Extreme Measures
Chapter 6: Extreme Measures
It wasn't long until I was summoned back to the front. With our recent victory of Ragrinok, our Ancients decided its time to take back Imaryu. Imaryu was Ragrinoks sister planet, being the forth planet from the Ulti Suns.
Luckily enough for me, I wasn't summoned until after I spent a few days with my father and sister, it was good to see them, let alone spend time with them, but the war raged on and I had a duty to protect and serve my Ancients.
I made my way from the Carsus Estate to the Citadel of War in Diamond Square. The Square is still highly worn torn, but you can see the reminisce of a celebration here. The people were undergoing the reconstruction of High City. Earth Dragons, known for their superior strength, are hulling huge concrete and metal pieces out from the square, revealing the lovely Diamond flooring that covers the entire square, allowing the light to bounce from it and cause a rainbow like effect all across the floor. The Citadel of War is mostly rubble at this point but Oxy is still using it as his base of operations. Both High Fleet Admirals, Blave Senthist and Kinhard Langsly, stand over a table with our solar system mapped out over it. Oxy, standing on the opposite side of where I enter is also discussing with Blave and Kinhard about war strategies.
"We dont know what the Synthetics have in store for us there, for all we know they could have the planet rigged to explode so we cannot have it." Blave states to Kinhard. "Then we need to send a reconnaissance team there." Oxy replies. I walk up to the table and review the map, placing my claw onto the hilt of my rapier. "I can go, the Kryta has a stealth drive that can also be used to mask 5 other ships. Namco used it often to sneak up with his escorts on trade fleets. I believe I would be best suited for this." I state to the other three. "You want to send in a cruiser for a reconnaissance mission? Why not just a few frigates, their fast, agile, and nearly undetectable." Kinhard says. "As much as I want to agree with you Kinhard, but i believe the Kryta is better suited for this. We can mount enough recon equipment on it to get a full information on the entire planet in one mission then needing to do multiple missions with frigates. What ships do you need as an escort, Jakli?" Oxy says. I think for a moment, looking over the map of Imaryu stashed over on the right corner of the table. "5 Destroyers, knowing the Legion, they have defenses that frigates will not be able to pass. Destroyers will have enough mobility and firepower to stay in stealth and complete the mission. Electronic Warfare types would be best if we have any left." I replied. "I believe the Equines have a few EW destroyers to hand over. Im sure Rune will be more then happy to assist you. However lets go over the plan of this, I need to know when to make my dramatic entrance when this all goes sideways." Blave says.
I slide over the map of Imaryu and point over to its farthest moon, Hery. "Me and the escorts will leap to here, using the moon as cover we can move around and begin the 3D imaging process on the moons. From here we will move into orbit, i will activate the stealth drive and cloak us into the atmosphere to begin the process again over the planet. I'd recommend putting the cameras on the destroyers then my cruiser, if things do go bad, I will distract the Legion long enough for the destroyers to get out."
"This isn't a suicide mission Jakli, there's no need to start saying heroic selfless things. I will have the Ending Sorrow II and 6 other battleships ready to leap in at any moment and we will get you out." Blave says.
"Even still, the destroyers are much more agile then my ship they will be able to scan the planet faster then me." I said. Blave nods and orders a soldier over to the table. "Head over to the Kryta and get it rearmed for this mission and let Rune know Jakli is on his way to talk to her." Blave says to the soldier, handing him a slip of paper allowing for rearmament. The soldier crosses his heart with his clenched right hand, bowing his head. This was our salute. The soldier then ran out.
Oxy nods. "Alright then, head to Rune and tell her about the plan and get ready to head to Imaryu." He states to me. I salute and walk out from the Citadel. Heading to where the Kryta is docked, at the shipyard just outside of the square, this is normally a trade docking area, but was soon converted for military use. Rune was looking over a the ship manifest on parts of her fleet stationed here at the docks. I walked up to her looking over to a couple of Murcalion Destroyers sitting in dock, they were sleek designed. I could tell they were EW Destroyers due to the lack of main guns.
