Tiger by the Tail: Prelude to Demeter

Bridge: Dilgar strike cruiser Omen

Battlemaster Jo'tok had to smile at the irony of the situation. Just a few weeks ago she had run the gauntlet of a human blockade. Now she was the one trying to stop enemy ships from slipping past. She hated blockades. They were an exercise in luck rather than skill. But if enough ships broke through her cordon they would lose this operation and have to withdraw.

For a week now they had kept the planet Demeter under siege, making high-speed missile attacks against the orbital satellite network and forcing the enemy to expend ordinance in its defense. Now their supplies were critically low and the planet would be defenseless in a few more days. The Centauri knew this and were not yet ready to give up the rich world and its resources.

Elsewhere in the system the Centauri were rampaging unchecked. The Earthforce commander had attempted a surprise assault on the gas giant, Krish V. But his scouting elements stumbled across a picket ship which escaped and raised the alarm. The human commander then opted to withdraw the assault rather than face an organized and well prepared defense. At least that was the best guess from intel. Who knew what the humans were really up to? The Centauri, on the other hand, were being entirely predictable. They had taken to raiding trade routes throughout the system, looting what they could and destroying the rest. With both opposing fleets busy organizing planetary assaults there was little to stop the Centauri depredations on shipping lanes.

Sensor sweeps showed that two Sullust destroyers and two Maximus escorts were making an attempt to break through, their holds no doubt full of supplies. They were flying under a heavy fighter screen, nearly half of the Centauri fighter reserves if her intelligence was right. This was no feint. The Centauri were desperate and now was their last chance to relieve the besieged world.

The Battlemaster calculated what ships were going to be able to intercept the enemy squadron. A handful, but not as many as she liked. Her scout pentacon, lead by the destroyer Discipline. Two standard pentacons of missile frigates led by the light cruisers Flawless and Vigilant. It was doubtful that both would achieve contact with the enemy. Perhaps one would be enough to slow them down. Rounding out the force were her flagship Omen and its sister ship Slayer. In support were half a dozen wings of Thorun fighters. This would normally be heartening news but the Centauri fighters had proven more than a match for the Dilgar Dartfighters and the Maximus escort ships burned down Throun flights like kindling.

Jo'tok handed her data pad to the XO, "Forward these orders to the fleet."

The young officer looked over the orders and raised a quizzical eyebrow, "Sir?"

"Those orders are correct," verified the commander, "Attach my personal ident code for validation and send them."

She did not like the odds. But she had one ace she could play. One that the Centauri would not expect.