Liberty and Freedom - To Die For: Galactic Star Force - Battlefleet, #3

By Clayton L McNally

SOL has been rescued from the KroMach. Pegasus is undergoing a rescue of those left behind. Two separate battles must be undertaken simultaneously to save people from Pegasus and defeating a new enemy in SOL.

Coming from the wormhole to Andromeda came a fleet of ShanTu, unfortunately, followed by Krang. Alpha Centauri had become a target of the Krang, leaving the refugees from Pegasus with few options. If the Krang established a foothold in the Milky Way, it would just be a matter of time before the Milky Way would become just another food source.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Clayton L McNally
• Release date: Mar 3, 2024
• ISBN: 9798892980357

Clayton L McNally

Clayton McNally writes in a story-telling manner that is fast-paced and exciting. His stories grab your interest from beginning to end. 'To the Stars' will engage the imagination of Science Fiction enthusiasts. This action-packed novel includes hand-to-hand combat using Kenpo Karate and major space battles utilizing unconventional ingenuity.    Clayton is a software engineer and a 4th Dan Master Instructor of American Kenpo Karate, Reiki, and Acupressure Practitioner. Clayton has been a guest at numerous Science Fiction Conventions, including Albacon, Arisia, Balticon, Boskone, Marscon, Ubbercon, DexCon, NonCon, PortConMaine, UMassCon, and others. He provides excellent insight as a panelist. Email for appearances:     Email:       [e-mail] Email:       [e-mail] Website:    www.claytonlmcnally.com                  (Blog on website)

Book preview

Series - Books

Galactic Star Force - Battle Fleet

To the Stars

Surviving Behind Enemy Lines

Liberty and Freedom - To Die For New

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Galaxy on Fire

Treacherous Fires of Civil Unrest

Earth - Into the Fire     

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Vampiric Wars

Blood Let     

Dedications

Alicia, Derek, Dylan, and Hailey. They are a family that is growing in many ways. Reaching to fulfill who they will become. Their imagination is staggered by their accomplishments. Love runs deep in them. May it always be so.

Jenna and Brian. They shall always be high in my heart. The courage and love they share are incredible to view. Life isn’t often kind, but these two live and love by sharing everything. They are a super role model for couples. May it always be so.

Betsy will always be in my heart and mind. She was a woman who taught me a lot about life and love. Her family and our family are the essential things in my life.

Karen, I have a new woman in my life - my fiance. Betsy passed from cancer and will always be in my heart and mind. Karen has entered my life in a beautiful way that finds us both looking forward to each other's company. We find time to be with each other a tremendous joy. Karen is my new family.

Fan Appreciation

To the many readers who have waited for the other books, thank you all very much. Thank you very much for the interest that allowed a second printing to take the first book. As of now (2019), all books are going digital.

My wife and I were in a head-on collision in April of 2004. It has taken quite a while to get to where even a little work could be done. I’m back, and I have many more books, including two new series.

I have enjoyed conversations through email with so many of you and hope to continue to do so. I try to attend as many ‘Cons’ as I can and very much enjoy the time many of you give me in conversation. I want to thank you all very much for your feedback to me at the ‘Cons.’ I am glad that you like the preparation I put into my work as a panelist.

I thoroughly enjoy the numerous emails from all of those who read the Galactic Star Force series. I am confident you will find in future books equally exciting. Last year, a new series, ‘Galaxy on Fire,’ arrived in August - I hope you enjoy it. One new series, ‘Vampiric Wars,’ will also catch your imagination. There is a potential additional series that is in the thought process at this time. Please view my website for anything new.

email:   [e-mail]

email:   [e-mail]

web site:    www.claytonlmcnally.com

(Blog on website)

God Bless you all!

Acknowledgments

I thank God for his grace in allowing me to write in such a way that readers find enjoyment in my books. It is only by the grace of God that I can create something that so many people have told me they enjoyed.