"Ahh Jakli, its good to see you again." Rune smiled and extended her arms for a warmly hug. Rune always treated me and my sister like her own children due to her involvement with Aevoth, my Grandfather. So i hugged her back. "The feeling is mutual, I'm sure you were just told about the recon mission?" i stated "Yes, actually, the soldier just ran back about 20 seconds ago. So you want 5 EW Destroyers, Hmmn. I suppose that is acceptable. Whats the plan for anyways?" she asked. "We are going to do a 3D scan of the Imaryu and her planets. Trying to gain as much information on the Legion before we invade Imaryu. Hopefully finding the Achillies Titan while we are at it." I said, briefing her on the mission. "I see, well, try to bring my destroyers back in one piece alright? EW Destroyers are not something easily made." He lightly demanded. Smiling and swinging her arm around and pointing over at the EW Destroyer, the Eos Rushan. "Captain Wrynn owns this beauty, and the 4 other destroyers I'm giving you, he is a great tactician, I would recommend listening to him if he knows what to do when the situation gets out of hand." I nod and bow my head to her again before making my way to Captain Wrynn.
He was a black and white Appaloosa. Very tall and muscular for an Equine. He was commanding his sailors just outside of the cargo bay of his Destroyer. I walked up to him, "Captain Wrynn?" I asked. He looked over to me and nodded. "That's me, you Captain Jakli?" he asked back. I nodded and extended my hand out, he extended his back and we shook hands. "Good to meet you. I wasn't really briefed on what to do, Rune only said that I'm under your command. So whats the plan Captain?" I pulled out codex pad, detailing the mission out for him. He shook his head. "It would be a recon mission. Just what I wanted to do, go look at shit and stay quiet, wonderful. Ill brief the other Captains, when are we leaving?" I chuckled a bit at his comment before replying. "O-six hundred." I stated. Wrynn nodded and saluted. "The men will be ready." I nodded back and headed for the Kryta.
I would brief my bridge officers on the plan before heading to my quarters, getting a good rest before the mission.
At O-five hundred I awoke, looking out the porthole and noticing we are up in orbit, at the orbital station. "It seems the ship was moved up here for preparation, wish they would of woke me up before that, but oh well." i said to myself before I moved, heading to the kitchen and grabbing a cup of Aru Tea. Then heading to the bridge. Upon entering the bridge, my first mate, Lucy Underjuk yelled out. "Captain on deck!" everyone stood up at attention. I waved my hand down "At Ease." They went back to what they were doing at their appropriate stations, Lucy walked up to me and handed me a codex pad. it showed that all ships were ready to depart. "All ships are prepared and we are rearmed, at your command Captain." Lucy states. I nodded and look over to my Docking overseer. While also sending out a transmission to the other Captains. "Alright everyone, lets get going, release clamps and form Line Formation."
The Kryta and the other destroyers released from the docking ports and we all moved into formation. "Coordinates are Hery Moon, 78,68,1332, Engage Leap." I stated over transmission. Moments later one ship after the other went into leap.
Upon reaching Hery I ordered Cruiser Phalanx all destroyers formed a horizontal line behind the Kryta.
"Sir! Three Legion ships are moving to our location, were we spotted?" Lucy yelled. "That's impossible we are out of sensor range of the planet and the station" I said. "We were detected, there's a beacon transmitting over to our seven o-clock." Wyrnn stated. "Damnit, Jam the beacon and engage full engines, Lucy, engage stealth drive." I stated. "Already on it Captain." she replied. The Kryta and the Destroyers engines roared as we went into full speed, the Krytas' stealth drive came online and the armor on the Kryta and destroyers began to cloak over, masking our sensors and any visual detection. We jolted over to the second farthest moon and slowed down. "Begin the imaging process before the stealth drive shuts off. Lucy whats the remaining time?" I asked. "We have about five minutes till it shuts off, should be enough time Captain." Lucy replies. I nod, walking over to the local map hologram, watching the 3 Legion ships move to where we were. "I do not think they actually believe we are here, at least not yet, i want eyes pealed for any more trip beacons."
Just as the imaging process was done the stealth drive powers off from overheat and all 6 ships come out of cloak. "Alright to ensure this information gets back to the main fleets, send all your data to each other, that way we all have back ups. Get read-" i was interrupted by Captain Turfoth of the 3rd EW Destroyer, Celestials Fist. "Those ships are moving to use again, I believe they have a new sensor or something that able to detect us, none of my systems can jam it." he shouted over transmission.
I sighed, being out smarted by the enemy and not thinking about any new sensors they would of created. "Send transmission to Blave." I stated to Lucy. "No good Captain, they are jamming us, I keep trying." she said. "Can we leap out?" I asked. "Not anymore sir, one of the ships is causing a gravity well, we are stuck."
I slammed my fist onto the console. "Captains, we are being backed into a corner, we must engage these three ships in order to get out of here. Does anyone say nay?" I stated. "We are with you, we knew this mission wasn't going to be so easy, our weapons are ready." Wyrnn replied. "Good then prepare, Captains, into defensive phalanx." I shouted. Our ships turned broadside to the incoming ships and prepared. Soon enough 2 Legion Battleships were charging straight at us.
