, but leaving it in enemy hands was worse than destroying a national treasure.
Were inside maximum range. Thirty seconds to optimal.
Have we been spotted? Once we are,mence immediate bombardment.
In theory, the Independences systems should have picked them up by now. Especially since they were preparing for an attack and amping up their systems. It seemed suspicious still, but perhaps they didnt know how to interpret the sensor data. Either way, the Wayfarers shields were up and attuned to the most likely enemy attack patterns, specifically the Independences main cannons and Aoibhin.
Hangar bays opening, came the report.
Fire at will.
As ordered, the gunners began to fire on designated targets. Some of that werems and sensor arrays, and the rest found whatever external systems they could. Some of those were the hangars- and the shipsing out of them. Normally the ships would have been out before they got within range for that, but with the dy it was quite effective. They also didnt seem particrly familiar with the necessary maneuvers.
It still required punching through the shields, but ovepping areas of formations were actually weaker- the small local ships had their own assertion on the energy around them that conflicted with the Independence, though the stolen or ransomed Ruteran ships should automatically adjust.
Watching the beginning of the battle, Gabri could only determine that the instincts and reflexes of cultivators were doing all of the heavy lifting. The local ships moved just fine- though more ponderously and without adaptive shielding- but the unfamiliarity with the others was clear enough now that she considered it.
The opening volley destroyed at least a dozen ships and damaged others, while also scarring hangars and other systems. Theyd had plenty of time to line up their most powerful cannons with critical infrastructure, and though it was well shielded and fortified they caused some damage to the Independence itself. It would be adapted to the Wayfarersrger weapons now, but they had iing fighters that would pepper its shields, causing it to adapt to them or drain its energy stores quickly with inefficient defenses. Either option was sufficient.
Unfortunately, the individual who had stolen Nicodemos cultivation was not incapable. At the very least, the counterattacks they controlled were devastating, cutting through space towards their fleet. But while the main cannons could take out a fighter even with adapted shields, they could hardly scratch the Wayfarer with its adaptations already in ce. No doubt general Nicodemo would have been ready for that but there was no immediate change. Just the most powerful weapons used with precision but limited understanding.
Aoibhin was still a threat, however. Her location was quickly revealed as a spear crashed into a fighter. But with shields pre-adapted, it actually withstood the attack. It didnt help when she appeared next to her spear a momentter and attacked directly, but there was only so much a single pilot could hope for.
And this time, they were ready. The formation was spread out in such a way that they could cover the most area, and the instant Aoibhin arrived dozens of attacks wereunched at her. Fromsers which singed her personal defenses to high velocity projectiles and a few individualized weapons for energy cultivators, the area was quickly filled with death. Of course, an Integration cultivator would not go down so easily- but instead of immediately repeating her assault like before, Aoibhin shed away from her position to avoid the fleets counterattack. It was unclear if she sustained actual injuries, but a moment more and her energy defenses would have surely crumbledpletely.
The smaller enemy ships were a minorplication. The local ships were less maneuverable- most resembling traditional sailing ships, as cultivators tended to do. They had formations and enchantments that made them formidable enough, but they couldnt build a fleet out of legendary materials. Likewise, the stolen ships were not used to their maximum capabilities, and the experienced Ruteran fighters overwhelmed them.
If Ty had been present, he would have flown circles around them. No, <em>through </em>them probably. But Gabri was also content with the knowledge that people like him were defending Rutera and their home systems.
The Wayfarers shields were holding, and the losses of smaller ships were still less rapid than the enemy, even when Aoibhin rejoined the offense. Energy stores were sufficient, and the Independences levels were rapidly dropping. More importantly the assault caused their automatic adaptation to adjust to the smaller arms. Which meant another bombardment from the Wayfarersrger weapons broke through to the hull.
A few momentster, the Independence began to flee. Like many ships, there werepromises that had to be made- so there were only so many engines or thrusters that could go in any given direction. In other words, it was most effective at going where it was pointing, which would bring it past the Wayfarer even if they turned. Calcte an intercept course, but continue to focus on the lesser fleet.
Gabri couldnt help but smile. The enemy didnt understand their technology, even when they had it. It was a good thing Ekict had been hasty and hadnt waited another decade or two. Actually, why hadnt they? It didnt make any sense. Did they really see visiting disciples as such arge threat, and if so why did they not refuse? Clearly, she didnt understand them. Then again, nobody from the Trifold Cluster had, or they would have expected <em>something</em>. Future groups would undergo much more scrutiny before being given significant ess.
Seeing the way the battle was going, Aoibhin turned and fled. Some of the smaller and faster vessels could have kept pace with her, but it was better to let her go. Most likely, shed just string them out and destroy them one by one if they chased. And destroying enemy ships- and catching up to the Independence- was more important.
Actually, with things as they were did they have to destroy it? Gabri understood that someone with Nicodemos powers was inside, so an assault would be difficult. She certainly couldnt beat him or some one of simr strength. But she didnt have to. All they had to do was follow while they waited for backup. Ascension ss battleships were not slow, and were quite capable at faster than light speeds as well but within a system, they had many things that could catch them. Including a few cultivators. Rutera would dly sink more manpower into this than have to destroy the Independence, though they <em>were</em> going to have to cripple it.
She would have to make certain they didnt stumble into a trap, of course. But it was her job to coordinate this fleet, and she was <em>fairly</em> certain Ekict didnt have instantms. They had some forms of intearymunications, but they might have been restrained to lightspeed. Technically, Ruterasms werent instant even within a system, but it was close enough. No waiting fifteen minutes to ping the sun, but instead a dy of less than a minute.
Speaking of the sun, the Independence was heading towards it. Gabri wondered if