I thank Tatiana Vila, Vila Design, for putting together the Cover Art. Her work is inspiring. I believe the cover of a book is as important, if not more than what is inside the cover. After all, if the cover doesn’t grab a reader's attention, what is inside may never be read.

I thank Shelley Glasow, Goodlife Guide, for taking the raw .doc files and converting them to upload to online sites. I know when I utilize her, the conversion will be done correctly.

Acknowledgment of Cover Art

When not designing or writing, Tatiana Vila can be found watching Documentaries, playing with her Mini Aussie, singing in the shower, and eating way too many chocolates. She speaks Spanish, French, and Portuguese and loves to travel and meet new cultures. Her motto in life: let the mind run wild.

But what is so important about her motto, you might wonder? Well, in the last five years, her motto has been her golden ticket to success. It has driven her to do what she loves.  Her biggest passion is creating book covers. She's always been drawn to imagery, colors, and contrasts. A gripping book cover is what pushes her to pick up a book from a shelf and dive into its depths. And as you might know, she's not the only one. This is, in fact, human nature. We are visual human beings. That is why a professional book cover is so important. It's an author's card of presentation, and Tatiana Vila surely knows it!

Contact can be made through Clayton’s email.

Contacting the Author

Clayton L. McNally enjoys contact from readers of the Galactic Star Force series. You can contact him through his email:

email:   [e-mail]

email:   [e-mail]

web site:    www.claytonlmcnally.com

(Blog on website)

Send emails and images. Pictures help establish a connection to make it easier to have a conversation with people.

Please allow time for a response.

Galactic Star Force Ship Categories

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Note: There are two different fleets of the Galactic Star Force. The first fleet is used to battle the BrakNar and the Krang (To the Stars - book 1). The second fleet was discovered in a secret ShanTu military base.

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Galactic Star Force Ship Duties

General - Each type of ship, from smaller frigates to the largest super dreadnaught, mounts massive energy weapons: ThraseRs (long-distance constant energy beam), PulseARs (short distance, machine gun-like with heavy concentration of energy pulses), and a Laser Point-defense system (rapid-fire system to track and destroy incoming missiles or torpedoes). Each ship carries multiple missile launchers and Orb banks. The actual numbers on each vessel remained classified, and the numbers increased by starship size.  

AI Super Dreadnaught, only one exists: ‘Freedom.’ The primary scout ship, the Galactic Star Force, will be used to investigate the Universe and lead in battles. Freedom is a heavy weapon.

AI Super Carrier, there is only one in existence: ‘Heritage.’ The secondary scout ship, the Galactic Star Force, will be used to investigate the Universe and lead in battles. Heritage is a heavy weapon and launch facility.

Super Dreadnaught, Battleships, and Battle Cruiser: Their primary mission is waging war. They had super heavy hulls designed to take a lot of weapons fire. Generally, it is not used for diplomatic purposes unless it requires an impression to be made.

Galactic Star Force Ship Duties

Heavy Cruiser, Cruiser, and Light Cruiser: Their primary mission is to support exploration and the Diplomatic Corps, but they would also have to keep waging war. They had large hulls designed to take a lot of weapons fire, but not as much as the ‘Battle’ ready ships. Generally, they are not sent into areas of known aggression unless as a support ship or part of a small fleet.

Destroyers and Frigates: Their primary mission is to support scouting and escort duties and support the Diplomatic Corps. They would also have to support waging war. Lighter hulls are designed to take a limited amount of weapons fire, not as much as the Cruiser class of ships. 

Carriers, Light Carriers, and Fast Attack Carriers: Their primary mission is to support battles from a safe distance with a constant guard of escort ships - destroyers, frigates, and cruisers. They would also have to support waging war. Light to moderate hulls are designed to take a limited amount of weapon fire but are not intended to be in the middle of a battle. Due to the nature of their fighters and bombers and the damage they could inflict on the enemy, carriers would often be the target of choice by enemy warships.