"Wheres the third one?" I asked.
"Sir, im getting a huge blip on the radar, its the Titan!" Lucy shouted
"Battlestations! Lucy keep trying to reach Blave." I shouted, then turned on the transmission to the escorts. "Turfoth, we still need images of the planet, I'm going to stealth you, I want you to head into orbit and get this done, once its done head to Ragrinok. Is that clear?" I stated. "What about you? I'm not going to stand to watching you die." Turfoth revolted. "Captain, get it done." Wyrnn interrupted. "Yes... Captain.." Turfoth cut transmission and brought his ship closer to the Kryta.
"Lucy give all power of the stealth drive onto the Celestials Fist." I commanded. "Yes Sir, Stealth Drive giving full power to the Celestials Fist." The Destroyer immediately began to cloak and disappeared, The Celestials fist then turned and headed into Imaryu's Atmosphere to begin the imaging process.
It wasn't long until the Achillies Titan leaped right in front of us with the 2 Battleships right behind. The Achillies Titan's beam began to charge up. "Evasive maneuvers! Now!" I shouted. The Kryta jolted up to dodge the beam. The beam fired, slamming the bottom of the Krytas engines, forcing engine 5 and 6 to go offline and to be separated from the hull. "Open Fire on the right Battleship! We cannot take on a Titan we will focus the Battleships." I demanded. The Krytas missile bays came alive and began opening fire, the small caliber guns on the destroyers also came online and opened fire. Missiles and shells began to pummel the battleships hull, leaving a gaping hole on the starboard side of the battleship. "Fire into that breach! Weaken the ship at all costs!" I said
Soon enough the battleships began opening fire, their large caliber guns began to slam into the Kryta. The Achillies Titan then opened fire with its secondary artillery guns, also targeting the Kryta. The Kryta swayed and churned. "Whats our damage?" I asked as I could barely stand straight will the constant pummeling of the hull. "SIr our engines are cutting off and the life support was damaged severely. We cannot keep this up, these large ships are making us turn into butter." Lucy cried out, beginning to fear for her life. I took a breath and yelled out. "Fire all missiles into the breach of the battleship Murick" I stated to my head tactician, Murick Destris. "Everyone else head to pods, the Kryta is done for." i smashed the transmission button to relay a mission to the destroyers. "The Kryta is done, her life support is failing, my crew are heading to life pods, I will carve a way out for you to escape. Once you can leap, do it. Is that understood?" I said "What are you going to do?" Wyrnn stated. I shouted into the mic. "I said is that understood!?" "Yes, loud and clear." Wyrnn said.
"Everyone out, get to the life pods, that is a direct order." I said over the intercom to my ship and bridge. "Jakli im not going to let you kill yourself." Lucy retaliated. "Lucy.. go. Ill be right behind you, I promise." I walked over to her and hugged her tightly. She nodded and followed everyone out of the bridge and to the life pods. Life pods began to shoot out from the sides of the ship and heading over to the destroyers.
I sighed and went over to the ship controls. Activating the reactor to overload, then taking control of the ship, steering it into the direction of the Titan. I sent a transmission over to Wyrnn. "Wyrnn, not much time left, but when you get back to Ragrinok, do me the honor of telling my family I love them, its a shame I didn't get to say it today." I said with a depressed like tone. "Of course, Jakli, it was an honor to serve by you." I cut the transmission and walked over to sit in my chair. Surprisingly enough my cup of tea was still sitting in the holder, having not spelt a drop. I smiled and took it in my hand, placing my left ankle onto my right knee and sitting back, watching as the Kryta pushed forward to the Titan. "At least I will the days first cup of tea." I said to myself
The Titan began to charge up its beam. Before it could fire the Kryta slammed head on into the beam cannon and front of the ship. The beam opened fire and backfired, launching its piercing beam backwards and through the Titan. Both the Kryta and Titan began to explode and sway. I kept sitting in my chair, watching the Titans reactor explode, closing my eyes the bridge around me exploded into fire.
The Titan exploded one last time and splitting in half, the last two battleships soon went offline. The Kryta and the Achillies Titan were nothing more then wreckage and fire.
"I can't believe he actually did that.. I can see it with my own two eyes, but its hardly believable." Wyrnn stated as he watched the two ships turn into wreckage. Continuing to watch, he picked up a glint of light sparkling just outside of the wreckage. He pulled out his telescope and look over, seeing my body floating, burned, battered, severely damaged.
