Chronicles of Terra: Age of Hell prt II

Chronicles of Terra: Age of Hell prt II

Part II
The Coming Storm


"Is everything prepared?" the voice echoed through a small intercom system aboard the small destroyer now orbitting in a fleet made up of over 32 warships, all different shapes and sizes. From the low class strike ship to the epic Titan class Battle Carrier.

"Yes sir, the Xeno filth will be destroyed before it get near the planets surface." An officer in a scruffy uniform and combat boots stood to attention even though no visual communication devices were present. The man a tall well shaped Colonal in the Imperial Navy, a light scar hidden under his hair which had become as badly maintained as the soldiers clothing.

"Prepare to fire on anything that does not carry Imperial codes." the voice boomed over the command deck, the sharp crackling a signal that communications had finished and the officer could stand down.

The sigh on his face was well deserved, since the report of an assualt on nearby colonies all ships had been regrouped into a new battlefleet now called "Battlefleet Chimera". The many hundreds of thousands of troops on the planets surface that were now digging in were the soldiers of 3 Regiments from multiple worlds. Alcorin was a noble planet which housed econamy and factory bases, but warfare had not been its agenda for over 123 years.

A flickering blip appeared on the ships scanners, the Commander meerely glancing at the blurr before it vanished as quickly as it appeared. "Another glitch" he muttered to himself, leaning into his chair as the several other officers under his command continued running the ships systems and crew at maximum efficiancy.

Closing his eyes, he could hear the many different voices rambling over the comms system. All echoes of thoughts none would truly say aloud. This was the 13th colony, the colony of which the Empire refused to lose. A quick glance across the bridge window and the commander caught sight of a fighter wing patrolling the area around his ship. Small green and black metal ships, a design which took the shape of a missile with wings attached. Cheap and easily built, but not easily manouvered.

Another blurr on the sensors appeared, larger and more dominent then the last time. The crews bridge was as silent as the dead, pearing over this anomaly that continued to elude there logic. It was large enough to be a fleet, but too clustered to be anything more then a data malfunction.

In the mess hall the shock troops were as silent as the officers they served. All of them eating their rations without even a single whisper to one another. Recent surveys sent to all the planets already struck had not reported back. No one knew the name or shape of their enemy, only that it seemed to silance entire worlds before moving to another.

Another hour went past, and no sign of anything remotely like a battlefleet had appeared. Only the occasional transport that was returning from trade duties, but after searches nothing was found. It seemed as though nothing would happen, with the crew on every ship getting more complacent by the minute.

"Settle down you lot." came a booming voice in the mess hall, an incredible energy flowed from the ships com systems across every deck. "Command has formed new ships into Battle fleet Exodus. We are an escort for the carrier." The crewmen began looking confused at one another. It had been 7 hours since they were told to dig in on this world, so why were they being reassigned so soon?

The voice continued, explaining why they were being sent so suddenly. "We have recieved a distress call from one of our lost worlds. Exodus is to mount a small counter offensive while the Assault Carrier SPIRIT evacuates any possible survivors."

With half the crew relieved to now have a true mission, it was only a handful that showed discontent, but would not admit this aloud in fear of being disciplined.

In the hanger bay, the pilots stepped down, engineers re-checking engines and munitions while the small destroyers engines roared to life and began forming with a small force of vessals just outside the main fleet. The commanders face was finally stern and focused, a sensor of assurance now he knew his mission. The crew was all abuzz with the thoughts of a fight, many of them so impatian they began letting off steam in he gym rooms, smashing away at punch bags or running at full pelt on tread mills.

The SPIRIT finnally formed with the small collection of ships, a total of 6, 4 destroyers, 1 cruiser and the assault carrier. "all hands prepare for jump!" the com system boomed across the ship, all personel immediately locking down anything that may cause a problem during the initial engagement of the FTL Drive.

An un-easy energy pulsated across the hulls of all ships, visible bolts of energy seemed to jump from ship to ship as each vessals drive powered to full. "Drive fully charged." the navigations officer shouted across the command bridge, the captain turning to her with a grin on his face.

"Engage drive!"


A massive pulse of light followed by a shockwave was the signal of the departing fleet, as each ship vanished from view leaving the main force to defend the planet for the Empire...