Freedom

Freedom is a one-of-a-kind super dreadnaught. The unique nature of this starship is in the Artificial Intelligence that becomes complete when a ShanTu or Human/ShanTu is augmented and bio-neurally linked to the vessel.

Capable of destroying a planet with its weapons arrays, it utilizes four flight modes:

Sub-Light  - Less than the speed of

light, primarily used in intra-solar system travel

FTL    - Faster-Than-Light (up to

2,725 times the speed of light)

TransFTLStream  - Faster-Than-Light (up to

8,039 times the speed of light)

Spatial Folding - Manipulate Space and

Time to instantly move from one part of the Universe to another at over 40,000 times the speed of light

Freedom

Freedom

Freedom

Heritage

Heritage is a one-of-a-kind super-heavy carrier. The unusual nature of this ship is in the Artificial Intelligence that becomes complete when a ShanTu or Human/ShanTu is augmented and bio-neurally linked to the vessel.

Capable of bringing hundreds of fighters and bombers to a battle as well as its weapons, it could equal the firepower of a battleship class warship. It utilizes four flight modes:

Sub-Light  - Less than the speed of

light, primarily used in intra-solar system travel

FTL    - Faster-Than-Light (up to

2,725 times the speed of light)

TransFTLStream  - Faster-Than-Light (up to

8,039 times the speed of light)

Spatial Folding - Manipulate Space and

Time to instantly move from one part of the Universe to another at over 40,000 times the speed of light

Heritage

Heritage

Heritage

Freedom - 3 Views

Heritage - 3 Views

Freedom-Heritage Shield Technology

General (six types):

Bow / Aft,  Port / Starboard,  Dorsal / Ventral

Normal Flight:

Cloak  - Invisibility of a ship, including all energy levels

Deflector  - Particle protection against small debris in

space, asteroids, meteors, missiles, and lower yield

torpedoes

Yellow Alert:

MetaPhasic   - Allows a starship to pass through a sun

corona

Red Alert:

Rotating Harmonics - Allows a starship to rotate the

frequencies of its shields

Freedom-Heritage Defense Technology

Lasers, Missles, and Flax:

AI Controlled batteries on the hull:

Stingers (Twin Laser batteries).

ShootingStars (Heat /Energy Seeker Counter Missile)

Quads.

CannonDARTs (Deuterium Armor Piercing Explosive

Tip Dart) quads.

Daggers (Explosive Tip Armor Piercing Flax).

FireBurners (Nova Heat Seeking Counter Missiles).

Freedom-Heritage Defense Technology

Drones and Probes:

Probes   - Are intelligence gathering within ten light-

years of a starship or as instructed.

Combat Drone - These are weapons of both DEPs and smaller

Nuclear ORBS.

Jammer Drone - These are capable of generating disrupting

communication signals within ten light-years of a starship or planet.

Freedom-Heritage Offensive Energy Technology

PulseARs (short distance, machine gun-like with a heavy concentration of energy pulses)

ThraseRs (long-distance constant energy beam). Tachyon-based (Tachyon Harmonic Resonating Amplified Simulated Energy Radiated System) energy beam weapons

Freedom-Heritage Offensive Missiles- Torpedo Technology

Nuclear Assault Torpedoes System (NATs-B2) torpedoes mounted a nuclear tip, a maximum of ten thousand megatons - Missiles.

Nova Burst Assault Torpedoes (nBATs) are commonly called Hellfires - near Nova (Sun) explosiveness.

Matter/Anti-Matter Assault Torpedoes (MATs) - lovingly called planet-busters. They could rip the very fabric of space.

Pulse Electro-Magnetic (PulseEMs) - fired continuous EMP beams until the energy supply was exhausted. Would short-circuit electrical systems.

Freedom-Heritage Aircraft

Freedom and Heritage carry four types of aircraft: Vipers, Talons, RapTors, and RexTors. Heritage alone had RapTors and RexTors.