"Move us now! to our 10 o-clock, get a shuttle out now!" Wyrnn demanded, Wyrnn then rushed down to the cargo bay where the shuttle was. The Eos Rushan's engines roared hard as it picked up speed, the cargo bay opened and a shuttle flew out and headed over to me. The soldiers and Wyrnn put on their outer suits and opened up the door, Wyrnn strapped himself to the door with a rope and jumped out, grabbing me and pulling me into the shuttle.
I laid motionless on the floor of the shuttle not breathing but still alive. The searing coldness of space took longer to effect an ice dragon, so I was able to survive, but only just barely. My left wing was blow clean off from a piece of shrapnel, my left eye was also hit with shrapnel, my whole left arm, shoulder and torso was burned to a crisp from the explosion. I was transported to the med bay on the Eos Rushan. Here I was kept somewhat stable, long enough to be brought back to Ragrinok.
I was immediately rushed to the closest hospital to begin surgery. I would have to under-go eight lengthy surgeries until I was finally kept stable and was able to start recovering. My right wing was removed, my left side was injected with a biotic serum to cover and heal the burned scales, my left eye was also removed and replaced with a biotic eye. It would take another six weeks of recovery and extensive regeneration serums until I was finally able to wake up from my medically induced coma,
When i awoke, I saw Sina hunched over onto the bed, she must of passed out from being here. As I tried to move, it caused an extreme amount of pain which woke her up.
"Jakli? Jakli!" she immediately stood up and gave me a light hug, she already began tearing up. I moved my right hand up and over her, hugging back. I personally didn't know how i was in the hospital, how I survived, or if this is just a dream. "The last thing.. I remember is watching fire envelop me, how..? How am I here?" I asked tiredly. Sina moved over and pulled the chair over so she could sit. "None of us are really sure, Wyrnn just happened to see a glare from your armor which he then came and got you, brought you here. Since then, you have been asleep." She explained. I tried to move my shoulders, realizing my wings are gone. Sina noticed. "Yeah, the explosion took off your left wing, and the doctors had to remove your other one. You also, have a biotic left eye."
I didn't even notice my left eye being fake. "Your welcome by the way, that's one of my latest models, you shouldn't really be able to tell its not your real eye." Sina said. I wanted to say thank you, but there was so much going on from waking up, I couldn't. "How long have I been here?" I asked her. "About six weeks. You have been in a coma that doctors put you in so you could recover." She replied. I kept still in the bed, trying to comprehend everything. "Just relax your body is still in the recovery phase. I'ma go get Blave, he said he wanted to tell you something when you awoke.
I could only image what it is. "Oh you stupid bastard, I told you this wasn't a suicide mission," or something like that.
Blave entered the room and walked over to my side. "You know, you are fucking stupid. I did say this wasnt a suicide mission." Blave stated. I knew he was going to say it..
"But im not here to tell you about your stupid choice, instead, im here to congratulate you, Turfoth gave us the information we needed, and with you taking out the Achillies Titan we were able to take back Imaryu swiftly." he stated. He then pulled out the Dragons Honor Symbol, and placed it on the table beside the bed. "I personally made it so, that you will become the 3rd High Fleet Admiral. You did both a stupid, but highly brave choice, your crew escape safely, along with the Murcalion destroyers. You put yourself our of the way for the survival the rest of your fleet. You showed great things that only High Fleet Admirals carry. Once you are ready, i have another surprise for you. I know this will make it personal, but ive known you for so long now Jakli. Putting aside formal military things, you are one of my greatest friends, im really glad you got out of there alive. I truly am." He bowed his head at me.
I smiled. "Im apparently really difficult to kill, but thank you Blave, you are a treasured friend as well." i extended my right arm out. Blave did the same, we grabbed each others forearms and shook. We did this as dragonlings long ago. However i pulled on his arm before letting go, pulling Blave to me, and giving him a hug. He hugged back.
"Dont ever... try to kill yourself again." Blave stated into my ear. "Ill try not too.." I replied back into his.
Blave pulled back and nodded, turning around and embracing Sina, giving her a kiss before leaving. I laid there in shock as I waited. Sina then came back to her seat beside me. "You finally got into his pants?" I stated. I could hear Blave chuckling as he heard me. "Uhh, yeah. Funny story, while being distraught with what happen to you, Blave came to personally see if i was doing okay and i spilled the beans to him without realizing." She replied with a light blush across her cheeks. I chuckled, "Well I hope you are happy now then." She nodded, "With that hunk? Hell yeah I'm happy."
"You should get some more rest though, you are going to need it." She said. I nodded and went back to sleep. Resting was indeed good.