Vipers

Four NATs-B2  (twenty megatons)

Two PulseAR-type two

Talons

Eight NATs-B2  (thirty megatons)

Two PulseAR-type four

RapTors

Eight NATs-B4  (sixty megatons)

Two PulseAR-type six

RexTors

Eight NATs-B4  (sixty megatons)

Two PulseAR-type eight

Six NATs-B6  (one hundred megatons)

Faster-Than-Light, TransFTLStream, and Fold Speeds

Estimates of Faster-Than-Light speeds are listed. Velocities are approximated.

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Faster-Than-Light, TransFTLStream, and Fold Speeds

Estimates of Faster-Than-Light speeds are listed. Velocities are approximated.

Consider

I am NOT a bigot!!!  I believe ALL Lives Matter. I have heard from some that:

All Lives Matter can’t happen until Black Lives Matter. I believe people who think this way are kidding themselves.

Black, White, Brown, Yellow, or Red Lives don’t matter!!

Black, White, Brown, Yellow, or Red Lives won’t matter!!

UNTIL;

Mom AND Dad are both parents in a child’s life. Family is the foundational structure that binds us all together. Aside from one parent dying, kids in a one-parent family are at a high degree of risk.

Mom and Dad are not members of a gang. Gangs are often just a substitute for a broken family. Fix our families, and gangs won’t be needed.

Mom OR Dad not being - Alcoholics or drug addicts. Parents need to be clear of their minds and nurturing to their children. Hopping from one person to another is mating, NOT parenting.

Mom AND Dad need to be strong advocates for EDUCATION in a child’s life. Education is the one sure way to garnish every potential a child can hope for, either that or experience life living in poverty. Education is the way out, NOT handouts!!

Table of Contents

Chronicles   - ‘Surviving Behind Enemy Lines’

Chapter 1   - Pegasus, Gasp for Liberty

Chapter 2   - Decision, Who Lives and Who Dies

Chapter 3   - Be’Nova, Secrets Revealed

Chapter 4   - Humanity’s Birthplace in Conflict

Chapter 5   - Pegasus Scouted

Chapter 6   - Democracies Rose

Chapter 7  - Liberation Comes Calling 

Chapter 8   - Pay Back’s a B.....

Chapter 9   - Humanity Has Nine Lives

Chapter 10   - Roots on Fire

Chapter 11   - Homecoming

Chapter 12   - Just a Shower of Refugees

Chapter 13   -Trust Your Gut Feeling

Chapter 14   - Knight’s Way, Luck by any other Name

Chapter 15   - Invasion Earth

Chapter 16   - Survival is a Matter of Preparedness

Chapter 17   - What is a Needle in a Haystack?

Chapter 18   - Humanity Takes One Giant Step Forward

Chronicles - ‘Surviving Behind Enemy Lines’

He will restore your fortunes and have mercy on you, and he will gather you again from all the peoples where he has scattered you.

The Pegasus star system had become home to the survivors of humankind who had fled the destruction of life on Earth. They lost hundreds of years of peace to an alien species that views other beings as an inadequate food supply. Once teeming with billions of lives, Pegasus had dwindled to a population of only millions and harvested like cattle. Those left behind lost all dignity and hope. Bred like cattle, they were forced to work or killed for resisting. Humanity had little to celebrate except their faith in salvation one day. A small force of the remaining Galactic Star Force fleet decided to pursue a rescue and wage a secret war, as they were ‘Surviving Behind Enemy Lines.’

SOL, home of Earth, the known birthplace of humanity, was civilization's cradle. Once a star system teeming with billions, it was considered nearly, if not extinct, all due to humanity's actions. Two ideologies had fled SOL as chronicled in ‘To the Stars’; one returns as the other prepares to return. SOL had come under siege by an alien species bent on dominating humans for enslaved people and harvesting the wealth of minerals detected within the SOL system. Should the KroMach defeat the Terran Space Force, humanity would become mere cattle, property to buy and sell. SOL had been home to those who had risen from the ashes of Earth’s near destruction. Now, they would fight for their lives.

Humankind had fled from Pegasus to Alpha Centauri, a new home that would become the latest star system of humanity and the birthplace of the ‘Commonwealth of Free Worlds.’ A foundational system was predicated on peace, liberty, and freedom for all. Deliverance of that peace would be through the strength of military forces directed by a civilian ruling body. They were caught deciding to rescue the people left behind in Pegasus or save SOL from conquerors. Failing to protect SOL could leave a new enemy at their back door in the SOL star system. If not careful, the Galactic Star Force of Alpha Centauri would be ‘Surviving Behind Enemy Lines,’ caught between two terrible choices.

Three choices lay before the young Commonwealth government and Galactic Star Force. Whichever they selected, they would have to live with. Any of their decisions could bring total extinction to humankind. Any of their options could divide humanity in their values for making those choices. In the newly rebuilt Galactic Star Force, a new multi-species government would have to forge alliances to make a choice that didn’t involve humans.

Humanity and friends were like desperate cowboys of old Earth surrounded in covered wagons, surrounded by hostile forces. In Earth’s past, the encircled wagons were by Earth’s people fighting for their rights. Humanity, all races, now faced serious threats from outside hostile forces. Twenty-first-century television had shown many movies that heralded the coming of evil aliens whose sole purpose was to conquer, enslave, or destroy all of human life on Earth - this was real. Humanity was now on the front lines of Universal Armageddon, or so it seemed to the small band of survivors left in Alpha Centauri.

Liberty and Freedom were goals to aspire toward, envisioned by humanity as a way of life. This was best written in the ‘Constitution’ of America in the late seventeen hundreds of Earth’s history, with few Parliamentary procedures and designs as in England. Liberty and peace weren’t just words. They were ideals that would always require faith, hope, and people willing to fight and die for them.

Chapter 1 - Pegasus, Gasp for Liberty

Deliver all those who, through fear of death, were subject to lifelong slavery.

Two surviving Galactic Star Force destroyers cornered by five Krang destroyers were reeling from fatigue, and the Krang meant to kill them. The last surviving Galactic Star Force starships were still following the plan outlined by Commodore Vaughan. He had died in a final battle for refugees on New Earth when Robin Hood bought time for the other ships and refugees to flee.

Nearly twenty-three months had passed since the fall of Pegasus to the Krang. The final departure from Pegasus of only a handful of survivors was just a mere month away. Billions had once flourished in Pegasus; countless millions had fallen to the fate of the Krang food chain. A very few hundred thousand would escape the most horrific future. Still, millions would be left behind to be lost to history; no white knights would ride in and save the day. 

People hadn’t been the challenge for Galactic Star Force to rescue. They had helped more escape than they had dared dream they could save. The more substantial burden to fear during the exit would be food, water, fissionable material, and ordnance materials. Without access to the wormhole, survivors would take years to reach Andromeda. During the travel time, they might encounter any number of hostile aliens. Protecting and feeding so many people hadn’t been appropriately projected out. The needs of so many would tax the ability of so few.

The last effort had been needed to procure supplies; the success of just escaping the long arm of the Krang required desperate measures. Shamrock and Foxfire, with WickedWays nearby, were on just such a last-ditch mission. Risking detection and the possibility of destruction close to the planets had called for a direct and Bold-natured plan. Luring a couple of Krang warships, preferably cargo ships, into the asteroids would overwhelm them and take their supplies. Realistically, the trap being set was for warships. Who could expect a cargo ship to pursue a Krang warship? Shamrock had been the bait and had caught the attention of two destroyers. Captain Brown had planned to lure the two warships in a close-run maneuver near a giant asteroid, where Foxfire waited. WickedWays was more in-depth in the asteroids as a backup; they couldn’t afford to lose her battle strength.

Captain Brown, we have two more destroyers off our four o’clock, the sensor station officer called out. The trap had worked well until the bait became WickedWays itself. I make four destroyers closing on us.

"Signal Foxfire to abandon us," Captain Brown started to order. Sensors had shown a massive energy buildup and a fast-approaching craft, Foxfire.

Foxfire came from her hiding place under a massive overhang, pouncing like a cat against larger prey. She fired four torpedoes off, two at each of the new bogies. Both Krang warships felt a quick sting against their main engines. The explosions on both warships would make them moveable, with teeth but crawling very slowly. Foxfire had been ready to leap on the new attackers and even quicker to move away. The first two Krang destroyers were on the other side of the wounded Krang destroyers and acted as a shield for Foxfire.

Captain Brown, how many friends did you invite to the party? Captain Danford asked. He knew his action had placed Foxfire at risk, but it had saved a close friend’s life. Maybe we should leave this get-together?

Thanks for the assist. I owe you one, Captain Brown replied. She owed a debt she was beginning to doubt she could ever repay.  

Captain Brown and her small command had gotten caught with their hands in the cookie jar, and the lid was quickly closing in on them. News from the sensor station of six other Krang warships attempting to box her two destroyers was alarming.

Captain Brown moved to the sensor station. She didn’t doubt the sensor officer; she just had to see for herself. His words foretold of more danger than she had bargained for. The trap was waiting to unfold even as a surprise had cornered Shamrock and Foxfire. She felt the lonely burden of command, and her subsequent actions could spell life or death for hundreds of her friends. Brown was not ready to give up and die, but she was running out of options quickly.

Four Krang destroyers closed behind Shamrock on Captain Brown’s six o’clock and six warships from her eleven. The margin for error was small - tiny. Two Galactic Star Force destroyers against eight Krang destroyers, weren’t even a potentially fair match, even though two of the Krang warships were heavily damaged. Sometimes, the best course of action was running - unless cornered, hiding - unless there was no place to hide, or fighting - unless grossly outnumbered. When the odds were so low, the only option was to say a prayer and do what you do best. For Captain Brown, fighting was all she had left.

WickedWays had not appeared from her hiding position yet, but she would surely be aware of the additional warships that had raised the stakes higher. Many lives would be extinguished if they lost the battle. Eight Krang destroyers faced two visible Galactic Star Force destroyers and one hidden cruiser-capable converted Krang cargo ship. Galactic Star Force would be outnumbered by two to one based on weapons capabilities, but two-to-one odds weren’t good for the lesser force.

The battle was no longer about supplies; it had become a trap to detect the ‘Lair’ virtually a certainty. If they discovered the ‘Lair,’ then all hope would be lost for Pegasus survivors. The ‘Lair’ would be impacted by the demise of the Galactic Star Force starships.

Escape was an option for both Shamrock and Foxfire. Each could engage light-speed engines and leave WickedWays to make its exit. WickedWays would have to launch first, if only to damage some of its pursuers. Once the enemy was confused, then WickedWays could engage light engines and exit. She would be at risk of counter-attacks during any weapons launch, if only for a few minutes. The time from WickedWays's launch to light speed for WickedWays would expose her to five destroyers for too much weapons fire, enough time that WickedWays might not survive it.

"All hands, we got caught. If we leave WickedWays, our friends on her will pay the price, Captain Alicia Brown said. There was no fault to assign. The Krang was much more active in all areas of Pegasus than when the rescue campaign had begun. The final raid on New Earth had drawn too much attention to the space they were in. The Krang had warships in all sectors of Pegasus. No place was safe. Prepare for battle."

"Signal Foxfire, turn to our eleven and engage the Krang," Captain Brown ordered. Her order would put two starships in a direct line of fire and be a massive surprise to the Krang. Only an idiot or crazy person would charge straight at a superior force.  

Understood, Alicia, Captain Danford signaled a response to her order. The simplistic beauty of the attack Captain Brown had ordered would probably not be identified by the Krang until too late. This should pull the one on our six in pursuit of us.

That’s what I am counting on, Captain Brown replied. She was gambling that the Krang would be so confident of their strength that they would overlook WickedWays. "If they follow us, WickedWays will get one solid shot at four warships."

Shamrock and Foxfire turned toward eleven o’clock to meet the four new attackers with a first strike. A sharp turn to the port would present a firing solution within seconds. As Shamrock and Foxfire made the course change, the four Krang destroyers fired a wave of torpedoes. Shamrock and Foxfire had become targets of twelve weapons, all marking a direct path for Galactic Star Force starships with the intent to make them extinct.  

Hard to starboard, come to 140.8, Captain Brown ordered. The sudden course change had not been anticipated by the Krang captains or the targeting mechanisms of the twelve torpedoes. Prepare a broadside for the second destroyer.

Four Krang destroyers had sprung a trap on Galactic Star Force starships but now had found themselves on the short end of life. Twelve Krang torpedoes launched by the four Krang destroyers to pursue the Galactic Star Force starships crossed the path of sixteen projectiles from the four converging Krang warships. Twenty-eight offensive weapons of destruction sped toward and then away from each other. Twelve Krang torpedoes first fired at Galactic Star Force vessels now found their mark against a sister Krang warship's hulls. Krang vessels had sprung a trap, and no one was left because of more access ports than the warship’s designers had planned. A sleight of hand by Captain Brown had drawn first blood, and neither of the Galactic Star Force starships had fired a shot yet.

Four Krang destroyers were making a fast run toward Shamrock and Foxfire and ignored the first wave of torpedoes they had fired - they had seen the clear miss of the raider starships. They now focused on course changes to regain a lock on their elusive targets. Another Krang destroyer found its mark and was poised to launch when she met fourteen torpedoes courtesy of the four Krang destroyers. The remaining fourteen torpedoes continued past all starships into nothing but space. Fourteen torpedoes had been fired such that they contacted the port side of the Krang destroyer, and it lit up brightly from proximity to a nuclear detonation. Nuclear explosions and hulls should never be combined; the intensity always rendered hulls useless. After the hole graced the Krang destroyer's port side, each new blast helped make one more Krang warship useless. Mere seconds into the battle, two Krang destroyers had succumbed to Captain Brown’s quick thinking or just plain luck. 

That still left Galactic Star Force starships facing six Krang destroyers with munitions aboard Shamrock and Foxfire dwindling from previous engagements. Both starships needed to make each torpedo count and not waste their only hope for surviving this battle. What had started as a salvage operation had quickly turned into a conflict of survival. Their need was to secure more torpedoes, not discharge more, to stay alive.

PrangShor HarfKar, we have lost two ships, the tactical officer called out. Although he needed to convey the facts, some facts weren’t acceptable to Krang officers. Frequently, the bearer was blamed, and if a Krang failed in their duties, they perished. The Krang naval forces always had a reserve of young crews; cloning stations were still available near the transport stations. An endless supply of a warship crew could be cloned and brought to full maturity within two months, and for that reason, those officers who became senior weren’t casual with wasting life.

HarfKar had drawn his blaster, aimed it at the tactical officer, and fired in the blink of an eye. The tactical station would need a new officer who would not make poor judgments of his words before his commander. HarfKar had been appointed to eliminate the raiding parties; the Krang had several forces assigned in different Pegasus sections. HarfKar’s starships had been the lucky ones; they had uncovered the raiders.

His force of twelve warships had been deployed in a prearranged pattern, one that would maximize their chances for success. HarfKar had been assigned the space sector least likely to harbor the raiders, not surprisingly, as he was the junior commander. His good fortune had presented him with an opportunity to advance if he eliminated the raiders. The loss of warships could only be expected by command, but to lose two warships from their torpedo fire would be hard to explain. Of course, he would document his captains' lack of experience and level the blame for the ship's loss to them.

All ships, we still have six warships to their two. Let’s crush them, HarfKar ordered. He expected no further errors from his captains; they would pay dearly if they failed him. Captains, do not act the fools; they are cornered and must pay, or you will.

Three Krang destroyers began to out-flank the Galactic Star Force starships, leaving no exit available to the raiders. HarfKar had the rear covered, the front was now closed to escape the thieves by the other three Krang ships, and the starboard side was blocked as an exit by numerous asteroids. Today, there would be a victory for HarfKar, and he would rise in rank for his battle prowess.

PrangShor HarfKar, a signal from LarhKelp, the communication officer called out. He was intruding on the victory unfolding before his commander. The simple act of distraction could warrant his death. A base has been discovered.

What? A base of raiders? Show me, HarfKar asked as he moved to the sensor station. The scanner displayed the data stream from one of his warships - LarhKelp. It was a base, and his other four warships had not been detected, or at least no raider ships were moving to intercept his warships.

Should I signal command? the communication officer asked, a logical step for consistent service. Krang naval officers didn’t always perform the ultimate act; advancement sometimes drove them to rule out intelligent things. An improvement was everything to them.

HarfKar found his command warship in need of a new officer as his communication officer died from a shot to the back of his head. HarfKar pulled the officer from his chair and motioned another to take his place.

Does anyone else wish to share our victory with command? HarfKar challenged. He held the blaster in hand and slowly turned his head from side to side. This victory could elevate him on two levels, and he would not share the glory with command. Signal the warships to hold back until we arrive.

Six Krang warships had two raiders cornered and wounded, but frightened animals could be the most dangerous subdue. Six to two odds were in favor of the hunter, not the prey.

Captain, we have no place to run! Shamrock’s tactical officer called out. They were alone and facing overwhelming odds; his statement didn’t air everyone’s thoughts. Fortunately for the young officer, he was on a Galactic Star Force starship and not on a Krang vessel; if he were Krang, he would be dead for saying it.

"Signal Foxfire to come about. Let’s draw them into us. Captain Brown would force the trap made against her. She was the cornered animal of the hunt, and like a wounded creature, she was ready for the last stand. Foxfire, we need to bring them as close to us as we can."

Understood, Alicia, Captain Danford replied. The thought of his friend - Alicia Brown - being responsible for their current situation had never occurred to him. He was ready, and so was the crew of Foxfire. The trap had caught them like a wasp in a spider’s web, ready to sting its hunter. Good luck.

Two Galactic Star Force destroyers - low on ammunition - turned to face six Krang warships. This battle would bring down the last remnants of the Galactic Star Force. With their demise, the ‘Lair’ would be in greater jeopardy of destruction. Two solitary starships, dangerously close to death, turned to face the superior force. A simple burst of light speed might find the Galactic Star Force starships leaving the trap behind, but they couldn’t abandon their values or friends.

As quickly as they had turned to face the Krang destroyers, Shamrock and Foxfire launched four torpedoes each. Shamrock had targeted the destroyer trailing them, and Foxfire targeted the warship that had closed the trap door on them. Eight high-yield nukes fired just a few thousand meters from the Krang met their marks. Two Krang destroyers were now damaged severely.

Shamrock and Foxfire were not as fortunate as they had hoped; each Krang destroyer had fired three missiles. The Krang missiles were not as powerful as Shamrock’s and Foxfire’s - not enough to eliminate either of the Galactic Star Force destroyers, but enough to cause damage. Shamrock was hit by two of the ten Krang torpedoes; her port side was venting air to space. Of the four torpedoes, countermeasures had stopped two, but two had not been. Shamrock, named for luck, had been found and touched by massive blasts of nuclear charges. Not as powerful as Galactic Star Force nukes, they were potent in their own right. The two torpedoes making contact with Shamrock did so approximately one hundred feet from each other, and both opened a narrow fissure in the hull. The tears were small, but if neglected, they would become much more severe. Shamrock wasn’t done by any means, but she was bleeding, losing the life-blood of air her crew needed to live.

Foxfire faced down two torpedoes, both ear-marking a Galactic Star